whitesoxfan99

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:33 PM) I don't think they can get much worse. But even if we assume you are right, it's possible that 9 of the 11 teams in the league could improve. Even a person such as myself who generally snipes on the Big 10 (and usually deservedly so) can admit the league is pretty good this year. They can't get much worse, but it is hard to image that a team that brings in no impact freshmen and loses by far its best player and 2 of its 3 best players (who were also their two primary ballhandlers) as well as their top interior player in Cyrus Tate can get better. IU will be better but they will still struggle a lot but I think they will get a team or two at their place. PSU will be really bad but Taylor Battle likely gets them an upset or two by himself. IMO the Big 10 is the best basketball conference this year but they have to prove it by knocking off the ACC in the ACC/Big 10 challenge and by winning their big non conference games. I hope they can do that.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:12 PM) The Big 10 actually has the potential to be a very good league this season. I think Illinois is more likely to win the league or come very close in 2010-2011 though. I think MSU and Purdue will be fighting for the league crown this year, with Illinois, Ohio State, and perhaps Minnesota all fighting for 3rd. Combine that with Northwestern, Michigan, and Wisconsin all being pretty solid, and the league in my opinion has 8 teams who are definitely good enough to make the field of 65. Although we all know it'll probably be more like 6 teams making it since the league teams will beat each other up and the games will be too poorly officiated and low scoring for national perception to allow 7 or 8 teams in. In addition to those problems, it's feasible that even among the bottom 3, Iowa and Indiana will improve (Penn State is the only Big 10 team I am confident will be worse this season than they were a year ago) so you might see some upsets which hurt bubble teams chances. Iowa is going to be horrible, and I really can't see them improving. They were awful last year, didn't bring in a good recruiting class, and lost two of their three best players. Not to mention that they lost 5 of their top 8 scorers.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 10:51 PM) Well, for one thing, he was benched for Dewayne Wise. I would have been a little pissed too, if I were him. Even still, the amount of s*** the guy gets goes waaaayy beyond his performance on the field last year. People generally hate this guy. I don't actually hate him, I've just been commenting on his play in this postseason which has been embarrassingly bad.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 10:44 PM) I am not privy to everything that Swish does in his private life, nor what occurred in our clubhouse last season, but wow, I'm not sure I have ever seen a guy go from generally liked to completely reviled so quickly (and without anyone really knowing what he even did in the first place). I don't care about his personality but he was absolutely terrible for the Sox last year and then b****ed about being benched when the Sox were in a pennant chase. It has also been hilarious watching him try to hit with RISP this postseason.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 10:35 PM) Ah, yes. Nick Swisher everyone. Once it got to 3-2 Fuentes is probably just thinking, this guy really sucks so if I get over a BP fastball Swisher won't do anything with it so just throw a strike.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 10:33 PM) Gotta give the halos credit, I figured they'd fold when the Yankees took the lead. Good fight. Agreed. I thought the game was over of course I also thought Girardi would got straight to his pen and maybe even give Rivera 2 innings to close that game out. I still will never understand that pitch that Hughes threw to Guerrero in the 7th. Also, can you even play Swisher anymore if you are the Yankees? He is basically single handedly costing you the series by screwing up constantly with runners in scoring position.

Nick Swisher really sucks at baseball.

Wow that was really close.

Holy s*** Swisher with a chance to be the hero.

And the tying run at 2nd base now for Robinson Cano. Walk him and make Swisher beat you?

Angels not giving ARod a chance to beat them.

That was a huge run that the Angels left at 3rd base.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 09:47 PM) Hughes just refused to listen to Posada. Tried to get too cute and should have definitely gone with the breaking ball again. Hughes definitely shook him off there a couple of times but if your Posada go out there and tell him to throw the breaking ball in the dirt. There is absolutely no reason to ever throw Guerrero a fastball anywhere near the zone in that situation and that is twice the Yankees have done that in key situations in the series and it has killed them both times.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 09:48 PM) Which is odd because Hughe's curve was supposed to be phenomenal when he was coming up in the minors. He's just another pitcher who fell in love with his fastball. His curve is his best pitch and was clearly his best option tonight. He made Guerrero look really bad when he threw him the curveball.

Angels go back on top. I'm going to say that the pitch selection to Guerrero has to be one of the all time dumbest pitches I have seen. 1-2 count against a guy who swing at crap out of the zone all the time and had looked terrible against Hughes breaking ball and you throw a fastball. I will never get that.

Phil Hughes really struggling tonight and really though out the postseason. If the Yankees advance that could be a possible weakness for them.

Terrible pitch selection there again by the Yankees. I'll say it again when you have Guerrero with two strikes why the f*** are you throwing a fastball on the next pitch. So dumb. But huge inning for the Angels obviously.

Abreu gets a run home on a groundout. Hughes coming in to face Hunter.

First two reach against Burnett and Girardi going to Marte...WTF?

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 09:28 PM) I wouldn't be surprised if the Angels come back in this game. Well they better come back in the next two innings because if it gets to Rivera with the lead...good luck

I'm really surprised Burnett is still in this game.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 09:24 PM) God, i hope the Phillies put up a fight. I think they can. I don't like their bullpen and outside of Lee I really don't like their SP because I can't see any way Pedro and Blanton hold down the Yankee offense but I think they can score and make the series competitive that way.

Complete meltdown by the Angels bullpen. Looks like the Yankees are probably heading to the WS.

Darren Oliver=Fail

Wow, bases clearing double for Tex. Lackey is probably pissed.