Barry Zito to the San Francisco Giants $18 mil a year

According to ESPN.com and Gammons Zito just signed for some crazy jack across the Bay. $18 million for 7 years ($126mil) and a mutual option for an 8th is insane. To truly understand the debacle that is signing Barry Zito, we must go inside the numbers, and everyone knows baseball is a numbers game.

In Zito's first three seasons in the majors he made a splash. He threw up crazy statistics unlikely to be duplicated again in his career. His rookie season is eerily similar to Josh Johnson's first season with the Marlins I might add, so for those interested in rookie cards pick up some JJ cards ASAP. Back to the stats, Zito's first three seasons 47-17 with era's of 2.72 3.49 and 2.75 crazy. We could even throw in his 4th season at14-12 3.30 era. The three seasons following that he was 41 and 34 with era's of 4.48 3.86 and 3.83. Those are all sold numbers, even ACE numbers but not one of the highest paid pitchers in baseball numbers. 7 games above .500 is not impressive in the least. Zito is also a slow starter, and changing leagues can only further augment a slow start. Pre All-star break he is 18-21 with a 3.91 ERA and 23-13 4.21 era after the All-star Break.

However, since his rookie season, Barry has thrown 213 innings or more every single season. This ability to stay healthy is surprising if not unprecedented. He will only be 28 starting the 2007 season and at the end of the contract will still be 35 but with a ton of innings pitched.

His fast ball tops off at 89 with a crazy sick curve ball and from reports, a solid change. He has 7 career starts in the playoffs amazing compiling a 1-5 record with a 3.25 era. Much of his ERA problems in the playoffs to be fair were this past season in the ALCS against the red hot Tigers, but what does that say about starting the big game in the p-offs. However, he has dominated the yankees in the playoffs with a 1.59 and 1.12 era in both starts against the Bronx Bombers.

Zito goes to a Giants team with a legitimate chance of competing in a mediocre National League West. The Giants lost Jason Schmitt in the offseason making them, in my opinion, desperate for another ace on the staff. Matt Cain is a baller, but not yet ready to take over the top spot in their rotation. Furthermore, Zito will be pitching in the National League for the first time. Pitchers aren't signed to be hitters, but how will having to step in the batters box 2-3 times a game and running down to second effect his overall stability on the mound and throughout a long season? On the contrary, the popular belief is that the American League is the far superior league with mashers like A-rod, Man-ram, Ortiz, Big Hurt, etc. and that each team is deeper. This is true, especially since pitchers have to pitch to DHs instead of a pitcher in the 9 hole in the National League. This leads me to the conclusion that pitching to pitchers in the 9 spot will ultimately balance out if not overshadow the fact Zito has to hit and is coming to new stadiums, pitching against new teams, and new players.

**Disclaimer**
I am a Mets fan and a bit bitter the Mets did not sign Zito, however I am glad they didn't have to throw that kind of crazy jack at a player that has an effect 1 out of every 5 games and is from Oakland. How have the signings of the other two arms of the big three gone (Mulder and Hudson)? Not very good, maybe Billy Beane eats them up using all they have and spits them out onto free agency laughing his way to consistent .500 teams and playoff births.

Buffalo Bills 7-8

After two days of eating this loss I really don't feel any better. The major coaching errors, the brutal run defense, etc. The Jets winning helps a little bit but not much. How do you not kick it there. If the season is going down I'd rather it go on a missed field goal than on a bad 4th and 5 play. I have no idea what was goin on in Jauron's head on that final 3-4 plays. We were ill prepared, we didn't think a head, we had no clue what to do.
Writing this is even making me sick, this loss will stick with me for a while. I am no doubt renewing my season tickets but I have no expectations for next year. That is one of the most disheartening things about this game. All of the good will and hope the coaching staff and team were building up over the past 6 weeks is lost. Jauron so far can't win the biggest game, the last game, excell in the so called clutch important spot.

