NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 02:25 PM) Lol.. there are other players in the game that do that as well. Hell, it happens everywhere. (when I was playing in high school) Isn't as big as you would think, baseball is full of cheating actually. No one is surprised at cheating. What we are surprised at is a major league player cheating to help THE OTHER TEAM.

Good news. So Pods takes Owens' spot, Getz and Thome stay, and that just leaves BA as a question mark. So... I HOPE that Getz still leads off when he returns, and not Pods.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 02:20 PM) Why would they release him? Didn't he already clear waivers when they sent him down before? Does he have to go through again? I'm sure he'd clear. Why not keep him around in case you need a pinch runner in September? He needs to clear again. Problem with putting him in Charlotte is he takes up roster space for, say, outfielders in B-Ham that deserve to be promoted and have real potential.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 11:49 AM) Normally my instinct would be to totally agree, but there's one thing that's bugging me; the WHO's decision to move to an alert that's 1 stage below calling it a full blown pandemic (the stage 5 thing they did yesterday). Given all the data that's publicly out there, the confirmed numbers of infected, the fact that they're trying to move the casualty numbers down and seemingly tell people it's not as scary as it's being made out to be, that's an official move in the opposite direction by an org that I'm hoping has at least some semblance of an idea of what they're doing, or at least which would be questioned loudly if they were obviously making a mistake. If they're moving the alert up when all the signals are saying "it doesn't look that bad right now", it kinda makes me wonder what they know that I don't. I'm not saying that these organizations shouldn't be acting, or that there isn't risk. I'm saying that unless you have something that will make people drop by the thousands each week, you don't tell them to stop flying and stop commuting. The negative effect of that could be catastrophic on the economy.

QUOTE (mmmmmbeeer @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 11:25 AM) I'm currently a little over 2 years into a 30 year fixed VA loan at 6.5% We plan on staying in this home for several years. The 4.5% isn't locked in yet, but it can be locked in as soon as I give her the go-ahead. We have very little equity in the house, negative equity actually with how short a time we've been there. The market here in the ATL area has taken a hit like most other places. I don't feel that the refi amount, 100% thanks to VA (also will roll in points and closing costs), is well beyond the value of the home (still within the Zillow estimate). I'm stuck going VA because their streamlines don't require appraisals and will finance 100%. Having only been in this house 2 years with dropping values, we'd have to come a TON out of pocket to go with a conventional refi to take advantage of the rates available these days(if only I was a deadbeat mortgage holder, I'd be in better shape). I guess my main question is about the points, if it's worth it. From what I read, points are tax deductible. They'll empty my current escrow account and give me that money directly, as well as a 2 month payment lapse before the new loan kicks in. These 2 things will easily take care of the cost of the 2 points. I'm hesitant because I've heard in the past the same thing, that points are typically a bad thing. Problem is that I'm worried that theory doesn't necessarily hold true when dealing with an opportunity to get a 4.5% fixed rate on a home you plan in staying in for a long time. Points are just interest paid up front instead of over time. So do some math - take your points paid for 1 year, divide it over the amount of years (likely minimum) you will be in it, and see what the APR actually blends to. If its less than your current 6.5%, then move to step 2 - spread the closing costs over the same period. If all told, it equates to less than 6.5%, and you feel reasonably confident in your minimum time period in the loan... then I'd say this is a good deal. You'd be saving money from that time end forward (at least, maybe more, based on how far below your total virtual rate is against the 6.5%). Plus you'll have a lower payment as well due to the lower rate, and you gain some money on what you do with the extra cash. One other note - IMO, escrow is a rip-off. Just like paying far more taxes than you need to and getting a big refund. You are really just loaning someone else money at a zero percent interest rate. So unless you are paranoid about missing property tax bills and forgetting to pay them (they are only twice a year), I'd go zero escrow, put the money in a savings account of some kind, and pay prop taxes out of that. You'll even make a little money on the interest. Just make sure you know that money is set aside for the taxes and don't spend it.

This pisses me off. I don't want to Buster-ize this thread, but, I have to point this out. Joe Biden is telling people that they should avoid flying, and the subway, because of the swine flu. STFU Joe.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 10:42 AM) If this pitch-tip thing is true, then there's no way A-Rod can come back from this. He'll have to be run out of the game by Selig. Selig won't run him out. But, his teammates are now going to be pissed, especially his former Texas ones. In fact, if he faces any former Texas pitching teammate, I'd be he gets drilled.

Time for the first monthly update. Charlie started 4 games in April, which break down like this: two excellent outings, one so-so effort, and one shelling. That put his overall numbers as pretty darn good for the month, and thanks to his team bailing him out, he went undefeated on the month... G: 4 IP: 22.2 W-L: 3-0 ERA: 3.18 WHIP: 1.06 K/BB: 16/5 AvgA: .229 GO/AO: 2.40 HR: 0 That GO/AO value and zero HR are good signs that he is keeping his pitches down, he's showing good control, and hitters aren't doing a lot against him. His ERA is best on the W-S rotation, and 8th in the league among starters. Hard to find weaknesses there - he's not striking out a ton, but, a 6.35 K/9 isn't bad, and his weakest K day was his first game of the season (he had 8 K in 7 IP in his last outing). He does also give up a higher AvgA with runners on (.310) than with the bases empty (.185), so he may need to work on his pitching from the stretch a bit more. Overall a good first month for Charlie at High A ball.

