Butter Parque

I think both Illinois and Duke are similar to what they were last season. I think both teams have grown to be better teams. Most say that Duke has less talent this season, and that's probably true, but I think they have more chemistry this year, I guess because now they've been playing with each other for 3 years. Illinois has grown a lot since last season when they lost in the Sweet 16, to I forgot who? , Anyway I think Augustine, Deron Williams, Head, and Dee brown are all very good players, but I still think Duke has the edge because of coaching. I think the depth on each team is very similar as well. Right now, Illinois deserves to be #1, they probably won't stay there but they still will be a team to be reckoned with. I don't believe that you can judge each team by their conference records because obviously there is no comaparison between the ACC and the Big Ten. Right now if the two played each other and Duke didn't have Shav: You guys would win in your house (depending on whether Redick is hot) I think Duke might be able to win at Cameron With Shav I think Duke would be able to win a little easier but you guys could probably sneak out a win at home. Like I said, the coaching is a huge factor.

There are a few things that EA needs to fix before I'm sold on this one: 1) The fans and the grass NEED to look much more realistic then they did last season. I wasn't happy with those specific graphics for the 50 bucks I payed for it. 2) I think the gameplay wasn't as realistic as it could have been. Some of the stuff just lokked like it was Slugfest or something. I mean the home-runs were totally annoying too. Maggs had I think 90 something. 3)The Franchise mode w/ the minors totally sucked and was poorly planned out. 4)Obviously the lefty glitch. Probable White Sox in the game: C- Burke Davis 1B- Konerko Gload 2B- Harris Valdez SS- Uribe 3B- Crede LF- Podesednik Escobar CF- Rowand Perez RF- Dye Everett DH- Thomas SP- Buehrle Garcia Contreras Hernandez Garland Diaz Stewart RP- Shingo Marte Politte Adkins Cotts Hermanson Vizqaino Baj Munoz Walker (Maybe)

While there is a ton of well desrved respect for Coach K, I don't believ the whole program gets the respect it deserves year in and year out. In Pre-Season Rankings, Duke has been picked 4th or 5th in the strong ACC and now heading into ACC play, guess who's the only team undefeated? Yep, it's Duke. Granted the non-conference schedule hasn't been tough outside of Mich St. and Oklahoma, but Duke has faced two imminent tournament teams in Toledo and Illinois-Chicago. In ACC play, I only see them losing twice. I think they'll split with G.Tech and Wake. If they play their game, they should be able to sweep UNC. Everyone says that Duke is not as deep as years past, but I don't see a difference. They have role players now off the bench that do the little things that can win them games. Freshman David McClure is able to play solid defense and can get the tough rebound. DeMarcus Nelson is an explosive scorer and plays much stronger then his size. Lee Melcionni plays great defense and is a sniper from beyond the arc. The biggest addition has to be the return of Reggie Love though. He's solid with his toughness and can rebound very well. Granted the loss of Shavlik Randolph really hurts our depleted front-court but he'll be back in a month and you have to have faith in Coach K to keep plugging away and winning. One thing no one looks at is the fact that JJ Redick was terrible last season and completely wore down in the tournament last season. This year he's lost weight and his shot lokks to be back from 2 years ago. Daniel Ewing's game is more refined and he's made the clutch baskets that Duhon did last year. Of Course Willimas is domiant down low and Sean Dockery has developed a perimeter shot. I just don't see why there ranked behing UNC who has already lost a game! It doesn't make sense and I predict at the end of the season they'll win the ACC and be a #1 seed again. Right now they can play with anyone in the country and win, that includes Illinois!

I voted for Min. Santana and Radke are just too much but I love the Dukie signing.

YES!!!

How the hell did you find out that Mack was a sox fan?

See, I post a Fire KW thread a few weeks ago, and everybody is all over me, now he tries to pull a trade like this and now everybody is all over him, I really hate to say it, but I told you so. KW, if you make this trade :fyou KW

wait, I thought the deal was confirmed; I'm so confused!!!

No, I believe that Ozzie will have to have a 7-man bullpen, simply because so far, I don't see how any of them could lose their jobs. Cotts was great against lefties and gave us a ton of quality innings, and Adkins might have been the biggest surprise of the year for the Chisox.

