text:
An Orange County man is facing charges after deputies said he locked his elderly mother in a feces-covered bedroom.
Deputies arrested 50-year-old John Ramsey on Tuesday.
Officials said the woman called her other son, saying Ramsey had locked her in her bedroom and threatened to kill her.
When authorities arrived at the home it was littered with trash and animal waste, according to a release. Chickens and turkeys were also found roaming the property.
Ramsey is charged with false imprisonment and elderly neglect. He is also facing a charge of conspiracy to sell cocaine in Osceola County.


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Motorists stopping at a number of Sheetz stores in the region to buy gasoline for vehicles encountered a rare occurrence in recent days.
In many cases, there was no regular or mid-grade fuel at pumps during the weekend when many people already were out on the roads traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Sheetz stores in Williamsport still were without full supplies of gasoline Monday.
Article Photos
A sign at the Sheetz on Maynard Street in Williamsport indicates some blends of
gasoline are not
available Sunday. Supply problems
continued to plague the chain Monday.
"We have 92 octane. That's about it. Hopefully, this will be rectified soon," said Pocko Rosato at the Sheetz station at 330 Westminster Drive in Loyalsock Township.
He directed all further inquiries to Sheetz's corporate offices.
Signs on pumps at the Sheetz store at 105 Maynard St. in the city spelled out much the same story for motorists arriving for tank fill-ups there Monday afternoon: "We regret to inform you that we are currently out of all unleaded gasoline."
An unidentified person store at the store confirmed the pumps were out of gas.
"We don't have any fuel yet," she said.
At the Linden area Sheetz along Route 220, the only fuel on hand was 92 octane and diesel.
Calls to Sheetz's corporate offices Monday were not returned.
However, Sheetz reportedly sent out a statement blaming the fuel shortage on refinery shut downs on Superstorm Sandy, which swept through much of the Northeast three weeks ago.
The gas shortage, however, is expected to be brief.
A spokesman at the Mill Hall store, 288 Hogan Blvd., reported gas was available there.

subset: commoncrawl


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Each month, direct to your email inbox, we'll send the best camping news, tips, recipes and more, to enhance the camping lifestyle that you love so much. Learn More
"The greatest meeting of land and water," a coastal California dream trip p...
Delicious homemade pizza meets camping in this easy grilling recipe.
Learn tips for proper RV lubrication in our latest RV maintenance video.
Plan the perfect trip from home or on the road with the official KOA app. Learn More
Open All Year
Reserve: 800-562-1239
Info: 706-657-6815
930 Mountain Shadows Drive
Trenton, GA 30752Get Directions
From downtown Chattanooga: Take I-24W into GA. Take ramp to I-59S towards Birmingham. Take exit 17 Slygo Rd. Continue West on Slygo Rd. Turn Left 1000 feet past the gas station. Follow KOA signs- our campground is 2.6 miles from the highway. Check in time is 2:00 pm EST and checkout time is 12:00 noon. Exit 11 on I-59 is not recommended. GPS: N34.918123, W85.489367Get Google Directions
Camper Rating 4.5 out of 5


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Officials with the Orange County Sheriff's Office said a man shot dead a few miles west of the University of Central Florida on Friday afternoon was not the intended target.
Homicide detectives said Sunday morning that the intended target was the other man who was shot and not 20-year-old Stephen Thiviege.
Thiviege was killed in a shooting at a strip mall at University Boulevard and Dean Road around 1:40 p.m. on Friday. Authorities have not released the identity of the surviving victim.
Those with information on the case can call the Orange County Sheriff's Office or Crimeline.


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Flexible Garden Grids, Set of 4
This item is currently not available.
Additional Information
Exclusive | Flexible, Connecting Panels Make Dozens of Different Plant Supports
- Flexible supports create custom plant supports
- Kit includes 4 grids and 12 easy snap connectors
- We recommend using Bamboo Poles, sold separately, for support
Bend them, join them, hinge them, stack them — these polyethylene-coated wire grids can be formed into garden structures of all shapes and sizes. Make cages and trellises, tunnels for the vegetable garden, hidden supports for perennials and lots more. The possibilities are endless! Unobtrusive green color lets your plants be the stars.
Product Details
- Polyethylene-coated wire
- Grids are 19-3/4" W x 39-1/4" L with 5" square openings
- Gardener's Supply Exclusive
There are no special shipping restrictions or charges associated with this item. For detailed information about our delivery methods and charges, click here.
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We'll always remember Lemmy here at Get Surrey
for Motörhead's incredible performance at GuilFest back in 2009
We'll always remember Lemmy here at Get Surrey
for Motörhead's incredible performance at GuilFest back in 2009
A former mayor of Haslemere who was a music promoter during the 1960s is auctioning an original poster from when he booked the Rolling Stones to play at Epsom Baths Hall in December 1963
GuilFest organiser Tony Scott fears the time will come when any decision on staging the event in 2014 will be too late
Former University of Surrey student behind hits for artists such as Little Mix and Dappy has received an award from the vice-chancellor
Reading & Leeds Festivals announce Blink-182 as a Main Stage headliner with Jake Bugg, Disclosure, Metronomy, Of Mice & Men, Wilkinson and I Am Legion also featuring on the 2014 line-up
Slade and Sweet, two of the most famous bands from the 70s, are set to play on December 17
Five-piece band set to play in Guildford for the first time on December 13
Audience promised a rock 'n' roll ride at Lakeside Country Club on December 14
Enjoy hits such as New York, New York and Christmas songs like Let It Snow at the Guildford show
Guildford's Boileroom holds a Christmas party with Trails, Stiff Bizkit, Tree House Fire and Darko
Creation Stories: Riots, Raves and Running a Label charts the history of one of the UK's most iconic record labels - and its legendary founder's highs and lows
Steve Brookes, ex-guitarist with The Jam, held a charity gig where Paul Weller made a surprise appearance
Calliopi McDowell and Richard Dawson join forces at The Phoenix Centre in Woking
Guildford's Sons of Icarus return for a special hometown show in Guildford
Hazard alternative rock night at The Boileroom is to host a special metalcore event at the end of the month
A teenage singer made the final of an international gospel competition after winning over the crowds and judges with her soulful voice
Witness a mega line-up at the University of Surrey's Crimbleberry Ball with Dodgy, The Selecter, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, Blobbie Williams and Maybe Gaga
Modfather joined old friend on stage on Saturday night for trip down memory lane at Woking Hospice gig
Cerys Matthews gets help from Eliza Doolittle, Westlife's Shane Filan and Chas & Dave to rise to the occasion after a Children in Need challenge from Sir Terry Wogan
GuilFest organisers urge council to return decision on application to return to Stoke Park next year as soon as possible in order to get plans in motion
For the latest local news straight to your Twitter, Facebook feed or e-mail inbox.
For full newsroom contact details, click here. For advertising contacts, click here.
The Surrey Advertiser, News & Mail and Staines Informer are part of Trinity Mirror Southern, offering you unique access to our audience across the region online and in print.
We reach an average of 599,113* unique users a month with dedicated coverage of Guildford, Woking, Esher, Staines and the whole of Surrey
80% of our visitors**, who view an average of 2,616,228* page impressions every month, are in the desirable ABC1 socio-economic groups.
To book an advert with the our advertising team, call 01483 508700 or visit the Trinity Mirror Southern website trinitymirrorsouthern.co.uk for more information.trinitymirrorsouthern.co.uk for more information.
We are part of Trinity Mirror Southern, offering you unique access to our audience across the region online and in print..
Source: *Omniture (UK 6-month average Sept 2014-Feb 2015). **JICREG 01/05/13
Editor-in-Chief, Trinity Mirror Southern
including www.getsurrey.co.uk, wwww.getwestlondon.co.uk, www.gethampshire.co.uk & www.getbucks.co.uk.
She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.


