The Beast

My fear is that he won’t spend the kind of money needed to go get the guys they need to fill in the gaps or bring the team to the next level. I think some on this site are extremely high on prospects but they can trade some away and get some proven players. I haven’t seen him play and don’t know much about him, but is Vaughn really good? What happens if one of the arms in the rotation goes down? From a depth perspective I wish they would have signed another starter not named Rodon when more were out there and I would have liked a major league hitter come to DH even with what happened with Encarnacion. But we will see what happens and where they could have done better as the season rolls on.

Fair enough. So, given what you said about Teheran, will Rodon have the better season? Just asking for those of you defending Rodon if you think Rodon will have a better year than Teheran is all. Okay, rephrased, who will suck less?

So, does anyone here want to go on record saying Rodon will have a better year than Teherán?

Not even a La Russa .08 jersey to wear to the park?

No I am not going that far. I remain disappointed that he was hired in the way he was because I thought they were headed in a new direction after years of the same way the organization was run. I’ll be curious as to how the guy I wanted managing the team, Hinch does in Detroit. I’ll also be curious to see what the plan is when TLR retires and if someone on the coaching staff takes over or if they hire from within the system. If TLR still has it and can manage, great and let’s get down to business and go win.

It’s disappointing to say the least. Clearly JR hired his guy to fix a wrong from 30+ years ago and Hahn had no say in it.

I was exploring cutting players like Fuller or Hicks and drafting replacements, especially if “everything is on the table.”

My brother in law and I will probably be the last people of my immediate family to get it since he works for a brewery and I work in insurance. I signed up through DuPage for when my time is ready and I will probably do so through my doctor’s office as well. My wife is a teacher on maternity leave caring for our son until August, I told her not to miss this phase since she could probably get the vaccine real soon if she signs up. The other person I really want to get vaccinated is my 72 year old aunt who doesn’t leave her apartment much except for appointments or for groceries. Thankfully the rest of my immediate family (except for my wife’s immediate family) are vaccinated. Can’t wait for all of us to be vaccinated.

Arrieta back with the Cubs on a one year, $6 million deal. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30889515/chicago-cubs-jake-arrieta-reach-agreement-one-year-deal

I completely forgot about James Daniels so we need tackles not guards or centers. 20. Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT, USC. 52. Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State. (moving on from Kyle Fuller to bring A-Rob back) 83. Walker Little, OT, Stanford. 136. Kyle Trask, QB, Florida. I made a stupid trade with KC offering my current and next round selection and a third round pick in 2022. 205. Trevon Grimes, WR, Florida. 224. Tre Norwood, S, Oklahoma. 230. Rakeem Boyd, RB, Arkansas.

I’ll be curious when my son goes to public school in the next five years how many kids don’t get vaccinated and how difficult some parents can be about that.

Good to have Spiegs back even if I can’t stand Parkins. Does anyone have any thoughts one way or the other on the lineup at ESPN versus the lineup at 670? I’m thinking of listening more to ESPN and less of 670 to change things up a bit.

Yes. Create an app that links to the data the CDC gets for vaccination and require vaccinations to enter the game. Or use the COVID dogs to help screen. If people cry about their civil liberties then shouldn’t businesses say, well we want to create a safe experience for our fans...and limit the liability that we face if there is an outbreak and further lawsuits?

I want Brady to go too. I have made repeated comments about how the old guard of quarterbacks needs to go and how it is time for a new era of football but nobody has responded or agrees, saying that the young players need to force them out instead of being picked apart by the likes of Brady or Rodgers. If Brady doesn’t make it to the Super Bowl next year, I wonder if that convinces him to retire. If not, it seems like the only way to convince him is the way Brett Favre got convinced to go, a huge hit on the frozen tundra where he didn’t get up. It will be interesting to see the NFL without Brady, Rodgers, Roethlisberger, Brees and eventually guys like Ryan and Stafford, but mainly without the first four.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurent_Duvernay-Tardif People forget about how this lineman opted out to help out and battle COVID-19 on the front lines.

Hopefully Brady meets Father Time sooner than that...

I might go to bed early, this Super Bowl sucks like Seattle and Denver, New England and the Rams and Denver and Carolina. Yay Brady wins again, he’s the greatest of all time. Can we move on from the old guard and usher in the new era yet?

Julio Teheran, Taijuan Walker, Jake Arrieta, James Paxton and Jake Odorizzi still are available.

Maybe that will happen with more vaccines to distribute? Maybe they’ll use McCormick place too? Or is it going to pharmacies so that they get a piece of the action too?

Do the Bears kick the tires on Mariota?

While you’re probably right you do know why the Lions got the deal they did, right? Goff’s massive deal offset by the second first round pick. Watson will command three first rounders at a minimum.

Said dog shit Marlins beat the Cubs last year in the playoffs and it was funny.

If they aren’t going after Bauer then: - Julio Teheran: He had COVID and a rough 2020 with the Angels after signing on a 1 year/$9 million dollar deal. Still, he had a decent career with Atlanta and might be worth taking a flyer on. - Taijuan Walker: Had a decent 2020 after surgery in 2019. One year for $2 million. Seems like he would be in the same low risk middling reward category as Rodon. - Chris Archer: Did not play in 2020 and had a rough year coming off his long term deal in 2019. I’d be curious to know if he could get back to the form he had with Tampa and eat innings. - Jake Arrieta: Arrieta didn’t have the same level of success in Philadelphia he had with the Cubs, going 22-23 with a 4.36 ERA, with his innings dipping and sporting a 1.387 WHIP. If healthy, he might be worth a shot, unless JR won’t pay for him and he just waltzes back over to the Cubs. - Cole Hamels: Shut down in most of his one year in Atlanta (1 year, $18 million deal), Hamels got one start in during the shortened season in September. He apparently intends to pitch and has had shoulder and triceps injuries as of late. Rotoworld notes: “Hamels, 37, put up a 3.81 ERA and 143/56 K/BB ratio over 141 2/3 innings (27 starts) with the Cubs in 2019.“ - James Paxton: Reviewing his stats quickly he had decent seasons in New York but could command a higher salary than the Sox want to pay and for more than one year. - Jake Odorizzi: He is seeking a three year deal and is probably out of the White Sox price range for what JR wants to spend but if healthy he would be a good addition.

Ban bets on if he gets DFAd before the year ends?

”Fabulous bullpen signing.” Who is Nightengale trying to blow? $3 million isn’t awful. Also we need a starter not more bullpen games.