New T.R. Sullivan mailbag up
by Adam J. Morris on Nov 24, 2008 7:23 PM CST
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PrintT.R. Sullivan has a new mailbag column up...
He says Jon Daniels wants Clay Buchholz in any catcher deal with the BoSox, that the Rangers don't have much money to spend, and fields a pretty laughable Josh Hamilton trade proposal...
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TR
Did he actually use zone rating in an evaluation? I was shocked! And yes, that Hamilton trade was so ludicrously laughable that it almost seems inconceivable that the email-er is older than 6.
Fire Ron Washington
Perfect
He wants Clay Buchholz in any deal with the Red Sox. He keeps insisting that he doesn’t have to trade a catcher, even if that makes for an uncomfortable situation next spring.
Fire Todd Dodge. Seriously. Back to Suckville with a loss to FLA ATL but whatever, SUCK IT WESTERN KENTUCKY! 1-9 baby!
It will be interesting next sunday
when the polls come out. There are arguments on both sides. Once again this is why there needs to be a playoff. I truly think OU and UT are the best teams in the nation right now.
A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555
playoffs
what would the seeding be? or does that not matter if there is a playoff system? I don’t really get what a playoff does if the question is which one out of 3 teams is better. For instance, would OK be any happier about a playoff if they had to play TX first and TTech got to play someone else in the semis??
""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley
I don't think it matters
Take the top 4 teams no matter if they are from the same conference or not and seed them according to the final poll. 1 v. 4 and 2 v. 3 that is much better than what the system is now.
This is not just about this year or have anything to do with me being an Oklahoma fan I have been wanting a playoffs for several years now.
A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555
i get the argument for playoffs overall
but i think it is pretty weird to want a playoff to decide a 3 way tie, where those teams already played each other anyway. what good does a playoff do? just lets them play each other again? you’ll probably have something like that anyway with the conference championship games and the final game
playoff argument makes a lot more sense when you are talking about a bunch of 1 loss teams that haven’t played each other and one of them gets screwed (which doesn’t happen all that often but does happen)
""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley
Another sticking point of mine
If one conference has a championship they all should have one or none at all.
A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555
eh
the Pac 10 is the only conference in the nation that gets it right. All 10 teams play each other. 9 conference games and 3 OOC games for each team. All ties are already broken because of head to head. There’s ZERO need for the Pac 10 to have a championship game.
The other good thing about the way the Pac 10 schedules? Only 3 OOC games leaves less patsies like The Citadel for them to play…instead you have to play an extra conference game. Imagine OU having to swap out Chattanooga for Mizzou.
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Nov 25, 2008 7:13 AM CST up reply actions
I don't see how that helps in a 3-way tie, though.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
by thedirkatron on Nov 25, 2008 7:18 AM CST up reply actions
True
Here’s the Pac 10’s tiebreakers FWIW (pretty similar to the Big 12)
Rose Bowl Selection Procedures
If a Conference team is ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) ranking system it shall participate in the National Championship Game designated by the BCS. If that is not the case, the following procedures will determine the Pacific-10 Rose Bowl Representative. The Pacific-10 Rose Bowl representative shall be that member’s team with the best won-lost percentage record in Conference games. If, however, the records in Conference games of two or more members are identical, determination of the Rose Bowl representative shall be as follows:
a. Two-Team Tie.
The winner of the game between the two teams shall be the representative.
b. Multiple-Team Ties.
(1) When three or more teams are tied in Conference play, if one has defeated all others, it shall be the Rose Bowl representative. If that is not the case, a comparison of the tied teams’ records against the other tied teams shall be made and the team having the best record against the other tied teams shall be the Rose Bowl representative. If two or more teams are still tied after this comparison, the appropriate two-team or multiple-team tie-breaking procedures shall be repeated among those teams still under consideration.
(2) If more than two teams are still tied after the process above is completed, each remaining tied team’s record against the team occupying the highest position in the final regular season standings shall be compared, with the procedure continuing down through the standings until one team gains an advantage.
When arriving at another group of tied teams while comparing records, each team’s collective record against the tied teams as a group shall be used.
