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It recommends that more be done to improve post-award morale
"Forest Service ended year with A-76 savings"
SHARE A-76 Web site
New Tools for Implementing 'Most Efficient Organizations' in the Federal Government
More than 25,000 federal employees are now part of new organizations created under competitive sourcing, a policy that Bush administration officials have promoted to improve government operations and save money. Now the challenge is to identify promising practices to make those organizations as effective as they can be, said Matthew Blum, associate administrator for competitive sourcing at the Office of Management and Budget.
Blum spoke at a recent symposium on competitive sourcing sponsored by the National Academy of Public Administration, a congressionally chartered group of policy experts that advises federal, state and local governments. NAPA's report on that symposium describes how agencies are still adjusting to the disruptive effects of competitive sourcing. But it offers recommendations to help them cope with unexpected consequences of the administration's management initiative.
OMB's Circular A-76 established the rules for competitive sourcing. Under those rules, federal agencies can reorganize federal employees into workgroups known as most-efficient organizations. Agencies often choose to reorganize their information technology organizations to form MEOs. NAPA found that MEOs spend substantially less on employee salaries and benefits because agencies consolidate administrative functions, re-engineer processes and introduce new automation when they create the organizations.
Like all MEOs, those formed to offer IT services operate under a letter of obligation, which is similar to a contract. That agreement establishes the amount of money that the MEO will receive and the IT service standards that it must meet.
The NAPA report recommends, for example, that agencies specify in the MEO letter of obligation the methods and data desired for measuring its performance.
It also quotes Bruce McDowell, director of a recent NAPA project to review the Agriculture Department's Forest Service MEO. "I bet there is not a single person in the federal government who is really good at managing an MEO — this new hybrid," he said. "We are still inventing how to do it."
NAPA closely examined the Forest Service's Information Solutions Organization and found that it had a fairly successful first year in 2005. But it was not without problems. For example, because it remains subject to federal employee, budgeting and purchasing regulations, the MEO cannot respond to changing workloads as quickly as Forest Service officials had anticipated.
Jacqueline Myers, associate deputy chief of business operations at the Forest Service, said Forest Service managers have not yet adjusted to the new way of managing IT.
"This organizational change, and especially the change to a contract-like relationship with our own internal employees, has been very difficult," she said during the NAPA-organized symposium. "Our management tends to continue to operate in the way that it had been accustomed."
The adjustments have been especially difficult in the area of purchasing, Myers said. "The type of things that employees have been able to weigh in on significantly in the past, such as what equipment to buy, when to buy and what kind to buy, are now made at a much higher level in the organization — for the good of the organization," she said. "But quite frankly, it all sounds good until you tell me I can't buy what I want to buy when I want to buy it. This has been a challenge to us, and we are working our way through it."
NAPA also found significant morale problems within the MEO ranks. "We did a lot of change-management training, but quite frankly, it was not enough," Myers said.
The reorganization of IT services placed unusual stress on employees, who "are subject to new and stressful performance requirements and to major transformations in their job responsibilities, organizational relationships and workloads," NAPA states in its report.
That situation has created attrition and recruitment problems, according to the report.
Stan Soloway, president of the Professional Services Council, has criticized A-76 competitions in the past for being stacked against companies. He said he empathizes with MEO employees who no longer feel their jobs are secure. But, he added, "I'm not sure that's a problem we can solve if we're serious about improving the efficiency and quality of service the government provides."
Before the reorganization, the Forest Service had 1,260 full-time employees providing support for desktop and laptop PCs, servers, computer software, network connections, information security, voice and video telecommunications, and radios. Now it has 538 full-time federal employees providing that support. They report to the agency's Information Resources Management Office, which has about 100 full-time federal employees.
NAPA concluded that it is too early to tell how much the A-76 competition and reorganization have improved IT services at the Forest Service. But the pared-down IT organization has done well enough that the agency has extended its letter of obligation for another year.
Source: National Academy of Public Administration
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Davey Johnson ambled into the dining room in the Washington Nationals' clubhouse early Monday afternoon, laid eyes on his 20-year-old outfielder and smiled.
"Is that really you?" Johnson asked Bryce Harper. "Are you ready to go?"
Harper smiled. "I'm ready," he told his manager.
Thirty-one games after he was last in the lineup for the Nationals, Harper was activated from the disabled list Monday and slotted back into the No. 3 spot in the order, homering in his first at-bat. His presence on the lineup card alone was enough to entirely change the dynamic of the Nationals' construction.
"I'm excited to get going," Harper said, wearing a backwards cap and a red shirt that read, "When you wanna succeed as much as you wanna breathe."
"I'm excited to be back out there on the field and back on this club," he added. "I'm really looking forward to tonight."
With Harper back, the Nationals went back to the type of lineup they had at the season's outset but have been rarely able to use since because of various injuries.
Jayson Werth moved back into the No. 2 spot and second baseman Anthony Rendon, who had filled that slot beautifully the past 15 games, dropped into the No. 7 spot.
Suddenly, the Nationals' lineup looked a whole lot longer.
"It was fun thinking about it last night," Johnson said of getting as close to having the team's Opening Day lineup together as he has in months. "When I came in, [hitting coach] Rick Eckstein had it written out for me. I said, 'Yeah, that's where we're going.' It is fun."
Johnson opted to put Werth back in the No. 2 spot for a number of reasons, but mostly because of his history as a player who gets on base consistently and because of Harper's comfort hitting behind Werth in the lineup.
