Dan Uggla is the kind of guy who makes baseball the great game it is. He was no prospect, just an organization guy in the Diamondbacks’ system, an eleventh-round pick out of the University of Memphis in 2001. He put up some big numbers in the California League, but he was old for the circuit and everyone hits in the California League anyway, and some pretty good numbers in AA Tennessee in 2005, but nobody took him seriously. He wasn’t a great second baseman or a great athlete, and he was 25 years old. The D-Backs exposed him to the Rule 5 draft. The Marlins, needing a second baseman after trading Luis Castillo, took a flyer, and he won the job in spring training. He hasn’t really stopped hitting since. In 2006, he finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting, putting up similar slash numbers to teammate Hanley Ramirez (the winner) and poking 27 homers.
Fluke season, right? But he pretty much kept hitting at that level for the next four years. His batting averages have fluctuated but he’s added some walks, and has hit 31 to 33 homers each of the last four years. Last year, he had his finest season, hitting .287/.369/.508, scoring 100 runs and driving in 105. He played 159 games, and hardly ever leaves the lineup; he played a mere 146 games in 2008, but has missed only ten games combined in 2007 and 2009-10. With free agency approaching, the Marlins traded him to a division rival for what was almost universally considered a poor return.
He has his flaws; he strikes out a bit, he isn’t a good glove man and doesn’t run well. You can live with that for a second baseman who never leaves the lineup and hits 30 homers a year. Similarity scores say that his closest comps are Joe Gordon and Jeff Kent; he’s a lot more like Kent than Gordon, a glove wizard. Kent was just getting started at this age, and you can’t expect Uggla to bust out like that, into one of the best players in the game, but he’s a heck of a player… The Marlins’ all-time home run leader and a descendant of Swedish nobility.
Glad to see a fellow Memphis alum on the team.
From previous thread:
My father, who grew up in an era when there was much more anti-semitism, was always trying to figure out which athletes were Jewish. He grew up in Detroit during the Depression and it was a big deal when Hank Greenberg sat out on the Jewish holiday. There is a blog I read called “Kaplan’s Corner on Jews and Sports.” Believe me, if Freddie Freeman was Jewish, I would have heard about it.
By the way, Keith Law calls Freeman “a nice player but not a star.” Considering recent first basemen for the Braves, I would take that.
Still think we need a right-handed hitting 1B for times when we face good lefties. (You know, the kind of guys with which the Phillies are lousy.)
I <3 Uggla.
When we say Uggla is a poor runner, do we mean speed or decision making?
Justhank, yes, we could use a RH 1B type on the bench unless Prado fills that role on occasion and Mather whoever goes to LF those games.
This is sad beyond words. I hope the earth opens and swallows Arizona and the goddam BCS game. (Irrational, I know.)
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/01/09/2011-01-09_christina_taylor_greens_grandfather_exmets__yankees_manager_dallas_green_devasta.html
If Freeman doesn’t pan out at firstbase our next one will choke to death on vomit of an unknown origin.
Any blog that has a headline calling Farve crazy in Yiddish should have a special place in heaven.
Also, I’m going to have to confess and send David the link. When he finds out the Outland Trophy award winner is Jewish and 6’7/330 he’ll be giddy.
With apologies to anyone from Arizona I don’t think that’s irrational at all.
I’ll love Uggla more if McCann and Heyward and Chipper can have good years. It’s been a while since the middle of our lineup made anyone nervous.
In my darkest hours I worry that Chipper’s done, McCann’s finally going to break down, Heyward will regress a little, and Melky will get revenge on us by strapping Prado to a table and force feeding him until he gets half-Melky size, which is morbidly obese but not yet able to attract planetary objects.
I might have missed this, but we all agree that Agony is the pre-season #1 to be the BravesJournal Whipping Boy? McLouth #2?
No, it is irrational — thanks for giving a knee-jerk reaction.
This event is a needless, shameful tragedy — it happened less than half a mile from the church where that little girl went to, and I was the cantor at Mass that Saturday night. It was heart-wrenching for me because a mother was there whose daughter was a good friend with the Green girl, and it sucked for me to see her having a hell of a time keeping it together while we had Mass. And it doubly sucked for me because my wife was there with my little 2 and 4 year old girls, and I was thanking God it wasn’t one of them who was taken away.
But let’s turn this into a blamefest on the BCS and the entire state of Arizona, because you know, it makes sense — only in the blogosphere, I guess.
Normally, I love coming here multiple times a day, but that’s just crossing the line, man. Mac, can you steer the conversation away from this? Thanks.
