iamshack

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 26, 2011 -> 10:10 AM) I liked Bell yesterday, but he was putting the ball on the ground too much That's true...that would be something he'd have to clean up...I don't remember that being a consistent issue with him in the past though.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 25, 2011 -> 10:39 PM) Makes me think a move should have been made 2-3 weeks ago. All the Bears really needed was a game manager who can make the occasional throw. Hanie just turned the ball over far too many times and couldn't make a 3rd down throw to save his life. I wouldn't be that mad if McCown is the backup next season. Yeah, but I for one, will be honest and admit I would have been furious had they gone to McCown at any point other than maybe last week. I was pleasantly surprised he played this well, but admit I didn't even want him starting this week. I would have gone with Enderle before McCown. I am sure this opinion will be unpopular, but I almost like Bell as much as Forte, to be honest. He's looked solid at all phases nearly every time he's been given an opportunity.

X2 Balance & Power is in the books...hard hard hard....I had to modify a few of the moves because I could not balance enough to even do them at all...we're talking doing all kinds of crap while balancing on the stability ball...I don't know if I don't have it pumped up enough, or whether my concrete floors are too slippery, or if I just suck...but I am working on it. Definitely seeing results already though...muscles in my core are starting to come out from hibernation after slacking for several months...

Wow, Jerome Simpson just landed a forward flip over the defender into the end zone for a td.

Miami +9.5 AZ +4 KC -2 SD money line +115

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 23, 2011 -> 11:45 PM) GB 40 CHI 13 GB 20 CHI 13

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Dec 22, 2011 -> 11:26 PM) if Huntsman is actually correct about something it would be news. It appears he is not correct in regards to this: Link

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 22, 2011 -> 09:14 PM) Huntsman has claimed (somewhat correctly) that regulations (using multiple examples) which cause the need for this type of investment on older plants will result in some plants closing, which may result in more blackouts when demand gets too high. And he's right. Where I diverge from him though, is that, I think that doesn't give enough reason not to do it. What the utilities can do in order to avoid this is to institute demand side management protocols to reduce demand across their control areas rather than institute rolling blackouts. I'll be interested to see if Huntsman is actually accurate in tis respect.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 23, 2011 -> 02:17 AM) A healthy Jurrjens is worth more than Adam Jones alone. Or at worst, a wash. Unfortunately, he hasnt' been healthy...

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 23, 2011 -> 12:36 AM) Idris Elba is just an awesome actor, when rumors started circulating of him being the new Bond I got very excited, he'd be incredible in that role. British television in general is very strong right now. He's the man...is he in the Luther show?

Happy Birthday, fellas...I'll bet I know what Russ is doing...

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 22, 2011 -> 09:18 PM) I'll guess $25-40 million, we'll split the difference and say $32.5 million, a notch above Chapman's deal. I confess that I don't know much about this guy, other than seeing a few youtube videos...but it's not going to look good to fans if we let Mark walk and then pay Cespedes all his money Regardless of whether it was the correct thing to do...

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 22, 2011 -> 09:15 PM) Not to be a dick. But I need a bit more conformation from somebody other than a Soxtalk poster that claims he has a source and that's all to take any of this seriously. If his son was so sick, why wouldn't he have taken a personal leave to be with him? Better to be so mentally f***ed that you forget how to play baseball? Again, need something more legit before I believe any of this. You're such a dick. Yeah, I agree with you. He better bounce way the hell back, that's all I know.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 22, 2011 -> 09:51 PM) We outbid 10-12 teams for Viciedo, we had the advantage of the relationships already built with Ramirez and Contreras at that time to use to our advantage. This guy's going to be getting $45-65 million, blowing away the Aroldis Chapman money.I would be a BIT surprised, but not entirely shocked, to see it happen. At this point, dumping Quentin's salary and freeing playing time for Viciedo is more important than what we get back in return via trade. With Cespedes and Viciedo for the corner OF spots, Rios in CF and DeAza/Lillibridge as back-ups, that would give the team a lot of talent and depth. And Cespedes would be in AA to start out with, anyway. Possibly, Konerko could be dealt to free up 1B for Viciedo, with Cespedes/Rios/DeAza/Lilli the outfield. (Albeit not very likely as a scenario.) Theoretically, Viciedo could take all the DUNN DH ab's against LHP and split the rest of his AB's with DeAza in the event of a Cespedes acquisition, but any scenario where Viciedo's not in the everyday line-up isn't ideal for the future. Of course, there's a very good possibility Lillibridge could be needed at 2B if Beckham continues to flop. He also provides insurance/depth (along with Martinez and Escobar) at SS and 3B. I disagree with that...and if he does, he won't be playing here... My guess is if we do make an offer it would be 1/3 that amount....

QUOTE (PorkChopExpress @ Dec 21, 2011 -> 10:47 AM) If the report out of the Baltimore Sun is to be believed (which I saw on mlbtraderumors.com), then the O's certainly value Adam Jones more than some on this board. Supposedly the Braves offered Jair Jurrjens, Martin Prado and a prospect for Jones, and the O's didn't bite. That's like us offering Floyd, Quentin and a prospect. I think Jones is good, but not good enough to turn down that offer. Jurrjens has some major health concerns.

