sweetpeteman

http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/41332114/v42292183/joe-maddons-class-is-in-session-at-cubs-university @23 seconds.

According to the scoreboard, the secondbaseman for the cubs is somebody named Dargo.

Lake was trying to advance on a passed ball and the catchers throw went high, causing Philips and lake to collide

Please explain for someone who doesn't live in the Chicago area. He's about to lose the election. Actually probably not but he already got forced into a run-off on April 7th and a new poll is showing a dead heat between him and his challenger. In the end he'll probably win, but it seems to be a lot closer then most would think.

The NHL draft is more like the MLB draft with a touch of NFL. There are a few players who will be drafted and immediately begin playing with the NHL teams, but most players that get drafted need to develop, playing for the AHL, ECHL, foreign teams, and in the NCAA. In the NHL, draft picks can retain their amateur status. Last years first round pick for the Hawks is currently playing for the University of North Dakota. The Hawks retain the rights to sign him but those will expire eventually, like Kevin Hayes. Speaking of Hayes, the Hawks actually still have a second round pick for this year (#54) because they didn't sign him.

http://giant.gfycat.com/CoolSilverCooter.gif

No Rozsival tonight thank god, Erixon in instead. Also, Kane who? TT's got this.

What the [expletive] did Hamilton do? More drugs?

It shouldn't have been. From the rules: A penalty shot is designed to restore a scoring opportunity which was lost as a result of a foul being committed by the offending team A scoring opportunity isn't having the puck in the offensive zone. If the Panthers player was setting up to shoot, then it would be a scoring opportunity. The refs shoved their heads up their ass, which isn't surprising this year.

If they lose Kane they may not make the playoffs. (7 points from being out...)

Actually, yes. I am apparently the only Cubs fan that was excited when we signed him. It wasn't just getting Edmonds, it was getting Edmonds from SD after he had put up a .178 .265 .233 slash line with 1 HR in 103 PA there. He seemed to be done and would just be taking time from Pie who was going to be an amazing player blah blah blah. Obviously we were wrong, and he turned out to be a great pick up.

Shaw's replacement played well yesterday in Hartman, and Shaw will be traded either by the deadline or during the offseason. Yes, Shaw is a center, Hartman a wing, but with Kruger's improvement and Nordstrom looking good, plus TT, there are replacements. Darling was locked up because Raanta is probably on his way out as part of a trade. In the long run, Darling is going to be a very good back-up but probably wouldn't be a starter while Raanta has the ability to be a starter, but needs regular playing time/development. Raanta makes sense as part of a return for a trade package. I was fine with the Leddy trade when it happened but now I'm regretting it. The defense has been horrid this year and needs to be rebuilt around Keith/Hjalmarsson. Seabrook is a guy I want on the blue line in a power play/offensive attack, but is not that good at defending (regularly screens the goalie, bad puck play in the d-zone). He probably needs to be put back on the same line with Keith, who can hide Seab's deficiencies and elevate his offensive threat. Oduya is breaking down/lost a step, Rundblad is a 7th defenseman getting way too much time. Roszival got more ice time last night because Oduya went out in the 1st period. That being said: He wouldn't play for the Sabres, why the hell is he on the Blackhawks? He's old, slow, gives the puck away regularly... Roszival is Q's Neifi, Heinrich, whatever. (This is one of the few complaints I can understand about Q, he is very veteran happy and quick to bench rookies/young players (Pirri, Morin) for mistakes that vets seem to get away with. If Roszival was a young player, he would be in Rockford by now). Hopefully when Erixon and TVR are healthy they start taking time from Roszival/Rundblad, but I bet Q sticks with the lame ducks for no [expletive] good reason. The Hawks will have to rebuild the defense this offseason anyways, as Oduya and Roszival are both UFAs. While Sharp is still a good player, he does have a $5.9 mil cap hit for the next couple years, is 33, and is definitely declining. It sucks to see him go, but he's the odd man out when it comes to trade assets and cap hits. I could also see Seabrook ($5 mil cap hit) being shopped in the offseason if the Hawks really want to re-tool the defense.

this is going to OT, better question is why Lynch didnt stop at the 1. 4 plays to score a TD, they would have and run down some time ...or you not be stupid and give the defense a chance to stop you when you're losing.

That plummeting noise is Winston's draft stock. That might have been the funniest thing I've ever seen. And Winston throws an interception.

Pegula also owns the Buffalo Sabres and just invested $170mm into the Buffalo waterfront.

No.

Crawford was caught watching the game.

That is embarrassing for a high school coach, for somebody who's supposed to be coaching a NFL team, he should resign immediately.

Officials: Ok, this is just crap, lets give them another chance. Saints: Ha

Didn't the Astros protect Torreyes? They did.

I'm stuck on an airplane right now, but didn't I post stats the other day that show montero not being a huge upgrade offensively, even versus righties? At least using his last two years worth of results I believe that to be true. Yes, if you look at single years for either Castillo or Montero you can get them not far apart against RHP. Validity of that argument aside, it misses the point a bit, because you aren't talking about a strict platoon. If anything it's a good thing because Castillo would still get PAs against RHP and him being acceptable against them is a good thing. We're not talking about emulating the 2014 A's at the position. Montero is slightly better against righties than Castillo, but Castillo crushes lefties: AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS/wRC+ Montero Castillo 2011 - 2014: vs R .277 .370 .437 .806 118 .239 .307 .369 .676 86 vs L .216 .284 .325 .609 65 .308 .375 .476 .850 136 2013 & 2014 vs R .250 .344 .384 .728 99 .249 .317 .379 .696 93 vs L .194 .253 .275 .528 43 .275 .343 .440 .783 118 2014: vs. R: .256 .348 .386 .735 100 .216 .279 .352 .631 76 vs L .198 .252 .311 .563 53 .301 .350 .505 .855 139 Grandal, since he's been brought up: Career: vs R: .252 .356 .424 .780 125 vs L: .225 .335 .379 .714 104 2014: vs R: .241 .329 .452 .781 124 vs L: .162 .323 .189 .512 62 If you trade for Montero, you need to keep Castillo and platoon them. Maybe let Castillo get some times against righties, but Montero against lefties is really, really bad. The problem is that Arizona doesn't have a replacement starting catcher and would probably want Castillo back. If you can get Grandal, that's probably the best bet, since he would be about the same or better against righties, and probably acceptable against lefties. Again, if you can keep Castillo that would be good for against lefties, but Grandal could bounce back against them (.240 BABIP against lefties last year vs .286 vs righties)

Some moves from the last couple days: Carcillo back, Regin down Nordstrom up Darling up, Raanta down.

This is a better thread. Thanks. $4MM with $2MM available in incentives. Good for depth. At worst you have a guy who lefties batted .177/.245/.184 against, so would be an expensive but solid LOOGY.

Probably has something to do with when the Rule 5 draft is. When is that? The Winter Meetings are December 7 - 11, so probably the 11th, since I think it usually takes place on the last day.

Raanta in the doghouse? Yeah that's weird. Q said after the skate just that he had earned another start. So I guess I'll take it at face value. Not like Raanta has been bad. They probably just want to take another look at Darling before they send him back down. I really don't think they are seriously thinking about replacing Raanta. Not necessarily replacing Raanta but freeing him up as a trade chip.