text:
And Another Thing…
Now Ken Rosenthal's
Now Ken Rosenthal's confirming the Nomar signing.
seems that Eric the Great and AG's Rabbi beat him to the punch including the Dodgers potential lineup! How cool is that?
Free-agent infielder Nomar Garciaparra has agreed to a one-year contract with the Dodgers, according to the New York Post. The question now is how the Dodgers will resolve their infield logjam once shortstop Cesar Izturis returns from elbow-ligament transplant surgery, probably at mid-season.
reposted from Adam Greenberg's Rabbi...
Looks like the story is breaking as posted by Eric. Good work.
Last night, the 32-year-old infielder agreed in principle to a one-year deal with the Dodgers worth $6 million in base salary to play first base in L.A. According to a plate-appearance incentive, Garciaparra could earn more than $8 million next year.
According to sources, agent Arn Tellem informed the Yankees, Astros and Indians last night that Garciaparra wasn't going to be joining them.
Garciaparra's decision to play for L.A., where he has a home and will be reunited with former Red Sox manager Grady Little...
Nomah at 1B? Makes Choi available or at least makes his value even less than CPat.
When Cesar Izturis returns (to 2B?) then what decision is made wrt Kent vs Nomar? Alot of non- first basemen on that infield.
If the impending Dodger signings of Sanders/Lofton are going to happen they have an interesting and very old starting lineup, but it does have some punch if healthy. If also gives them a ton of 4-5th OF's like Jayson Werth, Ricky Ledee and Jose Cruz, but they will need them if they expect more than 100 games each from Lofton/Sanders (which aren't signed yet).
Ned Colletti: "We've got a lot of what-ifs. Let's see what happens with Nomar and take it from there," he said. "As circumstances are presented and the season is under way and people recover from injury, we'll make decisions as we have to make them. It's all premature."
SS Furcal 28
CF Lofton 39
2B Kent 38
RF Drew 30
1B Nomar 33
LF Sanders 38
3B Mueller 35
C Navarro 21/Alomar 39/Phillips 30
although Bill Mueller may be a nice choice to hit in the 2 slot, it puts Lofton batting 7th...so maybe Lofton will sign with the Diamondbacks since he will probably get to hit at the top of the lineup and play more (in AZ) especially if Nomar winds up shifting to the OF when Izturis returns.
I'm particularly glad that
I'm particularly glad that Nomar isn't an Astro
I just don't get why Hendry
I just don't get why Hendry has started agreeing to the player option to become a FA mid-contract. All that does is give the player leverage to renegotiate the deal at that point -- if the player CAN become a free agent, he essentially IS a free agent for negotiating purposes.
If the player is unable to use the FA opt-out as leverage (because it's unlikely that he would be able to get a better deal elsewhere), that will just mean that he is being paid above market by the Cubs at the time.
These are the only two possible scenarios, and neither of them is good for the Cubs.
Having said that, I know that each deal is a unique negotiation and it's likely that Hendry gets something in return for this concession (i.e. it may be the final throw-in in order to get the player comfortable with the dollars offered). But this term really has the potential to blow up in Hendry's face.
What the heck are the
What the heck are the Dodgers doing? I like Nomar as much as the next guy, and he has one of the most consistent bats in all of MLB, but they are setting themselves up to have one weak-ass infield (with the exception of Mueller). Rafael Furcal and his over-powering (but also very erroneous) arm, Jeff Kent...'nuff said, and now Nomar at first. Wow...
As for Lee, I definitely hope they lock him up ASAP. While I don't think he's going to have quite the monster year that he had in '05, I do think it looks like he's adjusted his swing enough to pretty much close up that hole that he had in on the hands (a lot of talk was made about how pitchers went hard on the hands to get him out...didn't work out so well this year:). Combine that with the fact that he's shown improvement at the plate every year for the past few years, and we're not looking at a career .260 hitter anymore; rather, we're looking at a .300 hitter with 35+ homer and 100+ RBI potential...on a yearly basis. If he does have another very good season, he's gonna be worth more than what Konerko makes (I like Pauly, but he's no D-Lee at 1st, and he's gotta be one of the worst baserunners in all of MLB).
I say that Hendry busts out the checkbook, 'cuz Lee is money
One addition to my tirade
One addition to my tirade re: the player free agent option in #3 above--
The thing I dislike most about that option is that it's self-defeating. Here's how. We have to assume that Hendry offers the option as a way to secure a salary that's slightly less attractive to the player in some way (amount, years, structure, etc.) than the player might accept without the option. (If that's not true, then the option wouldn't be offered in the first place.)
But if the player agrees to a salary that isn't the absolute best he can get, it just makes it that much more likely that the player will be at a below-market salary when the option kicks in, and conswequently able to use the option as renegotiating leverage (as discussed in #3 above). So even if the option "works", it backfires.
Again, I dont like it when people criticize deals that I work on when they don't know the full picture, so it's difficult to pick on Hendry without knowing all the nuances of the negotiations. But I just hope he is aware of the consequences of this player FA option (or better yet, I hope there's something about it that I'm not understanding).
Am I the only person who
Am I the only person who thinks that Cesar Izturis's fate is sealed as a non-Dodger? What are they going to do when he comes back? Move Nomar to LF and play Kent at first?
I've got the think Izturis has suddenly become available for acquistion. While 261/295/338 isn't exactly terrific, a career fielding percentage of .980 at SS sure is. I'm not dogging on Neifi/Cedeno, Neifi's pretty good defensively too, but Izturis might be a nice fit in the 2 hole in the lineup.
Boy, if only it was 3-4 years ago for Ned Colleti. That lineup would be nasty.
Don't know if this has been
Don't know if this has been posted yet, but the Star Tribune of Minnesota is confirming that the Cubs are still pursuing Jacques Jones:
"The Cubs are very interested in signing Twins outfielder Jacque Jones, but they are offering only a two-year contract to the free agent. "
Does anybody else want to
Does anybody else want to see if Lee can come close to repeating his '05 season before breaking the bank on him? If he reverts to his pre-05 form, he's not worth 12.5+ mil per year. I don't expect another batting title, but if he hits .300/.400./.580 then lets do the new contract.
After looking thought the
After looking thought the Free agent market and what Hendry has said he would like to do, 2 names pop up, Reggie Sanders for the out field for a 2 year deal, and Kevin Millwood for a 3 year deal and option on the forth. The take all the money we have left this year to spend and resign Lee to a 5-6 year deal. Any thoughts on this ? the up side , we lose no Minor leaugers, down side sanders is getting old but, he still has pop, and millwood is a very good pitcher to have if one of our starters goes down he can stop a lossing streak, like maddux and prior did last year as well as Zambrano.
So last year Hednry used the
So last year Hednry used the Sosa contract excuse as to why we didn't go out and make any big deals. Now this year it will be because we got outbid on our one guy and the free agent market was weak. SCREW THAT!!
I am tired of the excuses. Go get Milwood and trade for Huff, DO SOMETHING. Last years team proved they were not a playoff team. Changing only 4 players from last year (2 releivers and 1 bench player) is not enough to make up the 10 games difference.
Everyday that goes by get more frustrating knowing 2006 might be a repeat of 2005.
Good article, AZ Phil. But
Good article, AZ Phil.
But why make Lee a priority for an extension over Zambrano and Prior? I see it more likely to build a championship team without Lee (with Z and Prior long-term) than in winning a championship with Lee and only one of either Z or Prior. Lee is great, but slugging 1B are more common than front-line starters.
Prior and Zabrano are both
Prior and Zabrano are both locked up for 2 more years, giving the Cubs time to lock them up for a long time. And locking pierre up for 4 years before spring training also would be a nice move. The Cubs are 80% done for building a team that could be the best in the centeral or even in the National leauge, we need 2 players RF and one more SP. If that can be done look for the Cubs to win 88-93 this next year, unless they want a jones like player and a fifth starter
Just a note, I see Cedeno as
Just a note, I see Cedeno as the next Nomar, he has the talant and the eye for hitting, I am not afaird of going into next year with him at SS. Plus Murton at LF, All Hendry has to do is tell Baker to play them every day. Which inturn could mean that the return of Baker is doultful (Thank God for That)
I think Zambrano and Prior
I think Zambrano and Prior should be priority #1 & #2 as far as extensions go. I love D Lee, but it's much harder to find quality pitchers then it is to find firstbasemen.
LQQK1: "All Hendry has to do
"All Hendry has to do is tell Baker to play them every day. Which inturn could mean that the return of Baker is doultful (Thank God for That)"
If they produce, I am sure they will be everyday starters. If they don't, (like Choi, Hill & Dubois) then they won't.
And I surely hope McPhail doesn't give Hendry an extenstion without making sure Baker gets one. They should be tied at the hip. Especially with Epstein out there as a FA GM next year.
I say we jump onto Millwood
I say we jump onto Millwood if we can. He is solid pitcher and would be good as a #3. If we can get him and Huff (although it seems likely that we won't) we could be a competetive team.
If it comes to it we could hit Barrett 5th. Also, if Ozzie Guillen can hit Pierzynski 3,5,etc. , I cant see any reason why Barrett, who is a better hitter, could not hit 5th.
I mean, look at Dye and the Sox. Dye hit in the .270s and still played a major role. I think that we shouldn't settle for Jones, but if it comes to him there are other people who can step up to take the brunt of it. I really would like to see a slugger in RF, but I doubt hendry will be able to get one.
OK, I will stop this "rant", but just by fixing the bullpen and the Lead-off spot, we are set to win at least 5-10 more games (even though that is not saying much). With the addition of another top starter and a RF we could win 88-95 games next year. Just to wrap things up, but you know the cards and stros dont look to good either (pray that Clemens retires!).
Clement met with the Rangers
Clement met with the Rangers over the weekend, plus his ties with them, could lure him to play for them at lease one year. the Astros have basicly said, we are moving on with out you, thaks for the time.
Was Roger Clemens seen in
Was Roger Clemens seen in Arlington with an SOS pad glued to his chin?
"I think Zambrano and Prior
"I think Zambrano and Prior should be priority #1 & #2 as far as extensions go. I love D Lee, but it's much harder to find quality pitchers then it is to find firstbasemen."
I agree. You build winning teams from pitching at the roots. We have that in Prior and Zambrano. And there's always the Pandora's Box that is Kerry Wood, who is still fairly young. Don't write of Kerry yet. And do you really think DLee will replicate his '05 performance? As solid as Lee is, I highly doubt it. Thats not to say I wouldn't make him a priority, just not as high as Z and Prior.
