greg775

QUOTE (Tex @ Oct 26, 2015 -> 11:54 AM) Heroically defend yourself? You have a very strange definition of heroic and defense. Defending yourself is an instinct, there isn't anything heroic about it. It isn't a fantasy or heroic to raise your arms against someone hitting you. If someone is beating you up it isn't heroic to hit back. It isn't a fantasy to wish you had a stick or a lead pipe. It isn't a fantasy or heroic to try and stop someone from killing you. If someone takes a knife to me I want to be able to defend myself. What are you going to do? Open your arms wide and say stab me? No, you will heroically defend yourself. Unless you have a really strong martyr fantasy then I guess you will allow the person to kill you. After you defend yourself you will feel relieved. If you successfully defend your wife, you may even feel better. I have no clue why you find self defense so repugnant. It is a fantasy to believe that people do not get attacked every day in America. How about this fantasy, you are in trouble and a knight in shining armor, or a cop, will ride in and save you just in time. Your white privilege does allow for this fantasy. The cops will probably rush to defend you. But until they arrive, I want to defend myself. Not out of being heroic, and no fantasy, but out of my natural survival instinct. Maybe it is a fantasy to you to actually defend yourself or someone else. It isn't a fantasy to me to want to save my family if someone attacks. That's more of how I was thinking.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Oct 26, 2015 -> 03:20 AM) Yeah, I've been there. Try again. Edit: In terms of people having guns out (once) or gun threats (a bunch). Never had one fired. Cool. I'm glad you weren't shot by some nut. I just think if this is the new norm in America we have to let our citizens fight back. When he's armed and shooting and a class of 35 nice students are unarmed and looking forward to spending the next 60-80 years on this planet, those students have the right to live.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Oct 26, 2015 -> 03:08 AM) Holy hell Greg. The wow is because you're imaging action movie scenarios. At NAU a couple students got into an argument and bam, next thing you know, someone's dead. I don't want guns period. Having more and more people packing won't help anything but possibly cause an escalation. i can understand that, but sometimes I feel people like you don't put yourself in that classroom or movie theatre. Madman has gun. You have nothing. Your life is at the mercy of him. I wish it didn't have to be that way.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Oct 25, 2015 -> 10:57 PM) Wow Greg. Wow. Why a double wow? Sometimes I think you guys are not very sensitive to the victims of these mass murders. Look ... two 20-somethings are sitting in a movie theatre and some moron comes racing in and trying to kill everybody and lets say he kills those 2 20 somethings. Those are two lives taken away forever. Their immediate families lives are pretty much ruined (if you know the victims of murder who are from close families you know this is true), and two 20-somethings can't have kids, married life, summer vacations, jobs, doing good for others. Their lives are stripped away because of some madman asshole who decided to go in and shoot everybody he could. Why am I a bad guy for saying I want everybody to have the right to shoot that bastard to protect their existence on the earth? What's the problem here. Are you, Quinarvy, willing to give up your life at 23 at the hands of some creep with a gun? Don't you want to have a gun to at least have a fighting chance at killing him before he kills you and your loved ones with you at the movie?? Or in class? I could be off base but you don't seem very sensitive to me. Again, I want the good guys to live and the bad guys to die in these situations. Don't you??