• i hate royal, get rid of him
• we need to run the ball more with mcgahee
• our linebackers blow
• losman is looking decent enough
• the nfl is making me sick
  

I'll leave on a possitive note because that is the only thing we can cling to. A smart person like Jauron, maybe he will learn from his mistakes. He isn't from Buffalo, apparently he hasn't experienced all of the stuff in Buffalo that you need to to win and excell in the Ralph. SO hey, maybe now he knows, no one can win in their first year in this league or consistently. (well except that piece of crap roethlesburger)

NFL Week 16 Tennessee Titans @ Buffalo Bills

This is the biggest game in the Ralph since the finale of the 2004 season. The 2006 Buffalo Bills have done what most thought they could not. The general consensus was that JP Losman was not a good quarterback, Jauron was lost on the sidelines, the defense was pathetic, Levy isn't a GM, the draft was a debacle. The Bills haven't won anything, and are only a .500 team. But when the Bills were 2-5 did anyone think they would be a .500 team even?

The Buffalo Bills are fighting for a playoff spot in the last 2 weeks of the season for the second time in three years. Moreover, the Bills haven't been to the playoffs in 6+ seasons. Everyone is sick of losing and ticket sales are a general sign of this overall sickness surrounding this team. There are 18,000+ tickets left for a "playoff-like" game in Buffalo. Yeah there hasn't been an actual playoff game in Buffalo since 1997, but Sunday will feel like one with the 55,000 or so fans.

The Bills have had a balanced offense the past 6 weeks actually putting points on the board. Mcgahee and Royal have actually been finding the endzone with some regularity which is something I didn't foresee occurring. Losman is maturing and is also limiting mistakes, less fumbles, fewer turnovers, and the Bills have improved immensely as a result.

VY and the Titans are coming to town. Coming off a five game winning streak, this team is winning every way imaginable. Young has not put up big numbers but he just wins, straight up he wins. This Sunday may be a different story, with fewer turnovers lately, it will be tough to take the ball away from the Bills, especially at home. The wind will no doubt be howling, rain/snow will be prevalent and I for one do not believe Young has experienced what he is about to experience Christmas Eve at 1:00pm.

For the Titans to have a chance their defense or special teams will need to score. T-hanks, making his triumphant return(to where he did a 15 year old girl, bought drugs from some high school kids in west seneca[allegedly] and put up a few decent seasons) will need to run wild. He will have to find the endzone and put up 4.5+ per carry. Or, maybe Losman regresses, Mcgahee can't get it goin or gets hurt, and the defense has a brain fart. This all seem to be unlikely to occur. Dick JauronJauronJauron Jauron Jauron won't let this happen. Being 21 I barely remember the the golden years of the early and mid 90's. All i know is heart break(music city forward pass, loss at home to Pittsburgh and the jets losing, Tom Brady, Bellichick, etc) and I fully expect the Bills to collapse in every big or important game.

Dick Jauron seems to be changing the tide so to speak He is a different coach than Phillip's Mularchuk and Greggg. Sunday is the day to change all or a little bit of the strife Bills Nation has endured over the past decade. An 8-8 season will be a small success, a playoff birth would be a shock, all the Bills can control is a win.

Bills 29 Titans 14

PS Lets go Denver and Miami die Cincinnati, New Jersey Jets, and Jacksonville Jaguars

Buffalo Bills/Buffalo Sabres thread

Yea, the Bills are in trouble.. i mean look at this
Top 5 attendances from last week

1. Philadelphia 36, N.Y. Giants 22 - 78,657
2. Pittsburgh 37, Carolina 3 - 73,798
3. Dallas 38, Atlanta 28 - 71,102
4. Buffalo 21, Miami 0 - 71,011
5. Baltimore 27, Cleveland 17 - 70,857

We only drew 71,000 fans. I am scared, no one likes the Bills any more. There is no interest, oh wait according to the front page of the Buffalo News they sold over 3,500 tickets after they announced black out and 1,750 the day of on Sunday. They are in the playoff hunt, all of the possiblities and situations can be found at http://letsgobuffalo.blogspot.com Thinking about and figuring all that stuff out makes my head hurt. The Bills have to win their next two games that is all they can control. The lose at the hands of the Detroit Lions hurts us big time, but it probably wont be over until December 31 barring an upset this Sunday at the ralph. (And from what I am told, shocking there are tickets left for a game on Christmas eve. [17,000 infact]) Fill up the van drive the crew down to the Ralph at 9:00 and buy up some tickets cause there will be a line i guarantee that.

