NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 05:17 PM) I'll wait for the sacrifices and great throws, although I might be waiting a while on Anderson to produce those. Some people thought Rowand was a good thrower, when he was a really average arm. Anderson is above average, but he's far from Larry Walker or Roberto Clemente. Dude, what? Anderson had an OF assist just the other day, had a bunch in ST, he has a plus arm. You want him to be Clemente to be acceptable?

QUOTE (Texsox @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 05:11 PM) Would NATO pass a resolution? The key here is actually someone helping that nation. And by helping it may take an invasion. Too bad they don't have anything worth keeping or it would already have been done. Oil is the key to save citizens from evil. No, they wouldn't. My point is, give them the tools they need to act - flag all the coalition ships you can as a country that actually has useful on-point laws.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 05:08 PM) If they are flagged NATO, won't they have to follow NATO law. Which IIRC, would then call for a NATO resolution authorizing those actions. Hmm, a pirate war . . . That was my point.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 04:54 PM) I think we can probably all agree that this is a bad idea. I feel this makes a very strong case for an international agreement allowing these guys to be tried before the international courts. Because right now, the alternative is releasing them. Somehow that doesn't strike me as a very effective method of dealing with these guys. Getting the U.S. to take the lead here in setting up a legal way of dealing with crimes on the high seas would be an excellent step. Note this key phrase in that article: If US law allows for detainment and trial in its maritime law, they can do it. And I think US law does indeed allow for it. Easy solution - have all the NATO multi-national vessels be flagged as US ships (or other countries with similar laws). And if other countries like Belgium have their own ships there, just leave them out of the hunt, and try to encourage them to change their laws or stay the hell out of the way.

QUOTE (scenario @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 02:45 PM) Who would you rather take that the risk of losing... Nix or Owens? I still think Nix might have some potential, so I sure as heck would rather they release Owens.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 04:38 PM) If Chrysler comes back asking for more money now, let em burn. Anyone want to give us a lecture about how corporate pay levels are reasonable because the executives are always beholden to shareholders and work in their best interest? For companies that aren't on government welfare, I think the government should stay out of this. But for Chrysler, since we basically own them now and they are gambling with the livelihood of tens of thousands of people over their own executive compensation... f*** 'em.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 03:59 PM) Re point #1 - the problem is, sir, NO ONE in the world will play by the rules but us, so what's the point? Do you think Mr. Chicomm gives a s*** about an American and his "rights" if we ever got into a war with them? GMAFB. And the world is full of roses. I guess that's my point. None of our enemies play by the rules. I'm not for 285 times or whatever it was, if that's really true. But if there are lives to be saved, then you have to do some things that you don't want to do as a government. I have a feeling that some of this stuff was cherry-picked to make it look like something else. If you're going to cherry pick s*** to release, release it all. Re point 2 and 3 - these people seize on this stuff as weakness, not strength. I'll get more into that later. The fact that others won't follow those rules makes it all the more important that we do, IMO.

Why? Given Anderson's results so far, why change again this quick? And why put a guy out there likely to hit even less, and provide no better defense?

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 02:19 PM) Fixed. Austin is the largest market without a major pro sports team, plus if you place a stadium between those two cities, either in New Braunfels or San Marcos, you'd have a HUGE market to draw from. Plus, I just don't think the Texsox clan can support a team. Austin has a metro population of 1.6M, but is also, what, 80 miles from San Antonio? And its a few hours from two metros with major league teams. On the other hand, the other metro areas I listed are much further from existing MLB teams. And in the case of ABQ/SF, and San Juan, they have no pro franchises for hundreds of miles in any direction. Same with Las Vegas, though I didn't put that on the list for other reasons.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 03:32 PM) I don't know. Every media outlet in Chicago yesterday sounded like Tokyo was the clear favorite at this point. I only read the trib on this topic in the last few weeks, and it was quite clear that these compliments were espoused for Chicago and Tokyo alike.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 02:22 PM) You're talking to someone who has actually interrogated people btw. So have I, but waterboarding by police is generally frowned upon. Obama's politicization is a direct follow-on to campaign talk of getting away from torture. I think there is a difficult line to draw though - as you say, the public really doesn't need to know specifics on a lot of intelligence gathering. But on the other hand, if we as a nation feel that torture is not acceptable, then maybe we need to establish what torture is.

QUOTE (JorgeFabregas @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 02:58 PM) Not to beat a dead horse, but in terms of specifics: Read The Paquete Habana, 175 U.S. 677 (1900) http://supreme.justia.com/us/175/677/ From the syllabus: I don't know all that much about the subject, but my understanding is that international law has always played some part in US jurisprudence and that no one imagined it could be otherwise. Now, the meaning and types of international law have changed a lot in the last century. I think that is legalize for exactly what we've been saying - in the absence of contravening or posted law or jurisprudence domestically, it is perfectly reasonable and expected to reference int'l law.

QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 12:53 PM) You think the club has a lobby? LOLOLOLOOLL I'm hilarious. You do know that is where the term came from, right?

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Apr 19, 2009 -> 11:58 PM) Bumping this because people are doubting Soxfan, but I watched the news and the IOC is very very impressed with Tokyo's bid as they would finance most of it, already have most of the facilities, and almost all events are within a 5 mile radius. If you read the articles on this, they point out that the IOC said this after Chicago, and say it after every city visit.

Memphis should not be in the discussion for a major league team. I'd put about 10 metro areas ahead of it. Memphis is a basketball town and can't even support their NBA team, its one of the poorest large cities in the country, high crime, rainy weather, and a fan base already very attached to one team (Cards). You want a team in Tennessee / Mid-South, the clear choice is Nashville - same size city but much better in pretty much every respect for a predictor of MLB success. In any case, I think expansion is a bad idea - too much dilution already. And the cities that I think deserve the most consideration for a team (moved or expanded) outside of Florida, in order, would be: Charlotte / Carolinas San Juan, PR San Antonio / McAllen Albuquerque / Santa Fe Portland Nashville

QUOTE (shipps @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 11:20 AM) yeah that tumor word was the one I have been worried about. Cause why not just think the worst for every little thing that your body does strange,right? You work in the medical community, of course you do that. You could have a fever and you'd probably be convinced you have Hanta virus or something.

QUOTE (shipps @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 10:06 AM) Being in an ER I could just get advice from someone here but I havent even asked cause I know they would tell me all the worst possible scenario's and then I would freak out even more. I dont have any pain though so I dont know if it would still be an occular migraine. I am thinking its the pressure in my eye which I really should keep an eye on(no pun intended). But you saying that has calmed me down so thanx. Occular migraine doesn't necessarily have pain associated with it. Also, yeah, there are all sorts of other bad scenarios possible (cataract, occular tearing or damage, tumor, CVA aftermath, optical nerve damage, some sort of weird parasite), but they are all far less likely. Sorry, did that make it worse?

QUOTE (shipps @ Apr 20, 2009 -> 08:55 AM) Completely unrelated.... I have been seeing a floating spot in my right eye for a couple days and its kinda freakin me out. Sounds like an occular migraine. I had one, once - the spot got bigger and bigger one morning, until I lost half my vision in one eye. Went to a doctor (I was a little freaked out), and it slowly went away while I was there.

1. Using RBI's as a measure of performance is silly, since it is dependent on others. 2. Brian has plenty of power, but right now is focusing first on making good contact and being selective on pitches - which is EXACTLY what he should be doing to get himself into a rhythm. Once that becomes natural, the power will return. This is sort of basic hitting stuff - you cannot power your way into contact, but you can contact you way into power. 3. 740? He has to have a 740 OPS to be valuable? Where do you get that magic number from? And further, since most of his competition (Wise, Owens) would be lucky to get a .700 OPS much less .740, and Brian has superior defense, I'd say he's valuable even at a much lower level.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 19, 2009 -> 05:37 PM) You're no fun at all. Commie. Whatever, Klingon.

Chris Getz while batting leadoff: .292 avg, .370 OBP, with some speed (just 1 SB so far, no CS though) - and he's still learning the majors. The Sox don't really need a leadoff hitter. Brian Anderson since Wise's injury: .313 avg, .476 OBP. Brian is starting to figure it out. I think we need to take a deep breath and let these two do their thing for a while.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Apr 17, 2009 -> 07:45 PM) Cool! We suck more! And NSS, he is. He is apologizing for us. How many quotes do I have to string together? first of all, you said "cowtowing" to the rest of the world - as if to say we were capitulating to their desires, which are definitely not. And frankly, I don't mind his apologies at all - our leaders in the executive acting like drunken, selfish assholes in the way they acted towards their neighbors. So when Obama adds as part of his speeches that we, the US, have acted with some arrogance in recent years... he is right, and its good he says it. It does no harm to us, but it goes some way towards getting back to positive relationships.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Apr 17, 2009 -> 06:06 PM) I will. I'm tired of our president, who is supposed to uphold our constitution, and our interests, cowtowing to everyone else in the world. Let us know when he actually does that.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 17, 2009 -> 04:03 PM) How is Betemit going to put up better numbers than Swisher. Swisher's a lock to play 140 games now...Betemit, if he's lucky, will play 50. Relative numbers, not gross. But I also think its likely that Swisher may not start all year either.

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Apr 17, 2009 -> 03:44 PM) Marquez is garbage. We better hope Nunez comes through or we really got fleeced in that deal, other than dumping Swishie's salary. Even if Marquez is a dud, which we can't possibly say yet, its still a good deal for the Sox. Removing Swisher's salary got us Viciedo, which alone is worth it. But we also got Nunez, and Betemit, who I think we'll see put up better numbers than Swish come the end of the year. We did have to give up Kanekoa unfortunately, but still a good deal for the Sox.