CWSGuy406

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Mar 3, 2008 -> 10:35 PM) So on Saturday night I won a Nintendo Wii during a rather heated game of poker. For all you guys my age who have Wii's what games do you recommend? MLB Power Pros if you like playing games with your friends. It's not a game you should buy if you're a big "dynasty" or "franchise" person, but the controls are relatively easy to learn. It has the best baseball game-play -- IMO -- of any game since MVP 2005. It looks like a little kids' game -- and it may very well be -- but it's a fun game if you know you'll have some friends to battle with. Super Smash Brothers will obviously be a 'must-buy' once that comes out. I enjoyed the Tiger Woods game too, although I didn't buy the latest one. And the Mario game is a must-buy as well, although I myself haven't purchased it. Buehrle>Wood is usually the go-to guy when it comes to the Wii, so when he sees this I'm sure you'll get a much better and more info from him.

So when does Super Smash come out -- this weekend? Is reserving it necessary/recommended?

QUOTE(ptatc @ Mar 3, 2008 -> 03:50 PM) We've has these discussions before and you can continue to complain about it because they will keep doing it. They've won a heck of alot more games than they've lost using this concept. And all of... one division title and playoff appearance. It's like last year all over again. They (Kenny, the media...) told us how awesome our top-of-the-order was going to be with Podsednik and Erstad. Speed and a guy who can handle the bat? OMGz teh awesome!!!!1 Hell -- IIRC -- you had the pro-Erstad people telling the anti-Erstad people after April -- after Erstad had put up an amazing .313 OBP -- how wrong they were. Yeah -- that turned out well. It's an embarrassment that we actually have to discuss whether Jerry f***ing Owens is going to be starting.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Mar 3, 2008 -> 03:11 AM) imo, indiana's recent performances are unrelated to the sampson stuff. i've watched a lot of iu basketball this year, and to me they've been pretty much the same team all year. to me, their only (borderline) quality road win is at siu, but outside of that they have not beat an even decent team on the road. it's vogue to relate it to the sampson stuff, but this has been a stagnant team most of the season. a favorable schedule has fostered a favorable record. That's what irks me a bit. People who have probably watched a total of less than five Indiana games this season are going to use the Sampson thing as a cop-out. It can't be that Indiana is playing poorly at the wrong time, but rather that their mind isn't fully in it or something like that. Like I said, I prefer not to play amateur psychologist.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 2, 2008 -> 10:55 PM) Im sure a couple of hands in the faces of those shooters may have made a difference. I didn't see the game so I have no idea how Indiana looked. I just think it's silly to try and play ametur phsychologist and make such an assertive comment about the mindset of the Indiana players.

QUOTE(knightni @ Mar 2, 2008 -> 09:48 PM) How 'bout now? So an opposing team shooting ~55% from beyond the arc means Indiana players aren't "into it"? That's brilliant logic.

QUOTE(MurcieOne @ Mar 1, 2008 -> 10:40 PM) Jonathan Toews is not Evegni Malkin, Patrick Kane is not Sidney Crosby, and Jack Skille is not Jordan Staal... this team needs help to take a BIG step next year. So Kane and Toews aren't the two best players in the world -- awesome, thanks for that insight. I'd argue that Toews has a shot in being in the tier directly below that, and Kane probably in the group below that. These are guys you build your team around. I don't really know what you're arguing at this point, either. I agree that the Hawks do need to bring in a top six forward but beyond that I'm pretty happy with the guys we have. Another top-three defenseman? Ehh, maybe, but if you're going to commit all that money to someone like Campbell -- and he's going to get a lot of money and at least four years -- you're going to be in trouble in the third or fourth year when Seabrook and Keith will be looking for their next extensions (not to mention Wisniewski and Barker contracts). A goalie? Most goalies are products of their systems, outside of the truely elite. I've seen people clamoring for Huet, but I've also read that he's more a system goalie than 'the next big thing'. Khabibulin and Lalime aren't long-term solutions and Crawford may not be either. Perhaps you wait until Ryan Miller becomes a free agent? I don't know -- the goalie situation is very difficult. Most of the improvements for next season are going to come internally. Kane and Toews will have a year under their belt; Byfuglian can focus fully on being a power forward; Bolland and Barker will be primed to make the team out of camp. There's so much more, I could go on -- it's the benefit of having such a young team. After Tallon did such a good job building up the farm, it'd be a shame to (basically) kick it to the curb at this point. Sure, a good portion of those guys we've talked about for the past couple seasons may never do a damned thing in the NHL, but there's also a decent percentage who will pan out(looking at it now, if I had to guess, I'd say Bolland, Kontiola, Byfuglian and Skille look like keepers -- none of them great NHLers, but all have a shot at being decent second-or-third line types).

