Jordan4life_2007

I'm one that typically holds players accountable (it's becoming way too easy in pro sports to put all the blame on the coach/manager) when a team underachieves. But I understand this one. No way in hell a team as loaded as Arizona should've lost that crappy division last year. And even with Webb on the DL currently, still no excuse for them to be as bad as they are right now.

QUOTE (rangercal @ May 8, 2009 -> 12:55 AM) I don't think he was talking about career accomplishments. I can make an argument that Lebron, NOW is better than Magic was at his best. Of course you can make a good argument for both sides. And I would still say he's crazy. Magic's peak was disgustingly good. 3 MVP's in a 4-year stretch (1987-1990) in a league that included Jordan, Bird, Hakeem, Malone, Drexler, ect. QUOTE (Paint it Black @ May 8, 2009 -> 08:58 AM) Totally agree. LeBron is doing things MJ wished he could have done at 24. Better 3 point shooter and overall just a better polished game considering his age. But I don't know why I should be surprised at the poll results, coming from this city. Remember the Kobe stuff? WE CAN'T GET KOBE THIS CORE IS YOUNG!!!!!11 Scoring title, MVP, DPOY, steals leader, most blocks by a guard for one season in NBA history in his 4th season in which he was 24 when it began and 25 when it ended. Yeah, MJ could never dream of doing what Lebron's doing.

Yanks already 5.5 games back. I know it's still very early. But that's the wrong damn division to put yourself in too big a hole. That team has A LOT of issues right now.

QUOTE (danman31 @ May 6, 2009 -> 11:22 PM) Whoa, let's not go way overboard here. He's a solid prospect, but it's 27 games in AA. I know that's a bold statement. But I think Jennings is that good. I think he compares favorably to Adam Jones.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 7, 2009 -> 09:29 PM) 0-4 with an error, 3 strike outs for Berkman. What a shock!! He turns into a light-hitting utility player against Cubs pitching. QUOTE (fathom @ May 7, 2009 -> 10:20 PM) 0-5 with 4 strike outs for Berkman. The Astros might be the worst team in baseball besides the Nats. Yes, and it's sad. This was not too long ago one of the best-run organizations in all of baseball.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ May 7, 2009 -> 04:00 PM) Lebron is already better than Magic. Sorry. No way in hell is Lebron at 24 better than a top-5 player of all-time.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 7, 2009 -> 07:26 AM) I believe this thread proves one thing. I am an idiot. LOL. Well your first mistake was creating this poll on a Chicago-oriented sports board where 97% of the people who post here are Bulls fans.

I wish I didn't love the Sox almost as much as I love my family (well not really, but you get the idea). Because at times I just want to quit baseball. I don't believe this s***. I've been a baseball addict for almost 20 years and I have to question every player I've ever seen in that time period. That's a pretty s***ty feeling.

QUOTE (shipps @ May 7, 2009 -> 07:33 AM) What a blow to the Dodgers. They kinda had a special place in my heart for stomping the Cubs last year. And as a baseball fan, not just a Sox fan, it saddens me that a team that has a chance to be pretty f***ing good is going to be severely hurt because of a cheater.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ May 7, 2009 -> 07:26 AM) Whose to say he wasn't on steroids too? Everything we saw seems to be a farce anyways, nothing would surprise me anymore. Thing about Frank and Griffey is that they've been around so long that you would think something would've came out long before now if they had been doing something. There's hasn't even been an inkling of suspected usage by either of them. With that said, I agree that it's foolish to say any player (even my favorite player of all-time) is above any and all suspicion.

QUOTE (G&T @ May 7, 2009 -> 07:23 AM) Did Jose Canseco say he was? I honestly don't remember. Doesn't matter. I've had it with this s***. Pujols? Howard? Braun? Cabrera? I'm just going to automatically assume that at some point they cheated. No more benefit of the doubt crap anymore.

That's it! I'm f***ing done! Albert Pujols? I know this isn't fair. But I'm just gonna go ahead and assume that he's a cheater as well. Why the hell not at this point?

