southsider2k5

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeyman 1h1 hour ago joe nathan gets $1.25m on nats minors deal. gives them another closing option. Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 1h1 hour ago Nationals sign relievers Matt Albers and Joe Nathan to minor-league deals.

What a crazy spread in his projected WAR. They pretty much are either bust or star.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 31, 2017 -> 02:28 PM) Good point and that would be a Yankee kind of thing to do. It's kind of a similar approach to signing big named free agents except that they make an offer so big that very few teams, if any, can match or come close to the Yanks offer. Call me crazy but I get the feeling Theo is sitting on the fringe with Cashman waiting to see what the offers are to decide if they want to meet or exceed the offers. The cubs have the hitting prospects that are for the most part blocked at the big league level so the cubs could easily part with them without affecting their 25 man roster. It's probably more wishful sinful thinking on my part because I admit I really like Happ, Candelario and Jimenez as prospects. As much as I think we match up well with the Cubs, I think they would have to WAY outbid everyone else in order to win Q from the White Sox.

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Jan 31, 2017 -> 12:42 PM) To that point, for a little while now this has felt to me like the Yankees are waiting to strike. They aren't moving because they don't have to yet, but they know that they have an ace up their sleeve in Torres or Frazier. Once HOU, PIT, or ATL blink, I wouldn't be shocked if the Yankees get involved again. Because something like Frazier, Rutherford, Andujar, and Clarkin (or some other projectable pitcher) would be pretty enticing. This is what I keep thinking. With seemingly Houston, Atlanta, and Pittsburgh unwilling to put their top players, or maybe even top couple of players into these deals, the Yankees can just sit here and watch and one up everyone else's offer at any time they want. They can do it with top end player/s, or they can do a much better quantity deal than any of those other teams.

To back up my post on historical immigration fights, check this piece out. It is long, but super interesting. Just for fun, here are a few clips on what was said about Italians for example. A century later, how do we look at Italians? Anyone think we should send back these mafia-infested, illiterate, negroids and criminals? This is my personal favorite. This is without some of the quotes about the Irish, Jews, and Syrians. https://apps.bostonglobe.com/magazine/graph...lflow%3Atwitter

