2007 POST DRAFT COMMENTS:

BY DRAFT SELECTION ORDER:

I like ESPN's Peter Gammons, but let's face it, the guy is the King of Hyperbole. He says some off the wall and bizarre things when gushing about players, especially young up and coming guys. He's like the Larry King of Sports Announcers. Well, this spring I kept track of some of his goofy remarks from espn.com, and if you have a player on your team in which I have a "Gammonism", it is included under your team, in BLUE, with a PG in front, to indicate it's from this Hall-of-Fame writer......

PITTSBURGH O's:

With The #1 overall pick, the Big O's trying to repeat history and have Albert Pujols lead them to victory. Will the four Pirates help or hurt the cause? With the DL pick of Livan Hernandez, the O's have three D-Back hurlers on the squad. The Randy Johnson selection in round 13 could be a heist if the Big Unit is healthy and happy back in the state of Arizona.

PG: "Pujols is the best player in the game and maybe in this generation."

KOOPERSTOWN KIDS:

I went heavier on one league than any other team. Got 18 of the 27 (1-DL) from the American League. Among them are three Boston hurlers, 2 SP's and the Closer. The Dice-K pick in round 2 was jeered as "too early" but then again, I don't think I would have seen him 18 picks later. A Jap battery in Matsuzaka and Johjima.

PG: "Howie Kendrick is a given."

PG: "If you live in NewEngland, you'll need a mute button for the over-analysis of Dice-K."

PG: "Harden has the ability to win a Cy Young."

69'ERS:

As a relative newcomer, Piffy had over looked starting pitching in past drafts, but not this year. SP's were taken in rounds 4, 5, 7 and 8. Feelin it for the Phils.... Three starters from that team, including the DL replacement pick of Adam Eaton. Another oddity is that the Niners have the 1st, 2nd and 3rd basemen of Colorado. Go Rockies!! When the passing on pick # 3 started, Piffster jumped on it and took a player he had targeted in Soriano. And speaking of possible steals, the DL'ed Bartolo Colon in ROUND 26!!! He is expected back by May 1. Good call by the Niners.

PG: "Brandon McCarthy is Jack McDowell II".

PG: "Cleveland is an ideal place for Josh Barfield's enthusiasm and skills."

PG: " I can't wait to see Barry Zito in the uniform Carl Hubbell once wore."

PG: "Bobby Crosby is an MVP-type player when healthy."

THE BIG TRAIN:

With only one Pirate taken, Bob left Big O out there hanging by himself this year! Although the Train has the most Nationals (2), and ya gotta like Ryan Zimmerman even though I don't have a Gammons quote on him. Bob saw the Twins in live Spring Training action earlier this month, and promptly drafted three Twinkie players. The pitching staff has two top of the rotation studs in Tigers Bonderman and Velander, and it's Phillies in the Outfield with Rowand and Pat the Bat.

The Train is still trying to sort out that Felipe Lopez shortstop - 2nd base thing..

PG: "Boof Bonser will battle you on the mound."

PG: "Rowand is a winner. Period."

PG: "Few pitchers have successfully come back from more physical ailments than Izzy (Jason Isringhausen), and those 240 saves in seven full seasons as a closer are as much a testament to fortitude, as to the stuff that once made him the wunderkind of Flushing Meadows."

OWLS:

Let's sing it...... "I want to be a part of it.... New York, New York....." Ok, Frank Sinatra I'm not, but you get the idea.... John, who is now living in small market Erie, PA goes to the big market teams to fill the Owls Nest. 5 Yankees were the final total. Everyone around the diamond except Cano at 2nd. But lost in this Yankee love-fest was the fact that the Owls also drafted three from the Big City Los Angeles Dodgers. The Kendall pick always brings out the cat calls, and John has two big DH types at 1st base. His 2nd basemen were relatively unknown at this time last year in Dan Uggla and "let me tell you about a man named Mark DeRooosa." The Bronx Owls have without question the top pair of closers coming out of the draft. Since there's not much else to do in Erie, I imagine John will be managing the heck out of these guys this year.

PG: "Tim Hudson is not trying to throw the ball out of his shirt, as he was doing last year."

PG: "Willis (Dontrelle) is fun to watch and he can be very good."

