Mik

I don't really follow the NBA until the playoffs - but the fact that Grant Hill is back in the All Star game is great for sports.

Isn't Jon Knott like 27? I think I read that he just showed up at an open tryout and hit a bunch of HRs so they gave him a shot.

I don't think I can get extra innings because I will probably be moving at the end of July and not sure if I could keep that package in a move. Also - I heard some complaints last year that not every game was shown - and I wouldn't want it if I couldn't watch the Marlins. I got an email today from MLB.com about MLB.TV, and you can watch whatever game you want live or delayed. Before 2/12 it's 79.95 for the season. Has anyone ever used it? If so, is the quality ok? Is it as good as, or nearly as good as TV? I have cable internet and a decent computer if that makes any difference.

1. Los Angeles Top Prospect: Joel Guzman, SS Also have Chuck Tiffany, who finished strong, Cory Dunlap, Blake Dewitt (?). I'm drawing a blank, so I'm wondering why they are #1? 2. Minnesota Top Prospect: Jesse Crain, RP He's a good prospect, but isn't Joe Mauer still technically a prospect? I think he's still eligible for ROY. If I'm wrong, then nevermind. 4. Oakland Top Prospect: Dan Meyer, SP Yeah... and Huston Street, Kurt Suzuki, Richie Robnett, Omar Quintilliana, Don Sutton, Danny Putnam, on and and on and on. I would put OAK #1. 5. Colorado Top Prospect: Jeff Francis, SP Another team I'd probably have higher. Ian Stewart (look out!), Jeff Salazar, Matt Macri 6. Milwaukee Top Prospect: Richie Weeks, 2B Don't forget Prince Fielder. If he stay from becoming morbidly obese he will be a more complete hitter than his father. 14. Seattle Top Prospect: Felix Hernandez, SP The rest of their system must be bare, if they are this low with the best pitching prospect in baseball. Is it? I have no idea about Seattle. 16. Arizona Top Prospect: Carlos Quintin, OF Top Prospect: CONOR JACKSON - who for some reason John Sickels doesn't like but he will be three times the player quentin will ever be. 20. Houston Top Prospect: Chris Burke, 2B Burke is going to be something. Don't forget the current darling of the baseball card world - Appalachian League MVP Mitch Einertson 21. New York Yankees Top Prospect: Eric Duncan, 3B Are you sure you didn't mean 30? 24. Florida Top Prospect: Jeremy Hermida, OF Sound the home team alarm, but I think they should be higher. Scott Olsen is one of the top relief picks in baseball, and they just drafted 3 players with future superstar potential in Taylor Tankersley, Jason Vargas, and 5 tool Jamar Walton. They also have Stokes (who is effectively blocked off from MLB but excellent trade bait), and Yorman Bazardo. I feel good about this system. 25. Philadelphia Top Prospect: Gavin Floyd, SP I like the Phillies system too - conceeding that Cole Hamels is probably never going to amount to anything. They have Happ, Buck Shaw, Golson. 28. New York Mets Top Prospect: Yusmeiro Petit, SP I still can't believe the Mets traded Kazmir for Victor Zambrano, but at least they have Petit and Lastings Milledge to look forward to.

Somewhere, Bob Barron is reading this thread and crying his eyes out for all of his fallen heroes.

Don't look now, but it's the new fad. Just about every company is starting to adopt one and here at UNC games they sell carolina blue ones that say "Turn it Blue".

Sorry Phillies fans, but i just read that Cole Hamels broke his hand - out 3 months. EDIT: And as more news comes in, it appears he broke his hand in a bar fight. Hello Brien Taylor 2.0.

I was just gonna post about that. Apparently it was streamed on the bottom of the TV during one of the broadcasts of the trial. I totally missed it.

I was yelling like a maniac. I live in a townhouse style apartment and I wouldn't be surprised if my neighbors heard me on either side even though they are quite far away. I was hoping for a one armed Chase, but Tony works too. "The only person I can trust." NICE. Too bad Tony can't show his face or take credit for anything because he's supposed to be in jail.

Earthwind Moreland.

Not trying to be uptight about it. I'm just commenting on the fact that your success rate with jokes is hovering somewhere around 15-20%.

Hey, Czech, it's getting old buddy. You're not half as funny as you think you are. Not in relation to me - in general. I printed an article that shows he's showing tickets, which is the biggest knock on the Marlins - lack of attendance. He is the reason. I only pasted half the article.

