NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 03:44 PM) I bet Rush jizzed in his pants when he heard that. AH MY EYES!!! MY EYES!!!!! GET OUT!!!!!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 03:41 PM) 2 hits in 7 ab's. 1/2 stolen bases. Look up.

QUOTE (IamtheHBOMB @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 03:37 PM) Wasn't he a September call up last year? I seem to remember him being on the roster at some point. Did he look that good against major league pitching? He hit .286, but that was 7 AB, so the numbers are useless. What he did look like, to me, was a pro. He looked fairly comfortable, and looked like a ballplayer.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 03:35 PM) In this market, who's still lending? More importantly, in this market, how will you pay the loans back with no job?

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 03:32 PM) Loans. Thats what I did, thats what my siblings did/are doing (including grad school). Thats what most of my family did or will do. Also, by starting at a community college you save a lot of money. Or, you could part time it while you work, thats how my brother is paying for grad school right now b/c he is choosing not to take out more loans. Part-timing it is always an option. So are online classes. And, if you are trying to raise a family at the general "college age" odds are that it is your own fault or decision you are in that situation where you feel you can not afford to go to college to raise said family. Of course there are exceptions, but it is not the rule. I just dont buy it. If a college degree is something that a person wants badly enough they will find a way to do it. If the desire is there, the option to go is always available You also have to get INTO a college. I actually do not know what the requirements are like to attend a community college nowadays - if just anyone with a HS Diploma or GED can get in? Not sure on that one.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 02:24 PM) First of all, I dont believe that govt has a constitutional right to control what an adult ingests unless it poses a significant risk to other people. Second of all, some people dont think steroids are a big deal and dont think it has a major impact on the performance of a baseball player. So in my opinion what they did was worse. Then there isn't much discussion to be had. You have now, in this thread, said that his illegal acts shouldn't be illegal, the evidence out there (which is substantial) isn't enough, that there is no morality clause, steroids may nothave a major impact on performance (in which case, why did he choose to shrink his balls?), and you think a scuffball is worse than illegal steroid use. I give.

QUOTE (IamtheHBOMB @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 03:22 PM) Why is everyone so high on Getz? (This is not a snide comment in the least -- I'm genuinely curious.) He has a .361 minor league OBP, his numbers got continually better the last three seasons going through AAA, and he added power in 2008 (.448 SLG). His OPS of .814 in 2008 at AAA is awfully good for a 2B. Plus he has some speed, and is known as a smart player. He can also play multiple infield positions. He also has more walks than strikeouts for his minor league career.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 03:21 PM) If someone has enough of a desire to, then yes, pretty much anyone can. Still no. Problem A: money. Problem B: Some people are working multiple jobs and raising a family, and school is not a realistic option. There are others as well.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 01:49 PM) Wise is a better base runner though, so the speed isn't too big of a factor. It's also hard for Owens to use his speed when he hits a grounder to the right side 80 pct of the time. Actually, all things considered, I think Owens buys you more on the basepaths than Wise does. Wise does happen to be a smart baserunner from what I saw, but Owens is pretty good too and has a lot more speed. I'll still take Owens over wise every day. I do also agree with SSI though, that I'd rather have neither, if that was an option.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 01:45 PM) Thank god the family planning portion of the stimulus is axed. Us taxpayers need to keep paying the tab on things like this (Emphasis mine)... EDIT: Added LINK I was wondering about this case. First, where did the money come from for a bankrupt woman to have fertility treatments? Second, who kind of f***ed up doctor decided it was a good idea to give a 33 year old mother of 6 any fertility treatment at all, let alone putting 8 eggs in there instead of the usual 2? This should never have been allowed to happen.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 01:31 PM) 1. Ty Cobb 2. Gaylord Perry 3. Phil Niekro 4. John McGraw 5. White Ford Those are just a few off the top of my head. Cobb was perhaps a racist, perhaps a murderer. Perry admittedly cheated. Niekro admittedly cheated. Ford admittedly cheated. It should be of note that when Cobb was elected to the HOF, he received more votes than Ruth, Wagner, Mathewson and Walter Johnson. To me it appears that all that mattered was how they played the game, not what people thought of them. Otherwise Cobb would not have gotten all the votes he did. Just my opinion. (Edit) Im not sure Big Mac and Sheff statistics make them sure bets for the HOF. When a player is questionable I think thats when you start to ask about character etc, to make the final decision. But Bonds statistics massacre both of them. OK first, you are making a leap here that is unsupported by facts. You think that because someone got in and has some sort of issue of character or sportsmanship, that must mean the voters don't care. That's not the case, I am sure. Character, integrity and sportsmanship by nature are not yes/no qualifications, they are subjective, just like all the other qualifications. It will therefore always be a mix of those things. Second, I don't put on-field "edging" like what Ford, Perry et al, on anything like the same level as what Bonds or Rose did. Putting some vaseline on the ball when pitching is minor in comparison to giving yourself a full-time unlevel playing field advantage by way of an illegal substance. Its also minor in comparison to betting on baseball while playing or coaching it. These are per se ILLEGAL acts, which ALSO present major consequences on the field. There is nothing illegal about scuffing a baseball a bit, and in fact some people contend that sort of edging is not even a big deal.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 01:30 PM) The voting for the new RNC head is in complete disarray. What do you mean? Link?

