NorthSideSox72

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2007 -> 01:02 PM) The key word being "dems" begin passing... because they have broken their promise of minority party discussion on bills. They may turn out to not be as cooperative as they stated, but, this article doesn't say that's happened. It says, basically, that it MIGHT happen. And the 100 hours items were all discussed with the GOP leadership in join conference before Congress even convened. That already is more than the GOP was ever interested in doing. Let's wait a few weeks and see if the Dems really do start to work the minority party into discussions.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 5, 2007 -> 11:51 AM) Well, here we go...at least it's a start. Haven't had enough time to evaluate the actual rules changes Pelosi has passed in the House, but the House Dems have already done at least a few things the Republicans were totally unable to do last year...pass rudimentary lobbying and earmark reform bills. Ethics ReformEarmark reformIt doesn't have every possible bit of ethics reform that could have been done, but it has enough that CREW, an organization I think does good work, seems moderately satiated. They also were hoping for an independent ethics panel, which they didn't get with this package, and they want outsiders to be able to file ethics complaints with the House...but even they seem happy with the start. Good start. Looks like they, for the most part, mean business. The earmark thing, though, is kind of weak. Most lawmakers won't care about being exposed for the pork, in fact that will likely only boost local support for them. What they NEED to do is what I thought some of the Dems talked about, which is plain old STOPPING all earmarks for now, until a unified, balanced system can be put in place (like, as I stated then, the system the City Council of Chicago uses).

Jeanine Garofallo. Wouldn't notice her from across the bar, but there is just something about the way she carries herself...

Ozzie, who likes to rest most of his guys regularly (except PK), will start Hall most of the time against LHP. But, if Haeger makes the club and one C or the other is better at handling him, that will throw a wrench in the works. Either way, AJ will get fewer plate appearances, and benefit from that. .295/12/65, with the usual solid defense and an improvement in pitch-calling. Plus a couple tussles.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 4, 2007 -> 10:59 PM) "No back rubs" - German Chancellor Merkel to George W. Bush at a press conference today. I think it was Bush to Merkel.

If the key word here is "see", here is one for you. Tori Amos. I am so-so on her music, my wife loves her. But holy crappola, watching Tori in concert is something else. Not the effects or the talking or any of that mind you... just watching her sing and play the piano. Its like she's humping the piano, and singing to you about it. *shiver*

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 4, 2007 -> 06:16 PM) The few people who do think that think that the story is that Bush pushes oil higher whenever he can to please his corporate masters but then arranges a drop in oil prices in the fall in order to help his party win elections because see, the President's got oil prices down. Of course, oil prices are cyclical in exactly that way because of the more expensive blends used in the summertime to avoid evaporation of gasoline in summer temperatures which can be a major contributor to air pollution, but for some reason the people who believe that it's all Bush's doing and those who shoot them down are the ones who keep getting heard. By the way, should I toss in the "warmest year in recorded history" prediction and do an anthropogenic climate change nudge nudge wink wink here? I realize that any single year, or a few years, doesn't a trend make. And any one data point like a city isn't necessarily helpful. But check out this article from, of all people, Tom Skilling. He points out that since the 70's, the average winter temps in Chicago have gone from 24.9F (70s) to 26.8F (80s) to 31.8F (90s). That is a pretty huge jump, and over a pretty significant number of years. I'm getting a little more paranoid now.

HIV/AIDS is a perfect response to a problem of imbalance on the planet. Earth acts as a living thing. Tropical Africa is so massively overpopulated in urban areas, and the natural environment has been altered so quickly and negatively, that any living thing would naturally defend itself. AIDS as a disease is the perfect beast for that mode - kills off those trying to reproduce, is incureable, etc. What I am saying here is that if some of you, as hinted at, think that HIV was somehow designed to hit the gay community (whether by God or nature or Dr. Who), then you don't understand the history of the disease, or how it fits into the natural world.

I'm concerned about Uribe still being in jeopardy, potentially, in the DR. If he can't get back the states by late March, that means we start the season with Cintron at SS. Not an ideal scenario. And KW is handcuffed to act on that, since (among other things) Uribe's trouble makes him a lot less valuable in trade. And not many teams can afford to trade an SS and not require Uribe in return.

QUOTE(EvilMonkey @ Jan 3, 2007 -> 04:41 PM) But its always different!!!!! Sadly, for much of the American public who are deeply entrenched in their party of choice, that is true. For some of us, its not different - its the same. I didn't like that aspect of Bush (even though I voted for him in 2000), and it counted as a negative against him in my mind. For Obama - same thing. But it won't prevent me from voting for a person exclusively.

