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The Phillies lineup has some problems that we are all aware of – and most pronounced is that its too left-handed. At present, Placido Polanco and Carloz Ruiz are the team's best right-handed hitters and this just shouldn't be. The lack of a good right-handed bat particularly hurts Ryan Howard, and in some very concrete ways.
I would suspect that Ryan may be a bit confused sometimes about what hitting approach to take. One would think that a part of him might like to go to the plate, when a man is on base, with the luxury of knowing that someone behind him can knock in the run if he doesn't. He doesn't have that and that leads to wild swinging and an unwillingness to take walks. This "I do it or it doesn't get done" attitude, and the hitting approach that goes with it, leads to pitchers giving him slop to hit because they know he'll swing…because he feels he has to. And he does. Taking a walk means nothing to Ryan nor should it.
Now let's put a premiere hitter in back of him. An RBI man and a run producer. At that point, perhaps Ryan becomes a more selective hitter because he's got the security behind him. A guy that could make a pitcher pay for walking him. Unafraid to take a walk, Ryan would see better pitches, which then makes him a better hitter. Add a little Bonds to his Fielder (Cecil), so to speak. This type of thinking is by no means novel and I think the Phils would get the hitter to fill that spot for Ryan if at any point it becomes feasible. Now it is.
The day before Thanksgiving, The White Sox declined to offer arbitration to Manny Ramirez, thus removing his Type-A free agent tag. This means any team can sign him without giving up draft picks. Now, if you don't think Manny can hit anymore, I guess you can stop reading here. I believe that, if motivated, Ramirez can still produce a 35/120/.320 season. Yup. Notwithstanding his last two seasons comprised of suspensions, in season vacations, injuries, and attempts to grow mammary glands, I believe that if Manny wants to play, that he will hit. "Good" Manny would the best offensive option available to the Phils…by far.
He's a head job. A drama queen. A poor fielder. He also owns two World Series rings. He is dedicated to the art of hitting and has become one of the greatest offensive players of his generation. He's right handed. And he's played for Charlie Manuel. If Manny wants to play, and we don't know that he does, then Ruben oughta seriously explore what it would take to put him in red pinstripes. Financially, and I have not been consulted on this, it would no doubt have to be a heavily incentive-laden contract. If the guaranteed base salary the Phils give him is low enough, it would make his acquisition a low risk ,high reward venture. I was thinking about 3 mill.
Let's find Manny, wherever he might be, and kick the tires a little. Find out what's going on in that coconut of his. In the event he thinks the sun hasn't set on his career and that he would like to play for a potential World Series winner, if he'd be willing to do what it takes to be a good teammate (or a reasonable facsimile), if he is in baseball playing shape, then put ink to paper and MapQwest him some directions to Clearwater. Make no mistake, Manny is a lunatic. But he is THAT good.
87 Comments
He's THAT good? Really?? He had 19 HR in 2009 and 9 last season. In a contract year he had one RBI and two extra base hits in his 24 games with the White Sox. Oh yeah, he got caught doing PEDs also. He's suddenly going to hit 35 HR at age 39?? If he lands anywhere, it will be as a DH with an incentive laden contract because he had the defensive range of a houseplant five years ago, and he's even worse now. No thanks…
I'm Ted Bell.
Manny Ramirez, when he's been in the lineup, has been a great hitter. This is using wOBA, in my opinion the best way to evaluate a hitter's overall skill.
An average wOBA is equal to the league-average on-base percentage. Those averages the last two years have been .324 and .331. Manny Ramirez's wOBA were .396 and .382. By comparison, Chase Utley's wOBA the last two years have been .402 and .373. Would you like to add another Chase Utley to the lineup — a right-handed one at that? I sure would.
I balk at a number of things, however: his drop in power last year, his price tag, his defense, his injury history, his age, and his penchant for being a disruption.
Unfortunately, I don't think he's a fit for any National League team because of his defense. I think at his age, playing the outfield — even in a platoon — isn't a great idea and his poor defense eats at the value he provides offensively.
It's so tempting to add Ramirez because he's still an elite hitter, but even at a cheap price, he's too risky.
I hardly ever agree with Dipsy, but on this one we are allies! Manny would be reunited with his mentor and I think he'd produce well with the Phils!
No no no no no no NO!
No Manny!
He's far too risky.
Great idea! We could also bring back Pedro, Big Poppy, and Johnny Damon. Hell, maybe even Nomar,Wakefield, and Millar would come back! They'd be cheap.
We could also get the old Indians gang back together too! Omar Vizquel, Whiten, the Alomar brothers and Kenny Lofton all in their 40's would play for almost nothing!
Then all we need is to bring in Clint Eastwood to manage, and change the name of the team to the Space Cowboys.
As always, you are compelling in your arguements Manny – and, I have to admit I was totally against the Pedro signing in 09, even after he could not start right away due to 'injuries' – Pedro proved me so wrong and was a key piece in the drive toward the pennant in 09. That being said or better yet – However… its pretty clear that the most important thing to Manny is of course, Manny. Accepting hitting 5th? Perhaps a limited role (a true testament to his meatloaf fielding)? And more importantly you mentioned how much money???
Does Manny have anything left? Just ask Manny and if he says "Of Course!" you know he will be asking for Manny money, regardless if a 1 or 2 year deal.
Hey, nothing more exciting in 08 than watching Manny come to the plate. He knows how to play the crowd but does he play with his teamates? Ask Boston or LA for that matter. In Cleveland there were too many stars for his light to shine that much brighter than anyone elses.
Good arguement Dip but, he is too old and too contankerous for me.
The ONLY reason ….and I mean O * N * L * Y……..that I would even remotely consider this…..is his prior relationship with the Phillies' guru of hitting, Uncle Charlie himself. That's it.
I have read that Manny knows that he is not going to command the kind of dollar that he used to. He was legitimately hurt last year. I think that if you put Manny in a room with Charlie and Ruben that you can find out if the desire is there. If the desire is there, and the money is right, you can have yourself a real steal. I would think that, even though Manny is a sociopath, there is a point in every players career when he realizes he's gotta cut the crap if he wants to stay in the league and that Manny may have reached that point. The great part is that if you sign him to a low base and when he turns into a smacked ass, you can just cut him. L.A. got "Good" Manny and he carried, CARRIED, them to the playoffs in 08. He has proven to be a clutch player and I think the Phils locker room can keep him in tow.
