CWSGuy406

What a game. Fantastic atmosphere. Down two goals heading to the third, I told my brother I'd be happy if they kept it interesting for the whole period, i.e. didn't get down by three and maybe even score a goal to close the gap within one. Wizzer's goal got the fans right back into the game and Lang's wrister was awesome. Need we talk more about Kane? He's the best player on the ice. Watching him is exactly how I watched Havlat last year -- when he has the puck, it's almost like you expect a nifty pass or a sweet deke. His vision on the ice is awesome -- he made a great pass to Johansson on the Ruutu goal and even set up Sharp on the doorstep (but Sharp couldn't settle the pass). What a game. I absolutely love Ruutu and Kane together, let's get Toews healthy so he can join the fun. On a side note, I'm taking a liking to Kevyn Adams. He's done a great job on the PK and I enjoy watching him forcheck. Our problem is that we have three (too many) players in that same 'grinder' mode -- him, Lapointe and Burish. I love Burish as much as Adams so that leaves Lapointe, our assistant captain making $3 (?) million to grind out fourth line minutes. He's gotta go, and guys like Rene Bourque and Jason Williams need to s*** or get off the pot. I actually thought Bourque played well at times tonight, but if neither of those guys are going to score, all they're doing is blocking Brouwer and Skille.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Oct 6, 2007 -> 10:02 PM) I hope everyone on here now refers to Josh Fields in the same way as Chris Young is being portrayed. Future star, current stud, etc etc, and we have a prospect in Fields who is offensively superior already, I hope everyone remembers that. I'd agree that they're similar batters, but one plays a strong CF and the other is struggling to stay at third and will probably end up in LF. Also... a to Young for another dinger.

Any word about Toews and Ruutu for tonight?

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 6, 2007 -> 02:07 PM) Ah yes, Fathom in all his glory. Kenny Williams made a mistake, lets all celebrate. Gotta love the one "stir-the-pot" post that comes up in any thread critical of KW or Guillen. QUOTE(SEALgep @ Oct 6, 2007 -> 01:37 PM) Do we really want a power hitter in CF that barely gets on base? Why not -- that's basically what the FA CF candidates do. Torii Hunter is basically a .330 OBP guy. If Andruw Jones bounces back he'd be a .335 OBP guy, and I'd put money down that Rowand doesn't come close to replicating the .374 OBP he's put up this winter. There's also that silly little fact of money -- the next five years of Chris Young will cost one year of any of the above three. ---------------- Rex hits the nail on the head with his post. How the hell do you give up a talent like Young for a pitcher who, even at his best, isn't a star? For those that don't remember, Young was coming off of a .922 OPS season at Birmingham where he stole 32 bases, had 70 (!) extra basehits and (reportedly) played above average defense at a crucial position. Greg P is also right -- how much leverage could Arizona really have had in demanding Young over Anderson? Vazquez wanted to be traded and was set to make $12 million that year. The Sox shouldn't have had to given up more than the package they gave to get Mike MacDougal (Cortes + Lumsden).

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 01:59 AM) Ya, they got a hell of a nice pitching core there when you include Wang for the future. I personally think Cleveland is the better team right now, especially in a short series(Sabathia-Carmona 3 or 4 time in a series is narsty) but you have to like what the Yankees have for the future, pitching wise. Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely rooting for Cleveland and with Sabathia + Carmona, I don't know how you couldn't consider them favorites in this series. Surprisingly enough, I believe Vegas had the Yankees as favorites. Going back a little earlier than that, I was surprised that Cleveland wasn't getting better (or worse I should say) World Series odds -- they were at 8-to-1. That was an easy bet for me, so I'll have a (figurative) Indians cap on for the next several weeks.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2007 @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 06:07 AM) No surprise tonight. The Cubs just aren't that good. They were the tallest midget in a horrific division. Everybody knew (except fathom) that they would be exposed. One more and I will playfully toy with Fathom for the entire winter. Until then, however, I'm going to be all "shh". This D'Backs lineup still isn't good and they have Livan Hernandez and Micah Owings going the next two games -- it could easily come back to 'Zona with all the momentum with the Cubs. I know a helluva lot would have to go right for the Cubs to win the series at this point but crazier things have happened. The Cubs lineup could certainly get hot and carry them for a couple games. One more...

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 05:00 AM) So, Hawks get shutout, and Havlat goes down. X-Ray results should come out tomorrow morning. Oh, and the problem area is the right shoulder, the same shoulder Marty has surgery on, twice. He gonna be gone for a while, fellers. Overall I didn't think the Hawks played so terribly. Backstrom looks like a real good 'keeper and the Wild have a great defensive system. Kane had a would-be goal jump over his stick and Bourque and Sharp couldn't finish breakaways. A little frustrating but with two of your top six forwards out on the road against Minny, a 1-0 loss isn't the worst showing. No points, which sucks, but they played decent hockey.

