USSoccer

Who said Eyre should go to AAA?

If he said something like that, half this board would be up in arms claiming he threw the player under the bus by basically stating that Eyre sucks. It's not Lou's fault that Eyre can't do his job. He gave Eyre a shot, he failed numerous times, and now he's basically not getting any work. He's done that with every player on the team, and some (Theriot) have seized the opportunity. The players that don't like Lou, I'd imagine, are the ones who aren't performing, and the only one with a legitimate reason is Murton. The rest should just go and complain to Dusty. With all due respect, acting as if Lou Piniella hasn't mismanaged his bullpen to an absolutely idiotic degree is just being dishonest. I have yet to hear him shoulder the blame for anything. Accountability swings both ways.

I'm really beginning to believe that there is much more to the "half the team hates Lou" thing than is being reported. Nothing is ever his fault. It's always "So and so needs to change his stance" or "get some players in here that can do ". I have not heard Lou say "You know, I screwed up putting Eyre in a 1 run game in the 8th", or "Maybe I shouldn't have Will Ohman face right handers".

I wished they signed him when he was a free agent. I should have been more pro Tejada when trades were discussed, but I'd take him in a heartbeat now. Baltimore's record is no worse than the Cubs, but they are free falling and way out of the race. I can't understand why they wouldn't be up for trading him. Do you really think Peter Angelos would deal that team's only marketable player now that there's competition for fans in the DC area? I don't really think he's all that marketable. We aren't talking Jeter here, let alone Jose Reyes. He's probably less marketable than Soriano. They aren't selling tickets because of Miguel Tejada, #12 in the majors for SS OPS. The team stinks, it's stunk for years. They need an overhaul. Angelos is goofy, so maybe he won't. But the smart thing would be to trade him and try to build a contender for 2009-2012. That's how you sell tickets. And really, are the Nationals that big of a draw that they are taking away ticket sales? You and I both know that the Nats suck, and shouldn't really siphon fans away from the O's. You and I also know that the O's need to be blown up if that team is ever going to contend in the AL East. The question is whether or not Peter Angelos knows. I'm not sure he does.

I wished they signed him when he was a free agent. I should have been more pro Tejada when trades were discussed, but I'd take him in a heartbeat now. Baltimore's record is no worse than the Cubs, but they are free falling and way out of the race. I can't understand why they wouldn't be up for trading him. Do you really think Peter Angelos would deal that team's only marketable player now that there's competition for fans in the DC area?

IMB LOVES BABIES. BABIES LOVE IMB A VOTE FOR IMB IS A VOTE FOR BABIES.

Didn't Kerry have a meniscus tear last year and had it repaired and was back in a week? I think if they cut off the torn piece it's a minor surgery and your back in action in a couple of days. If they repair then you can't put any weight on it for several weeks. Aramis doesn't have the best health history when it comes to his legs. Anytime I hear about knee injuries I get concerned that the guy is going to miss more time than advertised. I could be wrong, and I hope I'm wrong.

Here are the quarterfinal matchups: Saturday Canada vs. Guatemala USA vs. Panama Sunday Mexico vs. Costa Rica Honduras vs. Guadeloupe Panama is going to be a very tough team. We're a little lucky in that they had 2 guys sent off against Mexico yesterday. Still, they will present the best challenge for the US since the game against Mexico in Glendale back in Feburary. The US defense is going to have to play much, much better than they have in the first 3 games. The US and Mexico are still on track to meet in the final.

Sigh. I knew it. Knee sprains are almost never just knee sprains. If he has a meniscus tear, that means he won't play for 6-8 weeks.

I'd like to see what Heath pearce can do. Doesn't Bob Bradley have some sort of irrational hatred for Pearce? Hopefully he'll play in Copa America and impress, because a good team would absolutely abuse Bornstein. yep. Pearce said he's "the best left back the US has," which is kinda big-headed, but Bradley apparently really didn't like it, because he thought it was a direct slight at Bornstein. Maybe Bornstein should stop playing like he's in AYSO, and then Bradley won't have to worry about percieved slights. You still going to the final, Seth?

