text:
• RHP John Barbato: A starter out of high school, he went 6-1 with 1.84 ERA in 48 relief appearances at Fort Wayne in 2012. He turned 20 last July.
• OF Yeison Asencio: Caught in an identity sweep last year, Asencio is 23, not 21. But he can hit. Batted .323 with eight HRs and 61 RBI at Fort Wayne last season to earn a spot on the 40-man roster.
• RHP Adys Portillo: Struggled at AA (2-5, 7.20 ERA in eight starts) after a promotion from Fort Wayne (6-6, 1.87 ERA in 18 starts). But he's not 21 until next week.
• CF Travis Jankowski: June draftee finished season at Fort Wayne and hit .282 in 59 games. Speed and defense are pluses.
• RHP Matt Andriese: UC Riverside product and 3rd-round, 2011 pick was 10-8 with a 3.58 ERA in 26 starts at Lake Elsinore.
• RHP Burch Smith: Drafted 11 rounds later than Andriese in 2011, the 22-year-old was 9-6 with a 3.85 ERA in 26 starts at Lake Elsinore with 137 strikeouts in 129 innings.
• RHP Keyvius Sampson: 8-11 with 5.00 ERA at Double-A San Antonio. Not what the Padres expected. But the fourth-round pick in 2009 was only 21.
• RHP Matthew Stites: The 17th-round pick in 2011 had 60 strikeouts against three walks in 48 relief innings at Fort Wayne, where he had a 0.74 ERA. Followed that with a strong AFL. Minor league ERA: 1.19.
• RHP Kevin Quackenbush: Had 0.94 ERA and 27 saves in 30 chances at Lake Elsinore. At 24, slightly older than most Single-A prospects. He had a strong AFL until the final days. Minor league ERA: 0.63.


text:
|Living with Adult ADHD
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|The ADHD Diet
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Patricia Quinn, M.D., is a developmental pediatrician in the Washington, D.C., area. A graduate of Georgetown University Medical School, Dr. Quinn specializes in child development and psychopharmacology. Cofounder and director of the Center for Girls and Women with ADHD, she is the author of Putting on the Brakes: A Young People's Guide to Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Dr. Quinn is a regular columnist in ADDitude magazine and contributor to ADDitudeMag.com.
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Parent Resources
School Information
Carl Sandburg Jr. High
2600 Martin Lane
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Absence: 847-963-7801
Office: 847-963-7800
Principal: Mrs. Erika Johansen
Asst. Principal: Mr. Douglas Harter
Office Hours: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
Website Designed
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Thanks for Visiting the Carl Sandburg PTSA Website!
It's the home for all events and activities for both
Carl Sandburg School and PTSA
Check it out and let us know if you have any suggestions - we'd love to hear from you at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Committee Chairs wanted for 2015-2016 School Year!!!!
Do you know any incoming 7th graders Wildcat parents or current Wildcat parents that want to stay involved in their child's school? Well we have the perfect opportunity…become part of the Carl Sandburg PTSA 2015-16 committees.
We had many great chairpersons this year that have been working extremely hard throughout the year to give our students some great activities and events, but unfortunately most of these chairpersons are part of the graduating class. We applaud them for all their hard work and for all the future events that are still being planned.
With so many chairpersons leaving we and our nominating committee are searching for in-coming Wildcats and current Wildcat parents that are interested in helping next year 2015-16 Carl Sandburg PTSA, please see link below for open positions and committee descriptions.
67….that is the exact number of days left this school year. It's still not too late to help. We still have WOW day on 3/20, Spring Book Fair, & for all 8th grade parents the graduation picnic & yearbook signing will be held on June 1st.
Again, thank you for your support. Please continue to check back on our website or our weekly Snapshot for the latest news, events, volunteer opportunity & the monthly PTSA meeting dates.
Lay Choy & Corinne Hajdukovic
CSJH PTSA Co-Presidents
Mark Your Calendars!
PTSA Meetings
All 7pm Start
September 16
October 14
November 18
January 21
February 18
March 17
April 21
May 19
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All Parents Welcome!
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Corinne & Lay
Carl Sandburg PTSA TODAY
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View the upcoming events for both School and PTSA
Clip Those Box Tops!
CSJH PTSA runs fun school-wide Box Tops contests twice a year. Whenever you see Box Top, please clip it and save it for the contest!
Each Box Tops Makes a Difference!
Order online at MarketDay.com Sandburg Jr. High Code #1433
Online orders placed by 11:00pm the prior FRIDAY will be ready for pick up:
09/17/2014, 10/15/2014, 11/12/2014, 12/10/2014
01/21/2015, 02/18/2015, 03/18/2015, 04/22/2015, 05/20/2015, 06/17/2015
GFS stores now carry Market Day items! Shop at GFS and mention Carl Sandburg Jr. High and they will give 5% back to our school for Market Day items purchased, or 1% from GFS items. If you haven't been there, check it out! There is a GFS on Rand Road in Palatine, or Golf Road in Schaumburg.
Both Students and Parents are encouraged to become PTSA members.
By joining PTSA students receive free admission to PTSA activities and a voice in their PTSA.
Rather than hold traditional Fundraisers, PTSA has chosen to request that parents donate a modest amount directly to PTSA. This donation is tax deductible and supports our many programs and services.
Donations can be returned to school at any time in an envelope marked "Ways & Means." Checks should be made payable to Carl Sandburg PTSA.
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text:
Sister Peter Claver was a humanitarian in every sense of the word. Her leadership in health care was her avenue to serve, with compassion and humility, to better the lives of others.
Watch this video to learn more about this amazing leader, who for 33 years was an inspiration to her staff at Sacred Heart, and the Spokane community.
See the list of nominees below
The Sister Peter Claver Humanitarian Award is presented each year to an extraordinary person whose faith and good works inspire their colleagues, friends or families, and enrich the lives of others—especially the poor and vulnerable.
From 1964 to 1987, Sister Peter Claver was at the helm of Sacred Heart Medical Center, during a time when the hospital became the largest medical center in the Northwest. Her compassion for those who suffer—whether in body, mind or spirit—truly led her work, and as you can imagine, her desk light burned late into the night.
Nominees uphold Sister Peter Claver's dedication to enriching the lives of others, particularly the poor and vulnerable. Many of our past award recipients have made a difference by dedicating themselves to creating safer neighborhoods; providing medical or social services; providing outreach to underserved populations; working daily on behalf of children who live in poverty or are abused; or spiritually enriching or inspiring the lives of others.
The winner will be announced at a special dinner and awards ceremony, October 7 at the Spokane Club, beginning at 5:30 pm; admission is $50. Call Public Relations for tickets: (509) 474-3081.
Moved by the tragic death of a 2-year-old who suffered extraordinary abuse, Bill developed a vision to provide a home-like environment for children most at risk for abuse and neglect. And thus, the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery was born. Thirty-two years and 77,000 children later, the Nursery has become an instrumental part of the Spokane community and a life-saving asset to local families.
Thanks to Dr. Byrd's presence, commitment and vision for fundraising, Providence Holy Family Hospital has become an anchor on Spokane's north side. Today, he also gives freely of his time, talent and treasure to the House of Charity, Project Access, Hope House, Knights of Columbus, and other charitable organizations providing compassionate care and respect to the disadvantaged.
Leadership, vision and credibility describe Dr. Clode. His contributions in caring for the elderly helped provide new beds for St. Joseph Care Center's transitional care unit, and he convinced his medical practice partners to serve as primary care docs for the residents, most of whom are on Medicaid. He is frequently the physician other physicians choose, "representing the best our health care system offers."
"I once was blind but now I see," is true for many, thanks to the humanitarian service of Dr. Cunningham. He travels to Africa at his own expense to help restore sight to the blind. In less than ideal conditions, he makes a special effort to train local surgeons, improving the care of the community. Closer to home, Dr. Cunningham is celebrated by his staff and patients alike, for the grace he shares with everyone around him.
For more than 30 years, Alice has been an advocate for older adults at risk for abuse and neglect. As a new adult nurse practitioner, she was inspired by Sister Peter Claver who shared a common interest in caring for the elderly. Alice investigated more than 1,000 complaints of abuse to seniors and lobbied for legislation to protect them. Frustrated by a lack of justice, she achieved a law degree and became a nurse lawyer. Alice receives commendation every year from the Washington State Bar Association for her hours of pro bono service to seniors.
Barb is the ideal example of a clinical and academic partnership in which nursing students thrive. She mentors new nursing students to help them overcome obstacles that may prevent them from achieving their professional goals. Her volunteer work is no less impressive. She travelled with Healing the Children to provide care in third-world countries, and shares her deep commitment to medically fragile children with heart disease through Beats & Rhythms.
