Balta1701

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 14, 2013 -> 02:03 PM) Last year especially, he was terrible and fell into lazy/bad habits with blocking pitches. Part of it was just poor technique. I'd swear it cost us at least a couple of games, although obviously the offense made up for it, overall. AJ had 8 passed balls and 54 wild pitches last year, for a total of 62. That's the worst year of his career on that, was never above 54 PB + WP before. Last year it was particularly from the wild pitches (he'd never given up more than 49 of those in a season before, and that year he only had 3 passed balls).

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 14, 2013 -> 11:10 AM) But if Rose's ACL didn't burst, perhaps the flapping butterfly's wings would have torn James' ACL. Championship=BULLS Wasn't Bosh hurt for most of the Eastern Conference Finals? The Celtics pushed them to 7 games.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 14, 2013 -> 11:56 AM) The Cubs in general have made horrible personnel moves. Signing Zambrano to an extension? The Soriano signing that everyone said was bad when it happened? They did what they had to do at the time. Their #1 goal was to put together a playoff team using back-loaded contracts to maximize revenue right at the time the team needed to be sold. The ownership didn't care if they hamstrung the next ownership group, as long as they maximized the value of the team during the sale.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 14, 2013 -> 12:27 PM) Nor should he have. yes he should have. I'll go to my grave saying that the difference in center field defense down the stretch in 2006 was worth enough losses for this team to miss the playoffs.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 14, 2013 -> 09:46 AM) Konerko was done and needed to be released in 2003. Check his years. He said Konerko's inconsistent "2004" season. He hit 40 HR and drove in 100+ runs in 2004.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 14, 2013 -> 09:13 AM) I don't know anything about the pipeline, can you explain for me how this is the case? This pipeline will carry unrefined crude product (I'm not sure there's a good term for what it will carry. Sludge? Tar? Extremely unrefined product extracted from bitumen/asphalt?) from Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast. This product is being produced in Canada in large strip mines. The metaphor I'm about to use in another place I'm writing is that it's like taking a freshly blacktopped road, grinding it up, extracting products from it that can be refined eventually into gasoline. Right now, Canada is mining and producing more of this stuff than they can use. They have pipelines that can ship that product to the midwestern U.S., but because this resource only is profitable when the oil price is >$100, it hasn't been profitable to produce it until recently. Thus, there's no infrastructure developed based on it; it's only using preexisting pipeline infrastructure. Pipelines exist that can carry this product to the Midwest U.S., but no further. The oil is produced in Canada, can reach the Midwest, but can go no further. When they increase production in Canada, it increases supplies in the Midwest, and forces prices in the Midwest US down. The real demand growth for gasoline is, however, not in the Midwest, it is in Asia. That's what this pipeline will allow to happen. Partially refined heavy product will be shipped down this pipeline, away from the refineries in the midwest to refineries on the gulf coast. At that point, it will be refined into gasoline in those refineries (they're adapted to handle heavier crudes thanks to the stuff coming from the Gulf of Mexico), and then shipped overseas. Thus, this pipeline will actually cut gas supplies in the midwest, leading to greater prices in that region. It's an export pipeline, it's going to make prices more balanced by removing a supply glut in the US.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 11:56 PM) Or after his bad/inconsistent 2004, where Paul Konerko was ranked coming into 2005, etc. You need to review your years.

For you Midwesterners, that pipeline will actually increase prices you pay for gasoline. You're getting a discount right now because that pipeline doesn't exist.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 06:44 PM) I won't pay for services that I don't need, so your point doesn't quite work. I don't go into Walmart and pay for the groceries of the person in the next aisle or for check cashing services when I pay with cash. Your analogy doesn't work. You are usually better than that. I see, so you don't need the defense department, that's why my this one fails. You'll defend yourself!

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 05:21 PM) You wanted a first New World Pope? You get some nice little New World baggage. The AP is now running forwards with that story. Also seems to include what is the basis of his defense.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 05:54 PM) It was just pointed out that you don't pay they come to your door with guns and force you or haul your butt to jail. No thanks. And why do you have issues with Walmart? Target is just as bad, in fact, around here, even worse. If you don't pay there, I think they will come after you with guns and force you to pay or haul your butt to jail too. But either way, I definitely think you should take your protest to one of these stores, take a bunch of items, and refuse to pay. It's the only way to demonstrate you commitment to your policy that paying for services rendered is awful.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 05:45 PM) Don't pay up, and that's what happens. Since you clearly disagree with this policy, I think you should try civil disobedience. You should start by trying it out at Walmart.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 05:26 PM) Just heard on 670 that the Bears are looking to trade down, probably want to get that 3rd rounder back. I believe Emery was asked about the concept today and his answer was that filling those 2 big needs gives them the flexibility to move down if that's what they decide to do.