BULLDOGS

Ok, Bob didn't do it, but the Dogs followed Big O's lead and took three Pirate players, and all of them hitters. If Paulino is for real, that's a nice pick in round 20. The T&E boys also have four New York Metropolitians on the team, even though Pedro may be out until late summer. They have an Oriole DP combo in Tejada and Roberts. Nice draft again from the Guru Twin team, and Tony said Eddie had studied for it like it was the SAT's... But why was Harv on these guys all night?? After all, Harv and Eddie are family, through some cousin married to a sister-in-law or something like that (I think?)

PG: "Don't be surprised if Cain doesn't jump into the Cy Young race, especially with Zito and Matt Morris as mentors."

PG: "Sheff is a foxhole guy."

PG: "Pedro will come back at some point this year, maybe stronger than he has been in four years."

PG: "Pavano needs to wipe the slate clean."

PG: "Blalock is ready to re-emerge."

ROCK CATS:

John has the talent spread out this year. 26 players from 21 teams, the most from any one team is two. The Cats need a healthy and productive Derrek Lee this year. They didn't have that from him in 2006. With Jose Reyes and Carl Crawford, this could be your team leader in the stolen base category. Good looking all-round talent, the Cat should be Back in '07.

PG: "The Twins have the best living pitcher on the planet in Johan Santana."

PG: "The injury took this superstar (Derrek Lee) from 46 to 8 homers, 101 to 17 extra-base hits. Now he has thunder around him."

H-BOMBS:

How 'bout this trophy winner!!! Big D defends his title with four Chi-Sox leading the way, including the right side of the infield. Big Daddy followed his 2006 script by loading up on quality starting pitching early and often, taking SP's in rounds 2, 3, 4, 5. And the guy can do a draft while flirting with a hot chick in a wheelchair. The drinking bet was lost, as B.D. says the only way he can be around Harv is by staying drunk!

PG: "Gil Meche was 92-95, and filthy."

PG: "Garret Anderson is looking like the real Garret Anderson again."

PG: "It was a good move by the Phils to acquire a horse like Freddy Garcia."

PG: "With Delmon Young, the plate discipline will come. The bat and arm are scary."

ALABAMA SLAMMERS:

It's now for real..... The "Alabama Slammer Watch" is officially on... Or as Tony said... "Game On." It's a Championship or Bust in 2007 for Al. Will this be his swan song? Or will he pull a Bill Cowher and win the big one after so many years of success, but having the ring (or trophy in our case) elude him? Will the brothers Drew help achieve this goal? Time will tell, it should be an interesting summer in Slammerville.

PG: "Bedard was throwing 91-95 for the Orioles - Electric."

PG: "Igawa's style is that of a Jamie Moyer wannabe. But what's wrong with wanting to be like a 216-game winner?"

PG: "Adam Wainwright proved his heart in October."

LOCKHORNS:

First off.... Thanks to Harv for hosting us for the draft at Windsor Place, even though the residents were running wild and out of control in those wheelchairs!!!! After some unusual shuffling on the draft selection order, the Horns ended up with the wrap around pick at the back end. 17 NL'ers lead the way but from the AL is a Texas DP combo of Kinsler and Young. And taking perhaps the biggest "high risk - high reward pick" of the draft, the Lockhorns for the 2nd consecutive season say the name Oliver Perez on draft night. Harv selects Jose Valverde as a closer in round 20 and then when I get home I read that he slammed his pitching finger in a car door!! But not to fret.... He's Day-to-Day.... But, aren't we all......

PG: "Rich Hill is Barry Zito II."

PG: "Conditioning, maturity and familiarity all come into play here, but there are few greater talents than Felix Hernandez."

PG: "Kevin Kouzmanoff has one of the coolest new nicknames in baseball right now. The Crushin' Russian."

Two additional posts regarding the 2007 draft after this one.... Enjoy the start of the season!

And to the BMC guys....... Once again our thanks to Bryan for a job well done with the draft board. You can see he knows what he is doing.......

POST DRAFT STATISTICS

Ok, I got my calculator out and added stuff up.......

The most we ever drafted from one team was 15. From the 2003 Yanks and 2005 BoSox.

This season the top teams are ......

