CanOfCorn

Does that line read 1 BB and 8 K's? If so, then he definitely needs to go to Charlotte to work on his eye.

What makes it interesting is the fact that sweet 16 teams like Southern Illinois and Butler have been double digit seeds in the past. But they are getting mad props and they should. I have to say, Saturday was a great day for the tournament whether there were upsets or not. And also, Vandy, USC and UNLV were surprises to me.

Maybe a hat, or a broach...or a pterodactyl? Candlesticks are always a nice gift too.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 17, 2007 -> 05:23 PM) OMG I'm having delicious potato soup for dinner, then watching the NCAA Wrestling Championships. I'd love a DP here. Wha hoppened? You guys are killing me with this play-by-play. I'll I got down here in Texas is WGN and I don't wanna see the Cubs.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 16, 2007 -> 12:50 PM) I think the rationale is: 1. He never plays CF again 2. While his versatility is useful...we do have other people who can cover the exact same spots as him, and he doesn't cover the 1 or 2 spots where we really seem to need a roster spot for another backup. 3. It would be preferable to hold onto him and let either Ozuna or Erstad walk and then at the same time use that spot to hold onto Perez or Terrero, but for some reason, our team has gone insane with "Grinding", and thus, we're forced to keep people of lesser talent solely because of the way they play. Mackowiak as a backup 3b, LF, RF, and 2nd b, along with Cintron covering SS and another backup, right handed OF/DH would be a hell of a lot more useful than Ozuna, who covers all of those spots moderately well and can play SS but doesn't hit or defend as well as the other guys...but we just won't drop Ozuna. Strained a calf muscle on Wednesday. No news on how serious it was...couldn't finish rounding the bases...but if it's just a mild strain, he probably won't be out for long. Ozuna is a sparkplug off the bench. He's really not great at anything, but when he's in the game, good stuff happens. THAT'S why they like him. If anyone, I think Terrero is odd man out. He's been hitting the snot out of the ball, but he's not as versatile as Mack or Erstad.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 16, 2007 -> 11:34 AM) If I thought that we'd actually wind up taking the best guys for the OF, then I'd agree with you. I'm really starting to think the best options might be Posdednik, Terrero, Anderson, and Dye for those 4 roster spots, with Erstad just left out in the cold, and there seems to be zero chance of that actually happening, despite the fact that I think we have a much bigger need for a backup right handed hitting OF who can come in for Podsednik than we do a left-handed hitting OF who can play CF (not to mention the fact that I think Terrero will be better defensively than Erstad). But we must have our pepper mill grinder, so what else is there? Erstad is coming for two reasons...OF and 1B. If anyone is left out, it's going to be Perez, IMO. Remember, Ozzie loves players that can play multiple positions. And Erstad is better than Perez defensively.

Anyone think this is a good thing? I mean, we have 7 viable candidates for the OF. Any one of them could make or not make the final roster. Dye is a given. But, Pods, Erstand, BA, Terrero, Mack and Perez in a pinch. This is a good thing. And I'm not even including Sweeney and Owens. THIS is a good position to be in. Better to have too much talent, and yes, there is talent, than scraping by with whoever can hit the damn ball twice every ten times.

QUOTE(Y2HH @ Mar 16, 2007 -> 08:21 AM) He's gonna be in trouble in there for losing the Super Bowl. They're gonna touch him places... ;D I'm glad that scumbag went to jail. But it shouldn't be for the short time it was. If that was one of us -- we'd have been sentenced for 4 years or something. Don't forget, he was under house arrest since it happened...except for the Super Bowl. I'm sure they added that in too.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 15, 2007 -> 02:32 PM) Their beer vendors seem to come by every 5 mins or so too, which is nice. Well, DUH. The Miller Brewery is pretty much right across the highway! I'm surprised they even carry cans, they should all just be tethered to hoses that begin at Miller!

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 15, 2007 -> 12:25 PM) He is trying to ruin the rep of the bears by acting like this. The Bears have tons of leverage to ruin Briggs. Franchise him, let him sit, franchise him again, let him sit. He made a bad decision and he now has to sit in that s*** puddle. I can't imagine any GM or owner thinks the Bears are doing anything wrong. And there are plenty of players (I'm assuming) that think Lance is being a baby about this whole thing. The Bears were given a tool to help themselves and they used it. Instead of whining, why can't he realize that this may be a good thing. He's so valuable, that they were willing to give him a HUGE raise and STILL let him go on the open market next year. Eat that s*** sandwich, buddy.

QUOTE(DrunkBomber @ Mar 15, 2007 -> 08:40 AM) Thats what Im beginning to think. I see Briggs playing next year with the tag. I dont know what would happen after that though. I think it would depend on how much we have to give Harris/Berrian/Peanut and Rex. In Rex's case id like to see them sign him before next season with a contract loaded with incentives because if he has a monster year he could become very expensive. If he plays next season...here's what'll happen to Lance: And I could see them re-signing Harris, Peanut and Rex. Berrian is the easiest to replace out of those four, IMO.

