Harry Chappas

A pitcher that can single handidly win close to 30 games by himself is worth $20M. By winning 30 gmaes I meant his team not him will win 30 games that he starts because he keeps them in it. Pedro did this with Boston. The guy is young and doesn't miss starts. When he faces a bad team he blows tham away and he pitches well in big games. With their offense, he can go 22-6 this year. In the other games if they go 6-4 they are 28-10. If they go .500 in the other games they are at 90-72. This is why a true #1 is so valuable. With hitters there are so many more intangibles to translate to wins. My guess on him is he should be looking for a contract larger than Sorianlo as he is 5 years younger. 8 years $145M ot $150M.

I got great sets to a bunch of Yankee games. There must be a ton of 27 game plans as these games are just about sold out. Weekends are really tough.

This is complete BS all Opening Day and Cubs were gone at 10:00. Weekends are just about gone. Yikes.

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Feb 9, 2007 -> 12:11 PM) Well I mean that's out in the open now. They funnel tix directly to their own scalper. And it's legal. Thye have done that by scaling the price based on the opponent and date of the game. You pay more to see the premium games which I agree with 100%. If you want to take your family, go when tickets for kids are a buck.

Were the ticket prices across the board or just for he higher priced games? They should raise the price for the opener, cubs, yanks and red sox a ton and leave the casual fan to see the others at half the price of these other games.

Anna Nicloe's death made me go huh for asecond and then that was it. I do not understand celebrity worship and why her life is known to many. Other than being a nice look a few years back, I know her as the woman that is trying to bilk a family out of over $400M which for what I know (which is not much I must admit) tends for me to not really appreciate her. Paris Hilton is the same way. I really can not understand what the deal is and it is frustrating to me to see people worship these people that bring nothing to the table. You can say the same thing about sports. There are plenty of people that could care less that spring training is starting next week but I do. It all has to do with the venue you choose for entertainment. I see no point in Paris Hilton's celebrity status and really have to question those that follow this crap and feel it is a good indication as to the society we live in that people with no talent and not even great looks can be popular. Kind of like the movie Trading Places, given the propersupport anyone can succeed. Sports on the other hand takes talent. Talent that I do not have and am willing to pay to see. That may be stupid to some but it is what I enjoy. SOme people like reality tv and E!, I do not and therefore shrug at Nicole's death and go on. Except to type this...........................oh god I am falling apart.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 8, 2007 -> 11:43 AM) except they wouldn't be more productive hitters. Cintron had a .703 OPS last year compared to Uribe's .698, and that was with Uribe drawing 13 walks all year. You also have to realize that Ozuna had 520 career PAs and 31 career XBHs. You can't rely strictly upon singles hitters, which is exactly what Cintron and Ozuna are. To go along with that, the drop off in fielding would be significantly more than you may realize. Also, a huge point to note is that if Cintron and Ozuna are platooning, either you are depending upon a rookie to come in, or you are expecting KW to make a trade halfway through ST to find a platoon partner for Scott Podsednik/Darin Erstad in LF. Uribe's not a problem on this team. Podsednik getting paid more than half of what an underappreciated player in Uribe is making is a problem. I still do not see a very clear indication that Uribe's problem will be cleared up and put behind him before the start of the season. My point was not stated as clearly as it should have. Uribe is the best option. Should he not be available Ozuna and Cintron are better options while obtaining the pitching as oppossed to getting a young SS and not have a spot for him should Uribe turn it around.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 8, 2007 -> 11:22 AM) Perhaps you missed the part where they make $20 mill a year and up (except Tejada of course, who is just involved in steroid rumors all the time), and the fact that none of them are even close to Uribe defensively. And if you are actually going to use gold gloves to indicate how good a player is defensively, then you've lost your mind. I use the term "gold-glove caliber" because when used, people instantly equate it with good defense. Derek Jeter isn't half the defensive SS Uribe is. The only real alternative to Uribe this offseason was a similar player in Alex Gonzalez. Did you really want Alex Gonzalez? ...unless of course there were alternatives that you knew of that KW did not The strategy was to stockpile pitching. An alternative could have been to move Garcia or McCarthy for a younger shortstop instead of the extra pitchers in the deals. My thoughts are Ozuna and Cintron can play short and be more productive hitters while dropping off in fielding. Ozuna is a shortstop by trade.

QUOTE(Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 7, 2007 -> 09:54 AM) I'm torn on this issue. On the one hand I'd like to get more answers, but on the other hand if we start getting answers I'll lose interest in the show. There's a fine line there between giving away too much and creating more questions to keep you interested. Personally, the thing I hate most about the show is that they a) killed Mr. Eko and B) the kate/sawyer/jack story is lame. I don't mind their individual characters, but throwing them into a love triangle was lame. throwing kate/sawyer together was lame. All three of those characters are getting too much tv time. I want to know about desmond and locke before we continue the kate/sawyer/jack fiasco. Tonight's episode is all about Juliet and how she became an "Other" and how the "Others" deal with life off of the island. It sounds cool. Next week's is all Desmond and will be a different episode than there has ever been.

