So far talks with Cashman are going well, both sides think a deal will be reached by the end of this week.

Good to hear.

Any BoSox or Cubs fans hear anything on Epstein. Did Boston give him the green light to talk?

Only just the Cubs saying they wanted to get permission to talk to Theo and the owner hinting Theo won't always stay as just a GM forever. Theo wants to have a higher management title but not possible with the Red Sox.



A bit surprised he keeps wanting to come back with all the "trashing" and rumors of getting fired he gets every year from management/fans and him usually hinting it could be his last year or wants to move on in the near future.

Even with the 2010-'11 offseason and the trade deadline people were bitching and moaning that he didn't grab anybody "big". In reality, it worked out. But come on, the 2009 campaign sealed the deal.

As I said on the last page, Levine going over his head and "forcing" him to sign Soriano just so we got a "big name" during the offseason probably pissed him off.

bunch of pissed off people on the MLB site because they postponed game 2 of the ALCS yet there is no rain anywhere near Arlington

Apparently it's being reported Theo was spotted in Chicago. Buster Olney just said if he gets the right offer, he's gone.

I'd jump at the chance if I was Tito, if I could end the curse for the Cubs I wouldn't have to pay for anything in the city again.

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah, if Theo and Tito ended another curse, they'd probably become instant Hall of Famers just for that. They'd also probably be able to travel around Chicago on thrones.</font>

Free deep dish pizza for life?

I wonder how Boston feels about him today, even after he ended their curse and gave them an extra Title.

They probably would still be like "Terry's a faaaaaaggot".

Yeah Boston fans gave him the boot and Cubs fans are 7 million time more faggoty than Red Sox fans.

Between the Chicago teams, I definitely prefer the White Sox.

Detroit/Texas is going into extras.

Can't believe the Rangers stranded bases loaded with no outs.

Sick walkoff grand slam by Nelly Cruz.

Unless Detroit got an extra Verlander on ice somewhere, the Tigers are in trouble me thinks.

Tigers have been screwed on days that Verlander pitches. Each time he has started, it rained limiting his innings and killing their chances.

Milwaukee fans don't deserve to see the Brewers go to the World Series.

Did they get their asses kicked tonight? Yeah. But for the fans to get up and leave, with their team playing in Game 2 of the NLCS, at home, is ridiculous.

At least they showed up, unlike in St. Petersburg.

Yeah at least in Milwaukee's defense, the Cardinals hammered the Brewers early on in comparison to the Rays who have struggled to sell out their playoff games the past 3 times they've made the playoffs.

Its not just Tampa but more of a Florida problem because even the Marlins had problems and those were World Series title years.

MLBTR is reporting the Cubs and Theo Epstein are close to a deal and something might get announced within a day or two. Boston is looking for something big to come back their way if they're gonna let Theo walk.

Come on....Starlin Castro.

Ben Cherington will probably take over for Theo if it goes through. Can't really say it's an absolute huge loss as Cherington has worked under him for a long time and probably learned some of his traits. I've heard Theo wanted to get promoted beyond GM, but those positions are filled long-term.

Also from MLBTR.

Baltimore has gathered 6 names for their GM opening. They are: Josh Byrnes of the Padres, Gerry Hunsicker of the Rays, J.P. Ricciardi of the Mets, Thad Levine of the Rangers, Tony LaCava of the Blue Jays and Dan Jennings of the Marlins. They all got an equal shot to be president of baseball operations as well.

Former Reds GM Wayne Krivsky, Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer, Phillies assistant GM Scott Proefrock and Rangers senior director of player development Scott Servais are also possible candidates.

what a fucking clutch hit that was by Cabrera.

It really looks like Epstein is coming to the Cubs. Wow.

Quade probably packing his clothes right now.

Doug Fister has been fucking epic

Chicago gets:
Theo Epstein

Boston gets:
The green ivy wall

:shifty:

Epstein/Sandberg 2012

Fuck yah!

