CWSGuy406

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 1, 2007 -> 07:54 PM) Probably the most idiotic thing continuously said on this site is that the contract we gave him is bad. Almost as stupid as thinking Carlos Pena would be our first baseman in 2006.

Good day for Charlotte -- they're up 12-2 on Pawtucket. Floyd battled command issues, only going five innings while walking six. He gave up two runs on three hits. Sweeney is 2-for-5 and Richar is 1-for-4 with a walk.

There's some crazy money being thrown around so far in free agency. It's reminding me of this past baseball offseason, where average players were getting big bucks and the "stars" (using that term very loosely to describe Soriano, Lee and Zito) were getting waaay too much money. So basically I don't want the Hawks to go after Gomez, Briere or Drury -- these guys are going to get upwards of five years at $7-8 million per, and the Hawks need to be able to lock up their own before they handcuff themselves with another huge contract. Marty Havlat is only signed for two more seasons -- he's priority one, followed shortly thereafter by Ruutu, Seabrook and Keith. So basically my top three priorities are... 1.) Michael Nylander - 83 points (57 of them assists) playing with Jagr last season. He'd make a great center for Havlat. I've heard he still owns a home in Chicago, so I'd offer him an inflated two year deal -- say two years, $12 million. 2.) Michael Handzus - obviously the injury risk is there, so I wouldn't want the Hawks to go beyond three years. 3.) Robert Lang - declining player on the downside of his career, but I think he would come cheap. He had 52 points last year (don't know who he played with, though -- Critic?).

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 1, 2007 -> 04:34 PM) Well I'm not saying they are standing pat, but among that list of mid level exception potential big men are a bunch of veterans who can't shoot at all. This team needs somebody that can play up front and actually make a shot. Everything else doens't matter until they have that. I'll take a big man who can come off the bench and make a nice post move. I like the Aaron Gray pick -- he's unathletic and isn't going to do a heckuva lot on the defensive end, but he's got some post moves. For cripes sakes, Skiles went to Michael f***ing Sweetney in the Detroit series because he wanted to take of advantage of Webber's defensive abilities (err -- his lack thereof). I don't know this free agent group very well -- is there anybody who would come in relatively cheaply and be able to score in the post a little bit?

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Jul 1, 2007 -> 06:06 AM) I expect at least one "2nd tier" center and one pretty decent defenseman. We'll see what happens, but I don't see us even getting close on Drury, Briere, Gomez. That really shouldn't be Dale's focus anyway. I wonder if the Hawks are, in fact, going to go after a defenseman. Do they really need one? Seabrook, Keith, Barker and Zyuzin are (in my mind) locks to make the team, so long as the latter two don't have absolutely atrocious training camps. You then have Wisniewski, Vandermeer and Johansson for the last three spots with Richmond and Byfuglian behind those two. I think we both agree that Wisniewski, provided he's 100% recovered from his injury, deserves a spot on the defense, but I'd be fine with Vandy and Johansson as the back two. My prediction is the Hawks landing one top six forward. Because they need a "top line" center, I'll say they land either Handzus or Lang. Samsonov - Lang/Zus - Havlat Ruutu - Toews - Kane Williams - Sharp - Vrbata Lapointe - Burish? - Borque Koci This is obviously subject to change, and I don't think Borque is at all guaranteed a spot next year, but I'd guess that's pretty close...

Egbert had another great start, going seven strong giving up just one run while striking out eight. Po-Yu Lin started for Bristol but only pitched the first two innings (scoreless) -- hopefully not an injury... Bristol has a bunch of guys starting off their minor league careers with a bang -- Logan Johnson, Jose Martinez (from Venezuela!), Sergio Morales and Jesus Avila are all smoking the ball, albeit in very very small sample sizes. I assume this Jose Martinez wasn't drafted -- if that's true, anybody know when we signed him?

The only thing I don't like about the Brewers is that I have a whole lot of 'em around me going to Marquette, and -- like with most any other fan base -- there's a lot of annoying Brewer fans. This is compounded because these same people are Packer fans. That being said, there's also a big portion of annoying Cubs fans up there, too, so I'll gladly take the ribbing from Milwaukee fans in exchange for them beating the Cubs' ass. I guess it just pisses me off because -- and I'll try to say this without sounding too arrogant, even though it's going to come off that way -- I know more about the Brewers than a lot of Brewer fans themselves. For example, if you brought up the names Yovani Gallardo and Ryan Braun early in the season, I don't know how many Brewer fans would know those two names. But like I said, I'm rooting hard for them. Let's hope Yost and Melvin make the right decision and keep Gallardo in the rotation. As of right now, it looks like they're thinking of putting him in the bullpen when he's their third (arguable) best starter. I'd like to see them go with Sheets - Suppan - Capuano - Gallardo - Bush with Vargas in the bullpen, but unfortunately, it looks like Yovani might be the one getting the 'demotion'.

