BadgerFan

Let me ask you this. If you were David Stern, would you rather see the Miami Heat advance or the Sixers? If you were David Stern, would you rather see the Chicago Bulls advance, or the Indiana Pacers? The NBA is all about ratings and money, and it will always will be. The refs have been known to fix games as well, so when you see FT disparity's like this, it makes you wonder. Take a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p_HeQme1VU&feature=player_embedded Look at about 5 seconds in. That should have been an and 1, and you know that probably would have been a flagrant foul if it was James or Wade making the layup.

Coming from a Heat fan, I am not surprised. Do you think it's odd that superstars are ALWAYS the one getting to the FT line? Did you forget when Wade KICKED Young and got the foul called on Young? Seriously, if you breathe on either Wade or Lebron, a foul will be called. It is not fair to both sides, a team with a superstar or a bigger market will ALWAYS get more calls than a team without a superstar. If you don't think the refs are biased, than I feel bad for you.

From Bill Simmons on Twitter: Doug Collins: This is the reason why the NBA is such a joke. Small market teams have no chance at all in getting any calls from the refs.

Morgan just owned McCann at the plate.

Pedroia was hurt pretty much all of last year, hence why I didn't use 2010 stats.

I can't believe you are really comparing Carl Crawford to Curtis Granderson. Crawford isn't a power hitter, therefore his OPS and SLG percentage will be down compared to a more of a power hitter. Crawford's last 3/4 seasons, his OBP was over .350 including one year it was .360. He doesn't walk nearly as much as Granderson/Abreu, hence the lower OBP. I don't think CC is the best LF in the game, but he is a VERY good player, and someone who plays awesome defense, and can steal bases for you. Also, funny how you don't mention Abreu or Granderson's WAR and UZR. These stats show how valuable a player is and how good his defense is. WAR Crawford: 4.5 (last 2 seasons: 5.7, 6.9) Abreu: 2.6 (last 2 seasons: 2.9, 2.2) Granderson: 4.24 (last 2 seasons: 3.0, 3.6 had a 7.4 WAR in 2006, since then was below 3.5) UZR: Crawford: 12.04 Abreu: -10.94 Granderson: 3.96 Crawford is far more valuable than Granderson and Abreu, and he is by far a better defender. I'll take a very good defender, and a player who can put up 50 SB a season rather then more of a power hitter. E Pedroia was hurt last season.Take a look at 2008 and 2009. Pedroia: 2008: 157 G, .326 AVG, .376 OBP, .493 SLG, .869 OPS, 50 BB, 52 K, 6.6 WAR 2009: 154 G, .296 AVG, .371 OBP, .447 SLG, .818 OPS, 74 BB, 45 K, 5.0 WAR Cano: 2008: 159 G, .271 AVG, .305 OBP, .410 SLG, .715 OPS, 26 BB, 65 K, 0.2 WAR 2009: 161 G, .320 AVG, .352 OBP, .520 SLG, .872 OPS, 57 BB, 77 K, 4.4 WAR So if you compare 2008 and 2009 it's pretty close. Career wise: Cano: 895 G, .309 AVG, .346 OBP, .489 SLG, .835 OPS, 116 HR, 20 SB Pedroia: 557 G, .304 AVG, .369 OBP, .460 SLG, .829 OPS, 54 HR, 56 SB I would take Cano over Pedroia, don't get me wrong, but Pedroia is a very good player.

How is Carl Crawford overrated? 4 out of the last 5 seasons he has hit over .300 with a OBP of .348 or higher. He has played in 135+ games in 4 of his last 5 seasons, and he has stolen 182 bases the last 5 years. Here, I'll make this a bit easier. Stats averaged out the past 5 years: G: 143 AVG: .301 OBP: .348 HR: 14 RBI: 74 R: 91 BB: 39 K: 92 SB: 48 CS: 10 WAR: 4.5 UZR: 12.04 I don't see how a .300 AVG, .350 OBP average the last 5 seasons is overrated. These stats include his injured/awful year in 2008 where he hit .270ish and only played in 109 games. In 2004 and 2005 his average was near or over .300 as well. Last 2 seasons, Crawford's WAR has been over 5.5 and last year it was 6.9. His UZR has been getting better year after year as well. I'll give you Ellsbury, and Varitek, but Crawford and Pedroia are not overrated.