13 - Yankees, Angels
11 - Phillies, Padres, Red Sox, Indians
10- PIRATES, D-Backs, Brewers, Mets, White Sox, Mariners

Which interestingly enough means that the Bucs had more drafted than 18 of the 30 teams in major league baseball, including the so called favorites in their own division, the Astros, Cubs and World Champion Cardinals. Not sure what to make of this....

The Angels were the only team to have 5 SP's drafted, and the low-end teams were....

4 - Royals, Nats
5 - Devil Rays

PIRATES DRAFTED: 10

Pittsburgh O's - 4. Duffy, Wilson, Snell, Maholm.
Bulldogs - 3. Paulino, Sanchez, Nady
Kooperstown Kids - 1. LaRoche
The Big Train - 1. Duke
Lockhorns - 1. Bay

PREDICTION CONTEST - RESULTS OF VOTE

This year with Bryan the Sticker Guy making his picks and Tony & Ed doing a separate entry, we have 12 total for $24.00. Same system - scored by 5-4-3-2-1 points if you have the team you predict in the top 5. Ok, lets get to it.....

VOTES

10: H-BOMBS, KOOPERSTOWN KIDS

Yes, the defending champ is getting the props based on that 2006 finish. Except from the Raven and Bob. Those were the two that aren't drinking the Big Daddy Kool-Aide. Yins gave me a bunch of votes last year too and I finished in 9th!! Buyer beware is all I got to say....

9: ROCK CATS, LOCKHORNS

Two teams with a good history. But both Tony and Eddie did not vote for Harv. Maybe payback for Harv getting on their case during the draft. The Cats were another top vote getter who did not get Bob's endorsement. Wow, a tough vote to swing is that Big Train.

5: 69'ERS, BIG TRAIN, BULLDOGS

I guess this would be the middle of the pack group. Interestingly enough, even though they did their predictions separate, Tony & Ed turned in identical entries. These teammates really do operate on the same page, huh...

4: OWLS

What is this, an anti-Steinbrenner/Yankees thing?

2: ALABAMA SLAMMERS

Geez, Al didn't even vote for himself!! Maybe just taking a low profile so he can sneak up on everyone, win the league, and be back for 2008! At least old-time buds Harv and Johnny Stasko gave the Slams a vote of confidence here.

1: PITTSBURGH O's

Ok, the only thing I can figure, is that there is an anti-Bucco sentiment at work here. Pujols, Beltran, Delgado, Mauer, Webb, and no one likes this team??? Keep in mind, Pujols was the overall #1 pick last year and that team won it all.... It could happen again.

These three guys don't like the Bucs either. Especially the Gloomy Gus on the left.

Draft Night Details for THIS FRIDAY!!

Holy Crap, the draft is this Friday!! Are those lists ready yet? This seemed to creep up quick. Wasn't it not long ago, we were looking at this stuff ???


Well, hopefully those days are behind us now, and the warmer spring days bring us to a view of baseball that can only be described as "A little slice of heaven." So, which venue do you prefer?

Ok, sorry... dumb question.... Now, onto some details for Friday night - March 30.

LOCATION: Windsor Place. Harv's place of business. I think everyone except Eddie has been there before, but I know Ed is meeting up with Al for a pre-game meal.... If anything comes up that afternoon or night, my cell phone will be on... 412-719-5356.

TIME: Anytime after 6:00 PM, and Harv will be there. Harv mentioned that the Activities Room will have a service ending about 6:50 PM, and we can then move in and set up. I'll have the Boards ready to tape up.

POSITIONS: You should have these sent in an earlier e-mail regarding players that changed positions in 2007 or move around. If anything major changes this week we can always adjust on the fly... Hey, this is a flexible group, right?

DL LIST FOR THE DRAFT: I'll give everyone a copy with the names of players we know to be starting the year on the DL. Some we already know, such as Wang, Mulder, Colon, and others. Some may be questionable regarding the information known on them. We can review those before we start and make a decision as to their status.

NEW RULE IN PLACE: Remember that this year you can draft or pick-up any player during the season even if he is not at that time on a MLB team. No restriction with that, just know that the player has to be maintained as one of your active 26, you can't stash or reserve him. So if Big O or Bob want to take Andrew McCutchen in round 26, it's legal. (Why would I single out those two guys for this example????)

