NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 18, 2011 -> 07:52 AM) An arbitrator cut Rocker's suspension in half (basically making it time already served) and slashed the fine from $20k to $500. I'd call that beating the commish. Quite badly in fact. The arbitrator might have reduced it even further had the ruling not happened after 14 days of suspension. The current player contract allows for arbitration of disciplinary measures, and so its "law" in that sense. That does not, however, stop Selig from actually suspending anyone. It means he can suspend them, the player can choose to have it arbitrated, and the result of the arbitration stands. There is a difference there. I still think an off-field policy would be useful here, in the next contract. But I doubt that happens.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 18, 2011 -> 07:16 AM) Technically he has more power than any of them. Selig has an anti-trust exemption and the ability to "Act in the best interests of baseball". He just is scared to use them. Yeah, because Selig has been such a wimp on a lot of things, people forget that he does have the authority to do pretty much anything. He just chooses not to. QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 18, 2011 -> 07:32 AM) He's not scared to use them...he knows he has a monster of a union to face. The Union beat him when he tried to use that power to suspend Rocker. The union didn't "beat" him, that was negotiated. If Selig wants to suspend someone, he can. He just won't in this case. There have been a few ballplayers over the years with drug an alcohol problems. Well, more than a few. Might be a good idea for MLB to have a policy for multiple offenders in that realm to have a short suspension and required therapy.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 17, 2011 -> 02:13 PM) I think a number of those are probably legal at this point (the federal union laws have been chipped away at for decades). You can certainly ban the paycheck withholding, you can decertify a union, you can pass regulations that override collectively bargained workplace safety issues. But if the law goes past that, as was pointed out, the whole law can be stayed. Or part of it, or none of it. All are possible.

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Feb 17, 2011 -> 01:43 PM) Did he mention the US? He just said 9 out of 10. Just curious. I would think there have been more than 10 worldwide though, no? That's a good question, it may be what he meant. Its the only way its not a complete falsehood. But really, I would say that foreign examples are sort of useless for this discussion. So either he is just flat out lying, or he's carefully using his words to mask an unreliable data set. QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 17, 2011 -> 02:05 PM) Well its the case according to the news. And a state can pass a law that is in violation of federal law, you would then need to sue the state in federal court and that would take years. http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/116381289.html So its clear that the bill will take away bargaining rights. Whether or not that is in violation of federal law would be for some one that knows about that type of stuff to determine. It looks like a mess. If it passes, it will be contested in court, and the first judge might very well issue a stay order on the legislation until the matter is resolved. So this thing may die a quick death anyway.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 17, 2011 -> 01:40 PM) If it were just budget cuts it wouldn't have come to this. There might have been protests, but a compromise would have been possible. Declaring unions illegal, declaring that workers have no right to organize, declaring that raises have to be put to referenda, that's something else. Thus the "ass" part. But, it seems you are exaggerating a bit here too. I don't think this says they have no right to organize, that's not what I have read about the law to this point.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 17, 2011 -> 01:20 PM) Here are some pictures: http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/photos/116411054.html Capitol building is packed. I have to say, regardless of which side (or neither side, as in my case) you agree with here, I really love seeing people make this kind of political action. Its inspiring to see there are still this many people who give a s***.

QUOTE (Soxy @ Feb 17, 2011 -> 12:57 PM) Wisconsin democrats didn't show up to the vote today to prevent a quorum being met. Walker tells the state police to round them up and bring them in. Democrats high tail it to Illinois. linky link Wow, this is quite a thing. It seems that logic and compromise are out the window. I don't blame Walker for forcing the government to find cuts to make... but he's being a beligerent ass about it.

Obama promises full funding of Land and Water Conservation Fund, for only the third time in its history, as part of his Great Outdoors initiative. He also wants a new CCC-like job corps for young people, working on parks and rec areas so that they are working. Funding will come from existing oil and gas extraction funds, so this doesn't have to pass Congress. Linky.

48 votes, mid-line still around 93 wins. Just one vote in the 85-87 range, all others 88+. Chances of winning Central pegged around 75-80%.

QUOTE (whitesox901 @ Feb 17, 2011 -> 02:08 AM) 90-72, AL Wild Card Lose the ALDS to Oakland whom will go on to win the World Series. Wild card from the Central? And no two teams in the East with 90 wins? That would definitely be a surprise.

With 22 votes in so far, the peak of the curve is hovering around 93 wins. Very little standard deviation so far as well.

