31 Oct
Cocktail week picks
Home teams in italics.
Alabama 34, Ark. St. 13
Georgia 52, Florida 50 (3 OT, Jacksonville)
Tulsa 35, Arkansas 27
Kentucky 23, MSU 10
Ole Miss 31, Auburn 20
LSU 38, Tulane 21
South Carolina 34, Tennessee 15
CONTACT
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May your prognostications all come true, sir.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:26 amNo way UF doesn’t make the two-point conversion.
What an awesome game that had better be!
October 31st, 2008 at 8:59 ammraver, you’ve got it wrong.
Florida will score first and miss the PAT. UGA will then score on its possession and go for two for the big FU to UF
October 31st, 2008 at 9:18 amOn UGA / UF. I saw a very interesting stat this week. UGA has won the last 9 games Stafford played where the team was ever within 7 in the final period.
Tebow is 2-5 whenever UF is not more than 7 ahead or 7 behind in the 4th quarter.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:24 am#3 – in the 3rd OT there are no PAT’s. However, they might not convert and UGA might
October 31st, 2008 at 9:35 amGeorgia scores first in triple OT on a seven-yard Moreno run, then Stafford hits Green in the back of the end zone for the two. Florida converts on fourth-and-goal from the three when Tebow breaks a tackle and hits Harvin on a dumpoff. But they call a QB draw to convert the two, and Georgia reads it and Tebow is stuffed.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:38 amFrom Mac’s pen to God’s ears.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:45 ami thought you were calling for the first safety in the history of college OT.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:45 amAnd this will still not dissuade Meyer from running QB draws on have-to-have-it short-yardage situations.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:46 amIf the Ole Miss game didn’t nothing will
October 31st, 2008 at 9:50 amRegarding points, I would definitely take the over in the UGA/UF game. Regarding punts, I’d take the under.
If the Dawgs are going to keep the score down even a little bit, Moreno has to run on them like he did last year & we’ll need to see more solid contribution from Caleb King. Stafford, of course, can’t have any of his big mistakes.
The O-Line still isn’t perfect, but it’s improved recently and Bobo seems to have called the right kinds of plays to create space for Moreno. Another big part of this one will be UGA minimizing UF’s return game. Hopefully, we’re just talking about kickoffs.
Bottom Line: I don’t really see either defense keeping up much with the other group. You’ll see NFL speed on one side, NFL skill on the other. I think this one’ll look like OU/Texas from a few weeks ago, but maybe even better.
I’ll say UGA 45-41, and I’ll be watching from the Sunshine State. Off to Miami…
October 31st, 2008 at 10:03 amThis, from FiveThirtyEight.com, is one of the funniest opening lines I’ve ever read:
GAMBLY AND WHORISH, Nevada is one of 2008′s biggest battlegrounds.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:23 amwhat %’s would you give these guys on being back next year
Ohman
October 31st, 2008 at 10:28 amNorton
Julio
Tavarez
as nightmares, or as actual players?
October 31st, 2008 at 10:31 amlets see
Norton hit .316 w/ 3hr and 18rbis as a PH
October 31st, 2008 at 11:09 amOhman our most consist reliever and held LH to a .200 avg
Julio’s line was 12IP 9H 1ER 8BB 19K (but usually in mop up roles)
Tavarez – yeah dont see him returning
@13: 50%
Vasquez anyone?
He’s been the personification of mediocre the past few years. But he’s been healthy and is “only” owed an average of 11.5 MM over the past two. They said they want a middle infielder for him. KJ maybe? I remember that Bobby loved the guy when he was with the Expos.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:38 amWhy the hell would we trade KJ for a mediocre pitcher with an eight-figure salary?
October 31st, 2008 at 11:40 amno, to trading KJ for him. I would move Lilli or Prado plus a relief prospect. The White Sox dont want him, he was terrible down the stretch.
When teams know that other teams are just trying to slash payroll, how much value does that take away from said player???
October 31st, 2008 at 11:43 amBurrell turned down a 2-year, $22M offer from the Phils. Mets exercised their option on Delgado.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:49 amYou could have gotten 10:1 odds against the latter before Willie Randolph was fired.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:50 amIf Schuerholz was still GM, the Braves would get Javier Vazquez. Schuerholz seemed to have a real thing for him.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:58 amI don’t really want to, but there’s not much else going on today and I just threw it out there. Prado? Granted Vasquez is mediocre, but he’s not bad, and you could pencil him in at the #3/4 spot and get 30+ starts and 200 innings.
Part of the issue of why the team failed last year was the overuse of the bullpen, and this would definitely help with regard to that. Trading KJ is definitely overkill, especially as this seems like a salary dump. However, it’s only a two year commitment and we are going to need a few starters.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:06 pmI would not mind trading Prado for Vasquez, mainly because it would mean we could not waste KJ in a similar deal.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:24 pm23 — I can agree with that.
