The Cubs have signed backup catcher George Kottaras.
George Kottaras settles with #cubs. $1.075M plus incentives.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 3, 2013
The Cubs acquired Kottaras the other day and Myles wrote about him shortly thereafter.
When you combine a poor batting average with an a noodle at backstop, you can make the case that Kottaras should linger in AAA all season. When you combine a 13.5% BB with a .192 ISO, you start to wonder why George doesn't start. Put it all together, and you have the platonic ideal of a backup; someone who is opposite-handed of your starter (Castillo is a righty), who has tools you can play up and serious deficiencies that prevent him from otherwise starting, and a guy who isn't likely to make much more than $1.4 million. I fully expect Kottaras to break camp as the No. 2 C, and play there acceptably all year.
The Cubs and Dioner Navarro parted ways at the end of the season. I had thought the Cubs might work out a team friendly contract to get him back next year, but Navarro filed for free agency instead. It turned out to be a good idea for the Cubs to acquire Kottaras and Navarro to hit free agency. Navarro inked an $8 million contract with the Blue Jays today.
The Yankees have offered $160 million over 7 years to Robinson Cano, but the sides are reportedly far off. If Cano signs for that little, that really pushes the value of the other top free agents down. Jacoby Ellsbury could suffer the most. He's nowhere near the player Cano is, but some have talked about Ellsbury getting as much as $140 million. $160 million for Cano or $140 million or Ellsbury? If you think Ellsbury is the better buy, you should open a william hill betting account today!
I think Cano gets a lot more than $160, but let's say that's all he gets. What is Ellsbury worth? I probably wouldn't pay him $100 million if I could instead get Cano for $160 million. Shin-Soo Choo would suffer too, but not as much. Rather than the $85-100 million contract that's been thrown around, he'd probably drop down to $75-85 million, which is probably still a little more than I'd like to pay for Choo who I very much like. I also would like the Cubs to go after him, but winning is of no concern to the Cubs. Not until they have 7 young players up at the big leagues producing like all-stars anyway.
The non-tender deadline is tonight and earlier today the Cubs non-tendered Darnell McDonald.
A pretty big trade went down just a bit ago.
Source: #Nationals acquire Doug Fister from #Tigers.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 3, 2013
Doug Fister is somewhat comparable to David Price and it appears at first glance that what the Tigers received in returned is not a whole lot. The Tigers got second baseman Steve Lombardozzi, Ian Krol, and a prospect.
So what's that mean for Price who may or may not be available?
Comments
The prospect is Robbie Ray. He’s got good stats.
http://outsidepitchmlb.com/2013/12/02/tigers-nationals-officially-announce-doug-fister-trade/
Doesn’t this depress Shark’s value?
SVBQuote Reply
Apparently Gamel non-tendered as well. Not sure if this is a reliable source, since it’s Twitter.
Also Sam Fuld was non-tendered, so we can sign him to save our season.
SVBQuote Reply
F7 is not going to Washington then.
I think the Tigers are clearing $$ to sign Cano or Ellsbury or maybe Choo.
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
I guess these Tweets are believable since they are from the Cubs’ feed.
SVBQuote Reply
SVB wrote:
Not as long as the Cubs are willing to wait. It might possibly affect the chances somebody overpays for Samardzija in the next few weeks, but even then, a lot of dominoes have to fall a certain way, and the Cubs aren’t in a position where they have to trade him.
But my thinking is we’ll look back on this deal as an outlier. The market will course correct as the offseason progresses and teams get more desperate to make something happen.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
http://youtu.be/q-tRPhxm41I
uncle daveQuote Reply
C’mon.
uncle daveQuote Reply
I would like to remind you that:
1. I was called a homer for wanting SF to draft Earl Thomas.
2. You read every word.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
Someone actually read that. It was a joke. Not a good one.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Why? He’s the best safety in football.
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker wrote:
Because he and I both went to Texas. I wanted SF to draft him instead of Anthony Davis at the time.
Like You CareQuote Reply
All I know about William Hill is they had a great bonus when online poker was still a thing, but nobody took it because they were shady as fuck.
I miss internet poker.
sitrickQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Ah, I see. Was he drafted before or after Davis?
MuckerQuote Reply
FALSE
You lazy fucking bastards, I’ve been sitting in an old thread for two days because you can’t be bothered to type 8 characters (NEW SHIT)
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Mucker wrote:
After. SF held picks 13 and 17. At the time, I wanted Thomas at 13 and the best OL available at 17.
Then there was the awful Taylor Mays pick in the second that would have been avoided…yuck.
Like You CareQuote Reply
[img]http://theinclusive.net/images/articles/SantaPoitras1.jpg[/img]
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
[img]http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/Ijeg-jeTUBs/hqdefault.jpg[/img]
Like You CareQuote Reply
Wouldn’t mind seeing us make a serious run at Brett Anderson. Trade for him, sign Tanaka, all of a sudden we’re looking at a pretty talented young rotation.
LundyQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Remember when Mays was considered a Top 5 pick early in that season or the season before? I could have swore I remember hearing that about him.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
I sure do. He was basically in Earl Thomas’ role at USC. SEA typically plays cover 1 press man or two-deep zone. Either way, one S is about 15-20 yards off the LOS. Why he had Mays (about 6’3″, 230 at the time) playing deep is beyond me. He’s a nickel OLB, imo.
Any time you have a S with his size and speed, they’ll be considered a top prospect. Mays has pretty bad instincts, though, and he’s pretty stiff. I remember when they drafted him thinking they should try to put 15-20 pounds on him and make him a LB.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
That post is what you get when you try to analyze football and work at the same time.
