This goes out to whoever was doing the Fan Shot contest. I never received my Rams Cheerleader Calendar!

Whoever handled that please get in contact with me.

andrew.j.batson@gmail.com

Someone originally emailed me for my address but I never got anything.

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I have been a Rams fan for about 12 years. I am 22 years old, so I started when I was 10 years old. I really wasn't old enough to really enjoy the Greatest Show on Turn days, but I definitely realize how great those teams were. Today, I felt one of the proudest days as a Rams fan as I have ever since the Rams won the Super Bowl. 

One of the reasons I felt proud: Steven Jackson. is in his 8th season as a Ram, and has never been apart of a winning team. Today, he showed me that he is the true leader of this team. I have NEVER seen that kind of passion on a football field than what I saw in him today. The way he was screaming after runs, and getting on Saffold for the false start, then getting on them more on the bench. I am very proud that Jackson is on the Rams, and that I have gotten to watch him for his career with the Rams.

We really take Jackson for granted sometimes, and really don't realize how good he is until you see a game like this today. Today, he made his mark in St. Louis, and if he puts together a couple more seasons will be up there with Eric Dickerson and Marshall Faulk as not just one of the best Rams runnings backs of all time, but one of the best Rams of all time. 

I for one, appreciate everything he has done, and hope he finishes his career here because he has a lot left, and is willing to do whatever it takes to win, and that's all I can ask for. 

If you want, post your favorite Steven Jackson moments as a Ram. I would love to see what everyone's memories of him are. 

I would like to go to the game, along with a couple of my friends. I have no tickets right now. I am looking for someone who either A. Wants to sell their tickets and help out a fellow Rams fan   or B. Something came up and you are looking to make a quick sale. 

I don't have that much to spend(in college, you guys know how it is). Let me know where your tickets are and how much you want for them. Tickets over $100 I can't afford so save yourself some time with not posting.

I need anywhere from 2-4

HELP A FAN OUT!

I can tell you right now that I am going to a majority of the games this year. I don't care what the record is, I am going. Last year I went to like 4-5 games, and was planning on going to the home playoff game. I just wanted to see who was planning on going to any games this year, and which ones? 

I will definitely be at the home opener. Going to be a crazy game. Rams vs. Eagles. We will see how good both teams are real quick. 

Just wondering if anybody had any big plans Thursday night to watch the draft. I don't exactly know what I am going to do yet. Post where ya gonna be at!

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The MLB Channel has finally gotten to the Rays on their series of 30 teams in 30 days. I know we all know our team better than any of them, but it's nice to see guys talk about the farm system, the present team we have, and rave about Longoria and Price for sure. I believe it's at 6PM Eastern Time tonight. Have fun!

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In 2009, we all saw the talent. After the trade brought him over, it took him awhile to figure out how to actually run routes and catch balls, but in 2010 he got there. 

I don't understand how people can actually say he doesn't deserve to be part of the 5-6 WR group for years to come. He has good size, improving hands and has decent speed. The thing I love most about the guy is that he is a competitor. After his first few games where he dropped a couple of passes, he came back and made SURE he did not drop a ball. After the Niner game when he decided to try and make more out of something that wasn't there and not fall down for a couple of first downs, the next game all he did was fall forward and make sure he got the first down. He shows great emotion, and is ready to play every down. 

• Rec Yds620
• Yds/Game44.3
• TD2

That is for 14 games. If he had played the first two games, he would have easily been over 700 yards. He averaged over a first down per catch, and was really the only receiver to have YAC. Personally, I felt that he was the only receiver that could actually "get open". For as frustrating as it was to watch the offense this year, most of his plays he was not around any defenders and made some big gains. 

Here is a video in 2009 where he made an absolute monster catch in his rookie season against the Cardinals. 

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d8154bcbc

I guess what I am getting at, is after a year of dismal play by our WR's the only ones that I can really say will be on the roster next year are Gibson, Amendola and Alexander, and honestly I believe they will be the core of our WR corps for awhile. IF we can add a true #1 receiver and keep one out of the Avery, Clayton, Gilyard and co. then I feel that WR goes from a huge weakness to a strength and with good depth. 

