Unfortunately there’s been a lot of bashing about the girl and her family on the YouTube video. I’m sure its Cubbies fans. It’s amazing how ignorant so many will get over the smallest of things. We all love our teams and will support them to the day we die but the responses on YouTube over a little joke is just absurd. Especially when you consider it involves CHILDREN.

The reason for this post isn’t to bash them though it’s because there’s now a video taking those people to town. Here ya go.

Here’s the video that started it all. So funny.

What’s your thoughts on the whole thing? If you go to YouTube you can see all the ignorance.

@Ken_Rosenthal: Source: #Twins also on Buehrle, joining #Nationals, #Marlins, #Rangers. Offer not as strong. Others believed 3 yrs in $36-39M range. #MLB

If Rosenthal’s information is correct then I’m a little surprised at the dollar value but they’re very fair offers. I expected more of a $14-15 million per salary, but $12-13 isn’t bad at all. Especially when you look at his age, 32 and the amount of innings he’s thrown.

My thinking is if all teams are within the same salary range then it will come down to what team gives him a better chance to win another championship by the time he retires. Does he go with the Rangers who’ve been to the last two World Series, a team that he’d actually be an ace for right now if they don’t re-sign C.J. Wilson.

Or does he go with the Marlins a team who is spending like madmen this winter as they get ready to move into their new stadium. They’ve already signed Heath Bell and Jose Reyes but said there’s still money left in the bank to upgrade the rotation.

Or does he join the Nationals who are a young up and coming team in a very competitive division. They might be the furthest away from championship contention but boy do they have a nice nucleus. Does Buehrle want to join a team that he may not really be able to win with till the end of that contract?

The Twins, I don’t think will play a part if their offer isn’t close to the other guys.

Should be interesting to see who he picks, he can’t go wrong either way.

“Obviously, I would love to hand the ball to John Danks 30-plus times,’’ Ventura said Thursday. ‘‘Gavin Floyd, the same thing, and have Carlos [Quentin] in right field. It’s kind of a wish list, but I don’t think I know what will happen. That’s the interesting thing about going [to the winter meetings].’’ (Joe Cowley – Chicago Sun-Times)

Danks is one of the Sox biggest bargaining trips especially with him still making less then $10 million. He’s arbitration eligible this off season and should only get a raise to about $7 or $8 million after an off year.

That’s right an off year, which was still good enough for a 4.33 ERA over 27 starts, with 135 strikeouts over 170 innings. In the three prior seasons his ERA ranged from 3.32 to 3.77 and around 200 innings per season. He’ll be 27 at the start of the season, so I’d expect him to back bounce to his career norms.

I’m sure Williams is expecting the same which would explain his asking prices. Cowley reports that the asking price is apparently very high, maybe too high.

Several major-league sources, as well as a Sox source, confirmed to the Sun-Times that Williams has been shopping Danks as next week’s winter meetings draw closer. The Sox are set to move the left-handed starter rather than have him go through one last year of arbitration, then free agency.

One problem.

“Kenny asked for everyone on our roster in return,’’ a source said. (Joe Cowley – Chicago Sun-Times)

If Williams is serious about rebuilding this team it will have to come down from “everyone on our roster”. I’m pretty sure that price will come down, especially when the Winter Meetings start next week. He’s most likely just trying to build Danks up and make it look like the team really doesn’t want to trade him.

One thing is for sure though and that’s the White Sox should get a decent haul back for Danks. He’s in his final season under team control and only going to be 27 years old. On top of that he’s a left handed pitcher, always in demand.

What I can’t figure out is what teams that will be in play. If they pay a ransom for him they’re going to want a legitimate chance at signing him to an extension. With his prior success it means he’ll be expensive. One team that could afford him is Texas Rangers, a team we’ve mentioned before.

The Rangers are working diligently to evaluate the available left-handed starters, a major-league source said Friday. One name that’s high on their list: Chicago White Sox southpaw John Danks, who began his career in the Texas organization. The White Sox are trying to move payroll, and Danks is a prime candidate to be dealt. (Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports)

While John Danks is obviously no C.J. Wilson it’s not a horrible alternative. Danks had an off year in 2011 going 8-12 with a 4.33 ERA over 27 starts. His career ERA is 4.03 but that’s mainly because of a horrendous rookie season. Throughout his career he’s been a very solid lefty starter he’s had an ERA of 3.32, 3.77, 3.32 from 2008-10, while giving the White Sox about 200 innings pitched each year.

So basically he’s proven he can be a top end of the rotation guy, maybe not your ace but is C.J. Wilson really ace material??

If I were the Rangers I’d actually consider this option more then giving Wilson a big deal. Danks is only 26 and due to make $6 million in 2011 and is arbitration eligible in 2012. Basically, he’ll be a cheap alternative with not much of a drop in production that would allow the Rangers to free up payroll to spend elsewhere.

With the White Sox in full rebuild mode and looking to cut payroll it shouldn’t cost them much either.

Free agent left-hander Mark Buehrle toured the new Marlins ballpark Tuesday and caught up with an old friend, manager Ozzie Guillen, during a daylong visit with the team.

