dew1679666265

The Memphis AD also said they were prepared to match any offer Kentucky came up with. Money is not an issue for Memphis basketball. There's some very deep pockets with high interest in the program. As you'll see with the amount of money they have to throw at the next coach(Rick Pitino). Bold prediction.

Most of what I've been hearing is a three-way with the Browns. Team A, let's say, is acquiring Cutler. So it goes like this: Team A receives Cutler and gives up draft picks Cleveland gives up Brady Quinn to Denver and receives draft picks Denver gives up Cutler to Cleveland and receives draft picks I could see some combination of that working well. Denver keeps a good QB with potential (don't forget that McDaniels has ties to Charlie Weiss, who loved Quinn at ND), Cleveland has its unquestioned starting QB and gets picks and Team A has its franchise QB minus a good number of picks. That I could understand, but most "which team will get Cutler" articles include the Browns pretty highly... http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/don_banks/04/01/cutler-destinations/index.html#?eref=T1 http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcwest/0-3-1884/Where-could-Cutler-end-up-.html Yeah, I've heard those, but they don't make much sense. I think the Browns would be more likely to chase picks than chase Cutler.

Vizcaino for Baker ignore that we acquired Vizcaino from the Rockies this offseason

Most of what I've been hearing is a three-way with the Browns. Team A, let's say, is acquiring Cutler. So it goes like this: Team A receives Cutler and gives up draft picks Cleveland gives up Brady Quinn to Denver and receives draft picks Denver gives up Cutler to Cleveland and receives draft picks I could see some combination of that working well. Denver keeps a good QB with potential (don't forget that McDaniels has ties to Charlie Weiss, who loved Quinn at ND), Cleveland has its unquestioned starting QB and gets picks and Team A has its franchise QB minus a good number of picks.

NFL Draft U was probably my favorite site, but they apparently disappeared a week ago or so. Here's a huge database of mock drafts I haven't sorted through yet. I'm sure there are some good ones in there, too.

draftcountdown.com is good - with a long mock draft and player rankings. But they get a bit sketchy with their player analyses this late in the draft. Most of the players who have analyses are rounds 1-3 guys.

Link That's just one link, but I've seen others that I don't remember now where they were.

Or a sign they don't have many good options on the line to begin with. Again, I'm not saying they have clearly given up on Williams or anything. But if they are actually pursuing Pace to start at LT, it would seem pretty clear to me that they've soured on Williams, considering they had penciled him in as the starting LT. Without more info, I just don't think that's a safe assumption. If Pace is more comfortable at LT or if they feel Williams would make the transition over to RT a little more easily, neither of those situations would mean they have soured on Williams. Again, it's all just speculation until more info comes out.

The difference being that Estes wasn't very good, while Pace is. And Williams is still starting, unlike Cruz. I just don't really see how starting a player can constitute souring on him. I see it more as the Cubs calling up Vitters to play first instead of third. His true position is still third, but the need (in theory) is greater for him to play first. That's not even close to the same. NFL doesn't have minor leagues. They also have a salary cap. Williams draft status and contract means he will play somewhere, regardless of how the coaches feel about him. But going from Day 1 left tackle starter to maybe moving over to RT and possibly competing with a guy cut by Cleveland looks to me like a coaching staff souring on a guy. The Titans have soured on Vince Young and, hence, are no longer starting him. Coaches in this league will bench a guy regardless of his salary if they feel he is hurting the team by starting. I don't know what Williams is making, but Vince is over $4 million this year and will top $10 million next year. If the Titans still don't see him as a starter, they won't start him next year either. The Bears might be souring on Williams, but I just don't see enough evidence in a switch to RT that it's safe to assume. And from the blurbs we're discussing, the assumption was Williams would have the starting RT job if Pace is signed. There was nothing about him competing with Shaffer. QB is another animal. But yes, they have clearly soured on him. If they moved him from starting QB to starting WR, you could also say they were soured on him. I really don't see how anybody can look at pursuing multiple tackle options, moving your #1 draft pick, slated to start at LT, to RT, and not think there is a possibility they are souring on him. The trip blurb did reference Schafer competing to start at RT. Possible? Yes. But I don't think it's safe to assume that. Now, I didn't see the blurb that said Shaffer would compete with him. If that's the case, then I would tend to think they have. As long as they are starting him, though, I think that's a sign they still like him.