Who will be the American and National League Rookies of the Year?

It's because of Delgado.

I think there is going to be a lot fewer people dressed as empty seats in Miami this year. This goes with $150,000 on Wednesday and over $100,000 every day since.

I got your stupid point, I just had to get the obvious jab in, geez Have you been watching Napoleon Dynamite or something?

Yeah, I wasn't really talking about him. I was talking about the top three who haven't proven anything yet - but everyone will conceed they have the potential. You would have expected them to have better comparable players. Way to totally miss the point.

Is this in print anywhere?

Good idea, Rob E. Dangerously 2005 Florida Marlins Most Similar: 1) Juan Pierre - Willie Wilson 2) Luis Castillo - Steve Sax (interesting) 3) Miguel Cabrera - Hank Aaron 4) Carlos Delgado - Willie McCovey (nice) 5) Mike Lowell - Carl Everett (T-Rex, no such thing) 6) Paul LoDuca - Brian Harper 7) Jeff Conine - Bob Watson 8) Alex Gonzalez - Alex Gonzalez (Whoa) 1) Josh Beckett - Chuck Dobson 2) AJ Burnett - Joe Decker 3) Dontrelle Willis - George Van Haltren 4) Al Leiter- Virgil Trucks 5) Ismael Valdez - Jamie Navarro A few glaring things, Alex Gonzalez most similar player is the other Alex Gonzalez. What an anomaly! Second, this just goes to show that the Marlins pitching staff is only young and full of potential and they really haven't accomplished anything yet. I haven't even heard of those guys.

Is mere speculation a spoiler?

Miguel Cabrera - Hank Aaron (Just by stats at age 21 alone)

I think most people know the Marlins lineup, because it's all household names 1-8 but I'll list anyway C - Paul LoDuca 1B- Carlos Delgado 2B - Luis Castillo SS- Alex Gonzalez (05 Gold Glove winner - mark my words) 3B- Mike Lowell LF - Jeff Conine/Juan Encarnacion CF - Juan Pierre RF- Miguel "Future 4 time MVP" Cabrera 7 of the Marlins starting 8 have played in an all star game. Bench: Chris Aguila, Willingham, Damion Easley, Lenny Harris (ugh) 1 - Josh Beckett 2- AJ Burnett 3- Dontrelle Willis 4 - Al Leiter 5 - Ismael Valdez BP: Todd Jones, Antonio Alfonseca, Tim Spooneybarger, Matt Perisho, Jon Riedling Closer: Guillermo Mota

I don't think there is any way that Pierre leaves the team. Burnett, maybe. Jason Stokes has weak wrists just like Adrian Gonzalez.

You couldn't be more wrong, Flik. And there is no REAL Cubs/Marlins rivalry, just one here on the board between Cubs fans and myself. If you want to get technical, some Cubs players got upset last year after Miguel Cabrera mocked the Bartman incident during a routine fly ball that went into the stands and some Cubs players got mad at it, although most dismissed it as a silly joke. But people may think there is a rivalry based on the way I have argued with Czech Republic and Bruiser during past seasons (and this season as well - I'm betting) when it comes to Cubs vs. Marlins. As for LeBetard's article. I agree with him on the stadium. But I disagree about the players. I would rather have Delgado and Leiter than Pavano and Pudge - maybe that's just me. I'm more excited about this year's Marlins team than I have been about a team since 1997. My theory on the deal in relation to the stadium is this, Loria thinks adding Delgado will boost ticket sales. He's correct so far, yesterday they sold $150,000 worth of season tickets and they expect it to increase steadily over the next few months. They are expecting the highest number of season tickets sold yet. Secondly, he thinks that by bringing another winner to Florida, they will get the support they need from the Florida legislature and get the stadium. If the stadium is approved, money isn't that big of an issue. Half the key to survival in south Florida is to get out from under their crippling lease and actually get to keep their profits. I think this was a wise move from a fiscal standpoint as well, but I'm no economist.

The simulation is only as good as the statistics you give it. I used a statistical projection for Cabrera that looks at his age and statistics, and compares them to similar players to estimate his statistics for 2005. The projection I used sees him hitting 307/376/543, with 31 HRs and 119 RBIs. I could live with those numbers.