October 31st, 2008 at 12:55 pmVasquez has a no trade clause to the NL. He’d ask for more money or some kind of compensation to come to ATL
October 31st, 2008 at 1:51 pmWhat kind of idiot pitcher has a no-trade to the NL? He’s even a pretty good hitter (.211 career average) so it’s not that.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:53 pmHe has a no-trade clause with respect to the NL (and AL) West.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:55 pmOkay, that I can see.
October 31st, 2008 at 1:55 pmReally? I mean, I wouldn’t want to pitch in Colorado or Arizona, but I’d LOVE to pitch in Chavez Ravine or PETCO.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:04 pmMy understanding is that it’s as simple as that he doesn’t want to too far from his family, which is somewhere in the eastern US. He had trouble being away from them when he was pitching in Arizona, IIRC.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:08 pmDix,
Nice joke wiki edit. It’s pretty common for people in places with communist or socialist sympathies to name their childern or places after heroes of the revolution. Despite the relatively recent rise of Chavez, communist sympathizers have long been present throughout Latin America. I guess this is pretty rapidly going outside the realm of relevant topics for this forum so I’ll just move on and assume nobody knows. Maybe I’ll try to hit some Pelicans games next year and see if I can ask him about it because Gorkys doesn’t seem like a typical hispanic name.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:15 pmIf you were going to name someone after a communist icon (and this is different than socialism despite what some politicians seem to be implying these days), I would think it would be something like Vladimir or (especially in Latin America), Fidel. A writer is really kind of stetching it it seems to me. I never thought of Maxim Gorky as an icon that would inspire communist sympathizers to name their children after him.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:22 pmAnything’s possible. I was named for a Gold Rush bank robber….
October 31st, 2008 at 2:37 pm@32
I was just taking a WAG but Gorky was pretty popular at least during the Stalin years. They renamed Gorky’s hometown Gorky and the Soviet airforce named a big ass plane after him.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:46 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhF067kZNxA
The depravity of the Phillies knows no bounds. Listen to the heathen mob applaud his disgusting comment. I think the NFL bans you for life for this kind of thing.
October 31st, 2008 at 5:39 pmhttp://tinyurl.com/5lfh7s
here’s my 2 cents on the above article, however it would require a bunch of “ifs” becoming non-”ifs”. here goes nothing (don’t hate me):
ok, here goes my two cents for the braves offseason:
trade francoeur to the royals for some pitching (preferably a guy that could step into the rotation) and put andruw in right field (after the dodgers eat 8-10 mil of his salary and accept a mid-level prospect for us taking him off their hands), bring schafer up to play center, and trade for maggs to play left. then, put diaz in the position he needs to be in (role player/backup), trade kj, tyler flowers, and a couple of low level prospects for peavy, sign smoltz to an incentive laden deal at 10 mil max, and acquire a legit #2 starter.
andruw would be a risk but i would rather see andruw in right field than francoeur. at least we would have the best defensive outfield in the majors.
here’s how the starters would look:
schafer
escobar
chipper
maggs
mccann
andruw
kotchman
prado
peavy
#2 starter
jurrjens
campillo
smoltz/hanson/morton/reyes
i like it.
i am not on board with andruw being done. he has become lethargic and lazy. if he has any self-worth left, he will work his butt off this year and have a productive 2009. let’s hope, for the team that chooses to hire him, that this is true.
however, the above scenario is my 2nd choice. my first choice would be to “rebuild the fan-base”. the braves need some controversy in the clubhouse to stir up a stagnant fan-base. sign manny ramirez!! he’ll put people in the stands, be ridiculous, piss people off, and make the braves organization something it hasnt been in 10 years: exciting.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:16 pmOf course he’d like to come back to Atlanta… Bobby would put him right back in the lineup at clean up.
I do hope he gets into shape this off season. At least come back with something somewhat respectable.
October 31st, 2008 at 8:24 pm#35
I’m the last person to get offended at that kind of thing, and yet my first thought after seeing it was that I miss Dale Murphy.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:06 pmi got hit in the head with a bottle and fell off a sign post
October 31st, 2008 at 9:56 pmI got hit with a bottle and fell off a sign post
October 31st, 2008 at 9:56 pmNot everyone will be as classy as the Murph… but a little bit would be nice. Not that I really expect it, but I still get disappointed at a lack of it.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:04 pmYou know, I may be in the minority here, but I think the losingest team in the history of American professional sports ought to get to enjoy being World Fucking Champions.
October 31st, 2008 at 11:34 pmI want Lowe and Burnett, after that I dont care,
November 1st, 2008 at 6:08 amGive me pitching or give me death!
Ohman didn’ t end up as a Type B free agent, so the Braves won’t get any draft picks. Nice work holding onto him at the deadline, Wren.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/10/type-ab-free-ag.html
November 1st, 2008 at 8:27 amFielding Bible results are in:
http://tinyurl.com/5hd24k
The good news: Escobar finished third among SS, Teixeira and Kotchman were 2-3 in 1B.
