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<!--quoteo(post=80629:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:12 PM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80615:date=Feb 25 2010, 09:44 AM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Feb 25 2010, 09:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80611:date=Feb 25 2010, 09:25 AM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80601:date=Feb 25 2010, 08:10 AM:name=bz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bz @ Feb 25 2010, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80537:date=Feb 24 2010, 01:12 PM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 24 2010, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80515:date=Feb 24 2010, 12:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Feb 24 2010, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->As long as he isn't wasting a roster spot and his contract doesn't restrict our ability to add other players in the next 2-3 seasons,<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What about the past 2 seasons?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You're right. Soriano's contract prevented us from signing...oh wait...it didn't prevent us from doing shit. We still signed the Milton Bradley's...we even signed the Aaron Miles's's. We get it. You don't like Soriano or his contract. Don't force squares into round holes to try and prove some point that doesn't exist.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The mere fact that Soriano is on our roster prevented us from making a go at any top notch free agent signed in the last 3 years. <b>It also prevented us from trading for high salaried players like Halladay. </b> You sir, are a fucking retard if you cannot see that. How can you be so obtuse?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We weren't willing to give the prospects for him, if we even had enough.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
How do you know this? I don't pretend to know either way. It really doesn't matter because the thought process never got to that point since we couldn't afford to pay him even if we got him.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You pretend to know that we would have made a go if we didn't have Soriano.
Look at the package that the Jays received. We could not/would not match that.
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<!--quoteo(post=80639:date=Feb 25 2010, 01:16 PM:name=Coach)-->QUOTE (Coach @ Feb 25 2010, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80629:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:12 PM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80615:date=Feb 25 2010, 09:44 AM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Feb 25 2010, 09:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80611:date=Feb 25 2010, 09:25 AM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80601:date=Feb 25 2010, 08:10 AM:name=bz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bz @ Feb 25 2010, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80537:date=Feb 24 2010, 01:12 PM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 24 2010, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80515:date=Feb 24 2010, 12:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Feb 24 2010, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->As long as he isn't wasting a roster spot and his contract doesn't restrict our ability to add other players in the next 2-3 seasons,<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What about the past 2 seasons?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You're right. Soriano's contract prevented us from signing...oh wait...it didn't prevent us from doing shit. We still signed the Milton Bradley's...we even signed the Aaron Miles's's. We get it. You don't like Soriano or his contract. Don't force squares into round holes to try and prove some point that doesn't exist.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The mere fact that Soriano is on our roster prevented us from making a go at any top notch free agent signed in the last 3 years. <b>It also prevented us from trading for high salaried players like Halladay. </b> You sir, are a fucking retard if you cannot see that. How can you be so obtuse?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We weren't willing to give the prospects for him, if we even had enough.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
How do you know this? I don't pretend to know either way. It really doesn't matter because the thought process never got to that point since we couldn't afford to pay him even if we got him.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You pretend to know that we would have made a go if we didn't have Soriano.
Look at the package that the Jays received. We could not/would not match that.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
All I pretend to know is that if we weren't paying Soriano $18M per year we'd have the flexibility to add two solid players, or one fantastic player like Holliday. I also know that giving any player, much less a 30 year old player, an 8 year contract is retarded. Especially when that player has no position and relies on his legs for a significant portion of his usefulness. Speedsters in their mid/late 30s are a rare breed.
And Rok, I'm not the one that started talking about Soriano. I just chimed in because I cannot resist.
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Had we added Holliday (and not signed Alf in the first place), we would still be complaining about not being able to add another SP because our payroll is too high as is. That's all I'm getting at. And Coldneck, don't stop bringing up Soriano on my account. All I'm saying is that it distorts your argument.
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<!--quoteo(post=80638:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:15 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 25 2010, 12:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80637:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:14 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Feb 25 2010, 12:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80627:date=Feb 25 2010, 11:04 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 25 2010, 11:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Part of the signing was to make a splash in the free agent market and to generate some buzz -- and both of those things were done to make the team more attractive to potential buyers.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
"So Tom, gonna buy the Cubs eh? Well...<i>I wasn't</i> but now that the GM under contract has saddled the team with a bunch of bloated, back-loaded contacts the franchise is looking a LOT better to me. LOVE the Sorano deal, for example."
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe not now, but when Soriano signed, he absolutely made the Cubs more marketable.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Let me just add to this. The Cubs had just come off an abysmal season and a 6th place finish. Hendry was told to build a winner -- and cost wasn't an issue. He proceeded to go on a spending spree (that made most Cubs fans jizz in their pants, by the way) that ended up putting together back to back division titles.
All of this made the team more attractive to potential buyers.
