Texsox

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 9, 2011 -> 07:59 PM) I think that in spring training Ozzie just assumes that if a guy is a veteran he knows how to get ready and spends most of his tome pushing the rookies. It's the same philosophy you hear articulated from walker... He's a veteran so he should know how to work out of this. My example is Pierre. He comes in with weight training and such, and he's one of Ozzies guys. I think ozzie let's him off easy in ST on batting and fielding because he's obviously in shape. So, the last 2 years, Pierre has had terrible aprils, when he never did that in his career until he got to Chicago. Some guys might work well like that, but a lot of these guys need that extra push, and if you're one of Ozzies guys...you won't get that push. OK, I'll accept that. How much should the athlete be motivated on his own and how much is the manager?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 9, 2011 -> 07:48 AM) I think you're way underestimating the effect quality preparation can have on a player. I'm interested, how does the manager prepare his players? What have Dunn's other manager's done for him that Ozzie isn't? I'm just not buying any excuses for a veteran athlete like Dunn. Should Ozzie have gone to Dunn's house and prepared him a low cal lunch? Maybe each night sit by his bedside and read him scouting reports? Pick him up on days off and go for a run? Oz made some stupid decisions that didn't pan out, but I'm not giving Dunn and Rios a pass.

The GOP is going to have a credibility issue. Part of the success of the Texas economy are the undocumented workers. I believe Perry needs to conjure up the ghost of Reagan and show how his policies are in line with the untouchable Reagan. Hopefully that will placate the party faithful. Linked

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 12:06 PM) Let me simplify that. If you remove the new investors, the pyramid collapses. Isn't that the case with our military and every other tax based program?

QUOTE (God Loves The Infantry @ Sep 9, 2011 -> 03:11 PM) I don't know why on Earth they'd put my name next to that flag, but hey, it's their country. So I don't really care. My American family and friends would commemorate my life and death according to my wishes, with American flags, so that'd be satisfactory. He's a coward for trying so pathetically hard to appease foreign visitors at the expense of patriotic Americans. His comment that I've already harped on a few times shows that he's just worried about offending a few people who are different. What expense? Accuracy? The understanding that American businesses hire workers from all corners of the globe? At least down here, when out local soldiers come home, dead or alive, I see a lot of Mexican flags as well as U.S. to commemorate their often times dual citizenship. I guess if you were here you would rip the Mexican flag out of the hands of their families?

I heard today that the DC-10 wasn't going to be helping with the Bastrop fire. It was basically now in limited areas that needed boots on the ground with hoses and shovels.

Reagan's greatest strength, and Clinton, was their ability to be cheerleaders. Reagan rode in (literally) as a larger than life cowboy. He came in after the scandal of Nixon, the clumsiness of Ford, and the lack of boldness by Carter. perhaps toss in the not so distant memory of the fall of Saigon and getting our butts kicked in Vietnam. Here was someone that would help America get our swagger back. The previous presidents were not bad, we've never really had a disaster of a president. Reagan led Americans to believe in themselves. Clinton came after 12 years of having gramps running the country. We had the swagger, but we were shuffling in a walker. Clinton came in, blowing a mad sax, rock music blaring and we combined swagger with youthful exuberance. Boom we started borrowing and spending. The president can't change policy enough to really make a huge impact, but the president can change the mood of the country.

QUOTE (TheBigHurt @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 09:48 PM) Average >>> Below Average. Agree? Agreed, see above Above average >>>>>>>>>>> average Agree?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 10:42 PM) Not really. The whole point of using statistics in baseball is to exploit weaknesses and play to the strength of your team. So you'd be doing quite the opposite. So if every manager always followed the stats they would all be above average? And this was not directed at OZ, but everyone will think it is. I was just thinking if every manager just fed every decision into the computer and played what the stats call for, (which is impossible because you have contradictory stats to guide you) a manger who makes one decision against the stats has the potential to be the one manager above or below average. What will separate the managers isn't the decisions they make guided by stats, but the decisions they make against the stats. To steer this away from baseball and hopefully take Oz out of the discussion, the guy who decides a "coming out of the half on sides kick" is a great gamble wins when it works out, is a dog when it backfires. Plus how many decisions in sports have stats that show a better than 50% chance of something working out? Usually is is if you do this it will work out 22% of the time, if you do this it will work out 28% of the time. Pick the first one and you're an idiot for not following the stats. I'm hoping the next manager isn't a slave to stats, I also hope they make better decisions in when to gamble and who to gamble on.

Interesting, thanks for posting

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_leagu...urn=mlb-wp17800

Nicely done, but we know he's a pro's pro.

The government doesn't need to do anything about the economy. It is rebounding just fine. In fact if Obama suggested doing nothing, the GOP would have nothing to campaign about.

Do I understand this correctly? One guy makes a case about Texas compared to other states. To refute those claims the second guy uses cities to prove that the first guy's claim about states is wrong? Seems like you should compare more states to refute an argument based on states. And the interesting challenge the GOP will have when Perry sews up the nomination is part of the strategy against the Dems will be illegal immigration, a big part of the success of their nominee as governor will be undocumented workers. (I switched on purpose). It will be fun to watch. And people who are out of work for significant times will take those lower paying jobs, just to be working.

Didn't Bulls fans embrace Rodman?

If a manager made every decision exactly by the stats, wouldn't that make him exactly an average manager? he would never be better than the stats, or worse, he'd be exactly average.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 11:36 AM) People in Lawrence Kansas have no problem with Ozzie Guillen? Wow! How insightful. I am certain they spend a ton of time following his lineups, in-game decisions, and bullpen moves. One of my favorite authors, William Burroughs, called Lawrence home at the end of his life. I'm not certain if he followed the Sox.

OMG a guy that wants to play and not sit on his ass and loaf.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/07/polic...xt-to-dead-man/ Probably not his best day.

I keep thinking Oz be back as what?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 11:55 PM) I've been talking to a lot of baseball fans outside of Chicago and ask them what their perception is of Ozzie Guillen. They all say that he is a good manager. I ask them all if they can understand why a message board I frequent wants him fired and believes he will be fired. They say, 'No.' If we finish .500, folks, Ozzie being fired will be perceived as unfair nationally. Well that will certainly help Oz in his job search.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 09:17 PM) Alex Rios hitting 4th, 5th or 6th is still driving me crazy...including tonight. I meant changes to your post. Sorry.

Great day to be alive

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 06:59 PM) It was clear that Viciedo would have made a huge difference if called up at the start or middle of June...before he had his wrist problem. Of course, that would have meant giving up on Dunn after 2 1/2 months. But with how DeAza and Viciedo have hit, for the most part (which is clearly above the value of a replacement player)...arguments could certainly be made either way. Obviously, DET really has all the momentum going now. I read somewhere where this is only the 4th time in the last 75 years they've (the Tigers) outscored their opponents by such a margin over the course of 5 and 6 games (their recent stretch against us and CLE, including two huge come from behind victories, punctuated by today's GS by Martinez). About the only change I would make is instead of it was clear to it is likely. And I'm more cautious, I would not say huge difference. Maybe I'm just too negative right now.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 03:43 PM) Believing that means you also believe the Beckham and Dunn will never be good again and Morel will never get better. If you do fine, I'm not there yet. No, I believe they can rebound, although I am very negative on Dunn. I'm also seeing a few guys get older. Actually, the only easy to believe way to the playoffs is for those guys to rebound, Dunn and Rios ain't going anywhere. So we hope.