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Scarborough is suposed to be a "suburb" of Toronto, when in fact it really isnt. There are a few areas that consist of very nice housing JUST like every other city, and also has its horrible looking areas JUST like every other city. Scarborough is a very multicultural area that consists of mainly these cultures in order of population; Asian, Tamils/Brown men, Black, White. Scarborough is known for its high-crime rate and drug related activity. Unlike other troubled areas that have groups of individuals that dvide themselves by race, Scarborough is known for its multi-cultural gangs and crime groups. There are many who claim that Scarborough is a very nice "suburb" to live in and that there really isnt any crime that goes on. What you need to know about those people is that they are completly oblivious to the crime that goes on because they are not there to witness it. The Scarbrough drugs of choice are of the following in order by popularity; Weed, Extacy, Mushrooms, Cocaine. Scarbz is an E-Tard area.
DO NOT get caught walking on these streets at night; down Mccowen anywhere between Sheppard and Mcnicoll, anywhere down Birchmount, Eglinton and Warden, Sandhurst circle, the Grove aka 25 Thunder Grove, Anson Taylor school, Percy Williams school, Albert Campbell school, Timmothy Eaton school, Don Mills strip.
DO NOT get caught walking on these streets at night; down Mccowen anywhere between Sheppard and Mcnicoll, anywhere down Birchmount, Eglinton and Warden, Sandhurst circle, the Grove aka 25 Thunder Grove, Anson Taylor school, Percy Williams school, Albert Campbell school, Timmothy Eaton school, Don Mills strip.
Scarrr town
'the' Borough
Scarrr town
'the' Borough
dari d_eboo Senin, 04 September 2006
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Top Definition
A suburb of Toronto, often reffered to as the Scarbz or Scar-Town. Known as the "ghetto" of Toronto.
Im more gangsta than you niggas from Etobicoke, I'm from the Scarbz!
dari Kaila Sabtu, 19 Februari 2005
Scarborough is a town in North Yorkshire which has the biggest seagulls in the world. These beasts are the size of Golden Eagles. And its full of lovely people and doesn't smell of sewage.
Look at the size of that seagull, its the size of a VW Beetle! Scarborough is lovely.
dari Cass_79 Selasa, 30 Desember 2008
Also known as "Scarbz". Technically a Canadian place, a suburb of the Ontarian capital of Toronto. In reality, it's the least Canadian place that you'll ever go to. What one would encounter there include horrible drivers, rude, selfish and impatient locals, ugly "scenery", a generous surplus of crime, traffic, and a terrible public transit system, which includes a pointless, six-station train, all of which is more than enough to put the "scar" in "Scarborough". One who went to--or worse, lived--in Scarborough would more than likely need therapy for the next twenty years. On the upside, Asian restaurants are a dime a dozen.
"Does Scarborough have a ghetto?"
"Bruh, Scarborough IS a ghetto."
"Bruh, Scarborough IS a ghetto."
dari NotCaptainSlow Jumat, 23 Januari 2015
A seaside resort town in Yorkshire, England.
Scarborough- population= lucky me
dari Joez Minggu, 11 Desember 2005
A small town in north yorkshire where if inhabited for too long begins the process of compostulation as initially sufferd by the infamous burrel however compostulation is fast spreading reaching eve seamer and whitby
scarborough.... I heard there was nasty case of compostulation down there recently....
dari monkeydust98u435iu3490u Senin, 31 Januari 2011
Communities that border on the village of Scarsdale New York and share the coveted 10583 zip code. Eastchester, Yonkers, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, and Greenburgh (aka Edgemont) are communities that boarder on Scarsdale proper and share the zip code.
David bought a house in Scarborough and his kids will have to hang out on Central Avenue and go to Greenburgh schools.
dari TooFunny Kamis, 30 Agustus 2007


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who is your Fav. Character of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children?
Mine is Sephiroth(and Jenova ) Thats too Easy to see Right?"only fools are the greatest failor it is the small losess that break a man down "
Cloud, Vincent and Yuffie. Those who wander are not always lost.
mines Cloud
Zack!!!"Bust through the heveans with your Drill!
no one likes sephiroth? Thats Just Sad =*("In A Girls Life We Like To Shop, Well I Dont!!"
"Bust through the heveans with your Drill!&qu
"In A Girls Life We Like To Shop, Well I Dont!!"
sephiroth is the best!! so sexy...*drools a lil*
The man has a sword that can cut through anthing.Plus he has like ten of them that combine to make one huge sword.
SOME Love For Villains????(but Ill Agree That Cloud Has A Cool Sword[but i Still Like Sephiroth's Sword. So Longggg XD)"Hate And Darkness Are ETERNAL!!!"
u only see that in advent children
~Nan Kuru Nai-Sah~
noone likes caitsith or yuffie! i like tifa! shes an all around badass, and everyone likes cloud vincent and sephiroth, im the odd one out
~Nan Kuru Nai-Sah~


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This name is only given to the most trustworthy friend who is beautiful, great, cute, easy-going, caring and considerate person. They also like Irish sports show jumping horses, 15.3-16.3, with a good temperament and good at schooling ;) ;);)
'Abbie is so amazing isn't she'
'Yeah dude totally'
'Yeah dude totally'
додав Abbie's best friend 26 Жовтня 2013
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Top Definition
Abbie is hott. she is a skinny nice girl who get what she wants! all the guys want Abbie. people are mean to her because thay want to be her. abbie is attracted to tall guys that play basketball and can play an instrument. most of the time this guy is a family friend. abbie has a strong faith for god and doesnt care what people think. Some people think abbie is a overacheiver . abbie is not afraid to be herself and always fits in abbie can be bubbly at times but people deal with it cuz she is so gorgeouse we all love abbie <3
damn abbie ia hottt
додав that nice guy 06 Липня 2009
abbie is a pretty bubbly girl who is up for fun ;) .....
well lyked and always has a gd tym , this normaly long blonded hair girl has a huge grin on her face .....
why not love an abbie ... xoxo
well lyked and always has a gd tym , this normaly long blonded hair girl has a huge grin on her face .....
why not love an abbie ... xoxo
' adam i think im in love with that abbie'
додав jenny bbe 23 Квітня 2008
A funny nice person who can be a bit selfish at times but is generally kind, and usually puts her friends before her family. She can get down easily but that fake smile can fool anyone. People want to know her better but she doesn't trust people too easily. she can be pretty when she wants to be and wants someone to love her for who she is. Everyone loves abbie. :)
Lets all love an abbie.
додав FlyGuy... 20 Лютого 2011
Abbie is a beautiful girl, with gorgeous brown hair, and luxurious brown eyes. She is sweet, loving, caring, and loves God with all of her heart. She can always make you smile, and feel better on your bad days. If you ever find yourself an Abbie- Hang on to her and never let her go. You will never find anyone as beautiful inside or out as her. If you ask her out, and she says yes... then you will have never made a better decision in your life. She will bring you presents and tell you how awesome you are. Just remember, Abbie is unique, pretty, smart (Makes all A's to be exact), funny, and loves life.
Boy: Hey dude, did you see Abbie today? She is SMOKING HOT!
Other Boy: Sorry dude, I know she is. but sadly, this sexy creature is taken. The guy she is dating is the LUCKIEST man alive.
Other Boy: Sorry dude, I know she is. but sadly, this sexy creature is taken. The guy she is dating is the LUCKIEST man alive.
додав Abbie's Secret Admirer 28 Грудня 2011
abbie is a very pretty individual who is less self-fish and more self-less.she LOVES hangin' with friends and, of course, can't resist talking;its like a habit:) every guy wants her and every girl wants to be her. She is amazingly social even her teaches love her. ALL her boyfriend's guys freinds ADORE her and all her boyfriend's girl friends want to be in her place. her boyfriend thinks he's the luckiest guy in the world and abbie thinks she's the luckiest gal in the world. she ADORES god and can't WAIT to go to church every sunday.
why no love an abbie?:)<3
why no love an abbie?:)<3
friend a: is abbie at church?
friend b: yup went to bed early last nigh just for it.
friend a: gosh, what a great girl.
friend b: yup went to bed early last nigh just for it.
friend a: gosh, what a great girl.
додав limegreen16 13 Червня 2011
Abbie is a beautiful human being. Most of the time she is selfless but doesn't forget about her own feelings. She is an intrevert, yet has a wide circle of friends that she can rely on as much as they rely on her. She is very musical and enjoys school, not just for her friends but to learn aswell. She is quite a procrastinator, when she has something to do she puts it off, but if she has started something she must finish it. She enjoys reading books more than watching films, and is not religious but respects how people have individual religions. All round she is a very kind, caring,genuine, and pretty girl who lots of people admire.
"Wow, I want to be like Abbie!"
"Who doesnt"
"Who doesnt"
додав rawrawrimadinosaur 25 Серпня 2012
Abbie is the sexiest most beautiful person I know. She keeps me on my toes and is fucking amazing. I absolutely love her
додав Ninjamasta 08 Січня 2013


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We're a little late in getting the wrestling page started this year, but it's finally here, and hopefully you enjoy it today and the rest of the season.
One thing I've been enjoying is the start of what could be fantastic careers for some newcomers in the Mirror coverage area. Some first-year guys haven't been intimidated by older wrestlers or those with lengthier resumes.
Here's some who have created a stir already:
Central Cambria's Max Murin: The Red Devils 106 pound freshman had some success at the junior olympic level, but I don't know if anybody expected him to start the season with a 12-0 record.
One of his wins was over Altoona's Cole Manley at the Sheetz Holiday Classic. Manley is a two-time Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling champion and four-time finalist. Murin also beat Penn Cambria junior Nolan Link, a former PJW star who sat out last season because he was too small.
Huntingdon's Jacob Oliver: Oliver won a PJW state title last season, but I expected to take a couple lumps as a freshman middleweight. One wrestling observer told me in the offseason that Oliver was already better than most at 145.
That has been the case as Oliver has been handing out the lumps at 145 pounds. He's off to a 14-0 start and is ranked No. 1 in the Mirror's initial rankings. He was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Sheetz Classic, and he opened the season with a 7-3 win over Tyrone senior Jason Schopp.
Everett's Devin Reed: Reed is a junior 285-pounder for the Warriors, but this is his first year wrestling for Everett. I don't know what his history is, but he's certainly not wrestling like a rookie.
Reed is 5-0 with three pins, and the other two wins were forfeits. One of his pins was of Moshannon Valley's Jack Bunnell, who finished sixth at the Southwestern Regional last season. Reed is ranked second, just behind our featured wrestler, Chestnut Ridge's Austin Buttry. Should make for an interesting battle in District 5.
Tough early schedule
Three of the top four teams in the Mirror rankings have had pretty tough early-season schedules, including top-ranked Chesnut Ridge, which has wrestled in the Powerade and duals against second-ranked Bedford, Berlin Brothersvalley, Towanda (which handed Ridge a 37-27 loss) and fourth-ranked Philipsburg-Osceola.
Bedford (3-1) has not only wrestled Ridge, it has also taken on North Star, winning 34-32, and competed in the King of the Mountain and Boiling Springs tournaments. P-O's 0-3 record is misleading because it has wrestled Ridge (losing 40-25), Bellefonte (34-27) and Central Mountain (38-18).
Third-ranked Huntingdon, which won the Sheetz Classic and pounded Bald Eagle Area, 54-12, will see stiffer competition down the road starting tonight at Bellefonte. The Bearcats also wrestle Mount Union, Penns Valley and P-O in January.
That type of schedule will get the wrestlers on those teams ready for the rugged wrestling in the postseason tournaments.
Good reading
To see more excellent coverage of wrestling, I would suggest Tom Elling's Wrestling Handbook, and a subscription to the Pennsylvania Wrestling Newsmagzine. To buy Elling's book, go to his state web site. To get PWN, owned by former Hollidaysburg coach Joe Baranik, go to www.pawrestling.net or send $26.95 to PWN, 409 Mill Road, Duncansville, PA, 16635 with your address information and e-mail.
Todd Irwin can be reached at 946-7464 or at email@example.com. He can be followed on Twitter at ToddIrwin1.


