SB Nation User Blog: danvail

Draft Discussion

danvail — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:56:03 -0000

Let's take this opportunity to consolidate draft related discussions. Place your comments on positional needs and priorities, as well as player discussions here. That way, we can be efficient about how we waste time until the draft. Let's keep this rec'd to the top so we can keep our thoughts all in one place.

In order to fulfill fanpost obligatory length, here's a little bit of Cleveland Browns fan conditioning:

Tick...tick...tick...tick... The waiting is the worst part.

Housh Signs With Seattle

danvail — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:15:16 -0000

Sources told ESPN's Michael Smith the deal was worth more than $40 million for five years, with more than $15 million guaranteed.

"I just felt it was the best destination, it was the best team, it was the best choice for me," Houshmandzadeh told ESPN.

Link

So, Seattle plugged it's #1 receiver hole. We've all been assuming that Crabtree would probably never make it past Seattle at #4, but with the their pressing need met the situation has changed. Now, we probably need a receiver even more than they do. The odds of us landing the next Calvin Johnson just went up drastically. Thoughts?

Miller Reports Minor Finger Soreness

danvail — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:37:28 -0000

Miller Reports Minor Finger Soreness

Everyone has stressed it as minor, and is not expressing concern.

Also, Wood pitched a 40 pitch session with no problems.

On Savage's Firing

danvail — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:36:54 -0000

-- Savage, meanwhile, remains a hot topic despite having departed nearly a month ago. We've been told that Savage was directly involved or responsible for no less that five strikingly unprofessional issues. A particularly alarming suggestion is that Savage relayed information to the head coach on various topics on "behalf" of the team owner... but which did not actually come from him.

-- In talking to no less than a dozen front-office types this past week, each stated the Browns organization was in disarray, filled with mistrust and ego-driven persons working on their own agendas. Those we talked to noted that they believe Savage will face a difficult challenge in holding a significant front office role again, outside of possibly returning to the Baltimore Ravens.

Quotes are from the Orange & Brown Report.

There's been much discussion on the reasons for Savage being fired, but every indication from every source seems to point in one direction: Savage was a borderline sociopath. Of course, that's likely an overstatement, but it accurately dramatizes the information that's surfaced to date.

Savage was not fired for poor personnel moves (in fact indications are that Lerner was pleased with Savage's moves, part of the reason he was given such leeway.) He was not fired because of the team's record. He was not fired prematurely.

Savage was fired because the FO was in chaos, the players were revolting, and he apparently offered no means of remedy.

During his tenure, I was always a big fan. I loved most of his moves, and genuinely believe he had a workable plan to building a winner. He just failed in execution. He was the anti-Butch, who executed well but had no plan for building a sustainable winner. They were both given too much power. They both failed.

Mangini Hired

danvail — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:54:14 -0000

ESPN link

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

bad bad bad filler filler filler bad bad bad filler filler filler bad bad bad filler filler filler

Poll

Well?

Noooooooooooooooooooo

10 votes

Woohoo!

11 votes

Meh

7 votes

I'll wait and see before I react

20 votes

48 votes | Poll has closed

NY Post: Sabathia Picks Yanks

danvail — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:31:17 -0000

NY Post: Sabathia Picks Yanks

Sabathia turns to the dark side...

Travis Hafner Sighting, Looks Tiny

danvail — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:07:21 -0000

So I'm out in Westlake on Saturday night, at a little place called Timewarp (formerly home of regular Devin Brown visits). Fairly late, much to my surprise, I'm informed that Travis Hafner just showed up. So, while my friends and I discuss A) how to approach him to get a pic in such a way that it wouldn't be a huge nuisance to him and B) how incredibly not-huge he looks; one of my friends' girlfriend approached him and his manager to ask for a picture. While I'm sure she didn't approach the situation as diplomatically as possible, upon hearing the word "picture" he (Hafner, not his manager) immediately launched into a clearly-memorized legal disclaimer. The jist of which, of course, was that I'd love to take a pic but I can't because it could end up on the internet (which would of course provide documented proof that he does not, in fact, live in a bubble and terminate his career immediately).

While I understand his policy, it was annoying. In the course of trying to defend his right not to be bothered and the explain problems some athletes have had with pictures and a wonderful little site called Deadspin, I started to lose the argument to the general belligerence of those I was arguing with. So, I directed the conversation more towards the fact that he looked so much different than he did just a few years ago. Granted, he was wearing one of those thin zip-up hoodie sweatshirts that might mask his size a bit, but he genuinely looked small. Maybe it was the Christmas Ale, but I swear he looked barely over 200 lbs. For a guy listed at 240, I could literally not see how he was close to that. I became immediately concerned, far more so than ever, that he would never approach the hitter he was. In fact, it seems now like a stretch that he could outclass Garko. Then, upon the mention of his contract, it hit me...

I hate Travis Hafner. His contract is going to ruin this club.

Roberts has said he wouldn't be interested in having contract talks once spring training begins....

danvail — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:53:00 -0000

Roberts has said he wouldn't be interested in having contract talks once spring training begins. That's why it was expected this offseason that the Orioles would gauge Roberts' interest in staying long-term and entertain trade talks if a deal couldn't be reached. A number of teams, including several clubs that expressed interest in Roberts in the past, are looking to acquire a second baseman. But MacPhail said the Orioles' focus is to retain Roberts, not trade him.

I'm sure Roberts has been discussed in the recent past, but I haven't seen it so I'd like to bring it up so I can hear your opinions. If the Orioles are forced to trade Roberts, what would it take to pry him away?

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles30oct30,0,4269304.story

Stevens Blows US Lead vs South Korea

danvail — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:28:19 -0000

Stevens Blows US Lead vs South Korea

"The Americans had seemed poised for a comeback victory after Matthew Brown hit a go-ahead two-run single with two outs in the top of the ninth, but South Korea rallied against closer Jeff Stevens in the bottom half. "

Too bad for Indians RP Stevens that the Olympics necessarily fall in an even year.

08 Season Outlook

danvail — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:01:20 -0000

To borrow from NicKFantana's post around this time last year, let's take a look at what we can expect for the year. I also included some over/under type questions for the heck of it on what I expect to be important individual stat lines...

Most Improved Player:

Most Disappointing Player:

Most surprising unit on team:

Most disappointing unit on team:

Record for season:

Over, or under?

Anderson's season QB rating: 84

Stallworth's receiving yards: 750

Wimbley's sacks: 7.5

Wright/McDonald/Pool/Jones Total Interceptions: 17.5