NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ May 12, 2009 -> 09:18 AM) The USSR did something a lot like this in the Cold War to get their hands on USD, they called them Eurodollars. I'm not sure exactly who else in the world wants USD's who couldn't get them (Venezuela? Iran?) but for them it's a total win/win. If the US Treasury doesn't default on loans the other governments get to trade in $'s and if we do default that's the global hegemony shift they've been praying for. I'm not talking about Currency swaps here - this is a credit default swap. Party A holds a debt instrument (could be T-Bonds, or corp debt, or mortgage debt, etc.). They want to remove the default risk, so they take their return rate (i.e. 7%), and pay some portion of that (say 2%) to someone else. That someone else, the SELLER of protection, gets the cash flows. In exchange, the protection BUYER, gets the right to PUT the defaulted loan to the SELLER, in exchange for full par value. What you were describing is a currency swap, which is a different deal.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ May 12, 2009 -> 09:06 AM) Who is selling, and who is buying? That would go a long way in proving your theory. I looked into that a bit on the interwebs (this is NOT something MY firm is doing - just something happening in the industry). Most of the firms doing it are domestic - not foreign entities. Which only adds to my theory. Who could be buying protection in the US on US_T-Bonds where it would make any sense at all?

I work in finance and technology. I've come across something that makes no real sense, barring what I am theorizing here. Let's see what some of you think. There are some people out there doing Credit Default Swaps (CDS), over US Treasury Bonds. Why would you buy protection against the default of US T-Bonds? Before you answer, think it through to its logical conclusion. There are two possible scenarios. One is that the US Treasury does not default on its debts (this is obviously the likely scenario). That happens, the money is gone. The other is that the US Treasury does in fact default. Now, if that happens, what that means is that the whole US financial system is going to crash. So effectively, even if you called the protection seller to cover the par on those T-Bonds, they aren't going to pay you anyway, even if they could (which they probably could not). So, again, the money is gone. Its like buying insurance that covers a nuclear holocaust - if it happens, the insurance company is gone anyway, or declares force majeur. So... why? Why would you buy that protection? My theory: its a method of hiding cash flows. One financial entity wants to send cash to another one, to meet an agreement or contract of some kind that would not pass regulatory or legal muster. Something under the table. But by distributing the cash this way, the cash flow itself is clean. Nothing weird on the books. I am looking for someone to punch holes in my theory here. Can anyone thing of a logical reason for doing this, other than what I am theorizing?

Alright, these team overhaul threads are maybe a bit much. So let's go simple. What do you do, right now, with the pitching staff? Who do you move in or out (within the organization)? Do you change the rotation order? Bullpen/Rotation moves? I'll throw mine out there... MB and Danks are obviously fine. Colon is OK, for now, but you need to have a Plan B ready for his slot. Floyd is not fine, but I think he can BE fine. Looks to me like he's painting too much, but also not believing in his breaking stuff. His curve hasn't been as good a lot of the time this year as it was last year. I think if he can work with Coop to get more into the strike zone with his breaking stuff early in the count, and not throw away so many pitches, he'll be alright. JC gets sent down, Ozzie puts Richard in there, but I don't think he's ready to start. I'd actually rather put Carlos Torres in the rotation and give him a shot at it first. I don't see him being spectacular by any means, but I think he can be successful for more innings than Richard could right now. Aside from the obvious back 4 of the bullpen, the three others should be Carrasco, Gobble and Broadway. Gobble is now your LOOGY. I send Richard back down to AAA to take Torres' spot in the rotation, because I think he can be a solid starter, but needs to get back into that mindset. if Torres struggles, Richard comes up next. Oh and, next bullpen arm up should be Link. So the final result is: Buehrle Floyd Danks Colon Torres Jenks (CL) Linebrink (SU) Dotel (SU) Thornton (SU) Broadway (LR) Carrasco (LR, mop up) Gobble (LOOGY) NEXT IN PEN: Link from AAA NEXT IN ROTATION: Richard from AAA

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 11, 2009 -> 10:46 PM) Saw Star Trek, loved it. Best space scifi film since Serenity. We've got tickets for an IMAX showing on Saturday. Looking forward to it. And I loved Serenity - I hadn't seen Firefly before then, but bought the DVD of the series after seeing Serenity. Really a shame that show got killed off - seems like it got popular just after that.