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Psi Chi Spring Colloquium: The Meaning of Life
- When:
- Location:
- Business Center
- Room:
- 135
- Description:
Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, is proud to offer an exciting colloquium series during the spring 2013 semester.
Join us for our fourth symposium:
The Meaning of Life
presented by Kris Eyssell, assistant professor
Students, staff, faculty and the public are encouraged to attend.
Light refreshments will be served.
- Contact Name:
- Sally Farley
- Contact Email:
- email@example.com


text:
Dr. Edward Preston Fischer, 73, Duncansville, died at Altoona Regional after a brief illness.
He was born in Lima, Ohio, son of the late Rev. Edward and Evelyn (Feister) Fischer. He married Alice Dick on Feb. 13, 2010.
Surviving are his wife; a son, Bryan Hershberger of Allentown; four daughters: Kristina Trunnell and husband, Richard, of New Market, Md., Tahlia Fischer of Bakersfield, Calif., and Margaux Fischer and Natasha Fischer, both of Santa Monica, Calif.; two granddaughters: Lillian and Emily Trunnell; and his twin sister, Beverly Gundy and husband, Gerden, "Gordy" of Huntley, Ill.
Article Photos
Dr. Fischer graduated from Wheaton College in 1961 with dual degrees in chemistry and business. He then graduated from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, and served a four-year internship at Ruislip Air Force Base, London, England. He then completed oncology study at MD Anderson Cancer Center and completed surgical residency at Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield, Calif., under Dr. Neil Arbegast. He also completed an oncologic reconstructive residency.
In 1992, Dr. Fischer moved to Duncansville, where he continued his surgical/oncologic private practice until his retirement in 1998. One of his greatest joys was the purchase and restoration of Sunbrook Mansion, which was built in 1890.
Dr. Fischer had many interests. He was a pilot and was president of Bakersfield Wine Society and The Blairmont Club. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, traveling, playing chess, watching old movies, spending time with his friends and family and caring for his dog, Kojac.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, at First United Methodist Church, Hollidaysburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society.
Arrangements are by The Stevens Mortuary Inc., 1421 Eighth Ave., Altoona.


text:
Rooted in the Catholic and Dominican traditions where "faith seeks understanding," Religious Studies at Edgewood College provides exciting opportunities to examine the religious experience and its multiple expressions. Through academic inquiry, scholarly research, community-based learning, and intellectual reflection, students explore the religious dimensions of human experience, harmonize their own religious commitments and traditions with their intellectual, critical, and cultural development, and deepen their own spiritualities with a vision toward justice and peace. At the same time, all are called to develop a genuine respect and appreciation for the truths and values expressed in the traditions and spiritualities of others.
Students interested in Biblical Studies can pursue a concentration in Hebrew Scriptures and/or Christian Scriptures. Those considering graduate school or seminary may pursue the Pre-Theological Studies concentration. Students with interests in Christian Ministries may do additional coursework, practica, and internships in youth ministry, campus ministry, family ministry, pastoral ministry, liturgical ministry, pastoral musicianship, social justice ministry and/or church administration. Students focusing on Religious Education prepare to serve as directors or coordinators of religious education, adult faith formation, rites of initiation, or as leaders in parochial schools.
In addition to the wide variety of ministries in faith communities, a degree in Religious Studies provides excellent preparation for careers in justice advocacy, political activism, law, journalism, social work, government, education, business, and public policy.
A second major or minor in religious studies will provide students of history, peace and conflict studies, political science, or religion and public life with a better understanding of religious communities and the many longstanding ideological conflicts that have shaped the contemporary world.
Religious Studies Department Fact Sheet
Religious Studies Department Major Requirements
Religious Studies Department Course Descriptions
Religious Studies Department Website


text:
Our way of life is deeply intertwined with battery technologies that have enabled a mobile revolution. In two studies at the ALS, researchers studied lithium batteries, obtaining detailed information about the evolution of electronic and chemical states that will be indispensable for building better batteries. Read more...
UEC Corner
Operations Update
Announcements: Proposal Deadline, NUFO 2013, Lightsources.org Relaunches Website
Who's in the News
News Links
X-Ray Microscopy Hits the Sweet Spot for Chemical and Elemental Imaging
Blocking Infinity in a Topological Insulator
A Cyclotron's Long Journey Home
Synchrotrons Explore Water's Molecular Mysteries
Black Gold: Enabling Bright, High Rep-Rate Electron Beams
Searching for the Solar System's Chemical Recipe
A Dual Look at Photosystem II Using the World's Most Powerful X-Ray Laser


