southsider2k5

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 17, 2011 -> 08:36 AM) But if they do, they'll make more money and more profits. So what's stopping them? The kindness of their hearts? edit: I'm honestly trying to understand this here, I don't have a strong background in formal economic education. Mostly anytime you have a change in fixed costs, you have a change in production and pricing. What would essentially be a new tax on business, would drive up costs. Those costs, in an industry that sees virtually no change in demand for changes in supply, would be passed on. We see it all of the time when the price of oil goes up now. Profits aren't affected at all to the negative, prices are raised instead. In an environment where there was an elastic reaction to pricing, profits would fall and prices wouldn't react nearly as much. Businesses would have to absorb the costs to keep customers, as much as they could. The best argument out there for what would happen if subsidies went away, is exactly what we see happen all of the time when the price of oil spikes. Price increases get passed along. Period. Pricing pressure doesn't discriminate to why there is pressure. Prices only care that there is pressure. Whether prices are trying to go up because of changes in supply, new taxes, a new refinery, a refinery fire, or less subsidies doesn't matter. It is completely immaterial. In theory, there should be a number to hit when those elasticity numbers start to curve upwards. Its not a straight scale for sure. It seems to me personally (I have zero evidence of that) that it seems like $4 seems to be a spot where we get bigger reactions of people changing behavior. But without a truly sustained period of time at that price point, it is impossible to say for sure because you have to have some sort of a "long term" run so that all changes in the other areas could be adjusted for. I would give the caveat that if subsidies were cancelled at a price point somewhere past where elasticity of gasoline starts to accelerate, I could see less of a price change being able to be passed on to the consumer. The reality is even if I am right about $4 being big mentally to the marketplace as a whole, the changes in behavior will still not be large in a relative sense of the elasticity of most things. There will still be a lot of the price increases passed along to the customer.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 17, 2011 -> 08:42 AM) We can make up for it by using 10% of the money we give in those subsidies to improve public transportation. Which benefits by far mostly people in cities, which means half of the country gets left out.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 17, 2011 -> 09:12 AM) The second Lilly started puking, I called that she was pregnant. It's signed on for two more seasons, so it's gonna have to last somehow. It was a great show for a while, but I think it's definitely run its course. Just show us who the f***ing mother is already! Two more seasons? Ugh. One is plenty enough.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 17, 2011 -> 08:27 AM) Which still leaves Ryan Sweeney (sort of) as the only Sox position player who's received the "Ozzie Treatment" and gone on to have success with another organization. If we can rescue failing players from other organizations, why haven't all the teams in MLB been able to fix the likes of Borchard, Fields, Anderson, Michael Morse, Jeremy Reed, Getz, etc.? It's hard not to arrive at the conclusion that they weren't that good in the first place...although some will argue we somehow messed them all up beyond repair. Doesn't their later failures with multiple organizations support Ozzie's position that they weren't good enough to play? When we brought in Alexei (and this was when he was still being compared to Ramon Santiago), Iguchi and Beckham, they played almost everyday from the beginning. Same with Quentin (albeit not quite a rookie in 2008) after Owens went down in ST. Is it not possible that Morel's just not meant to be a regular at 3B because of his lack of sufficient power (same argument as was applied to Sweeney) and that he would never would have come close to being ranked #3 in another team's sytem? We can argue Ozzie will stick with "bad" veteran players but not "bad" and unproven youngsters...? Really that is a good point. If kids were leaving the Sox after failing under Ozzie and being studs somewhere else, that would be a clear indictment of Ozzie. But it really isn't happening.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 17, 2011 -> 08:46 AM) How many players in Latin America have been signed to a guaranteed MLB contract (I won't even add "signed at age 19 or higher to their first contract"), received $10+ million dollars, and didn't (or hadn't yet) achieved a starting role in the 3rd year of their playing career? In this situation, it's basically like we "drafted" something between an advanced high school player and a seasoned SEC collegiate player and gave him one of the biggest signing bonuses in the history of the draft. It's an unusual contract and certainly "big" by most definitions. Dude there would be more astericks in this than a George Carlin concert transcript.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 17, 2011 -> 09:18 AM) We are brothers, now. Does this mean we have to wear the European man thongs now?

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 17, 2011 -> 09:02 AM) J4L gives up on this team because we didn't trade Asik for Courtney Lee. I want my props as Asik's most ardent supporter. Go. FWIW, I was there with you.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 17, 2011 -> 08:33 AM) Why don't they just charge the higher price now if the market will support it regardless? They don't have to.

