NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (kev211 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 10:20 AM) Yes but its much easier to find a 3B that can give you .300 with 25 homers, then it is a SS or 2B. His bat is so much more valuable at short or 2nd. Basically at 3rd he is just a good player, at SS/2B he is one of the best players in the league. There really aren't a lot of .300/25 guys at ANY skill infield position.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 10:14 AM) And really thinking of the big picture here, the federal government underestimates the demand for cars so badly that they are talking about shutting down this program after four days, yet we aren't supposed to questing the CBO cost esimates for health care and how many people would decide to go on the plans and how many businesses would drop their coverages? Yeah, ok. And on that, I agree with you, which is why a government-run health care program is probably not the best answer.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 10:13 AM) Looks like the EPA also recently messed with the fuel efficiency ratings, screwing some people out of the program: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-...Clunkers-Deals/ How can the EPA change these numbers years later? That makes no sense. This was done a year or two ago - the EPA was critized by consumers for setting MPG numbers based on unrealistically conservative driving tests. They adjusted the tests, which was a good thing, because almost no one was getting the EPA estimated mileage from their cars before that adjustment. And this has a good side effect here too, with the CARS program. The new cars have more realistic numbers, so as long as buyers are getting one with better MPG numbers, you actually gain a few extra clicks in MPG in the transfers.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 10:12 AM) Which was the biggest problem... they were imposing new standards after forcing companies to take the money in the first place. QUOTE (Cknolls @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 10:16 AM) And receiving a nice interest rate on top. I don't have any problem with either of those things. We needed to set some sort of standard for capitalized safety nets, and as investors in these companies, you are damn right the government should get interest back. I only have two issues with these rules. One, that some banks (mostly smaller ones as I understand it) were bullied into taking the money when they didn't need it. And two, if anyone was not allowed to pay it back EVEN THOUGH they could show their stability matched those standards (and I don't think this #2 ever happened).

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 09:35 AM) Many of the companies that took the money were not allowed to pay it back for a long time. The threat was that they would fail the stress test (that the gov't came up with, of course) if they sent the money back. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 09:35 AM) The fed government forced all companies to wait for quite awhile to pay them back after practically forcing them to take it. As I understood it, companies needed to be able to pass the stress tests before paying it back. That only makes sense.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 09:26 AM) Even in cases where companies weren't allowed to pay back funds? When did that happen? Everything I've seen so far is that these funds could be paid back whenever. Many firms already have. Now, there were some firms that were encouraged to take it even though they didn't need it, to a point of bullying even. But I haven't read anywhere that a bank wasn't allowed to pay it back when they wanted to (unless it was some small or regional bank that was insolvent or in protection/receivership or the like).

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 09:19 AM) Don't you just love reading stuff like this?! The key factor here is the whole TARP aspect. If GS, ML and others are paying out big stupid bonuses, I have zero issue with that. They want to bury themselves and lose mid-level employees who get frustrated, then fine. But, in this case, WE (the taxpayers) now are key stakeholders in the business. That's where it gets bad, and where they shouldn't be allowed to do this as long as they still have government funds. If they pay it all back with the intended interest, then from their on, they can do what they want. But if it is found that while they were still on the government dole, and were doing this, while laying off thousands, then I hope Congress b****-slaps them and uses the muscle built into TARP to kick out the executives (again) and bring in a new team, rinse and repeat, until some management team finally gets it right. To me, its the equivalent of... I'm on a board of directors of a firm that is in bankruptcy protection. If I find out the high level management gave themselves giant bonuses, when the company is still struggling, I push the board to can their asses.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 09:15 AM) You mentioned the YES network. Being in NY i also watched the game on that. I usually don't mind them, but last night they annoyed me. They kept harping on AJ and his "dirty" slide, and the strike zone. Leiter really started getting on my nerves. It was a really wide strike zone, but it was being called on both ends that way, so I think a nice GMAFB is called for. I didn't get to see AJ's slide, I heard it on the radio. Was it dirty?

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 08:39 AM) Wasn't this posted here a month ago or so and subsequently proven to be a bulls*** rumor? Yes. And the list is silly on its face - its almost all players that were big name guys in 2003. Any real list would contain at least 50% nobodies.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 08:36 AM) more than a couple times this year, Jenks has thrown nothing but fastballs. I've never seen it. Thornton? Yes, often - he's about 95% fastballs as a rule. Jenks? I've seen him sometimes not throw the curveball, or not throw the slider, if one isn't working or whatever. But I have never (in recent years) seen him go a full inning on nothing but fastballs.

