scarey

I didn't think so.

That last pass is on Major Wright, not Tillman.

Wow. 5 fouls in 9 minutes for Lawson.

Personally, I'm more worried about the Raiders than the Chargers.

I can't point out that this is weird? All I'm saying is that he isn't viewed this way because of things he has said only. He has backed them up with his actions. And all I'm saying is you shouldn't pass judgement on Sveum on the kind of manager he is because he didn't bring a sport coat to the press conference. ;)

Sorry, it was about a comment made at the press conference introducing Sveum as the new manager. Since then, it's deformed into a semantic argument that, you're right, doesn't belong here. I personally won't post about it again.

Except you're missing the part where it's not just that. Holy crap. I'm not saying Sandberg is a sabre-driven manager. I clearly stated a few posts ago "Sandberg does not fall as much on the statistical side of managing as much as most teams in the league would like". This is actually quite like your situation earlier in this very thread. I can't point out that this is weird?

He doesn't get crap for mentioning it. Sure he does. He said it in his HOF speech and people game him crap to the extent of mocking him about his ex-wife's "transgressions". Same thing with his Yahoo Sports articles from years ago. You are either not paying attention, at all, or lying, because he doesn't get crap for mentioning it. He gets crap for harping on it, making it the centerpiece of what he's about, and actually putting it into practice. Every media member mentions the concept of changing the culture, David Kaplan freaking obsesses over that phrase and can only think about that. There are massive differences. Look, I'm not trying to say Sveume = Sandberg. They are clearly two different baseball minds. I just think it's weird that the perception of Sandberg on this site has become this caricature of a grumpy old fart that sends his first baseman to bunting drills and shakes his fist when his hitters take pitches. It's all basically based on what he's said. Then, Epstein says the exact same thing that makes everyone cringe when it comes from the lips of Sandberg, and it's "pandering to the local media". I'm not implying Sveum is going to start managing the "old school" way. I'm simply pointing out how vastly different the same comment is taken from two different people. And I understand it. It's still kinda funny.

He doesn't get crap for mentioning it. Sure he does. He said it in his HOF speech and people game him crap to the extent of mocking him about his ex-wife's "transgressions". Same thing with his Yahoo Sports articles from years ago.

Like I said, I trust our management team. Things have just shaken out differently than most have expected. How so? I really thought Sandberg, Francona, Bobby V and Martinez would get jobs before Ventura, Matheny and Sveum. Sveum belongs on that first list. He was a hot candidate. Ventura and Matheny were laughable hires, yes. Which makes it that much more sweet that it was the White Sox and Cardinals that made those hires.

Like I said, I trust our management team. Things have just shaken out differently than most have expected. How so? I really thought Sandberg, Francona, Bobby V and Martinez would get jobs before Ventura, Matheny and Sveum. Francona is going to take at least one year off from managing, Valentine likely is content just working in broadcasting, and Sandberg does not fall as much on the statistical side of managing as much as most teams in the league would like at this point. I am surprise that Ventura and Matheny got jobs while Martinez did not (yet). Sveum was a legitimately high ranking candidate though.

yeah, that's just not true. He's right to a degree though. Sandberg only need to utter the phrase "play the right way" and people get up in arms about it. Obviously, Epstein has a track record that indicates he doesn't believe, for instance, in bunting a guy over early in the game. However, the shear amount of crap Sandberg get's for the same thing is a little perplexing. Now, time to duck out of this discussion before I get tagged as a blind faith meathead Sandberg backer.

What has been severely lacking so far is Purdue's defense. Teams are figuring out how to score on them, and Painter has yet to adjust. As you mentioned, they lack an inside presence. Granted, it's early in the season, but based on what I've seen so far, Carroll has not taken the step forward I had hoped this year and Marcius really isn't developing as quickly as many thought he would. What do you think of Anthony Johnson so far? He's going to be a good one. I bet he's the leading scorer next year and makes the All-Freshman team this year. Maybe I'm too high on him... Some of the Illinois posters here were pretty down on him. I think the RS year was exactly what he needed. I like him, but I worry that he's going to struggle on defense a bit, as he looks like a stiff breeze could knock him over. I'm really curious to see how Jacob Lawson develops. They're going to need him to at least provide interior defense and rebounding, even if he won't contribute much offensively. I'm hoping Lawson can fill the role of inside help defender much like Johnson did the previous four years. It's obvious that Carroll and Marcius don't have that kind of ability to switch over and swat driving guards. I actually think Marcius has it in him, but everything I've heard is that he's still awkward out there. I've been pleasantly surprised at Barlow's scoring prowess. The guy has ridiculous athleticism, developing a jumper is going to open up driving opportunities for him. Ryne Smith has turned into a freaking assassin behind the line! 5 for 6 last night. If Smith, Hummel, Jackson, Barlow, and the Johnsons can all legitimately shoot the three, this is going to be a team that can put up points in bursts. My disappointment has been Byrd. He hasn't been getting any kind of minutes with Hummel back. I was hoping he would take that step that many have been anticipating since his freshman year.

