Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jan 23, 2013 -> 09:50 PM) I guess it all depends on your version of different, but it's hard to make a sequel when you're trying to make distinctly different endings. The original Metal Gear Solid had two different endings, based on a single event halfway through the game. As far as the sequels are concerned, one ending is the actual one that occurred. I guess I was disappointed that a few key events didn't have a larger impact on the ending in the Walking Dead. In particular, deciding whether or not to take the food out of the "abandoned" car. It's cool that decision came back into the story, but it really changes nothing in the end other than a conversation you have with someone.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jan 23, 2013 -> 07:21 PM) I don't understand why people complain about that in these choice games. What do you expect? The devs to make 10 entirely different versions of 1 game? How about two or three different endings? Is that really asking too much for a game all about "choice"? I could name a half dozen games off the top of my head in a variety of genres that offer multiple endings based on your decisions.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 23, 2013 -> 09:59 AM) No kidding, I have NEVER read an IGN article that praised Nintendo as much as the one released today. MarioKart WiiU, Yoshis Island, Super Smash Bros WiiU, Mario Galaxy WiiU, Zelda, and a WiiU Zelda Windwaker is a pretty awesome bunch of announcements though The question is what is coming out this year and are there any surprises they are holding back until E3. My guess is if Retro Studios isn't developing Mario Kart, then they'll have a big announcement at E3.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jan 23, 2013 -> 04:24 PM) I'm not sure it has been discussed in here but the Walking Dead video game is awesome. I can't wait for season 2. Great game, although I wished the big choices had a more profound impact on the story, in particular the ending. Yes, people would remember things you did and said, but no matter what the ultimate ending was the same.

Do not go with Tiffany's or any of the big retailers. You'll get way more for the same cost at a wholesaler. You'll see the difference first hand when you get it insured, as my wholesaler was able to appraise the ring I bought for my wife for like 30% above cost. Also, some wholesalers will ship out of state and not charge sales tax, which can save you quite a bit of money.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 22, 2013 -> 06:30 PM) I don't see them doing anything with the bench. Dewayne Wise- they like him as a 4th outfielder/ once or twice a week starter at leadoff. Angel Sanchez- can play all three infield spots. Rule 5 draftee, so he either makes the team or probably goes back to Anaheim. Hector Gimenez- backup catcher. Can hit a little and pretty good defense. Jordan Danks or Blake Tekotte-- Lefty bat/good defense/can run It's not the sexiest bench, but in the AL it's not as important. Plus it's something that can be addressed in July once there's more clarity if they're going to contend. I'm higher on Gimenez than most, but he's still completely unproven with the bat and is 30 years old. As a backup catcher, he's going to get a decent amount of ABs. Flowers started 40 games last year, my guess is the back up catcher this year starts closer to 50 to 55 games. Angel Sanchez is also unproven and is our only reserve infielder at the moment. Escobar, Olmedo, & Lopez combined for 151 ABs last year and that doesn't include any of the ABs Hudson may of have as a reserve. Regardless, he'll be used more than just a late-inning defensive replacement and his AAA stats are highly inflated by playing in the Pacific Coast, which makes me very skeptical of him. Also, the fact that the three guys he's backing up are all right-handed doesn't help matters. As for Danks or Tekotte, they offer nothing that Dwayne Wise offers. Maybe Danks is a little stronger defender, but for pinch-hitting, base-running, and even spot-starts I'd go with Wise. Therefore, they offer minimal value to the team IMO. These things all add up and can cost you some wins in the end. A bench doesn't need to be perfect, but it shouldn't have as many holes and risks as our bench currently has.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Jan 22, 2013 -> 05:07 PM) Hahn said on Comcast, that a few additions to the club could happen this week Hopefully some additions to the bench, which is a serious weakness right now.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 22, 2013 -> 12:48 PM) Who was going to be a 3 win player in platoon situations over two months that the Sox could bring in, and what would they need to give up to get them? Barry Bonds in his steroid prime would have been.

What I find both fascinating and uplifting is that we only have three players in the Future Sox top 25 that were signed out of Latin America by us. I know you guys didn't release the top 10 yet, but I'm guessing Sanchez & Rienzo are the only guys who would qualify and throw in Olacio and that's all what we got to show for home-grown Latin American prospects. That's 12% of our top 25 prospects coming from one our primary sources of talent. I can guarantee that percentage is amongst the lowest in baseball and just goes to show how disadvantaged we've been since the Wilder fiasco. The good news is the addition of Paddy, the allocation of more resources, and the overall rule changes will change that. It will likely be three to four years before Paddy's first signing class truly make a serious impact on these type of lists, but hopefully we'll see incremental gains each year, with prospects like Sanchez popping out of nowhere more frequently.