The Marlins are the first club to meet with Buehrle, who pitched for Guillen throughout the manager’s eight seasons with the Chicago White Sox. (Palm Beach Post)

While this was an official visit with another team I wouldn’t look into it too much, at least not yet. I think it was more of Buehrle going in and meeting with someone he feels comfortable with before heading out to see the big spenders. He’s sure to have visits with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals and who knows who the hell else.

He’s one of the top three starters on the market and he’s going to have plenty of options. There is no way a deal gets done soon but it’s got to be encouraging for Marlins’ fans to see their team in consideration. I’m quite sure having his former manager, Ozzie helps.

Early projections are that Buehrle will look for a four year deal worth about $16 million annually. That’s a deal that makes sense considering the amount of innings he can eat and how he performs at a high level. It would also be a slight raise over his previous contract.

In the past a contract would scare the crap out of the Marlins but with them entering a new stadium they’ve got the money to burn. Are they serious contenders, I’m not sure but if they did add him they’d have a hell of a top two, with Josh Johnson and Mark.

Johnson’s weighed in with the Post and gave his thoughts, it’s safe to say he’s pretty excited at the possibilities.

“It would be great for the team as a whole. He’s a leader in the clubhouse and would really help out the rotation,’ Johnson said Tuesday in a text message. (Palm Beach Post)

The White Sox are expected to try to bring starting pitcher Mark Buehrle back on a two-year deal, and he may be one of the many veterans loyal to owner Jerry Reinsdorf who stays for less. If he leaves, most would expect it to be for his hometown St. Louis Cardinals. (Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated)

Buerhle just finished a four year deal that was worth $52 million, which paid him $14 million in 2011. I’d expect the Sox to offer something similar even with his age (32) and the large amount of innings he’s thrown (2476 over 12 seasons).

Personally, I’d say Chicago is insane if they don’t bring him back. He’s thrown for over 200 innings pitched in all ten of his full seasons. Even more impressive is that he’s only had three seasons in that span where he had an ERA over four.

Mark won’t put up the eye popping number of ace pitchers but the guy simply gets the job done. Buehrle is one player that Reinsdorf needs to keep if he’s serious about trying to stay competitive while rebuilding.

“Well, it was considered long enough for me to realize that Paul is a very cerebral person and he would probably drive himself nuts right now playing and managing at the same time,” Williams said Tuesday. “But that’s the kind of respect I have for him that yeah, I did consider it. Then I thought I think I would rather him be focused more on hitting third or fourth in the lineup and driving in 100 runs rather than trying to worry about 25 other guys in addition to it. We are trying to win.” (Chicago Sun Times)

“I believe Paul Konerko, if he wants to, can ultimately run a Major League club and would be able to do so as soon as he steps off the field,” Williams said. “Why do I believe that? Because I spent the last 11 years talking to him about baseball. And when you talk about that in that fashion and does it fit in our equation, we have a situation here where it’s a unique situation where there is scrutiny, there is the microscope and a person has to be able to deal with some of the peripheral things so that he can also maintain himself as a strong individual to lead 25 guys.”(Chicago Sun Times)

That’s pretty impressive for a manager to say that about a current player, let alone seriously think about making it happen. He does admit it never got serious enough to where he asked but just the consideration of it itself is well just, wow.

he Marlins have interest in acquiring pitcher Carlos Zambrano – whom the Cubs want to trade – if Chicago picks up a large chunk of his $18 million salary for 2012 and doesn’t expect a lot in return. (Miami Herald)

We all know the Cubs will be actively shopping Zambrano this off season, they pretty much have to after how the 2011 season ended. If you forgot, Big Z spent the last four weeks of the season on the disqualified list due to another emotional outburst. After all that there’s just no way he’s on their 2012 roster.

The problem for the Cubs and every team in the league knows this is they have no leverage. Typically if a team takes on a large salary they don’t give any players worth a shit back. If they give decent players then the sending team will eat some salary.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, I don’t see any team willing to pay that salary or give a decent player back. So they’re pretty much going to have to eat some salary and take back marginal prospects at best. If they bend and decide to accept that fact you better believe the Marlins will jump into the Big Z sweepstakes.

According to Zambrano, he and Ozzie talk almost daily. They’re both natives of Venezuela and have obviously become close. If there is any manager that could handle Big Z’s temper it would be Guillen as he’s got a temper of his own. Do you think Carlos would be blow up at Ozzie like that? Eh, I’m not so sure, that would lead to an EPIC fight.

Carlos would be a huge addition to the Marlins rotation, if he were indeed traded. In 2011, he only went 9-7 with a 4.82 ERA but there were a lot of issues in play. Over the last four seasons his ERA is a solid 3.96 with a 43-26 record. Add him to a rotation with Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Javier Vazquez and Ricky Nolasco and you’ve got a solid rotation.

On top of that the Miami Herald reports the Marlins look to have a payroll between 80-90 million, that’s reminiscent of the years they won the title. What that says is there willing to add payroll and make a big splash in their new stadium. Apparently pitchers Mark Buehrle and CJ Wilson are also on their radar.

It will be interesting to see what the Marlins do, especially regarding Carlos Zambrano. Personally, I think he’ll wind up there, how much do the Marlins give up thou is the wild card.

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