Soxbadger

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 31, 2017 -> 01:56 PM) That was awesome. I wonder what happened. He couldn't have lied on a form or anything. That is standard operation procedure for this administration. My completely uneducated guess. Trump said hed get rid of him in order to get Kelly to agree to be Chief of Staff.

Just got an update that Scaramucci is out...

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 31, 2017 -> 01:39 PM) Where were Varys's birds on letting them know where the Lannisters army was going? That to me is the biggest problem. While it may have been hard to track the Lannister army, you would have thought they would have had some advanced warning that the Tarley's flipped. You have to imagine someone was still loyal to the Tyrells.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 31, 2017 -> 01:30 PM) Again, seems like a stretch. Why would she bother with Esos once she is on the throne? Plus isn't unpredictable better than someone that has been welching for several years at this point? Espescially since he knows there's no more Lannister gold? She wouldn't really have a point if the house motto (not their house words!) was, "Eh, we'll pay you later." I viewed it more like a negotiation. Right now there is no guarantee that the bank would actually take her deal, just that she is trying to persuade them. The bank is owed a lot of money, she basically said "give me 1 more day." It looks like the Lannister's are attempting to bring a "truck" of gold to the banker to buy themselves more time. As for who is the better bet, its hard to say. While Lannister's have owed them money, it also means they are beholden to the bank. Danny at this point, isnt beholden to anyone. I can definitely see why the bank would at least given the Lannister's a chance to make good, before they make a final decision.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 31, 2017 -> 01:09 PM) As others pointed out, it's a stretch. Slavery in Westeros isn't a thing, they supported a much weaker option than Danny, and the debt racked up by The Crown (and threatening to go higher) isn't good for business either. That was just one example of several. It seems like things just show up and go away because they have to right now instead of building up or cause/effect like earlier in the story. I dont think it was so much that Danny doesnt like slaves, more that she is a revolutionary and therefore unpredictable. Who is to say she wouldnt gun for the bank after the war was over.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Jul 31, 2017 -> 11:37 AM) The writers of the show noted in the after-episode summary that the Tyrell's are rich but they've always been bad fighters. I don't remember that ever being brought up in the show, but that was their (weak) explanation. Oleana did mention that they werent good fighters with Jamie Lannister. That being said, a big castle like that shouldnt fall quick unless it was under defended.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Jul 31, 2017 -> 09:43 AM) Or the one I have the most trouble with - how many forces do the Lannisters really have? They have to have enough of a garrison to protect King's Landing from a direct attack, but they also have enough to keep a small garrison at Castle Rock and then an invasion force at Highgarden? And more to the point - it's questionable whether Cersei or Jaime would take that force away from King's Landing knowing that Dany and her dragons are already back in Westeros. I get that they needed gold to pay off the Iron Bank, but what's the point of getting that gold if Dany attacks King's Landing and everyone is killed/captured? About the Lannister forces and some other things. 1) Someone asked where the Tyrell army was. I believe that they have implied that the army is somewhere nears King's Landing, so it may have been too far for them to get back to Highgarden. 2) Lannister army keeps adding allies. Its impossible to know the numbers, but a good majority of those forces attacking Highgarden could have been from Tarley. Which also could explain why Highgarden was under defended as they expected Tarley to protect them.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jul 28, 2017 -> 09:42 AM) Gotcha. You going during the week or a weekend? Most likely leaving getting in late Thursday and leaving late Sunday. Only for sure plan is going to see Britney for my gf. Debating if I want to go to the Beatles Cirque Du Soleil or Hakkasen/Omnia. I think my gf wants to do one of those pool party dj things. It just happens the weekend we are going the DJs seem to be Kaskade, Tiesto, Garrix and Zedd. Weve seen all of them at least 2x, so it would be more to check out the club itself. Ive never been to Vegas, so just not sure how much difference there are in the hotels, and whether I should avoid staying at a place like Rio that is slightly off the strip.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jul 28, 2017 -> 08:04 AM) Did you just decide that while reading this thread or did you already book a flight and realize you didn't have a hotel yet? haha I already was going, just saw a bunch of people talking abut it so thought I'd ask as there are so many different options.

Haha so I'm going to Vegas next month, any hotel recommendations.

Shack, The reason you cant ignore your bullpen and then hope to buy later is because 1) if you lose to much to start you may never contend, 2) middle reliever market is too volatile and no way of predicting what theyd cost in prospects and 3) the prospect you give up could turn out to be worth more than the mr you traded for. Im guessing a lot of teams would rather pay $5mil per year and keep their prospects.

I just dont know why it cant be about the value of the Sox franchise if it was to be sold. Cubs/Sox may not be competing in baseball, but they compete for market share/etc which has value when you are buying a franchise. Would the Sox be more valuable if the Cubs were terrible? Would the Sox be less valuable if the Cubs are amazing? Those are legitimate questions an owner would have to think about. And given that the Sox have traded with the Cubs multiple times while Reinsdorf was owner, I think that the only difference is that this the Sox ownership may be considering a sale in the relative future. That is my uneducated guess.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 26, 2017 -> 10:39 AM) So far this rebuild has been met with very good will. If JR thought that there could be enough of a fan revolt to change that, I could see it becoming a consideration. What do you think the typical fan reaction would be if it was perceived that the Sox helped the Cubs win the World Series? Im not even sure the "fans" are the main concern here. Hypothetically if Reinsdorf is considering selling the Sox, the Cubs and how good they are could play a role in the value of the franchise.

Random fan! Auction that spot off to make some money...

