EVIL~! alkeiper

I have a few I'd debate, but I don't have the time or energy at this point. I'll just say that Kerry Robinson is ranked WAY too highly.

I actually think he's still on the ballot in Pennsylvania

Thomas Chong

As always, I'll side against the official who wants to take away my precious pornography. Of course, at least his pancreas still works, which is more than I can say for mine.

Vitali Klitschko v James Toney Pre-Fight: Vitali looked good winning his first two fights. He's the favorite to win this tournament. He faces off with James Toney, who barely queaked by his first two opponents. He did beat Roy Jones for the first time, however. He's still in, however, and has a chance to land a heavyweight championship fight, if he can defeat Vitali. Its worth noting that Toney has not lost since 1997, and has never been knocked out. The Fight: Toney starts out by winning a close first round. The second round was fairly docile, with Vitali taking the round. Toney wins big in round three. Vitali wins a close round four. Vitali wins big in round five. Toney comes back to win round six. Fight tied halfway through. Toney wins rounds seven and eight. Vitali wins a close round nine, and Toney wins a close round ten. Vitali wins round eleven. Vitali wins a close round twelve, and the fight goes to the scorecards. Budd Schulberg scores the fight 116-112 for James Toney. Bert Sugar scores the fight 114-114. Nigel Collin scores the fight 114-114. The fight is a majority draw. By prior precident, James Toney advances, using the cumulative totals. David Tua v Chris Byrd Pre-Fight: Two fighters looking for a big break. Both are in their early 30s, and time is running out. A classic boxer versus puncher matchup. Byrd defeated Tua by decision in 2001. The Fight: Chris Byrd wins the first four rounds, Tua squeaks out in round five, barely winning the round. Byrd barely wins round six. Byrd takes rounds seven through nine. Round ten is tied. Byrd takes eleven, wins close in round twelve, and we go to the scorecards. 117-111, 119-109 and 119-109, all for Chris Byrd It occurs to me that with a good boxing sim, one can do more than just sim a heavyweight championship fight. So to dress up the finals a little, I'm presenting a sort-of dream card. All fights are leveled, so it is assumed that the fighters are of the same size and weight. WHO IS THE GREATEST POUND FOR POUND FIGHTER OF ALL TIME? Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Henry Armstrong 15 Rounds HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT FINALS James "Lights Out" Toney vs. Chris Byrd 12 Rounds WHO IS THE GREATEST POUND FOR POUND FIGHTER IN BOXING TODAY? Roy Jones Jr. vs. Bernard Hopkins 12 Rounds WHO IS THE GREATEST "COME FROM BEHIND" FIGHTER OF ALL TIME? Arturo Gatti vs. Tony Zale 10 Rounds COULD LAILA REALLY HANG WITH MUHAMMAD? Laila Ali vs. Muhammad Ali 8 Rounds The sim doesn't take the difference in gender into account WHO IS THE BIGGER FRAUD? Butterbean vs. Mark Gastineau 4 Rounds Two fighters who never beat a decent boxer between them

Man, espn2 hits the commercials WAY too eagerly.

Does anyone object to changing the AL SPs from 5 to 4, making one a P? All this move would really do is give players a little flexibility, and allow them to use a middle reliever to fill in if necessary.

The media loves to talk about how big this scandal has become, how its blowing up, and the harm its doing to the game, but does anyone really, truly, give a damn?

Up another 3 cents. Where's MrRant to shake his fist in great anger when you need him?

Gavin Floyd and Cole Hamels are absolute dynamite, and the only possible thing that would keep them from stardom are injuries. I would assume we'll see them tearing up AA Reading this season, and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre the next (and you bet your ass I'm getting their autographs). The scary thing is, if they do make the majors, they'll cost $600,000 TOTAL a year for three seasons. Combined with Brett Myers, that's one hell of a cheap, dominating pitching staff.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/transactions Looks like a bad day for Chris Singleton.

Its up to you guys. Come up with a proposal and get a bunch of people to agree with it. If so, I'll change the settings.

I'm not surprised. A K rate of less than 4.5 per 9 innings, a mediocre K/BB rate, and being 31 (well, as of tomorrow) spells regression. Plus 34 HR in 212 IP (In SafeCo!) is a big red flag. I looked at his splits. I saw the 34 HR (22 in Safeco) but Home Runs allowed isn't a stat and ERA/WHIP/Wins are ( 3.53/1.27/11). Plus, his stats were much better down the stretch, which is a good sign in most cases. The ERA/WHIP/Wins are good, but that's not the real issue. The thing is, predicting pitcher performance is best done by looking at three stats. Home Runs, Walks, and strikeouts. These are important because they are entirely controlled by the pitcher, and they are quite useful in predicting future performance. When Ryan Franklin has bad peripherals like that, I'm not saying those stats will continue to be bad. It means that those stats will effect his other stats. His ERA, WHIP, and Wins. You also should take into consideration that one of the game's best center fielders left the team over the offseason. That will have a negative effect on hits allowed for the Mariners as a whole.