I know Gibson can be inconsistent, but he just finished his 2nd full year and he was a 6th round pick out of Washington State. I feel like we just are so desperate to get good talent that we pick apart every player that isn't a superstar and a bunch of players don't deserve it. 

Gibson is what he is; a WR that is going to give you energy, size and get open and make plays. He isn't going to be your deep threat or your slot guy but he is a guy that will come in and spark your team with a catch and some YAC. I will take him everyday as an emerging young WR that will fit perfectly as our 3-5 WR on the depth chart. 

So only two days away from the biggest game the Rams have played in quite awhile, and I am trying to pass the time, so I am thinking of who the Rams should take with their first couple of picks in the 2011 draft, specifically their 1st pick.

First let's look at our biggest needs, in my opinion. 

1. WR

2.OLB

3.OG

Those are honestly, the holes we absolutely need. Other areas we can add depth to include: RB, CB, DT,DE,S

A speedy RB that can change up the pace to SJ39 is at the top of my wish list. Also, I would LOVE to add a safety that we can groom to play alongside Otowge. Obviously, I feel like these are back end round picks, so let's get to my case for our top picks.

Justin Blackmon

6'1 205 WR Oklahoma State

Redshirt Sophomore

Yeah, that is quite the 2010 year. Here is a highlight video against arguably the top corner in college football.

Blackmon Vs. Prince

Gotta love that highlight right there. He did a little bit of everything which included Catching different ways(coming back to the ball, going up and getting it), he blocked, and was a decoy. He has good size and resembles his counter part from last year in Dez Bryant. The thing I like most about him is that he is a passionate guy that wants to win and be great. I watched some of his interviews and he always is praising his teammates and coaches. 

His 40 time is around the 4.5's but I have read on many sites that he plays so much faster than that, same with his size. He is a monster, but is pretty raw on route running and blocking, but that comes with experience. The guy can stretch the field just as good as anyone in the country, and the best part, he finishes his plays. He got Prince on a couple pass interference's and also caught a couple deep ones. 

It's gonna be tough to get Blackmon I am afraid. He had a great bowl game, and I feel he will run a great 40 time to really wow some scouts. I think he will be a fast riser, but hopefully we can still get him. 

Walter football has us taking:

1. Justin Blackmon

2. Mason Foster- Who had a GREAT bowl game last night with like 11 tackles and 2 sacks. The guy plays with some passion and eye black!

3. Blake Gideon- Don't know too much about him, but I would much rather have a guy like Demarco Murrary or Noel Devine

Thoughts? 

and BTW, GO RAMS!

Let me first start off by saying that I love my team, I love the fans, but with that being said sometimes I wonder if we will ever have the true home field advantage.

I have been to all but one home game this year, and I have been to many in the past and I have been to many other teams stadiums as well. I have been to Bears games and Chiefs games and to be honest, other than the GSOT days, it seems like those games are in another league. Those are games where you don't bring your kid because it is that crazy. The dome is not like that.

Maybe we just have a totally different audience, but I would say that over half the fans at the dome come to relax and see a football game, and that's fine, but honestly couldn't you do that at your home? We have some really passionate fans, but there are a lot of people that really don't give a shit and always just sit in their seat and never make a sound, and that takes a toll in the Dome. At times it gets pretty loud, but not until a 3rd down or a crucial down. At other stadiums, its loud EVERY PLAY. 

All I am saying is that I want it to just be hell for the other team and it's not at all. Before you go and post "well we are like 6 and whatever in the last 3 seasons" well I get that and that's why I always remember back to the GSOT days when it was just packed every game and loud. I know right now we are just earning back fans, but I feel like it could really be a difference maker. 

See ya at the Dome and BE LOUD AND ROWDY!

