caulfield12

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 08:20 AM) *YOUDAMAN! Guess we're going to hear that more and more often now from Rory McIlroy galleries.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 06:25 AM) Another bonehead move by Robin Ventura last night: the team didn't even play! You want to talk about ruining everything? By neither winning nor losing, RV somehow blew a chance to (1) get a game closer in the 2nd wild card and (2) improve the Sox' draft pick next year. At this point, Juan Pierre would be a better choice as manager. #FIREROBIN #WORSTMANAGERINHISTORYOFBASEBALL #FIRSTPLACEUNDERADIFFERENTMANAGER #LASTPLACEUNDERADIFFERENTMANAGER Just percentage points ahead of the suddenly-hot Padres...nipping at the heels of the 9th pick now, while officially in 10th (one game ahead of the Mets). #changeyourgmteamwillexceltoimpresshim

Except all of these explanations don't matter one bit in the court of public opinion, which formed pretty instantly in the 24 hours after they heard about the incident or saw the footage...it's going to be quite difficult to change anyone's opinion...either way.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 07:43 AM) What's up with you and your disgust for the Royals? It's almost as bad as Mike's (ss2k5) hate for Maggs or wite's love for Willie Bloomquist. I don't even think Greg hates them that much and he lives (or used to live) in the city. Greg doesn't hate the Royals, far from it...he always gets always gets accused of being more of a fan of the Royals than the Sox, actually. I lived in KC from 1996-2005 and 2006-2007, so, just for the sake of my former city, I'm definitely rooting for them over the Tigers. They have a ton of good, but long-suffering fans. The last 11 home games, they've responded well, except for last night when they had a great pitching match-up of Ventura and Sonny Gray and first place on the line (granted, it was a Monday night). July 24th 7 games back (51-50) 22,000 33,500 29,500 23,500 30,500 20,700 24,000 28,300 35,000 27,500 21,479 (last night, when they took back first place by 1/2 game) Attendance is up 8.7% compared to last season...it will grow even more on weekends, but now they have to deal with school/vacations/less families coming out and the Chiefs on Sundays. Still their best record this late since August, 2003, when the Twins and White Sox were in the process of blowing by them.

Blame Jim Leyland for having Justin Verlander lead the league in pitches in 3 of the last 4 years, and he was 2nd in that other year. That was a train wreck waiting to happen...and one you could easily see coming as early as a couple of years ago.

It would be their first time in the playoffs since 1985 (World Series vs. Cardinals). 29 years.

Basically, you're either trading a #2 starter for a DH, or you're replacing one of your most improved players offensively with a question mark and also blocking Matt Davidson (as well)...

Forgot Good Will Hunting, one of my Top 10 movies of all-time, maybe. He was so understated and genuine in that role, and it was such an abrupt departure from most of his previous work. Few know that he was a Juilliard recruit, along with Christopher Reeve/Superman. And lived in Chicago until he was 8 years old.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 04:24 AM) Bye bye Sale. Q, or Rodon It would take Sale and Hawkins/Montas/T.Anderson/Micah Johnson or Danish if they didn't include Rodon AND Sale. There's just too much possible injury risk for another team to acquire just Sale as a centerpiece for a fellow franchise position player.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/i...-detroit-tigers The Implosion of the Detroit Tigers...Dave Schoenfield because of what the club described as “right shoulder soreness.” In discussing the shoulder trouble that KO’d him, Verlander said, “It’s been lingering for a little while.” Asked to define “a while,” he declined to. Verlander entered Monday 10-10 with a 4.57 ERA. His admission about “a while” raises the possibility that he has been pitching hurt for a while. On Monday night, he might have crossed the line from “hurt” to “injured.” www.freep.com/sports http://www.freep.com/article/20140811/COL3...dyssey=obinsite I'm no longer confident in the Tigers' playoff chances, Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press The basic premise being that giving up Drew Smyly (key bullpen component/starter capability), Joaquin Benoit, Austin Jackson, Omar Infante, Peralta and Octavio Dotel, and the trading (or having to trade) Doug Fister were all moves that ended up weakening depth because of so much money being devoted to the star players. JD Martinez (waived by the Astros) and Rajai Davis played over their heads for a half season but have since come back to earth, Torii Hunter's simply gotten old, Nathan as well, Verlander's arm/shoulder have fallen off....Soria and Sanchez are also both hurt, Castellanos is a rookie with all of the ups and downs that go with that in terms of offense and defense. Joba's Joba. Basically, they're relying almost completely on the star wattage of Price (very good, but not quite as dominant as in the past and Smyly was extremely overrated), Scherzer, Miguel Cabera (has declined this season from MVP form, comparable statistically to MELKY Cabrera), Verlander, Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez to get them through the World Series, and the complementary players just aren't good enough or were due for regressions statistically.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 09:30 AM) The team is going to need to find a LH power bat somewhere. To me the realistic options are re-sign Dunn or buy low on Domonic Brown or LoMo. Alvarez will probably be moved across the diamond after they non-tender Ike Davis. Greg will have a coronary episode. You've got Headley, Morrison, Adam Lind, Sandoval, Melky Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Colby Rasmus...not sure about Dave LaRoche. Didn't he sign an extension? Seth Smith did, for sure. Parra's going to be out there. With how poorly Kendrys Morales has been hitting, he would surely be available. Morneau, if the Rockies dump Tulo/CarGo/Cuddyer, etc. It would be interesting to see what type of package it would take to acquire CarGo? The answer is one we probably don't have that doesn't require gutting our minor league system again.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 07:54 PM) Very sad to see the news about Robin Williams. It just goes to show that just because someone is laughing on the outside, doesn't mean they aren't crying on the inside. Lots of comedians with these issues. Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, John Belushi, John Candy, Owen Wilson (well, stretching definition of comedian...comic actor usually)...Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, etc.

