Dick Allen

I've been to several cold games but my limit is now 40 degrees. A playoff game, I would probably go lower, but my couch is way too comfortable and my TV way too nice to be that cold. I love going to games when it is comfortable.

It's OK to be "selfish" in baseball as long as you perform. Pete Rose was considered all about Pete Rose, but that didn't stop him from winning. Frank Thomas was always concerned about Frank Thomas' stats, but that didn't matter. It only matters when you suck and your team sucks. I would imagine Eaton is going to rub some of his new teammates the wrong way, just like most guys, but they really won't care as long as he puts up the numbers and helps them win.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 09:17 AM) I mean every game where he gets the honor of starting against a lefty, he gets to pop out weakly when they put a righty reliever in against him in the 7th inning. Or they go to Adam Dunn and he gets to hit against the righty. But keep moaning about a bench player.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 3, 2014 -> 09:08 AM) I can't find the joy in watching a guy who can't contribute. He is going to DH vs. LHP. What did he do against LHP last season which would indicate he cannot contribute?

While I believe Cutler hasn't lived up to the hype since he was acquired,(there was talk of an immediate Super Bowl, even by Peter King) and I'm a little different from most of his fans as I think the definition of franchise QB is one that overcomes obstacles like poor lines and shaky receivers and still has success, rather than blame all failures on other team shortcomings which would make him IMO a little short of that tag, I can understand holding on to someone of his talent. Especially a franchise that has had a ridiculously hard time acquiring competent QBs.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 2, 2014 -> 10:33 AM) Jesus Christ is that a s***-ton of money. How much did they think he'd get in FA? It must be structured in a way where the cap hit is far less.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 2, 2014 -> 09:54 AM) I think they can still draft a heir apparent and stash him behind Jay for a few years like the Packers did with Rodgers. It may not be this season, but I wouldnt be surprised if it was. Who knows, maybe they make a late play on Murray or Mecklenburger because of their injury issues and let them come up slow And there is always a chance McCown could walk away so they would need a back up.

The Bears telegraphed what was up like a Rick Mirer pass when they sat the hot McCown, and showed everyone Jay was their guy. Getting it done and out of the way quickly ends the speculation, but using any kind of logic, this was a done deal unless something really bad happened to Cutler like a career threatening injury. For all the speculation about what was on the line in his last start, most likely, unless he got hurt severely, he could have thrown 4 pick 6's and been brought back.

How many players have ever gone on record ripping AJP?

Someone posted something on here when he was acquired that basically said the same thing. All that matters is if he can play or not. If he plays like a scrub he will be an annoying asshole. If he plays spectacularly, he is just a focused individual.

Jesse Crain to Houston. They don't seem so sure he will be ready by Opening Day.

QUOTE (Jake @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 11:48 AM) When I say Davidson "doesn't have much left to prove in AAA," I'm saying you can't put him there and justify it as a developmental need. You can put him there because you have a "logjam" at 3B, but you'll be doing it at the expense of Davidson's development. The guy had a decent year in a hitter's paradise while fanning a lot of times. There is a very real chance he isn't ready for the major leagues, at the very least, defensively. I don't know how it is at the expense of someone's development that they go play and have success in AAA vs. getting buried in the major leagues. It's not like this guy has been in AAA for several years. He's either ready or he's not. It isn't going to be a "logjam" issue. His play will determine where he plays.

