whitesoxfan101

3 games of this series... Game 1: Reds hit 1 solo home run in each of the first 4 innings. Game 2: Reds make 5 errors in 2 and 1/3 innings. Game 3: The pitcher is awarded 2nd base after a balk trying to pick him off, and later is awarded home after a pickoff throw to 3rd ends up in the stands. If you watch Reds/Cubs games, you will see at least 1 thing a game you've never seen before. They play some wacky ass games.

Between the tornadoes, winter, Cubs fans, and lack of much of anything, I really don't understand why anybody would want to live in Iowa. Yikes, I hope everybody is ok, although it appears for now that the injury totals are low, but unfortunately the damage totals are high. But the fact that the only fatality I have heard about was near Muscatine and was just 1 guy is very good news, coulda been much worse.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Apr 11, 2006 -> 01:26 AM) If we had Freel instead of Podsednik, there is no way we'd be champs right not. How's that for a comparison? It works, even though it's wrong. Name me 1 thing Pods can do that Freel can't? It doesn't exist, although Freel can play 6 different positions better than Pods can play 1, draws more walks, and steals at just as high a percentage as Pods. The Pods love here is pretty fun, he did a great job as the leadoff man for us last year, but he's a really fast guy (when healthy anyways) who creates havoc when he gets on base. That's all.

So you sign a past his prime receiver to get the ball thrown to him by a bad quarterback? Great plan.

They juiced the ball to make up for the fact that the players are (mostly, of course some are still on HGH) not juiced anymore, that's pretty obvious IMO watching the games. Combine that with the fact that the pitchers aren't juicing anymore and you get this (and yes, more pitchers were juicing than people realize). And this does nothing to hurt our team, we have even more power than last season with Thome and our pitching (starting at least) is still the best in baseball, which is good regardless of what kinda baseballs are being used.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Apr 13, 2006 -> 11:42 PM) You said Orlando would not win their last 6 games. We're halfway there so far. This is a team on the rise, and I think we're better than a lot of the bottom 5-8 teams in the East playoffs right now. We've got DeShawn Stevenson at the 2 at the minute. He's fairly good defensively, which has kept him in the starting lineup, and he's played on a bum knee all year so he's got pretty good toughness. But if the Magic get the chance to draft a Roy or a Brewer, they should jump at it. DeShawn Stevenson is nothing more than a bench player for a good team. However getting Roy or Brewer could solve that problem at the 2 that is currently existing, those 2 are ballers. And Grant Hill really needs to retire.

Jordan's kid is about 50/50 between walking on at UNC or going to Loyola Chicago on a scholly, should be interesting to see what he chooses. Oh, and Eric Gordon is a lock to Illinois just about as much as Derrick Rose is a lock to the highest bidder, no chance in hell he goes somewhere else.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Apr 13, 2006 -> 10:42 PM) I would just love to get in to see what we could do against Detroit. I don't think anyone would argue they would do a better job against them then teams like Chicago and Philly who would probably be hardpressed to win a game against them. But I think we're a definite playoff team next season. We've got quality depth on the bench in Arroyo, Dooling, Ariza and Milicic, Grant Hill could be back, and we've got one of the better 3 headed monsters in the league right now in Howard, Hedo, and Nelson. But isn't it ironic how good this team has played since the exit of one Steve Francis. Good luck getting your next contract. You still need a legit shooting guard (Even if Nelson can score like this consistently, he's too small to guard the 2) and Grant Hill makes Kerry Wood look like Cal Ripken Jr., but yes Orlando should be good next year.

QUOTE(Cuck the Fubs @ Apr 13, 2006 -> 10:36 PM) ^ Did you buy any concessions? Hell no, I'm not an idiot. EDIT: Jimbo, your an idiot. After further review on MLB.TV, the Cub TV guys specifically said how that ball had "no help from the wind as it's pretty much stopped blowing" and they then showed the flags not moving. *sighs*

I was there in full Sox gear (my brother is a Reds fan....better than a Cubs fan right?) and their was NO WIND AT ALL during the last 3 innings of the game, and in fact shortly after the game ended the wind shifted and was blowing in. Howry's problem is he threw a high fastball and Kearns hammered it. Actually, if that ball is hit in the 3rd inning it probably ends up on the street. (Oh, and maybe it's because of last year, but I didn't get a word about my Sox stuff all day, haha). Note #2: These were free tix, so no I didn't pay to go to Wrigley.

Man Orlando is on fire. They could make somebody awfully nervous if they get in, but it appears the presence of Stevie Franchise earlier this year and it's affect were just a bit too much to overcome.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan99 @ Apr 11, 2006 -> 07:13 PM) Tony Freeman is not damn good. He's a better all around player than Horner would ever dream of being.

