millz58

WOW, MAF is definitely not tracking the puck, another PP goal for OTT at 6:45 PD. 2, Sens 4 Pens 2. also, Ottawa's doing a good and physical job of keeping Crosby in check, if not for Malkin this would be a blowout at this point! Definitely not cool at the Igloo... Update: (3rd Pd. 14:33) Sens 4, Pens 3: Holy **** what a backhand by Adams! Pens needed that was crucial, Pens starting to battle back for neutral-zone control, as OTT to this point has really dictated with their defense. Update: (3rd Pd. 10:20) Sens 5, Pens 3: Former pen Ruutu gets a great feed on a 2-on-2 rush and scores 5-hole, nice (for them), looks like pens are gonna need a lot in a little time to pull this one out Update: (3rd Pd. 2:24) Sens 5, Pens 4: Wow, Gogligoski gets a great pass from behind the net and scores, Pens still alive

Okay, so I've been trying to add a pic to my signature but don't know how/haven't been able to. I suppose I still can't, based on this thread? at some point I'd like to know what the procedure/requirement is though... Edit: Obviously I figured it out, just had to search for right size image I guess

Yay! They've Started! Go PENS! Update (Pd. 1 4:00) Pens 1, Sens 2: Wow Ottawa's really bringing it, not that I doubted they would, but it's cool! Update (End Pd.1) Pens 1, Sens 2: Ottawa's playing tough but also well, getting puck to net, taking advantage of every opportunity; Marc-Andre Fluery (MAF) looks kinda out of it, not moving quickly, seems to be behind the play somewhat. Stats: shots OTT 11, PIT 4; Hits OTT 14, PIT 17 Update: (Pd. 2 9:30) Pens 2, Sens 3: Wow, Malkin's 2nd PP goal closes gap after Sens get #3 by Kelley on PP extended from end of Pd. 1 This game is pretty good so far!

A win every 3 games on average, during this stretch; so, even bad on MLB historical proportions, but an improvement for this team right now. that's saying something... GO PENS!!

ANY aspect, indeed.

okay, but I love that episode where Dean gets killed off by car, piano, choking, shooting, etc. over and over... and the trickster is at the heart of it. unexpected at that point in that season.

As far as the really "unproven" goaltenders go, you have Roberto Luongo (Vancouver) who, despite his olympic and general success, still has yet to climb the NHL playoff mountain and thus gets much doubt from fans/media; also Jose Theodore (Caps) has some work to do to keep the Caps out of shootouts and generally represent between the pipes in the playoffs. Brodeur has had his share of detractors these last few playoff seasons, and he's proven them right; so, he needs to ramp it up to get NJ past a resurgent Philly team and goalie Boucher (who gets little respect.) Goaltending will be the key to the first round, to be highlighted by the Boston-Buffalo match (which have on both sides probably the best 1-2 goalie combos in the league, so who's gonna score, eh?) and hey, I haven't really spoken to the west, of which I know little...

Spen, you're right on about the lacking or suspect or unproven goaltending, I think surely with Caps/Habs there is much to look at there. One thing I have heard consistently the last couple days is how the Caps have "played down to their competition", I don't know how true that is, but if it is, and taking into account there ultra-aggro and show-boating tendencies, they could be challenged by the Canadiens who are better truly than their #8 ranking. I am much less confident with the Pens this year, Fluery and his backup Johnson both don't look as good, but they still are in their #4 spot and Crosby seems to be ratcheting it up a bit, so I like their chances against the Senators. I'm really geeked about the Buffalo/Boston series, tough defense, who's gonna score? Really?? ... But my FAVORITE UPCOMING SERIES IS PHILLY V. NEW JERSEY WHOLLY CRAP THIS ONE'S GONNA BE GREAT btw... entry draft...lottery selections... 5. Islanders 4. Blue Jackets 3. Panthers 2. Bruins 1. Oilers ...sorry, distraction... but hey looking forward to it

"For the Orioles... Another... Really... tough... Night" Gary thorne yeah, yeah, yeah...

I know one of the Trickster episodes is in season 4 when dean gets caught in that dying-every-day loop with Sam and sam has to figure out how the heck to get out of the loop, is that called "In My Time of dying"? It'd make sense I guess, I just can't remember the title, but that episode is great except for all of the obvious rewinding. But another great episode is the one where (is it?) "the kids are alright", and Dean thinks (briefly) he might have an illegitimate son? And he acts quite like he does? crazy. anyhoo, I'm rambling...

