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Looking at the Cubs MLB 40-Man Roster into the Near Future
When looking ahead at the Cubs likely post-2014 MLB Reserve List (40-man roster), whether a player presently on the 40-man roster is eligible to be an MLB Article XX-B free-agent or will be eligible for Salary Arbitration, or whether a player presently on a Cubs minor league roster is eligible to be a minor league free-agent post-2014 or is eligible for selection in the December 2014 Rule 5 Draft, will be determining factors.
Presuming they continue to remain out of contention, the Cubs will probably try to trade several of their post-2014 free-agents as well as one or more of the players who will be eligible for salary arbitration post-2014 over the next couple of months for younger players with more years of club control. The players the Cubs may target in a trade do not necessarily have to be minor leaguers, they could be young MLB players (like when the Cubs acquired RHSP Jake Arrieta, RHRP Pedro Strop, and an Internantional Signing Bonus Pool SBV from BAL for RHSP Scott Feldman and C-1B Steve Clevenger last July).
The Cubs could also trade one or more of their 2014-15 International Signing Bonus Pool SBVs beginning on July 2nd. Such a move could be part of a larger trade (the Cubs SBV being a "sweetener"), or the SBV could be used just to acquire a player from another club (like when the Cubs traded 2B Ronald Torreyes to Houston last year for one of the Astros SBV).
Cubs 2014-15 ISBP SBV #1: $2,288,700
Cubs 2014-15 ISBP SBV #2: $458,000
Cubs 2014-15 ISBP SBV #3: $309,300
Cubs 2014-15 ISBP SBV #4: $206,700
NOTE: Cubs 2014-15 ISBP SBV #1 (the one worth $2,288,700) can ONLY be traded to HOU or MIA if the entire SBV is to be used, because for all other clubs a $2,288,700 SBV would exceed their pre-assigned 2014-15 ISBP by more than 50%, and a club cannot acquire an SBV that is more than 50% of the club's orginally-assigned ISBP for that International Signing Period. However, a club other than HOU or MIA could acquire Cubs SBV #1 and then subtract as much of it as is necessary so that the final total of Cubs SBV #1 is no more than 50% of the new club's originally-assigned 2014-15 ISBP (and then the balance of Cubs SBV #1 would just be forfeited).
All clubs receive an additional $700,000 in their ISBP that cannot be traded, so the Cubs 2014-15 ISBP is just under $4M.
Because they went WAY over their assigned International Signing Bonus Pool (ISBP) in 2013-14, the Cubs will not be able to sign any first-year international player for more than a $250,000 bonus during the 2014-15 International Signing Period (7-2-2014 through 6-15-2015), so having a $3.9M+ 2014-15 ISBP won't do them much good. They will almost certainly try and trade one or two of their higher SBV (probably as soon as they can, like on July 2nd) to one of the major players in signing international players (like maybe Toronto or Texas). So the Cubs would have to wait until at least July 2nd to make a deal where a Cub 2014-15 ISBP SBV is an integral part of the trade.
As far as making trades are concerned, the two in-season deadlines of relevance right now are the July 31st "non-waiver" deadline (players can be traded after July 31st only after Trade Assignment Waivers have been secured), and the August 31st post-season roster deadline (players acquired after August 31st are not eligible to play in the post-season).
Without knowing which players will or willnot be be traded, let's just look at a projected Cubs post-2014 40-man roster without considering trades.
There are five players eligible to be Article XX-B MLB free-agents post-2014, and it is probable that at least four (and quite possibly all five) will not be on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster during the 2014-15 off season.
CUBS ARTICLE XX-B MLB FREE-AGENTS POST-2014 (last updated 6-10-2014):
Emilio Bonifacio, IF-OF
Kyuji Fujikawa, RHP (club option)
Jason Hammel, RHP
Nate Schierholtz, OF
Carlos Villanueva, RHP
Any one or even all of them could get traded in the coming weeks, but even if they don't get traded (and we are not considering trades here), four of the five (Bonifacio, Fujikawa, Schierholtz, and Villanueva) do not figure in the Cubs plans going forth and can fairly easily be replaced. The one exception is RHP Jason Hammel, who conceivably could score a multi-year contract if the Cubs believe he can continue to pitch at the high level he has so far in 2014. If he isn't traded, the Cubs might even consider extending an Article XX-B Qualifying Offer to Hammel after the World Series, which would mean offering him a guaranteed one-year contract worth the average salary of the 125 highest MLB salaries in 2014 (probably about $15M). If Hammel accepts, he's back in 2015 on a one-year contract (and he does NOT get an automatic "no trade" right). If he declines the QO, he can still re-sign with the Cubs during the off-season, but if he signs with another MLB club prior to the 2015 June Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft), the Cubs would receive a compensation draft pick between the 1st and 2nd round of the 2015 draft (around #30).
Besides the five players eligible to be an Article XX-B MLB free-agent post-2014, there are an additional 14 Cubs players who will be eligible for salary arbitration post-2014 (plus two more who could be eligible - TBD).
CUBS PROJECTED ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE POST-2014: (last updated 6-3-2014)
Jake Arrieta, RHP
John Baker, C
Darwin Barney, INF
Welington Castillo, C
Chris Coghlan, OF
Ryan Kalish, OF (will qualify if at least 139 days of MLB Service Time are accrued in 2014, or could qualify as a "Super Two" with at least 86 days of MLB Service Time accrued in 2014)
James McDonald, RHP
Justin Ruggiano, OF
James Russell, LHP
Jeff Samardzija, RHP
Pedro Strop, RHP
Luis Valbuena, INF
Arodys Vizcaino, RHP (would very likely qualify as a "Super Two" with at least 86 days of MLB Service Time in 2014)
Eli Whiteside, C
Travis Wood, LHP
Wesley Wright, LHP
Before a player gets anywhere close to requesting Salary Arbitration, the player must be tendered a 2015 contract on December 2nd. Then if the player and the club cannot come to an agreement, the player can request salary arbitration in January. (The player is NOT offered salary abitration by the club on December 2nd... he is merely tendered a contract on that date, and then it is up to the player to request salary arbitration in January if the club and the player have not agreed on a contract by that time).
If a player on an MLB 40-man roster is not tendered a contract on December 2nd, the player is said to be "non-tendered" and he immediately becomes an unrestricted free-agernt, free to sign a major league or minor league contract with any club (including the player's former club). A club will sometimes non-tender a player on December 2nd and then almost immediately re-sign the player to a pre-arranged minor league contract or to a major league contract for a salary below what the club would have been required to offer if the player had been tendered a contract for the following season. (An unsigned player on an MLB 40-man roster who is tendered a contract must be offered a salary that is at least 80% of what the player received the previous season, and at least 70% of what the player received two seasons back).
Unless one or more of them are traded, it is likely that the Cubs will tender contracts to seven of their post-2014 aribtration-eligibles (Arrieta, Castillo, Samardzija, Strop, Valbuena, Vizcaino, and Wood), and four of the other nine (Baker, Coghlan, McDonald, and Whiteside) will probably be released or outrighted long before 2015 contracts are tendered,
That leaves Barney, Kalish, Ruggiano, Russell, and Wright, and at this point it would seem likely that four of the five will be non-tendered (Kalish probably only if he is arbitration-eligible). That doesn't mean that Barney, Ruggiano, Russell, and Wright could not return to the Cubs in 2015, just that they probably won't be tendered a contract on December 2nd. In the case of Kalish, the Cubs would probably non-tender him and then offer him a 2015 minor league contract with an NRI to Spring Training. Kalish will be out of minor league options in 2015, so even if he isn't arbitration-eligible post-2014 (if he remains in the minors until September 1st, he will NOT be eligible for salary arbitration post-2014), having him in big league camp on a minor league contract would allow the Cubs to send him to Iowa out of Spring Training without having to place him on waivers. BTW, that would also apply to Josh Vitters, who will (like Kalish) be out of minor league options in 2015.
Like the five players eligible to be Article XX-B MLB free-agents post-2014, Barney, Ruggiano, Russell, and Wright could very well get traded sometime prior to the August 31st post-season roster deadline. But if not, all four will probably be non-tendered on December 2nd, and while the Cubs might try to re-sign any or all of them to minor league contracts (with an NRI to Spring Training), it is unlikely that any of the four would accept. It's possible that the Cubs might offer either Russell or Wright (but probably not both) a 2015 non-guaranteed major league contract, however.
So right now the Cubs MLB Reserve List is full (40 players), plus two more players (Kyuji Fujikawa and James McDonald) are on the MLB 60-day DL (players on the 60-day DL do not count against the 40-man roster limit, but they must be reinstated no later than 5 PM Eastern on the 5th day folllowing the conclusion of the World Series).
If we subtract the five players eligible to be Article XX-B MLB free-agents (Bonifacio, Fujikawa, Hammel, Schierholtz, and Villanueva) and the four players eligible for salary arbitration who are likely to be outrighted or released after the season if not sooner (Baker, Coghlan, McDonald, and Whiteside) from 42, that would leave 33 players on the 40-man roster by the end of the World Series, with seven slots open (or eight if Brett Jackson is outrighted, which is a distinct possibility).
Any minor league player eligible for selection in the December 2014 Rule 5 Draft who is not added to an MLB 40-man roster by November 20th is eligible for selection.
Also, a minor league player eligible to be an Article XX-D minor league free-agent (player was eligible to elect to be a free-agent when outrighted, but accepted the outright assignment and deferred election of free-agency until the conclusion of the MLB regular season) can file anytime starting on the day after the conclusion of the MLB regular season up through October 15th (unless the player is added back to an MLB 40-man roster prior to the conclusion of the MLB regular season, in which case the player is not eligible to be a free-agent), and a Rule 55 minor league free-agent (either a "six-year minor league free-agent" or a "second-contract minor league free-agent") post-2014 automatically becomes a free-agent at 5 PM (Eastern) on the 5th day following the conclusion of the 2014 World Series if the player is not added to an MLB 40-man roster or signed to a 2015 minor league successor contract prior to that deadline.