Getz is in a slump and still has a .340 OBP and walks almost as often as he strikes out. He also flashes some speed on the basepaths and has made some smart advances to help get into scoring position. He's hit 5 doubles in his 84 AB, which equates out to over 30 for a full season, so he shows signs of developing power as time goes on. And he plays very good D at 2B. This all from a rookie. If this is Getz in a slump, then I'm pretty darn happy with him leading off for this team. Down the line in 2010 or 2011, who knows what the team will look like. But unless he skids pretty badly the rest of the year, he looks like a lot better than a #9 hitter to me.

So, he was going to veto, Daley said HAIL NO, he said maybe he'd call the board's bluff, and then when the 11th hour hit... He vetoed. Sales tax is staying put, unless the board can come up with a 13th vote (out of 15) to override. Original vote was 12-3, but Cook County has a 4/5 veto override rule.

Wow, where did Stefan Gartrell come from all of a sudden? Not sure if its the protection he gets in that lineup, but... he's now got a 1.016 OPS, and he's hit 7 home runs in just 92 at bats in a tough HR ballpark (that's about twice his rate from last year). OBP over .400. I realize he's 25 and repeating AA (sounds a bit like Cook a couple years ago), but he was highly touted at one time. Maybe he's ready for that kind of consideration again?

QUOTE (lostfan @ May 11, 2009 -> 02:43 PM) Cut taxes not defense? That's f***ing retarded. Where do they think the deficit (that they blame him for) comes from? That's exactly what I thought, first thing. Do you want to fund a Trillion dollar war and hundreds of billions a year for defense on a bake sale?

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ May 11, 2009 -> 03:05 PM) Great trade then wasn't it? We got Swisher off the books, got Betemit who can be a contributor offensively and a couple prospects who may or may not pan out, and used the money for Viciedo who still has loads of talent. I think it was an OK deal.

I'd really rather see Kroeger on this team than Lillibridge, but at this point, I think they are waiting for BA to come back and take that spot. That's my guess anyway.

QUOTE (JustWin @ May 10, 2009 -> 11:50 AM) I probably am. So what? I thought I could join this forum and speak freely on how much I loathe the Cubs and their fans. Maybe I was wrong. Feel free. Just expect that the reactions you get might be related to the fact that you seem to do more Cubs hating than Sox liking. If that's your thing, hey, go nuts.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ May 11, 2009 -> 06:35 AM) Bobby Jenks is better than Ian Kinsler. f*** you Ian Kinsler. I'd very much want you on my team, but b3ecause you are not then that mean you are the enemy. And f*** the Texas Rangers and that stadium you call a stadium, its not even a stadium, theres no f***ing grass there, grass doesnt even grow in that hellhole. And I fony dcare if you Rnagers think you can beat us at home, you only beat our s***ty ass pitchers, not our good one.s. Enjoy Brandon McCarthy. After this and your Steven Upchurch worship thread in FS, I am starting to wonder if you had a very late night, that is still going at 7am.

QUOTE (ROC Sox Fan @ May 10, 2009 -> 09:36 PM) Lucy and Cassel (had no idea we had Matt Cassel's brother in our system) collided on a pop-up in like the 4th that resulted in Cassel spiking Lucy in the back of the head, he was down a bit then played a few more innings before Armstrong came in. I get to watch that boring Charlotte team again tomorrow night! Too bad Contreras wasn't down sooner... last year I caught Uribe's first rehab stint start which was a nice surprise. Justin Cassel led the Southern League in ERA last year, and was looked at as a guy who might be a future starter if he handled Charlotte well. Unfortunately, so far, he hasn't. Lucy got spiked in the head, stayed down a while, got up and kept playing? Dude is one tough SOB.

