The silence is deafening...
FTLOSBW - where is everyone? I know Alshouse has a sinus situation (said in Dave Wannstedt voice), but did I miss something? Is this our scheduled mid-season hiatus? Jan, we're anxiously awaiting Lambeau stories, photos, etc. And I think everyone needs to hear about your chance encounter with Mr. O-Face from Office Space. So Classic.
Okay- the sports world:
1) Vikes - Best. Bye Week. Ever. Packers lose to the hapless Bucs and the Bears get clobbered at home by the Cardinals. Vikings now have a 3-game lead over both teams...meaning that if we go 4-4 overall (a conservative estimate), the Pack would have to go 8-0 and Bears would need to go 7-1 and sweep us in order to win the division.
2) Twins - thoughts on the Go-Go for Hardy trade? I'm a little bummed that they gave up on Gomez so soon, because I think he's got a really high ceiling, but let's face it, getting a 27-year old shortstop that can slug, and is still 2 years away from free agency, is HUGE. It also clears up the log-jam in the outfield, allowing Span to play CF every day. I just hope Delmon steps up...
3) Gophers - wow. Nothing like losing to Illinois to f-up your season. Kind of ironic, since I sometimes fear that Brewster is a kindred spirit to Ron Zook - great recruiter, mediocre coach.
4) BG 2, RTS 0 over the weekend - Wildcats knock Stanzi out and pull the upset. Barney and Friends edge out Ram Jam in FFL. Luckily for RTS, Iowa will still be playing in a New Years day bowl game, which is more than the Gophers and Cats can say at this point.
5) Gophers hoops - Royce White suspended for shoplifting. Sweet. Great way to start your career...nonetheless, the team looks solid this year and returns the entire squad that made the tourney last year. Plus, Rodney Williams will entertain us by posterizing more than a few opponents (see side-bar of highlights). What's crazy is that the Big Ten might be the best conference in the nation this year. Andy Katz is saying that 9 teams have a shot at the dance.
Oh yeah - #4 is growing on me. Still can't 100% embrace him until I see how he finished the season, but he's been an absolute monster so far this year.
7 Comments:
BG - when you're right, you're right.
1. Yup. Packers implosion. Bears look brutal. Confidence is high. Confidence is high.
2. Like the deal. I like Go-Go's speed and not much else. His ceiling might be high but he's proved he can't find the door to the first floor. Hardy needs a change of scenery. I like Cabrera and Gardy still wants him for second (I like) to put Punto at third. I also think the Twins are going to have to make a few more moves to convince Mauer they're serious so hopefully we are just starting the process.
3. Brewster gets another year, right? Great that South Dakota is rolling into town. There is nothing positive out of playing SDS, only 'even' or 'negative' can be the result.
4. RTS - that was a matter of time. I mean, c'mon. Think they started looking ahead to OSU? If they had beat NU, the Gophers would have rolled over.
5. Royce White in trouble again (see side bar; THIS IS NOT A REPEAT.) Twice in a month. Tubby must want to kill him. Not to mention Mbwake is still trying to get some pesky 'felony aggravate battery' charge taken care of. . . What is this? Cinci?
Oh, and BG, get the F on board with '4.' When is the last time you saw a Vikes quarterback play like this? I'd argue never. Don't give me Cunningham either, that was pitch and catch. This is someone running an offense. Plus, 7-1 says it all.
P.S. The "Tale of Lambeau" is coming.
November 10, 2009 at 10:48 PM
I was kind of bummed at the Gomez trade at first. Not because Gomez was being shipped out but because I thought maybe it meant that was the end for Cabrera. If that is not the case I am extremely pleased.
I have been pretty quiet regarding Iowa on here despite the season they had. The floodgates are now open. Jan, I do not think Iowa looked ahead. They were up 10-0 at the time Stanzi went down, just under 12 minutes to go in the 2nd qtr. On that play he gave up the TD. The first series with the new guy he throws a Int in Iowa territory, ultimately leading to another TD making it 14-10 NW. That was pretty much the ball game. Credit to NW that they were playing with 2 banged up QBs and that while they did not put up many points after the 2 series debacle in the 2nd qtr, they did eat up a lot of clock. I think Iowa only had the ball 4 times in the second half. Iowa certainly had some breaks go for them in previous games and they had some breaks go against them this week. Bigger than losing to NW was losing Stanzi until bowl time. They are already on their 3rd,a true freshman, and are now starting the back up qb a redshirt freshman. It all adds up to a offensively depleted team whose new QB will be making his first start in the Horseshoe. Gamblor says the chance of the Hawks winning at OSU are about 1%. Whew, got all that off my chest.
Why is everyone so down on Brewster? His teams have gotten better each year. They did not complete implode with the loss of Decker. Let's face it the U of M, Iowa, NW's of the world are not going to become the next OSU year in and year. I think a more realistic goal would to aim for what Wisco became in the mid to late 90's where at worst they were in the top 4 in the conference with some years that put them over the top and a couple of conference championships.