BCS Championship Game predictions? I’m going..
Oregon 27
Auburn 38
Auburn wins its first real national championship.
Auburn’s interior DL blows up the Ducks offense early with Fairley disrupting much of the play. Auburn pulls into halftime leading 24-10 as Cam and Auburn RBs run at will. Oregon’s pace wears Auburn down to pull within 31-27 in 4th, but Auburn puts it away with a late TD. Fights erupt in stands = Obnoxious duck calls from Duck fans + Auburn fans little brother/haven’t-been-there-before taunting jackassery.
One other note: In the SEC West bowl games I’ve seen, SEC teams have been knocking the crap out of the opposition, sending many players out for various periods with injury. Even in “victory” Ohio State barely made it to the end of the game. The Ducks will understand the difference between Stanford physicality and Auburn/SEC physicality when they’re playing minus Thomas or Maehl or a DB or two. Essentially, the SEC West dominated all of their bowl games (well, Arkansas for just the 2nd half) and I don’t expect this to be any different.
Or maybe the Ducks bust a few big plays, grab momentum and run away from Auburn. Who knows?
#11–I hope you have the outcome right–I do think that Auburn should win, but Oregon is a very good football team. Seemingly, it was a long time ago–but they pounded Tenn in Knoxville decisively…..
The SEC East will rise again–but it is more likely to happen when UGA gets a new coach and Tennessee returns to its bullying ways….
Ill predict that Oregon wins 38-31, but only because everyone is picking Auburn. That and I despise Auburn of course
btw, Fun Fact…
The 5 ranked SEC West teams…Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, Alabama, and Miss State are a combined 42-1 against all opponents NOT in the SEC West!!!!!
The ONLY loss in that 42-1 record is Alabama’s mid-season loss to USC…
That was before the bowl games of course. Miss St, UA, LSU all dominated their opponents and Ark lost to USC. So its now a 45-2 record.
@14 I’m hoping that trend continues. I read somewhere that Oregon’s defense gives up something like 6 yards a rush, and I doubt they’ve faced a line and a set of runners like we have.
Auburn 38, Oregon 34—despite a 4th quarter that features lotsa mouthbreathing from Nick Fairley.
#10
Nerves are raw all over on this topic. Because the event has political implications, I’m guessing, we won’t see further discussion here. But, like Marc & a lotta folks, I found that particular story unfathomably difficult.
#14 – sorry, Ark lost to Ohio St not USC
Dude was a nut case. Using it for political gain is reprehensible beyond measure.
Trying to ascribe a political philosophy to someone who counts “The Communist Manifesto” and books by Huxley and Ayn Rand as their favorites is a task beyond my reckoning.
His open hatred of a supreme being is probably our best clue.
————–
Why hasn’t Michigan gone after Petrino? I know he’s a jerk, but he sure is their answer.
justhank, Michigan just went after an offensive minded head coach in Rich Rod. I just dont see them going after another in Petrino. I think Petrino could work there, but he’d have to hire one hell of a DC to make it work.
@18 – well, that’s done it.
{Statement wherein I decry the mentioning of politics while still managing to reveal my thoughts on the matter.}
well, this is fun. thanks marc.
@18-
“His open hatred is probably our best clue.”
Fixed.
Sorry if I offended people. Should not have said what I said about Arizona given the no-politics policy. I am so upset over the deaths, especially the little girl’s. I don’t know how parents ever get over something like this.
This should not happen in the United States of America; we should agree on that, I hope, regardless of politics.
#24–Agreed–but it should not happen anywhere–unfortunately, these things happen more often than we might like to think. The parents’ pain is beyond my comprehension as well….
To change the subject, I had hoped that the Falcons would get to play the Seahawks; the Packers will be a formidable challenge….
I’ve decided I’m glad that the Packers won. Even though it will be a tougher game, a Falcons win will SILENCE THE CRITICS™. A win over the Seahawks would just amplify the claim that the team is overrated.
I definitely think the Falcons can beat them again, and I LOVE how the analysts were saying that Green Bay is now a running team because they had a good game on the ground against a pretty shoddy looking Eagles D.
The sad thing is the Packers and Eagles are the only playoff teams I would root for, and one of them has to be eliminated this week.
I was also hoping for the Falcons to go to the Super Bowl by beating Michael Vick in his return to Atlanta….
While this round against the Pack will be awfully tough, if the Falcons win, they should be pretty heavily favored in the NFC Championship. Neither the Seahawks nor Bears are particularly scary.
Full disclosure: I’m pulling for the ChiCommodore VanderBears to win it all.
