Middle Buffalo

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Feb 23, 2012 -> 11:32 AM) Hearing the story of Walker and Guillen's concern about Dunn last spring has me feeling less certain about what shows up this year. Prior to hearing that story, I was of the opinion that he would return to normal. For me, the worst part of the Walker/Guillen story is that Guillen kept trotting Dunn out to the plate. If he was as broken as they "knew" from Spring Training, Dunn should have sat. As a fan, I thought it was the right thing to do to be patient. But if Walker and Guillen identified from the first day of Spring Training that something was very wrong, they never should have stayed with him. 1. Ventura will be fine. Don't know that he's a championship manager, but it will be nice to get away from the Ozzie/Kenny circus. It's actually kind of disappointing that at some point in the past few years, one of the vets didn't come forward and say that they were sick of it and that Ozzie and Kenny should be professional and keep their crap in house. That would have showed some leadership. The players always said it didn't bother them, and the fued itself might not have, but answering questions about it had to. 2. MB will probably be missed more for his presence in the clubhouse as an all-around good guy than for what he has left on the field. I love him, but he's a 12-14 win guy. 3. I can't imagine that Dunn will be as bad as last year. 4. I can't remember the question - closer? I think they'll do fine by committee early. I wasn't ever 100% confident in Santos, though he certainly performed well for stretches. I think he's replaceable, and I doubt he turns into Mariano Rivera. He reminds me a little of Roberto Hernandez - pretty good, but always had me on the edge of my seat (in a bad way). 5. CQ was really good when he was really good, and incredibly frustrating the rest of the time. I wish Kenny traded him when his value was higher. Viciedo will be fine, and if he's not, at least we'll know and can move on. I'm kind of excited about the season. I have low expectations, and that's usually when my teams win.

In other news, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalissimo...o_is_still_dead

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 12, 2012 -> 03:49 PM) Shouldn't the title say "worst"? That's been bothering me. I was thinking the same thing - had the thought again as I clicked on the link. I chalked it up to Textalk and moved on originally.

Count me among the group that could listen to Eddie Vedder sing just about anything. I even like that Cubs song he sings. Ten is one of those albums that I don't think has a bad song. PJ is great in concert, too. I was at Lollapalooza in '92 at Alpine Valley. A month or so ago I was watching that concert on Youtube - reliving my youth. I saw them there again in '97 or '98.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 7, 2012 -> 09:41 AM) Romney hasn't been in office for 5 years now. That doesn't really refute my point. Obviously, since he's running for president, he hasn't cut all of his political ties. But, really, I just posted the original comment and link to the article because I'm kind of sick of all of our political figures being a little out of touch with most Americans. I'd guess that Mitt has done everything to the letter of the law financially, but that doesn't mean that I have to like the laws.

Politician's seem to have an uncanny ability to be successful in the market. Did or is Mitt doing something illegal? I don't know. Does he have access to info or the ability to influence legislation in such a way that he can personally profit? I'm pretty sure.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 7, 2012 -> 07:30 AM) I'm not sure I understand what you are getting at with this post. Are you just saying that because he makes a 26% return, that must mean he's doing something fishy? Pretty much.

Mitt's kids set for life. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/romney-kids-...-184900265.html Mitt's making a 26% return on his investments and paying 10% in taxes. Maybe he can save our country. I'm sure all his stock plays are legit - no insider info, just good sound research and good timing.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Feb 7, 2012 -> 06:26 AM) Often times, but not always, it's customary to tip 5-10%. Depends on how much work was done with it, how well established it is, how well you know them etc...Your call. That's kind of what I was figuring - 10%. Actually, I split the square with someone (we won $400, so my take was $200), and the other guy is really cheap. I think I'll probably do $20.

I'm not much of a gambler (I only throw a few bucks into an NCAA bracket pool, Super Bowl, etc) , and yesterday, for the first time I can remember, I won - $200 in a pool at a bar where a friend works. The pool paid out 100%, and I'm wondering if I'm obligated to tip the guy who ran the pool. If so, how much?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 3, 2012 -> 09:51 AM) Yeah, but he gets portrayed as one, which seems to be enough. Sure. But I don't hold him responsible for the media's coverage. When he's healthy and sober, it's a good story for people who struggle with or know someone who struggles with addiciton. It's kind of like the Tim Tebow stuff. Half of the guys on tv talking about Tebow are saying that they're sick of talking about Tebow blah blah blah. Well, then stop talking about it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 3, 2012 -> 09:42 AM) This would be the downside of having your story told over and over again as a story of redemption. People are all to happy to watch you fall. True, but Hamilton doesn't really come off, to me, as a guy who acts as if he's beaten addicition. Most addicts (regardless of the vice) relapse at some point.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 2, 2012 -> 05:43 PM) How do you view the impact of Walker's policies on the Presidential election in WI? And Greg Walker somehow gets dragged into another thread....

