Wednesday Rockpile: World Series or Bust for Rockies in 2010
by Jeff Aberle on Mar 10, 2010 6:00 AM MST
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PrintRecently the Rockies were the subject of CBS' spring training camp tour, and they do a fairly decent job of it. Danny Knobler writes about the Rockies' elevated expectations after the disappointment of 2009 and the solid foundation the Rockies have in place. Knobler also provides five things to know about the team.
I've written before about my elevated expectations for this Rockies team and I'm glad that they have those expectations too. This team should strive for greatness--and with the talent that O'Dowd and company have assembled top to bottom I am confident that this team will achieve greatness and a NL West crown.
Beyond that, playoff success is too much of a crapshoot to predict further, but make no mistake: I am guaranteeing a NL West crown for the Rockies this year, a la Jimmy Rollins. Therefore, when my guarantee comes to pass I expect to be named the NL MVP over a more deserving St. Louis Cardinal. Jinxes are for the superstitious and communists (not that there's anything wrong with that), and I am neither. The Rockies are the best team in the division and I'm proud to stand by that without caveat or qualification.
Yesterday in a game that I hope will prove to be a common occurrence this year, the Rockies took the Dodgers behind the woodshed, winning 12-0, pounding out 16 hits and holding LA to only 3. The team has been locked in so far this spring, hitting .338/.385/.517 as a team through eight games. Ubaldo Jimenez was on time and feeling good, pitching three solid innings, while Greg Smith made an excellent second impression with three sterling innings following Jimenez. Jim Armstrong notes the strong performances of both Smiths.
On the injury front, Troy Renck writes about the Rockies' bullpen contingency plan if Huston Street and Rafael Betancourt are slow to heal from shoulder issues. Street seems to be making good progress, while Betancourt is taking smaller steps toward regular season readiness. On the whole, I'm downgrading the panic level from a six to a four after initial reports.
Finally, Thomas Harding writes that Colorado is trying to cut down on strikeouts, an admirable goal if it doesn't detract too much from the Rockies' prodigious slugging ability and selective aggressiveness. I'm of the opinion that the big sluggers who are speed-challenged should generally retain their big swinging ways while the speedsters should aim more for contact in those situations. I just hope that Tracy doesn't get too carried away with this concept.
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Disappointment?
I know it was hard watching the Rockies lose a very winnable series against the Phillies, but it’s hard to term 2009 as a disappointment. There were question marks all over at the beginning of the season – who was going to get most of the time at 2nd, was Marquis going to be able to fill Francis’s shoes, was Jorge going to be able to build off the second half of 2008, was Hammel going to be ok in the 5th spot, was Tulo going to bounce back, what was the team going to do with Atkins, and how would they survive not having Holliday?
Those are seven legitimate questions that were all pretty heavily debated here last off-season. People had their concerns about some or all, and with the exception of Barmes’ low OBP and Atkins complete collapse, they all resolved positively for the Rockies.
Given those huge questions, in no way was 2009 a disappointment to me. However, it did build expectations. This off-season only enhanced those expectations, and the current constitution of the team demands nothing less than a division title and another NL pennant. This team is probably as good or better than the ’96 Yankees, and has the makeup for a similarly prolonged period of success.
Disappointment in that the team that was playing so well did not go deeper in the playoffs.
That’s about the only way the team disappointed last year—they raised my expectations and those of the players to expect more from Rocktober 2009.
Otherwise, 2009 was incredibly successful.
The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
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I think disapointment is the wrong word.
In 2007 the rox cracked the door open only to have it slam shut in 2008.
After a slow start to 2009 they kicked the door in and now I expect the Rox to be competitive. It’s time for the Rockies to be an NL force to be reckoned with.
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
I have to agree here.
If you wind up disappointed every year that doesn’t take us as far as 2007, your baseball fandom is just going to be a world of disappointment for a lifetime.
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by Greg Stanwood on Mar 10, 2010 8:37 AM MST up reply actions
you'll be a Cubs fan!
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:18 AM MST up reply actions
My disappointment is directly related to the expectations I had at the time. I expected the Rockies to win, ergo I was disappointed when they did not.
