ptatc

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 12, 2017 -> 08:13 AM) I still think the protections provided huge multinational drug companies like Mylan with the Epipen patent are surely not in the interests of the public. If you can prove xx amount of research and development dollars has gone into a new cutting-edge drug that changes the world, fine. There have to be incentives for private companies to innovate and be protected. Capitalism and all. On the other hand are drugs or treatments like the example above...or the Martin Shkreli case, where enough is enough. There has to be a balancing. Just like consumer protection agencies determine a "fair and reasonable" amount of interest on credit cards versus usury rates. There has to be some type of compromise in the middle where consumers are protected as well as shareholders. This topic is more along the lines of free enterprise and governmental economic rules and regulations as opposed to medical issues. for the credit card issue, this should be on the person applying for the card. I was suckered by this early in life. People need to check things like this for themselves as there are choices.

QUOTE (Deadpool @ Jan 12, 2017 -> 07:58 AM) A couple of things I really like about Scandinavian civics/politics 1) Elementary schools in Finland spend most of their 6 hour school day playing, doing activities, or at lunch 2) In Norway, the prison system is designed to protect the inmates. The longest sentence in the Norwegian penal system is 21 years at which point the inmate is free unless the state can prove he/she is not rehabilitated. There are only 3 states which require elementary schools to even give a regular scheduled recess to students. It's just a shame.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 12, 2017 -> 04:36 AM) Because they have consistently higher math and science scores than US students. They prioritize education. They don't accept teachers for certification programs who aren't in the top ten percent of their classes. They pay those teachers an upper middle class salary so they don't have to work two jobs or teach summer school. Second, how can the greatest country in the world with the best doctors, medical schools and modern technology/equipment have such poor outcomes? In those countries, the pharmaceutical and insurance companies don't overrun the system and blow up costs. Heck, even in Canada, Mexico or Cuba the same drugs are 10-15% of the cost for the same drug in America. How is that logical? How can we be back to aspiring to be a country where only the rich and upper medical class have access to quality health care under the GOP? How is our prison system logical, compared to that of Norway? http://www.businessinsider.com/why-norways...cessful-2014-12 Read this article or refer to Michael Moore's Where Do We Invade Next? Can you argue that our education, health care and prison systems are better in any measureable way than those countries? A final argument. Those countries (along with Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Singapore, etc.) always end up higher on "happiness/living standards" surveys. How do you explain why this has consistently been the case for a couple of decades DESPITE the winter weather that citizens from that region of the world have to suffer through for 5-6 months every year? Or just use your eyes. People there participate in sports year round...even in the winter. Much better physical conditioning. It's that Nordic look that was the Aryan model so desired by the Nazis/Hitler. Of course, aesthetics is always going to be subjective...but most people in Middle America could learn a thing or two from the diets and nutrition regimens of people from lots of areas outside the US. There are two significant differences in the medical system between the US and countries like Sweden. The first is the medical malpractice. The US uses a tort system with all of the litigation as we know it. It is very costly and dramatically raises malpractice insurance thus raises healthcare costs. The "no tort" version in Sweden is much less costly and more efficient but also severely limits the patient's options for getting compensation for medical malpractice. This leads to the second difference. The regulations for medical practice are much more strict with the FDA in the US as opposed to the other countries. So what you see in essence is that the other countries are using medical and pharmaceutical practices there that aren't approved here. If that new techniques doesn't work there, they have limited compensation. If the same thing was tried here, it would be in litigation for years. So what happens is that the new techniques are tried there, they work out the bugs in the technique, without the cost of litigation, and they are perfected here. This is why the people in those countries who can afford it come to the US for the surgeries because they aren't experimental here.

