Exile on Waveland

Did they not call illegal contact? I was groaning and didn't hear the call. Also, it was extremely stupid to throw twice before running in for the score. You run -- especially since the ground game was working -- and either score, run clock or make them burn timeouts. Surprisingly poor clock management for the Colts.

Yeah, only 42 days to. . . oh dear. . .

Ew. That's about the worst NFL matchup possible. I'm getting Bucs at Bears and Bengals at Giants, at least. And, of course, the Colts later.

Same here. Getting pumped for the playoffs, but it's going to be football over a mostly meaningless Cub game today.

You're right. The Colts have never won anything with small DT's.

Why is Howry pitching in a 2-2 game in the ninth? Anyone?

He is their fourth starter. He's 9-6 with a 4.49 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP and a 100 ERA+. That's after a terrible start to the season (6.46 ERA in April). Six of his last eight starts have been quality; and one that wasn't he went seven innings and gave up four runs and got the victory. He's also only had one worse year the past six years. He hasn't been great this year but he's a fine fourth starter.

Ummm....I think you meant Beckett. Though John Burkett did pitch for Boston in 2002-2003. And was a deadline deal in 1996, but not for the Red Sox. That year, he went from the Marlins to the Rangers. Darn...I always get those two mixed up! I'd be curious how much the Rockies would ask for those two. And rchap24...I suppose I'd try to include Johnson in the deal or find a way to move him, or release Edmonds....or, go to 12 pitchers. You want to release a player that's batting .269/.369/.552 for the Cubs?

Seriously, is Lou really this oblivious or stubborn?

Here for another redundant post. I'm thrilled, this is a very good trade. Harden obviously has injury concerns but is an elite pitcher. Gaudin is an underrated part of the deal (though I doubt he supplants Marquis in the rotation). The A's got some cheap young players that can help them out, but none are high ceiling types. I especially like Gallagher.

1984, 1989, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008. so 8 of the past 25 years. if it doesnt happen im blaming you If what doesn't happen? They've already achieved relevance.

O RLY? on the cubs' side: soto is way better than kendall derosa at this point is a little better than weeks ramirez is easily better than hall on the brewers' side: hardy is better than theriot fielder is marginally better than lee cameron is better than edmonds/johnson braun is way better than whoever's playing left in soriano's absence hart is probably slightly better than fukudome, but it's close the same mets that trail the brewers by either 5 or 6 games, pending the outcome of their game today? BP has the NL east at roughly a 10% chance of winning the wild card, so your confidence in this respect is unwarranted. I don't necessarily disagree with anything, but Mike Cameron over Edmonds/Johnson. I'm not so sure right now. Cameron (52 games) .232/.311/.500, 14 hrs with 33 rbis Edmonds (w/Cubs): (38 games) .276/.375/.552 8 hrs 24 rbis Johnson: .266/.336/.383 3 homers, 31 rbis To this point, Edmonds with the Cubs (138 OPS+ in 116 AB's) has been superior to Cameron with the Brewers (110 OPS+ in 194 AB's). Color me skeptical on Edmonds, but he's been quite excellent for the Cubs. Johnson is great against LHP, but sucks against RHP, and Edmonds is the opposite. When Soriano returns, Edmonds and Johnson will be platooned that way. Um, thanks?

O RLY? on the cubs' side: soto is way better than kendall derosa at this point is a little better than weeks ramirez is easily better than hall on the brewers' side: hardy is better than theriot fielder is marginally better than lee cameron is better than edmonds/johnson braun is way better than whoever's playing left in soriano's absence hart is probably slightly better than fukudome, but it's close the same mets that trail the brewers by either 5 or 6 games, pending the outcome of their game today? BP has the NL east at roughly a 10% chance of winning the wild card, so your confidence in this respect is unwarranted. I don't necessarily disagree with anything, but Mike Cameron over Edmonds/Johnson. I'm not so sure right now. Cameron (52 games) .232/.311/.500, 14 hrs with 33 rbis Edmonds (w/Cubs): (38 games) .276/.375/.552 8 hrs 24 rbis Johnson: .266/.336/.383 3 homers, 31 rbis To this point, Edmonds with the Cubs (138 OPS+ in 116 AB's) has been superior to Cameron with the Brewers (110 OPS+ in 194 AB's). Color me skeptical on Edmonds, but he's been quite excellent for the Cubs.

