DBAHO

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 11:51 AM) Yeah, and they also had Kobe (and Shaq also had Wade when he won in Miami)... so Orlando's going to have to strike gold on another star (and that is not Rashard Lewis) in order to have a shot to win it all. I like Dwight as much as anyone, but he won't be the reason the Magic win a championship, he'll be a f***ing amazing complement to the star that does lead them there, but anyone who is rendered useless in the final minutes of a close game isn't someone you can bank on. Hence why Hedo became such a clutch player for us last season. I still think we can make the conference finals, but we'll wait and see. I'd love to have Battie's contract off the books so we can get a deeper bench also.

Rove's already basically called it for Obama on his web-site;

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 11:50 AM) Do we know that Citifield is set up as a pitcher's park? I'd assume it would have similar sort of dimensions at what Shea did, but I could be wrong on that.

QUOTE (CWSOX45 @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 11:21 AM) You are correct. As long as the Mets agree to eat that 23 million dollar salary. Then I'd have no problem making him the main piece of this deal. If not than I want something else. Javy has a lot of value to the Mets because he can eat innings. Believe it or not, they'd be better of having Javy go 7-8 innings a game than handing the ball to someone in that bullpen. Oh yeah that bullpen was just terrible for them this season. A guy who can eat innings as Vaz can, definitely has some value to them. And he should put up better numbers in the NL and in a pitchers park.

QUOTE (CWSOX45 @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 10:51 AM) I've seen Murphy play in person. (Several times actually.) He's got a real nice short swing, and is a much more contact oriented player. He's not going to hit a ton of balls out of the park, but 20 HR's is def. in reach. I'd really be concerned about Murphy's defensive abilities at third base. From what I saw of him he looked like he may have some trouble with his footwork on hard hit ground balls. He's also not very mobile.... I think he can be worked with though and could at some point be an average defensive player. The thing I like about Danny is that he seems to be real clutch in RBI situations. It didn't seem to phase him playing either at the Minor or Major League level. The guy is a flat out ball player. The Mets are real high on him though. If Kenny were to acquire him as a throw in, I'd be ecstatic. I'd almost take him as the main piece in a trade with the Mets to be honest (they'd have to throw in some pitching prospects also). To have a guy who could hit .300 under your control for 5 seasons would be extremely valuable, especially when he could potentially play in a big need position for the Sox (2B/3B). But the Sox would have to go into FA and sign a replacement for Vazquez. I'd look at one of the Japanese pitchers, as the likes of Lowe and Sheets are probably going to get too rich for KW's liking.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 10:33 AM) That's a moot point, he's consistently proven that he cannot hit his free throws. If he can get to around 60%, that's ok enough. It's the TO's that he needs to cut down on. The Lakers won 3 championships with Shaq only hitting 55% of his FT's, so it can be done.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 09:33 PM) Palin shouldn't be the reason you don't vote for McCain. But that's up to you. Unfortunately, I think today a fair few people are going to do exactly the opposite, and it'll end up costing him when it's all said and done.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 10:13 AM) I'm starting to like this Daniel Murphy. I saw him quite a bit this season. He's not a big power hitter, but he looked like the type of hitter who could definitely hit .300 in the majors, he's got a pretty nice swing. I think the Mets are going to try and trade Castillo and move him (Murphy) to 2nd base, but if you could pry him loose for Vaz, he's exactly the type of young hitter the Sox should be targeting IMHO.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 09:59 AM) Castillo is so scary...just say no Kenny! FWIW, here's a report on Murphy from August;

Adrian Beltre or Brian Roberts.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 11:44 PM) Unlike the last couple years, I'm not sure there's anything I really want from the Mets right now. Daniel Murphy and one of their top prospects could be a possible option. I don't want Luis Castillo though.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 10:42 PM) Maybe because I can think of 10-11 teams in the west and 4-5 teams in the east better than Orlando. Boston's on top in the East. I'd put us on the same level as the Pistons, Cavs and 76ers as the next tier. I don't see how we'd be worse than last season either. We have Battie back from a major injury, we signed Pietrus to be our new starting SG, so there's 2 instant upgrades from last season (alebit we lost Dooling who I would have liked to have back).

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 09:33 PM) Orlando looks a lot more suspect than I would have expected. They shoot just as many jumpers as the Bulls, the only real difference is they have Dwight. They really need to add a solid guard (preferrably a point), but unfortunately for them they out-bid everyone else by about $30 mil for Lewis. I'd still like to upgrade at PG over Nelson, but I think Pietrus once he learns the system will be the shutdown SG we need who can knock down the 3 from the corner. Hedo needs to get it going though big-time.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 08:36 PM) Orlando and Chicago are both nothing more than average, so it applies to both teams. Considering we made the conference semi finals last season, don't know why we'd be nothing more than average?