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by Jeff Aberle on Mar 10, 2010 10:07 AM MST up reply actions
That's a fair assessment.
The only game that really still nags is game 4. It wasn’t Street’s letdown, but that the team sort of got to Cliff Lee. Lee was so cool and calm all playoffs, and then a walk and an error put two on base. Those are the chances that don’t come very often, so that was truly disappointing.
The rest: Hammel or Marquis, Street, whatever, is second guessing stuff that I’m glad Rockies fans don’t engage in like it was leaving Pedro in or something.
I have an IV
hooked up to feed me Rockahol directly. World Series or bust!
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Shorter Jabbs:
“Suck it monkeys, the Rockies are winning the West!”
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
Look out Dodgers...Purple objects in mirror are closer than they appear.
Are we sure Jabbs wrote this article?
Jeff, you are the last person on here I expect to make such a bold guarantee, but I like it. I think it’s what everyone who frequents this site has been thinking for a good portion of the offseason, and I’m glad you were the one who came out and said it.
We are going to win the West this year, and we won’t have to wait until the final series to confirm it. We are deeper, more balanced, and more capable than any other team in the west.
The Wild Card would be a serious disappointment this year, I want to buy World Series Game One tickets at Coors Field!
Iron Maiden? Excellent!
really?
He was making bold predictions down the stretch all last season. Sometime when we passed the giants, he wrote that we would never give up our lead the rest of the way, and we didn’t. After rox girl, I would expect a bold statement to come from Jeff the most. I certainly have no arguments though – on paper, we are definitely in the best shape
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 10, 2010 8:51 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
I think it's more of how Jabbs writes his articles
to me, there is a difference between making statements as fact mid season (like he did with the Giants claim) and setting out before the season even starts and predict not only a playoff berth, but a division crown.
Jabbs has always been the very level headed, lay-of-the-land writer on here and to see him make a guarantee on March 10th came as a personal shock this morning.
Iron Maiden? Excellent!
do you read Jabbs' articles?
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:18 AM MST up reply actions
ok well not his PRA articles
but the rockpiles typically are where Jabbs gets bold and takes a stance and refuses to budge.
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:19 AM MST up reply actions
I absolutely love Jabbs articles because he doesn't budge from his viewpoint
maybe I’m the only one who sees a major difference between his “Trade Hawpe in June” article and his “NL West Guarantee in March” article, but they are two divergent lines of thought to me.
Being bold and confident is one thing, but guarantees after the first week of ST is another.
Iron Maiden? Excellent!
I guess we're differing on the nuances of Level Headed
in his response and commentary, yeah, he doesn’t lose his cool…but he takes hardline stances which are infuriating to a lot of people, which cracks me up.
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:31 AM MST up reply actions
I consider my viewpoints carefully before I voice them, so it's difficult to convince me that I'm wrong after I've gone through that self-reflection.
The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
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by Jeff Aberle on Mar 10, 2010 10:10 AM MST up reply actions
And as for this guarantee, I've analyzed the Rockies this offseason more so than I've ever done...
and I firmly believe that they’ll take the West.
The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
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by Jeff Aberle on Mar 10, 2010 10:50 AM MST up reply actions
All I want this season is the NL West.
The rest is cake.
(That “Going out Tonight” song is on the radio, and now I’m surprisingly more pumped for the season.)
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
So closer Plan C:
Anyone comfortable with Morales (or anyone else) if Street & Betancourt aren’t ready when the season starts?
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
Closer Juan Rincon. Book it.
In all seriousness, the article mentions Morales, Corpas, and BELISLE as possible closer alternatives.
Let’s just say I really hope that at LEAST Street is healthy by April.
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by Greg Stanwood on Mar 10, 2010 8:39 AM MST up reply actions
Corpas and Belisle and Rincon, CLOSER COMMITTEH
….
……
yeah uh I want Street healthy
I can haz NL West title?
Thanks to Muzia for kickass avatar of my undying love Greg Reynolds
....shutup
We've got deep numbers in the pen...
