RynoRules

I heard him say it on Sportscenter on Friday afternoon. BTW, to say that Edmonds hasn't contributed to Cubs wins is flat out false. I don't want him here very much either, but that statement is just untrue.

I know I am being redundant here, but Rosenbloom is a Grade A shmuck. He obviously doesn't get that, if you get fat on the mediocre and crap teams and go around .500 against everyone else, you consistently wind up with one of the three best records in the game.

Yup - he'd look good in the OF.

As Fred's chart shows, it also depends on who you are playing. They posted a .364 team OBP this past week against the worst team in the NL and a mediocre LA team. I wouldn't expect them to do as well against good teams (Philly, for example) on the road. Remember: If the Cubs continue to pound the mediocre and bad teams and play around .500 against Philly, St. Louis, Houston, etc., they will still win between 95 and 100 games.

Right. Personally, I'm not frothing for him to spend a ton more cash, because basketball works so differently than baseball. It's harder to just spend like crazy and buy a talented roster. I think I'm just more bothered by the principle of it. The only reason the Bulls have so much cash is because the greatest basketball player of all-time fell into their laps. I don't think it has much to do with Reinsdorf's skills as an owner. I think that may be right. Krause also did a nice job surrounding Michael with parts that made sense, and he was ahead of his time in terms of valuing long, lean, athletic, do-it-all types. But none of that works w/out Jordan, as proven by what happened when Krause tried to rebuild the team. Usually the true great players fall into someone's lap though. Who could say any different about LeBron and Cleveland? I don't see how that means Reinsdorf sucks. You could take any superstar out there. Flip a coin, change the weather on a particular day, and that player winds up somewhere else. There's always an element of chance involved. Agreed, but I never said he sucks. Its not easy to truly assess an owner's worth. At the end of the day, the best they can do is hire smart GM's and VP's to handle the franchise, saty out of their way, and allow them to spend a competitive amount of money on players. In that sense, I hold the Rooney family in high regard, as well as Jerry Buss.

Right. Personally, I'm not frothing for him to spend a ton more cash, because basketball works so differently than baseball. It's harder to just spend like crazy and buy a talented roster. I think I'm just more bothered by the principle of it. The only reason the Bulls have so much cash is because the greatest basketball player of all-time fell into their laps. I don't think it has much to do with Reinsdorf's skills as an owner. I think that may be right. Krause also did a nice job surrounding Michael with parts that made sense, and he was ahead of his time in terms of valuing long, lean, athletic, do-it-all types. But none of that works w/out Jordan, as proven by what happened when Krause tried to rebuild the team.

This just in - this team is pretty good.

I'm talking about the Bulls here. The Bulls have more money than any other team in the NBA. Yet they ranked in the bottom 10 for team payroll last year. When teams make a ton of money, and it isn't reflected on the court, fans get annoyed. That's why people think he's cheap. The Bulls are more profitable than any other team for a combination of reasons (the 6 titles, the lingering Jordan effect that enhances merchandise sales, etc.), one of which may be Reinsdorf style of managing the franchise. I disagree with the assertion, but I understand the argument.

No, I asked you to help me understand why people say he's cheap when its clear that he is not. I don't think its obvious at all. I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

1) Most people don't come out and say, "I subscribe to hateful stereotypes." 2) I did not accuse him. I made a comment based on the fact that he is one of many people who assert that Reinsdorf is cheap in spite of incontrovertable facts. That was a clear accusation and way out of line. There was no hint of anything of the sort. People whine about cheap owners, they always do. Is misguided as it may be, to call it anti-semitism is asinine. I disagree. Its a definite possibility in this case. You can't throw out accusations like that so willy-nilly. You had no proof, there was no hint of anything anti-semitic. Then please help me understand how the hell anyone could think this about Reinsdorf. Its not enough to just use the "people complain" throw-away, IMO.

1) Most people don't come out and say, "I subscribe to hateful stereotypes." 2) I did not accuse him. I made a comment based on the fact that he is one of many people who assert that Reinsdorf is cheap in spite of incontrovertable facts. That was a clear accusation and way out of line. There was no hint of anything of the sort. People whine about cheap owners, they always do. Is misguided as it may be, to call it anti-semitism is asinine. I disagree. Its a definite possibility in this case. Not necessarily "the" case, but a possibility. Your explanation doesn't hold water with me either. I have presented a bunch of objective info illustrating how he is in fact not "cheap", yet the only comenback I get is that he won't pay the luxury tax.

