NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 01:45 PM) But, extended unemployment claims rose by a very large 80k. This means that continuing claims would have been 80k worse except those unemployed people's normal unemployment benefits ran out. They are now no longer counted as continuing claims. In addition the exhaustion rate hit a record 52%: 52% of those on unemployment completely ran out of benefits and are on their own. They are no longer counted as unemployed(except for U-6 unemployment rate, which is not what everyone looks at). I think you are incorrect here. The US gov't extension of benefits kept them on, and even when adjusted for that, continuing claims still dropped. This is why the market was happy to begin the day, before the housing data showed up. You are right on the unemployment RATE though, that number is going to be skewed as people drop out of it.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 12:52 PM) This is what happens when you demonize the Govt. This isn't something to blame anyone for other than the out of touch, out of their mind hicks who did this. SE Kentucky isn't exactly a bastion of rational thought. I am sure there are smart people there, but also a lot of scary people. But you seem to hint that this was somehow born of the general anti-government sentiment currently prevalent among the right wing, and I wouldn't make that leap.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 12:54 PM) $4 Billion bailout for post office I've said before, I don't think the USPS has a good financial model at all. They shouldn't be spending money on advertising and marketing like they do, nor should they be pouring money into competing with private business. They should stick to the mail.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 12:53 PM) http://www.cnbc.com/id/33001468 http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Home-sales-d...ml?x=0&.v=6 Yeah, today was interesting news-wise in the markets. Sales of existing homes dipped unexpectedly, but new and recurring unemployment claims dropped unexpectedly.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 12:17 PM) It was a pretty covered topic and quote during Georgia/Russia conflict. condescension welcome though. edit: I easily could have just referred to Putin's KGB career to justify it, as well. OK well, before this gets too snarky, I apologize for being condescending, which my post was.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 12:09 PM) Not really, because I'm referring to John McCain's reiterated phrase where he'd say "I looked into his eyes and saw K.G.B." and then smile showing how tough on the cold war he was. thanks for the accusation though! Come again! You were referring to a John McCain quote? Weird. Sorry I wasn't privy to your inside joke.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 11:10 AM) Like I said, I dont knwo that he quit, and I dont feel that he did. I just think his plodding style has finally moved KW to a point that he would like to replace him. I certainly wouldnt mind Kotsay at 1B, I think that would be a great replacement Kotsay at this pointin his career isn't much less plodding than Konerko. And while I like Kotsay (wtiness: I called for the Sox to acquire him multiple times the last few years), he is a downgrade against Konerko. He won't put up as good a numbers offensively, has only slightly more speed, and is a push defensively. So replacing Konerko with Kotsay as a full time 1B means sacrificing more offense, but you do save some money to be sure. I'd love to see Kotsay back next year in the exact role he has this year - backup OF and 1B.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 12:02 PM) They cold have them on perjuring themselves to the feds, and there's probably enough there for a terror charge or two. Bomber 1 is already indicted on the plot, well beyond perjury. The others, well, they may need to go that way.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 11:59 AM) KGB eyes is putin NSS Then you need to study Russia a little better, becase the KGB has their own set of interests seperate from either Medvedev OR Putin (thoughly obviously at times in concert).