….so I don’t see why we shouldn’t switch out after every pitch, not after every batter. We can always call on Melvin Mora or Brent Mayne, if need be.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
3 out of 4 times.
Being serious there. I feel like Morales can get the job done, but if he had 3 clean saves in a row, I would be awful nervous during the 4th.
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightened inmate #2 on Mar 10, 2010 8:43 AM MST up reply actions
What about Chacin?
Lots of ground balls and can strike people out. He has gotten a taste of the ML bullpen, so he wouldn’t be too wide-eyed.
Probably about the same as Morales
with less experience and control. I like the Machine’s future prospects as much as anyone, but that would scare me crapless.
I can haz NL West title?
Thanks to Muzia for kickass avatar of my undying love Greg Reynolds
....shutup
Less control?
The 25 innings of AAA and MLB aside (terrible, but also terribly small), his walk rates in the lower minors weren’t superb, but weren’t great. Morales has never had that kind of control, in the majors or minors.
He’d be a big step up from Morales as a closer, as Morales hasn’t yet showed an ability to keep runners off the base paths which is anathema to being the last person to pitch in a close game.
Not that I disagree about Morales
but calling Chacin a step up with like what, 9 games of MLB experience? That’s a bit bullish on the Machine.
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:20 AM MST up reply actions
Not much more than the Red Sox were with Papelbon
and he wouldn’t be the full time guy. Just get him in the mix for a month or whatever it takes to get Street/Betancourt in shape.
I guess I just don’t see why it’s automatically assumed that Morales should get a shot, and not Chacin, who’s a better pitcher.
Godspeed Bucky.
I don't think Morales deserves it either
worst case, I just want to see it by committee until cream rises to the top
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:32 AM MST up reply actions
I dunno, Morales could be a Jessie Orasco...
Orasco was a classic squanderer as a closer. He gave up leads and won games instead of saveing them. A W is a W
I'd like to see him in the bullpen some this year
but as a closer? No freaking way.
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
Putting a kid with barely 3 weeks of MLB service time and who clearly still has room to grow into the closer's role is a terrible idea.
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by Greg Stanwood on Mar 10, 2010 9:11 AM MST up reply actions
Why?
Papelbon had similar experience, about 20 more innings in the majors, before he became the full-time closer and he’s been pretty good. Same for Bobby Jenks and Joakim Soria. Valverde was a fill-in closer in his first season.
No one would be asking Chacin to close full time for a season, just to be the first option fill in for a month. His lack of experience could be as much of a plus as a minus since teams won’t have a good read on his stuff for awhile. By the time they do, hopefully Street or Betancourt is there to take it back.
To me closing is 90% mental, 50% physical.
He may have the stuff but after his call up last season I wouldn’t be comfortable trusting in his mental toughness at that level (yet).
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
Papelbon and Chacin are very different pitchers, though
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:32 AM MST up reply actions
not clicking
rage will begin boiling within me and I might just scream
I HATE Papelbon more than just about any player in baseball.
Seething, bitter, hatred.
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 11:41 AM MST up reply actions
He is a feminine care product.
And if he wasn’t a baseball player, by the look in his eyes, I’d say he’d be the Boston Strangler II.
ray have score six in the inning
to go ahead of the redsox 7-4
Adkins was my number 1 pick in fantasy league in 2009......Ouch!
ROCKIES blanked the DOGERS!!!
12-0 Can I get an AMEN!!
by fiberindenver on Mar 10, 2010 12:41 PM MST up reply actions
I think I roughly Jeff Francis hate him
I have a system by which I rank players that I hate by using the negative equivalent of players I like. So I Troy Tulowitzki hate Manny Ramirez, Ian Stewart hate David Ortiz, Seth Smith hate Johnny Damon, and maybe even Ubaldo Jimenez hate Tim Lincecum. I haven’t Todd Helton hated anyone since Barry Bonds retired (and I originally Larry Walker hated him.)
by controlled_slide on Mar 10, 2010 12:35 PM MST up reply actions
Tim Lincecum is the ONLY player on the GIants I like.
