brinoch

I'm still stunned, and have been drunk since about 5 minutes after the game. My friends and I did a champagne spray, toast, and general alcohol dump. It was awesome (and cold and stingy). Love you all!

Given the update on Schwarber, and the rumors now swirling, I think it is a good bet he'll be on the World Series roster. (Saying that just will never get old... World Series roster... World Series roster...) So, how does the roster shake out if he does? Zastryzny didn't pitch and he was there because of the Dodgers left-handedness. I think you see the same roster as for the NLCS, just with Schwarber replacing Zastryzny. But with the Cleveland pitching staff being so right-handed (only lefties are Miller and Merritt), I also think you could also see La Stella replacing Almora. Pitchers -- 11: Lester (Games 1 and 5) Arrieta (Games 2 and 6) Hendricks (Games 3 and 7) Lackey (Game 4) Wood (L) Montgomery (L) Chapman (L) Rondon ® Strop ® Edwards ® Grimm ® Position -- 14: Baez ® -- 2B/3B/SS Bryant ® -- 3B/OF Rizzo (L) -- 1B Russell ® -- SS Zobrist (S) -- OF/2B Fowler (S) -- OF Heyward (L) -- OF Soler ® -- OF Coghlan (L) -- OF Contreras ® -- C/LF Ross ® - C Montero (L) - C Schwarber (L) -- DH Almora ®/La Stella (L)

I'll de-lurk for a second and check-in.

General thoughts... 2nd half left side was great -- Nagbe, Johnson, Pulisic was a possession monster. Pulisic is the real deal. He needs to play. Ecuador was over-rotating and they still couldn't stop them. Nagbe-Bradley is a thing, too. It just really opens the game up for MB, and plays to his strengths as a 6. He has a partner that can operate in tight spaces, the game is in front of him, and his vision for long passes can be best used. Yedlin looked great. Zusi is still slow, but with a better technical complement (not Zardes), that can work. Bedoya played well. Brooks was good. I'd probably start this as my XI right now: --------Wood--------------Dempsey----- ------------------Pulisic------------------- ---------Nagbe------------Bedoya-------- ------------------Bradley------------------ Johnson---Brooks---Cameron---Yedlin ------------------Guzan------------------- We aren't going to win COPA, but this is a line-up that can qualify for Russia and maybe do some damage with experience.

De-lurking to say, AWESOME! 3 in 6. Man, this never gets old.

