sethuel1

If he convinced Jacque to use them, Juan could perform a great service to the team. ...by either: A) enhancing Jaque's performance or B) getting him baninated from the team Baninated? Derwood's a farker.

i didn't see any line this morning on my way to the L, but then again I wasn't paying attention coming down Seminary. Could've walked past several hundred people and probably not noticed. Not sure what time you left this morning, but the wristbands started being distributed at 10 AM. Last year I went at about noon on the first day, and the line actually stretched around the park. Not sure if they will have a different way of queueing people this year, considering the ongoing construction in the OF. Ah, well that's why. It was about 9 Am. Thought it started at 8 for some reason...

i didn't see any line this morning on my way to the L, but then again I wasn't paying attention coming down Seminary. Could've walked past several hundred people and probably not noticed.

What kind of question is this? there's a budget. Paying more in contracts means we're closer to maxing out that budget (or, maybe, we're already close enough that we can't go that much higher anyway). That's like saying "I make $50k a year, what difference does it make if I eat at McDonalds each day or Rosebud each day for this entire month, since the total costs will each be a small percentage of my income for the year." "Maxing out" for who? Matt Lawton was the best guy available last trade deadline. Last I saw, the Cubs are at $96 million. They can afford to go to $105. So you suggest paying ~8% of the probable budget on a marginal upgrade (or downgrade, if you're not memerized by Soriano's mythical 30/30 numbers) simply because we have the cash and thereby tying our hands for later based on the fact that last year, one of the worst years for free agency and trading deadline acquisitions in recent history, our trade didn't pan out?

What kind of question is this? there's a budget. Paying more in contracts means we're closer to maxing out that budget (or, maybe, we're already close enough that we can't go that much higher anyway). That's like saying "I make $50k a year, what difference does it make if I eat at McDonalds each day or Rosebud each day for this entire month, since the total costs will each be a small percentage of my income for the year."

There is no way this is true, unless either Walker or Murton becomes an amputee.

I really hope so. I just really hope he doesn't pull a Dan Kolb. The big difference that i see is that Dempster strikes people out. About a guy an inning, IIRC. Kolb couldn't get anyone to swing and miss, so it made his job a lot tougher.

the Bullets

From someone less informed than others that post in this thread, I'd actually think from an offensive perspective we're more of a speed team. Beasley is crazy fast, I think every goal I've ever seen Donovan score involved him winning a footrace to a ball, and I believe Johnson is pretty quick as well. IIRC we're pretty physical in the back. here's how the US has played for the last several years: We'll start a game mostly playing longballs to the head of Brian McBride up front, who will direct them down into the path of the onrushing support striker-types (Donovan and Beasley). Also we'll run Beasley down the flank and have him cross the ball a lot. In midfield, we generally clog crap up. We haven't got the passers to have a very good midfield-distributed attack, unless Reyna's in great form. If Dempsey continues to improve, or performs as well on the big stage as he has in the lesser games he's played to this point, this will change. Out wide we harrass and scrap. Frankie Hejduk is an excellent example of this. In the middle of the defense we're big and tough. Oguchi Onyewu is one of the best young defenders in the world. By the end of the US-Mexico match in September, Jared Borghetti, Mexico's star striker, had completely given up. In goal, we've got Kasey Keller, who almost always comes up with big saves, is very experienced, and is a steadying influence on the backline. Backing up is Tim Howard, who hasn't performed nearly as well since signing on with Manchester United a couple of years ago, but who has great talent. he won't beat out Keller though, and shouldn't.

i will say from the outset that if the US make it as far as they did in the last WC I will be surprised and pleased. Our group is more difficult this time, and the odds of us going up against the Brazilians in the round of 16 if we get out of the group stage are high. Brazil's attack makes me want to wet myself. Ronaldinho, Kaka, Adriano, Robinho. Ronaldo will probably not even be in the starting eleven. Cafu and Roberto Carlos, though aging, will probably be on the wings, but considering they'll have Kaka and Ronaldinho in front of them, their attacking responsibilities will be lessened. But then again, this is Brazil, so they'll probably go forward, too.

If I remember correctly, you could do both of those without a trip back to the VWR.

I don't see Twellman struggling to do that, although McBride is probably better at it. In the end, Twellman backing up McBride is probably what will happen, with Eddie Johnson playing the Clint Mathis role from 2002. How do you feel about Saturino Quaranta? Well, Santino's finally been uninjured for a while. That's a good start. Honestly, I don't have much of an opinion of him

I'm getting a wristband. Gunning for Sox series to sell and pay for a lot of the rest of the tix. After that it's the NSBB game on May 18, Giants series, and the St. Louis series in August. Not expecting much, though. I got 100 away from the number 2 years ago, so to expect it again would simply be too lucky.