And isn't this the G.M.s dream? The down and out superstar who you can sign on the cheap and milk a terrific season out of them? Its happened so many times.
Low Risk/High Reward
The Dipsy
I don't care who is hitting behind him. If Ryan's approach is the way you say it is, he needs to address that. If the pitcher is going to walk him, he should take that every time. Failure to do so should not be interpreted as a noble desire to contribute.
And are you suggesting that Werth was not a good hitter behind him? Or simply that there won't be a good hitter behind him this season?
I said " Bring Manny" about 2 months ago on some other blog and most folk said Noooooooooo, glad to see I wasn't totally out of line here. It seems to be Rubes M.O. to take an oldie but goodie and wash him in holy Red Pinstripes. I think bringing Manny would change his attitude. He would have no choice playing in this park for these fans to "bring the noise!"
Allright…I think the term "sociopath" is a bit dramatic.
Question, Dipsy: Where do you play him? Do you really want Raul AND Manny in the outfield at the same time…with Shane left to pick up the pieces?
Too – we are looking at perhaps 1 year at best. Which of course still does not answer the gaping whole in the lineup but, it COULD give us the rock, movitation and push to take 2011.
Oh man, if they start making wigs I'll barf…
@Jim – Yes, I am suggesting that Werth was not a good hitter behind him. He did not knock in runs. His RISP was abominable. One year blip? Maybe. But its all academic now.
Manny would play LF. You can either sit Raul or trade him. I'm not terribly concerned. They both suck defensively so thats basically a wash. Raul is a bit better but not to the point where it matters.
Friends – Its a one year deal. We don't have to marry Manny. Next year, Ibanez will be gone and we can sign a RH'd LFer.
The Dipsy
Manny "carried" the Dodgers when he was 36 years old and on steriods. He'll be 39 next season and (presumably) off of the juice. His power numbers since his 50 game suspension are very ordinary.
For reading material, check out Buster Olney's ESPN column. Coincidentally, it's about Manny. Olney surveyed eight scouts/front office types and not one of them thinks he's a fit for an NL team. They all agree that Manny will probably still get on base, but that his power days are behind him. One scout compared him to Nick Johnson.
I'm Ted Bell.
Ted – I'll roll with you for a bit. Do you think Manny can go 20/100/.305 with a .400 OBP? I'll take it. If Manny can hit .300 in this lineup out of the 5 spot then he will have 100 RBIs. For his career, he hits .327 with RISP. What do 8 gm's know about how Manny can play?
The Dipsy
Well if you're looking for them to get a better RH bat than Werth this year, I would recommend not holding your breath. I'm more likely to pin Howard's struggles on pitch recognition than the guy batting behind him. He's not going to get pitches to hit no matter who's behind him if he can't lay off them. Again, if he's not laying off them because he feels like he needs to do it all himself, that's a problem that needs to be addressed. Because that's not how scoring runs works.
Dipsy, ManRam is always a high risk. Not because you can get him cheap and cut him if/whenver you need to. The risk with Manny is will he destroy your locker room and team chemistry.
He's like a bad trojan virus, yes you can clean-up/cut him, but how much damge will he leave behind before you do?
The simple answer to this is that the Phillies do not need to be getting any older. They were the oldest team in the league last year and the injury trouble was not a "freak accident." Players under 35 only please.
The Phillies have a strong locker room filled with vets. If he is is disruptive while there, ok cut him. But what kind of "damage" can he leave behind. If he comes into the locker room and screws it up, if I'm a player, I'm thinking, "well, they tried to make the team better and it didn't work out so lets move on". The Manny distraction ends when Manny exits. Its always been that way. AND, he's never been a "bad teammate". Former teammates don't trash him. He just pisses of fan's and ownership. Personally, and I'm not gonna lie, I got a kick out of the wigs and going to the bathroom in the green monster and stuff.
The Dipsy
The ONLY factor that can neutralize that "trojan virus" effect is Charlie.
And Manny may even be a bit much for the old man to handle.
This makes sense on one level….in that it MAY help Ryan's pitch selection. I agree though, that he needs to be more selective regardless of who's hitting behind him.
But Manny flat-out sucks in the field…(he's a LOT worse than Raul, IMO) …and he's a head case (with or without Charlie)
Yeah, the "distraction ends when Manny exits"….
…except that the distraction will be so great that what mess will have to be cleaned up??
I agree, though…Manny is pretty funny. He's really just a buffoon, a cartoon character….one that the Phillies don't need.
What about the following platoons:
LF Ibanez/Mayberry
RF Brown/Francisco
Save the money for pitching!
I don't like those platoons. Mayberry can't hit in the majors.
The Dipsy
.232 in 69 ABs
BUT: .810 OPS with 3 doubles and 6 (count them 6) HRs
Mayberry can only hit straight down-the-pike fastballs.
Manny has never been a bad teammate?? Former teammates don't trash him? Which Manny Ramirez are we talking about here?
Is there anything more egregious (besides having relations with LeBron's mother) than a team mate that quits on his team?
Manny Ramirez jogged his way right out of Boston after his teammates grew weary of his me-first antics. Manny had a nasty habit of saying he was hurt when he really wasn't. How about a few examples-
Big Papi stated that "he stuffed uncashed 179,000 paychecks into the top of his locker and didn't even care or know how many were there"?
You think that didn't have a negative effect on his less wealthy teammates?
Papelbon said "You have somebody like him, you know at any point in the ball game, he can dictate the outcome of the game. And for him not to be on the same page as the rest of the team was a killer, man!"
Don't tell me these things don't leave scars, I don't care how veteran your team is, they're people, and can only take so much. And I didn't even tell any of the Indians or Dodgers stories!
listen guys, if we can get manny for 5-6 mil a yr we better jump at that contract! heck and if these rumors i hear of a 3 yr – 55 million contract to werth is true then sign both and just eat rauls contract to sit on the bench! then it could be utley-werth-howard-manny-ruiz in the 3 hole down the line. whoa!! that righty left combo would make bullpen coaches sick!
Manny used to be amusing, and he used to hit with power. Now he's an average hitter with not much power, a terrible fielder, and what was once amusing is now annoying. Philadelphia doesn't need any over aged dreadlocked narcisists like Ramirez. They might as well go out and get Milton Bradley, because at least he can field a little.
