Well, here is where we should be able to reap the benefit of our ownership group supposedly being installed by Selig. He better go to bat for his chosen trio.

If the deal goes past today or tommorrow then I could care less about it, the Sox, or any player involved or what they do. This is rediculous, it's a God damned trade, not an attempt to offset the national debt. DNA testing on Saddam took 3 days, this can't be 8 times more complicated.

McAdam: this is different than the Schilling situation because with Schill, there was a deal in place before contract talks started. There is no deal in place here.
Giving team permission to meet with another team's player before trade is done is unprecedented.

McAdam seems to think Selig will try to force this through.

I still can't decide who to be more pissed at: Hicks for being so outrageous in his trade demands, or the union for having an acute case of God Syndrome.

NJ--why does the NY writer think it will get done? And does he think it gets done today?

I don't understand how they could be holding any kind of meetings when Gene Orza is in Tampa holding another meeting. It was reported he left last night and Theo & Co. flew back to Boston.

As of last night I believe everyone involved in this deal are in radio silence. I was listening to the Dan Patrick show on ESPN Radio and he tried to get a hold of the commissioner and was told by his assistant that he was too busy....Probably on the phone with the union and both clubs at this point.

My health is starting to suffer from all this waiting ...

Just imagine now, if GW Bush was the owner of the rangers. We all seem to think Hicks is crazy, imagine dealing w/ GW. Just a thought.

now they're talking about the celtics and movies.

I don't understand why baseball has such a powerful players union, it makes me sooooo mad!!! It is a trade A-rod wants to come here and take a reduced salary! Just let him do it who the hell cares!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

If we, as a nation, are going to heed anyone's word around here...It should be McAdam. He never over or under reports, he has never compromised his journalistic integrity. How many times has NY Newsday reported this as done? Put the faith in McAdam, he's one of the best-if not thee best- in the industry.

Oh, be more pissed at the union. Just on general principle.

CT Girl,

Weren't you going to go streaking or something? What happened?

But seriously, I firmly believe that most media types don't know anymore about this than we do.

rsb

If McAdam's assumption is correct...and this doesn't get done by New Years, wouldn't this be worse for the Sox? Meaning that Nomar would of course be disgruntled (as he should be --> would you want to wait for weeks to find out if you are coming or going?). McAdam said that this would be a "mess" and I agree. I hope that a decision is made today so we can move on from it. I hope that we do not have to wait till January or who knows when to find out who are ss, of are....we have other issues as well and I don't think that being in arbitration for such an extended period of time would be good for the ball club.

GOOD! F Tom Hicks!!!! I am tired of having to pay for his stupidity!!! how did he ever make money in the business world. Keep Alex and enjoy loosing IDIOT!!!

This won't last past new years it's today or maybe tomorrow if they somehow give 24 more hours. This is hamstringing too many other moves involving other teams to allow it to drag on any longer. MLB can't just sit around and wait for the bomb to drop, they have to end this thing now, it's getting out of hand and is beginning to interfere w/ our way of life.

How thinks the deal gets done today in favor of the Sox? I'm hoping for a response please.

I'm not so sure. If Hicks would accept the deal straight up, without us having to pay 2-5 million dollars per year on Manny's contract, I would think it would make it much easier to take on A-Rod's contract as-is.

All I know is that through all this heartache, i still hate the MFY.

I think this has to get done, one way or the other, by Christmas at the latest simply because there are so many other teams and players (LA, Chicago, Texas, Boston, Anaheim, Seattle, Walker, ARod, Manny, Nomar, Mags etc etc etc) on hold until a decision is made.

Certainly we can't expect the White Sox or any other teams or players to take a couple of weeks off on any potential trades or signings until we get our deal straightened out. They would simply say "f#ck you too" and walk away.

Must be done by Christmas.

rsb

I still am in favor of a deadline of this week. We need to move on, either way, and so does the rest of baseball. We still have some holes to fill for this year as well as concerns for the future. Let's not forget that we have some key free agents that need to be addressed THIS offseason.

