Bored

A's just traded for a second baseman who's last name starts with the letter "G"! Wait it's Keith Ginter not Marcus Giles.

Not that it was ever an option for Nomar to go back to Boston but from a market value perspective is Renteria really worth $2 million/year more and $32 million more total than Garciaparra?

Everyone picked Southern Miss. Pick Breakdowns Bored Bowl UVA: Georgia Tech, Memphis, Cincinnati, Oregon State, North Carolina, New Mexico, Texas A&M, Michigan, USC Min: Syracuse, Bowling Green, Marshall, Notre Dame, Boston College, Navy, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma Tiebreak Answers: 59/45, 682/1187 Traditional Bowl UCLA: Marshall, Hawaii, Toledo, Boston College, Northern Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, LSU, Texas SU: Cincinnati, UAB, Connecticut, North Carolina, Troy, Alabama, Arizona State, Iowa, Michigan Tiebreak Answers: 52/48, 900/888 Oxycotton Bowl Wazzu: Loses out on New Orleans Bowl, Marshall, Hawaii, Connecticut, New Mexico, Troy, Boise State, Miami, Texas A&M, Texas, USC LSU: Cincinnati, UAB, Toledo, Navy, Northern Illinois, Louisville, Florida, Tennessee, Michigan, Oklahoma Tiebreak Answers: 41/47, 900/875 PETA Bowl HI: Georgia Tech, Memphis, Miami (OH), Troy, Purdue, Texas A&M, USC MD: Syracuse, Bowling Green, Iowa State, Northern Illinois, Arizona State, Tennessee, Oklahoma Tiebreak Answers: 44/42, 600/980 Douche Bowl Ore: Memphis, Connecticut, Miami (OH), Navy, Northern Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, Boise State, Texas A&M BG: Bowling Green, Toledo, Iowa State, New Mexico, Troy, Alabama, Arizona State, Louisville, Tennessee Tiebreak Answers: 42/59, 900/815 Tar Bowl ND: Cincinnati, Iowa State, Notre Dame, UTEP, Oklahoma State, Troy, Florida State, Oklahoma Tex: Marshall, Miami (OH), Oregon State, Colorado, Ohio State, Northern Illinois, West Virginia, USC Tiebreak Answers: 54/54, 799/625 Out Magazine Bowl Stan: Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Miami (OH), Colorado, North Carolina, Purdue, LSU, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma OSU: Syracuse, Marshall, Iowa State, UTEP, Boston College, Arizona State, Iowa, Auburn, USC Tiebreak Answers: 50/45, 848/865

I guess McCaleb can't take these high pressure kicks in the prestigious New Orleans Bowl. 15 for 15 during the regular season, 1 for 3 tonight. And he misses again!

Using Baseball Propsectus' Defensive Efficiency numbers the Mets were a slightly better defensive team than the Red Sox last year.

Mainly because of his strong strikeout numbers. He's worth a long term contract more than the likes of Wright, Pavano, and Ortiz were. Not pitching in one league is pretty much irrelevent now.

You want to win by forfeit or just penalize bravesfan for tonight's game? Your call.

Just waiting on bravesfan now... Edwin and Vern disagree on the Orange Bowl. Hopefully it comes down to that game so we have some drama. Bored Bowl Picks Virginia (Edwin MacPhisto) December 14th New Orleans: Southern Miss December 21st Champ Sports: Georgia Tech December 22nd GMAC: Memphis December 23rd Fort Worth: Cincinnati Las Vegas: UCLA December 24th Hawaii: Hawaii December 27th MPC Computers: Virginia Motor City: Toledo December 28th Independence: Miami University Insight: Oregon State December 29th Houston: Colorado Alamo: Ohio State December 30th Continental Tire: North Carolina Emerald: New Mexico Holiday: California Silicon Valley: Northern Illinois December 31st Music City: Alabama Sun: Purdue Liberty: Louisville Peach: Miami January 1st Outback: Georgia Cotton: Texas A&M Gator: Florida State Capital One: LSU Rose: Michigan Fiesta: Utah January 3rd Sugar: Auburn January 4th Orange: USC Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Orange Bowl? 59 Tiebreak #2: How many total yards of offense will there be in the Liberty Bowl? 682 Minnesota (Vern Gagne) December 14th New Orleans: North Texas vs. Southern Miss December 21st Champ Sports: Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse December 22nd GMAC: Memphis vs. Bowling Green December 23rd Fort Worth: Cincinnati vs. Marshall Las Vegas: Wyoming vs. UCLA December 24th Hawaii: UAB vs. Hawaii December 27th MPC Computers: Virginia vs. Fresno State Motor City: Connecticut vs. Toledo December 28th Independence: Iowa State vs. Miami University Insight: Notre Dame vs. Oregon State December 29th Houston: UTEP vs. Colorado Alamo: Ohio State vs. Oklahoma State December 30th Continental Tire: North Carolina vs. Boston College Emerald: Navy vs. New Mexico Holiday: California vs. Texas Tech Silicon Valley: Northern Illinois vs. Troy December 31st Music City: Minnesota vs. Alabama Sun: Purdue vs. Arizona State Liberty: Louisville vs. Boise State Peach: Florida vs. Miami January 1st Outback: Wisconsin vs. Georgia Cotton: Tennessee vs. Texas A&M Gator: West Virginia vs. Florida State Capital One: Iowa vs. LSU Rose: Michigan vs. Texas Fiesta: Utah vs. Pittsburgh January 3rd Sugar: Auburn vs. Virginia Tech January 4th Orange: USC vs. Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Orange Bowl?45 Tiebreak #2: How many total yards of offense will there be in the Liberty Bowl? 1187

