Styles

Will the owners of these teams please identify themselves: Midcard 4 Life Dangerous by Design thanks.

Cena- it isn't. I talked to Harley and all the old records are gone. We're starting from scratch and promise to keep the proper records. I will try to post everything here in the thread as well so we have a reference that everyone can access. What is your team name, Cena?

Sorry, all spots are accounted for. Perhaps if there is enough interest there can be another league started up. I still have not had 2 posters who recieved signups actually sign up yet, but I don't know which posters they are (which is why I'm asking everyone who has signed up to please post their TSM identity on the league board so I can figure it out by process of elimination).

Ok, have heard back from everyone. I've sent out 20 sign ins and we've got 18 signed up, so if you are one of the 2 who have not yet signed up, please do so! Also remember to post on the league board with your TSM name so I can record it.

I'm still waiting to hear from Wart, so if anyone talks with the guy please direct him here. For anyone who has signed up for the league so far, please post your TSM name on the league message board so I can keep record of who's who. Thanks.

Ok, all "potential" slots are filled. Meaning I can't take any more new requests to join. Meaning if you've posted a request to join and have not yet recieved a PM, hang tight and consider yourself on a waiting list with a good chance. If anyone talks to Cena's Writer or Wart please direct them here (or to their PM box) as I have not heard back from them. Also, I'm expanding the leage to the maximum of 20 teams to provide more openings. When the league is officially filled, I'll let you all know. Also, If you have recieved a PM with the sign-up information, please do sign up, so I can see for sure how many are in officially.

Ok figured out that Serenity is pinjockey and Cuban Linx still posts here. Smell the ratings!!! hasn't posted since last March though.

I'll need a little help here since I haven't followed the board as closely as in the past, in indetifying if any of the following posters now go by different screen names or if they've left the board. Thanks. Serenity Cuban Linx Smell the ratings

Just so there's no confusion, here is the link you go to sign up: http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/b1...inprivateleague I'm sending out the signup info via PM. If you were in the old league you should get this PM soon after you reply. If you are new and requesting in, you'll get a PM as soon as I can confirm a spot is open. Just be patient.

The old league is dead. Long live the new league: http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?showtopic=77552

so...is this thing dead or what? If whoever has them gives me the info for the keepers I can run it if no one else will. It can't go worse than the last time I was put in charge of something, right?

So what's going on with this? I'd like it to continue. Who's in charge this year?

Actually the trade would be awesome from the O's perspective but it's doubtful Boston would do it unless they're really desperate to trade Manny, which they shouldn't be and if there's any validity to swining Penn and Gibbons (both rumored to be coveted by Philly) along with Clement to the Phillies for Abreu. Anyway, it means getting Ramirez, a bonafide superstar while keeping Tejada which improves the offense sufficienty (lots of RBIs) pacifying Tejada and the fans, and you're giving up 3 players that are expendable and have been rumored to go in various deals anyway (seriously, Lopez is no great shakes. He's thouroughly mediocre, but he has great career numbers at Fenway and against the Red Sox so they might have an inflated opinion of him) and you're only giving up 1 future prospect in Penn, which is worth it for getting back a superstar. Again, I don't think it happens because Boston probably won't go for it and Angelos probably still won't take on a 20 million dollar contract. Oh also, by trading away Lopez it forces Angelos to actually go sign some more pitching, thus improving our pitching staff too by deafault. Baltimore: Ramirez Boston: Abreu, R. Lopez, Julio Philly: Clement, Gibbons, Penn

This would be horrible trade from Baltimore's perspective. Ramirez is older, plays an easier position to replace, has a more expensive contract and much worse attitude than Tejada. (I mean if the guy hated playing in Boston which just won a World Series, how will he be in Baltimore?) It's a Red Sox fantasy though. Only way it would work is if a third team like Anaheim got involved to take Ramirez and send the O's some of their highly rated young players like Kotchman, Mathis, Wood, etc. so the O's could rebuild in the process. But best case and most likely scenario is this was just frustration boiling over and it will be a wakeup call to go make some moves with what's left of the off season.

Well, I'm more asking because at an O's board some guy is being all cryptic saying Tejada and Hernandez hate each other but won't expound so I wanted to confirm it or debunk it for any A's fans who might have known something.

For any Bay Area fans, a question, do you all have any information on the relationship of Miguel Tejada and Ramon Hernandez when they played together in Oakland? Were they known to not like each other? Thanks.

