JUGGERNAUT

Frank did end in 2nd. Varitek was the AL vote leader after each of the three days and was the fans' choice over White Sox DH Frank Thomas, Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi and Angels catcher Bengie Molina. Varitek and Jenkins will each fill the 32nd and final roster spots in the American and National Leagues, respectively, after three days of extremely close races Well .. we gave it a good effort. Next year, I'll have a program to convert images to text so I'll be prepared to MAKE SURE A WHITE SOX candidate (if there is one) wins!

I think all total between the various submissions I generated about 20K votes. That's not even a dent in the 10.6 million figure. http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp

Your gonna do it honestly and cheat? I dont like the sound of that! The maybe and the might are kinda iffy if ya know what I mean! The cool thing is I've created the loop between the 2 web pages. The thankyou page references the the vote page. The vote page submits itself automatically. The main URL for submitting a vote is: http://votetracker.mlb.com/mlb_vote.gif?FO...1e72eb&ui=89409

Guess what? I'm going to do it honestly & cheat! I'm setting up a pre-form with the previous verfication key to re-submit with NEW x & z keys every 3 secs. It's not perfect, but maybe with unique x & z's they might count them. I can do this in the background & still submit valid votes.

REMINDER: DON'T CHEAT! The VB macrio & ..5.html files no longer work. MLB must have caught on because of my automated voting on Monday night. They changed the code on Tues so that the form no longer contained the verification key in it (BEFORE you enter it by hand in the USER field). So there's no longer an automated way to vote. If you are suffering response time, I do have a quicker pre-formatted version of the html to submit votes. All the images & webtracker stuff has been deleted. 1 person who has the time to distribute it to the rest please PM with your e-mail address & I will send it to you. I submitted nearly 10000 votes total all with valid keys. So I think it's worth it for me to spend an extra hour to try & hack the encryption3.swf module so that it returns the key in a NON-IMAGE form.

Just a reminder: don't cheat by putting in a random verif key in the field. They are only going to count votes having a valid encryption key. The key is the sum of 3 parts: x, z, & ui. There's a 0.00001% chance of matching a valid key if you do it random. It's not worth the time or the effort. I'm looking over the new mlb html to see if there is any where that verif key is stored, but it's not looking promising.

They are only going to count those votes having valid encryption keys. The encryption key contains 3 parts : x, z, & ui. If you put in a random ui, there's like a 0.000001% chance to match a valid encryption key. It's child's play to run a script against the database to weed out the bad keys. I am looking over the new page to see if there is any where that verif key is stored in a var still in the form. But right now it looks like the key only appears as an image. There's no why to assign ui to an image value.

The ability to exploit the voting process at mlb is gone out the window. They plugged the hole real good! Getting a vote accepted screen is NOT a sign of a valid vote. Dudes, they wouldn't go through the trouble of making use of key encryption for votes if it was as simple as resending the same URL over and over. I'm convinced now that a valid vote is the byproduct of 3 keys : x, z, & ui. ui replaces y. The hole they plugged was that y was a variable being set in the client app when the encryption was performed. So making use of that variable you could auto-gen valid x, y, & z values for votes. That's no longer possible. The verification key itself (3rd part of the encryption key) only appears as an image from the encryption routine. There's no way to automatically copy & paste it to ui. If you try to use the old mlb form, it won't return any keys. They changed the code on the server & removed y altogether. The best thing to do now is to reduce the content so that you can speed up the vote process. It's easy to do in an html editor. You still need to enter the verif key but moving back to the vote page from the confirm page takes less time. I STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST .. generating RANDOM NUMBERS for the VERIFICATION KEY! Remember it's 1 of 3 parts for the encryption key for a valid vote. When they count the votes, they are going to run a script to discard all the bad encryption keys. I know I would. Especially if I changed the code 2 days into the voting.

They closed the hole pretty good. The key is no longer loaded into a form field and only appears as a picture image. So there's no way to copy or paste it automatically. However; since the latest page from mlb has commented out the call to GetEncryptKey the encryption3.swf amounts to a random number generator. There is nothing to assoc that key with that instance of the page. Likewise the initial page from mlb would check the key entered vs the key returned from Encrypt Key. So the original design had the key validation in the client end. Once again making it believable that there is no association between the key & a vote. On that basis, I'm going to greatly condense my html into a lean mean vote submitter and make use of a rand function to generate the key. The votes, will either count or they'll be thrown out. Last night I was able to do close to 10,000 with valid verification keys. So I think the effort was worth it in the long run.

