imb

especially a reliever, for gods sake.

omc, your signature is tremendous. where did you find that? i would kill to read some old baseball gamers.

You guys realize that if Kansas wins out, they will beat OU, right? If they win the rest of their games, they're in, as long as LSU or Oregon lose a game.

oh god, come on illinois plz plz plz

Oh, I didnt read the part about Brandon Jacobs, I thought you needed two RBs and assumed that Fargas was a no brainer. I'd definitely go with Fargas first.

I put Rose at the top, then Mayo and then Beasley, but that's probably because I've always been a guard guy. Beasley is sort of the same deal as Mayo, as far as having incredible talent, but sometimes a lack of drive. He should be the top freshman in the Big XII and I wouldn't be shocked to see him make second team all-conference. I like Beasley, Mayo, Rose, then Gordon based on pure talent. I honestly think Gordon will be the best player this year and at the next level, based on what I have heard about his work ethic and basketball knowledge. Also, you shouldn't be shocked if Beasley is 2nd team all Big XII. It would probably be a big disappointment if he's NOT. He has as good a shot as any (except for Rush and Augustin) to be the 1st team. I like Rush's game a lot (I really wanted him at OU, and at one point it looked like we had him) but he won't be full speed form that knee injury until December or January, and you never know how those type of things will effect a slasher until they get out on the court. But you're probably right about him being on the first team. I like Arthur at Kansas and Jones at A&M, but neither have a smidgen of the talent that Beasley does.

Couldn't some of it be from fear of a future lawsuit? I know Coolbaugh didn't exactly get hit in the head, but if a coach dies from a linedrive, and mlb doesn't respond to it, what happens the next time someone gets beaned in the grill?

I would still play Gore if he isn't out. I don't think Holmes gets more than 10 carries.

I put Rose at the top, then Mayo and then Beasley, but that's probably because I've always been a guard guy. Beasley is sort of the same deal as Mayo, as far as having incredible talent, but sometimes a lack of drive. He should be the top freshman in the Big XII and I wouldn't be shocked to see him make second team all-conference.

Awful? I wouldn't characterize those numbers as awful at all if they're coming from a center fielder and he's making the MLB minimum. I'm just curious, at this point, what do think the Cubs realistically have to look forward to as far as a tailor-made leadoff hitter? I don't think we're getting Jimmy Rollins, Hanley Ramirez, or Ichiro numbers. Willits put up a .391 OBP and had 27 steals with 8 caught. A .391 OBP with some threat of stealing a base, and running the bases well? I'd take that for the leadoff spot. Davis' numbers were worse, but looking at what he did with the Giants, a .363 OBP with 17 steals in 51 games, over the course of a year that would look fine in the Cubs' leadoff spot. I think OBP is the most important part of a leadoff man's job, and I agree a .675 OPS guy is not good anywhere even if he has a high OBP, and I probably like speed in the leadoff spot more than the average person on here. So if a guy can play a position of defensive value (like center) and put up a .350+ OBP and an OPS of, heck, at this point, even .720, while stealing 20 bases or so at a reasonable percentage, AND be cheap salary-wise, I'd take that because it's been pretty much crap since Lofton. I think a lot of people would be happy to get a Reggie Willits 2007 season out of Fuld, and I don't see how that is impossible. Willits was worth 11.3 offensive win shares...or less than Macier Izturis. His OPS+ was 97, and considering his less than remarkable minor league career and the drop off he had in the last three months of the season, he probably played way over his head.

That's being nice. I'll take the under for any amount of money. The Yankees offense will be fine. ZiPS projects them to have five above average starters as it stands right now. Cano, Abreu, Jeter, Matsui...Giambi? Who's the fifth? Joba Chamberlain? Sorry, I could've worded that better. Oh, I gotcha.

That's being nice. I'll take the under for any amount of money. The Yankees offense will be fine. ZiPS projects them to have five above average starters as it stands right now. Cano, Abreu, Jeter, Matsui...Giambi? Who's the fifth?