At this point in their respective careers, Johnson felt Werth has a little bit more pop in his bat for that spot, to put more pressure on opposing managers, and Rendon could provide better protection for shortstop Ian Desmond than he's had for much of the year.
"I want them to give the opposing manager pause before he brings in his bullpen, a left-hander, to go through those three left-handers in the first five [in the lineup]," Johnson said. "It's not a slap at Rendon at all. The other guy's got a proven track record."
As for Harper, his tour through the minor leagues gave him the added confidence that he has largely put his battle with bursitis in his left knee behind him.
Harper played in four rehab games with Nationals minor league affiliates and pushed himself to fully test his knee. He came away pleased.


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I disagree with the premise that we're sacrificing a LOT of playing time. Bay isn't going to make the club, and if he does, he'll only be stealing time from Casper Wells, who the front office has decided it doesn't like. Ibanez is a fifth outfielder...he might get 300 ABs strategically against tough right handed pitchers that would give guys like Morse the most trouble and in the late innings and such.
And the fact that Morales and Morse are here on one-year deals says that they're not in anyone's way...if the club doesn't stay in contention, they get traded and here come the kiddies! If they do stay in contention...did you want your kiddies in there at line-up slots 2-7?
Frankly, I think the only guys that adding Morse and Morales impacted for playing time are lame prospects that don't merit playing time if you're serious about winning anyway. Guys like Liddi, Smoak if he doesn't hit, Carp (who is gone now, sadly) Thames, Wells, etc. What they DO do...is positively influence the prospects that MATTER. We need Ackley, Montero and Smoak to hit. We paid premium jack to get those guys...and they are a collective total failure thus far. They have got to hit. Period. And forcing them to do it as the center of an inexperienced and undermanned offense is asking a lot. There's nothing wrong with bulking up the MOTO to give the prospects you're actually planning to win your next pennant with a better chance to succeed and sacrificing your lesser prospects as a result.
Amigos reply to my Morales and Morse question with the counter, "That's what they're HERE for. To help develop the kids. Pressure's off them, they can benefit from the example, etc."
The explanation is eminently *logical* on the face of it. And without a doubt that IS part of what the Mariners are thinking - that if Justin Smoak hits 7th, in a lineup that is ahead 6-3 that evening, that Smoak will relax into this game. For sure that's included in their thinking.
Couple things, though, once we look at it in 3-D...
1. I don't even think that Morales, a Cuban (not Spanish or Mexican), communicates very well with guys like Smoak, Ackley, and Saunders, does he?
Kendrys Morales, and Michael Morse, as short-lifers with odd personalities, are very questionable templates for the "team captain" role. Kevin Millwood yes. Kelly Shoppach yes. Raul Ibanez yes. Mike Morse? Are you kidding? :- ) He's here to hit thirty dingers. (For one year!, and then maybe we'll see.)
2. Morales, Morse, Bay, Shoppach, and Ibanez are going to TAKE AWAY one whale of a lot of at-bats from the kids.
If the primary goal is to develop the kids, you've overdone it. You've added 10c worth of positive influence and taken away 25c worth of actual game-time experience for them.
Showing them how it's done is fine. Making them all sit and watch is another thing. Looks to me like there are wayyyy too many vets here for it to be simply about leadership.
3. Why target the acquisitions so determinedly to produce runs -- e.g. the pursuit of Morse and Upton *after* the acquisition of Morales?
Ibanez, Shoppach, Sweeney, Millwood, guys who lead in roles without pushing the kids OUT, those guys are around.
4. For that matter, why the trade of Walker/Franklin/etc for Justin Upton this season rather than next?
If 2014 is the mission, wouldn't you get more for Walker (Paxton, Hultzen) after they've been in the bigs in 2013? It's pretty shrill to trade them right now. And the reported Upton package was extremely shrill (not to say "incorrect").
5. Veteran leadership could be provided by a Griffey-Sweeney type combo, or Morse-Ibanez for example ... but why BOTH Morse and Morales, if the goal is merely to influence the young guys? After they got Morales, and had Ibanez figured out, the imperative to add yet another banger was increased.
The suggestion that Morse and Morales and Bazooka Joe are PRIMARILY there to influence kids - in syllogism form it makes sense. In the context of Zduriencik's signalled intentions I don't think that it does.
There is one sliver of possible middle ground here. If you buy the idea that hitting is contagious, and that Ackley and Smoak need to play in a high-scoring lineup.
You've still paying one whale of a price in game time sacrificed, if your Grand Theme is to develop the kids ...
Hm - :: taps chin ::
I disagree with the premise that we're sacrificing a LOT of playing time. Bay isn't going to make the club, and if he does, he'll only be stealing time from Casper Wells, who the front office has decided it doesn't like. Ibanez is a fifth outfielder...he might get 300 ABs strategically against tough right handed pitchers that would give guys like Morse the most trouble and in the late innings and such.
. . . they're here to buy a year so Z doesn't lose his job before the young guns arrive.
Quoth, "You've added 10c worth of positive influence and taken away 25c worth of actual game-time experience for them.'
Perhaps the kids had $22 worth of game-time experience and $0.37 worth of positive influence. Perhaps that 10c of the one thing would result in a greater positive net impact even after sacrificing the 25c worth of the other thing. Perhaps the kids are just...that....close to the tipping point and bringing in:
1) Positive veteran leadership to show them how it's supposed to be done and
2) An external offensive presence to take the load off
were identified as the necessary components to move the kids over the tipping point.
Wish I had the answer.
Yeah, the acquisition of Morales doesn't really fit. Production is important every year though. We have tried Griffey-Sweeney types in the past and it wasn't enough without a consistent MOTO.
