soccer10k

Further, wasn't there some suspicion years ago that Soriano's age was mitigated by Dominican math? Yes there was, his age went from 24 to 26 a few years back if I remember correctly. Furcal had that same problem.

nowhere near to the extent they can go crazy on the Big East teams. the comparison is UConn and South Florida and Syracuse v. MSU, MN, and NW. Syracuse beat Illinois and UConn beat Indiana what's your point again? Illini actually beat Cuse the year before. Cuse and UConn being two mid-range Big East clubs beating the 2 dregs of the Big 10 means nothing in a one game deal. Beat MN & MSU (two mid-range Big 10 teams) after having gone through a Big 10 schedule like they do, and you might have something. Until then, it's still meaningless and the Big East isn't the conference the Big 10 is. Sorry but Syracuse and Illinois didn't play last year. Cuse and UConn are in last place in the Big East. Yeah OK, the entire country realizes the Big East isn't on the level of the big 3 conferences. You don't have to believe it if you don't want to, that's fine. But you're wrong. Big East might have some nice schools and might be putting out some decent kids, but overall it's not the same level of football over the course of a season. Maybe it will be someday, but it isn't right now. The entire country also thinks that wins are an excellent metric for evaluating pitchers but does that make them right also?

Looks like USC & Florida have a shot if they both win. Interesting that Arkansas looks to have no shot no matter what, but Florida does. Not sure about ND........if they beat SC, it would be very close. WV/Lou not possible. ND has no shot because they lost to Michigan. The polls would put Michigan ahead of ND for that reason. And Michigan's computer ranking is and will be higer. I think Arkansas has an outside shot because their computer ranking is killing them and with wins over LSU and Florida that will only improve. That, of course, hinges upon ND beating USC.

With a win over ND, USC will jump Michigan. They've already done so in the two polls (Harris and Coaches) and a win over ND would not only increase USC's computer ranking but make Michigan's worse.

I know people here (including me) generally put more faith in you than in other news writers, but other articles I've seen say that Soriano will play CF. Of course, they could just be guessing. How sure are you that RF is the plan for Soriano? Very sure. Interesting to say the least.

you just blew my mind Izturis + Pie for Manny? Then you have 4 outfielders in Jones, Manny, Soriano, Murton.

New BCS Standings

New BCS Standings

Michigan still #2 in BCS. Link

Michigan still #2 in BCS. Link

USC can and should be #2 if they beat ND, no matter the margin. They have played the strongest schedule of any contender, by far. Yeah, USC has jumped Michigan in both the Coaches Poll and the Harris Poll. BCS standings aren't out yet but if they beat ND, their ranking will improve.

I'm still holding out hope that we sign Drew and trade Jones, and/or sign Lugo for SS. If we can add one or two of the decent SPs that are available (Padilla, Westbrook), we have a real contender next year. I agree, the lineup still needs a big bat in the 6th spot, Im not holding out any hope for Jones. Im not sold on Westbrook just yet, but depending on what we can get for him I would be ok with that with him in the #4 or #5 spot. The porblem is we need a #2 or #3 type starter and IMO Padilla and Westbrook are not it. The Cubs don't need another bat. They need pitching. Jones and Barrett batting sixth and seventh is perfectly fine. We have Z and then ? for starting pitching. Imagine if Prior and Miller are healthy to join one of the second tier starters we get this offseason along with Z and Hill. The only starter we can count on next year is Z. Prior and Miller are still ?'s and Hill doesn't have a ton of ML experience and we don't know how he'll do once ML hitters start seeing him multiple times. To go into next season without acquiring a starter would be disappointing.

I'm still holding out hope that we sign Drew and trade Jones, and/or sign Lugo for SS. If we can add one or two of the decent SPs that are available (Padilla, Westbrook), we have a real contender next year. I agree, the lineup still needs a big bat in the 6th spot, Im not holding out any hope for Jones. Im not sold on Westbrook just yet, but depending on what we can get for him I would be ok with that with him in the #4 or #5 spot. The porblem is we need a #2 or #3 type starter and IMO Padilla and Westbrook are not it. The Cubs don't need another bat. They need pitching. Jones and Barrett batting sixth and seventh is perfectly fine. We have Z and then ? for starting pitching.

