DBAHO

He's probably stuck behind a couple of guys in the M's organization though, I know they have Jose Lopez competing for a starter's spot, and they just signed that young Cuban infielder on a 4 year deal, and they think talent wise, he would have been a 1st round pick in the draft.

What version of Windows Media Player do you have?

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Jan 31, 2005 -> 02:42 AM) The problem was they were posting up all over Ben in the 4th because he had 5 fouls and couldn't afford number 6 with Noc and Kirk already out. Another thing is the refs were blowing their damn whistles everytime someone was touched, that kinda makes it hard for the Bulls to play their D. You can't breathe on Paul Pierce or else it's a foul, and as Nocioni learned...don't get thrown to the ground by PP either, it'll be a foul on you. In the whole scheme of things the Bulls only lost 3 games in January, and I'm DAMN please with that. That's the thing with the NBA now. They really want to make the game more exciting, so they want more points scored etc., so they've really cut down on any contact, you can't hardly touch a player with the ball now which i think is BS, but that's just my opinion. Basketball to me was at its best, when you had the Knicks and Pacers or Heat games back in the 90's, with all the contact and elbows flying around, you knew you'd play a game of basketball after you'd been in a game like that. I think the new rules have cut down on rivalries between teams as well, but hell that's another thought for another time. In past playoff years, it usually seems the team with the best defence and low post scoring, e.g Los Angeles and San Antonio, seem to win most of the championships. But with the new rules, teams like Seattle and Phoenix, who run the fast breaks and shoot lots of 3's, are having major success and it's showing in the standings. New Jersey have shown with Kidd and Martin in the past 2 seasons, that you can make the NBA Final running a fast break offense, and other teams like Orlando are using that offense. Whether or not they'll run out of legs when the playoffs roll around, we'll just have to wait and see. But if the Bulls can contiue playing great defense, it'll certainly help in the playoffs, IF they make it.

Look I can't speak for Boston, but the only games that I've seen of them (I usually follow games involving the Magic and Bulls on CBS Sportsline), they've been pretty impressive. When Payton and Pierce play well together, they've got one of the best backcourts going around. I know that Mark Blount is on the trading block, and they've been dissapointed in his play after he signed that big contract, but Al Jefferson is getting better with each game, and he'll end up being a fine player. Not as good as Dwight Howard, but I think he could easily be an all - star one day. Nobody knows whats going to happen with them though. It's just like the Bulls when we were all wondering whether or not they were going to win 10 games a few months ago, let alone making the playoffs. Doc Rivers is obviously still trying to find the best rotations etc. for his team. I was a fan of Doc while he was coaching Orlando, but he does have some flaws. He's a great motivator, but he comes on very strong, and some players won't tolerate that in the long - run (George Karl and Carmelo Anthony = George Karl and Ray Allen Version 2.0), and he's not a real X's and O's type of coach. But there's different types of coaches in this league who have suceeded. To me though this loss for Chicago I think was a bit of a warning sign. They've been so great on defense for the past month, but know I think opposing teams are starting to find a way to score on them a little more on a regular basis. Teams are always going to try and post up Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich, especially in the playoffs any chance they can, not only to score, but to create things on the offensive end.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Jan 31, 2005 -> 02:07 AM) I never implied otherwise. But he's going off with suck it and s*** as if Boston pwns the Bulls, and that Bulls fans are back down to Earth. I was merely pointing out we are still ahead. It's only 1 game, hell if there was a Wizards fan on the boards, I'd be going on about how Orlando ownes them. Didn't Chicago beat Boston twice already this season in previous meetings before, or am I just wrong on that.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Jan 31, 2005 -> 02:01 AM) Apparently he missed the part where you pointed out we don't match up well with them. Funny thing is, we're still 2 games up. We're still in January. I'd actually give the Celtics a good chance to have a superior record than the Bulls by the end of the season, depending on injuries and moves etc., but I think the 2 teams are very similar talent wise.

Here's a good article and a timeline of everything that's happened today with the elections in Iraq so far; http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12097394-2,00.html

I've been thinking a little about this well since the Sosa news over the past few days. There's a couple of reasons for and against a deal happening, and I think it's far more likely a deal won't happen. If the Sox wanted to make Gload an everyday player, they probably would have traded Konerko instead of Lee if they could have, but it was more likely Lee was always going to generate a greater return on the trade market. I think it's far more likely that the Cubs would swing a deal with the Twinkies for Jackass Jones, although Minny may not want to do this, considering they have Kubel and Restrovich already injured, and we know Shannon Stewart missed a lot of time last season. A lot of people around here have also been interested in picking up Farnsworth, but I can't see much of a fit here either, unless he was traded for another bullpen guy like Cliff Politte. If the Sox and Cubs do make a trade, which I doubt will happen, the Sox should go after some of the Cubs' prospects, and that will help KW swing some moves mid - season, if we need one to help put us over the top in the division. I think KW wants to keep Everett around for the majority of 2005 regardless if he's not going to play for the last few months of the season. If he has a real good start to the season, which he has done before with the Rangers 2 seasons ago, which made KW trade for him in the 1st place, it'll be very hard to take him out of the lineup, and the Sox will keep giving him AB's somehow. There's some options there, if Pod's shows he can't handle leading off, move Iguchi or Willie up to leadoff, and put Everett in at LF, if he's healthy and fit enough to field. If he has a good season, it'll give the Sox some options come the off - season, when they have to make a choice at resigning Konerko, Thomas and Everett, 3 big bats when they are in form.

