[Barbara Charles]

Pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training. My Red Sox look good. What does your team look like?

[Excal]

Originally Posted by Barbara Charles

Pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training. My Red Sox look good. What does your team look like?

Like a Brazilian football team:

[Leg-End]

A pretty shoddy rotation that is relying heavily on a bounceback from AJ and the development of a changeup for Hughes. Don't like the thought of Jeter having another down season at leadoff neither.

Right now as it stands I think we are behind your Red Sox but that depends alot on how your rotation does this year and how good we have our offense firing with our lockdown bullpen. To me there is little doubt we will move for a frontline starter around the trade deadline, just gotta keep in the race with the crap backend.

[Zen]

WS in Wrigley. Then Cubs sign Pujols on FA.

Deal with it.

[Excal]

You poor Cubs fans. My heart breaks.

[Zen]

<-------------- isn't poor. Life is good, soon to be World Series champs, Pujols, Blackhawks not good enough to even attempt to defend their trophy and DeeRose.

Don't break your heart over Chicago, it's all good.

[gbgary]

Originally Posted by Zen

<-------------- isn't poor. Life is good, soon to be World Series champs, Pujols, Blackhawks not good enough to even attempt to defend their trophy and DeeRose.

Don't break your heart over Chicago, it's all good.

except for the bears.

RosenBlog: What the Packers told us about the Bears (hint: uh-oh)

What the Packers told us about the Bears (hint: uh-oh)
Doesn’t matter that the Bears weren’t in the Super Bowl yet again. It’s still about the Bears. Around here, anyway. It’s still about the Bears because that’s the new barometer for the Bears.

As in, What did the winners tell us about the Bears? That’s the football issue. The other issue is why Kenny G is pushing tin for Audi. He shouldn’t be selling cars, he should be under one.

But anyway, what the Packers told us is that the Bears are in bigger trouble than we thought. Better hope there’s a lockout.

We already knew the Bears had a general manager who is almost useless on draft day and a head coach who is almost useless on Sunday, but the Packers told us just how much.

The Packers had half their roster tied behind their back and still won. The scary numbers are the Packers put 15 players on injured reserve and still won the Super Bowl. The Bears had a ridiculously healthy team and still lost two in a row to the Packers when winning either one of them would’ve stopped Green Bay’s Super Bowl dreams right there.

Even in the Super Bowl, the Packers lost a starting receiver and their top defensive player, and still won. The Bears spent all season being lucky and opportunistic, and still couldn’t beat the beaten-up Packers when it counted.

The Bears faced a bunch of third-string quarterbacks. The Packers spent the last six weeks beating Eli Manning, Michael Vick, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethslisberger and Jay Cutler twice.

What’s more, the Packers won three straight playoff games on the road, then won the Super Bowl away from Lambeau Field. The Bears lost a home playoff game, and Lovie Smith is getting an extension? One playoff win in the last four years -- against the worst postseason entry of all-time, mind you -- is worth a contract extension? Yeesh.

The Packers have the second-youngest team in the NFL to go along with the Lombardi Trophy. The Bears have Jerry Angelo drafting and Smith coaching. Would the Packers have made Todd Collins their top backup quarterback? Jeez, would the Packers have even bothered with that cadaver?

The Choice (and remember, death is not an option): Smith using timeouts vs. Smith making replay challenges vs. Smith evaluating talent?

The Packers told us something about game-planning based on the game your talent can play best. Mike Martz’s play-calling can get the quarterback killed, while Mike McCarthy’s play-calling neutralized the defensive player of the year. By spreading the Packers’ offense, McCarthy kept Steelers safety Troy Polamalu from blitzing. He was forced to stay in coverage. He didn’t have the option of breaking Aaron Rodgers’ ribs. That was the key matchup, but the fear is that the raw data of Green Bay’s 41-11 pass-run ratio will become Martz’s aerial crack pipe.

The sane among us, however, know why it worked. Two reasons, in fact. First, even without a running game, the Packers have an offensive line that provides protection. By contrast, when the Bears don’t have a running game, their blockers provide toe tags.

Second, the Packers have actual receivers who, despite surprising drops Sunday, still run actual routes, a concept that troubles Bears receivers beyond the idea of doing a down-and-out at the trash can.

Another thing: The Packers made it pretty obvious how stupid the Bears were with Cutler’s injury. They hung out their quarterback with bad public information after he tore a ligament in his left knee, an ongoing savaging that continued through some of the Super Bowl pregame shows. Idiot Bears. The Packers, meanwhile, had Donald Driver in a boot on the sideline and put a sling on Charles Woodson. They were injured, folks. They were telling other NFL players to keep their Tweets to themselves. I swear, I expected the Packers to hook up somebody to a defibrillator if necessary.

