CaliforniaRaisin

I get Carolina, Georgetown, and Texas, but who is the 4th? No way is Washinton State one of the top 10 teams. I had them #7 when we were ranking the tourney teams. I agree here - Vitale was saying Vandy will bounce them, but I watched them against UCLA this year and I don't see them bowing early - they are ticketed for the Sweet 16, IMO. I know they got 6 bids, but this is a very top-heavy year in the Pac-10, IMO. USC is here and there as they showed against Oregon, and AZ is incredibly undisciplined. I still cannot believe that Stanford (or the Illini) got in over Drexel. UCLA, Wash St, and Oregon are the class, IMO. Along those lines, I really believe that Lute Olson is an overrated coach. He's old, he's won a national title, and he recruits well (and supposedly clean, but I have my doubts based on stories I heard about their national title team), but if he doesn't have off-the-charts talent he doesn't do anything of note (look at the names on that national title team as examples). I think this is b/c his teams are undisciplined goons and he isn't much of an X's and O's guy. Contrast this with Howland at Pitt and UCLA, Self at KU (though I am thinking of his Tulsa days), and even Knight at TT (and some of his later years at IU). I think (and I know this is biased b/c I am a UNC fan) Roy Williams belongs in that group as well, given how he reigned in the three nut-jobs (McCants, May and Felton) and won a title, then quickly re-loaded when all of them plus Marvin Williams all left. Dunno about the UNC part but I completely agree in regards to Lute and Arizona. The reason Arizona (and partly Washington) are being passed by the UCLA, USC, WSU, Oregon (sometimes), Stanford and Cal (last season; this season would have been similar if DeVon Hardin didn't get hurt) is because these teams are much more disciplined and actually play defense.

High 5!

Craig, those 97 mph readings were during the season before he got hurt (I don't know about how he did last spring).

Yeah, the Cubs got him from the Marlins for Todd Wellemeyer two offseasons ago.

There was a huge story about him (and JaRon and Kareem) in the LA Times a week or so ago, dunno if you read it. It was also sad to read about all the problems JaRon had after he left UCLA.

It's true. And oddly enough, Holdzkom gave up 3 HRs in 20.1 AFL innings this past fall.

No way your right where you should be you better thank Cal for beating UCLA or you would have been a #2 seed for sure. KU was a 1-seed no matter what happened to UCLA. I am not so sure about that. I think most people have UCLA being a #1 seed till they choked in the Pac 10 tourny. They were 9-1 against the top 50 I believe. They had I think the 2nd hardest schedule out there if they didnt embarass themselves in the tourny I think they could have easiely got that last #1 seed. KU was as likely a 1-seed as Ohio State and UCLA before the conference tourneys started. North Carolina was the one who should thank Cal.

No way your right where you should be you better thank Cal for beating UCLA or you would have been a #2 seed for sure. KU was a 1-seed no matter what happened to UCLA.

At this point, with the news that the Lou is leaning towards a 12-man staff, I think Rocky Cherry is on the 25-man. Novoa will head to AAA and Wuertz at Iowa or extended in Mesa.

Jake has gotten in a few games at AA in the corner OF and IF positions because his defense behind the plate isn't that good. I think he'll start the season at AA though with Geovany Soto and Koyie Hill catching at AAA but could get up to Iowa during the season.

I thought Colvin bulked up? He's still as skinny as a rail. That is Colvin bulked up. :|

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/cb/fullj.getty-73525367nd016_cubs_7_56_39_pm.jpg Jason Marquis http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/4f/fullj.getty-73525367nd003_cubs_7_56_45_pm.jpg Soriano http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/36/fullj.getty-73525367nd007_cubs_7_57_47_pm.jpg Barrett tags out Bill Hall http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/1e/fullj.getty-73525367nd010_cubs_7_58_20_pm.jpg Woody http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/d3/fullj.getty-73525367nd011_cubs_7_58_31_pm.jpg DLee http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/a9/fullj.getty-73525367nd012_cubs_7_58_36_pm.jpg Jake Fox hits a HR http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/4e/fullj.getty-73525367nd013_cubs_7_58_46_pm.jpg L to R: Fox, Colvin & Izturis celebrate Fox's HR http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/3a/fullj.getty-73525367nd014_cubs_7_58_55_pm.jpg Chris Walker signs autographs http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/1e/fullj.getty-73525367nd015_cubs_7_59_09_pm.jpg Soriano signs autographs

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/cb/fullj.getty-73525367nd016_cubs_7_56_39_pm.jpg Jason Marquis http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/4f/fullj.getty-73525367nd003_cubs_7_56_45_pm.jpg Soriano http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/36/fullj.getty-73525367nd007_cubs_7_57_47_pm.jpg Barrett tags out Bill Hall http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/1e/fullj.getty-73525367nd010_cubs_7_58_20_pm.jpg Woody http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/d3/fullj.getty-73525367nd011_cubs_7_58_31_pm.jpg Lee http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/a9/fullj.getty-73525367nd012_cubs_7_58_36_pm.jpg Just for Tim: Jake Fox hits a HR http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/4e/fullj.getty-73525367nd013_cubs_7_58_46_pm.jpg L to R: Fox, Colvin & Izturis celebrate Fox's HR http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/3a/fullj.getty-73525367nd014_cubs_7_58_55_pm.jpg Chris Walker signs autographs http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/sp/getty/1e/fullj.getty-73525367nd015_cubs_7_59_09_pm.jpg Soriano signs autographs