I mostly think that developmentally the acquisitions of the M named M's is in moving expectations away from younger players. There's not as much pressure now for any of them to produce beyond what normally would be for any player of their age, experience and skills. Maybe still Ackley as he will still be leading off, but using rookies like Saunders, Seager, Smoak and Monteroat #3/4 won't be the case this year. Not that any were rookies going into this year but all of them spent time in the MOTO in their rookie years. I'm not saying it does necessarily impact their production in a negative way, but it takes the excuse away.
I do think there is an imperative every year to improve as much a you can without losing sight of long term goals. No transaction that was completed gave up long term for short term specifically, aside from playing time for some questionable outfielders. None of the core is affected by the acquisitions in playing time except for possibly Montero at DH, unless you consider Wells a core player. Saunders, Seager, Ackley, Smoak and Montero should all expect to be unaffected in playing time for as long as their respective leashes seem reasonable.
The attempted trade for Upton was definitely a trading long term for short term move regardless of the players that were involved. As bad as the offense has been doing everything possible to make it better in peak and depth seemed a huge need to me going into the offseason. I think they've done very well.
I understand the idea if going for it vs waiting but I think Zduriencik sees it as an either way season. If things go well the end of July will likely see acquisitions, if not we'll probably see selling. Zduriencik has always cautioned against saying what the team should be on that level before the games are played and the acquisitions seem to fit an undecided attitude. All except Joe Saunders, that is. Saunders is the only acquisition I really see as taking time away from young players development.
The additional offense creates a much more nurturing environment into which to introduce a bushel of brilliant young arms. Not unlike the Seahawks being willing to hand the keys to a rookie QB because their defense and running game would not require said QB to carry the team.
Our troop of spectacular young guns is about to be deployed upon the American League. Much better for them to join a team that can grab them an early lead, play add-on, and put them into the proverbial rocking chair. The pressure on our pitching staff the last few years has been ridiculous - give up 3 runs and the game is lost!
Additionally, if we subscribe to the theory of "high stress innings" being more strongly correlated with pitcher arm injuries than total innings pitched, the improved offense will help avoid overtaxing those young arms while also protecting the organization's prime asset - the golden right arm of el Cartelua.
I think Jack Z. Is banking on Beaven, Garland, Bonderman, keeping the back end of the rotation warm just long enough for the young guys to arrive. I expect (and suspect Jack does too) these guys to start arriving this year. They will likely come one at a time, whenever each *shows* he is ready (and/or passes the Super 2 cutoff). Keeping them in the minor a little longer is also a strategic way to limit their total innings this year so we don't have to Strasburg them in the midst of a playoff run.
http://m.mlb.com/sea/news/article/2013022041812932/ Morse has immediately come in and been a cheerleader for the team and the city, he's been very open talking about his personal struggles in establishing his big league career, I'm just waiting at this point for the story off him taking Alex Liddi under his tutelage. It seems to me that he has immediately stepped up as team captain.
That said, I'm with you on Morales and Morse being brought in here to give the team a chance to truly compete and not just keep from embarrassing themselves. IF Z just wanted leadership, he would have got Bay and Ibanez and called it good, the Mariners won 75 games last year and the team didn't lose anyone while gaining the Astros. This team is put together so that a breakout from a couple of kids puts the Mariners in the playoffs.
The consensus seems to be -- Shine on you crazy Jack-man, bring in the legit offense and let the kids fit in much more gently. Surprising to me that this would be so popular, but kind of cool.
Question. Where were Morales and Morse last year? In 2012, the kids were swimming in the deep end all alone. Though much less prepared a year ago, they were given much more responsibility. Now, far more prepared, their dutes are cut back drastically.
What's going on NOW, that the 2013 zig should be SO oblique against the 2012 zag?
The org is correcting what was, in 2012, a strategic blunder?
Adding the Z-axis to these variables is convincing.
Not sure I agree :- ) but the counter-point is hard to refute.
First thing Zduriencik says about him. The sincerity of Morse's desire to help fellow Mariners is irresistible.
Not sure that makes him a team captain type, but the point is well taken. :daps:
My opinion is that Z is buying time. If the big 5 (Erasmo, Hultzen, Walker, Paxton, and Maurer) and the other big 5 (Smoak, Ackley, Montero, Franklin, Miller) don't work out, Z is out of a job. In this regard, Jaso, Morales, and Morse are irrelevant and his strategy was set years ago and has not changed.
What has set in is his preservation instinct, a preservation instinct that has him buying time. His goal is to insure that if enough of those big 10 pay-off, HE is still around to benefit from it. Or From the perspective of your prior posts, these are tactical decisions to buy him more time to let his strategy play out, not a change in strategy.
Just my 2 cents.
The casual fan reads this article and takes away from it: "Cool. Doc thinks that Morse is going to hit 30 dingers". The finer points of macro strategy and organizational goals and inconsistent modus opperandi of upper management are as invisible in the light of 30 dingers as if I was trying to watch Venus eclipse the sun with the naked eye. You get a telescope with a shade on it and maybe you see a little speck in there somewhere.
Time to get out some shades and bask.
I notice Ackley is the only one you're supremely confident it wouldn't ruin. I also notice he's the only one still slated to be in a higher pressure spot in the lineup.
It's not exactly my theory, I mention it because I've heard it so much from said players and their Manager. It's their theory. Wedge believes in the effects and more importantly the players believe in the effects. It's easier to get new players than change their beliefs.
