cabiness42

It amazes me how much people will cherry pick stats to support "their guy" over "not their guy". Viciedo strikes out 118 times, walks 78 fewer times than Dunn, with a 39 point lower OBP and a 43 point lower SLG, and people want to ship Dunn out the first chance they get but will scream bloody murder if the Sox try to get good talent in return for Viciedo. And even with all those strikeouts Viciedo had, he still made enough contact to be second on the team in GIDP. If you're going to have an irrational hatred of strikeouts, then at least hate them for everybody and not just one guy.

Let Wise pitch.

They must be on quite a hot streak, as it was negative for most of the season.

The prosecution had leverage over him in being threatened to having to register as a sex offender.

Nats and Reds are my two favorite NL teams. Not sure who I'm rooting for if they meet up. I guess maybe the Nats since DC has never won one before, but then if the Reds win it would be the first time I have been "local" to a WS winner.

So if the Sox win today and tomorrow, does that mean you have to do the Opening Day thread?

Well, errors are a subjective stat and don't speak at all to a player's range, but in this case I think the stats are correct in pegging Beckham as having an excellent year defensively.

As much as I would like to see history, I can't root for a jerk like Cabrera to succeed at anything.

This. I get that when you figure in defense, Trout has been a more valuable player statistically, but a triple crown winner on a division-winning team gets my MVP vote. Otherwise, you might as well just let the computer pick the winner every year.

Teams don't get to make their own schedules, other than being able to list a few weekends when their stadium would be unavailable for a home game.

Transactions: Decline option on Myers Exercise option on Youkilis Decline option on Peavy but re-sign Exercise option on Floyd but trade Re-sign AJ, Wise, Heath Do not re-sign Hudson, Liriano, Lopez, Bruney, Johnson, Olmedo Option to Minors: Morel, Giminez, Marinez, Danks, Omogrosso, Septimo Sign Mike Fontenot to back up 2B/3B and possibly platoon with Beckham if he struggles and Fontenot does well. Sign Lillibridge if Cleveland doesn't keep him, otherwise, find some other utility player or at last resort re-sign Olmedo. Lineup: DH - Dunn C - AJ 1B - Konerko 2B - Beckham SS - Ramirez 3B - Youkilis CF - De Aza LF/RF - (see below) Bench: Flowers, Wise, Lillibridge, Fontenot Starting pitchers: Sale, Peavy, Danks, Santiago, Quintana/Axelrod/Humber Bullpen: Reed, Thornton, Crain, Jones, Veal, Heath, Axelrod/Humber Now, for LF/RF. Viciedo and Rios are fine players in their own right, but this team needs some OBP, so between the two of them and Gavin Floyd, I'm trying to trade them for some corner outfielders that can get on base. As I noted in the OBP thread, this team can't win with a bottom half of the order of Rios/AJ/Viciedo/Ramirez/Beckham, and the corner OF is the best chance of finding more OBP for the lineup. I'm not saying to just give Viciedo or Rios away for nothing, but if there is a guy out there via free agency or trade that can bring a .350 OBP with at least a little bit of pop, the trigger has to be pulled.

That 2007 team was tied for first on April 24 and then completely choked it away in the final 143 games.

Chris Sale, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Jose Quintana, and Hector Santiago are under contract. Re-signing Jake Peavy seems possible. It's not impossible that Phillip Humber and/or Dylan Axelrod will turn things around. Starting pitching is the least of the problems.

There aren't bigger problems to address. After Youkilis was added, Beckham was farther below average for his position than anybody else on the team. There are easier problems to address, since there is a lack of available 2B talent out there.

Scores of the 2011-12 games started by Cutler: 34-18 23-06 10-23 41-21 31-20 37-13 30-24 24-18 39-10 13-24 34-29 17-27 13-30 30-12 Average points scored: 26.9 Average points allowed: 19.6 Home record: 7-1 Road record: 3-3 Is this a perfect team? No. How many teams would I rank above the Bears right now? Maybe 6: Houston, Atlanta, New England, San Francisco, Green Bay, Arizona, and those last few are iffy. This is an awfully good team.

Since the alternative was cited as "Seek a replacement" and not "Replace him", I went with that option. The Sox at least have to make some calls and see what's available. There is pitching depth that can be traded, especially if Peavy is re-signed.

Last time two teams in the same league lost 100 games was 2006, but they did not meet each other after hitting 100 losses. Last time before that was 2002, and KC got their 97th loss against a Detroit team already over 100, so close but no cigar there. Will check further back later if I have time. Edit: Not very many instances of even having 2 teams in the same league losing 100+. These years all had 2 teams but they didn't play each other after both had lost 100: 1993 San Diego and NY Mets 1985 Pittsburgh and San Francisco 1979 Toronto and Oakland 1978 Toronto and Seattle 1969 San Diego and Montreal 1965 Kansas City and Boston 1964 Kansas City and Washington Finally found a winner: 1962 Cubs and Mets ended the season with a series after both teams were over 100 losses. Guess I should have known the Cubs would be involved.

Jose Quintna Hector Santiago Addison Reed Donnie Veal Nate Jones Alejandro De Aza Dayan Viciedo Adam Dunn Alex Rios Oh, and not having Joe Cowley around the team.

I don't know if bias was the right word. Look at the graph on the prediction thread. We were pretty accurate as a group.

I guess I'm rooting for a split in the last two games.

You can probably add AJ and Youkilis to that list. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Peavy and/or Floyd pulled from their starts.

That's what she said.

Still trying to figure out why the Cowboys would blitz so much when the Bears O-Line is regularly allowing pressure against the 4-man rush. They tried to confuse guys who were already confused and it seemed to make them play better.

Thursday is reserved for potential 1-game playoffs between Yankees-Baltimore and/or Saint Louis-Dodgers, should either or both be necessary. They will be Friday on TBS, and I would say that 5 and 8:30 ET are good guesses for when they will start. Atlanta is hosting what is very likely Saint Louis in the NL game. Texas, Oakland, Yankees, and Baltimore are all still options for the AL game. The DS in each league that does not involve the WC winner start on Saturday. The DS in each league that do involve the WC winner start on Sunday.

Just from hearing what has been said by them and about them, I get the sense that Jake is open to making some kind of deal, but Youk will only be back if the Sox pick up his option.