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Feb 16, 2011 -> 02:34 PM) FWIW, here is Scott's press release addressingthe issue: My decision to reject the project comes down to three main economic realities: ● First — capital cost overruns from the project could put Florida taxpayers on the hook for an additional $3 billion. ● Second — ridership and revenue projections are historically overly-optimistic and would likely result in ongoing subsidies that state taxpayers would have to incur. (from $300 million – $575 million over 10 years) — Note: The state subsidizes Tri-Rail $34.6 million a year while passenger revenues covers only $10.4 million of the $64 million annual operating budget. ● Finally — if the project becomes too costly for taxpayers and is shut down, the state would have to return the $2.4 billion in federal funds to D.C. ● The truth is that this project would be far too costly to taxpayers and I believe the risk far outweighs the benefits. ● Historical data shows capital cost overruns are pervasive in 9 out of 10 high speed rail projects and that 2/3 of those projects inflated ridership projections by an average of 65 percent of actual patronage. ● It is projected that 3.07 million people will use the train annually. Keep in mind that Amtrak’s Acela train in Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore only had 3.2 million riders in 2010. And that market’s population is 8 times the size of the Tampa/Orlando market. ● President Obama’s high-speed rail program is not the answer to Florida’s economic recovery. ● We must make investments in areas where we will get a return for the shareholders – Florida’s taxpayers. ● Rather than investing in a high-risk rail project, we should be focusing on improving our ports, rail and highway infrastructure to be in a position to attract the increased shipping that will result when the panama canal is expanded when the free trade agreements with Colombia and panama are ratified and with the expansion of the economies of central and south America. ● By capturing a larger share of containerized imports entering our seaports, expanding export markets for Florida businesses and emerging as a global hub for trade and investment we can create up to an additional 143,000 jobs according to a recent chamber of commerce study. http://www.flgov.com/2011/02/16/florida-go...igh-speed-rail/ What he is saying about cost overruns is in direct conflict with the other article. Someone is using bad numbers, and I don't know which one. And his stat about high speed rail projects is patently false, because there hasn't even BEEN 10 high speed rail projects in the US. So that part, just throw out the window.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 16, 2011 -> 01:34 PM) At least according to the Orlando Sentinel, this is incorrect; there were companies willing to foot the remaining $280 million of the cost not covered by the Feds and be on the hook for any cost overruns, in exchange for being the company that ran the rail line and could take profits off of it. Well, IF all that is true - the cost overruns were basically zero to the state and the cost of building another lane was $3B - then this was indeed yet another idiot sheep deciding to hook up to the "hate it 'cause it was Obama" train. I'm going to put this out there now... in five years, when these buffoons have been run out of office and the states willing to take the project capital (IL, CA for example) suddenly have billions of new investment and thousands of new jobs and cheaper transportation... history will laugh at said buffoons. Plus, since CA and IL would have a huge leg up on these initiatives, all the companies that will be making and maintaining the systems will likely set up shop in those states, providing even more jobs and tax revenue. That $2.6B that FL is giving up is enough to do huge work in IL, CA and IL. I am looking forward to that. Again, IF these articles are true.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 16, 2011 -> 12:53 PM) I think the Sox's system will look a lot better mid-season than it does right now...just because we can't possibly be this injury-hit 2 years in a row. My exact thought - we lost basically the entire top of the 2009 draft to injuries, plus a few other Top 25 or at least Top 50 guys (for the Sox) to injury. I think the two teams to follow, that will be the most fun, are B-Ham and Kanny. I think the B-Ham pitching staff will do quite well.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 16, 2011 -> 12:57 PM) We are the exact opposite. Why create three times the work of managing all of the different accounts? We communicate just fine. No need to worry about getting money in the right place at the right time, because it only is in one place. If it takes three accounts to get things done, it sounds like communications or trust might be a problem. That's where we are at too. My wife is very frugal, I usually am too, and it was just much easier (and a more efficient use of capital) to combine everything. And I use Quicken to track it all, and my wife has all the passwords for everything as well. But everyone has different comfort levels. After seeing my wife get by on 13k a year as a grad student/assistant with no help and no debt, I was confident she knew how to handle money responsibly, and I know how the finance and investment worlds work.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 16, 2011 -> 08:51 AM) This time last year we were all loving up on ESPY TEAHEN on twitter and thinking he was hilarious and also going to not suck at baseball. What other perceptions changed in the last year, be they Sox, MLB, or anything? I still like Mark, and I think his bat is above average for a bench guy playing 3B, DH and corner OF every so often. He's just a butcher at 3B defensively and shouldn't be a starter - he is what he is.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Feb 16, 2011 -> 09:07 AM) New Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott announced Wednesday he is rejecting money for the federal high-speed rail system that would have linked Orlando and Tampa. Apparently the ridership study was favorable to the line, but he canceled the project anyways. He didnt want of that "dirty" big government money. Well, in this case, its not nearly as laughably stupid as Walker's decision. Florida was still on the hook for billions of their own, so there is a strong argument to be made about it. And I don't know the financial projections of the line either, so its possible that Florida's contribution may not be offset by the gains. His statement that these projections are historically over-optimistic is complete garbage of course. I can think of a couple major cities that put regional lines in place in recent years - Denver and Albuquerque/Santa Fe - both of which have had ridership well ABOVE projections. I don't know of any that have been implemented that were below. And selfishly, my response to Florida is... Great! More money for the Midwest network! Bring it on! To be clear, I think that in general, passenger rail and high speed upgrades are a good investment, and I certainly believe its worthwhile in the case of the midwestern network. But I won't go calling Florida stupid for cancelling theirs, since I honestly don't know the math well enough. QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 16, 2011 -> 09:10 AM) The House GOP budget bill raises the Pentagon's budget. LOL, yeah, that GOP will be our budgetary savior! Not like those evil Liberals!