QUOTE (watchtower41 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 01:08 PM) Actually he was one helluva 4th OF for us last year, if you can remember he was one of the main spark plugs that delivered us a AL Central Crown last year after CQ went down. I'd be one to think that Wise is oozing with confidence right now that he can fit in with this team, we already know he has a better bat than Owens. Expecting more in the starting CF/Lead-off position is one thing, but to think Wise is completely useless on this team in nuts. Owens is better both offensively and defensively than Wise. The only thing Wise has is a better arm, and not by much. Owens will get on base a lot more often, which is key for our CF and for this team. He has serious speed, much more than Wise. Owens, arm aside, is a decent defensive OF (not great by any means, but average), whereas Wise struggles on the corners and would be a disaster in CF. And Owens has shown he improves at each level, whereas Wise has proven over the years in the majors that he isn't getting better. Wise has no place on this team.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 01:18 PM) She is very attractive. I dont deny that. What i am saying is should they have used campaign money to make her sexier in an attempt to draw votes? I find that sleazy. You don't see the duality in your positions on this? Its OK for you to focus on her sex appeal, and give her insulting labels, but if private entities like herself or the GOP to spend money on her outfits it is sleazy?

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 01:15 PM) I guess I think its different comparing different eras, with completely different crimes. Thats just my opinion and I believe thats why they let people vote on it. Each person selects the HOF based on their own opinion. My opinion is if Gaylord Perry is in, Bonds is in, Clemens is in etc etc. In my opinion if you compare Bonds to other HOF "integrity, sportsmanship or character", I think Bonds is not even close to the worst. Therefore if I was to judge HOF credentials based upon other HOF inductees, I would conclude that Bonds should be in the HOF. Are there any other HOF caliber players who have been kept out due to the "integrity, character, or sportsmanship" clause? Because Jackson and Rose are kept out by being ineligible, not because people didnt vote for them. Mac has been kept out for that reason. I think you will see Sheff out for the same reason. Also, who else do you see as worse on "integrity, sportsmanship and character" who is in the Hall?

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 01:00 PM) Remember, part of the Palin problem was the GOP payed $150,000 for her clothing... then denyed it... then pointed fingers at McCains people... then they pointed back. It wasnt so much the clothing, rather where the money came from. Should a political party or campaign be paying to "sex up" a candidate? Weren't you the one who kept wanting to call her a MILF in here?

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 12:35 PM) Time for some more good news: According to Bloomberg: Four banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank system have suspened dividends: Pittsburgh, Seattle San Francisco and now Atlanta. Contagion is spreading. Crisis is growing. A bailout will do nothing but kill Treasuries. Last night Moody's downgraded 1893 Alt-A tranches. Many went from AAA to CCC. Alt-A is likely our next BIG problem, which could pose a problem for WFC, who inhaled $130 billion worth of Alt-A with the WB purchase. I don't think this is what I'd call a "contagion" anymore. I think we passed that point. What we are seeing now is the deepening of symptoms as a result of the disease. Still plenty of rough spots ahead though.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 12:07 PM) The same way you compare putting up an OPS of 800 in the dead ball era to putting up an OPS of 800 today. You start using more and more complex statistical tricks to tease out that effect, but then you realize that Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs against all-white pitching and wonder what he'd have done in an integrated league, but then you also realize that Babe Ruth did it on hot dogs and beer and did so without any sort of modern training techniques, etc. The statistics can only take you so far in so many comparisons. Exactly. And for that matter, how do you compare certain areas of stats, like power (SLG, HR, etc.), to other areas, like hitting for average? The balance between them, and their relative value, is subjective.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 10:58 AM) Okay hilariously that was on the page I read, I just figured that it would be in the eligibility section not the voting section. So a voter can legitimately keep bonds out if they think that using steroids impacted integrity, sportsmanship or character. And they could keep him out if they felt that perjury impacted integrity and character. I of course dont like how subjective it is, but rules are the rules. It will be interesting to see what voters do, as they have never had to vote on either Rose or Jackson. Should be interesting. How could getting into a sports hall of fame not be subjective? its all subjective, even the statistical arguments.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 11:42 AM) Whatever direction you go in will be a solid one. I always wondered why we only have 2 days for the weekend. With seven days in a week, we should have three off. I believe they call this place you long for, France.

Wise as a starter? Is that a joke? I was figuring it would be an Owens/Anderson contest for CF. I cannot believe we are talking about Wise as a potential starter. I don't even think he's a good 4th OF - I'd rather give Cook a shot.

Should I be the one to point out that Michelle Obama wasn't running for office?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 10:53 AM) The government spends roughly what, $12 billion per year on health care fighting AIDS? That is money that could be easily employed elsewhere. There were some 56,000 or so new cases of AIDS reported in the country last year.. Current estimates say that new infections, not pre-existing ones, cost the country on an annual basis on the order of $50 billion dollars per year, in particular in lost productivity, which makes up about 75% of that total. Disease prevention = enhanced business productivity. Plus, it produces a much better gain than having the government pay people to dig holes and then fill them in again. I agree with some of your points, but, you could stretch almost any spending into something that could pay off in some way later. That doesn't make it a true economic stimulus. What you are actually encouraging, and which I at least partially agree with, is making changes to health care to make us more efficient.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 10:19 AM) The planted kid during the little town meeting in front of Blago's house was pretty shameful. That is the "Say it ain't So" kid I was referring to. Hilarious. Also, the "WE LOVE YOU TOO!!!" shout from the crowd.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 30, 2009 -> 10:23 AM) They can have my incandescents when they pry them from my cold, dead hands. LOL