Listed below are Cubs minor leaguers eligible for selection in the December 2014 Rule 5 Draft, as well as Cubs minor leaguers eligible to be Article XX-D and MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agents (6YFA and second-contract FA) post-2014
So with seven slots open after the conclusion of the World Series (or eight if Brett Jackson gets outrighted), the following are (as things stand right now) the Cubs minor leaguers most-likely to be added to the MLB 40-man roster post-2014 (with additional 40-man roster slots becoming available for free-agents, Rule 5 Draft picks, and/or off-season waiver claims on December 2nd when at least four players could be non-tendered):
Kyle Hendricks, RHSP (at Iowa) - Age 24
C. J. Edwards, RHSP (on DL at Tennessee) - Age 22
Hunter Cervenka, LHRP (at Tennessee) - Age 24
Marcus Hatley, RHRP (at Iowa - minor league FA post-2014) - Age 26
Rafael Lopez, C (at Iowa) - Age 26
Eric Jokisch, LHSP (at Iowa) - Age 24
Carlos Pimentel, RHRP (at Iowa - minor league FA post-2014) - Age 24
Dae-Eun Rhee, RHSP (at Tennessee - minor league FA post-2014) - Age 25
OUTSIDE SHOT (actually much more likely to be selected in Rule 5 Draft than to be added to Cubs 40-man roster):
Gioskar Amaya, 2B (at Daytona) - Age 21
Jose Arias, RHRP (at Kane County) - Age 23
Zach Cates, RHRP (at Tennessee) - Age 24
Marco Hernandez, SS (at Daytona) - Age 21
Hendricks (acquired from TEX in the Ryan Dempster deal in 2012) could get called up during the 2014 season if and when Samardzija and/or Hammel get traded, while Edwards (acquired from TEX in the Matt Garza trade last season) won't get added to the 40 until the 11/20 deadline;
Cervenka (acquired along with RHRP Michael Bowden from BOS for OF Marlon Byrd in 2012) would slot in behind Zac Rosscup as a potential MLB lefty reliever down the line, and Lopez projects as an "offense-first" LH-hitting MLB back-up C-1B-3B (he might get called up on September 1st). Both Cervenka and Lopez would likely get selected in the December 2014 Rule 5 Draft if left unprotected. Both are also good candidates to get assigned to the Arizona Fall League (AFL) post-2014;
Hatley has developed into a power-reliever at AAA and I can't see the Cubs letting him walk as a minor league FA (he could even get a September call-up). Last year the Cubs signed Hatley to a minor league successor contract with an NRI to Spring Training before he hit free-agency, keeping him in the organization for another year, but also exposing him in the December 2013 Rule 5 Draft... but he'll almost certainly get selected in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft if the Cubs try that again this year;
Jokisch is a reliable soft-tossing lefty rotation starter at Iowa, and although he doesn't project as anything more than a #5 starter at the MLB level, that could possibly be enough to get him a slot on the 40 post-2014.
Pimentel (ex-TEX) was signed as a six-year minor league FA by the Cubs last off-season and was impressive at both MLB Camp and Minor League Camp, eventually winning a job in the AAA Iowa Cubs starting rotation (although he has since been moved to the I-Cubs bullpen). It's not often you find a young upside arm like Pimentel's among minor league 6YFA;
Rhee was eligible to be a minor league 6YFA post-2013, but signed a 2014 minor league successor contract prior to hitting free-agency... it's unlikely that he'll do that again this year unless he gets "40-man roster money" and an NRI to MLB Spring Training;
Cates (acquired from SD in the Rizzo-Cashner trade) pitched well out of the bullpen at Daytona and just got promoted to AA Tennessee last week, and while he could attract the attention of a club looking to score a young hard-throwing bullpen arm in the Rule 5 Draft, the Cubs probably would not roster him just to keep that from happening;
Arias has been a mainstay in the KC bullpen this season (although he went on the DL a couple of days ago) and could possibly get selected in the Rule 5 Draft by a club wanting to take a chance on a young bullpen arm, but the Cubs almost certainly won't add him to the 40 just to avoid that somewhat remote possibility from occurring;
Amaya and Hernandez have MLB-upside but are still probably too far down the pipeline for the Cubs to protect them from selection in the Rule 5 Draft (plus they might run out of options before they are MLB-ready if they are added to the 40-man roster too early), so the Cubs will very likely take the chance that even if one or both were to be selected, that they would probably get them back;
Also, Jeffrey Baez is a 20-year old "five-tool" outfielder eligible for selection, but he will be at Boise in 2014, and so it is not likely that a club would take him in the Rule 5 Draft... and even if that possibility was an issue, the Cubs still won't protect him because he is too far away from MLB and he would very likely run of minor league options before he is ready for The Show if he is rostered too soon.
CUBS MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION IN DECEMBER 2014 RULE 5 DRAFT (last updated 6-5-2014):
Gilberto Abreu, RHP
Gioskar Amaya, INF
John Andreoli, OF
Delbis Arcila, OF
Jose Arias, RHP
Jeffrey Baez, OF
Frank Batista, RHP
Zach Cates, RHP
Hunter Cervenka, LHP
Pin-Chieh Chen, OF
Gerardo Concepcion, LHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs)
Willson Contreras, C
Wes Darvill, INF
Taylor Davis, C
Zeke DeVoss, OF
Alberto Diaz, LHP
C. J. Edwards, RHP
Kevin Encarnacion, OF
P. J. Francescon, RHP
Victor Garcia, LHP
Dustin Geiger, INF
Anthony Giansanti, OF
Jae-Hoon Ha, OF
Kyle Hendricks, RHP
Marco Hernandez, INF
Michael Jensen, RHP
Eric Jokisch, LHP
Austin Kirk, LHP
Matt Loosen, RHP
Rafael Lopez, C
Jeff Lorick, LHP
Barret Loux, RHP
Dillon Maples, RHP
Andrew McKirahan, LHP
Trey McNutt, RHP (Article XX-D player - can elect free-agency if drafted & then later re-claimed by Cubs)
Alberto Mineo, C
Yoanner Negrin, RHP
Carlos Penalver, INF
Felix Pena, RHP
Ivan Pineyro, RHP
Austin Reed, RHP
Victor Salazar, RHP
Tayler Scott, RHP
Rock Shoulders, 1B
Rubi Silva, OF
Brian Smith, LHP
Elliot Soto, INF
Antonio Valerio, C
Yao-Lin Wang, RHP
Ben Wells, RHP
Oliver Zapata, OF
Tony Zych, RHP
Additionally, any minor league player eligible to be an Article XX-D minor league free-agent, or any minor league player eligible to be a Rule 55 Six-Year Minor League Free-Agent (6YFA) post-2014 who signs a 2015 minor league contract or agrees to a 2015 minor league successor contract prior to the December 2014 Rule 5 Draft, will be eligible for selection.
Also, any player eligible to be a Rule 55 Second Contract Minor League Free-Agent who signs a 2015 minor league contract prior to the December 2014 Rule 5 Draft will be eligible for selection if the player was 18 or younger on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract and it is at least the 5th Rule 5 Draft since he signed his first contract, or the player was 19 years or older on the June 5th immediately prior to signing his first contract and it is at least the 4th Rule 5 Draft since he signed his first contract.
Marcos Mateo, RHP
Lars Anderson, 1B
Jeffry Antigua, LHP
Alberto Cabrera, RHP
Marcelo Carreno, RHP
Lendy Castillo, RHP
Hunter Cervenka, LHP (see NOTE)
Charlie Cutler, C
Eduardo Figueroa, RHP
Luis Flores, C
Edgar Gonzalez, INF
Marcus Hatley, RHP
Jonathon Mota, INF
Starling Peralta, RHP
Carlos Pimentel, RHP
Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP
Jose Rosario, RHP
Jonathan Sanchez, LHP
Jeudy Valdez, INF
Chris Valaika, INF
Casper Wells, OF
NOTE: Hunter Cervenka will be eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league 6YFA post-2014 if he signed a 2008 contract when he signed his "first contract" with the Boston Red Sox on 8-15-2008. However, if he was "Signed for Future Service" (first contract was a 2009 contract), he will not be eligible to be a Rule 55 minor league 6YFA until post-2015.
Jesus Arias, RHP (previously released by CLE)
Humberto Garcia, INF (previously released by CHW)
Joe Gardner, RHP (previously released by COL)
Yeiker Lovera, RHP (previously released by CLE)
Nate Maldonado, C (previously released by CHC)
Yomar Pacheco, RHP (previously released by PIT)
Manny Ramirez, OF (previously released by TEX)
Brohiglyn Rivero, RHP (previously released by TB)
Julio Rodriguez, RHP (previously released by BAL)
Julio Sanchez, RHP (previously released by COL)
Roberto Vahlis, C (previously released by TOR)
Tsuyoshi Wada, LHP (previously released by CHC)
K. Bryant article
Cubs will stay with Tennessee as a AA affiliate through 2018
Is it reasonable to assume
Is it reasonable to assume that Bryant will get called up to AAA after the AA All-Star game next week?
let's hope...
let's hope...
Baez, Bryant and Alcantara all in the same linup, that could be 37.5% of next year's starting lineup
yeah, don't ask me where they'll all play at this point
Hoyer said they'd spend some this offseason, everyone's betting on pitching with Scherzer, Lester and Shields being the big 3 although I don't think Lester will make FA. And let's say I have doubts about them signing 33-year old Shields or outspending everyone for Scherzer. Tier B would be guys like Beckett or Masterson. Maybe by spending he meant try and trade for David Price but that also seems doubtful.
That pretty much leaves catching and outfield for FA possibilities and I don't see much on the catching front. Outfield I could maybe see plays for Nelson Cruz, Melky Cabrera, Nick Markakis or Colby Rasmus although 3 of those 4 may have what one would call "character" issues.
Can Villanueva move to 2B?
Can Villanueva move to 2B? This would allow Alcantara to move to center, Baez stays at SS, Bryant plays 3B, and Olt goes to WTenn.
Otherwise I guess Bryant moves to right, or we do what AzPhil recommends below.
I would guess Villanueva
I would guess Villanueva demoted to AA, Olt to AAA and getting AB's at 3B, 1B and DH with Bryant getting more AB's at 3B and an occasional outfield spot start. If Olt is demoted that is...
*edit* and/or what Phil said
Wainwright headed for MRI
Wainwright headed for MRI
teams are gonna need to go 15-deep with SP depth at this rate
word be that Wainwright probably just has tennis elbow (Zambrano had it once upon a time, blamed on too much porn, eh, internet surfing)
hah, White Sox figured out
hah, White Sox figured out how to deal with Boras
they signed their Round 2-10 picks already (don't know exact figures yet), so they pretty much have a take it or leave it offer for Rodon.
maybe it's the same, but
maybe it's the same, but TheJedi don't seem to have much issue dealing with Boras and they took enough time getting it all done that it appeared to be more of we have an idea of what Bryant is going to take, let's see what we can get signed, but we'll have the money you want.
