CaliforniaRaisin

Go Seattle.

Post All-Star break, JJ put up a .308 BA and a .866 OPS. I wouldnt exactly call that struggling. Also, when looking at his numbers the first half of last year, you have to take into consideration that JJ basically skipped AAA because of a shoulder injury he suffered early in the 2004 season. Why focus on just Post-AS stats? He hit .187 before the AS break. That being said, he is going to have to hit better than a combined .247 for the year for the Brewers to make any noise. Because he's a young player breaking into the big leagues? Making adjustments and improvements after struggling to start his rookie year is a good sign. That I understand, I am not saying he will do horrible, but in the context of this thread JJ is going to have to hit well over .240 for the Brewers to win 90+ games and be Division champs. And given what he's done in the minors and the adjustments he apparently made in the latter half of his first season (after the book had gotten out on him, no less), I don't think it's a stretch to believe Hardy will post a BA over .240.

I'd hold off on such lofty comparisons for Claussen.

Awesome.

Post All-Star break, JJ put up a .308 BA and a .866 OPS. I wouldnt exactly call that struggling. Also, when looking at his numbers the first half of last year, you have to take into consideration that JJ basically skipped AAA because of a shoulder injury he suffered early in the 2004 season. Why focus on just Post-AS stats? He hit .187 before the AS break. That being said, he is going to have to hit better than a combined .247 for the year for the Brewers to make any noise. Because he's a young player breaking into the big leagues? Making adjustments and improvements after struggling to start his rookie year is a good sign.

I noted that as bs as well...(from whomever said that at the convention..not you, Deuce). Also, Felix Pie having a tough time in winter ball isn't good news no matter how you spin it. Here's to hoping that Pawelek has another great year...where will he be pitching this season? high A? I'd guess low A Peoria. Andy Sisco did not really have that bad a season in his last year in the Cubs system. Interesting justification for not protecting him. Anyone hear of Andy causing problems in KC? Thanks, Deuce! Sisco wasn't terrible, but saying he had a bad year isn't a stretch at all. He set career worsts in ERA(4.21), WHIP(1.45), walk rate(4.64/9 IP), HR rate(0.79/9), hit rate(8.43/9), basically everything was worse except his K rate, which stayed the same. He also broke his hand, and wasn't young for his (pitcher's) league. Not bad enough to use as justification not to protect him, especially given his ceiling. Using it in conjunction with his injury, attitude, and weight problems probably is. Someone a while back(maybe Bruce?) also brought up that the Cubs didn't want to send the message to the system that they rewarded that type of performance/behavior. Ehh, somewhat understandable. I didn't have that big a problem with them not protecting him at the time, I just disagree with the reasoning they're using now. I really wonder what he did in KC.

Not inefficient when all 3 were not all healthy or prepared at the same time (Benson hold out). Where would the Bears have been when TJ missed the same week that Benson hurt his knee? Yes. The Bears absolutely must keep TJ and Benson. Two RBs are a must.

I noted that as bs as well...(from whomever said that at the convention..not you, Deuce). Also, Felix Pie having a tough time in winter ball isn't good news no matter how you spin it. Here's to hoping that Pawelek has another great year...where will he be pitching this season? high A? I'd guess low A Peoria. Andy Sisco did not really have that bad a season in his last year in the Cubs system. Interesting justification for not protecting him. Anyone hear of Andy causing problems in KC? Thanks, Deuce! Sisco wasn't terrible, but saying he had a bad year isn't a stretch at all. He set career worsts in ERA(4.21), WHIP(1.45), walk rate(4.64/9 IP), HR rate(0.79/9), hit rate(8.43/9), basically everything was worse except his K rate, which stayed the same. He also broke his hand, and wasn't young for his (pitcher's) league. Not bad enough to use as justification not to protect him, especially given his ceiling.

AP and Benson are more similar in their styles than TJ is with either of them. In this day and age, you need 2 competent RBs, I'd keep all three and hope Benson has supplanted TJ by the end of next season.

it's my understanding that mercedes is a project, or simply not an everydown TE. i'm wondering if vernon davis wouldn't be a better selection. i just wish that there was a TE like heath miller this year. that would have been great. Vernon Davis will be gone. Marcedes is not a project and he definitely is an everydown TE. He is a bit raw and needs to add a bit of muscle but should make a good contribution his rookie year and would be a great safety valve for Rex Grossman (as he was for Drew Olson this year). i don't like that "raw" bit. we should not be drafting a raw TE in the first round. john allred was raw and he was terrible. marcedes better be a little thicker when the draft comes around. He will be thicker, he's working out on that right now. A comparison to John Allred is really not appropriate.