QUOTE (Jake @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 01:55 PM) Remember, Louis is an UFA and expects to draw interest from multiple teams. Not a cinch to return with our cap issues. I think he'll be back, but there's little reason for him or teams to finish a deal right now. He's still recovering from injury, so teams won't want to commit as much money to him until they have a better idea of how his rehab is proceeding and whether he'll be on the field for week 1. Unless the Bears already have something in place for him they just haven't finished yet, he'll wait a while.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 09:31 AM) I think a lot probably has to do with the teams philosophy going into ST. Even if you're a pretty crappy MLB team without a great farm system but you say, have new owners or GM and/or manager on a hot seat you may want to create a buzz around your team in the local or national media. So, and yeah, I'm over simplifying this, a team would just basically a team can play their regulars later into games. Often, especially early on in ST, a team could probably do well playing roughly their regular 25 a majority of the game. Of course, the real answer probably is "the most AB's anyone gets in spring training is ~75, and in 75 at bats the worst player in MLB can look like an all star, especially since some guys don't put their entire arsenal out for spring training".

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 13, 2013 -> 08:38 AM) "The Experts" are saying that the more votes there are, the better chance that a non-conventional pope gets elected. There was still something like 3 days of votes in 2005 and they wound up with the most conventional, traditional pope they could have selected.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 12, 2013 -> 07:29 PM) Let's say they have 5 guys (Beckham, Ramirez, Keppinger, Morel, and Sanchez) for second, short, and third in 2014. What would be your optimal alignment? I'd go with Becham at second, Sanchez at short, and Keppinger at third provided that the reports of Sanchez being able to play short are true. You have to tell me what Beckham does this year. If he puts up another .650 OPS, then I will not pay him $5 million+ as a 2nd year arb player to be at 2b next year. If Beckham repeats last year, I will non-tender him or trade him at the end of July this year and let Keppinger, Sanchez, and probably a FA signing or trade candidate fight out for 2b next year.

QUOTE (Jake @ Mar 12, 2013 -> 07:23 PM) Would sure be a buzzkill to get a G in the 1st round, but I won't be able to do too much b****ing. I wouldn't complain about that at all, nor would I call it a buzzkill. That's the Bears biggest obvious offensive need right now. The only other position where they need a guy who can start is LB.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Mar 11, 2013 -> 10:28 PM) http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/trum...l?hp=f3?ml=al_2 take that, Obama. Link.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 12, 2013 -> 05:48 PM) Is the difference between Ramirez and Sanchez worth $27M over the next 3 years? I say no. That's not the question. The question really is, is the difference between Sanchez and Beckham worth $15 million over the next 3 years. If Beckham performs this year, and answers that question "Yes", then we can talk about Alexei.

QUOTE (Rex Hudler @ Mar 11, 2013 -> 08:43 PM) No real arguments there. Burke deserved POY in my opinion. Burke definitely earned that.

QUOTE (TomSeaverFan @ Mar 11, 2013 -> 07:05 PM) Anybody worried Paulie's hitting too well this spring? Is he wasting the power in meaningless spring games? My dad used to worry about stuff like that so I guess it's been passed on to me. I think his wrist is feeling better.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 11, 2013 -> 07:52 PM) I think Morel could steal that last job from the Rule V Sanchez. Other than that, the roster is pretty well set in theory. I don't think Morel has yet shown he's close to where he needs to be.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Mar 11, 2013 -> 06:20 PM) This is the second time I've wanted Boldin and he's been traded cheaply. I'm gonna guess it wouldn't have worked cap wise? A WR core of Marshall - Boldin - Jeffery - Bennett would have been sweet. That would have at the least been difficult after tagging Melton and would likely have left little room for other moves.

I thought Zeller was supposed to have his degree wrapped up sometime around the end of this year's summer session?