What started as a simple act of kindness, sharing cookies with the homeless population, has grown into a mission to show love and respect during the Christmas season. Wendi's ministry has become HolidayPax, a nonprofit organization providing backpacks filled with personal care items and winter essentials to area homeless individuals. Wendi's humility, compassion and unselfish leadership have made a difference.
As executive director of Catholic Charities Spokane, Rob serves the most vulnerable and marginalized in our region through 13 programs rooted in compassion. Rob is vigilant in making sure resources are provided in the area of greatest need, providing food, shelter, clothing, education, individual and family counseling, assistance to the elderly, single parents, victims of abuse, the homeless, women and children and immigration services.
Jeff has been instrumental in building Christ Clinic, a non-profit primary care clinic that meets not only medical needs but the physical, mental and spiritual needs of those in poverty. His heart is set on improving the welfare of people from all walks of life through an unwavering dedication to provide excellent health care and demonstrate the love of Christ.
For the past 20+ years, Dr. Paxton has traveled with Hearts in Motion to care for patients in the third world who were born with catastrophic facial deformities. To date, he has provided surgical repair of cleft lip and palate, and other maxillofacial needs, to more than 1,200 patients. Mark puts his patient's needs ahead of his own interests and has donated countless hours providing care for those lacking the ability to pay.


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AP Investigation: Nearly $1B in NYC police payouts
But some rough comparisons can be made, using recent data several cities provided to the AP.
For example, Chicago's police force, the nation's second-biggest, averaged about $2,930 in payouts per officer over the past six years. That tops New York's roughly $2,700-a-year average from the 1999 to 2008 fiscal years, the most recent available. Chicago's figures include a nearly $21 million settlement-and-interest payment in 2008 to a driver paralyzed when police slammed into his car while chasing someone else.
In Los Angeles, with less than half New York's population, the average was about $2,200 in payouts per officer in the past seven fiscal years. That includes a nearly $13 million settlement last year with about 300 participants in a pro-immigration rally where police fired rubber bullets and pummeled demonstrators with batons.
Philadelphia, with less than a fifth of New York's population, spent about one-tenth as much as New York in payouts, averaging $9.2 million a year from 2005 to 2009.
As much as New York spent, it was less than a fifth of the city's $5.3 billion total payouts. Public hospital claims were far costlier.
New York's data don't detail the nature of the police cases. But research into just some of the biggest payouts shows car accidents alone cost more than $30 million in those 10 years. Some multimillion-dollar settlements have gone to officers themselves for on-the-job injuries.
More than $23 million was spent to compensate for police bullets or brutality, millions more to settle claims of unjustified arrests and wrongful convictions.
Some officers are sued multiple times: In the past three years, one Brooklyn precinct sergeant has been sued at least seven times on excessive force and brutality claims, costing the city at least $188,250. A narcotics detective was the target of at least six suits that spurred $103,000 in payouts. The city has paid $171,500 to settle four suits against one plainclothes detective; another case against him is pending.
The city did not admit wrongdoing. Two of the officers are still on the force; one retired. None was charged criminally or disciplined, though the sergeant was later monitored for use of force.
Most departments don't do much, if anything, with information from lawsuits; to them, if no wrongdoing is admitted, why bother tracking the cases?
But some experts believe mining the cases could lead to fewer suits.
"Even if (officials) tracked the information just to decrease liability, isn't that a good idea?" said Cynthia Conti-Cook of Stoll, Glickman and Bellina, a Brooklyn firm that has sued officers.
Last year, Vallone proposed tracking the city's settlements to ensure it pays out only when liable and learns from the cases it does pay. The NYPD assigned a committee to look at the more costly payouts for evidence of perjury, corruption and other wrongdoing.
City lawyers say they do weigh claims with an eye on potential costs.
"Even though the facts may all be pointing to a justification of what you did, and no liability, if it's going to a jury, then it's always a question," Leoussis said of the city law department. "You can't afford to take that kind of risk."


text:
Mon-Fri: 7am-1am EST / Sat-Sun: 7am-11pm EST
ApplianceGeneral Electric Refrigerator
Level of DifficultyEasy
Time to do repair15 - 30 mins
Age of Appliance5 - 10 years
Socket set
4 out of 6 people found this instruction helpful
Shut water behind the refrigerator, unplugged the unit. Unscrewed the back tin panel and simply unscrewed the brace scew for the Double Outlet Water Valve. Disconnected the hoss - inspected the hosed for wear. Next detached the hoses and power source to the unit... reconnected both hoses & power source, plug the refrigator back in and inspected for any water leaks. Simple!
Help other customers find the most helpful instructions.
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Part Number: PS304374
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Copyright © 1999-2015 , Eldis Group Partnership. All rights reserved.


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MP3 Tag Editor is not just yet another music file tag editor. It is a powerful music collection organizer, audio file search system, personal DJ and more. MP3 Tag Editor is a great tool for editing data tags in sound files of any format. You can work with several files simultaneously or change the tags for all files in a selected folder at once. MP3 Tag Editor is well-suited for bringing order to folders containing hundreds of music files. The program can download audio track data (author, album, date, genre etc.) from the FreeDB online database. Thus, each file in your music collection will contain full information about its content. MP3-tag can rename files and folders according to specified rules using the tag information, so that all music files will have standard names to guarantee order and convenience. In addition, MP3 Tag Editor can create playlists for use by software and music players - a great solution for compiling background music, an audio disk for a car, a party disk or even a radio broadcast. Also, MP3-tag can find music files on your system according to tags you specify and control WinAmp directly from the program. MP3 Tag Editor's unique feature is a mass search for albums in the Internet. If you have albums of your favorite artists on your computer, MP3-tag will detect them and prompt you to download tags for all tracks at once - a very useful function for true audiophiles. It will let you bring order to your huge music collection with a few mouse clicks. MP3 Tag Editor features an easy-to-use explorer-like interface and flexible configuration options that make it convenient and easy to use for both newbies and professional music editors alike.
Homepage: MP3 Tag Editor
OS: WinXP, WinVista, WinVista x64, Win7 x32, Win7 x64, Win2000, WinServer, Win98, WinME
Requirements: Windows
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text:
Hitting, Where are thou?
Once again the Pirates find themselves with no hitting to begin the season. This year if you can believe it has actually been worse than the start of the 2012 season. It is mind-boggling that a team can hit this bad at the start of the season but it is happening. Once again though people are overreacting some, the Pirates are not this bad of a hitting team. Make no mistake they aren't a good hitting team but they aren't a historically bad hitting team either. In the coming weeks the Pirates will likely rebound some and becomes the below average offensive team they are but that still leaves us with the question of why we are once again seeing such a poor start.
Any number of factors could be in play here. It is possible the team did an inadequate job getting the hitters ready during spring. It is possible the collection of hitters the Pirates have assembled could be prone to poor starts. It is possible it could just simply be bad luck. Or it could be something else or some combination. It is impossible to figure out just what is at play here but I'd like to take a deeper look at the mix of hitters the Pirates have in their lineup.
The Pirates lineup is loaded with high strikeout guys. The major league average strikeout rate for non pitchers last season was 21.4% so keep that in mind when looking at these numbers.
Russell Martin: 19.6% K rate in 2012
Garrett Jones: 20.0% K rate in 2012
Gaby Sanchez: 17.2% K rate in 2012
Neil Walker: 19.6% K rate in 2012
Pedro Alvarez: 30.7% K rate in 2012
Clint Barmes: 21.5% K rate in 2012
Starling Marte: 27.5% K rate in 2012
Andrew McCutchen: 19.6% K rate in 2012
Travis Snider: 25.9% K rate in 2012
Jose Tabata: 15.5% K rate in 2012
The above are the Pirates 10 regular players. A fair number of them were below the average K rate last season but only two Sanchez and Tabata were significantly lower. What does that mean? It means on days when Snider and Jones both starts which should be against just about every right handed pitcher the Pirates are fielding an entire lineup of players who are going to strike out in at least about 1 out of every 5 at bats. In theory that isn't a big deal but of course the strike outs don't come exactly 5 at bats a part. Players get cold and when average to high strike out players get cold guess what they strike out a lot. Not exactly rocket science there. Strike outs in return limit the number of balls put in play and limit the chances of getting a good bounce. Without a good bounce hitters continue to hit without runners on where they see fewer pitchers to hit so they continue to struggle and the strike outs continue to mount. It's all a cyclical effect. A couple hitters start off cold and struggle to put the ball in play creates fewer good hitting opportunities for the players hitting well so they in return get cold and start hitting fewer balls and striking out more. What this Pirates lineup lacks are some low strikeout guys who can work counts and get on base or even players who just manage to make contact a lot.