He won't be. And yeah, I did mean Pope. Davis is a notch above both. Then Pope, then Marcedes. Sorry, Rais. Any chance Marcus McNeil slips to 26? Doubtful. If so, though, I'd gladly pick him then go TE in round 2 or 3. Whitworth (LSU) may be an OT in the 2nd. Lutui could be there in the 2nd also at OG. Heh, we're gonna have to disagree on Marcedes and Pope. His blocking isn't as good as Pope's but his receiving ability is further along and I think he has a higher ceiling than Pope. His frame and 6'6" size and good hands would be great for Rex. McNeil would be nice, I'd take him over Marcedes and Pope. I have seen him mostly in the 15-20 range so far, but that's not much to slip down to the Bears spot. I would LOVE Lutui in the 2nd round.

I just don't see Vernon Davis being available when the Bears pick. If he was, I'd take him over Marcedes.

Which LTs do you see slipping to round 2?

it's my understanding that mercedes is a project, or simply not an everydown TE. i'm wondering if vernon davis wouldn't be a better selection. i just wish that there was a TE like heath miller this year. that would have been great. Vernon Davis will be gone. Marcedes is not a project and he definitely is an everydown TE. He is a bit raw and needs to add a bit of muscle but should make a good contribution his rookie year and would be a great safety valve for Rex Grossman (as he was for Drew Olson this year).

Heh. I may be in the minority that wants Pope over Mercedes though. Boo! If Vernon Davis and Marcedes Lewis are gone by the time the Bears pick (Vernon will be), I hope the Bears look another direction in the first round and go after a TE in round 2 or 3 instead.

Crap. Eric Bienemy, UCLA's RB coach and recruiting coordinator (who helped recruit Maurice Drew, Ben Olson, Terence Austin and a bunch of good OL prospects) has left to be RB coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Bienemy was what was keeping UCLA's average recruiting (under Karl Dorrell) afloat. :(

The Bears have the 26th pick in the first round. I agree with UK's needs, agree with Chocolate Milk on letting Azumah go. Hopefully in day 1, the Bears get a TE (Marcedes!!), an OG and a DB/WR. I wouldn't complain about 2 DBs or 2 TEs in the draft.

Multiple OL. The Bears won't be able to get a cover corner. Jimmy Williams could fall with either a bad combine or character issues. He's already slated mid teens down. I've heard a bit about him moving to S, I don't think he's a shut-down corner.

It was kinda vice versa. The defensive backs were leaving so many receivers open, that Delhomme was able to throw quickly, and thus avoiding any pressure that came his way. It was more of Delhomme throwing under the coverage and in a hurry before the pressure arrived (outside of the long passes to Smith). The DL didn't have a great game, and they have definitely helped the secondary with the pressure they put.

Are we sure the broken hand didn't happen before the season started? That would explain a few things. I laughed. Who's in your sig, Raisin? Tony Almeida (played by Carlos Bernard) and his faithful sidekick, the Cubs mug from "24."

His linemen did a dreadful job against the blitz at the end of the game. And I'd love that "wuss" on my team any day of the week. They protect him better than any other team protects their QB and when it breaks down it's time for him to earn his money and step up when it fails and not blame them for the bad game. I do not think that's the way to act for a leader of the team. Florida (SEC), New England and now Pittsburg didn't give Manning 10 seconds to throw like many other teams do and that is the way to beat him. You put him on the Titans and he gets sacked more than Carr. They lost to 3 teams that ran a 3-4 defense. Maybe it's time they devise a better gameplan the next time they face one. For the record, he kept them in that game with sending the punt team back onto the sideline and basically overriding Dungy. And we'll disagree about his protection: it was awful. Its usually pretty good, but it doesn't usually have to be great because he's amazing at getting rid of the football in a timely fashion. But at some point, he's gotta drop the Marino Tag. The thing is, Marino played with a less talented team. Peyton is still quite the baller, but he's going to be 30 soon.

Are we sure the broken hand didn't happen before the season started? That would explain a few things. I laughed.

There's a difference between being fired up/excited and cursing out home fans.

I noted that as bs as well...(from whomever said that at the convention..not you, Deuce). Also, Felix Pie having a tough time in winter ball isn't good news no matter how you spin it. Here's to hoping that Pawelek has another great year...where will he be pitching this season? high A? I'd guess low A Peoria. Andy Sisco did not really have that bad a season in his last year in the Cubs system. Interesting justification for not protecting him. Anyone hear of Andy causing problems in KC? Thanks, Deuce!

And good luck to you as well, Huber. Look forward to a nice back-and-forth conversation during the game on Sunday. None of these Bears fans will care about the game. :wink: Whichever one of us wins is probably going to end up clashing with Jazz a few weeks later :D With the way that Delhomme was running around whopping it up after the game, put me (a Bears fan) firmly on the Seahawks side next weekend. Yeah, me too. I hope the Bears players saw that and were pissed.