The point was, Mays was basically a 4-3 SAM LB playing in Earl Thomas’ deep S role at USC. In that regard, Carroll did him no favors. If anything, he should have been playing Kam Chancellor’s SS role of box safety where he’d play the run or cover TEs most of the time.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
I watched “Hard Knocks” this year and they did a little piece on Mays. It seems he’s still struggling with the same issues that have plagued him his whole career thus far.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
There is so much technique involved in coverage (I was a CB in high school), but stiff hips aren’t easily fixed. “Instincts” aren’t either. You can either anticipate routes or you can’t. You either take good angles or you don’t. Spotting play action comes with repetition, but that was the least of Mays’ issues.
Like You CareQuote Reply
Ryno what are your thoughts about tackling someone by their penis? I personally am against it.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
I’m playing semi-pro this year and our CBs do so many drills to work on their backpedals and coming out of the backpedal and using their hips….it’s crazy.
MuckerQuote Reply
GBTS wrote:
Hitting someone in the crotch is OK.
Grabbing someone by the dick and pulling them to the ground, though, is also OK.
Like You CareQuote Reply
GBTS wrote:
I come from the non-violent method of tackling, which involves stern words and glaring looks instead of getting your hands on the opposing team.
My friends call me “Craig Steltz.”
MylesQuote Reply
Everyone thought the Fister dump was to free up money for Shin-Soo Choo. Tigers instead sign Joe Nathan to a 2-year deal. Hopefully Choo is still available.
Winter Meetings can’t come fast enough.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
What position(s) are you playing?
Playing CB is all about fluid hips, imo. You can run a 4.2 all you want, but you can’t play anything but zone coverage if you can’t flip your hips without a hitch. Even then, you’re a liability.
Even when you have good technique, it’s easy to panic and lose it.
Like You CareQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Too easy
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
Nah, you know what a bad joke is? This cup of warm water that has a drop of coffee in it I just bought for four bucks.
I get the feeling that the comedy source material around here is going to be a bit thin until the winter meetings start.
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave wrote:
There are only so many The Pie-re references one blog can make.
MylesQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
(dying laughing)
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Well I’ll most likely play DT. We run a variation of the 4-6 (our coach actually learned it from Buddy Ryan) and I’ll probably play the nose or maybe a little 3tech. Might even go 5tech depending on the call. I’m 6’3 315 so if I can lose about 30 lbs before the season (March 15), I’ll maybe get some DE playing time. I’m pretty quick off the ball. Need to work on my line moves though. My bullrush is money but I need a counter move.
Yeah, you are absolutely correct about the hips. Never realized how much that makes a difference until coach had me doing the secondary drills. We have calls where I will have to drop into coverage and he wanted to see how I looked with my hips. Man it was tough.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
In the base 46 (at your size), you’ll be playing over the C or G. Of course, you might not always play that scheme. And if you’re dropping into coverage at times, I bet your coaches will call some twists as well.
I’ve always liked the swim move to go with the bullrush. Some people like to spin, but the swim is so much faster and you don’t lose orientation.
Like You CareQuote Reply
[img]http://wac.9ebf.edgecastcdn.net/809EBF/ec-origin.barstoolu.barstoolsports.com/files/2013/10/Clowney11.gif[/img]
Clowney’s so fast, he doesn’t have to swat OR swim.
Like You CareQuote Reply
If you’re serious about improving at DT, I’d suggest taking a few boxing classes. It’ll help with your conditioning, but mostly it’s about improving hand speed and accuracy. Get into the offensive backfield with push and technique, but make plays with your hands (keep the OL from locking you up, swat passes, etc.).
Like You CareQuote Reply
Man, tons of trading action today
BerseliusQuote Reply
Did the Tigers not call anyone else when they made the Fister deal? The Cubs could easily have beaten that crappy package.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
I’ve thought about MMA classes. I think I have really good instincts. I do a good job of getting my hands up and getting some deflections. I don’t like the spin either. I’m more of a bull then rip or straight rip. But I appreciate the advice Ryno. We’ve got a “mini-camp” this weekend and it includes an inter-squad scrimmage with full pads so I’ll let you know how that goes.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Remember:
1. Disruption = production
2. Good luck. We’re all counting on you.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
My coach told me my #1 job is to disrupt the play. Push the pocket, take on blockers so our LBs can clean up, etc. One of our new LBs was in camp with the Redskins so I can’t wait to see him play. Thanks man, I appreciate that.
MuckerQuote Reply
Mucker wrote:
[img]http://static2.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/I+legitimately+feel+sorry+for+him+no+father+should+have+_81136c014fcdc39ab236eb398841ce60.gif[/img]
Like You CareQuote Reply
Also don’t forget that you’ll anger GBTS if you tackle someone by the dick.
Like You CareQuote Reply
Looks like the Packers took a long look at the standings, and have started doing some groundwork for a fake-ish Rodgers injury for the rest of the season.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Anyone else see the Cubs’ part of the internet blow up because even the Astros are making trades now?
We always used to talk about when the average Cubs fan would hit the tipping point, right?
AkabariQuote Reply
@ Akabari:
Good lord I hope it happens soon. The Ricketts were a true “Worst case” scenario for the Cubs.
aaronbQuote Reply
@ aaronb:
They’ve sure taken their sweet ass time. I guess they figured it had been over 100 years so all they had to do was put together a winner within 50 and all would be good. That’s what it feels like at time.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
would be nice if they would just open the pocketbook already. Makes you wonder what payroll would be if Mark Cuban bought the team…
AndrewQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
Yeah right now the fans aren’t yelling about money. It’s more about how the Astros got Fowler and that Fister deal. Like everybody is selling better snake oil than Mr. Snake Oil himself (dying laughing)
AkabariQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Seriously. They wouldn’t have taken Barney, Russell, Rosscup and some cash instead?
