Milkman delivers

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:39 AM) Sepinwall agrees with myself and that Herbert Perry lover. I usually read both the Sepinwall and AV Club recaps of each of my shows, and I couldn't believe how much I agreed with both last night. Sepinwall is usually pretty forgiving (and he bordered on it yesterday), but they both clearly showed their dissatisfaction with it.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:39 AM) I'm guessing any team would take him for way below market value. All it takes is for the White Sox or St Louis or any of the teams to give him something close to market value and he's theirs. Obviously that hasnt happened yet, so he hasnt had the chance to take those offers that dont exist. And it may yet happen, but I'm sure a team like KC would sign him on the spot if he'd play for like $10 million a season. And he'd have to be fine with it, as money is no object to him, it'd allow him to be close to home, etc. But he's looking for the biggest contract (or slightly below that for possibly two teams) no matter where he has to play.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:38 AM) I read this six times and I still don't get it. He's saying that if I disagree with what he says, he must be right.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:35 AM) I appreciate your non-support. Sometimes it helps you realize you are on the right track Haha, seriously nobody ever thinks you're right. You and greg and just funny.

QUOTE (kwolf68 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 10:46 AM) YES, if he's the second coming of Greg Maddux (as someone comically brought that name up) then he becomes a #2, but get real. You don't project a prospect to reach a status that 1 player in like 40 years reaches. The player is a "nice" prospect...I think calling Molina a 'nice' prospect is more than fair. I didn't say he was garbage, but the counter argument is that we got some sort of bonafide stud, can't miss player is simply put wrong. And people are making this "he's a prodigy" argument to spin this trade by Williams that so many experts are calling into doubt (again, NOT because Molina isn't a nice prospect, but because Kenny sold low). NICE prospect...which really are not that hard to acquire, because most of them don't make it anyway. I was simply debating your use of "best case scenario".

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:26 AM) We have a good talent in Beckham. If we start trading all our own young talent for someone elses so called talent (youinger even) maybe we can compete at the AA or AAA level for a few years? If ignorance is bliss, you must live in the garden of Eden.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:11 AM) Yes, but clearly that hasnt happened as of yet. I'm sure the Royals would take him, but probably not for the offers he's receiving from bigger markets.

He contributed an awful lot in the short time he was with the team. Good luck.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:22 AM) The whole trust thing was even before that, and I think fueled her wanting to get out because all she saw was the bad s*** but never knew really why it was happening and didn't like not knowing coupled with being in danger. I don't think it's all that unreasonable to have a wife with 2 kids decide to stay with the husband she loves, especially when you consider the CIA is kind of on their side now. Opie is clearly battling Jax, I thought they made that clear. And it should be that way. You can attempt to justify Tara deciding to stay, but it's purely a plot machination by the writers. Given the character, her history, etc., there is no way she would have stayed.

Can someone explain to me the exact breakdown of how the CIA/cartel thing could even work? Is the cartel a pure fabrication? Was the CIA able to get several agents into the cartel over the (I'd guess) decades it would take them to achieve the high roles they were in? Did they take actual cartel elite and make them CIA agents? Those are the only three possibilities that come to mind, and each is just as absurd as the last.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:17 AM) I was just about to type these responses but hit refresh. Thanks for taking care of that. Also, Russ, seriously, the FBI guy was nothing but a complete dickhole to Prison Break all year long. He gave no f***s. Then he decides to tell him he "respects" him, which is a crock, but it works for the neatly giftwrapped episode we were fed last night. I can see him letting Juice go, as the guy is clearly a wannabe biker himself (the old school jacket and motorcycle).

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:11 AM) It kind of depends on how it plays out next season. I believe it only was to run for 5 seasons. It will be interesting to see how Clay is handled. Opie did not come back last night did he? He could be the wrench in the plans next year. Sutter wants 7 seasons.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 11:09 AM) I usually agree with your commentary but definitely disagreeing with a lot here. Tara is staying because she wants to keep her family together, and Jax is being honest with her finally (a big thing from last season). Opie DID NOT show up to the meeting, meaning he's not okay with Jax. The FBI/AG guy was weird as f***, and kind of a mystery, but he never seemed to really want to take down the Sons, he wanted the cartel and IRA. Once that was out of the picture, he did just what he wanted to do, he obviously didn't like people much and maybe respected the sheriff enough to do something right for him. Tara talked for two seasons about wanting like hell to get out, and to provide safety for her sons. Suddenly, she's OK with letting them stay there and grow up into the gang themselves. Purely a plot device. Opie is still aware that Clay is alive, but he listened to Jax when he told him that he was necessary for the deal which Opie was against in the first place. No way Opie wouldn't take the very first chance he got to finish Clay off.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 10:59 AM) Yeah, see, I like the idea of Jax taking over the club, obviously. But they didn’t need to lie to me all season to get there. They just basically decided to tell us the entire season was bs last night! Murderous cartel is working with CIASeriously! They murdered people! Oh, sorry about hurting Tara’s hand. We were trying to get her to a safehouse! Tara’s now ok with CharmingFor two seasons she’s wanted out. The entire season was based on Jax getting out. The job in Portland was a done deal. Eh, no biggie sweetheart! I see you with that gavel and it just makes me so wet! Let’s stay here forever! Jax to Opie: Trust meHow about NO. Clay killed my wife! Clay killed my dad! Oh, ok, I’ll trust you, Jax. Hugs n kisses. FBI goofball – now a nice guy!Hey, black dude from Prison Break. I actually respect you. Sure, I used you like my b**** all season. But seriously, I respect you. See? I’m going to let Juice go!! All is well. Seriously, what a crock. There are about a million more issues with everything. Every point of contention that was raised during this season was dismissed in a 32 minute episode. “The Killing” proved to execs that one thing fans don’t like is to find out they’ve been lied to all season long… way to go SOA. Pretty much spot on. The entire season was a sham. It honestly might as well not have happened. The show refuses to sway from the status quo. Everything that occurred this season could have happened in one scene, something like a shootout with a rival gang leaves the three meaningless members of the club dead and Clay in the hospital, so Jax takes over. There, I did as much in 15 seconds as this show did all season.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 10:15 AM) Still worth watching somewhat, hopefully the Oakland drama brings it down to earth next season. It gets another season from me, but then it might be time to cash in the chips. Here's how the seasons go: 1 - Pretty damn good 2 - Awesome, hands-down the best season to date 3 - Terrible, only saving grace was the final 15 minutes of the finale 4 - Better only than season 3, had much more upside, but every good potential storyline was derailed One thing is for sure (and something I've mentioned before), but SOA is the king of the deus ex machina plot.