Brian Moorman and Aaron Schobel in the Pro Bowl. What about Lee Evans? I'm tellin' you, maybe he should be show boating and carrying on after touchdowns cause the guy is going unnoticed by the rest of the NFL. He is a straight baller. Jason Peters should be in the pro-bowl within the next 2 years. Tony 'hideo' Romo starts 8 games and is in the pro-bowl? WTF!?! Where are the Quarterbacks in the NFC. Give me a break with that one. The steelers have 4+ players in as well, that makes me sick.
Evans 70 rec 1083 yards 6tds
Andre Johnson 97 1087 5tds
Pretty comparable. Is Wayne and Harrison both needed in the pro-bowl?


The Sabres lost their first back to back games. Not only did they lose to division rivals, they lost both games at home. They looked sick against Montreal tonight. The defensman seem to take too many shots. Ryan Miller for being an alleged great goalie seems to have quite a few nights where he isn't 'great'.

They are five points up on the Habs and have beaten them in regulation only once this year. Lets hope the Sabres, assuming they do actually make the playoffs, don't face this team until the conference championship so we get more than one series of playoffs in Buffalo.

Anyone else sick of Lorenz and Jeanerette being so biased and every save Miller has is great and huge and spectacular. Every goal he lets in isn't his fault? Seems like every goal that Miller lets in, he is flopping around laying on his stomach or back tanning or just looking lost.

Danny Briere $5 million?

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills week 15

Can't wait to get to the stadium tomorrow and see 4,000 empty seats up at the corners. I really hope this is pay back for the Donahoe years because without consistent sell outs the Bills are of 0 value to the NFL. This whole topic makes me sick to my stomach so I'm just going to hope the Bills continue to win and increase their ticket sales in the off season and Ralph calms down with his Anti-NFL tirade he has been on for 2 years or at least hires some competent PR people.

Joey Heisman? Sam Morris? These players shouldn't be able to beat the Bills at home. However, the NFL is crazy. The Jets own us in Buffalo and the Bills own them in New Jersey both fielding similar teams for both games. The one major difference is Jason Peters. I am starting to think this guy is a beast, a true beast. The solidification of this offensive line via Peters is the best news to Bills fans in 7+ years.

Clements is in a contract year which leads me to believe he is going to be balling from here on out as he has done for the past 6-8 weeks. He knows Chambers has big games against the Bills. He knows he gets torched by him. But if Schobel continues to play like a different Aaron Schobel like he did last week, I dont see 'Joey' getting enough time to get the ball to his undersized extremely skilled WR.

Can Willis put back to back stellar performances together for the first time since 2004? To keep Jason Taylor from destroying Losman on every play the Bills need to develop the running game early to keep Taylor on his toes and eventually open up the long ball to Evans. I can't wait to see that pump fake and go again, because last week it was done to perfection.

I'm still a bit hungover so I'm gonna keep it short. Make 'Joey' force the ball and win the game with his arm, limit the turnovers and this game could get ugly. The propensity to turn the ball over Losman showed earlier in the season appears to be non-existent recently, but with 8+ fumbles forced by Taylor I am still weary of him coming around the end and ripping the ball from JP.