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<!--quoteo(post=80641:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:23 PM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80639:date=Feb 25 2010, 01:16 PM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Feb 25 2010, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80629:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:12 PM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80615:date=Feb 25 2010, 09:44 AM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Feb 25 2010, 09:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80611:date=Feb 25 2010, 09:25 AM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80601:date=Feb 25 2010, 08:10 AM:name=bz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bz @ Feb 25 2010, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80537:date=Feb 24 2010, 01:12 PM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 24 2010, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80515:date=Feb 24 2010, 12:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Feb 24 2010, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->As long as he isn't wasting a roster spot and his contract doesn't restrict our ability to add other players in the next 2-3 seasons,<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What about the past 2 seasons?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You're right. Soriano's contract prevented us from signing...oh wait...it didn't prevent us from doing shit. We still signed the Milton Bradley's...we even signed the Aaron Miles's's. We get it. You don't like Soriano or his contract. Don't force squares into round holes to try and prove some point that doesn't exist.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The mere fact that Soriano is on our roster prevented us from making a go at any top notch free agent signed in the last 3 years. <b>It also prevented us from trading for high salaried players like Halladay. </b> You sir, are a fucking retard if you cannot see that. How can you be so obtuse?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We weren't willing to give the prospects for him, if we even had enough.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
How do you know this? I don't pretend to know either way. It really doesn't matter because the thought process never got to that point since we couldn't afford to pay him even if we got him.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You pretend to know that we would have made a go if we didn't have Soriano.
Look at the package that the Jays received. We could not/would not match that.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
All I pretend to know is that if we weren't paying Soriano $18M per year we'd have the flexibility to add two solid players, or one fantastic player like Holliday. I also know that giving any player, much less a 30 year old player, an 8 year contract is retarded. Especially when that player has no position and relies on his legs for a significant portion of his usefulness. Speedsters in their mid/late 30s are a rare breed.
And Rok, I'm not the one that started talking about Soriano. I just chimed in because I cannot resist.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Holliday contract is going to look just as ugly as Alf's in a couple of seasons.
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<!--quoteo(post=80648:date=Feb 25 2010, 01:31 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 25 2010, 01:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80641:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:23 PM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80639:date=Feb 25 2010, 01:16 PM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Feb 25 2010, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80629:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:12 PM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80615:date=Feb 25 2010, 09:44 AM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Feb 25 2010, 09:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80611:date=Feb 25 2010, 09:25 AM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80601:date=Feb 25 2010, 08:10 AM:name=bz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bz @ Feb 25 2010, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80537:date=Feb 24 2010, 01:12 PM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 24 2010, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80515:date=Feb 24 2010, 12:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Feb 24 2010, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->As long as he isn't wasting a roster spot and his contract doesn't restrict our ability to add other players in the next 2-3 seasons,<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What about the past 2 seasons?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You're right. Soriano's contract prevented us from signing...oh wait...it didn't prevent us from doing shit. We still signed the Milton Bradley's...we even signed the Aaron Miles's's. We get it. You don't like Soriano or his contract. Don't force squares into round holes to try and prove some point that doesn't exist.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The mere fact that Soriano is on our roster prevented us from making a go at any top notch free agent signed in the last 3 years. <b>It also prevented us from trading for high salaried players like Halladay. </b> You sir, are a fucking retard if you cannot see that. How can you be so obtuse?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We weren't willing to give the prospects for him, if we even had enough.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
How do you know this? I don't pretend to know either way. It really doesn't matter because the thought process never got to that point since we couldn't afford to pay him even if we got him.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You pretend to know that we would have made a go if we didn't have Soriano.
Look at the package that the Jays received. We could not/would not match that.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
All I pretend to know is that if we weren't paying Soriano $18M per year we'd have the flexibility to add two solid players, or one fantastic player like Holliday. I also know that giving any player, much less a 30 year old player, an 8 year contract is retarded. Especially when that player has no position and relies on his legs for a significant portion of his usefulness. Speedsters in their mid/late 30s are a rare breed.
And Rok, I'm not the one that started talking about Soriano. I just chimed in because I cannot resist.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Holliday contract is going to look just as ugly as Alf's in a couple of seasons.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I agree 100% and said so at the time. Perhaps I used a bad example.
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Yeah, what if Holliday's deal costs them a big deal to Albert?
Soriano's deal does suck, but we haven't lost anyone because of it. Hell, we even added some more bad deals.
