wolf stansson

The Illini are looking real good *woop* Rivals 16th in the nation, 3rd in the Big 10 behind the big two.

thanks. I'm really afraid one of them is going to grab my guy. It's happened a lot to me, though IMB has been the bigger culprit. Well then by all means just go whenever you want.

I hope Rocket and Tree go really slow now.

Dang it. I'll edit.

1-1) Albert Pujols 1-2) Jose Reyes 1-3) Johan Santana 1-4) Alfonso Soriano 1-5) Alex Rodriguez 1-6) Carlos Beltran 1-7) Ryan Howard 1-8) Miguel Cabrera 1-9) Carl Crawford 1-10) Chase Utley 1-11) Derrek Lee 1-12) Chris Carpenter 2-1) David Wright 2-2) Lance Berkman 2-3) Grady Sizemore 2-4) David Ortiz 2-5) Vladimir Guerrero 2-6) Manny Ramirez 2-7) Mark Teixeira 2-8) Travis Hafner 2-9) Derek Jeter 2-10) Carlos Lee 2-11) Matt Holliday 2-12) Carlos Zambrano 3-1) Jake Peavy 3-2) Aramis Ramirez 3-3) Justin Morneau 3-4) Joe Mauer 3-5) Paul Konerko 3-6) Miguel Tejada 3-7) Jason Bay 3-8) Hanley Ramirez 3-9) Jimmy Rollins 3-10) Roy Halladay 3-11) Brandon Webb 3-12) Dan Haren 4-1) Garrett Atkins 4-2) Ichiro 4-3) Vernon Wells 4-4) Brian McCann 4-5) Roy Oswalt 4-6) Felix Hernandez 4-7) Ben Sheets 4-8) Bobby Abreu 4-9) Jeremy Bonderman 4-10) Andruw Jones 4-11) Victor Martinez 4-12) Jermaine Dye 5-1) Michael Young 5-2) Robby Cano 5-3) Rafael Furcal 5-4) Francisco Rodriguez 5-5) Bill Hall 5-6) Cole Hamels 5-7) Brian Roberts 5-8) Joe Nathan 5-9) Adam Dunn 5-10) Ryan Zimmerman 5-11) Carlos Guillen 5-12) Chone Figgins 6-1) Daisuke Matsuzaka 6-2) Jim Thome 6-3) John Lackey 6-4) B.J. Ryan 6-5) Carlos Delgado 6-6) Billy Wagner 6-7) Rocco Baldelli 6-8) Rich Hill 6-9) Troy Glaus 6-10) Justin Verlander 6-11) Aaron Harang 6-12) John Smoltz 7-1) Ian Kinsler 7-2) Johnny Damon 7-3) Mariano Rivera 7-4) Jered Weaver 7-5) Huston Street 7-6) Brett Myers 7-7) Matt Cain 7-8) Scott Kazmir 7-9) Curt Schilling 7-10) Felipe Lopez 7-11) Hideki Matsui 7-12) Nick Swisher 8-1) Bobby Jenks 8-2) Jason Schmidt 8-3) Rickie Weeks 8-4) C.C. Sabathia 8-5) Dan Uggla 8-6) Juan Pierre 8-7) JJ Putz 8-8) Randy Johnson 8-9) Howie Kendrick 8-10) Rich Harden 8-11) Prince Fielder 8-12) Michael Barrett 9-1) Brad Lidge 9-2) Chris Young 9-3) Chipper Jones 9-4) Jeff Francoeur 9-5) Pat Burrell 9-6) Scott Rolen 9-7) Erik Bedard 9-8) Gary Sheffield 9-9) Trevor Hoffman 9-10) Richie Sexson 9-11) Barry Zito 9-12) Dontrelle Willis 10-1) Todd Helton 10-2) Takashi Saito 10-3) Mike Piazza 10-4) Delmon Young 10-5) Chad Cordero 10-6) Josh Beckett 10-7) AJ Burnett 10-8) Jonathan Papelbon 10-9) Tom Gordon 10-10) Julio Lugo 10-11) Barry Bonds 10-12) Corey Patterson 11-1) Chad Tracy 11-2) JD Drew 11-3) Francisco Cordero 11-4) Ervin Santana 11-5) Chris Ray 11-6) Coco Crisp 11-7) Stephen Drew 11-8) Bronson Arroyo 11-9) Jason Giambi 11-10) Brian Fuentes 11-11) Brandon Phillips 11-12) Alex Rios 12-1) Michael Cuddyer 12-2) Jason Isringhausen 12-3) Chien-Ming Wang 12-4) John Patterson 12-5) Magglio Ordonez

