Waiting for Yu

That’s what she said.

[quote name=Smokestack Lightning]More and more are saying that the Jays have won it.[/quote]I’ve been trying to find the rumors floating up until Boston was awarded the Dice-K posting bid win. I want to say it was constantly rumored to be Seattle and the Yankees. It ended up that both were WAY below the actual winning bid. So i don’t put much stock in the rumors.
Also – considering the fact that Theo won the Dice-K bid it makes me wonder why the Cubs aren’t being rumored as winners more.

He says that the Rays and Cardinals used the play the most of all teams last year, Yankees and Red Sox the least.

[quote name=JMan]I’ve been trying to find the rumors floating up until Boston was awarded the Dice-K posting bid win. I want to say it was constantly rumored to be Seattle and the Yankees. It ended up that both were WAY below the actual winning bid. So i don’t put much stock in the rumors.
Also – considering the fact that Theo won the Dice-K bid it makes me wonder why the Cubs aren’t being rumored as winners more.[/quote]
The silence around the team is deafening. Nobody knows shit about what the Cubs are doing. They could all just be sitting around and playing solitaire.

Alvin’s about to go on the most mind-making rant you’ve ever seen.

Cubs not being ready to “spend big” doesn’t exactly jive with the fact (reported in various places) that they made a significant bid for Whirling Darvish.

[quote name=fang2415]I first read this as “More and more are saying that the Jews have won it.” My brain must be feeling anti-semitic today.[/quote]
Then that would mean the Cubs…just like I said. We’ve got Jews in our front office.

Songs about waiting > songs about girls

[quote name=Suburban kid]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hugY9CwhfzE[/quote]I don’t see what Sam Hurd has to do with this.

[quote name=GBTS]I don’t see what Sam Hurd has to do with this.[/quote](dying laughing)

[quote name=ACT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz64hWng2vM[/quote]They must’ve had to get a drummer with quite a sense of balance not to fall off of that giant picnic table for a whole show.

.

[quote name=Mish][/quote]wat

perhaps the most depressing waiting song?

[quote name=Recalcitrant Blogger Nate]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTGKzWDakK8

perhaps the most depressing waiting song?[/quote]They better hurry up and announce the Darvish bid soon or we’re all going to kill ourselves.

[quote name=Suburban kid]While you guys are waiting around and watching Youtube videos, take a look at the worst Youtube video every made. I said I would do it a year ago and now that Ronnie made the HOF I felt I had to get off my ass and do it since I felt the need to pay tribute in some way. However, it is the dumbest thing every, so fair warning etc.

I always suspected that Santo and Flavor Flav were actually twins. They just had too much in common for it to be a coincidence.

Someone please just hurry up and tell us Yu Darvish is not coming to the Cubs.

Yu Darvish is not coming to the Cubs.

The Cubs are not major players for Fielder, as they are “not ready to spend big,” tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

So no Fielder and no Darvish.

[quote name=Aisle424]Apparently, Sandusky’s lawyer was just making casual conversation when discussing why someone might have to shower with under-privileged children:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-sandusky-lawyer-shower-comments-not-about-client-20111215,0,4258152.story/quoteI honestly wonder how Sandusky managed to find so many attorneys who are as fucked up as he is.

[quote name=mb21]I honestly wonder how Sandusky managed to find so many attorneys who are as fucked up as he is.[/quote]Maybe all the good lawyers turned him down.

[quote name=fang2415](dying laughing)

I always suspected that Santo and Flavor Flav were actually twins. They just had too much in common for it to be a coincidence.[/quote]I totally forgot to grab a “yeah boyeee”. It would have fit perfectly after “it always happens! I don’t know why!”

[quote name=Suburban kid]Well, with Zambrano in limbo and Pujols out of the division…[/quote]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cir05JyEsV0#t=19s

[quote name=fang2415]wat[/quote]The Waiter!?!? NO?!?!?

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/view/8590096

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters are expected to accept the posting price on star pitcher Yu Darvish, but not until just before the Tuesday 5 p.m. ET deadline.

Lame.

[quote name=GBTS]http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/view/8590096

Lame.[/quote]They’re, like, totally messing with 10 million American mopes.

The Matsuzaka leaks started about 2 days after the bid ended: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2656687

[quote name=GBTS]Whoa, wait, so in the Dexter season finale, the villain will try to kill someone in Dexter’s family?