DRAFT "SELECTION" ORDER: 1-Big O. 2.-Dave. 3.-Al. 4.-Raven. 5.-Piffy. 6.-Bob. 7.-John F. 8.-Tony & Ed. 9.-Harv. 10.-Big Daddy.

REFRESHMENTS: Since Windsor Place isn't yet selling beer and alcohol to the residents, we can bring our own stuff. Harv says feel free to bring in whatever you want - coolers, beer, food, pop, snacks, milk for the cereal, etc, etc....

COST FOR 2007: The cost for each team this year comes out to $118.00. Here's how we arrive at that number:

$100.00 ---league entry fee that goes to the prize fund.

$11.00 --- cost per team for the CBS website. ($116.95 div. by 10)

$5.00 -- cost per team for the name stickers. ($50.88 div. by 10)

$2.00 ------- cost per team for the prediction contest. (Tony & Ed - if you're both doing an individual prediction sheet again, just add $2.00 to your overall total which would then be $120.00 for yins guys.)

$118.00 TOTAL.

And I ask you.... Where else can you find 216 days of excitement for that price?

Well, I think that should cover everything that I can think of... If you have any comments, questions, concerns, yada-yada-yada, just give me a call or e-mail...... And on Saturday morning, I'll enter the rosters into our CBS Sportsline NPL website, and on this NPL Blog on either Saturday or Sunday I'll have a post-draft recap, and by Sunday night this site should also have a report on Harv's trip to the Civil Rights Game played on Saturday!! Yikes, what are the Jails like in Memphis???

So then, see ya Friday......

HOME OF THE --------

"NORTH PARK LEAGUE 2007 FANTASY BASEBALL DRAFT."

Sponsored by....

Geico --- So simple a Caveman can draft your team.

Windsor Place ---Where Harv will take care of your Gramps, during your draft.

Hooters --- Hot Wings delivered to your draft by our Hot Waitresses.

Budweiser --- King of Beers at your fantasy draft.

Vote Results on Rules and Miscellaneous Stuff

Last week I asked if anyone wanted to bring up any proposed rule changes. We had two.

Here we go....

Weekly Pick-Up Order - Base it on Wed. Standings instead of Tuesday:

Unanimous : 10 YES.

Minor League Reserve Spot ---- Establish that each NPL team has the ability to have one reserve spot available for a player optioned or sent down to the minors during the season.

No - 6. Yes -3. Abstain - 1.

No - Bulldogs, Owls, Big Train, Pittsburgh O's, H-Bombs, Lockhorns.

Yes - Rock Cats, Alabama Slammers, 69'ers.

Abstain - Kooperstown Kids.

Also keep in mind - from the first Blog post in February, we will have a rule change in place regarding Roster Eligibility. An NPL team can draft or pick-up any player, regardless if he is currently on an active MLB team or not. The catch is that once picked up he is one the the active 26 and if not playing you will be taking a zero for points from him until he does play. Again, this was to make it less hassle for me, and no one had a problem with it.

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OTHER NEWS:

POSITIONS: We'll give this another week to finalize it, and even then if something drastic changes we can always make a last minute call if need be..... Couple of things were asked about from some of you.... Let's take a look at those now....

Rich Aurilia - SF. Make him 1st base.

Nick Swisher - Oak. He's on the list at OF, and with Kotsay out injured it appears he will stay there with Dan Johnson manning 1st base.

Orioles - Bermuda Triangle. I'm now reading that Jay Payton looks to be a starting OF, with Aubrey Huff playing mostly 1B . This would leave Millar and Gibbons splitting At-Bats at DH. So I would suggest making Huff 1B, leave Millar at 1B and Gibbons as OF. If anyone even wants to draft this mess.

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ON THE DL:

If you were not aware - recovering from surgery is the ROCK CAT. John S had rotator cuff surgery and also has the same Kip Wells circulatory thing going on. Hope John is feeling better and back pitching with the "Road House" soon.

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DRAFT NIGHT ODDS and ENDS:

If you're in the Windsor Place area early, Al has an open invitation for anyone who wants to join him, Eddie and Tony at about 5:15 to 5:30 PM at Monte Cello's on Babcock Blvd for a pre-draft dinner.

