RynoRules

I'd much rather ink Johnson then trade Murton for someone like him or worse (eg, Byrd). EDIT: Was he hurt last season? And if so, what happened?

Man up and do what? Hold MacPhail's family hostage until he agrees to deal Roberts? No, man up and and walk away if MacPhail is jerking him around. You realize that we don't HAVE to get Roberts, right? You realize that the Earth will still exist if we walk away, right? What self respecting GM goes after a player for 3 months and a week before opening day still is being jerked around? Now look at what we have, a distraction and still no Roberts. For this to still be going on is pathetic. There is absolutely no reason for this to still be going on. Good GM's don't get dicked around like this. They give a final offer and walk away. Did the Red Sox humor the Twins for 3 months when they asked for Ellsbury and Lester? No, they told them they could have one or the other and walked away. Did the Yankees get jerked around for 3 months when the Twins asked for Hughes and Kennedy? No, they told the Twins to eat it and pulled the original offer off the table while they were at is. As badnews has said, that's how sane organizations handle things. Not to mention those teams were even bidding against other teams. We're not even competing with another team for Roberts services anymore, we're just getting jerked around. It reminds me of a dude getting cheated on by his girl, still wanting to be with her, and then waiting anxiously for his cell phone to ring so he can find out if she still loves him or if she wants to be with the new guy she's banging. Grow a sack and act like a man. You're right, it's stupid for me to expect a negotiation to not go 3 months and create a distraction right before the season starts. I'm completely unrealistic for expecting that. You're right, better to just stop listening: "No, Andy, I am not listening anymore. Piss off - you had your chance. I don't care how good a deal you offer me. You are testing my manhood and I won't have it! Mine is bigger than yours is!!!!" The sensible approach. Whether or not this is a "distraction" is a dumb consideration at this point. You're a pro making millions - if it is going to make the team better, then it is going to make the team better. Play through it for a while. Its not like we are in a pennant race right now. Its freaking ST, when half of every team is fighting for a job. Half of every team? Now that's an exaggeration if I've ever heard of one. I'm with dexter on this one, to a degree. I don't think Hendry is a girl because a deal hasn't gotten done yet but for this to still be dragging on is silly. At some point (you would think early on), one of the sides has to say "here's my offer, take it or don't call me about this again." Three months, or however long it's been, is an insanely long time to be talking about the same player. I was being purposefully melodramatic to illustrate a point. I don't disagree that this whole thing is unusual and silly. But the notion that Hendry is being "less than a man" and is dumb.

Man up and do what? Hold MacPhail's family hostage until he agrees to deal Roberts? No, man up and and walk away if MacPhail is jerking him around. You realize that we don't HAVE to get Roberts, right? You realize that the Earth will still exist if we walk away, right? What self respecting GM goes after a player for 3 months and a week before opening day still is being jerked around? Now look at what we have, a distraction and still no Roberts. For this to still be going on is pathetic. There is absolutely no reason for this to still be going on. Good GM's don't get dicked around like this. They give a final offer and walk away. Did the Red Sox humor the Twins for 3 months when they asked for Ellsbury and Lester? No, they told them they could have one or the other and walked away. Did the Yankees get jerked around for 3 months when the Twins asked for Hughes and Kennedy? No, they told the Twins to eat it and pulled the original offer off the table while they were at is. As badnews has said, that's how sane organizations handle things. Not to mention those teams were even bidding against other teams. We're not even competing with another team for Roberts services anymore, we're just getting jerked around. It reminds me of a dude getting cheated on by his girl, still wanting to be with her, and then waiting anxiously for his cell phone to ring so he can find out if she still loves him or if she wants to be with the new guy she's banging. Grow a sack and act like a man. You're right, it's stupid for me to expect a negotiation to not go 3 months and create a distraction right before the season starts. I'm completely unrealistic for expecting that. You're right, better to just stop listening: "No, Andy, I am not listening anymore. Piss off - you had your chance. I don't care how good a deal you offer me. You are testing my manhood and I won't have it! Mine is bigger than yours is!!!!" The sensible approach. Whether or not this is a "distraction" is a dumb consideration at this point. You're a pro making millions - if it is going to make the team better, then it is going to make the team better. Play through it for a while. Its not like we are in a pennant race right now. Its freaking ST, when half of every team is fighting for a job.

