Felix

f*** Favre.

QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 01:41 AM) So I should take the experts opinions who routinely pick the winners, don't they? Uh, the reason I brought up the "experts" to begin with was because you said that "most people" saw us as contenders. Naturally, if most people did, then wouldn't the "experts" predict us to finish in playoff contention, rather than in 4th place for the most part? QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 12:58 AM) Going into 05' I am pretty sure a lot of people saw us as contenders to win the division. It's natural, we came in 2nd the previous year and made some good moves in the offseason. QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 01:41 AM) I am not saying I expected us to win the World Series but I saw no reason why we couldnt beat the Twins. Cleveland wasn't ready and were picked to win that division or be close for years. And come on Detroit or KC? So you may be a casual fan to the extent where you need the columnists to make your mind up for you but I like to approach things the way I see them. It's not an uncommon thing. Try it, and you may want to check my history on some of that stuff. I like how you question my fanhood, that seems like a common thing whenever someone realizes that they made a stupid comment. Read what I'm saying, most people that are involved with baseball (therefore what I assumed you meant by most people), didn't think we were going to do s*** in 2005. You saying "I thought we'd compete" just shows what your personal opinion was, and unless you've suddenly started being the person that speaks for the majority of baseball fans, it doesn't represent what "most people" believe. Sorry, but your statement that "a lot of people saw us as contenders to win the division" isn't true at all. QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 01:41 AM) Furthering your ridiculous "experts" nonsense...How many of them picked us to finish 72-90 last season? Actually, Baseball Prospectus predicted that we finished in 4th with a 72-90 record. I don't have the link exactly where they said that (someone much better than I can find it pretty easily probably), but here's a link where they thought we'd end up in fourth. I don't know the relevance of this, but they were dead on last year. (EDIT: Here's the Soxtalk thread about it)

QUOTE(2nd_city_saint787 @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 01:23 AM) isnt pablo rather young??? i never understood why pablo has never been given a chance to be a full time player, what am i missing??? yes i know his D isnt good but who knows maybe he can feed off the good D of OC. you guys dont think he can hit as a full time player cause he can sure as hell hit as a backup,IMO i think the guy can hit period. I would be thrilled to see him at the top of the lineup. Pablo is one of those players that you love to watch because he tries so hard, but that just isn't very good. He hustles, which is nice, but his offensive numbers are incredibly average driven (meaning he doesn't draw many walks), and he has little to no power. He walks so little that he'd rival the embarrassingly bad patience of Juan Uribe in a competition for who can draw the least walks throughout the course of a season. I mean, I like the fact that he hustles and tries his best, but frankly, he's not that good of an offensive player to begin with, and when you consider his defense, he looks even worse as a potential starter.

QUOTE(sox-r-us @ Dec 5, 2007 -> 05:15 PM) Is Rowand better against lefties? He's always hit lefties better than righties, career .862 OPS v lefties compared to .779 against RHP. This trend was repeated last year (.918 to .876) and 2005 (.828 v .704). In '06, he basically just sucked, although his splits were slightly better v lefties (.004 more).

QUOTE(Chombi @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 12:58 AM) Going into 05' I am pretty sure a lot of people saw us as contenders to win the division. It's natural, we came in 2nd the previous year and made some good moves in the offseason. Check your history. I believe we were predicted to be 4th by most of the experts, and only one ESPN expert predicted us to make the playoffs. In fact, and someone with a better memory can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure most of the experts didn't like the fact that we lost Carlos Lee, Magglio Ordonez (who was still a damn good player even if he had injury issues in 04), and Jose Valentin and replaced them with the likes of Scott Podsednik, Juan Uribe, and Jermaine Dye (who was coming off of a couple of bad seasons in a row and a lot of injuries). So really, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

Having Pablo as the every day 2B ensures another losing season. I'll say that much.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:28 PM) you do. but this year they're right. They are right most years too