If at any point in the process the multiple-team tie is reduced to two teams, the two-team tie-breaking procedure shall be applied.
If more than two teams are still tied after comparing their records all the way through the Conference standings, the team among the tied teams with the highest ranking in the final BCS standings shall be the Rose Bowl representative.
If a tie remains, the teams most recently earning Rose Bowl or Bowl Championship Series automatic selection shall be eliminated.
I do like the last thing though because it doesn’t favor long time conference powers — which if you applied it to the Big 12 south would give the South to Tech.
But, there’s still no need for the Pac 10 to have a championship game. Besides, those are all about money — it has nothing to do with the strength of the conference or anything like that.
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Nov 25, 2008 7:33 AM CST up reply actions
nevermind about the teams playing again
i was getting confused.
still, i think it is weird to want a playoff to decide a three way tie when you are saying that seeding can go by bcs rank if it needs to.
if anything, this situation doesn’t show what’s wrong with a non playoff system, it shows what is wrong with having conference championship games. at the very least, the Big 12 north shouldn’t’ play the big 12 south. it should just be the 2 best teams in the big 12.
""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley
Tech
Any team that gets assraped on national television by almost 50 points does not deserve to be even mentioned in the national championship discussion. Tech had their chance and showed their ass. They are exactly what everybody thought they were. A team who can’t win the big one on the road.
A playoff should use the Orange, Fiesta, and Sugar bowls and have 1v4 and 2v3 play in round one then one week later play the winners. The Rose Bowl has always been the outsider wanting to keep its Pac10/Big10 tradition so let it.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
That would work also
I have no problem with that either.
A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555
funny
you say that a team that loses big doesn’t deserve to be in the national championship discussion.
but then advocate a playoff, which has an even stronger probability of crowning a champion who was less deserving going off the “regular season”
there are clearly advantages to playoffs but sometimes i feel like people just blindly want one without thinking about it. maybe you wouldn’t care if a random SEC school got hot for the playoffs. however, i feel like a few advocates of the playoff system would probably respond with “georgia’s a lame champion, we beat them by 30, they just got lucky with matchups.”
""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley
Big losses
Big losses will generally drop teams from championship contention. They don’t recover from them in the minds of voters to get back to the top 4.
It just sucks that Texas played a hard fought game and came out victorious over OU and now all that may become a moot point due to some computers and the schedule makers. Texas doesn’t make out their conference schedule and yet is getting screwed by playing having a bye week and then playing Aggy at the end of the year while OU is seemingly getting helped out by playing Tech and OSU late in the season. And I know year in and year out teams change and you can’t predict what teams will be but the whole premise that timing of matchups means more than performance really ticks me off.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Hey look
All Texas had to do was beat Tech and all this would be moot. Texas made this complicated. Head to head, ok if that is the case then Tech should still be ahead of Texas. Here is the thing if OU goes to Stillwater and beats a ranked OSU team on the road it is a better win than beating OSU by 4 at home.
There is no good answer here it is what it is. Someone is going to feel like they got screwed no matter what.
A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555
Yeah, losing to Tech looks
like it pretty much f’d any Texas hope of playing for the National Championship.
I can’t understand how Oklahoma lost to Texas.
And for the record, Texas’ best road win came over Kansas because the win over OU came on a neutral field.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Nov 24, 2008 11:09 PM CST up reply actions
OU and TTU
wouldn’t have survived Texas’ stretch any better.
TTU would have fared much worse, as a matter of fact.
OU probably would have come out with at least one loss, imo.
Bring up Matt West '09
by inactive lsb user on Nov 25, 2008 8:43 AM CST up reply actions
but you can clearly envision a scenario
where there are only three one loss teams in the country and one of them has a huge loss. playoffs will let that team with the big loss stay in the picture while a BCS championship won’t.
""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley
Just wait...
If OSU can beat OU then that means Tech would have the tiebreaker over Texas and go onto the Big XII championship. I also bet if that happens then USC would pass Texas and play in the NC game because the NC game wants no part of Tech after they got blasted. It’s possible no Big XII team will be in the NC game, not likely, but possible.