Man up and do what? Hold MacPhail's family hostage until he agrees to deal Roberts? I am sorry, but your comment is stupid.

Hendry may have already given MacPhail a final offer. Sometimes you give two "finals" - for example, one with Cedeno, Gallagher and EPatt and another with Murton, Cedeno and Marshall - and say to the other side, "Take your pick." I don't see how Hendry has done anything wrong here. He's not driving up the price by insisting that only certain guys are available, and he clearly is not desperate, otherwise he would have already parted with guys like Pie in order to get the deal done. I understand everyone is annoyed with the persistent rumors and lack of action, but I think some are being hypercritical of Jim here.

I wonder if hendry is doing this to put pressure on the O's: "Andy, **bleep** or get off the pot. You know I could have Lopez for a lot less."

180. Kelvim Escobar 181. Chad Cordero

UNC's bracket is the hardest, IMO. I don't understand how you are the no. 1 seed and are set up against the best 8-9 seeds (Indiana and Arkansas) and the only no. 2 seed with a legit claim to being a no. 1 (Tenn). Dayton got hosed, though I understand their best player is hurt and has been for a while. AZ St. also has a good beef. VA Tech needs to shut up - their out of conference losses are brutal.

At this point even the two of them might not know what's actually happening. ](*,) Wouldn't suprise me if neither of those two even know where they are from moment to moment. Pretty sure Angelos has no clue to what is going on, but he hasn't had a clue in over 10 years. "Wait, wait, wait...I own a BASEBALL team?!?" I'm always amazed how someone this clueless had success in business. He's a lawyer, IIRC.

That would be fantastic. However, there is no chance the Chiefs take Otah at #5. You stole my thunder. That said, even if Otah goes later -as he will - the Bears could have Woodson fall into their laps in the 3rd rnd. That would be good value. Now if we can only convince Angelo not to go defense....

1. Alex Rodriguez 2. Albert Pujols 3. Hanley Ramirez 4. Jose Reyes 5. Ryan Braun 6. David Wright 7. Chase Utley 8. Jimmy Rollins 9. Miguel Cabrera 10. Johan Santana 11. Matt Holliday 12. Ryan Howard 13. Grady Sizemore 14. Prince Fielder 15. Jake Peavy 16. Troy Tulowitzki 17. Victor Martinez 18. Carl Crawford 19. Alfonso Soriano 20. David Ortiz 21. Carlos Beltran 22. Brandon Webb 23. Vlad Guerrero 24. Ichiro 25. Derrek Lee 26. Russell Martin 27. Joe Mauer 28. Brandon Phillips 29. Brian Roberts 30. BJ Upton 31. Derek Jeter 32. Corey Hart 33. Josh Beckett 34. Manny Ramirez 35. Dan Haren 36. Robinson Cano 37. Justin Verlander 38. Erik Bedard 39. Aramis Ramirez 40. Cole Hamels 41. Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones 42. Adam Dunn 43. Mark Teixeira 44. CC Sabathia 45. Carlos Lee 46. Lance Berkman 47. Roy Halladay 48. Carlos Zambrano 49. Scott Kazmir 50. Francisco Liriano 51. John Smoltz 52. John Lackey 53. Chris Young (the outfielder) 54. Curtis Granderson 55. Brian McCann 56. Ian Kinsler 57. Magglio Ordonez 58. Jorge Posad 59. Khalil Greene 60. Carlos Guillen 61. Garrett Atkins 62. Felix Hernandez 63. Aaron Rowand 64. Geovany Soto 65. Chris Young (the weirdly proportioned pitcher) 66. Roy Oswalt 67. Aaron Harang 68. Ryan Zimmerman 69. Carlos Pena 70. Joe Nathan 71. Matt Kemp 72. Francisco Rodriguez 73. Dan Uggla 74. Gary Sheffield 75. Jonathan Paplebon 76. Daisuke Matsuzaka 77. Hunter Pence 78. Tim Lincecum 79. Rich Hill 80. Nick Markakis 81. Rickie Weeks 82. Kosuke Fukudome 83. Kenji Johjima 84. Fausto Carmona 85. JJ Putz 86. Takashi Saito 87. Jose Valverde 88. Todd Helton 89. Javier Vazquez 90. Nick Swisher 91. James Shields 92. Miguel Tejada 93. Brad Hawpe 94. Hideki Matsui 95. Travis Hafner 96. Edgar Renteria 97. Alex Rios 98. JJ Hardy 99. Chone Figgins 100. Billy Wagner 101. Joba Chamberlain 102. A.J. Burnett- picking for IMB 103. Bobby Abreu 104. Shane Victorino 105. Mariano Rivera 106. Placido Polanco 107. Kevin Kouzmanoff 108. Jason Bay 109. Josh Hamilton 110. Brad Penny 111. Michael Young 112. Torii Hunter 113. Adrian Gonzalez 114. Matt Cain 115. Eric Byrnes (IMB) 116. Huston Street 117. Adrian Beltre 118. Howie Kendrick 119. Brett Myers 120. Andruw Jones 121. Justin Morneau 122. Bobby Jenks 123. Ben Sheets 124. John Maine 125. Matt Capps 126. Delmon Young 127. Pedro Martinez 128. Francisco Cordero 129. Rich Harden 130. JI....JIM THOME 131. Tim Hudson 132. Adam Wainwright 133. Paul Konerko 134. Kelly Johnson 135. Ted Lilly 136. Yovani Gallardo 137. Joakim Soria 138. Rafael Soriano 139. Yunel Escobar 140. BJ Ryan 141. Trevor Hoffman 142. Pat Burrell 143. Josh Fields 144. Chad Billingsley 145. Kerry Wood 146. Jeff Kent 147. Jermaine Dye 148. Jarrod Saltalamacchia 149. J.R. Towles 150. James Loney 151. Lastings Milledge 152. Willy Taveras 153. Eric Gagne 154. Adam LaRoche 155. Jeremy Hermida 156. Jason Varitek 157. Ken Griffey's Son

