Harry Chappas

Would a cool first pitch be Daly, Quinn and Obama throwing to Fisk, Aparicio and Guillen.

QUOTE (watchtower41 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 09:44 AM) All these political figures are great and all... but when can we get Oprah over to the Cell? The food is great.......that's a good start.

QUOTE (Soxy @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 08:15 AM) It's a personality disorder--Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Typical characteristics: exaggerated sense of self-importance, exploitative attitude, lack of empathy, excessive need for attention and admiration, a strong sense of entitlement, arrogance, and difficulty in accepting personal criticism. Sounds like Steff. That press conference last night was truly something special. I saw Lisa Lisa Madigan on Chris Matthews MSNBC, she really could use a stylist. She looked like something out of Little House on the Prarie last night. I like her persona though.

The impression that I have gotten is that Blago is an utter disaster as a Govenor. The legislature simply needs to decide he is out but they need a 66% majority if I am correct. The system of checks and balances as a whole. The federal prosecution case is simply icing on the cake. Blago has been impeaching himself for the last six years by simply being the moron that he is. I am not certain as to why the stories of what a jagoff he is are not more common knowledge but I know first hand that the guy is a complete moron.

QUOTE (TLAK @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 06:31 PM) Ron Santo could not carry Brooks Robinson's jockstrap. He does not belong in the same sentence...and I saw them both play. Santo was good. Less range than Crede but also less mistakes. Robinson was in a different universe. Instead of green I thought the "dare say" part made it obvious.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 04:08 PM) I am surprised that the agents for players haven't started yelling collusion already because of the low salary offers to free agent players. Do you think maybe that will come? Based on the world as a whole no.......piss in the players Cheerios long enough and maybe.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 03:44 PM) From what I have read, a couple of Boras' clients, including Crede, haven't signed because Boras wants multiple years, and teams want just one. Especially for a high risk case like Crede. This is a situation where having Boras as your agent could backfire really, really badly. Some of these guys may end up not playing major league baseball in 2009 because of it. The economy is effecting these teams, and many will simply walk away from the table. Then he will claim collusion....... Having Boras as your agent is always a risk and has already backfired on Crede. Didn't Kevin Millwood and Kyle Lohse also get burned. Who is Milt Bradley's agent?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 02:32 PM) This is a great trade...for people like me, daa, etc. This pretty much makes acquiring Peavy impossible. As others have said, trading Pie and Cedeno for Heilman is a brutal trade. Heilman sucks...some Phillies fans thought he was their MVP last season. I can't wait to see him pitching with the wind blowing out. The thing that always made the Peavy deal a Tribune cub fluff pipe dream in my mind had to do with what was discussed on this site. Like Gavin Floyd last year and Matt Thorton prior to 2006, Pie and Cedano being out of options rendered them useless to another organization. Neither has had the success at the MLB level which warranted their having any real value in a blockbuster. I honestly believe that they were never really serious contendors as they could not offer up an MLB proven player or even a potentially good MLB type player in exchange for Peavy. I think the trade would have had to include one of Soto or Marmol if not both and still may. Trade Soto and sign I-Rod.

The wheels of impeachment were spinning well before the federal case. The disdain for Blago in Springfield goes to his ability to be the Govenor. The guy is a mess down state and is driving the state into financial chaos. He is being impeached due to the fact that Illinois politics are a disaster and the republicans are still paying for George Ryan. Also who the f*** runs outside in this weather? Get a membership to one of the many top scale clubs around. What an asshole.

QUOTE (MO2005 @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 10:54 AM) And seriously how many players in this league are hot all season long besides maybe Albert Pujols? Every player has hot and cold months, but it's what makes the defense and team better. Crede's presence alone was enough even when he was slumping a bit because his defense was always stellar...Let's compare the 2...who would you rather have.. A guy who strikes out less than 100 times a year or more than 150 in a full season? A guy who has been an all star or not? A guy who's defense is predictable or unpredictable? A guy who when we need a clutch hit will deliver or not? I mean Crede over Fields for me anyday even with the back problem.. We got Betemit and Viciedo waiting in the wings..I would sign Crede to a one year deal because the guy is proven. Also what would happen to Joe Joe the late inning hero? The last two years are all I needed to see from Crede. A healthy Joe Crede last year does wonders for that team. I am not saying that Fields is better than Crede just that Crede isn't worth the risk. With Boras dishing out medical reports I do not trust that Joe Crede will ever play again.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 10:47 AM) I will give him credit for trying. I just don't see how a coach hitting you grounders for a few hours takes you from mediocre at best to a good defensive player. As I stated above, and while I'm no fan of Fields, I have never thought he was as bad defensively as most, he blows easy plays. He's made some great ones. You can't hit a guy grounders for 4 or 5 days and say his bad fielding days are over. What I never understand is why don't young players and coaches work year around? Why aren't Josh Fields and Joey Cora working somewhere daily to work on this stuff. Maybe it would be overkill........

