NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Oct 4, 2013 -> 11:52 AM) It's sad. I hope those who fired on her have long lives ahead of them yet, with this eating away at them for the duration. I just want to point out this post as winning for most awful thing I've read so far. You are damn right this guy will have it eating away at him forever, because that is how it works. This isn't f***ing Hollywood. Very few cops end up having to shoot someone, ever. The rare ones who have, even if they are fully justified, have that weight on their shoulders forever, and it is awful. So here, we have a cop who did everything right, still has to live with the knowledge he killed someone... and then there are ignorant people like you who think it is his fault this happened.

QUOTE (MEANS @ Oct 4, 2013 -> 11:42 AM) I just can't understand why the police couldn't stop her without resorting to shooting her...tire spikes/shoot the tires out...etc. They are lucky the kid wasn't killed as well. She had already used deadly force multiple times, was threatening security around the White House, and consistently and repeatedly disobeyed orders to stop. That is more than enough to justify a deadly force response from the police. Also, they did try to stop her before either shooting incident occurred. Didn't work. As for tire spikes, the chase lasted 1.5 minutes. Not nearly long enough for that sort of thing. And about shooting out the tires, I can't say this for sure, but at least one video appears to show them attempting just that. Keep in mind though, shooting out tires is not some simple thing to do, and there is background risk in a crowd just like there is when you shoot at a person. It is sad, I agree, but from everything I've read and seen, the police acted correctly.

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Oct 5, 2013 -> 03:03 PM) Even more reason that what the Feds were doing is pure politics. S&P 660!!!!!!

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Oct 5, 2013 -> 09:38 PM) More interesting tidbits on Baseball America's top 20 lists Southern League 11.Erik Johnson. 14. Marcus Semien International League 7. Avisail Garcia 11. Erik Johnson. 18. Carlos Sanchez. Where are you seeing this? BA site doesn't show these lists as up yet, they come out this coming week.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 4, 2013 -> 12:44 PM) I'd say the opposite, and ask what is the downside? QUOTE (scs787 @ Oct 4, 2013 -> 01:39 PM) Agreed, it certainly doesn't hurt to get a different set of eyes on him to try and fix his hit tool. He's shown a good knack for getting on base via the walk, even this past year where he walked 51 times in 90 games. In 2012 despite hitting just .238 he still put up a .368 obp, and in his first season he had a .407 obp. That type of eye with his D in CF (I believe he's a + out there) is worth trying to turn around. I certainly wouldn't suggest releasing the guy. But the downside to him playing in the AFL is simply that someone else may get more out of it. Not a big downside, but something to consider.

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 4, 2013 -> 10:21 AM) Yeah, I think that whole conversation was ridiculous. The ACA fixes the problem of the uninsured because of money and because of pre-existing conditions. Now make this work without cost controls, because socialism. Now make this as revenue neutral as possible. Seriously? Of course it was. It was a joke. With some grains of truth to it.

I like analogies. I’ve seen some recently for the shutdown. I was thinking about ObamaCare this morning, and here’s how I’d describe it. Kind of falls under the old saying: the Democrats are the party of bad ideas, and the Republicans are the party of no ideas. Just imagine that health care… is candy… Americans (US): We don’t like the candy we pay for and get right now. Not good candy. We’d like more, better candy. Democrats (DEM): No problem! We’ll give you the best candy you’ve ever seen, and for cheap too! US: *skeptical look* Yeah, OK. Just try to make it better, alright? Republicans (GOP): Tort reform for lawsuits against candy companies! Problem solved! US: Well, I guess that’s OK. But I’m not sure that… DEM & GOP: Great, we’re going to go solve your problem now! *go into closed office* DEM & GOP: *much arguing is heard through the door* DEM: Alright, we’ve solved your problem. Here you go! *drops 2000+ page ACA bill on table* US: Wow. That is one big pile of s***. With some… candy stuck in it. GOP: Yeah, that is one big pile of s***! Nice going, Dems. DEM: Yeah OK you have to pick it out, but look at that fabulous candy! US: um… GOP: Wait a second, you can’t just put a pile of s*** on this table, that’s illegal! DEM: Nuh uh! GOP: Yeah huh! DEM: Too bad, you passed it. GOP: I’m taking you to court! US: Hello? Over here. I have some questions about how to approach this… SCOTUS: Taxes are legal. Taxes are s***. Therefore, by the transitive theory, s*** is legal. *gavel strike* GOP: WHAT?!?!?! DEM: AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA GOP: This fight isn’t over yet! Watch this… US: Why is it not over? GOP: *votes 35 times to defund ObamaCare, fails each time* DEM: Really with this? GOP: That’s it, we’re going nuclear. DEM: Oh here we go… US: Wait, what is happening here? GOP: No more candy or chips or anything else for anyone until we end ObamaCare. Shut it all down! DEM: Hey look – the Republicans shut down the government! GOP: Nuh uh! DEM: Yeah huh! US: Are you guys even aware we’re still here? DEM: What alternative do you suggest? What changes would you make to the candy? *crickets* GOP: *picks nose* GOP: s*** sucks! Candy sucks! US: *sigh*

