iamshack

I don't like this one bit. Talk about asking for trouble. These people are going to naturally be at odds with one another, IMO.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 6, 2012 -> 01:17 AM) If Eric DeCosta says yes, the job is his. Have we interviewed him already?

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 6, 2012 -> 12:56 AM) Angelo drafted Briggs, Bennett, and Berrian on the second day. Most of his other picks look like Wolfe, Okwo, Gilbert, Iglesias, Bazuin, Dvoracek, Harrison... You're supposed to be getting at least one or two impact players in every draft after the first or second round. This is why Bears fans think the Greg Olsen trade was lopsided, they think a third is nothing because they're used to seeing Angelo f*** it up. Competent scouting gets you guys like Briggs much more often. I like to ask, would you trade Olsen for Bennett? For Briggs? I've got no problem with the value of the Olsen return. In fact, there is little evidence that our offense suffered at all this season without him. But you can't take a guy that was a major find in the 3rd round like Briggs, and ask, would you trade Olsen for Briggs?

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 6, 2012 -> 07:47 AM) First of all, anybody can spend 30 seconds on Google and find out the name of Gavin's wife and where they live. Secondly, if the actual player being traded is this guy's ultimate source, I don't buy for a second that he knows all of the details of the trade, such as the names of the minor leaguers involved and whether or not there is cash involved. That's how a team source might spell out a trade to somebody like Heyman or Rosenthal (or k0na), but I doubt that's how KW spells it out when he calls the actual player. Now, there may very well be a Floyd to Toronto trade in the works, but I don't buy this Purdue guy's story one bit. Yeah, that is the other problem....a player is not going to be notified of a trade until it is presumably completed...otherwise you risk alienating the player. Secondly, it's not like Kenny is going to call Gavin up and tell him about the cash heading Toronto's way as well. The blogger may have a source, but the Purdue kid is just looking for attention IMHO.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 6, 2012 -> 04:40 AM) That still doesn't really explain it. FarrellBall offered up the idea first here. It makes sense that after a couple days of deliberation amongst themselves and with each other that they'd have come to a relative price that they like and now they are hammering out the final details or perhaps adding on to it. It's been cited by two seemingly unconnected sources - a guy who runs a Blue Jays blog and a student at Purdue University - and the student has even name dropped a bit (said his cousin's name is Leann, who lives next to his sister, which is confirmed here (his cousin and Gavin's wife's name)). Where there is smoke, there is fire. This actually reminds me a bit of the Adrian Gonzalez rumors in the '09-'10 offseason where everyone and everything was throwing Soxtalk under the bus. If nothing happens, then nothing happens, we let bygones be bygones, and we move on. It doesn't mean that nothing was going on at that time period and it doesn't mean nothing is going on now. I'm excited to see what comes of this. Sort of. Except for there is still no evidence that his cousin is actually Gavin's wife...all that he's done is use the correct first name of Gavin's wife and claim it is his cousin. I hope it's true, because, I'm sick of Deer in the Headlights Floyd, but I think it's just a few guys looking for their 15 minutes of fame after seeing some of the attention k0na got (finally).

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 09:10 PM) I could see Thornton and Gavin going to the Jays for Drabek/McGuire...that seems realistic does it not? I don't know that they need to add Thornton...eventually you reach the point of diminishing returns and when you're trying to keep your payroll below $70 million or so you can't load up all THAT much on your bullpen.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 05:27 PM) That and the $100 monster cable that's exactly the same quality as the $5 dollar one you can buy online. I lived at Best Buy for the better part of my high school and freshman year of college (1996-2001). I bought everything there. Then I found Ebay and Amazon and other various online stores. The only thing I've purchased at Best Buy since are video games and consoles that are the same price anywhere you go. Seriously! It's not even Monster cables, it's any a/v cable. I made my girlfriend buy a Blu Ray player recently and when I went to grab an HDMI cable for her, the 6' basic cable was $25! You can get 12' cables online for $5! What a joke. I refuse to go there unless there is absolutely no price difference or I simply want something NOW as opposed to waiting for the shipping and all that.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 05:12 PM) Yep, but many think it a fluke combined with the PCL effect. Dude didn't make BA's top 10 either. Gotcha. Thank you fine sir!

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 05:10 PM) Eh. Many don't think he will hit. Top 20 prospect, but not near the top. Sickels has him at 18. Didn't he just hit .370 in Vegas in limited action last year?

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 05:54 PM) All excellent points. The Lions are an incredibly talented squad and I'll have Schwartz major credit for changing the attitude there as the coach but I want to see what he does because that team is completely undisciplined and it cost them significantly this year. Harbaugh gets more points for me, similar to Shack, for the fact that he showed how he could take a previously non-existent college football team and help make them sucessful. That being said...I really do love Detroit +10.5 this weekend

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 04:59 PM) Surprised no one has mentioned Jake Marisnick. Probably untouchable, but I think he's going to be a stud. What about Hechavarria....is he still considered one of their better prospects?

