Detritus

The winter meetings have started for MLB, and all the rumors I've heard suggest that the Mariners will potentially be very active. It wouldn't surprise me if they sign Jason Schmidt in the next couple days, and from what I've heard, all the Manny Ramirez rumors floating around are in fact true, though not very likely. The Red Sox number one target for Ramirez is the LA Dodgers, due to their absolutely stacked minor league system. The Mariners sound like more of a back-up plan at the moment, and any trade involving the Mariners would most likely be a three way deal involving either the SF Giants or Atlanta Braves. What I've seen is that the Sox would want Adam Jones, another prospect, and either Putz or Soriano for Ramirez. Acquiring Ramirez would necessitate dumping Ritchie Sexson's salary, which is where the Giants come in, taking Sexson and giving the M's Noah Lowry. I believe the Giants would also probably send a prospect to Boston. This would be...interesting. I'm not really sure what to like about this deal. I really like Ramirez, but I don't know how much I want him and a massive contract into the future. I'm also not sure about Lowry, who was pretty bad last year, though he had success the two previous years. I don't really want to lose Putz, who was one of the best relievers in the league last year, and who will stay cheap for a few more years. I also believe Adam Jones is a future stud, the kind of guy who you'll regret losing in a couple years. I think I need some more time to digest this, and I also need to keep in find that it won't likely happen.

I recently alluded to a secret project I was working on, and I figure it's time to unveil it. I just finished writing an initiative about genetically engineered foods, and I've started another blog around the initiative and the process in getting it onto the ballot for next year's election, called Food Democracy. I don't plan on neglecting this blog for that one; rather, I'll be pulling double duty. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, or just check out the other blog, which should have pretty regular updates for at least the next month or so.

Remember, there's another NFL game this Thursday, Cleveland (+7.5) @ Pittsburgh. I really like Cleveland's chances in this game. They've been one of the most improved teams in the league the last couple weeks, and I think they can surprise the Steelers, or at the least, keep the game close. My pick is Cleveland.

The Broncos-Seahawks game last week was an odd one. I knew going into it that the Hawks had a really good chance, mostly due to the fact that everyone alive was grossly overrating Jay Cutler before he had thrown an NFL pass, but I can't help but feel that the Seahawks just aren't very good, despite beating a good team on the road. If it wasn't for all the fumbles and Cutler handing the Seahawks a touchdown on that Plummeresque floater he threw to Darryl Tapp, the game wouldn't have been close. The Hawks couldn't stop the run for most of the game, had trouble moving the ball against Denver's D, and overall, I think they were a little lucky to escape with a win. There are definitely signs that the team is improving, and they are now 5-0 when Hasselbeck and Alexander are both starting, but they could very easily be 6-6 or worse right now if it wasn't for Josh Brown. I am happy with the improvements being made, namely that the offensive line is looking a lot better, despite Sean Locklear and Robbie Tobeck still being out with injuries. Rob Sims has looked really good in the playing time he's been given, and Chris Spencer gets better every week it seems, while Tom Ashworth isn't as awful as he was earlier in the year. I love that Nate Burleson has found his niche on punt and kick returns, vastly improving our return game, an important area of the game that is often overlooked. The Hawks have been an awful return team for several years in a row, and I was angry when they cut Willie Ponder earlier in the season to make room for the return of Gibran Hamdan, because Ponder was really good on kick returns. I want Burleson to succeed, and he's been really great on returns since being inserted there, and it's nice that the Hawks don't need to take up extra roster space with a return specialist. I also think the pass defense has looked a lot better the last couple weeks, not giving up so many long pass plays, but at the same time the defense is really getting torched by the run, especially giving up long runs. I wonder if they lack the size on the defensive line to be good against the run, which is where Marcus Tubbs' injury hurts them, and as good as Julian Peterson is as a pass rusher, I think they sacrifice against the run when he's used as a down lineman. What's good for the Hawks is that they still have time to gel before the playoffs, and they'll be able to coast toward the end, as they've got the division basically wrapped up. They have a legitimate shot at a first round bye, also, and a home playoff game, which would almost guarantee a conference finals berth, considering the Hawks home field advantage. All in all, not too bad, considering they've had Hasselbeck and/or Alexander out for seven games this year.