The Pirates find themselves in a tough cycle to break out of. Ideally a lineup like this would have a different type of bench supporting it but the Pirates really don't have that. Sanchez and Tabata can mix things up a little bit but McKenry and McDonald are largely useless to change much. The last bench player Harrison is an interesting player though. Harrison won't work hardly at all but he won't strike out much either so having a bat like him who will make contact in the lineup could be a good thing. Problem is unless you are facing a left handed pitcher where do you play him? The Pirates really can't sit Walker or Alvarez against right handers and Harrison isn't good enough defensively to warrant starting him over Barmes, Marte or Snider. I thought this past weekend when facing two left handers in a row was a perfect opportunity to play Harrison for a couple games and see if his contact skills couldn't ignite some sort of spark but alas that didn't happen. In reality that is all Harrison brings to the table the ability to make contact on a consistent basis and that is something this Pirates team desperately needs.
With all that being said the Pirates non pitchers currently have a ridiculously low .169 BABIP. Simply put that isn't going to continue forever and in time more balls will begin to fall in and the Pirates will in return score more runs. Still even with bad luck playing a huge role in this current offensive mess it would be nice if the Pirates lineup had or at least could be complimented with some good contact hitters who can manage to get on base at a high level. The front office has done a fair job of assembling some decent arms and some decent power hitters but it has been a miserable failure at balancing out the lineup and providing it with any kind of useable depth.
Battling Bucs is Cutting Back
I must sadly report that with life catching up with me I am going to have to trim back my posting here at Battling Bucs. I have been doing everything I could to try to keep up my post per day rate over the last month and a half but I will no longer be able to do so. The site won't end as I'll continue trying to do a couple of posts per week and I'll chime in with my thoughts on important Pirates moves. You can still follow me on Twitter and I'm doing some blogging on Pittsburgh Sport Forum so you can also check me out there. I'm not going to disappear from the online Pirates fan community but I will have to scale back. I guess life catches up with all of us in time. Thank you to all of you who have stopped by and read my blog and I hope you continue to do so even if it will be running at a reduced pace.
Prospects: Catchers
AAA: Tony Sanchez
Backing up Tony Sanchez this season in AAA will likely be some combination of Lucas May, Ali Solis and Brian Jeroloman. All of three catchers are past their prospect days but should an opening arise in the majors it is possible one of them could get the call. As for Sanchez his prospect stock has took a hit down to the point where he is no longer widely consider the Pirates top catching prospect (Battling Bucs still gives him the slightest of edges though) but he still does have some upside and could be a useful major league catcher as early as later this season. Sanchez's defense was said to be good when he was drafted and that remains the case; his game calling is also improving which means he looks to be a very capable receiver at this point in his career. The question is as it always was his bat. Sanchez recovered some last season from a terrible 2011 but his offensive numbers were still a disappointment. In order to move forward this year and show he still might be able to develop into at least an averae MLB starting catcher his offensive game particularly his power will need to make great strides.
AA: Carlos Paulino
Paulino will serve as the regular catcher in AA and be backed up primarily by Charlie Cutler. Kawika Emsley-Pai and others may play at the level as well but barring an injury it is likely to be sparingly. At this point in his career Paulino is essentially an extreme version of Sanchez. His defensive game overall is a little better than Sanchez's but his bat is worse. Paulino's defense alone has what it takes to make him a backup catcher in the majors but if he is ever going to have a shot at being a starting catcher he is going to have to show he can hit some. Paulino has hit fairly well in the past posting good numbers in 2011 but he struggled last season when he was forced to repeat A+. Now as the unquestioned starter in AA this is Paulino's time to shine.
A+: Jacob Stallings, Elias Diaz
Stallings and Diaz are expected to split catching time in A+. Like Sanchez and Paulino these two catchers are noted more for their defense than their offense. Stallings was drafted last year by the Pirates in the early rounds mainly as an attempt to save cap space for making a run at Appel. He comes from the NCAA holding the single season record for throwing out runners attempting to steal. The Pirates are aggressively pushing him over regular A ball and straight to advance. This is a typical move for advanced college hitters but Stallings is not one of those. His offense will likely struggle but it is going to have to be his defense that carries him anyway. As for Diaz the Pirates seem to really like him but up to this point he really hasn't shown much progress as a hitter. Like all the other catchers discussed so far he is going have to show some improvements with the bat to see his prospect stock rise.
A: Wyatt Mathisen
At this point I'm not really sure who will back up Mathisen but the Pirates are not short of options as the lower levels are filled with a ton of catchers (non prospects of course). Mathisen is a horse of a different color in this catching crop. He is widely considered to be the Pirates top catching prospect (Battling Bucs has him 2nd just slighly behind Sanchez) with his biggest weakness being his defense. Mathisen is really just becoming accustomed to the catcher position having played the majority of his high school career at the shortstop position. His bat is advanced for a high school player and his defensive game has shown flashes of potential but with this being a relatively new position to him there is still a lot to work on. The main challenge for Mathisen in 2013 will be just adjusting to being a full tiem catcher.
Lower Levels: Jin-De Jhang, Daniel Arribas
There was some talk the Pirates might consider moving Jhang to A ball with Mathisen and having them continue to split time between catcher and DH but that doesn't appear to have happened. Jhang will start the season likely in short season ball. Like Mathisen, Jhang is relatively new to catching and has a lot of work to do to get the mechanics of the position down. His bat is strong for a catcher though and makes him an interesting prospect to watch. Arribas has played catcher, 1st base and 3rd base in the DSL but appears to be focusing entirely on catching right now. Arribas shown some hitting talent in the DSL last season and was moved up to the states this year. He will likely share catching duties in rookie ball this season as he adjusts to his more permanent position home.
Top 5 Catching Prospects
1. Tony Sanchez
2. Wyatt Mathisen
3. Jin-De Jhang
4. Carlos Paulino
5. Jacob Stallings
Opening Day!!!
Apologies in advance to the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers who opened last night but today is the true honest to goodness Opening Day. Nothing warms my heart more than those two little words, this is the best day on the calendar year for me and a true holiday. On today of all days anything really does seem possible. Every Pirates season I can recall has finished the same way in disappointment but no matter the outcome the one day that does not and can not disappoint me is Opening Day. There is just something magical about it. There are a few days every year in which we say the Sports world creates an unofficial holiday. Most prominent are probably Super Bowl Sunday, the beginning of March Madness and possibly the Olympics. More so than any of those days though Opening Day feels truly special more like a religious day than just a sporting day.
Those other days I mention aren't holidays simply because of the sport. March Madness takes on its holiday like form largely do to office pools and gambling. Super Bowl Sunday takes on its holiday like feel largely do to the event and not the game. And the Olympics are more a celebration of human achievement than a celebration of any particular sport. Opening Day however, to me at least, has nothing like that attached to it. It is quite simply and purely the celebration of baseball. It is a day to sit back, remove all the noise (PEDs, lack of competitive balance, etc) and focus on the greatness of the game. The feeling of it, the sights, the smells are impossible to describe. For me everything just seems better this one day a year, my senses feel heightened and I walk with a spring in my step.
The reason for this great feeling I and I'm sure countless others feel is difficult to describe. There is just something about baseball some force which draws us to the games. No matter how bad our teams may be the ones who truly get baseball stick with it and ride the season through until the bitter (or sweet) end. If you can't feel this force it is nearly impossible for me or anyone else to describe what it can do to a person but if you feel this force you will know immediately what I am talking about here.
The last couple of weeks have seen many disagreements between Pirates fans and baseball fans in general but today is the day we sit that all aside and welcome our game back. For this is truly a special and magical day. Enjoy it, live it and take in the magic. This is a day of great hope and where anything truly feels possible. There is no other day quite like today. Opening Day is here and the world is right again.
Pirates/Curve Recap
The Pirates lost to the OCurve today 8-6. That sounds depressing but in reality it isn't. The game was by all means an exhibition meaning both sides took the game extremely lightly and both rosters were a state of flux with the Pirates roster having many Curve players and vice versa. By the end of the game the Pirates defense was Michael McKenry (C), Kelson Brown (1B), Josh Harrison (2B), Stefan Welch (3B), John McDonald (SS), Dan Grovatt (LF), Andy Vasquez (CF) and Jose Tabata (RF). Not exactly the starting eight you'll see out there on Monday. Still the game was a joy to watch and had a few highlights. I have pictures which I will try to share later in the week but for now I'll just give a quick summary of the events.
Before the game Frank Coonley, the Pirates president was about in the stands. Battling Bucs got his first chance to meet him. It wasn't a long meeting of course but it was an interesting experience. Shortly before the game Coonley was again front and center as he announced the partnership between the Pirates and Curve was extended through 2018. Also before game action got under way the Pirates and Curve joined together for a group picture brining about another great sight.