Is a good way to look at it, I think. Maybe last year he was to all in on Fielder and got caught without what he wanted. I don't know what options were available last year especially early in the season but I can't imagine there were many that looked good for more than last year. It was more pertinent after seeing Montero and Smoak not being ready for MOTO duties than it was before last season. I mean, now Seager might be good enough for one of those spots, but there really was need for at least one more.
Regardless of partial reasoning it's improvement to the roster. They could have said Seager and Montero look like our MOTO but then one injury and wedge is having no fun. Besides now instead of #3/4 they are #5/6 or 2/5 more often. The whole of the lineup is improved by improving the other spots over what would have been there as well.
I'm having a hard time buying in on the idea that Morse and Morales were acquired to let Smoak and Ackley "relax' into excellence.
Not the likely reason.
Ackley is a thoroughbred, man. Everytime the gate opens he's going hard. He's played with pressure his whole lifetime. Being 19-yr old in the ACC is a pressure-filled situation. He's used to pressure. I'll guarantee he will tell you that last year was no more filled with pressure than the year before. His performance was not pressure related. Why was there more pressure on him last year than as a rookie?
And I just don't think you can statistically show that bringing in the hired bats makes the rest of the lineup hit better. Coincidentally it might happen......but coincidentally it might not.
You bring in Mike Morse because he just might give you 30 homers, not because he might give you 30 Liddi or Smoak homers. Or 30 Carp homers!!!! Why not keep him, then? Establishing a casual relationship demands more than anecdotal evidence.
We've gone all in for serious improvement in '13. That's the point in all of Z's move. Whether I agree with them (Morse, Morales, Saunders) or don't (Raul), the theme is "Win THIS Day."
Last year Wedge intended to have grizzled vet types at C and 3B. He hoped to have siginificant experience at SS and CF. Carp and Ackley and Smoak were hardly wild bets, considering their performance the year before. Well, Smoak was probably still a bit of a long bet. Last year failed because our grizzled vets were terrible, Carp never got out of the box, Ackley found a huge slump, Smoak established himself as not very good, Guti collapsed, and Ryan hit like Mario Mendoza. Thank goodness for Seager and Saunders, guys who came out of nowhere, really.
Young guys, BTW. Why didn't a fizzling Olivo and frightful Figgy ruin their years, too?
And I don't think that Mo-Mo are just one year wonders.....I don't think Jack buys that, either. One of those guys will re-up...or both. Watch.
We're better than we were in '12. Significantly better. We will be better yet in '14.
Play ball.
I don't see 2012 so much as a blunder as a year to throw the offensive (pun noted) spaghetti against the wall to see who would stick. Done knowing full well that the arms were coming but were at least 1-1.5 years away.
Get some ABs under the belts of the young hitters, find out who is a keeper and who isn't, clear some payroll deadwood, aim to be a legit contender in 2014. Being a legit contender in 2014 to me means at least a couple of the young guns getting significant (~100) MLB innings in 2013.
Next offseason we add a big bat (Stanton?) to an 88 win team and its game on!
2012 wasn't a CHOICE. 2012 was a result based on the baggage left behind from 2009-2011.
The 2012 roster started with:
Those four players had sizeable contracts, (except Ryan, but the club had no better option than Ryan).
In March, "the plan" included Guti and Carp as regulars.
Saunders and Figgins in the OF wasn't "the plan" -- it was the result of circumstances beyond Z's control - and the baggage from previous years.
Without the Carp njury, it is (IMO), likely Saunders plays most of 2012 in AAA and Seager is fighting for PT coming from a coach with a strong predisposition toward veteran entitlement.
Where were Morse and Morales in 2012? They were Jaso and the intractable roster spots for Olivo, Ichiro and Ryan.
Morse and Morales are POSSIBLE in 2013 specifically because Ichiro is gone and it is POSSIBLE to dump Carp, (and Thames and Trayvon, etc., etc., etc.)
While I hate to see Carp go, it is a vastly superior position than being forced to eat up roster space with a worse than useless veteran who had (apparently) earned the right to go out and embarass himself for ANOTHER 66 games.
There has been a lot of angst about all the 1-year contracts. But, this misses the point that "getting good" is different than "staying good". Tampa ... Texas ... Oakland ... all went from bad to good by SLASHING salary, limiting long term deals and building rosters dominated by short term and mostly low paying contracts. This isn't about stars and scrubs - it is about FLEXIBILITY. If Carp fails - go get a new body. If Figgins fails (with a 4-year contract just under 8 figures a year), you are forced to live with that mistake for at least 3 years.
The pink elephant that everyone continues to ignore is that Seattle STILL has not managed to produce an .800 bat from within in a dozen years. They certainly threw plenty of shiny propsects at that target last year - and every one failed. Smoak, Ackley, Seager, Saunders, Montero all failed to hit .800. The closest they have come in the past 12 years was the .791 in half a season from Carp.
The combo of experience (plus the park change) should end that streak this year. But, the simple truth is the slump has not ended yet. Until it does, Seattle cannot possibly become a legit contender (barring a choice to spend the $200 million a year needed to build an offense without ANY cheap-year productive talent.
I like the odds that 1 or more of the kids does break out and become an offensive star this year. But, it's no guarantee. If/when some of these kids come through, then you actually know who to reward and what slots you need to pull in multi-year talent to keep the ship moving. But, as Texas and Anaheim both demonstrated last year ... it quickly gets VERY expensive to stay on top.
I have serious doubts about any "positive" impact Ibanez might have.
He returned to Seattle in 2004. That just happened to be the season Seattle plunged from 93 to 63 wins. (not saying he is to blame, just stating the facts).
