KiwiSox

Right, but perhaps the things that matter to Machado are more deliberate and public than the things that matter to Harper. The Sox cant very well acquire Jon Jay and Yonder Alonso all secretively and under-the-radar the same way they could simply offer Bryce Harper even more money. We all know the Sox are onto both and have been since the beginning of the off-season. I simply think that the way we felt in the early part of December, that Bryce Harper was the primary target, is closest to how the the Sox feel now and have felt throughout the process.

I work under the assumption most, if not all, of what we think we know is presented with an ulterior motive and that since its impossible to know the difference we cant really regard any of it as fact. Especially all that's come out in the past month and a half or so.

My explanation for the Jay and Alonso acquisitions is that there were offers made at the very beginning of the off-season for both and, as the off-season progressed, the Indians decided that they weren't going to get anything better than Alex Call for Alonso and that Jon Jay was not getting a better contract elsewhere so they both accepted long-standing Sox offers. What I do not think happened is the Sox decided in mid-December to pursue both as part of a broader Machado strategy that intensified over the course of the off-season. I think those two were part of the plan all along and that the plan all along has been to get both Harper and Machado on the Sox. Still, in their heart of hearts, the Sox want Harper most. I have no source or proof for that, just a gut feeling informed by the fact that Harper had to have some idea of what was on the table when he rejected $300m from the Nationals and, at this point, it seems obvious the Phillies havent exceeded that offer from the Nationals. So, to me, that means someone else has intimated that they are willing to go that high. With the Dodgers, Yankees and Cubs all publicly out on Harper I strong believe that team is the White Sox. But the Sox wont sign Harper until the Machado situation is resolved. So here we are in this knot that shows no signs of breaking. You can say this is a lot of conjecture (and you'd be right) but it makes a lot of sense. I dont think anything with either Machado or Harper has changed since early-December when it appears the Yankees, Cubs and Dodgers made it clear they weren't going to be big players.

I still think they want both and are making moves with that goal still in mind. But if you forced the Sox to chose one I have a very strong feeling Harper is the one they want most.

I still think the Sox are truly most focused on Harper. Not saying they dont want Machado, or aren't trying to get both, but Harper is the guy they want most desperately.

Its extremely immature and childlike attention seeking behavior. Anyone who is used to being manipulated in such a manner just rolls their eyes.

He's my #2 prospect in the system after Eloy. His profile is exactly what you want. Power is the last tool to the develop.

Nearly certainly bullshit.

It's becoming clear to me that these situations are going to drag into the regular season without being resolved.

This is a bit dramatic.

Everyone wanted a guy who would talk about wOBA and we've got one and....... .....its boring. Hawk had lost his juice definitely but this replacement is terrible. Stone sucks too.

I prefer winters in Chicago to winters in NZ.

I think they are trying to get some traction on the Harper front going.

This is not the first problem we've had with pass interference and it's very clear there is a systemic problem here. I think it's a more existential threat to the health of the sport than player misconduct or concussions. It's really killing the between-the-lines product. Also that's not really a TACKLE and anyone's who has played will tell you a tackle is wrapping up and bringing to the ground. More of a body check that knocked Lewis completely off balance. There are WR in this league who wouldn't be so easily displaced. Still probably a penalty, but the Saints lost that game.

NZ and Australia get Boog, Tess and Wit. Kill me.

They better not introduce replay for penalties. Just rewrite the pass inference rules to something that makes sense. The spirit of the rule has been lost, that's why it's become so controversial. Pass inference exists so defenders don't tackle WR while the ball is in the air. It is not meant to be a get-out-of-jail-free card for offenses. If they want to legislate contact and hand fighting make it separate foul, akin the defensive holding, and leave the spot foul for plays where receivers are running unabated and just wind up being dragged to the ground. Lost in all this controversy is the fact that pass probably would not have been completed anyways. It was designed to draw a penalty. Is that the kind of football we want?

Also, I'm a little alarmed at how thoroughly unprepared Kansas City was for this game. They had no plan at all.

I know there's a new-age definition of racism that exists to kind of insulate the type of "white people are bad" talk that a lot of people like to engage in as a low form of humour, but that doesn't mean it is not bigoted. Same goes for the comment about white wide receivers earlier. Makes you look bitter. I'm dropping this now and will not revisit it under any circumstances, but I hope you take what I've written here seriously and consider that the bigotry you hold in your heart makes you part of the problem and not the solution. All the best.

What's really crazy is that everyone knew New England would win the coinflip!

Its really not appropriate and says a lot about your character that you cant separate the two. Been a lot of that in this thread the last two pages. I personally dont like it, but whatever you do you.

Hogan is twenty-sixth and Gronkowski twenty-third in yards per catch this past year. That is not terrible. For reference Josh Gordon was second but, well, that didn't work out long-term did it.

Like I said, the best quarterbacks in both games lost. Rodgers has been better than Brady for a decade but the Packers haven't won anything in nine years. The likes of zombie-Peyton Manning and Joe Flacco have won titles while Philip Rivers hasn't even come close. There is just way more to it than quarterback.

Glad we could bring race into it.

Two months of excruciating whale watching has numbed everyone. I dont think anyone is freaking out about anything anymore.

The Patriots roster is masterfully crafted from top-to-bottom. Guys like Shaq Mason, Matthew Slater, J.C. Jackson, James Devlin...they build their team with such a purpose and vision its honestly like they are playing a different game than everyone else.