Here is an argument I heard once about Barry Bonds vs. Pete Rose. Let's just say Barry Bonds DID take steroids or HGH or whatever. He still has to see the ball and hit the ball. He still has to hit the ball hard enough and high enough. Maybe, in that one year, 20 balls that wouldn't get out if he wasn't taking something, did. But, there are many other factors...wind, pitcher's stuff, etc. Barry Bonds, IF he never took the stuff, is still one of the greatest hitters with one of the best batting eye's of all time. And he still would have made the hall. Now there's Pete Rose. He's got money on the game...he can purposely put in a pitcher that has no success against a certain batter and call it "a hunch." He can call a meatball knowing the hitter is expecting it. He can use a lineup that is certain to succeed or fail. It still comes down to the players doing what they can, but, as the manager, there are little things he can do to help or hurt his team. Even if it's not direct. Look at Joey Cora, we all know he was wave happy, if he was 3rd base coach for Pete Rose, that's inside info that you can use to your advantage. It's inside information. There are obviously holes in both arguments, but betting on a team you are managing DIRECTLY affects every game.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 04:05 PM) Solution is simple, re-hire Jimmy Collins as an assistant so he can reopen that connection between UofI and the city public schools. Until they do that or get Bill Self back, UofI is screwed with Bruce Weber. Jimmy Collins won't come back unless it's a head coaching job, and even then, I doubt that would happen. They need to go the way of McClain and hire a high school coach from the cpl.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 14, 2007 -> 09:00 AM) They are a complete JOKE in recruiting, yet Bruce remains loyal to them. That is as big a problem as in for Illinois recruiting. I think Wayne McClain has done a pretty damn good job keeping the Peoria pipeline going. I don't know too much about the rest of the guys.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 04:57 PM) I missed the part where the Bears are guaranteeing the second year. Probably cuz it doesn't exist. Your policy ends with Lance sitting out the year and the Bears getting nothing when he signs elsewhere in 2008. Sure, he'll get less money. The Bears get NOTHING, because there's no chance we get offered two firsts. It makes the Bears a worse team than they could be. I happen to dislike that. I was only saying that IF the Bears franchised him again in 2008, that contract would be guaranteed, not that they will. And you are absolutely right, if Lance doesn't play, the Bears get nothing, except $7.2 million that they won't have to pay and whatever fines they get from him not showing. Plus, they can get either Jamar Williams or Rod Wilson some playing time. Or some free agent. Plus, if Lance wants to get paid like he thinks he should be, he HAS to play this season. Not because teams will be upset by him sitting out, but because he sat out a year. And as someone said before, even if he trains all year, it's not game play.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 07:51 PM) i think the chicago thing gets overplayed sometimes. there's no doubt we can do better (primarily with some of the top-rated kids) but illinois has had a consistent cpl presence on its roster for a pretty long period of time if you think about it. not many other teams (any really) have that distinction. the fallacy in thinking about the cpl (not saying this is what you are saying) is that it's ever going to be "locked down" by anyone. the cpl is pretty freakin big, so to think you'll get every kid you want out of there just isn't realistic. some kids just don't like illinois. the cpl will also be a bit down this coming year. dunigan and liggins are really the only two kids i'd want, and even dunigan not so much. things don't look great for liggins, tho. Not everyone, of course, cuz there are cpl players all over the country, like you said, but Illinois should be in the final 3 of every 4 or 5 star qualifying senior, IMO. Now, not all of them are going to go to the U of I. Some will go to the NBA (Kevin Garnett), some will got to a school they have always liked (Jon Scheyer) and some will go to a school that maybe recruited them harder and some just won't like U of I. BUT, Illinois should AT LEAST be in the running. Go after them as best as you can. Maybe pick up an ass't coach/up and coming high school coach from the cpl or has a good relationship with the cpl. Just a thought. I'm glad that IU and the U of I has become relevant again. I loved the Lou 'Do/General match-ups.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 04:32 PM) I mean best POSSIBLE, obviously. Sure, the best thing for the Bears would be to have Briggs next year. It'd be best for the Bears if Peyton Manning was our qb, but that's not gonna happen, either. If your first objective is to teach someone a lesson, sure, franchise him this year and franchise him again next year. I prefer a competitive team, that's all. My first objective is putting the best team on the field. And that includes Lance Briggs. The Bears did nothing out of the ordinary or against the rules. Lance wants to go on the open market, which makes total sense. But, that's not the system. He could have shut his big yapper, played out the year, pocketed his guaranteed $7.2 mil and gone on the market next year. If not, another guaranteed $8.6 mil. I don't understand what the big deal is...that's a GUARANTEED 2 year contract worth $15.8 million dollars. That's nothing to spit on, but Lance did. So, let him sit. Tell him you fielded offers, but the Bears thought he was worth more than what was being offered. *wipes hands* Done and...done.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 04:24 PM) The thing that bothers me is that I don't mind the trade as far as Floyd comming here, is just that I believe we could have gotten more for Freddy. Maybe a top/solid spect or two besides Gio. In this era even from only one more year on his deal, Freddy Garcia is a very solid pitcher whose stats were not bad at all especially against alot of other horrible pitchers that got big deals. That's why I didn't say much about the deal when it was done I was on the "wait and see" mode. Or maybe that was the deal, give it or take it. Maybe that was the best deal they could get for Garcia from ANYONE? It's entirely possible with the one year left on the contract and drop in velocity last year.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 02:50 PM) I agree. Turnament is the way to go. For the same reason that many people not from Illinois say "Illi-noise." And if you go to any diction school, they teach the Midwestern style of speech, mostly.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 04:20 PM) The difference is you might get a low first or a second plus a mid-rounder. You're gonna throw away two good picks just to f some guy over? No thanks. Do what's best for the team. Yeah...and...? Lance Briggs playing for the Bears is what's best for the team and the Bears gave Lance 7,200,000 reasons to do just that. It may not be best for Lance Briggs, but that's not the way the system is set up. If he'd shut up and just talk to Angelo, maybe they could have had a gentlemen's agreement, a la Thomas Jones, that he'd play under the franchise tag this year, they won't tag him again next year. But, now that he's made a total ass out of himself and is trying his damndest to make the Bears look bad...yeah, sit your a** down if you don't like it.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 03:55 PM) Lol, you take less because noone ever offers two firsts. Noone ever signs franchise tag players. I don't mind waiting for a good offer, but if you think we'd ever get two firsts, you're deluding yourself. That's the point I was making. If a team comes to Angelo, that's where you start. If they say, no f'in way, which they absolutely will, then what's the difference? Lance still sits.

