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oldnews

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Everything posted by oldnews

  1. Thoroughly enjoyed that - looked good on ARod. C'ya.
  2. oldnews

    Tennis

    That Zverev performance was unreal. Approached the net 237 times in that match. Love it - haven't seen a throwback like him for ages. Thoroughly enjoyed watching him own Murray.
  3. oldnews

    Tennis

    These Zverev brothers are great for the sport imo. Alexander is unreal - 19 yr old was extremely impressive against a very sharp Nadal. It took Nadal both reverting to old form and absolutely grinding out the win to outlast the 19 year old. Looking forward to watching him develop. And then there's Mischa - bringing back the serve and volley - and giving Murray fits. Really hope he can finish him.
  4. Atl 35 GB 21 Pitt 21 NE 14
  5. I want to see a Falcons Superbowl. The rest are retreads.
  6. Deal makes sense imo. A late 2nd from Cleveland wasn't worth it. This gives them a legit power DH option Glad they stepped up and paid JB and got this done. Upton Pillar Carrera Donaldson Tulo Travis Morales Martin Bautista [Pierce, Pompey, Barney, Goins, Smoak, Jiminez] Sanchez Estrada Happ Stroman Liriano / Osuna Grilli Biagini A few tweaks / a utility player or two - and that lineup is reasonable enough imo.
  7. Lesson - don't over-react to small samples. Just quote something. I'd sign him all over again were it today. And I'd have signed Okposo if the opportunity were there - still would.
  8. None of last summer's big name UFAs are lighting it up thus far: Okposo 12 goals Backes 11 Eriksson 10 Lucic 10 Ladd 8
  9. Seattle didn't play well on any side of the ball today. Brutal penalties taken on special teams. O-line got beaten. Defense couldn't come up with stops. Atlanta executed on all sides and had some grace smiling on them to boot. Hawks need to retool/uptick that O-line for next year.
  10. Atlanta's D playing the better game unfortunately.
  11. Seems like a bad omen to have a dominant opening drive of a game. Funny how often those games end in a loss.
  12. finally some needed luck for Seattle
  13. Whereas his linemates had 6. Loui had 3 takeaways last night as well - so obviously - being the small sample wonders that we are - he's an elite two way setup man. And Sutter and Baertshi had 4 hits each. Pure grit.
  14. These short guys need to work on rising fastballs - natural advantage lol.
  15. I don't think Pedro was ever 6ft - that's a curious measurement.
  16. I hear that theory where short pitchers are concerned but on the other hand have watched enough slight, not particularly tall guys like Pedro Martinez excel to think that it's not necessarily written in stone that he'll "wear out." My doubts were more in relying on him too much prematurely - and my impression of him in that projected role is a basic lack of confidence in him - in a more realistic depth role in the rotation, with less pressure and expectations, perhaps he can eat innings that were lost (Dickey) and hold his own. It's a tough one. I think if they moved Stroman and brought in another arm I may be warmer to the idea. I'm not against moving him, I'm just not that keen to see them rely on Liriano and at the same time, potentially have to pull Biagini from the pen. I like Liriano - I just prefer to see 5 options in the rotation, particularly when two of them are young (and Sanchez or Happ could regress). I also don't like the potential reverse trickle down effect on the bullpen. I'm not opposed necessarily to spending on a player like Blackmon - good season last year, good enough outfielder, good baserunner, another left-handed bat to add balance - but I think I'd insist on moving futures instead of shuffling deck chairs on the roster. If they can use futures to add a player like that, I think they'd be closer to continuing to contend, and I'd support the spending of futures to do so under the circumstances. I'm not sure the management group is inclined to do so - I like the commitment to restocking prospects, but I think the franchise has created a hunger in the fanbase that it needs to sustain. If they can land a Blackmon using prospects/picks - then great - that would solidify their outfield, put JB in a DH role, Morales at 1B - it could be considered a slight upgrade overall. Dealing Stroman for Blackmon - I think the Jays would be wiser to hold out on that.