His final year was 2008, (the club won 61 games).
In the first post-Ibanez season, the club won 85. (again, not saying "causation"), but clearly not a data point that argues for "added value", considering he was easily the most productive bat for Seattle in 2008.
Some of the young guys Ibanez had the opportunity to positively influence:
Yuni Betancourt
Jeremy Reed
Jose Lopez
Mike Morse
Adam Jones
Wlad Balentien
I mean ... seriously ... the club finally ditches the king of veteran-who-doesn't-help-anybody-else-at-all last season, and the kids production picks up ... yet, six months later the same drumbeat of the kids needing a dose of veteran-leadership doesn't even pause.
The Os got rid of Vlad and Lee and got better.
Who brought the magic veteran leadership potion to Oakland last season?
Why is it impossible for people to accept that Longoria or Posey or Cespedes is capable of bringing the makes-others-better magic to turn a club around, even without a decade of MLB (tm) experience?
Okay .. I protest too much ... perhaps. But, honestly, if one is looking for positive influence on others shouldn't one at least take the time to look at the pattern of behavior where a veteran HAS moved around, (like Ibanez)? When your coming/going win differential is 54 games to the BAD ... how does one justify the contention that Ibanez is actually likely to have any kind of positive benefit to anyone around him?
I don't think Ibanez is there to teach the young hitters how to hit. I think he's there to serve as Wedge's liason to the clubhouse. It's more about Wedge than it is the players.
I agree with the benefits of adding the legit MOTO hitters, leadership, examples, etc., even at the possible, minimal impact on the kid's playing time. The other side of it is that the moves cost the team nothing they weren't ready to spend on roster salaries anyway. We paid no big FA contract and kept the #12 pick. Ibanez gets his victory lap at our benefit, and Morse and Morales are walk year rentals. If they do poorly, they walk away without costing much. If they do well, they can be dealt at the deadline, as they are marketable bats for contending teams. If we keep them for the year, we can extend them if they are willing, or make a qualifying offer ($14M?) which they accept or we get a pick in return. I like the prospects of them doing well. 2013 has the team in a good position.
Oakland had Brandon Inge, Jonny Gomes, and Coco Crisp, all veterans that had played on successful teams.
Baltimore had Mark Reynolds, Jim Thome, and Nate McLouth.
Tampa had Jose Molina, Ben Zobrist, and Carlos Lee.
Yes, there are some amazing talents who are mature and capable of dealing with the transition to the majors with very little support, but rookies are guys in there 20s, making incredible sums of money and traveling the countries largest cities for the first time in their lives while facing the best competition the world has to offer. Having a few guys that have a method to their preparation before each game or series, who have a regimen to keeping themselves in shape and healthy through the season, who know how to process a tough loss our series of losses without carrying it through to the next game or can help keep a young guy from getting into bad habits trying to break out of a slump.
Ibanez tried with Betancourt and Lopez, but sometimes people don't learn. It's not like Lopez or Betancourt or Reed blossomed when they left, Jones was only on the same team for a couple months over 2 years. Morse blossomed the next year and might have in 2008 if not for injury.
Inge: 86 OPS+ (just above career average)
Gomes: 140 OPS+
Crisp: 105 OPS+
Reynolds: 107
Thome 103
McLouth 111
Molina 80 (way better than his career average)
Zobrist 138
Pena,,,not Lee, btw, 94
Minus Pena, those guys all produced. It wasn't their veteran status...it was their bat.
Raul has to hit. Just being there isn't enough.
Remember, Jack was standing next to the contract signing desk with breifcases full of money ready for Prince to pull up a chair. The Tigers blowing up the Prince market *must* have been a torpedo in the entirety of the team-building battleship. Subsequent moves do not make sense otherwise.
As an aside, how steamed must Jack be at Detroit? Fister and Prince...man.
Definitely meant Pena, I didn't mean to get my Carloses crossed. Raul Ibanez hit for a 104 OPS+ last year. I agree that he has to hit to earn a spot, just like Bay and Morse. This is not going to be a team where a mediocre or worse bat can squeak in for lack of other options, if Ibanez isn't a useful bat, even if we let go Wells, Thames will still be stashed in AAA, with Stefen Romero and Alex Liddi likely there as well, so the veteran presence has to hit.
My comment, however, was directed at teams Sandy cited as having no veteran leadership to guide the young ones. My point was that they did have and/or acquired veteran leader types to fill holes rather than simply pushing forward a guy in AAA.


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Panic In Detroit
Song Info
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About "Panic In Detroit"
Lyrics for David Bowie - "Panic In Detroit"
He looked a lot like Che Guevara, drove a diesel van
Kept his gun in quiet seclusion, such a humble man
The only survivor of the National People's Gang
Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
He laughed at accidental sirens that broke the evening gloom
The police had warned of repercussions
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A trickle of strangers were all that were left alive
Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
Putting on some clothes I made my way to school
And I found my teacher crouching in his overalls
I screamed and ran to smash my favorite slot machine
And jumped the silent cars that slept at traffic lights
Having scored a trillion dollars, made a run back home
Found him slumped across the table. A gun and me alone
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Panic in Detroit. He'd left me an autograph
"Let me collect dust." I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit


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(This story first ran at PressConnects.com) BALTIMORE — At 26 years old, UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones admits it is difficult even for him to realize he could soon be considered the best fighter in the history of mixed martial arts. But it's a reality (…)
In separate statements, both Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez said their heavyweight title fight rematch is targeted for March in Brazil. Okay, so it seems Anderson Silva may have been right after read news >>
The heavyweight title rematch between Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez was previously announced for next year, and now the bout has a targeted month and location.Filed under: Featured, News, UFC read news >>
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Maybe the third time's the charm. A repeatedly scrapped heavyweight matchup between Bobby Lashley and James Thompson is now targeted for Bellator 145. Filed under: Bellator, News read news >>
A lightweight bout between Jim Miller and Michael Chiesa is in the works for December.Filed under: News, UFC read news >>
With three fight cards in three nights, Las Vegas in early December will become the center of the mixed martial arts universe. And to kick things off at UFC Fight Night 80 — which takes place on Thur read news >>
A white house petition has been filed against Paige VanZant for not shaving her head as promised. Strawweight contender Paige VanZant may be facing her first PR difficulties, as a White House petitio read news >>


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Roedel Companies Acquires Courtyard in Nashua, NH
Thursday February 13th, 2014 - 9:39AM
These are shortcuts to your favorite social networking and bookmark sites. Add this story to your Facebook page, del.icio.us, DiggIt, and many others!
