NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 01:16 PM) I think each of his characters are unique, but the similarity lies in him making the people around him extremely uncomfortable to see their reactions. the movie "Ali G in Da House" was kind of funny, but nowhere near as funny as his character on the show. But there was a big difference because the movie was just supposed to be a comedy, Bruno and Borat were both movies with real people and real reactions. Its too bad he couldnt pull that off with Ali G before he became famous The only time I've been able to stand Cohen was in the brief role he played in Sweeney Todd.

Throwing in some just-for-fun questions... --Favorite film: --Favorite baseball team growing up: --What sort of music do you listen to? --If you could be a position player, what position would you want to play? --Any advice for other college players who didn't get drafted but still think they can make it to the bigs?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 12:37 PM) And the one before him... And the one before him...

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 12:33 PM) They are (that dumb)... that's why we have who we have in the White House today. lol @ "today", as if somehow that doesn't apply to the one before him.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 11:54 AM) So he probably can hold runners as well as anyone on our staff, sans Buehrle. I'm liking everything I see and hear about the guy. Considering his body of work this year, he deserves a look soon. And he might even have a bit of trade value now. Not like he's ancient. I agree, and I also wouldn't be surprised to see him traded.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 11:56 AM) All of this is a recent phenomenon, the last 15 years or so. The worst thing about it is, the obvious motivation for doing it is that these politcal operatives obviously think that a large swath of the US population is so dumb, that they will take such things at face value. And I think they might be right.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 10:26 AM) They have to spin it that way - which says plain and simple that they have to make her something she's not - and furthermore says that her biased and liberal views of the constitution and the way she judges isn't in the mainstream, if all she has to do is come across as "conservative". Kind of bass ackwards if you ask me and funny that she has to do this to get nominated. (holy run-on, batman). Its the Karl Rove school of political marketing. Label something the opposite of what it actually is - some people will believe, others will have that condition their thoughts on it to make it seem more neutral. For example, let's take away personal freedoms in the name of the non-war on terrorism, then make sure to fill the speeches about it with words like "freedom".

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 11:11 AM) A significant problem in my mind is the loss of low skilled, mid-high level paying positions. The death of the blue collared worker. Obviously it's period of time that's not going to resurrect any time soon, but really, the issue I'm reading about in papers and online often deals with 30/40/50 year old factory workers who were paid well for their line of work let go with a limited opportunity to find the same salary in another position. These people have families to care for and bills to pay, so I wonder, what can the government do to benefit them? They're seemingly let go by the thousands every day. Are they now forced to attend college or switch professions, probably beginning with a meager salary? Even if the economy does rapidly improve, will their old positions be given back? Probably not. It's as if we're becoming too efficient for our own goodI've always thought, as annoyed as people may become watching five people fill in a pot-hole across Chicago, it represents a necessary evil. These are exactly the type of jobs we need more of. Wasteless positions. Think about how many city workers are scared s***less that one day someone is going to find that, low and behold, it doesn't take that many people to efficiently fill in a pothole. That's why I'm glad to be associated with a profession that fights tooth and nail for job security. Even if some researcher from the University of Chicago analyzes data concerning police employment, compares it with other cities across the world, uses some unknown algorithm, and concludes that you only need 3,000 cops to be efficient, it'll never be taken under consideration. Even in the worst of economic times I agree with you that we need new technologies. The issue then becomes, with whatever is developed, employment opportunities have to benefit the common person. Not just some scientist or an applicant with a PHD in Mechanical Engineering. Let's use an example - solar panels - for technology. By having that industry in the US be successful, you get a very nice profile of higher paying jobs. You have a few researchers and scientists, a bunch of engineers, and yes, also semi-skilled labor positions in plants that build them.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 11:20 AM) Yes, not USFS, but state forests, in missouri with that effin no burn policy, logging is needed to help prevent overcrowding and create healthier forests. Not sure of the case with this forest though, just .02 Definitely also true, though in a temperate rain forest in this case, I'm not sure that the wildfire risk is particularly high, nor will there be much population nearby, so I tend to think that is a lower priority in this case. But definitely elsewhere the fire hazard is a factor, and forest health as well, as you state.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 09:05 AM) Boo! Obama Administration Approves First Logging Contract In Alaska's Tongass National Forest As a general rule, I hate to see more roadless areas cut into. However, in a multi-million acre roadless area, they are cutting 381 acres. Not exactly a gigantic impact. Logging is still necessary, and Vilsack is reviewing these applications carefully. This I am sure included looking at impact on the ecosystem. I can live with this. One note though, a lot of people don't know this... most of the time, logging done on USFS property is actually done at a loss, and the government picks up the tab. So we're actually paying taxpayer dollars for this logging to occur. Not a good thing, and makes me wonder if it makes more sense to actually sell these small parcels to the timber companies, to generate a little revenue instead. Or heck, do a trading system, where they get the 381 new acres to cut under expectations to re-develop it, in exchange for the USFS taking back lands they had re-developed years back that are now healthier forests. Its like recycling.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 15, 2009 -> 11:15 PM) The thing about having 3 lefties in a row, it makes it very tough on you if you face a team that mashes left handed pitching. I just don't see how it makes sense to have the 3 lefties in a row when you can throw a righty in there and make teams at least adjust. If that is the only reason, then in my view, there is no real reason. The same could be said for 3 righties in a row. Also, if they are bad against lefties, we get a benefit - it equals out. So really, its meaningless.