Texas is in a no win situation. If OU wins they will pass Texas. If OU loses then Tech has the tiebreaker. I doubt this scenerio makes any Longhorn fans upset though. =P
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
USC
I can guarantee you USC is not going to vault a one loss Texas team. It simply won’t happen. Their remaining schedule has Notre Dame and UCLA, two teams that will not help their SOS in the least. If OSU beats OU this weekend Texas will almost assuredly be in the MNC game. Tech will not jump again no matter how much they may beat Mizzou by. The voters simply won’t do it after that debacle Saturday night.
Hell I think Utah would get a MNC bid before a one loss USC did. But the only one loss teams that may jump Texas are Florida and OU.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
Heh...
as a non-BCS fan I want everything to be as fucked up as possible with a couple real big teams bitching about how they didn’t get into the NC game.
As far as Utah having a better shot at a NC game than USC, I’d love to think that was the case, but know it isn’t.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
USC
I dont see how they could justify putting USC in the NC game if they dont even win their weak conference. I still think that a SEC team and big 12 team should play in the NC game. And both seem to be a lock. I believe that Florida will beat Alabama putting them in NC game. Then one of several scenarios will happen in the big 12:
1. OSU beats OU which puts Tech in big 12 championship game. Tech wins the championship game then they are in the NC game. Possibility of UT making it but I just dont see how you would be able to put UT in above Tech if Tech wins the Big 12 championship.
2. Same as above however Tech loses. UT then makes it to the NC game.
3. OU beats OSU then beats Missouri then goes to the NC game
4. Same as above however OU loses to Missouri then UT heads the NC game
by Michael Cave on Nov 25, 2008 12:45 PM CST up reply actions
Look at the computers
Teams would have to lose ahead of USC for them to have any chance their computer numbers are horrible because they have played nobody except for Ohio State at home. Utah and Tech are both ahead of USC in the computers.
Texas would have to lose for USC to jump them because even if humans put USC ahead then UT still wins the computers by a mile and will be ahead in the BCS. Same goes for Tech or Utah. If they are anywhere close to USC in the human polls then they will be ahead in the BCS based on computer strength.
Right now USC is way ahead of Tech and Utah in the human polls, but only just barely ahead in the BCS. Any shakeup at the top that would move up USC would also move the others up and would narrow the gap in the human polls. It is a little complicated, but basically USC is 8th in the computers right now and for them to have any chance at the BCS they would have to be #1 in both human polls and for that to happen a lot of chaos would have to happen because Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama would all have to lose another game. If USC was #2 in the polls and Utah or Tech was #3 USC would get jumped in the BCS.
Brad Edwards (ESPN) & Jerry Palm (BCS.com)
have both said that if Tech wins out and Okie State defeats OU that Tech is likely to go to the National Championship.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Well they are wrong
Texas is the computer darlings. The records of their 4 OOC opponents (FAU, UTEP, Rice, Arky) is 22-22. They also played Mizzou during conference play. Techs 4 OOC opponents records (Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU, UMass) is 20-25.
Tech plays Baylor while Texas plays Aggy this week so there will be little if any gain in the computers from those games. Also the conference championship games don’t count toward SOS for BCS purposes so they wouldn’t get a bump from playing Mizzou.
And since Mizzou is ranked where they are and Tech where they are they would not only have to jump Texas in the coaches polls but Texas would have to fall pretty far, like below USC far to make up enough ground on the computers to get them to top 2 in the BCS.
Basically Tech screwed themselves by laying such a humongous egg on national television the other night. Had they lost a close game it would be different. But losing by 45 points virtually wiped any and all chances of them playing in the national championship game off the map.
Now they can still play in a BCS bowl by winning the Big 12. If OSU beats OU and Tech beats Mizzou they would play in the Fiesta Bowl. But thats as high as they can go.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
"They're wrong" so says the Longhorn Blowhard.
A Longhorn-ex does not know more than Palm or Edwards.
The team that screwed themselves was Texas when they lost to little ol’ Texas Tech.
Deal with it.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
Losing by a last second TD is nowhere near losing by over 6 TDs
Thats right OVER 6 TOUCHDOWNS.