QUOTE (G&T @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 04:34 PM) Thank you. Don't thank him too quick - its not that easy. For one thing, E911 on a landline provides dispatch with your exact location by address. You can dial 911 and not even have to say anything - they'll send help to your location. With a cell phone, two issues. One, the 911 operator doesn't know specifically where you are. Two, you may not get the correct 911 - could go do the wrong municipality or agency, get shifted around, etc. - and you lose time. And if you can't give them a good location verbally, they may have very little to go on to send help. I keep a land line for 2 reasons. One is 911. The other is that a cell phone is always less clear and harder to have a conversation on, than a land line. We don't use it much, but when at home or work, I'd rather be able to hear the person.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 09:49 AM) Buehrle said he suspected something was up, and it looks like he may be right. He suspected someone was signalling the Texas hitters generally. So either A-Rod played for the Sox and we didn't know it, or people on the Sox were selling out Buehrle to multiple Texas hitters. Not likely, and not what MB was talking about.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 09:47 AM) I'm not about to throw in the towel, considering I thought last year's team was going nowhere and they made it as far as they did. But really, we're in the same spot we've been in for three years: a middle lineup of aging, slow sluggers surrounded by no-names. Only our pitching is noteworthy. That we didn't get a leadoff hitter/CF in the offseason I thought was pretty ominous. That said, last year we managed to win the division, so who knows? Except this year, the "no-names" are looking pretty decent. Getz leading off is good, Fields has done nicely so far. You also managed to ignore Alexei, who is neither old nor slow (though his hitting has started slow again), and has actually looked pretty good at short. The lineup has some guys starting cold, and a couple injuries, but other than the CF hole of doom, the lineup is really pretty good when healthy. I'd worry more about defense, keeping people healthy, and how Colon and Contreras hold up, than anything else.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 09:37 AM) I've been Josh Fields biggest fan on this site for 3 years now, but it's scary to see how overmatched he is by a 90 mph fastball. I wish we could be confident he'll make that adjustment, but he's never shown he can hit a fastball in the majors. The key for him, in the time being, is to put any breaking pitch thrown to him into play. I think you are just wrong here. I've watched games, I've been at games, and I've seen him hit some low 90's fastballs hard and far, often to CF or RCF. He still gets steamed occasionally with middle to high heat, but not nearly as often as in 2007. He has clearly adjusted, and will continue to do so.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 09:33 AM) From everything we have learned about A-Rod in the past year, does this really surprise you? The Roids were definitely for stat padding, I have no doubt that ARod would be happier with a record than he would a world series ring Surprise? Not much. Just saying it bothers me, a lot.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 09:37 AM) Buehrle was right! Only if Buehrle was playing on the same team as A-Rod.

For some reason, the pitch tipping to help the other team and his stats bothers me a lot. Seems like selling out your team, to me.

So we have some roster moves coming up today or tomorrow. Thome is going to test the heel today, supposedly, and may go to the DL... Owens packed up his stuff and left yesterday... Anderson is maybe hurt, possibly just sore... and Getz is hoping to come back. My predictions... --Getz comes back Friday and plays. --Owens gets outrighted, Pods takes his place --Anderson just rests for a few days, which gives Pods a few games starting --Thome I am not sure on. I'd guess he'll be ready to go, and its a non-issue. If he goes to the DL, we'll get Andy Phillips added to the team.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 07:58 AM) Didn't that happen with some airlines in the past? Also, they are talking about this model for the Chicago Spire project. The various unions want the jobs, but the Spire doesn't have the funding yet - not enough units sold. So, the unions are discussing taking a major equity stake, with the influx of cash going towards getting the project moving again. I really do like that sort of thing.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Apr 30, 2009 -> 07:58 AM) Didn't that happen with some airlines in the past? United was, at one time, employee owned, I believe.

QUOTE (mmmmmbeeer @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 11:10 PM) I'm pretty much a complete rookie at this stuff. Good credit refi.... 2 pts and 1% origination for a 4.5% interest rate. Wouldja? Can't know without more data. What does your current mortgage look like? How much on it, how much equity (%), rate, period, type... 2 points is potentially a lot of money to put up front - the more front-loaded you go like that, the longer you need to be willing to stay in the mortgage to make it worthwhile. Is the 4.5% locked completely? How likely are you to move or sell the house, and have to re-do the mortgage again, any time soon? Could be other factors too, like, how much cash you have available, what rates might appear at different equity levels, etc.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 07:58 PM) Link I actually like this idea, in general. The unions complain and complain; let them take ownership, and responsibility for the jobs. Bring in some foreign capital. Give the company a shot to survive, and if they don't the employees/union have themselves to both credit and blame. US takes a small stake. Not bad.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 08:11 PM) Being at the game today, it made it even easier to see how off Josh Fields is from squaring up a fastball. The league has already made an adjustment to him, so he better learn to speed up his bat or we'll be looking for a new 3B come June. Oh come on now. In a month and a week we'll be looking for a new 3B? Fields adjusted to fastballs, they are now adjusting to him, he'll adjust back. He may struggle in the interim, but, let's not get ridiculous here.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 06:25 PM) I'm not saying Thome can't hit the ball the other way, he sure can. But he never tries. So what if they pitch you inside. As a major league hitter, you should be able to inside out the ball. I'm not saying Thome should become like Pods of the first half of 05 where he did nothing but slap the ball the other way. All I'm saying is when there is no one on and 0-1 out, why not just inside out a swing and push a ball the other way? Try and start a little rally. If he never tries, then explain all his oppo home runs, and base hits to left. The only place he doesn't hit is on the INFIELD to the left. And really, there isn't much reason for him to.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 28, 2009 -> 04:29 PM) Classic. (Uses word "Hell" if you're at work.) So bizarre. The GOP just keeps parroting "freedom", when they have been about the opposite of freedom for some time now.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 29, 2009 -> 04:47 PM) I have a good feeling about that Quentin kid. Whatever. His average is lower than BA's, he sucks.

Lexi advances, but all for naught.