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Masiero Tessuti Dome 4 Light Drum Pendant
Masiero Tessuti Dome 4 Light Drum Pendant
Weights & Dimensions
|Fixture Type: Drum pendant
|Style: Modern
|Shade Material: Fabric
|Shade Color: 1: Black
|Shade Color: 2: White
|Shade Shape: Round; Sphere
|Material: Metal
|Room Use: Living room; Bedroom; Hallway; Dining room
|Swarovski Crystal: No
|Bulb Type: Incandescent
|Number of Lights: 4
|Number of Tiers: 1
|Swag Light: No
|Bulb Included: No
|Light Direction: Down
|Voltage: 120 Volts (V)
|Wattage per Bulb: 60 Watts (W)
|Country of Manufacture: Italy
|Assembly Required: Yes
|Product Warranty: 1 Year
|Title 24 Compliant: No
|Energy Star Compliant: No
|Damp, Dry or Wet Location Listed: Dry
|UL Listed: Yes
|cUL Listed: Yes
About the ManufacturerMasiero designs and creates lamps directly in its workshop, starting with the workings of glass and crystal glass. "Tailor-made light" is the concept that perfectly expresses Masiero's philosophy.
These lamps represent an intriguing combination between tradition and modernity, the past and the future able to perfectly coexist. From classical to modern, the company's products, over the years, have been evolved by using new materials, such as round wood, methacrylate or ceramics from Bassano. These materials have allowed Masiero to introduce innovative aesthetic codes with more evolved and modern shapes, while also having a simplicity of language able to maintain a strong link with the roots and identity of the company.
The frames come in iron, brass and steel while silk organza, shantung Le Bock, pongé or polyester are used for lampshades. Asfour, Bohemia and glittering Swarovski crystals are used for the lamp pendants. The result is a product that is a precious decorative object and transmits a sensation of elegance and exclusivity; it makes one understand the great experience of Masiero craftsmen in the working of materials and the innovation of a design that gives a uniqueness to each item.
Masiero Tessuti Dome 4 Light Drum Pendant
Customer Reviews
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Tell us what you think about this product. It will help us provide you with better products in the future and help your fellow shoppers make better purchases.Write the first review
OUR SKU # MASI1139Tessuti Dome 4 Light Drum Pendant is also sometimes listed under the following manufacturer numbers: DOME S4 120 B, DOME S4 120 I, DOME S4 120 T, DOME S4 120 W


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A running discussion on the Cincinnati Reds and everything else in the baseball universe.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Actual Draft vs. "Shadow Draft": A Retrospective
One of the fun parts of the baseball offseason is that we get a break from the day-to-day grind of the season, which affords us some time to reflect, clean out the closet, and dust off old thoughts for re-examination. So, it's probably a good time to revisit my "shadow draft picks" of the past.
Starting in 2005, when draft time rolled around, I began to analyze the draft eligible prospects and determine which one I would select if I was in charge of the Reds draft. So, in short, these picks are what I would have done at the time of each draft, not what I would have done with the benefit of perfect hindsight. So, not surprisingly, there are both significant hits and misses, but the picks are what they are. No sense trying to sweep the bad ones under the rug, rather I've tried to learn from my missteps and use that experience in the future.
Of course, I didn't start this blog until 2007, so my draft thoughts existed only on message boards until the 2008 draft rolled around, but I'm including those early message board picks anyway for posterity sake. Besides, it makes the post that much more fun. Anyway, the Reds' picks are in red, while my picks are in orange. And, off we go.....
2005: Jay Bruce vs. Ricky Romero
This was the first time I really looked into the draft and picked out the player I wanted the Reds to select. Of course, those with a sharp eye and a keen memory will recall that Ricky Romero was selected 6th by the Blue Jays, while the Reds didn't select Jay Bruce until their 12th overall pick rolled around. So, in my first effort, there were clearly a few kinks to be worked out, as I selected a player the Reds couldn't possibly have drafted. In future go-arounds, I only selected a player that was actually available to the Reds with their first pick, but I'm including this one anyway.
The 2005 draft was an epic one, filled with potential impact talent from the top of the first round all the way down to the bottom. You couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting at least a couple of legitimate first round prospects. But, my pick, until just recently, was one of the few flame-outs in the first round.
I followed Ricky Romero at Cal State Fullerton and loved his bulldog mentality and offspeed offerings. He had a nice curveball and a quality changeup. He also had a good understanding of how to pitch. He was the guy I wanted the perennially pitching-starved Reds to land. Of course, Romero was already off the board by the time the Reds went in another direction. And, that's probably a good thing, as even with Romero's recent breakthrough at the MLB level, I have a hard time arguing with the Reds' choice of Jay Bruce, who seems a quality player on the field and a quality person off of it.
Romero is becoming the pitcher I thought he could be, but Bruce has the potential to be a superstar talent.
2006: Drew Stubbs vs. Tim Lincecum
In the 2006 draft class, there was only one player I wanted the Reds to land and I flooded the ESPN Reds message board saying just that. Unfortunately, the Reds evidently didn't read it, as that was one time where I was actually right.
For me, despite his short stature, Tim Lincecum was head-and-shoulders above the rest. Baseball America rated him as having the best fastball and the best offspeed pitch among all the draft eligible college pitchers. Additionally, he struck out everybody at the University of Washington, posting strike out rates of 12.9, 11.3, and 14.3 respectively in his three years there. He was clearly the most electric pitcher in the draft and had a massive upside.
There were two main knocks against Lincecum heading into that draft: his mechanics and his height. Personally, I've always loved his mechanics. They're complicated, but he throws with his body better than the vast majority of pitchers. And, as for height, I hate the scouting bias against short righthanded pitchers. If you can pitch, then you can pitch, regardless of height. Lincecum is the guy I wanted and he was on the board when the Reds picked. Unfortunately, the Reds went in another direction, reeling in Drew Stubbs.
Stubbs has a lot of tools and could develop into a dual threat, as he has impact ability on both offense and defense. If Stubbs can perform as he did in the final two months of 2010, then he'll begin to reward the Reds for passing on a two-time Cy Young award winner and start making the fan base forget the massive opportunity cost that came along with his selection.
2007: Devin Mesoraco vs. Pete Kozma
Unfortunately, I couldn't carry the success of my 2006 pick into the 2007 draft. Additionally, while Ricky Romero's recent emergence makes my 2005 pick look more defensible, Mesoraco's recent explosion makes this 2007 pick look even worse.
The Reds had the 15th overall pick and went with Devin Mesoraco, while shortstop Pete Kozma went off the board with the Cardinals 18th overall pick.
Heading into the draft, few prospects had as much helium as Devin. Coming from a cold weather school and off a TJ surgery, Mesoraco wasn't projected to be a first rounder, but a strong season propelled him up the ranks.
Kozma was more of a high floor, low ceiling type player. He lacked any real plus tools, but had some nice skills and a feel for the game, which in a somewhat less than inspiring draft class seemed to be a decent option. Unfortunately, as of now, both the Cardinals and I have whiffed on this pick, as his bat hasn't developed and he's a long shot to emerge as a legitimate big league shortstop. So, obviously, his floor no longer seems quite as high as it once did, while his ceiling has remained largely the same.
On the other hand, Mesoraco finally broke out in 2010 and looks ready to emerge as an impact bat at a premier defensive position. Finding a catcher that can actually hit is a tremendous value, so the Reds certainly made the right decision here. In the final analysis, Mesoraco might prove to be the best offensive catcher the Reds have had since Johnny Bench.
Having learned my lesson, Kozma was the last time I went with the safe, high-floor type player in the first round. The first round is where you have the best chance to land the impact talent, so limiting yourself to a lower-ceiling player hardly seems like the right strategy in most draft classes. Lesson learned.
2008: Yonder Alonso vs. Casey Kelly
Well, here's the first pick of the blog era and I went with Casey Kelly here and here. In hindsight the pick looks pretty good, but in the interests of full disclosure I must say that I liked Kelly more as a shortstop and wanted to see what he could do with a couple of years as a full-time position player. He had good baseball bloodlines, very good athleticism, played plus defense at short, and had good pop in his bat. However, there were questions about his bat, so I viewed his pitching ability as a nice way to manage the performance risk that came with his hit tool. There is an old scouting adage that you don't gamble on a questionable "hit tool" in the first round. So, maybe that rang true in this case, but I still would have liked to see what Kelly could do as a shortstop before switching him to pitching full time. It's not easy to find a potentially plus defensive shortstop who can be an impact hitter on offense. He already had solid power, so it doesn't seem out of the realm of possibilities that he could develop into a capable hitter at the professional level.
The BoSox were able to grab Kelly with the 30th overall pick (due in part to signability concerns) and successfully convert him into a full-time pitcher, while the Reds grabbed Yonder Alonso with the 7th overall pick.
The Reds clearly went with the player they deemed to be the best available, which is usually a sound draft philosophy, but in hindsight I wonder if it was the right decision. Obviously, Joey Votto had already emerged as a good, young first baseman with a strong offensive profile. So, it clearly wasn't an area of need and Yonder was never a realistic option to switch defensive positions, which meant he was blocked as soon as he stepped into the organization. And, if the Reds don't do something with Yonder in 2011 to extract some value from the pick (trade or play), then the organization's questionable ability to extract value from a blocked prospect may make this less than the ideal pick.
