the pinjockey

Is there a reason Dallas Green still has a legitimate role in the Phillies organization other than the fact he coached the title team?

BTW, since I know you were all worried about it, I did indeed pick up Hank Baskett.

Serenity (19th pick) QB: Byron Leftwich (8) RB: Brian Westbrook (1) WR: Joey Galloway (3) WR: Braylon Edwards (5) W/R: Reggie Bush (2) TE: LJ Smith (4) Def: Philadelphia (10) K: Steven Gostkowski (14) Bench: Mark Clayton (6) Vernon Davis (7) Mike Bell (9) Maurice Drew (11) Ashley Lelie (12) Matt Schaub (13) Given the receptions count for a point, I really like my RB situation. Westbrook is money under this scoring system and Bush should be seeing plenty of touches in the passing game.

Or for the love of god at least prerank some players. Really don't need half of the spots taking a full minute and a half each pick.

I'd rather Baskett start instead of Pinkston. Not yet, I wouldn't. Let Baskett prove himself in game situations first. Plus, as much shit as he takes a healthy Pinkston is still a valuable part of this team. He is the deep threat and a legitimate one. If he is remotely hobbled however, he is worthless.

I don't think it is talk at this point. He has been getting most of the reps with the 1s in camp and has played both games with the 1s so far. Unless Pinkston gets a miracle and is healed within the next two weeks, it looks to be Baskett's job.

I agree with that. It isn't going to be a cakewalk, like when they could win with James Thrash as a starter, for any of the teams. I know it is a copout and cliche, but honestly with the teams this close it really is going to come down to which team loses the most key players to injury.

The arguement though, is that by getting McNabb healthy they aren't putting out the same team as last year. He got hurt in game 1 and was never right. So they are essentially adding him to this year's team. I am looking on the positive side of this team right now, figuring aroun 10-6. There schedule early should conceivably let them get moving before hitting the brutal second half. They had an absolute nightmare season last year, from day 1, and were still 4-5 when McNabb called it a season. Not good but not the pits of the NFL either.

Given the lack of hitting prospects, would Cardenas already crack the top 3? I am struggling to see one outside of Bourn or Ruiz that I would put higher. If Golson keeps raking in Clearwater (.306/.368/.581), maybe, but there is enough bad there that one month of good isn't really making me excited.

In order of preference: Leena's scenario 2 RB 1 RB 1 WR/RB Any of the three are fine though since it gives some chance to balance out an uberRB.

Is there any way we can go back to the original roster settings for the 1st league. 1 RB and 2 WR seems way to simple. You are completely boned if you don't get one of the top 3 RBs, whereas you can make up the difference if you get 2 RBs. Yes some teams will be playing a non-starter but that is half the point of a 20 team league, make it a challenge.

I was a little disappointed they didn't get more work for the first team offense to see what the WRs can do, but I guess that is a byproduct of playing your first two games in a 4 day span (thank you NFL schedulers). They need to find out if Baskett is a TCWonder or an actual cog for this season.

Serenity present and accounted for

I was really disappointed here. I think being a NASCAR fan hurts the movie. Not in the "boo they're making fun of us" sense. But being a fan kills the whole advertising/product placement joke, which is half the movie it seems. Sad as it may sound they don't come anywhere closing to the sponsor whoring that real drivers do and it hurts the idea of it being a satire. Notwithstanding the one Powerade nod which was funny. But when the real drivers shamelessly guzzle a coke as soon as they hop out of a car, when they crash they have a hat in the car to immediately put on and any Michael Waltrip interview ever, just throwing up logos doesn't really resonate as mocking the product placement. Jean Girard was a one note character that wore out in a hurry. And I may be alone in this one, but Walker and Texas Ranger were the same. The last part with the daddy stuff just felt so plodding. There were some funny parts, but they were mostly given away in the trailer (cougar, being on fire, names of the sons). One positive note: Jesus christ Leslie Bibb was a fucking knockout in this one.

I love the lazy argument. When in doubt bust out "lazy" since it can not be completely disproven. No matter who you talk to, which message board you go to it always boils down to the "yuh huh, nuh uh, yuh huh, nuh uh" and that's it. Abreu is not a good fielder. He does not get good jumps on the ball. The fact Aaron Rowand told him earlier this year to trust his judgements more seems to lend credence to that idea as opposed to just laziness. He has an arm to make up for some mistakes. What the hell happened to Ryan Madson this year?

But what do the Patriots do that is so "system" like? A system QB typically means an option QB, a run and gun system QB, a QB on a team running an offense radically different than the rest of the teams that skews numbers/results. In the pros, who really runs a system that much different than other teams? Is he in the right place at the right time? Sure, just like every other player who has won a SB. Just curious, in your opinion, who isn't a system QB?

Plus, have you seen the guy. He defines the term "Hulk smash".

Wow, apparently the prolbem with getting Broderick Bunkley signed isn't the 5-6 yr problem. Reportedly Bunkley's agent might not have even given the team an initial demand yet. If this is the case they certainly need to hold out for the 6th year. At this rate 2006-7 is going to be a wash for him, so you can't have him essentially starting as a rookie in 07-08 on a 4-year deal.

Hank Blalock for Brad Lidge and then Houston would turn around and do Morgan Ensberg for Scott Linebrink

According to an article about his DFA, he was offered the start in Toronto but turned it down since it would just be the one start.

What are your thoughts on the trade al? I saw your positive spin on it, but your overall impression. Kind of surprised to see it go from Milledge is acceptable and you wouldn't do Hughes, to not being ticked at this.

Lidle isn't that good, but in a market where Scott Williamson can fetch two top 30 prospects you can't just use him as a throw in. Worst case scenario is you just keep him for the rest of the year, let him walk and take at least one draft pick he brings back (he might even be a Type A getting two first rounders). Similar to Abreu, if the market isn't what you think, Plan B (keeping him) is not awful.

I don't blame Wade that much for the NTCs as at the time wasn't every decent player getting them at contract time. NTCs get worked around all the time. I love how in his press conference Gillick was already talking about how 2007 may be a struggle. If that is the case they really just need to unload anyone over 30 right now, trade the whole bullpen and Lieber. Christ, if we are looking at 2008 Howard and Utley are going to be 27 and 29 respectively. Suddenly the young core to build around isn't so young.

Not just a high caliber player. A high caliber player plus a pitcher in a pitcher crazy market.

I don't know, even the Abreu "haters" seem to realize that Gillick got completely ass reamed here.