November 11, 2009 at 8:29 AM
There is a line where I omitted RB. The line should read They are already downn to their 3rd RB,a true freshman
November 11, 2009 at 8:33 AM
RTS - People are down on Brewster because people bought into the "get a new stadium = go to the rose bowl" equation. They also bought into his recruiting ability (which he may have) and overlooked his coaching ability (which he may lack.) Listening to him now is like hearing McCombs yell "Purple Pride! Purple Pride!" - yes, used car salesman-like.
As for your Hawkeyes, you're right, they didn't look ahead. Give NW some credit, they won at Kinnick against the #4 team in the nation.
Don't lose sleep over Go-Go, what did he ever really do for you? Nice to have speed in center (think that Span has that) and on the bases but watching him struggle for 2 years at the plate was too much. Plus to get Hardy in return? Upgrade in my book.
November 11, 2009 at 9:23 AM
I also didn't realize that Cabrera might still be in the plans. That would be phenomenal, and would hopefully signal to Mauer that we are serious about winning. Until we sign a "big" name free agent, however, I'm not sure the message will get through. I'm just hoping Mauer doesn't really want to sell his soul. I mean, do you really want to play with A-Rod? Plus, Rivera, Jeter and Matsui are nearing the end of their careers, so there is no guarantee the Yankees will continue to dominate into the '10s. Okay, now I'm rationalizing.
RTS - I totally agree, the NU win was largely a fluke because of the Stanzi injury. Our team just isn't as good as we had hoped this year. That said, our D did clamp down in the 2nd half and our 2nd string QB played okay (and the 1st stringer came back to gut it out on a bad hammy in the 4th quarter). For whatever reason, NU is to Iowa as Iowa is to Penn St.
I am fine giving Brewster another year...next year he'll have a senior QB, more experienced receivers and most of his recruits playing. It generally takes 4-5 years to really implement your changes. Changing offensive schemes in the offseason definitely didn't help either. Shooting for the #3 or #4 spot in the conference is pretty realistic (like Wisco has done or Iowa in 2002-2004).
Royce White - wow. I really hope this 2nd report is false. If it's true, he has some larger issues and needs help. Either way, his time at the U may be short-lived...which is too bad, as he's allegedly an incredible player. My parents actually met him and said he's a really nice, polished, polite guy. Strange...
Don't worry, I'm on board with Favre. There still just a little lingering baggage I need to flush. The dude has been incredible so far this year. Cunningham was a fluke...Favre is certainly running the Offense.
LH - where are you, bro?
November 11, 2009 at 12:31 PM
* Can't express in words how much I'm loving watching Bears fans and the local media shit themselves as they realize how mediocre their team is. I think I said preseason that their defense is worse than we all think and Forte's overrated, but everyone here thinks it's still the '15 defense and assumed a good rookie year from a RB means he's Walter Peyton.
* Thumbs up on Gomez/Hardy. I liked his speed and youthful exuberance, but jan's right - what did he actually ever do? We filled a major need from a position with an overload. I'm fine getting Span in CF everyday plus an All-Star potential SS for the price of a guy with a .265 OBP.
* I'm cutting Brewster a bit of slack. For one, the team actually competes now, as opposed to the later Mason years where if they couldn't run for 250 they had no shot. They beat a resurgent and scary Sparty after losing the best player on the team. Yes, Illinois was a setback but beyond that they've won the games they were expected to win (in retrospect, Wisconsin's a better team than thought) despite a very inconsistent and regressing QB. But just watch: this team will give Stanzi-less Iowa a good fight. I realize I say this from afar, so I don't have to listen to the car salesman thing all the time.
* Talent is more important than game coaching in college football. If Marquis Grey matures into a multi-threat QB, he'll win lots of games regardless of who's handling coaching. That said, I'm not convinced Brewster's the recruiter he says he is yet, but I'm also not convinced he's as bad a game coach/planner as everyone seems to hang on him.
* Cut Royce White loose. Baggage the program doesn't need, and to get rid of him would make them look like an anti-Cinci. We gave the kid a chance, he blew it. Don't let the door hit you.
* Just my two cents, but IMHO the Twins neither need nor would benefit from a full season of Orlando Cabrera. He's in steady decline. There are better options for similar or less price on the market, who would catch a lot more grounders at 2B over the course of 162 games. Gardy likes his hustle (as did I) and said something about wanting him back, but the front office probably won't be obliging. They can't hang on to a late career veteran (read: overpriced) guy like him while moving him positionally, and at the same time make a play for another starting pitcher or whatever, while also extending Mauer. Who I'm getting more confident will be staying. Getting Hardy is exactly the kind of thing Mauer wants to see out of Smith. It solves one of the four big issues for the team, and does it in style. Keeping Cabrera sends the opposite message: "we're gonna try to hang on with what we've got and hope for the best." Cabrera is not Shannon Stewart.
November 11, 2009 at 2:03 PM
I'm with MCA on the Cabrera thing. He is mediocre at best in the field. Like his veteran savvy but how long is it going to benefit us? He is getting long in the tooth and he's certainly moved around a lot (why doesn't anyone want him?) That said, not sure who is going to play 2nd or 3rd.
November 12, 2009 at 9:01 AM
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