I've now seen Anchorage mentioned a couple of times. Don't get me wrong, as I have always wanted to visit Alaska, but is Anchorage a booming town or something?

QUOTE (kwolf68 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 10:07 AM) The meme now is the Blue Jays saw Molina as the 2nd coming of Bob Gibson and didn't ever want to trade him and Santos sucks anyway. Which of course is total hogwash...Most 'experts' see Molina's upside as a good relief pitcher or middle of rotation starter and NOT top of the rotation prospects. Now if he does make it to our 3rd starter that's actually a good thing, but keep in mind that is BEST case scenario and it's also NOT likely to happen (as prospects are really hit or miss, especially those with nothing more than cursory innings in AA). No, it's not. I've seen it mentioned that he's as high as a #2. And even then, that's all conjecture. The best case scenario is that he's the greatest pitcher of all time.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:55 AM) ... So? Who in the world isn't a hypocrite? Hell, we got one of the biggest ones GM'ing our team right now. The man has pitched his ass off for 10+ years with us, won a ring, and actually took less cash with us during his last pending FA year if you remember when he had a bigger market for pitching hungry teams to stay here. Hey, he had a change of heart. Maybe it was his wife who influenced his decision? We don't know. Can't fault the guy in either case for wanting to cash in for his last big contract. It is entirely in his right to test the waters. If KW didn't have all these huge contracts here, he probably stays (especially with JR adoring him as much as Konerko). I'm going to say this one last time, and then I'm done. Yes, most people are hypocrites. If I get up in the morning and decide that I'm going for a run that day and tell people how great I am for it, then I don't, I can be considered a hypocrite. Now if I do that on a regular basis, as someone like Buehrle, then I'm a much bigger hypocrite.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:46 AM) I guess I just don't see it. For one, he's never said "I will never play outside CWS and STL, I'd retire first". Show me where he said that. I can't, as it's something you just made up. I can only go by the dozens of statements he made saying that it's important for him to be close to home, retire sooner rather than later, etc. Second, even if family is important to him, and even if he does want to be in STL or CHI or nearby, if the choice is retirement or still have a job... I can't fault him either way. In most cases that'd be true, but Buehrle is a guy who has spoke of his longing for retirement quite often. Taken with his desire to be close to family and the fact that he's mentioned that he has more than enough money, retirement could make a lot of sense for a guy who can't find a job close to home. Why do you think its impossible for it to be true that his family is important to him, AND he wants to keep pitching? Perhaps Buehrle should have kept his mouth shut a little more. As I've said, this type of thing happens all the time, but most guys don't run their mouths all the time about their desires and then do something completely opposite. I'm sure players might drop a quote or two that can be used against them, but Buehrle did it with regularity. Either way, I can see we're never agreeing.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:52 AM) San Jose, but that's about it. That's sort of true, but San Jose doesn't even seem to have a coast.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:46 AM) Umm...I expect more from you. I'm serious. Besides the good weather, all I've heard for a long time is the negative stuff people have already said.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:41 AM) San Diego would be great. I was up in the Central California Coast last week, that would be amazing. San Fran area would be great, too. LA? Absolutely zero desire. What major-ish cities are there on the coast between LA and San Francisco? I know there's quite a bit of space there.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:38 AM) If he doesn't return to the Sox, I agree that I'd like to see him with the Cards, which is clearly a dream for him. But here's the thing... if the Cards don't have room for him, and the Sox make only a piddly offer... and he has other offers on the table... what choices does he have? He can either retire - while still pretty young and with lots of playing years left - or he can take the best offer. All things equal, or even slightly less than equal, I have zero doubt that Mark would play for the Sox or STL if that is possible. But if its not, while I'll be sad, I can't see how that makes him a hypocrite. Mark Buehrle has mentioned retiring about 10 times a year for the last 5 years. If neither one of his top teams can sign him, then he can retire and make his dream come true at last. If he decides that he wants to continue playing, he can find a team as close to St. Louis as possible that will offer him a fair salary, as he's stated that being close to home and spending time with his family is of the utmost importance to him, and I'm fairly sure he's mentioned that he's made more money than he'll ever need. Those things make him a hypocrite. And while this stuff happens every year in baseball (guys signing anywhere as long as the price is right), the vast majority of those players don't go out of their way to harp on the issues that Buehrle repeatedly does.

I can't remember the last good thing I heard about LA.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 7, 2011 -> 09:15 AM) Jon_Heyman Jon Heyman Carlos pena has decided he will NOT accept arbitration. #cubs I thought that already happened?