3 year 55m contract? Huh? Who said? Source?
The Dipsy
OK. Get me a better alternative. Magglio Ordonez? Maybe. Guerrero? He wants to get paid and at multiple years. You wanna make a trade? I'm up for that but you have to give to get. This guy can be signed for one and you give up absolutely nothing. If he's a dick then cut him. Boston and LA couldn't cut him because they had too much ching wrapped up in him. I we sign him and he's not a good boy and/or doesn't perform, he doesn't get paid. Think TO. He knew he was outta chances so he took Buffalo's (really?) money, shut his mouth (for the most part) and is playing ball.
The Dipsy
We don't need a team-killer like Manny Ramirez. I wouldn't turn in my fan card over it, but whatever good he could in the short term isn't worth the cartoon antics that will likely follow him here.
I'd rather have another bench player along the lines of a Mike Sweeney (and that's only if they don't get Mike Sweeney himself) than that human cartoon.
Hopefully, we all wake up on Tuesday to the news that we've locked Werth back up for three years and the Manny talk can die a quick and painless death.
I'm putting this one up there with when you suggested Jermaine Dye last year man.
Wow. Worst. Article. Ever.
Apparently, we know what Ryan Howard is thinking now??? He is an undisciplined, dumb hitter. He isn't going to magically become a 100+ walk guy because he knows there's somebody behind him to drive in the runs. He isn't going to lay off the sliders in the dirt or the high and tight fastballs because of who's behind him.
And now Manny's a 35/120 guy??? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I'd be willing to go 20/85 with some quality ab's but even that's a stretch. And then of course there's the attitude and defense. I actually think the attitude wouldn't be a problem on a 1-year deal. Philly fans would love him and Uncle Charlie could keep him under control. Defense can get hidden out in LF and I don't know why we don't make late-game substitutions like we did with Burrell.
Even though I 100% disagree with Ryan Howard's approach and Manny's predictions, I wouldn't mind taking a chance on him for the RIGHT PRICE…… but then again, I'd do the same with Magglio, Prado, Dye.
So if it's the "worst article ever"….
….why are you willing to "take a chance for the right price"??
Cause that's basically what is being suggested in the article.
Without PEDs, Manny is an ordinary hitter with the brain of a fifteen-year-old spoiled brat. No place for him in Philly. I liked the article –thinking outside the box and offering creative solutions, but I think Manny would spend too much time on the DL and the Doghouse.
The title of this piece- Ryan's Hope- sounds like a charity or a movie.
Could you stop using whatever weird triple slash line you're using and just do AVG/OBP/SLG like the rest of the free world? Funnily enough, OPS is probably your best case for Manny's continued production, and you're completely allergic to it.
Also, Howard did not have a down year because of the hitters around him. You're acting like he was ever particularly good at getting walks in the first place, and that's not the case. I'm not going to address your continued devaluation of Werth but if Howard was at the plate "worried" about the guy behind him OPS'ing .920 or so, he needs to have his head examined.
Dan. That's because this post basically IS charity toward Ryan Howard.
Excuses, excuses for why he was less effective at the plate last season. The league has adjusted and he is aging. The simplest explanation is often the best, and armchair psychology tends to be wishful thinking.
The Philllies should add a good hitter because their offense is going to get worse with the replacement of Werth and another year of aging on their core. If Ryan Howard is not interested in getting walks, I suggest he becomes interested, because its a great tool for sluggers to contribute through their mid-30s (see Jim Thome).
No excuses though Phils fans. His best seasons were had when he was backed up by crappy hitters. Looks like he's less effective when pitchers actually try to, you know, get him out. OOPS.
Chuck, I was blown away at the beginning of the article redring about how the guys behind Howard affect Howard's thought process at the plate. That was a total joke. And to think Manny is still a 35 homer, 120 rbi guy at his age was even more ridiculous. Look at Arod off the juice and about 5 years younger. The last 2 years he's stumbled into 30 homers. But after airing out my anger, I realized that taking on Manny for the right price would be worth the risk. That's the only part of the article I agree with. I'm a big fan of thinking outside the box and that's not a bad one. But everything else is a joke.
But that bit about Ryan Howard…. still gets me going. Good hitters are good hitters. Ryan is not a good hitter. Good sluggers are good sluggers. Adam Dunn is a good slugger. Ryan Howard is not. It has nothing to do with his protection or what people claim he's thinking.
Howard is a good hitter, he's just not a great one.
I think the Dip's post has set the mark for responses this off season… way to go Dipsy!
Andrew, you write like Andrew from the Waldorff – your anger and disgust with Ryan Howard a dead giveaway (at least you left out the 0 rbi crap). Like you posted before, lets give it one more year. How can you say averaging 140 rbi and 45 hrs for 4 straight seasons after winning the ROY award warrants "Ryan is not a good hitter."
I'm going to go with the thought and hope that 10 was an off year because Ryan really did look lost at the plate. And look forward to a nasty 2011.
@Andrew – When Ryan came into the league, he could hit for average, take walks, and hit lefties. Then he stopped. When I suggest that Ryan should be a more disciplined hitter and stop swinging at everything, I am often greeted with a chorus of "he hits homers and drives in runs. Thats his job! We'll take the strikeouts and bad plate discipline" Really? I'm not declaring to know Ryan's state of mind and it is stated as much in the piece. Its based on what I think is common sense. Ryan has no one behind him to drive in a run and thats a fact. @Phylan – On the Earth, between 1900 and 2005, numbers divided by two slash marks to describe a players offensive performance represented by HR/RBI/AVG. If thats's too old school for you or is not what you feel to be an accurate gauge of a player's season, than I apologize.
No one signs Manny site unseen. No one pays him a lot. And you give yourself an escape hatch if it goes bad. Its worth the gamble because he is STILL that good, IMO.
Here out the other Phillies options as I see it:
1. Sign Guerrero. Too much money for multiple seasons.
2. Sign Werth. See Guerrero.
3. Trade for a platoon type. Matt Diaz, etc. OK. Well…uh….I guess thats one way to go. Still not gonna give you the much needed bat.
4. Trade for a good player. Upton, etc. Have to give up too much farm.
5. Sign Ordonez. Love to see it.
Am I missing any?
