1984Echoes

Have at it if you want to parse that out... I'm just going to call those rounded numbers and good enough for me.

11.5 billion tons of freight are by trucking in the U.S. (~73%) and: 1.6 billion tons by rail (10.1%). I assume the balance (2.74 billion tons) is by air or river portage... or other alternative?

They all looked crappy ranked around #11. #13 Yesavage - "Definite injury/ reliever risk with the delivery (extreme short arm action)..." #16 Brecht - "Arm action is too busy and cannot repeat it for strikes let alone anything resembling command". The next guy is ranked 26th. I'd rather start in the 2nd round looking for pitchers with better mechanics with some projectability. I particularly like Tegan Kuhns at #38 (HS, 6'3" 170 (lots of room to add weight/velocity), and Ryan Johnson (6'6" Dallas Baptist, 3.3% walk rate. Funky delivery though...). Just my 2 cents.

I love the team building aspect so much. For this year's draft... I would start at the #9-ish prospect because ya never know when a guy will slide because... it's a draft... these things happen. I think it would be really hard for a top-5 guy to fall, much, much more rare. I also checked #6 to #8 prospects for a look-see... but I also do not see Chase Burns, or Hagen Smith, or Braden Montgomery slipping. So... starting at #9: 9. Bryce Rainer, HS SS - elite SS with some power but slow bat speed = difficulties connecting or, lower hit tool. 70 arm, excellent defensive SS, but 1st guess would be he's a .220-ish hitter in MLB. 10. Konnor Griffin, HS OF/SS - "Big bodied athlete/ plus runner/power/arm can play any OF position". Not certain why they also have him as a SS? Swing is long but with fast acceleration through the zone = lots of line drives. 11? Seaver King, OF/SS - "Not a discerning hitter, chases out of zone, pretty low walk rate, bad swing decisions...". Nope. Not a Harris player. Full stop. 12? Slade Caldwell, OF - 5' 5.5"... "can hit with fringy power...". Seriously? No thanks. 13 and 14 are not better. 15. Kaelen Culpepper, KSU SS - makes a ton of contact with fringy/avg. power (which could improve if load can be coached up)... strong defense at SS. Nothing better that I see after this... VERY disappointing possibilities here, at around 11. If I hazard a guess: Harris will take a chance on Rainer, Griffin or Culpepper, whoever is there at 11. And whoever he believes can be "coached up" in our new & revamped (improved yet to be determined...) developmental system/coaches. Just my 2 cents...

Beautiful!!! I will just add:

Is that supposed to be Alex Avila? (LH'ed hitter FYI). Or... Which Al are you talking about...?

Those aren't dots. That's a mesh jersey. Those are all the mesh holes. Dude, stop micro dosing ketamine and shrooms! Or is it Meth... which has you confused...?

IMO I think that's overthinking it. The short-term is they desperately want Ukraine-Israel-other funding bills passed. Johnson is actually being VERY clever here... He is basically splitting the Senate Bill into 4 pieces: A) Ukraine Bill - allows extremist Right members to vote against it, but it will pass because MOST House members (of both parties) want this passed. B) Israel aid - allows extremist Left members to vote against it, but it will pass because MOST House members (of both parties) want this passed. C) Pacific Area Bill - just because... D) Misc - probably to throw in a crapload of amendments here... Then Johnson will combine these 4 and send it to the Senate in one package. Dems will protect him IMO until this is completed. But they don't control ANYTHING else. That's all up to Marjorie and whatever her and her ilk shenanigans they want to play. And since the Dems don't control Marjorie... I think this is where it's overthinking it to say the Dems might be planning the Republican chaos to happen closer to the election. The Dems have no control over Republican chaos... that's all in MAGA's hands (Marjorie, etc.).

Dems might be interested in doing MAGA Mike a favor. At least this once. They'll save him from a MAGA Noose in return for these aid bills. After that... no promises...

You really seem to be stuck on those 3 guys Tater. Sorry... but I'm moving on.

So from Brugler's original draft: 2 (44). Zach Frazier, G/C, West Virginia 2 (61). Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State 3 (73). Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington 3 (77). Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest 5 (164). Braiden McGregor, Edge, Michigan 6 (201). Will Reichard, K, Alabama 6 (205). Sione Vaki, S, Utah 7 (249). Johnny Dixon, CB, Penn State This is where I ended up: 2 (44) Xavier Legette, WR, 6'1" 220 4.39 40, S Carolina 2 (61) Braden Fiske, DT, 6'4" 292 4.78 40, FSU 3 (73) Chris Braswell, OLB, 6'3" 255 4.60 40, Alabama 3 (77) Mason McCormick, OG/C, 6'4" 310 5.10 40, S Dakota 4 (105) Cam Hart, CB, 6'3" 202 4.50 40, Notre Dame 4 (110) Khyree Jackson, CB/Safety, 6'3" 195 4.50 40, Oregon 6 (205) Will Reichard, K, Alabama

