CaliforniaRaisin

Aw, c'mon Mush--Fez is a total zero, and Nolasco and Pinto only look good because they pitched well while REPEATING AA. That's a big leap to get from AA success to useful major leaguer, as their failure in AAA in 2004 attests. None of these guys are anything other than marginal prospects. So, good trade! When the situation is dire, you need to overpay, OK, but what's done is done. We finally have a leadoff man. You are right--if Pierre performs in 2006 as he did in either 2001, 2003, or 2004, Cub fans are going to be very VERY happy. Just because a minor leaguer repeated a level (especially in the case of Nolasco) doesn't mean they're marginal in the least bit. This is an extremely steep price for Pierre.

I will refrain from making comment$. That's ridiculous. 1400 dollars of DVDs? How does any college STUDENT have that much money, let alone a football player that doesn't have time to get a fulltime job in the summers? Keep in mind it's 3 roommates' collection. I too say everything adds up outside of the cash.

Exactly. This is overpaying. Ugh.

I say have a thread for all the pre-Christmas or pre-Dec. 30 bowls, then go from there. I say one for non-BCS bowl games and one for the BCS games.

Marcedes Lewis won the Mackey award as the nation's best TE. :)

Oregon has a weak schedule. But so does ND. and they lost one more game than Oregon. Oregon took care of their inferior opponents, something ND couldn't do against Michigan State. EDIT: Can someone tell me who had a weaker schedule between the two schools?

I'm a pretty big Wellemeyer fan.

I thought the Cards had offered 4/$48, not 4/$40?

If thats what they were seeking, I'd counter offer with Mitre and Wellymeyer. Why,Nolasco hasn't pitched a day of ML ball? I know Welly is inconsistent but he has to be worth more than Nolasco. Wellymeyer could probably fit in as a back of the rotation starter (somewhere) next year. Save Welly for another deal. Pie hasn't appeared in the majors yet while Patterson has, but I bet Pie has much more trade value. Same could be said for Macias/Eric Patterson, or Rusch/Gallagher, and many other "experienced" players vs unknowns. Welly's service time hasn't exactly been steller. I see a big difference in the two cases. Patterson is due a raise in salary yet his production has regressed. His relatve youth and athleticism will get some GM's interested but he's still a gamble. As a prospect, Pie is also a gamble but he can be added for the league minimum. Low risk with the potential for high return. Macias and Eric Patterson are not equals. Yes, Macias has ML experience but he is a utility player so that doesn't help someone seeking a 2B'men. Oh yeah, I know Welly has been bad but, all things being equal, I would still value him more than someone without ML service time. Nolasco has a higher ceiling than Wellemeyer and projects to be a starter. Nolasco is also less than a year away from the big leagues. If I was another team, I'd rather want Nolasco than Wellemeyer. Just because Nolasco hasn't reached the big leagues doesn't make him less valuable than someone who has been there for parts of 3 seasons but has struggled.

Pay no attention to the marlins behind the curtain Pay no attention to their 2 World Series trophies!!! Not like their second WS wasn't directly tied to them closing up shop after their first one.

$5 million +. I've even heard $10 million before.

Grossman. I hope.

I hate LA weather. 60 is a cold day and we actually had a snow day in HS because of 2".

D'OH! Meant to put Alex Brown instead of Mike Brown. Added him to the poll and then voted for Urlacher.

But he has Harvey at 3 and E-Patt at 5.

Why don't you like Cedeno and Hill? And is there any particular reason you rate Pawelek so low?

I expect a strong year out of Pawelek, and hope he won't tire like Gallagher did. I expect him to rack up both the Ks and BBs. I think Veal and he will make visits to Peoria well worth it.

NUN, have you ever considered the possibility that most of these athletes come from fairly well-to-do families? Also, what of parents who might buy their children cars as a congratulations gift or as a joke thanks for not making them pay for their college? I have also heard of families taking out loans based on the guaranteed future wealth of their child. I believe that is how Lebron got his hummer. Also worth noting that I read a ESPN article on Leinart saying he pretty much lived in a dump with 3 roommates, and drove some old POS car. I was about a year ago though, so it may have changed. I like Leinart (that hurt to say). Leinart drove a POS car!?!? Wow, his folks live in a $5 million house in the OC.

Washington holds on. Very entertaining game. Morrison is awesome (outside of his last shot).

That's what I said about Cal last year. But I hope that happens (sorry, but I mean, you've got to be used to it in bowl games by now).

Bears have allowed 127 points this season, they need to allow 37 or fewer in the final 4 games for the record for least points allowed in a season. :)

Stupid Jeff Garcia!

I'd rather not do it against Pittsburgh's D, but the Bears have to go back to Grossman.

We need to find somebody who can rteturn punts. QB and punt returns. Really the only 2 glaring weaknesses on this team. But they're big ones. I'd add WR/TE to the weaknesses. Maybe, but the QB may be making those look worse than they are. I agree, but the WRs and TEs outside of Muhsin are bad.

We need to find somebody who can rteturn punts. QB and punt returns. Really the only 2 glaring weaknesses on this team. But they're big ones. I'd add WR/TE to the weaknesses.