The notable thing here (allegedly) is that the White Sox don't like dealing with Boras, although I think that was more Kenny Williams/Reinsdorf than Rick Hahn.
Well if they don't sign him
Well if they don't sign him for some reason it's gonna be a real can of corn.
Schwarber already in Boise
Schwarber already in Boise btw
season starts Friday
Damn, I thought for sure he
Damn, I thought for sure he would at least get to see Mesa for a few days. Go get em, Kyle.
Meanwhile, I don't know if
Meanwhile, I don't know if anybody noticed, but the Southern League found a way to stop Kris Bryant last night.
find the replay of the
find the replay of the McCutchen HR, Coghlan almost made a crazy catch, was there, popped off his glove, about 2 rows deep in LF
Good thing he's not Olt. He'd
Good thing he's not Olt. He'd be benched for missing it.
Ike Davis and Mike Olt ought
Ike Davis and Mike Olt ought to run a batting clinic together.
Actually Valbuena and
Actually Valbuena and McCutchen really SHOULD do a clinic. They're like the two hottest hitters in the NL!
Yeah, can't blame Capt Happy
Yeah, can't blame Capt Happy now for having V in there over Olt. Gotta ride the hot hand although he should have kept riding it when Olt was hot, and played Valbuena at second.
But I do love Valbuena for increasing his trade value. Actually, if the Cubs would just think like contenders for once next year, he'd be a good guy to keep around. You don't get a lot in the prospect world for guys like that.
He was my favorite player
He was my favorite player last year. I just think (as you know) that the best lineup would have had him at 2nd base. I think they should keep him too but not if he's our regular 3rd baseman. His HR/RBI are abysmal for a corner infielder. Especially batting 5/6 all year. He's a great 2 hitting 2nd baseman at this point.
It's clear they weren't trying to win games this year ... Best lineup was not on the field typically. Olt almost put one out to center yesterday. His development was apparently not a priority which still pisses me off but oh well.
I just think that Olt Castro Valbuena Rizzo infield would have been a lot of fun to watch too!
It's a shame that everyone
It's a shame that everyone but Captain Happy knows that switching Lake and Valbuena in the order would be a good idea.
If anyone is ever going to
If anyone is ever going to trade something for Valbuena, it will be this year. But if he sticks around, he's got 2B for the rest of the year and is a utility player and alternative 2B in case one of Baez/Alcantara are not ready to take over that position. Valbuena has been a pleasant surprise.
On the other hand, Bonifacio can go away now. Alcantara got the start in CF last night. Who do we see in the majors first--Arismendy, Javier, or Kris? I'd like to see Alcantara BB like he did last year, but he is collecting the extra-base hits like nobody's business.
I thought Alcantara was
I thought Alcantara was supposed to be a pretty good 2B...
Also I had the impression he
Also I had the impression he has a little more pop/power than Boni?
"a better version of
"a better version of Bonifacio"
Phil, I don't think a guy with gap power is any version of Bonifacio. Alcantara had 36 doubles and 15 HRs at Tennessee last year, and he's slugging even better in Iowa because he has nine triples. I think he's got the package, to tell you the truth; and since they've turned over every stone for a lefty-hitting outfielder and only come up with Bonifacio, Sweeney and Coghlan, there's a place for Alcantara in the outfield right now.
"It's a shame that everyone
"It's a shame that everyone but Captain Happy knows . . ."
Not everyone.
There is an idea that fast guys should hit ahead of run producers, for a lot of reasons including that a hitter who gets paid to drive in runs loves to see a rabbit on third. Just hit the ball anywhere and he'll score.
Valbuena has five SBs (and 11 caught-stealings) in seven seasons. Lake is pretty good this year, 7 out of 8.
"There is an antiquated and
"There is an antiquated and disproven idea that fast guys should hit ahead of run producers,"
at least now that we've had
at least now that we've had the regime change we won't see that happen on the cubs anymore.
"There is an antiquated and
"There is an antiquated and disproven idea that fast guys should hit ahead of run producers,"
and once again, the Dusty translation:
"I think walks are overrated unless you can run. If you get a walk and put the pitcher in a stretch, that helps. But the guy who walks and can't run, most of the time they're clogging up the bases for somebody who can run."--former Cubs manager Dusty Baker
and the BP analysis of this...
baserunners are good, more baserunners are better. Baker's premise is wrong.
/brain freeze
Here's a clogging situation
Here's a clogging situation that I think I posed here several years ago. I don't recall anybody explaining to me why this wasn't clogging.
You need one run to win. In which of the following situations would you be more likely to score that run?
Situation A: Billy Hamilton on first with no out.
Situation B: Hamilton on first, Adam Dunn on second with no out.
This misses the point. Sure
This misses the point. Sure having a fast runner on base is better than a slow runner, but having base runners is more important than their speed.
Situation A - the hitter at
Situation A - the hitter at the plate hits a single. Runners now 1 & 3rd.
Situation B - the hitter at the plate hits a single. Bases juiced. BETTER.
Situation A - the hitter at the plate hits a double. Hamilton scores. One run in.
Situation B - the hitter at the plate hits a double. Dunn and Hamilton both score. Two runs in. BETTER.
Situation A - home run. 2 runs in.
Situation B - home run. 3 runs in. BETTER.
Edit: This assumes all situations but the walk-off win, which is the relatively rare situation in which multiple runs make no difference over a single run. That is, your example is contrived.
The answer is situation B.
The answer is situation B.
First, it's not clogging at all because Dunn is not preventing Hamilton from scoring. Hamilton's run is meaningless given your scenario. And it's not like Hamilton would score from first on a single but be blocked by Dunn who can only go to third, or Dunn couldn't score from second on a double and thus block Hamilton. So there is no clogging at all.
Second, you, and others, would take situation A because Hamilton is "fast" and Dunn is "slow." But I take situation B every time and everyone should. Your team has a 20% greater chance of scoring (64% to 44%) with a runner on second than with a runner on first. Even if the 64 is slightly lower with Dunn and even if the 44 is slightly higher with Hamilton, the speed difference does not close that gap. You are more likely to score a run in Situation B.
Also, you just pinch run for Adam Dunn with anyone with average speed on your bench, even a pitcher, and your odds will be 64% or higher (since the 64 is an average Run Expectancy based on slow and fast runners averaged).
"Dunn is not preventing
"Dunn is not preventing Hamilton from scoring"
Sure he is. Hamilton might steal second on the next pitch (and third on the following one). With Dunn out there, he's stuck on first.
And if Hamilton has a higher percentage of caught-stealings than most people expected when the season started, then use another, better base stealer. I'm just proposing a clogging scenario that makes Baker's quote less of a dependable punch line.
"you just pinch run for Adam Dunn"
Old fashioned baseball
Old fashioned baseball tactics are usually focused on a single run, and debatable at that. In any situation other than a tie in the bottom of the ninth, the goal should be to maximize runs, and any two men on base are better than any one. The fault in the example is that it is a possible exception that distortions thinking about the whole game.
the scenario really doesn't
the scenario really doesn't matter because it's a lot like dividing by zero, you just can't do it
Billy Hamilton is never on first base to have to worry about it.
So forget Hamilton. Altuve
So forget Hamilton. Altuve is 24 out of 27 steal attempts, with a .361 OBP. Ellsbury is 18 out of 20, .359.
The scenario I described
The scenario I described would apply almost as well to a tie in the top of the ninth or in either half of the eighth, or being down a run in either inning.
I did a quick search and the number I found for "percentage of games decided by one run" was 28 to 30.
Small-ball may not be a good strategy over a season of games, but its value improves in late-and-close situations against quality setup men and closers. Good luck with long balls and "keeping the line moving" against those guys.
Fast is better. You're safe
Fast is better. You're safe more.
Getting on base at .396 is
Getting on base at .396 is much, much better than .273. Runners on base more often=more chances to drive them in.
Who's safe more, a Luis
Who's safe more, a Luis Valbuena who gets on base 39.6% of the time* or a Junior Lake who gets on base 27.3% of the time?
*I'm as aware that Luis Valbuena's OBP will come down when he cools off as I am hopeful that Lake's OBP will come up if he gets hot/ makes some adjustments. But the point is the same even if the respective numbers are 36% vs. 32%. If they close to, say, 35% vs 34%, then we can start talking about speed.
I don't think anyone is
I don't think anyone is opposed to the idea that all things being equal more speed>less speed. However, usually the problem is managers want more speed without other things being equal. If someone can't get on base or is a poor base runner speed doesn't overcome that according to actual #s. Poor baserunning seems to happen often too as players think simply being fast is an excuse not to pick your spots stealing or they try to test arms too often. Managers and fans excuse it because all they look at are gross base stealing #s without taking into account CS or base running mistakes or simply not getting on base enough.
well that was a fun trip back
well that was a fun trip back to 2005 Internet comments
Az Phil, just curious to know
Az Phil, just curious to know who is still in Arizona doing injury rehab and what not? Guys who probably would be at least as high as Boise, like Sam Wilson, etc.
Also, I think there is a decent group of guys as potential 40 man adds under an "outside shot" category: Silva, Jensen, McKirahan, S Peralta, and Pineyro, if he can get back on track. What do you think of that group?
And last question: still no idea about the whereabouts and status of Brian Smith and Mike Hamann? Much appreciated Az Phil!!
Thanks as always, Phil!
Thanks as always, Phil!
Phil, has the experiment with
Phil, has the experiment with Alcala catching ended? Thanks.
Phil - is Encarnacion out of
Phil - is Encarnacion out of the hospital and actively rehabbing? Is there any chance he will get back into games this season?
I have seen reports that Cubs
Per his twitter account, the Cubs have signed Justin Steele.
it does?
it does?
I'm seeing other tweets about it, so maybe he deleted it, a quick social media lesson by Cubs not to tweet stuff until official or something.
like I said, it's not there
like I said, it's not there anymore...I'm sure it was at one point and removed for whatever reason these things get removed. I doubt it's anything alarmingly.
week old news, but Kane
week old news, but Kane County clinched the first half title in their division in the Midwest League
Iowa is a game back in their 4-team division in 3rd place but they play full seasons.
Smokies are 11 back in 2nd place in their 5-team division to the Milwaukee affiliate. (3 games under .500)
Daytona is 14 games under, 19.5 back and in 5th place in a 6-team division, Toronto affiliate clinched a 5th straight playoff birth.