The Dipsy
Brooks, I assure you, I'm not that other Andrew. I'm from central Jersey stuck between all the Mets and Yanks fans over here. I love all my Phils, but I try to keep it real. When I see Rollins get a first-pitch fastball, he takes it. Polanco, same thing. Utley, same thing. Howard comes up and assumes first pitch fastball and then takes a half-hearted swing at a changeup or something off-speed. 4-hole hitters, especially aggressive ones who strike out 180 times a year, DO NOT get first-pitch cookies to swing at.
I love the production that he's given us. And I'd like to think this year was an "off" year as well. Every year I pull for the guy and hope that something clicks. I really believe he could be a good hitter and not just a slugger. So yes, my fingers are crossed for next year. But every year the guys numbers seem to go down while the number off-speed pitches he sees go up. I just don't see the adjustments being made. And it amazes me that he carries the numbers he does.
Howard is definately an enigma. I don't hate him, but he certainly does frustrate me. He's just not a smart player. I don't bring up post-season numbers because if you're hot for those 2 weeks, you're a God, and if you're cold, you're a bum. There are other ways to contribute.
And believe me Brooks, I would love and EXPECT a nasty 2011 from not just Howard, but Rollins and Utley as well.
Dipsy, I've always been a fan of having more complete hitters than the all-or-nothings. But looking at our team, I wouldn't mind having one guy who drives in 45 homers and 140 rbi with 180 k's and less discipline. The problem is, that guy had a year with no discipline and a mediocre 30 homer, 100 rbi's. That's unacceptable.
And I believe Ryan had 2 guys behind him who drove in 80+ rbi. I'm sure a lot of teams would take a pair of 5 and 6 hitters who do that. Perhaps if Ryan got on base a little more they'd be 100 rbi guys.
Further – @Dan – "Ryan's Hope" was the name of a popular soap opera back in the day. Funny me. Phylan – Werth could have OPS'ed his ass off, but his RISP should have been changed to RASP, because he choking and gagging in RBI spots all seasons. OPS….from a 5 hitter. Just goes to show you…we can make numbers say anything we want. Jayson Werth staring at pitches all day long and walking does NOTHING to drive in a run. He's hitting 5. His job is to knock it in – not leave it for..get this, Ibanez or Victorino? If he wanted to hit like that than he should had Charlie hit him leadoff.
The Dipsy
Andrew – Werth should had 100+ the last two years. Two guys with 80+ RBI doesn't really overwhelm me.
The Dipsy
All I can say is that you have a warped sense of what actually generates runs on the team level. AVG/HR/RBI is an incomplete measure of a player's offensive performance. And your statement about how walks do nothing to create runs is just ignorant and demonstrably false. There also isn't much to the idea of a guy having a particular "job" other than to generate runs whatever way he can. Its important for you to realize that this is not a difference of opinion. You are underinformed.
Howard's RBI-less postseason was a GROUP/TEAM EFFORT. He can't get RBIs if the guys in front of him (Rollins, Polanco, and Utley) don't get on base. And he would have been able to cross the plate a few more times than anyone else would have been able to if the guys behind him put something together.
Howard did his job better than anyone else did in the postseason, except maybe H2O. Even Blanton would have had a fighting chance if the offense had materialized for more than an inning or two at a time.
Dear Jim – When a man is hitting fifth and another man is in scoring position, especially with 2 outs, and there is no one behind him that can reasonably be counted on to bring the run home, he is to knock it in. This is baseball. You don't "look for a walk and hope the weaker guy can come through". If you have a strong six hitter you can play like that. We didnt and don't. Your statements are quite correct though when made "in a vaccuum" or "in a static world", but not with the 2010 Phillies. The way this team was assembled, Werth's JOB should have been to take advantage of RBI situations. If that meant a slow ground out or a sac fly, so be it. Do you see where Werths OPS got him when he was not batting in the correct spot in the order? I do not criticize Werth. He is a good player. He just doesn't have the skill set to be a 5 hole hitter. He was there by default because he was a righty. As for the numbers and slashes…whatever. Thats just how it used to be done. I'm not saying its the best way. Be on guard though Jim because in 5 years YOUR way will be obsolete.
The Dipsy
Drawing a walk in the situation you describe increases your team's chance of scoring runs. This is a FACT. It is not up for debate. We have the long great history of baseball to show us this. Yes, there is likely a point where the hitter behind you is so poor that a walk decreases your run expectancy, but this is extremely rare in a non-pitcher situation. Its not about "hoping somebody else gets the job done." By avoiding an out and putting another man on, you make it EASIER for your team to get the job done. The effect is positive, not null as you seem to suggest.
Yes clearly the way the trend is moving is for this thinking to become obsolete. Maybe within the bubble of Philly sports.. Does it make you feel good to see Amaro say Ibanez was as productive as Werth this season? A nightmarish statement for a GM to make. Only thing that will be obsolete in 5 years is Ryan Howard.
Dipsy, Werth should have absolutely had 100+ rbi the last two years. This year he was just atrocious with RISP. We all know it. But I would like to talk about your last comment about Werth and the weak 6 hitter behind him.
Yes, Werth should be looking for a pitch to drive with an rbi situation. Everyone knew he would take pitches. It drove me nuts when he'd let a first-pitch fastball go down the middle just as much as Howard would be guessing first-pitch fastball and totally not get it. Mike Piazza was a notorious first-pitch taker. But when he decided to jump on a first-pitch fastball, he drove the hell out of it. Werth never seemed to do that. He would usually take a wild swing and fall down and the end result would be a foul ball.
On the other hand, Victorino, Ibanez and Ruiz were all capable of driving in a run. Would we like to see Werth more aggressive? Absolutely. But if everybody had the mentality of fighting to get on for the next guy, it's only a matter of time the pitcher makes a mistake.
Werth should not feel obligated to swing at something because of the guys behind him. The guys behind him are well-compensated, MAJOR LEAGUERS. There should be no reason why Werth can't draw a walk to load the bases with 2 outs. But like Werth and Howard, the whole offense was inconsistent all year. Every at-bat should've been a grind, and it appeared there were a lot of times when guys went up there with no plan of attack.
And the "point where the hitter behind you is so poor" was represented by Rollins, Victorino, or Ibanez, comprising the 6-7 holes. Our six hole hitter sucked last year Jim.
The Dipsy
… and yet Werth ended up 4th in the league in runs scored.
