BRASKYS SCOTCH

Hi, it's been a minute or years since I've poked my head around the NSBB boards. I'm not sure who all still is in the city let alone near the federal landmark but if anyone is interested in 3 free tickets (my season tickets, sec 324R row 2 seats 9-11) I'll happily forward them to you, pending any potential last-minute StubHub purchases before you contact me, and only ask that you consider donating to the site. I do have a number of games claimed, but as the season winds down there will be some games that don't garner much if any interest. Seats themselves are great. Next to the upper deck camera well above first base.

Theo Epstein calling up Russell in late 2015: http://www.quickmeme.com/img/a9/a9ed842f739e930dc8e9340bafbbaeaf77994c50c74fc6a86b046b54cb9b2c59.jpg Theo Epstein calling up Russell yesterday: http://adanai.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/kgb-splash-the-pot-gif.gif Also, is it too early to refer to Addison as "Ten-Sixty"?

I've frequently seen releases worded that way. I don't think it necessarily means that Millar asked to be released. Unless they were trying to get him to go to AAA? Wouldn't that make sense as a reason other than polite phrasing? I'm not clear on how he arrived in camp - minor league deal, invitee? Once I heard he would be there I did well to ignore it.

When did Joe Johnson become a max contract player? He's obviously an effective player and would look great next to Rose, but is the consensus - or market, I suppose - already set that he's a max guy?

Mattingly, shave those sideburns! I propose nerve tonic for Fontenot.

Yeah, but what are the chances Hendry sits on anything that doesn't force the Cubs to eat the lion's share of MB's contract? Factor in a productive "name" like Castillo that GM's talk themselves into - at least ours - plus switch-hitting capability and top-of-the-order possibility ... if this has legs I don't think it will be passed upon.

Those are good odds. It would have been nice to have the Olympics here, but I'm fairly certain we dodged a bullet with future spending (read: over-spending). I couldn't see Daley and his team managing that competently. However, Chicago got back-doored on this one. Clearly, IOC and USOC have some friction between them, and I'm willing to wager that Madrid took a lot of 1st round votes away from Chicago. Gotta love that Rio's biggest arguments were: 1. South American has never hosted (which I think clinched it) and 2. we are so underfunded now that we need the Olympics just to develop the infrastructure that we currently lack.

Clearly the offensive Fukudome shirts and headbands have gotten to him.

Agreed. Unless he bounced the pitch, of course. Out of curiosity could anyone tell what the throw looked like - it looked like a soft toss? As stated here already, horrible camera angle on the first pitch.

Isn't St. Louis a republican city generally speaking? Bush got boo'd quite a bit in his days in democratic cities. Not surprising. St. Louis is pretty well-split, but I get the feeling there's more vocal representation for the conservative side.

To put public pressure on Peavy to accept a trade so he can get the best possible trade. The question is if he's a gambler or knew the chances were highly unlikely that Peavy would accept a trade to the White Sox. These reports surface, and other GM's take notice. I doubt many believed the White Sox to be on the radar for possible Peavy destinations, and clearly the value in the trade is favoring they buyer. How many GMs will now contact Towers and start upgrading from the White Sox offer, and can Towers create bidding between teams? It seems early to do this, but maybe he's afraid of being stuck with a meager offer closer to the deadline? And if Peavy had accepted - or will accept - then Towers gets rosy over "prospects" while knowing he saved money and came in under budget, which will keep his owner happy. Desperate but potentially clever.

Some here with an actual JD could hopefully confirm this, but I understand the NTC waiver as a simple provision that merely makes the contract flexible in specific situations but does not amend nor restate the actual NTC. The contract should move wholesale with the player and be in effect as it was before. Unless there's some language in Peavy's contract that amends or revokes the NTC should Peavy waive it for a trade, it should remain intact and effective regardless of the jersey he's sporting.

Kevin effing Towers... thank you very little.

Was that Gary Busey squinting back at Harden before laying down that sac bunt?

SOTO v. MARMOL ... Dare you ask who wins; dare I say: baseball.