QUOTE (PolishPrince34 @ Jan 12, 2017 -> 06:02 AM) The one thing not being mentioned about Albies is the major injury he had last season. He fractured his right elbow swinging a bat. Numerous medical have written this can be a precursor of a reoccurrence of the same injury happening again. There is no way I want Albies in the deal until I see him healthy and playing for at least a half of season. Albies is the same type of injury that normally happens to a pitcher, such as Dave Dravecky and Tom Browning which ended their careers. Very unusual to see this with hitters. I'm out on Albies for the time being. You shouldn't worry about the injury. The injuries you are comparing them to are totally different. In the case of the pitchers they fractured the humerus which is very uncommon and really hard to do and thus are big worries because there needed to be a significant defect in the bone for it to occur. Albies just had a fracture of the olecranon on the ulna (the bump that sticks out when you bend your elbow). The happens when you forcefully extend your elbow and "chip off" a piece of it. I've seen it many times in laborers even with perfectly healthy bones. In baseball players it is rare, I've only seen a couple of them but it's not a sign of bone defects to worry abour for the future.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 06:00 PM) A lot of time I believe teams that say that. For some reason that no matter how many times the Yankees say it, I don't believe them. He's been showing it the last few years. Before Chapman it's been awhile since their last big signing and he was really one of their own with a short stint with the Cubs.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 04:58 PM) People were shocked when we got both Giolito and Lopez for Eaton. Sox fans were convinced Washington would only deal one of them, not both Yes, that was crazy. i don't think most Gm's are that nuts, especially one with the budget constraints of Pitt.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 04:57 PM) Perhaps not more valuable, but to mid market ball clubs like Pittsburgh? His 4th season of cheap control is huge My point was that Quintana absolutely should get a return very comparable to what Sale brought us Meadows + Glasnow + Newman + a flyer fit the Sale deal: Moncada + Kopech + Basabe + Diaz mold i disagree. They won't get the same package for Q they got for Sale. He isn't as good and the 1 year doesn't make that much of a difference.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 04:53 PM) My second proposal was Meadows + Glasnow + Newman + one of the listed players to round out the package Fowler, to me, looks like his ceiling will be a 4th outfielder at the mlb level, possibly a below average regular? He is solid defensively, but I am not sold on the bat or power at all I don't think there is any chance the Pirates give up 3 out of their top 5 prospects for Q. They may get 2 of those and other pieces.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 02:45 PM) Vance Joseph takes Broncos HC job, Sean McDermott takes Bills HC job Pendulum is swinging back to defensive coaches, i see.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 04:46 PM) No way. Agreed. People can spin it all they want. Try to boost Q's value in their minds. There is no way Q is as valuable as Sale.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 03:40 PM) This is a good point. I'm beginning to think the Yankees are now the most likely destination as well, but not til July or so. The Pirates and Astros seem unlikely to step up their mediocre offers — the Pirates because they're too dependent on cheap minor leaguers replacing expensive big leaguers, and the Astros because they're overvaluing their prospects and are for some reason hellbent on declaring all the good ones untouchable. The Yankees on the other hand don't want to make that big of a splash now, but will be willing to when they're in the thick of things, knowing they can replace a Clint Frazier for example more easily. I don't think a trade to the Yankees will happen. Cashman has spent too much time convincing other people in the FO that they need to build from within. I don't think he will abandon it. He will follow the cubs model. Allows the hitters to develop. Then when the time is right in 2 years, go buy Harper and pitching.

QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 11:25 AM) What kills me are the people who think he's smart and a nice guy. Someone you'd want to grab a beer with. Like, Obama I would love to shoot the s*** with. I disagree with him on the vast majority of his policy positions, but as a person he seems like a very likeable dude. He's not someone i'm embarrassed to have as our representative. He doesn't say dumb things every time he opens his mouth. Trump is the complete opposite. The next 4 or god forbid 8 years are going to be an absolute s*** show. And what's funny is the economy will probably do well just because of the nature of the cycle so he will get praised for it. No doubt.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 11:20 AM) It's pretty amazing that anyone could look at how Trump has conducted himself over the past two months, let alone the last few years, and think "Yes, this is good. This man is fit to be the President." Some look at substance and policy instead of style. Many agree with his promises. We'll see if he sticks to them.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 11:07 AM) This is why I said a deal seemed so unlikely with them from the get-go even if it made sense for both teams. Based on their fans' comments a few weeks ago, they felt the same way: that nothing would happen. Logical. It's a big risk for a team reliant on the farm system.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 11:01 AM) And like i said, he can brag all he wants about the guy being on the cover of baseball America for what he'll hopefully do in AAA this year. That doesn't change the fact that the Pirates are taking a rotation with 3 second year players, a legit #1 but who was hurt much of last year, and Ivan Nova up against the Cubs and Cardinals. From this perspective, which I agree with, does the FO of pittsburgh think Q will put them over the top and have a shot for the WS? It gives them a better chance but it is a good chance. That is really the big question. They won't sacrifice the farm system for a better chance, it needs to be a good one. If they don't believe it gives them a really good shot at the title, they won't do a trade.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 10:56 AM) I actually kind of agree. Especially if they get a 3B and Swanson hits. They need Q and Frazier then! Let's cook up some more hypotheticals that will get the Sox more prospects.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 10:07 AM) Definitely. Signing Holland would also hopefully force Washington to get desperate and trade for Robertson. The sox will need a deep bullpen with their staff, especially if Q goes.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 10:40 AM) and nobody knows if Meadows and Bell will even be special. It's ridiculous that Pittsburgh isn't even willing to trade one of them. Not when you remember they depend on their farm system to feed their MLB team with low cost players due to a very low (comparatively) budget. They can't afford to lose multiple prospects, especially ones close to the MLB. They may gain Q but in a few years they will drop to a bad team again without the constant flow of prospects. They need to maintain a team with at least a chance to make the playoffs. i can see both sides. They do need Q to make a run at the WS. However, are they willing to take the chance of going back to being bad and broke with no prospects coming along. This is why they want to trade Mccutchen. They can get a couple of good prospects to replenish the system while trading others for Q. It wouldn't surprise me that if McCutchen is traded, a Q trade comes shortly after.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Jan 10, 2017 -> 11:20 AM) Not to mention Trevathan might never be the same again after his injury. Garrett should be a no brainer. Always take the best players available regardless of position or need. In football injuries are frequent and careers are short. Joe Gibbs said it best "give me 6 allpros, fill in the rest and I'll win." Something to that effect anyway.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jan 10, 2017 -> 01:54 PM) I love this article from the New York Daily News, where Cashman was very candid with his thoughts about the negotiations with the Sox. In this article he states: - Sox are where the Yanks were last summer in terms of "pressing the reset button" - The Yankees set the bar high then in terms of expectations on trade returns for prized assets - Their results for the trades of Chapman and Miller ultimately led to the returns the Sox received for Sale/Eaton - He's willing to put high-end prospects on the table to get a deal done, but ironically, his trades from last summer and the Sox' current trades have established a new sticker price that the team who created this new market value in the first place is now not in a position to meet http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball...ticle-1.2941444 No ego there. It also could have something to do with starting pitching more important than a relief pitcher.

QUOTE (Deadpool @ Jan 9, 2017 -> 06:19 PM) That's certainly true, and I can't put myself in his shoes. Everything about that franchise not named Longoria kind of sucks. No doubt.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 9, 2017 -> 06:22 PM) Montas went from 81 (injury related) to 127 with a big league callup/bullpen outings between age 21/22, which seems like a fair comp and the most reasonable one I can recently remember where they got into our system at upper levels without a big innings load. That's an example, just like rodon and Fulmer show another. Each situation is different. With the abundance of pitching prospects, I don't think they will feel the need to push him too hard with innings.

QUOTE (Deadpool @ Jan 9, 2017 -> 06:07 PM) I can't imagine anyone wanting to play 81 games a year in that stadium...and yet, it's still Florida. it's a heck of a lot better than playing outdoor in florida.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 9, 2017 -> 05:09 PM) This is still the White Sox. Barring injury/punching something I think you're under by a good amount, and I don't think i'll get bent out of shape if they push him more aggressively than that. I think the White sox have been pretty conservative with pitchers and innings increases, not necessarily with promotions though. Things we saw with Rodon and Fulmer, I don't think they will push his innings too quickly.

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Jan 9, 2017 -> 05:51 PM) Also not true. It probably originated with large ranches, but it actually impacts pretty much any plot of land in the mountains in Colorado, and anywhere rural in the American West. For instance, until 2016 it was illegal to use a rain barrel to collect water in the State of Colorado. While that makes no sense when you live in Denver, it makes a lot of sense when you live on a mountain stream. Interesting. When I move to the Colorado mountains, i'll keep it in mind. Until then, I still don't get taxed on my well water.