@22 Actually not Marc’s fault he was just expressing frustration and acknowledging it being irrational. I jumped into it and made it sound not like a random feeling but a position to take.
Certainly didn’t mean to. So sorry to all. As you guys said nerves are frayed, we are all worried about our country and the people who have to suffer through all this tragedy. I shouldn’t have spouted off. Particularly not here.
My second apology in as many threads!
What’s going on with the Alabama fans? They want Auburn to get humiliated I assume and come home crying? I would have thought every SEC fan would feel that way. Or is it if not us at least one of our own?
Auburn has orange on them, which is super creepy.
War Eagle!
Great to have someone to root for in this game.
(I’d do the “I <3 Auburn" here, Bethany, but that emoticon never really looks like a heart to me.)
I will refrain from giving my opinion on the majority of Alabama fans.
I <3 you, Kevin! Hahaha. War Eagle!
If we have to (probably) get through the Patriots to win it all, we might as well get our spine’s stiffened with a tough one against the Packers.
@32 LOL. That comforts me that at least the entire state of Alabama hasn’t come together, hands held, to support one of its own.
Auburn 72
Oregon 71
…at the half
Anyway Dept…
As mentioned before, I’m curious to see how Oregon deals with Auburn’s heft (on both sides of the ball) and how Auburn holds up to Oregon’s unrelenting pace.
And there’s no doubt that Chizik & Co. have had films of the Oregon-Cal game on repeat.
Around these parts, as usual, the BCS game is a bit of a footnote, especially with Jets/Pats on the horizon. (Rex Ryan’s just like his dad or a professional wrestler—he can’t shut up.)
Interesting, too, that when looking at the 4 playoff games, it’s a rematch festival.
You’ve got 2 serious division rivals: Jets/Pats Pt. 3 (one talking, the other walking, each winning at home) and Ravens/Steelers Pt. 3 (road teams winning).
I’m not a psycho-NFL guy, but Baltimore/Pittsburgh games are always worth watching—low-scoring, hard-hitting, down-to-the-wire affairs.
Falcons already beat the Packers 20-17 in the Dome on a late FG & they’re at it again. (I expect a similar game. Fingers crossed on the result.) And very curiously, the Seahawks already beat Chicago in Soldier Field.
Worst-Case Scenario: The 7-9 Seahawks host the NFC title game.
@36 If the worst-case scenario happens they should cancel the playoffs and start again next year. Allowing it to happen would create a universe swallowing blackhole.
I’m hoping to see a frozen rivalry game in Chicago… Bears vs. Pack. Go, Pack, Go!
(It’s nice to have Favre gone so I feel like I can allow myself to have interest in the Packers.)
@38 Agreed. I love Driver and Aaron Rogers is a stud. I really admire how he’s handled himself since Favre left.
Check out the ESPN SportsNation survey map on who will win the BCS National Championship.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/fp/flashPollResultsState?sportIndex=ncf&pollId=102951
I love these maps. On rare occasion, there is a totally random distribution, but sports views are so provincial that you usually get something orderly like this.
In this one, it looks like the nation was cut in half–except for the tip of the northeast (the Chip Kelly effect?). Interesting.
I think the NE results are more of a “we-don’t-really-watch-college-football” effect.
verducci’s latest SI article states that no player 35 or older (excluding DHs) hit 20 or more HRs last year.
Worst-Case Scenario: The 7-9 Seahawks host the NFC title game.
Good thing the NFL has a playoff to determine the best team.
/ducks
Check the state-by state, and Auburn actually does better in Louisiana and Arkansas than in Alabama.
1. That explains Thibodoux!
2. Obviously, it’s Alabama fans voting against them.
Lesmiles is meeting with Michigan about their job.
@45 I would miss making fun of him.
Petrino to LSU!
@39,
Think of the difference in the situation now between the Vikings and the Packers. The Packers have a QB in place for another decade while the Vikings have . . . who? Favre did the Pack a favor by being such a jerk.
@43,
I think the NFL should switch to having sportswriters vote on who gets in the playoffs. 🙂
Tampa Bay would take all 8 spots in that situation.
Wait, there are 12 teams in the playoff. So give the Bucs 8 and the Eagles 4.
AUB 42 ORE 34
count it
45-35 Auburn.
Petrino can’t talk to an SEC school, per his new deal. Stay away from Dooley corn dogs.
Miles to Michigan
Peterson to Stanford
Patterson to LSU
Malzahn to Boise
someone to TCU
55-38 Oregon
Just played a whatifsports.com sim game.