I don't believe MLB made this change because of "automated" voters. I think the change was made in respect to the mac users not having to enter a key to vote. The pre-07/08 vote page used to check to see if the key you entered matched the true verification key returned from the system. The 07/08 vote page just checks if the you entered something for key. This tells me they had trouble running the encryption on the mac so in order to force mac users to put something in there they check for non blank key. That strongly suggests that the key: 1) does not have to be unique 2) just needs to be non-blank

They took away the verification key variable in the html. If you use the html I put together, it doesn't give a verfication key & it doesn't need one. When you vote, it thanks you for your vote. I'm not sure if these will count though since they have no keys. I remember someone saying the same thing happens on a mac. No key. So that would suggest these votes will count. Well you can give it a try. What to do with the html I gave soxfan1: Download it to your pc. Inside your browser choose open file & open that html. When it's loaded fill in the e-mail field & zip code. The age is locked at 23. No need to bother with it. Then choose Frank & Santi & you're done. No need for the key since it gives you the thank you note as confirmation your vote made it to the server. All of the field validation is on the client end. What would really help is if someone could call the help number & ask them if their vote still counts when it doesn't ask for verif key. Just tell them you're on a mac & it's not giving the key. If they say yes, then automation with the html is a snap. There's no need to cut & paste so it amounts to nothing more than vote, back, vote, back, vote, back, etc. The VB script can easily be adapted to that.

All of you, I've sent it to soxfan1. In the event none of you can get it to work, it's up to me. So I have to go now. Please request it from him. Again you may have to increase the wait time on the last wait from 4 to 6 or higher. The response time on the mlb server varies, so the longer the better.

so that you can automate votes at a rate of 6 - 10 mps.

The VB macro can be run from Excel.

I pasted the wrong version Here's the right version: You can only condense the form for speed so much. Here's the steps: 1) Edit this page & save it to your pc http://outfield.mlb.com/mlb/events/..._vote_form.html 2) You must change the y field from hidden to text for this macro to work. The y field is part of the verification key object & it's near the end of the code. 3) If you decide not to condense the page than you will need to increase the loop count for tabs to the y field and possibly add a few more for the verification field. 4) The delays should work, but if you see problems then increase them. Here's the code: Sub NetscapeDDE() AppActivate "MLB.com - 2003 etopps All-Star Final Vote - Netscape" For i = 0 To 10 ' outer loop to 1 million For h = 0 To 15 SendKeys "{TAB}", True Next h SendKeys "%E", True SendKeys "A", True SendKeys "%E", True SendKeys "C", True nh = Hour(Now()) nm = Minute(Now()) ns = Second(Now()) + 1 wt = TimeSerial(nh, nm, ns) Application.Wait wt SendKeys "{TAB}", True SendKeys "{TAB}", True SendKeys "%E", True SendKeys "A", True SendKeys "%E", True SendKeys "P", True nh = Hour(Now()) nm = Minute(Now()) ns = Second(Now()) + 1 wt = TimeSerial(nh, nm, ns) Application.Wait wt SendKeys "{TAB}", True SendKeys "~", True nh = Hour(Now()) nm = Minute(Now()) ns = Second(Now()) + 2 wt = TimeSerial(nh, nm, ns) Application.Wait wt SendKeys "%{LEFT}", True nh = Hour(Now()) nm = Minute(Now()) ns = Second(Now()) + 1 wt = TimeSerial(nh, nm, ns) Application.Wait wt Next i ' 18 tabs, select all, copy, 4 more tabs, paste, tab, enter, wait, alt-back, wait, & repeat End Sub Good Luck! This will be my last post for tonight because I plan to leave it run. It generates 1 vote every 6 secs or about 10 votes a min, 600 votes an hour, & 6000 votes every 10 hours. I will look to speed it up further but that's the best for right now. Thank you & good night!

this out! Sub NetscapeDDE() AppActivate "MLB.com - 2003 etopps All-Star Final Vote - Netscape" SendKeys "{TAB}", True ' Send keystrokes to Calculator SendKeys "^A", True MsgBox "NetscapeDDE Key00." AppActivate "MLB.com - 2003 etopps All-Star Final Vote - Netscape" SendKeys "^C", True MsgBox "NetscapeDDE Key0." AppActivate "MLB.com - 2003 etopps All-Star Final Vote - Netscape" SendKeys "%{LEFT}", True nh = Hour(Now()) nm = Minute(Now()) ns = Second(Now()) + 4 wt = TimeSerial(nh, nm, ns) Application.Wait wt For h = 0 To 17 SendKeys "{TAB}", True ' Send keystrokes to Calculator Next h nh = Hour(Now()) nm = Minute(Now()) ns = Second(Now()) + 1 wt = TimeSerial(nh, nm, ns) Application.Wait wt SendKeys "^A", True MsgBox "NetscapeDDE Key1." AppActivate "MLB.com - 2003 etopps All-Star Final Vote - Netscape" SendKeys "^C", True For h = 0 To 3 SendKeys "{TAB}", True Next h SendKeys "^A", True MsgBox "NetscapeDDE Key2." AppActivate "MLB.com - 2003 etopps All-Star Final Vote - Netscape" SendKeys "^V", True MsgBox "NetscapeDDE Key3." SendKeys "{TAB}", True SendKeys "~", True SendKeys "%{LEFT}", True MsgBox "NetscapeDDE End." ' 18 tabs, select all, copy, 4 more tabs, paste, tab, enter, wait, alt-back, wait, & repeat End Sub ------- It varies depending on your browser & alterations you make to the page. You may have to increase the number of TABS or wait in seconds. My form has been condensed to speed up processing. Once you kick it off .. leave the pc alone. A vote counts as long as it has a unique verification key assigned with it. This routine insures that. If I'm alone in this endeavor, Frank should win. It can general about 12 votes per second, 720 votes per minute, 42000+ per hour! Catch you later. Don't touch the pc if you decide to run a version of this.

