Pretty Girl 01.19.11 - Eva Green

Eva Green > Vesper Lynd > Vesper Martini.

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Hot

Based solely on his behavior, it's quite possible that this is my illegitimate son. ;-j

Pluto Is Not a Planet

Sunday, PD beat writer Terry Pluto wrote than if the season were to start today the Indians third baseman would be Jason Donald.  Despite the fact that Donald has played the vast majority of his minor league games at short, the Indians have always been disappointed in his defense thereat.  What?  Why trade for him?  Why continue to play him at short in Columbus?  Alternately, the team thinks that Donald can hold down the hot corner... based on the 3 games he's played there in the minors.  This is madness.  I agree that Jayson Nix is an abomination at third and can simply not be inserted at that position ever again, but why not take spring training to see if someone jumps out at you?  Personally, I'm a big fan of Jared Goedert.  Everyone keeps writing that he's a defensive liability with Pluto pointing to his 18 errors in 68 games last season.  This is so infuriating that I can barely type.  First off anyone who chooses to evaluate defensive aptitude by counting errors is an ignorant fool.  If you can't get to a ball, you can't make an error on it.  That's not the end of that argument, but it's enough to see my point from. Secondly, I guarantee you that I have watched Goedert play more innings at third than Terry Pluto.  While Jared's certainly not Brooks Robinson, he not Nix either.  He is more than adequate.  No disrespect to TP, but if the assistant to the traveling secretary guesses at an opening day starter, don't print it as the organization's opinion.  Don't describe anytime after the middle of January as the last minute.  And, absolutely, under no circumstances, disrespect a prospect that you haven't taken the time to evaluate yourself.

Breathing now.

Full text coming soon.

Also, cross Josh McDaniels off of the Browns' list of offensive coordinator options; he signed on for the same position with the Rams today.  You can add Atlanta QB coach Bill Musgrave as the team interviewed him today.

The O.C.

There are a menagerie of names being thrown about as possible Browns' offensive coordinators now that (thank god) Brian Daboll has pulled a Brian Windhorst.  The list includes, but is not limited to, Baltimore QBs coach (& former 'Skins head coach) Jim Zorn, Broncos OC Mike McCoy, Eagles OL coach Juan Castillo, Rams WR coach Nolan Cromwell, and Barberton native Josh McDaniels.  Too many to discuss right now.  We'll wait for the list to be pared down a bit.

Also...

The Nationals acquire Tom Gorzellany from the Cubbies for 3 prospects: OF Michael Burgess, RHP AJ Morris and LHP Graham Hicks.  Scoutingbook.com considers Burgess the Nats #5 prospect, while Baseball Ameican does not rank him in the top 10.  BA does see Morris' slider as the best in the Washington organization.

Former Padres SP Chris Young (dude is 6'10"!) has agreed to terms with the Mets, pending a physical.

The Blue Jays ink former Nationals and Twins closer Jon Rauch (dude is 6'11"!) to a 1-yr, $3.5mil deal.

And then there's this...

 

Over a million tiny plastic bricks. It took him 18 months to build and 3 years to design. Wow.

Cheers.

Shin-Soo Steal

Tribe signs Choo to a one year $4 million deal.

Seems like a steal to me. I don't have a lot of data to back that up, but they also signed raffy perez to a $4 million one year deal. And Choo = 10 X raffy.


http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/01/cleveland_indians_sign_shin-so.html

Beat you e.

Who's Not Over It?

Sir Ian McKellen, always good for a laugh. ;-j

Pretty Girl 01.18.11 - Sarah Shahi

Fairly Legal.  Barely clothed.

Cue B.o.B.

We all know Braylon (Michigan and the Browns). #10 is Santonio Holmes (OSU and the Steelers). These cats have been playing together for less than a full year and, still, the camaraderie and team unity is clearly evident. Whatever Rex Ryan is putting in the Gatorade up in Florham Park, the Browns could use the same.

This is from the 14th's NY Post and just looks cool. I think Leia is Rex Ryan's wife. Ha!

Cheers.

Duron? More Like Moron.

The former Ohio State receiver will not be returning to OSU, said Darian Dulin, Carter’s coach at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. Carter, the son of former OSU star Cris Carter, played for the Buckeyes as a true freshman in 2009. He was ruled academically ineligible for the Rose Bowl and also was held out of 2010 spring practice. Dulin said the reasons Carter is not returning to OSU “are the same as before,” but he didn’t elaborate. Recently, Carter indicated on his Twitter account that Ohio State was not allowing him to return.

 I am baffled at how a talented player can grow up around football, around a class act like Cris Carter, attend his father's alma mater and make such a colossal fool of himself.  He could not have been made more aware of his responsibilities coming into the Ohio State program.   He could not have had more resources at his disposal.  I have taken classes with football players, a coach checks them into class every day.  There is, literally, a coach standing by the door of the classroom to ensure that the players make it to class.  The athletic department offers the best tutors on campus, free of charge.  Student-athletes are given near complete note sets for each class.  Perhaps Duron can still turn it around or can make a big enough splash at the JUCO level to move on to the NFL, but, given his results so far, that does not seem to be in the cards.

Also...

Brian Fuentes to the A's for 2-yrs, $10.5mil.

The Yankees are very close to a 1-yr deal with Andruw Jones.  Believe it or not (I don't), Jones is considered by many to be a virtual lock for the Hall of Fame.

According to Buster Olney, Grady Sizemore will be ready for opening day.  That would be nice.

With Rob Ryan's departure to Dallas, former Pitt head man Dave Wannstedt and Eagles DB coach Dick Jauron have emerged as the top candidates for the Browns' DC job.  Either would be a welcomed addition in my opinion, as they both have past NFL head coaching experiences and tremendous track records in the defensive coordinator slot (see '92 Cowboys & '96 Jaguars).  I'll have to do some digging on defensive philosophies, but, given the dearth of talent on the Brownies' D, I don't think it matters.

And, yes, your Ohio State Buckeyes are now #1 in both men's basketball polls.  The Buckeyes, off to their best start since 27-0 in the '61-'62 season, next host Iowa Wednesday @ 6:30p.

Dig the #3 vs. #5 tonight at 7:30p as Syracuse visits Pitt.

And lastly, Jim Valvano would love how the Sycamores won yesterday.


Cheers.

Pretty Girl 01.17.11 - January Jones

Well, I had to get her in sometime this month.