Everyone is forgetting the
Everyone is forgetting the simple fact that no matter who Jim Hendry adds to the roster, the Cubs are still managed by Dusty Baker. They have no chance, even with Houston and St. Louis being weaker. If 100 years of losing has taught Cub's fans anything, it's that when the top teams in the division start to fall, it won't be the Cubs who step up, it will be Milwaukee or Pittsburgh. That's what you get when the team is too cheap to fire the worst manager in baseball.
Dusty loses at least 10 games a year. This team, if they add a mediocre RF, will not win 80 games.
And Ronny Cedeno, I am afraid, will be a big disappointment. His career minor league numbers are awful, with the exception of last year. To suddenly think he has become a .300 hitter with power is insane. His career numbers say that before last year he was a .251 career hitter with a .294 career obp, .356 career slg percentage, and his best season was 6 hr's and 48 rbi. Oh, and despite his speed, Cedeno isn't much of a stolen base threat, in the minors he was thrown out 40% of the time.
I like adding Pierre, and trying to improve the bullpen, but I have to be realistic. The Cubs have many issues, the biggest is their manager. Until that is resolved there is no reason to be optimistic.
Jacob: "The Cubs have many
"The Cubs have many issues, the biggest is their manager. Until that is resolved there is no reason to be optimistic."
Yeah the Cubs won so many WS this last century without Dusty as manager. :)
Konerko is not equivalent to
Konerko is not equivalent to Derrek Lee unless Lee goes back to hitting like he used to. If Lee's awesome 2005 means that his 2006 will be a step forward from his career norms, then Lee if a far better hitter, defender, and baserunner than Konerko. If 2005 was legit, and not a fluke, then Lee's one of the most valuable commodities in baseball.
Want to extend him for four years? *Start* at $14 million. He's that good. And it might take six years at that price. DLee is incredible, Konerko is above average.
So what kind of extension is that? a 6 year, 84 million dollar extension. And I think that's where he'll end up. And that's with the hometown discount. On the open market, Dlee's going to cash in to the tune of 6 years, $96 million.
Consider this offseason: The Mariners just paid 9.5 for 4 years of Jarrod Washburn. Estaban Loiaza got 7 million. Paul Konerko--as you pointed out--got 12 and 5 years. And Konerko doesn't even have the speed and defense that DLee has, which means that DLee will likely age better. Lee's going to absolutely break the bank. What did Pujols get? 7 yrs, 100 million? Think in that range.
What did Pujols get? 7 yrs,
What did Pujols get? 7 yrs, 100 million? Think in that range.
Agree with the above with the following exceptions making DLee slightly below Pujols value:
Pujols is younger (affects length of contract)
Pujols has MVP numbers
Yeah, but Cubster, the
Yeah, but Cubster, the market's gone up...WAAAAY up. Magglio Ordonez coming off an injury to his knee got 15 million for 5 years--with incentives.
And now DLee has MVP numbers. He's got a power speed combo that ages well. And he plays good defense. And he's not a headcase like Magglio.
6 years, 96 million if he gets to the open market. Less if he takes a hometown discount.
sorry for incomplete
sorry for incomplete post
What did Pujols get? 7 yrs, 100 million? Think in that range.
Agree with the above with the following exceptions making DLee slightly below Pujols value:
Pujols is younger, 25 yrs (DLee is 30) (affects length of contract)
Pujols has MVP numbers 5 yrs (2001-2005)
DLee has MVP numbers only one yr (2005)
DLee is the better defensive first baseman but Pujols has been solid defensively in 3 different positions (3B, OF, 1B)
so based on fewer MVP years I'd say DLee will command a $13+ M/yr x 5-6 or about $65-80M; but the low end of that gets pushed up by the cash thrown at Konerko who clearly is not the player Pujols is in any aspect of the game.
and if you go to 7 yrs for
and if you go to 7 yrs for DLee...
that's at the $95 level
(what's $5M here or there)
and one more plus for
and one more plus for Derrek...
he's an excellent baserunner and a basestealer which is very unusual to be getting that from the 1B position
Your compare Pujols and Lee
Your compare Pujols and Lee and the age differants, But remember this Pujols is injury bound, lee is at his prime, Plus he put up better #'s then Pujols last year. Pujols got MVP as a token for the last 3 years. Lee should of won it, because with out him the Cubs would of been lucky to win 65 games. Pujols is good as with Jones, but look at the teams they played on, both teams were good, not the Cubs. Lee would sign a deal for 5 yrs 60 million with a option on the 6th at 13.5 mill. or a 2 million buyout. Lee is the face and Future for the Cubs for the next 5 years.
Good point LQQ1, Lee is in
Good point LQQ1, Lee is in his prime, and if Pujols is really as young as they say he is (25 I think?), his prime will come, but it probably would be good idea to wrap Lee up and get the best of his prime. He is also a classy guy, which is all the more reason to wrap him up for his career. That's not to undermine the need for the team to prioritize Z and Prior.
just watch out for the
just watch out for the fashionable offer of 3 yrs at much higher money...if he were to hit the fa market.
if Furcal is worth between $39/3 and $50/5
and Konerko got $60/5
DLee is $50-55/3 at least in Toronto, NY and LA this offseason....which will probably translate to $70/5 in beancounting Trib Towerland.
So in summary, we're all
So in summary, we're all saying that Az Phil's $12.5M extensions are realistically low.
No wonder the Billy Beane's of the world can do pretty will with some solid number crunching on their targeted pickups with the approach to sell for good prospects just before the market forces take effect on your fully developed players. The high end of the market is WAY out there compared to the non glamorous but statistically solid end. Beane did it and remained competitive (having a productive farm system is the key). Florida does the blow it up and hope for prospect development a few years out...and it's succeeded for them once, so why not twice.
Some interesting moves by
Some interesting moves by the Dodgers. What alot of you don't realize is that the Dodgers were banged up last year and fielded an offense that would have trouble scoring in AA.
I think they have done a good job of getting a better offense for that pitching staff. What an interesting concept those Dodgers are trying. I am still waiting on the Cubs to do the same thing.
Anyways if the Dodgers are doing good with Nomar at 1b, Kent at 2nd, and Furcal at SS then they keep what they got. Izturis goes to where he belongs. The bench. If they are not doing so well and they feel defense is a problem then Kent moves over to 1b and Izturis takes over at 2nd. Nomar then tries the OF.
The Dodgers have flexibility to try different things. The Cubs can't even say that.....
MikeC: "I am still waiting
"I am still waiting on the Cubs to do the same thing."
Hopefully we will only have to wait till after this year when Hendry is not resigned and we get in a new GM. What do you think of Epstein as a possibility? he has won a WS, but with a much bigger payroll then the Trib will ever give him. I think he is worth a shot...
seriously, unless hendry
seriously, unless hendry leaves mcphail will not fire him. it just makes very little sense. hendry GAVE mcphail his job...theyve been friends professionally for a long time...theyve managed to tandum up to sqeeze over 40m outta the cubs management in less than a decade to add to the payroll. theyre a team.
hell, this isnt even a bad team. big deal that the cubs didnt give furcal 13m a year or any other stupidity of this offseason. damn him for 2 years of macias...at least the 2nd year anyway...and why he feels the need for 2 years of neifi, who knows.
but long story short, it'll take a lot of pressure to get hendry gone.
It is a bad team for the
It is a bad team for the money we are spending. No way to spin that.
Crunch: "seriously, unless
"seriously, unless hendry leaves mcphail will not fire him."
McPhail would not have to fire him, just not reup with him. So youa er basically saying that as long as McPhail is teh President of teh Cubs Hendry will be the GM? If true, that is example #568,329 why the Cubs have not won a WS in almost a century.
I think everyone or most
I think everyone or most everyone on here is in agreement that Wood will be either a. In the bullpen most of the year or b. start app 15 games for us next year. If this is true out TOP PRIORITY should be to sign or trade for a starting pitcher at this point. We have
Zambrano #1 stuff
Prior (2 fluke injuries I bet he starts 25+games)
Maddux Another year older can project 13-16 wins high 3 or low 4 era
Williams a Big Giant question mark
Rusch (A horrible option)
I don't care who we get in RF. With a starting staff like this we will need a lineup like the yankees to win. I say go after Millwood, or trade for a #1 starter because this is where we are going to be in trouble. It looks as if (fingers crossed) that the bullpen will be fine so if we have 3 excellent starters maddux and williams I think we will be in great shape. But to depend on wood being healthy, Maddux to throw like a #2 williams to be the next z or rusch to have a sub 4.50 era is foolish.
I like Zito and I think Zito
I like Zito and I think Zito can be had Cheap by the Cubs, That would be a great move or overspend for Millwood.
And I surely hope McPhail
And I surely hope McPhail doesn't give Hendry an extenstion without making sure Baker gets one. They should be tied at the hip.
Why? Hendry gave Dusty a 4 year contract, and he's giving Dusty 4 years to prove his worth, or perhaps the Tribune's telling him that won't eat Dusty's contract.
At the end of that contract if Hendry finally makes, or is allowed to make, the decision that should have been made 2 years ago, why should his fate be tied to Dusty's. If Hendry signs off on an extension, that'd be another story.
Now whether or not Hendry will deserve another shot at GM after this season is another story altogether, but I'm with Crunch that if McFail stays there is no chance that Hendry is leaving, whether or not he deserves it. McFail and Hendry are the two tied together, and if one goes, I assure you the other one will too.
Bleeding Blue: "why should
Bleeding Blue:
"why should his fate be tied to Dusty's."
Because Hendry too has been given 4 years (actually given OVER 4 years). If Baker's only going to be given 4 years to prove his worth, then why should Hendry be any different, when he has actually even been given more time.
I have no problem if they let Baker go, but Hendry should be shown the door too.
"McFail and Hendry are the two tied together, and if one goes, I assure you the other one will too."
Then a clean sweep of all three (McPhail, Hendry and Baker) would be the answer then. BYE BYE and BYE!!!
Still I was reserve judgment
Still I was reserve judgment until Spring Training but if the offseason ends up like it's shaking out, then absolutely Trader Jim should go. He has been riding the 03-04 hot streak to oblivion and has major holes in his game. He's a league-average GM. On a team with an unmotivated owner, that spells trouble.
Theo Epstein would be awesome. The fact that he admits and tries to correct mistakes alone makes him better than Jim.
Nomar at 1B and Kent at
Nomar at 1B and Kent at 2B...that should translate to at least 6-8 drag bunt hits for Pierre alone.
The Dodgers had to overpay for guys this off-season because they're taking a huge PR hit since the DePodesta firing and basically since the McCourt administration took over. They're in danger of losing even more fans to the Angels so I guess they're doing all they can to put a winner on the field in a totally winable division. With all the injuries toward the end of last season, their lineup was Royalsesque. Mueller was a solid pickup though his avg should drop without the monster. Furcal, Mueller and Nomar are all upgrades over Valenin, Izturis and Choi but i think they'll regret giving Nomar $6m guaranteed. I'm surprised they didn't make a run at B.Molina for insurance in case Navarro flops. Sandy Jr isn't going to cut it.