Has anyone heard from the Gasbag or Kjerkian today on ESPN, trying to get an update out of ESPN's site is like getting blood from a rock.

Forget Christmas!! This deal has to end before then if not for the other teams then for the sanity of the Sox fans who I don't think have gotten a decent night sleep since this whole thing started! Please everyone involved just end this ASAP.

Wow, I think my caffine kick is starting to wear out. Time for another cup.

edit: spelling

I'm going to be sick to my stomach if this deal doesn't happen.

I am increasingly thinking that it may be time to just walk away.

Give it until today's deadline and if the passes, its time to begin to mend relationships. Plus, we would get to enjoy the consolation prize of making the players union look like s***. I find it funny that they have Orza acting as the mouthpiece now. I guess they recognize that Don Fehr is perhaps the most hated man in America. They are going to run out of people to be the mouthpiece before long. I wish congress would revoke MLB's anti-trust status. That would make these f***ers grow up in a hurry.

Anyway, our current team is one of the best Sox team I've seen in my lifetime anyway. I would be thrilled to watch them just as they are. Screw the Union.... everyone will know that they just damaged the sport, the game, the league and the business.

gammons on WEEI now

Xmas, New Years, Arbor day.... I want this done today, now.. Either way, Nomar, Manny, or A-Rod, Mags.. We will sort it out when it is over. I just want to exhale. Oh and one more thing.. BEST OFFSEASON EVER!!!

Is Gammons saying anything new on 'EEI, or is he just rehashing the same thing we've been hearing: "I think it will get done, these teams have come too far, but there is a lot to work out."

Gammons is on WEEI now....He says he believe people are on the phone talking today. They "know where they have to get to." Contrary to what people have said on station (hysterical sox fans) Orza has worked extremely hard to get this done. I'll post if he says anything else interesting....

If this goes to arbitration we'll win, since the terms of the agreement from the MLBPA state that the contract has to have "equal actual or potential value" as I stated in an earlier post this clause seems to lack the wording to dictate that value in this instance is strictly monetary value, as there are types of value other than fiscal/economic value (not to mention the extra endorsement money he'll get for playing in a Big Market city which doesn't get factored in if we're strictly going by the terms of the contract)

Oh great some more Gammons insight on EEI.

Let me guess....its either on again...or dead. Or perhaps somewhere in between.

Lets recognize reality with the now senile and laughable Mister Gammons....he knows as much about this deal as you and I do, nothing more. He is simply guessing at this point.

rsb

SoSH has gone dark again.

I can understand them limiting membership so as to keep the quality of the posts high, but what is the value added from preventing the rest of us - who, like everyone else, are just looking for a way to pass these torturous hours - from reading the posts?

If I were prone to dark suspicions, I might darkly suspect that they are the elitists everyone says they are.

Gammons said something along the lines of 1.5 hours ago they felt the deal was going to get done, then half hour ago there wasn't....he said that both sides are over the cliff and feel they will get this done. Werner called Nomar last night and told Nomar he thought it wasn't going to happen. It's pretty much could happen, could not happen with Gammons...pretty much what I expected from him.

He did not say when it will get done - he thinks it will b/c it has come so far and that JH basically has gotten RSNation in such a tizzy over getting AROD/MAGGS, that they will agree to some compromise and get it done

Gasbag on eei said that an hour and a half ago the feeling was that the deal was done, but then a half an hour ago it seemed like it was not gonna happen. But he also said usually when it waivers like this deals go through.

Also he said nomar is NOT a happy camper

Once again, another day putting comapny bandwidth to better use vice doing idiotic reports. Refresh city has been the work of choice.

Talking heads giving opinions mean nothing at this point - thanks P. Gammons.

Keep the WEEI updates coming for those that can't get AM in the office - way to go gang......