Anybody with the Wii wanna suggest any "must have" games? I'm not looking for a Zelda or Oblivion type role-player, as good as they may be -- just rather games that are fun to play with friends. I bought Tiger Woods yesterday (although I'm still having a b**** of a time getting used to the controls -- I don't know if I'm just an idiot and keep doing something wrong or if it's the controller/sensor itself) and plan on getting Mario Party as the next one. Any other suggestions? Also, I'm under the impression that I can play GameCube games on the Wii? Is this true? And if so, any GC games out there that are too good to pass up?

QUOTE(dasox24 @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 05:24 AM) I assume leaving Danks out of the rotation was an oversight. Nope -- I think Kalapse had him getting hit by a comet, making the Sox' 2007-2008 offseason (losing Buehrle, signing Eckstein and Rowand, retaining Erstad and Podsednik) the worst in the history of baseball.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 04:56 AM) The payroll will not go up next season unless the investors decide to dip into their own pockets. Based on an estimate of this year's attendance (which will determine next year's payroll, just as '06 attendance lead to the '07 payroll) I'd say the team payroll for '08 will be in the $85-$90M range with $90M being very likely. That's about a $6M decrease from this season. Why would payroll go down, though? Isn't most of the money already in from this year's season tickets? I know they're going to lose a little bit of money because walk-up sales will be down a bit down the stretch, but enough to shave $5 million off of the payroll?

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 02:45 AM) I haven't seen him play in the NBA and neither of you, so we don't know yet, do we? LO-f***ing-L! Hilaripus.

LOLerz at this move.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 12:23 AM) Two of the better fastballs this year for Contreras....pull him!!!! If there are scouts in attendence and he's sitting 91-92 with the occassional 94 thrown in there, his value has got to rise a bit, don't ya think?

QUOTE(3E8 @ Jun 30, 2007 -> 12:13 AM) Looks like he's starting tonight and hit a home run. Playing SS, too. Is Charlotte trying to outdo Birmingham for errors in a game?

http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/32371 http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/32268 I thought I'd post Koci's two best fights from last season in honor of the 'Hawks resigning him yesterday. I don't know if he's a true heavyweight, but he's willing to go at it with just about anybody, and damn can this guy take a punch (and throw one, too). I hope he makes the 'Hawks roster as the 13th forward -- they're going to need somebody to protect Toews, Havlat, Samsonov and Kane this year, and I don't think it's necessarily smart to throw money at 'enforcers' on the market.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 04:32 AM) What article are you referring to? I'm interested in reading this. I find it pretty ludicrous anyone can predict a loss of 6 MPH to a guys fastball. I can see someone predicting arm problems from someone but based on what I've seen from Poreda I don't see any major flaw in his deliver that would make him more prone to an arm injury than any other pitcher in baseball. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/...nd-picks-21-30/

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 03:07 AM) You said he is done developing since he is 21/22. No, I said this: "I'm sorry, but Noah is what -- 21, 22 years old? If he hasn't learned how to properly shoot the ball as of right now, I don't think he's going to learn." Please, do me a favor -- two things, actually: read more carefully, and don't say that I said something I didn't say. I f***in' hate when people do that. Ahahahahah! How ironic is this! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black -- it's funny because immediately after you typed that sentence, you type these three gems: Apparently that doesn't qualify as "stat[ing] things as if they are fact when they are all opinion." Nope, not at all, tool. I'm just going to stop here because the rest of your post is more of the same. I'll just let you be right -- you have me right on the dot, I don't give a lick about defense, I clearly said that somewhere in this thread or otherwise. And also, the rest of what you say about Hawes is definitely not more of the same "stating things as if they are fact when they are all opinion." Nope, those are... I don't even know.

QUOTE(Brian @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 03:06 AM) Agreed. He did a good job shooting down some of the things the media is trying to blow out of proportion. Also had to explain to Nancy about how the 4 Horseman is different from Raw. Ha. Is there any place to see this interview? I checked youtube, I don't think it's up there.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 02:30 AM) So you are done developing at 22? That is f***ing ridiculous. I don't even know where to begin with your comment there. So the dude, when he was healthy in 2006, was a candidate for #1 overall. He is hurt and can't perform as well and he absolutely sucks in 2007?. Absolutely sucks? Done developing at 22? I guess since I gave you an inch, you had to take it a mile. Noah isn't what the Bulls need. He plays defense and can rebound well -- things we're paying another guy $15 million to do and spent a high draft pick to acquire the other guy. And yes, I'm confident saying Noah won't be a good offensive player. What screams out to you that he'll develop an offensive game? That pretty jumper of his -- is that going to change into a JJ Redick shot in the next couple seasons? Or how about his footwork on offense? I'm sure his post-game is going to get a heckuva lot better, what with that thick frame of his. But I guess we'll have to talk after the season -- I'm willing to bet that Noah has a similar but worse season that Thomas did, decent on defense but a lot worse on offense. QUOTE(southsideirish @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 02:30 AM) So who did you want? Hawes? A guy whose upside is Brad Miller? Offense is not the only part of the game. Hawes? Yeah, I'd take a guy who can come off the bench and have some semblence of an offensive post-game, sure. Because the Bulls currently ZERO guys who can do that on the roster. And defense isn't the only part of the game, either. The Bulls currently have lots of guys who can play defense, few who can put the ball in the hoop. Now that I've digested this a little bit, I'm really not that mad -- passing on Hawes isn't going to be some franchise altering decision. And in reality, the decision must've been between Noah and Hawes -- I don't think either J-Wright or Thorton were options, and if the Bulls did take either two, I'd think both would be considered reaches at that point. And the offseason hasn't started yet, either. I can't imagine Pax sitting with the roster as is, without a guy who can score with his back to the basket. I still would've rather had Hawes, and part of my anger is because B-Wright and Brewer looked like they had shots of falling to the Bulls and (eventually) didn't, but I don't see this as an awful pick.