Look for the POPE JP L sign in section 200 where I'll be
Bills 27 Marine Mammals 13

Running diary of attending a Buffalo Sabres game via scalper

Since there are so many women and children that aren't hardcore enough to attend a Bills game out in the elements with drunkards and that howling persistent wind at the Ralph, they attend Sabres games. And, since there are so many women and children and bandwagon Sabres fans, every game is sold out.Since every game is sold out, there are no tickets. The game was a value game vs. the Panthers on a Thursday and I wanted to go. Here is my running diary:

6:32
Me and my friend depart from my house sans tickets to the game.

6:40
We avoid 2,000 cars getting off at the Elm St exit, and bust a move getting off at the Church St. exit with no traffic.

6:48
Instead of paying for a parking spot because we are college students and there is a free train that drops you off directly in front of the arena, we park in Niagara square and jump up to blocks to Main St. and catch a train seemingly waiting for us.

6:56
The train saves us about a mile of walking and drops us off as we start scouring the Arena to see where that crazy drunk bitch drove into in the other day.

6:57
We start talking to our first scalper. The streets are packed with people still getting into the Arena and I am starting find my groove talking to these scalpers. Our ceiling is $20 and we want a pair of seats together. First offer we get, two upper deck for $50 each. We continue to walk back up Washington St.

6:58
Next offer, two tickets $30 each and they aren't together. I say we need a pair together, Scalper,"You aren't going to find a pair together now, and definitely not for $20 each"

7:00
The schedule puck drop, however some Irish Tenor or something is signing so the drop is delayed. Next scalper a block from the stadium has a pair allegedly center ice like every ticket offered to us thus far. He puts the tickets in my hand, the price is $16 per seat. He wants $30 each.
Me: "You're wasting my time, I have other people with real offers."
Scalper " What are you looking to spend then."
Me: " $20 each, those are $16 tickets man, and I doubt center ice."
Scalper: "I'll give 'em to you for $25 each that is as low as I can go." Long stare down ensues. Who is going to blink first, the ultimate struggle between saving $10.
"That is only a difference of $10, that's beer money man."
Me: "Exactly, so we'll give you $20 each and have money for a beer or two." The stair down continues until the scalper catches a break. A third party hot shot jumps into the ultimate barter showdown.
Hot shot: "I need a pair, best seats in the house, what you got man. (looks at the tickets the scalper just ripped from my paws.) On no we want 100 level I don't want these"

7:03
We're back at One Seymore Knox Plaza and the scalpers are starting to tense up. They are putting nonconsecutive tickets together just trying to do something. "We want a pair, we need a pair" I keep telling these guys as they lower their asking price from $30 a ticket down to $15 as the puck is being dropped.

7:08
The puck is officially dropped and people are still streaming in as commerce is taking place on the streets.

7:09
In one last ditch effort we look for the guy offering $25 each for the pair. Alas we can't find him walk back to the arena realizing this is not our night. There are only single tickets left in what appears the entire known universe going for $15 each.

We make the decision that it is officially not our night and we decide to go to Pearl St. and catch the game.

7:15
As we are walking up Main St. we see a guy two blocks from the arena still trying to peddle some tickets. As it turns out he has a pair! However the asking price was $50 each, 10 minutes into the game. The tickets had a face value of $22, the puck was dropped and god knows what the score is at this point. We walk away as he offers $40 each and we laugh heading up Main.

7:21
As we cross Exchange St. we see some dude in a pick up truck cruising through red lights with his door open at about 15 mph. He yells something incoherent, although I swear I hear the words TICKETS mumbled in his sentence. I walk over and he has two tickets to tonight's game.
"Hey, you lookin for tickets I got a pair here. They were compt'd I'm just tryin to get rid of 'em. (section 302 row 10 seats 9 and 10.) We offer $20 each, and we're back in the game. According to my buddy, and this is not to be repeated although the words may never be verified of being legitimate. As we are handing him the money he allegedly said to him "Yeah, I just wanted to get rid of them I would have been happy just getting $15 each for 'em"

7:22
I decide to ignore this story I am just told as we start briskly jogging towards the Arena.