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 2, 2008 -> 04:15 AM) Ruutu and Samsonov tonight. 5 points combined, +3. Yay Hawks!!!! Something isn't right with our system (read: coach). Not only are Samsonov and Ruutu (okay -- a little premature with Ruutu, but it's very clear with Samsonov) performing much better for other teams, Vrbata's on his way to a what -- 30 goal season? I've been saying all season long to anyone who cares to listen that Ruutu -- even though he was having a terrible statistical season -- has the 'skills' to score goals. Gosh damn Ladd better pan out...

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 28, 2008 -> 02:45 AM) I didn't enjoy the game of baseball nearly as much when I obsessed about stats and tried to make myself feel better at someone else's expense. Once I got past that, the game of baseball has become a lot more fun again. What the f*** are you talking about?

QUOTE(gbuk @ Mar 1, 2008 -> 09:50 PM) Marquette runs into the lucky buzzsaw of Georgetown. I hate that team, they've done it all year. Miserable. And I apologize for the embarrassment of some of the stupid f***ing Marquette students who found it necessary to throw the neon light-up jobbers at people from Georgetown. Ignorant motherf***ers (not the Georgetown people -- some of my fellow students).

QUOTE(MurcieOne @ Mar 1, 2008 -> 02:47 AM) I understand what your saying, and we do have talent on this team already... but this team has relied on "developing" young players for awhile now... and we haven't (see Arnason, Bell, Calder) I think relying on Bolland, Versteeg, and Skille is a recipe for another season of dissapointment. Really? The situation we're in now is unlike any other situation we've had in the past. We have two bonafied top-six players and we have two bonafied top-four defenseman (not in all the NHL in either case -- just on a 'team'). To compare the two we have now to ABC is rather laughable. If you're comparing the other guys -- the complimentary players like Skille and Bolland -- that comparison isn't apt, either. Arnason, Bell and Calder were asked to be stars on a team. They were pretty decent second and third line players, but they were basically asked to be the three of our best players, and that's not (or wasn't) very fair to them. And we're not "relying" on Bolland, Versteeg and Skille. We're relying on the (afformentioned) Seabrook, Keith, Toews and Kane. If Toews doesn't miss those six weeks, is it really a stretch to think the Hawks would be anywhere from 4-8 points better than where they are now? I'd say the objective now would be finding one more guy who you can count on to net 25 a year.

QUOTE(Reddy @ Feb 29, 2008 -> 07:40 PM) that was not my point at all... in fact... the exact OPPOSITE of my point. well done. BigSquert isn't the only one who took it that way, so apparently you're not writing clearly enough for the rest of us.