NASHUA, NH—Roedel Companies, a hotel owner and operator, has purchased the Courtyard by Marriott here.
The hotel marks the first Marriott branded property for the Wilton-NH-based company, which plans to reposition the multi-faceted property to include a renovated Courtyard and a full-service conference center. The multi-million dollar renovations will take place in phases and are slated to be completed in the first quarter of 2015.
The renovations to the Courtyard will include a complete interior makeover, while the company plans to create a signature name and logo for the planned 11,000-plus square-foot conference center.
RGH Hospitality, the hotel management subsidiary of Roedel Companies, will operate both properties.
Tags: Roedel • acquisition • Courtyard • conference center • Hospitality • Ownership •
From lifestyle choices to luxury decisions. Back in January, when we unveiled the newly redesigned Hotel Business, Eric Danziger was the subject of our cover story for the ALIS issue. He had recently joined Hampshire Hotels Management as president and CEO, and had just transformed the operator into a full-fledged brand company, Début Hotel Group, which would become the umbrella for five brands (Augustus Hotels & Resorts, Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, Unscripted Hotels and Night Hotels).
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Paribas Open - Day 6
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California Thoroughbred Industry Directory 2013/2014
©California Thoroughbred 2013 (ISSN1092-7328) E-mail address: firstname.lastname@example.com Owned and published by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the production of better Thoroughbred horses for better Thoroughbred racing. Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect policies of the CTBA or this magazine. Publication of any material originating herein is expressly forbidden without first obtaining written permission from California Thoroughbred. All advertising copy is submitted subject to approval. We reserve the right to reject any copy that is misleading or that does not meet with the standards set by the publication. Acknowledgment: Statistics in this publication relating to results of races in North America are compiled by the Daily Racing Form. Charts by special arrangement with Daily Racing Form Inc., copyright owners of said charts. Reproduction forbidden.


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Rafael Nadal: The Master of Clay
Spaniard Beats Rival Roger Federer for Another French Open Title; Greatest at Roland Garros?
PARIS—Wasn't this the French Open that was supposed to be different? Well, so much for that.
It's early June here and, as ever, Rafael Nadal is the French Open champion after a 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-1 victory over Roger Federer. This was Nadal's sixth title, a feat that puts him alongside Bjorn Borg, the only other man to win six times here, and above everyone else who has mastered the crushed red brick of Roland Garros. And there's a strong case to be made that he has left Borg behind, too: Nadal has now beaten Federer, a winner of a record 16 Grand Slam titles, four times in the French Open final and once in a semifinal. No one has had such strong competition year after year at this tournament and won so often.
Nadal Wins French Open
"It's something very special equal the six titles of Bjorn, for sure," Nadal said. "Is very difficult."
Nadal fell behind early in the match and came within a clump of tennis ball fuzz from losing the first set. As he served at 2-5, with set point for Federer, Federer carved a drop shot that floated over the net, spinning sideways as it headed toward the ground. Nadal couldn't get there, but the ball landed out by the tiniest of margins. Nadal won the next seven games but Federer, who thrilled fans here when he beat Novak Djokovic in four sets Friday, wasn't quite finished. He gave Nadal a scare in the second set after a brief rain delay when he broke serve and pushed the set to a tiebreak. Then he recovered from a 4-2 deficit in the third set, won it and put Nadal in a 0-40 hole on his opening service game of the fourth set.
"All of a sudden, it almost looked like he was going to miss the beginning of the fourth set, and I could maybe run away with that," Federer said.
Almost is the eternal story of Nadal. He's a battler who often plays on the brink—and just when you think there's no way he can recover, he does. Nadal held that game, and he was off. He closed out the match with five straight games. After the final point, he fell to his knees and dropped his head low and stayed there for a few seconds, relieved to have won the most difficult French Open of his career. Nadal, who has twice won this tournament without losing a set, said it was different—and yes, probably better—to win it after two weeks of tribulations.
"Sometimes, when you fight a lot to win, when you try your best in every moment to change the situation, it makes the title more special," he said.
As much of a struggle as this match might have been, it was one of many, and not the most trying, during his two weeks in Paris this year. He came here not a broken man, but a badly bruised one. Djokovic had beaten him in four straight finals, two of them on clay. Nadal couldn't get a feel for the tournament's new balls, which many players said were harder and faster. He needed five sets to win a first-round match against John Isner, who had won two matches in his career at Roland Garros. He had never played a five-set match here. Nadal, 25, said he wasn't confident and felt like he had been "playing for 100 years here on the tour." His uncle and coach, Toni, was worried.
