1984Echoes

One of their songs was a cover (I'll remember that too... just give me some time...) and I told him they should include it on whatever album they were going to release because it sounded terrific. I think a Rolling Stones song... but he said "Royalty fees are prohibitive... sorry!" "Crap! But you guys really do sound awesome!!!"

No I don't want to say her name. I would say that she was a good Irish Catholic girl with a bit of a wild streak. We saw the Cult live, and then Marilyn Manson live in a dance club in Ft. Lauderdale and she yells in my ear (it was a bit loud...) "I used to date him." Matter of factly. After I picked my jaw up from the floor (he was already heavily made up and a bit androgenous as was the entire band...); but the music was exceptionally cool (at the time... and very, very, VERY hard-edged...) Talked to him a bit. He came by... a bit weird. Must've been around 1989 or so I think... But my memory is a bit hazy. Saw another live alternative band the following week with Karen and I don't remember the name of the band at the moment but it'll come back to me...

That's funny! I dated Marilyn Manson's ex-girlfriend (not in the same week) when we were in college and before Manson & the Spooky Kids hit the "big time" (for whatever that meant for those guys...).

We picked up Gamel for this instead. I agree with you 100% in what you are saying which is why I had posted that in the first place... Not much different than Moniak except he's 6 years older. I'd have preferred Moniak. But as a stop gap, expendable band aid... it doesn't really matter. They got who they wanted... specifically for this reason.

This administration is defective. Starting at the top.

Nope. Save the free agent dreams, and money, for power forwards... which we are basically devoid of. Call up the kids for defense and see who rises to the top and who gets stuck on the 3rd pairing. Sign a cheap FA (if necessary) for veteran defensive help as the 7th and/or 8th guy, as needed. Maybe even ASP makes it to the 2nd pair with Edvinsson and all of a sudden we may have fixed a crapload of defensive weaknesses. With growing pains included of course. Brendan Shanahan and Tomas Holmstrom FA types... please. Marner would be dreaming. But... Boeser? Or could we figure out a trade for a Mason McTavish or similar...? Just my 2 cents.

I would go get Moniak NOW. LH'er with .866 OPS against RH'ers in 2023 (has EXTREME splits so he sits against LH'ers and Baez can go play CF, at least until Wenceel heals up...); .660 OPS against RH'ers in 2024 (that sucks) but career .710 OPS against RH'ers along with a career OPS+ of 110 against same. He's worth a band aid platoon for a couple months, as a lefty, and I don't care if we turn around and jettison Margot, eating the contract. Moniak is actually a REAL CF'er. Just my 2 cents.

I think CF offers more "diving" opportunities than both LF and RF combined. But that's just a WAG. I think it's the "diving" plays that the team wants Greene to avoid most of all, more than "the Wall". Again... just a WAG.

And I see several "high level" needs for this team where I sorta wish we had (4) 2nd rounders as ATF alluded to: Starting LG. I'm good with Mahogany as RG and Glasgow as top backup for all 3 interior spots. But I think this is a good draft to get a starting LG. So many that would fit right in: Mbow, Ratledge, Savaiinaea, Booker, even Zabel as a Glasgow 2.0. And as the O-Line goes, so goes Goff and our offense. I don't want to take any O-Line need lightly. Starting DT. I think our interior line had as many problems as the Edge after all the injuries, especially after Alim went down. Reader is here for only 1 more year. If Kenneth Grant, who completely dominates the interior and also has some pass-rush ability (not a lot, but just enough... mostly collapsing the pocket...) is there at the #28 reason: Why would Brad Holmes pass on him? Imagine McNeil and Grant dominating every single O-Line...! And yes, a top edge prospect. Can Holmes find some hidden piece of gold in this year's draft that none of us are even considering? In the 2nd or 3rd round? I wouldn't put it past him. Does anyone in here have 100% comfort level with Jamo? I don't. I want a high-end X-Receiver simply to have "one more guy" that Goff can depend on. This could be any round though... 2nd through the 6th, just as a guess. I see 4 high level needs that are just high enough... that I don't want to strip Holmes of multiple picks to go up and get "one guy". If he can do it cheaply (which he's been able to do for the most part...) I'm ok with that. But not if it costs too many other valuable picks. And at the end of the 1st, sometimes there are very unique opportunities to trade down a few spots and gain another high value pick. If the draft falls just right... But I'm fine with whatever Brad does. In Brad Holmes I trust.

They need to make better choices this offseason. I don't want to say it's make-or-break... it's not, IMO. But they need to broom as much detritus as they possibly can off this roster. And add playoff-worthy toughness and skill wherever they can. And kids. i know these guys are young... but they have to add them to the Wings roster and let them go through their growing pains or else this team will NEVER grow. Stevie Y is STUCK in the philosophy of having vets on the roster and making the kids "earn" their way into the NHL. In a way, I do support that theory. But it's time to give the kids some push, into the NHL. That means Holl, Petry, and Gustafsson have no business on the Wings 2024-25 roster. And even if there are growing pains... it means putting Buium, Tuomisto, and Wallinder into the Wings blue line mix. And with ASP at Grand Rapids... ANY falter means he gets a quick call-up (I know you want ASP on the Wings' Opening Day roster buddha... I just don't think that will happen. He'll start in GR... but get some Detroit time, even if it's only 10 games. IMO). We do NOT need any other blue line "VETERANS" other than Chiarot & Seider. They need to lead the way, when it comes to blue line leadership. Heck, even Edvinsson and Johansson qualify there. Lyon is UFA this summer. But the team needs to keep only 1 of Talbot or Mrazek and call up Cossa. Is Augustine signed this year and placed at GR? Fill in with a couple AAAA vets at GR in case there's a need but it's time to get off the "barely adequate but mostly crappy" vet goalies that they keep signing. Stevie swung and missed, multiple times here. Change gears Steve. (Not an order... just a request.) Danielson needs to start on the opening day roster. But here's our greatest weakness. No high-end forwards ready to be called up. Too many undersized, maybe/ sorta skilled forwards... I'm just guessing... but Kane might move on or retire after this year. I know we love Cat's sniping... but if there were an opportunity to get bigger, stronger... I wouldn't pass it up. Berggren is redundant and not what is needed right now. Which still means, no matter which direction is chosen, that either we don't have enough offense, or we don't have enough playoff toughness/size/skill. Or both. Conundrum. How do we fix this last issue? It's a necessary fix, and Steve has to figure it out this summer. Please.

