nitetrain8601

Good afternoon. In less than two hours, the Minnesotta Twins will be landing at US Cellular Field. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. "Mankind." That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourthteenth of September, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourthteenth of September will no longer be known as a Chicagoan holiday, but as the day the Sox declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our NukeTheTwins Day!

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Sep 14, 2010 -> 04:48 PM) I know a good way to offset all these season-ending injuries...add two more games! Brutal f***ing proposal from day 1. Smart move. So when someone is out for the season, instead they'll just be out 16 games and have a chance to comeback!!

QUOTE (J.Reedfan8 @ Sep 14, 2010 -> 03:54 PM) He makes Mike Brown look like Brett Favre and his games streak. Me and nite had no problem with the call, especially given Lovie was given the "no balls title" long ago, but Stafford out didn't help his decision at all. Next time though.. you do it with Chester Taylor at the goal line (especially in 3rd down) who is one of the best short yardage backs in the league. Just terrible evaluating, almost as bad as playing man to man on Calvin Johnson late in the game. I agree, if there is one criticism for Lovie on that play, it's perhaps not giving it to Chester Taylor who was your biggest offseason acquisition last year. Maybe put him in a two back set with Forte. That's nitpicky considering the day Forte had, but it's valid at the same time.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Sep 13, 2010 -> 11:09 PM) Garland has been almost exactly average, nothing to mourn especially considering the Sox replaced him with a better pitcher pretty quickly. While true, he would still make a very good 5th starter.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 14, 2010 -> 03:25 PM) I really hate the way people talk about how teams blitz/don't blitz. I never agree with everything he says but Easterbrook was right on today. The Bears have been one of, if not the, most heavy blitzing team the last few years. At least IMO...a big part of the reason everyone thinks that the Bears secondary stinks is that the Bears have been blitzing more and more and more...and as such left their Secondary without help more and more. Good work Balta. Very nice read.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Sep 14, 2010 -> 03:19 PM) Not possible. Oh it is.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 14, 2010 -> 01:52 PM) Exactly. Overall...I think you might be right that going for it might be the right move...but the Bears did everything possible to make sure that the odds were against them. They left Forte in rather than swapping out backs. No one went in motion. There was no trickery at all; there was every reason to think you just had to stuff a straight ahead run one more time. The only attempt at any trickery was on a poorly set up 2nd down pass. Forte, furthermore, is I believe noted as one of the worst short yardage backs in the league in other statistics; his running style lends to him not getting through piles well. The percentages there are lying because the Bears did nothing to put them in their favor. What trickery could they have done on 4th down. When you go for it on 4th down, you go with your best engine. Forte was just that on Sunday. Would you have preferred a reverse? A QB sneak? A statue of liberty play? As they say on ESPN...CMONNNNNNNNNNNNN MANNNNNNNNNNNNN!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 14, 2010 -> 01:45 PM) Do the statistics change at all in cases where you've already been stopped for 3 consecutive plays? Well it obviously has to. Think about this. If you have 1st and goal at the 5 and fail, then fail on 2nd and 3rd, but you got up to the one yard line, what makes you think you would be anymore successful getting it in than the first three tries? Most people in that situation would go for it. This is a large reason why I'm not a Bears fan, it's a combo of Cubs and Sox fans complaining in unison, regardless of what the decision is, they just want to see someone gone, whether for good or bad. Bears fans complain that Lovie is too conservative, but then he goes for it. Then he's playing it stupid. He made a good point as well yesterday. Defensively, people complained about the Bears never blitzing. Well the Lions were driving, and when Calvin made that catch, people complained about how could he have single coverage. Well maybe because he was blitzing on that play. Seriously, too many times people want to play both sides of the fence when it comes to Chicago teams in general, but Bears fans moreso since there's more of them.

Sanders is way too overrated and too injury prone to be counted on. He's more injury prone than Tracy McGrady.

Manny needs to be third. Maybe they like the protection he provides PK. I think Rios is a guy who needs protection moreso. I'd changeup the lineup. Pierre Rios Ramirez Konerko Quentin Ramirez Vizquel Beckham Pierzynski

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Sep 13, 2010 -> 10:49 AM) very well said. This is my argument as well. It was 2 feet, hands firmly around ball, on the knees, then his turnaround to celebrate caused the fumble. QUOTE (ChWRoCk2 @ Sep 13, 2010 -> 10:52 AM) If he didn't have possession when he initially caught it but fell to the ground while regaining possession towards the end and then the ball comes loose once he hits the ground, yes I agree it is not a catch. I'm arguing he had possession from the very beginning, clearly had the ball in both hands with two feet, I mean heck, he even had possession with 1 hand till he let it go when going to celebrate. Idk if he made a football move but 2 feet and possession should be enough imo. To me rules need to be consistent across the whole field of play and the end zone shouldn't be an exception. I feel that had this same play happened on the 20 yard line (lets say) it would be a catch because the ground can't cause a fumble. Whatever, all that matters is GB won and should have a cakewalk next week vs. the Bills.