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 11:56 AM) Sounds like his visit to NYC on Sept. 10 was the last straw to take care of this thing before it delivers. That is the impression I have gotten so far - they were tracking some folks, the folks got together in an unexpected way, and then a few details of the situation on the ground changed such that they needed to act quicker than originally planned. I just hope that doesn't mean they didn't gather enough evidence to put these people away.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 11:54 AM) I don't think Medvedev would have spoken without prior approval from KGB eyes. I don't think he was referring to the KGB being the puppetmaster.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 11:54 AM) The guy believes that it is his destiny to destroy Israel and bring forth the return of the prophet. What is there to understand? Just to throw this wrench in the works... I am not sure he truly believes that. I think some of his speeches have some calculated overstatements to satisfy certain elements.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 11:43 AM) Here's the ≠ sign. Please keep it stored wherever you store that smiley. I prefer , from my heavy coding days.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 10:59 AM) My surprise player is Konerko. I dont know that he quit, I just think that its time to cut the cord. Seriously? He had a great comeback year, has put up a .283/.354/.503/.857 line, .311/.393/.516/.909 w/ RISP, will finish around 30 HR, and is finishing nicely with a .973 OPS in September. And, especially with Thome gone and Dye probably gone, he's one of only two guys in the lineup capable of hitting 30 HR, probably. And there is no good 1B option behind him for 2010 in the system. Yes, that all makes his trade value high, but he's also very hard to replace, and his numbers indicate he not only didn't quit, but has been producing even better as the team faltered. ETA: I am not saying he won't be traded, just that I disagree strongly on any idea that now is the time to sever ties with him.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 10:49 AM) In all seriousness, how can it be that he "doesn't have time"? I mean he'll address the IOC quickly, attend for a couple hours but asides from that his time will be in a hotel or AF1. It's not as if he won't have access to pretty much anything he'd want/need. I personally still think he ends up going.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 10:44 AM) Hudson will be starting again Sunday. Looks like Floyd's done for the year. Pretty sure that MB will miss his last start as well, which I think would have been next Tuesday. I'll be curious to see how they handle the rotation from here out.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 10:23 AM) I have always struggled with this sort of argument. I find it hard to believe most of the time that people actually in the situation, who do this for a living, are not privy to AT THE VERY LEAST the same information that dopes like us can gather on the internet. I guess I have always assumed that not only do people in his position have this information available to them, but far more information available to them that we do not have. Additionally, he has input from players and other coaches as well. Another thing that complicates the issue is that Ozzie simply is not the most articulate of communicators. You're not going to get the kind of information out of him that you are going to hear from Tony LaRussa or Terry Francona. However, when he wants to (and why this is, I don't know), Ozzie has made it clear that he knows juuuusssstttt a bit more than we give him credit for. He just doesn't really care to discuss that with the press. While I know many of us question the lineup decisions and the PH decisions Ozzie makes, personally, I just have a really difficult time with the notion that I know better than he does. Others obviously do not share this sentiment. That being the case, I certainly don't believe he is above criticism - I just think there is a lot we are assuming that we don't know and it's difficult to isolate the issues without really knowing what is going on. And you are right, this reasoning applies to the advanced scouting as well. I stand corrected. You are kind of agreeing with me here, but maybe I didn't articulate it well. I am in agreement with you that Ozzie, Walker and the coaching staff are almost assuredly privy to every piece of data we are, and then some. What I am saying is, it looks to me like Walker is missing the boat in two areas. One, since the data is there but the performance of his charges reflects an apparent lack of that knowledge, then there is a disconnect there. Could be the players not listening or implementing, could be Walker not delivering it in a useful way, or could be (probably is) some combination. Two, I think his focus is wrong. Look at Coop. Coop spends lots of time coaching the pitchers on their mechanics and delivery and strategy, but he clearly ALSO makes sure that Ozzie knows what he needs to know. It appears to me (I know, its just my view), that Walker doesn't do this. So I am not at all saying the data isn't available. I am saying that Walker's focus, and his ability to get his hitters in line with the information, both appear to be off, and are not good matches for a manager like Ozzie who needs some help in this area.