Werth will be missed because he was a far more productive player than most think.
Thats great Jim. When you put a guy in the five hole that walks a lot and steals bases and is fast, he will score runs and not hit them in. I agree with you that Jayson is good a will be missed. I just think he was not batting in the spot where he could maximize his strengths.
The Dipsy
Wow.. active site for a Sunday after a major holiday in the offseason with the Eagles playing…
Dipsy, love all your options. Thay all have merit.
Phylan….not sure how old you are …but I grew up with AVG/HR/RBI…. I also use OPB, SLG and OPS when researching a player. It's all good.
This is fascinating. This team with the best record in Major League Baseball in 2010 seems to have an awful lineup. The 5 hole hitter is all wrong, not protecting the 4 hole hitter that is stupid and can't hit properly, the 6 and 7 hole guys can't drive in runs………
How many games should we have won? 140? 150?
Lefty, its called Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt.
The Dipsy
Dipsy, I'm intrigued by Ordonez- worried he's lost a little, only 109 RBI the last two years combined. Age/staying healthy is an issue, but for the right price, a very, very interesting option.
Any scenario is better than "Manny being Manny", and there is no question that is just what he will do. There were some that thought T.O. would toe the line here, how'd that work out?
H20- gave us what- 44 some wins? Where did the rest come from?
Oh wait, Well what do you know? Our horrible lineup was 2nd in the National League in runs scored.
T.O. did tow the line. For a season. He's a good example of the point I am trying to make here. I think that once a player who still has something to contribute but has blown so many chances because of his conduct, and he realizes that if he doesn't shape up he'll be outta the league because the enormity of his talent no longer matches his assache, that he can shape up. T.O. with the Bengals? He's gonna be All-Pro.
Actually, I like the Ordonez option best. His injury is supposed to be healed and he's done rehabbing. I guess it would be how much cash he wants. I think he would fit in well here and could play LF and RF.
The Dipsy
I really believe Magglio is the best choice, but I believe Boras is seeking a 1-year offer worth a lot more than we're willing to pay.
I'm sorry, Lefty. You're right. Our lineup is fine.
The Dipsy.
Manny's bat speed is down and hasn't hit for any significant power recently – PASS, look elsewhere
Seven out of nine Opening Day starters, plus some of their back-ups, spending time on the DL this year.
Yeah, this team just SUCKED this year.
I'll take my chances with the guys who got the best record in baseball.
The Dipsy
When the NL goes to a designated hitter, then Manny might make sense on an NL team. He's looking for an incentive laden contract, but that means he'll need/want significant playing time to increase his numbers. Given his non-existent defense, no National League team could risk signing him. He's strictly American League material, because there at least he might get a chance to hit without the chance of ruining someone's outfield.
Manny probably knows his defensive limitations, and likely won't sign with an NL team anyway, because he wants a chance to play.
can't just ignore the fact that the team is getting a year older. yes, alot of guys spent time on the DL, but its a pretty safe bet that at least one or two do this year as well. you need to look at the team in terms of "where will they be better" and "where will they be worse."
i think this season represented a ceiling for ruiz, and its unlikely that brown gives them what werth did in RF. on the other hand, utley should have a power bounceback, and a full season is better than a half season of roy oswalt. hamels also could continue to get better. but itd be crazy to count on halladay being BETTER than he was last year, and there's really no reason (other than homerism) to expect rollins or ibanez to improve offensively. we'll see how the bullpen takes shape. but this team should not stand still with its aging roster, that's for sure.
Jim, totally disagree. Rollins, Howard, Utley, Vic, Ruiz even Poly are still within age to produce some hot numbers. With the arms the Phils have, if these core guys have average years your looking at another NL East Division champion, at least. Nobody has to have an outstanding year, just average and they will be golden.
average by what standard though? average to those guys' careers? because asking for average years from them as a whole at their collective ages IS unreasonable in my opinion. that's the whole point about aging. not that they are all going to stink, but as a GROUP their production is likely to decline on the whole. ruiz had a great great year. probably as good as he can be. victorino should absolutely bounce back. rollins and polly though, don't see any reason why we'd expect them to.
Damn Jim. Way off. A guy is 30 and he's old. There's no reason to believe these guys can't remain really productive until they're 34-35. The way you're talking, it sounds like these guys are done. Imagine if they played in a more neutral park. Utley would be a .270 hitter with 12 homers, Howard would be at .260 with 28 homers, according to you, jim.
Yes the Phils window for being truly great is just about to start closing. I say this year and next, unless we can get very creative, which I don't put past our front office. But to say our guys can't be 'average' to their own careers, is insane.
I think Polanco had a good 2010, especially if he was playing hurt half the season.
Rollins is the type of guy who's going to have a good next year because he didn't like what happened to him in 2010. Utley and Howard, the same thing. You'd better believe Howard is going back to work on his swing and Utley's spending some time before spring training reacquainting himself with defensive fundamentals, whether he actually needs it or not. Can't imagine either of them like how their years ended and they'll do something about it.
Utley was forced into an "average" year (by his own standards) with his extended trip to the DL.
I think Victorino should be fine.
If we get Werth back, I think Charlie and the boys in the front office will find a way to get Dom Brown back up and seeing more playing time, even if they put in left field to platoon with the on-his-way-out Ibanez.
We'll be right back in the playoffs next year. Mark it.
not saying anybody is done. not even close. just trying to figure out how they will perform as a whole group. to expect them ALL to equal or surpass their career averages after 30 is not realistic. some will be better, some will be worse. howard, rollins, utley, polanco, ibanez. give me the under on their career averages next year and i bet i win 3/5.
expecting guys to maintain their career averages through ages 34-35 is just out of line with history. especially when the signs from rollins, ibanez, howard, and utley (power at least) point to some decline.
Ok, Jim, where to begin here? Howard is the only one you can have a legit beef with. It's hard to hit 45 a year with 140 driven in. I'll give you that one. Polanco is a pretty consistent slap hitter in the .290+ range. Rollins is a career .272 hitter. I'm sure if he's healthy he can steal his 35+ bags, score 100 runs and hit .272. Ibanez doesn't belong in this conversation because he's going to be 39 next year, but we'll talk about him later. I really can't see a healthy Utley not hitting his 29 homers and 103 rbi.