Likewise. My namesake and Sutt were my heros when I was but a wee lad in 84'. 16-1, Cy Young, and the 84' East title are still my fave Cubs memories. He did everything he could to get us past the Pads, including hitting a towering HR in Game 1. I also emulated his mechanics...and still do when I think no one else is looking.

This could be Uncle Lou's passive agreesive way of pushing Hendry to get Roberts or somoene else in here pronto. "See what madness will be created by your inaction, Jim!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!" In fact, someone should photoshop Lou's head onto Dr. Evil's body, or vice versa.

Is that the alias Mark Prior uses when staying in hotels? (I keed, I keed)

I don't think we can assume that Rashied will be there next season. He's a RFA who Angelo has offered the minimum to (approx $930,000). B/c he was a World League player and undrafted, we get no comp if another team outbids us for him.

Ok, this time you really are drunk, my friend. I took him about two weeks ago.

1. Alex Rodriguez 2. Albert Pujols 3. Hanley Ramirez 4. Jose Reyes 5. Ryan Braun 6. David Wright 7. Chase Utley 8. Jimmy Rollins 9. Miguel Cabrera 10. Johan Santana 11. Matt Holliday 12. Ryan Howard 13. Grady Sizemore 14. Prince Fielder 15. Jake Peavy 16. Troy Tulowitzki 17. Victor Martinez 18. Carl Crawford 19. Alfonso Soriano 20. David Ortiz 21. Carlos Beltran 22. Brandon Webb 23. Vlad Guerrero 24. Ichiro 25. Derrek Lee 26. Russell Martin 27. Joe Mauer 28. Brandon Phillips 29. Brian Roberts 30. BJ Upton 31. Derek Jeter 32. Corey Hart 33. Josh Beckett 34. Manny Ramirez 35. Dan Haren 36. Robinson Cano 37. Justin Verlander 38. Erik Bedard 39. Aramis Ramirez 40. Cole Hamels 41. Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones 42. Adam Dunn 43. Mark Teixeira 44. CC Sabathia 45. Carlos Lee 46. Lance Berkman 47. Roy Halladay 48. Carlos Zambrano 49. Scott Kazmir 50. Francisco Liriano 51. John Smoltz 52. John Lackey 53. Chris Young (the outfielder) 54. Curtis Granderson 55. Brian McCann 56. Ian Kinsler 57. Magglio Ordonez 58. Jorge Posad 59. Khalil Greene 60. Carlos Guillen 61. Garrett Atkins 62. Felix Hernandez 63. Aaron Rowand 64. Geovany Soto 65. Chris Young (the weirdly proportioned pitcher) 66. Roy Oswalt 67. Aaron Harang 68. Ryan Zimmerman 69. Carlos Pena 70. Joe Nathan 71. Matt Kemp 72. Francisco Rodriguez 73. Dan Uggla 74. Gary Sheffield 75. Jonathan Paplebon 76. Daisuke Matsuzaka 77. Hunter Pence 78. Tim Lincecum 79. Rich Hill 80. Nick Markakis 81. Rickie Weeks 82. Kosuke Fukudome 83. Kenji Johjima 84. Fausto Carmona 85. JJ Putz 86. Takashi Saito 87. Jose Valverde 88. Todd Helton 89. Javier Vazquez 90. Nick Swisher 91. James Shields 92. Miguel Tejada 93. Brad Hawpe 94. Hideki Matsui 95. Travis Hafner 96. Edgar Renteria 97. Alex Rios 98. JJ Hardy 99. Chone Figgins 100. Billy Wagner 101. Joba Chamberlain 102. A.J. Burnett- picking for IMB 103. Bobby Abreu 104. Shane Victorino 105. Mariano Rivera 106. Placido Polanco 107. Kevin Kouzmanoff 108. Jason Bay 109. Josh Hamilton 110. Brad Penny 111. Michael Young 112. Torii Hunter 113. Adrian Gonzalez 114. Matt Cain 115. Eric Byrnes (IMB) 116. Huston Street 117. Adrian Beltre 118. Howie Kendrick 119. Brett Myers 120. Andruw Jones 121. Justin Morneau 122. Bobby Jenks 123. Ben Sheets 124. John Maine 125. Matt Capps 126. Delmon Young 127. Pedro Martinez 128. Francisco Cordero 129. Rich Harden 130. JI....JIM THOME 131. Tim Hudson 132. Adam Wainwright 133. Paul Konerko