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Apr 11, 2006 -> 07:46 PM) http://northcarolinastate.scout.com/2/519390.html lol, poor State fans... Ahh, so he WAS just using them to get a payraise at Memphis, similar to what Dixon did with Arizona State to say at Pitt. Bravo Calipari, enjoy the pay raise.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Apr 11, 2006 -> 03:27 AM) Yep we're still doing our part, 2 1/2 games behind the Bulls now. But I was banking on Philly losing to Washington. I expect them to finish up on 37 wins now (beating Charlotte). If they happen to win another game on top of that, we'd have to win our last 5 games to tie. Since that includes the Spurs away, I don't know if we can do that. Still possible though, but we have to win at least 4 out of 5, probably 5. Oh and Jameer Nelson, how so many teams passed on him, well they're cursing their luck now. And Hedo Turkloglu has thrived in the 2nd half, and has become a pretty damn good offensive SF because he's taking the ball to the hoop more and not settling for the easy jumper. He's a very good player, but in reality is a 6' shooting guard. He is developing into a very good player, but nobody is losing sleep over passing over him. Just one of those guys who is overcoming all the things he has going against him, that's all.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Apr 11, 2006 -> 05:32 PM) I haven't seen anything about Alfords contract but than again I am not one that follows the off-season of college sports that in depth. Seems like this guy is a total homer though. However i remember Alford raving about how Thompson plays in practices and he kept hinting that we'd see big things from him this upcoming season. Sucks we lost Carlton Reeve, I guess he's pissed that Freeman got his minutes. Thompson is a decent bench player, but this isn't anything like ISU losing Haluska to Iowa or anything. As for Carlton Reed.....he's not any good and Freeman is damn good. He better go to a mid major if he wants minutes, that's not any sort of loss for Iowa.

Ramirez left the game early limping for the Cubs, to answer some of the questions in here. The guy that hit the grand slam for the Reds is going to be a good one, Edwin Encarnacion (Juan's younger brother).

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Apr 11, 2006 -> 12:05 AM) Jeff Capel to OU. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2404508 Yikes, they could have done ALOT better. Mmm as of now your right, but Capel is a very young guy and has shown to be a damn good coach. It's not the "sexy" choice, but I think it may work out very well for OU.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Apr 11, 2006 -> 10:58 AM) He wanted hardcore upgrades in facilities, video theaters, practice courts, etc. ASAP. IU obviously needs to do that, but it can't/won't happen overnight. That's why he isn't here. All great points, and also remember that he won't have 1/10th the pressure at NC State that he would have at IU. The other interesting point is the Derrick Rose derby, this makes UNC and the Illini the 2 clear favorites, unless Calipari can go to NC State and get back into it there.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 09:56 PM) You're quoting a post from yesterday. Oh nvmnd.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Apr 10, 2006 -> 07:58 PM) How can it be a good deal for Lee? Sure he'll get paid but he's stuck with the Cubs and with no chance to win. 5/65 is a damn good deal for a guy thought to be an underachiever his whole career as of March 2005. And the Cubs have a chance to get in the playoffs with as bad as the NL and NL Central are, plus even if they didn't, it's all about the money 99 times out of 100. Do players want to win? Hell yeah, but if they lose and get their big money, no big deal for them.

Hawk said the ball is juiced the other day, and watching the way the ball is carrying in all these games, he might be onto something. Actually Steve Stone was asked about Hawk's comment on the Score today and said he wouldn't be surprised if baseball tried to make up for less juiced players by juicing the baseballs themselves.

QUOTE(rventura23 @ Apr 9, 2006 -> 03:40 PM) just saw shelton went 0-4 with 3 Ks today down to a measly .583 Actually he had an RBI double today in the 6th inning. Also, talking about past steroid user candidates, you gotta look at Ryan Klesko. And Chipper Jones is hurt, what a freaking surprise.

Orlando is just on fire, another win tonight in a blowout over Atlanta. Philly and Indiana also won however, which is bad news for both of us DBAH0

Class of 2007 PG Chris Wright of Washington D.C. (former N.C. State verbal) has re-opened up his recruitment following Herb Sendek leaving for Arizona State, and talks about the Illini as one of the teams he is interested in. He is 6'1, 190....and a 5 star prospect in the class of 2007 (#16 ranked player overall). Wright Profile: http://illinois.rivals.com/viewprospect.as...=2&pr_key=38589 Story on Wright (Premium): http://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=533095

These players, keep in mind, are basically the exact same age (born 10 days apart in the same year). Also, both are listed as left fielders: Player A: .279/.374/.380 SLG 89 SB, 25 CS (78%) 303 G 1044 AB Player B: .276/.342/.381 SLG 172 SB 46 CS (79%) 461 G 1753 AB Player A is Ryan Freel and Player B is Scott Podsednik. The only noticeable differences are Pods has had more PT and is a lefty and Freel walks a lot more, is a much better defender, and plays a lot more positions As much as I love Pods....he's a lot like Freel, a really fast utility player. Pods will improve and get his hits as long as he stays healthy, but I think we need to put in perspective just how good Pods actually is.