Balta1701

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 11:21 AM) So know I don't know anything? Whatever. I know for a fact of people I know that have had issues in Canada with the healthcare system. I'm not going to go into it, but it has problems, and limited choices compared to what we have here. And, this is not Germany, it's America, where the government gets ahold of any program, they screw it up. Yes, it does have problems in Canada. But it's also worth noting that at the same time, Canada spends just over 1/2 as much as the U.S. on Health care. The exact number depends somewhat on which year and which source/which way of counting costs you look at, but under any way of looking at it, the U.S.'s system is BY FAR the most expensive in the world. That Canada's system is not the best in the world is not a point I'll debate (i'll argue in favor of France's in that regard). However, The U.S. is spending hundreds of billions of dollars more than Canada each year on Health Care. So you better not just be arguing that Canada has problems; you better be arguing that Canada's Health Care system has such huge problems that the U.S. is correct in spending something like 1.5 to 2 times as much per year on our current system. We better not just be on par with them; we better be a lot better.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 10:44 AM) If he was a high priced guy, sure it would make sense to move him. But he is cheap, and its not like we have any alternatives. If we ditch bobby and try and get a closer in a year or so, it will cost either in large amounts of prospects or cash. Aside from Billy Koch, when was the last time the White Sox gave up a lot of talent or cash to come up with a closer? Keith Foulke, Bobby Howry, Shingo Takatsu, Flash Gordon, Dustin Hermanson, Bobby Jenks. Foulke came over in the White Flag deal I believe, but other than him, we've pulled a lot of closers out of surprising places.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 10:12 AM) Maggs' situation was the right move by us. Crede? We failed. It was pretty obvious something was up with his back worse than before, IMO. He's an idiot to say, "We should've made a harder effort to re-sign World Series heroes Buehrle and Dye." I've said it since last offseason: re-signing Dye would be a huge mistake. Of course, the question with Mr. Crede is always; yes, we should have known something was up with his back, but so should any scout of any team we could have tried to deal him to. And especially when Boras's folks got involved in terms of making health decisions, that probably should have scared teams off even more.

QUOTE(Jenksismyb**** @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 10:14 AM) What about national disasters? What if New York gets hit with a bomb or something and the system is flooded with a million sick/injured? At least now, privately, the insurance companies can just up the premiums to cover their costs, but when the government does that, won't it really effect the lower-income people the most? I think that in the case of these sorts of disasters, usually the government winds up paying a big chunk of the bill anyway, because otherwise all of the insurance companies go out of business.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 24, 2007 -> 09:20 PM) Just 14 of the top 40 Free Agents from this past offseason: Jerry Reinsdorf is still a cheap bastard. If he'd have spent the money last offseason, we'd be in first place right now!

We suck in this year, but we have pretty rings.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 09:37 AM) The same Braves that have scored a grand total of 1 run in the last 5 games? The same Braves that have lost 5 straight and 9 of their last 12? I'm in agreement that that division is up for grabs, but let's face it, that Mets team is getting a little ancient at some positions, and I don't think Minaya is going to give away their future at some positions for Mark or Jose. He didn't do it for Zito, and I doubt he does it this year. That's not saying we can't get some talent for one of them, but I don't think it is going to be two of their top 5 prospects. Maybe Humber and someone in low A-ball with a reasonably high ceiling? Look, all I'm saying is this; we have at least 5 or 6 guys who we keep talking about moving this season, at least 2 or 3 of which could command top talent in return. We don't have to make a move on any of them. If MB and JD walk, we get 4 more top 50 or so draft picks next year. Yes, it'll take a couple years for those picks to mean anything, but if everything falls apart and we wind up going that route, then we have 5 top picks next year, including one in the top 5, probably another top 5 pick in 09, and then suddenly our minor leagues might look a lot more like Detroit's. If the Mets do not want to meet our asking price, fine. Deal with someone else. If no one else wants to meet our asking price, fine. Take the draft picks and see where things wind up, or just act out the plan whatever you think is best.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jun 25, 2007 -> 09:17 AM) I think we should drop the Pelfrey and one of Gomez/Milledge/Humber fantasies. Fine. Then the Braves can win the NL East.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Jun 24, 2007 -> 03:55 PM) Coco Crisp, Coco Crisp, Coco Crisp, Coco Crisp. Please no, not as a centerpiece, only as a throw-in with something good coming along.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jun 24, 2007 -> 03:42 PM) Braun's one of the strongest young players I've seen in a decade. But there's no way they're trading him, so it doesn't matter. The more teams we get involved, the more likely one of them is to finally give up one of those top-level pieces we really want to get back for MB. Every single team can pick one or two guys and say "No way we're dealing him"...but all we need is for one team to decide that they're in a situation where they should say yes.

