Jordan4life_2007

QUOTE(KevHead0881 @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 11:51 PM) Its not that crazy. Although it hasn't been very recent, Vazquez has had more big league success than both Garland and Contreras. Now, I believe Garland and Contreras have finally figured things out and are legitimately good pitchers, but they still have to prove that they aren't 1-year wonders. I'm not really worried about the staff at all. I fully expect the Sox to lead the league in earned run average, complete games, ect. I just have that much confidence in Vazquez's ability. Add in the fact he'll have an elite defense and strong bullpen behind him, I expect no less than 15 wins and an era around 3.50.

It turned out to be a good game. Definitely one of the more boring all-star games I've witnessed. I got a kick out of Kobe making a concentrated effort to pass the ball in a game where passing doesn't really matter. He should try that passing thing more in games that actually count.

What a moron. An absolute waste of talent.

This might sound crazy, and I'm sure some would disagree, but I'm actually more concerned with guys like Garland and Contreras than Vazquez.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 10:15 PM) Yes... wow, if Thome stays healthy, just think how this offense is going to work. A healthy Thome makes the offense better. There's no debating that. Now, if Uribe is able to hold down the 2 slot, our offense goes from being very good to great. I think only the Yankees would be better.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 10:31 PM) Fair enough Jordan. I think it's pretty silly of us to argue over spring training predictions, so I'll just leave it at that. Agree to disagree and we'll see when the season starts. Hopefully you're right. No problem, bro.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 08:54 PM) The East dance was better. And yeah I noticed that, it was like a blob, lol. I got scared, man. I hope little kids didn't have to see that.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 08:37 PM) what's the story behind him being Mr.B? That's the name of his teddy bear. He carries it around with him wherever he goes. If he pitches like he did the second half of last year, he could carry around a barbie doll for all I care.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 08:07 PM) Juan Encarnacion will be their starting RF'er. LF will be a Spring Training competition between Larry Bigbie, John Rodriguez, and So Taguchi. 2B will be a competition between Hector Luna, Aaron Miles, and Junior Spivey. Spivey will likely win the job. I stand corrected. I forgot about Encarnacion. I think he's even a better fit.. I agree that Spivey will probably win the job.

This has been one incredibly bad all-star game. And what the hell is wrong with Ernie Johnson's face?

I think Bonds would've been a great player regardless. He was a multiple MVP award winner long before anybody thought about steroids. Steroids don't give you the sick plate discipline/eye he has. But, yeah, his overall career will always have a ? over it.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 05:45 PM) Looper is a bum, and Rincon is not much anymore. I'd take Dempster, Eyre, Howry, Wuertz and Ohman over that but that's jmo. As far as question marks in the lineups go, the Cards have no 2b or rf. Both of these teams have some holes. I personally think Murton is going to be a very solid player and if I did have to bet, I'd take the cubs as much as that would pain me to do. I think Bigbie will be able to hold it down in rf. He had some injuries last year and was never able to really get on track. All he needs to do is repeat his 04 year. Aaron Miles hit .281 last year and .293 the year before that. He'll need to get his obp up to have a maxium effect. Murton and Cedeno have done nothing at the major league level to this point. As SSH pointed out, Looper and Rincon are money if used properly. Izzy is a sure bet to save 35-40 games. The kid they brought up last year, Brad Thompson, had an excellent year. Flores is filthy against left handed hitters. For the Cubs, Dempster is solid if "and I stress if" he stays healthy. Eyre is a guy that's basically had one good year his entire career. I smell Mike Remlinger part 2. Howry is another guy I wonder about. Yeah, he's had a couple good years. But he's been average to below average his entire career before that. What Howry are they gonna get? Wuertz and Ohman look solid. Big edge to the Cards here. Every team has some holes. But the Cubs clearly have more. The Cards are pretty much proven. You know what you're getting with them. The Cubs are a complete wildcard. I just don't see how they went from 79 wins last year to a team that could win atleast 95 and the division. They had an average off-season at best.

QUOTE(The Critic @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 05:00 PM) My worst memory of 2004 is that every time I had tickets to a game, I got to see the latest episode of The 5th Starter Experiment. I didn't see Buerhle pitch in person one time that year. I don't miss The 5th Starter Experiment. I tried not to even watch games when one of the dreaded 5th starters was scheduled to pitch. I already knew what was gonna happen.

But I thought Chicago was, and will always be a Cubs town? The Fact the Sox are the champs isn't as important as who's more popular.

I seriously doube he'll quit without the hr record.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 04:49 PM) those injuries were fairly flukely, but i still think being injured often points to a player being injury prone. collisions and line drives happen in baseball, some players get injured when it happens to them others don't. That's true. Plus he always has some kinda arm soreness, whether it be before the year or doing it.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 04:43 PM) Illini win 70-58. At 13-10 and 5-7, Indiana still has work to do to make the dance IMO, although their schedule isn't too difficult considering how bad it could be. Pretty solid win. Now if Auggy can start playing like this consistently, will be dangerous. Off topic: Reddick already has 11 points with 15:26 to go in the first half. Yeah, I'm sure he pays no attention to Morrison. The scoring title means nothing to him.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 04:31 PM) The cubs have a better bullpen at this point, and their rotation is better imo. The cards lineup is better but the cubs will have a pretty damn solid lineup this year now that they have an actual leadoff hitter. Izzy, Rincon, Looper, Thompson and Flores is better than the Cubs' pen. Unless Wood is healthy "I know, we hear this every year" I don't see how you can say they have a better rotation. He won't even be ready until atleast May. Prior is always an injury risk. Maddux is 50, and always sucks in the first half. Zambrano is a stud. Who's their 5th starter anyway? Is it gonna be Williams? The offense isn't even close. Let's not forget they dominated that division without Scott Rolen. Now he's back healthy. I seriously doubt Lee has a year like last year. They have major question marks in lf and ss. Pierre will help them only if he's the Pierre of 2003/2004. Jones is probably a downgrade from Burnitz. As sorry as that is.

QUOTE(WilliamTell @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 04:24 PM) The Cubs may get over the Astros, but no one seems to be talking about the Brewers. I thinkt he Brewers will be better than the Cubs. 3rd place finish for the Cubs if they're lucky. Agreed. We all know Sheets is a stud. But the rest of the rotation looks solid. Davis, Ohka, Capuano and Helling makes up a good, not great, rotation. Their offense should be flat out sick. If Kolb can rediscover his 04 magic, he and Turnbow will be a devestating 1-2 combo at the back end of the pen.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 04:16 PM) Eh, to be honest, if I were betting on that division I'd pick the Cubs. That would be one losing ass bet. How do you figure the Cubs over the Cards? Card have the better lineup and bullpen. Play much, much better defense. And I'd even give them the edge rotation wise. If only because you know they'll be healthy for the most part.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 19, 2006 -> 04:23 PM) Ya, our manager is just so conventional, why would anyone think he would do something different? :rolly Even as unconventional as Ozzie is, this was a no-brainer.

Dee Brown is the streakiest god damn shooter I've ever seen. Indiana within 12 now.

The Cards are the clear favorites. After that I'd go Brewers, Astros, Cubs.

No thanks@Gonzalez. Figures the Cubs would be interested in another juicer.

My oh my have times changed since 2004. Remember when we had just Mark and a bunch of question marks? The depth of this staff is unreal. Brandon will be a luxury that no other team has.