A few months ago, Kelly Dwyer (one of the better NBA writers out there) had a really interesting piece about the earnings of each team. The Bulls make $46 million in profit every year; the average NBA team makes $7 million. Link Dwyer has made much more pointed comments about Reinsdorf on some other blogs as well. While I won't go so far as to call Reinsdorf "cheap," I think there's some evidence that he pinches pennies more than he should. At least from a basketball perspective. I am not sure I understand - we are assailing him for being a good business man? If the teams he fields always stunk there would be an argument there, but the reason the teams are so profitable is b/c the make the playoffs (the Sox did so several times in 90's and I won't bother reminding anyone of recent history; same goes for the Bulls) and win titles (7 in total).

1) Most people don't come out and say, "I subscribe to hateful stereotypes." 2) I did not accuse him. I made a comment based on the fact that he is one of many people who assert that Reinsdorf is cheap in spite of incontrovertable facts.

I refuted every single one of your points. You pointed to two issues: 1) A comment made in jest; and 2) Completely illogical argument: "if you don't pay the luxury tax you must be cheap". I haven't confirmed your info about the Lakers and Spurs, but do the Piston's pay it? The Jazz? The Rockets? All of these teams plus others have won consistently in recent years. I had 10 or so facts that you could not refute. So again, I ask: on what basis are you asserting that Reinsdorf is cheap?

That is truly a reach. Its one possible motivation for people who unabashedly ignore facts and make baseless accusations that he is "cheap". You have come up with one or two arguments (bad ones that are easily refuted, but still) in support of your position. I have asserted about 10 facts that Ican recall offhand that show he is anything but cheap. So how do you explain the fact that you along with many others continue to insist that he is in fact cheap?

umm..his refusal to pay the luxary tax?..despite the Bulls being the most profitable team in the NBA? It is also important to seperate out his ownership style of the White Sox and the Bulls. It is no secret he cares much more about baseball vs. basketball. That's a really dumb comment. How many owners pay the luxury tax other than the dumba** NY Knicks? And if it were true that he cares more about baseball he would have taken the 30-plus mill he paid Jordan and the extensions he recently gave to Hinrich and Noc and put them into the Sox. Plus he gave an expensive extension to Skiles, and paid millions to get Tim Floyd here (huge mistake, but still). Moreover, do you realize that he is the Chairman and not the whole-and-sole owner of these teams? He has a responsibility to his partners to spend money in a way that makes sense, and not just spend it for the sake of spending. I know this will come off badly and many if not all of you will not agree, but the whole "Reinsdorf is cheap thing" is so incredibly baseless that it smacks of anti-semitism.

This Collins thing is just a horrendous decision. It might be the worst head coach hire in Chicago sports in my lifetime, though Cubs managers such as Tom Treblehorn also come to mind. But let's not blame this on Reinsdorf's perceived "cheapness". Reinsdorf is not "cheap", and anyone who says he is simply is ignoring facts: - He paid MJ more than 30 million dollars to play for one season - He gave Albert Belle and enormous FA contract - He paid Frank Thomas a great deal of money to play for the Sox through out all of his best years - He allowed Kruase to use an enormous amount of cleared cap space after the break-up of the Bulls to throw huge money at Duncan, Hill and McGrady (its ot Reinsdorf's fault that they did not take it). When they didn't want it, he allowed Krause to use it on duds like Ron Mercer and Eddie Robinson (but he still used it). - The White Sox have retained their own veteran FA's with high price tags over the last several years, including Konerko and Dye, and acquired other expensive veterans via trade (Vazquez, Contreras, Cabrera, Thome, etc.). - The Bulls have spent big money on extending Hinrich and Nocioni and reportedly offered contracts to Deng and Gordon. This man is not cheap. He may not be perfect, but he is not cheap. If you want cheap, check out the other franchise playing its home games at the UC, Loria in Florida, etc.

Hawk's arm was every bitr as strong and accurate as Kosuke's is, but I think Kosuke's range is better. I didn't see much of Hawk when he was w/ Les Expos, so its difficult for me to say how well he covered the OF before his knees betrayed him.

I love The Sarge.

During my less mature years my buddy and I were giving Charlie Hayes the business while he was playing third for the Brew Crew. He shot us a big time dirty look after about three innings of abuse.

The Suttcliffe trade won the division title in 84'. He won 19 more (IIRC) in 89'. Williams was never as valuable and trading Palmeiro to get him was short-sighted. That said, someone had to get him off of Ryno's wife.

A fine job of photoshopping.

Does he hit left handed? Yes.

The closest I have come to "hating" a Cub was Hundley. I also disliked, in no particular order, Danny Jackson, Kal Daniels, and Larry Bowa. And for one day in 2004 - Sammy.

If Ward is as badly hurt as it sounds, Hatteberg would be a nice replacement. Just cut Edmonds. When Ward gets back you can always send Hoff down.