Ummm Wood should be 100% by
Ummm Wood should be 100% by the time pitchers and catchers report.
Matt Morris had the same type of surgery in December last year. He made his first start of the season around April 14th.
Wood had his surgery August 31st. He will have an extra 3 months recovery time.
Unless the Cubs are covering up an underlying more serious injury he has more than enough time to be ready for the first day of spring training.
Off topic (and for that
Off topic (and for that matter outside of reality):
I recently discovered WhatIfSports.com. The sim matchup feature is so much fun! To settle the biggest choke artists in recent Cub history, I decided to pit the 69 Cubs against the 04 Cubs. The result was truly a classic Cubbie matchup. Enjoy!
Top 1: '69 Cubs
Carlos Zambrano takes the mound. Don Kessinger flies out. Ron Santo flies out. Billy Williams grounds out.
'69 Cubs 0 0 0
'04 Cubs 0 0 0
Bottom 1: '04 Cubs
Fergie Jenkins takes the mound. Corey Patterson flies out. Nomar Garciaparra strikes out. Sammy Sosa hits a single. [1] Aramis Ramirez pops out to 2B.
'69 Cubs 0 0 0
'04 Cubs 0 1 0
Top 2: '69 Cubs
Jim Hickman hits a single. [1] Willie Smith hits a home run. Ernie Banks is hit by a pitch. [1] Glenn Beckert hits a groundball single to LF. [12] Randy Hundley hits a home run. Pitching change: Carlos Zambrano is replaced by Kyle Farnsworth. Fergie Jenkins hits a single. [1] Don Kessinger hits into a fielders choice. [1] Ron Santo gets walked. [12] Billy Williams strikes out. Jim Hickman strikes out.
'69 Cubs 5 5 0
'04 Cubs 0 1 0
Bottom 2: '04 Cubs
Moises Alou strikes out. Derrek Lee grounds out. Michael Barrett strikes out.
'69 Cubs 5 5 0
'04 Cubs 0 1 0
Top 3: '69 Cubs
Willie Smith flies out. Ernie Banks hits a ground-rule double. [2] Glenn Beckert hits a flyball single to LF. [13] Randy Hundley pops out to 3B. Fergie Jenkins lines out to 3B.
'69 Cubs 5 7 0
'04 Cubs 0 1 0
Bottom 3: '04 Cubs
Todd Walker hits a single. [1] Kyle Farnsworth bunts a popup to 1B. Corey Patterson hits a bloop single to CF. Walker is thrown out at third. [1] Nomar Garciaparra flies out to shallow CF.
'69 Cubs 5 7 0
'04 Cubs 0 3 0
Top 4: '69 Cubs
Don Kessinger hits a single. [1] Ron Santo gets walked. [12] Billy Williams hits a line drive single to LF. Kessinger scores from second. [12] Jim Hickman flies out to shallow RF. Willie Smith hits a home run. Pitching change: Kyle Farnsworth is replaced by Francis Beltran. Ernie Banks strikes out. Glenn Beckert grounds out.
'69 Cubs 9 10 0
'04 Cubs 0 3 0
Bottom 4: '04 Cubs
Sammy Sosa grounds out. Aramis Ramirez strikes out. Moises Alou flies out.
'69 Cubs 9 10 0
'04 Cubs 0 3 0
Top 5: '69 Cubs
Randy Hundley gets walked. [1] Fergie Jenkins strikes out. Don Kessinger hits a line drive single to RF. [12] Ron Santo hits into a fielders choice. [13] Billy Williams gets walked. [123] Jim Hickman strikes out.
'69 Cubs 9 11 0
'04 Cubs 0 3 0
Bottom 5: '04 Cubs
Derrek Lee grounds out. Michael Barrett hits a home run. Todd Walker flies out. Francis Beltran grounds out.
'69 Cubs 9 11 0
'04 Cubs 1 4 0
Top 6: '69 Cubs
Willie Smith hits a home run. Ernie Banks pops out. Glenn Beckert hits a single. [1] Randy Hundley flies out to shallow CF. Fergie Jenkins flies out to shallow CF.
'69 Cubs 10 13 0
'04 Cubs 1 4 0
Bottom 6: '04 Cubs
Corey Patterson flies out. Nomar Garciaparra hits a single. [1] Sammy Sosa gets walked. [12] Aramis Ramirez hits a home run. Moises Alou flies out. Derrek Lee strikes out.
'69 Cubs 10 13 0
'04 Cubs 4 6 0
Top 7: '69 Cubs
Don Kessinger grounds out. Ron Santo grounds out. Billy Williams hits a single. [1] Jim Hickman hits a flyball single to LF. [13] Willie Smith flies out to shallow RF.
'69 Cubs 10 15 0
'04 Cubs 4 6 0
Bottom 7: '04 Cubs
Michael Barrett strikes out. Todd Walker hits a home run. Francis Beltran lines out. Corey Patterson pops out.
'69 Cubs 10 15 0
'04 Cubs 5 7 0
Top 8: '69 Cubs
Ernie Banks flies out. Glenn Beckert hits a single. [1] Randy Hundley hits into a 5-4-3 double-play.
'69 Cubs 10 16 0
'04 Cubs 5 7 0
Bottom 8: '04 Cubs
Nomar Garciaparra hits a single. [1] Sammy Sosa hits a home run. Pitching change: Fergie Jenkins is replaced by Phil Regan. Aramis Ramirez flies out. Moises Alou hits a single. [1] Derrek Lee is being pinch-hit for by Todd Hollandsworth. Todd Hollandsworth hits a line drive single to CF. [12] Michael Barrett strikes out. Todd Walker hits a line drive single to CF. [123] Francis Beltran is being pinch hit for by Neifi Perez. Neifi Perez hits a flyball single to shallow RF (-). Hollandsworth scores from second. [12] Corey Patterson strikes out.
'69 Cubs 10 16 0
'04 Cubs 9 13 0
Top 9: '69 Cubs
Kent Mercker is the new pitcher. Phil Regan flies out. Don Kessinger hits a double to deep left center (-). [2] Ron Santo lines out to 3B. Billy Williams strikes out.
'69 Cubs 10 17 0
'04 Cubs 9 13 0
Bottom 9: '04 Cubs
Nomar Garciaparra hits a single. [1] Sammy Sosa bunts a groundball to P. Garciaparra advances to second. [2] Aramis Ramirez hits a groundball single to LF. Garciaparra is thrown out at home. [1] Moises Alou hits a flyball single to RF. [13] Todd Hollandsworth hits a groundball single to LF. [13] Pitching change: Phil Regan is replaced by Ted Abernathy. Michael Barrett lines out to SS.
'69 Cubs 10 17 0
'04 Cubs 10 17 0
Top 10: '69 Cubs
Jim Hickman pops out. Willie Smith gets walked. [1] Ernie Banks is hit by a pitch. [12] Willie Smith is being pinch-run for by Nate Oliver. Glenn Beckert hits a groundball single to 3B. [123] Randy Hundley gets walked. Oliver scores from third. [123] Pitching change: Kent Mercker is replaced by Jon Leicester. Ted Abernathy hits into a fielders choice. Hundley is forced at second, but Ted Abernathy beats the throw to first. Banks scores. [13] Don Kessinger grounds out to 1B.
'69 Cubs 12 18 0
'04 Cubs 10 17 0
Bottom 10: '04 Cubs
Don Young replaces Oliver in RF. Todd Walker strikes out. Jon Leicester is being pinch hit for by Mark Grudzielanek. Mark Grudzielanek hits a single. [1] Corey Patterson flies out to shallow RF. Nomar Garciaparra hits a home run. Pitching change: Ted Abernathy is replaced by Rich Nye. Sammy Sosa grounds out.
'69 Cubs 12 18 0
'04 Cubs 12 19 0
Top 11: '69 Cubs
LaTroy Hawkins is the new pitcher. Ron Santo hits a single. [1] Ron Santo is being pinch-run for by Adolfo Phillips. Billy Williams hits into a fielders choice. [1] Jim Hickman strikes out. Don Young hits a line drive single to CF. [13] Ernie Banks flies out to shallow LF.
'69 Cubs 12 20 0
'04 Cubs 12 19 0
Bottom 11: '04 Cubs
Paul Popovich replaces Phillips at 3B. Aramis Ramirez grounds out. Moises Alou flies out. Todd Hollandsworth hits a single. [1] Michael Barrett flies out to shallow RF.
'69 Cubs 12 20 0
'04 Cubs 12 20 0
Top 12: '69 Cubs
Glenn Beckert flies out. Randy Hundley hits a single. [1] Rich Nye is being pinch hit for by Jim Qualls. Jim Qualls lines out to 2B. Randy Hundley is being pinch-run for by Oscar Gamble. Don Kessinger gets walked. [12] Paul Popovich hits a flyball single to CF. Gamble scores from second. [13] Pitching change: LaTroy Hawkins is replaced by Michael Wuertz. Billy Williams lines out to 3B.
'69 Cubs 13 22 0
'04 Cubs 12 20 0
Bottom 12: '04 Cubs
Hank Aguirre is the new pitcher. Ken Rudolph replaces Gamble at catcher. Todd Walker hits a triple. [3] Michael Wuertz is being pinch hit for by Jose Macias. Jose Macias flies out to shallow CF. Corey Patterson pops out to 2B. Ken Rudolph is charged with a passed ball. Walker scores from third. Nomar Garciaparra hits a single. [1] Sammy Sosa flies out to deep LF.
'69 Cubs 13 22 0
'04 Cubs 13 22 0
Top 13: '69 Cubs
Mike Remlinger is the new pitcher. Jim Hickman hits a groundball to 3B which is misplayed by Aramis Ramirez. Official scorer: E-5. [1] Hickman steals second. [2] Don Young flies out to shallow CF. Ernie Banks strikes out. Glenn Beckert strikes out.
'69 Cubs 13 22 0
'04 Cubs 13 22 1
Bottom 13: '04 Cubs
Aramis Ramirez flies out. Moises Alou hits a single. [1] Todd Hollandsworth strikes out. Michael Barrett hits a popup single to CF. [13] Todd Walker hits a groundball single to RF.
'69 Cubs 13 22 0
'04 Cubs 14 25 1
The sad part is that, other than Sosa bunting, this is completely realistic ... two teams determined not to win!!!
I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. :)
So some of you guys really
So some of you guys really think that Hendry should be fired, or at least not re-signed after 2006?