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by Greg Stanwood on Mar 10, 2010 12:37 PM MST up reply actions
Wait, you don't like panda?
Unacceptable.
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
I think they just replied to the wrong post.
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by Greg Stanwood on Mar 10, 2010 12:40 PM MST up reply actions
I have no reason to.
I like Lincecum because he’s hilarious and awesome.
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by Greg Stanwood on Mar 10, 2010 12:39 PM MST up reply actions
Heh.
I’m not hippie-like at all.
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by Greg Stanwood on Mar 10, 2010 12:40 PM MST up reply actions
Why hate little Timmy?
Because he’s a filthy doob smoker? I hate him as an opponent, but it’d be cool to see him pitch in person.
Eh, I just do
I explained it at more length a little while ago, but I just sorta don’t like him. Would I like him if he pitched for the Rockies? Probably. But he pitches for the Giants, so I hate him.
by controlled_slide on Mar 10, 2010 12:40 PM MST up reply actions
I would really like to see him starting in the springs
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by frightened inmate #2 on Mar 10, 2010 9:11 AM MST up reply actions
no.
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:19 AM MST up reply actions
I just hope we don't have to experience anything like the closing disaster of early 2008.
I used to think that closing was not that important of a role, and any decent relief pitcher could do it. But after Corpas’ meltdown, I think there is a psychological effect of blown saves that can certainly be devastating to fans, and possibly the players also. I hope that uncertainty early in the season doesn’t set the tone.
The Rockies commercials for the season are going up on the official website tomorrow morning.
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There's also a preview on FSN
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by avsfan4ever33 on Mar 10, 2010 9:02 AM MST up reply actions
Nomah retiring (as a member of Red Sox)
then taking a job at ESPN. Hopefully that’ll shore up their Boston/NYY expertise, I know they’ve been lacking there.
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
by phishbate on Mar 10, 2010 8:48 AM MST reply actions 3 recs
it is strange
I remember an in-depth feature article on Nomar when he was at his peak of production. It talked at great length about how he focused far more on delzinility exercises than strength exercises, with the hypothesis that such a strategy would lead to fewer injuries and greater longevity
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 10, 2010 9:00 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
Delzinility?
"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
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thats too important of a word to have a mobile text error
Flexibility
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 10, 2010 9:18 AM MST via mobile up reply actions
write it down somewhere
I’m sure we can apply it to Jay Payton or something
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:21 AM MST up reply actions
good
I like Nomahhhh on air enough.
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:21 AM MST up reply actions
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha h
rec’d
Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection. ~Red Smith
Renck has today's lineup
His “educated guess” on positions
3B Eric Young Jr.
CF Carlos Gonzalez
SS Troy Tulowitzki
LF Seth Smith
C Miguel Olivo
2B Clint Barmes
1B Paul Lo Duca
RF Jay Payton
LHP Jeff Francis
Apparently Jay Payton likes Seth Smith:
I didn’t know much about him before I got here. He can really hit. I could see him starting for a lot of teams
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
I just like the way the first four are set
I don’t mind Olivo, it’s just that I have no strong feelin—-WHOAHDINGERZ
Iron Maiden? Excellent!
His slugging so far this Spring has been fantastic.
I’m actually much happier with him than EY2. So for me, spots 2-5 make me happy.
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by Greg Stanwood on Mar 10, 2010 9:09 AM MST up reply actions
Olivo has nice pop, a great challege to CDI!
I can’t say who will be primary here.
Adkins was my number 1 pick in fantasy league in 2009......Ouch!
ROCKIES blanked the DOGERS!!!
12-0 Can I get an AMEN!!
by fiberindenver on Mar 10, 2010 9:23 AM MST up reply actions
nicee
love that middle of the order
TULO = 2010 MVP!
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LETS GO WINGS!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 10, 2010 11:18 AM MST up reply actions
Greg Smith
What are the chances he makes the club out of spring training? Would he be an option as the second lefty in the pen, as well as the sixth starter and long reliever?
He won't make the club out of the pen unless something happens to Morales, Flores, or Belisle.