The game was over with by the end of the 1st quarter. The BCS is all about the formula. Its just not gonna happen that TT is going to jump Texas. The only reason they had a chance before the OU game was if they stayed undefeated simply due to their SOS. It sucks. Then add on getting anally violated on national television and dropping in the human polls as far as they did and its simply not possible for them to jump Texas. Like I said the conference championship game will not count toward a SOS. It won’t count. In case I didn’t make myself clear it won’t count. And since Mizzou is ranked below Mizzou there is no way Tech will jump 6 spots by beating a lower ranked team.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
A loss is a loss dude get over it
You keep banging the head to head win for UT over OU. YOu can’t have your cake and eat it too. A 1 point loss is still a loss no matter how you spin it.
UT barely beat OSU at home by 4. If the Sooners go into Stillwater and beat them on the road that is a better victory than UT’s OSU win.
A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555
OU
OU beat Kansas by 14 at home while Texas went to Lawrence and beat them by twice that. Im not comparing Texas and OU. Frankly either team would be worthy of a MNC shot. I do of course prefer Texas and advocate them.
But you cannot tell me a 6 point loss on a last second miracle play is the same as a 44 point ass kicking that was over after one quarter.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
OK sorry here is the thing
Every team has a bad day. I understand the 6 point loss on a last second play but I watched that game a Tech WR dropped a pass in the end zone in the 1st qtr an easy pass to catch at that. Texas was off all night long and Tech should have won by more than just 6 points. If the Texas CB could catch a ball we wouldn’t even be setting here talking about this.
I understand its frustrating but it is what it is. There is no good answer. Some one loss team is going to be on the outside looking in, is it fair? No it’s not but it is the system that we have.
I for one think the two best teams in the country are OU and UT.
A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555
Look i've accepted the loss
It was a great game between two really good teams. A classic that went literally down to the very last second and took a miraculous play by a magnificent player to lose it for Texas.
If you want to bring up the dropped TD for Tech how about the surehanded Jordan Shipley dropping one that would have made it 9-7 early on on a deep ball that went right through his hands when he was 5 yards behind the defense.
I agree that UT and OU are probably the best two teams in the country.
My argument in this conversation is with Josey who seems to think Tech will jump Texas if OU loses to OSU and Tech wins the Big 12. Its just mathematically almost 100% impossible. It would take alot, and I mean alot, of human voters jumping tech about 6 spots because of them beating a team ranked 6 spots lower than them. That just doesn’t happen. Because their computer score is really bad and isn’t going to get better by adding the baylor game on. Why wouldn’t the Mizzou game get added? Because conference championship games don’t count toward SOS.
For the record I think a one loss OU will jump UT and if they win the Big 12 will play in the MNC game. Fair? No I don’t think so. But not completely out of the realm. Im sorry but a team, any team, that loses by 44 points (should have been over 50 if not for a last second garbage TD) does not deserve to play for the national championship
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
I can agree
with most of that.
A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555
Your insight...
on all topics is simply amazing. Keep it comin’.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Not near as...
dumbfounding as your choice for an avatar.
Now go away, people with educated opinions are conversing here. Not trolls with one line opinions who have no facts to back up anything they say on any topic.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
what's wrong with my avatar?
Just because you got flustered and were proven wrong on your argument you start talking about people’s avatars?
Is that what you go around doing on blogs? Interesting…if that amuses you, have fun.
Anyways, speaking of your original silly point…did you even look and see where the computers have USC ranked right now? I’m guessing you didn’t, or you would see it’s easy to comprehend that they wouldn’t jump all the way above Texas if OSU wins.
I’ll help you out…here is the link
study hard.
Jindal '12
Playoffs
Once the Cotton Bowl moves to the new Cowboys stadium, they need to go to the +1 format, adding the Cotton Bowl to the BCS series as the championship game, and play it there every year.. no rotation.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
Won't happen...the no rotating part
But I do think once Jerryworld opens they will stop having one BCS location having 2 games.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
There definitely needs to be a playoff system......
To put it in a stupid baseball scenario….