The difference being that Estes wasn't very good, while Pace is. And Williams is still starting, unlike Cruz. I just don't really see how starting a player can constitute souring on him. I see it more as the Cubs calling up Vitters to play first instead of third. His true position is still third, but the need (in theory) is greater for him to play first. That's not even close to the same. NFL doesn't have minor leagues. They also have a salary cap. Williams draft status and contract means he will play somewhere, regardless of how the coaches feel about him. But going from Day 1 left tackle starter to maybe moving over to RT and possibly competing with a guy cut by Cleveland looks to me like a coaching staff souring on a guy. The Titans have soured on Vince Young and, hence, are no longer starting him. Coaches in this league will bench a guy regardless of his salary if they feel he is hurting the team by starting. I don't know what Williams is making, but Vince is over $4 million this year and will top $10 million next year. If the Titans still don't see him as a starter, they won't start him next year either. The Bears might be souring on Williams, but I just don't see enough evidence in a switch to RT that it's safe to assume. And from the blurbs we're discussing, the assumption was Williams would have the starting RT job if Pace is signed. There was nothing about him competing with Shaffer.

The difference being that Estes wasn't very good, while Pace is. And Williams is still starting, unlike Cruz. I just don't really see how starting a player can constitute souring on him. I see it more as the Cubs calling up Vitters to play first instead of third. His true position is still third, but the need (in theory) is greater for him to play first. I wonder if the Bears are finding it necessary to promise Pace the LT job to entice him away from other teams, who might be offering contracts but telling him he would be @ RT. The plan might be to play Pace at LT for a year, develop Williams as he starts @ RT, then over time convince Pace that the time is right to move to RT. I don't know. I'm pretty surprised at the thought that Pace would be our LT rather than RT given his age, & wear and tear. I see that as a possibility as well. It just doesn't seem the best use of Pace to put him at LT, unless that's where he insists on playing.

The difference being that Estes wasn't very good, while Pace is. And Williams is still starting, unlike Cruz. I just don't really see how starting a player can constitute souring on him. I see it more as the Cubs calling up Vitters to play first instead of third. His true position is still third, but the need (in theory) is greater for him to play first.

Yep. Hoffpauir is the primary 1B backup and Miles is the only other infielder on the roster (other than the starters, obviously).

With word that they're shifting Williams to RT if they sign Pace, I don't think they've given up on him. I don't understand why they're not shifting Pace to RT, but I haven't seen anything that makes me think they're giving up on Williams. Shifting him to RT if they sign an aging LT is absolutely a sign that they are souring on the guy, or at least have doubt. Players who miss their entire rookie year to injury (on the first day of practice) don't tend to be given leeway from coaches. Word was they drafted him because he was the most capable of starting from day one, and not necessarily the best LT prospect. Given how much that blew up in their face, I could see some tension there. To me it means one of two things, most likely: 1) They're giving preference to the veteran and letting Pace keep his more normal position. Also, they could figure that Pace has played LT much longer than Williams has and, therefore, the switch would be easier for the younger Williams. 2) They simply think Williams would make a better RT than Pace. Maybe he's more comfortable making the switch or in their meeting with Pace they determined he would not be comfortable at all with the switch. If they were saying that Williams would compete with Shaffer for the RT job or just coming right out and saying that Williams would back up Pace at LT, that would cause me to think they've lost confidence. But swapping a young player's position - while still starting him - doesn't strike me as giving up on him. No, not outright giving up, but souring on him. Yeah, the "giving up" was poor wording on my part. But I don't think it necessarily means they're souring on him either. It could very well mean one of the two situations I brought up - neither of which would be souring on him.

