whitesoxfan101

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 08:38 PM) And play excellent defense. Mayo is an all-star caliber defender. If you don't believe that, you have problems. I don't know if he's an all-star calibur defender yet, but he's certainly noticeably above average, especially for a rookie, and will only get better. That year at USC did him well, say what you will about Tim Floyd but he is a good teacher of defense.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 05:52 PM) Yes, it really is. Bears are not serious contenders, Packers blow, Vikings are alright at best. Don't even get me started on the Lions. The Cardinals have a chance with a pretty great offense. Both divisions stink, but the NFC North is a joke. You aren't really claiming the two western division are better than the NFC North are you? Because that's just silly, the NFC and AFC West this year are two of the worst divisions in the history of professional athletics. The NFC North is really bad, but it's not on the level of those two.

Well it was a battle of 2 very improved teams with cupcake schedule aided records in St. Louis, and I think one thing I learned is that Mizzou might never again beat Illinois. It's clear the Illini have some sort of bizarre hex on Mizzou in basketball, because I thought tonight would be another close game, if not a Mizzou win. I'm not sure what to gather from that game, although Illinois did take care of business in a series where anything can happen except an Illini loss. I still think Missouri is going to have a nice season, but tonight's game makes me finally start to believe that Illinois will too.

4 man rotation? What a great idea! I'm sure this will work out great, and nobody will get injured.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 03:00 PM) Jordan Hill is so much better in every aspect of the game than Lawal right now. My guy! Love me some Jordan Hill, fantastic player.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 12:38 PM) I will say this, Craig Steltz looked alot better than I have given him credit for. I have to disagree with this statement. Steltz got ran the f*** over a couple times and generally looked awful last night I thought. I think he had 4 or 5 tackles, but I was underwhelmed with his performance.

I understand all the points that people will make about the Yankees not having won since 2000 and our Sox were one of the top spenders last season and have won a World Series very recently, but baseball still DESPERATELY needs a true, hard salary cap. It will never happen with dumb Uncle Bud in charge, but hopefully one day it will.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 11:58 AM) They are still loaded with talent on defense, they are underachieving due to poor coaching. On offense they're overachieving, for that they have Matt Forte to thank. I only wish Forte had a legit backup (for whatever reason, they don't seem like Kevin Jones, although I do). There are holes at literally every position on offense except tight end. Even at RB, they better find a backup to Forte or he's going to be beaten out of the league in 3 or 4 years due to all the hits. The offense hasn't really overachieved since Orton got hurt though, they have pretty much sucked since then, although they have come up with points when they had to the last couple of weeks. As for the defense, you can say they are still loaded with talent and have a legitimate argument because of past production. The problem is, the defense is getting older in a hurry and it has players who got paid and appear to have lost interest as well. The pass rush has MAJOR issues that will need to be addressed, this team only has one linebacker that I think you can count on right now in Lance Briggs, and although I think the scheme has caused a lot of the problem I am about to mention (to your point), the pass defense has been pretty atrocious this year, with the lone bright spot being Corey Graham.

The Bears are either really well coached or really lucky, and since I think most answers lie in the middle, I'll say it's a mix of both along with the fact that the NFL is just a mediocre league in terms of team quality. I know they LOOK like a dumb, poorly coached team, but they just aren't very talented AT ALL and aren't performing all that well to boot, yet they are somehow 9-6. It's pretty incredible, and hopefully next week is fun and they find a way to get into the playoffs. Regardless of what happens though, Angelo has a lot of work to do and will have a busy offseason because this team has holes at almost every position.

