TheVolCub08

Bob Melvin looks like a front-runner right now.

Watching USC not only lose, but to be given no chance to respond, based solely on the stupidity of their head coach was very nice. Actually, I don't think it is even stupidity, to be honest. I think it's arrogance, plain and simple.

dew, I cannot agree with you on the Defensive Line. Hughes is the best of the bunch right now, but he takes too many plays off. I like Jackson on the end, and think he could play at an all--conference level next season. And I think we have two beasts in Miller and Smith. Both have all-conference ability, and are playing enough as true freshmen that you have to like their futures here. Smith will stay at DE or play some OLB in the 3-4, and I think Miller will move inside for good this offseason and has an NFL future ahead. I'm just not that down on those 2, and added to Hughes, Jackson, and a returning Ben Martin, our DL will be much improved next season. Plus, I honestly think Gabe Wright is going to surprise alot of folks and sign with UT. Between him, Carson, Miller, and Hughes, our interior line will be very good. Ends will be Smith, Jackson, Martin, and Fowlkes. I think we're going to be just fine. Of course, we absolutely have to stay healthy. But the experience this team is getting now will pay dividends next year.

As best I can tell, Tennessee will bring in 27+ in the upcoming class (backcounting 2, at least), and look to only be losing 16 scholarship seniors. And I don't see a junior on the roster who looks like an early departure for the NFL. So, as of now, it looks like our best case scenario is something along the lines of 82 or so scholarship players next fall. But, our OL will be miles ahead of where they are now, and we should improve at every single position except FB and TE, and possibly DE and MLB. 9 wins is a ceiling for us in 2011, I think. It's a shame that years of being a stupid Cubs fan have made me okay with stuff like that.

Disagree. Tennessee has a good chance at beating both Vandy and Ole Miss. And they are a pick 'em against Georgia. I also would not be surprised to see them beat Kentucky. Every game is played on its own merits, and I doubt that UAB has any bearing on how we do in any of those games. That said, UT could lose every one of those games, and I would not be shocked. 62 healthy scholarship players. Not enough healthy DB's to run a nickel package. That's unreal.

The worst Athletic Director in the NCAA. Decent beancounter, but not proving that Institutional Control is a strength.

I'm your huckleberry.

why not just call it an "M" I didn't make up the term. Glad you're able to add to the discussion, though.

For decades, Tennessee's biggest rival was Alabama without question. Since the SEC instituted a conference championship game and started up protected rivalries, Tennessee/Florida has become much bigger. UT/Bama clearly isn't the rivalry Michigan/OSU is, but it's still pretty massive for my parents' aged fans. An Ohio State/Michigan Big 10 title game would be huge money and ratings, but you're right that it simply isn't likely to happen enough. I disagree that Florida is a "much bigger" rivalry than Alabama. It is only slightly bigger to the fanbase as a whole, and has much more to do with Spurrier in the 90's than it does the divisions, imo. In years where Tennessee or Florida is not competing for a conference title, that rivalry is nowhere near as big a deal as the Alabama game, even if neither team is good enough to play for a conference title.

Why not?

For the sake of comparison... Prior, and a very pronounced Inverted W... http://blog.prorumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/mark_prior.jpg And Strasburg, who has a slight inversion, but points much more toward 1B... http://media.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/photo/stephen-strasburg-syracusejpg-a3d01a23d9af787c_large.jpg

I've been comparing pictures of the two to see if there's anything mechanically that could portend a career of arm troubles for Strasburg, and it's interesting to note the differences between the two. Prior had a very pronounced "inverted W" in his motion, which puts more strain on the arm (so much for his "perfect mechanics"). Checking out pics of Strasburg, he does not have the same "inverted W", but he instead appears to have a "horizontal W", with both of his elbows jammed back toward first base. I haven't read anything about this type of motion, but do any of you fellas know anything about it, and whether or not this might him more susceptible to serious (and repeated) arm injuries?

With the news that Kevin Youkilis might be done for the year, and no chance that a guy like Dunn falls that far in waivers, is it possible that Lee might reconsider his NTC for a move to Boston? It could be a great chance for the Cubs to give Lars Anderson a shot. I'd be a little surprised, but maybe a move to Boston is more appealing to Lee?

Where are you seeing that Berkman is going to the Angles? I havent seen it anywhere, just that Houston is entertaining offers for Berkman. Educated guess. You have a team who is known to be in the market for a 1B competing in a division with another team who was also looking for a 1B and who actually pulled off a deal today. So, based on those factors, it just makes sense. I suppose the Braves could sneak in as well, but an Astros/Angels Berkman trade seems to make the most sense. Which is probably why it won't happen.

So the Astros are about to turn this Oswalt deal into Happ, Wallace, Villar, and whatever the Angels are giving up for Berkman (think the Rangers are wishing they had waited before pulling the trigger on that Cantu trade?). It's not a blockbuster, but it's potentially a solid return that saves cash in Houston.

If career splits are any indication, this was not a great move by the Braves. Gonzalez gets progressively worse during the 2nd half, while Escobar gets progressively better. And the downgrade from Escobar's defense to Gonzalez's is noticeable as well. This is a win-now type of move that I am not convinced will help the Braves win now. Which is fine, because I hate them so badly and enjoy seeing Braves fans in misery.

this guy here is dead You may want to tell him that.