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<!--quoteo(post=80651:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:38 PM:name=Coach)-->QUOTE (Coach @ Feb 25 2010, 12:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hell, we even added some more bad deals.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]
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<!--quoteo(post=80628:date=Feb 25 2010, 10:10 AM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 10:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80619:date=Feb 25 2010, 10:05 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Feb 25 2010, 10:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80615:date=Feb 25 2010, 08:44 AM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Feb 25 2010, 08:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80611:date=Feb 25 2010, 09:25 AM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 25 2010, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80601:date=Feb 25 2010, 08:10 AM:name=bz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bz @ Feb 25 2010, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80537:date=Feb 24 2010, 01:12 PM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Feb 24 2010, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80515:date=Feb 24 2010, 12:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Feb 24 2010, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->As long as he isn't wasting a roster spot and his contract doesn't restrict our ability to add other players in the next 2-3 seasons,<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What about the past 2 seasons?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You're right. Soriano's contract prevented us from signing...oh wait...it didn't prevent us from doing shit. We still signed the Milton Bradley's...we even signed the Aaron Miles's's. We get it. You don't like Soriano or his contract. Don't force squares into round holes to try and prove some point that doesn't exist.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The mere fact that Soriano is on our roster prevented us from making a go at any top notch free agent signed in the last 3 years. <b>It also prevented us from trading for high salaried players like Halladay. </b> You sir, are a fucking retard if you cannot see that. How can you be so obtuse?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We weren't willing to give the prospects for him, if we even had enough.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And it also is a leap to blame one big contact (it is a series of large contracts) on this roster for being handcuffed in other areas. If we didn't have Alf out in LF, does anyone truly believe that we wouldn't need to replace him with someone else making $10-15 mil per to fill that spot in the lineup? The extra $3-5 mil saved wouldn't have allowed us to trade for Halladay.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not blaming just this one big contract. I've been fairly critical of all the shitty contracts Hendry has signed. Soriano's, however, is the worst of them and was the topic of this discussion. I don't personally blame Alf for making a shit-ton of money. I blame Hendry. He should have known better. I blame Soriano for his lack of focus in the OF. His stupid hop before every catch that caused him to miss 3 weeks from injury. His inability to adjust to or lay off a breaking ball. His loopty loop routes in LF and his <b>general appearance of lack of effort and care</b>. His admiring of flyballs to the wall like they are automatic homeruns.
It's no secret I don't like Soriano. He can eat a dick. I don't blame him for his contract, however, that's on Hungry Hendry.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Alright, this is where Alf is misunderstood. He really, really does care. That's why he was out there sucking for a huge portion of the season, because he wouldn't let Lou keep him out of the lineup, when everybody in the organization knew how bad his knee was. It was painful to watch him try to play through that pain.
@TheBlogfines
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Doesn't really sound like a guy making excuses to me:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->"Yesterday I was doing my running [up to] 85 percent, and I didn't feel anything at all," Soriano said Thursday. "I think I'm building something, because I'm feeling more and more power in my knee.
"I think the work I did in the winter is paying off. I started running, hitting and doing a lot of stuff, and I don't feel any pain at all."
Soriano said he hasn't tried to fully test the leg yet, but he will soon. He said Tuesday the knee was only 75 to 80 percent healthy.
"The only thing I'm doing 100 percent is fielding," he said. "I don't feel any pain at all.
"I think I need to trust it more. Before I felt my knee is good, now I need to trust it 100 percent."
Soriano said he hopes to play at least 150 games in 2010, according to ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
@TheBlogfines
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<!--quoteo(post=80647:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:30 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 25 2010, 12:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80638:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:15 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 25 2010, 12:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80637:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:14 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Feb 25 2010, 12:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80627:date=Feb 25 2010, 11:04 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 25 2010, 11:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Part of the signing was to make a splash in the free agent market and to generate some buzz -- and both of those things were done to make the team more attractive to potential buyers.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
"So Tom, gonna buy the Cubs eh? Well...<i>I wasn't</i> but now that the GM under contract has saddled the team with a bunch of bloated, back-loaded contacts the franchise is looking a LOT better to me. LOVE the Sorano deal, for example."
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe not now, but when Soriano signed, he absolutely made the Cubs more marketable.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Let me just add to this. The Cubs had just come off an abysmal season and a 6th place finish. Hendry was told to build a winner -- and cost wasn't an issue. He proceeded to go on a spending spree (that made most Cubs fans jizz in their pants, by the way) that ended up putting together back to back division titles.
All of this made the team more attractive to potential buyers.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You said that the signing was to make a splash in the free agent market and generate some buzz and that this makes the team more attractive to buyers. It doesn't. Winning does. Nothing about loose purse strings per se, makes the team a more salable commodity.