1-1) Albert Pujols 1-2) Jose Reyes 1-3) Johan Santana 1-4) Alfonso Soriano 1-5) Alex Rodriguez 1-6) Carlos Beltran 1-7) Ryan Howard 1-8) Miguel Cabrera 1-9) Carl Crawford 1-10) Chase Utley 1-11) Derrek Lee 1-12) Chris Carpenter 2-1) David Wright 2-2) Lance Berkman 2-3) Grady Sizemore 2-4) David Ortiz 2-5) Vladimir Guerrero 2-6) Manny Ramirez 2-7) Mark Teixeira 2-8) Travis Hafner 2-9) Derek Jeter 2-10) Carlos Lee 2-11) Matt Holliday 2-12) Carlos Zambrano 3-1) Jake Peavy 3-2) Aramis Ramirez 3-3) Justin Morneau 3-4) Joe Mauer 3-5) Paul Konerko 3-6) Miguel Tejada 3-7) Jason Bay 3-8) Hanley Ramirez 3-9) Jimmy Rollins 3-10) Roy Halladay 3-11) Brandon Webb 3-12) Dan Haren 4-1) Garrett Atkins 4-2) Ichiro 4-3) Vernon Wells 4-4) Brian McCann 4-5) Roy Oswalt 4-6) Felix Hernandez 4-7) Ben Sheets 4-8) Bobby Abreu 4-9) Jeremy Bonderman 4-10) Andruw Jones 4-11) Victor Martinez 4-12) Jermaine Dye 5-1) Michael Young 5-2) Robby Cano 5-3) Rafael Furcal 5-4) Francisco Rodriguez 5-5) Bill Hall 5-6) Cole Hamels 5-7) Brian Roberts 5-8) Joe Nathan 5-9) Adam Dunn 5-10) Ryan Zimmerman 5-11) Carlos Guillen 5-12) Chone Figgins 6-1) Daisuke Matsuzaka 6-2) Jim Thome 6-3) John Lackey 6-3) B.J. Ryan 6-4) Carlos Delgado 6-6) Billy Wagner 6-7) Rocco Baldelli 6-8) Rich Hill 6-9) Troy Glaus 6-10) Justin Verlander 6-11) Aaron Harang 6-12) John Smoltz 7-1) Ian Kinsler 7-2) Johnny Damon 7-3) Mariano Rivera 7-4) Jered Weaver 7-5) Huston Street 7-6) Brett Myers 7-7) Matt Cain 7-8) Scott Kazmir 7-9) Curt Schilling 7-10) Felipe Lopez 7-11) Hideki Matsui 7-12) Nick Swisher 8-1) Bobby Jenks 8-2) Jason Schmidt 8-3) Rickie Weeks 8-4) C.C. Sabathia 8-5) Dan Uggla 8-6) Juan Pierre 8-7) JJ Putz 8-8) Randy Johnson 8-9) Howie Kendrick 8-10) Rich Harden 8-11) Prince Fielder 8-12) Michael Barrett 9-1) Brad Lidge 9-2) Chris Young 9-3) Chipper Jones 9-4) Jeff Francoeur 9-5) Pat Burrell 9-6) Scott Rolen 9-7) Erik Bedard 9-8) Gary Sheffield 9-9) Trevor Hoffman 9-10) Richie Sexson 9-11) Barry Zito 9-12) Dontrelle Willis 10-1) Todd Helton 10-2) Takashi Saito 10-3) Mike Piazza 10-4) Delmon Young 10-5) Chad Cordero 10-6) Josh Beckett 10-7) AJ Burnett 10-8) Jonathan Papelbon 10-9) Tom Gordon 10-10) Julio Lugo 10-11) Barry Bonds 10-12) Corey Patterson 11-1)Chad Tracy 11-2) JD Drew 11-3) Francisco Cordero 11-4) Ervin Santana 11-5) Chris Ray 11-6) Coco Crisp 11-7) Stephen Drew 11-8) Bronson Arroyo

Dammit, tree.

Saying he still had a 97 ops+ makes it sound like that is a good thing. Well considering that a 97 OPS+ tied him for 9th out of 30 in terms of all starting MLB second basemen, I'd say it sort of is a good thing. Would you like to reconsider your sarcastic response? How was it sarcastic, Truffle? There was zero irony to what I was saying. Also, no, I would not like to reconsider it. A 97 ops + is above average for a second basemen, but it is not a huge strength to their team. Since he will likely improve this year, it will be, but that wasn't what I was pointing out.