It was nice because he played the entire game and I really could get a good look of what his body motions look like and what his swing is like and all I can say is that I am excited to see this guy in a Rays uniform in the future. He has some of the quickest hands, and has some pop because of great balance at the plate. His speed looks pretty good also. I could easily see him getting time off the bench with spot starts at 1B and in the OF in 2011. 

Anyways, he just ended the game with a walk off homer. All game he played hard and showed great energy. YES!

First off let me say that I am very happy to see enthusiasm back with the Rams. The last 5 years have been tough, and there hasn't been anything to really root for other than the draft.

Second, everyone needs to just relax. We are 2-3. Sure, we could be 4-1 or 3-2 or whatever, but we aren't. Expectations I saw before the season was anywhere from 3 to 6 wins and people wanted to see improvement. Today was a tough loss for sure, but like Steven Jackson said after the game "Sometimes you just need a good old butt whoopin."

The 2010 Rams are starting on offense a rookie quarterback, left tackle and many other 2nd and 3rd year players. On defense is just about the same. We are one of top 5 youngest teams in the league, and it definitely shows. The one thing I wanted to see this year was a growth on both sides of the ball, and dammit so far I have. The offense has shown me the ability to put together drives and the main reason is Sam Bradford. Sure, he has struggled, and just like every other rookie quarterback in history, he has made mistakes but what has really been a treat has been his ability to really make this his team and show us that we have a bright bright future ahead of us. We have the makings of a really good offense and defense, we just have to be patient. We have our franchise QB, we have one of the best running backs in the game, our offensive line is solid and only will get better(and is staying healthy), and we have ton of wide receivers that can contribute in the future as solid options. On defense, we have an improving defensive line anchored by Long and Robbins and emerging rookie Selvie. Our linebackers are lead by Animal Jr, but we will need to upgrade our outside LB's. And the most pleasant surprise to me has been the secondary. Just brutally beaten up last year, Bartell and Fletcher have become reliable corners and have impressed me. Murphy shows flashes as well. 

All in all, too many people are quick to just ream this team, but you have to look at it from a body of work not just one game. This team is very young and is going to frustrate the hell out of us, but I myself is willing to stand by their side and watch this team that last year was 1-15 and like 2-14 the year before that evolve into a team that will contend for many NFC West titles and hopefully a Super Bowl in our future. 

Always try and take positives out of something, even when there might seem like there isn't. 

Hopefully this will help try and sell out this Sunday.

Tickets are $26 dollars each. They are 400 level seats, which I sat in for the opener and they aren't bad at all. You see the entire field and usually there is rowdier fans.

You also get a free Pink Breast Cancer hat with the Seahawks game.

• Expires Oct 17, 2010
• Tickets must be printed from Ticketmaster.com. Use code "groupon". Valid for listed games only. For groups of 25+, call (314) RAMS-TIX, mention Groupon. No refunds or exchanges. Ticketmaster processing fees, print-from-home fees, & tax not included.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

• Use code "groupon"

• https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/request.htmI?PROC=GROUP_CORP_REFRESH&STAGE=1&l=EN&owner=1228809&group=132&event=1003SE10&team=rams&customerID=

Ill be there for my 3rd consecutive Rams home game cheering on them for a chance at beating the hated Seahawks. We need a huge sellout next week and the Rams need a crazy environment, just like against the Redskins. BTW, I caught Otogwe's glove after the game. It was awesome. 

Just wanted to see who was going to the game next week? 

SEE YA AT THE DOME!

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: RAMS 24 SEAHAWKS 20

RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS RAMS

I know its looking way too into the future but hey what the hell. 

Rays last 3 Series of the Year:

VS. SEA(39-67) 3 Games

VS. BAL(32-73) 3 Games

@ KC(45-60) 4 Games to end season

Yankees last 3 Series of the Year:

VS. BOS(60-45) 3 Games

@ TOR(54-51) 3 Games

@ BOS(60-45) 3 Games 

Oh and the series before those last 3 series you ask? A 4 GAME HEAD TO HEAD FINALE @ TAMPA. 