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Cubs Pwned the First Half
I can say, with some fair amount of certainty, that very few Cubs fans that read this website have been witness to the outstanding level of play that our beloved Cubbies put up during the first half this season. .600 winning percentage, utter dominance at home, best run differential in the league, best starting staff in the NL, best offense in the NL, and top three in defense and overall pitching. And to all that, we just added an pitcher who could end up being our ace and are due to get back one of our best hitters, who has only played 53% of our games to date.
Gawk in amazement at our statistical dominance after the jump...
Team Performance
|Rank in NL
Winning Percentage
|Run Differential
|Strength of Schedule
|Runs Scored
|Batting Average
|On-Base Percentage
|Slugging Percentage
|Home Runs
|Runs Allowed
|Team ERA
|Starters' ERA
|Relievers' ERA
|Walks Allowed
|Home Runs Allowed
|Team Defensive Efficiency
|Team Fielding Percentage
|Team Errors
Starting Pitchers (NL Rank by Position)
|Win Shares
|Pitching Runs Created
|14(Tied 1st)
|64 (6th)
|2.84(Tied 4th)
|5(Tied 31st)
|43 (27th)
|4.68 (40th)
|3(Tied 50th)
|34 (47th)
|4.44 (34th)
Relief Pitchers (NL Rank by Position)
|0.43(Tied 47th)
|0.43(Tied 47th)
Individual Performance (NL Rank by Position)
|Win Shares
|Defensive Win Shares
|Runs Created
|11(Tied 5th)
|9(Tied 6th)
|63(Tied 2nd)
|8(Tied 27th)
|1.3(Tied 36th)
|5(Tied 44th)
|13(Tied 9th)
* - Not sure which categories account just for DeRosa's time at 2b (53 games played) or his overall numbers at all positions.
** - For all the outfielders, rankings for Win Shares is among ALL
NL Outfielders. Soriano would rank 7th in OBP and 4th in SLG if he
*** - For most cases, Edmonds rankings reflect his time with San
Diego. His Cubs numbers are 269/369/552. That would rank him first in
OBP and SLG, but that's in only 157 plate appearances as a Cub.The
negative 2 RAA2 for his defense though is just as a Cubbie, he had a
postive 2 as a Padre. The only regular Cub that has not been a postive
with the glove so far.
Re: Firefox 3 Users
Only the first table is displaying properly in IE 7 running Vista on a Dell Dimension.
Can see all the tables fine with Firefox 3.
Off topic: Maybe you could explain what some of the fielding stats are trying to measure.
Re: Firefox 3 Users
For whatever reason, you're getting long strings of unnecessary
< p > & nbsp; < /p >
strings after your tables (spaces added so it'll render). FireFox sometimes ignores these empty tags and sometimes renders them -- not sure why. I'm getting no spaces between charts (though the tags are there) but I do get extra space below the final chart. That may be because there's an extra "*-" in there.
FF3/XP, FWIW. Not sure if it's doing it on the Mac at home too, but I can check later.
Re: Firefox 3 Users
I think your problem is that you have align="left" on your tables which works like the img align in that it wraps text around it. Removing that (along with the p tags) should fix your issues.
If you're trying to set the text to align on the left side of all your table cells, you should do a style="text-align: left;" on the table, or set align at the td level.
Re: Firefox 3 Users
That fixed it perfectly.
FF3 on Mac OS 10.5.4
Re: Firefox 3 Users
I hate to say it, Rob, but my problems just haven't gotten any better. Try again, please. Good job fixing those tables, though.
Re: Headline
All this and no one notice the headline reads 'Cubs Pwned the First Half?' I presume that should be 'Owned.'
Re: Firefox 3 Users
There are two (2) <div> tags that start before the Game Thread Table that close </div> after the table is displayed.
The entire table must be "built" and displayed before the <div> and the associated "styles" are displayed.
Remove or close them before laying out the table and you'll see the effect of the <p> </p> paragraph tags that you'll want to remove once accomplished.
Internet Explorer is much more forgiving than Firefox in adherence to browser standards.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
That's nice, real nice gang. Way to go! That's just super duper.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Hmm... how is Theriot 4th in defensive win shares if he is so bad defensively?
And how does he have a positive RAA2?
Re: THERIOT at the break
Well there you go. Rob G provides the numbers that confirm Theriot is a net positive for this team. It becomes even bigger when combined with how much he actually makes.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
because DLee bails out his low throws.
oh wait..that's not factored in because that's not a factor in theriot's D...
...hold on...
wait a minute...
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Seriously? Now you are trying to say that D. Lee transforms Theriot from a bad to a good defensive shortstop? C'mon.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
no, im just saying you put another 1st baseman out there and theriot might not rank so highly. his arm can be an adventure. that's part of what lee is paid for, though.
Added MPH on the Fastball
Where's Koyie Hill when you need some boost on your fastball?
Re: Added MPH on the Fastball
i am not the only person who's seen dlee dig theriot's throws out more than a few times a game almost every game.
this isnt in the same field as a catcher making a guy throw faster...this is a legit criticism of theriot.
he makes a lot of low throws and dlee digs them out.
in fact, i'd say he probably throws a majority of his stuff at waist-knee level or lower to dlee...if not a majority its way more than it should be.
dlee's D at 1st is a pretty damn important part of EVERY infielder's D on this club.
Re: Added MPH on the Fastball
Crunch is right... Lee makes his other infielders better, because he is so damn good at catching the ball, especially balls in the dirt.
Re: Added MPH on the Fastball
well, to be fair...having dlee on 1st does add 4-5mph to the throws of the infielders.
Re: Added MPH on the Fastball
True. Taller = heavier, so Wrigley tilts a bit toward first base when Lee plays there, meaning the other infielders' throws are going slightly downhill.
Re: Added MPH on the Fastball
Actually, he has a point. D-Lee's defensive abilities give the other guys the confidence to just let it fly.
Remember Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grace? Sandberg was considered a great defensive second baseman. He threw balls in the dirt all the time--because he knew that Grace was going to pick them. Sandberg developed a bounce pass to first. Maybe Theriot is taking a similar approach. Or maybe he's just a little wild and getting away with it.
Re: Added MPH on the Fastball
grace on dunston...
"I owe him a lot. Nobody would know how good I was at digging balls out of the dirt if it wasn't for him and all those bad throws."
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Defensive win shares have the same inherent flaw in them that offensive win shares. They unfairly credit players who play on a team with a lot of wins (2008 Chicago Cubs). Over a career these things tend to even out, but not over half a season. A mediocre player on an above average team is going to look better.
But I'm sure you already knew and understood that part.
Defensive Win Shares don't use play by play data to my knowledge, so you shouldn't put much stock into them anyhow. Again, I'm sure I'm preaching to choir here.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
That's a chicken or egg argument because the people who created that stat say the players are responsible for the winning/losing. Now you are saying that the winning/losing is responsible for the player being good or bad.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
No... he is right. Win Shares are dependent on a team's wins.
If you have two players with the exact same numbers, the player on the team with more wins will have more win shares.
Win Shares are not a perfect stat, and a player is aided by playing on a good team.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Really good line on Jeff S. today for Iowa---6 innings, 9 k's---that's what we'er looking for---look for him in relief this year
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
What is it with Samninja getting promoted after struggling and doing good at the next level? That's great news. Can any of you guys think of this happening with another big name pitcher?
Re: What is it with Samninja getting promoted after struggling
At the time he was promoted to AAA he wasn't struggling at all. That's why he was promoted. The only thing the least bit controversial about it was Donnie Veal was doing better and got skipped over.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
"Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything. 14% of people know that"
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Pretty amazing numbers, especially considering the 3 or 4 losses of the last 2 weeks that probably should have been wins. If Harden and Soriano (and everyone else) can stay healthy, this team should be pretty set for the second half.
It just so happens to be my luck that I'm moving to Italy next week, but I'll do my best to keep up with the Cubs and TCR.
Re: moving to Italy
What part of Italy Andrew?
Re: moving to Italy
Rome. So it'll be hot as hell in the summer time. Woo!
Re: Some news and notes..
Political power?
Re: Some news and notes..
Sex power, Chad.
Re: Some news and notes..
He sleeps nude in an oxygen tank which he believes gives him sexual powers?
Re: Some news and notes..
He also has a pet chimp and lives in an amusement park.
Re: Some news and notes..
Power bottom.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Thanks for the post, Rob. Really interesting stuff on the first half.
And about Samardzija, it really is weird -- but at the same time, thrilling. It's common knowledge that players in AAA have more bat control than those in AA so if Jeff is starting to miss bats with consistence, it might be more of a direct effect of his performance and talent (he does have a really good fastball) than a fluke. Really good news, all in all.
Re: if Jeff is starting to miss bats with consistence
I'm guessing the latest tweaks in his delivery have his pitches getting DOWN in the zone where they belong because his GO/AO has drastically reversed.
Tennessee GO/AO 0.64
Iowa GO/AO 1.42
His BAA has gone up at Iowa by the way, from .252 at Tenn. to .263 at Iowa. Hits/9IP has gone from 8.41 to 9.24 .
Walks down -1 a game, strikeouts up +2.5 a game, BAA up ten points. This is kind of what you would expect from an effective sinkerball pitcher if they have him trusting his stuff and concentrating on throwing strikes down in the zone.
Comments by Cubs All-Stars
I don't think anyone has mentioned any of this yet. The All-Star Blog reports that:
1. Geovany Soto loved catching Rich Harden for the first time and thinks he's going to be a huge addition. You won't see any of that on tape because some camera guy next to us kept turning his lights on and off during our answer trying to get lighting for his guy. I gave him an evil glare. He didn't care.
4. Carlos Marmol is happy to have a few days off. He feels that his recent run of ineffectiveness might be because of the **number of innings** he's pitched recently...
[Uh,oh! cue the theme music]
Batting order for tonight's HR Derby
1. Dan Uggla
2. Grady Sizemore
3. Evan Longoria
4. Chase Utley
5. Lance Berkman
6. Justin Morneau
7. Ryan Braun
8. Josh Hamilton
So far in 2008, the homers-per-game rate is 1.96, which is only slightly lower than last year's rate (1.97) and the lowest since 1993 (1.78).
Re: Parachat be open
Actually that applies to all days that in in a "Y".
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Speaking of gay-
3 doors down for hr derby entertainment?
Does anyone else think Penny Marshall is hot?
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Given these stats, what theories do people have for the lousy road record?
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Lack of uppers. And Theriot being worn out after driving the Scrap-mobile from ballpark to ballpark. That's what I would blame it on.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
He should let Fontenot and Reed drive it some. Although,
I still say that Fontenot's 497 SLUG is so high that he's disqualified from being scrap.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Hmmmm Khalil Green he of a career .249 BA, and .305 OBP. Hey he sucks but he can hit HR's....whoppee frickin do.
We looking for the second coming of Alex Gonzalez again? A guy that will hit .250 (maybe) and hit 15 HR's? Yawn....passsssssss.
Green has had 6 years to figure things out and is on the wrong side of 28, and is showing no signs of improvement. Yeah he had 97 RBI last year but he still hit in the .250's and it screams "career year" where teams will waste time and money hoping for that year again only to be disappointed that it will never happen again. I can see if he was raising his average and cutting down his strikeouts but he is actually getting worse across the board. He sucks big time.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Mike should get the "Post of the thread" award. Greene is horrible and I dont get why his name keeps coming up in trade talks for this team. He is a Vlad-type hacker without the 420 career HR and also makes 5.5 Million dollars.
BTW: They really need to change the HR derby rules. They need to cutout the Semifinal round and then carry over the amount of Homeruns from the 1st round into the final round. Its only logical that the guy who hits the most Homeruns wins it. Oh well, what can you expect from the idiots in charge of MLB who think its a good idea to determine homefield for the WS by who wins an exhibition game.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
If they carried the over the 1st round homers, Hamilton many not have had to bat. (assuming Morno batted first)
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
I never understood why once they had a guarantee into the next round would the batter not lay up a bit to save energy.
Or maybe I'm putting to much thought into a video game like exhibition.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
IMHO, I think the winner of the Derby should be the guy who hits the most homers so I wouldnt have an issue with it. The biggest problem with the current set-up is the length of the contest and that the guy who hits the most HR's isnt guarnteed to win it. Under the current rules a performance that Hamilton did in the 1st round is discourged because you end up wearing yourself for the finals, but that is the best thing about the HR derby watching a guy hit about 10 in a row. If you cut it from 3 to 2 rounds and carry over the results from the 1st round into the finals you fix both of the problems.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Is Theriot on the right side of 28? Is this his career year?
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Well... I think the point is that even if it is a career year, it would be better to have a career year from Theriot than a shitty year from Greene.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Ouch... Greene is not only having an awful year, but he is WORSE on the road, away from Petco, so you can't even blame the pitchers ballpark he plays in.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
The HR Derby is such a waste of energy and attention. And will someone please kill Chris Berman.
Oh, and could we possibly here more about Josh Hamilton's drug problems...
(Yes, cross-country flights make me cranky/crankier...)
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
I could borderline tolerate Chris Berman, but when you add to that Joe Morgan with his usual smug comments detached from reality then you have a loser there.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Anyone else watch the softball game?
