iamshack

Anyone hearing anything about the game possibly being moved to Soldier Field?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 05:25 PM) All these relievers are getting a lot of money. Stupid Detroit. If there is a guy who's worth it, it's Downs. He's been incredible.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 03:57 PM) Chicago weather, 35 mph winds, that Bears defense, and the Bears O-line? The weather has never seemed to slow the Pats offense down. The Monday night game very cold, relatively high winds, and they put up 45 points. Last year against Tennessee in the snow, they put up 59 points. Two years ago against Arizona in the snow, they put up 47 points, and that was with Matt Cassel at QB. I don't think the weather is going to hinder their short passing game all that much, unless the footing becomes so terrible that their timing gets ruined. But this has really yet to be seen.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 06:16 PM) I'm guessing the plan is trade Quentin for bullpen pieces and then re-sign Andruw Jones... Argh. Anybody interested in Austin Kearns? Kearns put up some decent numbers last year for Cleveland before being traded to the Yankees. I'm sure SoxAce would love the move

The total on the Bears/NE game is down to 38.5 at some places. The over seems like the lock of the century to me. Of course, that probably means bet the under with the way I have been seeing things lately

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 02:25 PM) If that is the case why are places like Green Bay and New England ahead of us? Somebody call Roger Bossard and fix this the right way. I think it is the lake effect. I think the rapidly changing temps that can occur along the Lake can cause havoc on a field like Soldier Field that doesn't come into play in other cold weather areas. I could be wrong...but that would be my guess.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 02:28 PM) I dunno, but I think somewhere closer to Anaheim's offer might have been where he'd wound up if Werth had wound up at 7/$90. I think if either Bos or NYY were going to be involved, he was going to get close to $130 million regardless. Werth's deal may have impacted his a bit, but this megadeal for Crawford has been anticipated for 2-3 years now, well before this deal with Werth.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 02:19 PM) Jay Cutler (12-8-2010) - "we probably have one of the worst fields in the league at this point. We did last year as well... We have to deal with it, and our guys know it. They are aware of how to cut and how to move on it... (Cutler said he hears) a lot of stuff (from opposing players) after the game and during pre-game about what cleats to wear … exactly how torn up (Soldier Field) is... It's a shame." Chicago Park District (12-10-2010) - "You hate to hear comments like that because there's a strong commitment by the city, the Chicago Park District, the management here at Soldier Field to keep this as one of the best fields in the NFL." Survey says, Soldier Field one of the worst - The last time the National Football League Players Association conducted its Playing Surfaces Opinion Survey in 2008, Soldier Field was sacked by the players around the league. Soldier Field was rated the fourth-worst grass playing field in the NFL, ahead of only Pittsburgh, Oakland and Miami. And Miami and Oakland are baseball stadiums as well...so we are probably among the worst with Pittsburgh. Most of this has to do with the weather. Part of it has to do with the insistence to allow hs football games to take place the same week as Bears games. Time for field turf.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 01:05 PM) Exactly what I was thinking. I doubt it stops there, either, once next year hits. Unless ownership colludes, and I'm sure as hell not advocating that either. It's inflation. Of course contracts are generally going to trend upwards with revenues.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 12:58 PM) I dunno, I sure feel like the Werth signing defined the market for the Crawford signing. Well what the heck did you think Crawford was going to sign for?

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 12:52 PM) These things are all true. I think the smart teams will stay out of it, though, and benefit from their saved money in other ways. Then, they'll win (theoretically) and appease their fan base that way. I was okay with playing the game up until these last two signings. They're excessive, and they're defining the market. Boston and New York are, of course, exempt from that statement as they can do this ad infinitum. Seriously...salary cap... I don't think the market is really getting defined a whole lot by these signings. Cliff Lee was going to get a crapload of money regardless. If anything, the Crawford signing probably hurts Beltre's value, unless they just hold the screws to Anaheim and they relent.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 01:46 PM) I don't consider either of those outfielders (Werth and Crawford) the top tier. To me, this is where second-tier players are going, masked as top-tier because of the years they happen to hit free agency. Also, there comes a point at which the price of products near the top of the law of diminishing returns exceed efficiency. I think we're there. Well that's it right there...that's what I meant...the top tier players in THIS year's FA class. And this occurs because the process is controlled by human beings and not computers. Humans become impatient and emotional, and sign players to long-term contracts because they want them NOW instead of waiting til the better player is available next season. To be fair though, they are also forced to please the fans, who are also impatient and emotional, and waiting back for optimal player acquisitions might be confused with inactivity or a desire to do nothing to improve the Club.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 01:40 PM) Yah, I get that, but this offseason is an exaggerated example, in my opinion, to the point where it's not worth it to participate in the current setup. Screw free agency, at least for outfielders. Adam Dunn is looking better and better. But is it, really? Every year the top tier players get ridiculous contracts. The difference lies in where the second and third tier guys go...and from what I can see, it's playing out pretty reasonably.

