NorthSideSox72

If you want a CF who is relatively buy-low right now, but has the talent when healthy to do very well, we should really be looking at Kotsay. And I'd bet that KW is doing just that. I'd much rather take a chance on Kotsay, than Taveras or Pie.

Interesting note on the Redding/Taveras trade... it apparently fell through because one of the two players did not pass their physical.

QUOTE (longshot7 @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 01:39 PM) Disagree - I think Borat is one of the best films of the last 10 years. It's too bad you didn't get it. anyone see any of the art movies they're talking about for Oscars? So, anyone who didn't like Borat didn't "get it"?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 01:46 PM) That isn't what has been reported previously... Not just talked to, but met with. http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=219212 Interesting. Here is the thing. Despite what anyone may think of Obama, I don't think anyone would call him stupid. I'd say there is about a .00001% chance that Obama engaged in any sort of quid pro quo negotiation with Blago about it. But, obviously, the matter was discussed - perhaps even in person.

Ah, much better avatar for me. That rat poster image should be its own thread, BTW. Fun.

QUOTE (klaus kinski @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 01:09 PM) Every year we get fired up for Winter Meetings and GM Meetings and all we get to hear about is Cub acquisitions and rumors. I am disappointed-we have gaping holes-and all we hear about is payroll. And every year at this point, about a quarter of the board goes stark raving mad, insisting the team is going cheap, won't compete, and we'll be a last place team, blah blah blah. Yet, we've only finished below 3rd place once in KW'd 8 season tenure. Patience.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 01:15 PM) The Blago statement is independant verification that he indeed spoke to the Obama camp about the position. It makes sense honestly, before yesterday, why wouldn't he? I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't have spoken to him at all about his old job. Even harder when people from both sides have said they did speak, even if one side is conviently denying it now. The camps definitely talked. I think Obama is saying HE didn't talk to HIM directly. Which is probably true.

QUOTE (Adam G @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 01:09 PM) The team isn't in bankruptcy and the BK trustee has no say over any of this. The Trib's filing does not effect the Cubs, from a legal standpoint. Almost true. According to Crain's, the sale will still have to clear a bankruptcy judge. But the process itself and the associated financials, supposedly, should be clean of it.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 12:47 PM) i can't believe how quiet our club has been during these meetings...the only rumor with any substance was the dye for bailey one, and that was shot down really quickly....even with free agents, Rock has said KW has been talking to some, but who? Bruce levine said the sox might go after some mid level free agents (in the area of 5 or 6 mil), but who is out there at that price that we would want? We'll see, but I was expecting KW to make some more moves cuz right now our team has some enormous holes (2b CF 3b....im fine going young at one or two spots, but not all three, and two holes in the rotation... which im fine having richard marquez or poreda fill one, but not two) Its too early. Give it time.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 12:27 PM) Hmmm… the Reds just got 3 million from the Orioles. I’m assuming we’d be willing to chip in what it would of cost for a Uribe (4.5) So, I’m guessing it’s a fight over roughly 3-4 mill. I think its more likely a fight over the 2nd prospect. The Sox don't send money out in trades. I'm guessing it is something like... --Sox want Bailey + good prospect --Reds say OK, if you give us $4m --Sox say no, but maybe a lower level prospect instead?

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 10:58 AM) I watched some segments on CNN, MSNBC and FOX and everytime they read the long list of offenses the entire panel would start laughing because it's so out of control and blatant. Then of course they would be like "ok, we shouldn't be laughing this is really bad in reality". This guy is unbelievably corrupt. I am going to go find the avatar I was using earlier this year with Blago in that cowboy outfit and put it back up.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 10:33 AM) I think Kila Kaaihue, a big slow Hawaiian is available. Pretty good hitter. Brother is a braves prospect. 1B/DH type: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/K/kila-kaaihue.shtml I'd much rather have him than the earlier mentioned 1B. I remember seeing him play against the Sox late in the season, and I was impressed. For him, if available, I'd almost be willing to take a shot and give him a bench spot. I'm kind of shocked he is unprotected.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 10:29 AM) No pitcher is worth the risk of 7/160 IMHO That was mostly my point.

No pitcher is worth 7/160.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 09:57 AM) This probably belongs under the crazy move heading, because the sox never take somebody in the major league phase. Anyway, here's a guy who was the Indians #7 prospect last year. He looks like a Ross Gload type: Jordan Brown Stats: http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=1818 Seems like the type of guy who could come in handy if PK or Thome are injured, which I'd say there is a significant risk of at some point during the season. But if the team only carries 4 bench guys, its hard to justify taking one of them with a 1B/DH.

I can't find the article now, but there was one particular example given by Fitzgerald of Blago's corruption that made me ill. Apparently, G-Rod threatened to hold back $8M in funding from a not-for-profit children's hospital somewhere in Illinois, if their CEO didn't make a $50k campaign contribution.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 08:59 AM) The other side of that argument is that they essentially had to sell the big vehicle cash cows because small cars just weren't profitable enough, given their labor costs vs. their competitors'. It still comes back to bad management decisions in signing these contracts in the first place, though. Sure, the labor contracts are problem #1. But the contracts are not the only big problem they have.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 08:20 PM) They don't care about fuel effecient, they care about profits. The US automakers made something like 10k off of each of the large SUVs and 5k off of the small ones. They lost money on the small cars. They could give a s*** less about fuel economy. THat doesn't make money. Profit is precisely my point - they are still stuck in the idea that their profit model from the late 90's is going to continue to work. It won't. They won't make the extra profit on SUV's because they won't be able to sell nearly as many. I have no illusions about these idiots "caring" about much of anything other than profit. And that is fine and dandy. But if they don't look past the current quarter, they will be dead in the water. These labor contracts are definitely not the only thing handicapping the American car companies. Their complete unwillingness to prepare for the future is also killing them.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 09:01 PM) We are witnessing the death of the insititutional free markets right before our eyes. Kaperbole? Is that you?

The comments are priceless.

QUOTE (tommy @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 07:46 PM) and some more from Cowley: Josh Fields has requested to work out with Ozzie and Joey Cora starting in Jan. down in Miami. The goal is to improve his defense. Good to see. It may be because he hears footsteps, but still, I'll take it.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 07:05 PM) "Just because I have a career .317/.377/.481/.858 line against the White Sox doesn't mean you can throw out such blatently false accusations." He's a free agent too. Makes me wonder if the Sox are after him.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 06:07 PM) Oh man I hope Todd Stroger got caught trying to bribe his way into the Senate seat. No more Blago and Stroger? Merriest Political Christmas Evar.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 06:02 PM) I'm thinking Emil Brown. Mr. "I Need a Raise!" trying to buy off Mr. "I need to make money"? Sounds like a match made in heaven. Or Illinois.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 05:09 PM) And this morning, we have GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz going on Fox News and telling everyone how the small car market is not a place GM wants to go because Americans still want their SUV's and large pickup trucks. This is why any bailout of the auto industry (which I'd rather see not happen at all) would NEED to require these imbeciles to step down. Does he really think that gas will stay at $1.50? And has it not occurred to him that as the economy stengthens, and people buy more cars, that gas prices will also rise, and they will want more FUEL EFFICIENT cars? Idiot.