I'd argue that taken on it's own, the opposite is true. Those deals don't help sell the team, the results on the field may or may not. A prospective owner still knows he's getting a back to back division winner with a left fielder that is getting old, may or may not ever be healthy again and may or may not have ever earned what he was getting paid, let alone ever earn it during the back end of the contract.
Yes, buying a team where fan interest is still high on the bell curve will sell more merch than buying a year-in, year-out loser would but Cubs fan interest is never low. The Soriano deal only makes sense as a gamble toward winning it all during the front end of his deal. Without even evaluating if that aspect of the decision to sign him worked out or not, it's still the only <i>good</i> reason to consider the signing. Making a splash on the FA market is only useful for helping Hendry deflect criticism for about ten minutes. It's the worst possible reason to blow big money.
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<!--quoteo(post=80655:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:52 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Feb 25 2010, 12:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Doesn't really sound like a guy making excuses to me:
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->"Yesterday I was doing my running [up to] 85 percent, and I didn't feel anything at all," Soriano said Thursday. "I think I'm building something, because I'm feeling more and more power in my knee.
"I think the work I did in the winter is paying off. I started running, hitting and doing a lot of stuff, and I don't feel any pain at all."
Soriano said he hasn't tried to fully test the leg yet, but he will soon. He said Tuesday the knee was only 75 to 80 percent healthy.
"The only thing I'm doing 100 percent is fielding," he said. "I don't feel any pain at all.
"I think I need to trust it more. Before I felt my knee is good, now I need to trust it 100 percent."
Soriano said he hopes to play at least 150 games in 2010, according to ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If Soriano plays 150 games, I'll give him a bikini waxing.
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<!--quoteo(post=80656:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:54 PM:name=jstraw)-->QUOTE (jstraw @ Feb 25 2010, 12:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80647:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:30 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 25 2010, 12:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80638:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:15 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 25 2010, 12:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80637:date=Feb 25 2010, 12:14 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Feb 25 2010, 12:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80627:date=Feb 25 2010, 11:04 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Feb 25 2010, 11:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Part of the signing was to make a splash in the free agent market and to generate some buzz -- and both of those things were done to make the team more attractive to potential buyers.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
"So Tom, gonna buy the Cubs eh? Well...<i>I wasn't</i> but now that the GM under contract has saddled the team with a bunch of bloated, back-loaded contacts the franchise is looking a LOT better to me. LOVE the Sorano deal, for example."
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe not now, but when Soriano signed, he absolutely made the Cubs more marketable.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Let me just add to this. The Cubs had just come off an abysmal season and a 6th place finish. Hendry was told to build a winner -- and cost wasn't an issue. He proceeded to go on a spending spree (that made most Cubs fans jizz in their pants, by the way) that ended up putting together back to back division titles.
All of this made the team more attractive to potential buyers.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You said that the signing was to make a splash in the free agent market and generate some buzz and that this makes the team more attractive to buyers. It doesn't. Winning does. Nothing about loose purse strings per se, makes the team a more salable commodity.
I'd argue that taken on it's own, the opposite is true. Those deals don't help sell the team, the results on the field may or may not. A prospective owner still knows he's getting a back to back division winner with a left fielder that is getting old, may or may not ever be healthy again and may or may not have ever earned what he was getting paid, let alone ever earn it during the back end of the contract.
Yes, buying a team where fan interest is still high on the bell curve will sell more merch than buying a year-in, year-out loser would but Cubs fan interest is never low. The Soriano deal only makes sense as a gamble toward winning it all during the front end of his deal. Without even evaluating that aspect of the decision to sign him worked out or not, it's still the only <i>good</i> to consider the signing. Making a splash on the FA market is only useful for helping Hendry deflect criticism for about ten minutes. It's the worst possible reason to blow big money.
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For all of his faults, without Alf, we don't win back-to-back divisions. Think the Trib wanted to try to sell a 6th place team? After 2006, things were looking grim. Hendry's spending spree took the team from 6th to 1st.
When you buy the top free agent on the market, you're going to get fucked -- no two ways about it.
I've never said I'm happy about Alf's contract. But I absolutely understand why Hendry pursued him. Hendry had to build a winner -- and quickly. The only way to do that is by paying for it. Building from within (and fiscally responsibly) takes time. Hendry didn't have time.
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Theriot just took a fastball off the wrist... sounds like he's alright though.
@TheBlogfines
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People like to take shots at Soriano for being lazy and not giving effort and being a showboat, etc. etc.
I think the real reason is that Soriano is just fucking dumb. I'm dead serious. He is super talented, athletic, fast, strong, but he is a grade A dumbass.
I do agree with Clapp though, I think he cares and does the best that he can, he is just stupid. If he had smarts and confidence to match his talent, I honestly think he would be the best player on the planet.
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