SouthSideRyan

http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/square_small/6/62296/2149378-ScruffySecond.jpg My biggest problem with this whole situation is how the Astros potentially screwed Aiken and Nix out of their college eligibility. Say what you will about the NCAA's ridiculous rules and how the MLB draft is handled, but the Astros knew what they were doing when they talked about negotiating directly with Close after Aiken went unsigned. If this just were about the Astros not signing Aiken because of his medicals, that would have been one thing. But this whole things comes off as petty and vindictive because of what the Astros did. Nix and Aiken can go to JuCo or an Independent League and be draft eligible next year, but their exposure will be limited and my guess is that the pitching coaches at UCLA are better than what Aiken and Nix would get elsewhere. Potentially depriving Nix and Aiken of that option is what tips the scales away from the Astros for me. [expletive] You think nobody will know to scout Aiken and Nix, (guys who were the #1 pick overall, and a player who'd agreed to 1.5M contract) because they're at a JUCO or playing indy ball. Yeah, who can forget how far Bryce Harper and JD Drew's stock fell.

So why do you think the doctor said it? Because Luhnow bribed him? What's your medical expertise to say he has no grounds for being concerned about his "small"(why is this quoted?) UCL?

With how often he pitches it's more like Cubbie Bum gift-giving half week

no, and that's not what i'm suggesting. what i'm suggesting is that any reasonable attempt to validate a serious, impactful medical finding would involve seeking a second opinion. seek a second opinion, and at least there is plausible deniability. a third and it's clear the intent was on getting it right. one team physician making a risk diagnosis that just happens to be awfully convenient towards the immediate goals of the franchise? how is this not suspect behavior? It wasn't the Assistant GM all of a sudden saying he didn't like his motion in some video review, this was an actual doctor giving his medical opinion. Talk of it being convenient for the Astros and how it's suspect seems to cast aspersions on him with no evidence. Like I said Andrews can disagree with it, and I'd side with him over the Astros doctor, but if I employed a medical professional for these things and his opinion was that there was a potential issue, you're damn right I'd go back with an amended offer. Even with 2 more medical opinions disagreeing with your team doctor, I don't know that it would change my opinion that much. My guy said there could be an issue, unless they exposed him as an utter quack, that concern is still there. They haven't ruled yet, and they may yet rule against Aiken, but I haven't seen much in terms of evidence of malice on the Astros part when it comes to his amateurism. Luhnow has come across as a smart guy during his FO tenure, I guess I just find it hard to believe that he'd make an Amaro like gaffe like that.

Why offer him a contract? Because they had to in order to sign any of the 3? It's clear you don't know the mechanisms of the draft. That's fine. But they only needed to offer 40% of slot for that. They upped their offer to 5 mill from their initial offer. They let 1.5 mill keep them from signing him. It's pretty easy to see they looked at the MRI as a situation to take advantage of. By getting a 3rd guy signed as well. Who knows if 5 mill was even their final offer? They pissed off Aiken and Close enough that they didn't even bother re-engaging in talks at the end. If they were so worried, I find it very hard to believe they'd keep upping their offer. They lost their footing in this over getting greedy and trying to add a Carson Sands type prospect to standing pat with Aiken, Nix, and no future backlash. They upped their offer because they needed Aiken signed to get the other 2. I don't think they'd kick him out of bed for eating crackers but they certainly soured on him from the MRI. And if Close wouldn't even bother reengaging the Astros in talks at the end then he did more wrong by his client than the Astros ever could.

Does the 2nd opinion automatically invalidate their own doctor's opinion? They said they reached out to him and he wouldn't return their calls. That doesn't jeopardize his amateur status.

Why offer him a contract? Because they had to in order to sign any of the 3? It's clear you don't know the mechanisms of the draft.

http://www.spotsilvertrader.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/olymic-silver.png

Yeah, I feel like he'd have a random lights out game against like the Angels

More evidence Baez is coming up any day now!

Right what the Astros think is a medical problem is the only thing that matters.

10/10

because one is a thing and the other is not edit: i don't necessarily think of it as "dirty", so much as i think it's a flimsy pretext. draft a daywalker and lowball him based on the deleterious effects of the sun for all i care, but let's not pretend that's 1:1 with "had to reattach arm 24 months ago" But the Astros didn't change course until after the MRI. I mean, it's not like they planned from the beginning let's offer him this and then smudge the MRI with our fingerprints and call it trauma.

Tom Ricketts totally has an inny right now

We need to dig Big Stein up then. Or Big Guggs Or Arte Moreno Or Ol' Monty

We need to dig Big Stein up then. Or Big Guggs Or Arte Moreno

We need to dig Big Stein up then. Or Big Guggs

I want the Cubs to swing their giant dick around and outspend everyone for everything while developing a ready-made crop of young players to fill the gaps. I don't want to be the 2008 Rays, I want to be the 1998 Yankees.

But their doctor does think it's a big deal. The general public is going to take Andrews's word 100 times out of 100, but a team should trust its own doctors. If he says there's an issue, there's an issue. The MLB was absolutely not going to give "relief" to the Astros so they could overslot lower round talents. I'd say MLB was quite happy with how this entire ordeal played out. Why is it dirtier to use an injury concern discovered post-draft to offer a lower contract than to do it with a preexisting injury?

I bet he went to the bathroom when they collected tickets

Next game Junior Lake has to catch a ball in his hat.

But why does being willing to put 8m on Aiken+Nix+Marshall mean you're willing to out 8m on Aiken+nix?

But they already came up to 5. The Astros don't have to think his arm is worthless just because they saw something amiss in his physical. If they're willing to spend 5, then surely they can go to 6.5...well surely if they'll go up to 6.5, they can pay slot.

Can we just stop with this part-time player nonsense and just make him the co-hitting coach for the Cubs? More dominoes falling proving Baez is coming up

Yeah, if only he had Mike Olt's big stick backing him up instead.