I never understood how anyone could in good conscience evaluate a BABIP without considering line drive percentage as well. Personally, I don't see the harm in giving him the opportunity to pitch on the back end of the rotation again. Barring injuries, I expect production similar to '09/'10. If he doesn't get back there by the end of 2012, I'm fine looking for other options (hopefully in house as I hate paying a premium on 4/5 spot pitchers).

I was re-watching the brawl... I remember seeing some cheap shots from Lions, but I didn't realize how bad it was! Melton grabbed a Lion and started pulling him out of the pile when about 4 Lions players crowd around him and start punching and kicking him. Then, Tillman tries to break it up, gets pushed on the ground, and they do the same thing to him! Stafford should be suspended a game for grabbing a player by the head and throwing him to the ground. Heck, he should be suspended a second game for the piss poor lame excuse he used for why he did it during the press conference.

it was found in the alamo's basement =D>

I actually remember this play. Tight end came in motion from being split out to be set on the line. When the tight end almost got there, the ball was snapped. So, instead of stopping and setting, the tight end (can't remember if it was Davis or Spaeth) had a running start and crushed Babin. Whether it should be legal or not... I think it's debatable. The defensively lineman doesn't have enough time to react and is basically defenseless. However, to try to call out Lovie and Martz as if they were targetting him specifically is both delusional and conceited. Personally, I quite enjoyed it, especially if it puts a slight doubt in the defensive end's mind and is legal. Not sure I'd be happy if someone made a hit on Peppers like that though.

is anyone sold on him being more than that? i don't think anyone's talking him up for closer or shutdown setup man. I was kinda hoping for shutdown setup man personally. Not right away, but I don't see why he can't be a Matt Thornton type reliever. Those numbers he's been putting up are ridiculous. Given his peripherals over a two year span where he pitched 130+ innings, I'm pretty confident he's not getting al lefties out.

The only way I would be comfortable with the Bears trying to run out the clock if they go max protect on the punt, have the personal protector turn and run at the punter at the snap of the ball, and take a hand off running to his own endzone. He should also have another player running with him to throw a block to ensure the 9 seconds is run off. I think it would give the Eagles a moment of pause as the punter catches the ball and takes two steps forward as if he's kicking the ball. Handing it off to a player that is used to being a ball carrier (Bell?) would ensure it's in safer hands. Then, all you have to do is runtowards a corner of the endzone and have your one blocker ready to pick off anyone that threatens to end the play early. Even in this scenario, which is probably the safest one imaginable, there's a chance the exchanges is messed up and there's a fumble. So, the real safest play is to kick the ball out of bounds and defend against an almost impossible hail Mary attempt... which is what they did. Admittedly, a part of me would love to hear a Joniak call for a reverse TD. "15...10...5... SAFETY!"

Hey look at the packers/cubs fan subhuman getting uppity You forgot Duke.

his forward progress was stopped while he was in bounds True, but that's a silly rule. Only counts out of bounds if you go out on purpose? It wouldn't be silly if he was right at the first down marker and was thrown backward out of bounds. Not trying to be a smart ass, just trying to point out why it's in place.

He stood a guy up that weighs at 40 lbs more than him. Yes, Briggs destroyed him, but Tillman stopped him in his tracks.

He was forced backwards. Forward progress puts him down in bounds.

I've been trying to figure out a way to verbalize this correctly. Well done.

Personally, I hope Sandberg ends up managing an AL team, has some moderate success, and loses every game he manages against the Cubs (especially if he ever faces up with them in the WS). What's wrong with that?