QUOTE(MurcieOne @ Feb 29, 2008 -> 04:01 AM) undersized, good skater.... he plays alot like Hendry, but I think Hendry has better vision and can skate a little bit better. The word I've read with Yall-mer-son is "raw". Some people even questioned why he was in the A already, so he appears to be well ahead of the curve. And someone please tell me why the Hawks need both a top six winger and a top six defenseman just to 'compete for a playoff spot' next year? The Hawks competing for a playoff spot this year -- sure, they're going to come up short, but they've been completely ravaged by injuries this season. The only other team (I'm sure there are others who've had it bad, mind you, but nowhere near as bad as the Hawks) I can think of is Colorado, who basically had their whole first line decimated for a string of games. Just reiterrating -- that's a ridiculous statement to make. If Tallon lands a legit top-six winger as well as Campbell (without losing anyone extremely crucial from this year's squad), I'd say the Hawks move into that middle tier of playoff teams. As I see it, I don't think the Hawks are over any barrell to land a top defenseman -- I'd be perfectly content going into camp with Keith, Seabrook, Wisniewski, Sopel, Hjalmerson, Barker and Hendry, with the Hawks perhaps bringing in another Sopel-type to compete with Hjalm and Hendry for the sixth spot. In any case, though, Tallon's got a big summer ahead. He's got a bunch of second-line/third-line types who he needs to find spots for. The first thing I'd like to see him do is trade Lang somewhere -- not because I don't like Lang. People have called him lazy this year... whatever. That's what he was in Detroit, too, you should've expected that. He's gonna end up with 20 goals and better than 50 points, that's perfectly acceptable production for what he is being paid -- and put Bolland on the second line, creating a third-line spot for Kontiola. After that, he's got to sort through the keepers. As I see it, these guys are here next season (these are in no way 'first' or second lines, either -- I'm just getting the guys down): Toews - Kane - Sharp Byfuglien - Bolland - Ladd Adams - Burish - Eager/Dowell You have a lot of guys vying for those three spots. Skille should probably be up here -- he doesn't need longer than a year in the A. I left off Havlat, but I'd probably keep him as well -- if you traded him you wouldn't get acceptable value in return and he'll be in a contract year coming off of shoulder surgery. I'd hope he has a big year and cut bait with him either at the deadline or just let him walk as a FA. There's also Jason Williams who's pretty good on the PP. There's also Kontiola and Versteeg as two more guys who have earned a shot at staying up here. Oh yeah, and then there's the draft -- it's supposed to be very deep, so the Hawks look well positioned to add another top prospect. Boy am I winded after this post. Sorry for the length, fellas.

Since I have an accounting test in several hours, let me get in my Marquette/Georgetown post now: WOOH! LET'S GO MARQUETTE. BEAT SOME FELLOW JESUIT ASS! Gosh do I hope we draw ND in either the BE tournament or in the NCAAs. The big ugly would undoubtedly go for at least 30, but McAlarney can't handle James on either end of the court. We match up so well with that team.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 08:51 PM) I've seen plenty of posters be equally (or more so) dismissive of those who feel that some factors in the game can never be captured in the numbers. Some things just have to be seen, and sometimes, there is more (or less) to a player than their stats indicate. There's also a lot of subjectivity to ones eyes. You're likely to remember things that stick out, that have some 'popping' quality to them. Statistics are objective. They take that element of subjectivity out of it. Now, I don't want that to be extrapolated one bit. People constantly use statistics incorrectly, which is where the argument (generally) comes about. At the same time, intangibles certainly do exist, although that's taken much too far in the game of baseball. Why? Intangibles are what they are -- intangible. They can't be measured. Thus, when people start commenting on and trying to interpret intangible, it becomes a really sticky situation. I'll take the example of 'clubhouse chemistry' -- team 'A' acquires a player and the first thing people are saying is what a great addition to the clubhouse he'll be. Really, the only effect that matters is in the W and L department. More specifically, let's look at the 2005 White Sox. You had a bunch of players who had bad clubhouse reps -- guys like Carl Everett and AJ (even, to a much lesser extent, BMac and Willie Harris). I don't care to play ametur psychologist and try to read the effect that they'll have in the clubhouse. I can, however, (generally speaking) say what effect those guys will have on the diamond. I've wandered much too far off course here. I'll admit to not reading the first post -- I'll probably get to it later. I'll simplify things to this -- there seems to be an insinuation or a tone that the 'statheads', because of having their head 'buried in a spreadsheet', don't have that element of 'fan' in them; that they can't root for the Timo Perez' of the world; that they can't go into a Jerry Owens at-bat rooting for him to do well; that we can't appreciate a triple-play because, statistically speaking, something like that just shouldn't happen. I don't like that insinuation/tone one bit.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 08:56 PM) Its no more ignorant than thinking that the "statistically aware" are somehow better than everyone else, and looking down on other people for it. Better? No. More informed? Perhaps. The people you mention are no worse than the people who will immediately dismiss a sabermetric statistic just because they're too lazy (or ignorant or don't care enough, whatever it is) to understand and know what it is.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 27, 2008 -> 05:57 PM) Its called missing the forest for the trees. People who spend to much time buried in the numbers, and even the wins and losses miss the grandure of the game that is unfolding in front of them. Can you give an example of this? I'd say the people who are more statistically aware tend to hold an even greater appreciation for the game. There's also a "statheads aren't fans and only care about the numbers" tone that's in this thread. Not surprising, but it's there. It's a completely ignorant view, too, but again -- not surprising.

