Harry Chappas

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 18, 2015 -> 07:12 AM) Between his rough postseason start vs. Arizona and his contract, there will always be some naysayers. It kind of comes with the position, like quarterback or closer. IIRC, the first Cup season, the Hawks opened the year with two games in Finland. Crawford and Niemi battled during training camp for the backup G spot, and I think that Niemi got the final edge as a favor because they were going to Helsinki. Had they opened the season normally in the US, it may have been Corey on the roster, and maybe 3 Cups for him. He lost his job in last year's playoffs. That is why he will be behind those other guys.

I am still waiting to see Arrieta's arbitration numbers. Boras v cubs could be interesting as I am pretty certain Boras does not care about the feel good story that is the Chicago cubs. I could see Boras asking for $25M for Arrieta in arbitration

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 11:19 AM) Because...Cubs. I pointed out yesterday, the only 2 players Theo drafted for the Cubs who have actually played for the Cubs are Bryant and Schwarber. They were lucky to get Bryant. All the other players could have been acquired while trying to remain competitive. If Houston drafted Bryant, the whole Cubs tank would have been for Kyle Schwarber, and maybe at a later date, Almora. The Rizzo, Russell and Arrieta gifts via trade as well as the Maddon gift via Tampa....how the Dodgers did not grab Maddon is an absolute mystery.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 11:13 AM) Just seems like everyone on the station feels only way to be successful is via complete tanking/rebuilding. It really is. That station is at the point of being unlistenable for every program now. This is almost across all Chicago media now where the story is, the White Sox are not the cubs. Every move the cubs make is gold and every move the Sox make is going to fail. I loved when the WGN morning show felt the need to point out Frazier is going to be 30 and hit poorly in the second half of 2015.

Per Bernstein, Thompson a 2 war next year Frazier a 3.7......OK The bigger thing matheny did not coddle heyward as much as maddon and that is what sealed the deal.....the $26m per had nothing to do with it. Christ I just need to delete that as a preset.

All three guys are easily replaceable with major flaws. A defensive shortstop is key. Reds seemed to get hosed in this deal. Cespades does not cost a pick. Personally Cargo would be the guy. Send Garcia to AAA to try and build value. If Laroche can produce, bonus, if not, release him move cabrerra to DH and Avi to left after playing there in spring and at AAA.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 15, 2015 -> 05:16 PM) Haha I'm not even seeing where he lost 2 years of service time. Edit: unless he's talking about the possibility of Bryant getting called up late in 2014 which would still be inaccurate. They'd have him for remainder of 14 plus 6 years. He should have been up opening day 2014. The cub sucked and if Russell was ready this year Bryant was ready day 1 2014. The money saved with this move was given to Heyward in a serious overpay

Anyone think the cub clubhouse may get a little tense.....heyward is getting $26m a year and Bryant had to lose two years of service time in the name of the process.....at some point in some regard I think him missing two years of service time comes back to roost.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 14, 2015 -> 02:21 PM) Amazing how bad the Dodgers personnel decisions have been going back to last year's trade deadline. The amazing Friedman will probably end up as a special assistant to the Theo when he is fired next July.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Dec 14, 2015 -> 01:19 PM) I've been pondering this for a bit and was wondering what other people thought Eddie Goldman has looked the part of a pass rusher since becoming a starter. The Bears run defense has again looked pretty bad. We always talk about the Bears needing a 5 tech who can get after the QB. What are you're thoughts on moving Goldman outside and going after Damon Harrison to help with the run defense? I've read that the Jets will be moving on in favor of resigning/franchising Wilkerson. Perhaps you can still go out and grab a 3rd starter on the line in the draft or in FA(Derek Wolfe?), but I think between Sutton and Ego you might already have that 3rd guy. Until the Bears get inside linebackers that know how to read and react in the middle, the defensive line is irrelevant. The middle of the field from the LOS and 15 yards downfield is easy money.