Stop the Theo as GM talk
Stop the Theo as GM talk because it is not happening. If the stresses of the job were enough for him to not want to be the GM of his faviorite team why would he want to be GM of another team? I could see him taking a job as Team President and then hiring Cherington or Towers to be the GM. If Mcphail was to fire Hendry (and I agree w/ Crunch it wont happen) here is the top 5 canidates that MCPHAIL would fire to replace Hendry.
1. Dan Evans- Chicago guy and the media here love him it would get them good PR which is what the Trib utimetly cares about. Would be my no.1 choice too.
2. Jim Bowden- Well people complain about Hendry being too passive so there reasoning is people will like him because he is in the mold of Kenny Williams.
3. Andre Dawson- There spin being look how good firing ex-players as GM has been for the Reinsdorf teams.
4. Andy Mcphail- The trib is losing money bad why not pay him to do two jobs.
5. Wayne Krevisky- Worked W/ Mcphail in Minny.
what a fun find WPZ ...and
what a fun find WPZ
...and the printout for the box score is a beauty! Good stuff on a cold Chicago December 12 degree outside day.
Prior (Cubs 03) just beat Contreras (WSox 05)
Final Score Cubs 3 Sox 2
Prior 7IP 5H 2R 117 pitches...seems real enough.
HR-Sosa, Iguchi
Yes, but unfortuneately the
Yes, but unfortuneately the 2005 White Sox dismantled the 1908 Cubs 4-1 in a best-of-seven. (although we did win Game 2 at the Cell by a 13-1 tally)
Because Hendry too has been
Because Hendry too has been given 4 years (actually given OVER 4 years). If Baker's only going to be given 4 years to prove his worth, then why should Hendry be any different, when he has actually even been given more time.
First of all, given over 4 years? You aren't really going to give him any credit or blame for 2002 are you?
Second, why should it be any different? Because in the past 3 seasons Hendry has put together 2 championship caliber teams and 1 team that should have competed for a playoff birth. We don't yet know what 2006 will bring, but the GM isn't to blame for a team that's failed to live up to its potential the past 2 years (or 3 if you want to count the playoff choke job of 2003).
That's what's different.
The Cubs problems are much
The Cubs problems are much more than just right field. The solutions start in the front office with Andy McFailure. He lucked out in Minnesota with a young team and suddenly was seen by the Tribune top management as someone who could make the Cubs a winner with modest expenditures. Since then, he has been in and out of the Tribune doghouse but has managed to maintain his position. As long as we continue to attend and support a second rate team and purchase Cub souveniers, we will get what the Tribune wants. A cheap product which generates huge profits.
The Cubs problems are much
The Cubs problems are much more than just right field. The solutions start in the front office with Andy McFailure. He lucked out in Minnesota with a young team and suddenly was seen by the Tribune top management as someone who could make the Cubs a winner with modest expenditures. Since then, he has been in and out of the Tribune doghouse but has managed to maintain his position. As long as we continue to attend and support a second rate team and purchase Cub souveniers, we will get what the Tribune wants. A cheap product which generates huge profits.
The Aaron Gleeman article
The Aaron Gleeman article (see link) is why we don't want JAQUE JONES (unless he's coming to platoon with someone). The whole article is an excellent read.
I love the word "Hacktastic"...conjures up images of Shawon Dunston and Korey immediately!
It sounds like Ron Gardenhire messed Jones up by not platooning him (see below). I'm sure Dusty couldn't sort this kind of player out after trotting out CPat to the bitter end last year.
Go to the 12-14 writeup on this Twins Aaron Gleeman.com site
Jones was always an enigma in my eyes. He was clearly a gifted athlete and a very talented player, yet was never able to put all of his tools to great use. He was extremely inconsistent, possessed one of the least reliable outfield arms in all of baseball despite being a very good defender, displayed horrible plate discipline regardless of the situation, and never figured out a way to hold his own against left-handed pitching.
Playing for the Twins and having Ron Gardenhire as his manager likely magnified Jones' already sizable flaws. His combination of outstanding athleticism and a hacktastic approach at the plate is in many ways representative of the Twins' organization as a whole, both good and bad. And Gardenhire's refusal to platoon Jones against southpaws did nothing but expose him as an incomplete player while hurting the team.
Despite racking up at least 500 plate appearances in each of the past six seasons, Jones never once drew as many as even 40 non-intentional walks in a year. Much was made of his improved patience this season, but the fact is that 12 of his career-high 51 walks came intentionally, leaving him with a measly 39 non-intentional walks in 585 plate appearances. In 3,783 career trips to the plate, Jones has struck out 737 times while drawing a total of 206 non-intentional walks.
Jones finishes his Twins career as a .227/.277/.339 hitter against left-handed pitching, a subject that is a sore spot with me. It has been painfully obvious for years now that Jones has no business playing every day, yet thanks to Gardenhire's stubborn refusal to face facts and do something as simple as platoon a left-handed hitter, nearly 30% of Jones' at-bats over the past three seasons came against lefties.
None of those flaws kept Jones from being a quality player, but they make him relatively easy to let go.
"It is a bad team for the
"It is a bad team for the money we are spending. No way to spin that."
kerry wood makes too much money.
everyone else you can complain about making too much money you're talking about 500K-1m at most...and there's not a lot of them.
kerry wood wouldnt be making too much money if he wasnt a walking bandaid.
maddux's 3rd year probally shouldnt have happened, but in order to get him for the 2 years before there had to be a 3rd or gross overpayment.
dlee/aram were signed to great contracts. the prior 5-year mlb deal isnt something you just do...that took balls and a plan of action for his development before he even put a uniform on.
i guess there's relief pitching to bitch about, but the cubs are far from the only team spending "too much" on it.
yes, i do think some people are crying dispair over nothing at all aside from the fact its all some do, period. the sky isnt falling...the team's lineup, pen, and starting are all well above the league average in tallent.
no, this isnt a 200m yanks club filled with hired guns or a 20m marlins club filled with promise. this cubs team so far isnt a pile of wasted money and tallentless hacks, either.
2005 team was a pile of
2005 team was a pile of wasted money and talentless hacks. We haven't improved much over the 2005 team.
that is NOT trash. even the stat-minded can see some positives outta that...and yeah, that's not a static lineup.
esp. when the bench is patterson/mabry/neifi/j.hairston
also, not trash...not many teams with that kinda selection to put in their rotation...esp. when teams are walking over themselves trying to get the cubs 06 "also-ran" r.hill. you need 5...the cubs got 7+.
that's not bad at all.
yeah, im expecting the RF to be a 25+HR power guy that can field...yeah, i know patterson/t.walker/j.williams are being thrown around in trade talks.
it will settle out til its done, but this just doesnt look bad to me.
the 05 team was NOT the 05
the 05 team was NOT the 05 team.
the 05 team missed 3/4 a year of wood and nomar. that's not like missing patterson and rusch.
that's a huge huge issue. if you wanna play the "on paper" game then yeah, not much has improved...but in the real world neifi was the SS, patterson killed CF for 1/2 year+, and the bench was a total failure.
add in the month+missing walker/aram/prior and you got more troubles.
and do i need to mention what happened in LF for 1/2+ of the season? how about the near-30 loss bullpen?
the 05 team was not what the 05 team was supposed to be.
the 06 team has not only addressed these issues, but its also sporting a stronger bench than the team has shown in years.
I also read the comments on
I also read the comments on that Aaron Gleeman.com discussion on JJones...so there might be a silver lining twist to his value. The question is...how much different is Jacque Jones than Corey Patterson? JJones might be a good platoon player, KPat isn't.
Korey's splits in 2005 are really bad but when you're down so low it's too near the Mendoza line to be sure what it means.
Patterson 2005 splits:
vs leftys: 169 .203 .305 .508
vs rightys: .231 .272 .363 .635
Patterson 2004 splits:
vs Leftys: .289 .328 .491 .819
vs Rightys:.258 .317 .437 .754
so in 2004 KPat was slighty better vs Leftys and not really a platoon candidate.
The one thought from the Twins site was the suggestion that Jones would be an ideal platoon partner with Juan Encarnacion (bats right) who will be 30 in March and last yr with the Marlins did this:
I discussed the Reggie Sanders/Kenny Lofton platoon concept which helps the bench with a good player who isn't in the lineup. I like this one too, IF (big IF) they strictly enforce the platoon. Can Dusty do that? Dunno.
Jones 2005 split vs Rightys
Encarnacion 2005 split vs Leftys
How expensive would a JJones/JEncarnacion platoon be? Encarnacion made $4.4M last year. Jones is bucking for $5M...so it's pricey but we've got the cash to burn a $9-10M RF. At that price (Brian Giles is at $10M, he's better but really wasn't available unless he got a Furcal deal, which is how Furcal got his deal!)...since it costs the farm system NADA and it completes our bench with pretty good depth, so there is some value added there.
The only problem is there is some concern JJones would not be happy in a platoon. Half of the posting anger was directed at Ron Gardenhire (aka Gardentool).
but there was some distinct disgust with the player's performance, in a KPat lack of strike zone control kind of way. It definitely reminded me of the TCR opinion on Corey Patterson:
The damned tragedy with Jacque is, as so many have commented, he could have been a very effective platoon player that got into 120 games a season and hit with great power against RHP and played more than adequate defense. Gardentool just left him in there vs LHP with the hope that he would improve, or more likely, with the fantasy that if JJ closed his eyes and swung hard he just might connect once in awhile. Bleah. I can't be too nostalgic about the guy's departure.
Jacque Jones was the most frustrating twin to watch, and I won't miss him at all.
Striking out 3 times a game in the Oakland series.
Horrific in the New York series in '03.
Inexplicably lobbing the ball to the infield in Game 2 against New York in '04, when a good throw would have nailed Jeter by ten feet and sent the game to more extra innings.
And all the strikeouts at balls in the dirt. When the guy was down 0-2, you KNEW he was going to swing at something horrific and stomp his feet as he walked back to the dugout.
Jacque at 5 million a year? No thanks.
Part of the problem with platooning him was his attitude. TK platooned him, and it came out during TK's dust-up with a bunch of young players that Jones was not happy.
Gardenhire took over a relatively young Jacque Jones and, I think, was convinced that he would improve against lefties if given the opportunity, since the knock on TK was that he was never letting Jones hit against lefties.
However, the problem with Gardy is that it takes him forever to realize when a player is not performing when he likes that player. Gardy probably just kept believing that Jones would hit lefties eventually, he just needed more chances. It was never going to happen.
The Cubs needed to do
The Cubs needed to do several things this offseason to help cure what ailed them last year. The roster is filled with players who aren't disciplined enough at the plate, nor fundamentally sound in the field or basepaths. They don't get on base nearly enough anyway but when they do they can't move the baserunner over.
