thundercleetz

Strength of Schedule. By the way, defense played remarkably better since Week 10: http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/24989/ravens-remarkably-finish-as-nfls-second-best-defense-in-second-half-of-season

Just guessing, our two #NFL coaching staffs for @seniorbowl will likely be from these 4 teams: @Chargers @dallascowboys @Jaguars @Ravens. If Pees goes with Harbaugh to the Senior Bowl I'm sure he is staying. Hopefully we'll know soon.

Alexander for Clemson is a stud. Only a RS Sophomore, but before the season he declared himself the best corner in college football. If he has a good game he leaves IMO. Hargreaves had a great regular season (including shutting down Treadwell) but has struggled in the postseason (SEC Championship against Alabama and Citrus Bowl against Michigan). Yes, two games doesn't make a player. And Flordia's offense was terrible so the defense had a lot of pressure. However, if we draft him we will rely on him to cover the likes of Antonio Brown and AJ Green. And the Ravens offense is sure to go flat at times putting pressure on the defense. Ramsey would be my first choice, the kid is a stud, playmaker and plays like a Raven. Trash talker, plays with a lot of swag. He will be long gone by 6 IMO. Even if a team drafts him to be a safety, he's that good. Treadwell is my second choice. As TS said in another thread, Treadwell excels in the redzone. We've struggled in the redzone. The TDs Treadwell would give us equate to wins. Think AJ Green last Sunday on the corner end zone catch. Not many receivers who can impact a game with a catch like that.

Treadwell declared for the draft today. As did Hargreaves. Will Fuller declared this past weekend. I saw PFF have Treadwell go in the top 10. Other analysts say he isn't a top ten pick. I tend to trust PFF. I think with a good combine Treadwell will be a top ten pick and we should have a great chance at getting him.

How do you think Treadwell compares to Parker from UofL last year? How about Kevin White? I realize they are different players, but from a value perspective? If Treadwell runs a fast 40, could he be considered a top 10 pick?

Ramsey or Treadwell. I don't care if it's early for Treadwell, he's a stud. Hope he runs a good 40 so we can nab him at 6. I am sure Ramsey will be gone. Ramsey will be a star too.

I'll be interested to see who goes first: Lynch or Goff. I wasn't too impressed with Lynch from the couple times I watched him play this season.

WAR in 2009 was 5.3, Yankees won the WS. 2010: 4.1, 2011: 3.4, 2012: 3.8 in only 123 games. 2013 he was injured and only played 15 games. 2014 was a terrible year with 1 WAR in 123 games. As a result of 2014, Texeira remade his entire diet and re-dedicated himself to taking care of his body. Results showed: 3.8 WAR in 2015 in only 111 games. I'll give you the durability point the last three years, but the WAR is impressive for 2015 regardless. Outside of 2014, his WAR numbers are in line with his career averages pre-New York. The Yankees got exactly what they paid for in Tex, which I'm sure they'd be happy with considering Tex put the Yankees over the hump and won the WS in 2009.

I see your point. Gallardo would be a Ubaldo-like signing. Like Ulbaldo, Gallardo had a few spectacular seasons in his early 20s, but even only at 29 he is no longer that same type of pitcher. Also like Ublado, he may be a 30+ start pitcher but hasn't gone over 200 IP much. I would be OK with getting Gallardo on a three-year deal. If Tillman can return to 2014 form, Ubaldo can pitch like the first half of 2015, and Gausman takes the next step, Gallardo would be a very nice piece to that equation. Lots of IF's there though

Wow, did MacKensie Alexander rebound strong in the second half for Clemson. He's listed as 5'11" 195, but MacKensie looks and plays a lot bigger than that. Absolutely jacked. Redshirt sophomore, not sure if he comes out but he looks like a great player as well. Treadwell put on a clinic last night. 6 receptions for 73 yards and 3 TDs. With his size, strength, body control and hands he is a serious redzone threat. Very Dez Bryant-like working that part of the field. There is talk about Treadwell going back for his senior year, but I don't know if his stock will be any higher after last night. With us being out of range for Ramsey, Treadwell is my number one target by far! Yes, like you said yesterday was a great day for receivers. Mike Thomas and Will Fuller went back and forward with each other in the Fiesta Bowl.

I wonder how serious the O's are about Yovani Gallardo? He's not an ace, but still relatively young and consistent. A solid 2/3 guy on most teams.

Yes, I do think the Yankees are happy with Tex's contract. As for the Royals, they are built more similar to us than the Astros. We will see the next couple seasons whether they start selling off or keeping guys up until the end of their contracts. So far they have been buyers, not sellers... I agree with your skepticism on CD. However, if we are not going to re-sign CD we need to trade everyone and start over. Given Angelos is 80-some years old, that's not going to happen, and he'd rather be in that mediocre area than start over.

Fair point. No one can predict the future. Power hitting first basemen in good shape tend to age better than any other position. Texeira is still raking for the Yankees after he changed his diet and starting taking care of his body. CD takes excellent care of his body. However, if the O's have any doubt CD won't be productive for the next four years, don't re-sign him. That is the risk. And you are right, the risk is disproportionately more for a mid-market team like the O's than for a big market team like the Red Sox or Cubs. But if CD produces like he did last year, the O's will be contenders for the immediate future. Big risk, big reward.

I agree that the farm is key. However, both the Red Sox and Cubs have proven you can supplement a strong farm system with the right FA acquisitions. Both the Red Sox and Cubs are loaded with young talent, but have chosen to spend in the right areas. If the Astros signed Chris Davis they would be an instant AL favorite. Baseball prospects can be like lottery tickets. As loaded as a farm system the Astros have, there is no guarantee any of their hitters will turnout as good as Chris Davis will be over the next four years or so. The Astros made a deep playoff run this season, nothing is guaranteed in baseball. Their window to win is now.

Ironically, Jon Heyman of SI posted an article the other day saying Chris Davis is out of the Astros's price range:

Well, if KO is our LT then you can justify paying him more money. Do we cut Monroe and keep KO to be our LT? That's probably the only way we keep KO. It would be hard to justify paying KO big money to be a guard when we cannot rely on Monroe at LT.

Tim, I was just thinking the exact same thing. Body control and hands have been spectacular so far tonight. He's looking like Antonio Brown. And that corner on Clemson he's going against is no slouch.

One team I am worried about in the Chris Davis sweepstakes is Houston. Houston had a great season with a young team and is at the point in their rebuilding process where they can supplement their young talent with a big name free agent, to put them over the hump. They are a big market team with a clear payroll, and showed last offseason that they are ready to spend. The Astros DFA'd their first baseman Carter, so they have a need at the positions. Plus, CD is from Longview, Texas, only 211 miles from Houston. CD lives in Arlington, Texas in the offseason.

Read the first part. Excellent read. Will catch up with the other parts this weekend.

I have no problem with SSS coming back. Heck, I'm pumped. I love the intensity he brings and he deserves to go out on better terms. However, I hope his return isn't an excuse for the Ravens not going after a #1 receiver. Arizona has proven this season that a team cannot have too many good receivers (Fitzgerald, Floyd, Brown). If Laquon Treadwell is there at our pick, I'd be mad if we passed because we are banking on SSS.

I'd have to think Eric DeCosta hasn't turned down as many GM jobs as he has over the years to be passed over when Ozzie retires.

We need turnovers!! Last week was a good start!

Not a Will Hill fan? PFF had him as the fifth overall safety going into Week 14. I think what Hill has done the past two seasons has been impressive considering the revolving door next to him at FS.

No way I want to lose to the Bengals four straight. I'll take the lower draft pick. We need to win.