Once the game actually got under way the first thing that became clear that McDonald either didn't have or wasn't using his best stuff. The Curve hit him around well and drew 3 walks in the first inning alone as all 9 hitters came to the plate. After JMac's struggles Tony Watson took the hill for the Curve in the top of the 2nd and struggled a fair amount himself, His outing was capped when Starling Marte launched a grand slam into the outfield bleachers. Marte ended up having himself a banner day as he also added another hit and displayed his strong arm.
Later in the game Andrew McCutchen was robbed of a hit by a great diving catch in the outfield by Andrew Lambo and the very next hitter Pedro Alvarez had a well hit ball speared by Gift Ngoepe. It was some great defense being played behind Justin Wilson and I'm betting he hopes he gets that kind of help for his appearances starting on Monday. Shortly after this inning Nathan Baker entered the game for the Pirates and struggled mightily allowing 4 runs and missing with most of his pitches. It was not long after Baker's performance the next top of the inning that the mass substitutions started. The scoreboard at the game wasn't even to keep up with all the moves as the Pirates had players in the game without names on their jerseys and in some cases without even a number. This hybrid lineup did manage to get a few hits in the 7th and cut the deficit to 8-6 but that was as close as the game got.
The rest of the game was fairly uneventful and it seemingly went on forever. I'm not really sure what the cause of the slow pace of the game but I'm guessing it had something to do with all the substitutions and TV timeouts. As I stated earlier the game went well and was very entertaining but I also know there is nothing I or anyone can or should take from the outcome. For the record the game ended when Jason Townsend coming into face his first batter got Benji Gonzalez, who was pinch hitting for Josh Harrison, to fly out to right field. I have more to say but I'm typing this fairly late at night so this will have to do. I'll add more notes when I post pictures of the game later in the week.
Pirates/Curve Game
Battling Bucs has taken the day off and what is he doing with his day off watching the Pirates play of course. I am in attendance at the Pirates and Curve exhibtion today watching not only the current Pirates play but a group of players who hope to be Pirates one day possibly even as soon as later on this season. Due to my absence any breaking Pirates news such as waiver claims or release or trades that occurs today will be not be covered by this site until later into the day. I will however have a full recap of the game and note any observations I make during a post tomorrow. Thank you all for reading my site and with the start of a new baseball season right around the corner I just wanted to say I'm looking forward to another great year of baseball and I am hoping to provide at least a couple of interesting pieces this season.
2013 Expectations: The Pittsburgh Pirates
Last offseason I did a 15 part preview of the Pirates upcoming seasons focusing on what I expected to see out of various positions at the major league levels, the minor levels, the coaching staff and the front office. The series went over fairly well with my readers so I have decided to bring it back for a second year. I'm not sure how many parts this year's series will include but I will do my best to cover every key player I can think of.
Over the course of the last two seasons the Pittsburgh Pirates have come a long way. From losing 100+ games in 2010 to flirting with a playoff spot deep into August in 2012. From looking like a franchise void of any direction to having a bright future just on the horizon. The future looks better than now than it did just two short years ago but right now isn't the time to worry about that. This is the time of year we ask ourselves not how future Pirates teams may look or perform but rather about how this year's version of the team will look and perform. The Pirates have a large group of players returning and have added a handful of players they hope will be able to compliment the returning group well. In addition to the players added this offseason the Pirates will be counting on full seasons of players added to the roster last year and improved performances by last year's regulars to improve the overall performance of the team.
The group of players the Pirates will be sending out on to the field Monday is most people's opinions the most talented group the Pirates have fielding in quite a few years. Still there is no mistaking this group for a complete team which should be able to easily handle all the obstacles thrown at them and glide into the playoffs. The Pirates are a work in progress and as such the roster will be yet again in a constant state of flux during the 2013 season. Just what the expectations are for this team is difficult to pin down. As an improved group over the 2012 version one would assume an improved record should be in the forthcoming but the 2012 group was probably a little lucky in some regards meaning they actually finished ahead of where they should have. Still one gets the sense that if improvement in terms of record is not achieved some major changes in terms of coaching staff and front office will likely be coming either during this season or after the year.
What does this Pirates team have to do to be a success? Does this group have to make the playoffs? Just make a serious run? Just finish above .500? Just show improvements in overall performance regardless of the record? That is really up tom personal opinion but in my mind it is the last one. The group the Pirates have assembled isn't a real contender and for that reason as long as they don't post an awful record whatever their record winds up being is less important than how they go about achieving that record. If the core of the team takes a step forward and veterans like Burnett, Martin and Barmes struggle which causes the team record to be less than ideal I can live with that but if it happens the other way around things will be a little less pretty. A disclaimer here though in terms of whether there will be changes I don't think how the Pirates go about achieving a substandard record will matter; if they post one changes will almost certainly be coming.
All of this still leaves me with the question of what am I expecting from this team this season. Above all else I am expecting growth. I'm expecting the team to find some young players to help compliment McCutchen. This would likely be players from the Alvarez, Marte, Snider and Tabata group. I'm expecting some youth to lay claim to rotation spots next season. This would be players from the Cole, McPherson, Locke and Irwin group. The Pirates have to be at a point at the end of this season in which they know what they have with this group. It is vital so they know how to proceed next offseason. Finding which players can truly help this team in 2014 and beyond is in my mind the most important thing that come out of 2013 however one can not completely ignore the overall performance. I still expect this team to play well.
When you slice right through it the talent on this team appears to have the talent of roughly a slightly below average team meaning somewhere in the neighborhood of 78 wins. However the range of possible outcomes for this team is huge. If things break relatively wrong for this team it could quite possibly lose 95 games but if things break relatively right for this team I could see it posting 90 wins. Either extreme though seems rather unlikely. Truth be told as it nearly always does the actual result will lie somewhere in the middle. This Pirates team will likely win somewhere between 75-85 games making them for all intents and purposes an average team. As for my actual prediction this year feels different but I have never actually predicted the Pirates to finish the season with a winning record. I don't like this team enough to break that trend but on the other hand there is a different feel about it so I have do something different. It pains me to do this as it is the ultimate cop-out by my prediction for the record of the 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates is: 81-81
The AA Roster
Catchers: Carlos Paulino, Charlie Cutler
Paulino is a defensive first catcher who is graded by scouts as one of the best defensive catchers in the minor leagues. He stuck around with the big league camp until the final round of cuts so the Pirates must see something in him. Cutler is an organizational player who is a bat first catcher.
1st Base/DH: Alex Dickerson, Matt Curry
Both Dickerson and Curry are prospects to some degrees. If it wasn't for the logjam of 1B types in AAA (Hague, Larish and possibly Robinson) Curry would almost certainly be there after a good season in AA. Both players have received a little time in LF this Spring but neither is an option there long term. Both players are good hitters but the question is whether either has enough power to make up for their defensive limitations.
Middle Infield: Jarek Cunningham, Gift Ngoepe, Drew Maggi
Cunningham will be the starter at 2nd and Ngoepe at shortstop. Cunningham is repeating the level because he struggled last season but has good power for a 2nd baseman so he is worth keeping an eye on. Ngoepe doesn't do much with the bat but is a slick fielding shortstop. If he can hit even a little his glove will almost certainly carry him to the majors. Maggi was given an overslot bonus just a few years ago but is now just an organizational player. He could see time just about anywhere including the outfield but his primary purpose will be backing up the middle infield.
Other Infielders: Stefan Welch, Adalberto Santos
Welch and Santos figure to split the third base duties. Neither is a 3rd baseman by trade as Welch is better suited for 1st base and Santos has played almost exclusively the outfield. Welch is coming off an excellent season in A+ in 2012 which earned him a promotion to AA. He started off hot but quickly cooled down. He did have a good showing in the WBC for Team Australia this spring though. Santos has hit at every level the Pirates put him on and probably should be up in AAA this year but the roster figures to be a little crowded. He played exclusively the outfield last season but played some 2B the year before that. Santos is likely to see time in both the OF and 2B as well as adding 3B to his duties. If he can be passable defensively eat each position it coupled with his good contact skills could make him an intriguing bench option.
Outfielders: Mel Rojas, Andrew Lambo, Justin Howard, Andy Vasquez
Rojas is the only real prospect in this group. He has a good set of tools but hasn't really put everything together. He probably isn't ready for AA but with Polanco moving up to A+ the Pirates have decided to give him an aggressive push and let him continue playing center field. Lambo will be spending his 5th year at the AA level. This his last year before minor league free agency so if he is going to ever live up to that prospect hype its likely now or never. Howard has good contact skills but is poor defensively and has little power. In reality he shouldn't be in the outfield but the only position he plays even half decently his first base and there is just no room for him there. Vasquez is a utility player who has been in the Pirates organization seemingly forever. He has played a little bit of everywhere but it appears he will serve mainly as a backup outfielder this season. In addition to these guys Santos is likely to see a lot of time in the outfield and Maggi, Dickerson and even Curry could get the occasional start as well.