The bad news: Francoeur tied for 13th among RFs, and KJ was not among the 22 2Bs who received at least one vote. Even Uggla got one.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:44 amoh my god……….a baseball played talked like a real person. in public, no less. its hard to believe that anyone is seriously offended by that. and if they are, as George Carlin would say……….F** ‘em
November 1st, 2008 at 10:07 amHere is an update to a story about Jason Caffey, former Alabama/Chicago Bulls forward:
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=66232&cat=6
Holy crap! 10 kids with 8 different women! I don’t know where I’ve been, because I just heard about this and the original story has apparently been in the news for quite some time.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:24 amRow Tahd!!!
November 1st, 2008 at 10:27 amCan anyone seriously want #25 back in an Atlanta uniform?
His year makes Phrenchy’s look Chipperesque.
Go forward, not backward. THIS year was the grasp at fading glory and look what it got us.
Keep Yunel, KJ, McCann, Jurrgens, and Hanson and build from there.
As much as I’d love Peavy (and I would REALLY love Peavy), you can’t act like the Yankees with a Cardinals payroll and expect success.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:43 am#13–I have a feeling that we will only see Norton back. I would be happy to see the Braves re-sign Ohman–even though I think his main value could be in a trade next season at the trading deadline. In other words, the Braves could sign him to make the trade that they should have made this summer.
I would also be willing to take a chance with Julio….
November 1st, 2008 at 10:44 amConfession time:
1) The first thing I did after Sid’s slide was to run out into the street and yell “World Series, m*****-f*****!!” at the other people who ran out into the street.
2) I watched the Utley clip just having returned from seeing Zack and Miri Make a Porno, which is about as raunchy as it gets.
3) I love George Carlin. Under “Occupation” on unimportant documents I will still occasionally write “Foole”.
All that said, say you’re Chase Utley. You’ve just been introduced by Harry Kalas, a paragon of class. You’re looking out at a large crowd that includes no small number of parents with their kids. And the best you can do, after having a couple of days to think about it, is “World fucking champions”?
Hey, I’m not offended, I’m just judgmental. Most people only get a few chances to show publicly whether or not they possess any class. That’s why I thought of Murph — I’m sorry he never got to make such a speech.
I suppose I should be relieved that at least it wasn’t Jimmy Rollins who said it. The cultural arbiters would have been out en force….
November 1st, 2008 at 12:28 pmWow. I missed that he did that. I don’t really expect these guys to be diplomats, but is too much to ask that they have an ounce of common sense?
November 1st, 2008 at 12:43 pmOf course, that may not even be a bad word amongst Philly phans.
November 1st, 2008 at 12:45 pmVery well said, sansho.
November 1st, 2008 at 12:57 pmbarrycuda… it’s not taking offense, it’s being disappointed. If I were there with my son, I’d be even more so. I don’t think it’s ridiculous to expect a little bit of decency and civility in public. It just doesn’t happen anymore. Again, disappointing.
November 1st, 2008 at 1:22 pmI don’t think Auburn’s going bowling.
November 1st, 2008 at 2:31 pmWell, I was hoping Georgia would at least take a physical or mental toll on the Gators. We’ll lose by 30+ next week.
November 1st, 2008 at 5:32 pmI turned off the Gator/Dawgs game already.. Just saw the score on SI.com.
If anyone’s watching on TV, can you tell me if the dawgs rushed the field after their first TD again this year?
Muahahaha
November 1st, 2008 at 6:05 pmBraves ZiPS for 2009:
http://tinyurl.com/6z9bgp
Francoeur: .263/.315/.399, 15 homeruns in 609 at-bats. Sounds about right.
November 1st, 2008 at 8:20 pmUSC’s successful strategy vs. Tennessee: Run, run, run, punt, watch Tennessee screw up.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:10 pmBraves14′s updated SEC bowl projections:
Sugar: Florida 12-1
November 1st, 2008 at 9:22 pmFiesta: Alabama 12-1
Capital One: Georgia 10-2
Cotton: LSU 9-3
Outback: USC 8-4
Peach: Ole Miss 7-5
Music City: Vanderbilt 6-6
Liberty: Kentucky 7-5
I think that if Florida wins out, they’ll be in the championship game, and of course if Alabama does they will be.
November 1st, 2008 at 9:41 pmHey, a quick kick!
November 1st, 2008 at 9:42 pmIt would be Penn State and some other undefeated team or Southern Cal probably if Florida beats Alabama.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:17 pmI bet we get to 7-5. 8-4 is still a real possibility if our kicker regains his early-season form. In our last 3 games (UK, UT, Wake), 20 points probably wins the game.
NOTE: I won’t be shocked if we finish 5-7. The point is that we have a very favorable schedule after hosting UF next week.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:21 pmA 1-loss Florida team would certainly play for the championship unless both Penn State and the winner of this game in Lubbock stay undefeated.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:23 pmI’ve got Vandy beating Tennessee to get to 6 wins. Two others are certainly winnable, but I’ve got Kentucky and Wake winning them right now.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:25 pmI dunno. Southern Cal’s basically blowing out everyone on their schedule after that early season loss, and they’re higher than Florida at the moment.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:26 pmMy guess is we beat Wake and split against the SEC schools.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:26 pmI think the SEC has earned the benefit of the doubt in the close calls. Besides, UF would have to go through Bama, which would certainly provide enough justification to jump USC, who doesn’t play anybody from here on out.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:31 pmThat’s a good point. If Alabama wins out though, then all these hypotheticals are out the window.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:34 pmOh. My. God.