QUOTE (oldsox @ Oct 4, 2013 -> 06:33 AM) para 1. Then why sign a 16 year old if he can't play for 2 years? Baseball players should play baseball. para 2. Why are DSL stats meaningless? When our 17 yr old DSL shortstop who got a ton of money a year earlier hits .130 in 2013, should I not be skeptical? para 3. Makes a lot of sense. 1. That 16 year old does indeed play baseball - but is far too raw to be on a US team (how many 16 year olds have you seen, ever, in any org, at a US affiliate?), and in some cases are even too raw for the DSL. They generally start DSL 17-18, then move up (though there are exceptions). They play back field games, get instructional work, etc. 2. Not ENTIRELY meaningless, just ALMOST meaningless. There is a difference. The talent level on those teams is all over the place, the players are incredibly raw, the fields are often in poor shape, the players are very young and adjusting to baseball life... there is just a ton of noise in those numbers.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 10:44 PM) Yeah, too bad I can't forget that. They had cut his hours down to 28 a while back when they had him at 40. They kept saying they would get him into the full time slot that someone left, but kept losing the paperwork, forgetting a signature and so on. Finally he just got another job at Grainger with a 30% increase. next day they told him they got the paperwork done. Too bad he quit. LOL. Just wait, you will get all those stories with Ritchie in time..... Grainger is a solid company to work for, I know a couple people who work there. Should do well for your son.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Oct 4, 2013 -> 07:41 AM) Have you heard about who we have playing in that low level AFL? Lot of guys in Instructs. See lots of Twitter traffic from down there already. Hawkins is there, Barnum, a number of other high end names, and a lot of less high end guys. I don't know of an official roster, I've tried to ask for one but never gotten a response.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 06:56 PM) I hope you're right, but we have no idea if that million ++ bucks was spent wisely. I believe only one of those 16 year old Dominican signings in 2012 actually played this year, and he hit way below .200. I never saw anything on the other two. Correct me if I am wrong. The other signing, Mick Zapata, at least offers a bit of hope, because there are plans for him play somewhere in the US in 2014. I just don't see what you see in the int'l signings that makes you think Sox will have a top 10-15 farm system. First, when you sign 16 year olds, they often aren't playing in the US for a couple years. And they sometimes don't even play DSL ball for a year or two. IT takes patience. Second, you have to take DSL performance numbers with a HUGE PILE of salt. They mean almost nothing. Third, spending money does not magically make the system better by itself... but spending many times over as much money, re-vamping your LatAm operations entirely, bringing in experienced guys like Paddy... those things will tend to pay off, and they are indicative of other, smaller changes we don't even see. It will, however, take a couple more years before you really see noticeable and major improvement. It takes time. Wilder did a lot of damage, and frankly, so did KW (whether or not you agree with his overall methods - focusing on LatAm talent in this case).

QUOTE (oldsox @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 08:22 PM) I wonder why Ravelo was not added to the list. Seems like a perfect candidate, especially compared to Mitchell. He hasn't played above A+ yet, most of the guys there are AA and above. He's also young for his level as it is. If he has at least a decent 2014, I'd bet he's in the AFL after that season. He needs the reps and development time.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 04:41 PM) That's the twitter from the NYT, trying to link the shooting to the shutdown. They didn't come out and say republicans, but we all know that every headline and story they have blames Republicans, so what better way to connect the two. um... OK. The article you linked said nothing of the sort. Maybe the Twitter account says it could be related? QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 04:42 PM) Initial reports seemed to indicate that there was a shooter at the Capitol building, but it turns out only the police were armed. It is still a shooting either way. And when they call an Active Shooter situation, they may sometimes not be armed - it is done to arrange for a certain type of response. Just seems weird to say "it may not be a shooting, it is just a shooting".