QUOTE(Friend of Nordhagen @ Jun 24, 2007 -> 03:31 PM) Apparently, when asked earlier today if Buehrle would be moved, KW said "not today." Damn, that means Mark's leaving today.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Jun 24, 2007 -> 02:42 PM) Why? It's not like the Yankees are going to give us Phil Hughes. So why would the Red Sox suddenly panic, thinking they'd been one-upped? Mark Buehrle doesn't guarantee anything and some prospects really are untouchable. Some of the expectations amaze me. Then we don't have to trade him, and certainly don't have to do so right now.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Jun 24, 2007 -> 02:44 PM) WHY? What has this kid ever done at any level (outside of 20 innings in the Mexican League) to warrant the rope that you people give him? His minor league numbers are mediocre to bad. He was put on Waivers in the middle of the '05 season about the same time we (re)claimed Ryan Wing. We found room for Wing, but not Masset. Then 18-20 months later, despite more mediocre-to-s***ty production, Masset is viewed by many (for reasons unknown) as a future starter and a centerpiece to the future of the club. Masset sucks. just like the other guys we've claimed since Jenks; Sierra, Wing, Tucker, all garbage. So....how many teams are going to give us a ton for him then?

It's call-up time!

Shame Toronto doesn't come to Chicago tomorrow. One more big man and we'll all stand and applaud.

QUOTE(Rex Kicka** @ Jun 23, 2007 -> 09:50 AM) Jason, exactly. This is a small step towards energy independence. Just because you get more miles to your tank of gas doesn't suddenly mean you're going to move 15 miles further away from work. Because even if you get better mileage, it doesn't improve the amount of time you spend traveling. Actually, to some level, there is evidence that this will happen; as cars get better MPG, you don't have to spend as much to drive as far, so you will have the ability to drive more, and some people do so.

So, one interesting thing about that NYT article is that the Edwards campaign actually offered to set up the NYT with interviews which would give the other side of the story, interviews with people that the campaign claims were actually helped by Mr. Edwards's anti-poverty programs, and the NYT actively turned down the offer.

C'mon, one of you 2 hitters get a hold of one this inning...

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Jun 22, 2007 -> 04:41 PM) i don't think Canada stealing American auto jobs is a big issue. the amount of damage done by American auto unions is far greater than the damage done by Canada. And it is only rivaled by the damage done by America's auto companies themselves in the choices they make about which cars to emphasize, and then is only beaten by the damage done by America's disintegrating health care and retirement systems.

Pods Injured. What, too soon?

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Jun 22, 2007 -> 02:41 PM) unions are always great for workers, just ask the auto industry... oh wait.... Of course, if you really want to bring the auto industry into this, I could cite in reply the decision Toyota made a few years ago, when they whittled down their choices for a new factory's location to Alabama and Canada, and chose Canada...in no small part because the government provided health care system in Canada would keep their costs dramatically lower.

QUOTE(SoxPhan7 @ Jun 22, 2007 -> 02:43 PM) Not true. The Taste of Chicago goes on until July 8th. So you have a few days to make it over there, I highly recommend it. But thats easy for me to say, I love crowds. The taste gives you a chance to taste tons of different food, see all different types of people, and enjoy the city as a whole. If I were you I would definitely make time to visit the taste. And if you haven't been in Chicago for 4 years, and probably won't be there again for a few more, it's a great way to hit a ton of restaurants in a short timespan.

QUOTE(mr_genius @ Jun 22, 2007 -> 03:07 PM) obviously Hillary Clinton is the only solution. great post Balta Oh, ok, so I shouldn't post any actual news about the folks in your party? Feel free to post the random stupid stuff done by the other campaigns, I thought that was what these threads were for. And you should know I'm not a Clinton fan at all.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Jun 22, 2007 -> 03:53 PM) Not only have I not seen a Sox team this bad, I've never seen one close to this bad. And that's in a 15 year span. This also might be as bad as I've ever seen our minor league system. And yet people still defend KW, why? We are in a legit position to finish in 5th place. I vaguely remember the Sox being pretty darn bad back in what, 89? Where Thigpen saved like every win?

Who wants to bet Logan is left in to face Soriano?