7:28
We get to our seats in section 302 with 8:00 left in the first period no score.

7:29
We realize there is two bus loads of screaming women and children 80% little girls. They are holding up huge signs obstructing our view.

7:30
I give a huge Lets Go Pannnnnnnnthers! as we take in the atmosphere glad we got in.

Week 14 win Buffalo Bills 31 New York Jets 13

To tell you the truth, I was shocked we won this game so handedly. I didn't see it in us to pull out a victory in the Meadowlands today against a Jets team that saw the Patriots lose and two other teams battling for a wildcard lose as well. Then again, when you have a solid running game, are facing a team with no deep threat, and limit the turnovers/mistakes, why wouldn't you have a chance to win.

• Mcgahee played like a true baller. I only wish he could play against the Jets and Vilma every freakin week. What kind of sandwich did he have during half time, ham, turkey, peanut butter? Was mayo on it, cheese, wheat bread hmm
• Kyle Williams played a solid game, I noticed him running around making tackles.
• Schobel stepped up and got his 2 cheap sacks at the end of the game yes, but I noticed him running hard and challenging The Brick all game. It finally paid off when he forced a huge fumble of Chadwich deep in Jets territory.
• Losman did what he had to do to beat the Jets. On the touchdown pass I thought he over shot him and missed, but instead sweet Lee ran right under it and caught the ball in stride walking into the endzone pumping his fist.
• Where was the challenge on the great Price catch in the first half. Seems like Price is getting screwed by the refs, what did he ever do..
• No Mcgee, Whitner, Spikes for part of the game, Crowell, no problem.
• I had to check the roster to see who the hell #26 was. BOOTY BOOTY BOOTY ROCKIN EVERY WHERE. The kid got his first NFL action, I like it but is he ready to take over for Clements?
• Is Chadwick's shoulder that terrible that, when down by 3 scores in the fourth, you are still dinking and dunking the ball around the field?
• Where do I have to sign for Losman 2007?
• It was only one play, but man is Parrish quick, he gets the ball on the end around and gets 11 yards like it was impossible to not get at least 11 yards on the play. The Bills didn't run many offensive plays, but you gotta get this kid the ball more.
• From what I've been told:

1. the Bills had the hardest strength of schedule in the league thus far.
2. Schobel is tied for the lead with 12.5 sacks
3. The Bills are playing a meaningful home game in December and it is V. the Dolphins.
4. Robert Royal has scored a touchdown in two consecutive games

Alright Bills Nation, as a season ticket holder and I will be seeing the game regardless, go buy up the rest of the tickets and sell this thing out. It is embarrasing

• 
  

Baseball Winter Meetings Mets Red Sox etc

What do Julio Lugo, JD Drew, and Daistzuki Matzuska have in common? Before today, nothing. The Boston Red sox threw some crazy jack at these unproven, injury plagued, inexperienced, aging, inconsistent, or worst all of the above.

If Drew couldn't make it in Los Angles why is he going to make it in Boston? He has missed huge chucks of time in the past five seasons and you reward him with a $70 million contract? Lugo is thirty-one and will be decidedly slower in the third year of his four year contract. The Sox screw up with Renteria and to alleviate the problem they throw mad jack at a mediocre player that got lost in the Dodgers line up? Two words for any Red Sox fan HANLEY.. RAMIREZ or four words Rookie of the Year. Good luck with Beckett and Schilling too.

The Mets traded budding young prospect Brian Bannister to the Royals with cheese for a 22 year old "future closer". At first I hated the deal, but they both have up side and with Humber Perez Pelfrey Soler and Maine all 25 or under the Mets have plenty of potential young starters. Getting Ambiorix Burgos leads me to believe Heilman is on the way out, I'm just hoping Duaner will be healthy this season and the Mets get Guierrmo back after his 50 game suspension. The one question is Lastings Milledge, not exactly in the Mets plans for 07, there are rumblings if he is still on the squad he will be platooning with Green in right field.