Bonifacio hurt on first play
Bonifacio hurt on first play of the game, some speculating oblique injury at the moment, others ankle.
Let's start the Arismendy
Let's start the Arismendy Alcantara era. Thanks.
It'll be Ryan Sweeney that
It'll be Ryan Sweeney that gets the call.
Of course it will. Because,
Of course it will. Because, you can't have enough journeymen players. That should be the tagline for the Cubs.
he's in the 1st year of a 2
he's in the 1st year of a 2 year contract...get comfortable with him.
he wasn't a bad deal...2/3.5 for a lefty CF/LF/RF who has doubles pop. i don't think anyone would miss him if he was traded tomorrow for a bucket of balls, though...not cuz he sucks, but because he's a lineup space filling fringe starter + solid bench guy.
You mean, a journeyman.
You mean, a journeyman. Thanks for that clarification.
Sweeney has a career OPS of
Sweeney has a career OPS of .715 and it was .708 over the last three seasons. He's pretty consistent. Barring injury, you know what you will get over extended at-bats. That OPS would place him about in the top half of NL outfielders. That would be great if he is the third or fourth-best outfielder on a team. The main problem is that all of the other Cubs outfielders are performing worse right now than Sweeney's career average. It's really been a crapfest this year. And with Barney continuing to suck and Castillo's injury creating a black hole for offense at catcher, the offense ends up being Rizzo, Castro, Valbuena, occasionally Lake, and then Wood/Samardzija on the days they pitch. It's been terrible to watch.
Free ManRam!
Free ManRam!
All that did was make my
All that did was make my point. But thanks.
I would consider Sweeney a
I would consider Sweeney a step up from "journeyman" like Kalish, Ruggiano, Coghlan, etc.
I feel like I get what you
I feel like I get what you are saying about Kalish, but he hasn't been healthy long enough and in enough organizations to be a "journeyman" yet.
My problem is that basically that there's 4 passable 4th outfielders (Sweeney, Lake, Ruggiano, Kalish) one guy with the upside of a 4th outfielder (Coghlan) and a platoon RF putting up absolutely awful numbers on the roster. Where's the legit starting player? We are in desperate need of Bryant, and Soler had better get himself healthy and hitting ASAP.
Maybe but my point - and I am
Maybe but my point - and I am not sure you disagree here, is that he shouldn't be the best outfielder we have. TheoCorp needs to step it up.
This is a hard team to watch
This is a hard team to watch at the plate when men are in scoring position when the batter isn't named Rizzo.
SureHolds and Barney BOTH
SureHolds and Barney BOTH batting over .200 now. We are gonna CLEANUP at the trade deadline! Actually Rizzo looked pretty bad his first AB with runner in scoring position. LOT of dudes on this team batting .200!!
That's one of the problems
That's one of the problems with not surrounding Rizzo with some better guys in the lineup - it's only a matter of time before he tries to do it all - I think he has done a great job of resisting that temptation overall but he's still young. Theocorp really, really needs to do everything it can to get a good, MLB ready outfield bat for Shark. It's time to start producing a lineup that doesn't suck so much.
SureOuts is such a better
SureOuts is such a better nickname than SureHolds
Thank you. It's my only
Thank you. It's my only contribution in all my years here.
/still waiting for
/still waiting for Fukkakedome to come back
one of my favorites, although
one of my favorites, although my inability to even get close to spelling it, limited my use of it.
It is a bit of a mouthful.
It is a bit of a mouthful.
[takes a bow]
[takes a bow]
A cincinati bow tie?
A cincinati bow tie?
I just want to say that this
I just want to say that this brief The Joe emergence has been loads of fun.
I miss the days when I could internet while 'working'. Sadly, I can't send homoerotic Kirk-Spock photos to my coworkers or make TCR comments about donkey shows and Johann's mom while teaching. Sadness.
Hopefully you can still make
Hopefully you can still make time for your Silent Towel MikeC slash fiction.
There's always time for that,
There's always time for that, but I traded The Real Neal for a used infield rake and a can of simoniz*.
* Still haven't a clue what that is.
Come on guys
Come on guys
kaz tadano?
kaz tadano?
That's not the kind I like to
That's not the kind I like to watch but whatever floats your boat!
TCR is back, bitches!
TCR is back, bitches!
Some words of wisdom
Some words of wisdom
Don't click on a link with the words "cream pie" and " grand mom "
Google's default settings
Google's default settings should make it so that doesn't matter. Who are you? Don Jon?
Ricketts next headache.
Ricketts next headache. Wrigleyville Hotel plans delayed...Bankruptcy, foreclosure and other messes.
I know it's not the popular
I know it's not the popular thing, but if I was a business owner named Ricketts, I'd be getting the hell out of there. It really looks like getting Wrigley into playable shape in a way that returns real revenue is not feasible. With all this churn, it'll be 2020 before it all gets sorted out.
Unless I am missing something
Unless I am missing something, this should have little to no impact of the Ricketts plans.
So everything is just moving
So everything is just moving along just fine?
Why would another building
Why would another building owner in the area going bankrupt impact the Cubs plans?
Even if it does, the bankruptcy will only slow down the foreclosure process, which will be completed prior to when the Cubs will breakground.
Kind of a non-issue.
None of the process is
None of the process is working for the Cubs, whether it is ancillary build up around the park, or a simple but costly renovation.
It is a building a block away
It is a building a block away from the park that will continued to be developed by the soon to be new owner (they bought the note from the bank). It has nothing to do with the Cubs or the renovation plans.
And you think that will go
And you think that will go smoothly in that NIMBY neighborhood? Your stubborn refusal to acknowledge the difficulties the Ricketts are facing is amusing.
It has nothing to do with the
It has nothing to do with the Cubs. The building just happens to be near Wrigley Field.
The Ricketts don't own it, and aren't involved in it in any way.
You're not making any sense.
You're not making any sense. Any development like that has an ancillary relationship to the Cubs - it wouldn't be there without them, and the Cubs need projects to be successful in a timely way whether or not they own them. This particular project is emblematic of the whole situation in Wrigleyville. I don't know the details of this hotel but I don't need to read up on it to guess it has taken years to get permits and approvals. The same thing is happening to Wrigley itself. It will be ten years before anything happens because of the neighborhood. I say, if the folks there, who moved there knowing what they were getting into, don't like being in a major league sports residential zone, they should all move out. I doubt not one was there before Wrigley. Since that won't happen, if I'm Ricketts, I pack up and leave. Then they can have their dead neighborhood.
d.barney 4 starts in a row..
d.barney 4 starts in a row...and c.coghlan not only starting again, but leading off.
at this point i'm more "wtf?" about seeing so much coghlan over 4 days in a row of d.barney. he had that good season back in 2009 and all...but...well...yeah. ...and why the hell is he leading off? in a post where we revisit that old "clogging bases" chestnut we have a present day game with c.coghlan leading off.
how did coghlan get above ruggiano in the pecking order?
also, both catchers suck ass.
And Sandberg and Hernandez
And Sandberg and Hernandez ejected after hitting Castro in next AB
Just watched the replay. Hard to say how intentional it was ... at first it hit him in the hands and I was like what. But the replay looks a hair more incriminating. Still - I think a warning would have been the standard call. It certainly was bad luck if he didn't mean to hit Castro ;)
Seriously? Nobody thought to
Seriously? Nobody thought to change that poor kid's name from Bastardo?
I'm guessing he was an orphan
I'm guessing he was an orphan
I'm calling MLBPS and
I'm calling MLBPS and reporting the Cubs for prospect abuse. Olt is lost and the way for him to get found is not one fucking AB every few days. I don't care that he's not playing now but he should be in the minors. This is a rookie folks ... not a veteran journeyman that you throw out there to PH and ride the pine. If there is a baseball hell someone in the Cubs' org is gonna get a pitchfork or two in the ass. This kid would be rookie of the year material if he was not caught up in the Cubs' meat market (and you don't really get too many chances at ROY). Barney is a serious lost cause right now. What are they trying to salvage with him? Nobody is gonna want Darwin frickin Barney even if he gets up to .230! Olt needs reps. I'm sure the plan is that he gets to play somewhere after the deadline, but I feel like he's a tattered ragdoll zombie shadow of what he could have been.
I'm at the point where I have
I'm at the point where I have to think something else is going on here that we aren't hearing about. Theocorp keeps things very close to the vest. Maybe he mouthed off? If he mouthed off to Renteria about not playing, that shouldn't be considered an offense. No player likes to ride the pine. But maybe something else is going on. I really think it's reached the point where Olt has committed some offense. We can't know the whole story. Maybe he has curfew problems, who knows what. It's at the point where, like you say, it's not normal behavior. Any even half way decent management team would not do this, and I think TheoCorp has earned some credibility. But then again, Barney. So WTF do I know.
Also, I know it was the
Also, I know it was the Phillies, but this Cubs' pitching staff is actually damn good. Makes you wonder about keeping them all and trying to sign a couple hitters next year to support Rizzo and Castro. I don't know if they have the money (probably not) but it's tempting.
From an offensive standpoint, there wasn't much more that Kyle Schwarber could have accomplished in his first professional baseball game.
Playing for short-season Boise on Friday night, the Cubs' first-round pick in this month's Draft collected three hits, including a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning that came with two men on and sent the Hawks to a 4-2 victory over visiting Tri-City.
Being him up
Being him up
/beat old and blue to it
but by borrowing my tag line,
but by borrowing my tag line, I, by extension, said it. Ha! :-)
Wittenmyer - Jeff Samardzija,
Wittenmyer - Jeff Samardzija, Jason Hammel trade talks well underway
Sources say the Cubs already have had trade talks with multiple teams regarding Samardzija and right-hander Jason Hammel. The Braves, Mariners and Blue Jays are among the most interested, with one source suggesting offers already have been made by at least two teams.
And one major-league source said he expects Hammel to end up in Seattle.
That's good news, but I
That's good news, but I really do hope that TheoCorp gets this team in position sometime soon so that the season isn't a damn hot stove league. And I know everyone is clamoring for them to get pitching, but I'd like to see a young power bat in this lineup. Baez looks farther away than I thought, and this team needs somebody to back up Rizzo.
