I refuse to watch until they repeal the bush league universal DH.
- Ogilthorpe2

Your summers are now free forever. Maybe you can learn to cook.

Better the DH than starting extra innings with a runner on 2nd, or relief pitchers having to face at least 3 batters (or end the inning).
- StLBravesFan

Amen.

No. Put down the crack pipe.
- mohel

Yup - definitely smoking crack with that last statement.

Talking about the three Stanley Cup championships, I thought that 2010 was going to happen because they just looked like the were ready too take that step.

The 2013 was great series of battles and the defensive prowess did come into play and I doubted alongvthe way, that the scoring that came would come.

But...the last one to me was simply the most exciting mostly because of that opening with Nashville where they lead by Duncan Keith came to win.

I refuse to watch until they repeal the bush league universal DH.
- Ogilthorpe2

I love that they did that.

What kind of BS 1800’s sport has different rules for each conference? And why ruin innings/kill momentum with these stupid pitcher at bats? Let the hitters hit and the pitchers pitch. Finally they made the right call.

You panic too soon. Although I personally think Rodon and Kopech are going to have career path full of injury or health concern. Whereas I think that Cubs are in a holding situation with their starters and farm system not ready to produce great pitching prospects very soon, the White Sox have some good arms

However

Rodon not yet in top form. Cease is a work in progress. Most of the bulpen members have looked good. Tons of depth are minor league prospects who well honestly ",graduated" due to expanded roster. And Lopez was hindered in his start by an injury. Take heart lots of talent on South side including rookie Robert in CF
- jhawk59

I hope you’re right but I just don’t see any hope with the starting pitching. It’s horrendous. Giolito isn’t good enough to be a #1. Cease, Kopech, and Dunning are all a few years away from being legit starters. Rodon and Lopez are garbage. Keuchel is good and that’s about it...but even he isn’t what he once was.

The roster was poorly constructed. They needed more starting pitching help then just Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez. Instead they overpaid for Grandal(when they already have McCaan and Collins), Mazara, and Encarnacion.

Add to that the poor fielding/defense and the complete lack of speed on the base paths.

I’ve been one of the biggest supporters of the quality young talent on this Hawks team...and not even I would say we’re close to being as talented as the 2009 roster. Just in case anyone thought I was also smoking crack...

Amen.
- mohel

I believe that runner on 2nd to start extra innings crap is only during the regular season.

I’ve been one of the biggest supporters of the quality young talent on this Hawks team...and not even I would say we’re close to being as talented as the 2009 roster. Just in case anyone thought I was also smoking crack...
- SimpleJack

There, you did it again, making sense.

I’ve been one of the biggest supporters of the quality young talent on this Hawks team...and not even I would say we’re close to being as talented as the 2009 roster. Just in case anyone thought I was also smoking crack...
- SimpleJack

I always thought you were more of a glue sniffer.

I am going to go with four sweeps in the play in round....

I am going to go with four sweeps in the play in round....
- wiz1901

By the favorite?

There, you did it again, making sense.
- rpeters01

Again?!?! I’ve done it before????

I’m so proud of myself!

I always thought you were more of a glue sniffer.
- mohel

Gotta love that Elmers when it’s been sitting in the back of the drawer for a couple decades. Really gets ya.

Gotta love that Elmers when it’s been sitting in the back of the drawer for a couple decades. Really gets ya.
- SimpleJack

Lol.

You make your points well.

Better the DH than starting extra innings with a runner on 2nd, or relief pitchers having to face at least 3 batters (or end the inning).
- StLBravesFan

Debatable

I love that they did that.

What kind of BS 1800’s sport has different rules for each conference? And why ruin innings/kill momentum with these stupid pitcher at bats? Let the hitters hit and the pitchers pitch. Finally they made the right call.
- SimpleJack

Yeah, because there’s never been a position player who sucked at the plate.

What’s stupid is that the DH was ever started to begin with. Either you’re in the game or you’re not. By your rational, why not just have 9 DH’s on each team, and then have 9 designated fielders too?

Offensive and defensive specialists?

Or, here’s a radical idea, get rid of the DH and...brace yourself...have pitchers actually take BP once in a while like every other player does?

With the adaptation of the universal DH, catering to the lowest common denominator, baseball is officially dead to me.

Lets a time machine to the start of the 2008-2009 season. The 'Hawks are coming off an 88 point season (11th worst).

Kane and Toews are obviously looking like the future of the organization. Both (along with steal Patrick Sharp) are the top three forwards on the team in scoring. A 19, 19, and 26 year old respectively. You've got Keith, Seabrook, and Byfuglien, three defenders that are ascending and looking like mainstays at 24, 22, and 22.

And... that's it. You've got a couple nice young players. You added Martin Havlat in the offseason. A good player that should be enough help for your team to fight for a spot in the postseason next season.

Now let's flash forward to today. The Hawks have the 9th worst record in the NHL. Like the 2007-2008 Blackhawks, they have an inexperienced coach at the helm who doesn't have too much job security. Heading into next season, Colliton like Savard could be on the hot seat and replaced with a more seasoned veteran who can help elevate this team back into playoff consideration. Only this time, we still have Kane and Toews, and we have an ascending Dach, Boqvist, Kubalik, and DeBrincat spearheading the movement (with Strome, Nylander, and Mitchell hopefully at the minimum above-average NHL contributors as well).

There's just no way you can say this team is not more talented and in better position for the long run than we were over a decade ago. Coaching is paramount for the success of this organization. If Colliton and the team start slow next season, I expect a veteran coach to come in and accomplish what Colliton wasn't able to.

Lol.

