Balta1701

QUOTE (Brian @ Apr 30, 2008 -> 09:24 AM) When will we see the camo jerseys for the first time? Never. They just work that well you'll only see a detached head floating around.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 30, 2008 -> 09:29 AM) Uribe now with that more closed stance. We'll see if that does anything for him. It won't.

Anderson is now hitting .259 on the season. Say what you want about how few AB's he's had...I don't think he's had his average that high more than 2 games in to any season he's played.

QUOTE (forrestg @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 03:06 PM) Maybe the second coming of Richar would help.. Towards the end of last season he really started to show some promise. I believe he eventually could become our leadoff guy... I could actually see it if he continued developing (he honestly might just be too streaky though) but either way he's still probably a month away at the earliest, assuming he performs well when his minor league rehab stint starts in a couple weeks.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 06:31 PM) we've never come back against nathan, IIRC Actually, there was a great moment in 2006 where we were down against Nathan and JD hit a game tying home run in the 9th, fist pumping, etc. The problem was, our offense went right back to sleep after that and we wound up losing in 12.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 06:14 PM) McCain is also what Republicans were before they pissed away all of their credibility on fiscal restraint, which actually wasn't even that long ago. So, before the Bush tax cuts, they were calling for larger, even more bankrupting, and even more directed at the top 1% tax cuts than the ones Bush proposed? Actually, that's probably true.

QUOTE (knightni @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 06:57 PM) Do you let Floyd start the 7th with 99 pitches? Honestly, I think I do...if for no other reason than I think we need to stretch Floyd out more. For example, a couple weeks ago, he seemed to tire after about 80-90 pitches, and with his frame he needs to be able to push it a little more.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 06:55 PM) Interesting night by Floyd. If when he's off, he's like this...the staff looks great. A quality start on a night where he seemed to struggle with his control is hard to complain about.

8 pitch inning there for Gavin.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 06:37 PM) If he wasn't fired last year, he won't be fired unless this team is 14 and 30. Jesus himself couldn't turn Erstad and Gonzalez and Podsednik and an injured crede and an injured Dye and Juan Uribe in to a good offense.

QUOTE (Brian @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 06:36 PM) Greg Walker's seat has to be getting hotter. It seems none of the hitters are up there with a plan except to try and go yard. Hell, even I'm about at the point where I'm going to say that it's time to make a change there.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 04:54 PM) I think that is what the Democrats need to get across to the American people. It's not about staying there 100 years. I am ok with that if there is almost 100% peace like in Korea. The problem? Korea is divided. That is how peace was made. And no one is proposing "partitioning" Iraq. Therefore, there will be no peace in Iraq for a VERY long time. So, at what point in the future does McCain expect there to be no fighting? They never answer. They dont know! It's not about being there for 100 years. That's just a good sound bite. It's about when the deaths stop that lead to the 100 years of peace... and there is no view of that in the near future. Here's the other side of that token though...let's imagine that magically, Jan 21st of next year, the violence in Iraq stops, and the country is actually able to start rebuilding. Refugees return, government stabilizes, etc. Now, even in that case, is it going to be a good idea for the U.S. to maintain a standing military presence in Iraq long term? I think it isn't. For example, before the Iraq war, one of the things UBL constantly cited as a motivating tool for his followers was the fact that the U.S. had its forces occupying the holy lands (and, interestingly enough, we removed all our forces from Saudi Arabia just about as soon as the statue fell in Baghdad, and some of the pundits thought that was why). If U.S. troops stay, they're occupying a portion of the holy land for Shi'ites. They extend our supply lines and cost a lot of money to stay over there. And essentially they're always an imperial presence that you have to deal with, at some level that always plays in to the politics of an area even when things are going well. What happens when the government disagrees with a position the U.S. takes if U.S. troops are still there? What happens if a government demands the troops leave? And what prevents those forces from becoming an obvious target for anyone who wants to destabilize the region for any reason?

DO. Not. Walk. Nick. Punto.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 04:04 PM) I didn't see this opinion as popular as some other Sox sites, but how terrible of a first baseman would Swisher be? Some people thought Swisher could easily surpass Konerko's numbers, but if we pushed out Konerko, his replacement would have just been a Darin Erstad with a higher ISoD. At least usually, Konerko is a surprisingly good 1b in the field. He's limited on range, but he can pick like crazy most times. Swisher probably would take some adapting to the position full time and might cause a couple extra errors on balls he misses or misplays compared to where Konerko is. Offensively though, I'm really not sure where to pencil Swish in right now. The power hasn't been there as much as I expected yet, but who knows how he's adapting to his current role. I could live with Swisher at 1b easily...if I was happy with what happened to Konerko. But since PK is now a 10/5 player and essentially therefore has a NTC, I don't imagine he's going anywhere for a couple years. We may well draft and develop a 1b who can play that spot or have a better signing before Konerko is moved out of there.