And one major-league source
And one major-league source said he expects Hammel to end up in Seattle.
source: Kyle Hendricks, Iowa
rosscup activated and
rosscup activated and optioned to AAA
valbuena at 2nd...olt at 3rd.
valbuena at 2nd...olt at 3rd...lake + rugs in the OF...awesome.
lake is leading off though...after coghlan leading off yesterday...which is really odd because the only manager who does that and the only GM who would allow that to happen are no longer in the cubs organization...odd stuff.
seriously, though...valbuena playing 2nd needs to keep happening...2 years of club control + need. it would also be nice to see olt play regularly even if he's spotty-to-crappy. whether it's here or in AAA i'd like to know he's playing regularly.
hey look...mike olt HR #10.
hey look...mike olt HR #10.
it's like he should be playing more or something because there's obviously some potential high value there.
Only Sureouts is allowed to
Only Sureouts is allowed to play through slumps
And Barney, whose slump is
And Barney, whose slump is permanent.
Mike Oltimate Warrior # 10
Mike Oltimate Warrior # 10
Time for a three day rest!!!
Time for a three day rest!!!
By all means - dump Shark and
By all means - dump Shark and Hamel, but make sure EJax gets the ball every five days.
HOW many more years? This is a Hendry-esque contract. Was anyone else really going to give EJax these much money and this many years?
Not to worry -- Theo will gets more young guys like CJ Edwards and Corey Black to fill in for Shark. Oh. Oops.
If I'm SureOuts I flat out
If I'm SureOutz I flat out feel guilty that they put me in the lineup every day. No other team ...
ExCubbery: Angel Pagan
ExCubbery: Angel Pagan whiffed a catch on a one-hop, lets Brandon Barnes score a 2-RBI, come-from-behind 9th inning inside-the-park HR.
guessing this means Carson
guessing this means Carson Sands has signed
Anybody want to do early odds
Anybody want to do early odds on Olt not playing today? He did hit a home run, so I'm thinking he takes a couple days on the pine for accompanying that with a couple whiffs.
Good call. Olt riding the
Good call. Olt riding the pine today - Barney in at 2B.
Because, well, Fuck You Olt!
Olt ChiC 10 HR -- Chris Davis Balt 10 HR
edit: Davis homered last night to take an 11-10 HR lead over Olt. Davis 193 AB, Olt 145 AB
wow. it's mid-june and this
wow. it's mid-june and this lineup is featuring a #5-8 with .183/.211/.198/.067 average...the #9, the pitcher, is hitting .240.
with a straight face you could make a legitimate argument for hitting t.wood 5th/6th in this lineup.
...and before anyone gets curious about avg/ob%...wood has a higher ob% than all of the other options.
Completely valid AND this
Completely valid AND this blemish gets more glaring every time Wood starts ...
The lineups this team is
The lineups this team is fielding are insane. I'm going to assume AZ Phil is right, and that Renteria is more or less following the guidelines set by TheoCorp. For one thing, he should say up yours, Theo, I want to win, fire me if you don't like my lineups but I'm done playing Barney and CogtheBases (even though he doesn't clog the bases because he won't be on them much, I felt the earlier throwback thread deserved some cred). Earlier Rob G asked for lineups. Ok, I don't have a specific order in mind, but these are the guys who should play every day.
Not in the order of appearance in the lineup, of course:
1B Rizzo
2B Valbuena
SS Castro
3B Olt
LF: Ruggs (creds to Cueball)
CF: Lake
RF: Sweeney (cuz Wiscgrad)
C: Schwarber (well? What did you expect?)
DH: Travis Wood (cuz that's how bad the lineup TheoCorp has constructed really is)
Mix and match occasionally, but Valbuena has earned a spot at second, and this will give time for Alcantara to get a few more reps down in the minors and increase Valbuena's trade value (actually that has probably peaked).
Then TheoCorp owes it to Cubs fans to go out and get a real outfielder for one of the two pitchers he is trading. A young, major league ready stud. Not doing so is baseball GM malpractice. After that he can get as many pitchers as he wants. I'm sick of these lineups. They're a joke and an insult to fans.
C: Schwarber (well? What did
C: Schwarber (well? What did you expect?)
C: Schwarber (cuz Old and Blue)
Chicken Shawarma?
Chicken Shawarma?
from rotowurld...
from rotowurld...
"FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that the Mariners are interested in Jason Hammel, but "talks have yet to progress.""
"FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports that scouts from the Orioles, Blue Jays and Red Sox were in attendance at Jeff Samardzija's last start."
link is a video without text/transcript...
"Henry Schulman of the San
-deleted- misplaced reply.
mlbtr says per Bob
mlbtr says per Bob nightingale that the Giants are interested in Shark. I don't know much about the SF system, so I'm putting out some info but would appreciate any comments about their system.
and Jose Veras signs with Astros to a minor league deal
a bit dated but here are the Giant's top 10 prospects (as of 12-6-13), per Baseball America:
1. Kyle Crick, rhp
2. Edwin Escobar, lhp
3. Chris Stratton, rhp
4. Adalberto Mejia, lhp
5. Mac Williamson, of
6. Christian Arroyo, ss
7. Heath Hembree, rhp
8. Ty Blach, lhp
9. Joe Panik, 2b
10. Clayton Blackburn, rhp
and fangraphs with a little more info...
and B/R with some info too...
in Feb 2014, Baseball Prospectus ranked the Giants system #22 (Cubs were #2)
State of the System: Crick leads a pitching-heavy farm, with a seemingly endless supply of future number four starters up and down the system.
Farm System Trajectory for 2015: Up. As the wave of solid-average pitching talent continues to climb towards the majors and the lower level bats like Arroyo and Jones take their cuts at the full-season level, the system as a whole should take several steps forward over the course of the next season.
new update from rotoword re:
new update from rotoword re: giants.
from what you posted it doesn't look like much of a potential loss, though...assuming there's no way in hell they'd trade k.crick.
"Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that "barring injury, the Giants have no plans to adjust their rotation."
USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported earlier Sunday that the Giants are showing "strong interest" in Jeff Samardzija, but Schulman is hearing the "exact opposite.""
If we got Crick and some
If we got Crick and some additional guy named Watson, then we could say they are becoming a part of the Cubs DNA
Vizcaino with another good
Vizcaino with another good inning for the Smokies, and I'm wondering when he sees AAA or the Chicago bullpen. There aren't any obvious candidates in the MLB pen to get sent down. So, after trades are made? Villanueva is the only pen arm not doing much.
Ah. Well, I guess we won't be
Ah. Well, I guess we won't be seeing either for a month or so, then. Thanks!
I'm really digging the Baez
I'm really digging the Baez and Schwarber combo in the Boise lineup so far. Is Jeffrey Baez more of a 4th outfielder type, or does he have a legit shot at being an MLB starter? How's his defense in the 3 OF spots?
The arcane rules of Rule 5s
The arcane rules of Rule 5s and the like are such that I don't spend much time trying to understand them, but won't this be a problem for other signeees down the road, too? For example, Eloy Jimenez? If he were to become Rule 5 eligible in a few years another team will surely snap him up. He won't be flying under any radars. I suspect Baez won't either, actually. How do the Cubs hold on to these guys?
Thanks for that, AZ. I
Thanks for that, AZ. I appreciate the extra remedial training - it's all here in various forms by you in other posts but it all just escapes me when I want to remember something. I do remember that Baez is a guy you've been high on, so I think it would be outstanding to see two J Baez's in the lineup.
Thanks, Phil! If he's bulked
Thanks, Phil! If he's bulked up that much, then it sounds like he is giving himself a shot at being a starter even in an OF corner (since we're supposed to expect Almora to be the starting CF by the time Jeffrey Baez has any shot at making the club). With Bryant, Soler, and potentially Schwarber in front of him as potential corner outfielders, I wonder if Jeffrey Baez might be among the young players most likely traded for vet pickups sometime down the line. I've enjoyed reading about him and following him in your reports, though, and am rooting for him!
Charlie, I'm not sure we want
Charlie, I'm not sure we want to say "bulked up" and "giving himself a shot" in the same sentence...
Video of Schwarber's second
Who is he, Kris Bryant?
Who is he, Kris Bryant?
R.I.P. Tony Gwynn. You were
R.I.P. Tony Gwynn. You were the best.
Yeah, that sucks. Puckett,
Yeah, that sucks. Puckett, Gary Carter, now Gwynn. Man...
always liked watching him hit
always liked watching him hit and talking baseball
One of my favorites ever. One
One of my favorites ever. One of those guys you didn't mind seeing beat you, in a way. I would love to see how he would have adjusted to a shift in this day and age where the opposition would probably have clogged up the left side of the infield. Seemed like a lot of hits were through the hole between short and third but I bet he would have just found another hole. He was fun and seemed like a nice guy.
I would just like to
I would just like to celebrate a non-Home Run Mike Olt line drive SINGLE!!!!
Time to release Valbuena he's
Time to release Valbuena he's striking out at a 60% clip over his last 5 atbats ...
Castro is a BADASS! Dang!
Castro is a BADASS! Dang!
t.wood pinch hits with 2 outs in the 13th and a man (j.lake) on 1st.
...rbi double. cubs lead.
Can he play OF? Seriously ...
Can he play OF? Seriously ...
Kris Bryant wins home run
Kris Bryant wins home run derby: http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/crown-him-cubs-pros... Of course he did.
16 bombs in 3 rounds. 8 in the first round.
Take the ball and run with it O&B...
This one's too obvious.
This one's too obvious.
Bring up Eloy!!! We need outfielders!!!
But even as the Cubs continue early trade talks with some teams about Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija, they also have quietly reached out to Samardzija with a new offer on a contract that would keep him in Chicago as long as Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo, according to multiple sources.
One source suggested it would take something close to the $17.5 million annual value of Cincinnati pitcher Homer Bailey's six-year contract signed during the spring to persuade Samardzija to commit to an extension, especially without a no-trade clause.
I'm so on the fence with that
I'm so on the fence with that guy that his nickname should be The Fence.
I would think that it would
I would think that it would be pretty long odds for him to sign with the Cubs. Unless...Jed/Theo promote the idea that they are going to spend money in FA for 2015. The lack of any offense during his starts, coupled with his desire to be on a winning club again - plus the chance to really get PAID suggests to me his time is done here.
I wish we had a MLB ready T.O.R. arm today in the minors - but its gonna be a while unfortunately. CJ is the closest thing and he is still much a work in progress (plus healing).
Unless the Cubs bring in some
Unless the Cubs bring in some free agent pitching and/or retain Shark, I see the current Kansas City Royals as the best example of the near future Cubs. Highly touted hitting prospects, some of which succeed at the majors, some of which that don't; mixed with mediocre pitching.
