OT and all, but Clinton-Dix's squirrel arm on that late 2-point conversion beats the two by Ricky Watters in the "For who? For what?" game by a long shot.
- tangent_man

I hear ya. I'm just embarrassed by this train wreck. It's worse than 06. And I don't hope they lose, but I have lost all hope.
- section32

I dont think it's worse than 06, but it is getting bad.

The part that's been pissing me off is that they play such a boring, lifeless game. It's painful to watch.

I still want Billy Beane in Philly. Guy works magic with pennies. Imagine if he had the Phillies budget. He won't leave the As unless he's fired though.
- NickTheKid87

I'd take Beane, absolutely. People rip "Moneyball" but he's competitive and in the playoffs with a payroll that's around 2/3rds the size of the average team's.

He was drafted.

I remember when they drafted him in the 2nd round. They had 2 picks in the 2nd round and took Jackson later. People asked why they didn't use their first 2nd round pick on Jackson to ensure they got him. The Eagles said they didn't because they REALLY liked Laws.
- PhillySportsGuy

Okay. I was on the fence, I just remember he came in with a lot of fan fare. For as good as he was, they may as well have drafted a volunteer fire fighter.

Yeah, I'm far more concerned with Brayden Schenn and his scoring-or lack thereof-than Sean Couturier's.
- Jsaquella

Schenn has 2 more ES points than Couturier and we all know how the two are used. Put Couts in Schenn's spot and it stands to reason that he would be outscore him by a wide margin.

OT and all, but Clinton-Dix's squirrel arm on that late 2-point conversion beats the two by Ricky Watters in the "For who? For what?" game by a long shot.
- tangent_man

Fans shredded that poor Bostic guy for failing to grab the on-sides kick, and that was awful. But if Clinton-Dix does anything on that 2 point conversion, literally anything, the Packers win the game on Crosby's FG.

OT and all, but Clinton-Dix's squirrel arm on that late 2-point conversion beats the two by Ricky Watters in the "For who? For what?" game by a long shot.
- tangent_man

Boychuk. He just happens to be good at hockey, as well.
- jmatchett383

I wonder if Hextall was at all in on trying to get Boychuk. He'd have been a great start at rebuilding the D.

Schenn has 2 more ES points than Couturier and we all know how the two are used. Put Couts in Schenn's spot and it stands to reason that he would be outscore him by a wide margin.
- NickTheKid87

Same thing last season. Schenn had two more points than Couturier and the usage was radically different.

I'd take Beane, absolutely. People rip "Moneyball" but he's competitive and in the playoffs with a payroll that's around 2/3rds the size of the average team's.
- Jsaquella

I think the argument of "Moneyball doesn't work because they never won the World Series!" is so flawed. The fact that they're competitive is amazing. The Red Sox started using Beane's strategy of using advanced stats and the like and have won 3 World Series since. Now most teams are doing it and having success, more so the big markets.

I wonder if Hextall was at all in on trying to get Boychuk. He'd have been a great start at rebuilding the D.
- Hextall271

Doubtful, he had no cap space to add him.

- PLindbergh31

I think the Packers found stacks of cash in their lockers at halftime, along with a note that said, "You know what to do..."

I wonder if Hextall was at all in on trying to get Boychuk. He'd have been a great start at rebuilding the D.
- Hextall271

Didn't have the bullets for that -- Boston was under the gun, but they were looking for picks and the Flyers just didn't have that

I think the argument of "Moneyball doesn't work because they never won the World Series!" is so flawed. The fact that they're competitive is amazing. The Red Sox started using Beane's strategy of using advanced stats and the like and have won 3 World Series since. Now most teams are doing it and having success, more so the big markets.
- NickTheKid87

Yep, that's one thing the movie missed....At the end it says the Red Sox embraced Beane's philosophy and ended their WS drought....no mention that they still spent $140mm to do it

I wonder if Hextall was at all in on trying to get Boychuk. He'd have been a great start at rebuilding the D.
- Hextall271

Considering they had neither the cap room or the picks to get the deal done, I'd doubt it.