Alright then, I'll go ahead and finish the Round 3 selections with the Giants' compensatory pick. The Giants only need still remains safety, but alas, there are none good enough for this spot. So, the Giants choose to further bulk up their linebacking corps. So, the Giants select OLB Gerald McGrath from Southern Mississippi. McGrath adds a bit more depth to a linebacker unit that needs depth and I've heard some rumblings (minimal as they may be) that he may have the necessary tools to shift to safety. We move on to the fourth round and IMB! and vance are on the clock with Dallas' pick. I'll PM them.

With word that they're shifting Williams to RT if they sign Pace, I don't think they've given up on him. I don't understand why they're not shifting Pace to RT, but I haven't seen anything that makes me think they're giving up on Williams. Shifting him to RT if they sign an aging LT is absolutely a sign that they are souring on the guy, or at least have doubt. Players who miss their entire rookie year to injury (on the first day of practice) don't tend to be given leeway from coaches. Word was they drafted him because he was the most capable of starting from day one, and not necessarily the best LT prospect. Given how much that blew up in their face, I could see some tension there. To me it means one of two things, most likely: 1) They're giving preference to the veteran and letting Pace keep his more normal position. Also, they could figure that Pace has played LT much longer than Williams has and, therefore, the switch would be easier for the younger Williams. 2) They simply think Williams would make a better RT than Pace. Maybe he's more comfortable making the switch or in their meeting with Pace they determined he would not be comfortable at all with the switch. If they were saying that Williams would compete with Shaffer for the RT job or just coming right out and saying that Williams would back up Pace at LT, that would cause me to think they've lost confidence. But swapping a young player's position - while still starting him - doesn't strike me as giving up on him.

With word that they're shifting Williams to RT if they sign Pace, I don't think they've given up on him. I don't understand why they're not shifting Pace to RT, but I haven't seen anything that makes me think they're giving up on Williams.

Bradley's bat is obviously much better than DeRosa's, but Bradley isn't taking DeRosa's ABs. He's taking Edmonds' ABs from last year. DeRosa's ABs will be taken by Aaron Miles and whoever replaces Bradley in right when Milton gets hurt. But I do appreciate Bradley's bat - I hope he's healthy all year. Mike Fontenot says, "Hi." Fontenot will take Fontenot's at bats, and some of DeRosa's. But my bet is Miles will have more PA than Fontenot will have increased PA. I really don't see Miles getting more PA than Fontenot barring injury or Fontenot completely sucking. We shall see. I didn't say he'd get more than Fontenot. But Fontenot played on the Cubs last year. In order to say he will take DeRosa's at bats, you have to only count whatever at bats he gets in addition to what he had last year, 284 PA. Exactly. Fontenot will have the same ABs he got last year plus a decent number. Most of DeRo's lost ABs will go to the new additions, though. Fontenot will still get more ABs than Miles overall, but Miles will get a larger number of ABs that would have gone to DeRo had he stayed.

Is that official?

Ok, hadn't followed him that closely but he was on BacktoBanks' list of potential bench additions so I wasn't sure what his status was. If we could get him for a PTBNL or someone minor, I think that'd be the best deal we could pull of at this point. He's pretty old, but has produced fairly well the last couple years offensively (120 and 100 OPS+ the last two years) and should be able to play multiple positions no worse than Miles can (though he's barely put any time in at short in his long career, that's bothersome).

It's true, though. I'll still be watching during the regular season and I'll still be (moderately) excited through the year, but it's going to be hard for this team (or any team for that matter) to top last year's 97-win season. The only way this season can improve upon last year is with playoff wins. And I think that's a good thing for an organization. It's a sign that winning is becoming expected.

Bradley's bat is obviously much better than DeRosa's, but Bradley isn't taking DeRosa's ABs. He's taking Edmonds' ABs from last year. DeRosa's ABs will be taken by Aaron Miles and whoever replaces Bradley in right when Milton gets hurt. But I do appreciate Bradley's bat - I hope he's healthy all year.

Hence keeping Marmol in the more important role. Plus, with Gregg's penchant of walking people, it's better to start him out with nobody on base in the ninth as opposed to bringing him in with runners on second and third and 1 out (for instance). He has room for some error starting the ninth that he doesn't entering into jams.

I think I've seen that video. Talking to yourself again?

Sounds good to me.