bukie

Brief reminder that Lester typically struggles to start the year.

9 batters in, one ball in play.

This Marlins lineup is...yikes. Brinson is the future, Castro is familiar, then I think that's Anderson Cooper taking up a couple spots, and then some old Expos they dug up in Tim Wallach and Mel Rojas.

I'm waiting for the expectation subversion game, where Lester gets knocked around by 7 players nobody ever heard of before, and Urena holds the Cubs bats silent exxept for two solo HR by Heyward.

From Grant Brisbees SB Nation opening day matchup rankings: 12. Jon Lester vs. Jose Urena (Cubs @ Marlins) Jon Lester’s 2017 season looked like an age-33 projection for Jon Lester that was made in 2012. Bunch of innings, a much higher ERA than normal, and home runs and walks trending in the wrong direction. He might be the fourth-best starter on the Cubs, really. But he’s a veteran who helped bring a World Series to Chicago, so get that Opening Day start, buddy. Urena is a [frantically googles] right-handed ... starter, who, uh ... [still googling] was acquired in 2008 as an amateur free agent and ... [moving on to Bing] ... was strangely effective last year, with a 14-7 record despite a 5.20 FIP and one of the lower strikeout rates among qualifying starters? At least you know he’ll get the same amount of run support this year, right? [googles Marlins lineup] when the hell did all this happen, what’s going on here

Good thing they didn't overplay their hand with Wainwright against the Brewers.

I'll jump in line to start some meaningless September games.

Cubs have 8 players with 20+ HR Cubs have 6 players with 5+ fWAR Cubs clear 100 wins by September. Cubs win division by 20 games

Like all the other Nevada runs, except they never got the lead this time.

#1 overall seed Virginia trailing by 16 to UMBC midway through the second half...

Loyola's win marks the 10th straight round of 64 win for MVC teams.

Morrow Edwards Strop Cishek Wilson Montgomery Duensing ...do the Cubs need others?

Big day for MLS last night as Toronto and NYRB knocked two Mexican teams out of the CONCACAF champions league. Considering prior to last night that has happened all of two to 3 times ever, that's a strong showing. Seattle can make it 3 tonight also.

Also Penn is low key a really good 16 seed.

That's this year's crazy miss, with Cuse getting in because wins in the state of NY were apparently a big deal for the committee.

The amount determines the round. If it's over 50 million it's the comp round between round 1 and 2, less than that it's the comp round between rounds 2 and 3. It's the approximate difference in getting pick 33 or 73. Wait, are you sure about that? I thought the Cubs were unable to get a compensation pick after round 1 (between round 1 and 2) due to our market size? I'm so confused right now... Compensation picks are not the same as competitive balance picks.

Unless multi is 2, that should go over 50.

My final S-Curve as of now: 1. Virginia (ACC) 2. Villanova (Big East) 3. Kansas (Big 12) 4. Duke 5. Xavier 6. North Carolina 7. Purdue 8. Cincinnati (American) 9. Michigan State 10. Michigan (B1G) 11. Texas Tech 12. Tennessee 13. Auburn 14. Gonzaga (WCC) 15. West Virginia 16. Kentucky (SEC) 17. Houston 18. Clemson 19. Ohio State 20. Florida 21. Wichita State 22. Arizona (Pac-12) 23. TCU 24. Butler 25. Seton Hall 26. Creighton 27. Texas A&M 28. Virginia Tech 29. Nevada 30. Arkansas 31. USC 32. Providence 33. Miami FL 34. Texas 35. Missouri 36. Alabama 37. NC State 38. Kansas State 39. UCLA 40. Rhode Island 41. St Bonaventure 42. Louisville 43. Florida State 44. Oklahoma 45. Loyola Chicago (MVC) 46. New Mexico State (WAC) 47. Murray State (OVC) 48. Davidson (A-10) 49. Marshall (CUSA) 50. San Diego State (MVC) 51. South Dakota State (Summit) 52. Buffalo (MAC) 53. UNC Greensboro (Southern) 54. Charleston (CAA) 55. Montana (Big Sky) 56. Georgia State (Sun Belt) 57. Bucknell (Patriot) 58. Cal State Fullerton (Big West) 59. Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun) 60. Wright State (Horizon) 61. Penn (Ivy) 62. Iona (MAAC) 63. Stephen F Austin (Southland) 64. Radford (Big South) 65. UMBC (America East) 66. LIU-Brooklyn (NEC) 67. Texas Southern (SWAC) 68. UNC Central (MEAC) Just out: Arizona State St Mary's Middle Tennessee Notre Dame Marquette Oklahoma State Baylor Syracuse

Yes, we should account for Davidson somewhere in the S-Curve, so we have a spot for Davidson should they win. Also, Cal State Fullerton and Arizona won the Big West and Pac-12 respectively late last night.

New Mexico St wins the WAC.

Today's results: Virginia wins the ACC, easy #1 overall seed. Villanova wins the Big East, easy #2 overall seed. Kansas wins the Big 12, #1 seed solidified, maybe #3 overall now. Cincy-Houston in the American final, no bid theft possible, though Houston may be higher than Wichita State now. Rhode Island-Davidson in the A-10 final, Davidson could steal a bid. St. Bonaventure's profile takes a hit. UT Arlington-Georgia State in the Sun Belt final. Penn-Harvard in the Ivy final. UMBC wins the America East, potential first four team. UNC Central wins the MEAC, definite team #68. Texas Southern wins the SWAC, definite team #67. San Diego State wins the MVC, slotted in a lower end 12/higher end 13 seed. Montana wins the Big SKy as expected. Marshall wins the CUSA, another 12/13 seed. Stephen F Austin wins the Southland, about the same profile as SE Louisiana, so same spot. Kentucky-Tennessee in the SEC final, no bid thieves. Buffalo wins the MAC as expected. Big West, Pac-12, and WAC finals still ongoing.

Louisiana loses in the Sun Belt semis, leaving the winner as either UT Arlington, Georgia State or Georgia Southern.

UNC Central wins the MEAC. Welcome to the 68 seed, UNC Central.

Rhode Island trailing by 8 late in the first half of the A-10 semis.