As it stands, Yonder looks like a nice, well-rounded hitter with good on-base skills and solid power potential. Not a bad pick, but even a couple of years after he was drafted, it remains unclear how exactly he fits into the organizational plans.
2009: Mike Leake vs. Shelby Miller
This pick is one that I have pondered quite a bit since it happened. At the time, I locked in on Shelby Miller as the pitcher with the best combination of stuff and mechanics. I loved the velocity and how cleanly he generated it. There was no doubt that he was the guy I wanted the Reds to take. In fact, I had him pegged as the third best prospect in the draft behind Stephen Strasburg and Dustin Ackley. At draft time, there were other high school pitchers who were rated higher and ultimately were drafted higher, including Zach Wheeler (6th to the Giants) Jacob Turner (9th to the Tigers), Tyler Matzek (11th to the Rockies), and Matt Purke (14th to the Rangers), but I preferred Miller to all of them. His upside was just too massive for me to see anyone else as a legitimate option.
Miller ultimately went off the board with the Cardinals 17th overall pick, which was a while after the Reds selected Mike Leake with the 8th overall pick. Realistically speaking, Miller's first full season couldn't possibly have gone better. The Cards kept him in low-A all season long and he posted a 3.62 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9, and a 12.1 K/9 in 104.1 innings. It was a dominating performance and one that has him on the #1 starter development path.
Obviously, Leake has been a great success story and after the draft the pick started to grow on me. I still would have gone with Miller, but Leake was becoming more intriguing. I never suspected that he'd be able to jump over the minors entirely, but I loved the polish and the understanding of how to pitch.
Of course, the question then was whether Leake's higher floor/lower ceiling were the better pick over Miller's lower floor/higher ceiling. And, that's a question with which I still wrestle.
Just how valuable is a pitcher who can bypass the minors entirely? What exactly are the advantages? Is it worth selecting a #2/3 starter who can jump straight to the majors over a potential #1 starter who will need significant time in the minors?
Well, obviously, there has to be some kind of "time value" of prospects at work. When you are talking about money, a dollar today is worth much more than a dollar a year from now for two reasons. First, the devaluing caused by inflation. Second, you can invest the dollar and earn interest on it. But, what's the advantage in pitching prospects?
Obviously, the value doesn't change at the MLB level, as regardless when each player arrives, you'll control their rights for 6 seasons. However, the value lies in the reduced injury risk and the non-existent performance risk. If a pitcher is good enough to jump right to the majors, then there really is no performance risk to the pick. Additionally, and here is the real difference, if the pitcher can jump right to the majors, then you eliminate a substantial amount of injury risk. A pitcher that has to develop in the minors is still subject to injury risk, but his minor league performance simply doesn't directly benefit the organization. Production at the MLB level is all that really matters, so getting an immediate return on your pick substantially cuts the chances of injury in the minors ruining a draft pick's future MLB production. If the pitcher is going to pitch and be exposed to injury risk, then it's preferable that he do it at the MLB level where the production actually counts.
At this point, I'm still not sure how to properly determine the value of a draft pick who jumps right to the Majors like Mike Leake against a prospect who must spend several years in the minors like Shelby Miller.
I guess, in the end, it still comes down to the likelihood that Miller will reach his ceiling and be significantly better than Mike Leake at the MLB level. If he can, then he is clearly the better pick. And, every year of development that passes with Miller still on track cuts the risk that he'll get injured or fail to develop. As it was at the time of the draft, Miller has more risk and more reward, while Leake is the sure thing. It's still too close to call at this point, but I'm sticking with Miller and his #1 starter upside.
2010: Yasmani Grandal vs. Chris Sale
In the 2010 draft, Chris Sale was actually the first prospect on whom I did in-depth research and a full write-up, and he was ultimately the guy I wanted the Reds to land. His fastball and changeup were both rated among the very best of the draft eligible college pitchers and he had very good polish to go with them. His strikeout and walk rates were among the very best in the country, so you had both upside and polish. There were/are some questions about his arm action, but I never saw anything about which to worry. Some thought there was too much snap in his arm action, but I don't really see it. I would like to see him incorporate more leg drive, but overall I was comfortable with his mechanics. After I was done looking into the draft crop, Sale was still sitting atop my list.
In that draft, Sale was selected by the Chicago White Sox with the 13th overall pick. Somewhat surprisingly, the Sox moved Sale all the way up to the majors after only 10.1 minor league innings. The Sox fast-tracked him as a reliever and he performed very well, posting a 32/10 K/BB ratio in his 23.1 Major League innings. Once again, the question emerges about the value of a player skipping the minors almost entirely, though in this case my pick would get whatever boost comes along with it. The Sox used Sale in their push for the playoffs and it's hard not to wonder how much the Reds would have benefited from having two hard throwing southpaws (Aroldis and Sale) in the postseason. Obviously, for a team in the hunt for the playoffs, getting an immediate return on a draft pick is of even greater value.
Regardless, the Reds had the 12th overall pick, which they used to select Yasmani Grandal. Grandal was the second Miami Hurricane that the team had selected with its first pick in the last three drafts. Obviously, they feel they have good scouting coverage down there. Thus far, Grandal has played only in the Arizona rookie league, where he posted a slash line of .286/.394/.321 in 33 plate appearances. Obviously, the on-base skill is impressive, but the sample size is too small to reveal anything of value. The selection of Grandal gives the Reds some of the best catching depth in all of the minor leagues, as he could develop into a solid defensive catcher with an impact bat. It'll be interesting to see how he performs in full season ball and how he'll fit into an organization where Mesoraco is making a big splash much farther up the ladder. Given Grandal's polish, his career is very likely to overlap with Mesoraco's at the Major League Level. So, once again, the Reds could have a blocked Hurricane in the system.
As for Sale, the White Sox are now wrestling with the question of whether to develop him as a starting pitcher or to continue to ride him at the MLB level as a reliever. Obviously, he has more value as a starter, but the Sox may not see it that way. If the Reds had grabbed him, I would have wanted him developed as a starter, as I see nothing that would prevent him from becoming a good one.
As with almost all of the aforementioned players, it's too soon to tell which player will prove to be the more valuable pick, but I still prefer Sale to Grandal. Hopefully, Yasmani proves me wrong.
2011: Robert Stephenson vs. Jason Esposito
Well, for the first time since I've started doing these draft write-ups the Reds had a pick outside the top 15. In fact, they had number 27 overall, which makes it more challenging to find impact talent. However, given the impressive depth of talent in the 2011 draft class, the Reds were able to land a high upside arm that undoubtedly would have gone higher in the typical draft class.
Stephenson stands 6-2 and tips the scale at 190 lbs with a wiry frame and plus makeup/intelligence. He features a big time fastball that tickles 97 mph on the radar gun and a biting, 12-to-6 curveball that is inconsistent. And, like seemingly all power arms coming out of high school, he has a mediocre change-up. Power pitchers in high school typically dominate with the hard stuff and rarely need to develop that third pitch, typically the change-up, because they can simply overpower high school hitters. Additionally, the change-up is materially different from the power stuff, as it requires touch and feel, while power stuff does not. So, the change-up frequently gets neglected.
The only potential red flag on Stephenson is his pitching mechanics, which are somewhat inefficient due to a shorter stride, less than ideal hip rotation, and an occasionally cutting short the deceleration of his pitching arm.
That said, Stephenson has a great deal of positives going for him and the Reds probably did very well, as you don't frequently get this type of upside so late in the draft. The stuff and makeup are there, but he'll need to refine his mechanics and continue to polish his secondary offerings as he climbs the ladder. Still, hard to argue with, or be disappointed by, this pick by the Reds and, frankly, it'll be difficult to top.
As for my pick, after looking back at my previous selections, this is the first time I haven't gone with a starting pitcher or a shortstop. So, I'm breaking new ground here. Evidently, in the first round I favor high ceiling, impact pitchers and players who handle the premier defensive positions. It wasn't an intentional, but given the value of top flight starting pitching and the scarcity of legitimate hitters at the premier defensive positions it seems a more than defensible strategy.
Of course, my top choice and the guy I was highest on actually WAS a pitcher, namely RHP Tyler Beede, followed by LHP Chris Reed, and RHP Jose Fernandez. I love Beede's blend of stuff, command, pitching IQ, and clean mechanics. Beede wasn't really projected by anyone to be selected in the first round, much less before the Reds picked, so I was really surprised when the Blue Jays popped him before the Reds even had a shot. That said, my shadow pick of Jason Esposito will be seen as a stretch by many and admittedly it may well be, but with the aforementioned three draftees (surprisingly) off the board I went with my gut. I've always liked what I've seen in Esposito and remain bullish on his future.
I first saw Esposito play as a sophomore and was impressed right from the get go. In fact, I was convinced at the time that he was a lock to a top 15 pick when draft eligible. Unfortunately, his junior season was a bit of a step backward and he slipped down the draft board, which serves as a cautionary tale that you can't expect linear improvement/development from college players. The knocks on Esposito were two fold: (1) his swing was mechanical and (2) he added weight to the lower half.
