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I love the young bullpen. The pen has enough guys that have performed well out of the pen. And the revolving door to Iowa is a good thing. It's a lot better to be able to go get another young arm whenever you need it than to have to shuffle around roles because your veterans aren't performing (Howry, Gregg, Heilman, etc).

Gibson works. I went thru that 2nd round 3 times and didn't see that those guys had been picked. Thaddeus Gibson, OLB Ohio St.

MY vote for the Steelers goes to a LB, inside or out. I think Sean Lee is still on the board. Ricky Sapp at OLB is on the board.

Texans select Montario Hardesty, RB Tennessee.

I think the Raiders could be better than .500 w/ McNabb. That would likely make them better than Denver (especially if they trade Marshall) and KC, who they would play 4 times. Could win 3 of those games. Plus they play the NFC West. Of course, the 3rd place schedule doesn't look so great with Tenn, Pit, and Miami all being pretty good 3rd place teams that should be improved next year.

That's assuming all MSU fans are from East Lansing. I can see a lot of the college kids driving back after the game(s). But a lot of alumni are scattered throughout the country and the state of Michigan more specifically. There are several parts of Michigan that are within 2 1/2 to 3 hours from Indy. But yeah, like CCP said, Butler being in the final 4 helps create a buzz for the city and the school. It is a very good school academically that many don't know about and an underrated campus. I think the loss from out of town fans will be made up in by those visiting Indy in future years.

Yeah, I'm not buying this one at all. He's pretty much in a perfect situation for himself. I think he'll play a little more PG next year anyway. He should be the primary ball-handler next year. Bringing in a couple more wing players along w/ getting Creek back. Hulls is better off the ball. Rivers is better off the team. But if he transfers....so be it.

Works for me. He was given an original round tender by Seattle (4th). A 4th rounder for Alex Brown would probably be on the high end, since everyone knows he may get cut. I would trade a 4th for Sims, a RFA, if the Bears had a regular sampling of draft picks. Sims isn't a stud, but he's better than average. He's also just 26 until December. While I'm not 100% for trading Brown, this is exactly the type of deal I would do. A 31 yo DE for a 26 yo OG, is nearly a no-brainer considering they are at similar levels of play w/ Brown on the downside and Sims entering his prime. I think this trade strengthens the OL more than it weakens the DL.

Not something of top value certainly, but you wouldn't even say a 4th rounder for a player who has been consistent as hell like Alex Brown? I also believe Izzy could replace Brown's production. If Izzy can replace Brown's production, that's fine. But w/ an uncapped year, I'd still keep Brown around for insurance in case that doesn't happen, which is far from a given being that Izzy has almost exclusively played DT for 2 years and has never been on the field for more than 1/2 the time at any point in his career and is late in his prime at best.

He's actually not from Bloomington, though. He's from Arizona and only moved to Bloomington last year subsequent to committing to IU (which makes this situation all the more perplexing/disconcerting). Regardless, there are better available guards in Indiana in the Class of 2011 than Carlino (Rivals #122): Marquis Teague (#2) and Jeremiah Davis (#40). Cody Zeller (#35) is also available. That's to say nothing of the loaded Class of 2012 (including guards Ron Patterson, Gary Harris, D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Yogi Ferrell, etc). Indiana is in a serious scholarship crunch -- at exactly the worst time -- with scholarships filled almost exclusively by role players. I don't have a looking glass into Carlino's future, but losing another prospective role player isn't earth shattering. At this point in time, one in the hand isn't worth two in the bush. Top-150 guards pretty much grow on trees. Scout's still got him as a 4 star, I think this is a bigger deal than you think. Beyond the loss of the indivudal player, I think it looks bad to have guys de-committ unless you immediately follow with a replacement. I don't see IU having much of a chance for the 3 recruits listed above. 1. I think it looks really bad. Really, really bad. 2. Having seen him play multiple times, not only do I feel pretty comfortable saying he's not what I'd consider a four-star player, he's also pretty redundant to what IU has currently and likely will have in the future. I wish he was had been eligible the last two years and next year, I just don't think that sentiment extends to the four years he actually would be. 3. I don't think IU has much of a chance with Teague. However, Rivals/Peegs puts them in the top-two for Davis (along with Michigan State) and at least top-three (Butler, North Carolina) if not top-two (Butler) for Zeller. While I think Michigan State and Butler are the respective leaders at this point, IU certainly has a strong chance at either. I thought Zeller was leaning toward IU w/ Davis leaning toward Michigan St. I also thought they were at least still being considered by Teague.

I don't have a problem w/ trading Alex Brown. I just don't see the justification for it for the reasons I outlined earlier (Anderson inconsistent, Idonije has played DT for a couple years, Gilbert/Melton no experience and weren't exactly top draft picks). It would be one thing if Gilbert or Melton showed flashes or were top 50-60 draft picks w/ a strong pedigree. If you can get something of value for Brown and use his salary on a bigger need (DB), then fine. But I don't see any way that happens. Even if they don't come out and say they are going to trade or release him, who's going to trade away something of great value for a 31 (in June) yo DE who isn't an elite pass rusher?

Any coach that can't get a halfway decent recruit from Bloomington to go to IU should be fired on the spot.

This doesn't seem like a good idea. Not going to get anything for Alex. He's on the last year of his deal. He's 31. He has more value to the Bears than he would in a trade. It would make more sense to let him play out the final year of his deal and get a comp pick for him in 2 years after he signs elsewhere. I do like Mark Anderson more than most (think he had a solid 2009, especially the last 6 weeks), but he's not a better player than Brown at this point. And the depth isn't really there with Idonije who hasn't been a consistent contributor at DE, Gilbert who barely played last year, and Melton who didn't play a single snap.