Starting Pitchers: Jameson Taillon, Stolmy Pimentel, Brandon Cumpton, Casey Sadler, Tyler Waldron
Taillon is of course Taillon. He is the only true top flight prospect at this level. The main question surrounding him is when will he move up to AAA. Pimentel was acquired in the Joel Hanrahan trade and has a lot of upside but has struggled in AA in the past and is on his last option so he is going to have to impress quickly. Cumpton had moderate success in the AA rotation last year but wasn't overwhelming so the Pirate have opted to have him repeat the level. Sadler is a prospect I like a lot but he is better suited for relief than starting. He pitched well last year both as a starter and a reliever in A+ and the Pirates like to keep their pitching prospects starting for as long as possible. Waldron was supposed to be moving to the bullpen but I guess the Pirates have had a change of mind. He really didn't pitch that well last season in A+ but he was promoted near the end of the season so the Pirates must see some potential in him.
Relief Pitchers: Tim Alderson, Nate Baker, Jason Townsend, Jeff Inman, Luis Sanz, Ethan Hollingsworth, Kenn Kasparek
Alderson has seemingly been around forever but is still relatively young at only 24 years old. He gets another go around in AA and this could be his last chance to salvage his career. he still has that great curveball and his fastball is back in the lower 90s so anything is possible. Baker was in the AA rotation for most of last year but struggled and was moved to the bullpen. He did well there and as a left hander he shouldn't be completely dismissed as an organizational player quite yet. Townsend was a prospect I was initially excited about when the Pirates drafted him because he was throwing in the upper 90s and striking batters out. However something happened last year and that good velocity and strike out numbers were no longer there. I will be curious to see if he can regain that form this season. Inman was a fairly highly touted 12th round pick by the Pirates who only slipped that low because of health concerns. Well so far those health concerns have proved to be a big problem as before last year he pitched in only 17 games over 3 seasons. he did remain relatively healthy last year and displayed good velocity but his strike out rates were low largely do to the lack of a good secondary pitch. The other 3 relievers were added this offseason to provide depth and are only organizational players.
Notable Omissions
The players I'm the most surprised to not see here are Zach Thornton, Kelson Brown and Dan Grovatt. Thornton was acquired this offseason for Resop and was talked about as the potential closer for the AA team. He had a high strike out rate last year but he was admittedly old for the level. Kelson Brown had a good showing in AA last year and looked like a possible future utility player in the major leagues. He didn't have much of a ceiling but I would say he had a shot at a Rob Mackowiak type career. Finally Grovatt was one of the better hitters at A+ last year which again really isn't saying a whole lot as the offense was terrible at that level. One other player to watch but he is not a notable omission is Ryan Beckman. Fan Graphs recently called Beckman a sleeper prospect and I agree with that assessment. Ordinarily he would be on this roster but he is still recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Top Prospects
1. Jameson Taillon
2. Alex Dickerson
3. Gift Ngoepe
4. Adalberto Santos
5. Stolmy Pimentel
6. Casey Sadler
7. Mel Rojas Jr
8. Matt Curry
9. Carlos Paulino
10. Brandon Cumpton
11. Jarek Cunningham
The Mystical Force
Over the past few weeks and certainly in the next few days there will be many projections and predictions made how about players and teams will perform during the upcoming 2013 season. These prognosticators will try to include every bit of pertinent information they can into those guesses they make. I myself have done it when discussing my expectations for individual players and will do it tomorrow as I wrap up that series with a final look at the team as a whole and give my official record prediction. So many things can happen in the course of a season, players can digress, players can break out, teams cans struggle with injuries, etc but in the end all forecasters worth a grain of salt try to account for these things in various ways. The methods are usually not very accurate but its the attempt that is important.
Baseball however is not just about what we can predict (or at least try to predict) but rather it is about so much more. Chances are if you are reading this blog you are a Pirates fan like myself and if you are you are certainly not a fan because of what the forecasts say. No fan could survive being a Pirates fan if it was just about the numbers and the ebb and flow of the game. There is a certain magic about baseball that many can feel but only a few appreciate and which fewer yet understand. As for myself I feel it, appreciate it and as the years pass feel as if I am beginning to understand it more and more and yet my original point of this article was to explain it and that is an even taller mountain to climb as I know no one who can do so and give it justice.
It is a strange mystical force which causes all this. It goes by man names, some call it luck, some call it karma, some call it destiny, some call it hope but none of those words truly captures it. This mystical force causes luck, decides who is need of good and bad karma, picks outs the teams of destiny and keeps fans of even the Pirates hoping that this could be their year. This presence can't be evaluated nor predicted nor accounted for in any sort of real tangible way. It is there but then again it isn't. Some people including myself have gone to explaining this as an act from the baseball gods and in a way that truly is what it is. I'm not much of a religious person and don't care to get into a religious argument with anyone but I feel this needs to be said. The God or God(s) or lack there of, you believe in or not, if they exist, do not care one iota about baseball but the something not of the world truly must and that force whatever it may be is what the baseball gods truly are. Unfortunately they are not a merciful judge and they act in strange some times incomprehensible ways, I mean they have punished the Cubs for over 100 years for not leaving a goat into a stadium. What us Pirates fans have been through for the last two decades, highlighted by the last two years is most certainly not fair. And yet here I am and here you are back thinking about the 2013 Pirates team and what it might just have in store.
Talent alone will only get a team so far. The Pirates true talent level as you will see on this and may other sites is usually said to be somewhere in between 75 to 85 wins. That is a large and rather important range of outcomes and where the Pirates fall on it or possible even off of it will ultimately be determined by the force I know as the baseball gods. On paper this Pirates season doesn't look good but it looks better than a lot of the ones in the recent past but in reality this is a team that possibly more so than any other will rely on what is thrown at them or given to them by this mystical force.
For those of you who reached this point in my article I thank you. What I wrote above is most likely a bunch of malarkey and doesn't really say too much or add much to the Pirates conversation but once every year I like to write out a piece more for myself than anything and try to figure out just what it is that makes baseball just so … so … baseball. Alas I have no other words to describe it.
Analyzing the 25 Man Roster
The Pirates essentially finalized their 25 man roster earlier today. Technically speaking there are still a few additional players in camp but all of them are expected to begin the season on the DL. Overall the roster is constructed in a very expected manner and while it is not how I would have went about doing it most of the decisions are at least somewhat understandable. There are always going to be people who complain about the fringes of the 25 man roster but at the end of the day those fringes really do not matter much, it is the core of the team and the overall depth (bench, bullpen and minor leagues) that will determine the fate of a team. The 5th starter, the 5th bench spot and the 7th reliever are not really positions that will dramatically alter the course of a team so the overreaction to the Pirates decisions on those roster spots is likely overblown. With all that in mind let's take a look at how the Pirates roster looks headed into Opening Day.
C: Russell Martin
1B: Garrett Jones
2B: Neil Walker
3B: Pedro Alvarez
SS: Clint Barmes
LF: Starling Marte
CF: Andrew McCutchen
RF: Travis Snider
BN: Michael McKenry, Gaby Sanchez, Jose Tabata, John McDonald, Josh Harrison
SP: AJ Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, James McDonald, Jonathan Sanchez, Jeff Locke
RP: Jason Grilli, Mark Melancon, Jared Hughes, Tony Watson, Justin Wilson, Chris Leroux, Jeanmar Gomez
In reality the only players I would remove from the roster if I was in charge of its construction would be McDonald, Harrison (eventually Inge) and Gomez. In their place I would prefer to see Mercer, De Jesus and Morris. The other change I would like to see made is swapping Wilson and J Sanchez. Wilson is younger and in my opinion more likely to be able to contribute to the rotation for a few starts while Sanchez at this point is probably best suited trying to turn his career around as a lefty reliever. Even these changes though are for the most part temporary. When Liriano comes back I would most likely opt to bump Wilson from the rotation, when Karstens comes back I would most likely opt to bump Morris from the bullpen and I can even understand the argument for wanting McDonald over De Jesus. I don't get Harrison or Inge over Mercer though. I know Mercer can't play the outfield while the other sort of kind of can but the Pirates have enough options where they shouldn't be considering playing infielders in the outfield anyway. The other advantage Inge has is supposedly power but people seem to forget Mercer has a little pop in his bat as well, it was just 2011 when he lead the Pirates minor leagues in home runs. Still arguments over the last bench spot are basically trivial and irrelevant. I don't get why the Pirates need two (or even one) veteran middle infielders on the bench who can't hit but in reality the difference between them and the other options is most likely negligible.