His best chance of making the team is as the fifth starter if Francis isn’t ready to go at the start of the season.
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by Greg Stanwood on Mar 10, 2010 9:05 AM MST up reply actions
If he keeps pitching this well
I’d personally prefer him getting starts in the springs (assuming we won’t need a fifth starter), ready to hop up if anything happens.
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
I'd see him as more of a shot for it if Francis needs extended spring training
we’ll see today how that’s looking.
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:22 AM MST up reply actions
Today's performance from Francis should tell us a little bit more
although it won’ be THAT much more as it is only his second start. I’m starting to think though that there is a real possibility of Francis needing 4-6 weeks at AAA to re-acclimate. After all, he hasn’t pitched a major league game in more than 18 months.
Can't participate in the game thready today.
Interning. But don’t forget, there will be audio coverage on MLB.com for those of you with GameDay Audio.
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I wasn't aware our government had a subscription to hustler
"A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it's better to be thoroughly sure."
-Czech Proverb
by NewMexicanSteven on Mar 10, 2010 10:21 AM MST up reply actions
In 1983, Larry Flint decided that he was going to send every issue to every US Congressman. Most of them tried to block him from sending it, but the Supreme Court upheld his right to.
Most of the time it gets thrown out, I think, but we picked it out of the trash when the congressman was back in the district and flipped through it on a slow Friday. Pretty gross, actually.
Dangit Jeff, I knew somebody was going to use that Smith picture
now I have to go change it
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Dangit, you made a communism comment too
seriously, are you trying to wreck my article?
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:14 AM MST up reply actions
sad day....
Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection. ~Red Smith
i just saw this...
what a sad life he had after he was famous…
Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection. ~Red Smith
wait, what? He died?
dang!! :(
Troy Tulowitzki - Best SS in the MLB - 2010 MVP
"With a guy like Melo, it’s tough to stop him with one person. You can’t. I don’t know one guy who can stop Melo on a consistent basis."-CP3
Brad Hawpe - Will prove the doubters wrong
PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?
I never would have guessed years ago
that Haim would have died from a drug overdose while Feldman was still alive and (mostly) cleaned up.
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
My personal mission in life is to slightly inconvenience you at every turn.
The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!
by Jeff Aberle on Mar 10, 2010 10:54 AM MST up reply actions
NOOOO...oh wait that one works too ok never mind
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 11:42 AM MST up reply actions
So in light of yesterday's Rockpile conversation
which is better? Yesterday’s 700+ OT CommentFest, or today’s All Baseball thread that burns out in 45 minutes and then dies.
Iron Maiden? Excellent!
I've played
FFXIII for a little bit.
Dang, did I just do something wrong?
"Shall it be peace, or a sword?" - Excised line from Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
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Nope.
:D
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by Greg Stanwood on Mar 10, 2010 11:38 AM MST up reply actions
Should we do this now then?
I got this one on first try…
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightened inmate #2 on Mar 10, 2010 10:40 AM MST up reply actions
disregard below
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightened inmate #2 on Mar 10, 2010 10:53 AM MST up reply actions
first two moves are the same piece
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightened inmate #2 on Mar 10, 2010 10:53 AM MST up reply actions
yeah I was trying to get the queen into position until I realized she already was
Iron Maiden? Excellent!
I’ve just been getting frustrated in the learning because everything I read talks about the importants of openings, or the importance of the endgame. But I haven’t read any good middlegame stuff. So after a sound opening, I have no idea what to do so by the end I’m down so far and can only stave off the inevitable.
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightened inmate #2 on Mar 10, 2010 11:04 AM MST up reply actions
I haven't played consistently in years
but I usually try and control paths along the center of the board by getting my bishops and knights out towards center as quickly as possible. You run the risk of losing a few key pieces, but if you set up quickly enough your opponent has no room to maneuver. I think it’s personal preference though.
Iron Maiden? Excellent!
Thanks. I'll keep at it.
I have noticed a marked improvement from my “getting my queen captured by a knight” thing that I was suffering from at first.
