ZoomSlowik

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 1, 2016 -> 02:14 PM) I don't understand how your keepers is an entire roster but you still say there will be top 20 pitching talent. I don't know that there will be, those are two independent thoughts. That said, in every keeper league I've been in, someone gets thrown back that is decent. Perhaps someone wasn't happy with the price to keep someone like Wainwright, Felix or Tanaka. Even if they didn't, there should be SOMEONE that can help because there are more than 50 useful pitchers (especially with relievers).

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Mar 1, 2016 -> 01:33 PM) I agree, but my philosophy is that a better offense is more key than better pitching in my fantasy league. I finished 3rd last year with Verlander, Richards, Carrasco, McCullers, and Stroman as my starters. And those starters are probably why you finished 3rd instead of first (and the Stanton injury). If you're starting from scratch, you should spend at least 2/3 of your budget on offense. You're not though. You already have a great offense with no glaring holes.You can easily splurge on whomever the best available pitcher is and then focus on lottery tickets. Even if you don't keep that guy long-term it makes sense.

You should really grab another high-end starter, especially given the strength of your offense. Especially in a 10 team league, you should probably invest in two top-20 starters and mix-and-match the rest. If Martinez/McCullers are your 3/4 guys, you have a good shot at winning the league (I wouldn't trust Rodon to be better than them yet).

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 05:38 PM) So since my last post, I traded Eduardo Escobar and a draft pick for Kole Calhoun, drafted Ian Happ, Trent Clark, and Renato Nunez, and picked up Brad Miller from free agency. Here is my team as it sits now. C - Posey/Vogt 1B - Encarnacion/Vogt/Bell 2B - Pedroia/Lawrie/Happ SS - Russell/Miller/Swanson/Bregman 3B - Seager/Lawrie/Nunez OF - Kemp/Pence/Inciarte/Piscotty/Yelich/Calhoun/Miller/Winker/Happ/Clark SP - Sale/Price/Bumgarner/Hamels/Tanaka/Quintana/Chen/Finnegan/Norris RP - Papelbon/Ramos/Street/Perkins/Tolleson Thoughts? For this season, your team is in pretty good shape. I assume you have the best pitching by a wide margin and your offense is good enough. One thing I'd look into is trying to turn some of your outfield depth into a stud at the position. You've got 6 useable OF, I can't imagine you can use all of them. I would try to package two of them or maybe one OF and one of Hamels/Tanaka/Quintana to get a stud. I would personally try to hang on to Pence and Yelich and try to snag a high-upside guy that isn't quite at potential yet (Springer would be my top target, also consider guys like Buxton, Conforto, Pederson or some of the top prospects). Obviously you have to shoot for a higher caliber option if you give up one of the starters. Long term, I would continue to work on your offense. Encarnacion is still a stud now, but that may not last much longer. Posey could be an issue too as catchers tend to have a shorter shelf life and he may eventually shift to 1B (not a major issue yet). You've got a few high-upside options at SS, so that could give you some serious ammo in a year or two (I wouldn't do anything yet, wait to see which ones hit).

Definitely a grilled polish or brat at #1. The smell of the onions and sausages grilling hits me the second I walk into the concourse. #2 would probably be a liquid snack at Beers of the Midwest (I'll try not to go on a craft beer rant). #3 would probably be a brisket sandwich from down the 3rd base line, though I haven't had one in a while.

It's probably a little early for this thread to get a ton of activity. I joined a really active/fun 12-team 8x8 league (standard plus walks, K's and OPS for hitters and L, QS, K/BB for pitchers) and we don't even pick our divisions/draft order for another month.

Your pitching is elite, but your offense can be better. Other than EE and Posey, it's a lot of "meh" guys. I would try to get a high-upside outfielder. That seems like the easiest place to make a big difference. It's also a potential sore spot since Kemp is a wildcard and Eaton may not put up the same caliber of fantasy stats. I wouldn't invest too much in pitching going forward. You already have 3 studs and a couple other solid guys. Eventually, you run into diminishing returns. It's also generally a good idea to invest heavily in hitting because it's harder to find impact bats in FA and you don't get as many crippling arm injuries. It's hard to say what to do in the draft without knowing what players are eligible. Even if it's just players that have never been in the majors, there should be better options to contribute this season.

This reminds me of a line from a King of the Hill episode. "That motion is denied, Mr. Hill. ... Now on to more important matters: My motion to add "fatty fatty boom-balatty" to the list of unacceptable hate speech."

