The Buscher

The second go-around worked. Glad to see the only issue was a brainfart by my computer.

Anyway, surveying the roster the one suggestion I'd have is to put Jackson Andrews in FCW (he starts on the active Raw roster). I think they aborted the idea of him as Kidd's bodyguard back in early January.

If A-Ri isn't back up on the main roster by the end of this month I'd probably start him in FCW too for the next update. Possibly McGillicutty too but that probably depends on whether or not he's still listed on the Raw roster page.

Well, I started loading the game and then left the room to eat. It had finished loading when I came back. You're probably right though, probably something with my PC caused EWR to mess up.

My bad, should have tried a second time before reporting. I haven't d/led one of these updates in quite some time as I've been immersed in my current 2002 game. Gonna go try re-starting.

I don't know if there's something I'm doing wrong, but there appears to be a game-killing problem with the Staff.

I started a game with WWE and every single staff member started with 0 months on their contract. This wouldn't be a big deal, except for the fact that every single staff member starts with 0 morale. Because of this, they'll refuse to negotiate a new contract and because of that you can't even use Arsenic to switch their morale and force them to re-sign. I went ahead and checked the editor and there is no way to edit morale or contract length through there.

So yeah, until this gets fixed there's no way to play longer than a month before the entire staff leaves. I'm guessing it's the same deal with the other promotions as well. There are also a few other wonky things (probably a good 50 or so WWE workers have 0 months on their deals and nearly everybody else has a 27-month deal. also Masters and Morrison have never debuted apparently).

Looks great otherwise. (Y)

I re-set the rosters and "started clean" at the Rumble, watching the all-CPU Rumble match. Put 15 guys from Raw and 15 from SmackDown in the Rumble. I've done enough simmed Rumbles to know that when selecting participants, the first 3 you pick will ALWAYS be #30, #29, and #28. So I rigged it slightly by putting Morrison, Barrett, and Del Rio in those spots for storyline purposes.

Del Rio won, narrowly beating out Vladimir Kozlov who nearly ruined all of my plans.

But it worked out nicely. Miz and Edge retained their belts at EC. Miz beat Triple H to retain the WWE Title in a simmed match, which shocked me. Then Edge retained over Del Rio only for Christian, fresh off his MITB win, to cash in and win the big gold belt.

I was planning on moving the entire current WWE roster to Raw and filling up SmackDown with alumni and funny CAWs (Ninja Turtles, Homer Simpson, etc.)

But of course the server is down every time I try to download aforementioned CAWs. Ugh.

WM seems to be right around the cutoff date every year. So looking over the roster, I wonder if the Nexus are gonna get the Spirit Squad treatment in the next game (where they miss the cut due to not wanting to tie up so many spots for one stable). Assuming the roster size is the same next year - there are 10 active people that won't return next year (Jericho, Batista, MVP, Hardy, Knox, Shelton, Archer, Gallows, Shad, Finlay).

Wade Barrett, Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater, Daniel Bryan, and Alberto Del Rio are basically locks. Chris Masters is a safe bet too especially since they've already got a model made for him from this year's DLC. By that same token, Otunga could sneak in. That leaves 3 spots to use on Harris, McGillicutty, and Ryan although I just don't see them all making it especially since the group might disband at or around Mania. Then again, pickings are slim. They could also always punt out some of the mega-jobbers like Primo but it seems like being in the previous year's game always makes you a front runner to return.

The Legends should also be awesome. Austin, Rock, and HBK are probably always going to be in - but this year they could throw in Lawler, Booker, Diesel, etc.

Looks like the Mets' CF race is over before it ever really started. Beltran initiated a meeting with Collins and Pagan and informed them that he thinks it would be best to move to RF.

Good on Carlos. He hasn't even played a game in center yet this spring and he realizes that even if he gets good mobility, Pagan is just better suited for the spot. Hoping he gets into some games starting next week because even though it's still the outfield, he's gotta learn the nuances of playing in right.

Haven't played this in ages. I have Axxess but I still haven't bothered to turn the game on and try out the Nitro arena or anything like that. Feel like I'd just get bored within a few matches again.

Good game overall but I can't see me buying the next one unless there is some kind of massive overhaul. The replayability just isn't there for me.

I wasn't sure on The Show this year since I got 10 and found it wasn't much different from 09. But then I read about all the improvements they made to RTTS and I'm sold. Those tweaks will be fun.

That's true. But I just don't see them being willing to spend it, even on Pujols.

Another Mets related note, if K-Rod finishes 54 games next season his contract gets guaranteed for 2012 at $17.5 million. Thanks Omar! Therefore, expect to see him as a set-up man in certain situations and other guys pitching the 9th in meaningless games as the Mets look to buy him out at the end of the season.

EDIT: A-Rod plays for the Yankees right? Therefore they were in on the bidding which is the point I'm making. They won't be in it for Pujols. So he can either choose to play for the Cubs or Cards since every other high payroll team is out of the mix. Neither one of those teams should go anywhere near $300 million. Unless they decide to go Texas/A-Rod contract stupid there's no need to outbid the one other team by that much.