I'm going to opening day next year I hope. Think it s against the Nationals, which means Strasburg

Brian Wilson's relentless chalupa hawking

I'd prefer Theo bringing in Ryne Sandberg, than a Theo/Tito reunion in Chicago...yet I have a feeling that as soon as Theo joins the Cubs, people will start asking if Terry Francona will follow him.

Hey Tito I know you won two World Series, but we're gonna go with the rookie. Hope you understand!

Epstein to the Cubs. 5 years, $15 million.

Hopefully the Red Sox get some prospects out of this and not just cash. John Henry and the organization aren't exactly strapped for money.

Hey Chicago waddya say sabremetrics in your town today

Anybody else notice the Rangers growing Amish playoff beards?

Buster Olney really thinks the Yankees are gonna make a play for Joey Votto.

And all it'll cost you is the low low price of Nova, Hughes, Robertson and Gardner! How could you pass that up? You don't need pitchers! You need hitters!

How about Joba and a ham sandwich?

They can't sign fast enough!

If it's Tavern Ham I think they'd go for it.

I highly doubt the Yankees or anybody is going to trade for Votto this offseason. He's still under contract for two more years.

I suspect that Votto's name will be thrown out repeatedly by teams trying to sign Pujols and Fielder as a way to saturate the market and lower their asking prices.

Good to see the Boston owners didn't throw anyone under the bus upon leaving town.

And apparently Lester, Beckett, and Lackey all love the fried chicken. And video games. And beers. During games.

I always wondered why players got fat when they went to the Red Sox. Makes sense.

They must be the ones keeping the Popeye's across from Fenway in business.

Joba would eat the sandwich long before they got to Cincinnati

<font color=goldenrod>The Marlins are reportedly looking to sign a superstar or two this offseason, however they do not want to commit to long contracts. As such, it's being said that they are mulling giving out the first ever 3-year, $100 million contract.

God that would be so hilariously stupid.</font>

At least now there is an actual explanation to how Beckett gets soo dam fat during the season, especially when he first shows up during Spring Training.

Usually every other year he shows up with a gut larger than last time and either has it all season (struggles that year) or by June its gone (good year).

Not as dumb as the contracts that pay 40 year olds $25 million. They'll easily make that money back on tickets and merchandising if they sign a Pujols and the player will still be young enough to sign another huge deal.

The Astros sale should be done around mid-november and ultimately, the team will move to the AL and play in the west division.


You also forgot Francona is a bit of a pill popper.

I might not be paying close attention, but Buck and McCarver haven't been terrible during this series so far. Couple of cringe worthy moments but not too bad.

every time Mcarver mentions Bob Gibson, take a drink :love:

Nelson Cruz is outta his MIND!

Texas has good hitting but didn't expect them to be this great against the Tigers pitching. 2nd game this series where they hit a bomb in extras to win the game.

Maybe it's because the TBS guys are so bad.

BOOMSTICK

Thought the same thing. Picked the Tigers on my show so I'm kinda hoping for a mammoth comeback, but I'd be happy with Texas winning.

I'm pulling for the Rangers, but I fully expect Detroit to win tomorrow. You'd think Verlander is going to go out there and pitch the game of his life.

However, if Texas beats Verlander tomorrow again, then I think it's safe to say they will win the World Series.

Sticking with my original pick, Brewers vs Texas, but I rather see Brewers vs Verlanders

Leyland is literally putting the entire season on Verlander. Valverde and Benoit are not available today.

Ben Cherington, VP of Player Personnel, named the new Red Sox GM.

legend and I were talking about how players don't show any emotion in baseball, which makes Njer Morgan the most vilified player. What if players showed emotion?

What if a batter made the motion for the crowd to get loud when the bases were loaded?

What if someone hit a home run and took out a flipcam and recorded it?

What if a pitcher did the Hogan posedown after a key strikeout?

OKGO

Good move considering he's been working with Theo ever since Theo joined in 2002 and originally was meant to replace him when Theo "quit" in 2005.