QUOTE (Lamar Johnson 23 @ Jan 21, 2013 -> 09:21 AM) Some of you guys are too hung up on what the Sox might be paying him...Who the f cares?!? The Sox (obviously) wouldn't have signed him if he was "cost prohibitive". The "bottom line" will always be the bottom line. I think it was a solid baseball move...congrats Mr. Hahn. Now go out and get us a back up catcher (George Kottaras?) and a left handed hitting infielder (Matt Carpenter?), and lets declaw the f--king Tigers! Because it might give us insight some into how much more salary we can add to payroll? Although considering the Diamondbacks passed on his $4 million option, I'm thinking $3 million is probably a pretty decent guess for his salary.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 21, 2013 -> 09:03 AM) I could be wrong on this, but I believe Jordan Danks is out of minor league options. Didn't we just add him to the 40 man roster last year? If so, I don't see how could be out of options.

Has the dollar amount been mentioned anywhere?

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Jan 19, 2013 -> 03:42 PM) I dont really want Webb anywhere near the starting OL The problem is you can only do so much in a given offseason and I think it would be foolish to give up on Carimi this quickly. However, he needs to win a job next year and I think Webb would be respectable competition. If Carimi can win the job at RT, then Webb can be the swing tackle. That would be the ideal situation, but we just don't know what we have in Carimi at this point.

For this to be a successful offseason, Emery has to resign Melton and at least sign one starting OL (preferably a LT). I think it's way too early to say we can't afford both Long and Melton. There are still ways to clear additional cap space. Speaking of the OL, we should be able to snag a guard in the 1st or 2nd round that can start next year. If you can indeed sign a LT like Long in free agency, then I'd be ok with Carimi and Webb competing at RT. I'd also try to resign Louis if it looks like he'll be close to 100% healthy next year. We'd be looking at the following offensive line. Long-Rookie-Garza-Louis-Carimi/Webb Webb/Carimi, Williams, & Brown would be the reserves. It's not the best offensive line, but I think it would be good enough and the left side would be significantly better.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 19, 2013 -> 01:09 PM) I was wondering the same exact thing. With deadspin being so involved in this, there's no way this is just going to "go away". Also, isn't one of those messages far over 140 characters? Yeah, the one at 1:44pm is way more than 140 characters. Direct messages are restricted as well right?

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jan 19, 2013 -> 12:40 PM) The Sox played .574 ball against the bottom 3 teams in the division. I don't see them playing that well against them this year. The Tigers had the exact same record against those three teams, so what's your point? Looks like you're just cherry-picking stats in your never-ending quest to prove the Sox suck.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 18, 2013 -> 08:41 PM) The hate is becoming so rabid that I'm feeling more and more for Manti. He's an amateur athlete, a Mormon kid, I'm going to stick with his story until I see better evidence. I don't blame him for sticking with the story after he became pretty sure something strange was going on. You have to go to the grave with that story until Deadspin or somebody comes out with the hoax. If he was hoaxed, all those formative experiences with teammates surrounding her "death" are still real. He was still devastated and his team/family still had to help him pull through. There are lots of questions to be answered, but I don't like jumping on a person who only has vague, circumstantial evidence surrounding him and is the ONLY person who has the potential to be victimized. If Te'o is not a victim, then nobody is. I hate ND, but I don't automatically hate this kid. I need more than him being dumb and not strong enough to explain to the media that he had an online only girlfriend that turned out to be a fake person. Anyway, back to reading and waiting for more facts and testimony to come out. This isn't about Notre Dame, this about a person who capitalized off a fake trauma for attention. There are people out there who will never have a serious relationship their whole life, there are people who will lose a loved to illness or tragedy, and there are people who will overcome terrible events in their lives and still find a way to accomplish great things. Manti Ta'o is a fraud and an insult to people who face real pain and suffering in this world. None of us may know the whole truth behind what happened, but it is clear as f*** that this kid played up the lie to build up his legacy. Regardless of what football team he plays for that's f***ed up and he deserves no sympathy.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Jan 18, 2013 -> 05:45 PM) I could buy this if this was 1999. But to have a 4 year relationship and not get a real time pic, webcam, face time,skype,etc isnt being naive or dumb. If and when Te'o speaks, the media better ask him about how he never sought different ways to actually see her through those avenues. Agree completely. This isn't the AIM days, he's already said she had an iPad that she wrote those letters on. She could have easily face-timed Manti, not one f***ing excuse not to. There are so many questionable elements to what is already a questionable online relationship that I can't believe anyone could think he's innocent here. Manti is hiding something significant, because as I mentioned before, he claims to have proof of the con or should at least be able to attain some if his story is true (like his AT&T bill), yet he's still hiding from the press as we speak. Innocent people don't hide from accusations.

