Balta1701

Zebra tailed lizards aren't as delicious as one might think.

xeroradiography probably can't answer that question.

Link to a long piece

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 24, 2010 -> 12:37 PM) We haven't produced a damn homegrown reliever since, I don't know, forever? WTF? Homegrown relievers? We're back presumably on to the "defining home-grown so narrowly that we can avoid counting guys like Santos, Jenks, and Thornton"...and then on to ignoring Infante and Carter who are probably arriving this year and next, and ignoring the fact that we've traded away guys like Russell, Poreda, etc.

Very difficult surgery.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 24, 2010 -> 12:18 PM) Newton's going to be a top 5 pick, especially if he plays well vs Oregon. I've been extremely impressed with his accuracy this season, and his mechanics are so much better than someone like Vince Young. Mechanics may not be the thing that has held vince young back, as much as "desire". Anyway...Arizona.

Then he'll have to stop the yelling until his voice is replaced by an electronic voice box.

Really should stop the yelling, it'll throw out his vocal cords.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 24, 2010 -> 12:15 PM) I hear that Stafford's injuries might cause Detroit to look at a QB in the draft this year. Maybe 2nd or 3rd round. I think they'd be smarter to look for a guy who might be available on the trade market, if they want to try to compete next year. Someone like Orton, or hell, Fitzpatrick or Qunn or Claussen, lots of that tier QB could be available.

Probably because his back hurts.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 24, 2010 -> 10:55 AM) Pierre's OBP the last 6 years is .335. An increase in BABIP will not change anything because he doesn't walk. And the HBP total was a complete fluke. We're not talking Craig Biggio here. JP had more HBPs last year than the previous 4 years combined. A .330/.335 OBP is his absolute ceiling. His career OBP is .347 and it's been .330 or above every year since 2005 (when it was .327). His OBP the last 5 years is .337, and .344 the last 3 years. It's very odd to take a number lower than his OBP last year, lower than the last 3 years, and call that his absolute ceiling.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 24, 2010 -> 09:08 AM) Forget the start before it gave out. What about the first time he felt it? Perhaps all of that detachment occurred within that 4-6 week period. If he tells the team about it ahead of time, he takes 10 days off, lets the muscle heal itself, and he's good to go. If it were late October, like game 5, Peavy had been pitching well, and the series was tied at 2 - sure, I understand, blow out your f***ing elbow for that s***. World Series' don't come often. When it first came up, in like early June...you're absolutely crazy to defend Peavy's decision, especially considering Peavy is criticizing himself for it. If you'll recall, Peavy was complaining about "Tightness" in his shoulder and I believe actually missed a start in the weeks prior to that injury, and the talk was that he was just going to "Pitch through" the tightness. Whether the tightness was due to a tear or pitching through the tightness caused the tear, I don't know.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 24, 2010 -> 11:49 AM) He was horrible in his first year at ND, but got much better. If Carolina gives him more playing time next year, he'll get better. There's a kid named "Luck" who's going to disagree.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Dec 24, 2010 -> 12:20 AM) Viagra Triangle I'm astounded that I have heard form the hostess and a couple of other people that I "made the party" for many of the guests. The crazy thing is all I did was make decent drinks for people, but in this day and age decent drinks are the exception rather than the rule. Hopefully that is slowly changing. Tonight it's all about holiday cheer with a rocking egg nog modified from a recipe posted last year on the Rumdood blog. • lots of fresh grated nutmeg • 3/4 oz rich, dark rum (I'm using old standby El Dorado 5 year Demerara to good effect) • 3/4 oz brandy • 3/4 oz 2:1 simple syrup • 3 oz/ heavy cream • 1 whole egg (use pasteurized if you are squeamish) Add all of the above into a shaker and shake very well with ice. Strain and top with more grated nutmeg. Drink up and have a Holly Jolly time. I tried tweaking a bit the other night by adding a dash of vanilla extract and it was good but unnecessary. Without the vanilla the flavors of the Demerara rum and brandy shine through better.

Awesome...the photo from Urumqi, China, on Noradsanta.com...I actually have the same shot.

Now you're telling us what the kids are saying?

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 10:06 PM) There's a shock. I figured it would be the Brewers or Cardinals. But I'm not surprised at all. I expect BA to rank us right around the bottom three as well. Some of us being this low is injury-related luck. Mitchell and Phegley were hurt all year, that hurts. Our #1 pick from last year is already in the bigs, that hurts. Another top level pitcher is off in AZ, that hurts. And Flowers was awful, that hurts.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 09:56 PM) An effective closer has a smaler window where they are dominant than a starter (where you don't have to be as dominant every time out in order to stay a starter). I mean, there's guys like Jenks and Papelbon who seem to have worn out after only a few years, but on the other side, not even counting that thing in NYC, guys like Hoffman, Lee Smith, Joe Nathan, Wagner, Eck, KRod, there seem like there are plenty of guys who lasted as closers for a decade+, with maybe 1 injury thrown in there. There's 30 teams of 4-5 starters, while at most teams have 1 closer, so there are fewer chances for a Jamie Moyer career there, but there's plenty of guys who last. On top of that, if a guy is no longer a #1 starter, he stays in the rotation, while a guy who isn't a reliable closer any more can still go to middle relief.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 09:40 PM) Well, looks like Balta might get me again Going to need some fluke plays for Carolina to cover in this mess. OK, after this last 2:00, maybe not...

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 09:51 PM) I'd rather have the kid as a starter. He has a 10-15 year career as an effective starter. As a effective closer, it's only maybe 7-10. Huh? Being a reliever shortens a guy's career?

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 09:40 PM) Well, looks like Balta might get me again Going to need some fluke plays for Carolina to cover in this mess. 17-0 First half. Might get lucky and Pittsburgh might take their foot off the gas pedal in teh 2nd half

Just make sure you don't get the tape with your sister.

QUOTE (since56 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 08:22 PM) A guy that pitches every fifth game is more important than a guy that closes out your wins? Maybe, I gues it depends on where he can find more success. Would you rather have C.C. Sabathia or Mariano Rivera? I guess time will tell who Chris Sale is. I think with his motion he will end up in the pen. If they're equally good at both spots, you want the guy pitching 200 innings and not 60.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 05:52 PM) Collie, mainly. Of course, Manning didn't have Addai at that point as well. The Colts will have their top two running backs back instead of depending on Hart/James. I'm not trying to diminish the loss of Collie or overstate the return of Addai. He's not great. But he certainly sucks a lot less than the previous options. And Clark. Collie and Clark.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 23, 2010 -> 05:49 PM) I don't see much wrong with taking the Raiders to cover, but beating them outright...eh. The Colts porous run defense has had a lot less to do with their losses than turnovers. And those turnovers are, at least to me, basically a function of their injuries.