JQuote Reply
Mucker:
@ Like You Care:
@ GBTS:
I never played football in any organized way. Don’t the players wear cups? Seems like a penis tackle would be hard if it were behind a cup. (Ryno, you should answer the question before you parse my sentence.)[img]http://thenosebleeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/vernon-davis-grabbed-in-the-_-by-tj-mcdonald-c.gif[/img]
SVBQuote Reply
I recently learned that mongoose have a natural resistance to snake venom, which I suppose why it was a mongoose in Riki Tiki Tavi. Doesn’t change my opinion that mongoose are vile animals though.
I knew you all had been at the edge of your seats since June hoping to learn this.
[img]http://www.stanford.edu/~siegelr/tz/tz2007/IMG_2364%20mongoose%20teeth.jpg[/img]
SVBQuote Reply
@ Andrew:
That’s the thing that troubles me the most. Payroll has gotten considerably lower and I’m far from convinced it will be all that high at its maximum (relatively speaking). I don’t think we’re going to see the Cubs be the Yankees of the NL like we had hoped they’d be. They probably won’t even be the Red Sox of the AL. I think it’s likely we’ll see them end up more around where St. Louis is and I’m not sure that’s good enough. This team should be outspending most every other team in the NL with the possible exception being the Dodgers.
dmick89Quote Reply
Appears the Tigers primary target right now is Shin-Soo Choo. Sorry, Myles.
dmick89Quote Reply
Looks like Ellsbury and the Yankees are getting close to a 7-year deal.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Done deal per the twitters…
https://twitter.com/FeinsandNYDN/status/408045027240067072
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
@ Smokestack Lightning:
Not that I really care what the Cubs spend, but I wouldn’t be interested in Ellsbury at that cost.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Or the years…
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Assuming they actually fucking spend! That should say I don’t care too much about them spending a lot of money even though I wouldn’t advise it. I do care about spending so little money.
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
I hear there’s this former Yankee 2B out there looking for a job…
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
@ Smokestack Lightning:
I’d be OK with 7 years for Ellsbury, but more like $110-120 million. If Ellsbury is really going to get a Crawford contract, the Yankees are fucking silly for not being more aggressive with Cano. I’d rather have Cano at $200-220 million than Ellsbury at around $150 million. Not even close. Cano can probably be expected to double Ellsbury’s production over 7 years. Based on my memory of some calculations using the 2014 CAIRO projections (projecting players several years out), I got about $120 million for Ellsbury and well over $200 million for Cano.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Smokestack Lightning:
That would be awesome.
dmick89Quote Reply
$153 million for Ellsbury
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Unless the Yankees are going to say fuck it to the luxury tax, no clue where Cano is going.
And I still see no reason for the Cubs not to get him. In Cano’s case I’m willing to live with the 8 years and that 200MM. Robinson Cano missing arms in eight years is still likely to be better than whatever 2B the Cubs get through the system.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
Smokestack Lightning wrote:
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
The fuck is wrong with the *dying laughing* thing? It used to do that shit automatically.
I’ve been away too long.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
It was one of the things we got rid of when we moved to a different server. It caused a lot of database errors and created too many DB hits too. It was kind of outdated and a mess.
dmick89Quote Reply
If the price of Ellsbury really is 7/153, I wonder what the price of Shin-Soo Choo is? 6/110?
MylesQuote Reply
What the fuck? Who wants to watch that shit?
http://www.dailydot.com/news/4chan-stephen-house-fire-livestream/
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Jeez. People are f’d up.
On the other hand, I love the random links in OV comments, even if the content is occasionally creepy.
SVBQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
So I’ve got to manually enter it in every time I’m dying laughing?
The fuck kind of internet you guys running around here?
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
http://www.rlyw.net/index.php/RLYW/comments/cairo_hates_the_jacoby_ellsbury_contract
dmick89Quote Reply
I’m not unhappy that the Cubs didn’t sign Ellsbury. It probably would have cost about $160M to bring him here,
But Cubs FO is doing themselves a disservice by not making it seem like they are in on negotiations on a guy like this. It’s not hard to leak an offer. If the fanbase widely feels like this team doesn’t really want to spend over $100M per season,(which they don’t) public opinion is going to be hard on Ricketts. He’s dumb for not taking simple efforts to combat this.
I don’t think Ricketts will outspend say, the Reds, until the latest round of Wrigley renovations are done. And could push the beginning of contention until ’16-’17
On the bright side, there’s another really high draft pick coming up this year.
JQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
It’s too bad, because that division was pretty easily winnable this season.
At least the draft will be a little more fun for you.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ SVB:
It’s the testicle tackle that gets you, not the dick tackle. Cups aren’t infallible there.
I’d think that Vernon Davis wouldn’t have tried this…
[img]http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/825173670.gif?1385934106[/img]
or this…
[img]http://i0.wp.com/gifsection.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Vernon-Davis-hurdles-Jenoris-Jenkins-on-touchdown.gif?resize=500%2C253[/img]
last Sunday without a cup.
Like You CareQuote Reply
SVB wrote:
I always thought the plural for moongoose was mongeese. Is it not? Stupid English…
Like You CareQuote Reply
http://www.thewire.com/technology/2013/10/if-you-pronounce-gif-hard-g-you-must-be-new-internet/70792/
I file this in the who gives a fuck column, but I’d add that file extensions are not words and iit can be pronounced however anyone wants to. It’s like, “how do you pronounce WAR?” Who cares?
dmick89Quote Reply
@ SVB:
http://youtu.be/SP_9zH9Q44o
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Actually it’s mongooses, which illustrates once again the logic of the english language. ahem.
SVBQuote Reply
@ EnricoPallazzo:
how do you embed youtube clips?
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
Choosy software engineers choose GIF.