QUOTE (The Wiz @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 10:59 PM) From the evidence we've see, I don't think there is anyway you can prove without a doubt that he is guilty. Then again, who knows, there might be evidence we don't know about. One huge piece of evidence would be any cockpit recordings with the crew...not unlike a flight data recorder. I doubt that exists...or if there's any damning evidence, they probably would have wiped it already, even though tampering with evidence would be considered a felony, Stewart saying something that demonstrates malice and forethought like "I'm going to teach this punk kid a lesson" that would be the end of his career.

Now why would the Pirates want to do that? Just to save money as Alvarez gets more expensive? Do they have anyone to replace him? Once again, with the premium on power...especially from non-traditional (the last 5 years, and that's starting more and more to include 3B) powers positions, you'd have to be bowled away to give up a player in his prime with that kind of power. I can see if he was in the last year of arbitration and they couldn't agree to a long-term deal, but they haven't reached that point with him yet as far as I know.

PITTSBURGH — At the start of the final stop on a deteriorating trip, on the day after a 19-inning, bullpen-exhausting loss in Toronto, the Tigers were walloped with an exacta of Justin Verlander woe in the first inning Monday night. Verlander, who has never missed a start because of a health issue, allowed five runs in the first and didn’t come out for the second. The club announced he departed the game because of “right shoulder soreness.” The only other detail the club immediately offered is that Verlander will be re-examined today. It was the shortest start of Verlander’s nine-year career. The previous shortest was 11⁄3 innings in 2008 against the Yankees. The Pirates won, 11-6, and Verlander’s record in interleague play dropped to 25-3. If Kansas City beat Oakland later Monday night, it would take over first in the AL Central from the Tigers by a half-game. Verlander’s shoulder trouble erupted two days after fellow starter Anibal Sanchez suffered a pectoral muscle strain that is expected to keep him out at least three to four weeks. Verlander was succeeded by the three pitchers the Tigers called up Monday in the wake of the bullpen being worn out by Sunday’s marathon. Justin Miller gave up three runs in two innings; Ian Krol threw two scoreless innings; and right-hander Kevin Whelan, who didn’t allow a homer in the minors this season, allowed back-to-back homers in the sixth in his first big-league inning this season as the Tigers fell behind, 10-4. The Tigers made three misplays in the first inning behind Verlander, and one of the runs was unearned. Verlander gave up four hits, including a bases-loaded triple to Starling Marte, and he walked two. All this from a lineup that lacked defending NL MVP Andrew McCutchen (who went on the disabled list Monday). The Tigers fell to 2-6 on a trip in which their many losses in Yankee Stadium and in Toronto tended to involve poor hitting, wasted starting pitching and blown ninth-inning leads. www.freep.com/sports Looks like the Tigers are thinking about adding yet another hitter...but they probably need at least one more starter, too. Rookie Robbie Ray is going Tuesday. Cano almost homered twice and the M's are killing the Blue Jays, fwiw.

QUOTE (The Wiz @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 09:46 PM) What if the tables were turned? And the driver who died actually caused Tony Stewart to swerve to avoid him and then he flips his car or some accident like that and Tony Stewart winds up as the one who is dead? Would people be calling for the 20 year old to be arrested and rot in jail? Personally, I think most likely Stewart was trying to scare him. However, him doing something stupid and reckless doesn't make the person who tragically died absolved of all guilt for doing something even more stupid and reckless as running in the middle of a dirt road at a racing car. I'm sorry the kid died, but I believe there is one fact here, you run out in the middle of a dirt track at a racing car and wind up dead or seriously injured, you have no one to blame but yourself. That's reasonable enough. The problem from the legal perspective will be determining how much, and if, Stewart also will be deemed responsible for his actions or part in the death.