With that rather long disclaimer out-of-the-way I figured now was as good as time as any to take a look at the players the Pirates have opted to bring north.
Starting Infield
The starting infield is what we expected it to be all along. Russell Martin behind the dish will be counted on to provide solid defense and hopefully will produce somewhere in the vicinity of league average offense from the catcher position. The Pirates likely overpaid for him but if his superior pitch framing skills are actually real and not just a product of catching for guys like C.C. Sabathia then there is a chance he lives up the contract or maybe even provides some surplus value. I'm not expecting much in terms of offense from him but if he can be non horrible and provide the Pirates with an OPS around .700 I would take it.
Garrett Jones likely won't be playing full-time at first base but assuming the Pirates actually stick to regularly platooning him this season he should get about 70% of the starts. Jones is here for essentially one purpose, to provide the Pirates with relatively cheap power. The rest of Jones' game is fairly unremarkable from his defense to his baserunning but he is a fair hitter with plus power. That doesn't make him a super valuable piece but it makes him an asset in the middle of the order. On the hot corner will reside Pedro Alvarez. Like Jones, Alvarez could probably benefit by sitting against some left handers but hopefully the Pirates give him a chance to prove his worth against them. Also like Jones, Alvarez is here to provide the Pirates with some power but unlike Jones, Alvarez has enough power potential where he could develop into an extremely valuable piece. Alvarez is going to strike out too much and not play the best defense at third but if he can show a little more plate discipline, draw a few more walks and continue blasting home runs he is going to have a lot of value.
Up the middle Neil Walker figures to get nearly every start at 2nd base and assuming Inge takes Harrison spot he better be starting everyday as the Pirates really won't have a viable alternative on the 25 man roster. He had some back problems near the end of last season which bares watching but in reality any injury to him would really hurt the Pirates. It is unclear whether Hurdle plans to use him near the top of the order or more towards the bottom but given the fact he is one of the few Pirates players with a decent knack for getting on base placing him near the top (or eve at the top) of the order would probably be the wisest decision. Up the middle with Walker is Clint Barmes. Barmes's value comes almost entirely from his ability to field the shortstop position very well but even so he is going to have to improve upon last year's numbers to be of much use to the Pirates. Over the last 4 months of 2012 Barmes posted an OPS of around .650 and if he is able to do that for an entire season he won't be the most glamorous shortstop but he will give the Pirates value.
Starting Outfield
The starting outfield is pretty much what we expected all along. There was a quasi competition for the corner spots but for the most part those were basically just made up as it was rather clear who should be the starters. In center field the Pirates will once again have their superstar Andrew McCutchen. There really isn't a whole lot to say about him. He is likely one of the best 10 players in the game today and in order for the Pirates to have any chance of competing he will need to perform at a MVP caliber level. McCutchen did have a few flaws last year though and hopefully this season he will improve upon them. Last season he struggled stealing bases and was a little on the weak side defensively. Considering the rest of his game these are minor points of course but shoring them up would only make him more valuable.
In the corners the Pirates will use Starling Marte and Travis Snider. I expect to see both of them rested, especially Snider, on a fairly consistent basis but they will both get a long chance to prove themselves. Marte has plus speed and is a great defender so even if he struggles with the bat this season he is likely to still provide the Pirates with value. By no means is Marte's bat weak though as he has the potential to possibly be the Pirates second best hitter this season behind only McCutchen. Marte is likely going to be forced into the leadoff spot a role he isn't really suited for since he has some strike out issues but if he can maintain a high average and show any improvement in plate discipline he should be serviceable there. In the other corner will be Snider. He doesn't have the speed or defense of Marte so he is going to have to hit to create value. People tend to think him hitting is less likely than Marte hitting well but in reality I think its a pretty even race. Snider has shown flashes in the past and comes with more power potential than Marte. The Pirates in order to have a shot at competing probably need one of these two to break out and become a true plus player and the other one will have to at least hold his own and be an average starter.
As I have previously stated the construction of the bottom of the bench really doesn't matter a whole lot but the players near the top of the bench will likely get a lot of playing time so they will matter a good deal. The top player on the bench is likely Gaby Sanchez and he is expected to pick up the 30% or so of the starts that Garrett Jones doesn't get at 1st base. Ideally Sanchez would bounce back to his 2010-11 form but that doesn't really seem likely. In reality all the Pirates need him to be is a good bat against LHP and a good PH option off the bench two roles I think he'll have no problem handling. Jose Tabata could potentially wind up in a similar situation to Sanchez only in right field. It is possible he winds up platooning with Snider and if that is the case he too will have to hit very well against left handed pitching. Tabata has the upside for more though. At this point he isn't likely to develop into your traditional starting corner outfielder but he has very good plate discipline and that alone has the potential to make him a valuable asset atop the order. His speed although it has been questioned is still above average and his defense is probably around average as well. Tabata has the makings of an OBP first starting corner outfielder or a solid 4th outfielder. He is likely to be the second most important bench player.
The third most important bench spot and the last I see with much value will go to Michael McKenry. As the backup catcher he is likely to get at least 60 starts this season and will need to continue hitting as well as he did last season to provide value in those starts. His defense is decent but often overrated by Pirates fans but his bat can make him a solid backup catcher. The last two spots are currently slated to go to Harrison and McDonald but Inge will likely eventually assume Harrison's role. In my mind the most important of these spots is the Harrison/Inge spot. This is supposedly the offensive first infield bench spot so whoever holds it down is going to have to actually you know hit at a respectable level. McDonald will serve as Barmes backup and though he is probably a touch worse both offensively and defensively his presence in the lineup for a day here or there shouldn't really cause a noticeable difference.
Starting Rotation
Right now the Pirates rotation is a bit of mess. At the top of it the Pirates have probably one of the best one-two punches they have had in a while in AJ Burnett and Wandy Rodriguez. Neither one is a true ace but both seem like fairly safe bets to put up solid numbers this season. At 36 and 34 years old respectively there is of course the chance that either Burnett or Rodriguez has reached the end of their rope as pitchers but with how both of them pitched last year it seems likely they probably have another year or two of value left in them at least. Behind them is James McDonald who si the ultimate wildcard for the Pirates. If there is a true ace currently in the Pirates rotation it is James McDonald. McDonald showed us in the first half of the season last year that he has the talent to be a number one starting pitcher but he showed us in the second half of the year that he isn't ready to be that yet and possibly never will be. What James McDonald the Pirates get this year, potential ace, borderline #5 starter or somewhere in between will probably be one of the biggest factors in how the Pirates season winds up.
Rounding out the rotation are a pitcher who amazingly actually has a wider range of possible outcomes than McDonald and a pitcher who looks like a fair bet to be a solid a back end guy but who has yet to prove it at the major league level. Jonathan Sanchez is another wildcard in the Pirates rotation but he is even less likely to pay off than McDonald. If Sanchez can keep his control problems at a minimum he will have an excellent chance of being a solid middle of the rotation starter for the Pirates but if he can't he will most definitely be a total disaster. The Pirates really can't (or at least shouldn't) be expecting much from him. If Sanchez can give the Pirates 3 or 4 non-horrible starts in the month of April without completely exploding then it should be considered a success. The other pitcher Locke is a different story. Locke pitched exceptionally well in AAA last season but in his short stint in the majors was the victim of a very unlucky high home run rate. Assuming the high home rate drops this season which it will almost assuredly do I'm fairly confident Locke can become a solid #4 starter for the Pirates and mange to keep them in almost every game. He isn't the flashiest pitcher but his performance in AAA has earned him this shot.
The back of the bullpen will consist of Jason Grilli, Mark Melancon, Tony Watson and Jared Hughes. These four actually make for a fairly solid quartet of arms. Grilli has been successful in a set up and middle relief role the last two seasons and will inherit the closer role this year. Melancon struggled last year in April and was sent down to the minors but when he returned to the majors he pitched pretty well The two of them , Grilli and Melancon, will likely be the Pirates 8th and 9th inning duo. By no means is this the best back end duo in the league but the tandem should be able to close out most leads that are handed over to them. Watson and Hughes were rather successful last season in their middle relief roles and will be counted on this season in later inning situations. Hughes will probably inherit the 7th inning role and Watson will continue being the top left handed releiver in the bullpen. The success of these two last year makes it fairly likely the adjustment should be relatively smooth.