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 04:38 PM) Recently in New York, police shot and killed an unarmed person and wounded two bystanders. Something similar happened either early this year or last year. Trying to figure out what that has to do with "actually just police officers shooting in crowded areas." Weird logical leap there.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 04:33 PM) The New York Times ✔ @nytimes Fiscal Crisis: Reports of Shooter Outside Capitol http://nyti.ms/173yku3 1:48 PM - 3 Oct 2013 Already happened, my friend. They were able to just read her mind and know what caused it. Same question I asked bmags... what are you talking about?

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 04:33 PM) Right, just figure if it turns out some bystander was shot it's another case of "shootings" being reported where it's actually just police officers shooting in crowded areas. What are you talking about?

Last I saw: a woman, with a child in the car. Rammed a gate, ran, chased. Accident, capital police officer injured in wreck. Female suspect dead.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 10:03 AM) The Federal retirement plan isn't exactly a 401k, though it's very similar. In any case, I already have an outstanding loan from when we bought our house, and the rules do not allow for a second loan, nor for refinancing the existing loan. It also doesn't allow for taking out a loan while in a nonpay status. Sorry man, just trying to brain storm ideas for you. Best of luck, to you and everyone else being screwed by the Tea Party.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Oct 3, 2013 -> 08:33 AM) OK, before this gets too far, I want to explain my situation in detail so people know exactly what they'd be supporting. My next paycheck would normally arrive 10/12. If the shutdown ends by Monday, I won't miss a paycheck. However, my backup plan for missing a paycheck is to make a withdrawal from my retirement account, and it takes 10 days to get that money, so I couldn't wait until Monday to make that decision and have gone ahead and requested 4 weeks salary. I figure that 4 weeks is a worst-case scenario in a shutdown, and with us spending money only on food, gas, and paying bills, we can make that 4 weeks salary stretch 6-7 weeks if we need to. Now, what I have lost permanently is the 10% penalty I have to pay on that withdrawal, plus I lose the agency match to my retirement contributions for six months. That's going to add up to about $3000. Now, if Soxtalk feels compelled to share in the loss of that $3000, I'm not going to say no, but I don't want anybody believing that I need money in order to feed my family. At least not for another 4+ weeks. If your retirement plan is a 401k, they often allow for you to take loans out, and pay the interest back to yourself, without the tax penalty.

Here is a preview of the AFL. As games occur, starting Tuesday, results and discussion can go in this thread.

People who see me post here know I'm usually all about finding compromise. But what the GOP is doing here is not negotiation. It is blackmail. Much as I hate to admit it, the Dems including Obama and even Harry friggin Reid are 100% right on this one. Blackmail has to be met with a stone wall.

Those are actually good reports on both, overall. It was a deep league this year. By the way, that was me asking the Micah question.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 2, 2013 -> 02:43 PM) I don't think building a team through free agency is the way to go, SS2K5. No one is suggesting that. Drop the straw man. Acquiring free agents will need to be PART of the process.

The farm system is improving. They showed a few of the guys in September who can be contributors. The org still lacks position player depth in a big way of course, but there are a few, and a number of pitchers as well. Hahn has shown he is going to spend big (within the new rules) on Int'l and the draft. He also cleaned house and re-organized the scouting ranks, is adding a new 7th minor league rookie affiliate in 2014, and is dramatically increasing LatAm presence. Because of all that, and how the new rules mostly help the Sox, and the large amount of salary headroom he will have to work with (probably $40M+), I think it makes perfect sense to acquire some free agents or players via trade that are above average pieces (even if they aren't stars). Filling in the blanks still needs to be done, and can be done smartly, without jeopardizing 2015 and beyond. And I'll say again, with the pitching talent they have on the MLB team, 2014 is not a lost cause (yet). If they can make a handful of the right moves, the offense and defense can improve a lot, and that makes a ton of difference.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Oct 2, 2013 -> 02:31 PM) I know you don't like Donnelly, but as a conservative you have to admit he'd be a massive upgrade over Harry Reid. A lower primate would be an upgrade over Reid. I really dislike that guy. Having the legislature and the President from different parties doesn't have to mean we have this kind of gridlock. On a local level, I always thought it was interesting that the times when Illinois government was working best, was when you had Thompson and Edgar in the governor's chair, and a Madigan-led legislature on the other side. Things started getting much uglier with Blago and now Quinn in the governor's role, even though they are from the same party. It is about having reasonable, intelligent people in the right positions, not about what party is in charge (as much).