caulfield12

So all the money to pay Tanaka $125 million, or Shark $90 million for his extension at this time last year, has simply disappeared? I guess we should be grateful, because those would have been two more debacles, but not because the White Sox didn't have the resources. And Shark, by definition, wasn't really in the true prime of his career either, although I suppose they would argue his lack of innings pitched and concentration on football made him more like a 27-28 year old pitcher in terms of wear and tear.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 7, 2016 -> 08:37 PM) Dude, I know it's your posting style, but 3 of the 4 unrelated clauses are about the Republicans. This thread doesn't need your speculations about how Republican debate performances will impact Republican poll results. We have a thread for that. Then at least the Hillary Clinton discussion should pretend to be about substance...and ideology, rather than personal characteristics. Mexsoxfan mentioned Trump as GOAT but he actually has a very good chance at the Republican nomination again thanks to Rubio.

Illinois is so bad the Iowa/Illinois match-up doesn't even get a mention. Weird times. As far as IND goes, see OU at KSU. Huge game this week in Bloomington for both programs. Sole possession of first and true inside track on the B10 at stake for the Hawkeyes (and quite likely 1 seed). First time Iowa has gotten #1 votes since late 1980's....never saw it coming this season http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball...ma-loses-to-ksu

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 6, 2016 -> 08:51 AM) Only if you needlessly try to complicate things. Which teams would you currently cite, or cite specifically for their 2015 seasons?

Depending on how badly Rubio got dinged by the debate, Trump might still be the favorite and GOAT. Unless Bush/Christie shift all their support behind Kasich. Can Kasich be dynamic and inspirational enough to tear off support? It seems Trump will have his 25% and Cruz his Santorum/Huckabee/Tea Party coalition of 15-17.5% https://www.yahoo.com/politics/hillary-clin...-210913805.html Probably not the best way to get young Democratic women back to your side.... http://www.salon.com/2016/02/07/its_almost..._rigged_system/ It's almost over for Hillary

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 7, 2016 -> 08:18 AM) The Cards picked up Gyorko to back up the IF. That's why Desmond doesn't make much sense unless the Cards plan on Desmond playing LF? I doubt Toronto has any interest or need for Desmond. That's an expensive way to back up an infield that has depth already and the same can be said for the OF. Desmond makes much more sense for the Sox than Toronto or the Cards. That's not to say the Sox will actually sign Desmond. They could move Peralta to 1b and bench Adams. Don't see how he would be competing with Gyorko for playing time. The other option is Holliday to first and Desmond in the outfield. http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/i...orth-the-gamble

In the end, most typical fans don't care very much about excuses or rationalizations.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 7, 2016 -> 11:37 AM) Rubio is still somewhere walking around muttering that Obama knows what he's doing and America will be great again. Ironically trying to counter the fact that he's not another version of the inexperienced and unprepared Obama by saying how effective he is at destroying the country isn't the greatest argument in the world. Nor is citing your own accomplishments when you don't actually show up for the votes but simultaneously dinging Obama for golfing when GW Bush doing the same or hanging out at his Crawford ranch was just being a man's man.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Feb 7, 2016 -> 02:08 PM) ABC is a joke. How can they not have a producer or intern or somebody in the hallway during the introductions and not make Carson look like a zombie? That was terrible. There are just horrible horrible candidates on the Republican side. Is Rubio serious about repeating the same lines four times in the debate? That's insane. He comes across as glass eyed and a nutjob, sort of. Cruz is just bizarre and abrasive to the ears needs to go away. By the end, people are going to be so sick of Trump it would be the biggest landslide in history if he runs against Hillary. Obviously I hate Hillary but her one saving grace is she has Bill hovering in the background and Bill is entertaining/cool, whatever the word you want to use. Carson is great but doesn't come across well on TV. Christie is like having Mike Ditka as president; won't fly. What a sorry cast of characters. Out of all of them you'd have to pick Trump as most electable still but again, his supporters are too vocal in a meanish way. But ABC ... did they try to embarrass the Rebulicans with that introduction? Was it deliberate? Sanders actually polls much better against Trump nationally than Hillary does fwiw.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Feb 7, 2016 -> 02:16 PM) No I don't like that. And Balta, you are a smart person. You know little things like how a person looks or sounds means a TON in Presidential elections. Nixon losing to Kennedy because of the way he sweat on TV. Humphrey's looks and voice. You don't think superficiial things like looks and screaming matter? I'd say 30 percent of all voters vote on likeability. In our superficial country?? Of course they do. I despise Hillary for a lot of reasons but yes I wonder how Hillary supporters can stand listening to her scream out cliches? I notice you didn't answer my specific question but effectively changed the subject to screaming at me. It's scarier to think Rubio might be our next president not having the ability to do anything but repeat himself...four consecutive times...even when he's being directly ridiculed for it by Christie.

