RedFlash

Agreed. I'm one of the biggest Fukudome supporters you'll find but I'd really have preferred Fontenot's bat in there to Kosuke's today. I know this is a flip of a coin type question but what if the game is close late in the game (say 2-2, 2-1, 3-3 AND it's in the 7-9 innings), who would you rather have up to bat in that situation; Kosuke or Fontenot? I know the answer would be, will if Fontenot started the game then maybe the game wouldn't come down to the late innings. IDK about you but I much rather sneaky power in the 7-9th innings with the game on the line instead of Kosuke. Besides, I think Lou is putting Kosuke 2nd in between Soriano/Lee is a strategic move. Putting him in between in theory two power hitters (one with good speed) would mean Fuku would see more FB in his at-bat. That's the theory anyway, considering Lowe is a sinker baller. And as a couple of guys have said early in the thread, I think Fuku is going to really shine in the playoffs. Baseball is baseball regardless of the level of competition, and I refuse to believe Fuku stinks, and that he was simply setting up the rest of the league for his ambush. We know Fuku can hit, I think he's been playing possum for most of the yr. Let me believe this, at least it gives me a glimmer of hope the Fuku will be as good as advertised.

The same definition as a player who is called a "gamer."

Maybe we can call thie new age of Cardinals baseball, "New Age of Stupid." There is no way Lohse should had gotten that contract. And the Cards are going to regret it when Lohse becomes the new Kip Wells. I don't think it's all that bad of a deal if they think Duncan figured him out and has him on the right track. He seems to be a classic Duncan guy who pitches to contact down in the zone and doesn't get a ton of Ks. The way they structured the deal, he won't kill them even if he does regress to a little above league average in the last couple years of the del assuming the price of pitching continues to go up. What about Carlos Silva? The Cubs lucked out that they have gotten 2 league average to above leage average yrs out of Lilly (because I remember people that it was a "quetionable" signing considering he wasn't even that good in Toronto. Or what about Adam Eaton? It's a gamble even for the Cards, and while they may see it as a worthwhile gamble considering their catcher, their pitching coach, and their defense, the simple fact is that 2008 was the first time he's had a ERA under 4. For the most part Lohse has stayed in the mid 4's or higher in his career. So I don't think he has figured it out. This was basically a career yr, and I expect him to give the Cards Jason Maruis (who coincendently Lohse is compare to) for the next 4 yrs. Not bad, but they could have used that money on help at 2nd/SS, OF, top of the line pitching, etc, etc.

I know there are alot of nervous nellies on this board----and that's ok---but for me, I am in a state of calm serenity. Now this can and prolly will change whenever or if the Dodgers take a lead, but right now I am calm because I know the Dodgers should fear the Cubs moreseo then the Cubs fearing the Dodgers

You know, that's really not that bad of a lineup. Maybe so, but it's still pitchable outside of Manny Ramirez. I doubt Furcal get back to April Furcal in time to help the Dodgers much.

Don't worry about him picking the Dodgers to win, seeing as everything he says the reverse happens. So it's a good thing he pick the Dodgers.

Fixed for accuracy.

Let the hate flow through you, my friend...

Why do I all sudden feel like I need to punch something?

Man, if the Sox are dumb enough to take Danks out for anybody other then Jenks, then they deserve to lose this game. Because you know if the Sox bring in any non Jenks reliever the Twins will score a few times in 8th. So if I am the major idiot who is managing the Sox, I would leave Danks in, and first sign of trouble brings Jenks.

Look at who Lowe faced in those 6 starts. Also, the Dodgers pitching numbers are helped by Dodger Stadium big time. They have like a mid 4's ERA on the road. Which is why I think the Dodgers are due a really bad pitching series against the NL's Top 2 best offense...

Actually I feel the opposite, I'm looking for the Cubs to light up Lowe and Dempster to give the Cubs atleast 7 strong innings.

Mike Golic wonders the same thing, as do I...

I don't understand the love the Angels get. They are this yr's DBacks in that they were incredibly lucky, considering the Py record and real record are separated by 10 wins. Add in the fact that the Angels have lost 9 straight to the Red Sox in the playoffs, and I pretty sure the Angels won't even make the ALCS. Cubs over Dodgers Brewers over Phillies DRays over Twins/White Sox Sox over Angels Cubs over Rays.

Maybe we can call thie new age of Cardinals baseball, "New Age of Stupid." There is no way Lohse should had gotten that contract. And the Cards are going to regret it when Lohse becomes the new Kip Wells.

Yep, the White Sox would have to do some serious choking to lose this game. The Cell is not conducive to the Twins style of baseball. Their only hope is that Jon Danks sucks on 3 days rest. Danks does have a 4.73 ERA since the ASB, and in his last start he gave up 7 runs in 4 innings to the Royals, so we'll see. I believe ESPN had a stat that says teams that there has been 10 tries at the 3 victories in 3 days .v. 3 different teams this yr, and said teams wer 0-10 in such a case. I don't like the White Sox chances here. I say the Twins will win this game. If for nothing else I want Hawk to be bitter and jaded going into the offseason.

2008 Dodgers=2007 Cubs 2008 Cubs=2007 Bosox? I know the Dodgers are no Pirates, but man if the NLDS takes more then 4 games to dispatch the Dodgers then I would be disaapointing.

Anybody hear Peter Gammons pimping out the Dodgers the last couple of days? This can be only good news to the Cubs....

I'm not surprise about how high the Hawks are about Niemi, seeing as a few of the inside sources of the org sees Niemi as a Mikka Kiprusoff caliber talent. I don't how accurate that is seeing as I haven't seen Niemi, and we know not to take organization hype on certain players as anything more then a grain of salt. I am also not surprise that Hawks place Nik on waivers. You simply cannot have $12 mill invested in goalies.

I wouldn't include both Marmol and Shark, it would have to be one or the other, plus say Sean Marshall and maybe a prospect, along with Theriot MIGHT work for the Mets. I doubt it, but hey you don't until you ask.

Sell Theriot high, and sign Renteria for cheap. No thank you. I much rather switch Theriot and Cedeno's roles on the team, instead of signing the one possible SS who has a worse range then Theriot. If there is even the slgihtest possibility that Reyes could be availabe and Minaya is stupid enough to trade him, I would make a hard charge after Reyes. If not, make a run after Furcal after destroying the Dodgers in the NLDS...

I'm down with this idea, but you know what's another keen idea........how about constantly be up by 4 or more runs every time Manny is up.

Yeah, this Bears team looks awfully similar to the 2001 Bears.

It wasn't a TD. Buckhalter never got the ball across the line.

Hester gets the Bears into a decent field position, only to watch the offense goes 3 and out. Typical Bears. There is nothing on this team that reeks special, outside of maybe Hester and Forte.