I've never thought anything about Tony Gwynn Jr., but the way a lot of others talk about him, and the crazy trade rumors he's mentioned in... wow. Reggie Willits was "much" better than Fuld in the minors? Fuld's career minor league line - .296 / .377 / .417 for a .794 OPS, 141 strikeouts in 1184 ABs Willits' career minor league line - .301 / .397 / .397 for a .794 OPS, 292 strikeouts in 1596 ABs Let's keep in mind Willits also got to play in the Cal League and spent far more time in a hitter-friendly environment at Triple A than Fuld did. Fuld also had to play in the dead-ball Midwest League. Willits has stolen more bases. Okay, that accounts for "better." But Willits has shown less power than Fuld, and strikes out more, which is important when we're talking about these slap-hitter guys. And I'm somewhat encouraged by the fact that since 2006, Fuld has stolen 34 bases and been caught 6 times. That's some baserunning speed. So I don't know about "much" better. Rajai Davis's major league numbers so far would, if he were a Cub, be the best leadoff numbers the Cubs would've had. Rajai Davis' major league numbers are awful and he's played a total of 95 games. He's Juan Pierre, minus 20 steals and plus 20 points of OBP. He's bad. I was mainly comparing Willits' and Fuld's AAA numbers, which was a mistake, since Fuld only played in 19 games there. The point is, even if Fuld somehow finds a way to duplicate Willits' 2007 MLB season...it's still awful. Even if he finds a way to become exactly the same player that WIllits' is, that's no good. Willits had three good months and three terrible ones. He's no good. EDIT Strike that, two good months. April was just 29 at bats

What if ARod signs with the Red Sox, wins a few World Series and then becomes a free agent again. Would he know how to win? Would you want him back? It makes no sense.

Tony Gwynn Jr is not considered a real prospect. Reggie Willits is not good. But still, he was much better than Fuld in the minors. I don't know about Rajai Davis, but he looks terrible.

I don't want to take anything away from A-Rod's stats. He is a BEAST (except his RISP). My point is that the Yankees won without him, and save the 30 million for pitching!! This team won with Scott B at third and went to the series with Aaron F'in Boone. I feel it is time to go back to the winning ways of "THE TEAM" concept. 1998 Yankees, no 40 hr guys but were 125-50 (including playoffs)!!! Do all Yankee fans think this way? It's utterly stupid to think that the 98 Yankees won because of the team concept. Come on. So how did the 98 Yankees win?? O'neill, Jeter, Martinez, Posada, Bernie, Knoblauch-- What would you call it?? Those guys all hit really well that year. Awesome offense, decent pitching and a great bullpen. Edit and when i say decent pitching, i mean that they had the lowest ERA in the AL. By almost half a run. The offense was also fourth in the league in HR and first in runs. Acting like it was a bunch of no names banding together to claw out a championship is totally wrong. I never said it was a bunch of no names. I was saying that it was a great team! But there was no A-Rod type. 2007 ARod OPS+ 177 1998 Bernie Williams OPS+ 160 2007 Yankees team OPS+ 118 1998 Yankees team OPS+ 117 The 2007 Yankees allowed almost a full run per game (0.75) more than the 1998 version. That's why you weren't as good. Not because ARod is "only interested in money". EXACTLY MY POINT!!! How is A-rod and his 30 million going to help our pitching?? The Yankees have had mediocre pitching for years. I would much prefer to spend that 30 million on pitching!! We don't need the offense. ARod is worth what, 80 more runs than Betemit (total estimate)? With this FA pitching market, it's going to be tough to spread out $30 million dollars in a way to make up that many runs. The Yankees offense will be fine. I am tired of hearing how we will have no offense if he leaves! Yes his stats are IMPOSSIBLE to replace, but didn't we have a good offense in 2003? Can't we have offense without him? is everyone convinced there is no life after A-Rod? Didn't SWEET LOU guide the A-Rod less Mariners to 119 wins and the playoffs the YEAR AFTER he left?? They had the best offense and the best pitching in the league in 2001. The Yankees will definitely not have anywhere near that in 2008. If you lose ARod and you lose Posada, you can expect every player on your roster not named Cano or Melky to hit worse than they did last year. I'm not saying that it's foolish to not resign ARod, because it's going to be a lot of money over a lot of years, but if he and Posada hit the road, you are going to have to replace well over 100 runs. And if the rest of your team continues to decline (they're all well over 30 at this point), that offense is going to take a hit.

And listen to the bitching about a 250 million dollar payroll?? As a true fan, I want to see the payroll lowered and some talent developed! ARod's money is not going to be put into the draft or anything like that, it's going to go right back into the FA market. He didn't hinder your youth development, at all.