November 1st, 2008 at 10:48 pmWow
November 1st, 2008 at 10:55 pmWow. What a day of college football. That Texas-Texas Tech game was incredible. Oh, and the Gators didn’t fare too poorly either. Too bad FSU lost; we could use the out-of-conference strength of schedule points that Pac-10 fans cling so closely to.
November 1st, 2008 at 11:09 pmTexas Tech–Texas will long be remembered. For whatever reason the TV package we have here has had 3 Texas Tech games–they are the real deal.
I would rather see Alabama or Florida play Texas Tech for the national title than have play Penn State. Now, it would be fun to see the SEC thrash the Big Ten for the national title for the third straight year, but if Texas Tech goes unbeaten they will certainly deserve to be there.
Penn State’s schedule is very soft by comparision….
November 1st, 2008 at 11:43 pmHeh, Stephen. Me and a friend were literally talking about what you were just saying. Penn State may not deserve to be in there if they win out, but Texas Tech definitely does.
It’s gonna get really complicated. If Alabama or Florida win out, I’d be inclined to say that they deserve to be in the championship. But what about Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Penn State, etc.? Who gets in? Texas has beaten Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Missouri. Are you going to tell a one-loss Texas that they don’t get in, but a one-loss Florida does, in a down-year SEC? Of course, Texas Tech still has to play Oklahoma and OK State, so this argument may be shifting dramatically.
I’d hate to be one of the voters this year.
November 1st, 2008 at 11:49 pmYeah–the Big 12 is a great football conference–and especially this year. A showdown between the best of the SEC and the Big 12 should get the job done–but as you suggest it may never happen.
Let me add that USC (its not their fault that UCLA and Notre Dame suck this year) plays an even softer schedule than Penn State. My nightmare is Penn State playing USC for the national title….
November 1st, 2008 at 11:58 pm@66, Must have missed this one:
USC 17
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:52 amArizona 10
———–
October 25, 2008
The BCS is in for another season of controversy. Some things are like clockwork.
November 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 amThe problem with the whole situation is that the BCS just crumbles when there are several REALLY good teams. When the BCS was created, did they really think that every year you’d have two teams that were head-and-shoulders better than the rest of college football? Based on history, that was a really naive idea to have.
I realize that this will actually get a bit simpler, since Texas Tech plays OK and OK State, so one of those already one-loss teams are going to get knocked out of the equation, or Texas Tech won’t be undefeated. Shoot, if Penn States gets upset somehow, and Florida beats Alabama, then you’ve got a big mess on your hands: 5 or 6 one-loss teams from legit conferences with legit schedules. Yikes.
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:35 amIf either Alabama or Florida run out, they ought to play in he title game. They can’t both run out.
IF neither runs out, then we’re in for some major controversey this year.
If Texas Tech runs out, they deserve to be in as they will have beaten some excellent teams to remain undefeated. I would rank Texas Tech #2 behind Bama and ahead of Penn State right now if I were doing the polls. I subscribe to the “who have you beaten” theory of ranking teams with identical records, and among the undefeateds, Bama and Texas Tech have the best wins.
Some interesting things to consider.
*Texas cannot even play the Big Twelve title game now unless Texas Tech loses twice.
*Oklahoma can only make the title game if they beat Texas Tech and if Texas loses another game.
*Florida’s resume now looks better than Oklahoma’s, pending OU playing games against TT and OSU.
*Florida is all but guarunteed a spot in the SEC title game
*If LSU beats Bama, LSU would be in the drivers seat to play Florida in that title game, and one loss Bama would not be able to win the SEC title unless Troy, Mississippi, or Arkansas knocked off LSU. Both LSU’s losses came to the SEC East.
*If Oregon State runs the table, USC does not win it’s conference.
*If Penn State runs the table, it wins its conference.
I know a lot of people think any team that plays for the National title should have to win it’s conference. Right now though many of the one loss teams are in position to fall short of conference titles, which might have a big impact on who gets in.
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:38 amIf either Alabama or Florida run out, they ought to play in he title game. They can’t both run out.
IF neither runs out, then we’re in for some major controversey this year.
If Texas Tech runs out, they deserve to be in as they will have beaten some excellent teams to remain undefeated. I would rank Texas Tech #2 behind Bama and ahead of Penn State right now if I were doing the polls. I subscribe to the “who have you beaten” theory of ranking teams with identical records, and among the undefeateds, Bama and Texas Tech have the best wins.
Some interesting things to consider.
*Texas cannot even play the Big Twelve title game now unless Texas Tech loses twice.
*Oklahoma can only make the title game if they beat Texas Tech and if Texas loses another game.
*Florida’s resume now looks better than Oklahoma’s, pending OU playing games against TT and OSU.