One of the announcers talked about how George Lopez should win manager of the year, even with what Maddon has done with the Rays and Tony La Russa has done with the Cubs.
Yes... he really said La Russa with the Cubs.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Compounding the insult was that it was Sutcliffe. But obviously a slip of the tongue.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Unless Lou changes the pattern, Geovany Soto is on pace to play 150 games this season.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Fukudome and Soto batting 8th and 9th for the NL tonight.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
If all goes well in pre-game BP this weekend at Houston, Alfonso Soriano could bat lead-off and DH in the three AZL Cubs games that are scheduled while the Cubs are in Phoenix next week. Of course it would mean getting up pretty early in the morning (AZL game times are 10:30), but it would allow Soriano to get four ABs each day in the three minor league games without having to leave his team and go to Iowa, Tennessee, or Daytona, and he could even DH in the AZL Cubs game Wednesday morning, and if he feels up to it, get reactivated from the DL in time to play LF in the Cubs-D'backs game Wednesday night.
Or if he needs a few more ABs, he could remain in Arizona for another day or two after the Cubs return to Chicago and go down to Tucson and get some AAA ABs when the Iowa Cubs play the Tucson Sidewinders at Tucson Electric Park Tuesday night 7/22 through Friday night 7/25 (next week).
As for Rich Hill, with the Iowa Cubs in Tucson the week of July 22, he could get one more start with the AZL Cubs at Fitch Park (probably this Thursday) and then rejoin the I-Cubs in Tucson and get a start versus the Sidewinders on Tuesday or Wednesday.
And Scott Eyre could do something similar. He pitched (ineffectively) in a couple of games at Peoria this past weekend, but if he's not ready to get reactivated immediately after the ASB, he could throw in a couple of AZL Cubs games next week (like maybe Monday and Tuesday or Monday and Wednesday) while the Cubs are in Phoenix, and then if he's ready to be reactivated, he could travel back to Chicago with the Cubs after the final game of the D'backs series Wednesday night.
Or if he needs more rehab work, he could go down to Tucson after the Cubs leave town and throw in a couple of games for AAA Iowa, like maybe Thursday night 7/24 and/or Friday night 7/25 (the I-Cubs will still be playing in Tucson for a couple of more days after the Cubs have left Phoenix), and then rejoin the Cubs in Chicago.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Koyie Hill in his last 15 games at Iowa: 418/467/818 with six HR, two doubles, and a triple, and five BB over 60 PA. He's also thrown out 36% of opposing base stealers, best among the #1 catchers on the Cubs full season minor league clubs except Josh Donaldson (who just got traded to OAK). So I am fairly sure that Koyie Hill will be brought up after the rosters expand on September 1st to be the Cubs #3 catcher.
Lest anyone think Welington Castillo (who played in the Futures Game) will get a September call-up, Castillo has committed six errors and has allowed 15 passed balls (with 32% CS) in just over half a season in 2008. He led Cubs minor league catchers with 13 PB and 13 errors last season when he threw out 40% of opposing base stealers, so he's already exceeded his PB number from last season and his CS% has gone down.
I like Castillo. He's a talented young catcher, but also VERY raw. His bat is actually more-advanced than his receiving skills right now. He's probably two years away.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
All I know is, Lou is impatient with guys who don't hit. He may not be impressed by 15 games at Iowa. The Cubs won't be looking for a defense-oriented catcher, since they already have one making $3.175 million (acc. to espn.com; I hope it's a typo.)
The Cubs could be thinking of Hill as Soto's backup next year when Blanco is gone, in which case it might make sense to call him up in Sept. even if he never plays.
Maybe Blanco can join Scott Eyre on the perpetual DL. Then the Cubs can call up Hill, Castillo can go to Iowa and Lalli can be the everyday catcher at Tennessee.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
The Cubs could be thinking of Hill as Soto's backup next year when Blanco is gone
Woo! I am already excited about how hard Cubs pitchers will be throwing whenever Soto sits.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Hill would have to be added to the 40-man roster though to do this. Do you see the Cubs adding him given that they just took him off last year?
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Well... the Cubs have an opening on the 40-man roster right now, so that may not be that big of a deal.
The bigger deal may be that he simply is not that good of a baseball player.
Cubs Pitching Futures
AZ PHIL: Since the Cubs have now traded their #1 pitching prospect for a pitcher who is either brilliant, or hurt and can't pitch, can you please tell us who is the next in line?
In your opinion, who in the minors, has the best shot of being a 1-4 slotted pitcher in the majors within the next year or two?
I had thought it was Pawelek, but it does not seem like it will happen that soon. Veal? Still has control issues. JEff Russell? The Notre Dame wide-out? Not enough pitches developed yet. Kevin Hart? From what I've seen in-person, he has no confidence against major-league hitters.
Gallagher at only 22 years old, had some terrific stuff, and a bright future in the majors.
Please tell us what's down the pike. Thanks.
Re: Deja Vu
I could swear you've asked this exact same question before...
at any rate, regarding Donnie Veal. His peformance has really taken a hit since Samardzija got promoted to AAA ahead of him. In his six starts prior, Veal was averaging ~6 IP/start, 2.12 ERA (actually better than his April and May averages). In his 4 starts since he's allowed 16 earned runs in 18.1 IP.
ERA by the month
April 2.38
May 2.72
June 4.94 Samardzija promoted
July 6.59
Re: Deja Vu
I did ask the same question. It went unanswered. Thanks for your attentiveness.
Re: Deja Vu
Except he didn't answer your question.
Re: Veal? Still has control issues
Samardzija was no better in AA than Veal -- didn't stop him from being promoted.
BB/IP Veal 4.72
BB/IP Smrdz 4.97
Re: Veal? Still has control issues
samninja's being fasttracked (no matter what any talking head says to the press...that crap dont matter....never has, never will).
wouldnt be surprised to see him this sept. just hanging out with the pro club trying to get a few innings in (if everyone's healthy).
Re: Veal? Still has control issues
Not to mention the fact that Samardzija has a major league contract and Veal doesn't.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Nice usage of pwned, btw.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
I agree. W00T. Rob is teh 1337.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
The Cubs will add a third catcher in September to allow Lou to PR for his catchers and to provide an in-house option for the post-season in case something happens to Soto or Blanco, and I'm just saying (for better or worse and whether you like it or not) it will be Koyie Hill. I just wanted you to be prepared for when it happens.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
I remember getting a tour of the Cubs locker room (among other things) last year and asking the guide on the sly why the hell Hill was still in the bigs. When he said the rumor was that it wouldn't be long I didn't realize they were going to send him down within the next two days.
I can't imagine that Koyie Hill will actually get any ABs in September post call-up. Hank White can't seem to find his way to home plate with a map right now.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
AZ PHIL: Since the Cubs have now traded their #1 pitching prospect for a pitcher who is either brilliant, or hurt and can't pitch, can you please tell us who is the next in line? In your opinion, who in the minors, has the best shot of being a 1-4 slotted pitcher in the majors within the next year or two?
I had thought it was Pawelek, but it does not seem like it will happen that soon. Veal? Still has control issues. JEff Russell? The Notre Dame wide-out? Not enough pitches developed yet. Kevin Hart? From what I've seen in-person, he has no confidence against major-league hitters.
Gallagher at only 22 years old, had some terrific stuff, and a bright future in the majors.
Please tell us what's down the pike. Thanks.
E-MAN: I had rated Sean Gallagher as the Cubs #1 pitching prospect coming into the this season, but now that he's gone, I would rate the Cubs Top 5 pitching prospects (AA and AAA levels only) as:
1. Jose Ceda, RHP
2. Kevin Hart, RHP
3. James Russell, LHP
4. Donald Veal, LHP
5. Jeff Samardzija, RHP
Ceda was moved back to the bullpen after getting promoted from Daytona to Tennessee (he was used as a starter at Daytona to force him to use all of his pitches), and he has been dominating so far at AA. He could be as good as Marmol, but like Marmol (recently), Ceda is prone to command problems where he can't throw strikes. But so far that problem has not surfaced at AA. His best pitches are a 98 MPH hummer with a mid-80's slider. He probably was told to throw a two-seamer and a change when he was used as a starter, but those aren't his best pitches. He has had some shoulder problems off and on over the past couple of years, but he has not needed surgery. It is a concern, however.
Hart is a definite MLB rotation starter prospect, although the Cubs will probably trade him. He's not as valuable when he works out of the bullpen because he can't take full advantage of his arsenal/repetoire and stamina, where he can (if necessary) go through a batting order three or four times and where he can maintain the velocity on his fastball up to and beyond 100 pitches. He has a clean medical history, and he can be an innings-eater if used as a starter.
Russell has a plus-change and curve, and he paints both sides of the plate with his fastball. He really knows how to work hitters. VERY smart pitcher. He probably learned a lot about pitching from his dad (Jeff), who had a lengthy MLB career. He is very advanced for somebody his age (22) and it's amazing that he is already at AA when he has less than one year of pro experience. He was the Cubs 14th round draft pick in 2007 out of the University of Texas, but got "3rd round money" to sign just before the August 15th deadline. If he stays healthy, he will be an MLB middle-of-the-rotation starter.
Veal is considered the top Cubs pitching prospect by one scout I know from another organization, just because he has such a high ceiling. Actually, he's high risk, high reward, and high maintenance. He's like an Italian sports car. When he's "on" he has a plus-curve, a fastball with movement, and a deceptive change, too. His big problem is that he gets out of whack fairly easily. He has problems repeating his delivery and sometimes he'll suddenly change his release point in the middle of a game. And when he gets into a jam, it tends to snowball and he has difficulty extricating himself. He throws a lot of pitches-per-inning, and he can single-handedly burn out a bullpen. Personally, I believe he will eventually end up as a lefty reliever (Arthur Rhodes-type).
Samardzija has that 94 MPH power-sinker, but he has had difficulty finding secondary stuff that works. I believe he is now throwing a slider and a splitter, and they must be coming along, because he has pitched well so far at Iowa. Like Derek Lowe, Samardzija is a "pitch-to-contact" guy who gets a lot of ground balls when he's on his game, and moving up to AAA should help him get better results just because the infield defense is so much better as you move up through the minor leagues. Better infield defense should help his confidence, too. But he needs to develop his secondary stuff and make it work consistently if he wants to be an MLB rotation starter. But if he can't he could still be an MLB middle-reliever.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Relying only on numbers and box scores, and never actually laying eyes on these guys, the starting pitchers in the organization who look most interesting to me are Alex Maestri (Tennessee but mostly Daytona), Hung-Wen Chen (Daytona but mostly Peoria) and Dae-eun Rhee (Peoria). Rhee has been the most dominating but he's on the DL for the second time this season with arm problems.
These guys are a far cry from Gallagher, which is why there is a lot of pain associated with the recent trade.
We still have some youth with Zambrano, Harden and Hill, but all three have to pitch.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Alex Maestri is on the Tennessee DL with a shoulder injury and Dae-Eun Rhee had Tommy John surgery today. Not good news.
Between Suarez and Rhee, the Cubs have had their top international free agent signing in consecutive years have Tommy John surgery in a span of 4 months.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
AZ Phil, where would you rank the Cubs HITTING prospects, or are you saving that for a midseason Top-10 post? (which I would love BTW).
Seems like our top position players now are:
1. Josh Vitters--good start at Boise
2. Wellington Castillo--raw as you say
3. Micah Hoffpauir--Is he still a prospect? Not high ceiling, but certainly MLB player
4. Tyler Colvin--slipping though
5. Tony Thomas--Also slumping
The cupboard seems pretty bare in position players. Only Castillo is really stepping up this year.
Re: The cupboard seems pretty bare in position players
Who's responsible for that?
Re: The cupboard seems pretty bare in position players
John Stockstill?
Re: The cupboard seems pretty bare in position players
that question is an intelligence test.
Re: The cupboard seems pretty bare in position players
I figure you are trying to hang it on Tim Wilken. However he just completed his 3rd draft last month. He gets a pass for 2 more years before we get to hang him.
I personally blame Michael Barrett for the general lack of elite talent in the cubs ML system.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Wow, thanks for the update as always, AZ Phil. It sounds unfortunate that the Cubs are likely to trade Hart primarily because he's not a BP guy, you'd think they'd like to keep him around awhile to see what shakes out before the '09 season.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Thanks much, AZ PHIL. "His big problem is that he gets out of whack fairly easily."
This is the problem, as you cite, with Italian sports cars!
Samardzija is a "pitch-to-contact" guy who gets a lot of ground
balls when he's on his game
At Tennessee 60% of his outs came on flyballs ---was their infield defense really THAT bad?
It's reversed at Iowa, where 60% of his outs have come on groundballs.
Would really like to know what's changed.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Submitted by navigator on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 1:26pm.
balls when he's on his game
At Tennessee 60% of his outs came on flyballs ---was their infield defense really THAT bad?
It's reversed at Iowa, where 60% of his outs have come on groundballs. Would really like to know what's changed.
NAVIGATOR: I remember when Samardzija was at Minor League Camp in March he was throwing a lot of sliders (mostly hanging sliders) and some kind of change up that he couldn't keep down (it might have been he was trying to learn the splitter, but I'm not sure), but whatever pitches he was throwing he wasn't getting ground balls with them.
Maybe now that he is at Iowa the Cubs are letting him throw more two-seamers, although I would think he will need to mix-in the secondary stuff at least occasionally if he ever wants to make it as an MLB starter.
