Soul

Shreds it to pieces actually. The man is unbelievable.

Welcome to the all-important rubber game of the series. The almighty Dempster: http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa250/soulschizm/dempster.jpg (2.93 ERA/153 ERA+/1.155 WHIP) vs. Carpenter: http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa250/soulschizm/chris_carpenter_050906_2.jpg (sample size too small to matter, along with some other things...) Our bats will perform thusly: http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa250/soulschizm/cubs-slug-cards.jpg Leaving Cub fans doing this by night's end: http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa250/soulschizm/danceAjig.jpg

Yup. Got some chores on the docket, not sticking around to see us suck in a game where we should have had the advantage.

Ugh, I might've guessed a letdown game today but we've been going so well I didn't let myself believe it. :evil:

Personally, today didn't cement Jim as a Cub for me. He did that awhile ago. And for the record, his 2 HR, 5 RBI day against the Crew in their building was more awesome than today. Especially since I was in the stands that day. :thumbsup:

'Bout 1 more rehab start and he'll be ready to go, lol.

C.C. where are you dude? The world's most incredible HDTV just rolled out on the floor of that stadium! I want it!

That's pretty funny to hear, because the Vikings finished 28th in pass offense last year. I don't think I'd consider it a good thing that they let receivers improvise more when they're bottom-feeders in the pass game. Whatever they're doing up there, last year it didn't work. They were almost totally reliant on their admittedly great run game. When that didn't come through, they lost critical games and ended out of the playoffs. Personally I don't think just Bernard Berrian would do it for them. But him, along with other acquisitions + another year in the same system, probably will. They also had a first-year starter at QB and (when Rice was injured) had Troy Williamson, Bobby Wade, Robert Ferguson as their top 3 WR's. You could have the best scheme in the history of football and you weren't going to have a productive pass offense with that group. This year we'll see. Berrian is a major upgrade, Tarvaris has that first year under his belt, Sidney Rice (along with Aundre Allison) are in their second year, Wade gets to be a slot guy again where he can be successful. The group overall still doesn't have enough to be great but they do need to make teams pay for completely selling out against the run. The scheme wasn't all that special. It was basically load up on Peterson and he'll carry us all to the promised land. I'm sure Tavaris will be better with experience. The D is improved as well from what I can tell. I'm pretty sure the Vikes are a playoff team, how far they go depends on alot of things that can't be known right now. Berrian's a good receiver. He wanted to be a #1 all along, so good for him. You're right. We'll see -- if he can justify that salary ;)

What's the real history between the rift between Jim and the Cardinals? Is it just that they "gave up" on him? I don't want to judge it because I don't know all the details, but it seems a bit harsh to me to be flipping the bat in LaRussa's face and then even going so far as cursing at the St. Louis media. What did they ever do to him?

That's pretty funny to hear, because the Vikings finished 28th in pass offense last year. I don't think I'd consider it a good thing that they let receivers improvise more when they're bottom-feeders in the pass game. Whatever they're doing up there, last year it didn't work. They were almost totally reliant on their admittedly great run game. When that didn't come through, they lost critical games and ended out of the playoffs. Personally I don't think just Bernard Berrian would do it for them. But him, along with other acquisitions + another year in the same system, probably will.

Don't worry we get to play the Sucktionals soon too.

It's a waste throwing to the RB if you are not designing plays to get them the ball in space. Not including the last drive vs. the prevent defense, 4 of the 8 completions to RBs went for 4 yards or less, and two more went for less than 8. That's not even worth throwing. The WRs suck, but an offense moves the ball by getting it to their WRs down the field. I do agree that the ball needs to go to the TEs more, but it's going to have to be down the field to make any difference. considering the lack of a true #1 wr and development there of, they will have to use the RB more often. Again, that's not the point. The Chiefs of a few years ago were mentioned earlier as a team that threw to the TEs and RBs a lot and were successful. Well, those teams were able to get the ball to the RBs and TE (Tony Gonzalez) because they weren't afraid to throw the ball down the field some. Eddie Kennison average 17.5 per reception in 04. Johnnie Morton 14.5. Samie Parker only had 9 catches, but averaged over 15 yards per catch. Kennison and Parker got 16 and 15 ypc respectively the next season. San Diego last year, Gates and LT caught 135 balls between them. Their top 3 WRs caught a combined 96. But 2 of the 3 WRs averaged well over 15 ypc. Their 4th leading WR got 14 ypc. Not a #1 WR between the 2 teams. The Bears with Rex and Orton had 2 plays over 15 yards, one was due to Hester getting 16 with a RAC. Berrian was by far the Bears leading WR last year, and the closest thing they had to a #1, and averaged 13.4 per catch. That's not gonna get it done, especially now when you have to respect the WRs even less. Yeah, I don't think I remember anyone saying "don't throw downfield to receivers." For my part, all I said was I'd like to see the RB's and TE's get worked in more because there appears to be more talent there than in past years. That doesn't mean they shouldn't ever use the receivers, or ever throw deep to receivers. There are also ways to throw deep to RBs too, as you know. Or at least deeper.

Ugh, it's six and a half minutes of him saying the same thing over & over again. The creepiness wears off after about the first 30 seconds. From then on, it's just boring. And he posts over & over again about his own vids. Attention whore. The first one was funny, but it's old now.

It's a waste throwing to the RB if you are not designing plays to get them the ball in space. Not including the last drive vs. the prevent defense, 4 of the 8 completions to RBs went for 4 yards or less, and two more went for less than 8. That's not even worth throwing. The WRs suck, but an offense moves the ball by getting it to their WRs down the field. I do agree that the ball needs to go to the TEs more, but it's going to have to be down the field to make any difference. There's potential there with throwing to Forte. He's the best looking pass receiving RB I've seen here in awhile, albeit only one performance to judge by. It's not hard to judge when a guy has good hands though. I'm not saying the Bears did a good job of it yesterday, but it would be a mistake to abandon the proposition when there's talent there to be exploited just because the first few plays in the preseason didn't yield big gains. Plenty of offenses have been successful throwing primarily to their RB's and TE's. Look at the Chiefs a few years go. It can work. You don't need to necessarily make the WRs the go-to weapons. Especially when the WR corps is as doubtful as ours. Outside of Hester, who is going to consistently get deep?

Personally I'm hoping they find more ways to throw to the RBs, especially Forte. He's got great hands. I saw a couple nice screen plays last night -- I'm really hoping they can finally start getting that play right. It's a very useful one, from more than one standpoint. More use from our TEs too, plz

It wouldn't be a complete season without a pair of DL stints for Wood. I'm not worried about that though. He's had back issues for awhile. Usually keeps him out a couple days. He'll be alright.

Nice. Well I missed this one because I'm at work. Oh well. Highlights are fun to watch when they're happy ones.

Never doubted him for a second. You haters!

WHAT?!? How dare you use luck in the same sentence as Blanco! He had him figured out the whole time!

carolina, kudos to you sir. you called it ;)

Do you really want to hear them gloat if they take the lead?

How the hell did he get strikeouts? I'll take it of course.

LOL Lemme guess. That wouldn't by any chance be......oh I dunno......BOB HOWRY's pitch sequence. Would it?

It's always Bob. You know that. Always.

How did this become a feast or famine offense? Jesus. We're gonna blow this one.