So at the top of the list of things to do this offseason was get a leadoff hitter who is going to get on base and score some runs. They whiffed on Furcal but with the Pierre signing they accomplished that goal despite what a lot of people in Cubdom think.
Second on the shopping list was getting bullpen help for a pen that was abysmal. The pitching staff, though not as good as we would have hoped, wasn't all that bad last year. With an improved offense and pen the starters would have looked a lot better. Signing Howry and Eyre, regardless of what you think of how much they paid to get them, means they accomplished this goal too. Although as we know signing relievers is a difficult thing to do.
With those two things accomplished, the next thing to do is get a right fielder, preferably a left handed one with some power because Pierre has none, and Murton hasn't shown much and can't be expected to provide much this year. So far they have failed miserably in this department for whatever reason because there are guys available. At this point we have to scrap what we wanted to have out of our right fielder and go with the best available because there simply isn't much left.
I would love to have Aubrey Huff because he has power, can get on base, and is still young. He didn't have a great year last year but has the track record to indicate that it might have been an aberration. If Pie is ready in '07 (big if) and Murton doesn't pan out, then you can switch him to left. This for whatever reason doesn't look like it is going to get done. So the next best available RF's are Reggie Sanders, Rondell White, Jacque Jones, and Preston Wilson as Free Agents and possibly Kevin Mench and Shawn Greenin a trade. I don't think they will get either Mench or Green, so this probably isn't going to work out like we want but we need someone in right next year and his name can't be Corey Patterson.
Although I would like to have another starter I don't seriously think this was ever on Hendry's shopping list and I think he foolishly believes Wood will suddenly morph into the guy we all thought he was going to be. And he isn't willing to pay what Millwood, Washburn, and the rest are getting in the market. I think that what the Cubs have got now is what they are going to start the season with, and as I said before they weren't that bad really.
So to recap, they have improved their pen which should give them a few wins. They have improved the leadoff spot a great deal and that should translate to more scoring opportunities. At best its a wash in RF. What this means is that we can expect to be in the 85-89 win range. With the improvement of the Mets and the Braves always being good, this won't get it done. In other words, the Cubs will be home for the playoffs again.
i still dont see how being a
i still dont see how being a wash/even in RF equals a barely improved team.
yeah, howry/eyre arent a sexy hiring, but damn, the team needed that.
besides...its about scoring runs and keeping the opponents from doing so.
the lineups is loaded with .340+ ob% guys, 2-35+ homer guys, 3-4 15-25+ HR guys (assuming RF is the typical 25+HR type).
the starting pitching is beyond what most club have...the pen has been overhauled with the best-of kids and 2 solid vets (and dumpster/williamson).
now if everyone can stay healthy...at least at this point this team has some backup with some kinda hitting upside.
Crunch I would totally agree
Crunch I would totally agree with you but would feel much more comfortable with another starter. I think you are overestimating the quality not quantity of our pitchers.
oh yeah, i totally feel okay
oh yeah, i totally feel okay with this group of starters.
all of this is just how i feel about the team...i dont understand some of the negativity, but its all subjective.
i dont feel the cubs are over-the-top 95 game winners, but i dont feel like the cubs took a step backward and in contract helped things along in a positive way.
while winning by other's subtraction isnt something you can count on...right now HOU and STL look like pure ass and a shell of what they were. in a head to head i'd take the cubs group of players over hou/stl or any of the central's competition if everyone can stay healthy.
there's still time for everyone to improve or "settle"...barely at the 1/2 way point til spring training.
"in contract" = in
"in contract" = in contrast.
"Attached is the list of players announced today and the countries and territories for which they have agreed to participate, if selected. The list does not include players agreeing to play for teams competing in the Round 1 Asia Pool (China, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea). Those players will be announced at a later date."
Perez, Neifi Dominican Republic
Macias, Jose Panama (on paper he still is a member of the cubs)
Barrett, Michael United States
Lee, Derrek United States
Blanco, Henry Venezuela
Zambrano, Carlos Venezuela
yeah, its oldish, but i dont
yeah, its oldish, but i dont know if it was brought up.
I am watching this Bear game
I am watching this Bear game right now and I think i am sick to my stomach. Kyle Orton is SOOOOOOO BAAAAD it is unbelievable it is amazing he is even in the NFL. He is bad as Hutchinson, Krenzel and the other HORRIBLE QB's of teh past couple years.
I don't think Grossman is much better, but I think it is amazing that he is not at least given an oppurtunity now that he is healthy. I think Orton has like a 0 rating today AGAIN.
Well at least I bet the under...:)
Yes, it is hard to stomach
Yes, it is hard to stomach watching the Bears, but watching them on D compensates for the horrid offense. I believe a little too much blame is being shifted to Orton. I don't know if you caught the stat earlier in the game comparing Orton with the likes of Fouts, P Manning, Elway and others in terms of QB rating and wins in their rookie years. Orton has twice as many wins then all of them. And as Mortensen wisely pointed out...that's all that matters. Also, keep in mind, while Orton has struggled the past couple weeks, the Bears have played some top-notch defenses. The last 3 or 4 teams they've played have all been ranked 8 or better defensively.
HOwever, he's nowhere near as bad as Krenzel or Hutchinson.
Here comes Grossman....!
Here comes Grossman....! About freaking time.
well, here comes Grossman.
well, here comes Grossman.
HOwever, he's nowhere near
HOwever, he's nowhere near as bad as Krenzel or Hutchinson.
Sexy Rexy in the game, so we'll see if it's the defense or the weather or both or neither.
(that should cover all the bases)
Finally...F Orton!!!
a little Bears Parachat?
a little Bears Parachat?
1st pass to Muhanmmad was
1st pass to Muhanmmad was better than almost any pass Orton threw in a month....
Nice knowing ya Orton.
And Orton did not get those wins teh Defense did.
Bears moving ball passing
Bears moving ball passing not running!!
Shows that Orton WAS holding offense back. Not offense holding him back.
Easy on KO! He's not as
Easy on KO! He's not as good as Grossman, but he will be an NFL quarterback one day. He has limited skills at this point, but it's not his fault he was playing...
"And Orton did not get those
"And Orton did not get those wins teh Defense did."
Doesn't change the fact Orton was at least status quo and did not make any mistakes to lose the game until the past 2 weeks. Get off your snide! The Bears are exciting to watch on both sides of the ball now.
Fortunately, the Bears
Fortunately, the Bears caught a break to wipe out the interception.
"Doesn't change the fact
"Doesn't change the fact Orton was at least status quo "
STATUS QUO??? The worst QB in the NFL is status quo?? HA HA
I am not a huge fan of Grossman either, he is injury prone, but he CANNOT be any worse tha Orton right now.
LoL I was just in Parachat
LoL I was just in Parachat and they have a ton of new sounds.
God I wish they had some of those to use during last season.
I am a fan of Grossman. He
I am a fan of Grossman. He went to high school in Bloomington. I followed him at Florida. I'm just not going to take anything away from Kyle Orton. I mean, if you're gonna complain about a guy (a rookie) who won 9 games in a rookie season that isn't even complete yet, something's not right. Honestly, how are you gonna fault the guy when he won games like he did, regardless of how many of the TDs were attributed to the D.
What kind of idiot drafts a
What kind of idiot drafts a QB who took 90% of his college snaps out of the shotgun, and starts him in an offense that uses the shotgun 0% of the time? Yes, Grossman may be better for this offense, but don't bash Orton for being forced into a "game plan" that refused to "open the playbook" and also refused to implement the offense from a perspective he was comfortable with.
Hey Orton might be the next
Hey Orton might be the next Joe Montana, i don't knoe, nor do i care right now. I do know that RIGHT NOW he is a horrible QB for this team and Rex Grossman or even Jeff Blake can't do worse than him. And as you saw in teh 2nd half tonight, the team responded and even cheered when Rex came in the game. I am sure they were getting tired of him throwing horrible pass after horrible pass. Muhammad has voiced his opinions on Orton not being ready and I think many others on the team felt the same way.
Today, Lovie gave his team a legit shot to make the Super Bowl as they have a chance to actually score points now on offense in the playoffs. Thsi defense is SOOOOO good the BEars need to try and think about winning thsi year and Reex gives them the best chance to win this year. PERIOD!!
"#80 of 80: By thesmitty
"#80 of 80: By thesmitty (December 18, 2005 08:35 PM)
What kind of idiot drafts a QB who took 90% of his college snaps out of the shotgun, and starts him in an offense that uses the shotgun 0% of the time?"
Speaking of QB's that took 90% of their collegiate snaps out of the gun... hey look it's Rex Grossman. Hooray for the Fun 'n Gun. Even under Zook, he spent a LOT of time throwing from the gun. Mr. Pot, allow me to introduce you a very good friend of mine: this is Mr. Kettle.
That's not Orton's problem. The problem is that he loves Jack Daniels so much (can you blame him?) that he can't read defenses for shit.
The second part of this article is a little expose on the finacial state of the Redbirds. Very encouraging for a Cuns fan.
That should read 'very
That should read 'very encouraging for a Cubs fan.' Typo.
Also, some thoughts on
Also, some thoughts on Jacque Jones. Everything I've read from the posts above says that a RF who can hit 25+ HR from the left side would be a great fit. While I'm not advocating some outrageously expensive deal to get him, JJ did hit 23 last year, and 24 the year before that at the Metrodome. Something to be said for that. And while he doesn't mash lefties.. his overall career is still 279/327/455..which is better than a lot of guys on the market to play in a corner.
He's not Huff, and he's not Mench, but we also don't have to give up a pitcher to get him. I'm still nervous about trading J-Will. That means Rusch is probably in the rotation to stay for 2006. I think I just threw up in my mouth.
Alot of the Purdue routs are
Alot of the Purdue routs are slant and in routes while Florida used more routes are more down the field routes. That was Orton's problem is he simply did not have any touch on passes 10 yards or longer. It took Brees 3 years to devlop into a solid NFL QB and Orton will to once he gets back into rythym of throwing the ball deeper than 5 yards.
The Brewers are going to nontender a guy they traded for less than a month ago. I guess the idea is to sign him for less money than they would otherwise have to offer.
The kicker? His agent is Scott Boras. Good luck, Milwaukee!
I would be ok with Jones in
I would be ok with Jones in rf, as long as we're not done. I still want another pitcher. The Sox won with depth in the rotation. The Cubs rotation has the potential to be deep. I don't trust it however. Millwood might be too pricy @ 5 yrs. Weaver might be a good fit. He is somewhat what we had in Clement. A solid 4 that can give you 200ip.
Not to keep comparing to the
Not to keep comparing to the Sox, but they just won the Ws. So why not??