What I don't get is why they rule out division foe. Why not play one of those games then? The Bears have played Detroit on Thanksgiving. Dallas has played division foes in the past. Just grasping at straws here. I think there is an issue w/ playing a division game on a short week and having that determine the division. Plus, the NFL probably doesn't need ratings for the Thanksgiving games. People will watch regardless. Might as well save Cowboys/Giants or Eagles for a 4:00 Sunday or primetime game.

Watford was the best post player on the team, but is not a post player. A legit big that can play w/ his back to the basket would free up Watford to play more of the 3 role and slash, shoot the midrange J, etc. I think Crean tried to do this toward the end of the year starting just a 2-guard lineup (w/ Elston, Watford, Capo up front). That being said though, I don't see any reason Watford can't get stronger and less tentative (I believe he is every bit as explosive as Elston if he plays more aggressively) and be an effective post player.

I have fake and real Starlin Castro on my team too.

I love my OF, SS, and 1B. Rest of my position players are ass. Garrett Atkins needs a HUGE comeback year. My SPs are ok. Hopefully, Peavy can throw at least 180-190 innings, Matusz can have minimal growing pains, Rich Harden can keep the ball on the field in Arlington, and the Jays let Drabek pitch in the majors soon.

I think they have so many needs still that they can focus on getting the most value they can out of the picks available and still end up addressing a need. Whether it's an offensive lineman, DBack, DLineman (tackle or end), WR and even LB (often the best special teams players - and Urlacher is going to need to be replaced in the not too distant future). Maybe they stear clear of QB and RB, however, teams keep drafting QB's all the time and then trade them once they've become a little established, providing great value, and RB turns over all the time. I agree. Value relative to need. I'd be fine with the Bears picking any position (other than K or P) with their 5 picks. But obviously, they aren't going to pick a QB or RB in the 3rd or 4th. I can see DT, S, CB, OG, OT, or WR at 75. Then another one of those positions in the 4th. Rounds 5-7, take the best value on the board.

So, if everything we know comes true....we can sort of predict a good part of the schedule. Assuming season starts the week of Sept 5. Week 1- 9/5 @ NY Giants Week 13- 11/25 @ Dallas Week 14- 12/5 @ Buffalo in Toronto (they've played the previous 2 Canada games 12/3 and 12/7) Week 15- home game Week 16- 12-19 @ Minnesota or @ Detroit Week 17- 12/26 v. Green bay The Bears have played GB one of the final 2 games in 5 out of 6 years and in Chicago 4 of those times. Last year the Bears opened in GB, so the favor is returned to end in Chicago. I'm also assuming don't end w/ 3 straight at home or have 3 straight on the road that late in the year.

So, we've heard rumors that the Bears will be opening the new stadium at the Giants, at Dallas on Thanksgiving and in Toronto vs. the Bills. And that article also mentioned that the last 2 games will likely be division games.

Team Stats & Scoring 1. Number of Cubs wins, 2010 83 2. Number of Cubs wins, Cardinals season series (15 games) 6 3. Number of runs scored, 2010 760 4. Number of runs allowed, 2010 744 5. Final Placement in the NL Central Division 3rd Player Stats & Scoring 1. Number of Aramis Ramirez Home Runs 26 2. Number of Soriano Games Played 133 3. Ryan Theriot's Games Batting Leadoff 101 4. Geovany Soto's Batting Average .270 5. Carlos Silva's Starts 18 6. Randy Wells' ERA 4.14 7. Carlos Zambrano's Ks 177 8. Carlos Marmol's Saves 32 Bonus Questions I (20 points each) 1. Which will be higher: Soriano's RBIs or Soto's RBIs? Soriano's RBIs 2. Which will be higher: Ted Lilly's starts 2009 (27) or Ted Lilly starts 2010? Lilly's starts 2009 3. Which will be higher: Jeff Baker's at-bats or Mike Fontenot's at-bats? Jeff Baker's ABs 4. Who will have more HRs: Zambrano or Theriot? Theriot 5. Who will have more wins: Wells or Dempster? Dempster 6. Who will have a higher OBP: Byrd or Soriano? Byrd Bonus Questions II (30 points each) 1. Most HRs: Derrek Lee 2. Highest OBP (min. 400 ABs): Derrek Lee 3. Lowest ERA (min. 150 IPs): Ryan Dempster 4. Most Quality Starts: Ryan Dempster The Annual Tiebreaker: Date of Lou Piniella's First Ejection (you may answer "never") To be used only in the event of ties. July 4th, 2010.

Group A- Ryan Howard Group B- Adam Dunn, Alex Rodriguez Group C- Carlos Quentin, Matt Holliday, Justin Upton Group D- Manny Ramirez, Grady Sizemore, David Wright, Josh Hamilton, Aramis Ramirez Wildcard- PM'd.

I just picked Jair Jurrjens. Weaver and Lackey were gone.

Watching the tournament has made me ill. -Ben Allen (who transfered when Sampson's major class came in) is averaging almost 11 and 8 for St. Mary's (though he would have been a senior in 2009). -Jordan Crawford is putting up POTY numbers for Xavier the last couple weeks. -Terrell Holloway (former Sampson commit) is the PG for Xavier and having a strong year. -Armon Bassett averaged 17 for Ohio U this year. -Devin Ebanks was a Sampson commit and is putting up 12 and 8 for one of the nation's top team. -Eli Holman is putting up 12 and 8 for Detroit.

I took Dunn. Figgins was still on the board, next round so I took him. All those pitchers I named are still on the board. So, I should be able to get 1 of them next round and hopefully another good starter the round after.