hi8is

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 01:17 PM) MASAHIRO TANAKA: This week, the Cubs were the team making the most news in the chase to land the right-hander who went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan last year, because the Cubs were the team that met with Tanaka, which meant that the Cubs were the team that could project optimism, both on the record, and through sources. Don't go ordering that jersey just yet, though. As Gordon Wittenmyer wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times, "breathless national reports via Twitter and blogs Thursday overshot the Cubs’ likelihood of hanging with the big-spending favorites in New York and Los Angeles in the process, especially when the Dodgers reminded the world of their willingness to spend by giving ace Clayton Kershaw a record-setting contract extension this week — after dealing with the same agent representing Tanaka." Tanaka makes a ton of sense for the Cubs, as he does for pretty much every team in baseball — as evidenced by the Dodgers' drive to add Tanaka to a rotation that already includes Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Dan Haren, with Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley recovering from injuries. Maybe the Cubs really impressed Tanaka with talk of how they are working with a foundation of prospects to become contenders very soon. It's probably best, though, not to pretend like Tanaka is going to choose his team before he has completed his due diligence. We'll know next week, when the deadline comes for Tanaka to sign and for the team winning his services to pay the $20 million posting fee to Rakuten. Anything before that is guesswork. http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2014...za-stephen-drew So you're telling me he'll be an Astro by tomorrow?

QUOTE (Hawkfan @ Jan 13, 2014 -> 03:43 PM) This I win.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 07:14 PM) cubs poop dick.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 06:54 PM) How about "Beef and Broccoli" because one is fat and the other is skinny (just judging by their voices) Erection.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 06:33 PM) Wait wait wait, then what makes yer dick hard fellas...GiRLS? Whoa whoa whoa. Why don't ya let up on the homosexual questioning. Girls leading to erections... How flaming.

QUOTE (dayan024 @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 05:22 PM) Dan Hayes ‏@DanHayesCSN 17m Only one rival executive's opinion but he says don't count #WhiteSox out on Masahiro Tanaka. http://bit.ly/1apVNZp Please stop giving me an erection. We're talking about the quality of my life increasing 20% if this guy is signed.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jan 15, 2014 -> 12:37 PM) As a Sox fan, I am conflicted on if the Yankees or Cubs signing Tanaka would disguise me the most. If not the Sox, I hope Arizona gets him. I'm just happy we only have 9 more days of this poop... at most! Really thou, if it's not the white sox - I'm hoping he goes to LA. The dodgers would sure be a fun team to watch with Kershaw and tanaka both locked up.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 14, 2014 -> 09:06 PM) “We try to keep in mind that it’s Jan. 14 and we still have a ways to go,” Hahn said. “But just watching Jose go through his work, you saw that professionalism as well as the plus-plus power on display today in only his first couple of rounds of BP. He’s a very serious hitter. He’s one who goes up there with a plan and has a great deal of ability and it’s going to be fun to see how this plays out over the next couple of years.” It is kind of awesome that we're still 30 days away from the start of spring training - and yet - we're already getting quotes like this from some on the field action. Nice.

At $500+ a pair... I'll take 20.

Meh. I find Aronofsky films inspiring - so, f*** all this noise.

I really need to just keep telling myself that Tanaka is already a Yankee. It'd be bad to get my hopes up anymore than they already are... DOWN BOY!

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 07:33 PM) Thank you hi8is. Also, did you edit my quote? Yes. Excuse me Sir if I've overstepped my bounds. However, seeming that English is your second language - I figured you may not mind a hand.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 01:12 PM) What numbers do you think I will put up? You, Mr. Abreu... Are a pure hitting beast. You're more than just a power guy. You'll hit at least .280 and will easily aproach 25 doubles and 25 bombs. I suspect however, that you'll far surpass those marks in what will be a fine rookie season.

I just need to put it in my head that Tanaka is already a Yankee.

And so the two week long game of "Press Refresh" begins.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 11, 2014 -> 11:18 PM) Paulie. Just Paulie. Meh.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 11, 2014 -> 11:11 PM) Ok Soxtalk. I've have a little boy coming in a little over a month and my wife and I have had some friction regarding names. I have been very stuck on Frank Thomas as the first and middle name and we can call him little hurt. At first she was very resistant but its starting to grow on her, especially when I told her the second choice is Braxton Miller. However its good to have alternatives that arent today's ridiculous made up s***. We are very traditional, so no Lemonjello. She is half italian and half irish and i am 100% east German. Here is your chance. If someone comes up with something better than Frank Thomas, and frankly if it sells my wife, I'll relay the results. My last name starts with a B After labor and all the contractions - Braxton will be the last thing she'll want to name the little tyke. Little Hurt 100%. Frank Thomas... He's an instant hero on every scool yard in the Chicago land area.

This offseason has gone almost exactly how I penned it in a "pie in the sky" scenario. On that list was also Tanka... which, I totally had zero faith would come to pass... It just made sense to sign him because he fits with the long term path we're on. Seeing now thou that Hanh, KW, Robin, and Jerry all where involved in the pitch... With the maximum posting fee ruling in place with deferments... It's looking like a serious possibility. Just... Wow. If I lived in Chicago and this got done, I'd pre-buy season tickets for 5 years.

100% big hurt until March 30th. March 31st it should feature all of the new guys.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Jan 11, 2014 -> 02:33 PM) I can't wait to get drunk... Seems like this statement already held true.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 10, 2014 -> 09:54 PM) Homer Bailey I can also see us all over Bailey. We've been after him since... What... 2006?

I really like the idea of trading one of Johnson or Quintana for Castro and then signing Tanka, Garza, or Santana. Balances out the rotation a bit more and fills the backstop with a promising young hitter. Brings more LH balance to the lineup too. Gotta bye your ass Hanh is looking at all these angles.

QUOTE (Pale Sox @ Dec 28, 2013 -> 08:54 PM) Adrian Nieto's agent wrote a piece for Baseball Prospectus recently. In the comments section, someone asked him about Nieto's chances of sticking with the Sox. This is what he had to say: That's the first piece of interesting news that we've heard in a week

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Dec 24, 2013 -> 11:17 AM) Think he'll finally learn how to pull the ball? There are no data remotely suggesting a "breakout" -- you all need to stop talking out of your ass and give up on the dream. It's going to be 2014. Wow. It's been a long ass time since the 2008 draft.

I'd love to see Balfour - just because I hate him so much... It'd be fun to enjoy his antics from the other side , ALA AJ circa 2005.