vandy125

QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Jun 27, 2006 -> 01:03 PM) They still are using it as a bargaining chip. The language used seems to suggest that Iran is no longer interested in talking with the US over such matters. It doesn't mean that Iran is giving the rest of the world community the cold shoulder. That was my optimistic take on this too. They do not want to deal with the US on this. Is that really all that surprising? I am hoping that they will make a deal with someone to stop this, but the pessimistic side of says that it is not realistic. I have a feeling that they are just going to keep dragging their feet, playing the waiting game to see if someone will actually take a step to stop them. To me, all I have seen so far is talking and posturing but no real action, and I think Iran will keep on doing what they are as long as that remains the status quo.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Jun 26, 2006 -> 01:41 PM) The only reason that would affect a reliever is due to the upgraded talent in the AL - NOT because the pitcher doesn't bat in the AL. Relievers do not face pitchers on a regular basis, as they are usually in late in the ballgame when pitchers are getting pinch hit for by good hitters. I do not see the downside of this potential deal, so I don't see why they wouldn't make it. You can never have enough pitching depth. That is exactly what I am talking about. It depends on what we give up. I would not want it to be very much because IMO the difference between the hitters in the AL vs the NL is huge, and everyone is pointing at how well he has been doing against a weak league this year. What happens when he plays against the much more talented AL? Will it be worth it to give up much? If we swing him for next to nothing, I am all for it, but I can't imagine that relievers who are doing well will go for next to nothing.

I don't know about sending too much for him. I don't like the switch from NL to AL that he will have to do.

Wow, thanks for putting that together. It seemed like the NL was getting a beatdown when I was just looking at the sports score ticker. A .690 winning percentage, wow.

QUOTE(T R U @ Jun 16, 2006 -> 12:31 AM) pfffffffffffffffft Its freaking June and were what, a game and a half back :rolly I aint rooting for the f***ing Cubs ^^^^^^ I agree with this. I am also not rooting for the Tigers. If we just keep winning our own games, it doesn't matter what the rest do.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jun 13, 2006 -> 10:58 AM) This reminds me of a story I heard out of Michigan. A man owned a small general store or something, and kept getting robbed as thieves would enter through the same window each time. One thing this guy sold was spring loaded traps and .... well you can figure out what happened. He got sued by the theif and iirc, lost. Maybe he should have had OSHA come in and check the place's safety out for theives?

According to this AP News story, Bush has told reporters that he wants to close Gitmo, but "first needed a plan to deal with the darn dangerous prisoners held there." I wonder what all is involved with closing a prison.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jun 13, 2006 -> 09:34 PM) Why? It's just as good as anywhere else. I can't see anything since I don't get the U, but they were talking about it and saying that it was what was causing problems for Dye and Pods

On the radio, they are talking about poor lighting in the left and right field. Anyone else seeing this on TV?

I hate the U as well. These are the only games that I don't get. I usually end up listening to it over the net.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 12, 2006 -> 04:26 PM) Linky Here. 1. Florida 2. Texas .... 19. St. Louis 20. Chicago Sox. 21. Cleveland Average age on Cleveland is 29.6. CHW is 29.4. Oh, and we'd be even younger without Jeff Nelson. Anyone else notice from that link that we have the 2nd highest average weight?