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 04:37 PM) Mike Brown is the Bengals GM. Thus, I whole heartedly disagree with your statement. You also list Jim Harbaugh as one of your top 10ish coaches but then go on to discredit Jim Schwartz for not having a track record of prolonged success. Schwartz inherited a team coming off an 0-16 season and a roster devoid of talent at most positions. Three years later, they won 10 games, made the playoffs for the first time in 12 seasons and had their QB throw for over 5,000 yards. Granted, the guy seems like a douche and his players act foolish, but I don't think you can argue that his resume is impressive thus far. I'd say it's even more impressive than Jim Harbaugh's at the moment, given the fact that Harbaugh inherited an impressive amount of established talent on the defensive side of the ball. I do appreciate that you did not group me with the "I hate Lovie because he doesn't yell on the sidelines" bunch. I could care less about Lovie's demeanor, as long as he coaches the team effectively. Let me reiterate, I don't hate Lovie. I think he's a good manager of men, both staff and player alike. I just question his individual ability to evaluate and develop personnel/staff and compete with other head coaches when it comes to developing schemes. I haven't seen that from him. No, I do not have intimate knowledge how the Bears coaching staff operates. I am just basing my opinions from what I read, watch, listen and learn from the media. First of all, you discredit Harbaugh and then go on to credit Schwartz for doing basically the exact same thing as Harbaugh has done at Stanford and now San Francisco. Secondly, most of what you credit Schwartz for seems to me to be things the GM that replaced Matt Millen should get credit for. Everything you expect from a head coach, whether it be preparing the team to play, instilling discipline and sportsmanship in his players, keeping his teams from committing costly penalties, etc., the Lions, and Jim Schwartz by clear and direct extension, fail at. The Lions are an undisciplined, disrespectful, idiotic but incredibly talented team. Seems to me it is Schwartz's job to harness that talent and produce success. They started out 5-1 (but were lucky to have that record since they came out unprepared against Minnesota and Dallas), and finished weakly at 10-6, and made the playoffs only because Jay Cutler injured his wrist and the Bears collapsed.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 04:08 PM) Marvin Lewis had all of the talent in the world on some of those Bengals teams. He's the epitome of a mediocre coach who doesn't have near the accolades of a Lovie Smith. Jim Schwartz. Talk to me when he does something consistently over a period of time. All I see is a guy who is out of control and can't keep his players in check. Fox is a damn good coach. I probably should have included him in my top 11 or 12, but he did have his problems in Carolina so he isn't perfect (he had crap at QB too). But Fox is very similar to Lovie as shack has pointed out. Records are important and Lovie has not only a good record but he also has a great track record of having his teams ready to play week in and week out. That is the head coaches job. The head coaches job isn't always to make the play-calls, etc. Hell, there are plenty of people that make exceptional coordinators and terrible coaches and vice versa. Not all head coaches would make excellent (or even be the best) coordinators. It is a different skill-set and I think in the most important areas, Lovie does better than most. When it comes to in-game management, every coach f's it up and Lovie has improved over the years at it. His teams have made better adjustments and he has a hell of a good record when his teams are leading late and into the 2nd half. I just find it funny that most Bear fans (and I'm not putting you into this category Mark (Murcie)) hate Lovie because he doesn't yell on the sidelines or gives "coach speak" during press conferences. In regards to Rivera, he made a mistake and paid for it, but he isn't perfect. He did the same thing with Shea (and almost everybody lauded that decision at the time) and with Martz, he got burned (and It was a hire made against Angelo's wish). Lovie is at his best when he runs the show and he's a very good leader of the team and quite frankly, that is the head coaches job. He seems to have thinks turned in the right direction and I have full faith in him as the head coach (I am sincere when I say that two or three years ago, I wouldn't have said that, but I have really grown to admire him as a head coach). Hell, look at Steeler fans, they were ready for years to run Cowher out of town yet he's probably one of the best coaches of the past 30 years. +1

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 05:40 PM) If this deal is true, it will give the Sox more money to get Cespedes.. An OF of Viciedo RF Cespedes CF Gose LF would be incredible for many years.. This has been said about a lot more proven players before and been very inaccurate...

The issue is the business model no longer works. We can buy online for cheaper. Most of Best Buy's profits come from extended warranties, which no one buys anymore because new technology is always out to replace what you have when it breaks.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 03:04 PM) You have to look at in the other way too. Drew Brees wasn't exactly tearing it up in San Diego. Mike McCarthy had a big hand in shaping Rodgers. They had to change some of the stuff he did in college. Like holding the ball up high. Look at someone like Matt Flynn. He was a 7th round draft pick. A QB who in college wasn't known for throwing. He will probably starting for someone next year. Does that happen if Cleveland had drafted him? Drew Brees played pretty well in San Diego in 2004 and 2005....it was pretty clear he was going to be an outstanding qb...and then the injury happened...