QUOTE (kjshoe04 @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 11:13 PM) There is nothing I hate more than cyclists on the street. Makes me way too nervous. I always feel like I am going to kill someone. I'd actually prefer for drivers, and riders, to be more nervous than the typically are. All these discussions about talking on the phone, texting, eating, wearing headphones, whatever while driving/riding, center around people allowing themselves to be distracted. In short, people don't take driving/riding seriously enough. They are too relaxed. They need to be in yellow alert mode, not green. Driving is dangerous, a 3000 pound semi-guided missle is dangerous. So if bikes on the road makes more cyclists and drivers nervous, I actually call that a win.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 11:58 PM) Also, Thornton is spending way too much time with Bobby. Yeah, you're not gonna trick many hitters if you throw 12 straight fastballs. Except that Bobby doesn't do anything like that. Thornton does though, and has for a long time - he only very rarely throws in that slider.

We have a big discussion going in the environmental thread about this. Basically, by "messed up", you mean its actually been more successful than any of the other stimulus items to date.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 08:25 PM) They think the 1 billion went way faster than they thought and there is such a backlog due to demand that they don't even know how many cars were traded in. I actually think the cash for clunkers plan was a great idea, a program that actually stimulated the economy. It's possible they expand it. I think there should be stricter rules on the mpg of the new car though. I agree. And so does Nancy Pelosi, according to her statements late yesterday.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 08:02 PM) The best part is that a lot of people are just trading in their old 12 MPG SUV's for new 14 or 15 MPG SUV's. Chrysler's ad for this features nothing but SUV's and Jeeps. I saw a Tesla on the road today. The guy wanted to race me. He had a good license plate: "SIN GAS" (I'm guessing he's using the Spanish 'sin') And that part is indeed a shame. It accomplishes the economic goal, but not the environmental one (at least not much anyway). But I can't believe some people are so focused on finding any fault with Obama that they somehow manage to point out a program succeeding beyond expectations as some sort of failure in that light.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 08:01 PM) They are suspending it because it's costing too much. Read the article. I did, and that is not what it says. It says they are seeing much higher demand than expected, and they are afraid that too many people are looking to take advantage of it.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 05:20 PM) oh man, I laughed so hard at the bolded part. Per CNN "In Barrett's e-mail, which was posted on a Boston television station's Web site, he declared that if he had "been the officer he verbally assaulted like a banana-eating jungle monkey, I would have sprayed him in the face with OC (oleoresin capsicum, or pepper spray) deserving of his belligerent non-compliance." Barrett used the "jungle monkey" phrase four times, three times referring to Gates and once referring to Abraham's writing as "jungle monkey gibberish." He also declared that he was "not a racist but I am prejudice [sic] towards people who are stupid and pretend to stand up and preach for something they say is freedom but it is merely attention because you do not get enough of it in your little fear-dwelling circle of on-the-bandwagon followers." Barrett's comments were taken out of context, said his attorney, Peter Marano. "Officer Barrett did not call professor Gates a jungle monkey or malign him racially," Marano said. "He said his behavior was like that of one. It was a characterization of the actions of that man." Who the heck is Barrett? Was that another officer on the scene or something? And do you have a link the article you took this from?

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 07:54 PM) LMFAO. You mean people are actually using this? Well, we better s***can it! And you same people want them to control health care? Please. what in the hell are you talking about? This program is, so far, a raging success. So basically, you just said you want the government to run health care.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 05:56 PM) If Lillibridge gets one start this week, i riot. I believe a riot of one is called a temper tantrum. So I guess I'd have to join in to make it official.

FutureSox Interview with Dan.

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 03:54 PM) kotsay leading off? last stolen base was ... 2001? Pods has been highly ineffective at stealing this year (which, along with his defense, have been his only real downsides), to the point where his even attempting it is detrimental. So on that aspect of the game, a guy who never steals, is an upgrade. If Pods needs a day off, which is probably a good thing for him occasionally, then Kotsay is not a bad choice. Looked pretty decent his last couple at bats last night.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 03:55 PM) In this scenerio Jas brings up, Alexei having a bum ankle for 10 days is the least of the Jays concerns. And if that is all it is, then great. But I don't think we know that yet. And if I am a GM on another team, I make sure I know for sure, first. And hell yeah I would do that trade, from the Sox perspective. I'm just not sure the Jays would do it.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 03:46 PM) What do you guys think. Do the Jays bight? Would you do it? I don't think anyone is trading for Alexei until we know more about his injury.

Elvis is alive.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 01:30 PM) How could I forget Time Cube? I've never seen that before. What an odd little site.