Does anyone think it is possible that Grimsley might have a case considering that MLB had no rules against what he was doing? Maybe they shot themselves in the foot on this? I hope that it may be another thing added to the pile to make them fix this mess.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 7, 2006 -> 09:30 PM) Gomez is not the hitter Granderson is. He is testing Montero out, he needs to know if he can rely on this guy in tough, pressure situations. This team does not need another righthanded specialist, they have one already if/when Nelson comes back. They need a guy like Vizcaino who can go a whole inning, or 1 1/3 innings. Montero was throwing well in AAA, it appears he's throwing strikes. This is about a close/tough situation as you're gonna get in June ... a perfect opportunity for Guillen to see what Montero is made of. Not sure why this board doesn't understand the concept of letting these guys show what they can do. If there were a million good bullpen arms available around the league, then I would understand it a bit more. There aren't, they have to see what some of these guys can do. ^^^^^ Its good to see what these guys are made of sometimes. Once 1 hitter got on base, he was out of there.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 5, 2006 -> 11:09 AM) And the states SHOULDN'T be involved, as entities, in a national election. The people, as individuals, should. Mind you, I am usually on the states rights side in federalism discussions. But this is a national election, with each person in the country voting, and all their votes should carry equal sway. Therefore, the electoral college is an unneeded biasing factor. I think that this is the point that we would disagree on. My opinion is that the states make up the nation of the United States of America. So, as a member of that nation, the state should have the right to decide who heads up the nation. The people still have a say because it is their vote that determines what their state does, and they can determine how their state sends those votes through.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 4, 2006 -> 08:57 PM) This pretty much sums it up, as far as why the electoral college should be thrown in the cylindrical filing cabinet. I don't like CA's way of doing it here, because its just stupid. But we do need to get rid of the electoral college. For those of you who seem to think the electoral college helps the smaller states, you'd be mistaken. Check the electoral map. Electoral votes equate to Congressional representation (reps plus senators), which is based on population (except for the 3-count minimum). So I suppose that, perhaps WY gets one more vote than they should. Other than that, rural voters get nothing out of it. The only think the electoral college does, today, is take the vote out of the hands of the voters of 95% of the country. That helps no one in either party. I remember looking at just that thing a year or so ago, and if I remember correctly, large states such as CA and NY actually get less representation than they would with a strictly popular vote type of thing, and some of the smaller states get more representation than they would with the popular vote. I would like to see something to verify that though. I still like the ability of each state to say what is most important for that state, and to send everything in that direction. Otherwise, there is no point for the state to even be involved.

I keep seeing people talking about the team with Thome vs. Rowand. IIRC, wasn't Thome a big reason why Konerko decided to come back this season? Any mention of having Rowand on the team instead of Thome should actually be Rowand instead of Thome and Konerko. How does that lineup look then with how our pitching has been doing?

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jun 3, 2006 -> 10:51 AM) Point taken. I guess this thing's never going to be perfect, either way. It was just something I've always wondered about, being in this state. I just always figured a democrat's vote in Indiana would be quickly cancelled out in state, but with out the EC, it would mean something nationally. Thanks for bringing that other scenario into view for me. I think this is one of the hardest things to figure out. With so many different types of people and situations, how do we make sure that they are all hard and that our resources get sent to those who need it the most? It won't ever be perfect, but IMHO, I do think that the EC helps. Its always good to at least talk about these things to actually get a firm opinion on it and to get reasons why you have that opinion.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jun 3, 2006 -> 10:40 AM) My point is what's the incentive for a democrat to vote in a state such as Indiana? I don't really get into these kinds of discussions; so there could very well be something that I'm not seeing here. That is a good point, but what if we extend that point nationally. Say we go by popular vote, with our 2-party system, what happens if it is a landslide election for a Republican? What would the point be for any Democrat in the nation to vote (not just the one's in Indiana)?

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jun 3, 2006 -> 10:31 AM) He is right though. Indiana's a great example of what Rex was talking about. This state is forever red, hence republican candidates never feel the need to stop here. And it's a lost cause for a democrat to do so either. The only way Indiana would ever be blue in an election, is if Evan Bayh is on the ballot. Are you saying that most people from Indiana do not want what the Republican candidates are offering? If so, then, stop voting so much for the Republicans. Then, the candidates will see that what they are offering is not fitting in with that state's concerns, and that they may need to change things. If they are voting Republican just out of the habit of voting Republican, then that is a problem with the voter. If they are voting Republican because of lack of other choices, then that is a problem with our 2-party system and not the Electoral College.

QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Jun 3, 2006 -> 12:28 AM) They aren't being now. So many states just go one way or the other that they are rarely visited or paid attention to. I disagree. I think that the less populous states won the presidency for Bush these past 2 terms. If you look at who voted for Gore and Kerry, I believe that it was incredibly bent towards the populous areas. Just because they weren't visited does not mean that their voice came through loud and clear.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I have always wanted to see some of the things on the East coast, but have never had the chance to do it.

Nice job AJ!

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 2, 2006 -> 10:24 PM) Yes, but when you have a man on in a tie game in the 8th, every manager in baseball is going to make the switch for more offense. Even with the top of the order coming up next inning and the runner only on first?

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 2, 2006 -> 10:17 PM) Wow....that's why we need a brand new center fielder. Ozzie has been seriously out-managed tonight by his nemesis. I don't understand why BA was taken out. I don't know if he would have gotten to that, but I feel much better in the later innings having him in.

Tie Game!!!