Saying he still had a 97 ops+ makes it sound like that is a good thing.

Fixed. You didn't add my pick.

On my way to a party right now. GOOD LUCK BEARS FANS! I hope you guys get this one and I'll be rooting for it.

Nah, I'll pass on that dude. I will however trade that rcappy Miggy for the even more crappier Albert pujols. While I won't do it straight up, a deal may be able to be reached. Hmm... Maybe I'll pick another decent 3b.

Bears need to do the New England specialty. When they beat the Rams in '01 and every time they have abused the Colts it is because their defense plays extremely physical. Especially against the receivers. You get Wayne and Harrison afraid to go over the middle and cautious when stretching for the ball and you will win.

This ain't Russia, son. This is America. Where men are men and we hate everything we fear.

Nah, I'll pass on that dude. I will however trade that rcappy Miggy for the even more crappier Albert pujols.

First drunk post of the draft. Let's see how I do. I really, really don't want to get stuck with one closer again. Chad Cordero.

Wolf is extremely disappointed right now. I know it. KC, wait until 4 am when Wolf comes online drunk and offer him Rolen and your 20th round pick for Miggy. :) Catch me at the right time and it may work.

1-1) Albert Pujols 1-2) Jose Reyes 1-3) Johan Santana 1-4) Alfonso Soriano 1-5) Alex Rodriguez 1-6) Carlos Beltran 1-7) Ryan Howard 1-8) Miguel Cabrera 1-9) Carl Crawford 1-10) Chase Utley 1-11) Derrek Lee 1-12) Chris Carpenter 2-1) David Wright 2-2) Lance Berkman 2-3) Grady Sizemore 2-4) David Ortiz 2-5) Vladimir Guerrero 2-6) Manny Ramirez 2-7) Mark Teixeira 2-8) Travis Hafner 2-9) Derek Jeter 2-10) Carlos Lee 2-11) Matt Holliday 2-12) Carlos Zambrano 3-1) Jake Peavy 3-2) Aramis Ramirez 3-3) Justin Morneau 3-4) Joe Mauer 3-5) Paul Konerko 3-6) Miguel Tejada 3-7) Jason Bay 3-8) Hanley Ramirez 3-9) Jimmy Rollins 3-10) Roy Halladay 3-11) Brandon Webb 3-12) Dan Haren 4-1) Garrett Atkins 4-2) Ichiro 4-3) Vernon Wells 4-4) Brian McCann 4-5) Roy Oswalt 4-6) Felix Hernandez 4-7) Ben Sheets 4-8) Bobby Abreu 4-9) Jeremy Bonderman 4-10) Andruw Jones 4-11) Victor Martinez 4-12) Jermaine Dye 5-1) Michael Young 5-2) Robby Cano 5-3) Rafael Furcal 5-4) Francisco Rodriguez 5-5) Bill Hall 5-6) Cole Hamels 5-7) Brian Roberts 5-8) Joe Nathan 5-9) Adam Dunn 5-10) Ryan Zimmerman 5-11) Carlos Guillen 5-12) Chone Figgins 6-1) Daisuke Matsuzaka 6-2) Jim Thome 6-3) John Lackey 6-3) B.J. Ryan 6-4) Carlos Delgado 6-6) Billy Wagner 6-7) Rocco Baldelli 6-8) Rich Hill 6-9) Troy Glaus 6-10) Justin Verlander 6-11) Aaron Harang 6-12) John Smoltz 7-1) Ian Kinsler 7-2) Johnny Damon 7-3) Mariano Rivera 7-4) Jered Weaver 7-5) Huston Street 7-6) Brett Myers 7-7) Matt Cain 7-8) Scott Kazmir 7-9) Curt Schilling 7-10) Felipe Lopez 7-11) Hideki Matsui 7-12) Nick Swisher 8-1) Bobby Jenks 8-2) Jason Schmidt 8-3) Rickie Weeks 8-4) C.C. Sabathia 8-5) Dan Uggla 8-6) Juan Pierre 8-7) JJ Putz 8-8) Randy Johnson 8-9) Howie Kendrick 8-10) Rich Harden 8-11) Prince Fielder 8-12) Michael Barrett 9-1) Brad Lidge 9-2) Chris Young 9-3) Chipper Jones 9-4) Jeff Francoeur 9-5) Pat Burrell 9-6) Scott Rolen 9-7) Erik Bedard 9-8) Gary Sheffield

The eye is uncontrollably drawn to the left. It is an awwwwwwwwfully nice avatar. In this situation the increased w's are appropriate.

The eye is uncontrollably drawn to the left.