At the front of the bullpen trying to bridge the gap to the back 4 guys will be Justin Wilson, Chris Leroux and Jeanmar Gomez. All 3 pitchers are capable of throwing multiple innings and all will likely be called upon to do so throughout the year. Wilson provides the Pirates with a second lefty and one who is more of a strike out pitcher. Leroux and Gomez will likely pick up most of the long relief duties. Both are out of options and one of them is likely to be released once pitchers began to get healthy so it will be sort of an extended competition for the duo. Leroux appears to have the more upside but Gomez has more major league experience. Leroux and Gomez are both fairly replaceable relievers so they will have to pitch well this season to remain with the team.


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Next year, if you want to adorn your kolus with dolls resembling idols of goddesses, ask Gomathy Srinivasan
Navaratri 2013 has become a sweet memory for many denizens in the city. The dolls for the kolu have all been arranged in boxes and put aside for the festival next year. However 78-year-old Gomathy Srinivasan is already making plans for the Navaratri next year. She is wondering and planning what to make for the 'bomma' kolu, because this grand old lady makes the main figurines herself.
From a distance, the figurine she makes could easily pass off as the idol of a goddess from a famed South Indian temple. Even as one looks fascinated at the well-defined features and the immaculate pleating and draping of the garment of the doll, one is amazed to learn that this true-to-life figurine of the goddess is the result of a two-day labour of love by Gomathy Srinivasan.
For Gomathy, making these figurines of goddesses has been her way of ushering in and celebrating the Navaratri festival for the past 15 years. Her dolls have been a star attraction in the 'bomma kolus' not just in her house, but also at her son's home in Dubai.
The Tamil speaking community celebrate Navaratri with 'bomma kolus', an aesthetic arrangement of dolls.
The amiable Gomathy's eyes light up as she explains the doll-making process. It begins with her cutting out pieces of cloth to make the different parts of the doll, sewing, stuffing and lining them with synthetic cotton and sponge. She uses a fabric called 'disco cloth' that is golden in colour and has a rubbery texture. Gomathy makes different kinds of dolls. While some rest on chairs, some stand upright. Various pieces of the doll are joined using wires.
The resplendence of the dolls depends on the carefully made visage and well-chiselled features. "I had them custom-made in metal from Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu years ago." Six-yard or nine-yard saris are skilfully draped on to dolls. False hair or a black shawl completes the hair-do.
The dolls are then adorned with an assortment of jewellery including a crown, neckpieces, earrings, bangles, finger rings and anklets. Colourful beads, stones, sequins, cardboard and even a used x-ray film goes into making the ornaments! Painstakingly, she has made and built up a rich collection of accessories for her dolls. "Every time I see something new, I think of how best to use it for my dolls," she says with child-like excitement.
In spite of age-related illnesses, Gomathy still does all tasks associated with making the dolls all by herself, as also its care the rest of the year. Over the years, she has recreated some of South India's most popular goddesses such as Kanyakumari Devi, Madurai Meenakshi, Andal and Mookambika. After the Navaratri, the dolls are carefully dismantled and stored carefully in special boxes until the next year.
On passing this art to others, she says candidly, "I don't know how to teach anyone; I just do it on cue." Gomathy whose tryst at making dolls began in her 60s says she feels the presence of the goddess in them. "It is a divine blessing," she smiles.
Keywords: Navaratri, kolu, kolu dolls, bomma kolus


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Guys & Girls:
School Orientated – most girls on campus are aimed at a good education. Don't get me wrong you have your rich girls there to gossip and party but over all everyone is classy and there to learn first and foremost.
Campus Quality:
Pride and Spirit! Penn State is filled with so much pride and spirit it practically flows in the drinking water!
Tons of Help, Tons of Pride – I love being in my major at PSU. Everyone in the advising department knows their stuff. They seek you out and let you know about things that would interest you such as clubs and internships. They know exactly what classes to advise you to take and they understand all of my concerns. They are also extremely Penn State Proud!
Campus Food:
Great Food – The food is better at PSU than I have had at any other college. Their is a ton of variety and there are dining halls and places to use your meal points all over campus.
Greek Life:
Greek life at Penn State is very influential, almost 20 % of the students are involved in greek life. The Sororities live on their own dorm floors and the Fraternities have houses that members can live in. Most greek organizations are very involved socially and most participate in the huge charity event called THON, which raises millions of dollars for pediatric cancer.
CATA Buses Are Great – The Penn State bus system, CATA bus is extremely helpful. Buses are available to take you on-campus for free, or off-campus for $1.50
Weather in Happy Valley isn't always very happy. LOTS of rain and snow, and usually happening at random times.
Off-Campus Housing:
Quite a Few Off-Campus Options – There are a lot of off-campus housing options for upperclassmen, but some of the better ones and ones closer to campus can be hard to get or pricey.
Campus Housing:
Dorms Are Average – Freshman dorms are small, as expected. Upperclassmen dorms are nicer and many of the dorms are newly renovated.
Off-Campus Housing:
Lots of Options – There are a ton of options for off-campus housing at PSU- apartments, houses, townhouses, co-ops! The costs vary as well but are relatively the same prices as living on-campus. Many housing choices extremely close to campus so no car is needed.
Off-Campus Dining:
Great Downtown – There is so much variety downtown, and things cost about what I would expect in a college town. Some stuff is overpriced, but there are plenty of good deals. One of my favorite restaurants is Baby's, and they have a half-price milk shake night, as well as a $3 sliders night.
No Trouble at All – To officially become a Psych major, you must take a specific handful of classes, as well as have a 2.0 GPA. The vast majority of people should be able to get in easily.
As a Psych B.S. I find that I have a lot of choices in the classes I take, as well as competent professors. I have only had one professor that I haven't enjoyed in my field, and that class was easy so I didn't mind. I'm using my major option (Neuroscience) as a stepping stone to medical school, and could not be happier with my choice.
Off-Campus Dining:
Huge Variet – There are a plethora of restaurants to eat at off campus in State College. Another great part about these restaurants is that they deliver and you can order your meal online using lionmenus.com. There are always great discounts and several options for each cuisine.
CATA Buses Are About as Reliable as a '56 Pinto – The CATA buses are never on time and the ones that run off campus only come every 20 minutes, and usually more around every 30 minutes. The only ones you can count on are the Express buses, but they don't run on the weekends.
Health & Safety:
You're Always Safe, Just Don't Be Stupid. Most kids who get robbed on campus (or off) are the ones that leave their doors or windows unlocked. Seriously guys? You won't get raped (unless you're really drunk and in a dark alley), and no one will mug you. It's pretty safe all around, and really, there's nothing to worry about.
Wireless Is Everywhere... Except the Dorms. The computer labs are plentiful and there are tons of computers. They are pretty fast and you can do a lot of stuff on them because they're pre-loaded with the Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc) and some of them are equipped for video recording. You get 200 free prints every semester, but they don't roll over :( There's wireless all over campus EXCEPT in the dorms. They're talking about putting it in, but it'll be at least 5 years before it happens. The speeds are consistently fast, and if you're wired in you'll get about 2 MB down. I'd definitely recommend getting a laptop for portability. You can get wireless anywhere, so you might as well take advantage of it!
Off-Campus Dining:
Where You Want to Be! PSU offers at least one every type (Italian, Mexican, Indian, Asian, American and etc...) of restaurant and always a discount through LionMenu.com or other avenues.
Campus Housing:
West Hall Is Where It's at – I started in North Halls my freshman year, and moved out by the end of the first semester. I switched into West Halls, which is somewhat central to campus. Nothing is too far away. The dining halls are excellent, the rooms are big, and there are even single rooms available. The buildings and the quad are gorgeous. Nothing beats sitting out in West quad on a sunny afternoon. Eat the cookies in the dining hall! They are amazing.
Campus Quality:
Great Experience – Unlike other colleges where a college is placed in a town; here the town is placed near the college. All the revenue is directly or indirectly ran through PSU which shows in how they cater to the students. They always have activities and artist showcasing concerts. Everything you need is in a walking distance (no car needed). Restaurants, bars or whatever you need is a block way.
I did not run into any problems with applying to Penn state. Just waiting for the acceptance was the long part.
A Good Mix – At Penn State, at least at University Park, there is a great deal of diversity. I have met students from all over the United States and all over the world. Sure, the university is still predominantly white, but there are plenty of other ethnicities around as well.
Health & Safety:
Pretty Safe – Even though there have been crimes on campus there is not one time I have not felt unsafe were I could not walk back to the dorm by myself. I know that every floor of the dorms have meetings to go over safety regulations and at night if I come back to my dorm late I notice security going around checking the doors to all the dorm buildings.
Since I'm entering my second year I haven't parked on campus because I was not aloud to have a car yet; however, I have friends that do and they always complain about some of the parking. They like the fact that they can park so close to the dorm they stay in, but they don't like how much they have to pay for it. There is also an option for parking that is further away that you have to take a bus to get there. I wouldn't mind to take a bus to a location to pay less, but I don't like the fact that I have to go so far for my vehicle.