Fourth time’s the charm, I guess.[/quote]
Watch out baby Dexter!!!

[quote name=uncle dave]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA3qKBASurg[/quote]

wooo! Love The Sonics!

[quote name=Aisle424]New York Post is claiming:

Darvish ——-> Blue Jays

http://www.twackle.com/sitebar?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nypost.com%2Fp%2Fsports%2Fyankees%2Fblue_jays_believed_to_outbid_yankees_2iwMCIwJ1gcFbjA9QYntaM%3FCMP%3DOTC-rss%26FEEDNAME%3D%26utm_source%3Dtwitterfeed%26utm_medium%3Dtwitter/quoteUntil Paul Sullivan dishes to BK about the info he got from a random man in a probably ugly shirt, I don’t believe it.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/16/report-the-blue-jays-are-the-high-bidders-for-yu-darvish/

[quote name=Smokestack Lightning].

The Hall of Justice is on lockdown, nobody knows what the Superfriends bid, but based on the prevailing belief that the Cubs are not big players for anybody (except maybe Fielder, but even that goes back and forth daily) and with all the excitement coming from the Blue Jays camp, I think it possible everybody’s allowed themselves to get swayed in that direction.

Except me. I’m sticking to it this time. Cubs win the bid. Theo didn’t fuck around the first time with Dice-K, he blew everybody else out of the water. Why he would put up a half-ass bid and hope for the best seems unlike him. Like his predecessor maybe, but not him.[/quote]I agree, partially. My feeling is the Cubs put up an aggressive, but reasonable bid given their finances, but the Blue Jays may have gone into stupid-money territory, and you can’t really compete with that. If the Blue Jays didn’t do something crazy, I think the Cubs have a reasonable chance. They’re seriously going to make us wait three whole days, aren’t they?

Rogers is reporting that the Jays won, but whatever. (dying laughing)

[quote name=Mish]Rogers is reporting that other people are saying that the Jays won, but whatever. (dying laughing)[/quote]
Fixed.

[quote name=Urk]wooo! Love The Sonics![/quote]The Sonics kick motherfucking ass.

[quote name=Suburban kid]The Sonics kick motherfucking ass.[/quote]
I think they’re called the Thunder now.

I’ll wait for Yu forever.

Yu can’t always get what yu want

If I can’t have Yu, I guess I’ll just have to wait for my Prince:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/cubs-early-favorites-to-sign-prince-fielder.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MlbTradeRumors+%28MLB+Trade+Rumors%29

[quote name=josh]Ruth Bader Ginsburg![/quote]
Josh has weird tastes in women.

[quote name=AndCounting]She’s not not hot.[/quote]

[quote name=AndCounting]The really curious thing about Prince Fielder is that there seems to be no one even interested in driving up the price on him. Scott Boras isn’t even doing a good job lying about the market for Prince. Someone might actually sign him to a reasonable contract.[/quote]Yeah, the book was only like 73 pages and barely even exaggerated all of the facts.

Being ridiculously wealthy is painful:
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/la-russa-pujols-pained-by-decision/article_b5225138-2a1b-5d5f-898e-7f143da11538.html?oCampaign=email

[quote name=josh]She was more attractive in her younger days:

[/quote]Where’s that Gary Coleman gif when you need it?

[quote name=AndCounting]The really curious thing about Prince Fielder is that there seems to be no one even interested in driving up the price on him. Scott Boras isn’t even doing a good job lying about the market for Prince. Someone might actually sign him to a reasonable contract.[/quote]I don’t think there’s much of a market for him and there’s no way he’s getting a 10 year deal.

[quote name=fang2415]I think Mish’s humor on this thread is going way over my head.[/quote]I’m 99.7% sure this one was trying to invoke Breaking Bad.

Dave McKay ——-> 1b coach

Christopher Hitchens —-> dead

December is such a slow news month.

(dying laughing)

[quote name=josh]She was more attractive in her younger days:

[/quote]Like most people who are famous for reasons other than being good-looking, she was never very good-looking. That’s why I was so surprised that Gloria Steinem actually was very good-looking:

[quote name=AndCounting]I miss Yu already.[/quote]

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/16/barry-bonds-to-be-sentenced-today/

But no matter what happens, this should serve as a lesson to all of you: don’t ramble for a minute before answering a question. Ever.

.