As you said, "expecting guys to maintain their career averages through ages 34-35 is just out of line with history."
Way to just throw out some total crap. I did a little research and tried to shy away from the steroid era…..
1. Mike Schmidt: age 34– 36 homers. age 35– 33 homers. age 36– 37 homers. Career average: 37 homers. Pretty consistent.
2. Willie Mays: age 34– 52 homers. age 35– 37 homers. Career average: 36 homers.
3. Frank Thomas: age 34– 28 homers. age 35– 42 homers. Career average: 36 homers.
4. Andre Dawson: age 34– 21 homers. age 35– 27 homers. Career average: 27 homers.
5. Raul Ibanez: age 34– 33 homers. age 35– 21 homers. Age 37– 34 Homers. Career average: 22 homers.
So I guess all of these are just out of line with history then. Maybe for the 3-time all-star, decent career, average guy, they are. But we're talking about guys who big-time players (Utley, Howard, Rollins).
Jim, please don't just throw out BS because of your unfounded "hunch." If these boys remain healthy, they can keep doing their thing for another 3-5 years.
Andrew best bit of stats I have seen on this site in a long time.
Lets all calm down, yes we need to improve our lineup but we do not need to be drastic
@Kate – This is kind of just a side thing, but why do you think Chase seems to NEED to work on his defense in half of your posts? A few misplays in a big series notwithstanding, Chase is by far, the best second baseman in baseball, and he has been, within the past three years. Go check out CrashburnAlley on Chase's numbers. He's been even better than I thought.
Great research. "Cherry picked data shows some HOF players remain valuable through mid 30s when measured solely by home runs." Stop the presses. C'monnnnnnn
Check out any real study that looks at a large sample of players and how they age. Players at this point of the aging curve are in a slight (repeat SLIGHT) decline. But when you realize that we are talking about a collection of 5 or 6 30+ year old players, it becomes less likely that they will maintain production as a group.
Yeah Rollins is a pretty safe bet to hit .270 again. He's only been hitting .250 for two seasons now.
Maybe some more stats would be more accurate. Schmidt, Mays, Dawson are Hall-of-Famers, and are partly such because they did post high numbers later in their careers. What about the rest of the baseball world? While it's conceivable that some of the Phils mentioned could make the hall, it's also conceivable that they will go the way of the more ordinary guys and fairly soon fall apart. Rollins, though excellent for years, has shown a definite decline offensively and has been injured frequently. Utley's numbers, though still well above average, have also declined in the past few years. And nobody expected Ruiz to put together a .300 season after hitting in the low .200s for his career, so it'd be silly to expect more of the same.
I'm not saying that the team will fall off the stat charts or that they will all land on the DL. What I am saying is that it is definitely time to be concerned. It is definitely time to develop some younger players rather than hope the same aging gang will keep producing like 28 year olds.
I, for oneCAN "see a healthy Utley not hitting his 29 homers and 103 rbi." He was healthy before his injury this year and his numbers didn't come close to those 29/103 projections. He also didn't have 103 RBIs in 2009, and his batting average has fallen for four straight years.
It could be the results of all his injuries, but in watching him, it doesn't appear to me that his hands are consistently as quick as his first few seasons. Injuries like broken bones and ligament surgery can, unfortunately, have damaging effects for the rest of a person's life.
Please Jim, you're telling me that Rollins, Utley and Howard are not hall-worthy? It's not like I picked Gary DiSarcinna and Alvaro Espinoza, because our guys are not comparable to those guys. Should I have picked the Steve Finleys and Mark Grace's and Matt Williams's instead? All very similar numbers into their mid 30s. And again, it's not just measured by homers, but that's what everybody seems to be talking about on here, so that's what I went with. And the reason we don't look at a large sample of players because guys like, Utley, Howard, A-rod, Pujols, etc. is because they don't deserve to be lumped in with a large group. These are the elite and that's what I used to compare them with.
At least I made an attempt to quickly put something together as opposed to all this "common research" you keep referring to but refuse show.
George- Rollins is somewhat of an enigma. If you look at his career, he always seems to have an aberration every 3 years or so. Yes the injuries have limited him and his career appears to be on the decline, but he addressed his off-season conditioning and he's enterring a contract year so look for a biggie from him.
Utley is a jerk because even if the hip is still bothering him, he won't say it. But I think there's a good chance for the homers and rbi to bounce back.
As for Ruiz, his whole career, including every level at the minors, he's needed time to get settled before having success. I think we have a couple more years of .280+ average from Chooch. He's not an easy strike-out and for the last 3 years has put together better at-bats. It's not easy with the pitcher as your 'protection' down there.
I put my money on the Phils collectively having one of their typical years.
First off Dipsy, I thought that you were making more sense, then you come out with his, really Manny is that good, this team needs to get younger, not older, and Raul is a by far a better defensive outfielder then Manny, that is how bad Manny is. Also he was playing for contract last year and just sucked. I really do not want to see a staroid using pain in the ass playing anywhere near philly.
In your posts you say the #5 hitter can now work a walk, but the #4 guy can. how does that make sense. Raul, and Vic are not terrible hitters, You going to tell me after the All Star game you would want to pitch to Raul with an extra runner on base. And at some points wasn't Vic leading the team with avg with risp.
I reject the idea that having Werth behind Howard affects Howard. There was no one behind Bonds when he walked and HRed the entire league. This is about pitch recognition and plate discipline, not about who bats behind you. BECAUSE you still need to recognize where the ball is going in order to walk.
That said, Manny Ramirez is not right for this team. He has lost his power, he can't run, can't field and hitting is questionable. He and Howard on base is a guaranteed triple play in the making.
Beta. At the right price its a low risk/high reward endeavor. If he is a pain in the rear or not performing you can cut. Think of the terms under which the Sixers signed Iverson last year and that basically mirrors the terms in which I would sign Manny.
The Dipsy
Bob – Bonds had Jeff Kent and Moises Alou.
The Dipsy
If anything, the week-long return of AI to the Sixers is another reason to hope Ruben doesn't even consider Manny.
Go younger, you say, and then bring up Manny Ramirez? That's oxymoronic to the extreme.
Let him become someone else's problem.
To whichever of you asked me about Chase Utley, I'm not saying that I truly believe his defense needs work. I do think he might want to take a look at the way he was rushing to get balls to first in mid-September, but not the defense that takes place before that.
