EVIL~! alkeiper

This is why us east coasters get aggravated come playoff time. As for CBS, I don't think they got hosed. The guy doesn't win anything extra for being exactly right. Heck, it could be perfectly legitimate. They've had what, over 15,000 guesses over their lifespan? Someone is bound to get lucky.

How pathetic is it that the most trumped up heavyweight fighters of our decade (I'm looking at you too Johnny Ruiz) can't even dispatch Evander Holyfield in his 40s?

Joe Sheehan? Is that you? I haven't read much of Sheehan lately, so I don't understand the joke. Daniel Cabrera is Washington bound on a one year contract.

Probably not in those words. Baltimore with Teixeira would have a chance to become a competitive team. That would give them a core of Teixeira, Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, Matt Weiters and Adam Jones. Four of those guys could be top 5 at their positions within the next two years. I'd like to see Teixeira to the Nationals. They need a good player, and it'd give more star power to the National League as well.

Ellis was part of three notable games. 1. He pitched a no hitter, while on the influence of LSD. 2. He pitched a game against the Reds where he determined to hit every batter he faced. He hit Rose, Morgan and Dan Driessen, and walked Tony Perez trying to hit him. 3. He was the starting pitcher the game Pittsburgh fielded the first all black/latino starting nine in MLB history.

Nah. I noticed the last post on the main page.

I'm on record with my Belle & Sebastian love. Tigermilk, If You're Feeling Sinister and The Life Pursuit are all excellent albums. Check out "Meat and Potatoes" if you can find it, it's a b-side from the Funny Little Frog single.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the State of Pennsylvania is going to have to pay for a lot of those problems too. Actually, Hanover Township is just across the river in New Jersey.

These threads are generally popular, MLB talk is slow and since I've gotten three PM baseball questions this week, let's run with it. Ask me your baseball questions, or if you want to tackle boxing history as a change of pace we'll do that.

Let's say 2012 or so. They need to replace their double play combo, but they have some middle order hitters coming up.

Try using another computer to download Malware Bytes, and put it on a flash drive.

I was interested in the early days when they had guys like Tank Abbott, Oleg Taktarov, etc. Now with different weight classes, companies, etc., most of the guys are just names. I think it's a fine sport, fun to watch at times, but I haven't gotten into it. I doubt it, especially during the next 30 years or so. I think the big clubs would just take other means of spending money, like pouring it into the amateur draft or international scouting. Complaints about the Yankees buying championships dates well back before free agency.

There is something authentic about Oriole Park that Philadelphia just can't copy. Citizens Bank Park is nice, but a bit theme park-ish. Those are the only two standing MLB parks I've been to. I was not impressed at all with Yankee Stadium. When it comes to a televised game I think the aesthetics of Wrigley Field and Kaufmann Stadium are the best. I wish park designers would learn that there is nothing at all wrong with a symmetrical ballpark. If I throw in minor league parks, I'd take a game at Coca-Cola Park anyday. I great combination of sightlines and convenience. You're close to the action no matter where you sit. Bowman Field in Williamsport is also a great experience because it's one of the last old minor league parks left.

Fred Blassie held the WWA World title in the 1960s. I'm surprised no one's mentioned Johnny Valentine.

In fairness though, there is no way Big Show could keep doing the moves ten years into his career. He needed to work the ground game long term.

He should recover a bit this year, but I'd be very surprised if he again reaches his 2004-06 peak.

Sad note as former Astros closer Dave Smith has passed away from a heart attack at the age of 53.

As long as he stays on the wagon he should have a highly productive career. He will get his big money as soon as he hits arbitration. If he stays clean and productive until he reaches free agency, that's six years. At that point, I don't think a team would hesitate on a big contract.

Let's take a few of these issues out of the equation. Clemens, Pedro Martinez, the work stoppage. In terms of career value, the strike effected both pitchers equally, particularly if we're talking career value. And working in anyone's shadow shouldn't matter. They pitched in the same era and we're not comparing players among divisions. And heck, Glavine pitched with Maddux all those years anyway. ERA+. Let's isolate those numbers to age 22-39 seasons, which covers the entirety of Mussina's career. Mussina is still 122 (I don't know why that came out different), Glavine's is 121. That's a negligible difference. Glavine declines from pitching earlier and later in his career than did Mussina. He shouldn't get penalized for that. Glavine pitched over 300 more innings than Mussina in those seasons alone, not counting his extended career. That workrate counts for a lot, that is quality innings not given to a relief pitcher of lesser ability. Divisions. First off, everyone in baseball took steroids. The most dubious single team was the '93 Phillies, Glavine's opponents. Second, Mussina did NOT have to pitch against the Yankees for the last eight years of his career. Most of that time he had many starts against the Devil Rays, Orioles and Blue Jays. That's not exactly a competitive nightmare. I know the quality of leagues has been an issue but it's not THAT big, and it hasn't existed since the early '90s. I don't think it's a serious factor. Both are all time greats, but given the extra workload I think Glavine was a better pitcher.

What's tricky is that they will want their most valuable catcher to remain their starter. So really they're looking for their second best catcher to become a trade target. I like Saltalamacchia since he has shown he can produce in the major leagues. And he's the youngest of the three players, which is pretty special. I like Ramirez second, Teagarden third. And since Teagarden had that big explosion in a short MLB trial, some team might overrate him in a trade.

I think Towers. The problem is that any of the other 29 teams could easily pass. Towers could well find himself forced to trade Peavy due to his owner's payroll demands. We can't say for certain what the Braves plans were. They may have had a plan in place to trade Escobar or Kelly Johnson. Without a trade, Johnson would slide to left field and improve an outfield rotation that was really a problem in 2008. I think if you can add a good player and make it work, pull the trigger.

The Rockies can hope for a full season of Ian Stewart and a healthy season of Troy Tulowitzki. They have Greg Reynolds developing and if Franklin Morales improves, that pitching staff looks a lot better. I think their gains far surpass the loss of a single player. One player is rarely the difference. This team can easily contend for the NL West crown.

Weight classes have expanded from eight to seventeen. I think that is reasonable. It is the sheer number of boxing organizations that create the ridiculous amount of championships. That stems from a lack of overriding authority in boxing. Each of these groups have their own vested interest, there is nothing to bring them in line and there is no incentive. Boxing promoters benefit from a large number of titles. In pro wrestling, the NWA attempted for a time to run simultaneous World champions, with Lou Thesz and Eduoard Carpentier each claiming a lineage to the crown. Two champions, twice the gate. Logical enough. And it is not hurting their bottom lines at all. No one turns away from a De La Hoya/Paciaqua fight because it's not for the "undisputed" championship, do they? The only way it happens is if there is a dominant, charismatic heavyweight ala Tyson and the organizations refuse to recognize him in the face of all logic. We're stuck with the current system, and the best thing for fans to do is refuse to recognize ANY of the established boxing championships.

I think Mussina is absolutely a Hall of Famer. That combination of wins and winning percentage is so good that no comparable player whatsoever has been left out. I think Glavine was a better pitcher. If you go by peak, Glavine won 20+ games five times compared to once for Mussina (though Mussina got hosed by the work stoppage). Glavine won two Cy Youngs, none for Mussina. Career wise, Glavine has pitched 800+ more innings than Mussina and he's still going.

I do. There are a ton of corner outfielders on the market right now. One of them is certain to land in Cincinnati. Plus, Cincinnati fans can enjoy the continued development of Jay Bruce and Joey Votto. Given the financial structure of the game they would have to be players in the first three years of their careers. Tim Lincecum and Josh Hamilton will make near the league minimum next season.