It would be like the Rangers winning the West, but only having the 3rd best record in the AL. Sorry Rangers fans……good season, but no playoffs for you……only two teams get a chance. Maybe next year. I guess you shouldn’t have lost those two 3-game series against the Red Sox and the Yankees back in May. If you lose a couple of series back in May then that means you are still a bad team in late September…….cause everyone knows that teams dont get better or worse througout a season……..nope.
I’m a huge Longhorn fan, but I know damn well that the one loss that OU, USC, and FLA have do not mean that they aren’t better than Alabama. I wouldn’t want Texas to have to play any of them right now…….they are playing a lot better than us right now. I do want a shot at Alabama though!!
i like baseball too
again, would like to point out
this is the exact opposite reason that bigsteve suggested for a playoff.s it’s want thing to want one because you want a team that didn’t fair quite as well in the regular season to have a chance at hte playoffs.
but to want a playoffs, and make the argument that people who don’t do well in the regular season shouldn’t get a shot at the title is illogical.
""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley
Florida says hi...
Along with their Heisman QB, great coach, and much improved defense.
by GhettoBear04 on Nov 25, 2008 2:27 PM CST up reply actions
Hi..
that’s a mighty fine home loss to an unranked team Florida has there. Very impressive indeed.
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Nov 25, 2008 2:31 PM CST up reply actions
Say what you will...
about the Gators loss. I have little doubt in my mind that they are the best team in college football and will beat anyone put in front of them right now.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Well I hope he'd trade Laird for less than bucholz
unless hes comfortable with telling laird to stop talking and be the backup.
the preceding post was a great success.
I say let Varitek reject that one year deal he was offered
And then Boston will come calling. And seeing how we have all the chips, we can hold out for a good amount of time (unless someone else comes in with a catcher for boston). One of these days boston will have to do something, and if it means giving up Buchholz, than it must happen.
If there’s a good thing bout JD, he knows to aim high for prospects
In Smoak We Trust
Except we very definitely do not have all the chips.
There are other catchers on the trade market and some on the FA market, too.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
by thedirkatron on Nov 24, 2008 9:23 PM CST up reply actions
Pretty sure steal home sent in that Hamilton trade proposal.
It’s the only possible explanation.
"Please. What the hell do you know about starting a sports-related website and then deciding to leave it to work on other things and then? How dare you, sir." -- Michael Schur, aka FireJoeMorgan's Ken Tremendous, to Will Leitch
i think it's pretty obvious by now
people do that on purpose because they know TR will post it.
Jindal '12
Perhaps Ill send him one myself...
Laird and Rheinecker (I know hes gone) for Bucholz maybe.
Now, whose name to use…
the preceding post was a great success.
Or...
The Giants need a 3rd baseman. How bout we trade them Hank Blalock for Tim Lincecum. Hey, it could work, it brings leadership to the Giants, while we get top of the rotation help…
In Smoak We Trust
No
You have to change the last part. We trade for Lincecum and he would be the perfect pitcher to pitch behind Millwood and Padilla.
Well, Millwood maybe.
But you’d have to think Lincecum would be above Padilla.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
by thedirkatron on Nov 24, 2008 9:24 PM CST up reply actions
Just for the sake of putting fail pictures up
"Relying on the government to protect your privacy is like asking a peeping tom to install your window blinds."
JD with the hardline stance
I love it.
"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005
Wakefield...
…has 10/5 veto rights. Otherwise, a wonderful trade.
Obama thinks he is a good talker, but he is often undisciplined when he speaks. He needs to understand that as President, his words will be scrutinized and will have impact whether he intends it or not. In this regard, President Bush is an excellent model; Obama should take a lesson from his example. -- John Hinderacker
OT: Aaron Rodgers
picked a bad time to look terrible.
Fire Todd Dodge. Seriously. Back to Suckville with a loss to FLA ATL but whatever, SUCK IT WESTERN KENTUCKY! 1-9 baby!
lots
of time.
