aboz56

To one helluva guy... Have a great birthday man!

Have a good one Glenn.

IU will move up, regardless of whether UK sucks or not. Still one of the top 3 "names" in college hoops and for that reason, they will move up. But yes they do suck. Also, once IU gets DJ White back, I think they are going to be a top 10 team, without a doubt. I've seen them enough now, especially if Ratliff plays well. Hell the thought of a double post of White/Killingsworth plus Vaden, Strickland and Ratliff is damn scary to me. Right now my jury is still out on Illinois until I see them in Big 10 play. To me they've only played two possible tourney teams in Xavier and UNC. Still think they'll be good, but I've got them along with Louisville as my two most "ranked way too high" teams in the land. Unless McBride and Jamar Smith are taking the place of Deron and Head, I just don't see how they can be top 10. That's a lot of talent to lose. It was pretty damn funny yesterday at the game there was this IU fan I was talking to about the Big 10. So I say I think the order will go in the Big 10: 1) MSU, 2) ILL, 3) IU. He says, have you ever been to a game at Illinois? I say no. He says, well I have a few friends there who talked all of this crap last year when they had that good team so I finally gave in and went to a game there (pauses for a second) It's funny going there because you look up in the rafters and all they have is a final four banner from 1987 or whenever it was, then the rest is cobwebs. P.S. Hey greasy, you were right, Killingsworth is the best big man in the Big 10. Although I still think Paul Davis is going to hold his own when they match up. Also ILL fans don't flame me, I don't hate you guys.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Dec 10, 2005 -> 09:43 PM) I know rankings don't matter much, at least at this point in the season; however, I have an interest in them. I wonder where IU will be on Monday in the rankings. The Indiana State loss was ugly and inexcusable, but we beat #15 UK pretty handedly. They're #18 in the AP, and #16 in the coaches. Around #13 or #14 I'd say. UK could drop out of the rankings, at least they should. I also think U of L will handle them in Rupp next Saturday. I think MSU has a good shot at moving up after the win over BC as well as handling Wichita State tonight fairly easily.

Just got back from the IU-UK game (well it wasn't much of a game): A few observations: 1) It's true, most Kentucky fans don't have teeth. 2) Maybe the worst UK team I've ever seen, at least since I can remember and that is back to around 1992. They really have no shooters, no inside game and well, Rondo only tries to score when they fall desperately behind. 3) IU looked real good, should be better once they get White back and Davis lets Ben Allen play a little more. 4) See observation #1

QUOTE(YASNY @ Dec 9, 2005 -> 03:27 PM) I just received the Topps commemorative set today. Looking though the cards, it dawned on me that Anderson and Jenks have what will probably be rare "first year" cards. I won't say "rookie" as I don't know what their rookie card stati (?) are. Point being, if either one of these guys excels, those cards can be worth some jack down the road. Where'd you order that from? I'm definitely interested.

Marte needed to GET OUT. He was going to get booed all of next year at the Cell. He was easily the most unliked player on the team by fans. And we used him like a horse the past few years. He's starting to run out of gas. It'll be good for him to rot in Pittsburgh for the next couple of years. We don't need two lefties in the pen. Just use Cotts and Viz and we'll be fine.

Borchard will get the spot, IMO.

Here is how I see our pitching situation for next season: Rotation: 1) Buehrle 2) Contreras 3) Garcia 4) Garland 5) McCarthy Bullpen: Hernandez (Long Relief) Vizcaino (Middle Innings/Mop Up Duty) Politte (Setup) Cotts (Setup) Hermanson (Setup, if healthy) Jenks (Closer) If Hermy is unable to go, you look at either Bajenaru or Munoz as possible replacements for him. You would see that person shifted to mopup, with Viz becoming a 7th inning guy and not a mopup man.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Dec 10, 2005 -> 10:41 AM) Agreed. Killingsworth needs to show up big today, and I think he will. It seems he likes the big stage. Also, the 3 point game needs to come back today; they should have the opportunity if Kentucky decides to double-team Marco. Also, IU needs to use their speed to their advantage today. Kentucky won't be able to keep up with that kind of tempo, with their big men. UK has no inside game. They have 2 big guys who are, IMO, major stiffs. They need to go down low with Killingsworth early, establish him, then open up the gates from behind the 3-point arc. I like IU in this game by around 10 or so, but if UK plays their best game, it could be a really good game. It all depends on whether Sparks, Moss, Crawford, Bradley can defend on the perimeter. So far this season, those guys have not done the job. Really only Rondo is a good perimeter defender for UK. IU just needs to move the ball well and get good shots and they should be fine.