SVBQuote Reply
@ EnricoPallazzo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP_9zH9Q44o
You need the actual youtube.com link and not the youtu.be link. Then, you also need the .com/watch?v=IDCODE part of the url
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Like You Care:
But doesn’t using PEDs both improve athletic performance and shrink the chance of testicle tackles?
(St Louis didn’t get the hurdle memo, I guess. Wow.)
SVBQuote Reply
@ EnricoPallazzo:
(dying laughing). Nope. I still think they are vile, but I am impressed that the one in the picture managed to get a filling in one of his(?) molars. I’m sure it was by holding the dentist under some extreme form of duress.
SVBQuote Reply
Since we are on comment help mode this morning…
How come when I’m not logged in, the html format buttons show up above the Leave a Reply text box, but when I am logged in, they disappear? Is it because you think if I’m smart enough to log in then I’m smart enough to remember html code for block quotes? (Because I can assure that isn’t true. (dying laughing). plus I’m too lazy to remember if I use / or in those things.)
SVBQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Why ya gotta go and tell everyone about us?
dmick89Quote Reply
SVB wrote:
I think there’s always a chance for dick and nut tackles.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
It’s like…Who cares?
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
There’s like some of us of they don’t make em big enough for, ya know?
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
I think so.
Like You CareQuote Reply
Speaking of dick and nut tackles, Marcus Mariota returning to school and Mettenburger’s and Murray’s injuries have pretty drastically changed the next draft. If I were Bryce Petty and Blake Bortles (and I’m not saying I’m not), I’d strongly consider entering this draft. New top-10 mock coming soon…
Like You CareQuote Reply
new aside: http://obstructedview.net/minor-leagues/daytona-cubs-named-baseball-americas-2013-minor-league-team-of-the-year.html
sitrickQuote Reply
So supposedly the Yankees aren’t out on Robinson Cano. I wish the Cubs were the fucking Yankees. They don’t even give a shit about money.
dmick89Quote Reply
Report here says Ron Coomer and Todd Hollandsworth are finalists for radio job. Coomer?
Too bad Glanville is out, IMO.
SVBQuote Reply
I read an article yesterday about how drone deliveries would eliminate human error. I (dying laughing)’d at that one. I’m all for drone deliveries. Sometimes I hate waiting 2 days to get my shit from Amazon (prime member) so I understand and welcome drone delivery service. But if a person thinks it will eliminate human error, they are foolish.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ SVB:
They haven’t hired anyone yet? I thought that crap was usually wrapped up early.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Not to mention
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Yeah, it would be a mess right now if they started that.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Wrapped up early doesn’t seem to be a thing the Cubs do anymore. Why waste a chance to string out a boring and pointless decision?
EdwinQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
My thoughts exactly. Let’s wait ’til no one cares and then announce it. Or announce nothing. They won’t notice then.
dmick89Quote Reply
Some things never change (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Like You CareQuote Reply
1. HOU: Bridgewater – QB depth in this draft is gone. HOU can’t afford to wait, so they get their guy here.
2. ATL (via STL via WAS): Clowney – This makes WAY too much sense not to happen.
3. JAX: Johnny Manziel – That. Just. Happened.
4. STL (via ATL): Jake Matthews, OT, aggy: Best player at biggest need.
5. TB: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA: BPA.
6. MIN: Derek Carr, QB, Fresno: Might not be a big reach anymore with all the QB issues.
7. OAK: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson: Improving team needs impact players. I think they need a QB, but Watkins is the easy choice here.
8. CLE: Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo – Orakpo light.
9. BUF: Jace Amaro, TE, TTech – First shocker! I like what BUF is building. Strong defensively and the offense is young. Amaro is what they need to take a leap forward.
10. NYJ: Mike Evans, WR, aggy – Beast. Not fast at all, but…he’s as mean and physical as Anquan Boldin, but younger and taller.
Like You CareQuote Reply
SVB wrote:
Thread of friend who lives in Tampa facebook:
Family member to friend;
Friend:
Other Family member:
Me:
Friend:
Other family Member:
[img]http://images.wikia.com/dragonball/images/a/a7/Draco-malfoy-facepalm.gif[/img]
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Just ate lunch at Freedmen’s BBQ. Huge thumbs up, check it out next time you’re in town if you haven’t already.
Berselius22Quote Reply
I didn’t realize you guys had all enrolled at UMass: http://t.co/Yf075Aa5UI
sitrickQuote Reply
WaLi’s Friend wrote:
That’s not possible.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Berselius22:
I’ll check it out. How does it compare to Franklin’s?
Like You CareQuote Reply
One of the reason’s I like Colin Kaepernick:
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Nothing can top Franklin’s brisket, obviously, but it was nice and moist, good smoke layer, and easily the best I’ve had otherwise. I’ve heard good things about their pulled pork and ribs too. Their sides and stuff all looked amazing too – I got some german potatoes made with caramelized onions and their homemade bacon and they were great. Had a pretty big liquor collection too from what I saw on the wall.
BerseliusQuote Reply
If you factor in not having to show up 2 hours early, it’s definitely >> Franklin’s
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
What dumbass asked that question?
GBTSQuote Reply
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/blogs/knights-notepad/os-ucf-blake-bortles-nfl-draft-20131204,0,7959481.post
He’d be wise to jump in now. This group isn’t as strong at the top as next year’s will be.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
Some smartass reporter. I’m just glad there’s an athlete that understands basic math.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
That sounds pretty good. Where is it?
Berselius wrote:
I’ve always just made my own when I want good BBQ, but I usually wait a LOT more than 2 hours for it.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
It’s in West Campus, 24th and San Gabriel
BerseliusQuote Reply
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/04/diamondbacks-close-to-a-deal-with-daniel-hudson/
From the article:
“I would like to say that we were at the 5-yard line or inside of that. So my hope is that we will come to a resolution and he will be a Diamondback in the very near future.”