Upon further review it may just be 54 appearances total for K-Rod, but in either case the Mets won't use him as much which means they'll rely on other guys to do the heavy lifting to avoid paying him in 2012.

K-Rod would most likely file, and win, a grievance if the Mets were obviously avoiding using him when he would have been used otherwise. All he would need to do is argue that the option was a huge reason for him signing with the Mets to begin with. 54 games finished not only means saves, but any game in which they won where he was the last pitcher. If it's, say, a tie game at home - teams usually bring in their closer. If K-Rod pitched the 9th and the Mets then won in the bottom of the 9th, it counts as a games finished.

In that instance, 54 isn't that much...and honestly I thought he needed fewer than that. I'd be surprised if it didn't vest. It'll suck paying that absurd amount to a closer but at least K-Rod is decent and they weren't going to spend all of the money they are freeing up in one off-season anyway.

Bold Prediction: Oliver Perez 10 wins.

Wow...that IS bold. Frankly I don't even think Perez is going to make the Opening Day roster. Alderson has said that Castillo and Perez will be released if they don't earn their way onto the roster, and I just feel like there are too many guys ahead of Perez on the depth chart. If he looks even remotely like he has the last 2 years during ST, he's a goner.

I really love spring training. Just knowing that baseball is right around the corner makes me a happy camper and fills me with optimism.

I'm a more optimistic Mets fan than most. Just about everybody from newspapers to MLB Network to other Mets fans have them ticketed for a 4th place finish. The Phillies obviously have the best team on paper but I really don't see what the big deal is about the Braves and especially the Marlins. Alderson and Collins get a pass this year no matter what but I can't write them off - if everybody stays healthy the Mets should have their best lineup since 06/07. I also like their 1-3 starters and have a good feeling that one of Young or Capuano, probably Young, will have a serviceable year since his game works well for Citi Field. I'd argue it's a better looking rotation than the '06 one that got them to the playoffs. If nothing else I think the Mets can stay in contention for longer than anybody is giving them credit for.

Lineup

SS Jose Reyes

RF Angel Pagan

3B David Wright

CF Carlos Beltran

LF Jason Bay

1B Ike Davis

C Josh Thole

2B Daniel Murphy/Brad Emaus

Rotation

RHP Mike Pelfrey

RHP R.A. Dickey

LHP Jon Niese

RHP Chris Young

LHP Chris Capuano

Bullpen

RHP Francisco Rodriguez

RHP Bobby Parnell

RHP D.J. Carrasco

RHP Taylor Buchholz

LHP Taylor Tankersley/Tim Byrdak/Michael O'Connor

RHP Manny Acosta/Pedro Beato

LHP Pat Misch

Bench

C Mike Nickeas (Ronny Paulino when he gets off suspension)

IF Daniel Murphy/Brad Emaus

IF Chin-lung Hu

OF Scott Hairston

OF Willie Harris/Nick Evans

Yeah, Lemieux's statement was ridiculous.

I thought the suspensions were fine. Gillies' hit on Tangradi was comparable to Wisniewski's on Seabrook which received an 8 game suspension. Martin's was an attempted cheap shot, and given that the league has consistently (lol) based suspensions on whether the player was injured or not, 4 games isn't a terribly low amount. A lot of Pens' fans have whined about Haley, which I don't understand since he did nothing wrong other than making Letang look like an AHL defensemen. What Godard did was an automatic 10 so no need for further discussion there.

And seeing as how the league overturned both Bylsma's automatic one game suspension and his $10,000 fine, Lemieux really doesn't have a leg to stand on.

All of that is even ignoring the obvious hypocrisy of Lemieux questioning the integrity of the league and overall quality of play when he is the one signing the paychecks of cheap shot artist extraordinaire Matt Cooke.

Michael Grabner is on fucking fire.

My bracket is fucked as I had the Saints going to the Super Bowl, but I don't care. More reasons as to why I'd be beyond depressed if there were a lockout next year.

Bagwell not getting in on his first ballot has me a bit worried that Piazza is going to be screwed and left off on his first try in 2013. Some voters have basically said that they will blackball every steroid era slugger even if they have no connections. Anybody who says that openly should be stripped of their right to vote.

Also, maybe its the Mets fandom in me but John Franco being one-and-done is kind of ridiculous. I can live with him not getting in but how does a guy with 424 career saves not get enough votes to stay on the ballot for more than one year?

Rowan, Montclair, and Cortland are obnoxiously good.

And if you think they don't recruit... I know that there's some scouting for the women's soccer team. Granted, women's soccer is one of WestConn's better programs. We got a gal about five years ago who was once playing D1 but dropped down, thanks to her they reached the Final Four in 2007 before getting blown out by some Christian college from Illinois. (Speaking of D1 talent in D3 schools...)