The counterpoint is how mamy MLB teams have 100% privately financed stadiums? That said, it sucks when the owner is threatening to move your favorite team halfway across the country. That's not easy to overlook for some fans.

Hasn't that same exact statement been made about 10-12 times this offseason...that Hahn was just craftily playing some version of poker under his own unique set of rules? Otherwise, why take the risk from the fallout if you had little to no intention of actually pulling the trigger on a significant acquisition?

Hernandez, at best, is months away from playing in the big leagues... They need to be looking at Jackson, Fowler, Jennings, Victorino, Guerrero/Hernandez, etc. And/or Ian Desmond.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article....articleid=28379 http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2016/02/06/stick-...list-manifesto/ Reaction to first article...

It's a lot easier to see Bush clan backing Kasich imo. Christie is too aggressive for their taste. And he's tainted by the association/cooperation with Obama still.

With the Jays, 2b if Travis is out and SS for Tulowitzki. Also DH, with Colabello far from a sure repeater performance-wise. Have said all along he would be a decent or potentially above-average outfielder if he had enough time to prepare. With the White Sox, he would provide insurance at 2b, SS, DH and relegate Saladino to a bench role. If they can't afford Austin Jackson or Desmond Jennings, I'm coming around on Shane Victorino because he can hit lefties and has been a valuable performer on a string of playoff/World Series teams. Guerrero or Kiki Hernandez, they need to improve that bench somehow. Cards have been considering moving Peralta from SS for awhile now, fwiw. http://www.rotochamp.com/baseball/PlayerRa...spx?Position=SS

Christie and Kasich won that debate and it wasn't close. Rubio took a lot of shots and didn't have any ability to shift on his feet and adjust his tone away from repeating the same attack on Obama over and over. Now the biggest question is how much of a surge do the governors get...? Can both Kasich and Christie make it to South Carolina? Donald Trump had a pretty good night and didn't do anything to lose his position in NH.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/...shane-victorino Shane Victorino to hit against lefties...just because our sights keep getting set lower. Supposedly he's in very good shape, of course his agent wouldn't lie.

http://www.salon.com/2016/02/05/dems_stop_...ious_s_that_is/ This is the best and most detailed article so far that explains why 84-86% of women under thirty are currently supporting Bernie Sanders...

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7815788_steepest...ted-states.html The only MLB stadium that has the same rake or slant is Kauffman...which makes sense since that was the principal HOK model minus the fountains/outfield bleachers and concourse. http://baseball-fever.com/archive/index.php/t-80181.html

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11...e-soldier-field See second and last paragraphs...

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11...e-soldier-field See second and last paragraphs...

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14724005...angeles-dodgers Puig finally turning over a new leaf?

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/how-the-teams-were-built/ A couple of things stick out. We have the second most players acquired by waivers (6) to the Blue Jays (7) and we are tied for 25th with the Brewers for fewest number of international signings with two. Only TB (0) and LAA, Oakland and Toronto are worse (1 each). It's interesting to note TB went over their cap in the most recent signing period for Latin America. Also, Jose Quintana is technically counted as a free agent rather than a waiver claim here, but he's clearly not the typical big ticket free agent signing.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/i...cubs-and-astros Cubs and Astros success not a product of tanking