Auburn 45
Oregon 38
Newton scores with 11 seconds left. Hey, why not?
Good luck, Orange & Blue.
Holy crap Oregon’s shoes look gross.
No more drops, Darvin.
I was remaining neutral, but I can’t root for a team with that color on their feet. Worse than orange, even.
Line went from Aub -3 to even at kickoff. Is that the Alabama effect again?
Or word got out that Phil Knight paid Cam Newton’s dad to have his son take a dive.
The O line looks pretty awful so far. Where is Dyer?
Yeah, I hate Auburn on account of it buying players, but am also a big SEC homer, so I didn’t know who I was going to pull for tonight, until that last interception when a yell for Auburn just kinda leaped out of my throat.
Guess I’m hoping Auburn wins #5 for the SEC followed by Cam Newton somehow accidentally admitting to his payday shortly thereafter.
Yeah, I think a vacated championship is the best possible outcome here.
YES!!!!!!
Yeah, my super wishlist includes an Auburn championship, 5 Ohio State players going pro instead of sitting out 5 games next year, and then a vacated Auburn championship.
Really, I think it’d be awesome if, up comfortably in the 4th, Newton just winks at the camera and says “hey Tide fans, you’re right. I got paid.”
I think at this point even most Auburn fans expect this season to be vacated. So why not?
Oh shut up, ermoore.
New hashtag: #nationalchampionshipsauburnvacation
Oh, so some Auburn fans actually do think that Cecil Newton sent his son to his second choice of schools for no money after Cam’s top choice wouldn’t pony up . . .
I guess in a world where the Church of Scientology is growing I should have figured as much. My bad.
I’m sorry, do you know something the NCAA doesn’t? I’ll be calling you for lotto numbers next week. Also, funny, you seem to be forgetting the actual case of bama paying a player a few years ago.
“Cecil Newton” is trending on Twitter.
God, Mario needs to be taken out. It would be a fitting last play for him.
Is this a NC game or a July game in the AL east?
Sorry Bethany, I’m not forgetting that. Bama cheats too. They just haven’t gotten away with it as blatantly as Auburn has this year. (Seriously, Cecil asks MSU for $200,000 and doesn’t get it, and you believe he just sends his son to Auburn without a similar request?!).
I’m not trying to convict him in a court of law, I’m just asking if Auburn fans (also considering their ‘bama-ish cheating past) can really believe that their school did nothing wrong.
FWIW, I’m pulling for Auburn to win tonight. I’ll never pull for ‘bama to win any game.
And also, don’t wanna seem like a newbie just showing up and (kinda) picking a fight. I’ve been reading (and loving) this site for years and check it every day (and reading the comments many days), so I feel like I know a lot of you. So sorry if that was annoying or just rehashing something that’s been brought up a few dozen times. Point is, I’ll stop being obnoxious now and let Mac get in a few UT jabs as payback.
I am quite tense, so forgive me for being chippy.
It’s (half) SEC football. There’s nothing that needs forgiving.
Random comment: I just finished the show “Breaking Bad” and it is arguably the best television I’ve ever seen (“Dexter” being another favorite). Highly recommended.
Oregon’s offense doesn’t really get going till the second half, but I am proud of the way the defense has played. If not for Thorpe the game probably looks quite a bit different.
Eric Smith sure looks like a fine citizen. Shouldve been kicked out of the game, shouldve also been kicked off the team last year for beating down that engineering student.
Eric Smith is a genuinely bad person. I suppose most teams have some bad apples, but they’re rarely so obvious.
Karma sucks sometimes too
Call me crazy, but I don’t see Oregon winning this game.
They’re all about trickery, which is fine & good & fun to watch, but they’re getting mostly whipped up front.
If Auburn can hang onto the ball, I think they win by 2 TDs.
Yeah, Oregon is losing both on the OL and DL. If Auburn protects the football they’ll win easily.
Musberger is so cheesy. And Herbsreit’s high-pitched voice is beginning to grate on my nerves, though at least his commentary is good.
I always mute the tv and listen to the radio.
Don’t count Oregon out yet.
Oregon hasn’t done anything but gimmicks in this game so far, and they’ve mostly been contained.
Nick Fairley is a tool. He’s got something coming to him one of these days when someone goes for revenge.
#88, yep…read #81
#86–Absolutely! Oregon tends to wear teams down so they tend to get stronger in the second half….
I am just joining the game (and following it on the computer), but I certainly expected to see a lot more points….
Fairley is a pretty awesome player. I wonder how much the NFL will take his dirty play into account come draft time.
Darron Thomas has a noodle arm.