Been busy with work and travel and such, so haven't had a ton of time to post -- but damn, what a season! 3 in 6 is amazing. (Haven't missed watching a game in a long time, though -- DVRs are wonderful.) I love Corey Crawford. He's an above average/ borderline elite level goalie. But if you get blown away and have reasonable confidence in Darling, you make the deal. I mean, if you can get a young, good D-man (like a Nick Leddy), or a young power forward, I think you have to make the deal -- it relieves cap pressure, and possibly upgrades the roster. It really depends on how you feel about the upper level AHL players and their potential (and no one knows how the Blackhawks feel, to be fair). In cap era, it's hard to justify paying a goalie a huge percentage of your cap. That said, Darling is on a great, team-friendly deal at $587,500. Together Crawford and Darling make $6,587,500. Less than 10%. I just believe, personally, in the model that focuses on a strong D and strong forwards up the middle, rather than a huge investment in a goalie (in the cap-constrained NHL). This isn't an attack on Crawford, it's just the reality of the NHL cap -- you can't keep everyone, and you have to prioritize. Looking to the RFAs... Saad and Kruger (and Nordstrom, but no one cares all that much) are going to get resigned. The window for offer sheets isn't until after the draft, and I bet they are both signed by the draft (or very shortly thereafter). Both are incredibly important to the effectiveness of this team. Kruger is really underrated because of his role as the shut-down center, and there isn't anyone yet to fill that void (Phillip Danault is the likely successor, but he's just about to graduate to the NHL and needs seasoning). And, Saad... well, I don't think his importance needs explanation, does it? In terms of trades, (or giveaways)... just like in '10 when we knew that Byfuglien, Ladd, and others were leaving, so we know that Sharp, Bickell, and Versteeg are almost certainly all gone. Clearing the three of them will relieve $12.1M of salary. I don't think there will be that much turnover, all in all, other than these three and letting UFAs like Vermette, Roszival, Desjardins, etc. leave. Rumors have the cap number at $71M, but the Blackhawks will leave a themselves a little under as they always do -- let's say they'll spend to $70M, conservatively. Let's also assume that the Hawks get only draft picks back -- no entry-level deals or prospects. New Core: $52M (actually a little under at $51.965, but we'll round up.) Toews, C -- $10.5M Kane, RW -- $10.5M Hossa, RW -- $5.275M Saad, LW -- $4.25M (RFA, just guessing here...) Keith, D -- $5.54M Seabrook, D -- $5.8M Hjalmarsson, D -- $4.1M (this is an amazing deal at $4.1M through 2018-2019, btw, holy crap). Crawford , G -- $6M Under contract: $8.52M Kruger, C -- $2.5M (RFA, just guessing here...) Shaw, RW -- $2M Teravainen, C -- $895K Panarin, LW -- $813K Van Riemsdyk, D -- $925K Darling, G -- $588K Nordstrom, LW -- $800K That leaves about $9.4M for the rest of the roster. There are 14 players under contract, leaving 8-9 to sign. I think Brad Richards comes back for another team-friendly $2M deal -- he's getting paid $8.5M by the Rangers under the buyout, so he can play wherever he wants for whatever he wants. He likes being in Chicago, and he and Kane like playing together. I think it very likely that you'll see the Hawks have Toews, Richards, Teravainen, Kruger down the middle, with Danault coming up to fill in on the 4th line wing spot and learn Kruger's role (and that line should be Danault-Kruger-Shaw). McNeill comes up for the RW next to Finnish Cold. The system is a bit weak at LW, so I'd bet that any targets they have in trade are LW (since Sharp, Versteeg, and Bickell are being jettisoned). Potential signings/promotions: $4.53M Richards, C -- $2M Danault, LW -- $863K McNeill, RW -- $863K Johns, D -- $800K From here, there is roughly $4.87M left. So, some wiggle room for Saad and Kruger. Setting aside the question of who of Johns/Pokka/Paliotta (and maybe Reilly if they sign him) make the roster playing D, and who among Danault/McNeill/Hartman/Ross make the team, (all this keeping in mind that there could be a draft pick that ascends to the roster, or an entry-level player acquired via trade who makes the team) several players from that list could make the team, and their cap hits are all under $1M. So, in this scenario, there is room for Oduya to come back for $3-3.5M, but I don't know if he would take that deal. And after next season you need to budget some money for Seabrook to come back, and Shaw is also a RFA (but I think he can be replaced fairly easily... but if he's willing to stay at $2-3M, you keep him) without a huge rise in the cap. So, Oduya is probably gone, and you may see a veteran d-man, like Roszival (but not necessarily Roszival) signed in the $2M range. Ideally, you'd want a puck-moving d-man to complement Hjalmarsson since you have the hulking Johns ready to move up. Maybe Pokka makes the jump. Looking at the lines: Panarin - Toews - Hossa Saad - Richards - Kane Nordstrom - Teuvo - McNeill Danault - Kruger - Shaw Keith - Seabrook ? - Hjalmarsson Johns - TVR Crawford/Darling I think the LW is a little weak, the #4 d-man role isn't locked down, and they'll sign another veteran for injury protection and press box wrangling (could easily be Carcillo or Desjardins). My bet is that Bowman's trade focus right now is on a good, fairly inexpensive d-man to play the puck-moving role alongside Hjalmarsson (bonus for left-handed shot), as well as someone with more experience to help out Teuvo on the left. If they can sign Hobey Baker finalist Mike Reilly (available on the same loophole that made Kevin Hayes available to the Rangers)... that would make the focus more on the LW role for Teuvo.

Looking at those pictures... man, that might be broken badly. I just recovered from a similar-type injury. I hope its not the case, but for someone his age, that could be a career-ender.

I'm really happy with this set of deals, and the general positioning heading into the playoffs. The Hawks can score goals, though they've had their noticeable dips of late. Much of that, though, is related to the spotty defensive play. JenLC has done some really good work on this topic.

I don't really care that much about the shootout, though I'd prefer that if they continue, each game be worth 3 points (3 points for a Reg/OT win, and 2 points for shootout win/1 point for SO loss). My six year-old son loves shootouts, though.

Update: still amazing.

I don't have a problem with Shanahan. He would be a good choice. Besides, you shouldn't hold any coach's tenure with Washington against them. Snyder is the problem there, and I don't think we'll see them be successful until he's gone. No one will be successful that maniacal douche constantly chasing new players, intervening in decisions, and basically being an ass.

Teuvo Time. I don't think he'll be going back down, either.

I don't think that will be a problem. 100 pages in inevitable. I kind of want the Cubs to play Baseball Mogul right now. Trade for Montero? Accepted. Lester? Signed. Shields? Done. McCarthy? Check. Random Loogy? Fine. Trade quantity for Upton? Yes.

!!!! So awesome! Love the way this shaping up.

That was a dominating performance.

Definitely worth a challenge here.

Living in PDX, I'm hoping for Salem-Keizer. I drive by the stadium on I-5 fairly regularly and it is pretty nice. Though, to be fair, I really have no idea about the facilities there, in Eugene, or Hillsboro. I just know that I hate going to Eugene, so no thanks. Because my personal convenience truly is all that matters.

Terrible meltdown by the Colts. Sproles just destroyed their defense Definitely nice work by Sproles -- but that was abysmal officiating on the UR -- Horsecollar and the non-call interference/contact that led to the interception. Also: 4th and 5? Go for it.

I'm amazed he didn't break his ankle. The stress that occurs in a dislocation is enormous -- RGIII must have incredibly strong ankles. I hope he didn't tear anything in there, and can make a comeback in 6-10 weeks.

Hey zero tolerance made a tackle.

Of course the spot will give it the the 49ers.

Screwed again.

That was actual containment. Nice. And now a first.

Still suck on 3rd and long.

Haaahahahaahahaha. So screwed.