[quote name=josh]She worked as a Playboy bunny in Hef’s club in the ’60s. Briefly, and for a journalistic assignment, but still.[/quote]I’d like to see John Roberts try to do that. Wait, I take it back. I’d like to hear about it.

[quote name=Mish]I must admit, this is my favorite Supreme Court hottie rating site on the internet.[/quote]
Hi guys…

[quote name=Rice Cube]Hi guys…

[/quote]

Definitely not your typical feminine looking hand. Kind of scary if you ask me.

[quote name=Pinetar]Definitely not your typical feminine looking hand. Kind of scary if you ask me.[/quote]Her index finger and ring finger appear to be the same length, so she is slightly less feminine than one would expect.

[quote name=Rice Cube]Hi guys…[/quote]
Hey lay-deez

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder][/quote]We’re still all on the verge of committing suicide for lack of Yu Darvish news, but for different reasons now.

[quote name=Aisle424]Superfriends updated[/quote]I now have no idea who an even higher percentage of them are.

[quote name=fang2415]Disagree on lobster (dying laughing)[/quote]
What about the anal?

[quote name=Rodrigo Ramirez]What about the anal?[/quote]All the non-lobster ones I either agree with or don’t have an opinion. (dying laughing)

[quote name=Berselius]I totally agree on lobster, my feelings were only cemented after living in the NE for the past few months. Crab >>> lobster[/quote]Truth.

And they always stick you with the tail, which is okay, but lobster claws are the best part.

[quote name=mb21]Is it also your favorite site for discussions about whether lobster and anal sex are overrated?[/quote]I know for sure that this is my favorite site for discussion my favorite sites.

[quote name=Aisle424]Superfriends updated[/quote]

oops late to the waiting party but a worthy candidate

This thread is getting slooooooooow with all these clips. (dying laughing)

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/chicago-cubs-theo-epstein-should-be-front-runners-for-prince-fielder-121511

This reminds me of the Pujols situation. Rosenthal reported that they were in on him, sources close to the Angels denied it.

[quote name=Pinetar]http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-sveum-downplays-fielder-rumors-20111216,0,6737559.story[/quote]The Cubs interest in Fielder is nothing more than the agent using the Cubs to get a better contract in my opinion.

[quote name=josh]Richard Dawkins is definitely the most attractive atheist Brit.[/quote]

[quote name=mb21]The Cubs interest in Fielder is nothing more than the agent using the Cubs to get a better contract in my opinion.[/quote]Yeah, but believing the Cubs have a chance to get Fielder or Darvish helps justify wasting so much time on baseball blogs.

[quote name=AndCounting]If it’s a planted rumor, the idea that they’re interested in no more than six or seven years seems counter-intuitive for Boras.[/quote]Not really. If he can get teams thinking the market is less years, higher annual salary, he might be able to work a deal for Prince that gets him a big payday now, and again in 4-5 years.

[quote name=AndCounting]Well, if there’s one part of the buzz on this story I do believe, it’s that Boras and Fielder want a longer contract than that. Whatever Boras says, he has to have the same concerns about Fielder’s durability that everyone else has. Committing to a short-term contract would be a pretty big gamble/concession on their part, I think.[/quote]Perhaps. But the market is what it is. Boras can’t force teams to give a guy with a bad body a long deal. Eventually Prince is going to want to have a team and begin preparing for the season with them, and Boras will be pressured from both sides to get a deal done. Even if he gets his 10 year deal, no more than 7 of it will be guaranteed, and there’s little chance on a deal like that that Prince will get a NTC, which Boras will want since he knows a team signing Prince to a deal that long is thinking they’ll be looking to ship him and those big money years after 4-5 years anyway. I think Boras has overplayed his hand a bit here.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/jays-bid-40mm-plus-favored-to-win-darvish-bidding-.html

I just read the bottom part for the first time:

The Fighters don’t know the identity of the MLB team that won the bidding on Darvish

How can they not know? Is it like a pair of parents hoping to be surprised by the sex of their baby?

[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]The Fighters get all the bids blind. All they know are dollar amounts. Then they decide whether to accept or reject the high bid. If they accept, the winning team is notified. If the winning team agrees to enter negotiations, the Fighters are then notified as to whom that team is, and they have a window to work a deal. If they can’t get a deal done, the posting fee goes back to the team, Darvish remains to fight more Hams, and it all begins again next offseason.[/quote]Ah, for some reason I thought all the bids come in an envelope with the secret admirer’s name on it. Good to know!