QUOTE (IamPabloOzuna @ Dec 21, 2008 -> 07:59 PM) Unfortunately media attention is what matters...thats why mid-majors like southern illinois and bradley can get decent matchups with BCS teams. The BCS teams arent overly worried about losing because of the overall view of that team (as reinforced by the media) isn't a bad one--even if the that particular mid-major is having an off year (SIU...). Even though ISU has a strong team this year, a loss by a BCS team to ISU would be seen as a bad loss to most people--regardless of how good ISU actually is . Once this team can get a little coverage, the tide will start to turn. ISU has had a cupcake OOC schedule, there is no denying it...but to get through the entirety of the non-con without a loss is still a great accomplishment. They didn't just simply win those games though...some were absoulte demolishings, and the ones that werent still showcased what is possibly the most athletic/exciting offense in the MVC--featuring 2 POY candidates. One thing I would like too see is some sort of in-state matchup rotation, similar to what is done in iowa. Drake (MVC), Iowa, Iowa State, and Northern Iowa (MVC) all play each other each year. It gives the MVC teams some BCS matchups and its great local matchups for the fans (FWIW Drake beat both Iowa State and Iowa this year). Imagine an early season "Land of Lincoln" showdown--SIU, NIU, ISU, UofI, Depaul, Northwestern, EIU, WIU. Could be hosted at Redbird Arena and Assembly Hall (keeping things central) or do the whole thing in chicago. just a thought... Ehh media attention only matters if you are going for an at large. Although ISU did go undefeated in OOC, they played a very weak schedule, and combine that with a down Valley, and an at large would be difficult even if the Redbirds were getting a lot of attention. Although obviously if ISU goes 27-3 this season or something, they have to get a strong look in March even if they don't win Arch Madness.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 22, 2008 -> 12:45 AM) Joe Flacco....great quarterback or greatest quarterback ever? I'll go with 2nd best rookie quarterback in the league.

In-depth statistical analysis is something that you have to be careful with for the most part. It's very useful and for the most part accurate in baseball, but that's because baseball is a game played at the same pace no matter what teams are playing. Obviously some pitches work faster and slower then others, and some ballparks have bigger and smaller dimensions than others, but in baseball, the ball is pitched, the hitter sees it, he swings or he doesn't, and everything is set into motion no matter who is playing and who is on base. Basketball games are played at completely different paces, players guard different types of players and play different specific amounts of minutes every night, and there are just so many elements that make in depth statistical analysis like PER quite deceiving, especially this early in the season. Also hard to go really in depth statswise and learn much about football when playing surfaces, games in/outdoors, conditions, time of posession, turnovers, the fact the season is only 16 games, and so on are all relevant factors. However, on the other side of things, as much as that all is true, in depth statistical analysis is needed most for baseball because of all the specific LITTLE things that happen in baseball that don't neccesarily happen in other sports.

What a fantastic game tonight, but ugh I hope the Giants, whichever Giants it is that are playing next week (starters, backups, whatever) have something left after that classic, draining overtime affair that gave them home field advantage.

And for good measure....

Awesome.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Dec 21, 2008 -> 06:51 PM) Yea, the real question is whether the Giants will rest their players. Coughlin didn't do it last year, and I really think that played a part in them winning the Super Bowl, it gave them a ton of momentum. They were pretty healthy last year going into week 17 IIRC, and this year they are pretty banged up, which is why I think they are going to rest people and try and give them an extra week off since they'll have the bye as well. Hopefully they play everybody and give Minnesota a game though. QUOTE (WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Dec 21, 2008 -> 06:53 PM) After last season, Goodell proposed a rule that wouldn't give divison winners a guaranteed home game, and I really wish it would have passed. It's a joke that the Colts could be 12-4 and have to go on the road and face an 8-8 team. Plus, it would make late season games more meaningful with less teams tanking games in week 17. Agreed. I'm hoping that with the bad teams (and records) winning both western divisions, that rule proposal gains some steam and passes this offseason.