The fact that he got nine Ks in his last start could indicate he's getting punch-outs with the slider and/or the splitter.
Re: Samardzija
That's interesting about the new pitches, AzPhil. He doesn't talk much about the pitches he's working on at his blog, but fwiw this is what he said a few days ago,
For any of you who know me or read the blog on a regular basis, know that I'm not a numbers guy. However being locked in and now with a record of 3-1 feels pretty good. I've been working pretty hard since TN to become more consistent and cut down on the walks. Last night was was evidence of that with no walks and 7 K's. I will say one important thing that a lot of this is a result of a nasty Iowa team.
It's easy to be a pitcher when you know your offense is going to go out every night and but up big numbers.
I'm just doing my best to not disrupt their rhythm and do whatever to help them win.
This is the value in loading up prospect-depleted Iowa with AAAA types and marginal major leaguers (and AA Tennessee for that matter where Hendry optioned Sam Fuld, Jake Fox, and Matt Craig ---who's back with Iowa).
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Submitted by Dmac on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 1:21pm.
Wow, thanks for the update as always, AZ Phil. It sounds unfortunate that the Cubs are likely to trade Hart primarily because he's not a BP guy, you'd think they'd like to keep him around awhile to see what shakes out before the '09 season.
DMAC: I believe if Hendry has a chance to get somebody like Brian Fuentes or Damaso Marte, that Kevin Hart would be a part of the deal. Jose Ceda, too.
I still think Hendry will virtually sell the farm system if he thinks he can improve the Cubs even marginally going into the stretch. He'll go for any little edge he can get.
Remember last year when Hendry traded Scott Moore, Rocky Cherry and Jake Renshaw for Steve Trachsel? He WAY overpaid for Trax, and he didn't seem to care.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
A painful memory to be sure - yeah, we all remember that fire sale. I would hope he'd be just a little more circumspect this time around, but probably not.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Levine was just on ESPN 1k and said he would be "surprised" if Jimbo did not get a speedy OF who can hit. I dont know why Jimbo is in the market for one? Is Soriano's injury worse than they are letting on? Did Jimmy Baseball get caught using something he stole from the LaRussa Institute for Performance Enhancement in Sports? Is Fukudome shoulder bothering him? The only name Levine mentioned was that of Scott Hairston, who would be an improvement over Cedeno in the 2nd RH off the bench role if they want Dero backing up SS. Though he has been productive this year and should be cheap next year so I dont know why the Padres would let go of him for something that does not have alot of value.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Well... being that the Cubs don't really have a 2nd backup outfielder right now, it makes perfect sense that Hendry would be looking to add one.
DeRosa is not a good defensive OF, and when he plays the outfield the defense is often weakened at 2n also with Fontenot.
LouPa has been talking about needing any outfielder, but when the options are Hoffpauir or Dubois, it sure makes sense to me to add another outfielder if possible.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
As long as they arent giving up anything of value I wouldnt have an issue with it. With a healthy Soriano I dont think getting another OF is that big of a priority. I would rather have 2 pen arms, an inpact RH bench bat, or even another backup C before a 5th OF to be a defensive replacement/pinchrunner type.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
A third catcher? Why? Lou doesn't even use his second catcher.
I would also say that the RH bench bat could equal a 5th outfielder.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
I would like a second catcher that Lou would feel comfortable playing. At this current rate Soto could end up being like Theriot and suck down the stretch because of overuse throughout the course of the season. If the 5th OF is a RH who can provide some pop off the bench like Scott Hairston then yes its a good pickup, if its Scott Podsednik type guy then its over GMing on Jimbo's part.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Is there a 2nd catcher available that is better than Blanco?
And I agree on the Pods type - I am not interested in that either.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
sweet...so when's jay payton getting here?
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
A little power and a little speed in center, that would be nice. The Cubs have a couple of athletes with size in Pie and Colvin, but so far neither one can hit. There are a bunch of smaller, "scrappier" types along the lines of Reed Johnson and Sam Fuld, with names like Wyatt and Wright and Aducci, but there's not much pop in that group. The problem is not a backup outfielder this year, but a starting CFer this year and next year and beyond. Centerfield is the gaping hole that never gets filled.
Edmonds has been serviceable, and more, but his failure to score on that sac fly in St. Louis was ominous. He's old and slow, playing a speed position. If you don't get speed from center and from second, where are you supposed to get it? That's why the Cubs are always looking for a second baseman (Roberts, 27 SBs at the all-star break) and a CFer.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
but his failure to score on that sac fly in St. Louis was ominous.
Yup - that one play makes him worthless.
Lets completely ignore this line: .269/.369/.552 OPS: .921
Yup - he sucks. Lets get a new one.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Pie is a speedy outfielder, and he is hitting over .300 since returning to Iowa from Fitch Park. Are we giving up on him as a prospect?
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Would Randy Winn be available on a crap Giants team? Speed, SH, and some power. Plus, nice MLB experience.
Or Dave Roberts?
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Yeah if you want to pay him $12.25 Mil over the next year and a half. I hope we pass.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Z to pitch innings 3-4 according to ESPN 1k. Also Lincecum will not be playing due to being hospilzed with the flu. I am assuming Hurdle's plan is:
1&2: Sheets
5: Volquez
6: Wilson
7: Wagner
8: Valverde
9: Lidge
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Boo... Sheets should pitch as long as possible, preferably all nine innings.
That way Dempster, Marmol, and Z can all sit and rest.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
# 81
if only we had a decent hitting outfielder who
was fast and played great defense we could just
bring him up from minors and not trade away
those prospects
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Well you got it on the "fast and played great defense"; the jury is still out on the "decent hitting".
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Submitted by Q-Ball on Wed, 07/16/2008 - 8:35am.
AZ Phil, where would you rank the Cubs HITTING prospects, or are you saving that for a midseason Top-10 post? (which I would love BTW).
Q-BALL: I think Josh Vitters is proving that when he's healthy (he had mono last year and tendinitis in his hand this past Spring), he is a primo hitting prospect. Whether he can remain at 3B remains to be seen, but he's only 18 so I guess there is plenty of time to figure that out. Personally, I think he will end up at 1B, but we'll see. But he is the Cubs #1 position player prospect right now.
Welington Castillo has a lot of potential and he's a very confident kid, but he is also VERY raw and will need some time to develop. His bat will probably get him to the big leagues before his glove, although he should eventually become a plus-defensive catcher. But right now he needs to work on his receiving skills.
Tyler Colvin has been moved very fast through the Cubs system, and has been young for his league everywhere he's been. So I wouldn't be too concerned about his slump at AA in 2008. I would be concerned about the Cubs trying to play him in RF, though, because the "arm strengthening program" the Cubs put him on post-2006 resulted in a sore arm that has plagued him ever since (he played 1B in HS and LF at Clemson, but he does have the speed to handle CF, although he is by no means a "Gold Glove"-type defender).
Tony Thomas is a concern because he is a poor defensive second-baseman and so he has to put up some stellar numbers for a lead-off hitter if he is still to be considered a hot prospect, and he isn't doing that right now at Daytona. At least Eric Patterson has the athleticism to maybe play CF. With Thomas, it's probably 2B or bust.
One name I would definitely add is 3B Marquez Smith (Tyler Colvin's teammate at Clemson). Playing both 2B and 3B (but mostly 2B), Smith committed 13 errors from Opening Day through mid-June at Peoria. But since being moved from 2B back to 3B (his natural position) a liitle over a month ago, he has committed just ONE error combined between Peoria and Daytona (and that's going back to June 14th). So in over a month of games, Smith has committed just ONE error. And Smith has legitimate HR power, too. He has hit 299/374/516 with 14 HR & 53 RBI, 19 doubles, five triples, and 38/67 BB/K in 375 PA (90 games) at Peoria and Daytona so far in 2008. He is a stocky 5'10 or 5'11, but he has plus bat speed and really puts the hammer on the ball, with the type of swing that should result in a lot of "long flies." He reminds me of a young Jim Ray Hart.
I also think Jovan Rosa will benefit defensively from moving back to 3B (his natural position) from 1B, and once he learns to elevate his swing and turn on the ball he should start to hit some HRs (he's a "doubles machine" right now). And Dylan Johnston is back on the prospect radar again after moving to RF from SS. Johnston has put on a lot of weight (hopefully mostly muscle!) and he could develop into a big-time left-handed power hitter as he matures (he's only 21). Both Rosa and Johnston are at Peoria.
2008 Supplemental 1st-round draft pick Ryan Flaherty (compensation pick for losing FA Jason Kendall) bears watching, especially if he can stay at SS (he played SS at Vanderbilt, but he played 2B for Team USA). And Josh Harrison (U. of Cincinnati) may actually turn out to be a better 2B prospect than Tony Thomas (but that's still TBD). Both Flaherty and Harrison are presently at Boise.
The Cubs drafted and signed several really big dudes last month (Ryan Keedy, Jericho Jones, Rebel Ridling, and Sean Hoorelbeke), and if one of them were to develop into a HR hitter, he could have a possible MLB future. We'll see.
I also like what I have seen so far of Matt Cerda, the Cubs 2008 4th round pick out of Oceanside HS in suburban San Diego. Cerda was moved from SS back to catcher last month at Fitch Park (he last played catcher in Little League), and he has made some nice strides with his defense behind the plate already (he picked a runner off base in an AZL game the other day). Offensively, he reminds me of a young left-handed hitting Craig Biggio. For an 18-year old, he has an advanced approach at the plate, and he knows the strike zone (unfortunately not all of the AZL umpires do!). He has some power potential, too.
Among the Latin players at Fitch Park, RF Nelson Perez is quite a specimen. A protege of Alfonso Soriano, Perez looks like a left-handed hitting Sammy Sosa, and (as you might expect) he has plus-power. He also has probably one of the three-best OF arms in the organization (Ryan Harvey and Kyler Burke have the other ones). On the negative side, Perez sometimes has a problem catching the ball in the outfield, and he is an EXTREME first-ball fastball hitter. That's because he struggles to hit breaking balls and change-ups (unless he knows what's coming), and he's "dead meat" when he has two strikes.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Excellent as always Dr. Phil.
Have you heard any scuttlebutt about Kyler Burke or Ryan Harvey finally making the mound transitions they seem destined for? Both guys were first round picks and both guys are really struggling with the sticks.
Re: Cubs Pwned the First Half
Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Wed, 07/16/2008 - 11:58am.
Have you heard any scuttlebutt about Kyler Burke or Ryan Harvey finally making the mound transitions they seem destined for? Both guys were first round picks and both guys are really struggling with the sticks.
DR AARON B: No I havent. But both probably should seriously consider it, especially Burke, who is struggling to hit .130 at Boise (and he was there last year, too.),
BTW, Kyler Burke does lead all Cubs minor leaguers in OF assists with 13 (the next most is eight by Sam Fuld), and Burke has done that in only 2-1/2 months, because he spent about a month at Extended Spring Training after he got demoted from Peoria in May.
Recent comments
Kershaw gets hurt by his defense and gave up 2 more runs. Blach has 8 shutout innings.
Mets already won as did Cards.
tomorrow is gonna be helluva fun if Giants hold on. We're all rooting for a 3-way tie I presume.
good news is now 5 K's for Lester through 4 (in a quest for 200 for season). Bad news is he's already at 86 pitches.
be curious how long Maddon sticks with Lester to try and let offense get back into it and get him the win (4-2 as I type, was 4-0)
Fwiw, he needed 2.1 IP to cross 200 for season so he got that at least. He also needs 9 K's for 200K's on season and he has 4 through 3.
cubs score 2 runs thanks to predictable reds pitching and horrible CIN defense...cubs only down by 1 now. heyward even got a gift 2rbi double out of an easy popout. neat.
something named Ty Blach has outpitched Clayton Kershaw through 6 innings (1-0 Giants).
not that finishing 2nd place will matter much nor did this game, but have to think if Hendricks pitches well tomorrow, he could leapfrog Lester in Cy Young voting. Don't see anyway Scherzer doesn't win it regardless and it doesnt' look like Lester has any incentive clauses that matter. Also might give Cueto some votes.
Rather remarkable how many teams have really good 1-2 options this year.
Nats: Scherzer and Roark (and Strasburg was great before injuries)
Cubs: Lester and Hendricks (and Arrietta is still damn good just not as consistently lately)
pretty much what I'm gathering from this thread is that it doesn't matter who you play in 5-game series, but no one wants to have to deal with Cardinal fans if we end up losing.
I can respect that.
first game for lester giving up more than 2 runs since july 24th. hell of a run.
doh, yes...dunno what happened there. jake arrieta is all "bro wut?"
lester going for #20...cubs haven't had a LH (thanks jpep for the correction) 20 game winner since d.ellsworth in 1963.
fwiw, all the games are free on mlb.tv
Short rest for MadBum would be 2 days. WC game is Wed., Games 1 & 2 are Friday/Saturday.
A left-handed one...
J-Hey not finishing with an offensive onslaught.
If Geoff Blum could be a Playoff hero, there is hope still...
Giants scare me. I think you're wrong about Bumgarner, he would pitch on short rest for Game 2 and then full rest for Game 5. Cueto would go Game 1, then short rest in game 4. Add in some really tough outs in that lineup and I want nothing to do with them. With that rotation they can easily steal a series.
Cards are a tough matchup. The rivalry evens out their comparable lack of talent. And like someone said, they love HRs, which is how to beat the Cubs. The upside is that I would feel really good about Lester twice against STL.
j.buchanan with a nice start...5ip 2h 1bb 3k, 0r/er
zobrist with 2HR and a double through 8
heyward 0-4 :(