[quote name=8volumesthick]oops late to the waiting party but a worthy candidate

read the post with the rules about posting.

I know people have talked about how close to the vest this new front office is, but that’s just not true. We know for a fact it is not. I do believe the Chicago media is worthless, but they’re not this lazy. The reason we hear so little is because so little is going on. Even awhile back when Cespedes’ name came up, it was pointed out by at least two beat writers that the Cubs were more interested in another Cuban defector (Soler). Thoyer basically admitted they have no interest in spending money this offseason. They’ve done this a few times. They’ve talked about how important pitching is, but haven’t wasted a moment trying to acquire any of the top starting pitchers available.

This just isn’t a front office that is going for it right now. I don’t think they could care less about making a splash. I don’t believe the Cubs had any genuine interest in Pujols. I don’t believe they do for Cespedes, Darvish and Fielder.

They’ve acquired stop gaps in RF and 3B. I’m sure if Fielder’s price drops considerably they’d be interested, but my guess is that they’d pay no more than 5 years and $100 million. I know the Cubs bid on Darvish, but I believe that all 30 teams bid on him. There’s just no reason for any team to say, ah fuck it, I’m not going to bid on this guy.

I know it’s exciting to talk about getting stars, but nothing this front office has said or done indicates they have any interest in building a contender in 2012.

I’ll be called a funsucker for this, but I don’t think this front office has made contending a priority for 3 to 5 years. Both of them were signed to 5-year contracts. Executives often talk about 5-year rebuilding plans. I don’t believe that’s a coincidence. The Cubs have put every player on their roster on the market. Nobody is untouchable. They’ve talked to teams about Matt Garza (their best starting pitcher) even though they’re wanting more pitching and Garza is still a bargain.

Sucks, but the next few years are going to be pretty bad. I predict firetheoepstein.com will be purchased within a year.

[quote name=Rice Cube]I’m surprised it’s not live right now.[/quote]Give Cub fans a few months to talk themselves into thinking they’re smarter than him.

[quote name=Rice Cube]I like the part where MO has isolated himself from Cubs fans (dying laughing)[/quote].

[quote name=Rice Cube]Hater.

Although I guess it would take a few months for them to learn simple HTML.[/quote]
That’s what DreamWeaver is for!

/dumbest software ever

[quote name=mb21]I know people have talked about how close to the vest this new front office is, but that’s just not true. We know for a fact it is not. I do believe the Chicago media is worthless, but they’re not this lazy. The reason we hear so little is because so little is going on. Even awhile back when Cespedes’ name came up, it was pointed out by at least two beat writers that the Cubs were more interested in another Cuban defector (Soler). Thoyer basically admitted they have no interest in spending money this offseason. They’ve done this a few times. They’ve talked about how important pitching is, but haven’t wasted a moment trying to acquire any of the top starting pitchers available.

This just isn’t a front office that is going for it right now. I don’t think they could care less about making a splash. I don’t believe the Cubs had any genuine interest in Pujols. I don’t believe they do for Cespedes, Darvish and Fielder.

They’ve acquired stop gaps in RF and 3B. I’m sure if Fielder’s price drops considerably they’d be interested, but my guess is that they’d pay no more than 5 years and $100 million. I know the Cubs bid on Darvish, but I believe that all 30 teams bid on him. There’s just no reason for any team to say, ah fuck it, I’m not going to bid on this guy.

I know it’s exciting to talk about getting stars, but nothing this front office has said or done indicates they have any interest in building a contender in 2012.

I’ll be called a funsucker for this, but I don’t think this front office has made contending a priority for 3 to 5 years. Both of them were signed to 5-year contracts. Executives often talk about 5-year rebuilding plans. I don’t believe that’s a coincidence. The Cubs have put every player on their roster on the market. Nobody is untouchable. They’ve talked to teams about Matt Garza (their best starting pitcher) even though they’re wanting more pitching and Garza is still a bargain.

Sucks, but the next few years are going to be pretty bad. I predict firetheoepstein.com will be purchased within a year.[/quote]They’ve also talked about not doing a fire sale, and always wanting to contend, even during rebuilding.

If what you say is true about not caring about contending for a few years, why would stop gaps at 3B and RF even matter, given the existence of Blaker and LaHair?

