caulfield12

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/americans-ar...-190304928.html Dedicated to Greg775 and the denizens of Lawrence (KS) Applebee's family restaurants.

As Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle explained in late June, Aiken would become a free agent if he failed his physical and the Astros did not make an offer of at least 40 percent of his slot value (roughly $3.17MM). Clearly, based on Heyman’s report, Houston is still comfortable enough with Aiken’s elbow that this scenario is unlikely. However, the Astros would also lose the value of Aiken’s slot from their bonus pool should he elect not to sign, which would be problematic. The Astros were set to save about $1.4MM on Aiken’s original $6.5MM bonus, and a great deal of those savings were reserved for the $1.5MM bonus they’ve agreed to with fifth-rounder Jacob Nix – a bonus that is $1.13MM over slot. It is in Houston’s best interest to get some form of deal worked out, as losing Aiken’s slot would drop Houston’s overall pool to roughly $5.44MM, leaving them unable to officially sign Nix at that figure without incurring penalties in future drafts (the maximum penalty, which is enforced if a team exceeds its draft pool by more than 15 percent, is the forfeiture of a team’s next two first-round picks and a 100 percent luxury tax on the overage). Also, reports from the Chronicle's Drellich that Flores (Aiken's personal trainer) says Brady is "absolutely healthy." Interesting to see how this one ends up. Maybe Aiken's camp is going to ask for some kind of addendum where if he doesn't go down to TJ surgery within 6-10 years they will have to pay back the $1.5 million they're subtracting for the physical results.

Maybe there's TOO many religious movies? 1. Grander than the Grand Budapest. Thought “The Grand Budapest Hotel” was the biggest indie movie of the year? While no slouch at $58 million, it was actually beaten out by a couple of movies you may have never heard of: faith-based dramas “Son of God” ($59 million) and “God's Not Dead” ($60 million), as well as animated comedy “The Nut Job” ($64 million). TriStar Pictures 2. Believing in God trumps believing in ghosts. Faith-based dramas far outgrossed horror movies in 2014 thus far, with “Heaven is For Real” leading the pack with $90 million and “Son of God” and “God's Not Dead” both near the $60 million range. The highest grossing horror movie of the year? “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones,” which has only made $32 million.

http://voices.suntimes.com/sports/abreu-th...tar-experience/ Abreu's family has been in the U.S. for two months (in Florida, one would assume Miami) and will be with him throughout the All-Star game festivities in Minnesota. Interesting they're not in Chicago for the summer, but maybe they're more comfortable in Florida.

Almora, above and beyond him being rushed a level with less than a half-season to establish himself, has also been a pretty big disappointment in 2014. Then you couple that with the injuries to Edwards and Soler and you have 4 of the top 6 struggling for one reason or another. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2121375...cts-for-week-14 Cubs' report that "spins" every single player's accomplishments to make them seem like world beaters

QUOTE (LDF @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 10:17 PM) whomever thinks that the red sox will trade to be a buyer is sadly mistaken. they are already rumored in trying to trade to be sellers. Except nobody will take Jake Peavy off their hands, haha.

Greg, how can you explain why there's statistically very very few murders/homicides here in China? If 90%+ of people don't believe in God, there must be something else at play. Most don't even follow the "Golden Rule" simply because of the fact that there's so much competition for space/jobs/resources/time waiting in lines or getting onto subways before others can even try to get off... So, if you want less violence: 1) Fewer guns (guns are illegal in China except for police or military) 2) More government authority/control (as someone pointed out, nobody has the political will to occupy inner cities with the National Guard to quell the violence, and, as Balta pointed out, there's not enough outrage that blocs of voters are organizing in a way to take their frustration out on politicians in any concerted way) 3) There's no culture of personal shame/responsibility. Once again, in China, the shame you bring on your family for doing something terrible like murdering another person...heck, it's nearly impossible for a single woman to have a child without being married here because of the strong social stigma against it. In most inner cities, there's the feeling there is nothing to lose joining a gang/dealing drugs, etc., because who would want to work at McDonald's or Taco Bell and be stuck with a minimum wage job when you can't even support yourself, let alone a family, on that pay?

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 05:36 PM) I guess I mean that with his arm, if he throws strikes, he's a late inning reliever of some kind. But if he doesn't throw strikes then he's not a Major League player. You could then say that Maurer's ultimate floor is a minor league player. But then again, given Tank's atrocious defense, as an all-bat right-handed platoon bat that can't really play the field much, his ultimate floor is basically the same thing, a minor leaguer or one of those guys who bounces around team to team always making under $2M per, mostly around the minimum to $1M. So in either case you are potentially dealing with something just about worthless. Still, it all depends on Coop. All you want IMO is talent out of Viciedo, not some low ceiling crap that can't even become at least a #3. Get an arm and if Coop likes him a lot and thinks he can work some magic, then you look at that deal as trading for a potential mid-to-top end of the rotation starter. If that's the player you want, and the second piece is likely to be far lesser anyway, don't get too greedy. Get the guy you want and move on. Viciedo doesn't have the dramatic splits vs. RHP/LHP as in years past. You're basically saying he's worth less than Jeff Keppinger, Scott Downs and about the same as Paulino. Not buying it. We've been able to find useful pieces in Guerra, Carroll, Putnam and Noesi without giving up a thing for them. We developed Petrick and Webb internally. Why would we give up our 3rd best power hitter and an everyday position player for that? If this was a case of Joe Borchard for Matt Thornton, sure. Or Guerrier for Damaso Marte.

