Chisoxfn

I've been ready since I wrote that column.

I don't think Jerry screwed up this game.

Roman, that philosphy is alright when your a kid, but eventually you have to take responsibility for your actions and pulling crap like that isn't the way adults should handle themselves. A society that thought like that would be pretty crappy, imo.

Thanks. I hope youre right. I might add, that i havent officially been fired yet, but im pretty sure its coming tomorrow. I am going more by her reaction, than anything. Well, depending on what you did, your boss may be able to see through the bulls***. It kind of depends on the operation and how much your boss knows you and what really went on.

My biggest recommendation for you oldroman is to go to college and then enlist. The reason is, after you graduate you automatically enter the militar as an officer. Someone can verify this for me, but I'm 95% sure thats how it works.

I agree with you on that. You giving a response to it puts you at the same level as her. You got to look at it, move on and think this was for the best. Like others have mentioned you could of married her and then gotten screwed over. In this case its simply a relationship gone bad and you lost a job. That may be bad, but your healthy, and a strong person and you'll get over it and find someone better and find a better job.

I think the price you have is ridiculously high. Thats over 4000 thousand a year and unless your driving a porsche that shouldn't be happening. I think at the most you'd be payin 3000 a year and that would be really high and would mean you have an expensive car and got in an accident recently or have a lot of tickets. In regards to taxes, BMR, if he files his taxes right he shouldn't be paying any taxes cause he'd only make around 7200 and I think 6000 or so is the amount you can make to be tax exempt, meaning only 1200 bucks can be taxed and he could probably find some writeoffs to whipe off the rest of that. For me I don't make that much, but I can write off gas once I'm at work and can write off my edumactation, etc, to the point I get a refund for almost all of my taxes. For gas, depends how much you drive. I drive about 2000 miles a month which is relatively high so I spend like 125 bucks a month on gas. I have a car that gets pretty good mileage (25-30 MPG).

One flaw to that. Your a minor so you can get away with petty stuff, but when your not a minor you don't want to do stuff that can get you in trouble with the law.

Umm, we spoke to soon.

Robert

That was sweet.

Well Vladdy is my favorite player or one of them, so I'm sure one of those people wasnt me. I'd of been all for it then, as long as they could sign him.

I think the answer with those four teams is two merge them. Each merges into two. One team stays in Minnesota with a new stadium and the other can stay in florida, go to Puerto Rico or go somewhere else.

I think the one flaw with Costas is he's too old school. I like old school, but I also like a mixture of new school/new ideas.

Overall was the book good? I'm going to buy Billy Beanes book this week and read it when I fly to Iowa later this month to visit my grandparents.

I think adding another team has the potential to be real good, but what makes it hard is that you have to add two more teams, unless they give the team with the best record a bye. In all honesty I don't think two more teams in each league deserve to get in. One option that could add one more team is if you have two wild card teams and they would play in a three game series. The team with the best record gets home field advantage and then whoever wins would advance to play the team with the best record in their respective leagues. It only adds three games, while it brings in another team in each league.

Hey BMR That sucks big time. Don't mean to sound like a dick, but think of it this way, s*** can't get much worse then it is now, and you seem to be alright. That says something about your character. You seem to be sharp and I'm sure you'll get back on your feet. Wish you the best.

I've heard good things about Yofu. If the Sox are out of contention this year, we will see him. He throws like seven different pitches so he has a wide array.

I thought this was about Mauer vs. Reed. I think everyone agrees that Prior beats the hell out of Mauer.... Prior beats the hell out of anyone in the majors. I don't think you could trade one player for him straight up.

Right now neither of them are the best. In the past you could argue either way. Maggs is the better all around player while Sosa has been the better offensive player (It is very close though). Given the choice i'd take Maggs. He's younger, and most likely will be signed cheaper and seems like a much better guy in the clubhouse. For best right fielders, I'd probably go with Vladdy. Haven't checked his stats this season though. I also love Ichiro and rank him as one of the best.

I'm in the same area as you. Somewhere in the early 90's is as far as my memory goes, mainly because I was a wee lad then

1. It's not an 'IF'- they definately miss WAY more then they hit, ridiculously so. Truly competent scouts are as rare as really good actors, traders, etc. 30% was very generous. Hyping up 100 kids in hope one of them hits it big (npi) ain't my bag, baby. No glory in it. 2. I admitted Mauer could very well be legit. But as far as 2003-04 time window goes, I am not scared of him as I would have beem of Mark Prior being nabbed by Twinckies 2 years ago. 3. Same principle goes for Reed- he may in fact be overmatched at AA/AAA, but this season he has definately been better. Those 11 GIDPs alone should effectively lower Mauer's Real OPS into mid 700s whereas Reed's speed, including but not limited to SB, elevates his into 1000 zone. So to speak. But whatever, I am sure you know better. How could you not? I'll take Conceited Presumption for 101, Alex. Rex, that whole knee-jerk "why don''t you try it yourself, if you think you're so smart" thing was tired when Bullard said it. You're better than that. They miss way more then they hit because of the sheer numbers. When you draft and scout as many guys as you do, there are going to be plenty of guys that don't make it. Basically the only thing they can do is look at the raw tools and find guys that have the potential to turn into good major league players. Its basically a crapshoot. You have to guess what they will develop into, look at what they have and make a guess based on their background and interview the type of work ethic that they will have. Then you do your very best to project where they will be. Also, plenty of guys get drafted soley to fill roster spots. Of course some of those guys end up making it or falling through the cracks. Also remember, a lot of latter round picks can be talented. In regards to the non american born players, its a lot more difficult simply because the resources aren't there to scout all these guys, etc. Plus you have governments that could be against you taking the players as well and it also can cost some money depending on the "hype" of the player. Scouts do know what they are doing, imo. I'm not going to ever say how I could do as a scout. I think there is potential for me to be a front office type person, but until you actually go through it and deal with what they do, its hard to say things. Plus, most of us don't get the opportunity to watch guys play and if we do, only very few of us see them on a conistent basis.

Like someone said, a lot of high school players develop their "pop" after a couple of years in the minors. Also, a catcher hitting .300 and playing solid D is much harder to find than a CF playing solid D and hitting .300. You just don't find offensive catchers that can play D too often. Mauer's power will develop. I can't think of many high school outfielders that hit for a lot of power right away. Typically its two to three or even four years down the line when they start developing home run power. Basically its as they fill.

Geeze you guys have great memories. Hopefully I can remember all the crap that goes through me

Mauer is a catching prospect who is tearing the cover off the ball. He's an amazing talent. Him and Jeff Mathis (Angels) are two of the best catching prospects in the game. Reed is really putting up great numbers too, but I'd trade Reed for Mauer anyday of the week and I'm a HUGE Reed fan.