DBAHO

Yeah. Cadel Evans should be the favorite right now. Finished 2nd last year, and he's 2nd at the moment. Got a fantastic chance of being the first Aussie to win.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 9, 2008 -> 08:05 PM) And if that was the case, I'd tell him to go f*** himself sideways with a large lunchbox. It sort of begs the question though, if we could have gotten Street for the package we gave up for Swisher, who would you prefer? And who do you think is the better ballplayer (considering age / contract here as well)?

Yeah some athletes aren't even going just because of the pollution. It was terrible over there when I was there, and I can't imagine it being that much better now.

Cleveland could maybe offer Szcerbiak (big expiring contract), Vareajao and Daniel Gibson plus a few draft picks for Baron Davis. But yeah, I think Baron's stuck in LA at this point. They're going to go after Josh Smith or Emeka Okafor (who'd be perfect next to Chris Kaman at PF) at this point. They may offer Okafor something like a $70M deal for 5 years actually.

Gees Quick, you were certainly right there. Nothing more than a long man for a few days. Is Wasserman to be the next Jeff Bajenaru now though? He needs another opportunity before the end of the season I think, or his status for the future with this organization maybe in doubt a little.

Konerko's a bonafide 2nd half hitter, and hopefully he's healthy for the 1st time in a couple of months. For that reason, I don't expect any move to be made there. If anything, something may get done in the off-season if he doesn't turn it around, but we'll see.

QUOTE (SleepyWhiteSox @ Jul 9, 2008 -> 02:58 PM) They're about where they should be, as they are with just about every other pro athlete. At his age and skill level he was going to be looking for the bigger role, much more guaranteed money, and longer contract rather than limiting himself to coming off the bench for the chance at a championship for much, much less money. Anyways, anybody know why Rose is out? Maggette would have started for the Spurs, and Ginobili off the bench in his 6th man role. Finlay's just about done. That's why I was a little surprised. Sure his numbers are going to be good, but shouldn't the goal of every athlete be to win a championship? That ain't gonna happen with the Warriors. But for every one of those, there's a Larry Hughes I guess, which shows how selfish some of these guys are. And Brian, I don't know how the Cavs are a top 2 team at this point. They've added no-one yet, Ilgauskas and Wallace are another year older, and LeBron still needs help. 45 win team at best at this stage.

If you look at how a guy like Sweeney has had success for the A's this season though, Murton could be the perfect "prototype" OF, that Billy Beane has been acquiring recently. He'll need to produce from the get go though, because Carlos Gonzalez should be ready next season.

Yeah I don't know what you were thinkin when you put John up there PA.

Oakland didn't get any stars out of the deal, but still, it was a good time to trade Harden. His value has never been as high as it is now, and you can't rely on him, he's just too injury prone. Gallagher will put up decent numbers pitching in Oakland, Murton will be a good OF for them if he gets the playing time, and Patterson could replace Ellis after the season (who I believe is a FA, IIRC).

QUOTE (jackie hayes @ Jul 9, 2008 -> 11:07 AM) Pietrus is no Maggette, but he's still a very solid value for the MLE. No question it's a good deal for the Magic. Well Otis Smith has hit on the MLE before with Hedo Turkoglu who has been a bargain there, and Pietrus is basically at the same stage of his career as where Hedo was when he left Sacramento. If SVG can motivate him (because he had issues with his old coach Don Nelson (but then again who doesn't)), then yeah this signing could really pay off. If we could somehow re-sign Dooling (think we have his Bird rights so we may go over the cap, but we should because we need to get deeper), and trade Redick and a future pick for a big, then I think this team is capable of top 2 in the East next season. The problem is though, Hedo's contract is up after the end of the upcoming season, and he's going to want around $10M a season. Don't know if we can do that (why do we have to pay Lewis $18M a season).

I also think right now Beasley is the "better player / prospect" but because of attitude problems, Chicago's need for a floor general and with Rose being a local, they were never going to pick Beasley. JMHO though.

He'd want a package around Josh Fields, Aaron Poreda and Lance Broadway for Street I would imagine, maybe more.

