Bored

The Mariners are expected to release John Olerud by the end of the week if they can't find someone to trade for him.

Damn out by a minute. I just edited my previous post to say I had the final spot filled. I'll put you on stand by in case someone drops out between now and the start of the season.

Could still be another MAC team represented since I need one for the final spot...or a Big Ten team. Sorry just keep repeating it for anyone just now reading the topic. Edit: bps has signed up as Bowling Green and the final spot is filled. Once I get around to putting the schedule together (this weekend or a month from now, I don't know) I'll post it along with preseason rankings and the bowl names. Who will be the preseason #1? No it won't be me. Maybe. This can be unpinned now since I have all the contest spots filled.

Since no one has created it yet. I'll miss the first three innings in traffic. Line-ups 1. Suzuki, CF 2. I.Rodriguez, C 3. Guerrero, RF 4. Ramirez, LF 5. A.Rodriguez, 3B 6. Giambi, 1B 7. Jeter, SS 8. Soriano, 2B 9. Mulder, P 1. Renteria, SS 2. Pujols, 1B 3. Bonds, LF 4. Rolen, 3B 5. Sosa, RF 6. Piazza, C 7. Berkman, CF 8. Kent, 2B 9. Clemens, P

I never hear about Morrisey being in the A's future plans for whatever reason and I'd suspect he might be trade bait. Swisher on the other hand will be given a shot to win the right field job next year since the A's obviously won't pick up Dye's $14 million option.

#56: Ripken homers in his final All-Star Game

I am shocked they actually have player violations and probation now on the game as I thought those would be features the NCAA would never allow to be put in a game they liscensed. I'll probably buy it this weekend and I'm sooooooooo playing as Florida State in dynasty to see half my roster get suspended.

Rob E Dangerously has signed up and will represent Boise State. Down to one more spot to fill and need it to be a Big Ten or MAC team.

'95 was in the new stadium. After Comerica Park hosts it next year only Tropicana Field will have never hosted an All-Star game in the A.L. and it probably never will.

Also since it's been 10 years longer since it was in San Francisco. Throw in that 2006 would be a good bet to be Bonds last year and when/if he'll break Aaron's record. Pittsburgh would probably wait until 2008 if they stick with the switching league rule. They could slide Yankee Stadium into 2007, 30 years since the last one they hosted.

Since someone is bound to ask here's a run down of how long it's been for a team/stadium to host an All-Star game. Detroit 2005 (last hosted in '71) Houston 2004 Chicago (White Sox) 2003 Milwaukee 2002 Seattle 2001 Atlanta 2000 Boston 1999 Colorado 1998 Cleveland 1997 Philadelphia 1996 Texas 1995 Pittsburgh 1994 Baltimore 1993 San Diego 1992 Toronto 1991 Chicago (Cubs) 1990 Anaheim 1989 Cincinnati 1988 Oakland 1987 Minnesota 1985 San Francisco 1984 Montreal 1982 Los Angeles 1980 New York (Yankees) 1977 Kansas City 1973 St. Louis 1966 New York (Mets) 1964 Florida, Arizona, and Tampa Bay have yet to host. Pittsburgh and San Francisco are the finalists for the 2006 game. Surprised it's been so long since they've had it in St. Louis but they are getting a new stadium in a few years so they'll probably wait until it's built.

I hope I won't have to beg for these final two spots to be filled. Again whoever reads this who is interested please choose a Pac-10, WAC, Big Ten, or MAC team to represent. I've already noticed one correction to the Bored Championship Series formula. Instead of total correct picks and total correct picks against, it will be the perecentage of correct picks you make (and your opponents make) that will be considered in the formula. The reason why is because there won't be the same number of games to pick from every week.

#57: Mize chips in from 140 feet to beat Norman

Um who you are has no impact on this. It's pick 'em contest, you pick the winners to all nationally televised and ABC regional games every week. JHawk with Kent State has a good a chance as winning as Cartman does with USC. It's your knowledge that's going to win this contest, not how well the school you represent plays.