"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract
It was interesting when they showed Rodgers' stats side-by-side with Favre's this year
They sure did look similar. Very, very similar, as in, Favre’s QB rating is 94-something and Rodgers’ rating is 92-something. Yet people bitch about Favre being gone because he’s 8-3 and Rodgers will now be 5-6. Kinda reminds me of the whole wins for pitchers argument.
who bitches?
""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley
mike h. sent the proposal
could that be mike hindman in disguise?
how exactly
would that be a disguise?
by snatch attack on Nov 24, 2008 10:57 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
b/c it was from a guy in wisconsin?
i dont know, i didnt think this completely through
by studcrackers on Nov 24, 2008 11:33 PM CST up reply actions
Because he didn't use a "J" for his middle name...
In Smoak We Trust
by Smoak Some on Nov 24, 2008 11:37 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Ed will like the answer to this question
Do you think Nelson Cruz can start in the outfield for an entire season in 2009 or if he gets off to a slow start will the Rangers give up on him again?
— Darrin K., Red Oak, Texas
I would expect Cruz to be the Rangers’ Opening Day right fielder and be given every chance to keep that job.
The fact that the Rangers have a dinosaur
like bleeping TR Sullivan as some kind of go-to guy for the fans speaks volumes as to why this is regarded as such a dumb market in comparison.
I wish TR Sullivan good health but I also wish he’d go somewhere else or find another line of work.
"Dying ain't hard. It's living that's hard."
by Josey Wales on Nov 24, 2008 11:16 PM CST up reply actions
Plenty of teams
have such dinosaurs, either on their mlb site or at their local papers.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Gerry Fraley
"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL
Carl Everett
disagrees….this would be the time for someone to post that graphic
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Nov 25, 2008 7:18 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah,
because the house-reporter is always such a tough reporter. Just like Mickey Spagnola is the go to guy for the Cowboys.
TR Sullivan is a Rangers Employee, its not surprising the kind of answers he gives.
Nolan Ryan is the Greatest Pitcher ever, because Google says so.
"BTW I’m officially welching ab03. Yeah I planned too all along, but I figured I’d try to get off the hook with double or nothing first."- Sharky
Actually his checks come from MLB.com not the Rangers
and it does say this at the bottom of all his articles:
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
I mean, I understand calling him a homer because he is clearly a fan. But, to say he just writes whatever the Rangers tell him to write is a serious charge against his integrity.
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Nov 25, 2008 7:56 AM CST up reply actions
As if
MLB.com would hire him without the Rangers approval.
Nolan Ryan is the Greatest Pitcher ever, because Google says so.
"BTW I’m officially welching ab03. Yeah I planned too all along, but I figured I’d try to get off the hook with double or nothing first."- Sharky
You do know that
the Rangers don’t even own their website, right? mlb.com runs all that stuff.
I see what you’re saying, but why wouldn’t they want a longtime beat writer who has a recognizable name?
I think he’s a joke with some of the stuff he writes on his opinion pieces, but when just has a “news” type article there’s nothing biased in those.
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Nov 25, 2008 8:01 AM CST up reply actions
Do you think
MLB.com would hire, say, Randy Galloway, or someone else thats critical of the Rangers?
I don’t think the Rangers get prior approval of every column, but I do think they can disapprove anyone who works on the site. I think only folks who will be fairly safe shills have any chance of writing on that site.
Nolan Ryan is the Greatest Pitcher ever, because Google says so.
"BTW I’m officially welching ab03. Yeah I planned too all along, but I figured I’d try to get off the hook with double or nothing first."- Sharky
I did say beat writers
not blowhards
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Nov 25, 2008 9:40 AM CST up reply actions
I think it's more subtle than that.
Would they have hired Galloway? No. But Sullivan was an experienced writer with a good reputation. I do think that he probably self censors a little bit, even if only subconcsiously, as do most beat writers who may feel a need to get along with people they are in contact with almost daily among the front office and the players and coaches.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Holy shit, Cahill. BEST. AVATAR. PIC. EVER.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
by thedirkatron on Nov 25, 2008 7:37 PM CST up reply actions
What about Jeter?
"Somewhere out there, between 14-32 BBWAA NL MVP voters are trying to get cheaper winter heating by drilling a hole in the microwave." - Jeff at LoL
I absolutely love that answer, too.
