soccer10k

Germany's offsides trap isn't doing so well today. The last goal was questionable, but with the way Costa Rica has been attacking, Germany is playing with fire. Hopefully there will be an entertaining final 15 minutes.

Only Cubs players throw towels.

I'm not surprised in the least.

GOAL!!!

IT BEGINS!!!

Yep, basically. If Brazil wins their group and the US finishes second in theirs, they will play. Of course, if the US wins their group and Brazil finishes second in theirs, they'll still play each other. So most realistic hope for the US is to get to a game vs Brazil and not get embarrassed? The US could win their group. I wouldn't favor them to win the group, but with the way the games are, I wouldn't be surprised if we did. On the other hand, I could see the US finishing last as well.

Yankees of the World Cup: Brazil Cubs of the World Cup: USA White Sox of the World Cup: Mexico Two things: 1. I would say that if anybody on the US team is like Steve Nash, it would be Claudio Reyna not Donovan 2. It should read: Cardinals of the World Cup = Mexico (same division, same qualifying region)

Bingo.

25 MINUTES!!!!

Shortest thread of the year so far.

Ramirez is a righty, so the Cubs have a chance.

they still have about $140 million of payroll playing tho right? a better comparison to the cubs is st. louis w/out pujols. And you know the Boss is already searching for a replacement.

Which is crazy, especially for the White Sox. Agreed. The Cards I could see not wanting to trade with because they are in our divison. But we play the White Sox 6 times a year and don't have to compete with them for a playoff spot. I think the Boss would MUCH rather trade with the Mets than the Red Sox.

I was going to say the exact same thing. Bell for Sosa trumps almost any trade in the history of baseball. Not every trade...cough Babe Ruth cough...but almost any.

Going down the list of players that could be traded. I'm not including the young guys like Marshall and Cedeno that are cheap (and will be for a couple years) because I'm assuming Hendry won't get rid of them. This is also assuming the Cubs are completely out of it by the middle of July. If they have a chance at the division and/or wild card (i.e. Cincinnati stumbles, the Cards suffer w/out Pujols, and Houston doesn't recover), Hendry will be a buyer not a seller Dempster, Eyre, and Howry: aren't going anywhere Maddux: could be traded if he wants to be but the Cubs probably won't get much in return unless Maddux picks up his performance. Novoa: unlikely anybody wants him Ohman, Rusch: could just because they are lefties and could be part of a package. this also depends on injuries that team suffer. Williamson: could be traded depending on injuries and assuming he gets healthy Wood: I don't think he'll be traded. If he pitches well, Hendry will keep him. If he doesn't pitch well or gets injured, nobody will want him Barrett: not going anywhere Lee: see above Nevin: most likely to be traded because we have Lee. Perez: I don't see anybody wanting him, we're stuck with him but could go as part of a package Ramirez: not going anywhere unless he's part of a REALLY good deal Walker: we shopped him in the offseason so he'll get traded and he's a FA after the year Womack: if somebody wants him. also depends on if Neifi or Walker get traded Jones: he'll get traded if something good in return is offered, otherwise he'll stay Mabry: could be traded if there's an offer Pierre: FA after the year so if somebody wants him, he'll get traded

It's close though. Definately doesn't sound good for Yankee fans, but sounds great for the rest of us.

On the eve (well, morning of) the World Cup, this poll seems appropriate. I only included the top contenders. If you pick another team, please specify. I'll probably start another poll after the group stage is over.

I give it a month before a name gets leaked. Maybe two months. Something will come out, it's all a matter of time - just like Jason Giambi's grand jury testimony.

flip saunders Phil Jackson + Michael Jordan >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Flip Saunders + Detroit Pistons I know the Bulls had other players, but Jordan's competativeness could be unparalled. I know professional athletes are competative, but Jordan was beyond that IMO.

From Wikipedia Boston - Foxboro Stadium Chicago - Soldier Field Dallas - Cotton Bowl Detroit - Pontiac Silverdome Los Angeles - Rose Bowl NY/NJ - Giants Stadium Orlando - Citrus Bowl SF - Stanford Stadium Washington - RFK

I was a senior in high school during World Cup 2002 (it was one of the last days of the year) but I rubbed that game in to every single Mexican friend I had, especially my teammates. It was so much fun.

I think the evidence above shows that it much better to put the first pitch of the at bat in play than the second through fifth pitches. And depending on your preference of OBP or SLG in the makeup of OPS, you could even make the argument that putting the first pitch in play is better than the second through eighth pitches (though I'm not going that far). At the ninth pitch, the OPS of .819 goes past that of the first pitch at .814.

didn't we say that about the white sox last year Arroyo, Harang, Milton, and Claussen is a far cry from Buehrle, Contreras, Garcia, and Garland. This is true, but to be fair, this time last year it wasn't that big a jump at all. Any of those four White Sox pitchers would be aces on the Reds. You also have to factor in that the Reds are in the NL and the White Sox are in the AL.

HAHAHAHAHA. Awesome picture. I think Rusch may have tripled in size since then.

I think how many pitches a batter takes, at least with the starter, is determined upon the situation and the period in the game. In the first couple innings, a batter should try to take more pitches to see exactly how a pitcher is throwing that day. Is he accurate or wild? How good are his various pitches? Those things should be figured out early in the game. Obviously if a pitcher throws a pitch that the batter likes on the first pitch of the at bat, then by all means the batter should swing. In the later innings, deciding to swing at the first pitch or not should be determined by the tendencies of the pitcher the team should have noticed over the course of the game. If you see the pitcher throwing a majority of first pitch fastballs (or any other pitch) then you should go up looking for that pitch. If you get it, swing. If you don't get what you expect, then don't swing. If you notice that a pitcher is throwing a lot of strikes, you should go up to the plate looking to swing if a decent pitch comes. No point in sitting there and taking two pitches if the guy is throwing strikes because you are quickly going to find yourself in 0-2 counts and the pitcher is going to eat you alive more times than not. On the other hand, if a pitcher is having a problem finding the strike zone and is getting three ball counts and walking a bunch of batters, don't swing at the first pitch. Make him throw you strikes. In this case, then it is smart to take a pitch or two because you aren't likely to find yourself in a quick 0-2 count. You are more likely to find yourself in a 1-1 or 2-0 count.