Admittedly, I can see the reason for concern on both issues. Esposito has a well balanced, fundamentally sound swing, but it can look mechanical at times. He also did look slightly stockier in his junior season than he did as a sophomore, but the added weight to the lower half doesn't diminish his potential to be a plus defender at third with a very good arm. So, right there, he's somewhat ahead of the game, as his bat won't need to carry his glove like many offensive-first third sackers. For me, the concerns about his swing/offense were somewhat lessened by the fact that his glove is an asset, not a liability.
2012: Nick Travieso vs. Matthew Smoral
Southpaw Matthew Smoral was not only at the top of my wish list for the Reds (which also included shortstop Addison Russell and outfielder David Dahl), but also one of my favorite pitchers in the draft class. So, he was my clear choice when the Reds' 14th overall pick rolled around, but the organization ultimately went with a different high school pitcher, righthander Nick Travieso. So, this one boils down to a battle of the high school pitchers, which makes it far too early to call, especially since Smoral didn't throw a pitch in anger in 2012.
I didn't realize just how risky the pick of Smoral was until looking back months after the draft, so I can understand how he slipped out of the first round. He missed his senior season due to a stress fracture of the foot, so there was limited time for organizations to get a feel for him and no current track record on which to evaluate him. Regardless, I was sufficiently impressed by the combination of stuff, clean pitching mechanics, and physical stature. All of those factors struck me as giving him a very high ceiling. Although, it didn't factor into my decision, another thumb on the scale in Smoral's favor is that he was drafted out of an Ohio high school.
As for Nick Travieso, he had quite a bit of helium heading into the draft, largely as a result of a spike in velocity. That spike drove his fastball velocity up into the mid-90s. His secondary offerings are largely unrefined, which, when coupled with the high degree of effort in his delivery, led many to project him as a reliever at the upper levels. Even so, he's an intriguing arm to add to the quality stable of pitching prospects in the system and a bit more development time could bear out the organization's decision to select him with the 14th overall pick.
As high school pitching prospects, Travieso and Smoral both come with significant inherent risk (injury and performance), but both also have significant upside. It's way too soon to make any judgments on the picks, as there aren't really even any early returns. The Jays (wisely) didn't have Smoral throw a pitch in anger in 2012, while Travieso only logged 21.0 innings in the Arizona rookie league.
Now, it's up to the player development departments of the respective organizations to shape their careers and turn them into impact Major Leaguers. Personally, I'd still place all my money on Smoral, but it'll be interesting to see what 2013 reveals.
2013: Phil Ervin vs. Aaron Judge
My shadow draft pick for the Reds in the 2013 draft was Fresno State outfielder Aaron Judge. Judge was third on my draft queue, which consisted of RHP Chris Anderson, OF Billy McKinney, OF Aaron Judge, 3b Eric Jagielo, and OF Austin Wilson. The Dodgers grabbed Anderson and the A's snatched up McKinney, making Judge, a mountain of a man with tremendous athleticism, my shadow pick for the Reds.
Judge's height was a concern, but it was a concern mitigated by his plus athleticism (a three sport star in high school with offers to play tight-end at the collegiate level) and the fact that his approach was contact-oriented. The question on Aaron Judge wasn't, as it usually is with taller hitters, whether he would make enough contact, but rather whether he'd hit for power. Instead of needing to cut down on his swing to improve his contact rate, Judge almost needed to lengthen his swing to carry his power from batting practice into game action.
I'm happy to gamble on plus athleticism, a compact swing with good plate discipline, and massive power potential, even if it comes packaged along with a very large, and difficult to protect, strike zone. Judge felt like a prospect who could provide positive value on both sides of the ball with the potential to be a true impact hitter at the plate with the type of power that is getting more and more difficult to find.
Instead of Judge, the Reds rolled the dice on another righthanded hitting outfielder, Phil Ervin from Samford University. Ervin headed into the draft as a player who had hit .300 pretty much everywhere he played. He seemed the type who could roll out of bed and hit .300 without much difficulty. In addition, he brought good speed and athleticism to the table.
I wasn't as high on Ervin as the Reds because it felt like there was a real danger of him being a tweener (not enough bat for a corner outfield spot and not enough glove for centerfield). I like the idea of adding a plus hit tool to the system, but without power or the ability to stay in center Ervin would likely fall short of being an impact player.
The early returns on Ervin, however, indicate that there's a reasonable chance that he'll stick in centerfield. If he can stick in centerfield and continue to hit around .300, then the Reds will likely reap a nice return on this investment. However, I still feel like Judge has a higher upside and is the more likely of the two to be a true impact talent.
It remains to be seen which righthanded hitting outfielder was the better selection.
14 comments:
question lark... who would you take instead of yonder knowing what we know now?ReplyDelete
Well, I'd still love to see what Casey Kelly could do as a position player. Not many believe in the bat, but I think he could have been an interesting prospect with a tweak or two. He had something of a longer, metal bat type swing, but if he shortened his path to the ball a bit and learned how to keep his hands inside the ball when appropriate then I think he could have been a potential impact prospect.
But, I digress, if you want to roll with pure hindsight and our needs as an organization, then you'd probably have to grab Gordon Beckham. I'm not sure I even see a decent argument for anyone else. I guess you could argue Mike Montgomery, but I'd go with Beckham and play him at short. He'd likely be average or a tick below over there, but he or Phillips would likely handle shortstop competently. And, I think he's going to be a real good hitter.
Who would you grab, smitty? Or, would you stick with Yonder?
probably beckham, i wanted smoak at the time howeverReplyDelete
Didn't follow the MLB draft much at the time of the '05 draft but I did want Tulowitzki or Zimmerman going into it, in that order. I really didn't know anyone much beyond that. Needless to say the Reds made IMO the best pick possible that season (way to go DanO).ReplyDelete
'06 - Just started to follow it a little and was all in on anyone but Stubbs and Lincecum (lol). But seriously I didn't want either of them but the 1 I liked was already gone again, Kershaw who went right before us. Now I can't believe I didn't see Longoria's potential but I didn't, I was like Eva who?
'07 - For the 1st time I realized in advance "my guy" wasn't gonna be there, Matt Weiters. I wasn't enamored with Kevin Ahrens who we were rumored to be in on and went just after us to Toronto. As Rick Porcello dropped I began to dream on us taking him. Needless to say he went well after us do to salary demands (27th to the Tigers) and we took Mes who I am pretty happy with now.
'08 - Here is where I really started to get it and once draft day arrived I wanted in order IF AVAILABLE, Brian Matusz, Buster Posey, Gordon Beckham, Brett Lawrie, Justin Smoak, Jemile Weeks and Aaron Hicks. I did not want Yonder Alonso or Aaron Crow. I considered Kelly but his lack of a bat scared me. I still wish we had taken Beckham.
'09 - I wasn't sure my guy would be there again so I established a smaller list of guys of who I wanted. Mike Leake was a decent pick for me but I didn't want to select him because I wanted a high ceiling TOR arm or SS. Grant Green was my guy, Tyler Matzek and then Mike Minor (not exactly TOR but I'm a sucker for LHP's). I also liked Jiovanni Mier but was hoping he somehow fell to the supplemental round. Speaking of the supplemental round I was in on Tyler Skaggs or as he fell Tanner Scheppers. We took Boxberger and Scheppers went right after us. Didn't like Donovan Tate, Aaron Crow, Bobby Borchering or Kyle Gibson (once he got hurt).
'10 - In order Manny Machado, Christian Colon, Justin O'Connor, Matt Harvey, Nick Castellanos, Bryce Brentz, Yordy Cabrera, Zach Cox. Did not want Yasmani Grandal.
I should add it's early yet and just perusing the names you can bet I'll have some initial interest in Jack Armstrong RHP (yes Jack Jr.), Christian Lopes SS, Travis Harrison 3B, Bubba Starling OF, Francisco Lindor SS, Jason Esposito 3B, B.A. Vollmouth SS, Zach Cone OF, Phil Evans SS and Henry Owens LHP in 2011. I'm sure alot of these guys won't fall to us (picking 28th) but it's a place to start.ReplyDelete
Interesting, you started out the same way I did. My first draft just focused on the player I wanted the Reds to grab, not necessarily a player that would actually be available.
I'm not entirely sure what to make of Wieters. He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as "The Perfect Catch." Unfortunately, it hasn't really worked out that way. His struggles have surprised me, especially the lack of power. Is he actually going to emerge as the King Kong of catchers?
I like Porcello quite a bit, but he needs to up his strikeout rate. He's really intriguing because I think he *can* change his pitching profile. I suspect he has such a high pitching IQ that he can alter his style when necessary. The Tigers were very aggressive with his advancement and kept him under strict pitch counts, so he succeeded with ground balls and pitching to contact. He needed to be efficient to be successful. However, he struggled last year due in no small part to his low strikeout rate. I suspect he'll show up in 2011 focused less on pitch efficiency and more on missing bats. And, I suspect he'll be successful in doing just that. Of course, I could be wrong, as not many pitchers can change who they are on the mound.
In 2008, I'll admit I wasn't wild about Matusz. And, part of me still isn't. He had good command of pretty good stuff, but his mechanics were stiff, lacking fluidity, and he was very upright in his delivery. I'm still not sure what to make of him, he'll probably be just fine, but he wasn't someone I wanted the Reds to land.