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightened inmate #2 on Mar 10, 2010 11:30 AM MST up reply actions
Normally not a huge fan of Fox Sports
but this was pretty good. Nine Reasons why Baseball is Better than Football.
Reminds me of the Thomas Boswell piece “The (first) 100 reasons why baseball is better than football.”
"I clearly miscalculated how popular it would be to show Calvin urinating on a Ford logo"--Bill Watterson
by frightened inmate #2 on Mar 10, 2010 11:47 AM MST reply actions
PARITY?
HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 11:50 AM MST up reply actions
lol right
try telling the royals and pirates that with a straight face
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 10, 2010 12:13 PM MST up reply actions
yea wtf parity??
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 10, 2010 12:12 PM MST up reply actions
Where's RIRF?
He should read number 5 and go burn down that writer’s house. Morality of the system? What fan honestly sits around calculating that into his decision of which sporting event to attend.
HaHa
Yeah #5 is garbage, at least the baseball part of it. NFL is set up for the owners, MLB is set up for the players, I’m still waiting for the system that’s set up for the fans. :-)
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona." - George F. Will
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Mar 10, 2010 5:43 PM MST up reply actions
Ubaldo officially opening day starter
Apparently Cook wanted to be in the room when it was announced so he could be the first to congratulate.
"I’ve got a good breaking ball" - Melvin Mora
Countdown 2010:
Opening Day @ Milwaukee | Home Opener vs San Diego
nice nice
TULO = 2010 MVP!
Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."
LETS GO WINGS!
by TuLoRocks2008 on Mar 10, 2010 1:47 PM MST up reply actions
one ST win
brings out the NL West champs guarantee?? seriously?
Taking them behind the woodshed? lol…..yes, but its March 10th. Not October 3rd……
Did anyone read the Keith Law report on Francis? or was it Jason Grey? either way….not good.
Anyone see Smith starting over Fowler this year? moving Cargo to CF? I can see it.
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
AHHHHH YOU CAN'T CELEBRATE BEATING THE DODGERS
EVER
He’s not handing over the season based on a 12-0 Spring win, just relishing in it.
And as for this guarantee, I’ve analyzed the Rockies this offseason more so than I’ve ever done…and I firmly believe that they’ll take the West.
by Jeff Aberle
THIS OFFSEASON. If you seriously think that he’s basing the season off of ONE SPRING TRAINING GAME then you aren’t giving us ANY credit.
Your team is beatable. You’re going to have to deal with it.
Purple Row: Take this personally
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 4:21 PM MST up reply actions
No Andrew it's pretty obvious to me reading my post that I based my guarantee on the Rockies whipping the Dodgers yesterday.
I’m obviously insane.
The writer formerly known as Jabberwocky
READ and LEARN about the business of baseball at Purple Row Academy
Eschew Obfuscation!
maybe
last year all the experts had Arizona winning the division before the season started, and the Dodgers won 95 games.
This year, plenty of experts, okay baseball writers, are picking Colorado to win.
Could happen. But I don’t see how a team that loses Wolf and Hudson becomes a second place team, or a team that doesn’t win the division.
raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
by Ray Guilfoyle on Mar 10, 2010 7:31 PM MST up reply actions
Because that team only won the division by three games and got worse
While the second place team got better?
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 10, 2010 9:11 PM MST up reply actions
INCONCEIVABLE
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:50 PM MST up reply actions
Because you lost 2 3-Win players
and are replacing them with MAYBE half of that?
Purple Row: Take this personally
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by Andrew Martin on Mar 10, 2010 9:54 PM MST up reply actions
you make a good point
But I don’t see how a team that loses Wolf and Hudson becomes a second place team, or a team that doesn’t win the division.
I would think it would be more like a 3rd place finish at best
Troy Tulowitzki - Best SS in the MLB - 2010 MVP
"With a guy like Melo, it’s tough to stop him with one person. You can’t. I don’t know one guy who can stop Melo on a consistent basis."-CP3
Brad Hawpe - Will prove the doubters wrong
PS Let's win the NL West in 2010, shall we?
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