For Hudson’s sake I hope it’s a different 5 yard line than the one the Cubs used when they trade for Theo.
EdwinQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
What do you cook on? I just bought a Weber Grill at the end of fall, I’m looking forward to trying my hand at a lot of BBQ this spring/summer.
EdwinQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
I had a mom tell me her daughter was in the 120th percentile in terms of weight.
Like… I didn’t know what to say. You never know. Maybe it fills her with joy to think there is something called the 120th percentile.
JonKneeV2Quote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
They’re playing this one perfectly. They see the market and know what’s up. The LA teams have been out of the race from the start. Texas just added a bunch of payroll. Washington just added a bunch of payroll. Boston has Pedroia and are close to maxed out on their budget anyway, same with Philly and Utley. The Mets are still recovering from severe (owner-related) financial trouble. The Cubs and Astros don’t look ready to spend, though I wouldn’t rule the Cubs out. What does that leave, Detroit and Seattle? Maybe the Giants? I’m willing to wager that Cano would take a lesser offer to stay with the Yankees. By signing Ellsbury and slow-playing Cano, they’re adding to their already substantial leverage. Must be a nice spot to be in.
dmick89 wrote:
The hyperbole around here these days is a bit thick. Calling the current ownership group a ‘worst-case scenario’ and insisting that the team has no interest in spending money isn’t defensible given known facts. It’s Yellonesque conjecture.
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave wrote:
I’ve been really shocked at how alarmist the tone around here has been for the past month or so. But I’m perfectly content to watch the Smokies and I-Cubs for the next two years.
sitrickQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
Sports Journalist
dmick89Quote Reply
@ sitrick:
I blame the lack of my usual can-rationalize-anything perspective since I haven’t bothered myself to write much these days.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
That sounds familiar. What used to be there?
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
You must be a lot of fun at WaLi family reunions.
Three little words. (Because he stinks?)
SVBQuote Reply
@ JonKneeV2:
Your response should have been, “Your baby is so fat that if you lined up 100 babies, yours would weigh more than 120 of them!”
[img]http://media1.giphy.com/media/TnN8ei3cMolpu/giphy.gif[/img]
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ sitrick:
1. What kind of shower drains are they using? Is semen not water soluble? Does it pool up in the elbows like the mercury from the broken thermometers does?
2. “Ask your RA if you have any questions.” Does the RA get special training to answer these types of questions, because they seem out of the realm of “How do I get my roommate to pick up his shit?” and “Where’s the health center? I think I have a fever.”
(dying laughing)
SVBQuote Reply
Edwin wrote:
I use a custom cabinet smoker. I used to use this, though:
[img]http://kentuckybbqfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/brinkman-charcoal-smoker.png[/img]
What type of weber did you get? If it’s a kettle, you should stick to smoking lean meat. Just use lump charcoal and wood chunks.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
How about Jordan Lynch, is he too small at 6’0″?
JonKneeV2 wrote:
That’s somewhere near the North Pole, right?
@ sitrick:
Ditto. Seemed to be a sea change about 6 weeks ago from “this rebuild will take a lot of time, get ready for the long haul” to “Thoyer needs to produce now.” OTOH, Myles never wrote the hatchet piece he threatened.
SVBQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Do you have to use a properly seasoned cast iron basket, or is the stainless one that comes with it OK?
SVBQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
I got a Weber Kettle, 22″ Gold model. I might purchase an attachment called The Smokenator. The BBQ website I go to http://amazingribs.com/ seems to be a big fan.
As long as I can do ribs, or a nice pork butt, I’ll be happy.
EdwinQuote Reply
@ SVB:
I haven’t seen much of him, but I think I have a better arm than he does. A lot of his passes fluttered or were underthrown. He’s big enough, but he looks like an UDFA to me.
Like You CareQuote Reply
I’ll write that hatchet piece if I feel like I still need to at Spring Training. I’m not 100% sold on going for it this year, but I will be missed if George Kottaras is our big “get” this year and we don’t at least try something similar to last year. I realized it was crazily early to be very worried about it.
MylesQuote Reply
@ SVB:
Mine didn’t come with a basket. Do you mean for your charcoal/wood?
Like You CareQuote Reply
uncle dave wrote:
I don’t think it’s the worst-case scenario, but I think it’s gone a lot worse than many others thought it would, including myself. They’ve run this team the entirety of the 2009 offseason on. I feel like a lot of people think it was 2011 or 2012 when they took over, but it was much earlier than that.
Saying any team won’t spend money isn’t defensible. I don’t believe by making the point that a team won’t spend means they will spend $0 in total. I can’t talk for anyone else, but when a large market team is cutting payroll several years in a row with the singular goal in the last couple being acquiring cheap players, it’s somewhat safe to say said team intends to spend considerably less than we hoped.
Even Theo has hinted at being surprised the owners were going to spend as little as they have.
Obviously, I’m willing to adjust my expectations at any point, but I’ve seen no reason to believe that this ownership wants to invest as heavily in MLB talent as you’d expect the Cubs to.
Yellonesque? I’ve always seen Yellon as someone who gets on board with whatever the plans are. If he didn’t like them at all before, even vocally so, he’ll reverse his opinion and be there promoting it as if it’s a great idea. I always saw him as someone who would defend the Cubs against attack in any way.
I’ve never been that and I’m not being that here. Do I agree with Yellon? Perhaps, though I have no idea what Yellon thinks at this point.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Edwin:
Gotcha. I’ve never seen that contraption before, but it looks like it’ll do the trick. For something fattier like a pork shoulder or ribs, the key is low, indirect heat (which that attachment will facilitate).
Pork shoulder: About 250 degrees until it hits about 195 degrees internally.