I would like to see I-Rod signed to DH against tough lefties, spell AJ as well as a late inning replacement. He is also a gamer that worked with Guillen in Florida. Guillen does not replace the catcher during a game though so they would need to add a third catcher. Wasn't Ty Wiggington a catcher at one time. They would need an emergency type guy that could finish a game, or lose the DH.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 10:41 AM) i watch every game. all i was stating is that crede has yet to have a FULL great year. meaning really good in a first half and really good in a 2nd half. atleast really consistent in both halfs. not a great half than a garbage 2nd half You are 100% correct. Joe Crede from mid September to the end of October was GREAT and Brooks Robinsonesque or dare I say Ron Santoesque . Joe Crede in the first half of 2006 was a monster....... we know how this movie finished. Can we leave Joe Crede out of this now.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 28, 2009 -> 10:23 AM) Im sorry but 2 weeks of training isnt going to drastically improve your defense. He better keep up the same routine all the way through ST if he really wants to change. The kid has the athleticism and the arm to play a decent 3B, its his feet that are the issue. He wont ever hit for avg but can put up a good OPS for us near the bottom of the order. It was 2 weekends if I read correctly. I think the strory is that Fields is doing everything he can to get betterand show he wants to get better. I think his health and athleticism will help him be good enough defensively. The fact he sought out guillen and Cora to work with him will only him him when he gets to Tucson.

How expensive is Grant park parking now a days?

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 25, 2009 -> 12:51 PM) The theory I have with the polar bears is that they were kept on the Island by the Dharma initiative and they used those "food games" to teach them how to turn the wheel in case they needed to move the island. Which is why a polar bear was found in Tunisia. Which solidifes Ben's whoever moves the island can't go back. The polar bears are the guinea pigs in that they are expendable and can move the island by turning the wheel.

Harry is a younger Murph with the jewish Shtick...both must work for close to nothing as neither is anything more than a cheerleader.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 23, 2009 -> 11:48 AM) Let me ask you this...do you really think the Cubs traded Pie for Olson cause they thought that was a fair trade? Doesn't the ownership of the Padres impact this decision more than the cubs. While Peavy has a big contract don't you think the new owner of the Padres would like to have a say in wheather he is essentially given away as he would be if given to the cubs in this deal. I know I would want a really good pitcher if I was the new owner as oppossed to have a horses*** team wiht nothign to build on. The Padres are not really looking at a good deal here. Olson sucks and so does Pie. You can have up to 13 pitchers on your team and with Gathwright and Reed Johnson/Fukodome, Pie has no role at all as the cubs already have 5 really bad outfielders with Milt and the Fonz guaranteed starting slots on the team.

QUOTE (Sec101Row1 @ Jan 16, 2009 -> 11:42 PM) Remember Opening Day 2007 ? Chi White Sox IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Contreras (L, 0-1) 1.0 7 8 7 1 1 1 63.00 Wow someone posts good news and people feel they need to s*** all over this team. Sometimes I really wonder why people even read this board. Although I suppose they tuned out the debacle that was last year and are now coming back to wonder why the payroll is not $200M. If Contreras and Colon are healthy they will be in the rotation. The time off for his arm and body as well as the weight loss will only make him better and stronger. Although he did lose the only playoff game in 2005 so he must f***ing suck. What was the difference between his and Mike Brown's injury? Wasn't Brown ready for training camp = 10 months and then 100%. Jose is a physical speciman and was in shape therefore he was a tad ahead of the game in that regard. Remember it is also a contract year so he has additional incentive. Also maybe, just maybe he has the drive and desire to come back and is pushing hard for it........nah he sucks like everyhting else related to the White Sox and remeber he has to be 45 years old which is why he is sitting back couting his $10M. I am off to the Cub convention.

