BlackSox13

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jan 7, 2014 -> 10:47 PM) I'd offer a contract like this: 2014: 17M 2015: 18M 2016: 19M 2017: 20M; after the season the player has ability to opt out of remainder of contract; team also has $6M buyout to get out from remainder of deal 2018: 20M - guaranteed year if no opt-out by either side 2019: 20M - another mutual option with a $5M team buyout 2020: 20M - guaranteed year if no opt-out by either side A deal like that would give Tanaka $80M guaranteed over 4 years, or $74M for 4 years plus a shot at hitting FA before 30. Further there are options for the Sox to get out of the deal should things go bad later, but should they stick in the deal the Sox guarantee Tanaka more money. Something that would provide flexibility for both sides I would do. However I think he's getting everything guaranteed. *Edit: deferring some of the early money in 2014 & 2015 to a later point in the deal could be nice too as it could offset the posting fee some. I agree that he will likely get guaranteed money but your ideas do give some incite into some possible offers Tanaka may get rather than the say, 18M per 5/6 year deal.

Curious as to what the board thinks. If Tanaka can be had for say 18m per year or less for 5/6 years would you do it? And what do you think the chances would be in Tanaka having genuine interest in signing with the Sox? After a bit of thinking the Sox could come out of nowhere on Tanaka and so can Tanaka's interest in the Sox. Tanaka is going to get good offers from plenty of teams. I think it might come down to two things from Tanaka's perspective. 1- is the team a contender or at least close? 2- how good are the other teams in the division? If the Sox thought Tanaka's asking price was within budget the chances might be better than speculated. Yes the Yanks will offer plenty but they are in a tougher division than the sox which could raise Tanaka's interest level in the Sox. I admit I'm just guessing here but am curious what others think.

I'd guess this is the Sox kicking the tires since Tanaka will be in town to meet the cubs anyway. I can't see the Sox offering up what Tanaka is expected to get. As for the cubs, wishful thinking. The whole " we won't be outbid" is bs by the cubs front office because they've done nothing this off season and cub fans are not happy about it.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 7, 2014 -> 11:09 AM) I would be upset if that were the case. He likely starts in Kanny and if he succeeds pull him up to W-S. I wouldnt be upset at all. This is based on Tyler earning the promotion, not pushing him through the system.

Sounds like Danish is going to use this as fuel to prove the naysayers wrong, I like that approach. 2014 will be a telling season for Danish and not to put too high of expectations on him I can see him ending the 14 season at AA. Maybe I'm just really high on him but I love what I've seen in videos as well as his attitude.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 7, 2014 -> 10:24 AM) We have found the asshole. Ken Gurnick, Dodgers beat reporter on MLB.com, did not vote for Greg Maddux. In fact, he refuses to vote for any player who happened to play in the PED era. He voted for one player, Jack Morris. Gurnick should not be allowed to ever attend another baseball game in his life. Well, its been said that there's an asshole in every crowd and it looks like this guy is proud to be the one. Maybe he didn't like the " chicks dig the long ball" commercials. Glad his vote really won't make a difference.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jan 6, 2014 -> 07:04 PM) Is the chat free? I checked BA and you need a subscription to view the chat. I'm a fan of Danish too and until proven otherwise he can still be a starter since he's only 18 for f***s sake! Way too early to tell IMO.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 6, 2014 -> 08:12 AM) I think she's brain dead in the sense of there's no detectable brain function and currently all functions of the body including respiration are being driven by instruments. However, if blood is being pumped through the body and respiration is being sustained artifically then oxygen is being moved through the body to keep the tissues alive. That doesn't mean the brain can function, that doesn't mean there isn't significant damage already, but it is probably enough to slow the deterioration of tissue from this point. However, you're 100% right that there's no hope of recovery. At some point, yes, people will have to let go...but the question of how you can force people to do so is not open and shut. As I said, when it was a white woman in Florida, a significant part of the country thought a condition almost this bad which had gone on for half a decade should continue to be maintained indefinitely regardless of the cost, to the point that there were widespread protests and we had the remarkable spectacle of the Senate Majority leader, a trained M.D., giving a diagnosis on the Senate Floor based on a highly edited couple minute clip of video. I understand completely that the family does not want to let go and I completely agree that there's a point the hospital will need to force them to do so. But it's not a decision that should be made lightly and if the family wants to fight for now, they have that right. I understand Balta and I do agree. I admit its very easy to have an opinion on this since I'm in no way involved in the situation. I can see both sides to this. There's just so much more to this story than the money aspect of it I'm really not sure what else to say.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 6, 2014 -> 01:51 PM) That's what we used to do in michigan when our cars sat outside for days. Hell yeah Rock, ya do what you must especially with the winters Michigan gets.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jan 6, 2014 -> 01:39 PM) Just the battery light that showed up when I tried starting it....Should be pretty telling as to what the problem is. Main question I had was will it revive itself in the "warmer" weather, and balta answered that. I've got road side assisstence so if hasn't started by ~3p tomorrow I'll go ahead and get in contact with my insurance. OK cool, sounds like you have it under control. Could always pull the battery out and warm it up indoors for a while and try again later.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 6, 2014 -> 01:36 PM) Lead-acid batteries start re-rating once it gets too cold. That's while you'll see Cold Cranking Amps or "CCA" on a battery. That's the rating at 0F, and it'll only get worse from there. So your battery is pushing out substantially less amperage, and now you're trying to turn over an engine that's full of really think oil on top of it (anyone who's driven a manual transmission in this type of weather will know how 'thick' the fluid feels). If there isn't a gauge, you could always use a multimeter to read the Voltage (VDC) of the battery as well. If the battery is drained of charge and you can get someone to give you a lift, you could try bringing it into any auto parts store to have it tested, and they might even be able to charge it for you. A local mechanic's shop would probably help out too. Sound advice here. I know what you mean on the manual trans too.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jan 6, 2014 -> 01:12 PM) It tries to start, doesn't click. It's kind of a slow drawn out attempt at starting I used to build my own race cars and was an owner operator (truck driver) based on that experience along with cold Chicago weather your either not getting enough juice to the starter from the battery or the starter is is just worn out. When I first bought my own rig 10 years ago one of the first things I was told by other owner operators was that if the rig had any problems they would show when it got very cold over the winter. See if you can find some way of trying to get a jump start, if that doesn't work you most likely need to replace the starter. Is there a guage for the battery juice on the dash?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 6, 2014 -> 08:37 AM) This is generally considered the absolute worst way to build a team. I agree and that's why my post said nothing about building a team. Its about using the money from the sale of a young talent to help fill an immediate hole on a team that see's itself as a contender or at least close enough to contending to make it worth while.