I can think of one GM who might.

The problem here is that it brings a much larger chance of Floyd's option vesting. Do you really want an overpriced, declining Cliff Floyd on this team in '08? I sure as hell don't. Floyd would have to average 3.17 AB's a game the rest of the year for even his first option to vest. I'm sure they won't play him against all the left-handers (when Aramis comes back, DeRosa will probably play some RF against LHP) and then when Murton comes back later in the year, there isn't that big of a chance that Floyd could have that many AB's to have the option kick in. I'm too tired to remember-is his vesting option PA's or AB's?

Ugh... This is a team with a $100m payroll. How does this happen?

After last night's game, yeah, they probably do need a 13 man staff for the next few days. Or, Lou could have used Gallagher in the role that's probably best for him considering he's still stretched out for starting, which is long relief. Ohman didn't need to go 3 innings or whatever it was. I understand why the move was made given the situation (I guess), but what I cannot countenance is the decision making that leads to things like this. Because Piniella can't manage the pen, we're short on the bench.

Do we really need a 13 man pitching staff? This is ridiculous. Not because they sent Murton down, because I'd rather he play than sit, but because it didn't need to come to this. Jim Hendry has no idea how to manage the 40 man, and Lou has no idea how to handle a bullpen.

OMC's engaging in voter fraud perhaps? :wink: Does the polls forum use Diebold voting machines?

Maybe not all of Sulley's precincts have reported in...this should be closer.

I thought Thabo was good defensively? He put together 2 really good halves of defense all year. He shut down a 75% Dwayne Wade and played well against Kobe. Kirk does it every game, and still manages to put up points and run the offense well. Also, Thabo is way too raw and unpolished offensively. I like Thabo long term, but he's not Bruce Bowen or anything. Hinrich gets knocked way too much; it's not his fault he was taken in the best draft of the last 10 years. He's a really, really good player. You can win a title with Kirk. Gordon is the one who is more valuable as a trading chip than Hinrich. Yes, he's a fantastic scorer and shooter, but he's a nonfactor witht he ball in his hands driving, isn't a really good point guard and is awful defensively. He's the perfect trading chip because you only have to replace one aspect of his game, which is his scoring.

guess i'm just full of dissent today. one thing i think that the team lacks is someone to step up when the game's on the line. i feel like we miss so many big opportunities, especially on goal, and never really put teams away when it counts. also, i have to say, i am most disappointed with the play of onyewu. Dempsey's the one player, though, who does step up. He consistently creates chances, takes on defenders, and has the creative technical ability to play in a packed third, which is lacking in the USMNT. The problem is there's only one of him. Beasley's ok at it. Donovan's first touch is just so erratic, he stinks against packed/organized defenses. Gooch has been bad. He's loked like a clumsy oaf. He needs to pick it up.

that's funny b/c i was thinking that he was finally learning to settle a bit and go forward with the ball. i hate it when he spazzes all out and looks like he's just dribbling in circles. i also wish we could get someone other than landon to take corners. Beasley has really terrible balance when he shoots. His first goal was very lucky to have gone in. Nicely placed, I guess, but it went through lke 4 defenders and had no pace behind it. The last shot I can remember him taking that had any sort of force behind it was the one against Italy (which should have counted-I'll never accept the passive offsides call there. No way that gets called there if it's Luca Toni in front of Keller.). The best thing about DMB is his work rate, especially defensively. You could almost consider making him a left back with the wing depth the USMNT pool has.