QUOTE(bigruss22 @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:24 PM) I wouldnt say Wisco sucks , but yes I ahve heard many good things about Minnesota also. MSU has many negatives, but also many positives. They are a great school, ranked I believe around #75 in the nation, and relatively easy to get in for what you get in return, plus is cheap compared to other schools. But they also accept many UMich rejects, and they really are that little brother. Not trying to be negative on it too much, because it offers a great education for kids who may not want to or cant get into UMich but dont/cant go out of state. I must say though that GVSU has really impressed me with their advancement in higher standards for students, its almost to the level of MSU. I think they may be so uncoordinated because it is a huge school, one of the largest in the country I believe I only looked at big schools when I was looking around for colleges, and frankly, the lack of effort during a visit that Michigan State gave was insulting considering I spent a lot of time and effort getting out there for the visit (I'm from NJ, so going to visit MSU isn't exactly a small feat). They built up the day for months, and when we finally got there, it was basically nothing organized at all. They had a opening presentation thing, which was at least somewhat entertaining (meaning I didn't go to sleep), but that was it. Also, during said presentation, all they seemed to be concerned about was bashing Ann Arbor, that really pissed me off. Afterwards, they told us the locations of some buildings depending on what our interest for a degree was, and let us go. They hardly even helped us get to the buildings, and didn't offer a tour. It was pathetic, especially compared to the effort that some of the other schools gave (Minnesota especially, they do a hell of a job with tours here, and do everything short of getting you laid to make sure that you have a good time, and there are only 3k less undergrads according to CollegeBoard). The campus was nice when I walked around before the day started, but that was basically the only positive part of that visit for me. Perhaps the visit was just an aberration, and they're actually good with tours and that sort of thing, but my experience was horrible. Oh, and I say Wisconsin sucks because I'm a student here at Minnesota, and am obligated to. This is despite the fact that both my parents went to Wisconsin, and my brother was born there. They both wear their "Better Dead than Red" t-shirts (x-mas present from last year ) proudly.

Wisconsin sucks, go to Minnesota instead. Oh, and I also think MSU is also pretty bad. I went there for a visit on their big "green and white" day, and it just turned out to be a waste of time. They hardly put any effort at all into it compared to the other schools I visited.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Dec 3, 2007 -> 11:32 PM) Pablo. I'm sure people here will love this argument but he simply brings things to the table off the bench that not many other guys on this team do. Pablo is an important part of this team. Speed, but if he's lost a step because of this injury, he's not bringing that "thing to the table".

Pablo is a sad excuse for a baseball player if he doesn't have his speed, so if thats gone (or decreased), Loretta without a doubt.

A record player, that probably tops my list.

I'm a big fan of this trade. I'm a fan of Carlos Quentin, and there's a reason why he was considered one of the top (50/100) prospects in baseball in 05 and 06.

http://www.minorleaguenews.com/baseball/fe...8/fab50/04.html (from 2006 midseason)

Muffin Man - Frank Zappa

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Nov 28, 2007 -> 02:28 AM) oh wait, they are good at wrestling. Not as good as us

I've watched It's a Wonderful Life just about every year on Christmas Eve, so I'd have to say that.

QUOTE(Jimbo's Drinker @ Nov 22, 2007 -> 10:52 AM) Felix, Self shyed away from Joseph, thus allowing Tubby to swoop in. Trust he would be a jayhawk if we really wanted him...either way go canada I don't know how much I believe you, since Joseph was high on the Gophers for awhile and appears to be a big Tubby fan. Either way, I'm glad to have him committed to the Gophers.. Also: Tubby can't recruit my ass.

Devoe Joseph commits to the Gophers. It's amazing the impact Tubby has had on the recruiting front. The best part: I was definitely a part of that.. we kept strong with "We want Joseph" chants throughout the game, and he kept looking over and smiling at us.

Girl of the North Country - Bob Dylan

QUOTE(greg775 @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 09:44 PM) Glad to hear you believe he's really 33. We don't need another Contreras. Some Sox reporter should do an investigative piece on that one. He appears older than he's listed. Wait, are you really being serious?

Please tell me someone else watches Nip/Tuck here. This really getting ridiculous..

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Nov 20, 2007 -> 09:31 PM) Greg McDermott has apparently never coached against a full court press. Minnesota tried to lose the game at the end but we wouldn't take it. Tollackson owned us, once again, having a field day against the likes of Hubalek and Thompson. McKenzie was fun to watch. Tubby will have that team competing in games that it shouldn't this year. Glad to hear that, because I've been thinking the same about them. I've liked the way the defense has played so far this year, and the offense has done surprisingly well with a variety of lineups.

The game wasn't on here Heads, care to give me a recap? I'm glad the Gophers won, especially after last years debacle.

Thanks for everything in '05 Pods. Damn, it's nice seeing him go.