Random list off the top of my head in no particular order... Major League The Hustler Rounders The Matrix (original only) Indiana Jones series South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut Grumpy Old Men Gladiator Die Hard The Sandlot Snatch

It's a terrible rule, at least the way it's written. It shouldn't be an automatic ejection and it shouldn't be a penalty if it's not to the head.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Dec 10, 2015 -> 02:00 PM) Why does it matter? The changing of that little detail did nothing to alter the tone or purpose of the scene. I never got why people were so upset. "Upset" is a little strong. It's just silly. 1) Han's not really on a redemption arc anymore because apparently he was never a gray character. Instead of killing someone to save his ass, it's self defense. 2) An experienced bounty hunter missing at point blank range is far-fetched. 3) There was no mention of Greedo firing in drafts of the original script, so why is Lucas denying it was ever written that way? It's just weird.

I think I actually watched all three of the re-releases on the same day in theaters. It was definitely at least two of them. I don't think I bothered with AotC or RotS in theaters after seeing PM. This discussion of the re-releases reminds me: Greedo shot first is one of the dumbest things I've ever seen!

NU's offense just looks awful most of the time. Luckily Illinois is worse.

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 24, 2015 -> 04:53 PM) Totally gluttonous, but one fun thing we've done with friends is had people bring tacos from a bunch of different places (I think big star, l'patron, tequilas tacos and lazos) and everyone met up at revolution tap room (avondale) to eat and drink. Your friends are awesome.

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 24, 2015 -> 04:07 PM) L'Patron is great, not sure about it as a sit down place for dinner. I also really really liked El Habanero on Fullerton, replaced the old colombian restaurant. Sometimes a bit too much garlic but very tasty. Yeah the thread kind of went on a tangent. Xoco (kind of a free for all when I've gone), Cemitas Puebla and Paco's Tacos don't really work for the original post either. Nuevo Leon gets pretty crazy too, would definitely book the room if that's your choice.

Chi Town Sox knows his Mexican food! L'Patron was very good the one time I visited and I've professed my love for Cemitas Puebla before. One other casual place I"ll throw out there is Paco's Tacos. It's kind of a dump, but those are the best tacos I've had.

Another one to consider is Sol de Mexico on Cicero. I've only been there once, but it was good.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Nov 24, 2015 -> 11:20 AM) New Rebozo Oak Park. OH MY GOD!!! You stole my place! I've been going there since I was still in high school, on a weekly basis at times. You will rarely go wrong with the special, especially since he may still have chiles en nogada. I haven't been to the downtown location yet, but the menu looks a little fancier (more steak/seafood than OP).

QUOTE (danman31 @ Nov 21, 2015 -> 06:44 PM) The way the announcers explained it (eventually once someone looked it up) is that a return man can't make any hand motion to make the rule clear cut. Even on the replays the ref mimics the motion below the waist perfectly as he explains it to the other refs. It wasn't about how high the hand motion is, a return man can't make any hand motion and then return the ball. I thought the ball rolled around as he fell down. You can argue the rule, but that's the rule. I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen that called when a returner is waiving people off. Usually they don't touch it at that point so it's a gray area. I think the refs are the only ones that felt it had anything to do with a fair catch. On the last TD, he had it in control for a couple steps before the bobble, and even then he didn't really lose it. I agree that you can blame that on unclear catch rules.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 21, 2015 -> 06:12 PM) Sure looks like Wisconsin got screwed on a game tying TD at the end Yeah, I said it was questionable. Usual "what's a catch?" stuff.

These refs in NU/Wisconsin are beyond inept. Just called an incomplete pass on a clear sack after a questionable overturned Wisconsin touchdown. Edit- Nevermind, I guess there was a spike on a player where they weren't really set.

Wow, Wisconsin just got f***ed hard by the refs. Their punt returner picks up a bouncing ball, breaks about 3 tackles and runs for a touchdown. The refs call it back saying he signaled for a fair catch. At no point did he raise his hand above his shoulders and motion for a fair catch. And before someone says it, I know I'm the only person watching NU/Wisconsin.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Nov 13, 2015 -> 10:04 AM) Just slightly late to the conversation, but I am enjoying Uncharted as part of the Nathan Drake collection. Somehow never bothered to play on PS3. Battlefront soon. Uncharted 2 is still one of my favorite games. I got hooked on the multiplayer in 3 as well (yes, I know I'm doing it wrong). Can't wait for 4 to come out. I can't decide if I want to get Battlefront or not. I fear it will be like Destiny in that it's a fun but highly flawed game that I won't play for more than a few weeks unless I have some friends to keep dragging me back to it (you people know you who you are!).