Except... I took a second look and would want to rejigger a couple things: The original (with some thoughts...) 2 (44). Zach Frazier, C, WVU - I like the IDEA of Frazier but I think he's a RANKING problem. Holmes has different ranking criteria and I think he LOVES Barton, JPJ, and McCORMICK. Not Frazier. 2 (61). Braden Fiske, DT, FSU - Yes. 3 (73). Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington - See below. 3 (77). Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest - I think Holmes LOVES a couple CB's more than Carson (see below): So I made some "adjustments" to this: After the trade down with the Steelers, I think the draft goes like this: #44 Xavier Legette, WR, 6'1" 220 4.39 40, S Carolina - True X receiver. Big and FAST. TOUGH. Holmes = PERFECT! #61 Braden Fiske, DT, 6'4" 292 4.78 40, FSU - FAST and RELENTLESS. Will be rotational/pass-rusher; Lions Fit = HUGE! #73 Chris Braswell, OLB, 6'3" 255 4.60 40, Alabama - Maxx Crosby wannabe. "Work ethic off-the-charts". Holmes = YES! #77 Mason McCormick, OG/C, 6'4" 310 5.10 40, S Dakota - 10.0 RAS grade as Center. Big, fast, powerful. Dominates the run. Holmes = PERFECT! Right here, I'm going to throw in a curveball: I'm going to trade our 5th, 6th (#201), 7th and a 2025 3rd to the Chargers for their two 4th rounders, #'s 105 and 110. And select: #105 Cam Hart, CB, 6'3" 202 4.50 40, Notre Dame #110 Khyree Jackson, CB/Safety, 6'3" 195 4.50 40, Oregon #205 Will Reichard, K, Alabama

PS: Who did the Raiders pick? Penix?

I LOVE this draft!!!

The shorter version of what I just said. I approve this message.

I was arguing this most of the year... especially as Copp and Compher proved neither were at a high enough level... Which is what my argument was. Dump these types of salaries... And I would rather spend (1) contract on an upper echelon player at $8 mill +/-, rather than two contracts on middling players like these. So I see our offseason needs as 5-fold (players only needs that is...): Extend Seider and Raymond. Let UFA's walk (and possibly an RFA or two) unless there's a compelling reason to keep them. Drop additional veteran salaries wherever that is possible, as Shinzaki noted a few very eligible candidates above... Sign 1 or 2 "PREMIUM" FA's, two-way players that are not on their last legs and can fit as a top-6 (borderline top-3) forward, with Center/Playmaker an especially acute need, or as a top 2-pairing defenseman. And fill in with kids. I want the youth to lower salaries and for them to start on their NHL learning curves (now, rather than later). I'm ready for Cossa, Mazur, Kasper, Wallinder, Toumisto, and possibly Johansson to start getting NHL ice time, as much as is possible... because they are going to have to go through learning curves... That also means there are a lot of movable vets on the Wings roster (UFA's RFA's, or trades), IMO. And higher level FA's which means more AAV and fewer players, as opposed to quantity of middling salaries/middling players. Too many middling salaries/ middling players can both kill a team's cap as well as kill a team's growth potential/ upside... as others have pointed out.

Woohoo!!! Been high on him for quite awhile... Probably right after they drafted him...

I forget which: Walter Football or Bleacher Report... has Legette mocked to the Lions at 61. At this point... I'm ready to expect anything because like every draft... players inexplicably fall that weren't supposed to, surprises are taken higher than anyone thought all over the draft... so I'm just placing my guesses and wherever the chips fall in the real draft... We'll see. PS: Brian Branch was supposed to be a 1st rounder (I thought a top-15/20 guy) and the Lions snagged him in the 2nd. That was a bit of a shocker to me, but it happened. PPS: Even if it's not Legette, this draft is loaded with receivers so (a) someone is going to fall to the Lions at 61, simply by the numbers, (b) I actually agree with you you, I have a hard time seeing Legette as the WR that falls to that spot... and (c) Again, with WR so loaded this year, I think an extremely talented WR will be there at 61, no matter whom that is. But my preference is definitely Legette over all the other names (😉) ... The only guy I like more is Adonai Mitchell in the 1st.

Chiarot was a positive this year but I don't trust him. He was atrocious the year before, and is not getting younger at 33 next year. I don't see a need to keep him if the top 2 are Walman and Edvinsson, and the bottom 2 can be filled in with Maatta, and possibly a Wallinder or Johansson, or both. As you said, it's time to start reaping the benefits of the system that Yzerman has built. To me... that's making Cap decisions this year. And moving on from certain players. I am eager to push multiple vets out the door, and bring in kids instead, and to me, that means Chiarot is out the door. Walman & Edvinsson are top 2 pair next year, IMO... We want Chiarot as 3rd pair D? Why?

I hope that's a lesson learned from this season. That you can't just give away a game, or points. They fought like crazy for points this past week... That's my impression. But they missed the playoffs so... I'm hoping they understand that next year by playing "Playoff Level" hockey the last month or two of the season instead of the last week or two. They need to fight harder for points.

If he somehow was able to gain some extra picks in the top 3 rounds... and the RB's are falling... I could see him using a 3rd round pick on Benson or Brooks if they fall that far... With just 3 picks in the top 3, I think there are O-Lineman who will be ranked higher on his board... But I wouldn't put it past him if he were able to get another pick or two to use...

That's what I was hearing too from what he said. But there's a critical part to that: The hitter actually has to cause some damage with those early swings. If all he does is swing and miss, or produce a crap load of ground ball outs... Pitchers will know they can challenge a guy right off because he's not doing anything anyways... So no need to dance around the corners.

If I had to put money on it... Cooper DeJean in the 1st. Xavier Legette in the 2nd. Chris Braswell in the 3rd. After that... I'll leave it up to Holmes to find 5th/6th/7th rounders that he likes. 😉 Although with one of those I'd like a kicker. I like Josh Karty the most with a huge leg, 56 yards his longest this past year, 4-7 from beyond 50 and 7-7 in the 40-49 range. But just guessin'...

The solution is simple: Lead him off instead. I'm guessing Hinch is NOT doing that because he's slow on the base paths? Sometimes that's just gotta be ignored and putting a hitter where he best performs (Canha leading off, Greene batting 2nd) has to take precedence. Just my 2 cents...

That's fine. No worries... You have your ideas and I have mine...