As you can see the schedule if we can take care of business in that 4 game matchup against the Yankees, is very favorable. We play 3 of the worst teams in baseball while the Yankees get a ESPN cockfest with the Red Sox and a tough Blue Jays squad who hates the Yankees just as much as we do. 

I know I am not including BOS, which I really should, but it's late and I hate the Red Sox and they are in 3rd place.

ITS AUGUST AND I'M PUMPED FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS! LETS DO THIS! 

This isn't much, but I was just reading through some old stuff and found an old article/poll that SI did where they had players vote on different categories of their fellow MLB'ers. This was in 2003, and looking back on it, that was really the last peak of the steriods. Remember, this was players voting about other players and issues. Its a small sample size, but it's ironic to see these numbers.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/news/2003/07/01/survey/

Look at that. Almost half of major leaguers thought the weak drug testing system was fine and another 23 percent are on the same lines. Thats 63 percent of major league ball players were fine with the system or wanted a weaker system. Also, look at that footnotes at the bottom. Pitchers were more in favor of harder testing than hitters(big surprise). It looks like pitchers knew these guys were on steroids(and the ones that voted no to harder testing were probably on something themselves) and were trying to say something through these numbers. More on the footnotes, the next two bullet points are very good reads as well. Players who were just entering in the league, to me it looks like they realized they were outmatched by these beefed up players and wanted to make it fair play without going on PED's themselves. The last footnote, is kind of interesting. Those making the money it looks like they fell 50/50 with god gifted talent, and PED's. If you look back to 2003's top paid players most of them, not all mentioned in the public but are under suspicion, were on PED's. Heres the list. 

Year / Top 25 players

2003

Rank Player Salary Team 1       Rodriguez, Alex $ 22,000,000                           Texas Rangers 2       Ramirez, Manny $ 20,000,000                           Boston Red Sox 3       Delgado, Carlos $ 18,700,000                           Toronto Blue Jays 4       Vaughn, Mo $ 17,166,667                           New York Mets 5       Sosa, Sammy $ 16,000,000                           Chicago Cubs 6       Brown, Kevin J. $ 15,714,286                           Los Angeles Dodgers 7       Green, Shawn $ 15,666,667                           Los Angeles Dodgers 8       Jeter, Derek $ 15,600,000                           New York Yankees 9       Piazza, Mike $ 15,571,429                           New York Mets 10       Bonds, Barry $ 15,500,000                           San Francisco Giants 11       Martinez, Pedro J. $ 15,500,000                           Boston Red Sox 12       Johnson, Randy $ 15,000,000                           Arizona Diamondbacks 13       Maddux, Greg $ 14,750,000                           Atlanta Braves 14       Hampton, Mike $ 13,625,000                           Atlanta Braves 15       Jones, Chipper $ 13,333,333                           Atlanta Braves 16       Bagwell, Jeff $ 13,000,000                           Houston Astros 17       Belle, Albert $ 13,000,000                           Baltimore Orioles 18       Gonzalez, Juan $ 13,000,000                           Texas Rangers 19       Mondesi, Raul $ 13,000,000                           New York Yankees 20       Park, Chan Ho $ 13,000,000                           Texas Rangers 21       Walker, Larry $ 12,666,667                           Colorado Rockies 22       Griffey Jr., Ken $ 12,500,000                           Cincinnati Reds 23       Dreifort, Darren $ 12,400,000                           Los Angeles Dodgers 24       Williams, Bernie $ 12,357,143                           New York Yankees 25       Burnitz, Jeromy $ 12,166,667                           New York Mets

http://content.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/top25.aspx?year=2003

Now, like I said before, not all of those guys have been caught for PED's. This is my own judgment here, but I see at least 17 players that either I know they took PED's, or I could make a huge argument that they did, remember I said in my own opinion. 

I know it was off topic, but it's interesting to me that a lot of people were so oblivious to what was going on, mostly in part that it really brought baseball back after the strike, and the MLB's front office exec's weren't hollering either because they saw how popular baseball became during those years. Now that baseball is back, they now know they have to get it back to a fair playing field. Anyways, hopefully you guys find it interesting too. Oh, and the "Devil Rays" had the best players club house!