In 2009, Matzek was pretty intriguing. He was actually my second favorite high school arm after Shelby Miller, but Matzek had a bumpy road in his first year in the Rockie organization. I was intrigued by Kyle Gibson, but the stress fracture made him risky. I actually thought the Nationals should have grabbed Strasburg first and Gibson with their second first round pick. They went with Storen instead, but I think they missed an opportunity to land two top of the rotation type starting pitchers. Budgetary concerns, I suppose. Mike Minor looks pretty great these days, as he's added velocity and now runs it up there pretty good. I wonder if Baseball America unfairly drove down public opinion about him, viewing him as a low ceiling, signability type pick. In actuality, he looks like a #2 type starter with good swing-and-miss stuff.
As for 2010, interesting to see you that high on O'Conner. Do you still like him that much?
A bit too early for me to lock in on someone for the 2011 draft, but I will say that I'm very impressed by Jason Esposito. He plays 3b for Vandy and is a tremendous talent. Unfortunately, I can't see any circumstance in which he's available when the Reds pick, but there's a full season of college ball between now and then. I suppose funnier things have happened, but he hit .359/.455/.599 with 12 homers and 31 stolen bases as a sophomore. The mechanics of his game are also strong. He's going to be a stud. He could be a 5-tool guy with good on-base skills. Sadly, I really don't think he'll be available to us.
Anyway, thanks for the comment!
Interesting. Even with the emergence of Joey Votto, you still wanted us to go with a 1b? Were you just relying on a Best Player Available strategy? Or, did you think there was a way to make Smoak and Votto fit in the same lineup?
yea best player available, and I have a thing for switch hittersReplyDelete
On Weiters: It was still early in my days of gauging potential draft prospects, went with the hype. Still think he will be ok someday, may be way too much pressure at this point.ReplyDelete
On Porcello: '07 wasn't really a very good draft early on so just went with what sounded like the best value pick.
On Matusz: Like I said I'm a sucker for LHP and though I realized his stuff wasn't quite what I would prefer I also love overall polish in such young guys, it bodes well as a safe pick. Something i have found can be a weakness in me I can play it a bit safe at times. Oatmeal is better than no meal.
On '09: Shelby Miller was a fine prospect but something screamed arm trouble to me about him. Don't recall why I thought that but my gut said stay away and since it is the biggest part of me I listen to it often. Again really loved Matzek and Minor and also did like Gibson a whole lot until the injury.
On 2010: Yeah loved O'Connor but moreso as a SS although the fact that he could fall back to Catcher or 3rd base and still have the kind o fstick to make him respectable or better at any of the positions. But in a nutshell I thought he was a guy who could stay at SS and with a very good bat in every way.
Agree on Wieters. There's just too much talent there for him not to step forward. He may not be a superstar, but he should at least be an above average regular with a few All Star appearances. At the very least.
Back to Porcello, I actually think he's one of the more interesting pitchers in the game. I'm really curious about his pitching profile. They rushed him up the ladder so fast that I'm not sure he's locked into one. Still, how many young pitchers are polished enough to use a pitch-to-contact type philosophy at the MLB level? Ultimately, I don't think that's what he'll be over the long haul, but he's making it work right now. He's someone I definitely intend to keep an eye on.
As to Matusz, you have the opposite problem I have. After the Pete Kozma experiment, I tend to go high ceiling/high risk. I think you can find the safer guys in the later rounds, but the elite, difference making talent frequently comes out of the first round. Of course, in reality you need a blend of high ceiling and high floor prospects in your system. Matusz certainly wasn't a low floor pitcher, as his stuff translates to the top of the rotation. For me, he's just too stiff and unpacks the leg kick too soon, which precludes him from properly incorporating his lower body in the delivery. As a result, he has to throw more with his arm, which could increase stress on the arm and raise his injury risk. Or, he could be just fine. You never know.
As for Shelby Miller, I love his delivery and never saw anything that raised a red flag on heightened injury risk. In fact, his mechanics are about as clean as I could hope for in a pitching prospect. As a power pitcher, he'll always have more injury risk than a soft-tosser, but that's a risk I'm willing to take for a top of the rotation starting pitcher. Time will tell if he can stay healthy.
O'Connor scuffled in his first year of pro-ball, but I'll be curious to see how he pans out. It's interesting to nab a guy with the ability to play multiple positions, as you can defer some of the risk if he has a fallback option. That was part of my reason for liking Casey Kelly, as he could pitch if the bat didn't come around.
Anyway, thanks for the comment. Kinda fun to talk draft over the offseason. I almost can't wait for June.
- Bob RobertsSeptember 15, 2011 at 6:31 PM
Looks like this is an old blog that you updated to include the 2011 draft, and since I missed it the first time around, I'm glad you did.ReplyDelete
The last line of the 2006 Stubbs vs. Lincecum draft, "...and start making the fan base forget the massive opportunity cost that came along with his(Stubbs) selection." really struck a cord with me. I've always wonder if the Reds had drafted Lincecum instead of Stubbs, would they have traded away Josh Hamilton? With Stubbs in the pipeline, Hamilton was considered "expendable" and if we had a TOR arm (Lincecum) would the Reds have even considered Volquez? It's always been the question that's bugged me ever since the Hamilton/Volquez deal.
Add Hamilton/Lincecum and subtract Stubbs/Volquez from last years lineup and you're looking at a World Seris Championship for Cincinnati. Of course the payroll would have been a mess and the clubhouse could have been in trouble, but that ring would have been nice...
Hey Bob,ReplyDelete
Yeah, I just tacked the 2011 draft onto the previous write-up. Figured that was the best way to keep track of it, rather than making a new post time after time. Oddly enough, I felt better about how my shadow picks stacked up against the Reds actual picks prior to this season. And, I think that has pretty much everything to do with Yonder's robust year and Casey Kelly's somewhat underwhelming year. Of course, Mesoraco's continued emergence also tips the scale a bit further that way as well. Interestingly enough, depending on when the snapshot in time is taken, the shadow picks can look better or worse.
As for Lincecum vs. Stubbs, I really don't think you can understate the importance of that decision. It's a decision that altered the fortunes of the organization for a decade. You can't say that about very many draft picks, but Lincecum is just that type of talent. And, as you mentioned, I do think it has had a trickle down effect. I haven't really thought through all the implications, but they're definitely there. I think the Hamilton trade probably does come out differently if they had a legit number 1 like Lincecum. And, Lincecum and Hamilton on the same team at the height of their powers? That may well be a World Series champion.
Frankly, I think it's pretty impressive how well the Reds have recovered from that decision. They whiffed big on Lincecum, but they are still a potential playoff team. They have rebounded about as well as could be expected.
Anyway, thanks for the comment!
- AnonymousSeptember 26, 2011 at 9:32 PM
Now that the minors are over are you going to make a new top prospect list or are you going to continue your 2011 list? i really enjoy your insite on those.ReplyDelete
To be honest, I'm not sure. I'm probably going to try to finish up my 2011 list and then start the 2012 list after the World Series ends. I hate leaving things undone, so leaving the 2011 list undone will bother me into perpetuity. Ideally, I'll get it done.
Anyway, thanks for the comment!


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|Music Lineup and Tickets Details Announced for Bill Edwards Presents 'A Taste of Pinellas'
A Taste of Pinellas is back for another year with delicious food, awesome music and family fun! Whether you love country, pop or just want to rock out, A Taste of Pinellas 2012 (May 4-6 in St. Petersburg's Vinoy Park) will feature mouth-watering food, major musical headliners and renowned support acts - and it's all for a great cause, the kids at All Children's Hospital.
A Taste of Pinellas is proud to announce an outstanding musical lineup for the weekend:
Friday, May 4 - Dynamic duo Big & Rich with country sensation Joe Nichols.
Sponsored by Bill Edwards Presents Inc., Bright House Networks, Clear Channel and the Tampa Bay Times, the event will also feature over 40 restaurants from all throughout the Tampa Bay area, serving tastes of their most popular dishes. A family fun zone, cooking demonstrations, fireworks and other family-friendly activities will also be featured at this year's event.
A variety of ticket options will allow attendees to customize their experience. General admission, VIP and weekend tickets are available for purchase beginning February 20th through Ticketmaster. You can also purchase tickets at The Mahaffey box office, by visiting www.themahaffey.com or call (800) 745-3000.
Ticket Prices:
For more information and updates about A Taste of Pinellas, please visit:
Website: www.TasteofPinellas.com


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Owen Farrell, who has been England's second-choice flyhalf for their November Tests, has been nominated for the IRB Player of the Year award.
The other nominees are All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, flyhalf Dan Carter and French No 10 Frederic Michalak, who didn't play for France in the Six Nations as he was representing the Sharks in Super Rugby. All Blacks No 8 Kieran Read, who has been the world champions' star performer in 2012, surprisingly did not crack the nod.
The nominees were chosen by former players Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphael Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace.
McCaw is the only player to receive the individual IRB accolade more than once, having won it in 2006, 2009 and 2010, although Carter could join him as a multiple winner, having been named Player of the Year back in 2005.
The winner will be announced at the 2015 World Cup pool allocation draw in London on 3 December, along with the IRB Coach of the Year and IRB Team of the Year awards.
Previous IRB Player of the Year winners:
2011 – Thierry Dusautoir (France)
2010 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2009 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2008 – Shane Williams (Wales)
2007 – Bryan Habana (South Africa)
2006 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2005 – Dan Carter (New Zealand)
2004 – Schalk Burger (South Africa)
2003 – Jonny Wilkinson (England)
2002 – Fabien Galthie (France)
2001 – Keith Wood (Ireland)


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Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' 2012 Summer Tour reached its northern most point on Friday, playing the Norwegian Wood Festival in Oslo, Norway.