Lee Iguchi
Cedeno > Uribe
Ramirez Garcia (If Wood healthy =?)
Weaver > Garland
Maddux > Vasquez
They would match up pretty well with the additions of Jones/Weaver/ and possibly a ss or 2b. Thoughts ?????????
ooops.. that didn't fit.
ooops.. that didn't fit.
Lee Iguchi Cedeno >
Lee Iguchi
Cedeno > Uribe
Lee/Konerko Hairston/Iguchi C
Murton/ Podsednik
Jones/ Dye
Zabrano/Burhle Prior/Contrera
If we add Jacque Jones, we
If we add Jacque Jones, we better be prepared with a RF to play against LHP. I don't like Jones much at all, but I like him less if he has to hit against LHPs.
X...see posts #52, 57 on
X...see posts #52, 57 on JJones.
and yes Virginia, he's a bad pickup without a platoon situation. So they'd need a righty OF bat to be on the bench for pinch hitting and bat against leftys.
Right now Hairston is that person but I'd like to see them get Mench or Encarnacion to platoon with Jones (unless they can get Ibanez or Huff who wouldn't be platoon RF's)
Recent comments
Meh, I messed that up. Mets are in.
Cards and Giants can still tie though.
Kershaw gets hurt by his defense and gave up 2 more runs. Blach has 8 shutout innings.
Mets already won as did Cards.
tomorrow is gonna be helluva fun if Giants hold on. We're all rooting for a 3-way tie I presume.
good news is now 5 K's for Lester through 4 (in a quest for 200 for season). Bad news is he's already at 86 pitches.
be curious how long Maddon sticks with Lester to try and let offense get back into it and get him the win (4-2 as I type, was 4-0)
Fwiw, he needed 2.1 IP to cross 200 for season so he got that at least. He also needs 9 K's for 200K's on season and he has 4 through 3.
cubs score 2 runs thanks to predictable reds pitching and horrible CIN defense...cubs only down by 1 now. heyward even got a gift 2rbi double out of an easy popout. neat.
something named Ty Blach has outpitched Clayton Kershaw through 6 innings (1-0 Giants).
not that finishing 2nd place will matter much nor did this game, but have to think if Hendricks pitches well tomorrow, he could leapfrog Lester in Cy Young voting. Don't see anyway Scherzer doesn't win it regardless and it doesnt' look like Lester has any incentive clauses that matter. Also might give Cueto some votes.
Rather remarkable how many teams have really good 1-2 options this year.
Nats: Scherzer and Roark (and Strasburg was great before injuries)
Cubs: Lester and Hendricks (and Arrietta is still damn good just not as consistently lately)
pretty much what I'm gathering from this thread is that it doesn't matter who you play in 5-game series, but no one wants to have to deal with Cardinal fans if we end up losing.
I can respect that.
first game for lester giving up more than 2 runs since july 24th. hell of a run.
doh, yes...dunno what happened there. jake arrieta is all "bro wut?"
lester going for #20...cubs haven't had a LH (thanks jpep for the correction) 20 game winner since d.ellsworth in 1963.
fwiw, all the games are free on mlb.tv
Short rest for MadBum would be 2 days. WC game is Wed., Games 1 & 2 are Friday/Saturday.
A left-handed one...
J-Hey not finishing with an offensive onslaught.
If Geoff Blum could be a Playoff hero, there is hope still...
Giants scare me. I think you're wrong about Bumgarner, he would pitch on short rest for Game 2 and then full rest for Game 5. Cueto would go Game 1, then short rest in game 4. Add in some really tough outs in that lineup and I want nothing to do with them. With that rotation they can easily steal a series.
Cards are a tough matchup. The rivalry evens out their comparable lack of talent. And like someone said, they love HRs, which is how to beat the Cubs. The upside is that I would feel really good about Lester twice against STL.


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U.S. Model, 1912 Swivel Holster, made for the 1911/911A1 .45 auto pistol with standard sights. Also fits all clones. Cut from original Rock Island master blueprints and stitched according to all specifications. Complete with extended belt hanger, swivel and thigh tie-down. Has hooks to fit all standard U.S. military belts. Originally designed for use on horseback. has belt to secure to leg allowing holster to swivel in standing or sitting position. Constructed from quality buffed Tan Cowhide.
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Ship Wreck
Active within 1249 Days
Name: comet
Size/Category 10-Gallon Freshwater
Type: Glass
Shape: Standard
List of Fish:
1 - Electric Glow Tetra2 - Comet Goldfish1 - Otocinclus
Lighting: 2 Incandescent Bulbs, 1 Marina L.E.D light with hub
Filtration: Tetra Whisper 10i, Marina i25
Invertebrates: 2 ghost shrimp
Other Accessories: Top fin Air-500 air pump, Top fin star air stone, Top fin 8Ft airline tubing, Top fin 2 way metal gang valve, Top fin Barrel with corals plants and airstone ornament, 4 fake plants, 1 betta leaf,1 moss ball
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Top Definition
A Very Good Punk Band
Get ADDICTED!
de Betty 24 août 2003
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
One of the greatest punk bands to date. The lead singer was often depicted dressing up as Alex from Clockwork Orange. Great band with a great sound. Must listen.
The Adicts are a great band.
de Jared Bishop 26 juillet 2004
the best punk band
what song shall we listen too droogs get addicted, viva la revolution, chinesse takeaway or sound of music
de Droog 1 novembre 2003


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Top Definition
Vomit play. Contrast with "golden shower", "brown shower", etc
af Anonymous 29. maj 2003
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
A group of people pissing on one person
"I just sat there under a stream of rainbow showers"
af Chris1372 25. marts 2008
n. A shower of urine delivered onto the victim by a multicultural group of pissers.
In prison, Sven, Tuan, Rajif, Leroy and Chief Bigbear all gave Stevie a rainbow shower.
af Mango 2. januar 2003


text:
423 W. 3rd Ave
Directions Spokane, WA 99201
Experience the Difference
Subaru of Spokane located at 423 W. 3rd Ave. in Spokane, Washington takes pride in our helpful staff and we will do everything to make your car buying experience the best you have ever had. We have helped many people from the communities of Coeur D'Alene, Post Falls, Sandpoint ID and Pullman WA get into the Subaru car of their dreams. Our Washington Subaru dealership features a wide selection of New Subaru models and used cars in Spokane.
There's a reason why Subaru of Spokane is a premier new and used Spokane Subaru dealer. It's because Subaru of Spokane provides quality automobiles at prices our customers can afford. Our knowledgeable staff will answer your questions, help you find the right new car, and can assist with financing. So if you're looking for a new or used Subaru in Post Falls, Sandpoint ID, Pullman WA or Coeur D'Alene, stop in at Subaru of Spokane and we'll get you into the car of your dreams! Have questions to ask first? Give us a call.
At Subaru of Spokane you will find your favorite Subaru models at competitive prices. Take a test drive at our greater Spokane Subaru dealership in the new Outback, Legacy, Forester, Impreza, Impreza WRX, BRZ and Crosstrek. Also take note of the many Subaru awards and recommendations and impressive styling on the Subaru Forester. The Subaru of Spokane sales people are ready to answer your questions about a particular model and find the Subaru in Spokane that meets all of your expectations. For a large selection of new and used Subaru cars in Spokane, visit our dealership today.
For a high-quality used car in the greater Spokane region, Subaru of Spokane has a large selection of cars trucks and SUVs to choose from and an exceptional sales team to answer all of your questions.
Whether you are leasing or financing a new or used car, Subaru of Spokane is here to get you into the driver's seat. Our financial specialists are committed to helping you secure a car loan in Spokane. No matter what your current credit is, stop by or call to speak with our friendly Subaru of Spokane salespeople.
Visit Subaru of Spokane for all your automotive service needs, and know you're getting the help you deserve from industry experts. We provide the Spokane region with Subaru car repairs done to factory specifications to ensure your vehicle is always performing at its best. We also keep a wide selection of original Subaru car parts for quick order fulfillment. If we don't have your part in stock we can acquire it quickly. Schedule service online for your Subaru auto repair.
We are excited you are visiting our Spokane Subaru web site! At Subaru of Spokane we will do whatever we can to help you own the new Subaru or used car of your dreams. We ask you to visit us at 423 W. 3rd Ave and also learn more about us here. We are proud to serve the Coeur D'Alene, Post Falls, Sandpoint ID and Pullman WA with our Subaru services.
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423 W. 3rd Ave
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text: David W. MacDougall retired from The Post and Courier at the end of February 2016. He joined the paper in 1986 as a features writer and switched to the police beat in 1990. From 1995 to 2003, he was webmaster and principal architect of the newspaper's first website, Charleston.net. In 2003, he moved to the the company's IS department as an email and Unix systems administrator and data transformation specialist. In 2009, he returned to the newsroom as a reporter, covering crime. In 2011, he was named a web editor on the company's Digital News Desk. David, a New Jersey native, attended Rutgers University. Prior to a mid-life career switch to journalism, he worked as a firefighter, an alcoholism counselor, a real estate salesman and an auto mechanic. He lives on James Island with his wife, Kathy. They have two daughters and two granddaughters.


text: Barbara Ann (Schmidt) Woytowiez, 66, Tyrone, died Friday. She was born in Huntingdon, daughter of the late Clifford J. Sr. and Hazel J. (Platt) Schmidt. Surviving are a brother, Clifford J. "Jeff" Schmidt Jr. of Bellwood; and two sisters: Darlene L. Schmidt of Tyrone and Jacqueline R. Cukrovany of Hopewell. She was preceded in death by a sister, Linda L. Knouse. Friends will be received from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, at Jon C. Russin Funeral Home, Bellwood, the Rev. T. Talbot-Moses officiating. Interment will be at Blair Memorial Park, Antis Township.


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Photos: Kyle Busch wins O'Reilly's Auto Parts 300
Photo: Brad Loper/Staff Photographer
Nationwide Series driver Kyle Busch (54) leads the pack on an early restart to the Nationwide O'Reily Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday, April 12, 2013.
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Mercedes-Benz has revealed details of the most potent C-Class ever built, the new C63 AMG Coupe Black Series.
The hardcore version of Mercedes' C63 AMG Coupe shares the models same naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine but with plenty of mods. There's forged pistons, conrods and crankshaft a larger oil cooler and a new ECU. The end result is 380kw of peak power, 22kW more than the C63 AMG with Performance Package and max torque of 620Nm. Acceleration from 0-100km/h is crossed off in 4.2 seconds.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual clutch AMG Speedshift transmission. The gearbox has four modes and a gear change time of just 100 milliseconds.