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 10:09 AM) And what the heck is Obama doing addressing the UN? I thought he was too busy solving the health care crisis to do anything else? Yeah, Barack, get on this Olympics thing, man!!! And yes I actually mean that, selfishly.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 09:57 AM) I smell what you are stepping in, but I think there is WAY too much that we don't know about to make some of those leaps... I don't think they are any more leaps than its a leap to say the advanced scouts aren't doing their jobs. Its all guesswork, since we are not in the clubhouse. I just think that Ozzie needs a hitting coach who can coach HIM on some things, as well as do a solid job preparing hitters with as much data as they can for what is coming up. And it APPEARS, from what I can see, that Walker is in the middle of the area where those things are failing. That doesn't mean 100% that it is his fault, but I think it increases the chances that he has some responsibility in it (by the very nature of his job). I won't tout the silly and obviously unfounded arguments about him supposedly teaching lift-and-pull, or that Walker doesn't know what he is doing, etc. I am going on actual evidence, as stated above, and trying to make the best guess on where the responsibility lies. And at least some of it lies with Walker.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 09:15 AM) Now those might be some better solutions. Our advanced scouts seem to be dropping the ball. Is it the advanced scouts, or is it that the players and coaching staff are not paying attention to the information provided to them? This is one area that Ozzie is truly a weak manager. He doesn't understand matchups well, and doesn't adapt his lineups and in game decisions to fit the data available. I don't expect a manager to ALWAYS follow the numbers - baseball is not entirely about stats. But Ozzie regularly makes poor lineup and matchup decisions for no apparent reason at all, in the face of obvious reasons to do otherwise. Its always seemed odd to me that Ozzie handles his pitchers pretty well, but his position players not as well. I personally think that this is actually a good argument for why Walker should go - Ozzie and Coop obviously mesh and work well together on decisions (I doubt Ozzie was a genius on pitcher handling just on his own), where as the results (Ozzie's decisions) seem to indicate that Walker is not providing Ozzie with the right information. So there's one good reason to suggest that Walker may not be the right guy for Ozzie at hitting coach.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Sep 24, 2009 -> 02:53 AM) Wait, am the I the only one who is noticing the worst part of all? No defense coach was hired. For one thing, Cora actually serves as the infield defense coach. Second, I don't think the team ever has a plainly "defense coach". Third, the season isn't even over yet, let alone are we starting spring training, so let's see what happens.

QUOTE (sircaffey @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 05:05 PM) No I know there are examples of guys who have failed, I'm just asking you why you think it's likely that Thornton will fail. From what I gather about him, Thornton is very even keeled. I like that from a closer (Mariano-like). I don't need the Papelbon attitude. But I take it, you don't think Matt has the personality to close. No, like I've been saying, I think its 50/50. I don't know if he can or not. I don't think its likely he'll fail, I think the likelihood of success is about the same as failure (and of course its all shades of grey as well). I'm just saying that he's not got a typical closer's demeanor, and he's a 95% one pitch pitcher, so its far from a guarantee he'd be a successful closer. QUOTE (SoxAce @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 09:38 PM) According to Hawk in the booth from the game, he said its torn and Bobby is wearing a walking boot. Not sure if surgery is needed as of yet. Well yeah, he said it popped at the time, which means a tear of some degree. Not really a surprise. And unless its really severe, muscle tears don't gernally require surgery.

The idea that Iraq will cost less than the bailout is just manifestly false, no matter what your feelings are on either one. Also, even if they are similar in cost, is anyone seriously going to argue that a $2T war that bought us a nice broken Iraq, is a better investment than $2T to at least somewhat help economy and avoid financial collapse? Really? I didn't like a lot of the bailout (some of it I did), and I found nothing useful in the Iraq debacle, but seriously, there is no contest on this one at all.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 04:19 PM) There was another, much more liberal friendly link provided for the people who suddenly think sources matter. "Suddenly" my big white hairy butt - I always ask sources for something like that, and always question when the source is a highly biased site with no actual quotes of the word or bill at hand. Which is why I appreciated the Fact Check site as being a bit better, and responded to that.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Sep 23, 2009 -> 04:08 PM) I don't believe that anybody is "sure" of that. Bobby put up a 4.00 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP in 2006. We would've felt pretty stupid if we traded him at that point. And that is what is worth noting - people are saying relievers suddenly wash out, which is true, but just as true is that most relievers, even good ones, have good and bad years. Doesn't mean they are done for.