QUOTE(Cerbaho-WG @ Jan 3, 2007 -> 04:31 PM) I'd bet Gio heads to Birmingham because he's very young. So then, maybe something more like... Danks Haeger Broadway Phillips Sisco With Gio at AA, Floyd in the starting rotation in Chicago. If someone other than Floyd makes the Chicago 5 (like Haeger or Danks, or maybe even Phillips), then those two can be flipped. But again, I bet not all those arms are still in the system on April 1.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jan 3, 2007 -> 04:10 PM) Don't forget Heath Phillips. True. I think there is a good chance Sisco makes the roster for the bullpen as well, so, that would mean Phillips would start in this scenario. I also think we won't necessarily have all those guys with the organization come April 1. I still get the impression that KW is looking for an OF, and hasn't given up yet.

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Jan 3, 2007 -> 03:17 PM) Has anyone else thought about the possiblities of our AAA rotation? John Danks, Gio Gonzalez, Lance Broadway, Andy Sisco, Charlie Haeger, Carlos Vasquez, Heath Phillips, Gavin Floyd etc would all seem to be in consideration if they fail to make the big league club. I'm assuming Boone Logan and Nick Massett will be in the Sox bullpen, otherwise the AAA bullpen would be loaded as well. Onelli Perez is another name that could end up in the Sox or AAA bullpen. Knights possibly opening with... 1. Danks 2. Broadway 3. Gonzalez 4. Floyd 5. Sisco and Vasquez, Haeger, Perez, and possibly Logan in the pen again, that's almost unfair. This is the most excited I have ever been with our pitching situation, even more so than when we "loaded up" in the 1999-2000 drafts with pitching talent. Even if they lose Floyd as the 5th starter for the Sox, and Massett and Logan in the pen, we still have a ridiculous pitching unit in AAA, and AA would be solid as well. If Haeger is in AAA, I can almost guarantee he'll be in the starting rotation. Floyd will probably get the #5 slot with the big club, so put Haeger in his spot there in your 5, and I'd agree. In either case though, assuming we don't trade any of them away, that is one sick AAA starting staff.

Add former WI Governor and HHS Sec'y Tommy Thompson to the GOP slate.

Alright, since everyone is on the sports-related stuff... 1. Played 1 year of high school baseball, but I was too small as a freshman (5'3", 110) to play my position competitively (catcher). By the time I was a senior I was strong enough, big enough (6'3", 200) and self-taught to switch hit, but it was too late by that time to make a run at the team. 2. The guy who was the starting C ahead of me went on to play D1 and minor league ball, before injuring himself out of baseball. 3. I have coached (and played on) my company's softball team since I started here in 1998. I generally hit clean-up and play LF or 3B. 4. Had surgery in March to repair a torn labrum and some capsular damage in my right (throwing) shoulder, and we'll see in the spring if I can still throw a rope (the injury was apparently due to poor weightlifting technique). 5. My first Sox game, I sat in the front row between the dugout and the backstop at old Comiskey, and Moose Skowron was sitting right behind us. Moose is one grumpy dude.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 3, 2007 -> 12:33 PM) To be honest, I don't want people who are motivated by money in our judicial positions in the first place. That just begs for corruption to happen. Like I said, I have no problems with setting them up with raises and such, and would much prefer that it was a COLA system to ensure fairness, and the lack of politics to be involved with it. Actually, I'd argue that the LESS you pay judges, the more corruption becomes an issue. Because even those with the best of intentions still live in the world of money. See: cops. Lowest paid major city PD in the US? New Orleans. Most corrupt department in the US? Same.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 3, 2007 -> 06:24 AM) WTF is wrong with a COLA? Is it only good for people on welfare and SSI? Well, when you are talking about one specific job, that is different than minimum wage. A specific job like being a judge needs to keep up with its industry - in this case, top legal professionals. Minimum wage is a baseline across jobs and markets, and by nature should use a basket-style price adjustment like a COLA. That's not to say you couldn't build in natural increases for judges too. Just allow, in the law, for some agency or firm to set a rate adjustment factor for legal professionals each year, and have the pay increases be tagged to that, unless otherwise overridden by Congress or X-Order.