Mercedes has equipped the C63 AMG Coupe with an adjustable AMG coil-over sports suspension and upgraded AMG brakes. Filling the guards are titanium grey forged 19-inch light-alloy wheels. An available option is the AMG Track Package which includes sports tyres and active rear-axle transmission cooling, plus the AMG Aerodynamics package that includes a specially tuned front splitter and an adjustable carbon-fibre rear aerofoil. Continue reading "Mercedes-Benz unleashes C63 AMG Coupe Black Series" »


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The type of guy who is tall. Some are sweet,caring and loveable but not with everyone, there are certain people they show affection towards. They tend to put themselves down when in reality they are wonderful young man/man. People doubt them alot, but they do not care. Carlos is the type of guy that once he falls in love with a girl, he will stick with that chick forever!! He tends to show her that he is always fine because he does not want to worry her. Carlos' tend to have light brown eyes. And they are attracted to tall girls. Some of them love to play sports or some play video games. They are very undecided when it comes to making decisions and thinking about the future.
" that guy carlos is awesome"
作者 sexyiranian 2013年6月26日
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Top Definition
The Best Male Stripper In The World
Wow, he is Carlos! he is the best carlos ive ever met! i want carlos for my brithday!
作者 Donnis 2007年9月21日
A sexy latin stallion who treats his woman like a princess. He is a man driven by passion, and love. He is a strong, compassionate romantic. A jack of all trades. Skillful and thought provoking. The man of any woman's dreams...
As he embraced me in his masculine arms, Carlos whispered into my ear, "Te quiero..." while we watched the sun slowly kiss the horizon.
作者 biohazrd 2009年5月27日
one of the sweetest most handsome men you will ever meet. He's the type of person that any girl would be lucky to have. Great friend, sexy voice just the picture perfect TALL DARK AND HANDSOME man!!! Hails from Lima, Peru.
He's such a Carlos...I'm SO lucky to have him!
作者 =}~ 2008年2月07日
somthing once u fall for......cant get away from no matter how stupid it may get.
CARLOS:- he made me fall for him, when he has no intention of catching me.
作者 sima931 2008年4月21日
The funnest, most outgoing guy in the world. Defined as a sexy latino with the cutest smile. A Carlos always has his hair in his eyes.
Have you seen that Carlos today? He's looking pretty sexy.
作者 Gringaaa 2009年5月06日
a crazy guy who likes to get wild whether it be on the dance floor or in bed
who's that guy dancing over there? oh no... its carlo...
作者 Kayelle was here 2008年8月15日
One whom pregnant females should avoid physical activities with.
"Stay away from that Carlos; he'll re-impregnate you!"
作者 the lone Cuban 2008年2月06日


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Sunday, September 29, 2013
Experience Cape Romain's National Wilderness Area and Lighthouse Island on Sunday, Sept. 29. Travel by boat through the creeks and bays and enjoy close-up views of dolphins, seabirds and shorebirds. Walk in the lighthouse compound where two 1800s lighthouses and the remains of house foundations, water pumps and cisterns link us to our maritime heritage and a way of life long past. Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in conjunction with Coastal Expeditions hosts this annual fall tour to view the historic lighthouses, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tommy Graham, preservationist and tour guide for the trip, will give a slide presentation on the history of the two lighthouses at the Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center at 12:30 p.m. Following the 45 minute presentation, participants will drive to McClellanville and board the Coastal Expeditions ferry at 2 p.m. (Ferry ride is approximately one hour).
Lighthouse Island is located in the Wilderness Area. Therefore, there are no facilities or dock on the island and participants must wade ashore in water ranging from ankle to knee deep and walk approximately ½ mile on a grass path to the lighthouses. Wear appropriate shoes for water and pluff mud. Things to bring include water, snacks and insect repellent. Dress for the weather. The ferry will leave Lighthouse Island for the return trip to McClellanville at 4:30 p.m. The transportation fee is $45 per person. The tour fills up quickly so please reserve your spot early.
Reservation is by credit card only. Cash, check or charge payable to Coastal Expeditions at the boat dock on the day of the trip. Reservations may be made by calling Coastal Expeditions at 843-884-7684 or online at bullsislandferry.com.
The Sewee Visitor Center is located at 5821 Highway 17 North, Awendaw, SC 29429. If you have any questions, please contact the center at 843-928-3368 Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The service manages the 150-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 552 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. It oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. Visit the service's website at http://www.fws.gov.
© 2016 Moultrie News an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


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Advertise your company or group in the 2017 East-West Shrine Game Program! Please see below for this year's advertisement opportunities and purchase information.
View Advertising Fee Schedule
Back inside cover - $1,500
Front inside cover - $1,500
Full page ad - $1,000
Half page ad - $750
Quarter page ad - $500
For questions or to purchase an ad, please contact Amanda Seaman, Director of Events and Education, at 813-281-7190 or email email@example.com.
For additional East-West Shrine Game advertisement opportunities, please contact our game office at 813-281-8686 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
View a sample of the East-West Shrine Game Program


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Our Licensed Real Estate Realtors® have a broad range of experience both in the Philippines and the International Market.We offer a Friendly and Professional service.
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For Cebu Real Estate please "CONTACT US"
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text:
The all-new online home for Team HB, hotbodiesonline.com, is here! Packed with exclusive Team HB features like blog posts, videos, setups and details about the full range of awesome HB products, it's the best place to come to for fantastic HB content!
The fabulous Team HB Blog is loaded with official team reports from Team HB members from around the world. Whether it's happening on another content or on your doorstep, you'll have fast, nearly-live updates from HB factory drivers and local team members from some of the biggest races happening on the world stage or in your local racing area!
Want to know more about Team HB drivers you've read about in race reports and magazines? The Team section tells you all about our top racers, including their racing achievements, social media links and even setup sheets so you can borrow their race-winning secrets!
The new HB online site is the only place you need to hit online to get the latest news and views from the Team HB members around the world. Check it out now!


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on April 8, 2013 - 7:46 AM
Registration is open for volunteers to take part in the second annual "I Love My Park Day" on May 4 at state parks and historic sites across New York.
Sponsored by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Parks & Trails New York, the program invites volunteers to help clean and spruce up more than 70 locations.
Parks in Western New York include Allegany State Park, Artpark, Deveaux Woods State Park, Evangola State Park, Knox Farm State Park, Old Fort Niagara and Wilson-Tuscarora State Park. Also taking part will be the Buffalo Olmsted Parks.
In addition to clearing storm damage and other debris from park lands and beaches, volunteers will plant trees and gardens, restore trails and wildlife habitat, remove invasive plants and work on various improvement projects. To register online, visit www.ptny.org/ilovemypark.


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E.J. Dionne: Good cops/bad cops on immigration
The future of immigration reform is, for now at least, not up to House Speaker John Boehner. It is in the hands of a group of moderately conservative Republican senators who have to decide whether their desire to solve a decades-old problem outweighs their fears of retaliation from the party's right wing.
These senators have clearly been looking for a way to vote for a bill that is the product of excruciating but largely amicable negotiations across partisan and ideological barriers. But these Republicans -- they include Bob Corker, John Hoeven, Susan Collins, Dean Heller and Rob Portman -- wanted enough changes in the measure's border security provisions so they could tell tea party constituents that they didn't just go along with a middle-of-the-road consensus.
In the end, there was no way around their dilemma. If they wanted a bill, they had to take political risks. On Thursday, they did, announcing a planned amendment on border security that most Democrats are likely to accept.
Boehner got a lot of attention the other day for what appeared to be a firm statement that he would not let an immigration bill through the House without majority support from Republicans. On its face, his statement would seem to doom reform, given where that majority now seems to stand.
But as he typically (and, in his partial defense, perhaps necessarily) does, Boehner left himself wiggle room. "I have no intention of putting a bill on the floor that will violate the principles of our majority and divide our conference," he said.
Ah, yes, and let's remember that last week's "intention" does not necessarily determine tomorrow's strategy. It's in Boehner's interest to keep the large right end of his caucus at bay and to stake out a hard line to extract as many concessions from the Senate as he can. In the House at the moment, tomorrow is always another day.
What may matter is not how many Republican votes he gets but whether a majority of his caucus quietly decides that passing immigration reform is better for the party than blocking it. Many in such a majority might actually vote against a bill they privately want to see enacted. By doing so, they could satisfy their base voters back home while getting the immigration issue off the political agenda and ending the GOP's cold war with Latino voters.
This is not unduly cynical. Many essential laws have passed because legislators found a way to balance their political needs with their convictions. The "Lincoln" movie is instructive on the matter.
Such calculations explain the tensions among Senate Democrats over the best way forward. Politico recently reported on differences between Sen. Charles Schumer, the leading architect of the compromise bill, and Sens. Dick Durbin and Harry Reid, the majority leader.
Schumer is more willing to accept further compromises in order to get broad Republican support. He wants 70 votes for a bill, believing that a big margin would increase pressure on the House to act. He also wants to deprive Republicans of the chance to use procedural complaints as an excuse for voting no.
Durbin and Reid are wary of giving any more ground. They want to preserve negotiating space with the House and believe enough Republicans already know they have to support reform. They see the House as so unpredictable that watering down the bill may not, in any event, be very helpful.
But this difference appears to have produced, if unintentionally, a good cop/bad cop dynamic that helped keep the key group of Senate Republicans from undercutting the bill. Schumer was open to beefing up the border security provisions, as long as the path to citizenship wasn't disrupted. He also made clear that there were limits on how far his party could go in providing the swing Republicans with political cover.
Which brings it all back to Corker, Hoeven and their allies. A Congressional Budget Office report on Tuesday showing that immigration reform could cut some $900 billion from the deficit over the next two decades made it easier for them to make a deal. And in the end, they took the risk of pushing reform forward.
E.J. DIONNE is a Washington Post columnist (email@example.com).


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on May 8, 2013 - 11:28 PM
Oct. 29, 1924 – May 6, 2013
Vito M. Tibollo, of Depew, an Army veteran of World War II who later owned an auto service business, died Monday in Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Amherst, after a brief illness. He was 88.
Born in Buffalo, Mr. Tibollo was a 1942 graduate of Burgard Vocational High School. He enlisted in the Army the following year and served in Europe as a grade T4 infantry sergeant with Company H, 119th Infantry Regiment.
From 1962 to 1987, he owned Tibollo's One Star Auto Service on Grant Street in Buffalo.
His interests included gardening and bowling.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, the former Rose Laudico; a daughter, Barbara McLelland; and a son, Michael.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9 a.m. Tuesday in St. Margaret Catholic Church, 1395 Hertel Ave.


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LEWISTOWN Picture this: A frog is placed in a small, but perfect pond. As it enjoys the warm water and sunlight, the frog remains unaware that its home has been built on a stove. Slowly, the burner is turned on, increasing the water temperature, and each time the frog tries to adapt. By the time the pond has reached boiling point, it's too late for the frog to escape.