Starting pitching now, please.

on ESPN.com now

In that case: Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma (Big 12) vs. Boise State (at large) Rose Bowl - USC (Pac-10) vs. Florida (at large) Sugar Bowl - ND (at large) vs. Arkansas (SEC) Orange Bowl - Georgia Tech (ACC) vs. Louisville (Big East) National title game - OSU (Big 10) vs. Michigan (at large) - The Big 10 and Pac-10 champs are contracted with the Rose Bowl, the Big 12 champs with the Fiesta, the SEC with the Sugar, and the ACC with the Orange. The first pick of the other eligible teams goes to whatever bowl(s) lose their contracted teams to the title game, then it goes Sugar/Orange/Fiesta. - The Rose Bowl will get the first pick since they lost OSU to the title game, but they won't want a USC/ND rematch (and they can't take Wisconsin to recreate the Big 10/Pac-10 rematch, which they say they'll do whenever possible), so they'll take Florida. - Then the Sugar Bowl picks, and they'll take ND. - Then the Orange, who will take Louisville. - Then the Fiesta will be stuck with Boise State. This would be just the way it'll go. That way the Big East team plays the ACC instead of the SEC or Big 10 team and that would prove that we belonged, now it's a lose/lose situation once again. As I said a couple pages back, it wouldn't be out of the question for WVU to get a second BCS bid for the Big East if they win out. They would deserve it but I don't think the good old boys would allow it. At the end of the year they'll likely be the highest ranked team that doesn't get an automatic berth.

In that case: Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma (Big 12) vs. Boise State (at large) Rose Bowl - USC (Pac-10) vs. Florida (at large) Sugar Bowl - ND (at large) vs. Arkansas (SEC) Orange Bowl - Georgia Tech (ACC) vs. Louisville (Big East) National title game - OSU (Big 10) vs. Michigan (at large) - The Big 10 and Pac-10 champs are contracted with the Rose Bowl, the Big 12 champs with the Fiesta, the SEC with the Sugar, and the ACC with the Orange. The first pick of the other eligible teams goes to whatever bowl(s) lose their contracted teams to the title game, then it goes Sugar/Orange/Fiesta. - The Rose Bowl will get the first pick since they lost OSU to the title game, but they won't want a USC/ND rematch (and they can't take Wisconsin to recreate the Big 10/Pac-10 rematch, which they say they'll do whenever possible), so they'll take Florida. - Then the Sugar Bowl picks, and they'll take ND. - Then the Orange, who will take Louisville. - Then the Fiesta will be stuck with Boise State. This would be just the way it'll go. That way the Big East team plays the ACC instead of the SEC or Big 10 team and that would prove that we belonged, now it's a lose/lose situation once again. As I said a couple pages back, it wouldn't be out of the question for WVU to get a second BCS bid for the Big East if they win out.

Those Big East teams have those stats because they play in the Big East Hello? None of those ballclubs could hold a candle to the top Big 10, Pac 10, or SEC teams if they played those kind of conference schedules. They'd have been beat down by the end of October, and that's just a fact man. The biggest travesty in the world would be to watch a team that has played junk all year to stay fresh get a free ride to the national title game where they play a real ballclub that has had to go up against big program after big program all year long. I'd love a playoff system because it would finally once and for all reveal these 240-lb DT schools for the weak sisters that they are. Here's your national title game, soc: Ohio State -24 1/2 West Virgina Oh yeah, can't wait for that one!! The whole country will be putting their New Year's resolutions on hold to catch that! Please. Come on man, would you get real? Cuse hasn't been here, but could you tell him to get real too? Thanks. The Big 10 has two, maybe three (we'll see with Wisconsin) good teams. The rest of the conference is crap. You don't think WVU and Louisville could go crazy on the likes of MSU, Minnesota and Northwestern? Now the Pac-10 which is a conference known for offense. You don't think Louisville could put up those numbers there? You, my friend, are the one that needs to get real.

Not to mention that you tied for the best record last week.

Preach.