The thread’s tag (Not Gonna Happen) is probably right, we’re probably dumb for allowing ourselves hope for a good 2012, but I absolutely do not think Thoyer is done making moves at the MLB level this offseason. Maybe they’re more stopgappy moves, but until I hear otherwise, I’ll think the Cubs could still land someone more significant for the long haul.

I wouldn’t say NOTHING they said precludes contention in 2012. I seem to remember them mentioning they weren’t going to punt any particular year, but I agree overall that they have been deflecting such questions and consistently referring to long term plans. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them add a piece if they could get Fielder or Darvish at a relative bargain, but I don’t see them doing something Nationals-esque.

[quote name=Suburban kid]They’ve also talked about not doing a fire sale, and always wanting to contend, even during rebuilding.

If what you say is true about not caring about contending for a few years, why would stop gaps at 3B and RF even matter, given the existence of Blaker and LaHair?[/quote]The Cubs will never do a fire sale, but they’re open for business. Numerous sources have confirmed that. They’re listening on anybody and everybody. I haven’t even read a report that says Starlin Castro is off limits. I imagine he is unless it’s one of those deals you’d be stupid to offer.

As for stop gaps, the O’s and Pirates sign them each year with no hope of contending. I don’t think LaHair can play every day in the OF so acquiring someone for RF was kind of a necessity unless you want to open the season with Jackson in CF. I don’t see that happening. Gaining that extra year is more important than an additional 40 games of experience for him.

I think the Cubs as an interested suitor are being thrown around for a couple of reasons. First, the media is lazy so they see very good GM who has signed high dollar contracts in the past and a team with a lot of money. Then you have the agents more than willing to use the Cubs and the Cubs willingness to allow them to be used. They wanted Pujols away from the Cardinals. They want Fielder away from the Brewers. It makes sense for them to allow themselves to be used.

I get excited at the possibility of the Cubs signing these guys too. That’s inevitable, but it’s also highly unlikely.

firetheoepstein.com is already taken.

Let me know when the domain is registered and I’ll work on converting the gif to a swf that will repeat endlessly to Yakety Sax.

The snark is strong with this one:

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/16/barry-bonds-gets-30-days-house-arrest-two-years-probation/

[quote name=mb21]firetheoepstein.com is already taken.[/quote]It takes you to a domain name registration site…

http://firetheoepstein.com/

Did someone buy it already? When entered into the search no results are returned.

Firetheoepstein.biz is available.

So is .net and .org but .biz always cracks me up.

At what point does Fielder’s price come down enough where the Brewers are actually back in play for him?

[quote name=Berselius][/quote]Normally I would do something about a child being raped, but it was like totally the weekend, so…

KIll them all. Line them up, put a cigarette in their mouth, and expel their worthless asses from existence.

[quote name=Mish]No on the former, HELL YES on the latter.[/quote]
It’s not your favorite site for these discussions?

[quote name=snyds0122]firethoyer.com

there is an option still available…[/quote]so is http://www.theoepsteinisoverratedlikelobsterandanalsex.com

FireTheoNathanEpstein.com

or there is this…

(dying laughing) at OV’s $100 bid on Yu Darvish.

[quote name=AndCounting]Why not just go with http://firetheCubs.com?/quotesounds good

Not to resurrect anybody’s hopes here, but Jim Bowden, who earlier was the loudest crowing about the Jays winning the Darvish sweeps…deleted the original tweet.

http://twitter.com/#!/JimBowdenESPNxm/status/147646968397697024

He has since tweeted that the Commish’s office hasn’t told anybody anything about nothing to do with Darvish, and won’t, thank you very much, until Nippon Ham accepts the bid.

http://twitter.com/#!/JimBowdenESPNxm/status/147739078572515328

[quote name=AndCounting](dying laughing) at OV’s $100 bid on Yu Darvish.[/quote]It’s no laughing matter, AC. If we win the bid, all of us are out $25 thanks to Aisle 424.

[quote name=Berselius]It’s okay, that money came from Carlos Silva’s contract.[/quote]But it was being used to pay Marlon Byrd.

OCCUPY AISLE 424!!!!

[quote name=Aisle424]Worst case scenario is that I will return the gold-plated shoe polisher that I ordered for my OV office to pay the posting fee.[/quote]I bet you etched our bid on a Faberge egg to send it in.