QUOTE (SouthsideDon48 @ May 11, 2009 -> 12:15 AM) whoa, an inland hurricane? Has this ever happened before??? :-O Summer 2003 one hit Memphis, TN. Took weeks for the city to get all the street lights back up and running and all the downed trees off the streets. People went days without power - without A/C in Memphis in July. 100+ mph winds, straight line and downdraft, just like what apparently hit Carobondale. They called it Hurricane Elvis.

QUOTE (JustWin @ May 10, 2009 -> 09:08 AM) Is there something wrong with that? Please don't even try to insinuate that I'm a Cubs fan in disguise. I am FAR FAR FAR from that. I think he was saying, perhaps, you are a little Cubs-sessed.

QUOTE (shipps @ May 10, 2009 -> 09:21 AM) I have a history of sleep walking but I only do it maybe 4 times a year. I have always only vaguely remember walking around when I wake up in the morning but it could have been a dream in my mind. When I woke up I seen the melting ice cream on the ground in my room and seen the stereo cord rapped around the stereo like I was wrapping it up for a big move. Among other random things moved around in my room. So I am just gonna take my roommate for his word that I was putting the ice cream in my pants,he doesnt have a reason to lie really. I dont remember doing any of that stuff though. Clearly, he was attempting to steal your stereo, then thought, "I should make this look like he sleep-walked - what's a goofy thing he'd do asleep? I know... ICE CREAM IN THE PANTS!!!"

Boy for being such a "loveable" franchise, the Cubs sure have assembled an impressive list of assholes on their roster. Not a lot of likeable players on that team anymore.

I remember Padilla drilling AJ, twice in a row, and nothing was done about it (by the umps OR our pitchers). I was pissed at the time. I think this could be an ugly game today, and I'd be shocked (as fathom said) if Padilla doesn't hit someone. That guy is an ass anyway, and hits people for s***s and giggles and no baseball reason at all, so I can't believe he won't do it here.

QUOTE (shipps @ May 9, 2009 -> 02:13 PM) So apparently I was sleep walking last night and put ice cream sandwiches down my pants. I can't stop laughing at this.

LOL, what a ridiculous article. Chicago weathered the housing fall so far better than most cities because it didn't hyperinflate as bad as other areas during the bubble. Any list like this that doesn't put all major cities in CA, FL, and the NY metro at the top of the list, is clueless.

Kroeger has his OPS up to .858, hitting .405 in his last 10 games with 4 HR and 4 doubles. Cole Armstrong with a hit raises his average to .146, but also made his second error. He's really struggling. Brandon Allen now hitting .300, OPS approaching .900. I just can't get over how good CJ Retherford seems to be, as an undrafted free agent. His OPS is now 1.007. And he seems capable of playing every position on the field. Fernando Hernandez seems to have figured out the Southern League, in his 2nd year there. Probably time to move him up to Charlotte, pending whatever pitching roster moves the Sox might make.

Yuck. This makes no sense at all. Leave Getz where he's been successful, leading off, and let Pods stay 9th. Please.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ May 8, 2009 -> 03:02 PM) He's hitting .273 without a walk, he's not all that fast anymore, isn't driving the ball and is only capable of playing 1 position. If Ozzie chooses him over Wise then he's hypocritical fool but what's new? You're probably right. I don't see Wise hitting any better than Pods, in fact probably worse. I also disagree that Pods is not that fast anymore - he still runs the bases as fast as anyone (base STEALING is another topic). And defensively, I think Wise is only slightly better. I see these two guys overall as nearly interchangeable, with a slight edge to Pods.

Shoe brands often have a specific type of foot fit, or a few specific ones. So its not necessarly that one is bad in general, its just bad for some people. I have a running shoe made by Brooks, called The Beast. Its meant for large fram runners (I'm 6'3" and currently 245, but even at my ideal 200, I ain't a small guy) with ankle stability problems (like me). They work great for me, highly stable and comfortable, and high enough to keep my ankles in, even with the orthotics. But Brooks might be horrible for someone else.