So, to recap, the Packers do a better job than the Bears with healthy players and with injured players, while the Bears pants them when it comes to bad backup quarterbacks.

But let me say this: The Packers told us something favorable about the Bears. Shocking, sure, but true: The Bears’ defense does a better job on the Packers than the Steelers did. Biggest reason is Julius Peppers, who starts on the line of scrimmage while Polamalu can be schemed away from it.

Something else the Packers told us about the Bears, and again it’s somewhat favorable: If the Bears are going to be stuck with Smith, then his emphasis on forcing turnovers even to the point of missing tackles is a productive way to go. The Packers turned three takeaways into three touchdowns, the first being an interception returned for a score, the last a game-changing fumble by a former Illinois running back.

Champaign tangent: The Choice (and remember, death is not an option): Rashard Mendenhall’s Sunday vs. Bruce Weber’s Saturday?

Mostly, though, the Packers told us they are better than everybody and figure to be better still when they get their injured players back. What the Packers told us is the Bears need to petition to move to the NFC West.

hehe

[Red Dreams]

Yankees got new pitchers yet?

[Neutral]

Originally Posted by Barbara Charles

Pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training. My Red Sox look good. What does your team look like?

I don't want to talk about the Baltimore Orioles

[Dans]

4 places going in a fantasy baseball league.

Looking for very active owners (daily lineup changes) who know their shit. This will be a keeper league. 12-14 teams, 6x6, Mixed, H2H. Drafting online on Sat Mar 915pm UK time.

Those who know what that means, know what that means.

Anyone interested? If so, send me a PM.

[Leg-End]

Originally Posted by Red Dreams

Yankees got new pitchers yet?

We got a few "throw and see what stick pitchers" but nobody you would really rely on to come through. Losing Pettitte at a time when the pitchers market was pretty shoddy beyond Cliff Lee didn't really help. I just want us to keep Montero because that bat is gonna be exciting.

[Excal]

Originally Posted by Dans

4 places going in a fantasy baseball league.

Looking for very active owners (daily lineup changes) who know their shit. This will be a keeper league. 12-14 teams, 6x6, Mixed, H2H. Drafting online on Sat Mar 915pm UK time.

Those who know what that means, know what that means.

Anyone interested? If so, send me a PM.

Are your 6th stats OPS and holds?

[Red Dreams]

Originally Posted by Leg-End

We got a few "throw and see what stick pitchers" but nobody you would really rely on to come through. Losing Pettitte at a time when the pitchers market was pretty shoddy beyond Cliff Lee didn't really help. I just want us to keep Montero because that bat is gonna be exciting.

Cliff Lee is coming right?

[Dans]

Nope.

R, RBI, HR, BA, OBP, SB and QS, L, SV, ERA, WHIP, K

[Leg-End]

Originally Posted by Red Dreams

Cliff Lee is coming right?

[Zen]

Originally Posted by gbgary

except for the bears.

RosenBlog: What the Packers told us about the Bears (hint: uh-oh)



hehe

u sound jelly? but being from Dallas, I'd be mad too.

[MrMarcello]

My stRangers will return to mediocrity most likely.

[gbgary]

Originally Posted by Zen

u sound jelly? but being from Dallas, I'd be mad too.

whatever that means. been a Packers fan for nearly fifty years. just taking a friendly shot at da bears.

[gbgary]

Originally Posted by MrMarcello

My stRangers will return to mediocrity most likely.

have a little faith. our stRangers may be ok. if lewis and wilson can do what they did last year and if feliz can do it as a starter i think they can do very well. if not hopefully they can hang until a good pitcher from a bad team becomes available and they can make a late push. the o i don't worry about.

[MrMarcello]

Michael Young could get a decent pitcher in return. Don't agree on moving Feliz to the rotation after his great closing last season. I sense them fucking him up like the Yanks did with Joba.

Hopefully, Webb returns to half as good as he was a few seasons back.

[Excal]

Michael Young could get a decent pitcher in return.

No, he couldn't.

He's 34, he's had an OPS below .800 in three of the last four seasons, despite playing in Texas, he's no longer capable of playing SS, (and is a below-average fielder at 3B,) is making $16M a year for the next three years, and has a limited NTC which only allows the Rangers to trade him to one of 8 teams.

[Red Dreams]

So what are the trades for the Yankees this season?

[Leg-End]

Originally Posted by Red Dreams

So what are the trades for the Yankees this season?

Starting pitching, big style. Right now we have Garcia's timebomb shoulder in the 4th spot and a battle of Nova, Mitre and Colon. I like Nova because he has ground ball style the same as Mitre and Colon despite looking like a Star Wars character has looked ok but is bound to get hurt at some point but in any case none of the three are great.