QUOTE (jackie hayes @ Jul 9, 2008 -> 05:11 AM) Maggette's going to GS for more than the MLE, so he probably wasn't an option. Showed where his priorities were when he took that offer over San Antonio's or Boston's. So all in all, I like the Pietrus signing now, even though it means Keyon Dooling is probably headed back to Miami.

I got caught in a rip myself surfing about 6 months back. You think it's hard to swim, let alone trying to paddle on a big board against something like that. The key is to move on an angle or go parallel to shore as Jason said, and not battle right against the rip. Somehow I caught a wave, and proceeded to lay flat on my back on the beach from pure exhaustion for a good 5-10 mins.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 06:02 PM) I'm an other. You're not Jacob I hope then. I'm an "other" also.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 08:37 PM) Since I guess this is the NBA thread now, Elton Brand will apparently sign with the 76ers. ESPN story That's a VERY interesting team once it becomes official and they extend Iguodala (though no assumptions yet since we said the same thing about the Clippers after they signed Davis). Yeah that team's going to be good next season, top 6, and the East has gotten a lot deeper already this off-season. Magic signed Mickael Pietrus as well for the MLE. Interesting signing, that we'd go for him over Maggette, because he's a better defender and 3 point shooter (which is what we need from the SG spot). It'll be nice if we actually have someone to guard Rip Hamilton come playoff time.

QUOTE (Pants Rowland @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 03:39 PM) So start the negotiations at Uribe for Kemp, going to Uribe and Anderson for Kemp, followed by OC for Kemp and a mid level prospect? I am not totally opposed to this idea but am curious how Kemp has looked all season. He seemed decent against the Sox and his overall numbers (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28476) are decent but 92 SO (26BB) seems high. I do not know if his .338 OBP is good enough to lead off, however. How does his defense compare to Swish or BA? Also, how do you get Thome/Konerko/Dye enough at bats with Swisher alternating between RF and 1B? Don't forget that Kemp plays half his games in one of the worst hitters parks in baseball. You've seen the impact hitting at the Cell has had on a guy like Quentin, Kemp could be that type of dominant hitter as well I'm thinking. Defensively I think he's got a little more range than Swisher (who actually has done an underrated job in CF this season) so he could probably handle CF, although long - term he probably projects to be a corner OF guy.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 12:12 PM) That would be an absolutely horrid deal for the Dodgers. Oh man, I can't even fathom how bad of a move that would be. Heck, if they are considering Kemp for Wilson, lets find a way to sweeten the pot for the Dodgers. I would send them over a lot more than just Uribe to get Kemp. I'd offer Uribe and Fields (plus maybe another prospect) to try and nab Kemp. To have a future OF of Quentin, Kemp and Swisher, that would look pretty damn good right there. Of course, that would be dependent on you re-signing Crede (if Coletti is going for it now, maybe offer Crede instead)?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 08:17 AM) I think Zito and in a smaller way, Santana, will make it nearly impossible for CC to get 7 or 8 years. I've go no doubt though, if the Yankees miss the playoffs, Hank Steinbrenner will do what he can (hence overpay) to make sure that doesn't happen again next season. That's my guess where'll he end up anyways, after they decided to keep their young SP's.

I have a feeling it might be Matt Gamel (the PTBNL), and the Indians may try to turn him into a DH down the line (because his defense at 3rd is pretty bad). Otherwise someone who they drafted last season (who's rated pretty highly). But overall, I like this move from the Brewers. Sheets and Sabathia won't be back obviously, but they'll get 4 high draft picks for them, and overall their drafting has been as good as anyone's over the past 3-5 years. And they have quite a few SP's to say the least. How nice is it though to not be facing Santana or Sabathia anymore? Because those 2 lefties have usually dominated us, and now our lineup doesn't have to face them 3-5 times a season at least. And I think the Brewers will probably move Hardy down the line for prospects, because they have Escobar to take over soon.

I think so. The guy's just a freak. Doing some medley's and all of the relays. He'll be fun to watch to see how many golds he gets anyways.

Unless he swims in 20 different events. Although he probably could if he was allowed.

That really should be an olympic sport. But no, definitely at swimming. You got Phelps and no-one.

Mike Smith for Khabibulin would be a steal. Get it done DT!!!