Balta1701

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 19, 2010 -> 10:28 AM) And even if that were remotely true, the rule structure is evidently there already, or else they wouldn't have been able to bring a lawsuit. So again, the problem isn't laws. As I just said...the structure is already there to prevent Kotsay from batting 3rd, but if, for political reasons, Ozzie insists on doing so and it destroys his team...that doesn't mean you can't structure rules to prevent Ozzie from batting Kotsay 3rd in the future even if he remains on the take.

I love educated Senators. Medicaid's total cost? ~$333 billion.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 19, 2010 -> 10:26 AM) Rondo is the AJP of the NBA. When did AJ randomly try to hurt people?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 19, 2010 -> 10:23 AM) And adding more rules to an ineffective unit is going to make them work better? If they can't handle the supposed few rules they have now, somehow they are going to get massive amounts of more work, and they are somehow going to be more accurate? Really that is like saying to Jayson Nix, we know you can't play anywhere but 2B, but hey, why don't you catch and pitch too while you are at it! A more accurate metaphor is that the Twins have someone in the White Sox clubhouse bribing Ozzie to do insane things like put Nix in at P or Kotsay batting 3rd. It's not that they can't handle the work load they have. It's that they were deliberately, based on the political beliefs in the free market regulating itself...turning their backs.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 19, 2010 -> 09:57 AM) How many Boras clients do the Twins have? I'm not sure they have any.

One other note...the SEC didn't start subpoenaing financial firms about CDO's until December, 2009.

Didn't we have a thread a few weeks ago asking who the emergency 3rd catcher would be?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 10:29 PM) There is no reason it should have taken three years for one violation to be found by the SEC. Yes there is. This is how the banks and their defenders want it.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 19, 2010 -> 12:55 AM) They'll be "in it" well past the deadline. That's how bad that division is. But they definitely have some valuable assets should they decide (I don't think they would) to go that route. There's no guarantee that the Cardinals won't be 20 games above .500 by the AS break in that division.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 05:57 PM) cub should have been swept at home by the astros and should have lost two of three to the brewers all at home. They honestly could be in worse shape then the Sox and is my silver lining. The cubs have no fire sale material the Sox have enough fire material in their pen as well as with Konerko especially if the powere stays in there....cub nothing. Aramis Ramirez has an opt-out clause this offseason and could be a firesale candidate. Derek Lee, if his bat stays hot, ditto.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 05:17 PM) That doesn't make a bit of sense. If this is a violation of laws, what does the writing of laws have to do with this? This is all on the enforcement side, which is the realm of the SEC in this case. Because this isn't the only thing that happened that should have been against the law.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 05:08 PM) So aren't you essentially saying the same thing... that government is the problem? They let it happen. Yeah, that government being nice to the banks is a huge part of the problem. One might even go so far as to call it "Conservative" government. Conveniently, it also suggests that adversarial government is a major part of the solution.

Which, I'd argue, is what happens when you're able to write the laws. You write them so it's really hard for them to send you to jail, even if you nearly destroy the world.

How does Aramis Ramirez not throw his back out on a swing like that?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 04:36 PM) From what I saw on CBNC it sounds illegal. It wouldn't look very good to trump up charges against GS in order to support regulations strengthening and then have your case suck. Granted all we have seen is the government's side of things, but usually when it gets to this point it is pretty clear. The one interesting thing to me is that this is only an SEC civil case. I'll be the first to admit I don't know if Johnson is correct here but he dealt with that already. Emphasis mine to stress the Civil Case response.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 04:22 PM) This is when real teams fire their manager. When does the championship exemption run out? When Jerry dies? Real teams fire their manager in April? Are you actually reading your words?

Well, there's the Marmol we expect.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 03:58 PM) As crappy as this offense has been at times, the starting pitching (which was supposed to be the strength of this team) has been incredibly bad at times as well. Prior to Gavin's bombing today, Our starters' ERA was 4.09. Middle of the pack in the AL.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 03:55 PM) Balta, being serious, what is it about this year's team that keeps you sane, thinking "it's still early?" I have never been this blah about a season because of the team's makeup. If you could give me a reason to get excited and believe, I would be most appreciative. Aside from the "it's early" argument. Guys who's numbers I expect to improve significantly: Juan Pierre Gordon Beckham Carlos Quentin Alexei Ramirez Alex Rios (he's hit the ball hard right at so many people it's not even funny) Guys I expect to go downwards Teahen (only because his OBP is insane right now) Jones Guys that eventually are going to disappear from the 3 spot: Mark Kotsay Going into the season, I thought...if Rios and Teahen swing well and Quentin stays healthy, this team wins the Central. All 3 of those have happened so far. Team-slumps to start the season aren't abnormal. You guys called me out on the Yankees not having ARod last year when they were 6.5 back, but you know what? Tex was also hitting under .200.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 03:53 PM) Can we trade Putz to the Twins and get back Revere or Hicks? LOL. I doubt Hicks...but if Rauch were to blow a couple in a row and Putz could get in a groove, they might actually consider that.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 03:50 PM) You guys may soon experience what we've had here in KC the last 20 years. You want to go to a Tuesday game, sit in the 10th row/lower level and have the whole row to yourself and your buddy. LOL, yeah. And that has nothing to do with it being April.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 03:44 PM) I just hope he gets his legs in the next few weeks, as he looks a step slow. I'm a lot more concerned about AJP's rapid decline of bat speed. People have said that about AJP since 2006. He just isn't seeing anything right now. Pierre's suddenly piling up meaningless SB's the last few games. He's up to 5/6 on the season

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 03:44 PM) When do we get Arod in our line-up? When Ozzie realizes he needs to bench Kotsay.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 03:43 PM) It would help morale if at least Oz batted Juan ninth. Let Beckham lead off. Who cares if it's odd. Brian Downing used to lead off. Beckham hasn't looked all that good to me so far either.

QUOTE (Chisoxrd5 @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 03:42 PM) They were so thankful they traded him away for two mid level pitching prospects. It's nice to be able to ignore extenuating circumstances isn't it. Like the owner's divorce mandating large cost-cutting steps, and the fact that they couldn't move their largest contract because the guy was caught juicing.