You could probably easily lock him up if you guarantee a 4th year because I don't think any of our competiters will match that. It's too risky though because Matt Clemet is very inconsistent. The thing I like about Clement is the fact that he's a groundball pitcher who strikes people out and has electric stuff. He would fit in perfectly as our 3rd starter. If he comes in, then there is, I think a lot of pressure on Jose Contreras, if he fails like he did with the Yankees, then we could be in some trouble. It's the same with Freddy Garcia. You already know what you're going to get out of Buehrle and Jon Garland.

I said no for some reason but I would love the signing of Clement as our 3rd starter. If we were able to claim Pierzynski, then the offseason would be an unbelievable success. I think we would be serious World Series contenders.

I don't see why KW is even considering trading for RJ now. With his trade a couple of days ago, it made it easier on himself to build a better team. Now he only has 2 holes, a starter and a catcher. Coinsidence: There is Odalis Perez/Matt Clement/Eric Milton and AJ Pierzynski in the FA market. Now if AJ and one of those pitchers was signed, we will definitely win the division and maybe go to the world series. What' complicated about that?

I think it's more likely that the Sox pick up Pierzynsi first and then sign a picher. Probably Odalis Perez. What an offseason we would have!!!!

Love Milton for the right price, but he's asking for way too much. Mark it down, he'll be a Yankee within 2 weeks. Why do you think he kept the tatoo?

With about 6 million on the payroll open now, could KW be able to sign AJ Pierzynski and either Clement or O. Perez. You could trade Konerko if you want to clear more payroll but it might be easier to sign a pitcher instead. Imagine: Podesednik-CF Rowand-LF Konerko-1B Thomas-DH Dye-RF Pierzynski-C Uribe-SS Crede-3B Harris-2B Bench: Gload-1B Perez-OF Burke-C Valdez-IF Buehrle Garcia Clement/Perez Contreras Garland Bullpen: Cotts Adkins Politte Vizcaino Hermanson Marte Takatsu There would have to be room for Evertett and I still don't know what they'll with him, but it would be a sick team.

I love the trade because Podsednik should be fine in the AL and you know he's going to steal at least 40 bases. I LOVE the bullpen addtion and think it's now absolutely solid and just think, Adkins and Cotts are only going to get better and better. I also want to know if anyone thinks KW's done dealing. I still would like them to give up Konerko and a prospect to SF for Pierzynski and Jerome Williams, then the offseason would get an A. Imagine a team like this Lineup: Podsednik- LF Rowand- CF Thomas- DH Dye- RF Crede- 3B Pierzynski- C Gload- 1B Uribe- SS Harris- 2B Bench: Timo Perez Alex Escobar Wilson Valdez Burke Starting Rotation: Buehrle Garcia Contreras Williams Garland Bullpen: Cotts Adkins Hermanson Vizcaino Politte Marte Takatsu I don't know what you would do with Davis, the lineup is weak, but it's good defensively, with speed at the top and bottom of the lineup, and some good contact hitters. The rotation is solid and the best in the division and the bullpen is the strong point and should carry us to a division title. I'll miss you Caballo, good luck in Milwaukee!!!

Yeah, thats what I thought but Gammons said that they would trade both Garland and Konerko and I'm trying to figure out how this makes us better.

That's not fair, this exact trade has been talked about all over these boards and other outside media outlets.

I don't get it, I was listening to Mike and the Maddog this afternoon and they had Peter Gammons on, he was talking about the 3 way trade with RJ and how we would get Vasquez. Now I like Javy and think he would be a good picher for us, but then what. Gammons said we would send Konerko and Garland to Arizona. If we get Vasquez, then it seems hard to believe that KW would get another starter in the FA market. Then we would still have an empty spot at the 5th starter position. For some reason that idiot KW seems to love Jason Grilli, I think everyone will agree that he totally sucks, so won't we still have a problem. How much better will we be with Vasqez here and Konerko and Garland gone?

You would think I'd call Eric Milton Right? Wrong!!! I choose Octavio Dotel

Yeah, but most people who were living at that time to see the title are dead now. At least in 1917 against the Giants, the older folks can still remember it.

Love th signing, I was thinking 3.5 million per year but who cares, if healthy, Jermain Dye would light the cell on fire!!!

Maybe they should try and get some pitching to go along with RJ instead of over-paying for overrated players.

I never like to really count the 1906 one, because most of our grandfather's weren't even born yet and I don't think a player is really concerned that we one it back then either.

Understandable? I don't think your understanding something, we're not the professionals, KW is the GM, so who cares what we think of the trade. We don't know what he knows, but I know one thing, most of his trades suck and they don't work out, so who cares if they're understandable, again I'll say it, ITS THE RESULTS THAT MATTER!!!