This might be Javy's best start since his 12 K performance at Toronto a year ago. Kudos to Javy for being a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season.

QUOTE(GoRowand33 @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 01:12 AM) sure he's not a scorer, but good defense and rebounding can't hurt us What are we paying Ben Wallace for? And Tyrus Thomas? Hawes looks like a guy who you might be able to run an offense through in a couple of years. I'm not talking a Shaq like gamechanger here, but he looks like someone who, for short stretches of a game, could help Skiles slow the game down and get Hinrich/Deng/Gordon some open shots. Who cares if his defense isn't great? IMO defense is easier to be taught than offense, and Hawes would be brought into an organization that stresses defense as well as the chance to learn under one of the best post defenders of the past decade. And I don't buy the fact that Hawes couldn't help the Bulls next year. From the (admittedly) little I've seen of him, it looks like he has above average footwork for a big man and a nice touch (somebody who's seen him more, correct me if I'm wrong). For God's sakes, Skiles went to Michael f***ing Sweetney in the Detroit series because he was looking for scoring down low. You're telling me Hawes couldn't grab five-ten minutes per game to get some touches and slow down the game?

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 12:54 AM) Except for the fact that Jon Garland was 3 years younger than Broadway at each stop. And they're not similar pitchers at all. Garland has gotten to this point in his career with an above average fastball (this includes two-seamer, sinker, four-seamer) -- at this point he can pretty much spot that thing wherever he wants it -- whereas Broadway, I hear, has gotten by with that curveball that was (IIRC) rated one of the best in the 2005 draft. Garland is a very unique pitcher in his own right. Can anybody find a good comp for Garland (career path wise, not stuff wise)? His top comps on baseball-reference (Byrd, Lidle, El Duque) don't really do him justice. The best I could find was this Tony Cloninger who is second on Garland's "Most Similar by Age" list. But even that's not a great match, as Cloninger was consistent at being below average as a starter (ERA+ ranging from 70-90) where Garland was consistent in being average (although it looks like he's settled into a nice niche of being above average).

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 12:55 AM) I hate to say I told you so, but I did tell you so. Steve, are you angry yet? Could this be the end of Ben Wallace in Chicago? He and Noah are similar players. Can they trade Wallace and Gordon and get something in return? Plus Noah is a hard worker and he knows his flaws. I am sure he will do everything he can to become better. He is not like Tyson Chandler at all in that regard. Noah also played injured this year for about half the year and the whole tournament. That could have affected a lot. He was a canidate to go #1 overall last year. This year he fell a bit. Kind of like a Matt Leinhart situation. I like the pick a lot. I'm sorry, but Noah is what -- 21, 22 years old? If he hasn't learned how to properly shoot the ball as of right now, I don't think he's going to learn. Dude has no offensive game. None.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Jun 29, 2007 -> 12:39 AM) Yeah, I'm not sure I get this. I don't dislike Noah, he could fill an important role on a good team. But it seems like that role is already filled on the Bulls, by more than one player. He seems redundant. (Except that he has a bit more height -- I'll grant that.) I don't see either Noah or Hawes making much of a difference for the Bulls next year, but at least Hawes could be an important player in a couple years. Noah, I'm not so sure. I'm not as upset as most. I'm just unsure. Really, Pax has made very few bad decisions, so I can't get too worked up about it. Who knows, you could be right -- the Bulls may end up trading him. I'll say this about Noah -- he should be an above average defender in the paint against #4s and some #5s (the non-gigantic centers, like say Rasheed Wallace). He fits in as one of these 'new generation' defenders, ie I can see him being a guy who really knows how to utilize the flop charge to his advantage. But am I wrong in saying that that's not the type of 'ceiling' guy I want at the ninth overall pick, that I want more than an Anderson Varejao type (and I'm not just saying that because of the hair)? I don't know how anyone in their right mind could project any offensive game down the road for Noah besides "good at wide open dunks". People (ehem Jay Bilas) says his jumpshot is ugly but effective. Effective? What? If Noah wants to take a jump shot outside of ten feet and I'm on defense, I'll kindly show him where the rim is so he'll take the shot. Gosh damn... You're right in saying that Pax should've earned the fans' trust by now, but it's still very frustrating. It's going to be very tough for me to root for him.

f***. I hope they trade him, gosh damnit, Noah has no f***ing offensive game. He's doesn't help the Bulls at all.