LouisEly

Just as I was about to scream at Cain for swinging at a 2-0 pitch well out of the zone, he comes through with a hit. Now, Arcia go do the same thing.

PIT hanging a 4-spot on the Cubs in the 7th, now up 5-1. One of the most epic September meltdowns in baseball history.

Votto, Suarez, Aquino - I say bring in Hader.

I disagree here, once the RB was first hit at the 3 or 4 yard line everyone on the defense needed to run to the play and finish it. Tramon was standing around on the goal line watching the play, I am sure he is not the only one who thought the play was stuffed. I am very happy with the defense so far but they need to play stronger, still too much yardage after contact and broken tackles which has been a problem for years now. It's an attitude, great defenses have guys who run to the ball and are physical. There was a play earlier where King gave up a catch in front of him and actually backed up and waited for someone else in the middle to make the tackle and the wideout gained a few extra yards because of it. I know you don't want to give up containment but geez you gotta stick your nose in there and make a tackle. To me, it looked like when Lindsay was stood up, Dalton Risner - a guy I wanted the Packers to draft - grabbed Lindsay and ripped him right from Lowry and pulled him into the end zone. I thought it was Risner making a great play more than anything.

A hybrid system like that could definitely work for rookie ball, maybe even A-ball. And it would probably be cheaper than the current system because it would cut down on travel costs. But part of it is learning how to survive the grind of the season, and they'll need to learn that at some point.

Have you never played competitive baseball? Laugh all you want, but that play is made often, and not just by big leaguers. It wasn't hit that hard, but I think you are underestimating how much spin was on the ball because he hit it off of the end of the bat, not the trademark.

Cubs leading 2-1, top 8. Gotta root for the Cubs now.

Kind of odd that they traded for him on 9/2, but didn't assign him to pitch for Biloxi in the playoffs. Was he injured?

I think it was more for the helmet-to-helmet hit than forceable. They need to have two levels of helmet-to-helmet calls, similar to how they used to have two levels of facemask penalties. They need a 5-yard incidental helmet-to-helmet call when the offensive player ducks his head or slides late/upright and there is nothing the defender can reasonably do to avoid it. Targeting should be reserved for when the player is upright, or when the defender launches himself, or when there is no attempt to wrap up or back off. The targeting call against Pearson I think was justified. The one against Burrell, no way. Need to get by with Wilder and Cone for the first half against NU. Fortunately it's at Camp Randall, and NU has not looked like a passing threat at all. Could use Bryson Williams back though, as NU can run the ball.

1) I'm supremely confident stating as fact that you absolutely, 100% do not know the facts of this case either. I'm also supremely confident stating as fact that you absolutely, 100% do not know what their attorney advised them of. B) This from the person who, when I referenced this article, responded by saying, "I've read enough." 3) You seem to be ignoring one major implication of pleading not guilty and going to trial, which is that the case then becomes public. (Never mind the financial cost of hiring an attorney for a court case, which you assume they had the money to do.) You don't need to look any further than Quintez Cephus to see what happens when criminal allegations become public. Cephus was kicked off of the team when the allegations were made, and he was expelled from school when he chose to take the best path to defending himself against the criminal accusations. Heimlich was in an even tougher situation - he wasn't in college or the pros yet. He couldn't apply for reinstatement because he wasn't in either yet. If the case became public, would any college have offered him a scholarship? What implications would that have had on his future? What effect would that have had on any career beyond baseball? What if that had showed up on a background check - would an employer then offer him a job? How do you know what was best for him and his future? 4) Criminal defense attorneys on this board have told you that it is common for innocent people to plead guilty to lesser charges to avoid court and/or take certainty of outcome. Yet you assume that simply because someone pleaded guilty means they are guilty. To paraphrase what a high school teacher on this board said, would you want you on a jury? 5) Even if he is guilty, should mistakes made by teenagers be held against them for the rest of their life? The human brain isn't fully developed until around age 25; that's why teenagers (and younger) do stupid things. I sure hope that you never made any mistakes when you were a teenager. 6) Have you ever had to stand in front of a judge as a young person and enter a plea, not having any idea how any of your options will affect your future? I have.

This is not accurate. He did not "freely" admit guilt - he followed the advice of an attorney. And it wasn't entirely his decision, it was the decision of his family. So is living a life never being accused of something you didn't do. Or not being a pawn in a family dispute.

Pardon the pun, but in a small sample this year in low-A ball in 18 IP he gave up 11 hits, walked 4, and struck out 31. Yeah, a long way from the majors, but those type of numbers don't suggest a low ceiling.

I mean, can't say you are wrong. They are so freakin' bad though they likely draft #1 again next year. They could certainly slide down ever so slightly and still be Top 10 while gaining valuable future picks. Maybe just draft a different player #1 not named a QB, Chase Young? The tank job is more about not spending all that cap space. I see them just taking the QB this draft, really don't see them trying to tank it two years in a row like that. At least not to the point they draft #1 and grab Lawrence. Or trade out of the top spot next year for picks in 2021 that they can use to trade up to #1 in 2021 if they don't finish with the worst record. They already have a bunch of extra picks in 2021 that they should be able to do it. That being said, I'm not convinced that Lawrence is better than Tua, at least not that much better.

The 2015 class was quantity that people were excited about, but the quality never developed.

No, he was a kid that psychologists deemed not likely to offend again. Huge difference. The point is that any "evidence" that he offended to begin with is dubious at best.

This might be one of the best Coach Cooper runs I've seen.

I always pictured him as more of a High Life kind of guy. Unless he's trying to be cool with the hipsters.

The stats say you definitely want a RHP against Machado and Renfroe. Not surprised if they go Guerra.

There you go, Grish!

Yep Yep. Give Hader another night off. Have Guerra ready just in case guys get on base and RHH coming up.

You rang?

Why did CC take Suter out??? Because it was a move to make, must make all moves, even the stupid ones. I'm guessing it was because the next four batters up were all RHH.

Still have two more innings to... ... pour it on.

Surprised nobody has brought up Luke Heimlich yet. His case was dubious at best, but nobody would touch him in a 40-round draft. If nobody would take a chance with Heimlich, nobody will touch Vazquez with a 100-foot pole.

97 for Peralta? Whoa. Dude's finding it at just the right time.