Located in the Frognerparken, a 32-acres park in the middle of Oslo, the Norwegian Wood Festival is a three-day event that's been taking place every summer since 1992, featuring a diverse set of artists including Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Foo Fighters and Wilco.
Friday's bill opened with Monica Heldal, a a twenty-something Norwegian singer-songwriter that released her first single earlier this year. A tremendous guitar player and vocalist, Heldal played a terrific set to get the day started. As the natural amphitheater began to fill up, Lenny Kravitz took the stage and proceeded to rock the 8,000-plus in attendance with songs from throughout his catalog, including his newest album, Black and White America.
Backstage before their set, Tom and the guys were loose, hanging outside the small cabins that served as dressing rooms and catching up with friends and family. On his way back from the stage, Lenny - who opened for the Heartbreakers on his first ever tour - made his way over to say hello and reconnect with the guys. Tom and Lenny shared a hug and a promise to stay in touch.
The sold-out crowd in the Frognerparken were on their feet when Tom and the band launched into "Listen to Her Heart," but they weren't the only ones. Glancing over to the sidestage, Mike Campbell spotted Lenny and his band dancing in the wings, eliciting a wide grin from the Heartbreakers guitarist and co-captain. For the next two hours, the band played hits from throughout their career, leaving it all out onstage and waving goodnight to the Norwegian Wood festival just after 11 pm, sunlight still on the horizon.
London, here we come! The legendary Royal Albert Hall is next! Keep checking back for more from the 2012 Summer Tour!
Listen to Her Heart
You Wreck Me
I Won't Back Down
Here Comes My Girl
Handle with Care
Good Enough
I'm A Man
Something Big
Don't Come Around Here No More
Free Fallin'
It's Good To Be King
Something Good Coming
Learning to Fly
Yer So Bad
I Shoulda Known It
Runnin' Down A Dream
Mary Jane
American Girl


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Salihovic Named to NCCSIA's 2011 All-State Squad
December 14, 2011
MISENHEIMER, N.C. Michael Davis of UNC Pembroke highlights the 2011 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) College Division mens soccer team with his third selection in four years. UNCP leads the way with four players on the all-state team with Lees-McRae College following with three. The squad consists of student-athletes from NCAA II, NCAA III and NAIA colleges and universities in North Carolina. The states sports information professionals submitted nominees that were narrowed down to the final three forwards, four midfielders, three defenders and one goalkeeper.
Sam Miles (Christchurch, New Zealand), a freshman from UNC Pembroke, started in all 18 games for the Braves this season finding the back of the net a dozen times. Miles added five assists for 29 points on the season sending him to the Peach Belt Conferences Freshman of the Year honors leading the league in goals, points and shots.
James Galvani (High Wycombe, England) represents Lees-McRae College after posting 11 goals with four assists in a 26-point season for the Bobcats. The sophomore played in all 21 games this season converting three match-winners as an All-Conference Carolinas First Team pick and Daktronics All-Region second team member.
Eirik Nordseth (Steinkjer, Norway) rounds out the front line as the lone representative from Methodist University. Nordseth put in a team-high 17 goals with three assists leading to a 37-point season. The freshman started in all 16 matches for the Monarchs scoring three game-winners en route to USA South Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year honors.
Adam Smith (Nelson, South Island, New Zealand) becomes the first midfielder on the 2011 all-state team putting home four goals with a team-high five assists in a 13-point campaign from UNC Pembroke. Smiths five assists ended up fourth-best in the Peach Belt Conference while playing in all 17 matches. The freshman also converted a pair of game-winning goals against Mount Olive and Francis Marion.
Fahret Salihovic (Charlotte, NC) is the lone member from Pfeiffer University to make this years squad after a team-best 11-point season with five goals and an assist. Salihovic became a bright spot during the back-half of a down year for the Falcons being rewarded with third team All-Conference Carolinas honors.
James Smith (Eastbourne, England), a freshman from Lees-McRae, started in all 22 of the Bobcats matches this season with six goals and eight assists during his 20-point rookie season. Smiths eight assists were good enough for team-high honors leading to second-team selections in Conference Carolinas as well as the Daktronics All-Region team.
Rounding out this years midfield is Rory Caulfield (Glasgow, Scotland), a senior from Mars Hill College. Caulfield started in 16 of 17 of matches for the Lions this season putting home a half-dozen goals and three assists leading him to first team All-Conference honors in the South Atlantic Conference.
Davis (Charlotte, NC) from UNC Pembroke is the second senior to make the squad after previous selections in 2008 and 2010. Davis put in four goals, two becoming game-winners, starting in all 18 matches this season setting a new school record for career starts. Davis logged more than 1,600 minutes on the backline for the Braves in 2011 earning second team All-Peach Belt honors.
Stuart Rodgers (Retford, England) is the fourth and final member from UNCP joining Davis on defense after scoring a pair of goals with an assist. Rodgers started in all 16 matches he appeared in registering nearly 1,500 minutes of action on the pitch. One of his two strikes was a game-winner against Georgia Southwestern leading him to postseason honors as an all-tournament team member.
Luke Duffy (Wakefield, England) wraps up the backline from Lees-McRae College with a goal and two assists for the Bobcats. The senior anchored the defensive unit to five clean sheets on the season during his 22 starts. Duffys lone tally was a game-winner in a 1-0 overtime victory against St. Andrews. Duffys actions on the field led him to All-Conference first team honors in Conference Carolinas as well as a second team selection on the Daktronics all-region team.
Zac Scott (Pittsboro, NC), a junior from Mars Hill College, is the 2011 all-state team goalkeeper after starting in all 20 matches for the Lions posting a slim 0.76 goals-against-average spanning 1,784 minutes of action. Scott set new school records for his 0.76 GAA and low of just 15 goals allowed while tying the school mark with seven shutouts. Turning away 92 shots on the season, Scott found himself on the South Atlantic Conferences first team later becoming a Daktronics all-region second team member.
About NCCSIA
Founded in 2002, NCCSIA is comprised of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina. The organization seeks to promote collegiate athletics and student-athletes at all schools. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.
2011 NCCSIA College Division All-State Mens Soccer Team
Forward: Sam Miles, UNC Pembroke, Freshman (Christchurch, New Zealand)
Forward: James Galvani, Lees-McRae College, Sophomore (High Wycombe, England)
Forward: Eirik Nordseth, Methodist University, Freshman (Steinkjer, Norway)
Midfield: Adam Smith, UNC Pembroke, Freshman (Nelson, South Island, New Zealand)
Midfield: Fahret Salihovic, Pfeiffer University, Junior (Charlotte, NC)
Midfield: James Smith, Lees-McRae College, Freshman (Eastbourne, England)
Midfield: Rory Caulfield, Mars Hill College, Senior (Glasgow, Scotland)
Defense: *Michael Davis, UNC Pembroke, Senior (Charlotte, NC)
Defense: Stuart Rodgers, UNC Pembroke, Senior (Retford, England)
Defense: Luke Duffy, Lees-McRae College, Senior (Wakefield, England)
Goalkeeper: Zac Scott, Mars Hill College, Junior (Pittsboro, NC)
* - All-State Selection in 2008, 2010, 2011


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Hodgkins Disease Center - Memphis, TN
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A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; the oncologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer and other benign and malignant tumors. These subspecialists decide on and administer chemotherapy as well as consult with surgeons and radiotherapists on other treatment for cancer.
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Memphis is a city in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers.
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WFED's Max Cacas
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Thursday - 10/28/2010, 6:57am EDT
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By Max Cacas
Federal News Radio
A Navy task force charged with energy conservation reached an important first milestone last week, just about a year after it received the assignment.
Rear Adm. Phillip Collum, director of the chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division, and head of the Task Force Energy, said an experimental ship recently conducted a full throttle test run using a 50-50 mix of bio-fuel and traditional diesel fuel.
"By running that RCB-X at its maximum power and throughout that test that was a Wright Brothers moment for the Navy and it's a waypoint for the Navy," he said during a conference call with reporters and bloggers Wednesday. "That's one of many tests that we'll be doing over the next year to test and certify all of our ships and all of our type-model series that fly off of aircraft carriers so that we will be able to meet the requirements for this 2012 great green fleet -- the demonstration of it in 2012 and then the actual sailing of it in 2016."
The RCB-X that Collum refers to is the 49-foot Riverine Command Boat - Experimental, which the Navy one day hopes to use for patrols in rivers and bays. He said it's an ideal place for them to begin testing the use of alternative fuels in all ships.
"The RCB-X fits into that because it was an experimental ship that was being run on prototype fuel," Collum said. "The prototype fuel was a 50-50 blend of an algae-based biofuel and the other 50 percent was normal petroleum. It's a drop-in replacement fuel. And what that means is, it's invisible to the operator. It looks, smells and acts like petroleum, yet its feedstock, where it comes from, is a biofuel, and that, when you look at the -- at the overall process, should remove CO2, as opposed to adding more CO2 throughout the process."
Collum added the 50-50 mix gives the Navy more flexibility in the number of fuels it can use, with an end goal of one day the service can use it without having to change the technology of their engines.