GOD, does this guy EVER say ANYTHING of substance?!?!?!?!?!

So does that mean in another half hour it will be on again??

Wow! Peter earns his money doesn't he?

It will or it won't happen? Who could have made that call?


rsb

Red Sox Brain, I think Christmas is too long to ask other teams to wait. The Holidays are really going to play havoc with this mess and I fear any possible back end deals for Nomar Williamson and or Kim will fall apart. MLB needs to get on with it's day to day operations. While it would not be the end of the world for the Sox (if the deal falls through), they will still have to deal with an unhappy Nomar.

Monkey, SoSH cut off lurkers last night because the moderators were pissed that the cryptic post by JWH quickly found its way onto the wires. Also because they were overwhelmed with so many hits.
I'd suspect the same deal today.
And they are elitists, no matter what.

Gammons thinks that this is getting so chaotic and that it just has to get done... if goes to arbitration it could be at least a month and this does nothing for the two teams...doesn't help them basically. He believes the deadline is a "wink wink" deadline at this point.

Also, if the Ordonez did fall through he said there are still people who want Nomar (especially Dodgers).....

Nomar is a very unhappy camper per gammons.

I guess I'm in the minority but I really hope this doesn't happen.

Kurt

You know how the old saying goes, "If you can't woo them with wit, baffle them with bullsh!t"

Gammons thinks Luis Rivas or Pokey Reese for 2B due to financial constraints. Thinks if they get Ordonez the Sox would try to extend his contract, thinks Magglio would like to play in a baseball crazy park. But Ordonez deal doesn't look great, especially if it drags on and on due to the Arod fiasco.

Clear as mud!!!

If you go to bostondirtdogs.com...there is a quote on there from SOSH stating (parphrasing) that they have closed it to viewers because they are a bit miffed that people in the press (AP) have pulled content from their board...and that they will reopen it to viewers at some point...

Selig to Hicks: " Tom, they got $14 mil from the Union. Take the $14 mil
and let's all go home for the Holidays."

Hicks to Selig: "Allright-Bud. But they have to throw in a Hummer for my daughter."

Don't get me wrong, I love Nomar. Think he's a great player and busts his ass 24/7 for the team.

That said, I could care less if he is unhappy. The guy is a millionaire several times over. Is going to make $11 mil next year..and sign a contract for anywhere from $30 to $60 million next winter. He is married to a hot soccer player and is generally universally loved and respected. I know homeless people who don't know if they will be able to eat tonight or find shelter. If Nomar's feelings are hurt, I'm not gonna shed alot of tears. I think he will survive somehow.

rsb

They were all saying there's no meetings today but didn't the PA heads have to go to Florida to sit on Bubba Trammel's arby case today?

Tony Maz agrees with Gammons that this deadline is more of a "phantom" thing. Gammons has left and will be on ESPN later.

So I guess this means we are waiting for nothing?

Tony finds it amusing and ridiculous that he goes onto chat rooms...I dont know if its henry/schilling that hes talking about, or both.

tHE bIG sHOW SAID THIS IS A BOGUS DEADLINE AND THE THING COULD BE DRAGING.

Peter Gammons to Big O: Up until an hour an1/2 ago there was a good feeling that this deal will get done. Draging it for a month into arbitration harms both teams.

Leephus & Rico:

If I were a betting man, I'd say the the JWH quote found its way to the wires through a SoSHer, not a lurker. But what do I know? What possible interest could SoSH have in being mentioned in a series of worldwide AP reports?

In any case, let them take their ball and go home. This board has been more interesting, fun and informative than SoSH all through this damned thing. Fewer pontificators, too...

Great...the next thing we'll hear is that MLB has decided to stage a series of opening day games in Cooperstown, and the teams that will play include the Red Sox, the Angels, the White Sox, and the Rangers. That way, this deal can really come down to the wire, and if need be, the players involved can just switch clubhouses when the deal gets down right before the games start

Now back to regularly scheduled programming...