Yes I did. And you used an awful lot of w's to tell me. I'm by no means optimistic. I was just telling him why Cardinals fans aren't panicking. We all feel pretty mediocre, which is just what our team is; mediocre.

Carpenter has thrown 644 and 2/3 innings in the last 3 seasons. It's time to start assuming he'll be healthy. Wells and team doctors say he is back to 100% and as evidenced by his back-to-back 121 and 129 era+ seasons before his injuries, he isn't total trash. Not really. Isringhausen is apparently healthy. He was apparently hurt from the outset of last season and is apparently going to be 100% for the start of this season. Taking that at face value (not that it is necessarily safe to do so) since he has been a top 5 closer when healthy since we signed him, the back end is safe. We have also have: Looper - 124 era+, 698 ops vs righties. Kinney - 136 era+, 585 ops against, 552 ops vs righties, 1.84 era against righties. Johnson - Not very good at all in late call up, but with big slider potential to be good is there. Performed awfully well in playoffs. Flores - Terrible last season, but like Johnson very good in playoffs. For a better sample size, look at his '05 where he had an era+ of 124 in 50 appearances. He suffered from not having another reliable left hander and got exposed quickly. Rincon - Injured last year. Career era+ of 126. Thompson - '06 era+ of 132, career 138 in 83 appearances. There are a few MiLB guys who could possibly perform adequately. Troy Cate RHP - FSL, 34g, 41 inn, 1.54 era, 58k, 13bb. The only reason I think he can go from the FSL to the majors is because he is really old. I think he is 29. Possibly another Josh Kinney find. Chris Narveson LHP - PCL, 15 gs, 80 ip, 2.81 era. Blake Hawksworth is intriguing. Could be this year's Wainwright if absolutely necessary, but realistically is a year away. Former #1 prospect but fell due to injuries, 23 years old, lost some velocity after surgery but regained form as season ended as noted by higher K rate despite being promoted to more difficult competition. Arsenal a lot like Anthony Reyes except has a much better curve and not quite as good of change. I wouldn't be surprised to see him start at AAA given the lack of pitching there now that Reyes, Wainwright and possibly Narveson will be gone. Last season he split between A and AA. A - 14 gs, 7-2, 2.47 era, 83.2 IP, 55k, 19 bb. AA - 13 gs, 4-2, 79.2 IP, 3.39 era, 66K, 31 bb. Bernie Miklacz and Derrick Goold of the STL Post-Dispatch have mentioned surprise stud prospect Jamie Garcia as a sleeper to make the team out of camp. That to me is retardedly preposterous given his age (20) and the organization's hesitancy to over promote pitching prospects since the Rick Ankiel debacle. These comments were a while ago and I doubt he was even extended an invitation to spring training. He is however, extremely polished for his age and has not only good stuff but also that personal joy of Dave Duncan's, the ability to induce a ton of ground balls. He needs to do well at AA before any talk of big league innings gets printed again. FWIW, Cardinals' principal owner Bill DeWitt said they are exploring trades for another starting pitcher. Rumors of Penny/Pavano/Lieber. I also don't think it is a stretch to think that Reyes, Wainwright, Wells, half season of Mulder and whoever they get can will post better than the 82 ERA+ than we got from Suppan, Ponfat, Weaver, injured Mulder and Marcrap last year. Rolen will be a full season removed from a surgery that traditionally takes a full season to recover from, Pujols will probably be Pujols, Kennedy will probably be better than what we had for most of last season with Miles/Luna/Belliard, Edmonds was hurt so nobody knows just how much of last season can be attributed to decline or injury, Yadier Molina can't possibly be any more terrible, and Isringhausen was apparently hurt from the outset of last season and is apparently going to be 100% for the start of this season. Pecota has Duncan projected to an ops of 844 which would be an upgrade over the nightmare of Taguchi, Jrod, Schumacker etc that we had for much of last season. So basically, there are an awful lot of question marks, but I don't think it is time to panic yet. If our rotation is what it is now at the end of spring training however, I will be upset. There is something to be said for the championship grace period among a fan base. PS, sorry about the minor league tangent, but I can't sleep and it was fun to actually do some stimulated baseball thinking.

Jalen Rose.

He should have been in, but I think the reasoning for it was how badly he was being abused by Shaun Livingston. Not like Duhon or Hinrich were doing better against Livingston. Woulda liked to see more Thabo against the Clippers' bigger guards. Me too. I think it was bad coaching. Oh well.

Number of representatives from the 3rd best team in the east (who is 1.5 games behind the number one team) in the all-star game: 0.