QUOTE (Brian @ May 16, 2011 -> 08:28 PM) HIMYM with the most predictable season finale ever. Yeah I nailed ever single thing in that one.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 17, 2011 -> 08:29 AM) Normally if I suggested we start subsidizing something to save the consumer money, I'd expect you to be the one responding that the American taxpayer is paying for it either way. I wouldn't have expected you to be so enthusiastic about a tax on the poor either.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 17, 2011 -> 01:41 AM) http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/121966474.html The irony of all ironies is that they traded Wilson Ramos and they still might need to draft ANOTHER catcher #1 because it's looking more and more unlikely that Mauer will ever be able to stay healthy playing there 140-150 games per season.Vin Mazzaro(notes) made major league history. Royals reliever Vin Mazzaro gave up 14 runs and got just seven outs against the Cleveland Indians, who beat Kansas city 19-1 Monday night. He was sent down to the minors after the game. No pitcher has allowed 14 runs in fewer innings than Mazzaro, according to STATS LLC, whose database goes back to 1919. “It’s tough. It was a tough game,” said Mazzaro, whose ERA is now 22.74. “Some of the plays didn’t go my way. It’s a funny game.” Now that is taking one for the team. Ouch.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 16, 2011 -> 04:23 PM) link A spokesman from Minute Maid Park told MailOnline the athletic fan received jail time, a fine and a lifelong ban from Major League Baseball parks. Well there you go. Commit a crime, do your time.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 17, 2011 -> 08:19 AM) No way. First, the amount of money we are talking about is a meager percentage of their income, so its not going to have any noticeable effect on overall levels of production and procurement. Second, the money is tied to specific actions it must be used for, and those actions are prompted by high gas prices anyway - so it will happen regardless. If the subsidies were removed, what you will see is a lot of complaining by big oil, a brief and small spike in the futures that quickly dissipates, and then nothing. The subsidies are a hand out, pure and simple, and no they would not have an effect on gas prices at the pump unless they did something purely punitive and acted like children (which would then get a government response and investigation, everyone loses, etc., so won't happen in any big way). With an elasticity of 15 to 20, almost the entire price hike would be handed to the consumers. It really is that simple.

It would be really nice if some of these guys can put their problem histories behind them and emerge as legit prospects. Then again the way the big club is going, they are about to have a lot more competition in the minors...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 16, 2011 -> 05:09 PM) Again, comparison needed. How many teams have gotten 2 starting position players, a 1 year wonder closer, and a top prospect OF/DH bat internationally over the last 8 years, and done so without a Kaz Matsui contract level bust? If I go to the roster of some of the top teams right now, do they have more or less than that? Or without throwing out "big" contracts.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 17, 2011 -> 08:00 AM) That's cause Detroit is gonna win it! Detroit has a better chance than Cleveland. There I said it.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 16, 2011 -> 07:41 PM) I was told by someone who knows someone that Viciedo was coming up today, and I assumed it was for Teahen, but Viciedo was in Charlotte's line up tonight before it was PPD. Like was mentioned above, you would think if they were going to replace Teahen, they would have had someone in Chicago before the game today, so apparently the Tank is going to be staying in Charlotte. It only makes sense to me.

No thank you

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ May 17, 2011 -> 06:48 AM) Heh, his strategy is to out-plank the competition by being more stiff than everybody else. Heh, you said stiff.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 17, 2011 -> 08:01 AM) LOL, he actually has the impression that oil production subsidies means lower gas prices. Wait, check that... he knows that is a lie, but he's playing it anyway. With the elasticity of gasoline and the type of industry we are talking about, it absolutely means lower prices, both in real terms, and in supply terms.

QUOTE (lostfan @ May 17, 2011 -> 12:21 AM) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_NBA_Draft Every time I read that list I'm always thinking "who"? And of course the Bulls had three first round picks in what was supposed to be the next step in the rebuilding process. Ugh.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 16, 2011 -> 11:16 PM) The Heat apologists are hilarious. "This is what the Heat need to do if they are going to win game 2 and then take the series." Well, there are certain things that I would need to do to get both Blake Lively and Meagan Good into bed - it doesn't mean that any of those things can actually happen. The one I love the most is talking about how the Heat need to rebound better. Of course they do. Now tell me- how are they going to do it? "duuuuuuhhhhh ummmmmmmmmmmm durrrrrr" f***ing Chris Broussard is the worst of them all too. He's so loud and annoying. The problem for Miami is if they commit to rebounding, it takes them out of their transition game, which is the one place they own Chicago. It means they'd have to beat the Bulls using their halfcourt offense, which we all saw the Bulls shutdown to the tune of 34 second half points.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ May 16, 2011 -> 04:07 PM) Really great view of the launch today even though I was 2 hours south of KSC. I'm jealous. I saw a night launch from Daytona when I was a senior in college. It was incredible.

Asik on the other hand, is hot sauce material.