Collum said that the full throttle biofuel test of the RCBX took place Oct. 22 at the naval base in Norfolk, Va.
"We had started this whole series of tests that we ran the RCB-X through," he said. "It culminated in a full-power run. That's what we did on Friday. And the vessel ran 44.5 knots, which is above the normally top-rated speed of 43 knots, and performed fine."
The successful test of the alternative fuel river patrol boat comes almost one year to the day that Navy Secretary Ray Mabus laid out for the Navy and Marine Corps five ambitious steps for energy conservation at the Navy Energy Forum in McLean, Va.
Among those goals are creating, by 2012, a green Strike group tasked with developing next generation nuclear vessels, and ships powered by biofuels, and deploying that fleet by 2016.
Initially, the first supplies of the experimental biodiesel fuel cost as much as $400 a gallon, but with time, that price is now down to around $60 a barrel.
Collum said by diving into the use of alternative biofuels today, the Navy can look ahead to the day when its ships will need to refuel in foreign ports of call where an economic advantage will go to the ships and planes that can use the increasingly popular biofuel.
"You know that the Air Force is also interested in using these fuels," he said. "I'm sure you've read many of the articles that I read, that the aviation industry is very keen about using these as well, because they know that when they fly overseas, they may need to be using biofuels or they will end up paying carbon taxes in other parts of the world. And other companies -- the aircraft manufacturing companies are also hard at work making sure that their aircraft will function on these things as well."
The Navy isn't the only branch of the military testing alternative fuels. Collum said the Coast Guard and the Air Force also are working closely with the Navy's Task Force Energy.
And Collum said with the successful test of the RCBX on biodiesel under their wing, the Navy will expand the test to larger ships of the fleet:
"It's always best, of course, when you're doing testing like this to start small, start with engines that you know are ones -- and this is a -- RCB-X is powered by a diesel engine that will give you the learning that you need to ensure that when you start to use it in other engines, that we'll see the performance -- we'll be able to extrapolate the performance that we see on one into the next ones," he said. "The next big step that we make is in terms of Cummins diesels, a 250-hour test that we'll be doing on a Cummins diesel. And then after that, the next series of tests that we'll do will be on a Rolls-Royce. It's an Allison 501 K gas turbine engine. We use those engines to provide electrical power for the vast majority of our surface combatant, surface ships."


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Eastern Eagles (2-4, 2-3) at Trimble Tomcats (6-0, 4-0)
Last Week: South Gallia defeated Miller 34-6 in Hemlock; Eastern defeated Waterford, 28-0 in Tuppers Plains.
Last meeting between the teams: October 5, 2012 Trimble won 39-0 in Tuppers Plains.
Current head-to-head streak: Trimble has won 13 straight.
EHS offense last week: 54 rushing yards, 87 passing yards.
THS offense last week: 169 rushing yards, 246 passing yards.
EHS offensive leaders last week: QB Dylan Bresciani 4-of-8, 87 yards; RB Zach Browning 7 carries, 26 yards, TD; WR Daschle Facemyer 2 catches, 35 yards.
THS offensive leaders last week: QB Konner Standley 9-of-17, 246 yards 2 TDs; RB Bryce Smathers 8 carries, 59 yards, TD; WR Austin Downs 7 catches, 180 yards, 2TDs.
EHS defense last week: 146 rushing yards, 98 passing yards.
THS defense last week: 7 rushing yards, 10 passing yards.
Notes: At this point the question isn't will anyone upset the Tomcats, so much as will anyone score againt that defense. The Trimble defense has given up just one score this season (a one yard touchdown run to Wahama's Hunter Bradley) in six games. Eastern will be looking to get back in the win column with a monumental task of defeating Trimble for the first time since 2000. Trimble defeated Eastern by an average margin of 30.8 since 2001. The last time the Eagles defeated Trimble was Week 6 of the 2000 season when EHS won 34-6. The Tomcats have earned shutout victories in each their last three contests against Eastern. The Eagles are just 3-23 against Athens County teams over the last 10 seasons. The last time Eastern traveled to Glouster was October 7, 2011, which resulted in a 49-0 THS victory. The Eastern offense this season is led y quarterback Dylan Bresciani and runningback Zack Scowden. Bresciani is 14-of-49 passing for 316 yards and two touchdowns, with 146 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Scowden has 313 yards on 70 carries and a touchdown. EHS will return home for two straight games following its trip to Glouster, while Trimble will hit the road for one game. Trimble holds an 18-3 all-time record against Eastern dating back to the teams' first meeting in 1993. The Tomcats haven't lost a TVC Hocking game to anyone except Wahama since 2007 when Waterford took a 27-8 decision.
Vinton County Vikings (4-2, 1-0) at Meigs Marauders (4-2, 1-0)
Last Week: Vinton County defeated Alexander 40-34 OT in Albany; Meigs defeated Nelsonville-York, 47-6 in Rocksprings.
Last meeting between the teams: October 5, 2012 Meigs won 27-12 in McArthur.
Current head-to-head streak: Meigs has won two straight.
VCHS offense last week: 392 rushing yards, 50 passing yards.
MHS offense last week: 234 rushing yards, 115 passing yards.
VCHS offensive leaders last week: QB Andy Long 5-of-14, 50 yards, TD; RB Tim Ousley 17 carries, 128 yards, 2TDs; WR Sean Caudill 3 catches, 29 yards.
MHS offensive leaders last week: QB Cody Bartrum 9-of-20, 106 yards; RB Michael Davis 21 carries, 142 yards, 2 TDs; WR Kaileb Sheets 4 catches, 55 yards.
VCHS defense last week: 81 rushing yards, 317 passing yards.
MHS defense last week: 39 rushing yards, 46 passing yards.
Notes: Vinton County had lost 11 straight TVC Ohio games before last week's overtime victory in Albany. That game is the first time since 2007 the Vikings defeated Alexander. Quarterback Andy Long ran one of his two touchdowns in overtime last week to seal the victory. Meigs earned its first victory over Nelsonville-York since 1999 last week. Freshman Cody Bartrum in his second start under center led the Maroon and Gold in both games he has quarterbacked with Kaileb Sheets. Michael Davis leads the Marauders 740 total yards and 11 touchdowns this season. The Vikings hold a 17-12 all-time record against Meigs, but the Marauders have won four of the last five matchup. Vinton County's most recent trip to Meigs County resulted in a 30-0 Marauders victory. That game was the last MHS win a Bob Roberts Field in Pomeroy. MHS outgained VCHS 270-127 on the ground in last year's week-seven matchup, but the Vikings had a 154-59 advantage in the passing game. This is the second of the Marauders' two-game home stand, while Vinton County is on the road for the fifth time in six weeks.
Southern Tornadoes (5-1, 3-1) at Miller Falcons (2-4, 0-4)
Last Week: Southern lost to Wahama, 28-14 in Racine; Miller defeated Hannan, 26-20 in Ashton.
Last meeting between the teams: October 5, 2012 Southern won 49-6 in Racine.
Current head-to-head streak: Southern has won 2 straight.
SHS offense last week: 154 rushing yards, 66 passing yards.
MHS offense last week: 199 rushing yards, 133 passing yards.
SHS offensive leaders last week: QB Tristen Wolfe 7-of-20, 66 yards, INT; RB Tyler Barton 18 carries, 85 yards, TD; WR Hunter Johnson 4 catches, 24 yards.
MHS offensive leaders last week: QB Garrett Sinift 12-of-22, 133; RB Garrett Sinift 13 carries, 123 yards, 3TDs; WR Garrett Bartley 5 catches, 77 yards.
SHS defense last week: 248 rushing yards, 91 passing yards.
MHS defense last week: N/A.
Notes: The Tornadoes will look to rebound from their first loss of the season when they travel to Perry County to take on the Miller Falcons. Southern's defense gave up a season-high 339 total yards last week. The Tornadoes rushing attack this season has been spear headed by senior Tyler Barton, who has 867 total yards and 12 touchdowns. Both Miller and Southern possess dual-threat quarterbacks, Southern with Tristen Wolfe and Miller with Garrett Sinift. Wolfe has thrown for 462 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for 177 and four scores. Sinift has thrown for 793 yards with three scores and rushed for 472 and six touchdowns this season. Both teams are 2-0 in non-conference play this season. The series between Miller and Southern is tied at 6-6 over the past 12 seasons. The Tornadoes hold a 265-239 scoring advantage in that time span. This is Southern's first road game since week-four, while Miller is coming off back-to-back road games including its longest of the year last week at Hannan (175 miles round trip). Southern's last trip to Hemlock resulted in a 20-12 Tornado victory. The Purple and Gold last lost in Perry County came on October 9, 2009 by a count of 30-24.


text:
Gateway Garage
400 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
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Parking Sat, May 30 1:00pm + 6hr after event
ParkWhiz worry-free cancellation (cancel anytime up to your start time)
Amenities Included:
Present ParkWhiz Parking Pass to attendant prior to returning to you vehicle to exit. Attendant will exchange it for a validation ticket to be used at the exit gate
184 People Recommend Parking Here
129 Left Comments
Gateway Garage is the Closest Covered Garage and short walk through the park to Heinz Field. It's location provides easy access into the game and less traffic upon leaving at the end of the game.
