If only I had enough soul to sell...

He would have looked good in a Rockies uniform.

I changed my post! you change yours!

I have been following this as closely as I can --- not only because I'm a Sox fan, but because of the ramifications to possible similar scenarios in the future as it would pertain to the poaching of executives (and staff) from other organizations.

Here is my understanding, based on reports from Boston: the Sox let Theo out of his contract with the agreement that they would receive a "significant" player as compensation. Too late to go back on that now.

Clearly, the two clubs now disagree on what had been agreed upon.

I already dislike Bud Selig for having a double standard that's based on friendships or lack of them (he did everything he could to rid the Dodgers and baseball of Frank McCourt, yet continues be the primary enabler of the Wilpons, whose operation of the Mets is killing National League baseball in New York).

But if he lets Theo pull a fast one here, I will think much less of him than I already do.

So, O.K., I'm kidding about getting Garza or Castro. But we DO want something "significant" --- and it's not money...or a year's worth of Popeye's fried chicken.

Here they are telling us, and MLB is also saying the same, that the meeting where the Cubs ownership went to Boston and settled on an initial agreement (delayed compensation) was a silent agreement and neither side has opened up about them. The Cubs, primarily during the Cubs convention, have only confirmed some things that aren't part of the deal. That included a confirmation that players would not be part of the compensation.

The only actual confirmed thing I heard about was that the Cubs have agreed to a 3-year moratorium on hiring any other ex-Boston execs/admin people.

If you really want a player I'm pretty sure Cubs fans would be 100% behind sending Soriano to you guys.

Also, I think its funny that it is viewed as "poaching". Theo opted out of a contract. As an employee, it is his right to do so. Therefore, I don't think Boston is entitled to much of anything. An employee quit so you want something for it? Why?

Yankees. Nuff said.

Would it mean redemption if I told you that I have always enjoyed watching the Tigers, going back to when Billy Martin was their manager?

Whenever they've played and beaten the Yankees in the playoffs, there's no bigger Tigers fan in NY!

Okay, your back on the friends list....i missed you.

Suga, I know it has been a while now but how is Granderson viewed from a Yankees fan? There is still much love for him here in Detroit.

Speaking of souless abominations.

Sounds reasonable to me!

On a side note about badger hunters, old-timers were particularly cruel with Cairn Terriers. Throw them down the hole and one of four things happened:

1) Badger gets flushed out, hunter kills it.
2) Badger kills Terrier.
3) Terrier kills Badger.
4) Badger chases Terrier out and hunter kills Terrier (it was perceived as a "bad/cowardly" dog).

This aggresive nature was bred and nurtured for a looooong time and Cairn Terriers are notorious for their bull-headedness even today.

I grew up rabbit hunting with beagles. Watching beagles chase rabbits is pretty flippin' amazing. Rabbits are so slick at changing direction that the beagle actually has to rely on it's brains as well as it's sense of smell because of how a rabbit can seemingly change direction in mid-stride and double back over it's own trail. It's like a battle of wits more than anything. heh

Hmmmm. Well, seeing as how the info out of Boston differs greatly from what you have seen, I think we will have to see how this plays out.

As for "poaching," that is indeed a strong word and was used with an eye towards other possible cases in which it might be more appropriate than this one. But this is the one where a precedent needs to be set.

Theo was under contract. My understanding of such signed agreements within the context of professional sports is that you don't get to just walk away from them. This is why Bob Kraft demanded -- and got, via a commissioner' decision -- his compensatory pound of flesh from the NY Jets, when Bill Parcells wanted to jump ship to go coach/run the Jets.

If the Sox made a mistake -- and clearly, they did -- it was to let Theo go before the compensation was agreed upon.

And because I value our friendship more than this particular exchange, Tom, I will end without telling you what you can do with your Soriano offer.

Granderson is one of my favorite current Yankees. I think last season really endeared him to a lot of the hardcore fans.

He was my all time favorite Tiger and I find it really hard to route against him. Whenever the Tigers go up against the Yankees I have to secretly hope for him to make that big catch/get that hit.

I have the perfect solution. Boston's "compensation" will be for the Cubs to send Soriano back to the Yankees.

I'm pretty sure we can agree on this.

Note: It still meets our requirement that it doesn't involve a player.

I just finished cleaning the whole house and did all the dishes in hopes of avoiding the dreaded "honey do" list for my "Weekend of Robb". Just a few more days....I'm kicking around the idea of seeing Ghost Rider on Saturday.

New article is up. Full of Shulkie goodness