QUOTE (Tannerfan @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 11:43 AM) The sad thing is the re-signing of Konerko is what's messing up the versatility of having both Conner and Keppinger on the roster. No room on the roster for Keppinger and Gillaspie? There goes the World Series.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 10:32 AM) That could all be posturing by Hahn to not collapse the value of Connor. The one thing all these young guys acquired have that they really didn't have much of before, is opportunity. They really aren't blocked by anyone. They perform, they play in the major leagues. The Sox are expecting them to be key contributors for years. It should give them some confidence. They have talent. It's a question of putting it together. Most likely not all will. Hopefully more do than do not.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 10:06 AM) I actually hadn't realized Morel was that high - a bit of a surprise. And while I agree with your overall point about prospects, I stand by what I said earlier - he's the starting 3B barring an unusual set of events occurring. Hahn did mention the possibility of Charlotte. I don't think the Sox would trade their cheap closer for a guy they thought needed much time in AAA, but we will see. It's all up to him.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 08:07 AM) On the bolded, only half true. Brent Morel was never regarded as nearly the prospect Matt Davidson has been. Not even close. Fields was a T100 name at one time, that is true. I'd be surprised if Davidson wasn't the starting 3B on the Sox on Opening Day. Only was he isn't is if the Sox are unable to move an infielder before then, AND if he looks terrible in ST. Possible sure, but not likely. Pre-2011, Morel was the BA #85 prospect. Davidson has never been that high. Fields was #95 in 2005, and #45 in 2007. Borchard was top 20 at one time. Brian Anderson was top 50. Simon Castro was top 60. Prospects are still suspects until they actually succeed.

Davidson is far from a sure thing. Josh Fields and Brent Morel were both at one time ranked higher as prospects. Time in Charlotte is a definite possibility.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 02:25 PM) He's not the perfect 4th outfielder, particularly given his issues with "keeping focused" that we saw last year. We have a pretty darn ideal one in Jordan Danks. De Aza is a solid 3rd/corner OF on a team that needs one and has other guys who carry most of the load. In what world is De Aza not perfect, but Jordan Danks "pretty darn ideal"? I seem to recall Jordan having his own baserunning problems in the past, and he is not nearly the offensive player De Aza is. He is much better with the glove, I will give you that, but Danks is no kid. He is older than Beckham.

What it comes down to, even after what seemed like calls going against the Bears, is the Packers scored a TD on a fumble when the Bears stopped playing. It could have been a 14 point swing, but at least 7 right there.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 12:29 PM) Costanzo may have been on the goalline when he actually downed it. The initial part was fine, but it was Costanzo that caused the touchback I think. But the replays showed neither were on the line. There are calls where you know they probably should be reversed but they won't because the evidence isn't necessarily indisputable, like the Quarles non catch yesterday. But that one boggles my mind. They have angles showing neither Bear was on the line.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 12:26 PM) The worst was the blown call of the downed punt. It might have been tough to get in real time, but f***ing impossible to miss in slo-mo replay. The angle from the side was hard to tell, but when they had the upper end zone shot, it was clear he wasn't on the line. I couldn't understand that one. Maybe that had an effect on Trestman challenging the other play.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 12:21 PM) That's a pretty big exaggeration. It's hard to tell from the angle, but to me it looks like it was lateralled from the 39 1/2 and Shields caught it at the 39 1/2-40. If it was forward, it was a 1/2 yard at most. Not really. They had a different angle on the TV as well. The toss clearly was on one side of the 40 and it was clearly caught on the other side of the 40.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 12:12 PM) It didn't strike me as being a forward lateral at the time, but I haven't watched the replay. Do you have a link to it somewhere. That's pretty bad if it really was, and doubly bad by the Bears for not challenging. Here it is. Lateralled at the 41, caught at the 38. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlig...-Jeffery-fumble

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 12:12 PM) It didn't strike me as being a forward lateral at the time, but I haven't watched the replay. Do you have a link to it somewhere. That's pretty bad if it really was, and doubly bad by the Bears for not challenging. I don't have a link, but when I watched it, it looked funny to me. So I went back on the DVR, and in real time it looks close, but when you stop it when he tossed it, and then stop it when it was caught, it wasn't anywhere near close. It was at least 3 yards.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 12:06 PM) Watching the replay of the TD to Cobb, what a great job by Kuhn to come over and block Peppers, season saving block. If he doesn't pick that up, Peppers probably kills Rodgers. That throw by Rodgers was also amazing, running to your left to drop a ball 50 yards down field like that is amazing. Yeah, but no one was close to Cobb so he had plenty of room for error. But he did get it there.