You make your points well.
- mohel

Woah...that’s two compliments from two different posters in the last hour alone! Maybe there is hope for me after all at making the prestigious HockeyBuzz HOF. One day...

Yeah, because there’s never been a position player who sucked at the plate.

What’s stupid is that the DH was ever started to begin with. Either you’re in the game or you’re not. By your rational, why not just have 9 DH’s on each team, and then have 9 designated fielders too?

Offensive and defensive specialists?

Or, here’s a radical idea, get rid of the DH and...brace yourself...have pitchers actually take BP once in a while like every other player does?

With the adaptation of the universal DH, catering to the lowest common denominator, baseball is officially dead to me.
- Ogilthorpe2

But there has been a DH for an entire year worse than a pitcher could hit!
Adam Dunn, CWS in 2011 hit .159 177 strike outs. The next year he got his average up to .204 with 222 strike outs.

Yeah, because there never been a position player who sucked at the plate.

What’s stupid is that the DH was ever started to begin with. Either you’re in the game or you’re not. By your rational, why not just have 9 DH’s on each team, and then have 9 designated fielders too?

Offensive and defensive specialists?

Or, here’s a radical idea, get rid of the DH and...brace yourself...have pitchers actually take BP once in a while like every other player does?

With the adaptation of the universal DH, catering to the lowest common denominator, baseball is officially dead to me.
- Ogilthorpe2

I’d be okay with the pitchers hitting and actually practicing/working on their hitting skills...but it’s just not possible these days given how much of an impact it has on their ability to pitch/work on their pitching/protect their ever-so fragile arms. No more Babe Ruth’s out there. Gotta pick one or the other(hit or pitch).

The comparison to fielding/playing defense just isn’t logical. Having to hit and defend isn’t nearly as physically demanding as having to hit and pitch.

The DH brings more excitement and entertainment to the sport too. Can’t tell you how many times I used to see a team with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs and then the second I realized the pitcher was batting I’d instantly lose interest. Or something along those lines.

But there has been a DH for an entire year worse than a pitcher could hit!
Adam Dunn, CWS in 2011 hit .159 177 strike outs. The next year he got his average up to .204 with 222 strike outs.
- rpeters01

222? That’s it?

Lets a time machine to the start of the 2008-2009 season. The 'Hawks are coming off an 88 point season (11th worst).

Kane and Toews are obviously looking like the future of the organization. Both (along with steal Patrick Sharp) are the top three forwards on the team in scoring. A 19, 19, and 26 year old respectively. You've got Keith, Seabrook, and Byfuglien, three defenders that are ascending and looking like mainstays at 24, 22, and 22.

And... that's it. You've got a couple nice young players. You added Martin Havlat in the offseason. A good player that should be enough help for your team to fight for a spot in the postseason next season.

Now let's flash forward to today. The Hawks have the 9th worst record in the NHL. Like the 2007-2008 Blackhawks, they have an inexperienced coach at the helm who doesn't have too much job security. Heading into next season, Colliton like Savard could be on the hot seat and replaced with a more seasoned veteran who can help elevate this team back into playoff consideration. Only this time, we still have Kane and Toews, and we have an ascending Dach, Boqvist, Kubalik, and DeBrincat spearheading the movement (with Strome, Nylander, and Mitchell hopefully at the minimum above-average NHL contributors as well).

There's just no way you can say this team is not more talented and in better position for the long run than we were over a decade ago. Coaching is paramount for the success of this organization. If Colliton and the team start slow next season, I expect a veteran coach to come in and accomplish what Colliton wasn't able to.
- TommyHawk

My time machine has Versteeg with 53 pts, Bolland with 47 pts, Ladd with 49 pts, Brouwer 26 pts.

I’d be okay with the pitchers hitting and actually practicing/working on their hitting skills...but it’s just not possible these days given how much of an impact it has on their ability to pitch/work on their pitching/protect their ever-so fragile arms. No more Babe Ruth’s out there. Gotta pick one or the other(hit or pitch).

The comparison to fielding/playing defense just isn’t logical. Having to hit and defend isn’t nearly as physically demanding as having to hit and pitch.

The DH brings more excitement and entertainment to the sport too. Can’t tell you how many times I used to see a team with runners on 2nd and 3rd and 2 outs and then the second I realized the pitcher was batting I’d instantly lose interest. Or something along those lines.
- SimpleJack

Lowest
Common
Denominator

I hope you’re right but I just don’t see any hope with the starting pitching. It’s horrendous. Giolito isn’t good enough to be a #1. Cease, Kopech, and Dunning are all a few years away from being legit starters. Rodon and Lopez are garbage. Keuchel is good and that’s about it...but even he isn’t what he once was.

The roster was poorly constructed. They needed more starting pitching help then just Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez. Instead they overpaid for Grandal(when they already have McCaan and Collins), Mazara, and Encarnacion.

Add to that the poor fielding/defense and the complete lack of speed on the base paths.
- SimpleJack

Where there is hope there is a life giving ever lasting ray of excitement
.
Good looking young talent. Band aid approach and expensive too with some off season moves. ADD: late update on this last sentence.


Is that some off season add on may not have paid out much but I do not expect a whole lot from them. Gonzalez, Encarnacion = meh and the OF from Texas + Kuechel = not bad but no big hurrah either.

Your pitching analysis cannot be called inaccurate but you do see some talent and hope for growth.. Giolittlo & Keuchel overrated perhaps but you feel real shaky with Kimbrel on the north side.

Tell you this too: seems there is a trend to compile line up with more and more power hitters. Lots of HR thumpers. The White Sox and Cubs are fueling that approach..Try to win with some thunder coming from power arns and power bats. Good for an above average record. Not going to World Series though

.