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 01:21 PM) My slow computer costs 900$. My fast computer costs 2000$. ONCE. Not 20,000,000 per year for 7 years. Contracts are out of control considering the current state of the economy. Well, notice how the first line of my post stated that I agreed that Crawford's contract is an overpay. Secondly, we should also not the scarcity of the product here. This is a combination of diminishing returns and supply and demand, because of the scarcity of the product.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 11:41 AM) How much more complicated is it? I mean, sure, those are simple stats that don't tell the whole story, but I challenge you to line up stats indicating that this contract doesn't make JP's look like a steal. Don't get me wrong, I'm no Pierre-hugger, and I REALLY like Crawford (who wouldn't?), but I like him more as a 5/$70ish guy. I think that contract was flat stupid but maybe I'm an idiot. If this is what it's gonna take to sign a decent outfielder, go ahead and put me down for 5 more years of our outfield. Actually, go ahead and put me down for a hell of a lot more money in scouting and drafting. Well, while I agree with you about Crawford's contract, this is a matter of the cost increasing for a higher tier of production, even though the increment of production that increases is not equal to the level of the cost. You see this in all walks of life. That slightly faster computer costs much more than the model below it even though it's improvement in performance isn't THAT much faster. Or that more expensive HD tv has a better and faster picture, but it isn't THAT much better than the model below it that costs $1300 less. This is the law of diminishing returns...

So Kenny is saying we're most likely not going to be able to sign any marquee (or even recognizable, for that matter) names for the pen, and so that he will have to get creative via the trade market. He also did mention that Sale would most likely join the rotation for the beginning of the season, impliedly until Peavy can return. After signing Konerko, Sox turn to relievers

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 10, 2010 -> 08:50 AM) You don't think the spread played into that decision? No, not at all. I think they realized that with 30 seconds left, they had the ball inside the 20 and it would be easier to try and score a td from that position and then get 25-30 yards after recovering a potential onside kick to get the game-winning field goal than it would be to kick the field goal there and go 60 yards to score the game winning td after recovering a potential onside kick. Once you get close enough to the end zone to have a legitimate shot, you take it, unless you get forced into an unmanageable 4th down situation. I think Jeff Fisher realized that during the timeout after initially running Bironas onto the field to kick the field goal.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 9, 2010 -> 07:39 PM) Do you have the sports almanac from Back to the Future? Should I bet on that exact box score right now??? Side note: Did anybody notice that when the Colts were 5-2 or 6-3, the media kept claiming that Manning is so good, it doesn't matter how many of his WRs are injured, he keeps winning? Now that they are 6-6, all I hear is that there is only so much Peyton can do with an injured WR core. Which one is it?? Manning is incredible. He can turn nothing receivers into stars. But when he isn't even confident of where they are going to be on certain routes, even the great Peyton Manning can get flustered, especially with absolutely no running game to speak of.

There is just only so much you can really account for in trying to predict a football game. Everything went the Colts way early, including converting two big 3rd downs on their first td drive, converting a 3rd and 17 on their second, and then the snap over the Tennessee punter's head. Meanwhile, this was all flanked by Tennessee receivers dropping passes that hit them right in the hands. This game was a really solid example of why the NFL is so difficult to try and predict. And of course, the Titans score on the final play of the game to cover the spread, after deciding at one point to bring in their kicker for the FG and then calling him back. Crazy stuff.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 9, 2010 -> 07:03 PM) Titans passing D absolutely blows, and Indy has given up a lot of offense in the second half this year. I can see a high score tonight. Any score is possible in the NFL. The key for me is whether the Titans have quit on Jeff Fisher or not. If they have, it will be a ugly.

Taking Titans on the moneyline and under 44.5 tonight.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 9, 2010 -> 12:55 PM) I'm trying to forget about Juan Pierre right now because he makes me want to hurl. But I agree. Mitchell is one of, like, 2 prospects we have right now that really, really intrigues me. I just hope it doesn't take him forever to bounce back from missing so much time. So are you saying that you wouldn't deal Dayan, Flowers and whatever scrub for Broxton and maybe another piece? That's where this all started for me. I hate hypothetical trades with no substance like Megatron hates Optimus prime. But I'm buzzed and bored and had to speak my mind. I thought you were coming around with regards to Juan...

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Dec 9, 2010 -> 12:25 PM) I just get the feeling that Viciedo is going to turn out to be like Miguel Cabrera or David Ortiz. You're right though... with Konerko and Dunn there's really no place for him. I just hope he doesn't come back to kill the Sox. He doesn't have the plate discipline to develop into a hitter like that. Maybe an Adrian Beltre type, but probably not Miguel or Big Papi.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 9, 2010 -> 12:03 PM) I have no faith whatsoever in this organization to develop position players, let alone a catcher. I don't know what happened to Broxton last year. But from 2006 through 2009 he sported a 2.79 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, a K/9 of nearly 12 and an ERA+ of 154. Not sure what his contractual status is. But he's one of the few relievers I'd have no problem with dealing Viciedo for. You're going to rule Flowers out simply based on the parameter that he is in our system? C'mon now.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 9, 2010 -> 10:55 AM) It is? Flowers and Teahen both suck at this sport. Viciedo would be the only loss. I think you guys are giving up a bit early on Tyler Flowers, especially considering we're seeing a real shortage of quality catchers right now...6 years of cost-controlled catching seems pretty valuable to me right now, even if it is at just above replacement level.