CWSGuy406

Don't get me started on the announcers. I love how they dance around it, too. There was an exchange where Raffetery (sp?) said something like, "Duke usually makes more free throws than their opponent takes!" Any objective mind would question why that is, but of course it's always attributed to Duke players just "knowing" how to get to the line. What a crock. I'm not terribly worried about that game. I don't think anyone on Marquette played terribly. Wes Matthews finally stepped up a bit, Hayward looks like he's improved a bunch and even James was impressive -- I've really enjoyed watching Dominic cause havoc defensively. Not that this was a fantastic defensive effort, mind you, but as I said earlier, just like the U of I posters in this thread, I come away comfortable despite the fact that we won't be taking home the title.

27 to 15 in the fouls department, thanks Hightower. Jackass. Pretty happy with the performance tonight. James is shooting a lot better, he had several shots that went in-and-out. A couple ill-advised shots during the game (one by McNeal, one by James and a poor drive decision by Acker) but overall I come away a lot more comfortable with this team. With an improved Hayward our offense will be improved from last year. And about Cubillan... well, yeah, kind of a showboat. I'd hate him on another team but he's on the team I'm a fan of, so...

The Angels now have what, five outfielders? I was thinking about this, but instead of getting cash from LAA, I really would've liked to had seen Rivera included in the deal. At this point he's gotta be on the block, right?

f*** these refs. Four fouls on Hayward, four fouls on McNeal. f*** 'em.

QUOTE(fathom @ Nov 22, 2007 -> 03:52 AM) How else was he going to fix it? The 3 arms that he acquired last year that were supposed to be relievers of the future for the Sox all seemed to fall out of favor. Just because the result was poor doesn't mean the idea was flawed. I assume this also means we're not going to get Yabuta -- or any Japanese reliever -- which I think is f***ing assinine. Cleveland just picked up a guy for a third of what we're giving Linebring and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Kobayashi outperform Linebrink.

You know, going into a game versus Duke you expect the foul calls to be lopsided but there's not a whole lot that can actualy prepare you for it. 12 to 6 fouls tonight in the first half, wasn't it 13 to 6 last night for U of I? I don't necessarily disagree that Marquette had 13 fouls, but I know Duke committed more than six.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Nov 22, 2007 -> 03:32 AM) Why? Linebrink's peripherals are terrible. K/BB ratio was just at 2-to-1 last year. His homerun rate isn't anything special. It's too much money for a not-great reliever. There's lots of reasons not to like this deal.

My faith in this organization has bottomed out. f*** this group heading our beloved -- your going to give $19 f***ing million to Scott Linebrink? Gosh damnit.

Holy f***ing cripes -- how is that NOT a foul on Paulus yet they call it on Oose? Damn.

How long has NHL Network been out? If you have it I'd recommend tuning in. On the highlight shows they don't do voiceovers, rather they just play the regular broadcast. Apparently they have right to play games, too, as tonight they have on New Jersey vs Pittsburg using the FSN Pittsburg feed. They also have a TON of classic hockey games -- today they had on a playoff game, Edmonton vs the Islanders, and I got to see a young Gretzky. I usually don't commend Bettman but so far, so good with the Network.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Nov 22, 2007 -> 01:11 AM) Did you see Jones back in the late '90s? He's put on 40 lbs. since then and, even if it's still "above average" in CF, his defense has regressed big-time. No way that I want that guy for the next 7 or 8 years, especially when Borass is going to want a salary that matches what Jones did years ago, rather than how he'll perform on the wrong side of 30. He may be 'regressing', but he's regressing from one of the best centerfielders to ever play the game (defensively). So he has a ways to go before he's below average. I'll admit to not seeing many Braves games, but his instincts out there still strike me as first class. As far as seven or eight year, I highly doubt he's going to get that. I'm much more of a fan of getting Jones on a deal similar to the one JD Drew got from the Dodgers, where it's a five year deal (at a semi-reduced price -- say $12-13 per season) that gives Jones an option to opt out after the second year, giving him another shot to get paid (so long as he gives the Sox two reasonably good years).

QUOTE(WCSox @ Nov 21, 2007 -> 11:22 PM) Jones is a shell of what he was defensively and will cost way too much. Says who? He still rates well in most defensive metrics and the fans still think he's above average out there. But if you say so...

QUOTE(G&T @ Nov 21, 2007 -> 10:27 PM) Score just reported that th Dodgers may have offered Hunter a 6 year deal for over $100 million. Stress may have. I wouldn't mind that. That would make (most likely) Andre Ethier expendable. Of course, I doubt the Sox would pick him. He's just a quality baseball player, not a 'name' player which Kenny appears to want this winter.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Nov 21, 2007 -> 08:06 PM) it looks line one sentence? I don't know Rozner, does he have a history with Tallon? Overall I thought it was a very positive article. Yes -- 29th has documented it at length several times over the past couple months. And yeah, it generally was a positive article, but for me it's ruined because he just had to get his shots in.

