NorthSideSox72

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 25, 2007 -> 11:08 PM) Floyd doesn't deserve a spot in the bullpen. It's ridiculous, and I'm betting such a decision is Williams way of proving the Garcia trade provided us with an immediate piece for 2007. Several of our scouts should be holding their collars, as it is. Some of you will doubt this, but honestly -- is the spring training performances between the two pitchers really that different? In about four more innings pitched Floyd has given up three more earned runs, four more hits, three more walks, and one additional strikeout. Yes, Floyd will limit stolen bases and past balls far better than Haeger; but he won't be as durable, or as better overall. I just hope if the final decision is made to give Floyd a bullpen position, and he's absolutely killing us come midseason, he's sent down to Charlotte until September. The major leagues isn't an area for someone such as Gavin to revive his career. It just irritates me to think about this. Seriously, if Haeger is almost equaling Floyd in Arizona with a knuckleball, what does that say about Gavin? Agree. Haeger doesn't get much out of AAA anymore, but I think Floyd needs a year starting there to get consistent. I hope to see Haeger in the pen sooner rather than later, or in the rotation of something goes wrong there.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 07:38 AM) Chuck got sent down. Crap!!!! I missed that. Damn, I was hoping he'd get into the pen. ETA: Sorry Capn, I hadn't gotten to the Haeger thread yet.

There are still a couple major pieces up in the air - last bullpen spots, and starting CF. And those might make a significant difference. At least they picked the right 5h starter. So, giving some play for those open decisions, and assuming the team stays relatively healthy... 90 to 95. That will probably make the playoffs, but it will be hotly contested.

If you think Ozzie was OK playing Hall at 1B, apparently its because you defend everything Ozzie does. And if you think Ozzie caused the injury, apparently, its because you just hate Ozzie. You've gotta love the dismissive mode of argument - if you disagree with me, you must be dumb. I personally see no issue with playing Hall at first. Its less risky than C anyway, the staff don't know him well yet, and Ozzie has always used ST as a way to see what people can do if needed. And given how strong Hall can be against lefties, I'd bet we'll see him at 1B a few times this season (with PK at DH). The argument that this is somehow Ozzie's fault is missing the point of spring training I think.

QUOTE(Capn12 @ Mar 26, 2007 -> 01:21 AM) So we've got Floyd, Aardsma, Sisco for the last spot(assuming Masset and Logan are in). Its like the best of the worst to me...I'd go for Sisco, let Floyd go work in the bandbox, Knights Stadium. You forgot Haeger, who is also in the running for the pen.

QUOTE(Hideaway Lights @ Mar 25, 2007 -> 12:18 PM) boy, Floyd and Gio for Freddy just looks worse and worse and worse (shakes head) Yeah, because Freddy and his 86 MPH fastball and 11.42 ERA are looking soooooooo good. If either Floyd OR Gio end up being quality major league starters in the next year or two, then the deal was good. You need to consider that Freddy was going into his last year in contract anyway, and then we would have gotten zero from him, other than another year of declining quality for $10M. ETA: Oh yeah, and Freddy's apparently injured shoulder is also preferable for you?

One of the best ways to get serious restitution for things like this with airlines is to do the thing very few people do anymore - write a letter. Send it to their customer service address, but also as many other names of people as you can find in marketing, or any other department. I've done that after a couple nightmare experience, and got a lot out of it. Didn't make up for the pain entirely, but it helped. Also, I avoid United at all costs. Worst run airline in the states.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Mar 25, 2007 -> 03:42 PM) And it's people like you, sir, who are the problem. (and I don't mean that personally... but it's absolutely the truth). Any war is "winnable", if the screwball politicians weren't involved. Furthermore, it doesn't have to he by a lot of deaths, either. This war is not winnable for America. Its just not. Not every war is. I suppose maybe if we went about it from the beginning without having the leaderships' collective heads up their asses, maybe it would have been different. Maybe. But the only way its winnable at this point is if the U.S. was willing to be a violent, unrelenting dictator over Iraq, and I think we all agree that is unacceptable. Therefore, its not winnable. So best we get the heck out, or at least try some very different path. Nothing we do to try to make Iraq a single, unified, safe and free country is going to fail. So what purpose does our presence serve? You're right that the insurgents know they can just wait it out, and they are right. So are you trying to argue we should stay, lose thousands more lives (ours and Iraqis) and spend trillions more dollars, just to be stubborn? That would be very Dubya. Stay the path, even in the face of all logic and practicality, and even if they end goal is not even attainable.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Mar 25, 2007 -> 03:44 PM) Perhaps. I know I'd rather have Laura and Dubya watch my kids for a weekend than the Clintons. That's a nice barometer I believe. I believe he is a far better personal role model than President Clinton. If my kids saw either Bill Clinton or Dubya as a personal role model, I'd be having a long talk with my kids. Which, by the way, is a sad, sad statement of politics today.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Mar 25, 2007 -> 05:22 PM) Sure, by law, that's all he gets. But I agree with the sentiment that it feels like he deserves more because of beating up a defenseless woman, since, although not actually written, it's basically recognized as common knowledge that as a man, you don't beat up on women. He was about a foot taller and 150 pounds heavier, so there's probably some luck involved with her not getting more seriously injuring, especially after seeing the tape. And I never consider being drunk an excuse (not saying you do either). That's why its aggravated battery, not simple battery. That's what aggravated means. Special circumstances of extremity - the overmatched brutality, and the fact that he is a cop. If neither were true (if it were some dude in a bar beating up some other dude), then it would be simple battery.