Hmm, come to think - there are one or two players on the volleyball team from California.

Athletic scholarship or no, I cannot fathom picking Danbury over Cali. Much worse weather and absolutely nothing to do in the area.

I can actually see a 5 seed hosting a 6 seed (Green Bay @ New Orleans) in the NFC Title game this year. I'm almost certain the Bears will be taking an exit in their first game, and the Packers going over the Falcons wouldn't surprise me either.

In fact, may as well make my predictions:

Wild Card Weekend:

NFC

Saints over Seahawks

Packers over Eagles

AFC

Colts over Jets

Ravens over Chiefs

Divisional:

NFC

Saints over Bears

Packers over Falcons

AFC

Patriots over Ravens

Steelers over Colts

Conference:

NFC

Saints over Packers

AFC

Patriots over Steelers

Super Bowl 45:

Patriots over Saints

---

Certainly not the way I hope it goes down as the Eagles and Patriots are the two teams I really don't want to win the whole thing, but I have to call it as I see it.

I'm not even sure Division 3 schools bother too much with athletic recruiting, since anybody with any serious talent would wind up at other schools. Especially in football.

I'm actually glad Coughlin is staying. If they had lost today I'd have agreed with dismissing him, but he's not the one who choked away a crazy lead. I say give him one more year, and dismiss him next year if they don't make the playoffs.

Kevin Gilbride most definitely needs to go though. If I can sit on the couch and accurately predict the plays that often, the opposing defenses most certainly can.

Also, the constant 3rd down draw plays make me want to fucking scream.

We all know what happened in '07.

2004 - 5-2 start, 1-8 finish

2005 - 11-5 regular season . . . 23-0 loss at home to the Panthers in the playoffs.

2006 - 6-2 start, 2-6 finish gets them to backdoor into the playoffs where they lose to the Eagles

2008 - 11-1 start, had the best record in the league until Plaxico shoots himself . . . they finish 1-4 and lose their first playoff game yet again.

2009 - 5-0 start, 3-8 finish, no playoffs

2010 - 6-2 start, 4-4 finish including the most epic of chokes, no playoffs.

How many more years does he get to see the team fail once again down the stretch?

Like I said, pretty certain 2011 is his last year if they don't make the playoffs. I'm willing to write off the pre-Super Bowl stuff because the teams were so different back then, shitloads of roster turnover in the NFL. Even to this day I think we would have gotten a Giants/Steelers SB in 2008 if Plax wasn't a moron.

I think 2009 is the only year that truly reflected badly on Coughlin since the team so clearly gave up. This year they didn't give up, they just melted down and had a hard time recovering. No coach can shoulder all of the blame for that collapse against the Eagles. I will say though that if they managed to lose to that horrendous Redskins team, dismissing Coughlin would be warranted.

The only way I will regret keeping Coughlin is if Cowher goes to another team this offseason. If he stays with CBS for another year, he's a great fallback option for 2012.

I'm actually glad Coughlin is staying. If they had lost today I'd have agreed with dismissing him, but he's not the one who choked away a crazy lead. I say give him one more year, and dismiss him next year if they don't make the playoffs.

Kevin Gilbride most definitely needs to go though. If I can sit on the couch and accurately predict the plays that often, the opposing defenses most certainly can.

Also, the constant 3rd down draw plays make me want to fucking scream.

Being from Danbury, I really hope Lutrus can stick with an NFL team. He's from Brookfield (the next town over) so it'd be kinda cool to see someone from that close make it to the NFL.

Danbury eh? I went to WestConn. Good times.

If the Brookfield guy sticks around, nice.

Heh. I go to WestConn now, graduating in May. I also work in the often-loathed Registrar's Office. Small world.

Pretty bummed that Edsall is leaving.

I think Todman is going to wind up being a 2nd or 3rd rounder. To be honest, I'm not sure if staying an extra year would have changed that. Maybe the potential 2012 draft class is more RB-heavy or something. He's an explosive runner who can fill many different roles running, receiving, and doing kickoffs.

There might actually be a pretty good crop of UConn players in the draft. Lawrence Wilson will probably be a mid-round selection, and Zach Hurd is huge and will probably be picked somewhere. Scott Lutrus will also wind up somewhere, not sure if he'll be drafted though. Good player but injuries have hurt his draft stock significantly. Kendall Reyes may also declare.

Being from Danbury, I really hope Lutrus can stick with an NFL team. He's from Brookfield (the next town over) so it'd be kinda cool to see someone from that close make it to the NFL.

Garbage time TDs notwithstanding, UConn kept it closer than most would have thought for most of the game. Their D looked shit in the first half but played well through the majority of the second half. Never thought they'd WIN the game, but they really had nothing to lose.

That being said, they are probably fucked the next couple of years. Their offense is shit outside of Todman, and he just declared for the draft. And then in 2012 TCU is joining the Big East and will have that on lock-down.