I saw bits of that article from Rozner, what a tool. Seriously -- he spent more than a couple sentences ripping Tallon for trading Karl f***ing Stewart? If you just said "who?", you're probably not the only one -- it took me a minute to remember that Stewart was that fourth line midget that skated hard and hit people last season. Talk about grinding an axe. How the hell do some of these columnists keep their jobs?

Bring on Duke. Our guards should be able to handle their guards, but I really worry about guys like Singler and Henderson doing some major damage. I don't think we have anyone who can matchup against Singler -- the big three are going to have to play a phenomenal defensive game to win.

Great finish to the half for the Illini. Well done.

Paulus just has one of those faces that you want to hit with something blunt. I'm also surprised that UofI fans don't seem to be as excited for this game as I thought they'd be. Is all focus on the football team for now? EDIT: I was going to add that Duke is getting the usual 'kid gloves' treatment from the refs, but I see it's already been mentioned.

How the hell did we score 91 points? My God. I didn't see any of the game (coming home from school). Bring on Duke or U of I.

Halle-f***ing-lujah! Unfortunate that it's two years too late, but... White Sox Baseball: Just like our scouting, we eventually got it right!

I don't know a whole lot about UofI, but is Jeffrey Jordan playing for any other reason than the name on his back? Isn't he basically a freshman walk-on? I can't recall the last time I saw a freshman walkon get meaningful minutes.

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 03:28 AM) Did the horse shoe burn down? No, I just chose to play them at Michigan. Lay off, jackass. My concentration levels today are 'teh suck'.

QUOTE(Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 19, 2007 -> 03:42 PM) The ability of safeties and corners to miraculously, at full speed, jump 5 yards in front of my WR on an out pattern. This one I never understand. I like the play action roll out. I'll have my QB roll out to the side that I have a WR running an out pattern (with no linebacker or CB covering underneath). My WR has a good 5 yards on the covering corner/safety, so I pass the ball. Just about everytime the corner/safety turns on the afterburners (which is amazing because he's already at full speed) and manages to either intercept or knock down my pass on the WR outside shoulder. I definitely have the same issues. Here's some more: -The AI isn't the same with the computer's defense and your defense. This is similar to what you mentioned -- their corners will make ridiculously good reads on the ball, jump routes -- they do it all. I'm lucky if my cornerbacks attempt to bat the ball down. I'm stuck on defense. Giving up 25-40 points is actually good for me, as I can usually manage putting up 40+. Zone doesn't work -- they just find that spot underneath the safeties. Cover two? I never run cover two anymore because any time I try to, they just run a slant route 25 yards over the middle of the field. Man-to-man has been only slightly more successful, mainly because -- as I mentioned -- the computer AI for the human's defense is absolutely putrid. -The computer's defense seemingly makes a big hit on every f***ing pass play, usually jarring the ball loose for an incomplete pass, and it pisses me off that my safeties don't do the same thing. They always do that quick undercut of the legs immediately after my guy catches the ball, resulting in an incompletion. -I hate how the computer knows if you're going to run. For example, sometimes I'll have third and short and go goalline. I'll call for a play action and see that the computer is playing nickel despite the fact that I've stacked everyone inside. Or, perhaps a better example -- I'll split out four wide receivers with the intent of running a draw, only to see that the computer is playing 4-3. Come on, seriously -- I send four wideouts on the field and you're going to counter with a 4-3? Give me a break. I b**** so much about this game yet I always come back. I also understand that I'm Northwestern so in the end, my 5-3 record is actually quite realistic -- I shouldn't be 8-0. But it's how I got there -- I beat Ohio State at the Big House (on Heisman), yet lost to Eastern Michigan at home (got killed -- 52-17).

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 12:53 AM) Sounds to me like Havlat isn't going to play on the road trip, and Kris Versteeg and Jacob Dowell were called up, with Bolland being sent down. This is from the Hawks' official site: So yeah, first game back from the roadtrip looks okay.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Nov 19, 2007 -> 10:07 PM) no, and so I sure as hell wouldn't give up Danks, DLS, and Aards for him either. You wouldn't do Danks, Gio and MacDougal for Crawford? Why not? You're nuts. In a heartbeat I make that deal. Even if Gio and Danks reach their full potential, Crawford is still (arguably) worth as much as two slightly-better-than-average pitchers. Even if Crawford is a bit overrated on this board, he's still damn good. His VORP ranked him 51st in all of baseball last season, and that doesn't include baserunning and defense. When taking that into account, you're looking at a top 40 player who's 26 years old and still has several very good seasons ahead of him. Now -- DLS, Gio and Aardsma for Crawford is a little tougher to look at. I hate giving up DLS, but that's still a deal I look real hard at and could see arguments on both sides of the fence.