LSU, Auburn, and Wisky are all out b/c no more than 2 teams can go from a major conf school (unless a team is rated 3 and sadly Wisky cant get to 3 this year). WVU or Rutgers will also have 2 losses. And as for Louisville and WVU defense, they are 21 and 28 in total defense, but 40+ in yardage given up. When they get into it with schools that have better offenses and defenses, this disparity will kill them. Could you really imagine taking the WVU defensive team who gives up 308 yds per game against an Ohio St? 2280 yds given up in the air this season or right about in 90th in the country. Smith would pick them apart. Same thing if they ran into USC or NDU. I know they have had a lot of teams trying to catch up, but still that is a lot of yardage in the air. Do you guys seriously think you could try to outscore a OSU or USC? Sorry, forgot about the upcoming Rutgers/WVU game so thanks for the reminder on that. While Auburn is out, for a little nitpicking, LSU isn't. They're currently ranked 9th and, if they beat Arkansas and Arkansas loses to Florida, LSU will have 2 losses and Arkansas will have 3 so the possibility is still there. Before I say anything else and, not that there's a disparity, but where do you get your team stat rankings from? I got mine from msnbc but that just gives the yardage and isn't as in depth. I'm sure there's a better site out there. To make it work both ways, can those teams stop Slaton and White or Brian Brohm's offense? It's all a matter of which side you're on in the debate. OSU, maybe. But USC's defense isn't as good. ND's defense is worse than both Louisville's and WVU's in average ypg allowed.

Well after watching Wannstedts team quit on Thurs, if Louisville loses to Pitt then they have no biz in the BCS. But you are right, WVU isnt eliminated yet, but they need a lot of help. No way would i take a second Big East team over Boise St. They deserve a shot, and all the Big East teams have had theirs. Also cant see them jumping the Florida/Ark loser either. I think it is only for non major conf teams and NDU for the top 8...here are the procedures http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/eligibility They wouldn't be picked over Boise St. as they would get in automatically because they'll likely finish in the top 12 of the final BCS standings. Assuming OSU, USC, UM, Big 12, ACC, Louisville, Ark/Fla winner, Boise St, ND automatically in, the choice would likely come down to a one of the following: WVU (1 loss), Ark/Fla loser (at least 2 losses), LSU (at least 2 losses), Rutgers (1 loss), Auburn (2 losses), a bunch of potential 2 loss ACC teams. I'm not saying it's likely but it's definitely possible. Plus, I would like to see the Big East get 2 teams for one main reason: so we can figure out if they can compete or not. Force them to face the other top teams. That way it will either shut up the millions that rip the Big East or the 12 of us that defend the Big East. Obviously it wouldn't be the end all but it would be a good barometer.

Seek professional help immediately. Wisky is 6th Nationally in Total Defense per Game and 7th in Total Yds allowed. (And we should add at least 3 spots on both, b/c of Rutgers, Michigan, and LSU stats from today). Coupled with a freshman 1500 yd rusher that is a pretty good combo. Our only loss was Michigan, who we played tough on the road for over a half. Sure our non conf schedule was weaker than normal b/c the Mtn West and the MAC had down years (3 of our 4 non cons) but with just under 75% underclassmen, i dont understand why Bielema isnt a shoo in for coach of the year. I'm going to dissect this point by point. 1. Those aren't my SOS rankings. 2. WVU is #2 and Louisville is #3 nationally in Total Yards per Game offensively. 3. It doesn't matter that P.J. Hill is a freshman and it doesn't matter how young your team is because we're not discussing their prospect for next year. 4. WVU also happens to have a 1500 yard rusher who is averaging 30 more ypg than Hill is and they have a 1000 yard rusher that's a quarterback. 5. WVU's only loss was at Louisville who they played tough on the road for over a half also. If you want to call WVU and Louisville unproven, which I don't have a problem with because, for the most part, they are, then you must also admit that Wisconsin is just as unproven as those two teams. Wisconsin lost to the only good team it played this year, didn't play any others, and their non conference schedule sucked. What a coincidence!!! That sounds exactly like WVU!! Amazing how that works. And like I said, Louisville and WVU's respective SOS's are higher than that of Wisconsin.

Actually WVU is not eliminated. Louisville still has games at Pittsburgh and vs Connecticut. If Louisville loses one of those and WVU wins out then WVU wins the Big East. But if both win out Louisville would win the Big East. Speaking of this, you all do realize that, if both win out, that both WVU and Louisville could make the BCS right? I know this has been discussed before, but I don't remember the answer. Is there an automatic bid for an at-large, major conference team that finishes higher than a certain spot in the final BCS poll (a la Notre Dame finishing in the top 8)?

If USC wins out they're more deserving.