I haven’t seen Cam miss this many throws in a long time.
I dont know how strong his arm is but throwing off your back foot because your OL is getting blown up doesnt help him at all.
Yep, Newton has misfired on 2 cinch TD passes tonight.
Bethany, this is why waiting 30+ days for a bowl game is a terrible idea
Wow, Kelly does some odd things
Was that a Chip Caray call. Oh wow a TD while being tackled at the 3 yard line
Nice call by Musberger. Lucky catch, too.
Well, there was a fine throw by Thomas.
Line drive base hit, double play!
Nick Fairley is the MVP so far.
I agree, csg. Wow, go defense.
Why not run the option there? If you got a small back you cant run in the middle of a good DL.
Especially when your OL can’t block anybody.
BTW, this playing field is a disgrace.
I wonder how Newton will do at the combine assuming he goes pro.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a “running” quarterback of Newton’s ability who at the college level knew so well when to pass and when to run.
#105 – he’ll do just fine
$106 – I agree. People want to compare Pryor and Young to him. They are JV players compared to Newton
#106
I’ve never seen a tight end play quarterback.
No wonder the Arizona Cardinals were so bad this year. They had to play on this field.
Playing-wise (obviously not character-wise), Newton’s most comparable player is probably Tebow, and the NFL jury is still out on him though he’s off to a decent start.
Vince Young’s 2005 season is probably the most comparable to Newton.
Newton’s mechanics and arm strength are much better than Tebow’s.
I can only think of a handful of QBs who were successful dual-threats in the NFL. Steve Young, Vick, and McNabb.
I was listening to the radio broadcast earlier and, unless I misheard, apparently this field is brand new, first game. Was put down after the Fiesta Bowl.
#113
Dual threats always get hurt in the NFL. That’s why they usually prefer the Lucks or Malletts.
144 really? The only reason I assumed it was the same field is because they had the same issues during the fiesta bowl.
Yeah, this is new grass and its from Oregon
114 — I think also that defenses are usually too fast in the NFL for scramblers and they don’t throw well enough to compensate.
Randall Cunningham? Fran Tarkenton?
I thought about Cunningham right after I posted that. Warren Moon also. (I don’t know enough about Tarkenton, that’s a long time ago.) But still, not many. Not saying it’s impossible, just a tougher road.
92—Looked pretty strong on that deep ball in the second quarter.
104—Sure is. Really affecting the game, too.
I’ll give you those 2.
But plenty of them get hurt. Staubach & Steve Young took bad concussions from running out of trouble. McNabb and Vick have missed plenty of games due to injuries.
Bobby Douglass, a QB who ran for nearly 1,000 yards one season in the early ’70s, took a beating, too. Most NFL teams don’t want their QB carrying the ball too far over the line of scrimmage. Too much invested in them.
Say what you like about a fairly stationary QB like Eli Manning, for example, but he’s never missed a game.
Does Oregon ever use a RB to block a blitz?
Favre scrambled a good bit when he was young.
Newton has a concussion.
He hasn’t been right since that hit
Well, that’s a big play…
#123
Good thing he stopped doing it & started throwing the ball up for grabs.
Yeah, Thomas’ arm isn’t a problem, being able to throw across the field like that for 2.
Oh no. Time to man up, Cam.
Not down!
Wait, I thought the wrist means he was down. Didn’t they just call that in another BCS game?
Cam Newton sucks.
crazy game.
I love you Dyer. Ram it in, Auburn.
Wow. I thought Auburn’d go for it there.
Surely they have enough time to run a play and call a timeout if they can’t run it in.
It didn’t work, but I like the fake kneel play.
Too many things can go wrong with a kick, but this is just a chip shot.
SEC!
Alright now, Cam. Go ahead and confess. You got what you came for (or you will after the draft).
Yes!! Congratulations to Auburn!!Congratulations to all Auburn fans and alums who come to this site!
SEC! SEC! SEC!
Can we stop doing preseason polls now?
#130
In the Arkansas/Ohio State game, the other side of the player’s wrist touched the ground & he was considered down. I don’t understand the rule either.
Congrats Auburn! SEC!
Now, I vote we send Vandy next year.
I’m already predicting that a Lesless LSU wins it next year. It’s their turn.
War eagle.
Man, I bet so many Big 10, Big 12, and Pac-10 fans just absolutely hate the SEC winning 5 championships in a row. That will keep me warm tonight.
I am very happy Auburn won. I am ashamed of those two plays though. That one kid should have been kicked out on the spot.
Yeah, my wife distracted me and I missed that play and the replay. Have to catch it on SC tomorrow.
