cwsox

good point - and I am using my 1,600 post to say how much I like the way you think and good catch on the Parque Angels thing.

why f*** up a great closer to make a mediocre starter while losing a great closer? The temptation to f*** around with things too much should be avoided. The temptation to f*** around with good things at all should be avoided.

not exactly new news - that is why we either carry three catchers, send Olivo down, or lose Paul, which has been my catching quandry all spring training.

I am no Illini fan, to be sure. Illinois was seeded just fine. They lost their next to last regular season game, were not regular season conference champs, and won the tournament. Any team could beat Illinois this year except for Michigan and we'll look to that nxxt season. But this obsession with seedings is almost cubs-like as they argue they have the best rotation in baseball. What matters is the game played, not how you argue before the games are played. Illinois fans are complaining its bracket is too tough? What bracket did they want, IHSA Class A? Each bracket has top teams. And Illinois at a 4 plays a 13. So if they had been seeded a 3 they would have played a 14. So what is the huge difference here? That they might have to play a team seeded above them at some point? Well get real. Of course they have to. If one reallly has faith in one's team, you say, bring it on, we'll beat you all, not that we are better than everyone else but boo hoo we have such a tough bracket. One team will win 6 games. No one else will. To win 6 games, you have to take on all comers. Luck may have its way - certainly Illinois got lucky in playing a lousy OSU team for the tournament title rather than Wisconsin. Maybe they will get lucky in the NCAAs. Maybe they will have to earn it. But whatever, they have to play it and one reason a lot of the rest of the Big 10 does not like Illinois is the Illini whining all the time. Play the game on the court/field whatever and let that be the statement. The whole Big 10 had a down year this year. In fact, no one out there is that super this year, there is no dominant team but the Big 10s record against non conference top rated teams was dismal in 2002-03. All of the Big 10 teams were seeded about right and if the Big 10 -the conference that I adore - goes 0-NCAA this year I won't be surprised.

I agree that Parque was all heart. The one time I met him I was very impressed with his attitude. If I needed someone to watch my back, I'd pick him because he'd never give in. I never understood why so many people didn't like him. If he doesn't make it in this go round, it will be sad since the guy has all heart. No doubt though that his time was used up here, and a change of scenery has probably been great for him.

my friend in Toronto says that when Loaiza concentrates, he is hot - when his mind drifts, watch out. I agree with the change of scenery need for him, and lets keep him concentrated!

I always liked Parque, and I guess I was one of the few. I hope he has all kinds of success - except against us.

Manuel discusses the catching situation and carefully doesn't commit himself yet (and why should he?) Manuel's words

I wish I got paid ARod money.

hadn't heard that all. How can you contract the world series champion? anaheim owners sell to As owners and then As owners sell the As to people who will take the team elsewhere and move the As but why take take away anaheim's team? Owners have swapped teams before, they can do it again about time for the peripatetic As to move again anyway

think so? the entire Big 10 played poorly this year.

what????? I never heard those rumors - that stuff was really said? are their situations that perilous?

clujer, your thread has 334 hits - obviously a lot of people read your work - and apreciate it very much!

bout time some said they were on tv - it is so nice to see them -

never understood why the Tribe traded away Sexson

way to go CLee!

what an odd thing to do, makes Tejada a lame duck all year, no matter what the As do they aren't building off of this team for their future -- KW would never say something that stupid as give up on signing a player before the season starts - he might think it, but he'd never be that stupid to say it - St. Billy's crown is tarnished -

I have heard the 3rd team in NY thing as rumor too. Would be interetsing. Wouldn't be the first time NY had three MLB teams. If the market could handle it and it cut down some Yankee revenue, why not be all for it?

except if medical consequences develop in the 3rd term - 3rd term abortions are very rare, have been limited under law under Roe v Wade, and are almsot always for medical situations/complications that arise in the latter stages of pregnancy

"partial birth abortion" is a made up politically charged term for a certain type of medical procedure that is used very, very rarely in circumstances where there is severe threat to the life of the mother and fetus - it is dangerous to outlaw medical procedures - and this is such a false issue - being used by certain groups to push their own agenda - the bill being pushed is a dangerous attack on the right to choose. Third term abortions are already severly limited by law and when a late term emergent threat will take the life of probably both mother and fetus, what law should be passed that will let everything end in death and in suffering rather than save the life of the woman just because the anti choice faction wants it so? The procedure is used very, very rarely unnder limited circumstances and the term "partial birth abotion" is a triumph of pr and spin over medical procedures and necessities.

Jason, that was very enjoyable reading and very informative. One of the more insightful things that I have read, and it comes from the persepctive that I am into more, the psychology of it all.

if we are in a dogfight with Minnesota and end up winning the division by one game, us with 94 wins and them with 93, then that will be excitment galore - and I could never consider a division championship year a failure when we have only had 3 (or 4 if you include 94). I certainly 2want to see them go all the way. It will be a big accomplishment to win that first playoff game at home (undone in 83 and 93 and 00) and once we get that, then maybe we'll roll on to where we all want to go. Let's hope.

What the hell do you mean he is not doing well? At 2 for 17 his bat (for him) is red hot!

maybe I should read the things I post! you are right - 45 a week, which by the law of averages means some Sox games will be there - just hope they are not the ones already televised on WGN

that is a worry of mine. It is amazing how many trolls there are out there. One of my reasons for moving here from the WS MLB boards is all the damned trolls. When MLB took the site over from Ignite they added that real easy link. There were not many trolls before that (because you had to go through the whole registration process) but under MLB anyone can click on the name of another team and zip right to their boards and troll. And they came. And trolls annoy me. I have said many times how much I enjoy the intelligent level of informed literate people here. This place is precious to me and I hate to think of change.