the pinjockey

Phillies 1. Thome 2. Abreu 3. Madson Difference from al's being Madson over Floyd. Personally, I go with Madson because he has proven himself at the major league level. While Floyd may have the ability, I just like the certainty of Madson more.

I am just not a real big Polanco fan. I think it was the game against Leiter last week when Leiter went to full counts to just about every single batter, save one (him). For all of the talk about how he is such a smart player, swinging on the first pitch twice when he can not find the zone just irked me. It just kind of got under my skin. Plus, at this point, he seems to actually have trade value, so I could go for getting something for him now.

Bowa needs to use the bullpen better. Here's the depth chart as I see it: Billy Wagner Ryan Madson Tim Worrell Rheal Cormier Geoff Geary Roberto Hernandez I think Geary's a quality reliever, and Bowa should go to him more. Also consider bringing up Josh Hancock for the 'pen. I would put Powell ahead of Geary and Hernandez. If they trade for Villone I am going to be sick. The only one in the phils bullpen I would definitely put him over is Hernandez. I am really getting antsy to see Polanco traded so Utley can get the full time gig. I think getting Utley in the lineup full time could be as big as a trade.

I believe the upcoming year is the last year in Robinson's contract. What the Sixers need to do is just suck it up this year and don't take any calls on Robinson. Just let his money fall off the cap and don't get tempted into any bad contracts for him at the trade deadline. I also believe Coleman comes off after this year. Granted Skinner, McKie, Iverson and Thomas will have their cap clogged for a while. But they have to start their cap recovery at some point.

The baseballreference.com site also has sister sites for football and basketball. www.pro-football-reference.com www.basketballreference.com

*eagerly awaits January rolling around and Dama accidently owing a guy named Vinny 10 Gs*

I don't think it is saying the Packers are the 4th best team in the league though. You have to look at what there chances are to do something this season. Odds =/= power rankings. Looking at Spiff's example of the Panthers earlier, how they shouldn't be below the Packers. Would you rather bet on the Panthers who have a still dangerous Bucs team, a team in the Saints who can play like the best team in the league on any given Sunday, and the Vick led Falcons or the Packers who have the overrated Vikings, and two punching bags in Chicago and Detroit (detroit is improving but they are still a punching bag)? If the Panthers were to play the Packers straight up on a neutral site, I would probably take Carolina. But the fact is the Packers look like they should waltz to the division title and a home playoff game, while Carolina looks to have a tough division schedule ahead. Same thing with the Ravens. The division they are in should lead to them getting to the playoffs easier than Carolina. And I am going to lay more money down on the team more likely to be in the playoffs than I am the better team.

Manning - 18.57 (16) Smith - 11.91 (16) Robinson - 7.54 (15) Westbrook - 13.74 (15) Martin - 10.31 (16) Smith - 3 (12) Randle El - 6.41 (16) Brown - 7.63 (16) Balt - 18.91 (16) If I can have 5 starters in double digits, along with Manning and Baltimore staying in the vicinty of 20 points I will be very happy.

Jake Plummer has proven he isn't a big time NFL QB though (unless he is playing the Eagles). He isn't in the same boat as the Bradys, Warners, or Delhommes who come out of nowhere. With them you don't know what you have until they play, Plummer has played and has shown he isn't good.

Maas?

Telemaco has been on the DL for the last month and I think is looking at two more weeks at the earliest. He had been pitching hurt since spring, he just didn't want to tell anyone. And AS, here is the Phillies management mindset explaining why they picked up someone like Abbott: Phillies management: Do you have big league experience Abbott: Yes PM: *getting giddy* Are you any good? Abbott: Not really PM: *still giddy* But you have experience right? Abbott: Yes PM: We'll take you

Also need to mention it is really time to end this Paul Abbott as a starting pitcher charade. If the Phils management really believes that Gavin Floyd, Ryan Madson, or even Brian Powell can't do better than Abbott they need to blow the whole team up. Looking at Abbott's BBs, Ks, and HRs (9 HRs in 37 IP?!?) his four and a half ERA is pure luck. I guess they don't have David Bell's "He's a winner" stamp of approval.

Let's throw in, if Charles Thomas' fielding is for real (not a one game fluke), you are now up to about 75% of the outfield you are not getting a flyball hit to. He was just insane tonight. The Comcast postgame show was amusing, apparently they lost tonight because Bobby Abreu is not as good of a fielder as Andruw Jones and let a ball drop in front of him. It is unfair to compare anyone defensively to Andruw Jones.

I thought the Eagles should have taken Ditka's "Draft for Ricky trade" and then taken Cade McNown with the Saints first rounder.

QB - Peyton Manning RB - Brian Westbrook, Curtis Martin WR - Steve Smith, Koren Robinson (just accepted a trade to get him) TE - LJ Smith WR/TE - Donald Driver/Kevin Johnson (not sure who I will use there now) K - Josh Brown Def - Baltimore Bench Quincy Carter Dominic Rhodes Antwaan Randle El Driver/Johnson At first I was worried about my RBs, but as I look at everyone else's team there are only about 2 teams that don't have some question mark at one of the two RB slots. And the trade for Robinson gives me a second legit WR, so now I am just relying on Driver or Johnson coming through as opposed to Driver AND Johnson.

That in a thread where people are complaining about Matt Hardy's generalization of internet fans, someone takes one post (and look at the source) and generalizes all of the posters in said thread. I only saw one post it this thread, where the response to the article was "OMG, Matt Hardy SUX". As opposed to looking at the article and responding to that.

AL MVP: Manny Ramirez, Bos NL MVP: Barry Bonds, SF AL Cy Young: Curt Schilling, Bos NL Cy Young: Jason Schmidt, SF AL Rookie of the Year: Lew Ford, Min (ESPN has him listed as a rookie on the stats page) NL Rookie of the Year: Jason Bay, Pit (I sooooo want to say Madson as a homer pick here, but Bay can't be disputed) AL Manager: Buck Showalter, Tex NL Manager: Ned Yost, Mil

Taken from the latest Stark R&G article This is the stuff I am sick of. Why would you tell teams that none of your top four prospects are available? What would it hurt to at least find out what you could get. Especially for Hamels, who I am really starting to worry about his arm. I am not saying trade Hamels for the typical stopgap reliever or anything, but at least listen. The Phillies always seem to do this, never trading prospects when their value is highest and end up having them fall back to Earth and become essentially worthless.

I would like to know what Bowa said to get run. A call like that, I would have to give him a little slack if I was the umps.

But Tice's throw it up and let Randy get it philosphy is much better in fantasy than Reid's spread the ball to everyone and their mother philosophy.

No way do you trade something the caliber of Holmes for Owens this year. Not in Reid's scheme.

I would never concern myself with how good another team is, in a straight one for one trade. If a LT for Priest trade is what would make my team better, I do it.

I am going to assume, the way you phrased that, that the other teams are looking to dump those players as you are looking to dump Holmes. If that is the case, try to get LT out of that group.

I am the complete opposite of this viewpoint. I don't mind the wave. If people want to do it, go right ahead. But when you get the one or two drunk guys in every section who are the cheerleaders for it and won't shut up until you join in, that pisses me the hell off. Just because you are bored with the game or have the attention span of a 6 year old, doesn't mean I am the same way.

Well without me someone else would have to lose in the championship game. I feel I have filled that role well and don't want to give it up yet.