jersey cubs fan

The only problem is that watching the TSN feed is that they'll be defenitely biased towards the Canucks. a broadcast that is tilted towards the canucks or a broadcast that is all the way homer? I would much rather watch a tsn game with a Canadian team than almost any home teams announcers doing the game, including the Red Wings. At least the TSN announcers are very well informed about hockey as a whole. Some homer announcers, especially American ones, cannot even pronounce some guys names on the other teams. I think Foley and Olczyk are probably the best in America, but they are homers, which makes it un-objective and hard to watch sometimes. That's probably very true, but I've heard numerous instances where they've talked about bad calls that favored the Hawks and outright said they "got away with one" or otherwise got lucky.

I would think so since Fukudome has already been given the day off. Is something wrong with Fukudome? Why did Gathwright PH for him yesterday?

correct! glad to see we're all on the same page here. It comes down to people's definition of "uber," apparently. Anyone graded as an A- or better is mine, so roughly the Top 15-20 prospects in baseball. I think you can make an argument for having Hosmer that high. I know the guy's struggled since being drafted, but I love the guy's skill set. In whose rankings though? Aren't some publications likely to favor one type of guy over another?

jason heyward is basically in the same boat, a guy with great tools who put up big numbers at low-a ball. just because patterson had a major flaw (plate discipline) doesn't mean he wasn't an uber-prospect. that's a skill that some big-time prospects (jay bruce, cameron maybin) don't possess initially. I don't know, I think guys who are uber-prospects are guys who get raves from tools people but also produce tremendous numbers in high A/AA levels. He may have been ranked high by Baseball America, but there were plenty of people who were downgrading him quite early. I believe it was Rob Neyer who was always expressing doubts that Patterson would ever amount to anything.

I agree. I think one of the only ways that does happen is if Hester gets injured. He seems to me to be somebody acquired specifically to push Hester and be potential replacement if he falters.

I didn't say he would get more then 300 yards as a rookie, I said it wouldn't surprise me if he is productive like Eddie Royal as a rookie. Besides, if his hands are s reliable as people say he is, he'll quickly become a favorite with Cutler and the coaching staff. If he doesn't get 300 yards he's not productive like Eddie Royal who caught 90 balls for 1000+. I guess I don't understand your point. I think he's differentiating between what he thinks is likely to happen, and what he wouldn't be surprised of if it happened.

How soon we forget 2003. To be honest, I never really followed the minors very closely until about 2005ish. I remember hearing about guys like Corey Patterson, Mark Prior, and Carlos Zambrano on the radio before they came to be, but I didnt know much about a prospect until they were major league ready. Since then the prospects I remember getting kind of psyched about Angel Guzman, Ricky Nolasco, Felix Pie, Eric Patterson, Rich Hill, and Ronny Cedeno, and these guys havnt exactly panned out. The only Cubs prospects since Ive been following that really panned out was Geovany, and he didnt even get it going until 2007. Even Theriot and Marmols minor league numbers never really jumped out at me, although I do remember them being pretty decent. Wood (1996-98), Patterson (2000-01), Prior (2002) and Cruz before age-gate (2002) were all top 10-15 prospects. Patterson was never an uber-prospect though. He really only received commendations from the tools droolers, because he never put up any impressive numbers at any higher level. His flaws were pointed out early and often.

appears to me they are each game except game 1. Saturday,May 2,2009 Time Program 5:00am Paid Programming 6:00am Paid Programming 7:00am SportsRISE 8:00am SportsRISE 9:00am Wisconsin Waters & Woods 9:30am Time on the Water (G) 10:00am Discover Wisconsin 10:30am ATV Illustrated (G) 11:00am Paid Programming 11:30am Cubs Pregame Live HD 12:00pm Florida @ Cubs (LIVE) HD 3:00pm Cubs Postgame Live HD 3:30pm PAC 10 Softball: Arizona @ Cal 5:30pm Future Phenoms (G) 6:00pm Midwest Golf Classic ® 6:30pm SportsNite (LIVE) 7:00pm Florida @ Cubs ® HD 10:00pm SportsNite (LIVE) 10:30pm SportsNite (LIVE) 11:00pm Illinois TV Team Championship from Cantigny Golf Club: Riveria vs. Catigny (G) http://csnchicago.com/pages/tvlisting?showdate=1241236800 http://www.nhl.com/ice/schedulebyday.htm?date=05%2F02%2F2009 CHICAGO VANCOUVER 9:00 PM ET 6:00 PM PT VERSUS (HD),CBC (HD) http://blackhawks.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=SubseasonSchedule&gameType=3 May 2009 Date Visitor Home Score Dec Time (CT) TV Nat'l Local (A) Local (H) Sat May 2, 2009 Blackhawks Canucks 8:00 PM VERSUS (HD),CBC (HD) Tue May 5, 2009 Canucks Blackhawks 7:00 PM VERSUS (HD),CBC (HD) Tickets Thu May 7, 2009 Canucks Blackhawks 7:00 PM VERSUS (HD),CBC (HD) Tickets Sat May 9, 2009 Blackhawks Canucks 9:30 PM VERSUS (HD),CBC (HD) Mon May 11, 2009 Canucks Blackhawks 8:00 PM VERSUS (HD),CBC (HD) Tickets Thu May 14, 2009 Blackhawks Canucks TBD VERSUS (HD),CBC (HD)

Covering is different from televising. CSN is not listed as airing this game on blackhawks.com, despite being listed in the previous round. They aren't listed on NHL.com as the local broadcast, despite being listed in the first round. And on CSN Chicago's own website, they are not listing a Blackhawks game being televised Thursday or Saturday night. I don't think they are airing the games.