I don't want to take anything away from A-Rod's stats. He is a BEAST (except his RISP). My point is that the Yankees won without him, and save the 30 million for pitching!! This team won with Scott B at third and went to the series with Aaron F'in Boone. I feel it is time to go back to the winning ways of "THE TEAM" concept. 1998 Yankees, no 40 hr guys but were 125-50 (including playoffs)!!! Do all Yankee fans think this way? It's utterly stupid to think that the 98 Yankees won because of the team concept. Come on. So how did the 98 Yankees win?? O'neill, Jeter, Martinez, Posada, Bernie, Knoblauch-- What would you call it?? Those guys all hit really well that year. Awesome offense, decent pitching and a great bullpen. Edit and when i say decent pitching, i mean that they had the lowest ERA in the AL. By almost half a run. The offense was also fourth in the league in HR and first in runs. Acting like it was a bunch of no names banding together to claw out a championship is totally wrong. I never said it was a bunch of no names. I was saying that it was a great team! But there was no A-Rod type. 2007 ARod OPS+ 177 1998 Bernie Williams OPS+ 160 2007 Yankees team OPS+ 118 1998 Yankees team OPS+ 117 The 2007 Yankees allowed almost a full run per game (0.75) more than the 1998 version. That's why you weren't as good. Not because ARod is "only interested in money". EXACTLY MY POINT!!! How is A-rod and his 30 million going to help our pitching?? The Yankees have had mediocre pitching for years. I would much prefer to spend that 30 million on pitching!! We don't need the offense. ARod is worth what, 80 more runs than Betemit (total estimate)? With this FA pitching market, it's going to be tough to spread out $30 million dollars in a way to make up that many runs.

I don't want to take anything away from A-Rod's stats. He is a BEAST (except his RISP). My point is that the Yankees won without him, and save the 30 million for pitching!! This team won with Scott B at third and went to the series with Aaron F'in Boone. I feel it is time to go back to the winning ways of "THE TEAM" concept. 1998 Yankees, no 40 hr guys but were 125-50 (including playoffs)!!! Do all Yankee fans think this way? It's utterly stupid to think that the 98 Yankees won because of the team concept. Come on. So how did the 98 Yankees win?? O'neill, Jeter, Martinez, Posada, Bernie, Knoblauch-- What would you call it?? Those guys all hit really well that year. Awesome offense, decent pitching and a great bullpen. Edit and when i say decent pitching, i mean that they had the lowest ERA in the AL. By almost half a run. The offense was also fourth in the league in HR and first in runs. Acting like it was a bunch of no names banding together to claw out a championship is totally wrong. I never said it was a bunch of no names. I was saying that it was a great team! But there was no A-Rod type. 2007 ARod OPS+ 177 1998 Bernie Williams OPS+ 160 2007 Yankees team OPS+ 118 1998 Yankees team OPS+ 117 The 2007 Yankees allowed almost a full run per game (0.75) more than the 1998 version. That's why you weren't as good. Not because ARod is "only interested in money".

I don't want to take anything away from A-Rod's stats. He is a BEAST (except his RISP). My point is that the Yankees won without him, and save the 30 million for pitching!! This team won with Scott B at third and went to the series with Aaron F'in Boone. I feel it is time to go back to the winning ways of "THE TEAM" concept. 1998 Yankees, no 40 hr guys but were 125-50 (including playoffs)!!! Do all Yankee fans think this way? It's utterly stupid to think that the 98 Yankees won because of the team concept. Come on. So how did the 98 Yankees win?? O'neill, Jeter, Martinez, Posada, Bernie, Knoblauch-- What would you call it?? Those guys all hit really well that year. Awesome offense, decent pitching and a great bullpen. Edit and when i say decent pitching, i mean that they had the lowest ERA in the AL. By almost half a run. The offense was also fourth in the league in HR and first in runs. Acting like it was a bunch of no names banding together to claw out a championship is totally wrong.

The home unis look too much like padres Seriously, these are so boring.

He's like 6'5 playing point guard and his offensive game is mostly oriented around getting to the basket, I think he'll be fine. I'm not a Mayo fan by any means, but he's going to be really good. Agreed. Do you like Mayo or Rose better? Mayo is obviously a better scorer, but I think Rose will without a doubt be a better player, at least in college.

He's like 6'5 playing point guard and his offensive game is mostly oriented around getting to the basket, I think he'll be fine. I'm not a Mayo fan by any means, but he's going to be really good.

did you ever ask him about this, you dick

Is there any way to add some incentive to win a championship? I mean, as it stands now, you win and all that means is you get last pick in the draft. Should we give the champion something? Like a higher draft pick, or maybe the right to keep a fourth player for the next year? I haven't had a lot of time to think about it, but I sort of like the fourth keeper award. Something to think about.