Isn't the order Derwood, Andy and myself (twice)?

I would agree with that. Then again, that only means that Henne is better than Navarre or Henson. I would say Henne and Henson would have been comparable if Henson hadn't went and played baseball. I think Henne could become a pretty good backup or a fringe starter, but that's about it. Maybe he'll prove me wrong, we'll see. As for being a poor decision maker, I can't really quantify it without going through the tape. Henne became rather infamous for it throughout his 4 years at Michigan though. He never had much of a sense for game situation when he went back to pass, and he threw some horrible passes that let teams back in ballgames. And yes, every college QB did that, but Henne did it consistently and got quite the reputation for it. I'm not saying Henne is a poor decision maker all game (in fact I think he's pretty good for most of the game), but I believe those unnecessary turnovers will kill him at the next level. Henne's decision making looked a bit like Rex's has. That said, he was probably hamstrung by the fact that the play calling in Ann Arbor was pathetic for most of his 4 yrs. On the other hand, that is another reason for the Bears not to take him - Turner is equally inept. I still like the kid from Sam Diego as a project with all the tools who likely can be had in the 3rd rnd or later.

I am not sure if Theriot was being insensitive or not - maybe it was a joke that he and Fukudome share. But by saying it aloud in public he left it open to interpretation. That was dumb of him.

Otah. Or maybe Brohm? No. I much rather consider either Chad Henne or Joe Flacco in the 2nd rd then take Brian Brohm in the 1st. I am a Michigan fan, and I say: Dear G-d not Henne. Please not Henne.

I agree it is not exciting, but in terms of production, he might not be that far behind Berrian and will cost something like a third as much. Booker could easily have 70 catches for something like 800-ish yards. Berrian won't be that much better, and Booker is a better blocker in the running game (an underrated ability, IMO). EDIT: Those nos. I predicted are a bit inflated. More realistic is the notion that he'll have 60-65 catches and 700-750 yards. Again, you get what you pay for.

The same Indians team that traded Milton Bradley? Don't count on it.. no no, the other Indians Are you just trolling him at this point or what?

Wow - Thames has major power. Too bad he's never met a pitch he did not like to swing at.

I'd be surprised if we went RB in the 1st Rnd. I am guessing OT, and am hoping its Williams from Vandy or the kid from Boise St.