the pinjockey

* Aquilino Lopez * Joey Gathright, John Bale * Jamie Burke * Joe Nelson * Aaron Miles, Randy Flores, Tyler Johnson * Norris Hopper, Gary Majewski, Matt Belisle * Doug Mathis * Daniel Cabrera, Lance Cormier * Denny Bautista * Ty Wigginton, Reggie Abercrombie * Jonny Gomes * Willy Taveras * Takashi Saito, Scott Proctor, Yhency Brazoban, Angel Berroa * Clay Hensley and Charlie Haeger * Chris Britton and Justin Christian * Tim Redding * Chris Capuano * Kevin Cash * Chuck James * Chris Burke, Robby Hammock, Wil Ledezma, Jeff Salazar Non-tender list from MLBtraderumors. If the Phillies were interested in Mark DeRosa, then they need to get Wigginton signed, since he is just DeRosa without the need to give up a prospect.

The only argument I would make in favor of Happ, is that given the cost of pitching anymore if you can get a cheap guy in there that can give you serviceable (say 4.25ish ERA which I don't think is a stretch for him) numbers for a #5 starter it is a bigger asset than previously. But in general I agree, if he is a top 5 prospect your system is hurting. Ideally he is in the 8-12 area where you get the low upside, but can fill in in the majors guys. The only guy I might bump him above is Savery, but depending on my mood I might put Knapp over him so it is pretty even. Knapp is the guy I am really interested in seeing how he progresses this coming season. Anthony Hewitt makes me a sad panda, but I don't see anyone you can make an argument to put him over without going on pure projection. Not on board the Marson bandwagon?

If the Stars wanted to suspend him for a game I could understand it, going back to earlier in the season it is clear at least Modano is not a fan of him. So for "conduct detrimental to the team" I can buy a slap on the wrist. But for the league to suspend him and require him to kneel at the alter of Bettman is ridiculous. Also, thank god Jeff Carter will still be a RFA instead of a UFA at the end of his deal.

I can't believe they suspended him for that "indefinitely, pending a hearing". What the fuck?!? I thought it was hilarious. Let Iginla and Phanuef beat some sense into him. Granted I am fired up because of the most bullshit boarding call I have ever seen on Upshall, but what a pussy league this is turning into.

So am I allowed to be pissed about the Phillies not offering arbitration to Moyer and Burrell or do we have to go the grace period route? "Worst case scenario" is that you get your only proven RH power source back at a high number, but with no real commitment. And I know they think they are close with Moyer, but why not ensure that you get something if the contract talks take a wrong turn. I hope this team doesn't take a step back into the Tim Moss as their first pick because they don't draft until the 3rd round years.

If they keep Childress, I think McNabb ends up in Minnesota. Let's them draft a QB this year to groom and McNabb can get them through the next year or two.

THURSDAY Miami SATURDAY Purdue Virginia Mississippi State Penn State Boston College California Northwestern Utah Oregon State Iowa Cincinnati Maryland Texas Tech Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Texas Tech/Oklahoma game? 75 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers have against Arizona? 122

You're right, forgot to take GB into account as being the division leader. Jesus Christ, McNabb just said he didn't know there were ties. The Flyers game can't start soon enough.

God only knows, but they have to start working Kolb into these games just to at least see what they have. And they have to start working in Buckhalter for Westbrook some more, it is clear Westbrook is nowhere near 100% and at some point you do have to start thinking about just getting him right for 09. It is amazing though, that if the Cowboys lose tonight, they are still in the 7th slot just a half game behind Atlanta. Just good enough to tease everyone into thinking there is still something there.

It isn't even as much in the "fan-tanking" sense that I turned against them there. When you pull a puss move like that you flat out deserve to lose the game. I can not support that call or the coach who made it in the slightest. Here is one better position off the top of my head. A "better position" for Correll Buckhalter is to be on the field more with the ball in his hands. Wow, that was easy.

I was rooting for the Bengals once Reid punted on the 4th and 1 with 1:30 left. You know you aren't getting the ball back if you punt it there and they still went ahead and just played for the tie.

That was fucking embarrassing.

Well they are clearly taking their time getting Carle into the lineup, he played 26 mins in the first game and 27 mins today. Didn't see today's game (stupid fucking 2pm start), but he was their best Dman in the first game and with Sbisa was easily the best combo.

THURSDAY Virginia Tech FRIDAY Cincinnati SATURDAY Notre Dame Michigan Florida Wisconsin Maryland California BYU Baylor Oregon Florida State Kentucky Tulsa Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the South Carolina/Florida game? 54 Tiebreak #2: How many passing yards will Tulsa's David Johnson have against Houston? 325

I guess the moral of the story is don't become arbitration eligible in Florida.

Plays like that combined with watching Madison Hedgecock all game, it pisses me off that Reid blows off the idea of a legit FB.

Well McNabb tried his damndest to give it away right there.

If it was just prospects that is one thing, but if it is a Ludwick based deal from St. Louis they would have to include either Victorino or Werth since they don't have a major league ready OF prospect to offer. And I don't see how moving either of those two plus something else for Holliday improves this team. They need to just resign Burrell and be done with it. Either that or sign Milton Bradley as he would be hilarious in Philly.

Was Fullmer going for it on 4th and 8, in easy FG range, the all time "Fuck youse guys, I'm gone anyway" call?

I hope Terrelle Pryor blows out his fucking knee after watching Tressel run it up on Northwestern. Letting the guys play and whatever happens happens is one thing, but a fake punt up by 21 with 7 minutes left and running the ball instead of kneeling it with 9 seconds left is some bullshit.

I don't know, maybe I am just looking at it way too much, but I keep looking at Holliday away from home and basically seeing Jayson Werth. I don't see a guy I want to give up assets for either a rental or a huge extension. I am glad to see the Phillies have been pushed to the back of the line for him. And giving up a cost controlled player of similar production seems nuts. Sure Ludwick may be a fluke, but for a fraction of the cost I think you have to give him the chance to prove otherwise.

I wouldn't discount Downie that easily, besides his known Downie-ness he does have skill with the puck. He put up points in juniors, when he was sent to the AHL this year he had 8 points in 4 games (along with 23 PIMs) and he is still just 21. The way TB is going to get the best out of him is to send him to the AHL and leave him there til at least January. He is not a 4th line style player and you can't treat him as such. Let him get legitimate developmental minutes as a top 9 forward and if you can't allow that at the NHL level then keep him in the AHL. But unfortunately he got in Stevens' doghouse and was never going to get the chance to make a single mistake here without getting a whipping for it (every other forward is playing like shit on D, but for some reason Downie is the only one thrown under the bus). He also desperately needs to go to whoever Riley Cote went to to improve his skating.

Props to Homer for admitting the Eminger deal was a mistake and cutting his losses Downie and Eminger to TB for Matt Carle http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/homepa...eman_Carle.html I still have this feeling Downie will haunt them one day, but they needed an upgrade on D (if Carle can just be a legit #4 this is an upgrade). I don't think they were ever going to give Downie top 9 minutes and he is too undisciplined for a 4th line role. Carle may turn out to be a bust, but Eminger is a bust.

THURSDAY Virginia Tech Utah SATURDAY Ohio State Georgia Tech Colorado Kansas Alabama Penn State Virginia Duke West Virginia Texas Tech USC Notre Dame Tiebreak #1: How many total points will be scored in the Oklahoma State/Texas Tech game? 75 Tiebreak #2: How many rushing yards will Iowa's Shonn Greene have against Penn State? 85

This was a good day