the pinjockey

Matt Ware's x-ray came back negative. Thank god. I like Sheppard/Brown/Ware/Hood going into the season. I don't want that messed up.

I live in South Jersey, so I get the Eagles local feed. Does Rohan Davey really suck this much or is he just having a bad night?

One thing that is pleasing me, in this game, is the improvement shown by Reno Mahe. He is showing solid punt return ability (as opposed to just being "safe") and is also running better than I expected. I have no problem with him picking up 5 carries a game as the 3rd back in the Westbrook/Buckhalter rotation.

This game just keeps getting better. After the way his ankle got rolled I would imagine Matt Ware's season just ended.

Good lord, to steal a line from the owner in The Replacements: "I've seen monkey shitfights at the zoo that were more organized." Good to see that Todd Pinkston, whose only purpose is speed, could not beat Rodney Harrison downfield. And Jaworski (who does the preseason Eagles games) is excusing it by saying they are just a little sloppy on the first drive. Third string players get to be sloppy, there is no excuse for veteran starters to be sloppy.

Well, I am glad I got the free coupon from the Predator DVD. It was a decent enough action movie until the last 15 minutes. The movie lost me, though, when the Predator started teaming up with the human. What the hell was with that? As soon as she killed one of the Aliens, shouldn't she have become a worthy opponent and someone for the Predator to kill? And if not then, when the Predator and her were alone, outside, once they thought it was over, shouldn't it have killed her then? I get the whole respect bit, but who freaking cares. Predators are hunters, a human that can kill an Alien is worthy prey

Note for.....well, me basically. UFC 50 is at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall and tickets go on sale tomorrow. Violence + gambling (Trump Plaza is right next door) = a happy me.

I would also take into account whether this is a TD or yardage league. If your league leans toward TDs then he is a very good pickup, but if your league leans towards yards he isn't going to rack them up as much.

In regards to Westbrook, he is not going to be a starter in the sense that he will get 20 carries a game. He is going to be spliting the rushing load. But the plan is to get Westbrook a lot of touches through various different ways (returns, receptions, rushes). So he is not going to be the starter for the Eagles, but I would (and am) use him as a starter for fantasy.

I know in Philly, at least, you don't get a choice. The season ticket plan comes with those two games included. I don't fault the fans since they are getting screwed over. The preseason really doesn't need to be more than two games. The only realistic arguement is for the lower level guys to show their stuff, but honestly how many positions are actually open for competition among the lower level guys anyway. Looking at the Eagles, as an example, I could probably go down the list and give you at least 45 guys who are locks to be on the team. That gives you 8 spots and the rest is just training camp drill fodder. If a month and a half of camp and 2 games isn't enough to find those 8 guys, are two more games against another team's scrubs going to help?

Wow, this McNabb stuff just does not die, does it? Phi/St.Louis - The Rams were the better team, playing in their home stadium, and went on to win it all. Let's see, maybe the Eagles just got beat. Wait, that can't happen. McNabb must have choked. Yeah, that's the ticket. Phi/TB - Every single person on that team, played terrible that day. Everyone came up short. So if you are really desperate for material, fine, I'll give you this game where he choked. Phi/Carolina - Todd Pinkston is your goat here. Any arguements to the contrary just prove a significant bias against McNabb. I'll reiterate what I said in a previous thread. I won't disagree that McNabb is overrated, but just because he is overrated does not mean that he is a choker and all of the losses are his fault.

I was going to make a comment about the quote just posted, but I just saw the other "melee" on ESPNews and I feel secure in ignoring this article. The other incident was a play where he got tied up with an O lineman and they just went to the ground after the whistle. They held each other's face masks for a few extra seconds and then went on their way. So I guess it is safe to pencil in the Chiefs for a 9-7 record this year, since the team is made up of complete pansies.

Christ, seeing Paul Abbott being run out there every fifth day is such a disgrace. How the hell do you walk 9 people in 5 2/3 IP?!? And the fact he has the nerve to complain to the umpire about a call is a joke. Guess what, when you walk 8 guys you aren't getting the benefit of the doubt on the 9th. I am still trying to figure out what excuse they can provide for Gavin Floyd not being called up. If he can't out perform Abbott, at this point, then he is the most overhyped prospect ever.

They need to have Brock in the lineup for week 2 against the Eagles. It is the Vikings first Monday night game and it would amuse me to see Brock go head to head with Raw.

There are many worse ways to use the 53rd roster spot, then on a guy who is all energy and is out to prove himself on every play. Especially considering that attitude is tailor made for a great special teams player.

And now reading the article metro linked to, Huard had the wind knocked out of him. I'll repeat. Cry me a river.

