Balta1701

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 09:59 PM) Phillies with a comeback win, thank you Hoskins. That ties us with them in the win column again right? Edit: Yup, 60 wins for both teams. Giants still at 58.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 04:29 PM) Free agent after next year. Considering that Kopech will most likely make his grand appearance sometime mid-season, picking up a guy on a 1 year deal who can either be cut mid-season or traded if the first half is good does fit one of our possible needs.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 04:24 PM) Not looking good, buildings collapsing, at least 50 dead. The USGS has an automated system called "PAGER" that automatically assesses probability estimates of casualties around the world based on local geology, population density, building codes, and distance to a quake. It puts the highest probability of casualty numbers for this quake in the range 100-1000, and there's a 40% chance of >1000 dead. Similarly, most likely damage is $100 million-$1 billion, with about 40% chance of $1-10 billion.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 04:04 PM) I don't recall that ever happening. I checked back to 2012 and 2013 and although there were more than 5 guys to receive starts, some of them were things like Axelrod getting 10 starts, Danks and Floyd getting 5-10 to start the season before they got hurt. I can't specifically remember if they might have switched to a 6 man rotation down the stretch in 2012 to keep Quintana and Sale's innings low, but it wasn't for more than a few weeks if so.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 03:49 PM) Maybe it's too early to have any idea, but is this quake related to the one from a couple of weeks ago at all? See the post linked above? There's a paragraph in there already.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 03:46 PM) Balta, Yeah I dont know anything about construction. But when you look at the 2 videos, you notice in the first nothing (not trees, etc) are moving at all. You also will notice in the top right hand corner their is a flash which would suggest a controlled demolition. Obviously hard to tell, but just trying to suggest not to believe everything on the internet. That flash comes out of a 3rd story window, or just below it. You don't put demolition materials on the 3rd floor of a blowing building like that, at least not a small brick one that would just come down if you removed the supports - you'll scatter debris from that part of the blast everywhere. I think that's either an electrical short or a window blowing out.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 03:42 PM) It was amazing when Santiago had like a 8.6 earthquake and there were maybe 7 deaths, because of their extra strict building codes. One of the other tricks is that the "moment magnitude" number does not translate to "intensity of shaking". You have to worry about the local geology and the distance/depth of the earthquake as well. When I'm writing a post on a major earthquake I've stopped leading with the magnitude number and I always immediately transition to a different scale - the Mercalli scale - which is a measurement of shaking at the surface. Mexico City is a far worse geologic setting for earthquakes than Chile. In mountain ranges, rocks are folded and metamorphosed and seismic waves pass through pretty easily. Mexico city is sitting on lake sediments in a rift zone. Those type of sediments capture seismic energy and just sort of reverberate back and forth during an earthquake, increasing the damage.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 03:23 PM) Bad phrasing on my part. I meant you dont see anything moving that would suggest an earthquake just hit. Compare it to this one: https://twitter.com/BreakWatcher You see the building moving a bit and then just crumble on itself. Im pretty sure the first one was an implosion. That is a very different type of construction. That is a "Soft story" building, with either a wood or concrete frame. Those are able to flex more, but it's often the case that they are weak during earthquakes because people like having open space on the first floor. Having too much open space on the first floor means that when the upper floors start moving, there isn't enough strength on the first floor to hold them in place, so the motion builds and they collapse from that. Edit: Also don't know the quality of building code enforcement there. It's expensive to enforce building codes, so sometimes buildings like that aren't quite as strongly reinforced by steel as they should be. That often contributes to failure as well, but still very different mechanism of failure compared to brick and mortar.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 03:15 PM) Its not inconceivable but when you look at the video the building isnt swaying at all (compare it to the other video you posted). When I first looked it just seemed the building fell strangely for an earthquake, but im not an expert. Brick and mortar buildings will not sway. They literally cannot - you try to make brick and mortar sway and instead it fractures and turns to powder.

If anyone is interested in the early geologist's summary of this event I already have that put together and up here.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 01:42 PM) I think Hahn looks for starters willing to take a ST invite or sign to a minor league deal. No point in signing a starter to be #5 in a development year. Start the season with Rodon, Shields, Lopez, Giolito and Fulmer. I'm not very high on Fulmer but he's shown enough to be the team's #5 to start the season. If Fulmer struggles then he goes to Charlotte when Kopech is ready but if he succeeds, Shields gets bumped to the pen for Kopech. Definitely think the Sox look for more Swarzak type relievers to potentially flip at the deadline. I still think they will grab a starting pitcher in the Rule 5 draft, and I also expect that there will be an opening for a starter as an injury replacement long before we have to worry about Kopech being ready - that could be for Fulmer or Kopech, depending on when it happens.

One fixem candidate might be Matt Harvey.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Sep 18, 2017 -> 02:15 PM) I think the Astros and Indians will be battling for home field through the last series of the season. Both of those teams should pummel the Sox. I bet they lose 5 of those 6. Even if the Sox take 2 in KC/LA, you're looking at 5-8 which pretty much means the Tigers have to go 2-11. The Angels are 2 games out of the Wild Card right now also.

So...Swarzak and Kahnle were 2 guys that I had never heard of before. Maybe that's my fault on Swarzak, but all the guys on that list above seem more like the Derek Holland level - guys who are hoping to have a good year but who haven't had any in a couple years. Any ideas for "hidden breakout" guys? Guy who pitched for 1-2 years somewhere and got hurt or who struggled for a year or two?