Thought this was interesting, anyone suprised that B-Mac wouldn't make the top 10? Most names are easily recognisable though; (I've put in stats for those some may not have heard of before) 1. Felix Hernandez, rhp, Mariners 2. Scott Kazmir, lhp, Devil Rays 3. Adam Miller, rhp, Indians - Low A, 7-4, 3.36 ERA, 106 K's, 28 BB's. High A, 3-2, 2.08 ERA, 46 K's, 12 BB's. 4. Chad Billingsley, rhp, Dodgers - A, 7-4, 2.35 ERA, 111 K's, 49 BB's. AA - 4-0, 2.98 ERA, 47 K's, 22 BB's. 5. Matt Cain, rhp, Giants 6. Jeff Niemann, rhp, Devil Rays 7. Edwin Jackson, rhp, Dodgers 8. Jeff Francis, lhp, Rockies 9. Dan Meyer, lhp, Athletics 10. Mike Hinckley, lhp, Nationals - A, 6-2, 2.61 ERA, 51 K's, 18 BB's. AA - 5-2, 2.87 ERA, 80 K's, 23 BB's.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2004 @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 08:20 PM) Please Burnitz, go to the Slubs. He could put up Met like numbers for the Flubs. You'll know they'll that.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 07:57 PM) Yes, because the magic are so much better than the bulls. When they're healthy, yes I do believe that's the case, although I know a lot of people are going to dispute that. If you look at some of the Bulls' stats, they really struggle against good scoring teams, despite how good their defense may be (3-8 vs. top 10 scoring teams), and against teams that hardly turn the ball over (4-9 vs. top 10 least turnover prone teams). And the Bulls have had a very good run with injuries so far this season, unlike previous years. If someone like Hinrich went down, they'd be in big trouble.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 04:52 PM) All i want is the sixth seed. I don't care how many wins it is. I don't think the Bulls are going to get it, especially if they struggle when they play all those road games. I'm thinking it's a battle between Washington and Orlando for that 6th spot.

No Ricky Williams?

Magg's power numbers will definitely decrease, but I wouldn't be suprised if his average stayed the same and increase just a little. Detroit's a team that doesn't have the good young potential players in the minors like a Cleveland, so they can't stand still and do nothing if they want to improve. They wanted Steve Finley originally, but missed out on him, and they might just release Bobby Higginson, if they sign Maggs, and leave Craig Monroe as the 4th OF.

Small tidbit in one of Phil Rogers pieces;

2 teams don't line up good against the Celtics. Orlando (who are their personal b****es) and Chicago.

IIRC, 2005 will be 2 seasons after Grilli had major arm surgery, and he'll be able to pitch up to 96 MPH on his fastball. Pitchers in the past have had success coming back at this period, like Jon Lieber for example.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 12:39 PM) This should be entertaining, someone tell me why a foreign country is being judged by whether or not they carry Fox News? Y'all are joking right? Are they also in trouble if they don't carry the Food Network and MTV? I have Fox News on Cable. Does that make my country #1 or something?

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Jan 29, 2005 -> 03:57 PM) Scott f***ing Padgett. Did he get bitten by Me-Mac's dog?

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 04:10 AM) Hankins Signs With Yankees Personally I think this is a loss because I like Hankins. He will be a good bench player in the majors. I'd agree with that too, his versatility will come in handy, but he needs to show he can hit in the majors.

Now somebody replace SoxnBears' head with Jay Mariotti's.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 11:39 AM) The Mets are the only club in baseball that cares more about the headlines than the W column -- We've seen how that's worked out for them. The Mets trying to outshine the Yankees before the launch of the Mets Network in 2006. Fred Wilpon would have to be one of the worst owners in baseball, as he basically made his GM Duquette do the Zambrano for Kazmir deal.

So basically Thomas is almost a lock to be back next season, as he'll probably pick up his $10 million option, as he won't get that figure from another team, unless he has a really good season, which won't happen considering he might not be back until June. Otherwise the Sox can pick up the team option, or buy him out, and let Gload into the lineup everyday, or resign Jurassic Carl to be the DH.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jan 30, 2005 -> 02:09 PM) Leaving OPS out of the equation (because doesn't OPS consider extra base hits as well as OBP & AVG...?), wouldn't you rather have the guy who has a .250 AVG/.360 OBP over the guy with the .285 AVG/.330 OBP? I know who I'd take (again -- leaving OPS out of the equation)... That would be like arguing based on last season's numbers Willie Harris vs. Alex Cora. I'm going with the higher OBP over the higher batting average every single time.

FWIW here are Hairtson's splits against lefties last season. .316/.376/.388