NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 12:30 PM) Couple of people on MLB Network thought Quentin should be starting Really? Hm. I guess I need to keep up on other RF's better, I didn't think CQ was in that air, but I'd have to look around more. Humber, despite his high value to the Sox, I just don't see being a serious consideration, looking at the other starts available. I still think when it comes down to it, PK and Santos are the ones most likely to go.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 10:59 AM) Humber and Alexei and Quentin Alexei maybe, but Humber and Quentin I don't think are in the discussion.

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 11:56 AM) The answer to me is pretty simple. It's the out of wedlock birth rate. Fix that and you cure so many of this country's ails. Education and crime being at the top, but also depression, respect, obesity etc... This problem is rarely discussed and it should be of the highest priority for this country. Biggest problem? The rate of out of wedlock babies has been in decline for some time now, I thought (maybe I'm wrong - I'm sure someone will check - mayeb I am thinking of teen birth rates). And I'd suggest that having parents who later divorce, or are just dysfunctional, is just as bad or worse on kids, as opposed to single parenthood.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 11:11 AM) All of the property tax money now gets sent to the state. The state the redistributes based on a per student dollar amount based on the make up of each school system. Systems with higher poverty, and higher special education numbers get a higher amount. Schools with lower populations get less. Last I knew schools in Gary were getting over $10k/yr/kid, while somewhere like Valpo was right about $7k/yr/kid That is very different from Illinois, where a district like New Trier gets close to $20k per student, vs city schools in the same county getting half that or less.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 10:03 AM) He's the youngest guy in the IL with the numbers that he has. He's clearly one of the top hitting prospects in baseball right now, for anyone who's paying attention. OPS ~1000 since May 1. I gotta believe we can work him in somewhat currently, but Teahen's presence is the ultimate, and most frustrating obstacle. He's going to make fools out of the experts that had him so low on prospect lists. Teahen isn't blocking Viciedo, or at least he shouldn't be. I don't want to see Viciedo up to play part time, especially this early in the season where he's going to not get regular at bats the rest of the year. Add him in September on expansion, and if this team by some miracle is in the post-season, you make your tough choices. Right now, unless someone gets hurt or they are willing to release/bench Pierre (LOL), he should stay in AAA.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 10:29 AM) Did anyone expect Konerko to have such a good year? His contract looks like a bargain right now, especially compared to Dunn and Rios. The guy better make it to the All-Star game. Him and Santos are the ones that I think are likely candidates. Anyone else deserving? I don't think so, not at this point.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 09:06 AM) I translated it to mean that everyone should leave him alone, even his close friends. You speak Ozzie?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 08:51 AM) You've missed the attempt to make the connection make sense though...Amtrak isn't needed because using the Google, you can find a private sector company that does the same thing. I mean he's wrong, but it makes more sense than you're giving him credit for. *sigh* Seriously dude, you have to parse everything to death. I was making a joke about his choice of words and examples. I'm sure he didn't mean it literally the way I put it.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 08:46 AM) Well if he wants to dispute my opinion, then dispute it. There are so many different areas that debate can go in. Instead, he chooses the same way everytime...a smartass, I am 24 and know everything approach. I know he is a really intelligent person. Why can't he just argue the issue I brought up? Why this continuous pattern of veiled insults? Drop it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 08:41 AM) Huh? Read his quote again... he basically says that Amtrak isn't needed now because of the internet.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 08:22 AM) Anyone know what Ozzie's so mad about? -Iam in very very bad mood stay away from me the most you can -A lees for a week better tha way -By the way is global every one staring whit my people -Sean penn if you love venezuela please move to venezuela for a year -But rent a house in guarenas or guatire to see how long you last clown I can't for the life of me figure out what the bolded one even means.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 11:49 PM) The difference is he's a superstar and has always been a superstar. He's never faced anyone as good as him at baseball. That changes how you act. And talents like that usually don't end up doing in the majors what everyone thinks they will, and for that exact reason. This is something often ignored, but its a huge point... if you've never had to work at it, and never had to act like a pro... what happens when you finally reach a level where there is real competition to your talent? A lot of players hit that point and struggle mightily. Harper is not a 100% guarantee to be an all-star, no minor-leaguer or draft pick is, ever.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Jun 8, 2011 -> 02:56 AM) I hate how nervous I am that Vargas will shut us down.... Would it make you feel better to know that most people feared that on Monday night too? And then again on Tuesday? And we won both games?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 08:17 PM) Tim Pawlenty's Plan to Destroy The World It seems like it's just another version of the Fair (lol) Tax with some extra-dumb populism thrown in. Someone has invented trains that run over the internet? What is this, Tron?

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 06:04 PM) Well inflation is caused by the rise in wages which leads to the rise in prices. So that has nothing to do with Keynesianism. Except that's not what inflation is. Inflation in the most base-level sense is the adding of currency to the system, and as I noted, this has already occurred. Wage, core and commodity inflation are all secondary effects. Here is the dictionary definition: Economics... a persistent, substantial rise in the general level of prices related to an increase in the volume of money and resulting in the loss of value of currency ( opposed to deflation). Note, related to means caused by. The volume of money has already increased. Subsequent rises in prices have since occurred in commodities, but have yet to begin in wages or "core", but as some of us have been saying, this is the inevitable long term consequence of the massive influx of new money.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 03:47 PM) he's just saying that because he knows the carbon tax has no chance. Maybe. Still begs the question... agree or disagree?