This is how an abusive relationship works, said Marian Goldstine, licensed clinical social worker at Calder Way Counseling in Stage College.
"An abusive relationship is incredibly complicated," Goldstine said. "There's a pattern of behavior that involves emotional and physical abuse that causes the victim to dissociate and rely on false hope. Escaping is a difficult emotional process that continues long after the victim manages to leave the abuser."
Article Photos
Sentinel photo by BUFFIE?BOYER
Ann Wagner, family advocate for The Abuse Network, displays a banner and ribbons for Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the ComPASS Center in Lewistown.
An abusive relationship normally begins with an incredibly charming man sweeping a woman off her feet, Goldstine said. Things are perfect in the beginning, but it's only a matter of time before he starts to separate the victim from her family and friends. He makes her think she's worthless and no one cares about her, Goldstine said.
"The woman starts to go through 'Holocaust syndrome,' where the victim beings to blame herself and believe she's useless," Goldstine said. "'If only I was a better wife, he wouldn't hit me' she thinks. She holds on to the relationship, waiting for things to be like before."
As the relationship continues, physical abuse gets worse and escape seems impossible, Goldstine said.
According to the 2011 fatality report, created by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 118 victims died in 2011 from domestic violence in Pennsylvania. The 60 adult females, 45 adult males and 13 children and teens were beaten, strangled, burned, poisoned, suffocated, tortured and drowned.
"Domestic violence is prevalent in all areas, including ours," said Beth Birch, director of services at The Abuse Network of Mifflin and Juniata counties. "It's most definitely an underreported and hidden crime. It takes time for a victim to come forward and, many times, they don't even know what resources are available to them."
The Abuse Network is the main support service that directly assists victims when leaving an abusive relationship, finding shelter and establishing a new life, Birch said. All services are free and completely confidential, she added.
"October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we are using this time to reach out to the community," Birch said. "We will have a booth at the Reedsville Harvestfest and we have already placed bows on parking meters in downtown Lewistown. We will also be working with some pizza companies to attach domestic violence awareness fliers on pizza boxes."
Agency employees will be at the Harvestfest booth with literature on abuse and pamphlets on services offered, Birch said. The booth will also feature an "empty place at the table," representing those that have lost their lives from domestic violence, she said.
The Abuse Network offers a 24-hour hotline which provides one-on-one assistance to any caller; emergency accompaniment services; an emergency domestic violence shelter; adult and child advocacy services; legal assistance to explain the criminal justice system and client rights; accompaniment and advocacy during police, legal or medical visits; sexual assault, domestic violence and child support groups; empowerment and options counseling; and information and referral development.
"Between hotline calls and walk-ins, we typically serve 450 new victims a year and our shelter houses an average of six women and children a day," Birch said. "We work to create a safe and comforting environment for women and children to come forward. Leaving an abusive relationship is a process and we are willing to help every step of the way."
Sometimes, leaving the abuser can increase the risk of a violent response so it's important to have a safe place to go and a safe plan of action, Goldstine said. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 75 percent of domestic assaults reported to law enforcement happen after the couple has separated.
"When leaving an abuser, it's critical to have a safety plan in case you have to leave quickly," Goldstine said. "Keep the necessary items in one location, to grab quickly if needed, and give an extra set of clothes and document copies to a trusted neighbor, if you end up with less time than planned."
The Domestic Violence Separation Plan states victims should take the following items when leaving: identification, children's birth certificates, personal birth certificate, Social Security cards, school and vaccination records, money, checkbook, ATM card, credit card, car keys, driver's license and registration, medications, welfare identification, work permits, passports, divorce papers, medical records, lease/rental agreement, house deed, mortgage payment records, insurance papers, address book, clothes, pictures, jewelry, child's favorite toys/blanket, items of sentimental value and small objects to sell if needed.
"Many women wait to escape or report the abuse until the situation has gotten worse than imaginable," Birch said. "This type of behavior is not family business and no one should be treated with violence. Know that you have resources and support in the community. Don't be afraid to use them."
Contact The Abuse Network 24 hour hotline at 242-2444 or the main offices at 242-0715 or 447-1885. For more information on the services offered by the network, visit www.abusenetwork.org. Walk-ins are welcome at 31 S. Dorcas St., Ground Floor, Lewistown.


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If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you may return it to Warehouse Skateboards within 30 days of your receipt date.
Royal Truck Co. Gold Crown ABEC 7 Skateboard Bearings
These brand new, professional grade ABEC 7 bearings by Royal are pre-lubricated for a smooth, fast ride. They come in the standard size (608 with a 8mm core, 22mm outer diameter, and 7mm width) and provide the best for performance and durability. Each set of Royal Truck Co. Gold Crown Bearings contains eight (8) bearings, which is enough for four (4) wheels.
All skateboard bearings are the same size, so you don't need to worry about size when selecting bearings. However, the ABEC rating denotes the quality of materials and precision used in manufacturing the bearing. Higher rated bearings are higher quality.
Skateboard bearings are used to mount the skateboard wheels to the skateboard axle. Skateboard bearings are all the same size and will fit any skateboard wheel that Warehouse Skateboards sells.
While they do not vary in size, they do vary in quality. The rule of thumb tends to be that the more expensive the skateboard bearings, the higher the quality. Cheaper bearings are typically made of lower quality materials, which can get deformed or break completely under the pressure of skateboarding. Inexpensive bearings may also not be sealed as well, resulting in dirt and debris in your bearings that will slow your board down dramatically. The more expensive skateboard bearings are sealed, with higher precession machining, and higher-quality metals. They will remain fast and precise over time with proper maintenance.
Most bearings are measured by an ABEC rating. The higher the ABEC rating, the more accurate and precise the bearing will be. This rating system includes grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. The closer you get to an ABEC 9 rating, the faster you will go and the less friction you will have when skateboarding.
ABEC 1 skateboard bearings tend to be the least expensive, most crude, and least precise.
ABEC 3 skateboard bearings tend to be inexpensive and do not roll very smoothly or quickly.
ABEC 5 skateboard bearings are the norm in skateboarding. With this rating you get a good amount of speed at an average cost.
ABEC 7 skateboard bearings are very fast and smooth and tend to be slightly more expensive.
ABEC 9 and higher skateboard bearings are extremely fast and are used more for downhill skating and skaters that want to go insanely fast.
Many companies do not use the ABEC rating scale, such as Bones Bearings. Bones Bearings uses their own rating system known as Skate Rated. These bearings do not follow the ABEC ratings because they are superior in quality and the ABEC rating ignores many quality factors in which Bones Bearings prides itself.
Check out the wide variety of skateboard bearings in stock.
If you still have questions about skateboard bearings, please visit our Skateboard Bearings Buying Guide.
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1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp.)
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tube (11 oz.) Breadsticks
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon table salt
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on May 8, 2013 - 4:39 PM
, updated May 9, 2013 at 7:32 AM
A giddy crowd of "Harry Potter" fans young and old descended on the 710 Main Theatre Tuesday night for the local premiere of "Potted Potter," a dizzying tour through all seven of the popular young adult books that left practically everyone in breathless hysterics.
The vocabulary and characters of J.K. Rowling's modern classic are now embedded firmly enough into the popular imagination that you need not have read the books or even seen the films to grasp the humor of this piece of relentless slapstick. The vaudevillian show is as much for "Harry Potter" obsessives and aspiring Quidditch stars – one man in my row claimed he'd read each of the seven books seven times through – as it is for run-of-the-mill muggles.
The show, which began as a street performance in 2005 to amuse fans waiting in line for the release of the sixth book, is the brainchild of U.K.-based Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner. It enjoyed great success in Britain, a place even more deeply obsessed with the franchise than America, and later spawned popular productions in Toronto, New York City, Australia and South Africa.
For this production, Clarkson and Turner's show gets a magnificent treatment from Gary Trainor and Delme Thomas, a sort of Hogwarts-educated Abbott and Costello whose scripted hijinks come off as the inspired riffing of two very old and very good friends.
The concept of the show is a simple one: Two friends have been charged with mounting a spectacular production of Rowling's entire "Harry Potter" mythology. Trainor is an expert on the subject, while Thomas, we're meant to believe, has only the dimmest knowledge of the key plot points, mistaking the wizard training ground Hogwarts for a pair of warthogs and constantly questioning the logic of Rowling's character development strategies.
Thomas portrays Ron Weasley, the meek redhead perpetually at Harry's side, as a Cockney street tough in a fluorescent Carrot Top wig. His version of Harry's precocious friend and fellow wizard Hermione Granger consists of a wig with two dangling pigtails and a few syllables delivered in a deep, gravelly voice. His Professor Snape, the mercurial instructor who is perhaps Rowling's most complex character, introduces himself simply by running out onto the stage from behind a wardrobe, declaring that he hates Harry Potter, slapping him, and then running back off stage.
The winking nature of the show is one of its central charms, and the gifted comedic duo has thoroughly demolished the fourth wall in order to involve the audience more deeply in what seems more like a personal game than a traditional theater production.
"Dumbledore is the greatest wizard alive, and you're telling me that he went, of his own volition, into teaching?" Thomas asks at one point, incredulously, to the groans of Trainor and the laughter of the audience.
After one particularly hammy bit about halfway through the 75-minute joyride, Trainor looks into the audience and declares: "I think we can all agree the victim is theater."
The pair, because of its reliance on the standard music hall formula of straight man and incorrigible instigator, is free to add its own personal quirks and bits of improv into the performance. It's a complete joy to watch an actor as self-assured as Thomas execute his endless series of costume changes and absurd sight gags, as it is to watch Trainor's eye-rolling responses and feigned irritation.
Perhaps the most surprising part of the show is that it actually communicates a genuine sense of the long story arc that spans Rowling's sprawling, 4,000-page-plus series. Each book gets a different treatment from the pair, ranging from a rapid-fire school lesson to a musical puppet show set to "I Will Survive."
For many of the younger audience members – and a few of the older ones, no doubt – the highlight of the show was most likely a theaterwide game of Quidditch that had the entire crowd batting around a beach ball and attempting to send it flying through one of two illuminated goals hanging on either side of the stage. Half the audience got to play members of the virtuous Gryffindor house, while the other adopted the hisses and underhanded tactics of the evil Slytherin house. Neither side won. But fun, I think it's fair to say, was had by all.
Whether you're a "Harry Potter" fanatic or a mere muggle, this show is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
Four stars
What: "Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience"
When: Through Sunday
Where: 710 Main Theatre, 710 Main St.
Tickets: $37.50 to $47.50
Info: 847-0850 or www.sheas.org
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