Spare ribs: Trim them STL style and cook them at 250 for three hours, wrap them in foil for two hours and then unwrapped again for one hour.
Back ribs: 250 for two hours, wrapped for two and unwrapped for one.
Dry rub: Salt and pepper. That’s it. Use a little red pepper for bite or brown sugar for caramelization. I also like to brush yellow mustard on whatever I smoke right before I put it on. For pork, I use apple, hickory or oak. And always lump charcoal. Never briquettes.
The one thing I learned from smoking (that was contrary to what I learned online): Cook to temp (if possible), not time. Most cuts of meat are different. If you cook by weight (hour per pound or whatever), you’ll get inconsistent results. Briskets are the biggest culprit. I’ve had 10-pound briskets finish in seven hours. I’ve had 8-pound briskets take 13 hours.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ SVB:
I think it was speculation around the F7 trade that changed a lot of minds (or at least brought some festering wounds to the forefront). That seemed to be based on the assumption that any return from trading him away would not immediately be able to contribute in the bigs, and that the desire to not hand him #1-#2 money was indicative of not wanting to spend, period.
I don’t think that we know either of those things based on what has (or hasn’t) yet happened, honestly. They could model the F7 trade after the Gio Gonzalez deal. And if they don’t want to overpay for a #3 starter (of which they already have an apparent abundance), they can use those funds elsewhere.
People are sick of watching a bad team. I’m sick of watching a bad team. But for folks who don’t see the progress that’s been made in building this organization over the past couple of years, I’m not quite sure what to say. This is a franchise that has been not only incompetent at developing talent from more or less the dawn of time, but even aggressively hostile to the concept. Phil Wrigley was against the adoption of the minor league system and basically refused to participate in it to any meaningful extent. His successors did nothing to improve the situation until now. Frankly, I’m quite enjoying the fact that the current owners seem to give a shit about player development. It’s refreshing.
As for the Yankees, yes, they’ve spent. They’ve been to the playoffs in 17 of the last 19 years. I’d kill for that. But they’ve done it with a lot of homegrown talent. In 14 of those 19 years, their top player in terms of WAR has either been homegrown (Cano, Jeter, Wang, Posada, Pettite, Williams) or traded for (ARod, who was paid quite handsomely but also came at the cost of Alfonso Soriano at the dawn of his prime). You simply have to have both homegrown talent and payroll to build a sustainable winner, but I lean towards the former as being significantly more important. And when spending gets in the way of adding young talent, you have to be careful of how and when you do spend.
uncle daveQuote Reply
SVB wrote:
1. They must be worried all that semen is going to mix in the drains and create gay babies. (I may not know how babby is formed.)
2. I’m pretty sure my RA would’ve just slammed the door in my face if I had tried to ask him anything of the sort.
sitrickQuote Reply
SVB wrote:
at last a chance to resolve this question once and for all
fang2415Quote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Ask people back then when things would be golden in ChicagoCubsland and they’d have said 2011 or 2012 at the latest. It was called hyperbole by some when I said the rebuild Thoyer wanted to do would take 5 years. It was dismissed in favor of talking about contending, I couldn’t believe it, as early as 2013. Right here on this blog! Most knew that was a pipe dream, but many of them thought 2014. I distinctly recall a comment by Dave late this past summer about how they should probably start investing money in the MLB team after the season.
dmick89Quote Reply
SVB wrote:
I have few issues with Thoyer. They’ve done well enough given the resources. Can’t really complain there except about the occasional deal, which would be true if they just won the World Series. Theo doesn’t make the budget. He works within what’s given to him and I think the results in the minor leagues speak for themselves.
My issue is not with their performance, but the direction in which they’ve been forced to go.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Like You Care:
The attachement should work, otherwise I’ll just rake the coals to one side of the grill, and put the pork butt on the other side. Probably use a couple water pans too.
I also spent some money on a BBQ thermometer that lets me track the temp of the grill and the temp of the meat, so that should help.
EdwinQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
Yep, I did. And I think there are some moves — and big-ticket moves — that make sense for the team to make right now. But that’s distinctly different than saying that the team is not interested in spending money because of what we’ve seen to date.
A lot of things haven’t gone the right way during this rebuild (specifically, the undererformance by Castro/Rizzo and the changes to the CBA, which can’t be understated), and that’s extended the timeline for contention. But it’s like playing poker, in a sense. If you don’t get the cards you need, you can’t get impatient and make bad bets. You just have to wait until you have the opportunity to make your move.
There are definitely moves that make sense that would increase payroll. And there are definitely moves that make sense that include trading MLB talent for prospects. I’m all about trading Shark for the right haul because I think he’s overpriced and replaceable. That’s not hostility towards spending or winning now, it’s simply my opinion that doing so is ultimately in the best interests of the team and its ability to compete as quickly as possible.
uncle daveQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
@ fang2415:
I meant for the meat. Your smoker didn’t come with a basket? Wow. Seems like an oversight. But then again, maybe there is a deep-seeded debate about what type of metal makes for the best smoker baskets and racks. Mainly I asked to get some resolution, like Fang noted. 🙂
By the way, my contribution to food preparation occurs after the meal is eaten. It’s safer that way for everyone/everything (except the knives).
SVBQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
Perfect.
I’ve started “smoking” leaner meats with my grill. I’ll grill chicken breasts with the skin on. When the wood chunks catch fire, I cover the grill to extinguish the flame and let them sit in the smoke for a few minutes. Flip them and repeat. Same with steaks and burgers.
Like You CareQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
THIS.
By spring, we’ll know, and without an off-season at least equal to last off-season, I’d be miffed too.