Well, if you would set your email notifications, we do have a system. It's the easiest way to do it. No biggie really... I do get the emails, in fact i got one that said I had like 2hrs to pick at around 8-10 am mountain time, guess what I was asleep for next 6-8hrs. I never got one that said, "Hey focker, you're up in the draft!". You didn't get the one from June 15 at 9:55 MT that was totled Sox/MM Trade...TWNN on the Clock? BOdy read: "White Sox trade 2011 4th round pick for MM 1st round pick in amateur draft. With that pick Soxaholics select Chris Sale, SP, CWS. Jonathan is now on the clock............."

Well, if you would set your email notifications, we do have a system. It's the easiest way to do it.

Did you sleep 24 hours straight? :sleep:

You are allowed to jump back in.

Round 1 1. Janzen's (from Sultans): Bryce Harper, Wash. 2. Ozzie Guillen's Accent: Drew Pomeranz, Cle. 3. Janzen's Black n Milds: Manny Machado, Balt. 4. Janzen's (from The Big City Sliders): Jameson Taillon, Pitt. 5. White Soxaholics (from Minnesota Masterbatters): Chris Sale, CHW 6. Team With No Name: Zach Cox, StL 7. Kingsport Copperheads: Barret Loux, Ariz 8. Black Labs: Josh Sale, TB 9. White Soxaholics (from Czar Nikita): Reggie Golden, ChiC 10. Cubbiebummin: Kolbrin Vitek, Bos 11. Bronx DSB: Matt Harvey, NYM 12. Roady: Hayden Simpson, ChiC 13. Minnesota Masterbatters (from Hosak): Alex Wimmers, Min 14. Janzen's (from SoCal Cubs): Karsten Whitson, SD 15. Andre's Army: Yasmani Grandal, Cin 16. Czar Nikita: Michael Choice, Oak Round 2 1. Sultans: Delino DeShields, Hou 2. Ozzie Guillen's Accent: Bryce Brentz, Bos 3. Janzen's Black n Milds: Kaleb Cowart, LAA 4. The Big City Sliders: Deck McGuire, Tor 5. Minnesota Masterbatters: Christian Colon, KC 6. Team With No Name: Brett Eibner, KC 7. Kingsport Copperheads: Chance Ruffin, Det 8. Black Labs: Stetson Allie, Pit 9. Czar Nikita: Anthony Ranaudo, Bos 10. Cubbiebummin: Perci Garner, 11. Bronx DSB: Gary Brown, SF 12. Roady: not participating 13. Hosak: Kyle Parker, Col 14. SoCal Cubs: Seth Blair, StL (rights traded to Hosak) 15. Andre's Army: Edward Salcedo 16. White Soxaholics: Trey McNutt, ChiC Round 3 1. Sultans: Asher Wojciechowski, Tor 2. Ozzie Guillen's Accent: not participating 3. Janzen's Black n Milds: not participating 4. The Big City Sliders: Blake Beavan, SEA 5. Minnesota Masterbatters: Christian Yelick, FLA 6. Team With No Name: Drew Smyly 7. Kingsport Copperheads: Bryan Morgado, PHI 8. Black Labs: Hector Noesi, 9. Czar Nikita: Brandon Workman, BOS 10. Cubbiebummin: not participating 11. Bronx DSB: Mike Ott, TEX 12. Roady: not participating 13. Hosak: Mike Kvasnicka, HOU 14. SoCal Cubs: not participating 15. Andre's Army: AJ Cole 16. White Soxaholics: Juan Oramas, SD Round 4 1. Sultans: Yordy Carbera, OAK 2. Ozzie Guillen's Accent: not participating 3. Janzen's Black n Milds: not participating 4. The Big City Sliders: Adonis Cardona, TOR 5. Minnesota Masterbatters: Ryan LaMarre, StL 6. Team With No Name: skipped 7. Kingsport Copperheads: not particpating 8. Black Labs: not participating 9. Czar Nikita: Nick Castellanos, DET 10. Cubbiebummin: not participating 11. Bronx DSB: not participating 12. Roady: not participating 13. Hosak: skipped 14. SoCal Cubs: not participating 15. Andre's Army: Wilmer Font, TEX 16. White Soxaholics: John Lamb, KC

Iowa vs Nebraska could, potentially, develop into a pretty good rivalry. Not as good as that Iowa-Iowa State rivalry could be though. This. From who's perspective? Iowa State's? No one outside of Iowa cares about Iowa/Iowa State. ISU isn't even Iowa's biggest rival, Minnesota is. If it weren't for the state legislature, the Iowa/ISU game wouldn't even be played. Now, I will give you this, if ISU was good more than 2-3 years out of 20, it could be a good rivalry. But they haven't been, nor do they show signs of turning that around. While it wouldn't be OSU/MI big, Iowa/NE, the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving would be huge and would draw a big audience OUTSIDE of those two states. Playing it kinda fast and loose with the word "big", don't ya think? I'm as big a college football fan as you will find, and there is no chance that I would care to watch that game. I'd be more than a little surprised if a game of that caliber was even anything more than a Regional broadcast.

They're not going to 14... they're going to 16.

OU is gone.