SoxFan562004

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 12, 2011 -> 09:59 PM) The topic of Derek Jeter moving down in the Yankees order just came up on Baseball Tonight. John Kruk said no because "If you move him down and he struggles, then what do you do?" The answer, John, is to leave him down there, or to bench his motherf***ing ass. Giving one of your worst hitters the most or second most at bats on the team is the very description of offensive disaster. And, unlike most teams that still use the traditional lead off hitter, the Yankees have a f***ing ton of guys who are better options, including Brett Gardner. BTW, don't ask why I was watching, because I don't know myself. ESPN is going to be pure comedy if Jeter continues to decline, just wait until the s***-storm that will happen if they discuss moving him from SS permanently. For my own sanity I watch minimal ESPN baseball coverage, so did anyone over there actually say the Yankees were probably right in the Jeter/NYY off-season conflict?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 10, 2011 -> 04:51 PM) Hope you're watching, it's a great one Exciting stuff. Interesting thing to me was when Tiger was making his front nine charge players weren't crapping their pants and dropping bogeys like in the past. The eagle miss on the back nine was shocking

QUOTE (zenryan @ Apr 10, 2011 -> 12:57 PM) Serra isnt close to top 10 and BJ is a 155 pounder. Noons wasn't top 10 and a 155er, and Santos, Smith, Sakurai, Shamrock, Inoue weren't top 10 either, Daley was obviously top 10. So, he had exciting fights, but his record isn't riddled with top 10 talent lately. If GSP fought a majority of non-top ten talent, often guys who can only potentially beat him in one area, he would have more finishes. As a fan I love Nick as a fighter, but I really want to see him fight some of the elite guys before people start placing him next to GSP, Fitch, etc...

QUOTE (zenryan @ Apr 10, 2011 -> 12:27 PM) How do you know Diaz would get mauled? Kos couldnt even maul Daley who has zero ground game. He smothered him like a wet blanket and didnt do a thing for 15 minutes. And Rickson said that in 2008. The game hasnt evolved so much to the point that what he said has no relevance anymore. But I guess in today's MMA where judges see a guy on top of his opponent as an automatic win(ie Jardine getting 4 takedowns and landing a total of 2 punches) for the round you have to fight off the takedown.. But we can get into the judging system some other time. Sure a GSP-Shields fight is more intriguing but its not going to be entertaining. GSP hasnt fought an exciting fight since he got lit up by Serra. Maybe the fight with Hughes where he actually finished someone for a change. But other than that it's just decision after decision. well, I don't know he would get mauled, but I have a strong inclination he would. OK, didn't know the Rickson thing was so recently, but how often are elite BJJ guys finishing other elite guys off their back? Fedor/Werdum pops to mind, and I think most agree, not to take anything against Werdum, but Fedor made a mistake in going after him on the ground a 2nd time and made technical errors in top control.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 10, 2011 -> 11:41 AM) Unfortunately all 9 innings count at the end of the day. fortunately it's April 10

I'm sure Cooper and Ozzie will discuss how mechanically he looked and his next potential match-up. If Coop thinks he can repeat what he was doing and that he wasn't made to look better by a struggling Rays O, they'll give him another crack. Also, Dunn should be back by then, so if it's a 4 or 5 pitcher opposing them Ozzie might just decide to see if his team can win a slugfest

watching replay on MLBN of "Greatest Games" and it's Bartman game... mad props to Alex Gonzalez for sitting down and discussing it since he made the real terrible play that cost the Cubs that game