No work for me or the little woman so I'm thinking we'll be lounging in bed together staying warm being happy as hell we have reason to go out into the cold and plenty of food/ drink in the house.

I can see Q and Sanchez for Castro and Altuve being pretty damn close to an even trade, not sure if Houston would agree tho. Then we could take a run at Tanaka, if we can't get him I'd go after Santana or Garza.

My understanding of brain dead ( correct me if im wrong) is there's no oxygen and or blood getting to the brain. If this is true, this girls brain has been without blood/oxygen for weeks so its difficult for me to understand how this girl has any hope of recovery. Hospitals are businesses so you bet the bills will fall on the family and their insurance, at least until the inevitable law suit is settled. What really bothers me is this family refuses to let go despite the brain being dead. I understand they love their daughter and they are good people for that but if the brain is dead you have to let go. I can only hope my wife would do this for me should i ever become brain dead because that's not living and even if by some f***ed up crazy circumstance I would wake from it, I wouldn't be me and would rather not be alive if you could even call it that. I certainly do not mean to judge the family and my heart goes out to them, but if in fact the brain is dead then its time to let go as difficult as it may be.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 06:30 PM) Not pricey but too many years that's for sure. The years and annual salary scare me I he gets what is being speculated. At least for a guys that's never pitched in the mlb.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 06:27 PM) To think Houston sees Phegley or Flowers as a valuable is laughable. Maybe they think Phegley has potential or Flowers could be a decent back up but neither of these guys are going to be a significant part of any return. Its not at all about value, its about giving Houston SOMETHING in return to hold them over til Stassi was ready. We all know the lack of value in our catchers.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 06:20 PM) That's a great idea. In fact, let's bowl them over with all our catchers. Take our catchers, please! I know our catchers aren't really worth squat but they can serve as stop gaps for Houston.

Seeing as how Stassi doesnt look MLB ready we could include Phegley or Flowers in the deal so Houston has a catcher to hold them over til Stassi shows he's ready.

QUOTE (coco1997 @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:59 PM) Sale Tanaka Danks Johnson Surkamp/Paulino/Rienzo Works for me although Tanaka may end being too pricey for good old uncle jerry. Ervin Santana or Garza would be fine with me if it meant upgrading the offense with Castro and Altuve.

QUOTE (Paulstar @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:49 PM) Anyone who doesn't think Altuve wouldn't be an upgrade over Beckham is nuts. He's only 23 and having a 1-2 of Eaton and Altuve would be nice. I'd definitely be a lot more willing to part with Quintana + some if it meant getting Castro and Altuve back. I don't know why they'd trade Altuve though, he's been their most consistent bat and has become a fan favorite. Something like Q and one of Semien or Carlos Sanchez might intrigue them enough. This way the Astros get a replacement at second in the deal. The drawback to this would be the Sox most likely would need to replace Q with a free agent pitcher.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:40 PM) I think it's fair to say that US Cellular Field is an easier part to hit HRs in than Houston. I would not be shocked to see Altuve hit 10 HR here in Chicago. But even if he only hits 7 or 8, that's not his strength anyway. His strength is contact and speed. He doesn't need to be trying to hit HR from the #2 spot, where he would fit in nicely on this team. Exactly! Can you imagine how Altuve and Eaton raising hell on the bases would f*** with a pitchers head as he's about to face Garcia, Dunn and Abreu? As a pitcher I would be s***ting myself! Almost like having two Scotty Pods at the top of the order.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:00 PM) I mean, Castro and Altuve would be natural fits on this team. Absolutely and a damn good suggestion. Love the Altuve idea. QUOTE (TomPickle @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:15 PM) Altuve isn't much of an upgrade over Beckham, if he's one at all. QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:16 PM) Altuve is not much better than what we have. I'd prefer Beckham/Semien plus we'd have to give up something for Altuve I don't know guys, I gotta disagree. Altuve is young, under contact through 18, hits above .280 , plays solid D, and steals plenty of bases. Altuve combined with Eaton at the top of the order would be badass table setting for Garcia, Dunn and Abreu.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 03:46 PM) I'm not trading Quintana now that Santiago has been moved unless the return is ridiculous and I can't imagine what it would take to get me interested. I'm pretty high on Quintana myself and would prefer if he was traded it would be for a higher impact player than Castro. Nothing wrong with Castro, would love to have him but outside of Q I don't see what else the Astros would be interested in that we are wiling to offer in a trade. Ideas anyone?