"It was the first time that we come here and we have the feeling that we are not the best on clay," he said. "Rafael came here with many doubts."
The doubts began to fade in the quarterfinals, when Nadal played Robin Soderling, the only man who has ever beaten him here (Nadal's record at Roland Garros is now 45-1). And then he received a bit of luck that, for anyone else on the tour, would be as pleasant as being struck by lightning. Federer, playing his best tennis in more than a year, upset Djokovic, who had won 43 straight, in the semifinal.
Federer can do more on a tennis court than any player in history. Yet for all his versatility, he can't solve the singular strength of Nadal: the forehand that hooks and bounces high, especially to the backhand. Federer tries to finish points and Nadal tries to prolong them. Usually, he succeeds. The essence of their long rivalry is easily summed up, and Toni Nadal did it nicely: "The game of Rafael is not too good for Roger."
Nadal has now won 10 Grand Slam titles and he'll arrive at Wimbledon as the defending champion and a favorite to win again. "This win give to us big tranquility for the rest of the season," Toni Nadal said. "We never thought that Rafael could win 10 Grand Slams. And now we have 10. It's unbelievable for us."
Even though he lost, Federer left here with a victory of another kind. He's playing well again and confident that his days of winning Grand Slams are not in the past.
"I told people that we should wait six months after the Australian Open when people thought Rafa and me were done," Federer said. In two weeks, he, Nadal and Djokovic—the three current kings of tennis—will be back, and it'll be anyone's title to take.


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Humanae Vitae: The First 35 Years
Archdiocesan Conference at the John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization in Denver
If you pick up a copy of this month�s Wired magazine, you may want to read the sad story of the businessman who owns the web site, sex.com. You see, when he took over the site, he assumed it would be a money machine. About half of all web sites around the world are porn-related, and thanks to credit-card encryption, some are very lucrative.
Encryption means that anyone with a credit card and a fast internet connection can log on and buy 10 or 20 or 60 minutes of live pornography. And he can feel quite safe � or anyway, pretty safe � that his credit-card number will remain private.
Of course, as more people use encryption, the price has dropped. And because the internet is decentralized, and web cameras are now very cheap, anybody, anywhere, can open a live pornography site. Thousands of college students and married couples have done exactly that, to add a little extra cushion to their income.
So now the owner of sex.com has millions of competitors, and it puts him under a lot of financial pressure. At the beginning of the Wired story, he tells the reporter that he�s �judgmental� about bestiality --that�s the word he uses, judgmental -- so he doesn�t allow it on his web site. But by the end of the story, competition forces him to adjust his principles, and he links sex.com to a variety of bestiality sites.
In 1969, less than a year after Pope Paul VI issued Humanae Vitae, the government started a little program called ARPANET. ARPANET was an acronym. It stood for a computer-networking experiment, sponsored by the Advanced Research Projects Agency in the Department of Defense. You see, up until that time, the computer industry thought about computers as very fast arithmetic machines: one plus one, equals two; two plus two, equals four.
The government wanted to try something new. It wanted to test computers as networks that would crunch information geometrically and logarithmically. It wanted to see how fast the big research centers like Stanford and Princeton could share their knowledge. And it also wanted to find a way to spread out the nation�s �command and control� abilities so that a nuclear attack wouldn�t wipe out our leadership in one strike.
That was the idea behind ARPANET. ARPANET became the internet. And 35 years later, we have email and videoconferencing and on-line libraries. And we also have sex.com and a million other hard-core porn web sites exactly like it, or worse.
This helps us understand what the scholar Edward Tenner meant when he said that technology has the habit of biting back. It always takes a revenge in unintended consequences. We�re never as smart as we think we are. Gutenberg created the printing press to distribute good Catholic art. Luther used it to drive the Protestant Reformation. We invented automobiles to move us around more quickly. And they do. But we also got superhighways, noise pollution and a hole in the ozone as part of the deal.
We created the birth-control pill to space the children within a marriage more �rationally.� What we got was a crashing birth rate, gender confusion, wrecked families and marriages, and a circus of sexual dysfunctions.
We�re never as smart as we think we are -- and we�re rarely as humble as we need to be. And I think the genius of the encyclical Humanae Vitae is that Paul VI understood this problem earlier than anyone; he had the courage to name it; and he had the love and the hope to call us back to our real identity as Christians � to the vocation of cooperating with God in the creation of new life that renews the face of the earth.
I reread Humanae Vitae every couple of years. And sometimes I smile, because it clearly wasn�t written by an American. The English translation begins by talking about �the most serious duty of transmitting human life.� Most of the young people whose marriages I witness don�t experience their love as a �duty.� Getting married is a vocation, so it does have very serious responsibilities, but it isn�t like getting drafted into the army. Young people fall in love, they lose themselves in each other, and they see children as a fruit of that love.
Married love is an enormous joy, and sometimes theologians and scholars can forget that when they talk about these issues. But Humanae Vitae doesn�t need to read perfectly. It only needs to be beautiful and true � and it is. And we don�t need to be theologians to see why. We just need to review the record of the last 35 years.
First, in his encyclical, Paul VI warned that the widespread use of contraception would lead to �conjugal infidelity and the general lowering of morality.� Thirty-five years later, we�re a long way past being shocked by something as boring as adultery. ...
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Product Information:
This Generac Portable 5,500 Watt Generator is ideal for home emergency use, camping, job sites, or outdoor events. This generator provides critical backup power in an emergency. It makes camping and tailgating more comfortable.