What was the other play? Fairley pushing the guy’s head down? That didn’t seem to be done with much force to me.
#143–Yeah, I will go with that….It would be fun to see MSU make a run as well–and they just might!
#146–It will keep me happy all day (its morning here) here and for a long time to come….
@148, Still. It just plays into the meme. That is what is going to lead the news cycle about the game, which was an all-timer, IMHO.
150—It was close, which made for a tense (read: good) finish, but there’s no way I’d call it anything close to an all-timer. As a pretty darn neutral observer, I found it boring and ugly, for the most part.
Michael Dyer seemed to be a fine young man. Nick Fairley…not so much. Oh well…WAR EAGLE!
@151, Unless you like defensive football, which I do. Watching those teams trade licks was awesome.
It gives me hope that the future of the game isn’t gimmick offensives with their cleats on our faces… forever.
153—Yeah, I like defense, too. Much of tonight’s “defense,” though, was just offensive ineptitude. Shaky play-calling, bad blocking, and two QBs who missed open receivers all night. Fun ending, though. I was certainly watching until the end.
They were ridiculously bush plays, both of ’em. No getting around it & the sad thing is that Fairley doesn’t need to play that way. (FWIW, each play did earn 15-yard penalties.)
If either of those plays had cost Auburn the game, it would lead the news cycle. But it won’t. It’ll lead the FBS blogtalk, but that’s all.
For now, the story is a competitive, exciting game, then the SEC’s continued success in BCS games.
God, that Oregon offense was super annoying. I thoroughly hated them the whole game. And their damn socks and shoes.
I was never bored. After the sloppy first quarter, it seemed like every series went to third down, and a lot of great plays were made. There’s a tendency to call shootouts great games by default, but they can be formless.
I got the feeling the time off meant neither team was at its best, though it certainly seemed to help Auburn defense’s cardio.
Fairley was a beast. The difference in the ball game, from where I sat.
Kris Benson retired, y’all.
He finished 70-75 in 9 seasons with an ERA+ of exactly 100, and earned $38.6 million for his troubles. I hope he and Anna socked away enough that they can life in peace and harmony.
I can remember when he was going to be something.
That’s it for me tonight. War Eagle again, glad Auburn kept the SEC streak going.
yep, two days stuck in the house now. I hate snow
congrats to Auburn and Gus Malzahn for their 1st BCS NC
Same here. My subdivision is in a valley off N Druid Hills Road, and nobody has been able to get out. A few residents returning home late Sunday had to park on N Druid rather than risk the slope…only to have their cars towed Monday morning. Nice.
I am in East Atlanta, and we ain’t goin’ nowhere today, and probably Wednesday as well.
I thought both coaches made some mistakes. I thought Auburn should have kicked a field goal when it was 11-7 instead of going for it. It worked out eventually, but there was no need, IMO, to pass up points that early in the game. Similarly, if Oregon had taken the field goal later, the later touchdown would have put them ahead and might have changed how Auburn played on the ensuing drive.
I thought Auburn was pretty much the better team but Oregon played well and showed they deserved to be in the game. But those uniforms are ugly, almost as bad as the Seattle Seahawks. But it seemed clear to me that Oregon realized they couldn’t beat Auburn playing straight up so they did things like the fake on the two point conversion and the trick kick-off plays. As for Auburn, I thought they spent too much time early in the game trying to be cute rather than just pounding away at Oregon.
Nick Fairley is a beast; I guess he won’t be around long enough to fall to the Redskins.
I’m already anticipating people going overboard in calling this a “defensive struggle” or something like that. Come on, now. There were almost 1000 yards of total offense between the two teams. The fact that so few points were scored owes as much to offensive inefficiency–or “ineptitude,” as Stu says–than defensive prowess.
@167-especially given that they will likely trade their #10 pick for Vince Young or do something else equally foolish.
I know I’m in the minority here, but I’m glad that BCS thing is over so we can get back to baseball.
@167,
Right.
169—That would be amazing.
@170 Trust me, I’m ready for baseball. It’s much more fun when we’re all cheering for the same team.
@168, a couple of dropped balls/missed throws to wide open guys sure didn’t help.
@170 – Totally agree. My winter fling with college football was more intense than usual, obviously, but it’s time to go back to the gal I love best.
Sickels says we have the 4th best farm system –
http://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/1/7/1921427/john-sickels-farm-system-rankings
One last football note – Auburn’s chances for next season are already being dismissed, but Dyer looks like the real thing, and the recruiting class is quietly coming together in a big way. Last night should help that effort, along with the coaching changes about to happen. I won’t concede next year just yet.
spike, why are they diminished. Did Newton and Fairley already announce or Malzahn leave? I know the defense is losing a bunch of players, but didnt know what you were referring too.