Campus Food:
Always Fills Me up – All the dining halls are buffet style. For the meal plan I can get all the food I want and be and full so that I am not worrying about eating while I am studying, but not just the dining areas, there are plenty of other places to eat on campus that are very good. All the places campus can fill me up, but unlike fast food places I don't feel greasy and gross when I'm finished eating. Even though the food is great for the money I pay are two places on campus that don't give discounts to students, so I couldn't give them a perfect score.
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Despite common reservations about the location and climate, most Penn State students are fiercely loyal to their alma mater. Penn State boasts one of the largest alumni populations in the United States; graduates are proud of their degrees, and employers recognize the University's name immediately. Although the campus is located in a very rural area, school is technologically up-to-date and on the cutting-edge of current research.
Aside from academics, PSU is also known for its social scene, especially in relation to sports and parties. Nittany Lion football—home of the 2008 Big Ten Champions—is a national draw and a point of pride for both the University and the town of State College. For anyone interested in playing or watching varsity sports, PSU is a top choice. Penn State has also been ranked highly by many polls and "party school" surveys as one of the top party schools in the nation. While it certainly isn't the wildest town, these rankings are definitely accurate. The small-town setting and large-school atmosphere makes for little else in the way of entertainment, so it can be hard to avoid encountering the party scene during your time as a student. Still, the mix of work and leisure seems to work well for most of the student body, and academic standards at Penn State remain relatively high. It's easy to spend four years at Penn State as an ever-serious student, focused completely on whatever you choose to study. With so many opportunities to relax nearby, balance and moderation are some of the best skills to learn from your four years in college.
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MotoGP/AMA Pro racing: Land of Fruits and Nuts (Hella Spoilers, dude)
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Here, Now.
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: North of you, probably
Oddometer: 2,891
Originally Posted by
No it is awesome. They time the commercials so you miss all the best passes and then the idiot US commentator talks about tons of useless drivel after they cut back to the racing so you miss another minute or so of action. Generally they will also have this awesome pointless 15 minutes at the beginning where they talk about stuff like the color of Horhe Lorentho's underwear while completely ignoring the podium stuff and interviews at the end of the race which are a complete waste of time anyhow. I think that they have it down to a science now so that they only show 20 minutes of the actual race. It gets better every race!
I think of all the people that waste all that cash for the MotoGP package to see the bikes actually race and just laugh. I am hoping next year they get rid of the Brit commentators and bring back Ralph "I'm a clueless D-Bag" Shaheen and Scott "when I get excited you can't understand a single thing I say" Russell. That and at least three Progressive "Flo" commercials every break. Heaven!!!
Don't forget the ever-important replay of the start while the race is happening, usually missing some epic passing.
"Live your own life, for you will die your own death"
Roman proverb
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Sunnyvale, CA (PRWEB) September 04, 2014
Code Green Networks, the leading provider of enterprise Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions for the Healthcare Industry since 2004, announced that its Data Loss Prevention solution is now available for major cloud storage and collaboration providers and is currently being deployed by leading university hospitals and healthcare systems.
"The need for healthcare providers to share files and collaborate across entities while maintaining regulatory compliance is increasing dramatically," said Chris Leffel, Director of Product Management at Code Green Networks. "By working with leading cloud storage providers--including Box, Citrix ShareFile and Egnyte--we are providing an elite healthcare DLP solution that simplifies sharing files in a truly secure environment."
The Code Green Networks Healthcare DLP Solution includes the company's unique Database Record Matching (DBRM™). DBRM is a data detection technology with unparalleled accuracy, developed by Code Green Networks, that uses mathematical representations of the actual patient data from Electronic Health Record systems to look for Protected Health Information when inspecting anywhere PHI would be problematic: in email, in web postings, on file shares and in cloud storage and collaboration services. This method provides a significant advantage to its users by more accurately identifying true PHI than any other detection technique.
Code Green Networks continues to invest significant resources in its Data Loss Prevention Solution for healthcare organizations--it is the only enterprise Data Loss Prevention solution that:
Code Green Networks is currently offering a 30-day Proof of Concept (POC) trial to enterprise healthcare organizations to provide you visibility into data loss occurrences from within your organization so you can further protect vulnerable PHI. To get more information, visit: http://www.codegreennetworks.com/healthcare-dlp-trial-offer
About Code Green Networks (http://www.codegreennetworks.com)
Code Green Networks delivers solutions that help enterprises protect and manage regulated and other sensitive digital information across their data network, whether local, remote, mobile or in the cloud. The company's solutions have been tested and proven through daily use by hundreds of deployments in large and small organizations across the United States and around the globe. By investing over 200 man years in software development and working closely with customers since 2004, Code Green Networks has applied innovative technology to produce Data Loss Prevention solutions with the most advanced capabilities available to locate, identify and manage regulated data.


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The world first personal robots capable of understanding emotions are here. Krishna Bahirwani finds out the details.
Whenever we think of the future, one of the things that is always mentioned is we have robots as helpers. This future may be closer than most people think, pepper is a pro-active robot with algorithms that allow it to understand his surroundings and react accordingly. Pepper can also communicate with humans, coming out of the factory with features like joint technology that can understand graceful gestures, and emotion recognition which analyses human expressions and voice tones.
The best part of Pepper is not its current features, its the ability to add applications that will be created by developers all over the world. What developers create can add functionality to Pepper's different capabilities including motion, conversation and sensors. The Aldebaran software development kit (SDK) will be provided for creating robot apps, and in September during a technology festival in Tokyo we will have the rest of the details of what to expect.Pepper will be available for sale in Japan from SoftBank Mobile, February next year for a starting price of JPY 198,000.
Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO of SoftBank Corp., commented, "Since foundation, we have followed our corporate philosophy of 'Information Revolution – Happiness for everyone.' To realize our vision, we have made a new entry into the robot business with the aim of developing affectionate robots that make people smile. Using emotion engines and Cloud AI, which evolves with collective wisdom, we're making this happen. As our first entry, we are pleased to offer the world's first personal robot that reads emotions, Pepper, which we developed with Aldebaran."
"For the past nine years, I've believed that the most important role of robots will be as kind and emotional companions to enhance our daily lives, to bring happiness, constantly surprise us, and make people grow," said Bruno Maisonnier, Founder & CEO of Aldebaran. "The emotional robot will create a new dimension in our lives and new ways of interacting with technology. It's just the beginning, but already a promising reality. Thanks to Pepper, the future begins today and we want all of you to be a part of it."
"Understanding my emotions would would give it the ability to be able to do things like getting me my favorite desert when I'm upset setting it apart from robots that can only help with mundane tasks. The addition of these personalized services is what makes Pebble different" said Vidhi Shah, a student of psychology at Jai Hind College.


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Photos | Videos Dodge Diesel
Since Dodge's beginnings in 1914, the company has offered trucks to consumers. After World War II, Dodge introduced its four-wheel-drive Power Wagon. In 1981, Dodge introduced the Ram pickup line. In 2009, the Dodge truck division was changed over to Ram Trucks, and currently Ram offers mid-size and full-size trucks in both gasoline and diesel options, featuring optional powerplants that include its popular Hemi V8 engines and Cummins turbo-diesel engines.
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With refined lines and a 32mm case size, the Tristen two-tone makes a statement yet remains feminine. Like all Coach watches, it was crafted by a master watchmaker for accuracy, durability and water resistance to a depth of 99 feet.
Currently, Coach products bought on Belk.com cannot be shipped to Hawaii, US Territories or APO/FPO addresses.
- Style no: 14501781
- Deployment closure; sizable
- Approximate bracelet width: 16mm; approximate case diameter: 32mm
- Quartz movement; mineral crystal
- Water-resistant to 99 feet
- Stainless steel case with two-tone bracelet
- Imported
COACH products cannot be shipped to Hawaii, APO/FPO addresses, the Virgin Islands or Guam.
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Shipping your purchase is easy on belk.com. Depending on the destination of your package, you can expect it to arrive within 4-7 business days. Shipping Information
Returns are easy on belk.com. Easy returns
Founded in a New York loft in 1941, Coach has grown into an iconic American luxury brand, bringing its New York heritage of tradition, innovation and quality craftsmanship to discerning customers from all over the globe. Whether it's handbags, men's bags, women's and men's small leather goods, weekend and travel accessories, footwear, watches, outerwear, scarves, sunwear, fragrance or jewelry, every precisely crafted piece is made with care, using premium leathers, handcrafted hardware and fabrics from the world's best mills. All are marked with the Coach logo to show the brand's continued dedication to excellence and modern design.