QUOTE (zenryan @ Apr 10, 2011 -> 10:45 AM) The UFC puts on some exciting fights on paper but more times than not, the fights dont live up to the billing. Maybe the UFC fighters fight a little more cautious because they are scared of losing their position within the company. But rarely does the UFC have an event that is more exciting from the fights standpoint then Strikeforce or even the other events. I'd like to see Diaz against a top wrestler now not named Fitch. We all know how a Fitch-Diaz fight would go. Fitch would go for the takedown and do nothing for the next 15 minutes and hope he doesnt get submitted. Diaz-Koscheck would be pretty fun. We would see two guys not scared to bang and then we can see how Diaz does against a good wrestler. I actually see nothing wrong with Diaz being taken down by someone with no wrestling skills. Rickson Gracie said it best a few years ago when he was criticizing BJJ fighters for fighting the takedown. If youre comfortable on your back then why fight the takedown attempt? Especially against someone who might not be good at submissions. a guy with good top control/GNP would maul him on his back, especially since he isn't a huge 170'er. Kos/Diaz would look similar to Kos/Daley except Diaz would probably be able to get up a few more times. Rickson said that a few years ago, before MMA evolved, when BJJ guys could get subs off back easier. Also, SF matches better for exciting matches. Look at Diaz last two defenses, Cyborg and Scott Smith (EDIT: Actually his last 3, forgot about Noons who is a standup guy as well)... two guys who are known to stand and trade. Personally, GSP/Shields is more intriguing to me than a fight like Diaz/Smith where it's a top 10 guy first a guy nowhere near it over top two WWs in the world. May not be as exciting, but more interested in how it plays out.

Slide wasn't dirty at all, he was trying to break it up and Nishioka used poor footwork, unfortunate outcome for him

QUOTE (zenryan @ Apr 9, 2011 -> 10:47 PM) Wow, what awesome fights Strikeforce had tonight. It's a shame that the UFC never produces so many exciting fights on their PPVs. they probably could if they ran fewer shows, I mean SF won't run any event for 2 months... although Zuffa said they're upping number of SF shows after the June event. If UFC wanted to run one show in roughly two months they can make a card of - (using 130 to 132, which is slightly over 2 months of cards for them) GSP vs. Shields Edgar vs. Maynard III (which, even though Diaz/Daley is clearly round of the year, Edgar vs. Maynard II is still fight of the year IMO) Machida vs. Couture Dos Santos vs. Lesnar Faber vs. Cruz Rampage vs. Hamill W. Silva vs. Leben Frank Mir vs Roy Nelson Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago Miguel Torres vs. Brad Fickett and some other potentially exciting fights, and that's only using fights scheduled, take those fighters and others not listed, including an exciting fighter like Condit, and mix and match. So yeah, SF ran/runs exciting shows, but they often have the luxury of running fewer shows and having less contenders, making fights. Again, not to rag on SF at all, but they had a completely different business model than UFC had. As a fan I love the SF shows, but also appreciate the UFC shows a ton since we usually get to see upper level fights, mid level fights and some prospect fights. Not to rag on SF here, but IMO the fights were definitely "exciting" but outside of Melendez last night, winners didn't do anything to change my opinion on them as far as their status in their division goes. Melendez was a flat out beast, unfortunately we won't see Melendez/Alvarez, but I'm really hoping Gil is the first SF guy to UFC. Winner of Edgar/Maynard III or at least Showtime/Guida (Gil would wreck Guido or Pettis IMO though) is hopefully next for him. but nothing last night showed me that Diaz wouldn't struggle with a wrestler with good top control. GSP, Fitch and even Kos would be a bad matchup for him. BJ/Nick Diaz would be a great match though. Gegard, if anything took a step back in LHW. Should he have won the decision? Sure, but so what? Say he wins it and he fights Hendo next, Hendo absolutely runs through him with wrestling. I'm sure Zuffa wanted Gegard to take a major step last night, even talk of a possible UFC entry soon, but getting taken down at will by and not finishing a 35 year old Jardine on the downside of his career that took the fight on 10 days notice was not impressive. I think Zuffa wanted him to enter the conversation with guys on the level of Rashad, Rampage, Hendo, Shogun, and Machida where they're basically one fight away from a title shot, but last night, a logical match-up for him would be a Ryan Bader match-up to see if he can do anything against a wrestler. Aoki, I'll cut him some slack, that was setup as an old WWF squash match and he pulled it off. The guy is use to the ring, they gave him a fight against an overmatched opponent and he wrecked the guy. As a fan I would be REALLY annoyed in Zuffa and Showtime if Nick Diaz fights Woodley next and Gil fights Josh Thompson next... no offense to Woodley or Thompson, but let's get creative and see some better matches for those two with Zuffa's roster. Even if they don't want to make GSP/Diaz or Diaz/Fitch... let Alves, Condit or Diego fight him on a SF card, same thing for Gil, at least give us Jim Miller or Guillard against him on a SF card