LOOP-HOLE TO EXPLOIT Save the web page to your pc & then run it from the saved page in your browser. file:///C:/mlb_final_vote_form.html After you vote, just hit back. All of your input is stored on that page so all you have to do is enter the new key. Happy voting!

JOSE VALENTIN

MAGGLIO ORDONEZ

JOE CREDE

After reaching back and overpowering opposing hitters with his fastball in the past, Koch has mysteriously transformed into a finesse pitcher since coming over to the White Sox in a Dec. 3 trade from the Athletics. "I don't think I am,'' Koch said when asked if he's purposely turning off the heat. "I've been effective with my slider and curveball. If I do less thinking out there, I think it's going to be better. I'm trying to outthink myself a little bit and therefore just putting myself in a bad situation.'' http://www.suntimes.com/output/sox/cst-spt-one06.html White Sox White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas, on his two bulldogs July 6, 2003 Advertisement ''I got dogs for my [three] kids, but now they've grown on me. Bubba and Barbie, they're brother and sister. They're like kids. They're part of the household. ''I always liked the way bulldogs looked. Then I did some reading about them and found out they're great with kids and are very lovable. You don't have to worry about them attacking kids. We got them when they were 6 weeks old. They're almost 2 now. I love 'em, just love 'em. They're not as dependent as kids are. They sleep most of the time during the day. ''I do pay attention to other dogs now, and I understand them a little more because I have my own. Before, I really didn't know what to expect from dogs, but they're just like people. They respond and they listen. ''One is more stubborn than the other--the female. She's much tougher than the male. She won't listen as much as the male. The male will sit there and wait on you all the time, but the female will run off and do what she wants all the time. It's tougher to get her to listen.''

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...tesox-headlines Eight is enough The final prospect available to Texas in the Everett trade is 24-year-old right-hander Enemencio Pacheco, who's 6-2 with a 2.80 ERA at Double-A Birmingham. The Sox and Rangers also discussed Class A right-hander Rick Hummel, but Hummel is not on the list. A source in Texas said the Rangers are most intrigued by outfielder Anthony Webster and right-hander Josh Rupe. Both are 20, and both play for Class A Kannapolis. Rupe, 4-4 with a 2.73 ERA, was a third-round pick by the Sox in 2002. The speedy Webster was a 15th-round pick in 2001.

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/ds.../pro/051sd6.htm "Once you sit on the edge so long and then you break, you got to probably get some better matchups for him a little earlier in the game." "Marte and Flash (Gordon) have done a good job and have saved some ballgames before," Manuel said. "Until it looks like Billy kind of gets his stuff back, we've got to do what we've got to do." The problem is Koch's much-hyped 100-mph fastball hasn't been seen all season, which leads Manuel to believe there's a problem beyond what can be detected on the surface. "I can't recollect a velocity being that big a difference without something going on," Manuel said. "The guy (Koch) we saw in Oakland and Toronto would just throw the ball right by you." DAMN RIGHT! I am so pissed at KW for letting Beane cajole him into this trade without making the radar gun a prime test in Koch's physical. Want to know Koch's velocity last night? 3 @ 78, 3 @ 88, 1 @ 89, 2 @ 90, 2 @ 91. It's not as bad as Olestra, but pretty damn close! Contrast with Marte : most in the 94-96 range but still able to drop to 81. His dominance is in his very effective offspeed pitches to compliment his heater. At least Manuel has the presence of mind to say enough is enough. 4.5 gb KENNY!

I think it's my 3-player trade: Wells+Williams+Young for Wright+Koch+Konerko Getting Wells back is pretty mind-blowing. With Dauby & Everett now, Koney's a luxury. I'm not convinced Ev can play CF on a contending team. If that's the case, we've got real problems with a hot Thomas & Dauby competing with Ev & Koney for 1B & DH. I'm not moving the web gem Lee from LF. He's our future provided his new contract features a weight clauses