Vehicle height restriction: 72 inches
Managed by Central Parking (Pit). This location is a commercial parking garage.
Look for the Gateway Garage, directly across the street from the Wyndham Grand (brown building on left) and immediately on the right after the Pittsburgh State Building (tall steel/silver building). Turquoise Sign says Gateway Garage with a big red arrow that says 'Parking.' Take the ramp down to the entrance.
From 376 East: Follow signs for I-376 E/I-79 E/Pittsburgh/Pennsylvania Turnpike E and merge onto I-376 E
Take exit 70A to merge onto Liberty Ave toward Mellon Arena
Destination will be on the right after the first light.


text:
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I used NICAR's "Extra! Extra!" to find a Reuters story about Amazon Corporation's "billion-dollar tax shield."
The story was done by examining accounts filed by 25 Amazon units in six countries. The accounts show how the company has avoided paying more tax in the United States. Amazon used inter-company payments to form a tax shield behind which it has accumulated approximately $2 billion.
The IRS announced last year that it would seek $1.5 billion in back taxes from Amazon.
Writing this article would require a great deal of tax knowledge. The article explains certain aspects of tax policy in depth in order to help readers understand what Amazon has been doing.
I'm guessing the reporter used federal transparency laws to request access to related IRS records.
I think the story could have been done better if Reuters had used interactive graphics or other online tools. I found the story quite heavy and would have appreciated something to make it more readable.
A timeline of events might be useful in this story.


text:
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Designed for cross country riding/ racing the Magura TS6 is a 1,945 gram fork that acts as a young mountain goat while climbing steep terrain, yet offers 80mm of smooth, reliable travel. The Dynamic Lockout System (DLO2) features better ground control than conventional lockout systems. The super stiff 32mm stanchions fight off flex for superior steering and control. To further improve the rigidity of the fork, the crown is comprised of cold forged aluminum 6082 T6. Adjust the rebound, rebound (air pressure,) and the lockout for maximum optimization.
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text:
Ikkyu wrote: What proof do we have that Buddhism does anything to the Self? Who's to say Buddha won't just give us full Buddhahood? Can't Buddhism, like any other religion, be reduced to magical thinking and a lack of proof regarding such issues as karma, rebirth, skandhas, etc., etc., just to name a few? This is why Buddhism is a religion. It's a good idea... not dogma set in stone. And I'm fine with that. My brand of ego is in a constant state of flux, as is everything in the fleeting universe. I am still on a journey. Who knows the destination?
No need to get defensive or be sensitive. I mean no offense. I'm not the one posing the question of effects of entheogens, religions, Buddhism, or anything on the brain, mind or the self. I personally don't even ascribe to a Self. But we're not talking about me or my positions, we're talking about your questions on this subject. I've only written this much in the spirit of exchange, not 'confrontation' or challenge. Getting the thinking juices going does not have to be a threatening process, I'm simply responding to your notion that you posted about.
Where's the PROOF, indeed? Proof, as the old saying goes, is in the pudding. I believe what I see and can verify. I can't verify the role of entheogens on the brain, I can verify the application of the four noble truths from suffering to its cessation in many many people's lives. Again, facts. Buddhism maybe a religion to some. To others like myself it is simply a series of observations taught by the Buddha who taught nothing of Buddhism, that came MUCH later. I'm just a fan of truth and facts, not big on -isms. I'm more interested in dharma than I am Buddh-ism. A fine distinction, IF you know what I mean. And I do write a lot of poetry. And could be a closeted zennie, but that's another story...
My points to you are not to get your riled up, but to get you to think about your own statements... IF that is what you're actually interested in doing... if not, my apologies, skip this post altogether. Just in case... here goes...
Ikkyu wrote:Peruvian shamans were just an example I was using. The point I was trying to make is that entheogens have their place in the spiritual heritage of mankind.
yes, they do. But what do they have to do with you or your culture was my original question and why use them at all in what you pose if not to support/validate your own use of drugs and meditation? You can't leave out that their place was within a much larger spiritual and cultural matrix that played a key role for the rites of passage of those cultures which you have little to do with. I simply pointed out that these bear little relevance to the current topic you were addressing, didn't think it would go over like an offensive..
Ikkyu wrote: I am not tied to any particular belief... and despite how derogatory and prejudiced you seem to be against everyone in the Occident -- as is evinced by such a sweeping judgement -- there are actually Westerners who are not consumerist idiots and not spiritually materialistic and who do stress living out a genuine, devout spiritual practice. There are a number of those people on this very forum I'm sure. Cherry-picking isn't limited to Westerners... what makesyou think Asian Buddhists, Muslims, Christians from Syria and others don't cherry-pick regarding their religions, their Bibles, Qur'ans, and whatnot? Is it really disingenuous to put it all together yourself in order to see what works? We don't solve a jigsaw puzzle the first time around. It takes a lot of different piecings together to get it right.
You misunderstand my simple observation of half of the very culture I grew up in as 'being against it' or connoting some idiocy to the matter of the fact. I wrote nothing derogatory about you or Western culture. If pooh stinks, is it derogatory to recognize its stinkiness AND does it make pooh somehow morally bad? Moreover, does the ability to recognize pooh's stinkiness somehow make me unable to recognize it IS ALSO what makes vegetation grow? Pooh is after all key to human sustenance... Basic judgmental thinking is a very good thing, in most schools of dialectics it's called logic, going back to the most ancient philosophies.
No, friend, I do not make the negative qualities of pooh or Western culture, or cast any aspersion on these qualities, they are in my own ways as well, being half entrenched in this culture. But just because they exist, and even though I didn't create them, I don't fear seeing them. You may interpret it as negative and derogatory, but my own position is not what you described. Those are your mirrors looking back at you in the void of toneless internet postings.
For your clarity, my position is that materialism is simply a condition of the western cultural matrix, which is also changing many other parts of the world through an ever globalizing technology spread. I have no positive or negative against it personally, it's what it is, it has pros and cons. Good for business, economy, world trade, etc. Just like air is also composed of oxygen, it is how it is, I'm not calling it evil because it also has high levels of CO2 in it... Of course, every culture osmotically picks up on what it comes into contact with, or vehemently rejects it. Cherry-picking will happen everywhere Facebook reaches. It's called exposure, cross-pollination, and globalization. It's basic cultural "physics," and it's how humans grow and evolve in large groups... but we're swaying off topic like dialectical drunken monkeys here.
It's actually (we - if that makes you feel better) Westerners who get all uptight about this point of spiritual materialism getting observed. It's so built into the cultural matrix and we tend to be so unprepared for what it really means that we tend to react to it like it's a horrible moral judgment against our worthiness towards spirituality. Be assured, there is nothing 'wrong' with materialism in any form. It is a priority focused on material outcome. It's practical, to the point. Moreover, it is simply human, as old as mankind itself. We all have it in this or that form. Simple observation of these things does not impute any judge, nor jury. You can relax.
Materialism of any kind has its weaknesses and therefore its strengths, remember... non-duality? The coin with two faces? Not a Buddhist concept. One shared by many many cultures, including your Peruvian friends there... A strength in the materialistic approach is the logical, concrete approach that skeptically addresses what it encounters. A weakness - the space to hodgepodge conditions out of context like 'things' (which aren't solid or THINGS to begin with) in such a way that we can justify oh, for example, wanting to do drugs, maybe be Buddhist, and maybe have a twist of Peruvian shamanism in the mix. Just kidding, don't get your panties in a bunch... Did you see Madonna with her sacred Kabalah water? That was funny... What I'm saying is your mind will lead you all sorts of ways, you HAVE to be judgmental, or your mind will be so 'open' it'll fall out your head. That is one of a few AMERICAN weaknesses... But hey, it leads to great rock and roll.
Ikkyu wrote:Again. I am not a shaman, but the value of the plants and the materials which effect the mind in these unique ways is certainly beneficial in some instances. I don't need to be a Peruvian shaman to know that my consciousness can be expanded and that sometimes this yields beneficial spiritual results.
sure, and their use is completely anyone's choice which no one here has any issue with... But what's that got to do with dharma or Ikkyu or your interest in either?
Ikkyu wrote: I grew up in the US. I'm sorry if that apparently makes me "spiritually materialistic".
I don't plan to be anything like a half-drunken vagrant monk or a "tweaked out" shaman (I would hardly call the effects of Yage as "tweaked out"). My ideal is simply that of happiness. I connect with Ikkyu more than anything as a poet. I connect with his influence on the Komuso of Japan and the shakuhachi flute.
What you seems to think you can "see" in a person based on an obscure post in a forum matters little in terms of reality. It's quite judgmental actually.
That I can observe with my own discriminating sense (6th sense - thinking consciousness) that you are an American (male?) does not equate me judging you negatively in any way or casting some kind of moral judgment. My ability to observe something (like looking at a rough sea will tell me there's wind blowing at x-knots per hour) is not a judgment of the fish swimming there somewhere in its depth. My observations are not judgments of you, I don't know you, nor did I ever call you spiritually materialistic directly or indirectly, or made any derogatory remarks about your person. I've simply pointed out one major feature of western culture that encompasses millions of individuals, which you and I are both part of, THAT YES I PICKED UP ON in your writing, and you reacted to that, like the fish biting the hook in the depths of that rough sea, as if I were calling you unworthy for seeing your home as rough terrain. Dude, it IS rough terrain, but SO IS THE REST OF THE WORLD. Ease up, we're all in the same boat.
