Gregory Pratt

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jan 13, 2008 -> 02:40 AM) Yeah Patriots defense is definitely not as good what people thought they were. The only problem is the offense is so unstoppable that it doesnt matter. When he was DC in NY, Belichick told his defenders to be a little easier on the Bills and let them rush for over 100 yards in the Super Bowl. "If Thurman Thomas rushes for 100, we win." His players thought it was crazy but they followed. That became the first HOF gameplan (literally, it's in the HOF) Belichick put out. Yesterday the Patriots were running a vanilla defense all in all. Much less aggressive than I thought they could be. They got burnt by some bold play calls a couple of times -- likely calls they didn't think the Jags would be bold enough to call -- and some good play by a good team. But my guess is that the Patriots were keeping their best and most ingenious defensive schemes under wraps for Indianapolis. Besides, New England is the best in the game and always has been at making adjustments game-to-game from analyzing weaknesses to writing a plan more appropriate for the opposing defense, so what we saw yesterday won't be the same against Indy. I don't guarantee anything -- I'm just saying, this is how NE works, and it's not going to change. The Patriots defense isn't as "good" as someone-I-don't-know-but-apparently-there's-someone-saying-the-Patriots-defense-is-really-good says but they are much better than others would give them credit for.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Jan 12, 2008 -> 10:55 PM) Shall I show you a PM to refresh your memory or stand pat Mr. Brokeback? You make it seem like we've got something quite sleazy going on! Fun days.

For the Patriot haters -- it's really entertaining, and on YouTube. Better than Mercury Morris!

"Gerri Ace doesn't ask for permission to caress the penis -- he does it at the barrel of a watergun." Best line I've ever heard!

I have absolutely no clue what you're talking about. Ha ha ha.

I didn't get to watch or listen to the second half -- I'm just glad they won. First half was a lot of fun to watch. Looking forward to next week and everything that comes after. This game is further proof, from what I've seen of the first-half and heard about the second, that NE can win in any way it has to, with whatever the defense gives it. No deep balls? Okay. Run and short throw.

From PatsPulpit, under "ESPN's Tom Jackson: Clueless" I'm watching NFL Countdown on ESPN. They're talking about Tom Brady and his place in history. Tom Jackson said that Brady is a great quarterback, but to be considered among the greatest, he will need to have seven Super Bowl wins. "Then come talk to me," Jackson said. Seven? Why would Brady have to do almost double what any other quarterback has done ever? Sounds like something a Colts fan would say. -- -- Me: But what about this mountain of evidence? -- -- Colts fan: Yeah, but I saw this poll. I remember during the whole "Brady or Bledsoe" 'controversy' there were legions of people, fans and media (including local media), who thought Brady was mostly lucky, a beneficiary of an offensive line that "came together to protect the young kid" and other such nonsense. After New England beat St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI, a caller to WEEI said (and quite mockingly), "Yeah, I'm going to have to see this kid win a couple more of these things before I'm convinced he's a legitimate starter in the NFL." Village idiot Ron Borges didn't buy it until after the third, and maybe not even then. But now, with three Super Bowls, two Super Bowl MVPs, a perfect regular season, a plethora of single-season records, and a regular-season MVP (that's the short list), Tom Jackson still isn't sure. Mr. Jackson, I'm not going to waste my time coming to talk to you now or ever -- especially if Brady wins seven Super Bowls. I thought it was amusing. "They hate their coach!"

Not Randy Johnson?!

QUOTE(MHizzle85 @ Jan 9, 2008 -> 02:18 PM) Top 10 Individual Seasons in Baseball History. Top twenty five list of greatest seasons in sports, listing Ruth's 1921 at 2 (only Chamberlain beats him) which I think is much better an opinion than Mr. Neyer's listing of Bonds (and his assertion that Bonds has displaced Ruth as the game's most devastating hitter).

"Most likely he will improve". No, that isn't most likely until he shows he can hit the fastball -- but that's just my thought on it, and you have the right to make whatever predictions you'd like about our players.

QUOTE(SoxPride56 @ Jan 11, 2008 -> 10:40 AM) Just an FYI, they rank Jerry Owens a better CF then Ichiro... He isn't?!?!?!?!?@!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!

None of that is a lock and in fact I'd bet against all three of those being reached. Optimism is fine but saying we've added forty homerun guys and a thirty homerun guy is not something I'm willing to do.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 9, 2008 -> 05:09 PM) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem Sounds like what you do with Bonds and steroid users.

I'm not stupid or naive -- I know this isn't proof of anything, but it's good to hear, and I'm inclined to believe him.

I give blood every eight weeks, as soon as I can, plus or minus two days. I'm regular about it. One of my great joys is to sit there and make deadpan funniez with the technician.

I think it was in a news story that McNamee's lawyer said Clemens didn't call but I could be mistaken on that point, specifically.

QUOTE(BureauEmployee171 @ Jan 9, 2008 -> 05:13 PM) I don't think the playoffs have really ANY determining factor on the GM. There is clearly an extreme amount of "luck" involved in short 5-7 game series where anything can happen. Look at the Tigers for example, or simply the 2006 Cardinals in general. They were a league average NL team that happened to win it all. Pure circumstance & luck is what gets playoff wins in most cases. Beane has made some extraordinary player personnel decisions and player development decisions - and a lot has to do with himself - and a lot has to do with the fact that he fired 90% of all his scouting system and simply hired on legitimate guys - not his friends to do the work. Extremely intelligent guy in terms of making money for himself (the more he wins & saves at the same time the better for him - as he is part owner of the franchise). No![/b]

I don't know all the details but yes -- McNamee has described him as "dying" and from what I read (though I don't remember perfect) he has some very serious disease.

QUOTE(MHizzle85 @ Jan 9, 2008 -> 02:18 PM) Top 10 Individual Seasons in Baseball History according to the often-incorrect Rob Neyer

By the way -- how's your arm, Matt.

I'm interested.

I submit my take on the conversation/Clemens-McNamee dynamic, Pitching a New Game as published by Baseball Evolution http://baseballevolution.com/guest/gregory/clemensrose.html

Talking about Hawk Dawson Wilbon started to talk about Hawk Harrelson belonging in the HOF and Tony K. laughed at him and Wilbon was obviously being very mocking and then Reali came on at the end to say Hawk ain't ever getting in and that you can't put that one on the board (meaning Hawk). Kind of amusing.

They were mocking Hawk Harrelson on ESPN today, PTI.

Listening to Jewel. Something is wrong with me.