Wait....the bears had first down in Washington territory and the clock was no longer a factor. They ran once and the threw two stupid deep passes. To me it is one of gase or cutler there. Gase cemented his OC spot for next year with the last two games. Shea Mclellain is terrible.

The cubs wanted David Price above everything yet here is a blatant Theo hand job from a site I think is pretty good. You can say Heyward gave the cub a $15M discount only when you see what annual salary is for years one through three. http://deadspin.com/theo-epstein-is-gettin...ants-1747585348

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 04:11 PM) Eventually it may be your choice to pay or not to pay. I think someday, you will be able to watch programs or games one at a time, and pay for that indivually. Right now, my brother lives in Switzerland, and he pays $15 to watch the Bears on Sundays. There are select Sox games he can get for a cheaper price. That is pricier than it would be here I would imagine. Pay tv is too big an empire, will never happen. Same as ala carte programming. If you could pay for what you wanted, 80% of the television stations would go out of business. Who would pay anything for Audible?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 04:08 PM) It would be shocking for the Bears to broadcast on a network that almost certainly be named after the Cubs. Broadcast what? CSN the exclusive carrier of pre and post can't even show highlights.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 03:21 PM) The "Cord cutting" was in many cases actually making these types of networks even more valuable because people watch these games live and are willing to pony up money specifically for them. (I'm genuinely surprised how little MLB.tv used the commercial space). How much do you think Comcast will pay the cubs to be carried on Comcast after the cubs bail on Comcast.

If the Mets and Oakland cna exist, the White Sox can exist. This is a silly conversation.

Looking a little deeper at this deal.... Who will provide better value and allow for team flexability over he next three years Gordon or Heyward?

QUOTE (Baron @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 02:05 PM) Just look at the Mets division. You have basically 3 teams rebuilding and then the Nationals. The west will be tougher. The cubs are a good team don't get me wrong and Heyward makes them better. If the other big outfielders go to the NL the shift in balance becomes more equal. The other NL teams that want to compete will have to do some more heavy lifting most notably the cardinals, dodgers and Nats

The NL will be much tougher next year.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 01:35 PM) He'll probably be accepting the $150MM deal from the O's soon. Orioles pulled it.

A team that lost their QO will grab him similar to what he cubs did, later in the winter.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 01:31 PM) 8/184 is a good contract for at least the first half. The second half of the contract may not look as good, but time will tell. The best thing about the deal is that it lowers some of the expectation of contracts for Upton, Cespedes, etc. Hopefully we'll see some rumblings about those guys soon. Chris Davis just kicked his dog.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 01:27 PM) I think the Nats supposedly offered it. That said, while the Nats are talented, with all the clubhouse saga's you heard of, would you really want to spend the next 8 years committed their? I'm surprised he left the Cards to be honest (if they were offering similar money). Maybe he just wants to play in a large market and have a shot at being a hero (if you win the series with the Cubs, you'll be a legend and be able to eat and entertain in chicago for free for life). I think it is the opposite he did not want to be the face of the franchise and hero. He will never do what Rizzo and Bryant do and will never surpass them in fan adoration in the city of Chicago. Going into next season he will behind both of them and Schwarber on the offensive side of the things and potentially Zobrist. He will also be behind Lester and Arrieta in popularity. Maddon is as popularity as any of them. I think the NL will be getting much tougher and the cub pitching will be exposed. Although I do not see Heyward in center as a much greater upgrade over Fowler but that is just me.

I think the best move for the White Sox is a trade for Gonzalez. Then Cespedas.

This is a nice move for the cubs no doubt. Here are a few things to keep in mind. Heyward moving to center decreases his defensive advantage. The contract will be a bad one based on AAV the moment he signs it. The cub were built on a young core and clubhouse continuity. You have some players in that clubhouse now that have performed to a higher degree that are being paid much less. They still need to pay Arrieta who is represented by Boras. Boras already has a grievance filed against the cubs.