That I can use my judgment is in fact a very positive trait, it is for any human being - a major driver for survival and continuation of the species even... Perhaps it wasn't a welcome reply, but by simple observation, I nailed it on the head, both where you're from and what you were inferring. I could have pointed out some equally true trait of Asian or Latin culture, truthfully, it makes no difference to me where you're from. Every culture has noteworthy weaknesses and strengths. I note what I see and make my decisions based on evidence presented and what might be helpful to look at for others as well as myself. I have no investment either way in whatever you do, for whatever reason.
We simply are more naked to others than we realize (we all are). I have a brain, I use it. I clearly stated I do not focus on morality (moral judgment), but practicality - and while taken personally, my observations have not been incorrect thus far... So while they may not be liked, they have yet to be disproven.
Here is an easy definition of judgment in how I use it - for your reference, so you don't think I'm like hating on ya or anything.
dictionary definition wrote:judg·ment [juhj-muhnt] noun
1. an act or instance of judging.
2. the ability to judge, make a decision, or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, especially in matters affecting action; good sense; discretion: a man of sound judgment.
3. the demonstration or exercise of such ability or capacity.
4. the forming of an opinion, estimate, notion, or conclusion, as from circumstances presented to the mind.
5. the opinion formed.
Clearly - judgments change with the data presented as they are formed through evidence. If the evidence changes, so does the opinion (one would hope)...
Ikkyu wrote: Again, this is painting with such a broad brush. I know many Westerners who use entheogens as a means to reach higher states of consciousness. To compare the use of sacred plants and medicines to cannibalism seems unreasonable.
Tell that to the cannibals who consider their act just as spiritual... Again, it is you who is taking the cultural matrices of primitive rituals out of context for the exact reasons that Western culture does such things. It's a form of 'self-improving' it's how we got to where we are as world superpowers, but broad brushes are what we're using in talking of shamanic practices in this thread, so, I am simply countering with another broad stroke. The comparison only seems unreasonable because of your own cultural filters. The cannibals, I assure you, would not share that sentiment. IT ALL comes down to filters, btw.
Ikkyu wrote:ogyen wrote:If you use substances, simply be present with yourself when you make your choices. That is all. Don't use or draw upon anything outside yourself to justify, validate, that is just grasping. The urge comes from within, the answer to transcending its impulse also comes from within - the discipline emerges from within. The path is noticing it and being there when it happens within. Just pay attention, and your questions on this will be answered by the most important authority on the matter - you."
I agree completely.
See? That wasn't so bad after all. Just another day in the forum... Btw, I also grew up in Europe where much of my education was (or as Eddie Izzard says, where the history comes from ), if my remarks are ever intended to be personally against you, you WILL get them in the form a PM, if at all. I have too much common courtesy to attack anyone in any public forum. I am a firm believer of civil exchange, and dialectically follow in the footsteps of many great thinkers, including my all time philosophical idol , Hypatia of Alexandria. I only replied because of your title: An eager noobist. If that was a misleading title, I am happy to back off and leave you to your thoughts. Have a great one!
D. Ogyen


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The City of Logan Council meeting tackled several items of business, and other items on the agenda were put on hold until the Federal government shutdown is over.
The first of item on the agenda at the Tues., Oct. 8 meeting was Bill France and the Logan High School cast of Hairspray.
France introduced some of the key cast members of the upcoming production and explained that the performance of Hairspray will be held at the Coalfield Jamboree instead of at LHS on Nov. 14-16.
"We are asking the City of Logan to proclaim Thur., Nov. 14 as Hairspray Day in honor of the students involved — cast and crew — and also Logan High School for providing us with the platform and opportunity to do this," France said.
Nolletti assured France that the city would be honored to do the proclamation and was pleased that the performance would be held in downtown Logan.
Second item included the payment of bills.
Jeff Valet informed the council that a final payment on the apparatus for the street department truck was $84,076.50.
Third item of business was the acceptance by council of the resignation of Councilman Mike Allie.
Allie, who was in his first term as councilmember, resigned the position via a letter dropped into the mailbox of Mayor Serafino Nolletti. Allie had been mentioned as a person who was aiding Federal investigators in the arrests of Greg Glick, Jamey Thompson, Guy Miller and Shawn Simon for arson.
The resignation was unanimously accepted by the council and mayor. Nolletti also asked the council to submit names for possible candidates to fill the vacant seat.
"If anybody who has any names who will be interested in doing this, let me know," Nolletti said.
The next items of business included the update on FEMA, the Wilson Street/Pine Street slide. Both were tabled due to the fact that the current Federal government shutdown had affected FEMA.
"There are other issues, but the main one is that FEMA literally can't travel due to the 'slimdown,'" Ray Perry, Code Enforcement Officer, said.
A final reading for amending the City of Logan Election calendar and council unanimously accepted the amendment.
The mayor updated council on the progress and funding for the Central City Pedestrian Walk Bridge.
Chief of Police E.K. Harper informed the council that his department was still working with Federal government concerning ongoing investigations in the town and that there was a new traffic pattern in the area of the water board.
"It looks a whole lot better. We've had a few complaints about speeding," Harper said.
Harper said that he and Nolletti had been informed that at 25 mph speed limit would be posted in the near future in front of the water board.
"It is a little bit different, but it will be permanent like that," Nolletti said of the traffic pattern.
"The mayor and I spoke with the inspectors and recommended a 25 limit and also a couple of large signs at the end of Stratton Street stating 'No Large Trucks,'" Harper said. "Cause I am sure that in some point in time some out of town trucker is going to go straight there as opposed to making a left turn and getting bottled necked at Dead Man's Curve."
Fire Chief Scott Beckett informed council that they had 69 calls and that they continue their training every week.
"We've been doing some high end rescue training and we've had two industrial accidents in the last 35 to 40 days," Beckett said.
Code Enforcement Officer Ray Perry informed council that demolition of the Logan Wholesale building continues and that half the area would be a parking lot.
"Several more large buildings are scheduled for demolition and are already funded," Perry said. "Every month the town is looking better and better… I've even noticed a lot less refuse along the sidewalks too."
Valet said B&O taxes have been down.
"It's indicative of the times," Valet said. "Hopefully it will pick back up again."


text:
Best Cell phone for signal strength
by rstevenschaffer - 8/22/09 5:16 AM
I am about to get a new cell phone. I am not concerned about aps, web surfing or anything other than making / receiving calls and text messages. I live in a rural area with spotty coverage. I will be using AT&T as my service provider. My main concern is signal strength. I had a Motorola Razor a few years back and the signal was great. The past two years I've had an LG and the signal has been horrible. What suggestions for a new phone that will suit my needs? Is there any code or identity on each phone that would indicate signal strength?


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Manic mothers, grown men leering at children through video cameras, 5 year olds wearing makeup and formal attire…..
"All Truth passes through Three Stages: First, it is Ridiculed…
Second, it is Violently Opposed…
Third, it is Accepted as being Self-Evident."
- Arthur Schopenhauer
In extremely bad taste, creepy and obnoxious… yes.
Cult… no.
"You know I'm born to lose, and gambling is for fools.
But that's the way I like it baby, I don't want to live forever."
From the autobiography of A.A.Mills, 'The passage of time, according to an estranged, casual tyrant.'
Not a cult, but definitely symptomatic of poisonous beliefs and attitudes.
Harlan Ellison wrote the definitive critique of child beauty pageants in "Our Little Miss," an installment of his Glass Teat column in 1970. It was reprinted in his Essential Ellison collection. I just Googled "our little miss" and realized to my sadness that the pageant that Ellison eviscerated is still in existence.
Shall check out that Harlan Ellison thing. I think it depends on how you define 'cult'. There certainly seems to be a lot of emphasis on beauty and youth, yet I don't think we ascribe supernatural powers to those qualities.
Imo child beauty pageants are exploitation and abusive and (not being American) it always amazes me how such a puritan culture can produce something so dodgy. Maybe it's because it's such a puritan culture that it can and people don't bat an eyelid?
Here in France it's perfectly ok for very young kids to run around naked on beaches (it's pretty natural after all). Beauty pageants for children would be unthinkable.
uli - 03 April 2008 05:05 PMImo child beauty pageants are exploitation and abusive and (not being American) it always amazes me how such a puritan culture can produce something so dodgy. Maybe it's because it's such a puritan culture that it can and people don't bat an eyelid?
If you hadn't identified yourself as from France, I would have assumed that you were British only because of your use of the term "dodgy"...
You have an excellent point. Most recent sex scandals among Democratic politicians have involved heterosexual infidelity. Jim McGreevey was a prominent exception. The sex scandals on the Republican side have tended to involve "deviancy" such as Larry Craig and Mark Foley. But I doubt that puritanism itself directly produces such impulses. Instead, puritanism may encourage them to suppress their personal issues instead of confronting them.
My reference to "deviancy" reflects puritanism's failure to distinguish between the gender of Craig's and Foley's targets (males) and the inappropriate nature of their acts. It would have been just as inappropriate if Craig had trolled for anonymous sex in a public place with a woman, or if Foley had sent explicit e-mails to teenage female pages. The puritan focus on the homosexual aspect of those acts says much about puritanism's twisted sense of morality.