I think I saw where Auburn had one of the highest numbers of freshmen playing and also a very high number of seniors. They will lose a large amount of offensive lineman and their home/road schedule will be much more difficult. This is very similar to what happened to Bama this year, but I don’t think Auburn has as much talent returning. With their freshmen this year and a good recruting class, look for them to be excellent in 2012. I just don’t think they’ll be great next year.
Who’s Got Minor League Depth At Shortstop? – Beyond the Box Score.
Really, us?
We do, it’s just not close-to-the-majors depth. And that piece doesn’t even reference Pastornicky.
I’ve also read that Mycal Jones has been moved to second base and that the Braves are to give him a look as an outfielder as well.
Les Miles to stay at LSU
I feel like the roads around my apartment (between Chamblee and Dunwoody, right along I-285) are probably good enough to at least venture around the corner to the grocery store and back, but the exit from my complex is an absolute disaster. And since no one from the office is here, there’s no chance of it getting fixed today.
Callis called Teheran the #4 prospect in baseball behind Trout, Harper and Montero.
How much 2nd base did Matt Young play last year? I know he can spot CF, but it would help his chances if he could possibly spot 2nd or 3rd also.
Can Harper be that high already?
I’ve taken back my LSU NC predition… Harper was that high when he was in college.
Mac,
Then I guess it will have to be Bama’s shot. The Vols are looking at 2012 (our come back tour year)
Watch out for Arky, if Petrino doesn’t leave (never more than a 50/50 proposition).
Everyone seems to hate Montero’s catching abilities, so he’s looking like a DH if he stays in NY. That alone should put him below Teheran. Trout and Harper I can see though.
Auburn, Clemson, Purdue, Rutgers: What do they have in common?
Harper wasnt ever in college was he? I thought he was drafted straight from high school.
Nope, he left high school at 16 and went to a junior college for a year till he was eligible to be drafted at age 17.
#190
Engineering schools?
190 – Fallback options for GT rejects?
Edit – I’m sorry, that was indelicate. They’re all very nice schools.
While no doubt true, not the commonality I was looking for.
Towns you can’t wait to leave upon graduation?
@190,
Lots of cows?
@190
All have had QB’s start games for NFC and AFC west teams this year? (Not sure about Rutgers, but you never know who the NFC West has at QB)
191 – College of Southern Nevada, a JC where he played instead of playing in high school so he would be eligible for the draft. He essentially replaced his junior year of high school baseball with his freshman year in college.
State universities that don’t include the state name?
Sansho’s right (not that the other guesses aren’t also accurate). All are large state universities that don’t have the state name in their commonly used name.
Technically, Rutgers is “Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey”, but that’s only used in some formal situations, because nobody wants to go to the University of New Jersey. Take Rutgers out of it, and the other three are all ag schools with crippling inferiority complexes.
Rutgers is also the odd man out in that it used to be private, which has something to do with the name. Purdue and Clemson were built on grants by the guys with their names on them, and Auburn didn’t want to be called Alabama Polytechnic anymore, which only makes us Alabama fans more than happy to call them Alabama Polytechnic all the time. (If they’d kept it, they’d be API, which is much better.)
gotcha, well its certainly not the first time Ive been wrong or the last
@190
Who are People who have never been in my kitchen?
@203
Time killer
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083399/quotes
(If they’d kept it, they’d by API, which is much better.)
Because that’s an acronym for Application Programming Interface?
#201 – I can rememember a Charleston sports editorial some guy wrote about changing the name of Clemson to South Carolina Tech or SC A&M or even renaming SC State and assigning that name to Clemson. The outrage from the purple and orange crowd was fun to read.
Is the official name of Virginia Tech still Virginia Polytechnical Institute? I remember a guy I knew at the CofC transferring from VPI.
Next question: Why are Canadian provincial leaders called “premiers”?
A. To confuse Americans.
B. To confuse Britons.
C. Both A and B.
D. Who cares? It’s just Canada.
Does anyone refer to colleges with “State” in their name (e.g., Mississippi State) as “State?” On Leave it to Beaver, they always referred to the state college in their non-identified state as “State”, i.e., he goes to State. I always thought that was pretty cool but I have this thing for American pop culture from the fifties and sixties.
I call MSU “State” fairly often. (Alabama State doesn’t come up that often — which is weird because I work for another HBCU.)