I have no problem with McBride up front as long as we're playing the longball-type game that he's suited to. Against Italy, however, McBride will be totally neutralized by Nesta in the longball game, and should therefore be replaced by Twellman so we've got 2 quick forwards up front. It is imperative that the forwards are then provided with good service. For this, i'd play Dempsey. i hope he's ready for the big stage. he's by far the best passer we've got. In fact, i'd agree with you that Dempsey should probably be starting no matter what, but definitely if the longball game is not in use. Solely for playing against the Czechs, I would bring Mastroeni, because I'd have him absolutely mess with Nedved for the full 90 minutes. he's a real bastard. in a good way. You don't think McBride's usefulness is limited given his age and mileage? i absolutely think it's limited. But he still manages to win a lot of balls in the air. Also, I like the change of pace going from him to whoever his sub is (probably twellman) at about the 60-70 minute mark, where all of a sudden defenses have to deal with a guy making runs instead of just going after balls in the air and poaching. I think Twellman can be just as effective in the air, plus I also think Twellman has the strikers gift of being in the right place at the right time. I agree with you 100% of Dempsey. I'd like to see Clint out there every game, but the Poland and Germany games are going to be big for him. He needs to show he can keep him composure against players that will knock him around on hostile fields. it's not about twellman getting up for headers on goal. it's about the longball game where McBride redirects balls over the top down for Beasley and Donovan to run onto.

yeah, i did. And I'll stand by it, too. Three year splits: Tejada .298/.348/.507 Giles .294/.407/.489 And Giles plays in an extreme pitcher's park. Plus, Tejada is overrated defensively. he's nothing more than an average defensive shortstop.

I have no problem with McBride up front as long as we're playing the longball-type game that he's suited to. Against Italy, however, McBride will be totally neutralized by Nesta in the longball game, and should therefore be replaced by Twellman so we've got 2 quick forwards up front. It is imperative that the forwards are then provided with good service. For this, i'd play Dempsey. i hope he's ready for the big stage. he's by far the best passer we've got. In fact, i'd agree with you that Dempsey should probably be starting no matter what, but definitely if the longball game is not in use. Solely for playing against the Czechs, I would bring Mastroeni, because I'd have him absolutely mess with Nedved for the full 90 minutes. he's a real bastard. in a good way. You don't think McBride's usefulness is limited given his age and mileage? i absolutely think it's limited. But he still manages to win a lot of balls in the air. Also, I like the change of pace going from him to whoever his sub is (probably twellman) at about the 60-70 minute mark, where all of a sudden defenses have to deal with a guy making runs instead of just going after balls in the air and poaching.

Rumor - I threw up in my mouth a little when I saw this thread.

I have no problem with McBride up front as long as we're playing the longball-type game that he's suited to. Against Italy, however, McBride will be totally neutralized by Nesta in the longball game, and should therefore be replaced by Twellman so we've got 2 quick forwards up front. It is imperative that the forwards are then provided with good service. For this, i'd play Dempsey. i hope he's ready for the big stage. he's by far the best passer we've got. In fact, i'd agree with you that Dempsey should probably be starting no matter what, but definitely if the longball game is not in use. Solely for playing against the Czechs, I would bring Mastroeni, because I'd have him absolutely mess with Nedved for the full 90 minutes. he's a real bastard. in a good way.

A 100% Totti can get a team really, really far. he's been about 80% for Roma's last 10 games (well, 9.1, I guess, since he got injured ten minutes into the last one). They've won all 10 of those games to tie the Serie A consecutive wins record. it's been almost entirely because of Totti (and to a lesser extent, Simone Perrotta and Mancini, the best brazilian you've probably never heard of). I just don't think he'll be 100% from a broken ankle by mid-June. He'll probably be on the field, but not at 100%. Was it his plant foot or his main foot? Plant foot.

A 100% Totti can get a team really, really far. he's been about 80% for Roma's last 10 games (well, 9.1, I guess, since he got injured ten minutes into the last one). They've won all 10 of those games to tie the Serie A consecutive wins record. it's been almost entirely because of Totti (and to a lesser extent, Simone Perrotta and Mancini, the best brazilian you've probably never heard of).

Pitching is pretty weak all around, obviously being so huge. My biggest deficit is saves, that was bad planning on my part, by the time i decided to take a closer, there were no real closers left. Just sit on the news wire. improbable closers always pop up and you can pick them up for nothin'

Abreu>Tejada Cabrera>Tejada Giles>Tejada etc, etc, etc

Randy Quaid was in Brokeback Mountain. I thought it was an interesting casting job.

Let me add my voice to those that say PNC Park is absolutely fantastic. In every way. if it wasn't for the nostalgia/baseball history feeling that I get at Wrigley (which is being destroyed by the year, by the way), PNC would be my favorite park. Fantastic seats close to the action, great food (Primanti's), varied seating options, wonderful views on the city. Just awesome.

I would kill someone to get a copy of this game. In all seriousness, if anyone has a copy, send me the tape and I'll digitize it and put it on a filesharing network for all to enjoy.