Thought this was interesting... CEO of GM says he'd rather see a $1/gallon increase in federal gas taxes, than the increases in fuel efficiency the government is pushing on US automakers. Says he feels it would be better for automakers, as well as do a better job pushing Americans to buy more efficient cars. Link to short story. Thoughts? Anyone agree or disagree?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 12:13 PM) If Peavy is healthy, he is a much better pitcher than Zambrano. The Peavy that showed up this year previous to his last start had incredible control and missed enough bats to be very effective. Peavy's arm is fine right now, the groin thing isn't a huge issue, IMO. I wouldn't trade Peavy for Zambrano. I sort of figure... you've got health issues for Peavy, and emotional/mental ones for Z. I actually think Peavy will get past his injuries, but I am not sure Z can get around being a crybaby and general problem for his teammates. Plus Peavy when healthy is better than Zambrano when not imploding. I'll take Peavy.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 12:03 PM) Right now, rising core inflation would be a very good thing for everyone in our economy except banks and people who are sitting on a lot of cash. It would be especially useful for homeowners. Therefore, the Federal Reserve, which is staffed almost entirely with people from the banking and investment sector, has decided that rising core inflation would be a bad thing. Explain the bolded if you will.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 09:20 AM) Core inflation is a big time difference. If you're seeing legitimate "Core" inflation, it is caused by something entirely different from commodity inflation and it has the exact opposite consequence on the economy. Inflation in commodity prices is caused by scarcity of the items, for whatever reason. When core inflation is going up, it has the same effect as a rise in interest rates...it eats away at the value of income. It is a negative for consumers, and furthermore it does not produce a spike in earnings. Core inflation on the other hand is caused by an overabundance of demand both for workers and for products that are produced. Core inflation hitting is a sign that the job market has finally reached its potential, it simply can't happen right now, because there is nothing to force core inflation when the economy is so far below capacity. The big difference is that if you raise interest rates to fight commodity inflation, you're hurting your economy without solving the problem, since raising interest rates and general inflation have the same effect...both erode people's purchasing power. We have a commodity price inflation problem...because our economy is overreliant on a few select commodities. The solution to that problem should not be "fewer jobs"...which is why its excluded from a reasonable measure of actual inflation. Of course core inflation is an important difference - I say its a garbage measure because it fails to reflect real, full impact of inflation (which you are doing as well). Commodity inflation isn't just a real demand problem, nor is it just a reliance on things like oil and gas (though those are factors). Its also a market flight issue. People are going commodities because of the markets and the economy in general, and that will continue to some extent. And core inflation vs commodity inflation are not entirely different in cause, they are related. Furthermore, the effect on the economy is very much related.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 09:06 AM) The reason I think BS is legitimately skeptical is that there appear to be 2 Alex Rios's...the Normal, borderline All Star Alex Rios who puts up an .800-.850ish OPS, and the "Slump" Alex Rios that showed up in the 2nd half of 2009 and for the full 2011 so far...who belongs in AA. It's seemed like a lightswitch with him so far. Either he's normal Rios or he's this rios. Well yeah, I think we all know that about him. But how many seasons has he had, where he has been bad Rios (like his current numbers) for the full year? I am 95% sure he goes on a tear, and probably soon. I'm not saying that makes everything OK, by the way. Just saying that gives me some optimism for the remainder of the season.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 09:03 AM) The problem with that is "usually" for Rios since the start of 2009 equals pretty bad, save for the first couple of months last year. I am thinking in terms of total season numbers. He is right now well below anything like his career or season averages.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 7, 2011 -> 09:00 AM) The Commodities price spike has already reversed, it never began affecting wages, and it never began hitting core inflation. "core" inflation is a garbage measure, in my view - and that was what I was referring to as the "basket", which is usually last to go (and will be here as well). And the price spike has not been anything like "reversed" - its come back a bit off highs, but they are still well above where they were.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 6, 2011 -> 04:38 PM) No, and I can't believe you're not getting this, this is the whole point I'm making. Turning out of the base has been the dominant force in elections since 1996 at the least. 98, Democratic turnout was pumped by the Impeachment hearings. 00, Democratic turnout was suppressed and Republican turnout pumped by the Clenis and evangelicals. 02, the Iraq war turnout 04 was the gay marriage amendment base turnout election 06-08 Dems turned out like gangbusters to oppose the wars, while Republicans didn't really show up because they weren't enthused about voting for Bush's war. 10, the Tea Party turned out like gangbusters to oppose the Muslim Socialist, while Democrats flat out stayed home because they'd spent 2 years being kicked in the mouth and told to shut up for their own good by the White House. Edit: another thought. This is also why the Republicans stress so much about "Voter Fraud", "ACORN", etc., it turns out their base (elderly white people) but also legally suppresses the Democratic base by making it illegal for poor people to vote because they don't have the proper ID or they're intimidated by messages that they'll get arrested. Not getting it? I give up on this one, we're not going to agree. I think you are either unaware of how statistics work, or more likely, choosing to only see some aspects of it.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 6, 2011 -> 06:45 PM) What prediction of Keynesianism has been wrong so far? Where's the horrible inflation that should come from printing money like crazy? Why did unemployment stabilize? First, inflation in the direct sense already occurred. Second, inflation in commodities is well under way. The rest of the basket will go there too, but not yet - need a little more recovery traction first.