SVBQuote Reply
Like You Care wrote:
I’m not sure. The restaurant is named for the former slaves who built the place back in the 1800s.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Like You Care wrote:
I don’t want him to because
1) I want UCF to win big next year and
2) I want the Bears to draft him and don’t think they will be drafting a QB this year.
He looks like a pro-caliber QB. I think he’s going to be good.
WaLiQuote Reply
uncle dave wrote:
You have been banned from Obstructed View. You can browse, but not participate.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ SVB:
My cabinet smoker came with a basket for charcoal, but the meat goes directly on the grate.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Fuck you (dying laughing). I’ll take my coleslaw elsewhere.
uncle daveQuote Reply
The Cubs may have been in on a lot of these guys, we just don’t know since Nick Cafardo has apparently been on vacation. They could have signed Cano two weeks ago.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I think he’s a first rounder right now and could go top 15 with a good combine.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
I have both a gas grill and a Weber “R2D2” smoker, but will use a smoking attachment on the gas grill for less intensive operations and have had great results. Honestly, I was surprised. I expected to only really use the gas grill for really generic stuff, but being able to add smoke has added a lot to it.
So, no love for Memphis-style barbecue here?
uncle daveQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
This weber?
[img]http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/we/weber-smokey-mountain-2820.jpg[/img]
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
I appreciate all kinds of BBQ. What is memphis style? I know (I think) that KC is traditionally more of a sweet/smoky sauce, texas is more spice (and less about the sauce and more about the rub, right?). Is it east carolina that does the mustard based BBQ sauce? They all taste great.
EdwinQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Ever try a Big Green Egg, or other ceramic smoker?
EdwinQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Yessir. Love it. I was once able to fit a turkey and two pork shoulders on it for a party (it has two racks inside). In theory you can remove the middle spacer thing and use it as a straight Weber kettle as well, though I’ve never tried…
uncle daveQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
Texas BBQ uses beef. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why anyone looks down on this practice. Brisket is about the best smoked meat on the planet.
Like You CareQuote Reply
uncle dave wrote:
Something people forget about the Yankees they did it with homegrown talent. More than just about every team at their best. It was unreal. They’ve also spent. I love that and want the Cubs to do exactly that and that’s my problem. It’s been my problem for awhile. It’s not like this is the first year I’ve am said the Cubs should spend. And acquire young talent. And develop that young talent.
There’s not a right way to win. There are somewhat limited ways in which you can, but there are different ways. One may be superior to the other. It may not be. There are costs and benefits to each. It’s just most Cubs fans have gotten on board with what ownership is doing and that’s the only way to win. It’s the right way to win. Whatever ownership is doing must be right to the point where it’s called out if you dare disagree with the road they’ve chosen.
That’s how I’ve always understood Yellonesque fandom. That just fine. There are a lot of smart people here and I agree with a lot of what the Cubs are doing.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Edwin:
I haven’t personally, but I know people who have them and swear by them. Much less maintenance when cooking. It’s like an outdoor oven. If you can afford them and don’t like the smoking process, it’s the way to go.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
East Carolina = pulled pork and vinegar based sauce. I like Texas BBQ better after living here for a while, but carolina BBQ is still the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the name.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
That might be the best smoker out there for the money. If I had to buy a smoker, that’d be the one.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ SVB:
I was hoping for an offseason in which I’d actually want to watch the Cubs on Opening Day. If they have that kind of offseason again, it would be a fucking miracle if I watched a Cubs game after April 15th. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Edwin:
Yes, they certainly do. I think the only thing that keeps me from weighing 400 pounds is the fact that I live in California, which has a good culinary culture generally but wouldn’t know good BBQ if it bit it in the ass. I’m glad that I can make my own, but that’s kind of impractical for a business lunch…
Memphis-style definitely has a tomato fingerprint, but much less so than you find in KC. It’s way more savory and vinegar-y, less sweet. Kind of a cross between Texas and KC, somehow.
I also lived in North Carolina for a while. The vinegar sauce you get further east was OK but not something I’d embrace as an everyday barbecue flavor. Go further west (Lexington, Asheville, etc.) and the sauce picks up a faint tomato base but it’s still very much a vinegar thing, close to Memphis but much thinner. I always thought that the mustard sauce was very coastal and more of a South Carolina thing, didn’t get too much of it when I was there.
I’ve had the good fortune to have visited both Austin and Memphis within the last three months and had great meals in both places. I lean towards Memphis because I grew up in downstate Illinois so that’s just what barbecue always was for me, but it’s all good.
uncle daveQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
(dying laughing) A friend of a friend of mine invited us over for barbecue a while back, and I was shocked that he meant grilling up some burgers. Needless to say, he was from southern California.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
You were here for a bachelor party, right? Where did you end up going?
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
My father-in-law has a Big Green Egg. It’s kind of like a cult thing. There’s tons of add-ons. There’s Big Green Egg apparel.
It makes good stuff, but it’s pretty labor intensive if you try to smoke or slow cook meats. He has a remote thermometer that he can walk around the house with and always know the temperature. I know he has to adjust the vents (for the temperature) a lot (like every 1/2 hour to an hour). So if you are doing an 8 hour slow cook, it’s kind of annoying and you can’t leave the house.
JonKneeV2Quote Reply
My BBQ sauce rule: BBQ sauce ONLY goes on meat you messed up.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ JonKneeV2:
I’ve heard BGE are nice for those long, low and slow cooks, but since they almost exclusively use indirect heat, it’s harder to get a good sear on a steak or on a burger.
EdwinQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
This assumes signing a player right now is being impatient. Again, it gets back to the multiple ways in which a team can win. You believe, I think, that one way is clearly superior to another. I don’t and I’ve not read anything or seen anything in my years that would convince me one is. Doesn’t mean I’m right, but other unless padding the owner’s pocket is the goal (it’s not for me), there is no superior way. Obviously if padding that pocket is the goal then the superior way is 25 league minimum players and the smallest farm system in baseball in terms of dollars spent. Taking into account the loss of fans from years of losing, it’s even doubtful this is the superior way to pad the owner’s pocket (getting elected to Congress would accomplish that).