But, but, but, but they have SCHILL!!!! He pitched with an amputated ankle and fetus growing out of his head or something. I find it funny people are worried about team chemistry from a team that was mainly made up of free agents.

I can name 20 shortstops who had a better year than Cabrera last year. Seriously this overpaying shit is getting out of hand this offseason.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet we've found our excuse for the Moneyball bashers if the Red Sox don't repeat. Chemistry, smemistry. The '72-'74 A's say "what the fuck?"

PETA Bowl Picks Hawaii (Will Scarlet) December 14th New Orleans: Southern Miss December 21st Champ Sports: Georgia Tech December 22nd GMAC: Memphis December 23rd Fort Worth: Marshall Las Vegas: UCLA December 24th Hawaii: Hawaii December 27th MPC Computers: Virginia Motor City: Toledo December 28th Independence: Miami University Insight: Oregon State December 29th Houston: Colorado Alamo: Oklahoma State December 30th Continental Tire: Boston College Emerald: Navy Holiday: California Silicon Valley: Troy December 31st Music City: Alabama Sun: Purdue Liberty: Louisville Peach: Miami January 1st Outback: Georgia Cotton: Texas A&M Gator: Florida State Capital One: LSU Rose: Texas Fiesta: Utah January 3rd Sugar: Auburn January 4th Orange: USC Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Orange Bowl? 44 Tiebreak #2: How many total yards of offense will there be in the Liberty Bowl? 600 Maryland (MarvinisaLunatic) December 14th New Orleans: Southern Miss December 21st Champ Sports: Syracuse December 22nd GMAC: Bowling Green December 23rd Fort Worth: Marshall Las Vegas: UCLA December 24th Hawaii: Hawaii December 27th MPC Computers: Virginia Motor City: Toledo December 28th Independence: Iowa State Insight: Oregon State December 29th Houston: Colorado Alamo: Oklahoma State December 30th Continental Tire: Boston College Emerald: Navy Holiday: California Silicon Valley: Northern Illinois December 31st Music City: Alabama Sun: Arizona State Liberty: Louisville Peach: Miami January 1st Outback: Georgia Cotton: Tennessee Gator: West Florida State Capital One: LSU Rose: Texas Fiesta: Utah January 3rd Sugar: Auburn January 4th Orange: Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Orange Bowl? 42 Tiebreak #2: How many total yards of offense will there be in the Liberty Bowl? 980 Douche Bowl Picks Oregon (nogoodnick) December 14th Southern Miss December 21st Champ Sports: Georgia Tech December 22nd GMAC: Memphis December 23rd Fort Worth:Marshall Las Vegas: UCLA December 24th Hawaii: Hawaii December 27th MPC Computers: Virginia Motor City: Connecticut December 28th Independence:Miami University Insight:Oregon State December 29th Houston: UTEP Alamo: Oklahoma State December 30th Continental Tire: North Carolina Emerald: Navy Holiday: California Silicon Valley: Northern Illinois December 31st Music City: Minnesota Sun: Purdue Liberty: Boise State Peach: Miami January 1st Outback: Georgia Cotton: Texas AM Gator: Florida State Capital One:LSU Rose: Texas Fiesta: Utah January 3rd Sugar: Auburn January 4th Orange: USC Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Orange Bowl? 42 Tiebreak #2: How many total yards of offense will there be in the Liberty Bowl? 900 Bowling Green (iggymcfly) December 14th New Orleans: North Texas vs. Southern Miss December 21st Champ Sports: Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse December 22nd GMAC: Memphis vs. Bowling Green December 23rd Fort Worth: Cincinnati vs. Marshall Las Vegas: Wyoming vs. UCLA December 24th Hawaii: UAB vs. Hawaii December 27th MPC Computers: Virginia vs. Fresno State Motor City: Connecticut vs. Toledo December 28th Independence: Iowa State vs. Miami University Insight: Notre Dame vs. Oregon State December 29th Houston: UTEP vs. Colorado Alamo: Ohio State vs. Oklahoma State December 30th Continental Tire: North Carolina vs. Boston College Emerald: Navy vs. New Mexico Holiday: California vs. Texas Tech Silicon Valley: Northern Illinois vs. Troy December 31st Music City: Minnesota vs. Alabama Sun: Purdue vs. Arizona State Liberty: Louisville vs. Boise State Peach: Florida vs. Miami January 1st Outback: Wisconsin vs. Georgia Cotton: Tennessee vs. Texas A&M Gator: West Virginia vs. Florida State Capital One: Iowa vs. LSU Rose: Michigan vs. Texas Fiesta: Utah vs. Pittsburgh January 3rd Sugar: Auburn vs. Virginia Tech January 4th Orange: USC vs. Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Orange Bowl? 59 Tiebreak #2: How many total yards of offense will there be in the Liberty Bowl? 815