Mojo... I think a lot of your answers were not correct. Supplying alternative views: Keith back to 2nd? Mojo correct, Torres not going to move. BUT: In the Tigers game of musical chairs: It would be easy to see a multi-position swap where Torres is PH for and Keith moves over to 2B. Javy more 3rd than SS/ Ibanez plays where? I think these two are related. And also related to your first question. Ibanez still has one option left. I think he's playing at Toledo to start the year. It is immaterial whether Baez plays more 3B or SS. The KEY issue here is that Baez CAN play 3B, and SS, and 2B. Maybe even some OF? Which means if you have McKinstry (LH'ed) and a RH'ed McKinstry (Baez), then a 3rd utility IF'er (Ibanez) is not needed. It opens up a possible spot for BOTH Malloy and Tork. I'm not guaranteeing Ibanez starts in Toledo. But he's in HUGE danger right now. IMO. Sadly, Baez is probably not worth more than that right now... Backup IF'er. But he's a sunk cost and if he still has a terrific glove and can find some of his lost pop (in his bat), he's slightly better than Ibanez. Not by much... but it is what it is. I think Ibanez starts in Toledo for these reasons. And Baez may play a bunch of SS, a bunch of 3B, and a smattering of 2B and/or the OF. It won't matter. He's just a utility guy now. But I'm just guessing. The little of Keith I've seen at 1st he looks fine. Not Gold Glove... but no worse than Tork at 1st. I don't know if Tork can get his 1B job back, But I would say this: Torres is signed for only 1 year. Are we going to offer him a few more years? An extension? If not, if we let him walk as a free agent: AND Tork shows he still has some staying power/ MLB bat/ AND he dedicates himself in the field... maybe he has a shot at getting 1B back in 2026, moving Keith over to 2B. But I don't think that will happen this year. But... we'll see how the season plays out. Centerfield? No, no trade. Just get me by guys (band aids) until Meadows gets back. I don't know where he's at in his rehab... but I thought he was making good progress...? Early May-ish I think... but I'm guessing? Bondo's changeup? You didn't get the memo? He's MASTERED it!!! Wait until you see him throw it!!! (But don't hold your breath!)

That would be hilarious!

I'd be very surprised if they DID otherwise. It won't be the non-rate-change that is important... What will be important is what they SAY...

Will make for a fun, and interesting year. Especially if the Tigers can get into the playoffs again.

Amazon. 5 bucks (incl. shipping).

My new name for trump is: Vladimir Trump. I'm sure everyone knows the reference. And why.

This is the correct agreement to equate it to: Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact - Wikipedia Hitler and Stalin agree to dissect Poland in two, each stealing one half of it.

Another 33.3% might be showing some signs of effectiveness this year... although obviously that's only ST so we'll see... And I wish they would just get it over with and push Manning into a 1-inning reliever spot in Toledo. Just to see what happens. It might be nothing. But damn... just give it a shot and let him go all out, one inning at a time... and... see. what. happens. because. there is. nothing. to. lose. at. this. point. in. time. IMO.

Easy decision. Ixne.

That's the point. Exactly. And yes... Elmer's on NHL ice for the Wings... Win. But... I'm hoping he doesn't turn into Mantha or Ras. Mantha only played when he felt like it (not very often) as you noted, and Ras is unable or unwilling to use his size. "Unable" in that it still seems like he is too easy to knock off his skates, and off the puck, he's not much of a hitter, and he loses pucks more than he steals them. Or at least it seems that way. Ras is a good player, as you say, on a checking line that can also offer some offense. But it still seems too much of a disappointment for him. He's not yet a playoff-level player. Can he get stronger on his skates? Does he have that in him? I'm hoping that Elmer can do more than that. He's already a huge win. But I still want more. And I want more from Ras. I don't know how he can get better on his skates, or if he can. He's already 26 (in one month)... I'm holding out hope that he still has some improvement in him. But we'll see. On both of them.

Yes. So we have to see if he grows into an NHL playoff-level player over the next coupla years. Or turns into just another Mantha/ Ras...

And using his looooong stick to take pucks away or protect the puck as the situation demands... He's a skilled stick handler. Could be a dangerous goal scorer and dangerous in front of the nest screening and tipping... He hits a guy... that guy hits the ice. Or they bounce off him trying to apply a check as you mentioned... He's agile and he has some speed... but like a locomotive, you only see that speed after a minute or two once he builds up that head of steam... I hope he keeps it going and continues to improve. He's fun to watch.

Crap. I thought he was UFA.

I prefer dividends. Ok, yeah, sorry... I thought you were teasing or something like that...