QUOTE (onedude @ Jan 15, 2009 -> 03:59 PM) with the way television does their shows schedules now, there are hardly any reruns aired anymore unless they're aired on another station like Law and Order, or House. I'd appreciate some reruns, as long as they're the good to great episodes. Actually they are on differnt channels as I have random DVR recordings. I like the subtitles though as I am not bright enough to pick this stuff up on my own.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jan 14, 2009 -> 07:01 PM) ABC airing the 3 hour finale from Season 4 now with Enhanced notes. 7 days... They really should do that with every episode in the fall prior to the winter actual episodes. There is so much crap in that show that you miss, it is amazing to go back and watch previous seasons, Libby owning Desmond's boat for instance. Desmond and Jack running together, etc. Crazy.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 15, 2009 -> 01:12 PM) As a season ticket holder, I like Soldier Field. It's a heck of a lot better than the old one. The seat a better, they are closer to the field, the noise level incrased because of the up instead of out design. It is not the best looking stadium but once you are insde it is a stadium comparable to most in the NFL. For the price they paid it should have turned the franchise into a money making machine. Instead the team gets off on the cheap invests little into the facility and reaps the rewards from guaranteed sell-outs and a great television contract. They can raise ticket prices as much as they like because of the long waiting list for season tickets and the mere fact that you are still only buying 10 games.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 15, 2009 -> 12:03 PM) I'll give you the assistant coach thing but that's really kind of nitpicky, what sports franchise does splurge on assistants? Some do, but definitely not all. How often do you see NFL teams buying out college contracts and such? Where do you get that the Park District makes zero money though? They make somewhere around 10 million per year although that's kind of disputed. Even still, stadium deals are a whole other animal and doesn't really dispute what I was trying to say because it's getting off the point. I'm talking about players here. Off the top of my head the teams that have sustained success usually have a pretty good collection of asistants or player personnel. I like Lovie and Angelo but I think they need to get better NFL experienced coaches and personnel involved in the organization whcih costs money. I like the Rod Maranelli hire and think these arethe kind of guys they need. Dick LaBeau and Jim Johnson are guys I am thinking. Along with the Dom Capers, Dan Hennings and Joe Bugle's of the world. These are guys that have been around a while nad know how to make NFL players better. Where in the article does it say that the Bears contributed to the Solider Field revenue? Most of the Solider Field funds come from the Museum Campus parking and other events held at Soldier Field. Not sure if the Fire contributed at that time to the revenue stream. The Bears agreement is sickening. That is why the Park District will not put down the turf that they have at other fully public park facilities that do not house NFL football teams.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 15, 2009 -> 06:54 AM) If you're the Blue Jays and Ricciardi, why would you want Orlando Cabrera? For respectability? Unfortunately, their only hope is to deal Halladay, Rios and Vernon Wells and start over from scratch and try the Rays' approach. There's simply no realistic way for them to compete in that division...they have Snider to build around, but there's few teams that would be better off with a total rebuild. Baltimore is already sort of in the process as well, although the Blue Jays have better pitching and the much higher likelihood of being a .500 ballclub, but they're really just jockeying for draft position in 2010. Losing Burnett was the finally tipping point to limit any realistic chance of competing this season. Putting OCab at 2b and to hit #2 would help improve their offense The question is finding a suitable trading partner for Uggla AND whether a team like the Marlins is willing to pay an Orlando Hudson or Orlando Cabrera $6-9 million per season with their budgetary constraints. Didn't Toronto have the best rotation in baesball ERA wise last year? Did they lose anyone to injury?

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 15, 2009 -> 11:07 AM) Why do people still say "the Bears are cheap" as if this was the 80s? Since Ted Phillips has been running the team there has been virtually no evidence whatsoever to support this statement. Is it because they don't blow salary cap money on the top free agents the fans want every year? Is it because they take a position in negotiations and carry them out instead of giving more money to every player that asks for it? Why? I remember people saying the Bears were too cheap to give Lovie an extension a couple of years ago (even though the contract he was given at the time for a HC with no experience was fair market value). But obviously that wasn't true. I challenge someone to find a single time in the last 5 years or so that Phillips/Angelo/Stein have needed to make a move that cost money, and didn't do it solely for that reason even though it was available. You can't do it, because it's never happened. BTW, this should be completely independent of bad management decisions because these things are unrelated. They are cheap because they will not pay for real assistant coaches or to make Soldier Field a real NFL facility. Do you know that the Park District makes zero money on the Bears. If the Bears left that facility it would cost the Park District zero revenue lost.