  17. Meh. Where is the "change in culture" in moving from EE to Morales? The LHB alone to me doesn't effect a "culture change." Morales isn't the leadoff hitter or threat on the bases the team needs. He's not a bat-control #2 that can execute the fundamentals that used to be near universal in MLB, but oddly seems to be devolving. Those kinds of things are separate matters imo. Going to a Morales over EE doesn't effectively change much imo - it remains a challenge for management to add diversity to the team's skillset - something they needed to do regardless, and arguably still do -whether or not EE or JB remain in the fold. And despite the fact I'm not a huge fan of Stroman, spending an asset from the starting rotation's depth is not the route I'd elect. Move Stroman and we're into gambling on Liriano territory - his tiny sample in Toronto was promising, but regardless, even if he's solid, I'd want that 5 man rotation to remain the backbone of the team. They got their pick for EE - good for them - it worked out as they apparently scripted it - but I doubt they're getting one for Bautista, and considering the options - that won't cost them significant assets - imo Bautista's power brings some run production they will need, whether or not it's "culturally different". They'll have to continue to chip away at improving the team's small ball effectiveness, but tbh if they're going to go spending assets at this point I'd rather see them move that pick they gained than start subtracting from their rotation. There remain two young arms in that rotation - having Liriano in the 5 spot is a comfort level I personally would not be messing with. The team is and should be in win-now mode imo - I don't know what guys like Tulo, JD etc feel about letting EE and JB move on, but if it were me, at this point, looking at the reality of what is available, I think I'd simply bring JB back short term and accept the small steps taken where small ball is concerned - or find an alternative that doesn't involve spending a young arm.
  18. I'm not sold on Stroman either. Nice variety of pitches and all, but I think what we saw last year was somewhat to be expected. I think they were expecting way too much out of him at too young an age - and were fortunate that Sanchez and Happ stepped up. In the four spot - I think is a more reasonable projection - and less pressure. Moving him though - it's hard to want to thin out the depth of their rotation. I think I'd be really hesitant to do so despite not being all that big on Stroman. If I have a wildcard to step up this year it is Carrera - I like the guy - has a strong mental game - could force his way up the depth chart. As much as I'm disappointed with the way the EE JB situations were handled and the results - I'm fairly happy with the Morales addition, and I won't be surprised if Carrera continues to be a late blooming gamer. Is Upton good for another 20+ HR season? Under 500 AB last year, but hit for such weak average in Toronto - a bit risky to depend on him, Carrera, Pearce, Pompey imo. But damn - they had an opportunity to bring back EE (and JB) - and let that pitching staff ripen....and they finessed their way around it -even after the market softened. I think they need to bite the bullet and add Joey Bats power to that lineup - waiting on the pick is probably a pipe dream. Just bring him back, and preserve some of the team identity (I couldn't care less if people don't like him - he's a Jay - that says the wrong thing sometimes lol). He can take punch - maybe he comes back with a chip on his shoulder - he is a serviceable OF, so he provides the dual DH option - and I'm doubting anyone is going to give up the compensation to sign him so give a little and let's focus on the long balls he crushes as opposed to nit-picking his personality. He can flip a bat for my team anytime. Tbh it's been somewhat annoying watching him and EE get devalued so thoroughly. He's there at what's likely a bargain price now.
  19. wrong. not a good game in the lot. meh.
  20. ARod is an appropriate handle imo. Can't stand the original and not a big fan of this one either. Liked him when he first broke into the league, but the guy just seems to leak arrogance - like his namesake / acronymsake.
  21. For some reason I can't imagine that one being a dud.
  22. I have to agree - as a pure runner (not looking at receptions/blocking/power game etc) - I have never seen anyone with Sanders ability to make something out of nothing. He was incredibly elusive - I don't think I've even seen a player that able to pivot with lightning quickness and speed - when they coined the term "turn on a dime" - that ought to be trademarked in Sanders' name.
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