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 31, 2017 -> 12:06 PM) I really have no idea how these f***s can say such idiocy. See that is the fun part. No one in politics today seems to think ahead that the powers they stretch to add to today, will eventually go to the other side of the aisle.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 31, 2017 -> 09:58 AM) Caterpillar moving their corporate headquarters and CEO to Chicago. It's only 300 jobs, but another kick to the junk for Peoria. ON top of it, sounds like they canceled existing plans for a new HQ in Peoria.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 31, 2017 -> 08:45 AM) Yeah, that's just dumb. Hossa spent his prime in the NHL when defenses were allowed to trap and do a bunch of bulls***, yet he is now 58th all-time in the NHL in total points and has considerably more points than guys like Rocket Richard, Keith Tkachuk, Pat LaFontaine, etc. Honestly, the most impressive thing about Hossa's time here hasn't been his scoring ability, it has been his defensive ability. He is a shutdown forward. He doesn't lose battles in the corner. Dude is just a beast.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 11:31 PM) Look, you're not going to like this and I am begging to please not get emotional over it. But the whole umbrella of thoughtless quips like "your family were immigrants too!" or "immigration is what this country is built on" are propaganda. Really, the immigration that occurred when the USA was industrializing (or was in dire need of young Irish boys to die in the Civil War) is completely different than today. US Steel doesn't need 60,000 people working at its mill anymore. If you have ever argued against the rust belt voters for being delusional for thinking that the jobs of thirty years ago can be brought back today then you're committing the same sin when you appeal to this junk-tier 140-characters-or-less mindlessness about what America was built on. Times have changed. The population needs of the United States have changed. Unlike Europe the USA has a steadily growing population without bringing in people from overseas. Unemployment oscillates between slightly high and average levels, so its not like there is a labor shortage. Also, romanticizing refugees as the "innovators of tomorrow" is an unfair expectation to put on their shoulders and, to be frank, a little ignorant. My uncle sponsors of a Kurdish Syrian family. I've met them, they are good people. But none of them, including the children, speak even broken English (the father does speak bad French) and they are completely bereft of skills. Nothing against them as people, but we are hardly talking about keys the economic future of the United States here. So you're in favor of multiculturalism? Interesting. That's hardly the way that America has handled immigrants traditionally. Assimilation has always been the way the United States has handled things (the melting pot!), we dont have laws like Canada has forbidding English street signs. I'll keep your endorsement of multiculturalism in mind later, I have a feeling it'll become very relevant soon. I think we should take the decision to let refugees in extremely seriously and not just fling our doors open to the world because its what we did 100 years ago. Europe has real problems with their refugee populations not assimilating (I know this doesn't bother you, but it should) and its now causing some very real problems. I'm not just talking about the terror attacks, which really aren't that alarming anywhere except for France. I can get really specific and you'll probably get mad if I do, but suffice to say letting all these refugees into Europe has not gone particularly well for native Europeans or their governments. While you are carried away by the romantic idea of embracing all the worlds people in a post-borders utopia try to remember that the social policies of today and missteps in making them sow the seeds of tomorrow's social crisesl. Refusing to even acknowledge that Europe is having problems or that a lack of assimilation from immigrant groups is a very, very troubling sign is the type of ignorance that gets you into trouble down the road. Absolutely it is. The immigrant of today tends to be better off and better educated than they were in the 19th century, and has an easier time finding employment because in a decent amount of cases they have a high paying job lined up. You are right, these aren't steel workers anymore. They are things like doctors and engineers to a much larger degree.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 09:25 PM) Here's where you're kind of wrong/kind of right. Somali refugees in Minneapolis/St Paul have had some serious difficulties assimilating and there was an attack by a Somali on a mall that was "claimed" by ISIS. About thirty Somalis from Minnesota, permanent residents the lot, left the country to join ISIS or similar organizations back in Somalia, and that's just who the intelligence community knows about or is willing admit. Then there have been the serious gang problems and sexual assaults, very similar to the issues the European countries are having assimilating their immigrants. How much of this has to do with willful refusal to assimilate by the Somalis or ghettoizing by native Minnesotans is impossible to pin down exactly, but its probably a little bit of both at least. To paint all refugees as angels is a delusional. To paint them all as terrorists is ignorant. But to deny that there is something about Islam that seems to prevent it from fully assimilating its people in western countries is just a blatant refusal to acknowledge facts. All of Western Europe is a case study in this regard, and its one I want our leaders to learn and understand before they act on the refugee issue. We have enough social unrest as it is, inviting more in isn't good for the people already here. Libya is on the list already. And you can trace "lots of terrorism and its principal funding" to Lebanon? Uhhh...that'd be news to me. Hezbollah isnt a terror group, really. I mean Israel says they are and our government has a tradition of agreeing with them on those types of things, but that's a quasi-government representing Shia Muslims in that region. Lebanon is an extremely complicated country. You'd think the hubris would've been gone after Brexit and the November elections...guess not. This is where people have zero idea of history. Your mention of the "refusal to assimilate" couldn't be more normal in terms of history. Heck go all of the way back to colonial times. Religious groups struck out on their own. Ever heard of the Pligrims? How about the Quakers? The Amish? The Mormons too. Ethnic groups were no different. Indians, Africans, Irish, Chinese, Japanese, Jews, Germans, over time were some of the more prominent targets. Typically these groups came here in search of something new, and met with resistance because they didn't speak English and their customs offended the people who were already assimilated. The first generations usually didn't try to blend. They stayed in their ethnic neighborhoods, spoke the old language, kept the old customs, and never really became "American's" Many even turned to crime to make their way as traditional ways were closed to these groups. Whether it was the "Irish Need Not Apply" or the redlining of entire cities to keep the undesirables in their own places such as Chinatown and Little Italy, it has been done over our whole history. But every, single, time an amazing thing happened. The second generation started to leave that behind. They spoke English outside of the house, and spoke the native tongue in it. They picked up American customs, and turned to education as their way out of the neighborhoods. By the third generations it might only be a last name that would sell out an ethnic background. By the 4th and 5th generations, the ethnic identities faded to the point they were really of the old world anymore, they were Americans first, and something else later. The incredible part of that is that it was all voluntary. It wasn't like Soviet Russia where assimilation was forced, or Nazi Germany where the undesirables were just disposed of. People became Americans because they wanted to be Americans. The greatness of America has always been that people, no matter where they came from, always turned into Americans in a matter of a couple of generations. Pretty much unless we put the boot of discrimination on their necks, the transition has been seamless. With the banning of Muslims of certain countries coming to the United States, nothing has really changed. These elements have always held power in the United States, and they have always hid under the veil of trying to save us from the latest group we should be scared of. At times, they got enough power to make lives miserable for their targets. We banned the Chinese from immigrating at times. We rounded up the Japanese and put them into interment camps. We tried to send the Africans back to Africa. Despite all of this, these groups have still turned into Americans over time. I am here today to tell you that using history as my guide, Muslims won't be any different. Give America a couple of generations with these immigrants, and while you might have a few bad apples, they will be fat and lazy Americans in two generations. To me that is the ultimate victory. Our culture and society is so incredible that it wins out, and it wins out voluntarily. If we ever get to the point where this history stops, THAT is when we quit being great. You want proof? My hometown is FULL of Syrian refugees and immigrants that haven't blown up any buildings. They haven't used a single suicide vest. Guess what, they have been coming here for over a century just for the opportunity to work. So while some want to live in fear of the latest boogeyman group, history tells me that fear is wasted. Quit being scared of immigrants. Don't live your life in fear. The ultimate in living scared is trying to hide from other cultures. You want to make American great? Learn from your history instead of being scared and wrong.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 06:18 PM) Really the whole rebuild right now hinges on Moncada. I dont like the idea of building a roster that coddles one player, but in this case its imperative that Moncada is given every chance to succeed and become an MVP type player. If he doesn't the hill becomes a lot, lot steeper for the White Sox. If Moncada flops, we are in big time trouble.