QUOTE (IamPabloOzuna @ Dec 21, 2008 -> 12:29 PM) they will care soon enough...this team is too good not to get noticed a little more. UIC went to play a solid Vanderbilt team and beat them. UIC went to georgia tech and beat them. UIC went to Redbird Arena to play the Illinois State Redbirds...and lost--even when the Redbirds couldn't shoot. 11-0 and no signs of stopping. You guys are a good team, but you still probably won't get a lot of notice. The Valley is down this year, and combine that with your weak OOC schedule, and attention isn't coming your way all that much unless you stay undefeated for a while. You shouldn't care about that though, you have a good team and media attention isn't what matters, winning games is and you guys are doing that at a great clip right now. I was surprised and impressed you beat UIC, it appears whoever guarded Mayo did a great job based on his numbers.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Dec 21, 2008 -> 06:31 PM) Alright, so as it currently stands, this is how the Bears make the playoffs: Division Champs if... MIN loses to NYG, finish 9-7 Bears beat GB and HOU, finish 10-6 Wild Card if... DAL loses to PHI, finishing 9-7 TB loses to OAK, finishing 9-7 Bears beat GB and HOU, finish 10-6 Correct, and that is how it will stand since there is only 1 week left. A shocking amount of things went in the Bears favor today, so they went from having no chance to having only a small chance. The Bears still need a very unlikely upset to happen here. Even if we assume Dallas will lose at Philly (which I think they will, the Cowboys are heartless dogs, especially in December), the Bears need either the Giants to win at Minnesota in a game that will have literally zero meaning for them, or will need the horrific Oakland Raiders to win in Tampa in a stadium the Bucs, despite their recent struggles, are 6-1 at this year. I HOPE the Bears get in, but I still doubt it. I'm still not sure they are even capable of taking care of their own business and winning 4 in a row. I hope it happens though. By the way, I was very glad San Diego won and Denver lost today. After the epic screw job the Chargers got earlier this year, it's only right and justified that they get a shot at the Broncos at home in which a win would give them a divsion title. Although wow, football in the western US has been trash this year. If Arizona loses and San Diego wins next week, both western division champions will have an 8-8 record.

I am no less concerned about his velocity drop then I was before I read the article. It would be one thing if he lost velocity "on purpose" because he couldn't get people out a la Kyle Farnsworth when he threw near 100 MPH, but that's not the case. He did show late last season that he still has some extra velocity there when he needs it, but early in his career he showed he could locate and get people out when throwing in the high 90's to 100, so I'd rather see him throwing at that level then throwing 92-94. Fortunately, he's got people out no matter how hard he threw, and I hope that continues.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 20, 2008 -> 11:48 AM) Again, as has been coming up regularly... Obama is doing exactly what he said he'd do - be politically inclusive with his cabinet, close circle, etc. If anyone really thought that Obama would be surrounding himself entirely with far-left liberals, then they were either not paying attention (wishful thinking), or they were Republicans trying to scare people about an Obama Presidency. ^^^^^^ What he said. I was worried he would surround himself with the far-left liberals because of his voting record in the senate and in Illinois, but he ran his campaign as if he was going to try and include everybody, and he seems to be doing that up to this point.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3782859 He had a very good career, but he'll be remembered as the only man known to have thrown a no hitter on LSD, which is a hell of an accomplishment. RIP.

The Celtics have a shot at 70+ wins for the same reason the Bulls made it to 70+ wins and 69 wins in back to back years. The league now, as it was then, is very down overall with lots of bad teams. The league was better at that time in terms of the teams (the players are better now I think overall), and those Bulls teams were better than last year and this years Celtics teams (even if they break 72 wins), but that is how stuff like that happens in my opinion. As for Ben Gordon, I'm not going to get into a Ben Gordon argument with nite, that is like getting into a Tyson Chandler argument with the dude that used to post in the NBA threads a lot who was a big fan of his, but Ben is having BY FAR his best NBA season. His defense has been the best I've seen it this year (which isn't saying a lot, plus the Bulls defense is just pathetic, but at least he's improved and appears to be trying) and his shot selection this year has been the best of his career, with the only year comparable in terms of his offense being 2006-2007. He still takes bad shots, but not nearly as many, and most of his "bad shots" this year have been when he was shooting well in that individual game, and thus at least made sense.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 19, 2008 -> 02:04 PM) riddle me this: If you're a normal student caught with pot, you get what, a warning? The 2nd time? Don't you get kicked out? How are these guys allowed to not only stay in school, but get a free ride by staying on the team? Because athletes have a double standard, we all know that. It takes quite the dummy to get caught smoking pot in college though, especially more than once.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 19, 2008 -> 02:21 PM) IMO our corners are absolute garbage and the pass rush has been terrible. Im not sure our safeties are a huge issue. The corners and pass rush have been poor, but the safties haven't been great either. Brown has been good against the run, but his pass coverage is not good, and Kevin Payne misses A TON of tackles because he likes to go for the big hit. Brown has without question been the best secondary player this season on the Bears, but that's a case of tallest midget.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Dec 19, 2008 -> 01:55 PM) It's not like Mike Brown is a liability and just plain sucks out there. To be honest I kind of shudder thinking about us trying to stop a run game without him. True, but he's a huge liability in the passing game and is a big contributor to the struggles the Bears have had defending that this year.