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jul 24, 2017 -> 12:33 PM) Lol dudes whoa. Whoa dudes whoa. Simmer simmer simmer. I was just commenting on the exploding debt and deficits. Please don't tell me that "George W started it!" or "Obama exploded it!"- blame doesn't matter. All I'm saying is we better hope that we continue to print the world's currency or else the social programs are the first things to go, because, gasp, they account for the majority of the "budget". I thought that was something everybody could agree on. Mercy. Just because something is the largest line item in a budget doesnt mean that it is "the first thing to go." The largest item in my yearly budget is "housing", but I am much more likely to cut my "discretionary" spending before I cut my "housing." The main issue is that the United States needs to "increase" revenue and "decrease" spending. There are a lot of different ways to accomplish that without touching social programs. Who knows how much gold is hidden in the hills of a product like marijuana. Too bad the Federal govt would prefer to spend more money, than increase revenue.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Jul 24, 2017 -> 11:31 AM) I think that's 0 for 2 for me so far this season...first episode was a bit boring, this was a bit boring AND had a rather dumb ending. How does Euron know exactly where Asha's fleet would be? They're heading to Casterly Rock, not King's Landing. And in the dark no less. I also hate how they basically acknowledged the Sand Snakes have no purpose. Why on earth even show Dorne at all in the TV show? Other than Oberyn losing to the Mountain, that whole side story added nothing to the show. I believe the ships were going to Dorne to get their army, but would still be hard to find the fleet. I also am wondering if the 2 Sand Snakes are going to be the presents, as 2 were captured and it never showed their death.

Im guessing that Qyburn read The Hobbit.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 11:12 PM) I actually like this trade a lot more then most (after being more lukewarm on the past deal or two). Getting a premium guy like Rutherford for non-premium players is a nice thing. We won't look bad and regret moving any of these guys when we are contending next and if we were able to get a star and a guy who can be in our rotation, that would be a huge win. There is a lot of pressure on the developmental people because we've brought in quite a few lower level (albeit highly talented prospects) who have a lot more bust risk. Sad thing is...this is about it when it comes to us being able to offer up deals for prospects. At this point it is on the developmental staff to develop players and obviously the scouts and front office to draft more talent (and hopefully identify some good buy low sell high candidates over the next year or two before we are ready to contend). Avi is probably the only really interesting guy left (if we were to deal him and Id have to think at this point, there is too much film of bad Avi that people aren't yet convinced / ready to pay the price we'd want for him. Melky probably gets us a guy with some relief upside or a flier with some potential but we aren't getting back a top 150 guy for him (but that is okay..depth isn't bad). Interesting to see who stands where on the trades these days. Earlier I was going to post you don't trade Kahnle unless there is a high impact prospect. Maybe Kahnle will one day be worth more but (imo) more important to get a high impact spect today than hope for 2 in the future. I also was less enthused about Sale/Q no matter what the return it's going to be hard to win those deals. Sale could be a generational talent pitcher, just no way to match that in quantity.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 11:01 PM) Yeah, I mean it isn't like he doesn't have incredible stuff. It isn't like we didn't trade a quality prospect for him BEFORE he broke out. I think you guys are getting a bit high on the prospect punch. I think the risk was just too great in holding Kahnle 1 more year. I'm sure Hahn asked every team about him and no one probably beat Rutherford. If it was a sub 50 guy I think Sox pass, but I think they wanted Rutherford that bad.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 10:50 PM) And Rutherford could easily turn into nothing. Now you are just justifying your own desire to like this deal. Of course but that's why you load up on top end prospects. To me that's what the sox need and prying those guys away costs talent. Kahnle just didn't have the history to do it alone. He may turn out to be the best set up man in history, but the sox got a highly rated guy that they seem to really want. I'm no scout but if that's how they felt, they needed to make that she deal.

Also from a Sox perspective it makes sense because of Cooper. Cooper has had great success "fixing" guys with great stuff. Sox can get him a new crop next year and maybe they can flip 1 or 2 for more prospects. That's the great part about sucking, you can take risks on talent and maybe hit a lottery ticket.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 10:43 PM) Agreed. I'm shocked at the response here Least surprising response. This trade is the type of thing you'd do in ootp some poor new gm.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 10:30 PM) Also, consider the GM's Hahn is working with. Cashman is still the longest tenured GM in the game and simply does not lose deals. He has no issues with missing out on a guy because he can always find another, and always has been able to. Theo has been one of the most aggressive GMs in his career, but he's skilled at picking up players at their lowest value and maximizing that, thus allowing him to spend excessively otherwise. Rizzo is just weird. Cashman is a tough mofo to deal with. I'm not upset, but won't necessarily say I'm happy. Will have to let it sink in. Have to wait for it to be finalized but here is my uneducated take. Top prospects are scarce, getting a top prospect in a trade is difficult. Irrespective of stats name/pedigree has value. Kahnle could be amazing could flame out. Frazier is not worh much. Robertson is solid but isn't a "must have" guy. So the Sox took 3 guys who on their own would never get a top prospect and put them together for 1 plus some fliers. I'm sure Hahn tested the market for all of them, it's possible if Kahnle plays this well until next trade deadline he would command a lot more. But if he blows his arm etc he's not getting you anything because he doesn't have the pedigree. Sox have a ton of specs, collecting highly rated ones is the goal, this trade fits the bill.

The story about Groome's father is kind of crazy...

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 10:15 PM) Still can't believe they traded Anthony Webster for Carl Everett. We made the right decision getting Jamie Navarro over Roger Clemens.