Not surprisingly, the Cubs have been blown out 3 games in a row. Have to feel sorry for the veterans still remaining on that team. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2121860...rough-mlb-draft The failures/injuries to Appel, Correa and Aiken show the dangers of building through the draft.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 08:56 PM) Man, Viciedo and Dunn are hot. And they've been doing it against good teams that may want trade pieces. If ever they are tradeable, now is the time. Or is this the real Viciedo? If the past four games are the real Viciedo, he is Mini-Abreu. He has teased before. This is when you have to trust your scouts I guess. p.s. I haven't changed my position on Dunn. I still am of the opinion Sox get very very little in return if anything. Except the Red Sox suck, are flat and in last place now in the AL East. And that was Dunn's first HR/RBI since the Giants series. Finally, Buchholz had a 6+ ERA coming into the game.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 08:56 PM) 7-3 the last 10...who are these guys? Don't do it flavum (should be 8-2 and sniffing .500). You'll jinx them as soon as you get a little optimistic again, haha. Especially with how flat the Red Sox looked and Sale/Quintana/Danks going. Anything other than 3/4 would feel pretty disappointing now. And Cle just got beaten by a Yankees' rookie, only one game behind the Indians now.

DJ and Flowers still upset with Ortiz not running at all to 1B again... Farmer claims Buchholz should have an ERA in the 2's every season.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 07:22 PM) We've seen him play for 2 months. Good gracious. Call me an eternal optimistic, but I just have a feeling if Viciedo becomes confident again with his offensive game, his defense will pick up as well. He has the arm strength. 90% of his problems are 50% mental (Yogi Berra). Also, just guessing, but think they would like to keep Dayan in RF and move Garcia over to LF if they don't DH them. Of course, the problem is putting a player of their age at DH full-time, usually that's not a great idea.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 06:54 PM) The Astros have him by the balls. He is 17 or 18. $5 million sets him up pretty well if baseball doesn't work out. He is hurt. If he needs surgery, the draft next year is probably out. As long as the injury is legit, I think they are being more than fair. It would be interesting if we could get the test results to PTAC and see if he agrees conclusively that the Astros are warranted in red flagging him... Can't Aiken's family get a second or third opinion now from Dr. Andrews or the Jobe Clinic and put that information out there publicly? Who is the arbiter of whether there's a legit injury or not...to say they can lower the slot offer from 90% to 40%???

Please just DH Avisail Garcia next year. It would be easier to add a LH outfielder...like Rasmus or Cabrera...than fixing Garcia's defensive approach, or lack thereof.

DJ: "That's laughable." Farmer: "Liar liar pants on fire." DJ is back to wanting to scrap the replay system entirely and go back to the old school approach.

Supposely Abreu/Sierra/Nieto are all really close...for those worried about Viciedo and Ramirez being traded having a negative effect on Jose. Seems like Sierra is his best friend right now.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 07:08 PM) If they are going after $200 million pitchers, or even multiple ones if you believe the fluff in here, they are going have to be selling out basically every night again. Arroyo's TJ is yet another warning shot across the bow for anyone giving out those deals. If anything, it's a lot better to target a Justin Masterson and buy him on the down side if you think he can rebound and you can lock him in for 3-4 much more affordable years. From a cost-benefit analysis, I'd rather take my chances with the equivalent of 3 Masterson's than 1 Scherzer megadeal.

DJ and Farmer love Pedroia's hustle. Beckham getting lots of opportunities to show off his glove work tonight.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 07:03 PM) They're not, which is why they said no to Maurer supposedly Well, supposedly TUC already has identified his flaws and can move Maurer to the rotation. (Of course, the Mariners and Rangers didn't get anything out of NoE, so who knows?)

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 07:00 PM) Tank officially a league average hitter with a wRC+ of 100. Still think it's insane to trade him for a relief pitcher and then run Sierra/Taylor out there. How likely are those guys to be improvements? Taylor is already 4 years older than Dayan. With Gillaspie not hitting for power, catcher not giving us anything, Semien/Johnson/Eaton not power guys...and losing Dunn as well, you just can't give up on him quite yet. Farrell mentioned Abreu, Dunn, Viciedo and then Ramirez hitting with pop this year. Losing all three of those guys isn't a great idea at USCF.

Saladino is the most deserving in Charlotte, although Davidson's heating up....you'd prefer to give him at least another month to prove that his improvements are sticking. Semien is struggling still and Micah Johnson just doesn't have enough experience yet at that level. Plus, we've already watched one guy struggle with a quick promotion to Chicago.

5 homers and 11 RBI's in a week. Carlos Lee streaky!!!! Wow. Huge homer, fought back from on 0-2 count. Oppo.....all muscle. Previously 1 for 9 against Buchholz.

Dunn back on the "trade him" radar with tonight's game. Seemingly past the hand/wrist problems. With catcher, God knows. Phegley or Kevan Smith are the only internal options. Maybe a veteran catcher comes back in one of our July/August trades.

Who do we want to give those Dunn at-bats to? Wilkins? Mitchell (haha)? Semien? Michael Taylor?