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 7, 2009 -> 06:36 AM) After this season, 1. How many rings had Jordan won at 24? Zero. He didn't win it until he was 28. I love, love, love Jordan. However, LeBron is on another level... he's a freak. That's a pretty black and white (and also lame) way of looking at it. I guess Kobe really puts Jordan to shame when you consider he had three rings by the age of 23 while Jordan had 0 at the same age. The eastern conference back when Jordan was coming up compared to the raw sewage it is today? lol. Sure, Lebron might get a ring this year. Afterall, with Boston's frontcourt depleted and Orlando without their all-star PG, (although I think they'd beat Orlando regardless) they have the closest thing to three byes that any team has ever had (even worse than 2007 when that just above average Pistons team was all they had to get through to get to the finals) to get through a conference. In other words, your ring claim is a joke. Now as far as individual players? I think if we're talking at the same ages, it's pretty damn close. Advantages Jordan had at age 24: Better shooter, especially from mid-range. Better post player. Better penetrator (although this is real close). Better FT shooter. Better defender. Advantages Lebron has: Better passer/rebounder. Better 3-point shooter (although this is kinda tricky. The 3 just wasn't a part of Jordan's game back then). More of a natural feel (and this is Lebron's biggest asset outside of his unbelievable physical/athletic package) of knowing when to let his teammates do their thing and when it's time for him to take over (something that took Jordan a little longer to master). That's about it. With that said, Lebron has made a fool out of anyone (including me) that thought he was wayyyyy overhyped coming into the league. I just couldn't believe anybody could be that good coming straight outta HS (it really got on my nerves that he was given the "King" title before he had played a single minute in the NBA). But he's gone way above and beyond any hype he had coming in. He's truly the best player in the league today. And it's scary to think how good this guy can be between the ages of 28-30 if he continues on the path he's on now (and, of course, stays healthy).

Thanks, BD. I missed out on my 90 minute run today due to the rain. But I think I just burned up about 2000 calories from laughing so hard at that post.

I'm all for tough love. But Ozzie needs to realize we're not exactly the Red Sox. We don't have a neverending inventory of quality players, be it pitchers or hitters, waiting in the wings to replace guys who are underperforming.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ May 6, 2009 -> 09:35 AM) I have to say I'm disappointed in the White Sox for missing out on Desmond Jennings. He's from B'ham. I don't know if Tampa took him out of High School or College, but you shouldn't miss out on a guy who's right in the backyard of one of your farm teams. He was drafted in the 10th round from a CC (don't remember which one). It's downright frightening for a team coming off a WS appearance to have so much sick talent (Price, Jennings, Beckham, Brignac, Davis, Perez, McGee) still in the minors. Yeah, I realize they've had a million top-10 picks since their inception. But you still have to make the right pick. And it's not a given just because it's a high pick, especially in baseball. And they've already proven with Jennings, who might be the best position prospect in baseball not named Matt Wieters, that they can find premium talent in the later rounds.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 6, 2009 -> 04:12 PM) Over/under 20 runs scored by Cubs in 2 games vs Hampton/Russ Ortiz? It's really a shame how far that franchise has fallen. The Astros were easily my second favorite team in the late 90's through the first 3-4 years of this decade. Unless the Sox were on, anytime the Astros were either on national TV or playing the Cubs I'd stop whatever I was doing to watch them.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 6, 2009 -> 05:11 PM) http://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/...ds/?pl_id=28064 Dontrelle Willis is showing signs of turning things around in the minors, too. If Perry and Porcello get going to pair with Zumaya and Rodney, and they get Bonderman back and healthy, their offense will overwhelm the Royals. Perry, Rodney and Zumaya can all throw 95-100. That's a whole lot of ifs in that scenario.

QUOTE (qwerty @ May 6, 2009 -> 03:28 PM) He has been the best defensive third baseman in the majors this season. I had to edit because i am 100% serious. I swear to god I thought you were being sarcastic. I went and checked out fangraphs and I see he's leading all qualified third basemen in UZR.

The Blue Jays would've won 105 games last year if they had hit like they're hitting right now.

And Wieters is just recently coming back from an injury.

There's no denying Lance should be selling insurance or something for a living. But he certainly won't be a factor in if we win or lose this division. I'm MUCH more concerned with Gavin Floyd. Every Sabergeek that I've come across predicted a big-time comeback to earth year for Gavin. And he's doing nothing to prove any of them wrong. There's no way in hell we can contend if Gavin doesn't turn it around and soon.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 5, 2009 -> 10:06 PM) The Hudson signing was fantastic for them, as he's provided such a cool demeanor to offset any of Manny's craziness. If it happens, I can't wait to root for them again when they face the Cubs in the playoffs. No doubt about it. The two best FA signings to this point have easily been Orlando Hudson and Raul Ibanez.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 5, 2009 -> 09:34 PM) This Dodgers team is fantastic. Further proof that it's more than possible to consistently field a contending ML team while maintaining a productive farm system. Obviously a million things can happen between now and the end of the season. But as of right now, I think the Dodgers are the clear front-runners in the NL.

Dexter Carter continues to impress. Also good to see Tyler Kuhn seems to have put this earlier season struggles behind him.