I hate the rotation and what the future might hold, CC could opt out at the end of this season and if he pitches well then he probably will, Hughes has to at least repeat his breakout year again and we have to pray Burnett somehow turns it around and that is only the front 3. You can't expect much more than just under 5 era's for the rest of them.

So depending on how the 4 & 5 guys hold up we might see prospects like Brackman, Man-Ban, Warren and Betances either called up (unlikely given experience for the killers B's and Warren) or shipped out for established starting pitchers. Likely option is Chris Carpenter depending on where St Louis end up mid season and whoever ends up on the trading block come July. Just two many if's/but's in the team for my liking, if Jeter starts hitting and stops gidp'ing, if Cano repeats 2010, if A-Rod/Martin stays healthy, if the front 3 in the rotation works, if the bullpen does its job as good as it looks on paper etc etc.

On the positive side I like the batting options, Chavez looks good if he stays healthy, Jones gives us more pop from the bench and Nunez is plain better than Pena at utility because he can hit. I don't think we will see much movement batting wise unless Montero after his inevitable call up rakes which he is capable of and Martin stays healthy we might shift him for premier pitching but I doubt it.

[Red Dreams]

Thanks for all the info mate.

Better than going to Yankees.com

Lets hope for a great season.

[MrMarcello]

Yankees lost out this winter when Lee chose Philly.

Boston will win the division IMO.

[MrMarcello]

Originally Posted by Excal

No, he couldn't.

He's 34, he's had an OPS below .800 in three of the last four seasons, despite playing in Texas, he's no longer capable of playing SS, (and is a below-average fielder at 3B,) is making $16M a year for the next three years, and has a limited NTC which only allows the Rangers to trade him to one of 8 teams.

Well that just sucks.

[Rooney1987]

Im not too down on losing Lee 7 years 160mil for a guy with bad back not the best track record might turn out good so they can spent the money on CC. Short term hurts but Yanks can live on they have allot of great talent coming though.

[MrMarcello]

They signed CC in 2009. Lee was this past off-season and he had been their top target. He said no and thus the pitching staff is shaky when it would have had a dominate 1-2 punch with Hughes filling the Pettitte role. Now they have to hope Hughes continues form and count on AJ Burnett.

[Rooney1987]

I know but he might opt out which is likely so offer him more years so he doesnt opt out if Lee can get a contract to he is 39/40 CC can and he has a much better track record.

[Rooney1987]

I guess I way more positive then Yankee fans on here.

To me Yankees have the best line up in the game they scores 850+ runs with only 7 out of 9 having down years only Swish and Cano had good years. Jorge won't have to catch this year no squatting so I think DH will improve his hitting and adding Martin will help not to forget Jones/Jesus/Chavez off the bench. Same with the bullpen had one of the best era's last year now adding Feliciano and Soriano can only make it better.

As people have pointed out the rotation isn't the best but I can't see what else Cashman could have done. Trade the kids (They all want Jesus) away or putting Brackman/Betances/Banuelos in the rotation make the same mistake he made 3 years ago putting Kennedy/Hughes/Joba in the rotation. I think Garcia/Nova/Colon can fill the spot till the trade dealine till teams want rid of pay roll if there out of it. Garica was actually pretty decent last year so was Nova.

Every teams has allot of ifs/buts you say what if Hughes doesnt carry on there is every chance Buchholz doesnt either. Also what if AJ sucks again same goes to Lackey/Beckett then what about there injured players coming back they might need time.

I think the Yanks have the edge with the line up and Bull pen with the Sox have the edge with a much better rotation I think its going to be much closer then what people think.

[Leg-End]

[forevrared]

Jason Heyward homers in his first at-bat of 2011

Really, really like our lineup this year with Dan Uggla in - McClouth's the only real weak spot and he's perfectly capable of hitting .270 with 15+ HR.

[Nearco]

Originally Posted by MrMarcello

Boston will win the division IMO.

Barring injuries we look incredibly strong. Confident of a great season.

[MrMarcello]

I'm going Boston, Minnesota, Texas, NYY in the AL.

Philly, Cincinnati, SF, Atlanta in the NL.

League winners I haven't the foggiest. It's a toss up come October.

[Zen]

Cubs surprising the world starts today. #dealwithit

[gbgary]

Rangers destroying boston tonight. 11-3 headed to the sixth.

[gbgary]

Rangers about to sweep the red sox (4-1 in the botton of the eighth). they've hit 11 home runs so far in this series. nelson cruz and ian kinsler have three each. starters have been terrific.

[Rooney1987]

Yanks lose today but at least take the series

[MrMarcello]

Impressive opening weekend for Texas. Granted they've done this many times in the past and still had crap seasons. Hopefully, this pitching staff can hold up all season. There's no doubt the hitting will do well most of the year.

[Leg-End]

Jeter is starting to look old at shortstop.