Like Howard watching strike three, those two errors are probably the freshest memories in Utley's mind and he'll want to do something to banish those memories. And even if he's not dwelling on them, the fans are. If one of those errors aren't made and everything else remains equal, Ryan Howard strikes out to send Game 6 into extra innings, even after Madson gives up that homer.
Kate…I didn't say go younger. Manny is a rental if he were to ever play here.
The Dipsy


text:
Check out the LLLI Mother-to-Mother Forums pages/feeds on
I post announcements from LLLI there, along with status updates on the oh-so-rare occasions when there's a problem with the forums.
I also post Breastfeeding Today and New Beginnings issues when they come out, pass along links to articles I find interesting, or highlight different topics on the board. The content is pretty much the same on all three feeds.
If you prefer Facebook to message boards, we now have a Mother-to-Mother Support Facebook Group.
It's a closed group, which means that anyone on Facebook can see the group name and the list of members, but only members can see posts in the group. Click the "Join group" button to be added.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Selected Publications
Lemieux, C.J., P.F.J. Eagles, D.S. Slocombe, S.T. Doherty, S.J. Elliott, and S. Mock. 2012. Human health and well-being motivations and benefits associated with protected area experiences: an opportunity for transforming policy and management in Canada. PARKS: the International Journal of Protected Areas and Conservation, 18(1): 71-86.
Jason & D.S. Slocombe. 2012. Exploring the Origins of
Social License to Operate in the Mining Sector: Perspectives from Governance
and Sustainability Theories. Resources
Policy, 37: 346-57.
Hanna, K.S. & D.S. Slocombe. 2012. Sustainability and integrated approaches to regional planning, pp. 29-49 in A. Dale, W.T. Dushenko, & P.J. Robinson, eds., Urban Sustainability: Reconnecting Space and Place. Univ of Toronto Press, Toronto, ON
Clark, D. & D.S. Slocombe. 2011. Adaptive Co-Management and Grizzly Bear-Human Conflicts in Two Northern Canadian Aboriginal Communities. Human Ecology, 39(5): 627-40.
Bhattacharya, J.; D.S. Slocombe, & S. Murphy. 2011. The Wild Or Feral Distraction: Effects Of Cultural Understandings on Management Controversy Over Free-Ranging Horses (Equus ferus caballus). Human Ecology, 39(5): 613-25.
Clark, D. & D.S. Slocombe. 2011. Grizzly Bear Conservation in the Foothills Model Forest: Appraisal of a Collaborative Ecosystem Management Effort. Policy Sciences, 44(1): 1-11.
Rehman, S., S. Slocombe & S. Wismer. 2010. Principles for public participation in place-based governance: two Atlantic Canada case studies. Pp. 119-29 in S. Bondrup-Nielsen, K. Beazley, G. Bissix, D. Colville, S. Flemming, T. Herman, M. McPherson, S. Mockford, and S. OGrady (Eds). Ecosystem Based Management: Beyond Boundaries. Procs of the 6th International Conference of Science and the Management of Protected Areas, 2126 May 2007, Acadia University. Science and Management of Protected Areas Association, Wolfville, NS.
Slocombe, D.S. & A.I. Dagg. 2010. Wildlife preserve. In The Canadian Encyclopedia, Historica-Dominion Institute, Online at http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008592
Slocombe, D.S. 2010. Applying an ecosystem approach, pp. 409-33 in Resource and Environmental Management in Canada: Addressing Conflict and Uncertainty, 4th ed., B. Mitchell, ed. Oxford University Press, Toronto.
Dawson, J., Stewart, E.J., Maher, P.T., and Slocombe, D.S. 2009. Climate change, complexity and cruising in Canada's Arctic: a Nunavut case study. pp. 414-39 in R.B. Anderson & R.M. Bone, (eds) Natural Resources and Aboriginal People in Canada, 2nd ed., Captus Press, Concord, ON.
Clark, D. A. and D.S. Slocombe. 2009. Respect for Grizzly Bears: an Aboriginal Approach for Co-existence and Resilience. Ecology and Society 14(1): 42. [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss1/art42/
Bullock, Ryan C., K.S. Hanna, & D.S. Slocombe. 2009. Challenges and motivations for community forestry: learning from the BC experience. Forestry Chronicle, 85(2):293-304.
Slocombe, D.S., Lyn Hartley & Meagan Noonan. 2009. Environmental assessment and land claims, devolution and co-management: evolving opportunities and challenges in Yukon, pp. 238-56 in Kevin S. Hanna, ed. Environmental Impact Assessment: Practice and Participation, 2nd ed.. Oxford University Press, Toronto.
Slocombe, D.S. and P. Dearden, 2008. Ecosystem-based management and park planning, pp. 342-70 in P.Dearden & R. Rollins, eds., Parks and Protected Areas in Canada, 3rd ed, Oxford University Press, Toronto.
Dawson, J., P. Maher & D.S. Slocombe. 2007. Climate Change, Marine Tourism and Sustainability in the Canadian Arctic: Contributions from Systems and Complexity Approaches. Tourism in Marine Environments, 4(2/3): 69-83.
Hanna, K.S., Clark, D., & D.S. Slocombe, eds. 2008. Transforming Parks and Protected Areas: Policy and Governance in a Changing World. Routledge, London, 236 pp. ISBN: 0-415-37423-1.
Hanna, K.S. & D.S. Slocombe, eds. 2007. Integrated Resource and Environmental Management: Concepts and Practice. Oxford University Press, Toronto. 265 pp. ISBN: 0-19-542049-4.
Hanna, K.S., S.M. Webber, & D.S. Slocombe. 2007. Integrated ecological and regional planning in a rapid-growth setting. Environmental Management, 40(3): 339-48.
Slocombe, D.S. & R.K. Danby. 2007. Transboundary protected areas, connections, and conservation. Pp. 7-17 in J.G. Nelson & B. Dempster, eds., Transboundary Protected Areas, Research and Planning: Parks and Protected Areas Research in Ontario. Parks Research Forum of Ontario, Univ. of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
Slocombe, D.S. 2007. Articles on Complexity Theory (pp. 332-33), Environmental Management (pp. 1090-94), Protected Areas (pp. 1441-43), and Resources (pp. 1498-1505) in Encyclopedia of Environment and Society, Paul Robbins, ed., SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Slocombe, D.S. & K. Hanna. 2007. Integration in resource and environmental management, pp. 1-20 in Hanna & Slocombe, eds. Integrated Resource and Environmental Management: Concepts and Practice, Oxford University Press, Toronto.