QUOTE (The Wiz @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 09:52 PM) Am I the only one a bit disturbed by the fact it took much statistical analysis of lineups for this to be proven? Nobody beats the WIZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stanton ties Abreu with a two homer night, 31 each

If the Rangers and Daniels hadn't been stupid enough to take on the Fielder contract....they'd be totally screwed and unable to keep either Victor Martinez or Max Scherzer for 2015. LOL at the Twins helping out the Royals with Willingham. Of course, they traded Delmon Young to the Tigers about 3-4 years ago, too. If the Royals do go far into the post-season (and there's still a LONG ways to go), building a team around speed/pitching/defense/strong bullpen is going to get even more attention, just like the Pirates with their extensive series of defensive shifts and stressing the two-seam sinking fastball to keep more balls on the infield and out of the air. Has a team with the lowest numbers of homers in the AL or NL ever made the playoffs? That might be a first. (By the way, Travis Snider would be a nice pick-up for the Sox, but it's more likely the Pirates will try to deal Tabata.)

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 07:55 PM) The closest in comedic style to Williams that comes to mind is some vintage Jim Carrey. No idea who else. Nobody was faster or quick-witted enough to keep up with him when he was on a comedy roll.

Man, grew up with Robin Williams comedies, although he did do serious fare like Good Morning, Vietnam! Sad. Will always remember Mrs. Doubtfire, Alladin, Mork and Mindy, Awakenings, The Birdcage (one of the funniest movies of all-time, the scene with him and Nathan Lane learning how to act "macho" is the best), "Oh Captain May Captain!" from Dead Poets Society, Patch Adams, Awakenings, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Insomnia, Autofocus... Just a terribly underrated dramatic actor and even funnier man. Alcohol and drug addiction, apparently.

Verlander and Sanchez both out at least 4-6 weeks. Royals in a 2-2 time late against the A's bottom of the 7th. Ventura and Sonny Gray had quite the pitcher's match-up, lived up to the billing. Btw, KC plays some pretty great defense...other than Butler when he's at 1B, which doesn't happen very often. Especially up the middle, where the only weaker link is Infante. Escobar, Gordon, Cain, Perez and Moustakas can all play at close to a Gold Glove level.

There's obvious going to be a recreation of the even trying to simulate: 1) the same lighting 2) the same amount of time to try to determine how "reasonably avoidable" Ward might have been 3) the conditions of the windshield in terms of visibility 4) the same suit or colored suit on the driver on the track...which was blue, but certainly not dark blue...plus he was gesticulating pretty visibly 5) the other driver passing by in front of him, which might have cut down his ability to see Ward 6) the positions on the track of all the cars at the time of the accident to the time he came around to him again 7) the amount of experience someone like Stewart has behind the wheel of a racing car will be harder to determine...if the situation was reversed, Stewart gets run down by a young driver in Ward, it would be a bit more understandable from a human psyche standpoint..."young punk" kid trying to make a name for himself "tries to put Stewart in his place"

QUOTE (zenryan @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 04:10 PM) so youre just going to ignore what others who have driven those types of cars have said when it comes to it being hard to see out of the right side of the car because of the design of these cars? just going to ignore another driver in that race who said he saw him at the last second and just missed hitting him? the greatest drivers in the world arent going to see through a blind spot. If the Ward family doesn't go after Stewart, I would be more inclined to side with this POV. Surely, there's going to be a tremendous amount of pressure on them not to BLAME Stewart for their son's death. Of course, that means they have to blame their own son for his actions, and that's going to be incredibly difficult. Remember, the father is also a driver/racer....Kevin Ward, Sr. I think he might even have been in the same race.

This story is becoming more and more bizarre as both sides dig in (not here, but in terms of the national media). Clearly, there's a vested financial interest on the part of many in making this go away without any further damage to Tony Stewart/Haas Racing or NASCAR. I don't think it will ever be so simple...because of the fact that Ward was seemingly coming after Stewart, and Stewart was the one who hit him. Seems TOO coincidental, just that part of the story itself. Not because in the video the witnesses are saying "Tony Stewart hit him..." but common sense or logic says that he probably did have some "road rage" built up to at least teach the kid a lesson or scare him a bit...and probably thought he was in his NASCAR and forgot the back end of those sprint cars stick out another 6-8 feet compared to the front. Surely, a jury would find it easy to believe he at least contributed 25-35% if not 50% to the accident transpiring. How that plays out in terms of tort law, no idea. I do know if the Ward family makes a public case of going after Stewart because THEY believed it was intentional...this story won't go away for a long time, and probably it will always be attached to Stewart's legacy because of the unusual nature of something like this happening in front of everyone in the world/twitterverse/youtube.