The best secret is don't park near Wrigley. Park a little further away and enjoy a nice little walk.

He's 5 for his last 18 with 2 HR, 2BB. I'm fine with Lee getting the start, only because it's a lefty. But Lee isn't particularly good against this particular lefty.

Cubs.com is saying Lee likely returning. Bummer that means he's taking Hoffpauir's hot bat out of the lineup. Sure, it's a lefty, but Lee doesn't exactly own Davis. He has some power numbers against him, but has a piss poor AVG/OBP.

that's why i laugh at teams that traded a first or second round pick in next year's draft for a worse pick in this year's draft. The only thing really missing from next years draft is a stud RB so far. Murray could be one but seems fragile, and McKnight seems better suited for a 2 RB system. I was also reading that next season is also an uncapped season, how will that make an impact on draft day. It could be uncapped, if there is no CBA. But I don't think that will affect the draft much, other than some teams perhaps being more willing to trade up.

Yes, Bernard Pollard is a hero in my book! He was to me long before Jay Cutler arrived on the scene.

I'm pretty sure I was glad at the time. There were those that wanted him though. I'm sure there were, and I'm sure I thought about it. But by the time this all went down I was predicting to my Jets fans friends exactly what would happen. He's have limited knowledge of the playbook given his late start in camp, have a couple big games, but ultimately ruin their chances with some horrible INTs. I'm not afraid of Minnesota signing him. Although if they do, I hope it's not until August.

I believe it was Erin Andrews who reported that somebody in his party whiped his brown and said, "phewww" when Oakland did not pick him. Which player had the plumbers crack chick? That was painful.

I'm pretty sure I was glad at the time.

I doubt it. They are all listed as being on Versus, and there is no "local tv" option listed, like there was in round 1. There aren't any scheduling conflicts right now, unless you count the 8pm/10:30pm starts on Tuesday and Thursday for the western series. You should really find a place to go with Versus.

I don't notice that prices are any higher than other places. The beers are cheaper at Wrigley, but it memory serves the cups are smaller. As for it being cramped, I agree. They definitely got every seat in there that they could. And no advertising possibility was ignored. Just like the old place, there are ads everywhere you look. I guess most places are that way now, it just seems like they take it to the extreme. The beer was 16oz which is either the same as Wrigley or smaller. For 7.75 thats crazy. But even the "hot dogs" and other food were pretty ridiculous. 16oz in Madison Square Garden are $9 now.

From ChicagoBears.com: Not sure if anybody puts stock in what Larry Mayer says on the team's website, but I would tend to believe this story. I don't think the Bears were going to take that guy in the 2nd, despite what Mitchell told the Oakland media.

They are $1250 now, 1200 down to 600. If you had already purchased the $500 and up season tickets, you'll get some money back. Can't believe they didn't react sooner.

Well that's good. Then I'm guessing they would prefer a Thursday start and would be less likely to complain about a lack of an extra day of rest.

possibly. Of course this is one of the major problems with the Wings being in the Western conference. They are the number 1 national tv draw. They are an Eastern time zone team. How late are you willing to start their home games to appease Boston or Washington(maybe Pittsburgh)? Also if you are an Anaheim fan it really does have to suck to have your team play at 4. Either way for Friday and Sunday it doesnt make any scheduling conflicts to have Hawks/Canucks playing the same day as Ducks/Wings. They can tweek the schedule after that. If they started the Hawks/Canucks on Thurs than that gives the Hawks a chance to complain about not getting an extra day like Anaheim. I am guessing the NHL would want to avoid that if there isnt any stadium issues. I thought Pittsburgh was the biggest national draw. Crosby is about the only known NHL player out there. It would be a stretch to start any eastern conference game on Thursday, considering both series depend on outcomes of tonight's game. They are probably Friday/Sunday games, allowing them to showcase Crosby again on NBC. I'd bet the Chicaco/Vancouver series starts Thursday. There isn't much difference between 2 off nights and 3. Although I assume they flew home already, and it could be tough to fly right back to western Canada. I'm hoping for Friday, because a Saturday game is going to be a conflict for me personally.

Well, it was addressed, but not in a way that affects 2009. It's probably going to be the same pass rush, minus one year of age related physical ability by every meaningful player involved. I think Gilbert is clearly a Harris insurance policy, while Melton will struggle to see the field on anything but special teams this season.

And that skill/talent won't necessarily have to translate into a significantly improved pass rush. Sulley said the Bears addressed the pass rush problem. I don't think they've done much of anything to address it for this year. Wale/Brown/Anderson/Harris are going to have to play better to see an improve pass rush. I don't think they will. I'm still angry at Anderson for dropping off a cliff. You should just choose to be happy he had one fluke good year.