*Florida is all but guarunteed a spot in the SEC title game
*If LSU beats Bama, LSU would be in the drivers seat to play Florida in that title game, and one loss Bama would not be able to win the SEC title unless Troy, Mississippi, or Arkansas knocked off LSU. Both LSU’s losses came to the SEC East.
*If Oregon State runs the table, USC does not win it’s conference.
*If Penn State runs the table, it wins its conference.
I know a lot of people think any team that plays for the National title should have to win it’s conference. Right now though many of the one loss teams are in position to fall short of conference titles, which might have a big impact on who gets in.
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:39 am#79–Thanks for showing us some of the less obvious wrinkles. All of this is one more reason to be happy about upsets….
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:10 pmAlabama’s #1 in the coaches’ poll. I do believe this is the first time the Tide has been #1 during the season since Coach Bryant was running the team.
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm*Florida is all but guarunteed a spot in the SEC title game
They control their own destiny, but if they blow it against Vanderbilt, it could get really interesting. At that point, you’d have a 3-way tie atop the East.
*If LSU beats Bama, LSU would be in the drivers seat to play Florida in that title game, and one loss Bama would not be able to win the SEC title unless Troy, Mississippi, or Arkansas knocked off LSU. Both LSU’s losses came to the SEC East.
No. LSU would have to beat Bama, and Bama would have to lose again—is Auburn their only other remaining conference game?—for LSU to win the West. Total conference record is the primary factor.
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:24 pmAlabama has games left with MSU and Auburn; if they win those, they win the West even if they lose to LSU.
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:40 pmWhich I don’t think they will.
November 2nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm@82
Thanks, Stu. I thought all SEC games counted towards your conference record.
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:07 pmi can hear Saban cursing his luck because theres no Arkansas Tech to put on the schedule.
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:10 pmAlabama 1, TTech 2, PSU 3 in the AP.
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pmThat’s about right. I think Texas Tech belongs at #2 more than Penn State does.
November 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pmI was not aware that all SEC games counted, I thought just the West/East ones for respective spots in the champ game. Sorry for screwing it up and thanks for clearing it up.
That gives Bama a much more likely shot at the title game.
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:46 pmI’d like to see the BCS National Championship Game be a rematch of the 2005 Cotton Bowl. Bama 13-Texas Tech 10.
November 2nd, 2008 at 3:16 pmI think TT beats Bama this year
November 2nd, 2008 at 4:04 pmThat offense is good, but Nick Saban with five weeks to prepare?
November 2nd, 2008 at 4:38 pmi’ve watched TT play 3 games now and its hard to imagine anyone shutting them down. and the five weeks works both ways. i’ve got no love for the big 12, but i really think they might have the best 3 teams in the country.
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:48 pmSee above on the Cotton Bowl, and Joe Kines with five weeks to prepare. If anyone can shut Tech down, it’s Alabama.
November 2nd, 2008 at 7:48 pmSo, worse team relative to their level of football: Tennessee or the Oakland Raiders?
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 pm77 yards? I’d have to go with Tennessee as the superior team on this one.
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:26 pmMeanwhile Tennessee-NFL has a five game lead in its division. They might clinch more quickly than the Patriots did last year.
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:31 pmI’m pretty sure this game wasn’t on anywhere but here in Atlanta, so I don’t know how many people saw it, but not only did the Raiders have 77 total yards for the game, they had -2 total yards at the half. That’s minus-2, just to confirm that the dash wasn’t a typo. And while you let that sink in, they had three first downs the whole game. They had zero first downs in the first half to the Falcons’ 20. And at the end of the first half, they had had possession of the ball for five minutes total. The Falcons had possession for 45 minutes over the whole game.
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:37 pmIt’s only a 5-game lead if the Colts lose tonight, Mac.
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 pmSome coaches are just historically much better compared to the rest when they’re given time to prepare. Urban Meyer had won 18 straight dating back to his Utah days when he had more than a week to prepare. Michigan snapped that last year. We hung 63 on Kentucky after having two weeks to prepare. That’s not saying much, but we also had just beat LSU pretty bad.
Looking at our schedule, we’ve had it pretty easy this year. We only play 3 currently ranked teams during the regular season. Usually we get a ranked Tennesee and some combination of the usually ranked Auburn or Arkansas.
I’ve been unfortunately arguing with a fellow SEC homer friend of mine that the SEC is simply not that good this year. I think the Big 12 is loaded.
November 2nd, 2008 at 11:47 pmI don’t think the Big 12 plays defense. Though I can’t disagree that the SEC is down.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:29 amThe Big 12 probably does not play defense like the SEC, but when I have been able to watch Texas Tech I have been impressed. They have some serious hitters….
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:50 amI vote for Muschamp for Leach to coach the Vols next year
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:04 amCan we really say that the SEC plays defense the way UF (and UGA for that matter) have been shredding people lately?
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 amI don’t think you can. The SEC hasn’t shown much in the way of defense this year. Of course some teams do have really good defenses, but on the whole it hasn’t been up to the level the SEC usually plays. A lot of that is LSU’s fault though as they usually have one of the most devastating defenses and this year they are more ordinary.
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:42 amAnnual BCS question: Who’s going to get screwed this year?
