bigruss

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:24 AM) You can attempt to justify Tara deciding to stay, but it's purely a plot machination by the writers. Given the character, her history, etc., there is no way she would have stayed. I would say her history can back up either of our sides, so I'll just drop this argument.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:24 AM) There's no battle to be had. Drive to hospital, shoot Clay in face. The fact that he's not doing anything and waited after Jax asked him to is clearly a sign that he's listening. That situation means he's back in jail, and he has kids to watch over without a wife. I would say that's preventing him at the moment more than Jax. He didn't really seem to listen to Jax, as seen by not showing up to the meeting.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:12 AM) Tara talked for two seasons about wanting like hell to get out, and to provide safety for her sons. Suddenly, she's OK with letting them stay there and grow up into the gang themselves. Purely a plot device. Opie is still aware that Clay is alive, but he listened to Jax when he told him that he was necessary for the deal which Opie was against in the first place. No way Opie wouldn't take the very first chance he got to finish Clay off. The whole trust thing was even before that, and I think fueled her wanting to get out because all she saw was the bad s*** but never knew really why it was happening and didn't like not knowing coupled with being in danger. I don't think it's all that unreasonable to have a wife with 2 kids decide to stay with the husband she loves, especially when you consider the CIA is kind of on their side now. Opie is clearly battling Jax, I thought they made that clear. And it should be that way.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:17 AM) I was just about to type these responses but hit refresh. Thanks for taking care of that. Also, Russ, seriously, the FBI guy was nothing but a complete dickhole to Prison Break all year long. He gave no f***s. Then he decides to tell him he "respects" him, which is a crock, but it works for the neatly giftwrapped episode we were fed last night. Eh, he treated him like a dickhole to get what he wanted. But at the same time, the sheriff was the only one to really stick up to him and stood for what he believed was right, and maybe he actually respected that. Im not saying its the most logical storyline, but that was passable in my eyes (the cartel/CIA s*** was about as unbelievable as you can get though).

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 10:15 AM) Still worth watching somewhat, hopefully the Oakland drama brings it down to earth next season. Im hoping with some of these crazy storylines that they get back to the local gang type fights, especially vs Oakland. I think that would get the show a bit more on track.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:07 AM) Pretty much spot on. The entire season was a sham. It honestly might as well not have happened. The show refuses to sway from the status quo. Everything that occurred this season could have happened in one scene, something like a shootout with a rival gang leaves the three meaningless members of the club dead and Clay in the hospital, so Jax takes over. There, I did as much in 15 seconds as this show did all season. I do agree the whole cartel/CIA thing is just a stupid storyline that the writers decided to pull out of their ass.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 10:59 AM) Yeah, see, I like the idea of Jax taking over the club, obviously. But they didn’t need to lie to me all season to get there. They just basically decided to tell us the entire season was bs last night! Murderous cartel is working with CIASeriously! They murdered people! Oh, sorry about hurting Tara’s hand. We were trying to get her to a safehouse! Tara’s now ok with CharmingFor two seasons she’s wanted out. The entire season was based on Jax getting out. The job in Portland was a done deal. Eh, no biggie sweetheart! I see you with that gavel and it just makes me so wet! Let’s stay here forever! Jax to Opie: Trust meHow about NO. Clay killed my wife! Clay killed my dad! Oh, ok, I’ll trust you, Jax. Hugs n kisses. FBI goofball – now a nice guy!Hey, black dude from Prison Break. I actually respect you. Sure, I used you like my b**** all season. But seriously, I respect you. See? I’m going to let Juice go!! All is well. Seriously, what a crock. There are about a million more issues with everything. Every point of contention that was raised during this season was dismissed in a 32 minute episode. “The Killing” proved to execs that one thing fans don’t like is to find out they’ve been lied to all season long… way to go SOA. I usually agree with your commentary but definitely disagreeing with a lot here. Tara is staying because she wants to keep her family together, and Jax is being honest with her finally (a big thing from last season). Opie DID NOT show up to the meeting, meaning he's not okay with Jax. The FBI/AG guy was weird as f***, and kind of a mystery, but he never seemed to really want to take down the Sons, he wanted the cartel and IRA. Once that was out of the picture, he did just what he wanted to do, he obviously didn't like people much and maybe respected the sheriff enough to do something right for him.

2 more exams 'today;, both requiring tons of studying but had an exam and presentation yesterday so havent done much. Only thing keeping the stress from making me go insane is already having a job after graduation....