They should trade Heinrich, who probably has a better reputation and perceived value than actual value. I saw one report a few days ago that said that the Bulls are active in the trading mark, but Hinrich is their only untouchable. I'll try to track that one down for you. Hinrich is probably their best all around player, and it would be a major mistake to trade him. He's one of the best perimiter defenders in the league. He's a good point guard. He can score. He's improved all of his numbers this year, and he's comparable to Chauncey Billups in every category. Keeping Gordon over Hinrich makes your team much, much worse defensively. Additionally, if you use Gordon to aquire pst scoring, you're not going to miss Gordon's scoring as much. Gordon's the guard to trade, not Kirk. But they can get more for Kirk, right? The point is they have no chance of winning a title until they get a superstar, and they won't get a superstar trading spare parts. And Kirk isn't a superstar. I think they can get more for Gordon. He's a scorer, and any team dealing away a good low post player is going to want scoring in return. NBA GM's are idiots, and they're more likely to be wowed by Gordon's offensive numbers. Trading Kirk means they have no good defensive guards, and probably puts them farther from a championship that closer.

They should trade Heinrich, who probably has a better reputation and perceived value than actual value. I saw one report a few days ago that said that the Bulls are active in the trading mark, but Hinrich is their only untouchable. I'll try to track that one down for you. Hinrich is probably their best all around player, and it would be a major mistake to trade him. He's one of the best perimiter defenders in the league. He's a good point guard. He can score. He's improved all of his numbers this year, and he's comparable to Chauncey Billups in every category. Keeping Gordon over Hinrich makes your team much, much worse defensively. Additionally, if you use Gordon to aquire pst scoring, you're not going to miss Gordon's scoring as much, and you won't have to deal with teams abusing Gordon on the defensive end. In fact, if Kirk didn't have to run around guarding James, Bryant and Arenas every night, and make up for Gordon's inability to play defense, he'd probably be better offensively. Gordon's the guard to trade, not Kirk.

The biggest problem I have seen with Beasley is that he just seems to not have control of his body and pace lie he used to. He just seems very irratic. His first goal was a nice change from that. He may not have gotten the goals, but Dempsey was the most impressive IMO. I was very happy just to see some quality shots from outside the box for the first time in a while. Since Donovan's goal a couple of months ago. Dempsey is the wild card in an otherwise predictable team. Clint's's probably been the USMNT's best player for about a year now. He's class, and it's nice to know that we have a player who doesn't play scared on big occasions.

I'd like to see what Heath pearce can do. Doesn't Bob Bradley have some sort of irrational hatred for Pearce? Hopefully he'll play in Copa America and impress, because a good team would absolutely abuse Bornstein.

DMB scored twice, but should have scored at least three. Still was the MOTM. Nice game. He's slowly starting to get his form back. Dempsey played pretty good up front, and pretty good when Ching came on. Passed well. Created 2 chances our usual forwards would never have in the 1st half. Was unlucky not to score. BTW, anyone else notice that when he's up front he plays like Pipo Inzaghi? I don't know about anyone else, but I'd be thrilled if he became Inzaghi up front. On that note, I liked the 4-3-2-1 formation. Bradley has allowed his creative players license to create. Bradley/Feilhaber/Mastroeni are more than capable of playing solid defense and holding possesion, which allows Beasley, Donovan and Dempsey license to roam a bit and use their skills. This is something Arena never did, and I hope it continues as the US plays more difficult opponents. The trouble is that I don't think the kid mids are ready yet to hold possesion against a really good team. Likewise, I'm curious to see what Demspey would look like playing up front against a good defense. Bornstein has nice pace, but cannot pass the ball to save his life. Left back is going to continue to be a problem, I think, for a while. Spector played very well. Nice to see that. Gooch needs to control his temper. Donovan played ok. I thought he made some questionable decisions with the ball, but was decent overall. I don't give credit for PK goals, though. Nice to see Mastro back. He's a really good defensive mid. FeilBradley played pretty well, although it would be really nice if the US stopped developing defensive mids and developed a couple of offensive/creative mids. Nice win overall. Probably their best performance so far in the Gold Cup.