I live near Fort Wayne. Am I supposed to drive to St. Louis to this game? I just don't understand the rules at all. Bloomington is over four hours away from St. Louis (and Chicago, for that matter -- well, barely over four for either, but still) and we don't get the Cubs or Cardinals local broadcasts here. The restrictions simply make no sense whatsoever. Worse, I usually remember them, but totally forgot that the earlier TBS game was blacked out. ESPN shows ESPNEWS, TBS simply goes to black dead air for three hours. You don't understand the rules because they're antiquated. If I remember correctly, the blackout territories were designated more than 50 years ago, and nothing has been changed since. Bob Dupuy has said, though, that they will address the blackout territories after this season. I realize they're antiquated. I don't understand them because they serve no logical purpose.

I live near Fort Wayne. Am I supposed to drive to St. Louis to this game? I just don't understand the rules at all. Bloomington is over four hours away from St. Louis (and Chicago, for that matter -- well, barely over four for either, but still) and we don't get the Cubs or Cardinals local broadcasts here. The restrictions simply make no sense whatsoever. Worse, I usually remember them, but totally forgot that the earlier TBS game was blacked out. ESPN shows ESPNEWS, TBS simply goes to black dead air for three hours.

And TBS goes black. Ugh, I totally forgot Cubs games were blacked out here on TBS. My hatred for MLB's blackout restrictions grows daily. Stupid.

I was just coming to post that. Nice goin' ESPN. Morons.

Are you joking? I like Rush and Jack is a good pair with Ford, but they traded the steal of the draft. This was a bad night for the Pacers. The way I see it is simple. I was ecstatic when Bayless fell to the Pacers. My top 2 choices for the Pacers was Bayless(or someone else falling) then Rush. However, Bird's agenda seems non conducive to the long rebuilding mode and he appears to want to try to do this quicker - perhaps because of the declining attendance at Conseco Fieldhouse. I really like Rush - his perimeter defense and jumpshot are both incredibly valuable and he should be NBA ready and doing it for us either starting or backing up Dunleavy/Granger right away. Bayless has the higher potential and may become a superstar, or he might possibly flame out. Bird didn't want to take this chance. O'brien I'm sure has a huge man-crush on Rush with his up tempo offense and perimeter shooting. What the Pacers were severely lacking was defense, which they now have in Rush and in the paint with Hibbert. Not to mention with Jarrett Jack, who at 6'3" can guard the bigger point guards who give us trouble like Billups. Huge strides forward with that department. My main complaint is what they got for Bayless. They also threw in Ike - who never got a fair shake for Rush and Jack. Were they that concerned about a backup PG? You don't usually trade 2 young promising players for someone you passed in the draft and a backup PG, they didn't even get an extra pick from the Blazers. They got robbed in this deal - sure the Pacers got what they needed but they undersold Bayless. Now we will always look back at this, both franchises. It will hurt if Bayless goes on to be the next Gilbert Arenas. However, time gives us the opportunity for rationality. After getting wasted drunk last night and waking up at 1 p.m. today, I clearly see how improved the Pacers are. What a drastic change in this franchise basically overnight. Once Tinsley's contract is bought out the members of the Brawl are gone. Well besides Foster but he wasn't much of a player in that. They have a true center for the first time since Rik Smits in Hibbert. A guy who can play good defense, rebound, score on the post(we really need this after the departure of JO) and perhaps the most overlooked factor - screening. Hibbert is a great screener, this right here can make Rush a rookie of the year candidate - who excels as an off the ball offensive player. This is a very good post. My problem isn't with Brandon Rush. Earlier in this thread, pre-draft, I advocated him for #11 if Bayless-Gordon-Lopez didn't fall to that spot. However, they did. In my opinion, the Pacers-Blazers trade was made with Portland intent on getting D.J. Augustin at #11 -- which turning Augustin into Rush and Jarrett Jack would've been a great coup for Bird. Instead, Bayless by some miracle dropped to the Pacers and they failed to adjust the deal and capitalize. I like Rush and think he's a near lock to be a solid NBA player, but you don't trade a top-5 talent for him and a backup. The deal was not a good one, no matter what happens. Finally, despite his faults, I like the Hibbert pick. He was one of two guys I wanted at #17.

He's not. That's blasphemy to some here, but he's not a transcendent passer.

Are you joking? I like Rush and Jack is a good pair with Ford, but they traded the steal of the draft. This was a bad night for the Pacers.

That was me. He was considered a lottery lock for some reason. I never liked him at all, but ALL the scuttlebutt had him going in the lottery. It wasn't a personal opinion.

Yay DJ!!!!

Plus Paul Allen's money. Wow.

I hate the Pacers.

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