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:52 amFulmer on his way out:
http://tinyurl.com/559lcf
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:03 amMike Leach is NOT, i repeat, NOT going to go to Tennessee.
The guy’s from Susanville, California and has NO CONNECTION whatsoever to SEC football. Now, they might WANT to throw 7 million a year at him and, well, that would be tough to say no to, but it’s going to take him a few years to get things in place. By that time, the Boosters in Knoxville will want his head. Only place I could see him going is to USC when/if Carroll goes Pro or OU when Stoops wants a big payday in the pros (he was an assistant there).
I mean, they’re giving Fat Phil a hard time for 2 losing seasons (when many of his recruits are not panning out recently). What will happen if Leach’s offense scores 30 points a game but his defense gives up 50?
Muschamp is a pretty viable option. However, he’s got a defensive pedigree and has no D1 head coaching experience. Let him get his feet wet at a smaller place before you throw him in the lion’s den that is Tennessee football.
Todd Graham at Tulsa is a name that Vol fans should get to know REAL well.
As for Pinkel, keep dreaming, Vol faithful. He’s got more UW connections that you could possibly imagine.
If I were a Vol Booster, I’d go HARD after Mark Mangino.
ps–Penn St’s gonna get SCREWED this year.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:06 amWell, Leach lobbied for the Alabama job before Saban took it. Tennessee isn’t Alabama, of course, but he’s also campaigned for the Miami position.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 amThe guy’s from Susanville, California and has NO CONNECTION whatsoever to SEC football.
You mean other than his years spent as Kentucky’s OC under Hal Mumme?
Graham (Tulsa) and Peterson (Boise State) are the two names I’m hearing most, but I think Edsall at UConn has a very good chance of being the next UT coach, given the UT President’s relationship with him from his time there.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 amIf I were a Vol Booster, I’d go HARD after Mark Mangino.
Not a bad idea—they wouldn’t even have to buy new clothes for the HC.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 amBut obviously they should hire the one person who has the physical presence everyone in Knoxville respects: Pat Summitt.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:14 amIf only she’d gone back to her maiden name after the divorce, we could (legitimately) refer to that basketball court as The Head.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:17 amI don’t think anyone in college is playing defense these days because the spread offenses are so far ahead of the defenses. It reminds me of when Texas introduced the Wishbone back in the sixties (yes, I do remember the sixties) and they (and others) were just rolling over teams for several years. IN fact, Tennessee played Texas in the Cotton Bowl and got killed. It’s probably going to take a while for teams to figure out these offenses. I do wonder how many of the QBs putting up the big numbers are really NFL material and how many are just system guys. It seems as if Stafford is a big-time NFL prospect but I don’t know about the others.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 amDoes Fulmer retire from coaching?
Hopefully, Tajh Boyd – who just committed, Je’Ron Stokes, Jerod Askew, Marlon Walls, D.J. Hunter, and David Oku all decommit and go to Michigan instead.
Especially Askew and Walls. We need linebackers like Mary-Kate needs a sandwich.
And on an unrelated note…Allen Iverson to the Pistons for Billups and McDyess. Why? Stupid Pistons, I loved Billups
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:03 pmFulmer is gone.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3679810
I heard he met with his lawyer a week or two ago to go over the buyout language in his contract.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:04 pmMaybe the Pistons go (Incredibly-) Small-Ball?
Stuckey, Iverson, Hamilton, Prince, Wallace?
That team would at least score. If they’re just going to insert Iverson at PG, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:15 pmMLBTR has the Braves as intersted in Tavares from Colorado.
Initial response:
“Why?”
then
“God no”
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:29 pmI think Amir Johnson is starting for Detroit annd McDyess was coming off the bench. Stuckey was supposed to keep Rip and Billups’ minutes down this year.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:38 pmI like Chauncey too. He’s owed $39 million over the next couple of years, Iverson $20some (this season). Apparently they think Iverson is the answer (no pun intended) in the pursuit of another title… plus it gives them a little more flexibility to build around Stuckey in the future.
Do I think it’ll work? Probably not this season. But I’m just guessing that’s how they see it.
Too bad Amir Johnson can’t stay on the court any longer than a few minutes without fouling out… he was going to be my fantasy sleeper.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:58 pmStu 111 — had me laughing at my desk.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:58 pmApparently Stephen A. Smith is seeing it that way too (120), with emphasis on Billups being a better fit in Denver than Iverson because he’s a natural 1. That makes sense to me. Wow, Stephen A. making sense to me…
Even though it’s always seemed Denver was just trying to outscore opponents. Is a scoring machine a better fit or a more natural distributor that can score? Dunno.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:06 pmI don’t think a lot of guys will decommit from UT. If you are a QB, you could start next season.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:08 pmThe odd thing is that both Billups and McDyess are former Nuggets. Actually, this is Antonio’s third stint with the team while Billups went to Colorado.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm@108 – Doesn’t Penn State have a number of undefeated season in which they did not win the NCAA title?