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/...sweep?eref=sihp Cubs blaming Manny's PED use for 08 sweep... from the team that trumpeted Sosa for year upon year and made millions off him

nah, Tampa is a good org, but this will be one of their down years, just beat them 3 out of 4 and let it be

QUOTE (Brian @ Apr 9, 2011 -> 02:27 PM) Joe Buck and McCarver really bringing their F game to the broadcast today. ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Agreed especially Buck. It was painful

I put the catch-all for both sections. I like more of the novelty stuff, like I have some bobble-heads, game worn Wunsch and Foulke jerseys I picked up at Sox-fest garage sale and some autorgraphs I got when I was younger. As gifts I tend to get stuff, but I like the more unique quirky stuff to display in my at home bar.

Anyone else catch the MLBN broadcast of the NYY vs. Bos game? Specifically the part where Costas destroyed Bonds records as shams? I'm fine with that, I think more mainstream media should do so. He was really harsh on Bonds. The weird part to me was this was all during a discussion of A-Rod possibly making a run at Bonds record. OK, fine, but he really danced around A-Rod and his PED usage. He wasn't nearly as harsh. I wonder if it's because A-Rod "admitted" (although I'm in the camp that he used it more than in Tex, he and his spin doctors determined that was the safest to admit to since it wasn't his young years with Seattle and then his NYY years) to use? It was a really weird juxtaposition in how he handled the two.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 8, 2011 -> 10:34 AM) I learned last year not to doubt the Celtics based on regular season play. i tend to agree with this, however they are neck and neck with Miami for home court for a potential 2nd round match-up. Also, the Perkins trade changes my opinion of them a lot. Green is a good player, but Perkins had the physical presence they need this year, especially against a Heat team that struggles against size in the middle.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 08:34 PM) Adam Dunn is going to make it REALLY hard for people to hate him unfortunately there will always be holdouts due to his high K total.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 06:05 PM) Dunn saying he could've pinch hit today and wants to play tomorrow . zero reason to rush this. ptac might have to answer this, but isn't biggest threat now infection?

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 05:22 PM) Also: Holliday was cleared yesterday to resume baseball activities after having the procedure on Friday, LaRussa says he could be back this weekend. yup, just saw it on a scrawl on MLBN, he was swinging a bat today I believe. Good sign for Adam.

QUOTE (shipps @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 05:12 PM) I am going to try not to let the bullpen struggles get in the way of the wonderful fact that we won. Defense and some base running were the real culprits in this game. Ohman, while he did allow a BB, defense let him down, not exactly what a struggling pitcher needs. Thornton I'm not worried about in the long run, would love to see him pitch inside a little more though. Sale pitched over a bad error by Morel and Humber went 2 with no ERs. Not great, but ultimately the pen kept them in and won this game, 7 innings 2 runs 1 earned

QUOTE (chw42 @ Apr 6, 2011 -> 05:01 PM) They'll be on their usual pace to lose 95 games by then. You can't outrun the talent you have on the team. You just cant'...especially in a 162 game season. anyone know what their plan is with their top prospects? Are they planning on bringing them up when the certain arb deadline hits, usually in June sometime if memory serves me right? By July 4th they could have a lot of talent on the team, maybe not ready to win consistently on the MLB level, but certainly a lot of talent. At this point, the Royals could start all their reserves for a series and they'll give the Sox a run for the money, they just seem to be "that team" against them.

Would like to see AJ and Thornton start to work inside to batters more often, Butler and the guy from Hawaii got all outside pitches, so it's a little easier for them to flick at a 98 ball when they only have to cover it

nice to win games when they had absolutely no business winning against a streaking team. Ugly, but got it done

QUOTE (Brian @ Apr 2, 2011 -> 08:44 PM) Lackey contract=fail yeah, I thought they would at least get 2 solid years out of him, but didn't even get the first solid year out of him. Wouldn't be shocked if he puts up a decent year, but looks like that deal may be a dud

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Apr 2, 2011 -> 01:07 PM) Ejax has zero control today. he's throwing too much offspeed for my liking