NAME CHANGE ???? Rumor has it that the "Bulldogs" may be changing their team name to

"Searching for Bobby Fischer" What's that all about?????

PLAYER NAME LABELS: I've got the name stickers in. Al is still in search of finding a person to put them on for us, so we don't have to get our lazy asses out of the chair. This person would be known affectionately as a "Sticker Bitch." Negotiations are currently underway with the "SB" pictured below.

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MORE ON OUR GIRL - ERIN ANDREWS:

Erin has become an instant favorite of Harv's.... But, what's up with this kid ??? Erin is kind enough to pose for a picture and the dude decides to grope her up!!! Geez... College Kids!!

And we'll wind it up with the

KOMMISH'S PET PEEVE:

Did you ever watch the CW and the Nightly Sports Call at 10:30 PM every night? The show in which Steigerwald or Pompeani are on with PG writers - usually Bob Smizik or Ron Cook.

But here's my gripe ------- These PG guys on on television for God's sake..... Come on Cook, can't you wear a decent looking shirt?? This guys dresses like he shops at the Goodwill Store.

Cook - did you ever hear of "Business Casual" ?????

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BLOG: A new audio link added, we'll try to keep changing up the Current Quote and we'll be heating things up, as the Draft is now less than two weeks away!!

Any questions, comments, rumors, etc, give me a holler.......

They Say It's Your Birthday!!

HEY.... HAPPY - BIG 5-0 to the BIG O. Larry is nifty-fifty on Thursday!!

Ya know, it doesn't seem that long ago, that the plan was for Harv to take O out, and hang out down at the Kings Inn. Soon after, a bunch of other people were coming in with surprise birthday greetings for a guy celebrating his 40th birthday!! And O, take it from me. I can't remember what I did yesterday, but I can remember stuff like that from 10 years ago. You'll get used to doing that too, now that you're eligible to get AARP stuff in the mail....

Of course Larry's brother-in-law is Al of the Slammers...... What did Al buy O for this occasion?

Nothing but the best...... Going all out and spending the big bucks, Al splurged and bought O his very own Goodie-Bar truck.

Does he have a license to drive that thing? Can he dance too???

And let's leave O with this final birthday note he should enjoy...

This winter in Cleveland Indians Fantasy Camp, 88 year-old Bob Feller is still taking part. In fact, he faced 24 batters at this years camp and allowed just 4 hits!!

That only means that you got a lot of pitches left in the arm as well, O.

Have a great birthday!! (signed, Albert Pujols, your #1 pick)

2007 Change In Rules Proposals - for your vote

About a week ago, I mentioned that if you had any rules or procedures proposals for league review, let me know what they are and I could post them for a league vote.

Ok then, we got TWO (2) for you... Please take a look at both and either e-mail or call me with your vote on the proposed changes.

# 1.
A Minor League Reserve Spot - Each team would have one spot throughout the year to keep a player "reserved" if that player was sent to the minor leagues. Meaning optioned out to the minors, not to be confused with a minor league DL rehab assignment. Each team could do this as needed throughout the year, but only ONE minor league reserve at any given time on the roster. This reserve move would be a regular DROP move for $3.00. It would not be counted under the DL moves, even though the player is being reserved in the same way. If the player is then recalled to the majors, the team HAS to made a decision to keep or drop, just as we do when DL players return.

PURPOSE FOR THE PROPOSAL: To protect the NPL owner if the MLB team is playing roster games with players (pitchers most likely) by sending a talented young player down - but it's public knowledge that the player will return in a couple of weeks as the MLB team is maneuvering it's pitching staff, for example. If you recall, this took place with the Angels sending down rookie SP Jared Weaver last season, but publicly acknowledging he would be back up in a couple of weeks. When that happens, the NPL owner is placed in a tough spot when deciding to cut the player knowing they probably won't get him back when recalled.

VOTE:
YES -- Put a rule in place to allow one minor league reserve spot on the roster, if needed.

NO -- Do not add this rule. Keep as is

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#2.
For the weekly pick-up order held on Wednesday nights, instead of using Tuesday mornings standings (reverse order) to set the order, we would just use Wednesday mornings standings for the Wednesday night pick-ups.