Updated: Final conference breakdown Pac-10/WAC Stanford - Bored UCLA - phoenixrising USC - Cartman Hawaii - Will Scarlet Arizona State - Spicy McHaggis Oregon - nogoodnick Washington State - Soylent Green is People Boise State - Rob E Dangerously Big Ten/MAC/Ind Michigan - Mad Dog Notre Dame - Lando Griffin Minnesota - Vern Gagne Ohio State - Gert T Kent State - JHawk Michigan State - lomasmoney Penn State - therealworldschampion Bowling Green - "hail" bps21 SEC/Big 12 Tennessee - Kotzenjunge Oklahoma - Damaramu Texas - Flyboy LSU - teke184 Florida - Agent Bond34 Auburn - Agent of Oblivion Alabama - AlwaysPissedOff Georgia - Big Jay101 ACC/Big East Syracuse - CanadianChris Florida State - 2GOLD Maryland - MarvinisaLunatic Rutgers - the pinjockey Boston College - HarleyQuinn Virginia - Edwin MacPhisto West Virginia - Loaded Boot Miami - Spaceman Spiff

#58: Mantle, nearing death, laments a 'wasted' life

First half All-Stars for the Head-to-head league: C: Ivan Rodriguez, Chicago White Sux 1B: Albert Pujols, Rebels of Oakland 2B: Michael Young, 1000% Guapos 3B: Scott Rolen, The Worst Team SS: Alex Rodriguez, Fear the CHECKLIST~ OF: Vladimir Guerrero, Serenity OF: Bobby Abreu, Rebels of Oakland OF: Manny Ramirez, Night Rangers Util: Carlos Beltran, Fear The Slayers Util: Barry Bonds, Warts Whackos SP: Jason Schmidt, Brockvegas Posse SP: Randy Johnson, Fear the CHECKLIST~ RP: Armando Benitez, EL KABONG~! Slapnuts RP: Eric Gagne, NuclearSledgehammers P: Ben Sheets, Fear the CHECKLIST~ P: Curt Schilling, Rebels of Oakland

To no surprise Mulder and Clemens have been named to the starting pitchers for the All-Star Game.

Rolen is actually only 7th in the N.L. in runs created. Bonds leads the N.L. by almost 15 more runs created over 2nd place Todd Helton. I can't stand Bonds but sorry it's simply no contest, he's the MVP. And Rolen is a five tool player? A guy with 90 career steals is a five tool player?

Quit your belly aching. Besides these are contests and we're just trying to fill out our final spots. Once I get these final two spots filled then they can unpin it.

Two spots remaining. For those final two spots it would help if whoever takes those final two spots that one of them be a team from the west coast (Pac-10, Mountain West, or WAC) and the other be from the Big Ten or MAC. It will help me set up the conferences really nicely. Again just suggestions. Oh and since we do have some newbies participating I'm probably going to ask for picks to the first week of games (USC/Va Tech and then the full slate of games the following weekend) a couple of weeks in advance just to make sure everyone who signed up is definently going to participate. That's still a month off from now though.

#59: Webber's timeout hands title to Carolina

Kent ripped A's fans a few years back when he was with Giants for I guess taunting him or something. Kent is known for being uptight so I don't know if he'd want to play for a team with such a loose clubhouse atmoshpere. All that being said I'd take him as a rental. Of course all of this is just Gammons probably throwing shit against the wall to see if it sticks and it won't happen if the Astros are still in the Wild Card race on July 31st, which seems likely they will be.

Don't these minor injuries Manny has always pop up right before the All-Star Game? Seems like he has sat out quite a few in recent years. Obviously reserve judgment to see if he does pull out again. In other news Octavio Dotel once again pitched like crap today, although wasn't a save opportunity. This bullpen is just cursed.