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Oct 26, 2015 -> 01:35 AM) Kansas City's "plan for success" was simply to suck for a decade and a half. The reason they're in the World Series and the extent to which we talk about them as a success is due to a handful of players. When you suck, you get really high draft picks. In the 15 years between 1999 and 2013 they had a top 9 draft pick 13 times. They had a top 5 draft pick 9 times. Looking at the 10 picks from 1999 through 2010 (the more recent picks' value not yet determined), 6 were total busts or rather insignificant. So they hit on 40% of their 1st round top 10 picks. Among that group of "busts", the most useful player is Luke Hochevar, a #1 overall pick who has amassed 2.8 bWAR in about 900 major league innings. Jake Petricka, by way of example, has amassed 3.4 bWAR in 144 major league innings. The picks that panned out for them were: Zack Greinke #6 in 2002. The 2009 AL Cy Young winner factors into this team because they were able to trade him to get Lorenzo Cain. Alex Gordon #2 in 2005 Mike Moustakas #2 in 2007 Eric Hosmer #3 in 2008 As you see, 3 of those are even top 3 picks. And those 4 players are the reason the Royals are so good. Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer. 16.7 fWAR this year. 4 guys who are young and cheap and hit and play defense. You just need to suck so bad you get a lot of top 3 picks. Anyone who wants to throw Sal Perez in here should note he was worth 1.6 WAR this year. Their starting pitching is nothing special at all. They have a great reliever in Wade Davis and a couple more good ones in Holland and Herrera, but neither of those guys were as good at keeping runs off the board as, say, Matt Albers. I really think this year is KC's last great hope. Gordon will be the first of those guys to leave after this season. They'll lose Zobrist and Cueto as well. I think they're a playoff team but not as good next year. And Cain, Hosmer, and Moustakas are all free agents after 2017. They won't trade those guys to restock with new young talent until their run has ended. It took them 15 years of sucking to wrangle the talent required to make this run, but I don't see how it can last very long. I will say this: If KC offered Gordon 15 million a year for 4 years he should take it. He has a chance to be the third kingpin in this town behind Brett and Len Dawson. I mean, first of all, KC can probably stomach giving him 15 million a year. I would think they could afford that. This isn't like letting Butler go; this is a key cog in two WS teams. At the same time, like Ned Yost said on a pregame show this year, "when Alex is going bad; he really goes bad." He gets in MASSIVe slumps. Now I'm saying he's the best fielder in left in the game and he's a fine player. But seriously will somebody give him 22 million a year?? Alex Gordon?? He's over 30. At what point do you actually give a Konerko discount?? Never?? Again ... if Alex Gordon is dumb enough to go to the Yankees or Red Sox or Dodgers for 25 million a year, I guess the team really wants him by overpaying that much. Odds are very good he'll wind up being booed out of that big market town unless he remains a stud well into his 30s. But again, this is not like letting Billy Butler walk. This is Alex Gordon and I would think 15 million a year for 4 years with a team option for fifth year would be very fair. If I am mistaken, if Alex is gonna get 19-30 million a year for those 'good' offensive numbers he produces, then my bad. I mean Alex Gordon??? At what point does the 20 million dollar club not include Alex Gordon??

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 25, 2015 -> 08:39 PM) I'm sick of thousands of people being butchered because people like you fantasize about how you'll heroically defend yourself in order to make you feel better and more important. And I don't want to have to deal with that because of your fantasy. I just want the good guys to live and the bad guys die. Give the good guys a chance.

I know somebody who got brutally murdered and had no way of defending herself. I know how it ruined her mom's life and dad's life. Luckily her sister recovered and has a husband and two kids. But I'm sick of people with weapons butchering people with no chance to save their lives. And now I get ready for 5 p.m. Mass and will check this thread later, hopefully with some supporting me. Bye.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 25, 2015 -> 08:33 PM) So now you give us the fantasy of shooting somehow to wound but not kill. Pathetic. I really don't understand why very few people take the side of the innocent. Again, sir ... why can a lunatic come in with a gun in my classroom and brutally murder everybody? Why can't I be armed and defend myself? We're talking life and death here. I'm gone forever. Again, if it's a prank it's a ridiculous prank and hopefully I only wounded him and tackled him. Don't you want a fighting chance to save your own life??

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 25, 2015 -> 08:27 PM) So if someone comes into my class with a gun I can kill them. Good, so what we need to do is allow concealed weapons in classrooms. Therefore I can shoot those students who are carrying when they come in. Your words. Sorry. I erred in my wording. If the person comes in guns blazing and threatens the class or me. Yes I can kill him/her. My life is precious. If some nut has a gun and I don't ... UNFAIR. I'm dead forever. Let me have a chance to protect myself. If the guy with the gun is only pulling a prank, it's a very bad prank and hopefully I only shot him in the leg in that scenario then tackled him.

Please, people, stand up for me here. I can't be the only one who thinks it's only right I can kill before being taken off this planet by another nutjob. These incidents are REAL. Why must I be pacifist and just wait to be killed? These incidents are only getting more common in nature.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 25, 2015 -> 08:23 PM) Please, can you detail for me which conditions it is ok for me to shoot a student? You've clearly outlined that I should shoot first - I'm the one going to get shot so I should defend myself. Which student should I shoot tomorrow? As soon as the loonie bird comes in the room and takes over the class with a gun you can shoot to kill. I guess there's a 1 percent chance it could be a prank, but pranksters shouldn't go there. If somebody barges into classroom with gun or guns, kill him/her. These incidents are growing at an alarming rate; why can't we save our own lives??