I've already stated I'd turn on the team. Trading him is admitting that yes, this owner and this front office have no intention of improving the team and are spitting on their fans and their superstar player. They should respond by making some big signings and a dynamic trade or 2 (not Tejada). I know better though.

Orioles better shape the fuck up and quick. Tejada says he wants a trade if they're not going to improve the team. I've lived and died with this team and put up with a lot of incompetent bullshit but if they chase away our biggest franchise player since Cal Ripken, I'm done with the team. I'll adopt the Nats instead who without an owner are still keeping their promises to their fans and improving the team.

The final straw was when he got drunk and kicked James' dog.

I think 35 is sort of their cut off(which is Giles age and is why they have no interest). They're on Dunn (26) too. The point is they're not going to pick up Sammy Sosa's or Rafael Palmeiro's anymore, guys enterting 40 who are on the decline of their career. I.E. any rumors of Mike Piazza which in past years would be a classic Orioles signing will not happen. Abreu is still basically in his prime.

The Yankees just came to me off the top of my head as an example since many casual fans (not accusing you guys of being) would assume since a team like New York has more "names" their pitchers are better. The point is, most Oriole fans know, we have depth in young pitching but we need to improve our offense. Consistently that has been our downfall. We don't produce runs and we don't get on base. Paul Byrd is a good pickup since he would be a good veteran anchor for a young staff (and would have a better ERA last year than anyone on our staff) plus he's worked with Mazzone in the past and apparently they both mutually want to work together again. Burnett is a risk, but his K rates and ERA are gliterring, and getting him with Mazzone might bring out his true potential. In an interview Mazzone was just raving about him saying he's the one pitcher he'd love to get under his tutelage and make him an ace. The question is how big a contract he'll get. Toronto has shown they'll spend crazy money, something Angelos and the Orioles have been reluctant to do in the past. But they might be willing for Burnett (who they wanted last year but held off not wanting to trade Hayden Penn or take back Mike Lowell), so who knows. They did it for Tejada a couple years ago, overpaying by a good 32 mil more than Seattle was offering and it paid off.

The buzz on Gibbons is that he's a "fastball hitter" and he'll see more fastballs in the NL.

Because that's the only way to compete with Red Sox and Yankees. Toronto finally gets it and (at least I hope) the Orioles aren't looking forward to 4th place for the 8th out of 9 seasons in a row.

The Orioles have terrible pitching as it is. So they're getting rid of Bedard for MORE offense? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This is sort of a myth. We had a better ERA than the Yankees for instance. Bedard and Cabrera both have "ace potential" and have shown flashes of brilliance, plus with Leo Mazzone now the pitching coach, management is trusting that he could help our younger pitchers develop. The thing with Bedard is he had a strange knee injury last year that kept him out longer than expected, he's rumored to be a bit of a head case and when he came back he struggled. At 27 they're tired of waiting for him to achieve his potential and are trying to "sell high". Paul Byrd is all but signed and like I said, it sounds like they're going to go all out for AJ Burnett. We've got some highly regarded young pitchers like Hayden Penn, Adam Loewen and John Maine just about ready to go as well. The offense NEEDS to be upgraded. This notion that the Orioles have this awesome offense is a myth. We have Tejada, Mora and Roberts for half a year looked good. The thing is, once pitchers realised that Sosa and Palmeiro were DONE they pitched around Tejada and he struggled. The Front Office realises they NEED a bat for cleanup to protect Tejada. The wanted Delgado but weren't willing to part with prospects. They aren't interested in Giles or Konerko, especially for what they'll make, and want to look younger, hence the interest in Abreu and Dunn.

Apparently the Orioles are going to play Bedard between Philadelphia for Abreu and Cincinnatti for Adam Dunn. I prefer Dunn, he's younger, more powerful and cheaper. Apparently deals for Paul Byrd and Nomar Garciappara should be wrapped up shortly, probably at the Winter Meetings. Interest in Burnett, Farnsworth, and Matt Morrus. Also trying to swing a trade with Texas for Adrian Gonzalez, probably for Rodrigo Lopez. Also interested in signing Ramon Hernandez and move Javy Lopez to DH. Take all this with a grain of salt but it's the latest rumors coming from various sources on the O's boards. Apparently Angelos is not happy being outshined by Boston and Toronto thus far and is planning to make some headlines at the Winter Meetings. Hope it's true but I've heard it all before...