I'm going to outsource this to ProjectVote, specifically because they include the numbers and demographics of who this disenfranchises.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 02:50 PM) McCain isn't a democrat, he's what republicans were before the religious nut job idiots took over the party. Maybe him winning in November might steer the party back towards it's roots (aka in the right direction). Or...if they lose...the religious folks can claim that the reason they lost is that they nominated a candidate that wasn't big with their group and that was their biggest mistake.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 04:13 PM) I was in Kuwait for a while, and yeah. When you are close to the refineries you definitely know, especially when it's 125 degrees. The best one in Northwest Indiana hits you when you're on the I-90 toll road heading out of Chicago and towards Gary. Can't remember exactly which toll booth it is, it's not the Skyway one and it's not one of the ones after 80 and 90 merge, it's right in-between those 2 spots. And you have to roll down your window to pay the toll...and every night the stench is there. I always likened it to some sort of disgusting version of garlic potatoes, like rotten ones. Definitely a garlic and potato scent in there, with something else mixed in. Interestingly, it only appears at night. Almost as if some organization, some agency, perhaps devoted to environmental protection, might have people watching during the day but either they can't see the smoke plume at night or they simply go home.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 02:43 PM) Unless of course he gets 460 more PA this season. If Thome stays healthy he'll be back. Honestly, the way we're using these guys this season so far, I think it's probably only a matter of time before Big Jim starts having something hurting him.

After Wright's appearance yesterday before the National Press Club, where he put on a nice show and reportedly made some additional AIDS caused by the government remarks, Obama has become much more forceful in his denouncing of his former pastor. Full transcript of today's press conference and statement on the matter here. Comments?

Survey USA hits N.C. Obama 49, Clinton 44. Ouch.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 01:48 PM) I think that Owens is still a possibility, but a long shot to be called up right now. He would only platoon with BA. I do think that Ramirez needs time in the minors so the question would be who to call up to repalce him - Owens or Richar? When Danny is healthy, given that Anderson hasn't been that bad in the few chances he's gotten in the OF and is an excellent defensive option out there, and the weakest point in our offense so far has been 2nd base, Richar is the obvious candidate, as it sets up a platoon that might help us get more performance out of that slot. If you send down Ramirez and bring up Owens, you add some speed to your bench, but you hurt your infield depth, as Pablo becomes the only person who can back up 3 positions (Richar could play SS in a pinch if everything went wrong). With Quentin, Dye, Anderson, and Swisher in the OF, and Pablo as an emergency backup out there, I think we're set on OF depth without JO, the only thing he'd bring us is more pinch running (and fewer at bats for BA).

QUOTE (RME JICO @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 01:07 PM) I am going to vote for Frank Thomas, DH for Toronto. CQ will probably get on the Final Vote ballot. If CQ keeps up the numbers he's putting up, he won't need the final vote ballot, Francona will pick him outright.

QUOTE (watchtower41 @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 01:38 PM) I'd say Dye would have a pretty good shot as well, not only for his hot start that has gained nationwide/fantasy attention, but he also has a reputation to go off of....somebody the fans, coaches and players would normally give the nod to over a first-timer. These are all mute points though, because there are still a full 75+ days until the mid-summer classic in the Bronx. Dye's problems are 2-fold. First, he's hurt right now, and missing games = lower stats = harder to justify being included if you're not voted in. Second...one thing that's missing from the solid numbers JD has put up so far is the sexiest number...the HR tally. He's at 2. Tied with Uribe. There has to be some importance in that. If JD's hitting .300, putting up a near .900 OPS when the AS break rolls around, but he's sitting on like 10 home runs, that's just not going to be an all-star worthy resume for an outfielder in the AL in my eyes.

Local pollster hits Indiana. Obama 47, Clinton 45, 46-46 amongst likely voters. Post PA, 2 separate surveys done seemingly covering about 1200 V's. Couple notes they include:

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 29, 2008 -> 12:23 PM) I'd say that voter apathy, or apathy generally, is an American problem - not a liberal or conservative problem. It is if you can argue that one side benefits more than the other from voter apathy and its associated low turnouts. And I think the evidence is out there that high turnout generally does favor one side, which is i'm sure not related at all to why this has become such a partisan issue.