Schenn is put into a position to succeed offensively but he puts up so-so numbers. He may not even score 20 goals this year playing on the 1st and 2nd lines and 1st PP unit. That's not inspiring. In his defense though, anything other than the top line is pretty much an offensive dead zone.
- NickTheKid87

He should be carrying play a little more though. Whats concerning to me is that he never seems to have dominant stretches at any point. He makes some nice plays from time to time, but that's it. It's not like the JVR situation where he looked dominant at times then disappeared. Even Couturier has those dominating stretches against teams like the Pens. Same thing with Voracek when he first got to the Flyers.

I think my point is that when Schenn does find consistency, I think he'll be a Hartnell type scorer. 45-60 points depending on the talent around him.

Fans shredded that poor Bostic guy for failing to grab the on-sides kick, and that was awful. But if Clinton-Dix does anything on that 2 point conversion, literally anything, the Packers win the game on Crosby's FG.
- Jsaquella

It tough to have a ball bounce off your helmet like that, but C-D started to go for the ball and then brought his hands back in. The Pack collapse was epic, if not organized.

I think the argument of "Moneyball doesn't work because they never won the World Series!" is so flawed. The fact that they're competitive is amazing. The Red Sox started using Beane's strategy of using advanced stats and the like and have won 3 World Series since. Now most teams are doing it and having success, more so the big markets.
- NickTheKid87

Having the second-largest salary of any baseball team kinds of goes against the idea of the best value for the least money idea.

Okay. I was on the fence, I just remember he came in with a lot of fan fare. For as good as he was, they may as well have drafted a volunteer fire fighter.
- jmatchett383

Danny Watkins is officially retired and back to firefighting

Yep, that's one thing the movie missed....At the end it says the Red Sox embraced Beane's philosophy and ended their WS drought....no mention that they still spent $140mm to do it
- Jsaquella

Money still wins. Beane may be able to keep Josh Donaldson and his 7.0+ WAR for a few years while under team control but getting to keep guys like that and having more depth players with more value makes a huge difference. The Red Sox can pay all these guys and the A's can't.

Considering they had neither the cap room or the picks to get the deal done, I'd doubt it.
- BiggE

Cap room is one thing, but good point on the picks. Even with him, we weren't a good squad so it's pointless to burn picks in a strong draft.

Nobody's saying they shouldn't fill that position. But creating a hole in one part of the hull to fill a hole in another part of the hull doesn't move the team forward.
- Jsaquella

which hole is easier to fill?

It tough to have a ball bounce off your helmet like that, but C-D started to go for the ball and then brought his hands back in. The Pack collapse was epic, if not organized.
- tangent_man

Oh yeah, he had good positioning and just started to make a play, then just stood by and watched that dying quail land in the receiver's arms. It was a horrible play

They need to fill that position with the correct player. Not by giving Andrew MacDonald a 6-year, $30-million deal while giving away future assets.

Had he traded a first rounder and some young prospects for a legit #1 (even Jay Bouwmeester) that's a different story. Hell, you can fill spots with anyone, but it needs to be the right players. If you give up valuable young assets without making a position of weakness better, you're just shifting your weakness from one area to another.
- jmatchett383

preaching to choir

He should be carrying play a little more though. Whats concerning to me is that he never seems to have dominant stretches at any point. He makes some nice plays from time to time, but that's it. It's not like the JVR situation where he looked dominant at times then disappeared. Even Couturier has those dominating stretches against teams like the Pens. Same thing with Voracek when he first got to the Flyers.

I think my point is that when Schenn does find consistency, I think he'll be a Hartnell type scorer. 45-60 points depending on the talent around him.
- PhillySportsGuy

I wonder sometimes if Schenn has the hockey sense to be consistent. Something is missing with that kid. He has tools and there are days when he looks terrific, but I just don't think you disappear like he does without there being something coming up short between the ears