I figured this would happen as soon as Lesnar got involved in a normal training camp incident. If the article is accurate, then the Chiefs player started the incident. And I would like to see the hit on Huard. Having to sit out a few plays does not exactly seem to be the effects of a huge hit by a 290 pound man. If he was out the rest of the day or was going to be out an extended period of time, then maybe get on Brock for hitting to hard. But come on, sitting out a few plays? Cry me a river.

See what I mean? Not Donovan's fault. Oh, ok I see. Even if it isn't Donovan's fault, since he is overrated (which I will not argue against) every loss is his fault and any reason it isn't is seen as an excuse.

Actually what killed them in the NFC championship was a receiver getting thrown around by a midget CB and that same receiver deciding to break off a slant route (which you never ever ever do).

Nice, it is looking more and more like the Eagles will be getting a top 10 pick in the second round for AJ freaking Feeley. Looking at it from the Dolphins POV, since this season is basically a wash if he is out, do you sign and trade Ogunlaye now and obtain pieces for the future or hold out and hope you get him long term? I am thinking that he has more value in what he can bring via trade than what he can contribute to this team on the field.

I am willing to risk that the start was an anomaly. Having the jitters for your first start, combined with the fact the ball was flying out bigtime in that series (48 total runs were scored in those 2 games) and you have the making of a bad game.

Madson is better than, or at least as good as, Mota right now. And I can't imagine he isn't in the rotation when he comes off the DL. There is no excuse for having him in the pen when they would have Rodriguez, Jones, Telemaco, Cormier, Worrell, and Wagner when he comes off the DL.

This year's top 15 relievers in order. Linebrink,S SDP 55.3 12 2.02 16.9 6.1 -0.6 1.02 23.1 Gordon,T NYY 61.3 14 1.98 19.1 3.2 -1.2 1.46 22.6 Madson,R PHI 60.3 11 1.69 20.6 1.3 2.0 1.77 20.1 Nathan,J MIN 47.7 5 0.92 20.4 0.0 0.3 1.09 19.5 Rivera,M NYY 55.0 10 1.57 19.5 -0.1 0.0 1.63 19.2 Lidge,B HOU 59.0 16 2.40 15.6 4.6 0.6 1.90 18.8 Smoltz,J ATL 53.0 11 1.87 17.1 2.1 0.0 1.59 18.7 Gagne,E LAD 48.0 8 1.64 16.7 2.6 0.3 1.31 18.5 Ryan,B BAL 56.0 12 1.94 17.6 3.2 1.4 1.88 18.0 Frasor,J TOR 46.3 11 2.07 13.9 3.2 -1.3 1.33 17.7 Takatsu,S CHW 39.7 6 1.34 15.1 2.3 0.2 0.91 17.0 Benitez,A FLA 50.3 8 1.54 18.1 -0.5 0.0 1.84 16.4 Foulke,K BOS 54.7 13 2.02 16.7 -0.0 0.0 2.10 16.2 Rodriguez,Fr ANA 55.3 14 2.37 14.8 1.6 0.5 2.27 15.4 Mota,G LAD 63.0 15 2.34 17.0 -0.1 2.6 2.60 15.2

Looking into it further, here are two OPS differences to look at. .634 OPS .793 OPS = .159 OPS difference .706 OPS .880 OPS = .174 OPS difference The first is the difference between Paul LoDuca and Mike Redmond. The second is the difference between Hee Seop Choi and Juan Encarnacion. Going on the assumption that Jeff Conine moves to first and Juan Encarnacion takes over in left they lose a little bit of total OPS. Then take into account the massive Penny-Valdez downgrade, which 20 innings of Mota can not counter, and I feel much, much better about this trade now.

From Stark's Winners and Losers column: "All he traded was his fifth starter (Brad Penny), a platoon guy (Hee Seop Choi), a bench player (Abraham Nunez) and two minor leaguers (Bill Murphy and Travis Chick)," said one NL front-office man. "And he got the best setup man in the league (Guillermo Mota), one of the best catchers in the league (Paul Lo Duca), a decent fifth starter (Ismael Valdez), a starting right fielder (Juan Encarnacion) and a useful arm (Rudy Seanez). And he got the Dodgers to pay them to take their best player (Lo Duca). How 'bout that?" -This is such retarded logic. Just because Brad Penny was in the 5 hole does not mean he is a fifth starter who you just trade without a care. "Hey, you are a stud pitcher, but we use you in the fifth spot. So we decided to trade you for a bag of balls." -Calling Ismael Valdez a decent starter with out the term single A preceding starter is a disgrace. -I want some of the Juan Encarnacion kool-aid, since it is apparently great. -Choi spanks righties. Hmm..what are 75% of starting pitchers? I'll take a platoon guy if I am going to get 450-500 solid PAs out of him during the year. -Mota is not even going to be the best non-closer in his division according to BP. -And the Dodgers got young players with potential to improve, while the Marlins got older players who have hit their peak. How 'bout that?