1. Chicago 2. San Diego 3. New Orleans 4. Denver 5. Portland 6. Seattle 7. Milwaukee 8. Austin 9. Charlotte 10. Atlanta

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 04:41 PM) That never happened. It was an optical illusion. As far as I'm concerned, Dustin Hermanson was our closer down the stretch and in the playoffs in '05. Why? Well, the answer is simple: I was more familiar with him. I don't like change.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 12:23 PM) Rumors out there that Illinois may land Kevin Sumlin as its next head coach. If Thomas is able to hire Sumlin and somehow keep Koenning on the staff as DC I will be elated. Getting a good offense centered head coach while keeping Koenning would be huge.

QUOTE (Jake @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 01:23 PM) You usually don't waste pitchers with control like that in the bullpen. Hmm. Sounds like worst case, he could be Edwin Jackson. Completely different types of pitchers. Hudson is a better comparison.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 01:19 PM) Did it say for who? I have a feeling people are going to be very disappointed in whatever we get back for Thornton. If we throw in cash and get crap back then I will be disappointed.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 01:17 PM) Molina has had 5 years in the minors and has only 5 games at the AA level. It took him 4 and a half years to get out of A ball. Stop stealing comments from dumbass posters on MLBtraderumors. He's 22 years old and made AA, that's faster than usual.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 01:10 PM) The problem with a youth movement is Peavy, Dunn and Rios are going nowhere so the payroll is not dropping as much as the attendance will. I have no issue with a youth movement but what are they going to do with those 3? Play them. Hope they produce. Look to trade them at the deadline if ^ happens.

QUOTE (kwolf68 @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 01:08 PM) I suppose so. Haha...still Santos is at least proven at the major league level. Again, my problem is these trades seem to lack levity. Kenny trades multiples of our prospects (from a system that has never been that good since he got here) and we can't get something like that on the flipside? I just don't understand him. I suppose he is living off 2005 like Ozzie did. He offered to resign, JR said no and to stay. They are trying to do what is best for this organization fiscally and baseball wise for the future.

QUOTE (kwolf68 @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 12:58 PM) No argument with this. We could have really built around a rotation of Sale, Hudson, Gio and Axelrod. (not to beat the dead horses anymore). Which is why trading for young starting pitchers is a good idea, even if it means giving up a young closer.

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 12:52 PM) Some people were, Marquez was a 1st rd pick of the Yankees. I'm just saying I think we could've gotten more and some of this talk of Molina as a future All-Star is a bit nuts right now. Kid has only pitched a few games in AA. Marquez was viewed as a throw in by pretty much everyone, a guy that KW thought might be able to turn into a Garland, but his arm was never there. Danks was viewed as a top prospect in all of baseball, and Molina is getting that attention now. It's like thinking Daniel McCutchen was a top prospect because he was a first round pick, asinine.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 12:49 PM) It seems the overwhelming consensus is that he's a middle of the rotation guy. A number 3 as his ceiling. Could be a 2 though. I still like the trade. I've got high hopes for a pitcher with a strong splitter working with Coop.

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 12:47 PM) As of right now I'm not a big fan of this trade. Santos is a good, young, proven and cheap closer. I don't have a problem with the Sox trading him but I think in the long run they could've gotten more for him. As for Molina, we'll see how he turns out but Jim Callis of BA just said on the score that he not a top of the rotation guy, more of a 3-4 SP when he/if he's ready. It's not like this is the Mulder for Haren trade. Plus for every Jon Danks you might acquire in a trade like this, there's 5 Jeff Marquez's. This just proved you have no idea what you are talking about.

Supposedly this Molina kid has a plus splitter, and if you combine that with excellent command than yea, you have a potential all-star pitcher.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 12:33 PM) A solid single double-A level prospect is not a good return for an MLB level reliever when you figure reasonable bust rates. This trade could work out well but that's still a very poor return for an MLB-level player. I agree that we should have gotten another spect, especially one that this scout likes, but Molina was recently rated as the #2 prospect in their system, which is highly regarded.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 12:21 PM) I guarantee you that Toronto asked for Beckham for this guy Beckham straight up for him?

QUOTE (sircaffey @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 12:18 PM) Can this organization develop the single A prospects that it acquires? We seem to develop pitchers very well, it's the hitters we struggle with.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 6, 2011 -> 12:03 PM) Always nice to see fans of other teams upset that they're losing one of their favorite prospects. Big change from when Yanks fans were laughing at KW for acquiring Marquez. Having good scouts will do that to your team.