Wouldn’t surprise me a bit if he has a top 3 OPS on this team next year.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
by thedirkatron on Nov 24, 2008 11:59 PM CST up reply actions
yeah
But it also wouldn’t surprise me if he’s cut by the All-Star break. I just don’t know what to expect out of that guy.
"You’re the only here who contributes schtick only." - brettgardner
With Nellie Cruz
it almost seems like we are going to get one end of the spectrum or the other, with little chance of his results falling somewhere in the middle. I bet his OPS will be either less than 700 or over 900, with little chance of falling in the middle somewhere.
And if he does hit the high end of that spectrum, then Hambone, Nellie, and CD make one hell of a middle of the order.
In memory of Ulysses Simpson Grant Stoner. RIP Lil Stoner.
and that chances of the extremes of the spectrum are not 50 50
you probably have a 30% (at best) that he will be good and a 70% chance he’ll be maddening
""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley
I have him at .850-.900, but I agree with your point.
The improvement last year was either totally for reals and he’s now a legit beast, or it was totally a mirage and he’ll slide right back down the poop and pee highway to shit town.
There’s not a lot of middle ground for Nelly.
But I’m a believer.
.285/.375/.500 hitting cleanup between Hambone and the Beasticon.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
by thedirkatron on Nov 25, 2008 7:47 PM CST up reply actions
Wow
Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither.
by Brian Thomas on Nov 25, 2008 8:21 PM CST up reply actions
If Cruz is over 900, I'll eat my hat
Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither.
by Brian Thomas on Nov 25, 2008 8:19 PM CST up reply actions
Yes Yes
Predictions?
I’m torn on whether to watch it tonight, Since it doesn’t come on till 10 out here, I usually watch it on Wednesdays.
One opinion I’ve come to in thirty some years: delayed gratification is overrated…
Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither.
by Brian Thomas on Nov 25, 2008 8:24 PM CST up reply actions
I really don't know what happens to Mackey
It’s pretty much pick a number out of a hat, to me, the way Ryan moves the plot around. I think Shane lives. I think Gardocki goes down big time one way or another. I hope that Vic’s wife or kid doesn’t die instead of him, just because that was done before when this morality play was called Godfather.
by Brett Perryman on Nov 25, 2008 8:32 PM CST up reply actions
I kept expecting the hottie ATF agent to be completely playing him
That seemed like a logical plot twist. Glad Ryan passed on that. Too easy.
My own unsolicited script recommendation would be that the final shot is a jail cell door slamming shut on Mackey, That’s also pretty much what I thought would have been the best ending for Gandolfini. Years and years of Machiavellian maneuvers end up for naught. Great movie segue to boot.
I think Shane dies, Gardocki is in the wind, and Vic readies himself for gladiator games at Fulsom or Lompoc.
But I’ll defer viewing until manana. The wife is prattling in my ear about some anti-virus crap…
Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither.
by Brian Thomas on Nov 25, 2008 9:19 PM CST up reply actions
I agree on that being
the most likely ending for Vic, especially with the little preview they did last week (though I kind of took that as misdirection). The only reason I say I think Shane lives is that Sturm asked him if his character could be a in a sequel, and he gave some kind of coy answer that was basically yes.
by Brett Perryman on Nov 25, 2008 9:23 PM CST up reply actions
Also
I’ve heard several people say they think this kid is going to kill Dutch.
by Brett Perryman on Nov 25, 2008 9:36 PM CST up reply actions
My prediction:
Bodies. Hitting. Floors.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
by thedirkatron on Nov 26, 2008 12:39 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Only one set of deaths, surprisingly. Seems pretty obvious that they want to do a movie, though. They left practically every plot line hanging in some way (except for that one and Lem’s of course).
by Brett Perryman on Nov 26, 2008 2:35 AM CST up reply actions
I found a pretty good video summary of the entire series including the finale on youtube.
Link.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
There are two kinds of men in this world: Men who make jump throws, and men who wish that they were Derek Jeter so that they could make jump throws.
by thedirkatron on Nov 26, 2008 5:31 AM CST up reply actions
I don't know why you keep linking that
It’s corny and makes little sense.