And the inevitable reaction from Cheney, followed by the inevitable counter from Pelosi. I'm pretty pissed at the pork thing, but I am sort of glad that Congress is at least attempting to force the issue (even though they can be fairly sure it won't get the result they want). It appears that the only way for Bush to see he's hopelessly off the tracks on this war is to take away the bank account.

Mencia is the equivalent of a shock jock anyway. He's like Dice Clay, only less funny. Just likes to spew shocking things. Any moron can do that. I don't think with world will be heartbroken if he fades out of the spotlight.

Ross Gload.

Good. Now let's hope for the right decisions on BA/Erstad in CF and the last bullpen spots (read: not Aadrsma or Sisco).

QUOTE(Alpha Dog @ Mar 24, 2007 -> 06:48 PM) And you, and every other liber in here, would be screaming "Where's that compassionate conservatism at?" should the R not give him help, and you know it. Obama couldn't even stand to talk to the guy on the phone, he rushed him off because he has no time. I agree with your assessment of the two groups of people getting aid. And come on, have you ever seen a problem yet that the Democrats HAVEN'T said could be fixed by spending more money? Grades are down! Oh, more money for teachers! Crime is up! OK, more money for cops. Polling numbers down! OH, more money for pork projects! (To be fair, that last one goes for both parties). You're right on the complaining of course, it would work the same the other way around. And 10 or 15 years ago, I would have agreed that tax-and-spend was the biggest, most annoying problem for the Democrats. But since about 2000, that is simply no longer true. The GOP has spent like there is no tomorrow, and worse, did it on credit. So if you really want to see where spending is a problem, don't look t parties - just look at Congress as a whole.

If you look at Danks' career thus far, he has a habit of getting promoted and pushed a little beyond his ability, struggles a little, then catches on a does really well. That, combined with his obvious confidence in himself, and that tells me what he needs to succeed is challenges. Therefore, the majors seems to be the place for him at this point. Floyd on the other hand, seems to require two things - more confidence, and some consistency. For those two things, starting in AAA may be the best place for him. My fear is that they will put him in the pen, which does not give him what he needs right now. So I'm hoping for Danks as #5, and Floyd going to the AAA rotation (which means Haeger in the pen, probably).

Uribe came in to camp looking in far better shape than last year, and seems to have a little extra jump in his step. There was even an article in the Trib today saying basically that. I thin Juan's in for a big year.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Mar 24, 2007 -> 09:52 AM) Damn he's old. Actually, compared to the rest of the team, I probably am one of the old guys.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Mar 24, 2007 -> 07:54 AM) Bush is starting to seem paranoid and insulated to me. Starting?! Where have you been for the last 5 or 6 years???

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 05:56 PM) The thing is loaded to the brim. It's the only way Pelosi could pass the bill, not that that's an excuse. There's about $20 billion in hurricane relief (covering mainly "livestock" I believe). $35 mil for NASA, about $4 billion in farm subsidies covering everything from spinach to citrus and milk (actually, both milk and OJ prices have shot up 25% around here lately, some subsidies might be nice ) about $3 billion for Hurricane Recover ($1.9 billion for levee reconstruction), and so on. Link 1. Link 2. Holy crap!!! $21 Billion in unrelated funding???? Argh. This Dem Congress started out strong, and did a lot of the big things they said they would. That was a pleasant couple weeks. Seems like they've been going downhill since. Morons.

Happy B-Day Kalapse!

I haven't seen the bill, and haven't seen if what Bush says about pork is actually true. Maybe he is referring to the pullout as the pork. ETA: Wow. Something in that sentence sounds really bad if you read it out loud.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 05:11 PM) More than what we received. I don't even know how you can argue this, Rock. I have supplied the proof on numerous occasions. If Philadelphia themselves were shocked our asking price was low.....then it obviously was too low. You actually believe it when a GM or AGM says something like that? You can't believe any of that from KW or any other GM. Its all part of the game they play.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 23, 2007 -> 02:44 PM) So, the more relevant detail, IMO, is that this is the funding supplemental bill. IN other words, based on the logic of the campaign, Mr. Bush is now against the Iraq war because he is going to veto funding for it. Furthermore, it's also worht noting that if Mr. Bush signed the bill...there's no enforcement mechanism in the bill...the "Blue dog Dems" had that taken out as a condition for joining in. So if Mr. Bush wanted to ignore it, he could. What are these "other alternatives" you're speaking of? Yeah the fact that its attached to the funding bill was an interesting move. Its related to be sure, so I'm good with that, sort of. Alternatives being anything other than "stay the course" or a complete and immediate pullout of troops. Some have at least suggested that the training be stepped up massively, which is something. But I still favor a breakup of the country, in two or three parts. Different objectives for each. Its the only worthwhile alternative I see at this point.

So the House says all combatant troops to leave by September of 2008. Passed by a slim, non-veto-proof majority. Senate is working up a similar bill. Bush has already said it ain't gonna happen. Does anyone think that a required withdrawal is a good thing in this fashion? And if the Prez does indeed veto, does anyone thing both houses could muster a veto override? Seems to me our current path is worthless, so a pullout is better than what we've got. Though eveyone seems to be ignoring the alternatives.