Ted Lilly - 1 Ted Lilly's mit - 0 Lilly showed that glove who's boss. I think Young's homer is still flying. Was that a thing of beauty or what? And he gave the "I know I got every inch of that one" hop for good measure.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 12:55 AM) I fully expect Cleveland to take this series, and maybe one day the Yankees will learn how important pitchng depth is. Cashman fully understands that -- it's why none of Kennedy, Joba or Hughes have been traded for quick fixes any of the past couple winters.

QUOTE(SoxFanForever @ Oct 5, 2007 -> 01:10 AM) Boogard took a run at Samsonov and Burish slugged him. I love it. What a fight -- Koci vs Boogard. f***ing fabulous.

I'm pretty sure both Toews and Ruutu are out for tonight. That's a bummer.

I'd love to see DePo get a real shot. He certainly deserves it.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 05:32 AM) Different guy. The guy you are thinking off wears sunglasses and has an entire neon getup. This was a younger guy, with spikey hair with a neon cubs clock. A moron none the less. That guy made me laugh tonight. It makes me laugh when people where tight under-armer looking stuff like that to non-physical-activity events.

I still don't think this changes a whole lot in the series, although it was obviously a huge win for the D'Backs. If 'Zona lost tonight, as I said earlier, the Cubs would've been shoe-ins for the NLCS. Now they just need Davis or Livan to steal one.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 04:34 AM) Is he gonna go in game 4, or are the D'back gonna counter with a 3-man? I'd bet on Webb going on short rest. In fact, I think Melvin pulled Webb so early in response to Pinella pulling Z early. I also wish they went with Owings rather than Livan, if only to get his bat in the lineup.

Huge inning for Webb right here.

I really fear the D'Backs not scoring Young in the first inning is going to haunt them. They had a chance to steal a run early and get Webb a lead. Normally I'm against bunting but with the lower scoring environment in the playoffs -- as well as having your ace on them mound -- getting run #1 is huge (no statistical basis for that -- just a gut feeling. Could be wrong...).

I know fathom has said this multiple times, but damn Josh Byrnes for not trading for Dye. He'd clearly be their best hitter -- couldn't Byrnes even cough up Quentin? Hell, Hairston and a good relief pitcher or C+ prospect would've worked as well.

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 02:14 AM) Is that sarcasm about the Dbacks? No sarcasm at all. Eric Byrnes is hitting third -- that says a lot. Zambrano is going to the mouth (and to the crotch, and to the forehead, among other things) after every pitch. I thought that was illegal unless the temperatures were frigid?

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 4, 2007 -> 02:09 AM) Cubs fans would love him if they ever win the WS. Look at that lineup -- how are they going to score runs this series?

Damn, Pinella is starting Soto, not Kendall? Intelligent bastard. Also, if the D'Backs don't win tonight, they probably have a 5% chance to win the series.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 10:26 PM) I know you're mortally offended because I've declared Bonds a clubhouse cancer but you should really get over it, and I'm getting tired of having to argue against your mischaracterizations and misrepresentations. The irony is delicious. You say I "misrepresent" your quotes, yet say I'm "mortally offended"? When have I ever said, with a firm stance, that Bonds isn't a clubhouse cancer? The most I've said is, "I'm not sure". There seems to be evidence that points both ways -- maybe a bit more in your direction. No, I more give you s*** when you take away what Bonds brings on the field, and I do that to anyone and everyone who says stupid s*** like, "We don't need another slow, bad defender." Oh noes! Bad defense in LF with a .450 OBP -- noooooo! Full thought? I've given plenty, Tiger. Not my fault you don't agree with very many of 'em. And I'll just leave out the part about you calling someone arrogant. Funny stuff. I am a bit arrogant, don't get me wrong -- this holds especially true with sports because I feel I have a strong handle on what I'm talking about. You won't see me in any political threads talking like I do here -- but that's classic coming from you.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 10:07 PM) For every player, writer or Sox fan you can find who hates Wrigley, I'm sure I can find a counterpart who enjoys the place. And that's all I have to add to this discussion since there is no victory and the "discussion" would be endless and mind-numbing ("Wrigley is a dump," "I like Sox Park churros," "HAIL" -- f*** that) How you frame your argument is histerical and completely hypocritical. Anyone who disagrees with you, you portray as wrong. A stadium is a 'hot-or-cold' thing -- it's an opinion on whether someone likes it or not. The people in this thread have put up reasonable issues as to why they think Wrigley sucks -- mainly that the field, the playing surface, is in the worst condition of (arguably) any stadium in all of pro sports -- yet you respond with "Wrigley is a dump". Maybe you just don't want to deal with us lesser people who aren't on your intellectual level and continue with your condescending bulls***.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 09:06 PM) But who cares about clubhouse issues, anyway? And chemistry. And press attention and criticism. Yes -- I'm sure Bonds would just divide the clubhouse. I'd imagine the gates to hell would open right in the middle of Ozzie Guillen's office, just 'cause of Bonds. You're on a roll today. Grass is green. I love it when you talk baseball -- so easy...

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 3, 2007 -> 09:34 PM) Green grass Insightful.