Another story, or non-story is the inactivity of the Yankees. With all the noise the Red Sox are making I think and Yanks move in imminent. Then again they have more All Stars and the National League and more outfielders than I can name. The rotation is filled with question marks and has beens. The perfect idea would be to bring a question mark and has been.. Andy Pettitte. With all our luck the Yankees will swoop in during the 23rd hour and get Zito watch.

• Zito is going to New York
• Ted Lilly was way over paid.
• Maddux isn't worth $10 mill but $16 over 2 sounds much better.
• Glavine getting $11.5 ? worth it when he gets his 300th vs the Braves.
• The Tribe are bolstering the bullpen and will be mild sleepers in 07
• Is anyone really scared of Jason Schmitt?
• Anyone else as sick of the Manny trade talk as EVERYONE?
• Did Barry fill out his retirement papers yet?
• Why are the baseball meetings in Florida any way, and do the Marlins or Devil Rays even bother sending some one there?
  
• For that matter do the Royals, Pirates, or Reds?
• Earth to the Detroit Tigers helloooo
• I can't wait to watch the train wreck that is the 2007 Chicago Cubs, now Wood is their closer.
  

Buffalo Bills lose, knee jerk reaction

Tough for me to point out one particular play(except for the 51 yard td run by LTD) or one player that really cost the Bills the game. Losman and the offense scored when given good field position, after the first half the defense only gave up 7 points. The Bills played a tough team tough and lost by 3.

• Spikes showed up today, making plays on the ball and I noticed him
• Mcgahee dances and misses or doesn't see holes or hit them hard enough
• Crowell being hurt could only have hurt us today.
• McGee being hurt couldn't have helped us today.
• Why was Coy Wire out there in the linebacker position for much of the day?
• How big is the NFL rule book and descriptions of each penalty, including: 'in the grass' 'pass interference' 'toe in bounce heel out of bounce' 'charging two timeouts for a challenge' 'onside kicks when the offensive team touches it first' etc.
• Price makes his living at the end of games apparently
• Parrish didn't touch the ball enough on offense
• Clements is a solid corner back.
• The Bills defense resorted back to years past, not producing a big stop when needed
• How tough is it to manage 3 time outs in the second half.
• Why aren't more people pissed off at that cheater POS Merriman. People were giving it to him at the game today but not loud enough, professional chants should have been started after any time he made even half a play. He is garbage and always a cheater in my book.
• I thought it wasn't suppose to be windy today. I have gone through 3 sticks of Chapstick.
• God damn the Bills schedule was tough this year.
  

San Diego Chargers visit Buffalo Bills week 13

It has been a tough decision for the weekly banner that hangs above the 200 section sign under the score board at the Ralph this week. The two finalists were 'Juiced Out' because of Merriman's saying lights out, or 56 <3 roids. The first one would be for the more die hard football fan, while the second plainly spells out what I mean. The difficulty of making a heart with a spray paint can has lead me to decide on Juiced out for this Sunday.

Merriman is a cheater, he was caught, it was a positive drug test specifially relating to the use of steroids and he gets a free pass. Can we not take his 2005 defensive rookie of the year award away? How about his 8.5 sacks, they still count for this season? Excuses are like assholes and they all stink.

Tomlinson is difficult to contain and nearly impossible to stop. Dropping upwards of 8 or 9 in the box may work a bit but that will leave one on ones in secondary with little or no safety help. The idea of Whitner needing to make plays and contain the outside scaries me, especially after seeing highlights of the Colts game inwhich he was torn apart on two big touchdown runs.

The only chance for the bills to win this game is to keep putting up points. The chargers are going to get their 25+ points and the only question is whether the Bills can put up 26+ points and get the W. Riding the coattails of a two game winning streak, the idea of going head to head with the #5 pick in 2004 draft, and having a new found confidence the Bills have a chance.

Losman and the Bills 27 Riveria and the Bolts 27 OT