I believe Virginia Tech is now Virginia Polytechnic and State University, covering all their bases.
I think VT has actually been VPI since 1944 and VPI and State University since 1970 (according to wikipedia). It had even longer names before that.
“Virginia Tech” is just what it’s known by and how it’s branded itself, if I understand correctly.
178 – The Braves had little depth at SS a year ago. But they’ve addressed the need by drafting Lipka and Simmons, and by signing Salcedo. Of course, Lipka might head to CF, and Salcedo might head to 3B, and Simmons wants to pitch. But still.
I expect the Braves to draft a lot of outfielders next summer.
I dunno, maybe a college shortstop is in order. Right now, the 2012 shortstop is Diory.
When I think of “State,” I automatically think of North Carolina State.
But that’s because they were great in hoops when I was a kid (David Thompson Era).
But if it’s an SEC context, it’s MSU. I mean, I’ll call ’em State, certainly not the Bulldogs.
The last time the Braves drafted a college player to fill a need didn’t work out so well (Joey Devine).
Doesn’t mean they won’t do it again.
Doesn’t mean it was the wrong pick, either.
Isnt that Lucas guy a SS also?
Trevor Hoffman hangs ’em up.
Well Hells Bells.
Is Tech the standard nickname for the Georgia Institute of Technology?
The weird one around here is IUPUI pronounced euwie pooie
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Since it’s been awhile, I’ll say that I went to IUPUI (America’s finest palindromic institution of higher education) for my medical trip (which fortunately turned out okay) in April.
Trevor Hoffman’s retirement now puts a big dent in Billy Wagner’s HOF chances, because Hoffman will take most of the reliever votes when they first appear on the ballot. Wagner might be one-and-done.
Does anyone know anything about Diory’s defense? He seems like a decent enough hitter that he could serve as a solid stopgap, providing he bats at the tail end of an otherwise good lineup that should be in place for 2012. But if he’s a bad glove man could we be headed for a year in Yuniesky Betancortville?
He’s a Yuniesky; his upside was always utility man, maybe second base, because he doesn’t have a good glove. Newniesky?
Obviously the football game did not inspire Auburn hoops. Down 41-21 at the half. Geez they are bad.
@218
Lucas has spent a decent chunk of time at short, but he looks like a man with no position. I know that fielding percentage is outdated and doesn’t tell the story, but a guy his age having such high error totals seems like a little bit of a red flag to me. Others have compared him to Brooks Conrad, which seems like a pretty good comparison right now. He possesses a very nicely rounded offensive game which gives me reason to believe that his defense isn’t good enough at any position for him to really stick anywhere.
NEWNIESKY! I love it. Maybe Newniesky’s upside is to be the starting shortstop for the Royals.
@225, we’ve only got so much money.
I think Bobby Lowder should buy five or six non-revenue national championships. Rowing, for instance, probably comes pretty cheap. Or cross-country — those guys barely even have equipment. Equestrian might get pricey.
Diory’s only decent skill in the minors was hitting for average, which he hasn’t been able to do in the majors. (I called him Sub-Zero when his OPS+ went below zero his first year up.) He’s not a good glove, either. If Wren can pick up an all-field no-hit backup SS without overpaying, I would be fine with that. We don’t really have any plus defenders on the infield (other than Freeman). Conrad is fine as the second backup IF as long as he’s mostly used as a PH.
Indians signed Adam Everett to a minor league deal… but I guess the Braves could find someone younger. (And he’s just awful at the plate.)
@203,
Stupid Cliff.
#229
Try women’s gymnastics. I hear Suzanne Yoculan’s available (professionally speaking).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Yoculan
@230 I am not a fan of Diory, but I don’t think anyone can judge talent based on 100 at-bats. We never thought much of Prado initially!
The swimming team wins their fair share.
@233
Just clicked through and it talks about her undefeated gymnastics seasons, which sounds funny. Isn’t gymnastics more of a… way of life? Help me out here.
#230 + #234–Prado looked much better that Diory going through the minor leagues. In fact, Prado always looked like a relatively promising player (though there was nothing to indicate that he would hit with power), but many Braves’ fans simply ignored the evidence and chose to focus on Lillibridge and other more heralded players.
While I agree with the comment about sample size, I don’t think he has nearly Prado’s upside. Diory has been hampered by injuries and it has meant that he reached the majors at an older age.
I still think he can be an adequate reserve infielder, but I do worry about his bat….
Reds pick up WS hero Edgar Renteria for 2.1 mil.
Paul Janish has the job at SS, but they said that last spring before Orlando Cabrera.
New post.