Check out the first and third stars in the Carolina game tonight. Then duck your head in a pillow and weep gently.

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 07:59 PM) Tallon couldn't beat that deal??? So Tallon should've given up all that for three months of a vain attempt at the playoffs? That's fine that Pittsburg did that. Let them resign Hossa to the money he's going to ask for (and get from someone) too. There's no way they'll be able to keep all of that talent -- Staal, Malkin and Crosby. You're looking at four guys who -- when they start talking about extensions -- could ask for close to $40 million annually. Staal can't be a long-term fixture there. ---------------- On the other hand, I would've done backflips if the Hawks could've gotten Kessel for Havlat and others. That also would've been a marketing dream for McDonough -- Kessel and Kane, two of America's own best and brightest, playing side-by-side. Damn -- Kessel hasn't been very good this year. I wonder why -- only 30 points this season.

What a f***ing pointless deal. Good thing we have patience in our young players. Skille best be a PPG player or else he'll be viewed as a failure and will be shipped out. Cripes.

QUOTE(JFields27 @ Feb 26, 2008 -> 03:40 AM) if they need contracts .. Lapointe No... not at all. Lapointe's contract doesn't mean squat at this point. He's gone in three months to whoever gets him and -- pro-rated -- he really isn't making much the rest of this season. Probably around a million or so. In any case it's a non-issue and the Hawks should take whatever draft pick Detroit/Ottawa wants to send here. Hmm... Richards. What is Tampa Bay looking for? Havlat or Khabibulin would have to go the other way, but what else -- a first-rounder and a prospect? Richards hasn't been a whole lot better than Havlat this season, although unlike Havlat he's a good bet to stay healthy. He's had one really outstanding season and the rest have been pretty good but not out-of-this-world (bunch of 70 point seasons). Probably not worth the $7.8 (that number is correct, yes?) million, but having Toews and Richards locked in as your top two centers would be pretty nice. Now I actually have to pay attention tomorrow. I figured the Hawks would cut some dead weight (Lapointe, Perrault, maybe Adams) and be done with it. Sigh -- there goes my morning.

You guys have been absolute money on some of the things I've asked for/needed help with, so I'm just going to keep shooting: Dizzee Rascal -- someone worth checking out? He's making a CD with Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys. I haven't heard much of that British/UK hip-hop (grime?), but I think it's going to be my next venture.

What a second-half effort. James was f***ing outstanding, one of the best games I've seen him play. He was phenomenal on the defensive end. Can't wait till Saturday.

"162-0 followed by 11-0 in the playoffs." -fathom

These Anahiem announcers are the worst hockey PBP guys I think I've ever heard. They're brutal. "Dave Bahlind with the puck."