Heading up to IU and UK today. Hoping Davis can finally beat UK or this could just be another piece in the demise of Mike Davis. IMO this is a game IU needs to win.

Prayers and thoughts are with you and your family Steff.

Was sonsofsamhorn down today? What's with all of this Red Sawx crap?

The Buehrle fan club is always accepting new members.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 10:12 PM) Wicky got out of a lot of jams last year, hopefully those men on base get in this year. The Indians, IMO, are not better this year so far, even with the extra year of growth from their players. I think Sizemore and Peralta might have sophomore slumps. Peralta may, but I see Sizemore getting even better next year. The guy is a good player, there's no doubt.

QUOTE(jphat007 @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 10:10 PM) I bet he's pretty solid, but I doubt his numbers will be anywhere near as good this year. Back toward the median. Besides 2001, that was Wickman's best year. Expect him to fall off considerably next year, if he can even stay healthy the entire year.

QUOTE(winninguglyin83 @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 10:06 PM) he'll stay healthy because he keeps himself in such great shape. I'd like to see him and Colon in an eating contest. My money is on Fat boy Bob. He looks like he could easily put down a couple of boxes of donuts...for an appetizer.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 10:04 PM) I guess he was the best option after Hoffman signed. Anyone care to place bets as to whether or not he stays healthy this year? Just from reading around a few Indians forums, they sure as hell wanted Hoffman and I don't blame them one bit. Most (not all) do not like Wickman. Apparently he has too many "Koch like" 9th innings. Translation: Puts a lot of men on base. Only difference being Koch usually imploded and Wickman somehow gets out of it. Its great for the Sox that they failed to get Hoffman and now have Wickman and no Howry.

Indians beat reporter Mark Schwab reported this deal earlier according to the Indians MLB board. No financial figures available yet. Figured this was coming, since they had til midnight tonight to offer arbitration or lose negotiating rights until May 1st.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 12:47 PM) Hopefully there is still time for the O's to step in & convince him to go to Baltimore. They certainly have a need with Sosa & Palmeiro out the door. I don't want to have to watch Thomas help the A's beat us in the post season next year. The A's and postseason? Ha. Angels will own that division. Then you'll have White Sox, Indians, Twins, Yankees and Sawx all going for the other 3 spots (2 division winners and a Wild Card.)

Estrada was useless to Atlanta due to the emergence of Brian McCann.

No chance.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 01:23 PM) I watched a lot of that game last night and i still think highly of MSU. But Aboz that's just the nature of the polls - you lose, you drop down. They'll be back up there eventually. I mean Illinois shouldn't be ahead of them...but we haven't lost yet, that's why we are. I mean i think MSU is the better team but pollsters can only look at what you've done so far, you know? MSU will be fine. I was most impressed by their free throws at the end of the game last night. That's very Izzo esque. I look forward to facing off with you guys. I look forward to it as well. We open the Big 10 schedule with Illinois on the road.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 11:53 AM) Where'd you see this? That's badass if true.

From Katz's article today on MSU: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/stor...andy&id=2250617 Damn good article by Andy talking about how they shouldn't have dropped so far in the polls. I'd be hard pressed to find 4 teams in the land better than MSU yet they are ranked No. 14. Just goes to show how much the voters overreact to a couple of early season losses in Hawaii.