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Sep 18, 2017 -> 03:10 PM) Yes this is 100% why I think Fulmer was called up last year. He was called up when the bullpen was in shambles. I still believe it was #3 of Rick Hahn's desperation moves - James Shields (and a freebie in Miguel Gonzalez) to save his competitive rotation, Tim Anderson to save his competitive infield, and we need bullpen help and we're a competitive team so why not? They might have had the other part cross their minds, but Rick Hahn spent a full month making desperation moves and we're still wishing we had 1 of them back.

This is going to get a grand total of 2 minutes of debate because they used up all the debate time on the bill they have to slot it into. As of now, "regular order" john McCain is ok with that amount of debate over 1/6 of our economy.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 17, 2017 -> 12:31 PM) Well people shouldn't shift tactics to tactics that could end up putting them behind bars. All violence does is harm innocent people. Peaceful protests can get a message across. Dr. King was against violence and he remains the greatest of all time. What good are violent protests? If you end up in jail and get convicted of a crime in a protest, good luck finding a job someday. I'm against the protests as far as "team." I think it's the wrong setting for one guy on a team to take a stand like that in a team sport. I think it is ill advised of the player who protests but I'm not against doing it because it's not illegal or unsafe. I doubt it would cause a riot or anything like that. I think I said it was pretty selfish of a QB to protest when he knows he's just turned all the attention on himself in a team sport. I could be wrong on my take. Perhaps Colin's teammates a.) didn't mind at all. b.) didn't care that he was putting all the attention on himself. b.) were glad he had all the media attention so they could take a break from interviews. Remember how there was a theory (incorrect obviously) that Ozzie liked to make outlandish statements to take the heat off his players. Keep the media busy with his antics and let the players play. 2.) Whenever somebody goes after the flag, it is usually an unwinnable situation because you are offending our great men and women of the military past and present. He can say all he wants about treatment of minorities but not standing at attention for the anthem?? You are attacking the soldiers who lost limbs serving our country and gave their lives. Usually these athletes that take a stand cannot survive such behavior because they are personally slapping our military personnel in the face. Watch the Military when the flag is present. Have you been to a military funeral? If the anthem is played ... wow, such respect. Your words.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 15, 2017 -> 12:27 PM) They're apparently trying to take another shot at repealing Obamacare via Graham-Cassidy. Repeals the mandate, turns Medicaid into a block grant program (destroys funding long-term), allows insurers to charge higher premiums for pre-existing conditions. And John McCain may be on board despite it not being "Regular Order".

QUOTE (Soha @ Sep 16, 2017 -> 04:03 PM) So.. before it wasn't sustainable for more than a month or two. But it was sustainable for the entire season, so now it's changed to it's not sustainable for more than a full season? The goalposts keep moving in this discussion. The basic problem is - guys were saying there was no way he could keep that BABIP up for the rest of the season at the AS break, and it's actually gone up in the 2nd half and not down. Once you see that, something that you said baseball will not allow happen actually happens, you have to stop and reevaluate what can and can't happen. Somehow he's done this. He's gotten better, not worse, with the exception of that one injury. So now we have to stop and back out to some different number, because this season has happened and it's a complete season.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 16, 2017 -> 02:01 PM) So protestors force St. Louis police to close down a mall today. Black Lives Matter signs galore at the protest in the mall. If these protestors are trying to ruin a city, good job. Wonder if they'll hit the U2 concert tonight. Is it legal to head to a mall and march through it chanting and all that? Don't you need a permit? I'd arrest all the protestors if it's illegal. I mean protest is GREAT! Do it legally. Do it without harming businesses. Do it without inconveniencing people that want no part of it all. Geez. Ah, U2 canceled the concert. Good for them. Can't risk it. How is this good for the city of St. Louis? If these are paid protestors they obviously are trying to ruin a once great city. p.s. I'll hand it to these protestors. They sure know where to go disrupt things: Expressways, libraries, now malls. Good job. That really will change things. All it does is piss people off. My gawd, how does invading a mall help your cause? Please, police, arrest anybody who is breaking the law in these situations. No one ever gets f***ing paid to protest.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Sep 15, 2017 -> 11:02 PM) I actually agree with Greg here. If you can extend him for like 4/$70 million I think you do it. I would go for that.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Sep 15, 2017 -> 10:36 PM) Shame to see it end, but it was a pleasure to watch what I was able to catch of this streak (#22 was a good one). Hopefully, either Cleveland or Houston are the AL WS entrants. Hopefully, Not the Cubs are the NL WS entrants. Honestly? Cheering for the Red Sox, because yeah I want to see Chris in the series.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 13, 2017 -> 03:57 PM) I wouldn't be upset if they extended him as long as it was a fairly modest extension. I wouldn't like a really long extension for him though. /dickjokes If they can't extend him through 2021 then they should really push to trade him. I think that could fit for both sides.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 15, 2017 -> 12:11 PM) The front office pretty much said they jumped at the first offer they liked. Thats pretty bad. And when you put everything in perspective, including the Taj/McBuckets trade, they have hamstrung this team for the foreseeable future. Prior to all of this, people said that no free agents would come to the bulls(and they didnt, aside from a washed up Wade who is coasting on a golden parachute). Why does anyone think that all this cap space after next year is gonna change that? Like anyone doesnt know that the front office f***s over coaching staffs and players alike? Garbage. All of it. None of us should give the bulls the time of day this season I think rebuilding is the right decision for the Bulls...and if that was the best offer on the table they should have said f*** it we're going for the 8th seed again.

When you run a league where it's clear your owners are responding to racism on the part of your fans, and you have to figure out some way to answer questions about it without saying your fanbase is racist, you say things like this: Tell ya what then pal, trade jobs with me and I'll do yours for 1/2 the salary and after a year I'll be a football expert.