QUOTE (rangercal @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 08:00 PM) Good to see the Bulls climb back in this one. If you want to make the playoffs you have to beat the average teams. We should win easily then.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 07:19 PM) How many times do you think Stan Van Gundy has gotten laid because he pretended to be Ron Jeremy? Quite a bit I'd say. Dwight should have a 30-20 game tonight.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 03:56 PM) Did a new episode air last night? No comments today is a bit surprising. Yeah it did. Was bit a of a "meh" episode I thought. Didn't like the Ari Gold storyline, and there was basically no mention about the studio job except for the Watch. Vince just seems to be going through the motions etc. Hopefully it's building up to something, but last night was definitely one of the weakest, if not, the weakest of the season so far.

So to lighten up the mood a little, Obama Girl is performing in NYC tomorrow night. Would be an interesting event to go to on Election Night I would imagine.

I'd argue he probably has more job security with the White Sox then he's had at any point of his time as our hitting coach. Why? Carlos Quentin would be the main one. Thome had another 30HR season. Dye had another consistente season. Konerko got it figured out. Alexei's emergence with the bat. OC had a decent, consistent season etc. The only negatives were really Swisher's inability to hit for a good BA. Walker even got Uribe to hit decently when he filled in at the end of the season.

I wonder if they may be targeting Arbuckle (I doubt it, but still you never know);

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 01:32 PM) Well it would be about 34 million coming off the books. It is indeed the last hurrah for the Pistons. They're going to have money to go after presumably Carlos Boozer this year and then be a player for a major FA in 2010, though I don't see them landing one that year. Yep, they'll have the cap space which is why I think it's a pretty good trade for Detroit, albeit a risky one. All I can say is, I'm happy that Orlando may not have to face Chauncey Billups in the post-season again. He always abused Nelson. But I think this trade makes Denver better as well, and it's one that they had to make.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 01:47 PM) What Kerry Collins are you talking about? http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CollKe00.htm The last year he got any play, 2006, he threw 1 TD and 6 INTs 2005 20 TD, 12 INT 2004 21 TD, 20 INT 2003 13 TD, 16 INT 2002 19 TD, 14 INT And his career is all along those lines. Collins definitely turns the ball over. He has 3 picks to 3 TDs this year. Now, he is managing the ball effectively for the Titans, and he is able to rely on an amazing defense. But if you stick him on a team with a less effective defense, I dont think he seems like such a great game manager. Well I mean with what he's done this season obviously. Seems as if he has matured quite a bit from his days with the Giants you could argue (although he did get them to a Superbowl as well). That's all the Bears should ask Rex to do, manage the game. Unfortunately, their defense isn't as good as it was, and Rex may be forced to take some chances down the road.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 12:14 PM) Yup, I just saw this as well. Great trade for the Pistons, who honestly now can be considered a real contender again. I hope this means Rip shifts to SF, and Stuckey starts at PG, rather than AI playing the point. Do they go small and move Prince to PF in that scenario though? There's word that McDyees may not even report to the Nugs and will just get waived or bought out. He's exactly the type of backup PF/C the Magic need, but my guess would be he'd just go back to Detroit.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 12:16 PM) Exactly. Plus, at this point, with Vince Young doing what he did, I'd say Collins cannot be considered a "backup" right now. Young is the backup, and on this team, I'll take Grossman over him. Cassel has a Pro Bowl offense around him. Rex would be really good on that team. There's no way I'd take Grossman over Young, even if Young hasn't really shown the capabilities to be a guy who can pass the ball consistently, he can still open things up with his legs.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 3, 2008 -> 12:11 PM) It's interesting the examples you pick, because you could certainly make the argument that Collins and Cassel aren't sucking because the teams around them are so good. Hell, with Cassell, it's hard not to think that about a guy who hadn't started since high school. I'm left wondering if Grossman couldn't be a pro-bowler in those slots. Leinart, on the other hand, can't get around Warner, who isn't exactly a spring chicken. Collins is a guy though who knows his role and doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't turn the ball over, and you can't exactly say that about a Grossman for example. Cassel doesn't have much of a running game, but I'll agree he's got a pretty damn good supporting cast. Warner's argubly been a top 5 QB in the league this season, for Whiesenhunt is going to ride the hot hand there.