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 25, 2015 -> 08:11 PM) From the perspective of the person at the front of the class, F*** no F*** no absolutely not and you're going to get me killed. Go away. What do you mean? If you are at the front of the class, the lunatic killer will probably get you first. Devil's advocate please. Put yourselves in the situation. Don't you want a chance to kill the coward intruder?? We've got more and more of these incidents. Why can't we fight for our lives. We are talking being killed here. Gone forever. Why must I be left to be slaughtered. Give me a fighting chance to kill before being killed. Isn't that only fair??

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 25, 2015 -> 08:10 PM) This rant is so light on details other than "I hate Hillary and will string angry words together" that it could well have fit in the hearings. You've provided a perfect example. Congrats. How can you defend the Katy Perry thing? This is a serious matter and she's in Katy Perry mode? Granted that's a Limbaugh-ish thing for me to point out but it is rude of Hillary. I just don't see why the country is so Hillary-crazy. What do you think she is going to accomplish in 8 years? And whether you believe it or not, electing Hillary probably paves the way for 8 years of Chelsea. If Hillary is entitled to be coronated, why not Chelsea after her? America is hooked on the Clintons for some, very odd reason. GIVE ME CHANGE.

QUOTE (Tex @ Oct 25, 2015 -> 04:30 PM) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/texas-guns-on-campus/ This went relatively unnoticed here at soxtalk. Texas is making it easier for college students to protect themselves from crazies with weapons. They also just made it easier for those crazies to bring a gun on campus. One student I spoke with basically called his college campus the worlds largest bar and felt that since guns are not allowed in bars, they shouldn't be on campus either. I also read of a few professors who said they would seek employment in other states. Which is a bot of a hollow threat with faculty jobs so hard to find. At least Texas will give these kids a chance to live. If a nutjob brings in a gun and starts executing people, you have a fighting chance to live. Devil's advocate in me says we all have a right to protect ourselves from lunatics who want to commit mass murder. The worst feeling would be to be one of those crisis situations with no gun. In that situation you are killed at the hands of a coward with no means of fighting back.

Just a few seasons ago when I went to a Royals Sox game we had the whole row to ourselves and nobody in the row in front of us. And the seats were about 10 rows behind the visitors dugout. About 15,000 fans at a midsummer game. I don't see how anybody from Chicago can root for a NY team. I don't see any harm in KC winning it all. But New York? Ugh. Think of all the bandwagon fans out there.

QUOTE (High Mileage @ Oct 25, 2015 -> 04:16 PM) I don't know how you can say that. This years' Royals team is MUCH better than last years'. What made the Royals special last year was the bullpen. Herrera to Davis to Holland. Now Holland is gone and there's no eighth inning bridge. Madson and Medlen and Young are done. So you can get to the bullpen. Luckily for KC Herrera and Davis are as good or better than last year but that missing piece makes the team worse. The starting pitching right now is a hittable mess. You are gonna get five innings max out of these guys with Volquez their best pitcher right now. All 3 are not gonna give you more than five right now. Rios is a black hole in right, making them worse. I'll give them credit for different hitters getting some key hits and gutting out big postseason wins but they IMO are way worse than last year. KC's hope has to be Cueto returns to form against the NL team. And another hope would be that the Mets don't play as well as they did against the Cubs, that they choke, if you will.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 25, 2015 -> 06:56 PM) The fact is the guy you are referencing is a moaner and a KC fan. He mentioned in another thread how he hated when the White Sox used to beat up on the Royals. He said that? Caufield? He does appear to like KC but did he say that? Wow. I didn't see that.

Tough call. I'd say the Mets' pitching is pretty nasty. Royals definitely aren't as good this year as last year. The Royals' ONLY hope is if the Mets have cooled off. If the Mets are just as sharp as they were in the Cubs' series, it's the Mets in four or five. I mean the Mets' pitchers were great. Throwing bullets. But baseball's a funny game. Maybe they'll have returned to mediocrity. The Royals' bullpen isn't nearly as good as last year. They have only 2 good relievers this time around and Ned doesn't seem too intent on going two innings apiece every game with Herrera and Davis. Madson and Medlen blow chunks. Duffy sucks. KC's starters don't seem too apt to go more than 5 2/3 innings. Logic tells me Mets in five or six unless the Royals' batters try to take that heat to the opposite field and have professional at bats.