And let's be honest, dude didn't visit his girl in the hospital or attend her fake funeral, which is proof in my book that he knew a long, long time ago, before these events took place in his fictional timeline that he was being conned. And IMO, it makes me seriously think he was involved all along, especially when he says things to the media like his girl's breathing picked up while in a coma when she heard his voice over the phone. That's proof right there that Manti was playing us all. How can some people not see this?

QUOTE (kev211 @ Jan 18, 2013 -> 05:04 PM) Yes because of your anti Notre Dame stances. There's not a single piece of evidence that points to Teo being a part of this. There's also not a single piece of evidence that this is a giant Notre Dame coverup. Look at the facts and just accept that Teo was incredibly naive and stupid. But keep thinking this is a giant ND coverup if it makes you sleep better at night. Please share with us all the facts that prove Manti's innocence. I'd love to hear them all. IMO, every single piece of info that has come out since the original story makes me think Manti was involved from the beginning or at least very early on.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 18, 2013 -> 04:40 PM) I just wish that I could fast forward to 2 weeks from now when the actual facts come out. Ive done my speculating, now I just want to know if I was right or wrong. (edit) Dont be so sure that girl wasnt involved. According to this article: http://www.lostlettermen.com/manti-teo-diane-omeara/ She was HS friends with that Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. And according to the article Fathom posted, she didnt come to work today and hasnt been answering phone calls. If that girl was involved and sent the photo to Te'o with a time stamp on it, then Te'o would have all the evidence he would need to clear name and it would be clear he was actually conned. Given the negative outcry over this, there is no reason for T'eo not to come out immedietely and present proof be was conned if has it. However, him waiting to have a face to face with the media makes it look like he's trying to get his ducks in a row.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 18, 2013 -> 04:27 PM) http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/break...ml?id=187505701 I'm so sick of this story So the fake girlfriend who never existed sent a photo of herself with a time stamp on December 6th, yet if Deadspin is to be believed the girl whose picture was used for the twitter account had nothing to do with the scam. Therefore, this is the most pathetic attempt of a coverup I have ever seen in my life.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Jan 18, 2013 -> 10:50 AM) After listening to Trestman yesterday and doing research on all the new coaching changes, I changed my mind. The Bears mgmt said money wouldn't be a issue when it comes to the new coach and then they hire a guy on the bottom of the list. Please stop saying money was an issue with the hire. Lovie was one of the highest paid coaches in the NFL. The Bears are clearly willing to spend money, it just so happens the guy he liked was a 1st time NFL coach and he will get paid as such. There's nothing wrong with that. Also, I think it's clear Emery didn't like the experienced coaches that were out there for whatever reason, some because they'd want too much power and could be a threat to undermine him eventually (given that he's a new GM). I think he'd be pretty stupid to hire a guy who like Cowher, who if unhappy could possibly create a power struggle down the road.

I don't see how anyone could honestly think he was just catfished. Even if he was somehow duped originally, he's been lying about it for a long ass time. I'm going with the Manti is gay theory, that the online girlfriend was used for cover from teammates, but it was actually his boyfriend all along (we already know Tuiasosopo was running the twitter acount). Then something happened to their relationship and for some reason they or Tuiasosopo decided to kill the online persona off. Now Manti is committed to this lie or risk being outed prior to the NFL draft. There is at least some logic to this theory. I can't even begin to comprehend why he wouldn't have come out with the truth already if he was simply catfished by Tuiasosopo or some people.

And this isn't about whether or not he will completely fall apart, it's about the fact that they'll be paying Prince $24 million a season for several years when he's outside of his prime. To think he'll be anywhere close to the same player he is now, when he's 34, 35, & 36 seems crazy to me. I get why the Tigers signed him, but these 9 & 10 year contracts are going to end badly. Just look at the Arod deal. I'm sure the Tigers know there will be repercussions down the road for immediate benefit Prince provides.