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 pmYes, because they were playing joke schedules full of many fine football programs from New England and New York state.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:49 pmPersonally, I think Penn State is going to the Championship game. They don’t seem to have a real challenge left on their schedule. The same cannot be said for the Red Raiders or the Crimson Tide. I think it is pretty likely that at least one of those teams loses a games and quite possibly both.
To me, the team most likely to get screwed is a (or several) one-loss team(s).
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:54 pmJust heard from a college buddy living in detroit. McDyess will be waived and will try to resign with the Pistons.
Don’t know if the Fuhrer Stern will allow it though.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:57 pmKnow what would kick ass? UF winning out, Texas Tech losing one, and an SEC team smoaking a Big 10 team for the national title again.
The best part is, everyone from the Big 12 to the Pac 10 would be pissed because of how clearly stronger their conferences were than the Big 10 despite their lack of national title representation.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:07 pmI think they actually do, but PSU used to be an independent. They haven’t been undefeated since joining the Big Ten. Both remaining big time undefeateds deserve it over PSU though based on who they’ve beaten.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:13 pmIF Joe Pa were to make it to the title game… what are the chances that he’d be on the field instead of in the booth?
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:13 pmHow much stronger is the Pac 10 than the Big 10?
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:14 pmThey haven’t been undefeated since joining the Big Ten.
They were in the Big Ten in ’94 when Kerry Collins, Ki-Jana Carter, Bobby Engram and Kyle Brady played Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
(I was, for some reason, a PSU fan back then.)
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:26 pmMLBTR lists the Braves as one of the suitors for Willy Taveras. What a dumb move–Taveras is worse than the two mediocrities–Blanco and Anderson–that the Braves have available to play CF. Why trade for a guy who had a 56 OPS+ last year? Even La Machine d’ Outs had a 72.
Sorry if someone has already commented on this rumor–I don’t have time at the moment to scroll through all 132 comments.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:27 pmYeah, that year both #1 Nebraska and #2 PSU were undefeated but one loss Miami ended up playing Nebraska in the bowl game.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:30 pmWe already have 2 Willy Taveras clones. Getting another would be retarded.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:30 pmTavares is worse than the two we have. He doesn’t walk, so he’s worse than Blanco, and he has no power, so he’s worse than Anderson.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:33 pmHell, I’m not convinced he’s better than Lillibridge. If we acquire Willy Taveras, we should just trade Jordan Schafer, because he’s clearly too good to play in Atlanta.
November 3rd, 2008 at 2:56 pmWhat is the combined OBP of a hitting order that could possibly feature Willy Taveras, Jeff Francoeur, Casey Kotchman, Khalil Green and the pitcher?
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm139–I dunno, but there’s a good chance the pitcher would have the highest obp of the 5
Never say never, but count me among those against trading Escobar for Peavy. There’s no obvious replacement. Although I’m a KJ fan, trading him would make more sense with Marvelous Martin Prado waiting in the wings.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:17 pmthis Fat Phil situation is making ALOT of us UNC fans mighty nervous.
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:20 pmWho starts these rumors?
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:26 pmHe’s not going to eat Rameses, is he, chris???
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:26 pm…Marvelous Martin Prado waiting in the wings.
If a player like Prado counts as “waiting in the wings”, couldn’t the same be said of Lillibridge or Infante?
I like the Escobar for Peavy thing. The Padres probably wouldn’t do it for Kelly Johnson and giving up Escobar is likely better than Hanson or Heyward.
2010: Peavy, Hudson, Hanson, Jurrjens…
Here is the rumor today from MLBTradeRumors:
“12:08pm: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says Towers still considers the Braves the best match for a Peavy trade. Cafardo says the Braves appear willing to trade shortstop Yunel Escobar. He adds that the Red Sox haven’t been ruled out but they’re far down the list.”
http://tinyurl.com/5c3uvz
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:27 pmI just loath the idea of losing escobar, he’s one of the bright spots on this team looking to the future, especially since we have legitimate prospects at short “waiting in the wings.” The only way that works is if we go out and sing Edgar Renteria, Rafael Furcal (out of our price range) or Cesar Izturis who can’t hit a lick but plays good defense.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:03 pmI suspect the Braves look at Omar Infante as a long-term possibility at short.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:12 pmJust got back from Miami Beach, where I had a wonderful time—save about 3+ hours on Saturday afternoon. (Looks like we’ll get a chance to extend our bowl streak vs. the Big 10!)
So I’m in a nightclub late Friday night. It’s semi-work-related, so I’m chilling in the VIP area near the DJ booth. And who walks into the area with his crew? None other than Andruw Jones.
Most folks didn’t seem to recognize him. It was Halloween & people were in costumes that ranged from generic bimbowear to Clockwork Orange outfits—just a zoo. Everyone’s attention was elsewhere.
But Andruw was sporting a spiffy black hat, was in jeans & looked very much in shape. Did not look corpulent at all. And he didn’t drop any cocktails, so his hand-eye coordination seemed fine.
In clubs or wherever, I never bother celebs. But after 2 or 3 beers, I figured, “Oh, why not? On my way back from the bathroom, I’ll just ask him how he’s feeling, offer brief pleasantries and say, ‘Thank you,’ in Dutch.” Perfect.