I was just watching the NFL Network and Hard Knox: Dallas Cowboys were on and I know I watched this a couple years ago all the episodes, but little did I know a huge part of the last couple shows were about Amendola and him trying to make the team. I didn't know if anybody else saw that, but I thought it was a good look into what he brings to the Rams, and how lucky we are to have a guy put everything out there everyday. Looking forward to seeing him take it to another level next year. 

I am the commissioner of Baseball Heaven, one of the best up and coming dynasty leagues around. For a little understanding of what started was I started the league in about the 2nd month of the baseball season with a bunch of guys who we were all in a different league where the commissioner was a cheat, so we decided to go off and make our own league. Now the league is comprised of 16 teams with each owner selecting 10 players off the team they chose and 5 minor league players. We then did a draft with the dropped players and the players from the teams that were not chosen. Anyways, we have a few spots open and we are looking for a few owners who have a lot of experience in dynasty leagues that also use salary caps(huge factor in the league). Posted below is the league website. Teams available include(you can take a look at the teams in the site to see which one seems attractive to you): New York Mets Texas Rangers Baltimore Orioles Washington Nationals Los Angeles Dodgers Those are the teams available so far. All of them are pretty good if not amazing. http://baseballheaven.proboards.com/index.cgi MUST HAVE AIM/YIM Please contact me through AIM: Fishingtilnoon YIM: Jombarii311 email: Andrew.j.batson@gmail.com Come and get a team!

Alright, this is purely speculation from the head of me but I feel some of these moves would improve the talent of this team drastically, and maybe put us in contention in the West again. Here are some of my moves for the offseason:

1. Sign Braylon Edwards. Sure, hes had his problems in CLE, but hes a huge receiver and a game changer when hes catching the ball. Edwards, Avery, Robinson would make a pretty good WR core. 

2. Draft Sam Bradford, release Marc Bulger. Lets swallow our pride and let go of a lost cause, Marc Bulger. He just isnt the same quarterback and we need a QB thats gonna bring some tenacity to the team and a winning mentality. Right now, Im assuming Bradford comes back healthy and dominates like last year. Also maybe Snead from Ole Miss.

3. Add a monster in the middle of the D-line. I dont know who that is just of yet, but we need someone to help out our ends and LB's. We could go about this by using a high pick other than our number 1, or sign a FA. If we can add a force to the inside, that makes Long, and if we bring back Little, so much better. Right now, people can just man handle our ends because no one is afraid of our DT's. 

4. Add a outside LB. With Witherspoon and Lauranitis set up to be our two starting LB's for awhile, we need to go out and finish the other side. 

5. Another good corner? Bartell is set on the other side, and I dont know how the whole King, Wade, and group are going to do the rest of the season but adding another good corner opposite Bartell would be nice.

Also, thoughts on the O-Line next year? Do you think we resign Barron? If so, does he start on the left or right side and where is Jason Smith next year?

Thoughts?

Now that this 2009 draft has been compeleted, and we are starting to build for the next few years it came to me that the 2010 draft is going to be VERY critical to our success. After seeing a few 2010 mock drafts(which are a joke right now) I saw a few names that got me interested. Looking at our needs for next year I saw these positions to fill: QB, top end WR, TE, T, DE, DT. Obviously there is more but I saw those to be the most glaring ones. I am asking in this post to see if anybody has information or has seen these guys play. Here are a few intriguing prospects

Sam Bradford

Carlos Dunlap(Who Florida fans are calling the next "freak")

Gerald McCoy

Taylor Mays

Dez Bryant

Brandon Spikes

Terrance Cody

Jevan Snead

Those are just a few that I saw. The most intriguing one that I like is Carlos Dunlap. From looking a few articles about him and seeing a few videos, the guy is sick. I would love to have him teamed up with Long. Although, drafting a QB might be too much of a need to pass up, especially in this draft. But if Dunlap comes out and has a huge year and shows a Mario Williams type player, i think we have to take him, but it really comes down to whether or not Bulger is good or not. Lets hear your guy's opinons