PURPOSE FOR THE PROPOSAL: To have the order be as current as possible - to the day we do the weekly moves.

VOTE:
YES -- Change the Wednesday selection order to be based on Wednesday AM's standings, instead of the current Tuesday morning order.

NO -- Do not change this. Keep the Tuesday morning system in place.

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ALSO ........ This is not a rules question, but I can do something on draft night to clarify a process for us, as for some reason there seemed to be some confusion last year.....

When we start the draft, we acknowledge that certain players we verbally name are known to be starting the season on the DL, and therefore if drafted, we know the owner can replace with another selection once all the rounds are completed ($3.00 DL cost).

There may have been some confusion then, as to when a MLB team officially made the DL move in relation to our draft night, and therefore did an NPL owner get an advantage?

The bottom line is that these players we name are LOCKS to start the season on the DL. It's irrelevant as to which day on the calendar the MLB team makes the DL transaction.

But so we're all on the same page with it, I'll bring a list for everyone with players names that are known to start the season on the DL. Again, doesn't matter which particular day the MLB team announces it. If we discuss and determine others, we can write them in. For example right now, players like Pedro Martinez, Josh Johnson, Mike Hampton and Bartolo Colon would be players known to be starting the year on the DL.

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Don't forget -- let me know about the two rules changes proposed. I'll give it a week to hear from yins, then I'll announce which way they went.

Position Assignments - 2007 Draft

Gentlemen:
Time to start getting down to business. Draft day is now less than 4 weeks away...

It is not posted here, as it's too much of a pain to put into this format. But you also have an e-mail sent to you with an Excel spreadsheet attached. It's only one page, and can be printed for easy reading. It is the annual listing of position verifications for DH's and other chosen players in which their position status may be a question. I've also included 5 position situations on a watch list, as they appear to be undetermined at this time. It's still somewhat early for this, so as always, these names can be subject to change, and if I missed a player or if you disagree with what I've got, just let me know. And if for some reason you can't open the document or you don't have Excel, give me a holler and I'll paste it in the body of a separate e-mail to you.

ALSO ---- Do you have anything you would like to propose for change or revision? If so, please let me know with exact details given - in case I have to explain for a league-wide vote.

CBS North Park League Website..... It's up and ready to go at this point, just waiting for the 2007 rosters to be entered. You may notice that CBS changed some things around with it. Some of the items are at a different area of the toolbar and things like that. They also seem to have more crap on the home page which makes it seem a little too busy, but it's what CBS has done, not me. You can actually delete some of those things (but not everything) - they leave it up to each individual as to how you want the page to look.

So you can go the the CBS NPL website at any time, we don't have to have a CBS invitation sent. And if your e-mail address has changed since last year, you'll want to go in and update it. Each owner has to do it themselves, as I don't have access to the Personal Info area of each owner.

And the Bucs start out 0-2 in the Grapefruit League, but hey, at least they beat those pesky Community College kids!!

So - check your e-mail for an attached list and let me know of any questions, comments, etc.

Showing the Penguins some love.

Ok, everyone knows players like Crosby have the teenie-booper / groupie fan base out there, right?

But good golly.... Are you kidding me?

And did you know that "Wheel of Fortune" has an anything goes version of the show out there, only on the obscure Cable channels of course. This week paying homage to the new Penguins tough guy.

Bob "Battleship" Kelly would be proud!!

Anyone for "Fantasy Congress?"

If Fantasy Fishing was thought to be the end of the line (no pun intended), this next one has to be the Sign of the Fantasy Apocalypse. Yeah, you can actually go to a website to sign up and play "Fantasy Congress."

You draft a group of Legislators to form your "fantasy congress team." Points are then awarded depending on your Legislator's parliamentary actions.

Here's a scouting report given on a newly elected member of the House of Representatives.

"STEVE PEARCE, of New Mexico. A Republican who goes out big for small business, security and other hot republican issues. We are betting his border control initiatives will end up as committee scratch paper, but if even a modest percent of his legislation moves, Pearce could be one of the highest scoring Republicans. Looking to take a risk with a Republican Rookie? Pearce could be your man."

Aaahhh, I think I'll pass.....