I love the Brewers 1-5 hitters, but our 6-8 completley suck. Best lineup would probably have to be the Red Sox or Rangers.

Washington coach said they asked the refs to check the clock, and they replied something like "we already did, and the time is right". Something sounds fishy here.

Yeah they were. No idea why you even get near that guy when he gets the rebound. Game was heading for OT.

Both were AWESOME calls by the refs. Doesn't matter if there is 10 seconds, 10 minutes, or 3 seconds into the game, a foul is a foul. The right team won.

Bears would never win, and the Packers would never lose.

Link:: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-hamiltonpistons022611 Anyone who blames the coach for all of this is plain retarded.

Refs were awful in that game. In 2005 I think it was, that same ref reffed the CHI-NYG NFC C. game and one penalty was called on the Bears. Those refs were awful in the first game as well. There is no reason why he should be reffing in this game. He's a terrible ref.

Brewers are close to a deal with RP Takashi Saito. Thoughts? 1 yr, 3 mil is the rumored deal and that includes incentives etc. So base salary is probably 1 yr, 1.5-2.0 mil.

Down 220-140. I have 4 players left, he has one. This leagues scoring settings are really different though. You get points for return yards, so what this person did is he drafted all kick/punt returners, and 2 of his players scored 40+ points. Aremdnola (STL) and Ford (OAK) both had over 40 and neither had a big day offensivley. I have Colston, Saints D, Roddy White, and Shockey. He has Harvin. For every 7 yards, you get a point, and for every reception, you get 2 points. High scoring system.

Brandon Webb has the potential to be a VERY good signing. Don't know how much they gave him, but cannot be more then 5-6 million with incentives. I know he's been injured the past few seasons, but look at what he did from 04 to 08. This is the type of pitcher he can be.

The quality isn't that great since it's still processing etc. It was an obvious travel.

Brewers should trade Fielder to the White Sox for Gavin Floyd and another spec. White Sox would have a very good lineup then. Let Konerko go elsewhere.

Anyone else excited for the winter meetings? I think they start on Monday (not 100%)

How are the Bucks playing the "worst" basketball in the league? We are awesome at defense (#1 in the league) but we just suck on the offensive side. I would rather play in close games then get blown out and give up 100-110 points every game. Here was our schedule so far: @ New Orleans: L 95-91 @ Minnesota: L 96-85 Vs. Charlotte: W 98-88 Vs. Portland: L 90-76 @ Boston: L 105-102 (OT) Vs. Indiana: W 94-90 Vs. New Orleans: L 87-81 Vs. New York: W 107-80 @ Atlanta: W 108-91 Vs. Golden State: W 79-72 Vs. LA Lakers: L 118-107 @ Philly: L 90-79 Vs. OK City: L 82-81 @ Cleveland: L 83-81 Bucks have given up more then 100 points once in regulation and that was to the Lakers. We have lost by more then 5 points four times in our nine losses, and we have lost by more then 10 points four times as well. Here is our upcoming schedule: @ Detroit Vs. Charlotte Then @ Utah @ Denver Vs. Orlando Vs. Miami Vs. Indiana Vs. Houston @ Dallas @ Spurs Vs. Utah @ Portland @ Lakers @ Kings Vs. Atlanta @ Chicago Vs. Dallas @ Miami @ Orlando Vs. Miami Then it gets a LOT easier after that.

I'm down.

Damnit, Bogut and Maggette both hurt now. How the hell did that happen.

Wow, this is the worst officated game this season imo. Every run the Bucks have, the refs call a bull[expletive] foul that makes a huge difference (Jennings shot where he was fouled, and then Brown nails a 3) and now Jennings cleanly strips it and gets called for a foul. [expletive] this.