Gordon REALLY wanted to go to IU. Scheyer REALLY wanted to go to Duke. Can't help those. What bothers me isn't a Weber problem, it's a U of I problem. Ever since the Jimmy Collins thing, they haven't had that much luck recruiting Chicago and they need to. They are fine with the suburbs and with Peoria (especially with McClain there). And they need to ramp up with the St. Louis area again. Illinois can recruit as a program and as long as they stay competitive, they will get a top recruit. But, if I remember correctly, Deron Williams wasn't that highly rated. I'd rather have 3 and 4 star recruits that are highly coachable than a one-and-done player.

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 03:42 PM) Yeah, I'd rather let him sit unless we get what we deem to be fair value. Either way I don't think he is going to sit out. I agree...you don't pay him, in fact, he's fined for missing practices and games, I think. AND, he hurts his own value by sitting. If someone tried to sign him, the Bears get two first rounders, yes? That should be the starting point with any trade discussions. Why should the Bears take less? It's a business and the Bears are playing by the rules. Of course, Lance can do what he wants, it's his prerogative. But, he's only hurting himself.... Other players have tried this before and even sat out the year, Sean Gilbert of the Redskins comes to mind. His career was never the same after he came back.

QUOTE(pcullotta @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 03:35 PM) If you are going to use the phrase "at best," that statement is not true. At best, Aaron can hit over .300 with 20 HR's, 30 Doubles, and an OPS around .900. Those are not 4th Of'er numbers. I'm not saying he will do it again, I'm just saying that at least Aaron has done it and could possibly do it again. And one year of Brian Anderson doesn't give you enough info to say Rowand would be better. The only way to compare would if they entered the league within a year of each other. Chris Young hasn't shown anything at the major league level yet either. Let's decide at the end of a couple of years to see who got the better end of THAT deal.

QUOTE(Y2HH @ Mar 13, 2007 -> 01:06 PM) Put me in the center of the Brian Anderson haters club. I've been annoyed with this guy since the day he arrived as if he were the second coming of Andruw Jones. He's prooven nothing other than the fact that he's not, nor will he ever be Andruw Jones. Rowand is no better, but at least he helped bring us a world title...so for that alone, Rowand gets the get out of jail free from me. Anderson gets bubkis, because he's done bubkis while talking as if he were the MVP of MVP's. Anderson will suck until he prooves otherwise. Right now, as far as I'm concerned, he can hammer minor league pitching with good defense, but in the majors, he looks flat out afraid at the plate -- with good defense. And I don't care about his spring training performance, either...he did the same last year and was a black hole in our lineup. Rowand has also shown that he'd kill himself to make a play/win a game. Anderson's prooven he can go out and drink with the "honeys" while batting .130 with 2HR. Meh. And I'll be the first to eat crow, as they say, if Anderson can proove me wrong. Because I want nothing more for Anderson to be AWESOME, and help this team make the post season. Waffler.