That actually seems pretty
That actually seems pretty reasonable.
Go away.
I will strive to be more
I will strive to be more unreasonable in the future.
ummmmm, what I meant to say was that the Cubs should have done was sign Cano, trade for David Price, sign Tanaka, brought up Bryant yesterday, send Bryant back down tomorrow after he goes 0-3, sign a free agent closer, trade for another closer when said free agent closer flops, fire the manager, fire somebody else, bring back the ghost of Harry to do the 7th inning stretch, hire Neifi to be hitting coach and bring back The-Riot to be the new mascot of scrappiness.
What genius! What out of the
What genius! What out of the box thinking!
You have been studying with Al Yellon and it shows.
hire Neifi to be hitting
hire Neifi to be hitting coach
*nightmares for weeks*
Another Plus comment about
Another Plus comment about Renteria:
This team, overall, plays much better fundamental baseball than last year's Sveum edition. Even when they try to do things that don't work, a lot of times it's a good thing to try.
This is a team that could easily be at .500 if not for the abysmal early season record of close one and two run games. As infuriating as I find him sometimes, I am not a member of firerenteria.com.
And, Renteria addressed the early season close game losing with his absolutist approach to late inning walks by pitchers.
Draft update, looks like Cubs
Draft update, looks like Cubs have signed Sands and Steele, their 4th and 5th round picks, for $1.1 and $1.0 million--well over slot--so they used the savings from Schwarber and Zagunis effectively.
That site shows that the Cubs have already signed 17 guys: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 25, 27, and 32, with another 7 marked as "likely" to sign.
They signed 24 total last year from the 2013 draft, but 5 of them took all the way until July 12th to do so.
Theo scheduled to be on WSCR
Theo scheduled to be on WSCR at noon central. McNeil is off today so it has a chance to be a good segment.
schwarm called up to kane
schwarm called up to kane county (from boise)
12/20, 4hr, 10rbi...
Schwarber promoted to Kane
Schwarber promoted to Kane County.
They brought him up!!! Kind
They brought him up!!! Kind of.
Schlit the bed
Schlit the bed
Junior Lake needs a onesie.
Junior Lake needs a onesie.
John Baker in for Whiteside.
John Baker in for Whiteside.
Not a big deal I guess, but I'd have put in either Olt or Sweeney for Whiteside and then put in Baker to play defense. But when you've got this much scrap on the roster...
Exactly right. Eighth inning
Exactly right. Eighth inning tying run at the plate ... PH with Baker batting .150 0HR and 4RBI ?
Alternately, could've pinch
Alternately, could've pinch-hit Olt for Barney figuring that you've got to keep either Barney or Whiteside in the game with a short bench and both are basically nil at the plate.
Yeah. The bottom like is
Yeah. The bottom line is there was no reason to bat Baker. Olt as the tying run in the 8th was the right play. There was no reason to keep him on the bench because in the 9th you had the top of the order following whatever OB% PH you had bat for the pitcher. With Olt at least you had a roughly 7-10% chance of a tied game in the 8th versus Baker's 0.5%. Also Olt wasn't gonna face the closer in the 8th.
the dodgers/sportsnet are
the dodgers/sportsnet are showing off their new camera system...19 cameras on the field that can track a play from start to finish. it's being used for some replays.
angles+views are tweakable over quite a wide range for a nearly limitless amount of possible views depending on how one chooses to replay and manipulate the video "map."
here's a video example...FreeD
Baseball America's Hitter of
Baseball America's Hitter of the Day...
HITTER OF THE DAY: Kyle Schwarber, c/lf — Short-season Boise (Cubs)
Schwarber, the No. 4 overall pick less than two weeks ago, has already been promoted. The lefthanded swinger belted four homers in five games, including two Tuesday, and the Cubs decided he needed more of a challenge, sending him to low Class A Kane County. In five games, Schwarber is 12-for-20 with four homers, a double, a triple and 10 RBIs.
I thought you wrote Hitler of
I thought you wrote Hitler of the day. WTF is that? Hitter, yeah that makes more sense.
Kris Bryant tweets that he's
Kris Bryant tweets that he's going up to Iowa...Cubs tweet he wasn't supposed to make that announcement.
I think Bryant has given
I think Bryant has given himself a Javier Baez license to do "whatever the f*** I want to do" with his hitting as a pro.
Kris Bryant promoted to AAA!
Kris Bryant promoted to AAA!
Recent comments
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 :(
Mark Gonzales @MDGonzales
Soler likely to return Sunday, Maddon says
Right now, I'd like to see the Mets first, Giants 2nd.
I believe that since most of the team from last years' NLCS is on the squad this year, they will really amp their game up even more to kick their ass in payback for 2015.
The Giants just do not have the depth in years past, and I think all things equal - and at Wrigley - they could handle them.
I do not want to see the Cards, period. Or their fans, media, or Joe Buck.
I don't want to play Braves in the first round. Any friggin team in the league can win 3 of 5..I hate the first round. Furthermore, I wanted to play the Marlins in 2003 and the Mets over Dodgers last year.
With that said in reverse order:
3. Cardinals: It will be devastating to lose in the first round, but even worse to their main rival. It is increased incentive for the Cardinals, especially after last year. Cards would have nothing to lose, Cubs have everything to lose.
2. Giants: Rotation in the playoffs scare me a bit, but what a lousy team.
1. Mets--because of the losses in the rotation
2. Giants--because they're not the team they were BUT they maybe have bullshit even-year magic?
3. Cardinals--because rivalry and not making the playoffs hurts them more than losing in the NLDS plus getting eliminated by them in the playoffs would make for horrible sports commentary next throughout next season.
Who's asking?
CLE/DET rained out last night already, possible rain-outs in New York (vs. Baltimore), Boston(vs. Toronto) and Philly(vs. Mets) this weekend too.
Not only games involving playoff spots that would need to be played, but any that involve home field advantage.
I got the first one! Second one I'm not even sure what even/odd betting is.


text:
In its continuing efforts to improve its next generation
operating system, Microsoft has released another interim build of
Windows Vista to testers. Build 5456 is a rather large jump from Windows Vista Beta 2 (Build 5384.4)
and offers a number of improvements which are sure to be welcomed by users. NeoSmart Blog reports:
Some of the new features include a revamped Aero/DWM
subsystem, and a completely overhauled and significantly less obtrusive UAP for
all those that couldn't stand the previous one. From what we have been told by
Microsoft, the Time Zone bug that plagued all most all previous builds of
Windows Vista has been fixed and works great now, and quite a few fixes in the
Regional Settings and IME are now implemented. And for the first time since
Windows 3.0 Microsoft has finally announced that new mouse cursors will be made
available for Windows - something they promised to do in XP with "Watercolors"
but failed to deliver for internal reasons!
Of all of the improvements made to this build, the less
intrusive User Access Protection (UAP) has to be on the biggest pluses. Vista's
UAP scheme has been
catching a lot of flak and Microsoft has seen it fit to gradually make the
system less and less obnoxious.
Vista beta testers can download the new build immediately
from the Windows Connect website.
The rest of you folks will just have to wait until Microsoft releases another
public build.
In other Vista news comes word that Microsoft has decided to
drop its plans to offer Windows Future Storage (WinFS) as a future update to
the operating system -- WinFS Beta 2 has been also cancelled. WinFS was the
name for the new file system that was supposed to debut with the shipping
version of Windows Vista. Over the course of Vista's long gestation period,
WinFS was dropped from the feature count then later brought back to life when
it was announced that the file system would be available
at a later date as a system upgrade for Vista.
WinFS, which is based on Microsoft SQL Server technology,
was supposed to do
away with traditional file/folder hierarchy. From Betanews:
For example, no longer would documents
need to be stored in My Documents or images in My Pictures; instead, Windows would
simply display the files associated with a particular request on demand. In
addition, WinFS could store structured data such as contacts, calendars and
As for the future of WinFS and other Windows technologies, lead
programmer Quentin Clark goes on to air out his
thoughts on his blog:
Of course, there are
other aspects of the WinFS vision that we are continuing to incubate – areas
not quite as mature as the work we are now targeting for Katmai and
ADO.NET. Since WinFS is no longer being delivered as a standalone
software component, people will wonder what that means with respect to the
Windows platform. Just as Vista pushed forward on many aspects of the
search and organize themes of the Longhorn WinFS effort, Windows will continue
to adopt work as it's ready. We will continue working the innovations,
and as things mature they will find their way into the right product experiences
– Windows and otherwise. Having so much ready for SQL Server and ADO.NET
is a big impact on the platform, and more will come.
quote: I know plenty of people with no or little PC experience . I often hear them complaining that their PC is a piece of junk .
quote: Why ? Well because of Windows XP . It's the kind of OS that mess up everything on your PC if you don't have too much experience . It can get jammed up if you install too much ( and you can install anything ) .
quote: You need tons of programs just to keep it running . Antispam , firewall , antivirus , registry cleaner .... and the list could go on .
quote: All in all I like XP and while i'm not crazy about Vista to this point, history would imply that it will be an improvement over the current OS.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Top Definition
A fat , Ugly , very old , she-male granny , who is so old she makes ur great great great great great grandma look like a young hot babe . She is so fat that she requires a whole city to herself . she also gave birth to the ancestors of the mayans .
how old are the pyramids ?
They are almost as old as Apeqsha
They are almost as old as Apeqsha
作者 urbandictionaryforlife 2013年11月27日
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text:
MORGANTOWN - The fate of Ishmael "Icky" Banks has finally been
The redshirt senior cornerback will be suspended for the first three games of the season due to an unspecified NCAA eligibility requirement, West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said during his weekly Big 12 conference call.
Banks' first game will be Sept. 20 when Oklahoma travels to Morgantown. He is still allowed to participate in practice with the team.
''I'm glad we were able to get it resolved,'' Holgorsen said. ''A big thank you to the NCAA for getting it figured out.''
Now the question is who will start opposite of sophomore Daryl Worley when the Mountaineers face Alabama, Towson and Maryland.
Holgorsen was hesitant to say.
''You really don't know what you have until you get them under the lights,'' the fourth-year coach said. ''Terrell Chestnut has been playing well, Travis Bell has been taking reps, Jaylon Myers is good to go. We have bodies at cornerback, bodies that have played and have experience. We have to see how they respond.''
Myers is a bit of a surprise candidate to fill in the second corner spot.