Southern Miss Golden Eagles (6-5, tied for 2nd in Conference USA) Last Bowl Apperance: 2003 Liberty Bowl (Lost to Utah 17-0) Last Bowl Win: 2000 Mobile Alabama Bowl (28-21 over TCU) All-Conference USA Players First Team LB Michael Boley (2nd Team All-American, Conference USA Defensive POY) -117 Tackles, 6.5 Sacks, 13 Tackles for Loss, 5 Forced Fumbles CB/KR John Eubanks (Conference USA Special Teams POY) -3 Interceptions, 12 Passes Defended; 29.4 Yards per KR, 1 TD Second Team T Jeremy Parquet DT Chad Ruffin S Trevis Coley -97 Tackles, 3 Interceptions K Darren McCaleb -15/15 FG North Texas Mean Green (7-4, Sun Belt Champions) Last Bowl Apperance: 2003 New Orleans Bowl (Lost to Memphis 27-17) Last Bowl Win: 2002 New Orleans Bowl (24-19 over Cincinnati) All-Sun Belt Conference Players First Team RB Jamario Thomas (3rd Team All-American, Sun Belt Conference POY) -1709 Yards Rushing, 17 TD C Andy Brewster DE Adrian Awasom -45 Tackles, 8 Sacks, 14.5 Tackles for Loss, 3 Fumbles Forced S Jonas Buckles -55 Tackles K Nick Bazaldua -10/13 FG, 51 Long A-P Johnny Quinn -848 All-Purpose Yards Second Team QB Scott Hall -1684 Yards Passing, 13 TD, 2 INT WR Johnny Quinn -41 Receptions, 693 Yards Receiving, 8 TD T Lonnie Chambers G Dylan Lineberry DT Evan Cardwell -40 Tackles, 5 Sacks DT Michael Pruitt -46 Tackles, 5 Sacks, 11.5 Tackles for Loss CB Markeith Knowlton -4 Interceptions

Since there is no more than two games a day thru the 29th I think the thread will be fine until then. Maybe could create daily threads for the 30th thru the 1st.

Hmmm I don't think I ever declared mine. Rebels of Oakland Albert Pujols Bobby Abreu Marcus Giles Curt Schilling

Okay it's not official until tommorrow but we know this will be the match-up. The game isn't for another month but we know someone is going to make 300 posts about it between now and then so might as well create it now. Start your predictions.

Great trade by the Brewers although probably half the thanks has to go to dealing with Kenny Williams. He still has a job how again?

