bmags

The cynical part of me wants to highlight that the reason they are so obtuse about openly commenting that they are actively talking about an ongoing investigation that they are a under, and not even walking a tight rope about how they are interfering with it, is because they know they will not be held accountable by the Republican congress.

I'm excited. We got starry eyes over the offseason for the top 20 prospects, and they are usually great. But worth noting the hauls teams like the Brewers have received, as well as the back half of the hamels deal paying off for the Phillies more than the top. Take more shots and eventually some might net a higher percentage to play catch-up.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 11, 2017 -> 12:40 PM) If it wasn't for the damage he is going to do to people and the country, that would be the most frustrating thing about this. The Russians brought a camera crew to their meeting. They took pictures. Liars. Maybe we are saying the same thing but BECAUSE of the damaging things he is doing to the country it is the frustrating thing about this. In order to get milquetoast Republican policy through, they are willing to quite frankly destroy our political order. We had an independent DOJ. It was tried and tested and proven after being tested in Bush era US Att. purge that Comey himself made his name for. We had an independent FBI. We could trust that they would take BIG scandals like this at least seriously. We don't know if we do anymore.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 11, 2017 -> 12:01 PM) This seems, well, not good: edit: this also means that the President is now contradicting the White House's official story on when and why Comey was fired. This is the epitome of don't carry water for giving trump the benefit of the doubt, he will always disappoint you and quickly.

I'm just so mad at how obvious it was at how stupid this man would be at this job and yet even now how many should-be smarter and more responsible people are going to go along with it.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 11, 2017 -> 08:51 AM) Are there any success stories with hitters who struck out as much as Kendall has in college turning it around in the pros? http://www.hardballtimes.com/how-many-stri...ts-is-too-many/ If you don't want to feel better you can read this.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/uph...m=.3cbe47c4813b Very similar report from Flynn firing.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ May 11, 2017 -> 09:53 AM) I can see this when the staff is talking about other staff members. But not Trump himself. I don't doubt that Trump was growing tired of Comey and was pissed that Comey wouldn't take his wiretap claims seriously and that he continued to pursue the Russia probe. I find it hard to believe that 30 people in the WH, FBI and DOJ (1) had first hand knowledge of this and (2) would be willing to completely contradict the WH official statement to a reporter. I mean, come on, Trump is tweeting out to that the investigation is fake news but you think him and his admin is tight lipped that he was fuming about it behind the scenes? I mean this story is the least surprising thing of the day. These reporters (WaPo/MaggieNYT) have had these drops almost every week.

Maybe he gets undermined because he routinely floats himself that staff members are losing influence, or aren't good at their jobs. Or blames his comms team for his not understanding that firing his FBI director would be a big deal. Trump himself has been an unamed source in Maggie Haberman stories, we don't need to overthink this. They can't get 2 people to tell an official talking point correctly, they didn't get 30 people to tell a coordinated lie behind the scenes.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ May 11, 2017 -> 09:28 AM) Not to go all conspiracy theorist here, but I find it REALLY hard to believe there are 30 people willing to talk off the record/anonymously about something that probably only a handful of people knew about. We already know Trump supporters are delusional people, so there aren't a lot of "free-thinkers" remaining in the administration. And reports have always been it's a very small inner circle around him. I dunno, not really buying this one. Almost every article has been 10+ sourced with this administration, because if you don't talk to Haberman/Thrush or Kessler/Parker/Costa, then the chances you are the one getting s*** talked about. Trump loves being covered. He is influenced by the media, and his administration knows that. This is not a tight-lipped group.

Development isn't always a linear path, see our own 2014 pick. If he gets back to being a great OBP/Power hitter then he'll be a great asset. Red Sox miss their defensively-missing LH power hitter.

Shows how much these guys love playing ball players when they'll still get on the bus at 35 to play close to pro ball as you can get.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 11, 2017 -> 06:56 AM) Deputy AG rosenstein threatened to quit after being cast as the impetus for Comey firing. https://t.co/fOy25nZpyq You don't get credit for almost. He's a coward.

At the very least, it is clear the original rationale given for firing Comey was complete B.S., but apparently that is still good enough for Republican senators like Chuck Grassley. The important thing is that he made a decision, not whether it's good, or bad, or malicious, just that one was made. And if one was made, or not made, they need to defend it.

Solarzano with a real nice line.

QUOTE (maxjusttyped @ May 10, 2017 -> 03:44 PM) Just as you'd expect, Burdi is continuing to dominate in Charlotte. It won't happen due to injuries and likely trades, but a bullpen with Robertson, Jones, Kahnle, Swarzak, Putnam, and Burdi would just be completely ridiculous. The times where it has felt the sox have overachieved they have had a dominant pen. IMO the acceleration of results from our rebuild will be if our pen is not a Reds like disaster (or a 2014 pen)

I think, trying to catch my bearings, but I think the part this is kind of astonishing to me is in Sanders press conference how they are not backing down that this was Trump driving this decision. Their desire to show how he is in charge is superseding what should be talking points that this was an organic decision from the DOJ. edit: and a much smaller point, but the bar for Trump spokespeople is so low. It is insane that on the most important presser of her life she used the word atrocities to describe Comeys actions. You are in gov!

I really like when prospects have a changeup ready to go. Seems like he could end up with a nice 4 pitch arsenal.

A separate point, an independent investigation on Russian ties is good, but at this point an investigation into obstruction of justice needs to occur.

Trump impulsive out of bounds act then all around him force a reality to show a reason for that act is becoming tired and dangerous. It's month 4.

good news.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 10, 2017 -> 12:16 PM) So, the idea that they won't be able to quash this legally - the US Attorney's Office that you note...those people serve at the pleasure of the President. So to state that the White House can't control what is about to happen...The White House has already removed nearly all of the US Attorneys appointed under the previous administration, and when the NY Attorney refused to resign on the grounds that he was investigating the person who was asking him to resign, he was fired. On top of that...if I have this correct, the US Attorney for Alexandria Virginia, the person who would be responsible for the location where the Flynn investigation is taking place, he is the same person who Trump put in Sally Flynn's place after firing her in January and was the only US Attorney kept on. So even though he's a career prosecutor, on paper there's like 9 different conflicts of interest right there. Furthermore...follow this timeline. Per multiple press reports, the Assistant AG Rod Rosenstein is the guy that the Russia investigation fell to after Sessions recused himself. He is also the guy who affixed his name to the letter firing Comey. Per press reports, he received a request for additional resources for that investigation last week, and WHILE HE HAD THAT REQUEST ON HIS DESK HE FIRED THE GUY WHO MADE THE REQUEST. Read that again. I don't care how "professional" your career looks otherwise, you do not do that - that is a clear conflict of interest and you cannot do that. That should be a fireable offense as well. Ah yes, remember when we were told it was just routine to fire all the US Attorneys at once? And then they still haven't been replaced? And now the FBI director axed, no replacement in mind.

Now Flores says he was never asked for either. She's doing great.

LOL, DOJ Spox calls report that Comey asked for more money "100% False", then follows up that he didn't ask for more money, he asked for more RESOURCES. Glad we got that cleared up.

No one has better advice for stopping killing and death like Kissinger.