A 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior college transfer, he intercepted eight passes last season while playing for Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. Before committing to West Virginia, Myers had an offer from LSU and had also visited Oklahoma State, Florida and Georgia.
Holgorsen also addressed the Mountaineers' season opener against Alabama in the Chick-fil-A kickoff game at the Georgia Dome.
''We are thrilled to play in a game of that magnitude,'' he said. ''It's going to be an awesome
While Holgorsen has yet to name a starting running back for Saturday's game, he says it really doesn't matter when it comes right down
to it.
''We're fortunate enough to be deeper at that position,'' he said. ''Whoever gets the hot hand is who will have the most carries.''
Starting Strong
It's been an interesting first year as coach at Texas for Charlie Strong. Thing is, his Longhorns haven't even played a game yet.
Even with all the player issues the former Louisville coach has had to deal with in his short time in Austin, Strong, the 29th coach in school history, says it hasn't been his biggest challenge.
The obstacle for him is rebuilding his team's confidence.
''When you have such of a demanding job as this and the expectations are so high, the players feel like they let themselves down and the university down when they don't play at the level they think they should,'' Strong said.
The Longhorns finished in a three-way tie for second in the Big 12 with a 7-3 conference record, but went 1-2 against their nonconference foes.
Strong, who complied a 23-3 record in his final two season with the Cardinals, has been relying on his senior class to set the standard
''We've had no resentment from any of our players,'' he said. ''They're working very hard and they're working to change themselves. When you have a team that has the leadership - we have a group of seniors that want to win - you don't really have to force them to do anything.''
The Longhorns play host to North Texas to open the season Saturday. Texas is 6-0 against the Mean Green and won the last meeting, 56-7, in 2006.
There's your confidence builder, Texas.
A New Bear Den
The defending Big 12 champion Baylor Bears will unveil their new home Sunday when SMU comes to Waco.
McLane Stadium, which replaces Floyd Casey Stadium, contains 39 suites, 74 Loge boxes, 1,200 outdoor club seats, 3,000 Baylor Line seating and 6,700 total student designated seating.
''It's spectacular,'' Coach Art Briles said. ''Everything I put my eyes on and come into contact with is second to none.''
While Briles is impressed with all the new bells and whistles, at the end of the day, he just wants to make sure Baylor's homefield advantage continues.
The Bears are 19-1 at home the last four seasons, best in the nation.
''Our goal, our motto, our drive is to take what we had at Ford and take it to McLane,'' Briles said. ''I know it's going to be a lively atmosphere.''


text:
on July 15, 2013 - 7:40 AM
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 24th annual Gelatin Splash last month raised $115,000 for the fight against blood cancers, organizers report.
More than 1,000 spectators watched as 80 participants dived into 1,000 gallons of strawberry gelatin at Banchetti by Rizzo's in Getzville. Participants had to raise at least $400 in donations.
The top fundraiser for the eighth straight year was Forrest Weaver, of Kenmore, owner of Few Dew Deliveries and a former patient.
Weaver collected $11,880.50 in donations.
Runner-up was Mike Bonetto, of Orchard Park, regional president of First Niagara Risk Management and a member of the local chapter's board of trustees.
Bonetto raised $10,150.


text:
on April 18, 2013 - 12:01 AM
, updated April 18, 2013 at 2:54 AM
A giant hand that emerges from the stem of the letter "B" in the colorful West Side Bazaar sign above the storefront on Grant Street is clutching a green and blue globe.
It's an apt reflection of the emerging ethnic melting pot that's found both inside the building and increasingly on the West Side.
On Wednesday, vendors selling exotic and unusual clothing, perfumes, gifts and other wares from their native countries celebrated a grand opening that also marked the addition of an ethnic food court featuring Ethiopian, Burmese, Chinese and Peruvian eateries, as well as Burmese-prepared sushi, offering moderately priced vegetarian and meat dishes.
The project was made possible thanks to a $130,000 investment by the Westminster Economic Development Initiative, a project of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
"It's an absolutely fantastic development on the West Side. [Westminster Economic Development Initiative] has done an incredible job with this bazaar, bringing so many different culturals and countries together to pursue the American Dream," said Mayor Byron W. Brown, on hand for the big day.
"Immigrants are literally transforming this part of the West Side," he said.
There were a lot of smiles to go around, from the booth owners and the public alike.
"I love the food and the uniqueness," said Janick Jenkins, who moved to Buffalo from Haiti and was waiting for her order from Pure Peru. "I came to get anything with rice and chicken, [a native dish], and they had it."
"I love how all the different people are coming together in one place," added her daughter, Saidhah.
Booths from Rwanda, Bhutan and Nepal, South Sudan, India, Burma and more reflected colorful native dress and arts and crafts that the owners hope will attract people from their native countries and others.
"I opened a Nepali store because a lot of our people need traditional clothes and I wanted to help them. I give them a reasonable price, and help uplift my community," said Leela Ghimiray, owner of Nepali Clothing Accessories. The store's motto is "Fashion has no boundaries."
"I'm very proud of what I have. I want to show Buffalonians what Moroccans can offer. I have leather goods, woodcraft, jewelry and clothing – and everything is handmade," said Nabil Boussag of the Moroccan Shop.
Faustine Nishimwa of Julienne Boutique showed off handmade wood crafts and cards made by an uncle living in Rwanda, along with peace baskets, clothing and jewelry.
William J. Cooper of Buffalo was excited about the bazaar, where he is selling 10 hot sauces that range from a spicy mustard for sausage and hot dogs to what he calls the "Turtle," which is made with apples and is to be swiped on pork loin.
"It's a good environment. We've got so many different diversities, and the people are having a great time," Cooper said. "The aromas of the different cuisines is just beautiful. Today is a great day."
The project has been led by Chris DelPrince, a consultant who grew up on the West Side and is a specialist in retail. He got the idea from a business incubator in Harlem that benefitted street vendors.
"I look at it like years ago, when the immigrants in my family came here," DelPrince said. "They were not educated, and couldn't speak much English, but they became merchants. That's the same thing happening over here.
"The immigrants are making things happen in this neighborhood, and making it a better neighborhood to walk and shop," he said.
DelPrince said there are now plans to hold a Burmese festival on Grant Street in July, something that is expected to be an annual event.
email: email@example.com


text:
Top Definition
The state of disorientation and fuzzy-headedness that comes from staring at the internet for too long.
It was slow as hell at work today, and I got a case of web-burn right after lunch when I read all of this week's Onion online.
מאת GullibleZine 31 באוגוסט, 2007
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Can you define these popular missing words?


text:
Commissioners expected to OK sheriff's pact
March 21, 2013
LISBON — Columbiana County commissioners are expected to approve a new three-year contract with sheriff's employees that includes an initial 2....
"Halleck and Johnson accompanied their friend from the jail to the sheriff's office to complete the paperwork for his release, but the grievance alleges a deputy should have escorted the released inmate."
Why the half truth to the public Giambroni? Intentional for a reason?
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One of my all-time favorite band of musicians, appropriately monikered, The Band. They've been the inspiration behind many a great musician, myself and my band included*. There's really not much that I can say that hasn't been said before, but luckily, I can share a personal story about The Band and the little town that nurtured their music.
My band had the absolute pleasure and privilege of recording two records in the legendaryBearsville studios in Bearsville, NY. Bearsville (for all intents and purposes, Woodstock) is a little town nestled in the beautiful Catskill mountains in upstate New York. Bearsville studios was opened and owned by Albert Grossman, who managed Bob Dylan and The Band, among many others, and was originally responsible for pulling Dylan into Woodstock, and subsequently, The Band. The main building housed a couple rooms — a small B room, and a gigantic main room where we got to track drums. There was also a barn at the bottom of the property next to the houses where we stayed, again, appropriately named, "The Barn", where we recorded an entire record. The main studio had sadly been shut down our second time 'round, and it was rumored that we were the last ones to be recording at The Barn as well (although I think another record or two was made there). My experiences there is something I'll keep with me for the rest of my life — Being marooned out in the middle of the woods for weeks or months and recording records in a place so rich in history.
The real Band tie-in: One day, Sally Grossman, widow of Albert Grossman (and also lady on the cover of Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home) who now owned the studio told us that the property needed a new well, and that she had a friend coming over to divine for wateron the property. Soon after, an old man in overalls and a big scraggly beard comes driving up in a pickup truck. He comes up to us and asks us if there are any wire hangers in the houses. My buddy Dustin obliges and runs up stairs to get him a couple hangers. He thanks us, disassembles the hangers, and starts looking for water. A week or so later, Sally takes us out to a ridiculously amazing dinner at the local gourmet house, Bear Cafe,and besides telling us lots of incredible stories about Albert, Dylan, The Band, and the 60's/70's in general, she casually mentions something about her friend Garth that came by the other day. And then it clicked. It was Garth freaking Hudson. Whoa. Should've figured it out, but I don't think any of us were expecting a member of The Band to come casually up to the studio and divine for water. Looking back though, he pretty much looks exactly the same, only old and scraggly, which I think is how he's wanted to look his entire life anyway.
Most of them have passed away now, but I know Garth Hudson is still kicking, and Levon is still ruling, putting out records, acting in movies, and hosting a weekly hootenanny called the Midnight Ramble (which is a life goal of Dustin and mine to go see someday…we need to do it soon, he's gettin old). What a guy. Anyhow, I love this band…err, The Band.
* Included in the former (inspiration) and not the latter (great musician).
The Band doing a photo shoot in the main tracking room during the construction of Bearsville Studios
Bearsville Studios, main building
Bearsville Studios, The Barn
Inside the massive Studio A tracking room
Kills me everytime. Mavis Staples just kills it.


text:
Top Definition
Olly olly oxen free is a phrase used in children's games, which is generally used to indicate that people who are hiding (in a game of hide and seek, for example) can safely come out into the open.
Olly Olly oxen free!!! Nate yelled to get Gary out of hiding.
de Brian Funk 22 Februarie 2008
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How osama was caught.
navy seals: "olly olly oxen free"
osama bin laden: "dirka dirka jihad alla"
navy seals: "we got him obama"
osama bin laden: "dirka dirka jihad alla"
navy seals: "we got him obama"
de the american... 08 Mai 2011
originally all ye, all ye, "outs" are free. meaning the one looking for you will call "olly, olly, oxen free" and the one in hiding can come out of hiding and not be tagged as "it" (the next one looking for all the ones hiding)
{olly olly oxen free} {hide n seek}
de The Lil 18 Februarie 2011
When playing Hide & Seek, this term is to indicate the the player in hiding gives up. To quit, to end the game.
olly olly oxen free! I GIVE UP.
de Seeeeeker 27 Decembrie 2009
The gayest 3 words ever.