Do you guys agree the Score dumping the Sox is really bad for the Sox?

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Oct 24, 2015 -> 11:51 PM) I would temper your .252 after AS break with he hit .323 in July-.247 in August and .171 in Sept. As the roster is now, he is the incumbent at 2nd but really for his glove. Him being in the lineup means you need offense from SS and 3B to offset. Now if he can play SS w the same defensive skill. that makes him much more valuable. Yep, your stats are way more alarming. I said put him on the bench until Micah is the latest Sox to officially flame out. Give Micah enough at bats to see if he's a bust. Although I do realize defense is important in baseball and Micah is considered lousy, right? We know Sanchez is an A-plus with the glove. At some point, though you need some hitting.

I never thought Rios would play in a World Series. Maybe Yost isn't a buffoon after all if that guy is his starting RF and they're in the WS.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 23, 2015 -> 09:00 PM) Definitively or "arguably"? Defensively? Buster Posey, Russell Martin, Francisco Cervelli, Yadier Molina, Rene Rivera, and Jonathan Lucroy would be the definites. I would argue that Yan Gomes, Alex Avila, AJ Ellis, Martin Maldonado, Jesus Sucre, and Austin Hedges would at least be considered in the same class. Offensively? Well, here's a list of catchers (minimum 100PA) that had better offensive seasons in 2015 (by wRC+): Buster Posey Curt Casali Travis D'Arnaud Francisco Cervelli Chris Giminez AJ Ellis Yasmani Grandal Stephen Vogt Russell Martin AJ Pierzynski (lol) Roberto Perez (who?) Hank Conger Miguel Montero Josh Phegley (!) Brian McCann Robinson Chirinos Nick Hundley Jarrod Saltalamacchia Matt Weiters JR Murphy Welington Castillo Derek Norris Steve Clevenger Geovany Soto Jonathan Lucroy Blake Swihart Andrew Susac Give me a do-over on this thread. I didn't realize Salvy was a stiff or at best just another guy. My bad.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 23, 2015 -> 08:43 PM) Stephen Vogt, Brian McCann, Russell Martin were all better on offense than Perez in the AL Vogt .261 18 71 is identical to Salvy; better OBP at .341 McCann .232, 26, 94; with obp of .320. He was more productive in producing runs but lower BA Martin .240, 23, 77 with obp of .329. Lower BA, a few more homers and ribbies. Better obp. Oh well you can decide if you want those guys or Salvy. The Sox combo of Flowers/Soto put Salvy-like numbers up combined.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Oct 23, 2015 -> 08:27 PM) Who told you this? Buster Posey is the best in the game right now. You are right. Posey beats out Salvy on production with .318, 19, 95. Amazing stats. .379 OBP. Who's better than Perez in the AL?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 23, 2015 -> 06:54 PM) The BENGHAZI #NEVERFORGET hearings have been a continuing embarrassment, but they reached new lows yesterday. http://www.vox.com/2015/10/22/9600096/clin...enghazi-hearing This is where the media steps up (where need be) for the Democratic presidential candidates. Yes they'll take a shot at Obama or Hillary when it doesn't matter, but when there's a potential difference maker in the electability of their beloved Democratic candidate for president, they go in attack mode. By the time the coverage of this is over, Hillary will be such a saint. She is the one being attacked by the big bad Republicans and persecuted and yet she exhibited such class, etc. This is one of those moments the Democratic media bring it for their candidate cause they know she needs the support. They try to hide their bias but when the going gets tough, the media comes out for Hilly/Obama/fill in the democratic presidential candidate blank. Gore was such a bozo it was hard for them to even get him the crown, though he did win the popular vote. Even Al Gore. WOW Hillary makes me laugh; even in a somber hearing she's caught on tape saying she's in Katy Perry mode and gotta get to the concert. She deserves credit though; she knows the politics game and assuredly will be coronated Ms. President in a legal landslide.