QUOTE(TTT @ Jan 2, 2007 -> 10:22 PM) North, I first heard about Lin back in 2004. That was when the video of Lin pitching (posted on my blog -Taiwan Baseball) first surfaced (scroll towards the bottom). Pitching for Hua-Shin HS, Lin was the ace of the Taiwanese junior NT in 2004. He was being compared to then Japanese junior NT pitching stud Yu Darvish, who is now one of the top pitchers in the NPB. That was the last I heard of him until he resurfaced in Alaska. Lin and fellow Taiwanese teammate Lo were both listed on the initial Anchorage Bucs roster before the season began. His DOB on that roster confirmed that he is indeed Po-Yu Lin. The Bucs got Lo's name right, however with Lin they probably just went with the Chinese pronounciation of his name - Lin Po Yu (You). In Chinese the surname goes first - like Yao Ming. Lin and Lo both left the Bucs during the season to return back to Taiwan, so they were removed from the final Bucs roster. I already emailed Jeeves - who posted my response to him in that armchair gm article on Lin, all that I know about Lin. So you have all the 411 that I've gathered on Lin. Thanks, we appreciate the info!

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 2, 2007 -> 11:20 AM) I think one of the most fun aspects of the new majority is going to be watching the 2 sides completely flip-flop on everything that involves the power structure in Congress. 2 years ago, Nancy Pelosi wrote a proposal for a "Minority bill of rights" in the House. 24 hours to review bills for all sides, full chance to offer debates and amendments for both sides, etc. Dennis Hastert didn't even bother replying to Mrs. Pelosi's proposal. Now, 3 Republicans are writing a letter to Mrs. Pelosi asking if she'll implement the very same proposal that Dennis Haster pocket-vetoed 2 years ago. Fun times, I tells ya what. Hopefully Pelosi will actually implement this at some point...but I'd still pocket-veto their letter for a few weeks just out of spite. She should see to it that her Minority Bill of Rights is passed as quickly as possible. And then she, and the rest of the Dems, if they have half a brain, should publicize that signing (and the difference between that and the Hastert stonewall) as widely and as often as possible.

QUOTE(TTT @ Jan 2, 2007 -> 11:09 AM) "Notes and other links… • Lin is NOT the same person as Lin-Po You, who played in 2006 for the Anchorage Bucs of the ABL. Reports equating the two appear erroneous, according to my research." North, Po-Yu Lin DID play in the ABL this past year. The Anchorage Buc's site screwed up his spelling. And for further confirmation look at this link (click on 11/17/06 Link) - it's linked to my blog regarding Lin's signing. So the Bucs' site is wrong then? I searched their whole site, and the only spelling present was the bad one. I also did a few other searches around the web, and could find no coincidence of Po-Yu Lin and the Bucs, other than your site and The Cheat's information. Did you talk to the team? Or are you just a fan and follow the Bucs? Just curious how you got this information, since I'd like to learn more about this guy. Thanks for posting, by the way - the more information the better!

QUOTE(knightni @ Jan 2, 2007 -> 02:01 AM) They need to get more guys like Ernie Young who can try and compete for an OF spot in ST. Maybe Owens can make it this year. I like Owens, and I think he might be ready in 2007 to be better than Pods. He's definitely a better athlete. His hitting would likely be erratic his first year. But I think he has the right skill set, and after a year in the majors, I think Owens would make a pretty good leadoff guy who can play all three OF positions (corners he'd do well, CF needs work but he'd be a serviceable backup there).

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Dec 31, 2006 -> 05:13 PM) Blue eyes and blond hair is not the same thing as being heterosexual or homosexual. 1. I'd suggest it is a lot like blond hair and blue eyes, actually. In both cases, that maybe a natural blond, or a societally pressured blond. Who knows? 2. Why does anyone give a crap what other people do with their sex lives anyway? Its really not my business. And it sure as heck isn't the government's either.

Funny thing is, the more this happens, the more it becomes humorous, and the less of an issue it us (Obama's last or middle names). This works quite nicely in his favor.

I really don't think the particulars of his execution are going to matter in the long run. I don't think they'll even matter in a week. That place is already in shambles. I see zero reason to have delayed this. Best to just get it done.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Dec 31, 2006 -> 09:52 AM) I don't think I ever used the word honest. You keep quoting me as having used the word "honest" and that's dishonest because I never did. You can't directly attribute something to me that I never said, so settle down tiger, and put that BANGBANGLOLOLOL hammer away, plz. QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Dec 30, 2006 -> 12:07 PM) That said, I admire that he's a man of his word, but he's exactly that. honest, man of his word, blah blah blah, semantics, hammers, LOLz.... Anyway, I agree with Tony - If we made a roughly market-level offer to Dye, even if he could make a small amount more elsewhere, I'd bet money he stays, just like PK did. But we do have to be in the right ballpark.