Of course, that was the time that he & his crew cut out after hanging for about 90 minutes. Just as well, I suppose. His bodyguard probably would’ve mangled me like a paperclip.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:17 pmfascinating ububba… especially in light of the “he wants to come back to Atlanta” thing on mlbtraderumors and all the comments referring to how much of an overweight bum he was (for the record I always liked andruw, and still do, though I think both parties made the right decision at the time of separation… but if he’s willing to come back in 2010 at a nice hometown discount AFTER showing he can hit again in 2009… I’d be OK with him taking up a roster spot).
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:53 pmjust going through DOB’s blog and have some interesting things from him today…
3:42..I’ll check into the Willy Tavares rumor. It’s really not far-fetched, if Braves want to get a leadoff guy because they don’t believe have one right now or aren’t comfortable with the limited experience of the ones they have. This would not be the “power-hitting OF” they’re seeking folks, so relax on that. This would be another piece, if there’s anything to it. I’ll check after I get over there…
5:49..Braves are NOT going to trade Hanson. Period….Don’t believe everything you read. I’m told Braves aren’t one of the teams interested in Willy Tavares.
5:51..By the way, figure I’m hearing for A.J. is four years and about $18 mill per. For Lowe, maybe three years at $16 mill per.
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:19 pmI did finally get my Sabermetric Encyclopedia, but I still don’t have time to write at length. Anyway, worst slugging percentages, Atlanta Braves outfielders, 1991-2008 (Min. 300 PA):
SLG YEAR SLG
1 Gregor Blanco 2008 .309
2 Otis Nixon 1993 .315
3 Otis Nixon 1991 .327
4 Otis Nixon 1992 .346
5 Jeff Francoeur 2008 .359
6 Marquis Grissom 1995 .376
7 Ryan Langerhans 2006 .378
8 Willie Harris 2007 .392
9 Lonnie Smith 1991 .394
10 Kelly Johnson 2005 .397
Kotsay was 18th. Blanco’s is actually the worst since 1978 (the immortal Barry Bonnell) and the second-worst since 1969.
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:57 pmBarry Bonnell induces an immediate chuckle. At least we got Chris Chambliss for him…
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:09 pmThe Barry Bonnell mention comes at a perfect time for me. I am actually sitting in a burger joint listening to Steve Martin sing “King Tut.”
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 pmYou bring your laptop to burger joints? Sweet.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 pmWorst on-base percentages, Atlanta Braves outfielders, 1991-2008 (Min. 300 PA):
1 Jeff Francoeur 0.293 2006
2 Jeff Francoeur 0.294 2008
3 Reggie Sanders 0.302 2000
4 Jermaine Dye 0.304 1996
5 Andruw Jones 0.311 2007
6 Andruw Jones 0.312 2001
7 Marquis Grissom 0.317 1995
8 Brian Jordan 0.320 2000
9 B.J. Surhoff 0.321 2001
10 Andruw Jones 0.321 1998
Kotsay was 21st. Francoeur’s is, naturally, the worst since the aforementioned Barry Bonnell in 1978. Funny how these things work, ain’t it?
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 pmI can remember when Barry Bonnell had the chance to be ‘the next Joe DiMaggio’….
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:49 pmI can see us going after Oliver Perez this winter if only for the fact he gives us a left handed pitcher in a league with Utley, Howard and numerous switch hitters.
Can’t see Bobby being too wild about his walks though.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:18 amWhen I see Blanco’s stats, they do remind me of Otis a lot.
Please, no Oliver Perez…please no…
November 4th, 2008 at 2:45 amBlanco proved to be a better player than many of us expected, but he has yet to became the threat on the basepaths that Otis was. Nonetheless, Blanco had a solid rookie season….
November 4th, 2008 at 3:50 amI second the motion by kc… PLEASE no Oliver Perez. He gives us and the Yankees fits, and otherwise the only ones he consistently gives fits to is the fans of the team he’s playing on (when it’s the Mets it’s funny, if it’s us I’ll be less amused).
A bit depressed by the word from Boras that Maddux is leaning toward retirement. While he’s not the dominant Maddux of old.. he actually had an arguably better line than Randy Wolf and Bronson Arroyo, who wouldn’t be bad in the 4 spot of a rotation. Granted, I fully respect the mans decision to spend the time with his family… the kids are only young for a while, and he’s made his money, and if the only viable teams for him (due to desire to be close to family/home) are ones that suck it’s probably much less fun to go out and play. I’d just like to see him get another 8+ wins and tie or pass Spahn on the wins list. (of course I’d like Glavine to get another 6 and tie Seaver on the list too, but signing him seems more of a gamble for a team than signing Maddux would… if he would sign somewhere). Of course it would be tough to have a better “go out at the top of your game” final start than the one Maddux had in September where he went 6 innings on 47 pitches and gave up no runs…
November 4th, 2008 at 7:04 amNew thread, though I see AAR has already posted one element…
November 4th, 2008 at 8:15 am