text:
7 Amazing Video Games We'll Never Get to Play
Video games face the same gargantuan hurdle as every other creative medium: To get your property made, you have to first filter it through a lot of people who hate ideas almost as much as they love money. Before you can create something truly novel, it must first survive the veritable gauntlet of assholes that is upper management. That's why we end up getting a new Tomb Raider sequel every year, even though anybody could ask the fans one simple question and be instantly presented with literally decades of blockbuster concepts. That question is: What's your brilliant, perfect, tragically nonexistent game idea?
I asked the question once before, and then spent the rest of the afternoon punching the wall in furious despair that I would never get to play those games. Now, I'm asking it again, because I have the memory of a goldfish and I like pain.
A note to any game developers who may be reading: You can take any of the ideas presented in this column, or the last column, or the comments, or from literally wherever you want, just as long as you don't make us play another Call of Duty game. Remember: It's not IP theft if the other party is about to shove their ideas so far down your throat that you'll be crapping premises for a week; that's just self-defense.
#7. A Clever Superhero Game
If I'm going to put other people's game ideas out there for potential mockery and almost certain theft, it's only fitting that I go first. So here it is -- here's my idea for the most perfect, brilliant, tragically unrealized interactive experience in history:
Aquaman: The Game.
Jesus, I think I just booed myself.
Hear that? That's the sound of a million browsers closing in disgust. But wait, hold on: It doesn't have to be Aquaman. It could be any open-world superhero game (a la Arkham City) that revolves around an underpowered main character. We nerds give a lot of shit to Aquaman, but his book has to be a blast to write. I mean think about it: How much fun is infinite power, really? The very concept of Superman bores the shit out of me; there's a reason people don't write many classic tales about how difficult it is to be the best guy in the world. We don't want to root for the beloved high school quarterback to continue being beloved; we want Rudy to vault onto the field and knock his dick in the dirt. Our favorite stories are of characters who take the one meager talent they were given, then punch the world in the face with it until the world assault-vomits success onto their sneakers. But if underdogs really make for the best stories, then why are all of our biggest superhero games about overpowered God-men?
Who all seem to have a crucifixion fetish ...
Take the Infamous series. It was great fun, but it's also a fine example of creative laziness. The main character, Cole, starts off with a pretty badass power already: He masters electricity. Sure, he starts off kinda weak, but his powers quickly grow stronger and stronger until you, the player, are flying across the city, unleashing massive lightning storms that devastate whole blocks. I'd like to see a game along the lines of Infamous, but about a dude like Aquaman: the superhero world's unpaid intern. The main character has to be somewhat useless at first glance, because the game isn't a brawler, it's a puzzler -- you have to be clever with your abilities, not just punchy. You start out with one power -- something kind of dumb, like the ability to speak with fish, or seeing two seconds into the future, or complete control of unvarnished wood -- and it will never grow. That's it. That's all you get: You're The Planer, master of rough wooden surfaces, and it's up to you to take this city back from the hordes of murderous criminals. But while your power is shitty, the way you use it doesn't have to be. Talking to fish is lame? Sure, if your imagination sucks. If you want to get a little creative, though, you could do stuff like this:
The key is that you're not given incremental upgrades to your power; it's all available to you right at the start, and your effectiveness relies entirely on how you use it. If you're a bit on the dull side, maybe you'll just hop out there on the streets and start impotently throwing splinters at fleeing, laughing criminals. But if you're clever, you'll be snapping telephone poles down on top of their car, whipping sheets of plywood like 6-foot-wide shurikens and swinging uprooted trees like baseball bats. Unlimited power is only interesting for a few minutes -- that's why every video game is a progression of increasing strength that ends with your character at their most powerful phase. Once you get over the novelty of that deadly new super-move, though, what's the point? Nothing can stand in your path; you are a god among men. And you are bored. Limitations are much more interesting than abilities, and there's nothing more satisfying than overcoming them. Which is the greater accomplishment: the man with bulletproof skin and super-strength who stops a bank robbery, or the despot who rules an entire city with an iron fist despite only ever possessing the ability to invert men's penises with the power of his mind?
#6. You Are the Monster
Basically I want a game where you play a cryptid and the goal is just to survive and conceal your own existence. No missions or campaigns, and no story, just survival. You would have to eat humans for nourishment every day and hide somewhere to sleep for a certain amount of time. Your character would not be able to stand up to a real face-to-face fight and would be easily outnumbered, so survival would be a challenge and the emphasis would be on stealth.
The world would be an open environment set in a small suburban town, with some rural aspects on the edges. It would be just populated enough to be fun and realistic, but sparse compared to GTA, and the AI would all have an agenda and a pattern to their movements (like the civilians in Shenmue). All of them would be unique in appearance and behavior. Obviously there wouldn't be a massive city of them. It would have to be just a small town.
AI would react realistically to the sight of your character, tending to shrug it off if they didn't get a good look, but reacting with increasing suspicion if the same person sees you often or if they get a good look. They also wouldn't forget they saw something just because you are out of sight. Each character would carry their own memory of what they have seen. Rumors would also travel and collective suspicion would rise.
Good Idea!
There's a vital component missing in most modern stealth games: consequences. There's almost always an alternative to stealth built into the game. It's better to discreetly sneak in and cut a guy's throat in Assassin's Creed, but if you fuck it up, you can always parry and combo slash a whole battalion of guards into a pile of gaily dressed mincemeat. That's what's great about this idea: By making you the bad guy -- the cliche horror villain who lurks in the night, shunned by a fearful society -- you have a clear and convenient narrative device for the whole world to be your opponent, and the consequences of it catching you are immediate and apparent.
But What If ...
... you kneaded some X-Files up into this dough? The idea is great, and a lot of the game could absolutely revolve around your life as a monster in a small town, but where does it go? What can the story be, if you're the only victimizer in a town full of victims? There's no narrative there. Now, what if you were actually playing an episode of The X-Files from the opposite point of view? You, the player, are, like, that creepy stretchy guy who kills everybody from the vents and eats their liver. There is a small, elite team of investigators who might be after you, but nobody really believes them when they insist that there's a monster in their midst. Why would they? That's silly; you're being Mister Silly-Face, Mulder -- I don't care that you've been right every single episode, or that I just saw an inbred Bigfoot alien last week, exactly as you described him -- there's no such thing as creepy stretchy guys!
Eventually, depending on how clumsy you are, how high suspicion levels rise and how many people see you, the town will have to believe them and come after you. But the rest of the game is a fine dance of maintaining doubt as you try to evade, capture or kill Mulder whilst simultaneously watching Scully undress from inside of her refrigerator.
#5. Command and Devour
A dinosaur-themed RTS.
You could have Velociraptors as light infantry, Triceratops as cavalry, T. rexes as heavy shock units. You could even have naval battles using Plesiosaurs, Ichthyosaurs, Kronosaurs and Megalodons, and aerial battles using the various pterosaurs.
I'm not sure what would be the best way to do the factions and keep it balanced, maybe carnivores vs. herbivores or Jurassic vs. Cretaceous or something, but I think we can all agree that a game where you have huge armies of dinosaurs tearing into each other would be fucking awesome.
Good Idea!
Every time you ask gamers what we want, you'll find that there is a very subtle but persistent undercurrent beneath our sophisticated, contradictory and complex desires: We want more games about dinosaurs, assholes.
But What If ...
You went cross-genre? The only thing nerds love more than dinosaurs is incongruity: Jurassic Park succeeded, in part, because it pit dinosaurs against the modern world. What if you did that, but more directly? An RTS game that has you leading an army of dinosaurs against modern society! I promise you, if you let me send squadrons of T. rexes into Manhattan to eat tanks, I will fucking drown your children in my money.
#4. Groundhog Day: The Game
You wake up and have a time limit (a day) to experience the world. A not too large, open world, with independent and advanced AI within it, all starting with the same disposition each day. When you wake up, it starts again. Instead of just exploring locations like you normally do in games, you'd be exploring events, and how you impact them. There could be SO many non-rigid stories taking place within the world that you could watch one day, change the next, or just watch how small changes affect events in an unscripted way.
How would the game end? Maybe it never would.
Good Idea!
I am now and will forever be in favor of all things Groundhog Day. I will buy Groundhog Day: The Game, Groundhog Day: The Cereal and Groundhog Day: The Menopausal Hot-Flash Cooling Pillow. I don't give a shit: The phrase "Groundhog Day" is like my "Would You Kindly." You speak those words aloud and I will do whatever you say after them, up to and including killing a man. It is a dangerous psychological condition, and I would thank you not to exploit it, my fellow Internet sociopaths.
But What If ...
You could keep one small change per iteration of the game day? I'm not exactly sure how the mechanic would work -- maybe you'd get five seconds per diem to save changes -- but giving the player the ability to not only repeat a day, but persistently influence how that day plays out over time would both separate this from the existing property and add a new spin on interactivity. I really think you need this other mechanic in there, though. Because otherwise, isn't every game with a save/reload function already Groundhog Day?
Oh shit! What if that's what Groundhog Day was really about: God saving and reloading Bill Murray's life over and over again until he beat the level?
Aaaaand now I've started bleeding from the nose. Does anybody else hear horns? Goddammit: I've broken my own mind.