Traditional Bowl Picks UCLA (phoenixrising) December 14th New Orleans: North Texas vs. Southern Miss December 21st Champ Sports: Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse December 22nd GMAC: Memphis vs. Bowling Green December 23rd Fort Worth: Cincinnati vs. Marshall Las Vegas: Wyoming vs. UCLA December 24th Hawaii: UAB vs. Hawaii December 27th MPC Computers: Virginia vs. Fresno State Motor City: Connecticut vs. Toledo December 28th Independence: Iowa State vs. Miami University Insight: Notre Dame vs. Oregon State December 29th Houston: UTEP vs. Colorado Alamo: Ohio State vs. Oklahoma State December 30th Continental Tire: North Carolina vs. Boston College Emerald: Navy vs. New Mexico Holiday: California vs. Texas Tech Silicon Valley: Northern Illinois vs. Troy December 31st Music City: Minnesota vs. Alabama Sun: Purdue vs. Arizona State Liberty: Louisville vs. Boise State Peach: Florida vs. Miami January 1st Outback: Wisconsin vs. Georgia Cotton: Tennessee vs. Texas A&M Gator: West Virginia vs. Florida State Capital One: Iowa vs. LSU Rose: Michigan vs. Texas Fiesta: Utah vs. Pittsburgh January 3rd Sugar: Auburn vs. Virginia Tech January 4th Orange: USC vs. Oklahoma Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Orange Bowl? 52 Tiebreak #2: How many total yards of offense will there be in the Liberty Bowl? 900 Syracuse (CanadianChris) December 14th New Orleans: Southern Miss December 21st Champ Sports: Georgia Tech December 22nd GMAC: Bowling Green December 23rd Fort Worth: Cincinnati Las Vegas: UCLA December 24th Hawaii: UAB December 27th MPC Computers: Virginia Motor City: Connecticut December 28th Independence: Miami (Ohio) Insight: Oregon State December 29th Houston: Colorado Alamo: Oklahoma State December 30th Continental Tire: North Carolina Emerald: Navy Holiday: California Silicon Valley: Troy December 31st Music City: Alabama Sun: Arizona State Liberty: Louisville Peach: Miami (Fla) January 1st Outback: Georgia Cotton: Tennessee Gator: Florida State Capital One: Iowa Rose: Michigan Fiesta: Utah January 3rd Sugar: Auburn January 4th Orange: USC Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Orange Bowl? 48 Tiebreak #2: How many total yards of offense will there be in the Liberty Bowl? 888

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=1945058 I'm starting to think the A's floated the rumor to the media in an attempt to get one of the other team's to panic and put a bigger package together.

Yes I know this was mentioned in the Winter Meetings thread and the trade actually isn't 100% official but this deserves it's own thread. This is first time Beane has ever made a trade where he seemed forced to do so which is why I never thought he'd deal Hudson. He let the likes of Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada leave when he could have traded them the previous offseason. It's very hard to get equal value for a player in a walk year. My only guess is either Hudson and his agent demanded a trade or Beane doesn't feel even with Hudson that the A's have the team going into 2005 to win the A.L. West so it's better get get something to help for the future. I'm severly dissapointed with this deal. Edwin Jackson should step into the rotation and I expect Antonio Perez to win the second base job but neither of them will become a superstar overnight. With the A's situation in Oakland always being delicate with an ownership that constantly tells their fans that we're not good enough for them, this trade is going to be a p.r. nightmare. It's going to be impossible to sell the average fan on Edwin Jackson and Antonio Perez no matter how much potential they have. You've just traded your ace who's call up in 1999 sparked the turn around of this franchise and that is going to make no one happy. A's will need a lot of things to break their way now in 2005, starting with Mark Mulder and Barry Zito both returning to their former Cy Young calibar selves.

Gee another thread to have an excuse to talk about Jason White, eh?

After Beane's courting of him all those years and coming off a year where he was the A's best hitter I just can't see them dealing him. He is arb eligible but most reports have him inking a new deal. I personally would like them to deal Hatteberg to free up some salary to improve their weak middle relief and give Johnson the first base job to get more power in the line-up. Added note it's possible the Bay Area media jumped the gun on the Hudson deal. There has been absolutely nothing about the deal being finalized today. And now this from rotoworld.com:

A's have three left-handed hitting first baseman on their current projected Opening Day roster (Durazo, Hatteberg, Dan Johnson) so they didn't need another one. Oakland played as a neutral park this past year. Dodger Stadium is much more of a pitcher's park than the Coliseum.

Ellis moved to first base? That's a bizarre idea. Anyways Ellis is NOT assumed to be 100% healthy by April. His shoulder injury is not progressing well at all. His future is probably as a back-up middle infielder anyway. Just doesn't have the bat to be an everyday player.