For the record, I’d be OK with trading Jeff Samardzija if the team intended to spend money making up for that loss if they had a minor league who could replace his production. They don’t and that’s not what this organization would do. They’d trade Samardzija and Ricketts would pocket the majority of the money. Maybe they’ll go out and add a couple wins in free agency to the rotation, but it’s been fairly clear they intended to do that this offseason anyway.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Yeah, the Yellon thing was a bit of a cheap shot (but how could it not be?). Mostly, I just bristle at the notion that we know the team won’t spend, as I don’t think the evidence is there to support it. But if I wind up being wrong, I’ll be pissed.
uncle daveQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Yeah, we wound up hitting Franklin’s for BBQ. Apparently, if you pre-order enough you can skip the line, which was nice. It was all good, but the turkey actually stole the show for me. I’m a turkey freak, though. I think Thanksgiving dinner would be my last meal.
uncle daveQuote Reply
@ dmick89:
Lots of blerg left on the pitching market after the last few days. It’s pretty much Tanaka (yes please) or Arroyo/Santana (ugh, no).
BerseliusQuote Reply
Speaking of Tanaka
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
I love their turkey so much. I was going to pre-order a bunch for thanksgiving but didn’t realize that they were full up on preorders through the new year. Got a bunch from Salt Lick instead, which was more than sufficient.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
Well, you don’t really have to put a whole lot on brisket because the cut carries so much natural flavor. I really dig barbecue sauce, though, so unless I’m doing a really nice cut of pork I usually have it available. Just a matter of personal taste, I suppose.
On a semi-related note, I’m teaching this guy I know in Osaka how to barbecue by correspondence. It’s been a lot of fun. I think I love the fact that barbecue might be the most regionally distinct wrinkle left in American culture.
uncle daveQuote Reply
MLB Trade Rumors saying that NPB is going to accept the $20MM maximum posting bid system. I think the “tie goes to the team with the lowest record” provision is also included, but that’s unclear from what they posted.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
I think you can cook directly on that stone for higher heat.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Is this worthy of the Cookie Monster gif?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
If I’m reading it right, Houston, Miami, and the White Sox would all have priority over the Cubs. At that price I’d be surprised if one of them doesn’t get him.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
I get it if you just like BBQ sauce. My favorite part about BBQ is the smoke flavor, which is why I don’t use sauce and my dry rub is only salt and pepper.
Like You CareQuote Reply
Rice Cube wrote:
Once this team doesn’t suck anymore…no.
Good thing that’s a ways away still.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
uncle dave wrote:
I’m prone to exaggerate. At this point, I don’t know, but I do think past evidence is stronger than you might think. How many years of Ricketts do we need to have before we could say that? Some of the reasons I don’t expect much money to be invested in the MLB team at this point is because the sale apparently fucked him. It’s also why I think we’ve seen the Cubs go at this in a different way than Theo expressed they would during his introductory press conference. Even Theo has admitted to being surprised at 1) the lack of talent in the system and 2) the lack of payroll availability. I find the first to be amusing since there’s almost no one who didn’t know the Cubs farm system sucked ass when he took over. The second one I don’t find the least bit amusing and it’s very concerning.
So yeah, I do think we’ll see a lesser payroll than we had expected, but that also won’t prevent them from winning. It will lengthen the process and they should still have enough funds to get it done (assuming they get lucky with prospects, which is more important than ever).
I do wish Cuban had ended up with this team. The Cubs would be near contention right now and would have a significantly improved farm system. They’d still have to get a bit lucky as teams always do, but they’d be in better shape.
dmick89Quote Reply
Berselius wrote:
I mean, it’s not like they sign Tanaka for $20M. He could ask for $100M+ on top of the posting fee.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
If I was Tanaka, I’d start looking for a house in Houston. Any chance the Cubs had is gone if that’s true. I mean, why the fuck wouldn’t Houston bid $20 million? They’d have to be stupid.
dmick89Quote Reply
Berselius wrote:
Depends on whether or not they’re willing to pay Tanaka after the posting fee still. Can those teams afford 20MM + whatever it takes to sign him? Chances are Tanaka will be looking for a bigger payday than previous players since teams won’t have to pony up so much cash for the posting.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
He could, but he’d have no leverage. Not like he could then negotiate with the next worst team, right? Or could he? Houston gets 7 days and then the next team. It’s like putting a player on waivers now. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
You can’t make that statement based on available facts. It’s pure conjecture.
uncle daveQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Like You CareQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
IF the low-record-wins-the-tie is true (big if, no one has confirmed), I wonder if the posting fee is non-refundable. What’s stopping Houston from bidding $20M on Tanaka, seriously low-balling him on a contract, and then blocking him from every other team? Houston could basically block every single NPB player from coming to America if they wanted to. Max post everyone and then don’t sign them.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Why would NPB agree to that? I don’t get what their angle is.
uncle daveQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
Like You CareQuote Reply
Yeah, looks like no one on Twitter knows what the hell they’re talking about. Jesse Rogers is preaching the tiebreaker like gospel, many others saying player will choose the team.
GBTSQuote Reply
New shit
http://obstructedview.net/commentary-and-analysis/npb-posting-fee-system-changes-and-masahiro-tanaka.html
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
I would say it’s pure accounting. The Cubs saved, what, $8 million last year in trades? How much the year before? That money went in Ricketts pocket. Maybe he spent a bit more in the draft and international free agency than he would have, but not by a whole lot. It’s not like he way overspent in either of them.
dmick89Quote Reply