I'm not surprised. A K rate of less than 4.5 per 9 innings, a mediocre K/BB rate, and being 31 (well, as of tomorrow) spells regression. Plus 34 HR in 212 IP (In SafeCo!) is a big red flag.

Actually, we've had this conversation before, and that's not true. To my understanding, it would be legal for BJ (Bill Jefferson) Clinton to run for VP also. If the president were to die (Ala Vince Foster?) he could step in to fill the position, too, just not run for it. Lyndon Johnson was running for a second full term in 1968, so basically you can be elected twice, but you can serve many more times than that. So after Clinton finishes John Kerry's term, he can become speaker of the house and kill the Pres and VP so he can again serve some time as president. :-) I think this should get cleared up. The Constitution says you can serve two full terms after you ascend to the Presidency, IF you filled it for less than half a term. More than two years, and you can only be re-elected once.

I decided to add Charles Johnson, with the brilliant idea that he can play at home, and he'll get benched on the road. Just another reason why I'll win the league, and the rest of you are toast.

That's doable as well. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm throwing this out towards the teams in the league. Vote on the rules you want. Tomorrow evening, I'll review the responses and make decisions. Do you want...... 5 SP, 1 RP, 1 P 4 SP, 3 P 7 P Do you want...... 1250 IP 1300 IP 1400 IP

That would keep people using starters. The change is simply to give people the option, in the event a team simply can not find a starter anywhere.

Ok everyone. I have a proposal. Instead of having 5 SP, 1 RP, and 1 P, how about just having 7 P? This would allow people a little flexability, and avoid having teams destroyed simply due to lack of starters.

I think my team trumps all of you. Keon Clark, Raef LaFrentz, AND Matt Harpring have missed practically the entire season. Karl Malone has missed 35 games. Allen Iverson missed a month. Only a last second, deadline trade spared me losing Vince Carter for a month. Eddy Curry missed a month. Brent Barry is in the process of missing six weeks. At least I get Malone back next week.

I haven't said no. I just need a convincing argument.

Actually, Boone was officially released by the Yankees, on the 26th of February. He's a free agent.

QUARTERFINALS Vitali Klitschko v Fres Oquendo Pre-Fight: Vitali continued his hot streak by making short work of Jameel McCline. He faces Fres Oquendo, who has recently impressed with his boxing skills. He conquered one Klitschko brother, and looks to conquer the other. The Fight: Oquendo dominates the first round. Oquendo proceeds to take the second and third rounds. In round four, Klitschko strikes, knocking Oquendo down twice. Klitschko proceeds to takes the fifth round. Oquendo comes back in the sixth, winning the round and cutting Klitschko under the left eye. Klitschko comes back to win a close round seven. Klitschko knocks down Oquendo again in the 8th for a one count. Klitschko gets the better of a close ninth round. Klitschko wins the tenth as well. Oquendo rebounds to dominate the eleventh. The twelvth round was practically even, and the fight goes to the scorecards. Its 114-113, 114-112, and 115-111, all for the winner, Vitali Klitschko. Roy Jones v James Toney Pre-Fight: Two similar fighters. Both started out at middleweight, and rose to heavyweight. These two fighters met nearly ten years ago, as super middleweights. Jones won that fight via unanimous decision. Toney looks to avenge that loss. The Fight: Even first round. Toney wins the second round. Jones comes back to wins the third round. Toney wins the fourth round. Toney wins the fifth as well, and the sixth. Jones wins the seventh round. Jones dominates the eighth round, cutting Toney under the right eye. Ninth round looks tied. Jones wins the tenth round. The fight is tied at this point. Jones wins a close eleventh. Toney wins the twelvth and final round. Its really anyone's fight, as we go to the scorecards. The scores are 116-113, 115-113, and 115-114, all for the winner, James Toney. Corrie Sanders v David Tua Pre-Fight: Two fighters who pack a punch. David Tua has never been knocked out in 46 career fights. Sanders has suffered two knockout defeats. Look for a slugfest. The Fight: Corrie Sanders opens with a big round 1. Shockingly, Sanders is disqualified in round two for a blatent low blow. David Tua advances to the semifinals. John Ruiz v Chris Byrd Pre-Fight: The Ruiz legend survives another day. This time he encounters perhaps the best pure boxer in the tournament. This fight will likely look bad, and not in a good way. The Fight: John Ruiz knocks down Chris Byrd in round 1. Ruiz narrowly wins an exciting 2nd round. Chris Byrd comes back to take rounds 3 and 4. Ruiz narrowly wins round five. Byrd comes back again and takes round six. After the sixth round, Mills Lane stops the fight due to swelling on Ruiz, and awards the fight by TKO to Chris Byrd. SEMIFINALS Vitali Klitschko James Toney David Tua Chris Byrd

Well, if you come close, you cut back on the innings you use your pitchers. The basic premise of the limit is to keep you from cycling your bench players in every time one has a start up. If your 6 pitchers average 180 innings, and your closer/reliever gives you 80, that's 1160. Certainly plenty of room to spare. In order to reach 1400 innings, you'd have to use all seven pitching spots for 200 IP apiece. That seems excessive.

I'll consider it. Make me an argument in favor.