Tigers are going to struggle a lot today in making Verlander have to carry the team once Leyland said no setup man or closer would be available. Its bad enough that Verlander has struggled a bit in comparison to the regular season and hasn't been as great although the rain delays messed up his pitch schedule the most.

Rangers lead 1-0 in the 3rd.

DAMMIT.

F'N Tigers. Just delaying the inevitable (the Rangers advancing to the World Series).

Rangers are ready to give CC Sabathia a boatload of money if he opts out of his deal.

Oh, and Lance Berkman and Jacoby Ellsbury are your Comback Players of the Year.

<font color=goldenrod>Wow. Coke is being hung out to dry here.

-edit-

He got out of it. Hella tense.</font>

The city of Boston should be embarrassed. Smear the names of the two people who brought you two titles in seven years? Wow. I would be outraged at the Boston owners and media if I were a Red Sox fan. They should build statues for Francona and Epstein right now.

I was at game 4

Also, I realize Theo is not to big on giving long contracts to guys over 30, but Puljos is unstoppable right now and his post season numbers are some of the best in the history of the game.

damn, found a pretty good doppleganger though

also found the same old dude who was sitting next to me. guess he had tix to both games

Looks like there could be some issues with the Cubs attempt at getting Theo Epstien.

The club is having a problem creating a list of potential low level prospects that would be any good or even be taken by the Red Sox in the deal. The main problem is creating the actual list because nobody in Cubs management has agreed to which prospects are possible while locking away too many right now.

Theo is also still in Boston working with the GM to find a new manager and is still negotiating to bring some staff with him to Chicago. Its assumed he will get 2 low to mid-level staff members like previous GMs and managers were allowed when they left.

I'd think Theo would rather go after Prince, than Pujols.

In reality, I really DO wonder if Theo would go after both CC and Fielder, and if he could actually sign them both. The Cubs would have to pay a lot extra for all the fabric that will go into making their uniforms, but...it'd be worth it.

glad the good guys won today

don't dislike the Rangers tho

they're the good guys too

although getting tired of cities winning multiple championships in the same year

well I guess that hasn't happened in a few years either

so yeah Rangers are fine I guess

I crack up at Sox fans who think they will sniff any of the Cubs to 20 prospects. I read somewhere that someone was thinking they should get Cashner or McNutt. Laugh.

You don't realize how scared this post made me. If CC goes to the Cubs that's not as bad as what I was thinking about Fielder and CC going to the Sox. Okay, we all know that the Yankees aren't gonna let CC get away without a Plan B. So, I say they go hard after CJ Wilson, and make a trade. I know that I don't wanna empty out our farm system but if CC goes we might need to. Hughes can not be trusted. And neither can Burnett.

And Nova........ well don't get me wrong I really do love the guy, but it was his first year. You remember another rookie that had a really good year by the name of Joba Chamberlain? Now , I am not saying that Nova is gonna end up like that. God, I hope not.

It's simple we're gonna need a number 1 and if CC goes I am afraid we are gonna need to empty our farm to get him. Or they could just take their chances with CJ Wilson being their number 1 if CC leaves.

<font color=goldenrod>LOL Cubs if the Theo deal falls apart over a prospect list.</font>

Would be such a Cub thing to do.

It COULD happen, I mean, if Theo Epstein finally does go to the Cubs, he's going to want to make an impact fast, make a "splash", because of the pressure and expectations.

Psst. You forgot the Mavs won the NBA title this year.

I know I think you got confused. What scared me was the fact that CC and Fielder could go to the Red Sox. I mean if the Cubs get CC and Fielder good for them. We would survive especially since they aren't in the same league. It's much scarier if CC and Fielder went to the Sox. Now if CC went to the Cubs it's easier for us we'll find a replacement somehow if CC goes to the Cubs.

Look at Dotel!

...and his socks. It's...beautiful.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6eMS_zrTliI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

:'(

Well, the Rangers are going to the World Series!

LOL is Nelson Cruz for real?!

Rangers hammered the Tigers badly. They better hope those bats don't suddenly become cold like last year where they looked strong against the Yankees and then disappeared during the World Series.