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 16, 2011 -> 09:40 AM) Doesn't bother me at all. I was thinking it could be another thread later, but it is all good. By the way, the same wins poll last year pretty much nailed it, as I recall. The bell curve peaked right around 88 wins. Can't find the poll now though.

To go with the thread in PHT, provide here any and all predictions you have about minor league teams and/or players in the Sox system for 2011...

Poll added!!!

SS, do you mind if I add the annual poll thread for season wins to this thread? Mine... 94-68, win AL Central, lose in ALCS Final ALC standings: CHW, MIN -5, DET -9, KC -10, CLE -20 --Peavy gets going in late April missing only a handful of starts, but has a mediocre year by his standards as he adjusts --Danks falls back a bit from 2010, but Floyd and MB improve from their previous seasons --E-Jax has a good year, ERA in the mid-to high three's --Thornton has an off year but still an average reliever --Santos excels in his second full season, becomes the 8th inning guy --Sale closes and ends up one of the top closers in baseball for the year --Crain has a typical Crain season, Pena improves, Ohman does OK as a LOOGY --Humber gets last BP slot and starts a couple games for Peavy, then is sent down, and Infante impresses but is erratic at times replacing him in the pen --TCQ gets back to near 2008 levels but a little lower in AVG, big comeback for him, AND gets better defensively --Rios has a solid year, not quite 1st half 2010 numbers, but better than his overall 2010 result --Pierre has pretty much the same season he had in 2010 --PK comes back to earth a bit, but not a spectacular fall: .270-ish AVG, 35-ish HR --Beckham breaks out: .300-ish AVG with 25 HR, improving defense --Alexei falls back a bit defensively as he gets too fancy, adds power but reduces AVG at the plate --Morel wins the 3B job, starts cold and Teahen starts every 3rd game, then Morel turns it on as the season goes on and finishes with replacement level offensive numbers but better than average defense --AJ hits for a high average, .290-.300-ish, but lower power numbers, mediocre defense --Dunn hits .240 but slugs 45 homers

QUOTE (Soxy @ Feb 15, 2011 -> 08:31 PM) Well your friendly neighbor to the north is having a bit of a meltdown. Scott Walker's "Budget Repair Bill" dissolves state workers right to collective bargaining (unless, of course, your union endorsed him in the election) and gives state workers what amounts to about a 7-10% paycut (depending upon the furlough situation it could be slightly more than 10%). This is particularly rough for UW system employees, some of whom haven't had a cost of living increase in over 5 years. Big rallies in Madison tomorrow. Private unions (and public unions whose collective bargaining units would not be disbanded) are expected to turn out. Students have also been protesting on behalf of their faculty and staff. Walker has also threatened to use the national guard in case workers strike. lol wut? Use them to what, teach classes in their place? Seriously, this guy has seemed like an idiot from day one. Not for making the cuts, mind you - some of those are probably necesary, even though I'm sure it sucks for a lot of people. But for going past that point, and doing things like threatening to use the National Guard against strikes, or turning down $1B in federal funding just to make a political point.

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Feb 15, 2011 -> 04:06 PM) And President s***head 's idea is to propose a budget that spends 1.76 times what the gov't takes in in revenue. f***ing brilliant. But then says we all have to live within our means. PLease justify this this piece of s***. Let's be a little honest here. NEITHER party is interested in real budgetary restraint here. Everyone who knows a damn thing about the budget realizes that the discretionary spending is a small percentage of the beast, and that cutting 10% versus cutting 15%, while a good discussion to have, isn't going to really solve the problem. Medicare, Soc Sec, Defense, other entitlements, Health Care, business tax policy, the insane number of tax deductions and credits out there... those are the big animals, and none of the party goons are even whispering about those. Sure, there are the few in the GOP and Dems who are, but they are the minority. So don't pretend this is some giant lefty conspiracy.

If anyone wants to see the current state of laughable party-gutter politics in Congress nowadays, just look at the reactions to Obama's budget. Derision from the left AND right - which is fine if it makes any sense. But the descriptions people are spewing are just utterly ridiculous. You've got Lefties like JJ Jr and some liberal organizations saying that Obama is promoting radical right wing agendas, and GOP folks saying the exact opposite, all with a straight face. Its a little terrifying, really.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 02:29 PM) I'm glad that a lot of people seem to agree with me. I thought I would get jumped on for that. I pretty much agree. Its a tough line though... in Little League, he should be allowed to play. College or pro ball, obviously there is no room for pity spots on rosters - if indeed he can't field his position. High school is kind of in between. I mean, if you can find a way to work him onto JV (if there even is a JV team at that school), you do that, give him a shot to prove he can field the position. But if its shown he really can't, then sorry, try again next year. Maybe when he's a senior, add him to the roster for one game and let him pitch once, so that he gets to know how it feels. I feel bad for the kid, and I think its fantastic he's making that effort. But as he said, in his OWN WORDS, he wants to be there because he earned it (which he still could). Give him that chance, but don't just give him a roster spot because you feel badly about him. That sends the wrong message to him and his teammates.