QUOTE (whitesox901 @ Feb 3, 2012 -> 03:12 AM) None of our business. pisses me off this is in the media. He's had serious problems with drugs and alcohol. The extra set of eyes on him probably helps to keep him in line. I understand what you're saying, but it probably is actually good for him in his day to day life to know that if he falters in his sobriety, he won't be able to lie or deny it.

I walked into a bathroom in a pretty nice office complex a few years ago and next to the toilet - NEXT TO THE TOILET - was a 12 inch turd on a piece of toilet paper. Laid out like a trophy on the floor. Who does that? Not a bathroom story, but I was following a truck the other day that was spraying a "mist" out of the top. I changed lanes to avoid the "mist," and when I finally caught it I saw that it was a port-o-potty sanitation truck. Spraying a fine mist of feces and urine in Mesa, AZ. Laying down a nice welcome mat for Theo, I'm sure.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 1, 2012 -> 10:37 AM) To prevent spammers we approve each person individually. He's been trying to join since July. Did you require his long-form birth certificate?

QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 26, 2012 -> 04:46 PM) Robert Hegyes, aka Juan Epstein from Welcome Back Kotter, died of a heart attack. 60 yrs old. Robert Hegyes, aka Juan Epstein from Welcome Back Kotter, died of a heart attack. 60 yrs old. Signed, Epstein's Mother

The ovations are ridiculous. One side sitting on their hands while the other stands and cheers kind of devalues the whole thing for me. It's like it doesn't even matter what is being said, just who is doing the saying.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 24, 2012 -> 09:56 AM) How would you structure taxes? Make some specific tweaks, or start new? Lots of deductions/credits, few, or none? What rates for income? What about corp taxes? Div/Cap gains? With all the dissection of the tax plans from various GOP candidates for President, I would love to hear what each of you would do... I'd like to pay 15% like Romney.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Jan 23, 2012 -> 09:50 AM) J4L, Hawk promises optimism every preseason, and then the next year he explains how awful everything went, and how last offseason he was telling his wife in the car that last year was about to be bad. Read better or remember better, maybe both. He does this every year. Someone homeristic can criticize, as Hawk does above. But if he'd ever criticize before the year happens, before a mgr gets fired.... i mean by saving it all for later, it just comes off as more gutless or company-line-ish. Early last season, when the Sox were struggling, Hawk was on ESPN1000 and he said that when the Sox started hitting, they would run away with the division. He rarely says anything negative about the Sox during the season. And, I can't remember the details, but wasn't Hawk mad at Jack McDowell for being critical of the Sox or a Sox player? To the point that McDowell will likely never get the fill in duty again when Stone is off - or am I imagining things? I've heard Brenley be critical of the Cubs during the season - specifically about Zambrano.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 14, 2012 -> 07:22 AM) I take it you don't know much about Montero. The Yankees indeed paid a steep price. He's a consensus top 10 prospect in baseball (top 3-5 if you don't include pitchers). He doesn't have a position. But his bat is real. The Mariners desperately needed some offensive reinforcements. And they got a real good one. When a guy doesn't have a position, that's not a good thing. And my point isn't so much that the value of Montero for Pineda isn't good. I just think that the Yankees (and 4 or 5 others) have a distinct advantage over other teams because they simply outspend everyone for free agents. For instance, when King Felix comes up for free agency in a few years, the Red Sox, Yankees, Angels, etc. will be the destination. The Mariners will likely have no chance to re-sign him. So, if I'm a GM and I'm dealing with the Yankees, and all they're trying to do is fill a few holes on their all-star team, I'm telling them I need MULTIPLE prospects back. It really doesn't cost them anything because they want to win every season. Letting young players grow up in the majors doesn't interest them. The Yankees will let other teams develop players and grab them when they hit free agency.

It's amazing that he was only 39 when he was killed. The "I have a dream" speech is something I will always stop and listen to if it's on tv or radio. Maybe one day we will stop judging people by the color of their skin, their religion, their sexual preference, etc.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 14, 2012 -> 03:47 AM) I hope they test this guy very thoroughly for PEDs. I don't like the looks of his nipples in this photo: http://es-es.facebook.com/yoeniscespedesfa...e=1&theater They're perky - like a young Molly Ringwald. Natural B cup.

I don't understand why teams don't make the Yankees pay a premium when they trade. They should always be forced to include an extra prospect or two in a trade because of their ability to outspend everyone in free agency. How do you give up a 23 yr old guy who throws 95-100 coming off a solid rookie season? Dumb trade.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 11, 2012 -> 03:21 PM) Pretty soon, we're going to need some good nicknames for these guys. We have Marinez, Oswaldo Martinez and now another Martinez. Not to mention Carlos Martinez's son (I think still with us?) Nobody is using the Marx brothers' names these days - so let's go with Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo and Zeppo.