I am watching the Cardinals game, and got to wondering.....How good could the Cardinals be in 2010? I mean, Rasmus is going to have a year under his belt, Wallace if he mashes this year will be most certainly up next year and as well as our other guys. I just wanna complete an outline of what our team could look like next year. Feel free to add/subtract anyone. Also, im not too sure about the 2010 free agent class so if you think the cardinals will go out and get somebody plug him in there. I will just do a lineup/rotation/bullpen

1. Skip Schumaker-2B

2. Colby Rasmus- CF

3. Albert Pujols-1B

4. Ryan Ludwick-RF

5. Put Free agent power hitting LF bat here-LF

6. Brett Wallace-3B/LF(Still too early to know if he will handle 3B so thats why I put the LF in there, but I would love to let Ankiel go ,and sign a big LF bat to put in the 5th spot and have Wallace bat 6th)

7. Kahil Greene-SS(I like his defense and has a pretty decent/good bat)

8. Yadier Molina-C

9. P

Rotation:

1. Chris Carpenter(I know im going to get comments like, "Yeah right!" and "The guy wont be healthy" but I am going to put the best possible scenario

2. Adam Wainwright

3. Put a good/really good FA starting pitcher here

4. Kyle Lohse

5. Todd Wellmeyer

Bullpen:

LR-Dennys Reyes

LR-Garcia/Miller/Whoever else

RP-Kyle Mccelland

RP-Jason Motte

RP-Ryan Franklin

RP-Josh Kinney

RP-Chris Perez

CL-??????????? Let me hear what you got as far as free agents, or if you want Perez/Motte closing, ect.

Well that is just a 10 minute thought of what could be for next year, so I probably missed a lot of key players/thoughts. It looks like some main players to me not returning next year are:

Ankiel(I wouldnt overpay, let somebody else)

Glaus(He was a good fill in for Freese/Wallace to come up for that 2 years)

Pinero(Im not sure if he is a FA after this year but I would try and trade him/DFA. Im not a big fan.)

I wanna hear what your guy's thoughts are. Also, if anyone has any information on our FA, Payroll for next year, ect that would help out to see how much cap room we have for next year and to see who is a FA next year as well, thanks.

Surprised we haven't covered anything about next years draft. I'm sure mainly because we arent picking in the top 5, but it would be nice to get some coverage going. Anybody have any idea of who could possibly the Rays could be looking at towards the bottom of the draft bucket this year?

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It looks as if he is starting to pitch with Vero Beach, and is being successfull. 1.35 ERA, i mean not a lot of innings but the strikeouts are there. Does he have a future in our bullpen? He was i think the 8th overall pick and i would hate to just write him off like we have in the past. I dont know if anyone has seen him pitch lately, but after price went out last outing, i think townsend came in and pitched pretty good according to his stats.

After looking at the possible choices for the number one pick, I couldn't really decide who could be the front runner.

-Tim Beckham

-Gordon Beckham

-Buster Posey

-Pedro Alvarez

Those are the guys who I think the Rays have narrowed it down to. All have great tools, and they all have their downfall. The guy, who after looking at some videos and reading some articles, that looks like he could be the next Troy Tulowitski(sp) is Gordon Beckham. The guy can hit for average and power, and plays a hell of a SS. He looks like he could be ready in 1-2 years, and that is why we wouldnt take the other Beckham because it would take a good 2-4 years for him to develop.  Please give me some input on what you guys think. Also, after looking at Posey at the plate I dont like his swing at all. Thoughts on Beckham and Posey?

Living in St. Louis, I watch the Cardinals play and I noticed that Brian Barton made the club, plus he has started the last two games. I am watching the game today, and the guy looks goofy, but he can fly. The reason I am posting this, is because I know the Rays were thinking about taking him in the Rule 5 draft, and I kind of wish we did. I know there were problems with his injuries, but it seems as if he is over them and ready to play at a high level. Any thoughts?