Olly Olly oxen free really should be; Olly Olly fuck yourself!
de KbAB 09 Mai 2011


text:
|ALS Users' Association Charter
A. Organization
1. Membership
Membership in the ALSUA shall be open to all those, including students, who are interested in research at the ALS.
2. Standing Committees
a. The Users' Executive Committee is charged with conducting the day-to-day business of the ALSUA. The Users' Executive Committee shall consist of 14 members. These members include the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Past Chairperson and Secretary. No more than one member may be an ALS employee. At least one of the 14 members shall be a student representative.*
The members of the Users' Executive Committee shall be elected by the members of the ALSUA by written ballot, for staggered terms of office, as soon as practicable after the annual meeting of the membership of the ALSUA. Newly elected members of the Users' Executive Committee shall take office on the first of January of the year following their election. The terms of office of members of the Users' Executive Committee shall be three years, except for officers, who shall be elected by the committee from among its members, as specified in section A.3 below. The term of the student member shall be two years. If the student member graduates during his/her term, a new student member shall be elected during the next regular election.
b.The Nominating Committee shall consist of five members appointed by the executive committee. The Nominating Committee is charged with preparing a slate of candidates for election to the executive committee. The slate is to be presented to the membership of the ALSUA at or shortly after the annual meeting. In preparing this slate, the Nominating Committee shall formally solicit widespread input from the membership of the ALSUA. The Nominating Committee shall also include on the slate nominations submitted in writing over the signatures of at least five members of the ALSUA, including those submitted at the meeting. The slate shall, as nearly as possible, reflect a balance of interests among active research fields pursued at the ALS and among institutional affiliations of the users and shall be twice as large as the number of positions to be filled on the Users' Executive Committee.
3. Officers
a.The Chairperson of the Users' Executive Committee shall serve as Chairperson of the ALSUA. The Chairperson's term of office shall be 1 year. To assure continuity, the Chairperson shall continue to serve on the Users' Executive Committee for one additional year as Past Chairperson.
b.The Vice Chairperson of the Users' Executive Committee shall serve as Vice Chairperson of the ALSUA. The Vice Chairperson shall stand in for the Chairperson if he or she is unavailable and shall assist the Chairperson in the discharge of his or her duties. The Vice Chairperson shall be elected by the Users' Executive Committee from among its members. His or her term of office shall be 1 year, upon expiration of which term he or she shall assume the position of Chairperson.
c.The Secretary of the Users' Executive Committee, appointed by the Chairperson, shall serve as Secretary of the ALSUA. The term of office of the Secretary shall be 1 year and shall be renewable.
d. The Users' Executive Committee can appoint a representative for the "Synchrotron and Neutron Users' Group" (SNUG) and other advocacy groups. The representative is appointed annually and does not need to be a current member of the Users' Executive Committee. The appointed representative can serve for multiple years in order to maintain and enhance the experience of the ALSUA in general educational efforts promoting the importance and impact of the research performed at the ALS.
1.Meetings of the membership of the ALSUA shall be called by the Chairperson. Normally, one meeting per year shall be held. Location of the meetings shall normally be Berkeley, but other sites may be selected by the Users' Executive Committee. Except under unusual circumstances, notice of meetings shall be given to the membership at least three months in advance.
2.An agenda for each meeting shall be provided by the Chairperson upon advice of the Users' Executive Committee. A short written description of the items on the agenda shall be provided to members of the ALSUA in advance of a meeting. During the meeting the ALSUA will have an opportunity to present research performed at the ALS and also to discuss the current status and future developments of the ALS.
3.The Users' Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairperson to transact all such business as shall be required between general meetings of the membership of the ALSUA.
C. Procedural Rules
1.Minutes of all meetings shall be recorded by the Secretary and shall include a brief resume of the results of the meeting. After approval by the Chairperson, copies of the minutes of the meetings of the ALSUA shall be provided to all members, e.g., by posting them on the Internet, and minutes of the meetings of the Users' Executive Committee shall be made available to members of the ALSUA upon request.
2.Meetings of the ALSUA and of the Users' Executive Committee shall abide by parliamentary rules as stated in Robert's Rules of Order.
3.This charter can be amended by a mail or web-based ballot of the members of the ALSUA conducted by the Users' Executive Committee. A two-thirds majority of those members voting in the balloting must vote in favor of an amendment for it to be adopted.
4.In the event that a position on the Users' Executive Committee should be vacated before expiration of its term, the committee shall appoint a member of the ALSUA to fill the position for the duration of the unexpired term.
5.The Users' Executive Committee shall advise the Director of the ALS with regard to the membership of relevant committees that may be established. The ALS Director shall keep the Users' Executive Committee advised of proposed changes in the operation of the ALS and of future plans; the committee shall bear responsibility for making appropriate recommendations to the ALS Director regarding such matters, including future directions, major equipment, and changing user needs.
(1) The UEC has primary responsibility for the selection of the recipients of the ALS Awards:
(2) Each year the UEC will appoint appropriate selection committees. The membership of the committees shall consist of representatives from the UEC, from the ALS staff, and from the wider ALSUA community as appropriate.
*Revised October 2013


text:
Forgotten Olympic sports
POSTED: 09:38 PM MST Feb 17, 2014 UPDATED: 12:00 AM MDT Aug 11, 2016
Since the first modern Olympics in 1896, new events have come and gone. Check out just some of the sports that once were part of the Olympics.
The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms Of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.blog comments powered by Disqus


text:
PITTSBURGH - At a hearing on Monday on UPMC's denial of access to subscribers of Highmark's Community Blue health plan, members of the House Democratic Policy Committee heard complaints that could foreshadow a broader denial of access - which potentially could touch Blair County.
"The issue we're facing today with Community Blue, we'll probably be facing it in 18 months," said Pittsburgh-area state Rep. Dan Frankel, looking ahead to the end of 2014, when UPMC - which plans to acquire Altoona Regional Health System - says it won't renew its contract with Highmark.
"Three million people [could be] potentially disenfranchised," Frankel said.
It's a problem that won't happen, according to a written statement issued by UPMC before the hearing, because at the end of 2014, Community Blue will expire, and Highmark subscribers will be able to access UPMC facilities by paying regular out-of-network surcharges.
UPMC is denying Community Blue subscribers now because of a clause that prohibits the medical center from "balance billing" for those surcharges, according to UPMC.
In a second statement issued before the hearing, UPMC also offered to begin serving Community Blue subscribers now, provided Highmark permitted the balance billing.
It wasn't clear what the outcome of that offer would be.
During the hearing, Highmark executives alleged that UPMC is violating a clause in the Community Blue contract that called for access in exchange for direct payment by Highmark.
UPMC "abandoned" its patients and failed to fulfill its provider's mission in denying service, they said.
The thorny problem of UPMC access for Highmark subscribers is indicative of a "badly broken" system in southwestern Pennsylvania, "at risk of becoming a national embarrassment," said Harold Miller, executive director of the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, one of the experts the committee called to testify.
It's a system - here and nationwide - that needs far more fixing than just getting UPMC and Highmark to work together, Miller said.
"The only way we will get higher-quality, lower-cost health care is if everyone works together to create a very different system for delivering and paying for health care," Miller told the committee.
He then laid out a detailed prescription for a health system cure:
Patients need to choose hospitals and doctors based on quality and cost, like they do in buying most things, because that will allow competition to work. Otherwise, there's no incentive for the providers to do the necessary hard work, he said.
Lawmakers can help by ensuring that providers can't refuse "tiered" contracts, by which health plans allow subscribers to access any provider, paying more for costlier care, while knowing the quality of all the care offered.
Lawmakers, however, will need to define "good tiering," he said.
Community Blue is allegedly tiered but is more properly a "narrow network" option, as it places UPMC alone in the out-of-network category, he said.
Lawmakers can also "jump-start this process" by requiring that all state employees use a tiered plan, he said.
Providers also need to stop discriminating on price, Miller said.
"There is a huge variation in the amounts that different hospitals and health systems are paid for doing the same procedures, and in many cases, the lower-cost providers also deliver higher-quality care," he said.
Big health plans and big businesses get big discounts; smaller organizations get smaller discounts; and the uninsured - those least able to afford it - get no discounts, he said.
Providers don't want to disclose the discounts for fear others will demand the same or say what they're charging the uninsured, out of embarrassment, he said.
"We would not tolerate discriminating against people based on their employment and income anywhere else," he said.
To end the discrimination, lawmakers can prohibit discounts, he said, as Maryland does.
They should also require providers to disclose prices publicly, he said. That would allow patients, rather than health plans, to make the cost choices.
Thus "all patients and all health plans would be paying the same provider the same amount for the same care," he said.
Providers need to be transparent about performance, according to Miller.
"No one wants to choose a lower-priced physician or hospital if they feel they are going to get low-quality care," he said.
But it's currently almost impossible to determine quality, although "the limited information that's available suggests that the quality of health care in southwestern Pennsylvania is a lot worse than people realize," he said.
Lawmakers can help by funding the creation of publicly accessible resources on quality, which in turn would require providers to submit the necessary data, according to Miller.
That could happen if the state provided more funding and the proper direction to the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, said Geoff Webster, managing director of Value Capture, who also testified at the hearing.
The data would not only need to be more comprehensive, but more timely than that provided by PHC4, Webster said.
Health plans need to make providers "accountable" with their payment methods, according to Miller.
Current fee for service methods can reward providers for messing up - for example, when they have readmissions.
They can also penalize them for good work - for example, when they prevent illness.
Accountable care payment systems try to counter those misaligned incentives with initiatives like warranties on care, along with higher initial charges.
Geisinger Health System has helped to pioneer this for some services, waiving the cost of preventable readmissions, according to Miller.
Lawmakers could encourage accountable care payments by requiring it for state employees, he said.
Lawmakers can also ensure fair treatment of teaching and research hospitals that subsidize their educational activities by charging more for care by providing a separate funding mechanism, Miller said.
They can alleviate the temptation of providers who have a monopoly on some aspects of care in a particular area by setting up a system to regulate their prices like the Public Utility Commission regulates utility prices, he said.
And they can help ensure provider competition by eliminating barriers that now make it difficult or illegal for independent hospitals and doctors from cooperating to get the efficiencies of scale, Miller said.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.