Did X2 Total Body today. It seems to be a combination of Back & Chest and Shoulders & Arms, except the moves are dialed up a notch. Not so much in repetitions, but in difficulty. Many of them are combined with some sort of balance posture from the yoga routine. Pretty interesting, and a great workout. The early theme seems to be to bust the hell out of your core during Phase 1, so you're more prepared to strengthen everything in Phase 2.

QUOTE (Cali @ Dec 22, 2011 -> 04:57 PM) Must suck to be an A's fan. Even if you get the 4 best prospects from another team, in a few years once those guys make it to the bigs and produce, they'll be on their way out the door for more prospects... They should have won the Series in 2001 and/or 2002.... Bummer They're hoping to do what the Marlins are doing this year. They're trying to get a stadium and time a wave of kids to come up just as it opens, then fortify the roster w/ free agent signings based on increased anticipated revenues.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 22, 2011 -> 04:12 PM) Nationals looking good with Stras, Zimmermann, and Gio. They also paid a lot for Gio though. I don't think he's gonna be that great outside of Oakland. Think his wildness is going to bite him now that he's out of Oakland?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 22, 2011 -> 12:38 AM) Right there in the article, there's a big discrepancy between saying one year/two years left on his contract. Seems the author was misinformed. There wasn't a strong comparison to Latos at that time, clearly. As far as comparing to Billingsley and Wandy Rodriguez goes, whatever...especially in the case of Rodriguez. There was a lot of talk the Astros would simply non-tender him and not let him walk for nothing last year. At the worst, it's a "fair" contract. At best, it's a very very good one for a pitcher just approaching the prime of his career, and a lefty to boot. Having two lefties (along with Sale) in the rotation gives it a good balance. http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/12/21/2654092...x?sct=mlb_t2_a3 My impression was that he was overestimating the potential returns for Danks. As for the contract, I think it's fair, especially in this market. I don't hate it and I don't love it.

Fangraphs

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 22, 2011 -> 12:10 AM) Right now I'm confused at what the Sox plan is but my guess is you don't resign Danks to move Floyd. You need starting pitchers and with Peavy coming off the books a year from now you can still build a rotation around Danks/Floyd. Is it a great rotation, no, but could be solid, depending on what happens with Molina, Sale, etc. I imagine the Sox will move Quentin for the right price and if they got the right offer for Floyd would make a trade as well (key being the right offer). In general, I'm really confused right now. If you get Cepedes and go with this than I wonder what the Sox plan really is? They would seem to be getting younger but they are still in a bind with Peavy/Rios/Dunn. Those three truly put the Sox in a real bad spot. If I were to guess, the Sox are going to look at moving Alexei, Thornton, and Quentin. I'm probably talking out of my butt, but all make decent returns, are close to or on the wrong side of 30, and could command pretty good value in return. I'm with you until you get to Alexei....why would we move him other than being overwhelmed by something ridiculous?

Very funny, but Skip makes some good points. He obviously is going overboard because he always plays Devil's Advocate, but he described some of Derrick's faults fairly accurately, and some of my feelings during those last 4 games against the Heat pretty accurately.

QUOTE (CyAcosta41 @ Dec 21, 2011 -> 10:45 PM) Hey Shack, but for the same reason that Gavin is one of OUR most valuable assets, it's exactly why he'll fetch a better market return than Danks. In my opinion, Danks (relative to Floyd) is the better overall pitcher, the one more likely to have a quality plus 2012, and he's the "lefty" (always more valuable than the righty in the baseball marketplace). But what Kenny discovered (hopefully "rediscovered," because it's not exactly a brand new concept) I think, and certainly the Latos trade revealed, is that trade value is a matrix which includes ability, durability, economics, and control. There were not going to be many teams willing to pay anything close to Danks' value as a talent because of Danks' defects as an asset. The overall matrix score for Gavin is probably higher. Pre Danks' new contract, Gavin Floyd was likely the better asset. I don't see it as a sacrifice of Floyd, I see it as an internal commitment to flip certain assets for younger and cheaper talent. Today's marketplace has made it clear that we'd get nowhere near fair value for Danks, well, then segue to Plan B and see if better value is out there for Floyd. Yeah, that could be Cy...I agree that overall, Gavin may be worth more on the trade market, but my guess is they would fetch about the same thing right now...one solid prospect. The better play may be to take Gavin with you into the season and see where our club goes and see what kind of market develops for him in June. It's just so difficult to speculate right now because we don't know where they need to be on payroll.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Dec 21, 2011 -> 10:24 PM) I'm a member of this group, too. I think everyone is a member of this group. But sense can be made from it if you read between the lines a bit, which apparently, Keith Law cannot.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 21, 2011 -> 10:14 PM) I don't get why Danks would sign this if the Sox were intent on trading him. He could easily have made more money on the open market next year with a good 2012. I mentioned this earlier...who is he going to sign with? Boston/NY/Anaheim/Tex are going to be close to being maxed out... My guess is he talked to Mark and realized he would rather just stay here than go to the Nationals or Toronto or something.