Is it some way way underground Gen-Y hipster try hard reference I’m not getting?
Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither.
by Brian Thomas on Nov 26, 2008 8:02 PM CST up reply actions
Hmm?
Bodies hitting floors…people dying…he said it above. Your confusion is confusing me.
by brettgardner on Nov 26, 2008 10:41 PM CST up reply actions
Are you
Going to start wearing a tortilla, just in case? Hehehe
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Nov 25, 2008 9:10 PM CST up reply actions
Heh, let's read Nelson's fan club presidente's OPS 09 prediction
Those who would sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither.
by Brian Thomas on Nov 25, 2008 9:20 PM CST up reply actions
OK ... (I'm not a very good predictor)
For Nelson Cruz:
.293 .368. .510 .878
BA depends on what seems to be much improved plate patience, as does his OBP. The OBP may slip down a bit if he’s moved up in the lineup (above #6 or #7) due to pressing in some RISP situations. The SLG should be pretty good, given his natural power and some improvement in making solid contact since he shifted to an open stance. For RHB playing half their games in Arlington, I start guessing from their K/BB ration, and come down from an 80 point differential between BA and OBP – for Cruz -5 seems achievable, so a differential of 75 pts.
Slug is pure guesswork, but thinking his all field contact with most power to CF and right center should put him around the .500 mark.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
by Ed Coffin on Nov 25, 2008 9:38 PM CST up reply actions
Dye to Reds?
Rumored for Bailey +…
http://www.thelotd.com/lance/blog/2008/11/24/tuesday
Byrd for Bailey one-for-one?
Cruz?
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Nov 25, 2008 12:18 PM CST reply actions
I'd be willing to trade Laird for Bailey and that's it
I don’t want to give up anything of value for a guy with serious coachability problems.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
He's a pretty nice buy-low
I’d give Byrd or Cruz one-for-one if Homer’s medicals were good and the scouts signed off on it.
Byrd’s not a sure thing much longer, and the upside on Bailey is huge.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Nov 25, 2008 12:38 PM CST up reply actions
Byrd and Cruz
have very different values, i think. cruz is could be the RH power bat that this team needs in the middle of its lineup for years to come, and he is controllable through 2012. Byrd has been a very pleasant surprise for this team, and I think he would have a lot of value for other teams looking for an OF who can play CF, but he has hit his ceiling in terms of performance and is only controllable for one more year.
ehhhhhh
I don’t see a big difference in value between Cruz’s unknown quantity in the long-term and Byrd’s known quantity in the short-term. It’s just where your team’s at and what your scouts think.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on Nov 25, 2008 1:42 PM CST up reply actions
Stupid Reds
Surely they won’t do this, but the only reason to is if you think you’re Jermaine Dye away from winning pretty big in 2009. He’s got one year at 11.5 on his contract with some sort of a NTC. If there is anything to this rumor, the Reds are probably quietly shopping Bailey and are disappointed in what they are being offered, but why use him on a one year asset? As frustrated as they presumably are with him, unless they’re almost completely sure that his stuff won’t come back (whether he ever gets his head on straight or not) I can’t imagine that they’re going to come out ahead with a solid COF for one year. Should have just traded him in a deal for Holliday if they’re going to do this. At least then they could spin him if they want.
by Brett Perryman on Nov 25, 2008 8:20 PM CST up reply actions
So Z if this is acurate
What would the Rangers have to offer to get Bailey here?
A bunch of midgets with no arms could pitch better than us. -iorange555
I'm not sure
I don’t know if their mindset is that they really like Dye as a middle of the order replacement for Dunn in the short term because they think their young rotation and handful of position players makes them a contender, or if they’re settling. If they’re settling, I could see any number of packages that might interest them (whether I’d do them is a different question, I guess). If it’s the former possibility, I don’t really see a workable option. We don’t have a position player as good as Dye at a position they can use that we’re willing to deal.
by Brett Perryman on Nov 25, 2008 8:29 PM CST up reply actions
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