Spen, I would have hoped the Rangers beat the Flyers in OT if to have the Habs play the Devils, they'd have a better chance even against Brodeur & co. than this year's Caps. Washington is just to big all around and to crazy on offense to be handled by a Montreal team that many wondered early on how they would compete with Toronto's goon squad (Brian Burke going for rough & tumble and size, as he does I guess.) Any way I hope Halak plays well, he was great during the Olympics, and even Price is a good backup. Hard to root against Theodore, with as much as he's been through especially going back to last year's early PO exit, and Varlamov getting the playoff cred from there, and then Jose losing his son... I will have my heart out for the Habs, but I just don't see it Habening (ugh)

Yeah, bet he'd do some good with the Jets... Heck they took Edwards, and Ravens have taken their chances with ill-fated players, is Rex doing it too? brief confirmation of the trade http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5077088

I don't remember in recent years having a starting pitcher reliably (even frequently) go into the 6th inning, let alone the 8th or 9th. And yes, though, when any of them would stumble into those later (read, 5th or 6th, maybe 7th) innings, there would be a quick pull by trembley to bring in the so-called "middle-relief", which would normally not work out, and then put closers in bad positions or put other bullpenners in untenable positions. The management of our rotation and bullpen has been the single largest problem this team has faced in the last 15 years, the close second being the development of minor league talent. Both have suffered the abuse of free agency and bringing-in of retreads.

dude, that's lunch money, there must be some nasty cheese on Holmes'... well, you know...

Did I just here this right on ESPN, that the steelers are trading Santonio Holmes to the Jets for a draft pick? Please back me up, someone, or I'm halluciginating...

Well, the Caps are the #1 seed in the east, and are facing the Canadians. By all rights, this should be at longest a 5-game series, given the offensive dominance the Caps have put up, and that the Habs just don't score much (e.g. WAS's goals-per-game is 3.87 which is 1/2 a goal per game higher than anyone, while MTL's 2.56 goals per game is slightly under the Caps' 2.77 goals-against average.) Also, the Pens are in a very familiar #4 seed, and face the #5 senators in the first round (as they did during their '07-'08 Stanley Cup finals run). Could the Pens and Caps meet up again this year in the playoffs, as they did last year? Would be another great installment of Caps/Pens playoffs, if the Caps could actually win one. I'm a Pens fan, but wouldn't mind seeing the Caps actually go deeper into the playoffs, given their scoring skills and need to make a mark in this newer generation of playoff-caliber teams as they are, along with Pens, 'Hawks, etc. I haven't watched enough hockey to really make confident predictions, but I think Chicago, San Jose, Washington and NJ really represent well as the 1 and 2 seeds. However Pittsburgh, Phoenix and Buffalo will definitely make marks IMO.

Dag, $10?! My wife'll be angry if she pays more, but I won't tell her, usually she's happy with anything under $20. Yeah, Dean's food consumption is a source of entertainment to Bonnie and I, we both appreciate good appetites. I liked Ruby's character, but I'm more glad she's gone b/c I couldn't bear to watch anything psuedo-sexual with Sam, kinda takes away from the show IMO, where as Dean's exploits are, like his food, kinda jokes.

yep, that's why I really didn't even watch much after the Flyers/Rangers game came on. It's going to be difficult (for me at least) to watch any baseball at all until NHL playoffs are done, and by then the O's might be 20 games back already. Sure looks like that's the pace they're on.

Dee, I don't know who the "you" is in the topic title, but my wife and I have the first 4 seasons on DVD, and we refuse to watch it on regular tv, instead waiting for the next DVD set to come and watch it marathon-style. Bonnie loves that show to death, I think it's pretty good too, and it kind of fits in with the other tv-shows we tend to collect on dvd (X-Files, Buffy/Angel and other Wheedon titles like Firefly; Closer, Bones, etc.) so, we left off at the end of our season 4 box set, waiting for lucifer to arrive... I won't read the rest of the posts in this thread so as not to read spoilers, but that show's a winner in my book. I love how in most episodes Dean will invariable utter the "SOB", and I wait for those moments.

the way Gonzalez moved side-to-side erratically on his deliveries made me imagine him on the edge of a high rooftop, one leg kicked over the edge, the opposite arm back over the roof... searching for his center, pitch going wherever it would. It's like he has no idea where his balance point is so instead of driving into his pitches he's letting his upper body dicate his whole movement. wacky, dangerous and ineffective.

He didn't sound castrati, but it is freaky how that body (so different from Whitney's) can make the same sounds at the same pitch. Whitney was much more practiced of course, had more intonation and range, but that darned kid made a good run of it. damn.

Cool; he definitely lived on the edge tonight. The Sherrill comparison makes me shudder. Maybe another metric should gauge the closer's effectiveness with inherited runners (included).

Okay, maybe I'm just confused on what a "Ball in Play" is, to affect the numbers. I thought even a ball hit and errored on by the defense was still in play, and would raise a hitter's BABIP (but lower the pitcher's same?). I need a formula to explain why an "average BABIP" is 300, that type of statement won't make mathematical sense to me unless I know the calculation (true nerdiness coming out). I used to go through similar issues with slugging percentage, but eventually I could get over the lack of baseball knowledge to figure out the sense behind the formula. It seems the BABIP is a cousin to slugging percentage?

Really though, he's an NL transplant, can we save the 'weird' label until he goes through a few rotations? I know his delivery is funky, if that's what you meant. but I wouldn't expect him to do well immediately in this league (division).

Maybe you and Spear have a different "we" in my mind? I agree noone truly is pushed into a bad choice, but some GMs/owners succumb to pressures more easily than others I guess; some are just stubborn, arrogant and/or stupid as well. I can't believe that "we" drafted Boller simply b/c Billick was hooked on him, but sure there must have been some undue influence there.