Is the bit about Merrick Garland being the judge with jurisdiction in these cases true?

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 04:59 PM) Farm system, sure. But how are we an improved without Sale and Eaton? I am glad I wasn't the only one thinking that.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 04:06 PM) The Dems need a lot more than a percentage point or two if they want to take the House or the Senate. He doesn't need to simply be horrible. He needs to be SO horrible that it can't be lied about or spun around. I think you're underestimating his Teflon and overestimating the American peoples' intelligence. He is already poisoning the well rather impressively. A President like W or Obama didn't have a fraction of this hatred aimed at them, and they still had major losses in the off term elections.

QUOTE (CrimsonWeltall @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 03:53 PM) Why? Trump being horrible didn't cost the GOP the Presidency, the House, or the Senate in 2016. In a week he has gotten the electorate more involved and impassioned than any President I can recall in my lifetime. Being a horrible candidate and being horrible in office is two different things, especially with 46% of the electorate still on the sidelines. A push of a percentage point or two off of the sideline and into the D column turns this election into a blow out.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 03:49 PM) I think it is new. Wasn't the report this weekend that the Blue Jays discussed Robertson (which I assume means internally)? It is dated today.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 03:48 PM) The major redistricting will happen after the 2020 census, so it's the 2020 state house races that are crucial as those will determine who is in office in 2021 when the districts are being redrawn. That's why Republicans were able to make so many changes after getting beat bad in 2008 but coming back very strong in 2010. And the Dems will have at least half of Congress and the Presidency back by then.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 01:35 PM) Um... 1. Obama won handily across the Rust Belt - twice. It wasn't a Dem failure, it was a Hillary Clinton failure, combined with a very unusual GOP candidate. It's the definition of a non-repeating event. 2. Obama never enacted a policy even remotely like this. There is nothing based in fact about your claim. He issued a statement urging US citizens to not visiting a certain list of countries, while in the throes of the Arab Spring. That is nothing like banning people FROM those countries from coming to the US. Or, if you are referring to the Iraq order, that was one country (not seven), and made no reference to religion (which is a key issue here), and also did not apply to legal residents but instead NEW applications for entry. All Trump has achieved so far is to ensure that the Republican party is going to get their asses kicked in 2018.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 01:02 PM) Cheney has had a pretty negative reaction as well. That said, all of these people are pro Bush, so it shouldn't be a major surprise given how anti Trump most everyone associated with Bush(es) has been. Yeah, exactly.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 12:35 PM) You think Meadows would break camp with the team? I'd rather have him in the minors to start the year to get the extra year of control. I don't know if he would or not, but that was an example.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 12:30 PM) Right. The notion that the acquisition of Bourjos will somehow prevent the Sox from picking up a stud outfield prospect is ridiculous. And let's be honest. If the Pirates called today and said they would send us Meadows in a Q deal, Bourjos would be relegated to fighting for a job in spring training with Tilson to be the back up OF.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 11:47 AM) Eh, this offseason is weird. Glasnow-Jimenez is a swap. Jones has significant value on his own. Glasnow for Jimenez would be an interestin deal, though I would value Jimenez much higher because of the walk issues with Glasnow.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 11:57 AM) Bourjos is on a minor league deal and far from a lock to make the 25 man roster I wouldn't read into his signing all that much To me, Bourjos is a place filler. Nothing more. Listening to what was said at Soxfest this weekend, they HOPE to see guys like May and Engel MAYBE at the end of this season. There really isn't anyone else who fits the bill for CF.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 10:29 AM) Hypothetical trade proposal: Quintana and Reynaldo Lopez to the Cubs for Kyle Schwarber, Eloy Jiminez, Jeimer Candelario, lower-level 4th piece The Cubs have hitting to spare but are looking to shore up their pitching staff and depth. With the Sox, it's obviously the reverse. Schwarber is blocked by defensive limitations; Candelario is blocked by established all stars. Jiminez is one of the top OF prospects in the game. Would you do it? Shwarber really doesn't fit our needs and timeline. I'd rather add guys like Eddy Martinez, Happ, and/or Cease.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 29, 2017 -> 11:46 PM) You're right, something like Tucker, Paulino, Perez, Reed, & Fisher or Whitley would work, but like you said, I can't see the Astros giving up five top 120 prospects in one deal. And again, I have to imagine that one of the teams involved in these talks could easily surpass that deal.