Also of note, after having a bad June, Retherford has turned it back on again in July.

Shirek went 8 IP (don't usually see our minor league starters stay in that long). Gave up 8 H, 2 ER and one UER (pass ball by Price, which was the winning run for Mobile), 2 BB, but no strikeouts. Good outing, tough loss, but I still think its very odd that all his numbers are similar or better to what he did at Kanny and W-S, and yet his K rate is dramatically lower.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jul 15, 2009 -> 09:49 PM) BABIP is a way of measuring luck, an average player will have a BABIP around .300, it can be positively or negatively affected by a players GB%, FB%, LD% or IF% and Kuhn does have a particularly high GB% which would raise his expected BABIP (ground balls historically go for hits more often than fly balls), but not to .424. When Kuhn's luck levels out his average will fall to his actual ability level of around .285-.315. His stat line at Kannapolis is much more realistic than his line at W-S. Sorry, I was more referring to the comment about his OPS being average-heavy (may have quoted the wrong post). I do understand BABIP, though I also think it is sometimes over-used as an analytical tool. My overall point is, he seems to be a high-AVG hitter in general.

QUOTE (Soxy @ Jul 16, 2009 -> 06:38 AM) Actually, I think only Catholics have that option. I've never heard it preached in a protestant church. Cathopurgalimbo.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Jul 15, 2009 -> 10:57 PM) i wonder how many you would actually have to put out in the ocean for it to work I'd think a lot. Still though, neat idea. But you'd want to be selective in turning them on and off. You don't want to constantly screw with the themoclines in the ocean on a large scale, as I'm pretty sure there would be unintended consequences.

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Jul 15, 2009 -> 08:39 PM) It's all batting average inflated though that's the problem, his IsoP and IsoD's are pitiful at .069 and .019 respectively. When his insane .424 BABIP inevitably comes back to earth his numbers will look decidedly mediocre. Except he had a high AVG at Kanny, and last year at GF too. He's been consistently high average all along.

I can't figure out what the deal is with Shirek's lack of K's. All his other numbers look good so far in AA - ERA, WHIP, BB rate, AvgA is OK but not great... but he's only striking out about 3 guys per 9 innings. He was at 6.6 K/9 last season in Kanny, 6.1 in W-S this season, now just 2.8 in AA? Weird.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 15, 2009 -> 07:42 PM) The 3 lefties in a row argues that all 3 lefties won't be there for long. I fail to see why everyone sees an issue with how many lefties in a row we have in the rotation. Doesn't make sense to me. Maybe someone can explain, because right now, I could care less. I DO care that Richard is still in there, though. I just don't see much from him that I like right now. Its near time to give Poreda or Torres a shot.

Tyler Kuhn now hitting over .400 for W-S, OPS approaching .900, in 73 AB.

well, Jared Price is listed as the catcher for B-Ham in tonight's game. So we won't find out tonight, for sure, what the deal is with Lucy/Armstrong.

How did Armstrong even make the team? He's been hot lately, but there have to be better options somewhere in the IL than Cole.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jul 15, 2009 -> 03:27 PM) Actually, Phegley is the only catcher on Kanny's roster right now. OK, I thought Curtis was still there. Even that, though, is odd, unless Sierra really is a catcher.

Another reason to think something is afoot with the catchers in the system - Luis Sierra, a natural shortstop, played a full game at C today for Kanny. They have two catchers on the roster already. Weird.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jul 15, 2009 -> 03:04 PM) If we sign Bryan Morgado where would he rank? i think a LHP with a mid 90's Fastball and improved command and some complimentary pitches that appear to be further along than Poreda would be high on the rankings no? He was discussed, and yes, he'd probably bein the Top 25 if he signs. But in general, when doing our lists, we only looked at guys who were signed, or we thought were very close to signing (Thompson). There is obviously some guess work there.