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 01:58 PM) Yep. With what the Jays have in that system, I have no problem with Kenny and Alex as trade partners. Do you guys wonder about the dynamic that is going on here? Are they planning things this way? Or do they keep going back to one another because they are the most-willing partners? I'd give credit to Kenny for approaching these deals one by one...when you move guys all at once or in larger deals you tend to get less back for them. I just hope it isn't Kenny that keeps going back to Alex because his alternatives are not working out...

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 02:48 PM) I'd include Jim Schwartz, John Fox, Marvin Lewis, and Tom Coughlin among the list of current head coaches that I think are better than Lovie Smith. I don't think Lovie is a horrible coach, but I have yet to be convinced as to why he is a good one or worth keeping around. I am willing to entertain all opinions on the subject and would actually like to be convinced otherwise. Here are my main problems with Lovie: 1) Poor in-game management. (Bad time outs, bad challenges, poor communication) 2) What does he do? Rod is the DC, Martz was the OC, Toub is the STC, so what does Lovie do? I assume he inspires his team, game plans during the week, and puts his two cents on everything his assistants do . . . but I would like a head coach that actually calls plays and runs his team during games. In Lovie's 1 season calling plays, the defense performed at its worst during his tenure (granted Urlacher missed the whole year). 3) Bad staff decisions. After the Bears best defensive season since 1986, Lovie fired Ron Rivera and replaced him with his friend, Bob Babich. That was a bad decision made to assert his Alpha-dog status and it backfired. Lovie's OC's: Terry Shea (lol), Ron Turner (lol), Martz (lol). If Lovie leaves the offensive side of the team to his OC, he had better pick a good one. Shea, Turner and Martz have all been failures. Moreover, Lovie and his self-picked-staff has done a poor job of developing players. Of course, Angelo had been the one acquiring the talent, but Lovie has input on what players are drafted and how they develop. I still think he shares (somewhat) in the blame for some of our recent draft-pick failures. The staff has failed to develop any stand-out, pro-bowl caliber players at the following positions: QB, LT, RT, RG, C, LG, WR, S. We've also had significant trouble developing DT's after Harris' injury, DE has been an issue, and we've developed no CBs since Vasher lost his skills (sorry Zach Bowman). Additionally, his decision to move Devin Hester to starting WR seemingly diminished Hester's return skills (which seemed to return this season after he saw less snaps on offense) and didn't work out because Devin Hester is not a good WR. 4) Stubbornness and Absurdity "Devin Hester is a No. 1 receiver in this league." "Kellen Davis is one of the best tight ends in football." Does he really believe these types of things? If so, when does he Just my thoughts. Can't argue with his record, but you can argue it should have been better. I'm sorry, but given what little we know about the hierarchy of the Bears coaching staff, other than their titles, the record is by far the most important thing, which you admit one cannot take issue with. He's been here for what, 8 years now? Anyone is going to have a list of errors that took place over the course of 8 years. Jim Schwartz? MARVIN LEWIS? John Fox is like Lovie's white twin brother! What are you talking about?

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 01:01 PM) This is the most helpful tip I can give, and I'm not trying to be sarcastic or condescending at all. Forget 2012. Look at it as though it will be a losing season (it will). We need to look past 2012. At the same time, it may be entertaining simply because it will be different.

Would Hechavarria be on the table?

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 10:11 AM) The Bears meathead fans are gonna want that...mustached guy who yells alot on the sidelines=wins. I'll pass. I saw this yesterday and I agree with you...Fisher has done some good things in the League but I don't see him as having a leg up whatsoever on Lovie Smith. Besides, "Lovie Smith is our Head Coach..."

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 4, 2012 -> 09:13 PM) Folks in Missouri can't believe the Cubs would trade away a big name player for nothing. Yeah, Vegas Cubs fans are furious.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 4, 2012 -> 07:25 PM) That's...the point. No...that's just another benefit. The point is to find a go-to receiver Jay can find in critical situations.

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Jan 4, 2012 -> 05:38 PM) I would be shocked if Vjax resigned in San Diego. I remember seeing a quote from him talking about how he plans on structuring his contract with a new team so it gets San Diego the lowest compensatory pick possible. If AJ Smith was gone then maybe, but still doubtful, but since hes still there I say no way. But if they franchise him, he has no choice. Luckily, it appears as though they won't...

These are good reasons why he won't get $50 million. $32 million, tops.