There's a couple of combinations. Honestly, it depends on what the Sox do with Konerko and for how much. I'd personally love for Beltre to come here, sign Uribe as a backup INF, go after VMart, but if it doesn't work out, go for Olivo and resign Manny and Andruw. That's not possible here with Konerko on a large contract. There's tons of different ways the Sox can go this offseason.

QUOTE (Brian @ Sep 12, 2010 -> 05:30 PM) SF and Alex Smith making me look dumb You and me both.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 12, 2010 -> 04:17 PM) I know, except he picked a really bad time to prove otherwise. It reminded me of two years ago, when we had the ball on the 1 in Minnesota and didn't score. The Vikings ended up getting a 97 yard touch down on the ensuing play. Thank god this was the Lions and not a better team. How was it a bad time? It's against the Lions as you say who are not a good team, there was tons of time in the game left, the Lions were not moving the ball and they were within 1 yard. If you say no to that, then obviously you're saying you have no confidence in your OLine. C'mon guys. Mad cas Lovie plays it conservative and mad cas Lovie shows some balls. Make up your damn minds.

For the sake of my fantasy team, that better be a TD.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Sep 12, 2010 -> 02:48 PM) The announcer is going on and on about the Lions D, f*** that, the Bears offense just blows It doesn't. They have moved the ball really well. Their problem has been fumbles. Even the OLine looked decent except on the 1 yard line.

Honestly guys, if you were inside the one, you would go for it too. The Bears just don't have the horses to do so. Don't blame the decision on Lovie. Blame the management in Angelo.

THIS. TEAM. IS. DEAD.

Flat out, the Twins win their division. The Sox don't. The Twins don't always lose to teams like Cleveland, KC, Detroit. They beat up the divison. It's rare, but Kenny builds the team thinking all the way. If you were to compare teams and say "Who has a better shot at beating the Rangers, Yankees, Rays in the playoffs?" Most people would say the Sox. The thing is, the Sox can't even win their own division because they overlook the small teams. I think that's because of the leadership we have. Then you have guys like Freddy Garcia who admit they don't get up for facing KC. Well he should and if he doesn't, a player should be getting in his face.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Sep 10, 2010 -> 06:41 PM) Garland is a slightly above-average to average innings eater. A valuable commodity in the major leagues. He has never had an injury of any significance, will give you 20-25 quality starts a year, and will give you a chance to win most ballgames in which he starts. Is he an ace? No. Is he a number 2? No. He's an NL #3 and and AL #4. Nothing to laugh at, nothing to marvel at. Trade Danks and Quentin for a very good RF and sign Garland on the cheap as the 5th starter? Peavy Jackson Buehrle Floyd Garland??

But but but Berrian is great and the Bears should've never let him go! I knew he was a fraud.

I appreciate PK's season and his time with us. I think it's time to go in a different direction though. He will forever be remembered and probably will get a statue, but we need to get a leader with more fire. I also wouldn't be opposed to keeping Manny at DH, giving Viciedo a shot at 1B, trading Quentin for a bag of balls, signing Beltre and V Mart and going after an OF via trade. Guys who absolutely must go: Jenks Pena Quentin Pierzynski I would give Sale a shot at being the 5th starter. Resign Putz as the closer as Thornton doesn't seem well in that spot and Santos isn't ready for it yet. Make Santos the RH Setup Man. Fill out the bullpen with some cheap players.

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Sep 8, 2010 -> 04:48 PM) Best possible situation = following a HOF legend after he retired and wanted to come back but had the team choose you over him? Not sure it was the BEST possible situation. But yah he had some talent around him. It was by far the best position ever. Especially considering the Packers told that old QB, once he was done, he was done and that's it. I think Alex Smith would've succeeded as well in that position. With that said, Smith will have his turn this year to show his true ability. He has a good OL, a beast of a RB, Crabtree and Vernon. No way he shouldn't succeed.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Sep 9, 2010 -> 04:40 PM) They do? Apparently you've never watched Danks pitch at all? Ever seen game 163? That was then and this is now.

QUOTE (Brian @ Sep 7, 2010 -> 10:51 AM) Don't hate on Alex Smith this year. Crabtree and Davis are good targets. 9ers have a top notch defense as well. Davis, Crabtree, Morgan, Gore and a nice O Line. Honestly, anyone can succeed in their offense. With Smith, he should be rolling. He was doing really well when he started last year. Hasselbeck doesn't have the receivers. Housh was a bust with them. Mike Williams right now is their best receiver. I was a huge fan of his coming out, but I don't know how good of a sign that is considering not even Jeff Fisher could turn him around.