With Spring training right around the corner I believe it is safe to assume the 40 man roster is set and we are going into the fight with what we have. I have to admit that I reserved all judgement this offseason to the idea of wait and see how it all turns out come February. I now look at the offseason and say............I just don't know what to expect. The first thing I heard in November was that Guillen wanted six guys in the bulllpen that could be closers. Well he has them. Maybe not all-star closers but guys that can get the job done with their stuff. I was expecting a move that improved this team and I do not see it. This season will be predicated on players improving (Anderson, Uribe, Buerhle, Podsednik) on last season and hoping and praying the right choice is made with the fifth starter. I must admit both of these things concern me greatly. The thing that ticks me off more than anything though is that the payroll is flat. 3M people came through the turnstyles and there is not a better product as a result of it. Other teams are spending and although maybe there is not value in the amount given, it still has to be given. If we are not going to pay and it appears we are not with Buerhle, Crede, Dye(?), who is going to play for this team. If Fields replaces Crede, Sweeney replaces Dye and Danks replaces Buerhle, our payroll is going to drop by $20M. Can these guys do the job? We will not know until a year is almost gone. By that time my money is gone and the 3M fans could jump ship if they fail. I see the money point but we can not take our wallet and go home that is the stae of affairs of the MLB today.

My gripes; 2nd and 1 with an empty backfield????? Fumble on KO kept the Defense on the field which led to their demise for the remainder of he game Clark dropped a good pass The holding call was huge Grossman not running for the first down when he had the chance. His mobility is the biggest issue because it is compounded by his height. I thought over all the D was not the problem. The problem was the play calling on O and the turnovers.

To show the mentality of a cub fan. 1) Would you go to the Metrodome to see the Twins in the World Series play........say the Astros If yes above 2) While at the Twins WS game would strike up a conversation with Kerry Wood who is wearing an Astros hat. If yes above 3) Would you take a picture with him and then pass it around If yes to all of the above and if Kerry Wood was cool what would you then do with it. Personally if Kerry Wood was cool, I would now like him more brag about how awesome it was to watch a World Series game with a professional baseball player who is a fan like me. Am I dellusional? Why would a cub fan venture to St. Louis to watch them in the WS, they are losers all around. If you gave me tickets to see the Tigers in the WS, I would pass because my guys aren't there.

I am a sucker for Cobblestone's. You can park for free south of 39th and have a nice walk through the bombing huge houses going up around there. The bartenders are real fans but the mgmt is getting a little out of hand. They have a parking lot as well butthe cost is getting funky. They lack neighborhood pull as they have a small beer garden but can't use it. It blows Jimbo's away but it is a walk.

Boston is in for 4 games and the Yanks for 6 and the NL is only really the cub for 3 IIRC. Presales will clear out a good chcuk of these and the opener but there appears to be a better array of games as oppossed to the last couple of years when Boston and NY only had 3 or 4 each.

Shouldn't Joe Crede be capable of batting above sixth or seventh in the order before he is handed a contract worth over $10M a season? I like Joe Crede but Fields is a much better athlete and athletes can turn into Joe Crede type defenders (see Brandon Inge). Crede had and still can have a very long swing. He also can be fooled greatly on offspeed pitchers. Oh and wheather it was the back or not, he was not a GG thirdbaseman in the 2nd half last season. I have never seen Fields play so I leave it to the paid professionals to make the call on wheather to invest $70 to $80M in Joe Crede or go with Fields. I believe we will not see Fields as his potential right now is worth more than this production should a good trade arise. I actually think Juan Uribe is the thirdbaseman of hte future if he learns how to hit at a consistent level and stays out of the slammer.

I will add my conspiracy therory to the mix that it is Haegar's job, always has been and that was why they traded McCarthy. There will be competition but I believe they will favor toward Haegar unless completly blown away.

I went three yeras ago and was not happy with the hotel. I am booking next week, where is the best place to stay??????

The White Sox winning the World Series took all of the unachievable dreams for which I watch sports away. I no longer have the burning desire for my team to win. There is nothing more I really feel I need to see and hope for. Sports are now a recreational passing of time and much less stressful. The losses hurt less and the wins although great are not as satisfying. I am a big fan but no longer a HUGE one of sports in general. I like it this way. Still Go Bears.

Recievers don't really take the beating that linemen do. My thoughts are that this is a cub PR move and he will take the guaranteed money of the NFL. This deal allows him the latitude of dealing with organizations that will take a risk and spend money ala Bo Jackson and John Elway.

$18M a year for 6 or 7 years is what they want per Comcast last night. Yikes. The cubs better suck this deal up.

Erstad and Ozuna are making the same amount. If he sucks, he will not play. He has to pass a physical first that will determine what role he has. I see no risk at all in this move. If the guy can not f***ing walk he will not play. They basically signed him to a Minor League deal. Where is the uproar that Wiki may take at bats away from Gustavo Molina????? If he takes at bats away from Anderson it will be because Anderson sucks no other reason we will see if this plays out. The guy is intense and has a great attitude, things I like. This mirrors a move from years back, Ellis Burks. How did that work out. Let Herm get at him. It could be worse, we could be giving Cliff Floyd a couple mil a year.

Doesn't the cable side simply have to pay a fee to DIRECT TV for the rights. Kind of like Direct TV getting Comcast Sports?????

The cub mindset is simply insane. The guy is a horse and big game pitcher.

Why is Bonds not suing the s*** out of the people who have tarnished his image and give him illegal substance that could kill him without telling him what the stuff is???????????? I wonder if Sweeney is going to put a nice libel suit out there or at least theft or trespassing charges should be brought up.

Anyone that compares Ozzie Guillen and Jerry Manuel has zero credability and knows nothing about baseball, sorry if this is offensive. Ozzie Guillen may be a bad manger but he can not be compared to Manual they are polar opposites. The 2003 White Sox had the best team in baseball. Guillen would have led this team to at least the playoffs and Loiaza and Colon would have taken them to the WS.