CACTUS FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - MILWAUKEE 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 10 2 CHICAGO CUBS 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 x 6 11 0 FINAL WP - JASON MARQUIS (1-1) LP - CLAUDIO VARGAS (0-1) SAVE - ROCKY CHERRY (3) HOME RUNS: MIL - HERNAN IRIBARREN (2) OFF SEAN GALLAGHER IN THE 6TH CHN - JAKE FOX (2) OFF BRIAN SHOUSE IN THE 6TH TIME: 2:41 ATT: 12,726 Box Score MILWAUKEE (3) AT CHICAGO CUBS (6) MILWAUKEE AB R H BI CHICAGO CUBS AB R H BI C Counsell 3b 3 0 2 0 A Soriano cf 4 0 1 0 M Rivera 1b 1 0 0 0 F Pie pr-cf 1 0 0 0 T Graffanino 2b 3 1 1 0 R Theriot 2b 3 0 1 0 M Gamel 3b 1 0 0 0 T Perez 2b 1 0 0 0 P Fielder 1b 3 0 0 0 D Lee 1b 3 0 1 0 B Clark lf 1 0 0 0 M Hoffpauir pr-1b 1 1 0 0 B Hall cf 2 0 0 0 A Ramirez 3b 4 0 2 1 A Escobar ss 1 0 0 0 C McGehee pr-3b 0 0 0 0 G Jenkins lf 3 0 0 0 M Barrett c 4 1 0 0 B Shouse p 0 0 0 0 S Gallagher p 0 0 0 0 G Aquino p 0 0 0 0 B Coats lf 0 0 0 0 C Thurman p 0 0 0 0 M Murton lf 4 0 1 0 L Cain ph 1 0 0 0 L Walrond p 0 0 0 0 C Hart rf 2 0 2 1 R Cherry p 0 0 0 0 H Iribarren 2b 1 1 1 1 T Colvin rf 4 2 2 1 O Chavez ss 1 0 1 0 C Izturis ss 1 1 1 0 D Anderson rf 2 1 1 0 R Cedeno ss 1 0 1 0 J Closser c 3 0 2 0 J Marquis p 1 0 0 1 V Rottino c 1 0 0 0 S Moore ph 0 0 0 0 C Vargas p 1 0 0 0 K Wood p 0 0 0 0 G Balfour p 0 0 0 0 R Dempster p 0 0 0 0 R Braun ph 1 0 0 0 J Fox ph 1 1 1 3 D Sarfate p 0 0 0 0 K Hill c 1 0 0 0 L Nix cf 1 0 0 1 TOTALS 32 3 10 3 TOTALS 34 6 11 6 MILWAUKEE 000 100 200 -- 3 CHICAGO CUBS 020 004 00x -- 6 E--G Jenkins, O Chavez. DP--MILWAUKEE 3, CHICAGO CUBS 3. LOB--MILWAUKEE 5, CHICAGO CUBS 9. 2B--D Lee, A Ramirez, C Hart. HR--J Fox 1 (2) (off B Shouse), H Iribarren 1 (2) (off S Gallagher). SB--T Colvin 1 (1), C Counsell 1 (1), H Iribarren 1 (1). IP H R ER BB SO HR MILWAUKEE C Vargas (L,0-1) 3 4 2 0 0 3 0 G Balfour 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 D Sarfate 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 B Shouse 2-3 3 4 4 2 0 1 G Aquino 1 1-3 2 0 0 0 0 0 C Thurman 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 CHICAGO CUBS J Marquis (W,1-1) 4 6 1 1 1 2 0 K Wood 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 R Dempster 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 S Gallagher 1 3 2 2 0 0 1 L Walrond 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 R Cherry (S,3) 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 SO--MIL: G Jenkins, C Counsell, B Hall, D Anderson, P Fielder, V Rottino, L Cain. CHN: A Soriano 2, M Barrett, M Murton, A Ramirez. BB--MIL: B Hall, O Chavez, H Iribarren. CHN: C Izturis 2, D Lee, R Theriot, S Moore. T--2:41. A--12,726.

I don't see how Wright State getting in is respect for the Midwest teams.

Dammit, Dick. (I'm a bit surprised that people would pick UCLA over KU.)

He gave up 4 in 4 but you're not the first to say that about Daisuke.

Yeah, Guzman might open with the big league team too and it seems likely that Gallagher will be in Iowa.

UCLA plays Weber State in the first round, that's Ben Howland's Alma Mater. Possible Gonzaga rematch in the second round. Possible matchup against his old school and against his best friend in Pitt in the Sweet 16. Interesting.

Texas A&M shouldn't have lost so early in the Big 12 tourney. Too bad they don't play in the CUSA. Memphis' resume looks better. Memphis: 30-3, #8 RPI, #75 SOS, 6-3 vs Top 100 RPI, non-con RPI of 16 and non-con SOS of 22. Texas A&M: 25-6, #17 RPI, #57 SOS, 8-6 vs Top 100 RPI, non-con RPI of 35 and non-con SOS of 141. The only reason people are hating on Memphis is because they played in C-USA when it's clear that they played a tougher non-con schedule by far. I was just referring to your comment about the tournament.

Gallagher was mentioned as a long shot just like last season Sean Marshall was. He is a long shot. He's been bad in the big league games but he's impressed in camp itself.

I could totally see that. I definitely don't think Wieters is #1. I don't personally know Wilken's draft record extensively, but I remember reading that he's known for liking college hitters (and that's how he helped build up Toronto or something.) Mephistopheles listed the exact reason why I think the Cubs would prefer Brackman to Price and Weiters. Brackman reminds me of Samardzija, who Wilken had number-1 overall. I could see Price at #1 on his board.

Yeah, they and Drexel appear to be the glaring ommissions.

Texas A&M shouldn't have lost so early in the Big 12 tourney. Too bad they don't play in the CUSA.

Awful.