text:
The Rahlves' Banzai Tour is pulling into Alpine Meadows for stop No. 2 this weekend.
Racers who dare sign up will go head-to-head and four at a time down some of Alpine's toughest terrain for a share of $80,000 in cash and prizes. There are no restrictions here. The fastest skier or snowboarder who goes top to bottom wins.
"This is paying tribute to what ski racing, and skiing in general, is all about," said former Olympian and race founder Daron Rahlves. "It's racing in its purest form. Skier against the mountain."
The four-stop series kicked off last weekend at Kirkwood on what Rahlves deemed "the most challenging track in Banzai history."
"I'm really impressed. The athletes have gotten better from this year to last year already," Rahlves said. "We gained a lot of momentum at Kirkwood and it's a great way to roll into Round 2."
Don't be surprised to see some of the same faces from the Kirkwood stop gunning for a piece of the $15,000 Alpine purse.
It all starts Saturday. Racers will take solo timed runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to qualify for Sunday's final heats. Sunday's finals will be a four-at-a-time showdown, again from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The men's ski division winners from each stop will race Rahlves in the Super Final at Sugar Bowl on March 10, a race Rahlves has never lost.
The winner-takes-all Super Final is worth $10,000.
"We're making better skiers and riders out there at every stop because the challenges they face they normally wouldn't do on any given day," Rahlves said. "That's one of the reasons I created this event, to help people find out what they're made of and what they can handle."
Like all the Banzai stops, Rahlves has personally selected the Alpine course.
Racers will start in the Wolverine Bowl and plunge into Wolverine Meadow before reaching the Face.
"The Face is the standout section of the course, where everyone is wowed by what goes down in there," Rahlves said. "Last year, it was really thin with trees, and rocks and big moguls and it was kind of the deciding factor of who really was on top of their game."
Whatever speed racers can keep coming off the face will carry them over a long flat section into Kangaroo Gully. The Gully will spit racers over the finish line.
Spectators can catch the action from the chair lift, the race start or the finish line. But the best spot to post up will be the top of the Face. From there, viewers can catch the race start as well as the plunge down the Face.
After the Alpine stop, the Banzai Tour chugs along to Squaw Valley on March 2-3, and wraps up at Sugar Bowl on March 9-10.
"If you're a good skier or snowboarder you can handle it, so don't be afraid to test it. It's not anything that's way beyond most ability levels," Rahlves said. "Last year, we had four major events and no injuries."


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