The Portable 5,500 Watt Generator by Generac is made from premium-quality material, which ensures strength and durability. This generator works on OHV engine with splash lubrication, which provides a long engine life. This generator can run for 10 hours at half load on 7.2 gallons of fuel. Equipped with a powerful Generac engine, it offers up to 5500 surge watts of power. It has a steel fuel tank with incorporated fuel gauge, which provides durability and extended run time. Low-oil level shutdown automatically safeguards engine from damage. It has built-in resets that track maintenance intervals. It features a specially designed muffler to keep noise levels low. It is equipped with locking fold-down handles and never-flat wheels for portability and compact storage. This generator offers great performance and is designed for convenience.
This generator is manufactured by Generac, which is one of the leading, innovative manufacturer and marketer of portable and standby generators, automatic transfer switches, modular paralleling systems, and small engines for recreational vehicle, residential, and commercial applications.
Product Details
Fuel Required
Additional Documents
Weights & Dimensions
|Electronics Safe: Yes
|Engine Brand: Generac
|Running Wattage: 5500 Watts (W)
|Starting Wattage: 5500 Watts (W)
|Maximum Wattage: 5500 Watts (W)
Outlet or Receptacle Included: Yes
Fuel Required: Yes
|Tank Capacity: 7.2 Gallons
|Run Time at Half Load: 10 Hours
|Run Time at Full Load: 20 Hours
|Low Oil Alert: Yes
|Wheel Compatible: Yes
|Country of Manufacture: United States
About the Manufacturer
More About This Product
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Ships via: Front Door Drop Off (No Signature Required) w/ Upgrade Option
Enter your shipping zip or postal code to calculate shipping estimatesGet Delivery Estimate
We want you to love it. If you don't, you may return your purchase within 30 days of delivery. All you need to do is visit our Self-Service Return Center for instructions. Return credits are issued within 24 hours once the item is received and inspected. Please note that shipping charges are non-refundable. The cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund. 30-Day Return Policy
Overall Rating
Based on 18 reviews
Customer PhotosAdd your own photo
Generator Susan from Fairfield, CT on 09/19/2014 – Verified Buyer
Great price and easy delivery. Use it as a back up to our whole house generator.
Was this helpful? Yes 1 No 0
A lisa from Milton, GA on 07/30/2014 – Verified Buyer– Top 5 Reviewer
Great item, fast delivery, easy to assemble, very happy with purchase.
Was this helpful? Yes 1 No 0
Generac GP5500 Lee from Bristol, CT on 02/03/2013 – Verified Buyer
Unpacked the unit and assembled with no problem. Poured in the oil provided and some gas and started it up on the second pull. Plugged it into the transfer switch, checked the voltages and they were good to go. Overall quality seems average. Although I only tried it for a few minutes, I am satisfied with the purchase.
Was this helpful? Yes 0 No 0
a naseem from milton, GA on 11/07/2014 – Verified Buyer– Top 500 Reviewer
Great piece of furniture, well made, beautiful and will last forever!
Was this helpful? Yes 0 No 2
Excellent Purchase Richard Oppedisano from Cortlandt Manor, NY on 12/23/2012 – Verified Buyer
The Generac 5500 was an excellent value from Wayfair and it was delivered well before they estimated it would be. They also had the unit when many other storeswebsites did not.
Was this helpful? Yes 0 No 0


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Save on Springwall Mattresses during this sale.
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Say goodbye to propping up pillows! The adjustable Serta Pivot Head Up allows you to raise the head of the foundation. Raising the head of your mattress can reduce or eliminate snoring.
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text: More from SI Report: Dodgers release pitcher Freddy Garcia Report: Dodgers release pitcher Freddy Garcia Marshawn Lynch sports gold cleats for Super Bowl Marshawn Lynch sports gold cleats for Super Bowl Louisville vs. FIU: Game time, live stream, TV coverage Louisville vs. FIU: Game time, live stream, TV coverage Pittsburgh-area high school football player dies after... Pittsburgh-area high school football player dies after... Close Tweet0 Share0 Comment0 Share0 Share0 Stumble It0 Print0 More SI Wire Chris Bosh Says He'd Take Dwyane Wade Over LeBron James In The Clutch by Will Yoder Email Posted: Fri Jan. 13, 2012 Chris Bosh said that he'd choose Dwyane Wade over Lebron James if the game was on the line, according to an exclusive interview with GQ.GQ: Quick hypothetical, toes aside: Let's say the game was tied. 10 seconds left. You had 30 points, LeBron's got 30, and Wade's got 30. You got the same amount of rebounds, same amount of assists—having the same great game. Who takes the shot at the end to either win or lose the game.Chris Bosh: [immediately] Dwyane.GQ: Why?Chris Bosh: Because of his success in the past, given what he's done. He's a champ. He's an MVP, and he's hit a bunch of last-second shots. That's the time you have to put pride aside a little bit, and do what's best for the team. He's quickest, and he's gonna get a shot off. He relishes those moments.James currently leads the 8-3 Heat in scoring with 29 points per contest. Despite his tremendous regular season totals throughout his career, however, James has earned a stigma for being a poor clutch player. Wade on the other hand played a major role in helping the Miami Heat win the 2006 NBA championship. Promoted Stories Comments


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I have installed wordpress on my linux mashine and it is working fine, posting, commenting ....
but when i add a picture to a post and i publish the post and click on that picture to see it in to the full resolution it wont do it, simply igonring me.
here is the code of a new post, did any one had a similar problem.
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3D Models : Interoperability 3D with the cooperation between " Dexip " & " TfTlabs"
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