Mánuel-Navarrete, D., S. Slocombe & B. Mitchell 2006. Science for Place-based Socioecological Management: Lessons from the Maya Forest (Chiapas and Petén). Ecology and Society 11 (1): 8. [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss1/art8/
Danby, R.K. & D.S. Slocombe. 2005. Regional ecology, ecosystem geography and transboundary protected areas in the St. Elias mountains parks. Ecological Applications, 15(2): 405-22.
Slocombe, D.S. & R.K. Danby. 2004. Complexity, science and collaborative management in two very large regions: the Australian Alps and the St. Elias, pp. 88-94 in D. Harmon & G. Worboys, eds. Managing Mountain Protected Areas: Challenges and Responses for the 21st Century. Andromeda Editrice, Colledara, Italy.
Danby, R.K., D.S. Hik, D.S. Slocombe & A. Williams. 2003. Science and the St. Elias: An evolving framework for sustainability in North Americas highest mountains. The Geographical Journal, 169(3): 191-204.
Bavington, D. & S. Slocombe, Guest eds. 2002/2003. Managerial Ecology: Contestation and Critique, & Counterproposals. Environments, 30(3): 1-78; 31(1): 1-110.
Danby, R.K. & D.S. Slocombe. 2002. Protected areas and governmental cooperation in the St. Elias Region. Natural Resources Journal, 42(2): 247-82.


text:
Email your letter to: email@example.com
Please keep your letter under 300 words (one page).
Only one letter per reader in a two month period will be accepted. may be edited for length or to correct factual errors. Letters must be signed to be considered for print and a phone number is required for verification. Faxed letters are not accepted.
Blowing in the wind
I am writing to support Proposition 3, which requires Michigan's utilities to get 25% of their power from renewable sources by 2025. I don't think that our utilities, in flatly rejecting Proposition 3, have fairly evaluated the considerable renewable resources that exist in our state.
Take wind, for example. If you look at a wind map of Michigan, (Google "Michigan 50 meter wind map") you will see that just offshore Michigan is surrounded by winds that are classified as excellent to outstanding. Offshore wind power is rapidly being developed by Denmark, Germany and the U.K. The technology could readily be adapted to the coast of Michigan.
Very little will happen, however, unless we commit ourselves to a significant increase in the production of renewable electric power. There needs to be a market in order for investors and manufacturers to show interest. Proposition 3 will create that market.
Is 25% renewables (up from about 10%) within 13 years a realistic goal? It is if we decide to do it. For example, in 1999 the state of Iowa had 232 MW of wind power. In the early 2000s Iowa streamlined the process for approving renewable energy investments and exempted wind turbines from sales and property taxes. This made wind turbines an attractive investment.
In 2012 wind turbines produced 4,500 MW of power in Iowa, 20% of the state's electricity. The wind energy industry in the state provides over 6,000 jobs. Iowa land owners receive $14.5 million annually in lease payments.
Proposition 3 is good for jobs, good for the economy and good for the environment. Twenty five percent renewable power by 2025 is readily achievable if we make the commitment now.
Conrad F. Heins, Ph. D. • TC
Defend workers rights
The Northern Michigan business community had better wake up.
The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance (NMCA) opposes proposal 2, which protects the rights of all workers to collectively bargain for wages, benefits and working conditions. The NMCA states that these are "far reaching changes."
The purpose of Prop 2 is to restore -- not extend -- collective bargaining. NMCA is concerned that 80 existing laws will be impacted when the measure passes. They fail to mention that virtually all of those laws have been passed within the last 18 months.
Nor do they mention the laws are "model" legislation crafted by ALEC, a Koch brothersfunded legislation mill. The laws were hastily passed, sometimes breaking legislative rules, and put into immediate effect.
If NMCA is looking out for businesses, why do they oppose a measure that helps workers take more money home which they then spend in the community? While I'm not surprised by their position, it doesn't make sense.
Workers who bargain for their compensation with employers make more. NMCA favors taking our money, but not our ability to bargain for more. Furthermore, if it is okay for businesses to band together to further their agenda, why is the same not true for workers?
Jeff Leonhardt • via email
47% paid their due
I am a 53-year-old man who worked in healthcare for 30 years and paid taxes, saved, had a 401k, and believed in the system of Social Security as I still do. I put hundreds of thousands of dollars into the system by law for my security. I worked 15 years more than the doctors wanted me to. I planned, gave, volunteered for the betterment of my community and self. I raised a family; my son was a Navy Seal and went to serve and did the bidding of our nation at the risk of his own life. I am proud of him.
Now Mitt Romney says I'm one of the 47 percent that feels the government owes me. I feel entitled to the money I put in and was promised. He says that just because I am disabled and drawing of my Social Security that I am a leech to the American way; that I feel entitled, don't pay taxes, and don't matter. I do matter!
I pay taxes on my disability and pay over $200 out of my small disability a month (that I paid in) for my Medicare and co-pays. I pay taxes on my money that is so-called mine. But Mitt Romney says it's wrong for me to feel entitled for a return on my investment. Does he feel that he shouldn't get a return on his investments in the tune of $14 million? I think not!
I am not a free-loader nor a person that feels the government owes me a living. I gave my money and I want it back with interest! I paid the taxes and then some, and still do.
How can a man who hopes to be president not see this? Do you really want to be called a leech and unimportant just because you believed in America and what your country told you? Do you really want Medicare and the current health plan to be redone for the sake of this man and Ryan's beliefs?
This Congress and Senate were the least productive in history and now they want to come back and do it again. Wake up my fellow Americans, WE'RE THE BOSS in this country, not them.
Russ Barron • Suttons Bay
Haste makes waste
The justification for modifying our motorcycle law was to encourage tourism. While I am in favor of promoting our beautiful state, it seems to me there are safer ways to promote visitors to Michigan. Our Pure Michigan ad campaign appears to be very successful in attracting guests here to the Great Lakes State.
Besides the questionable justification, our legislators at least took great effort to address the safety concerns involved in allowing some to not wear a helmet; including completing a driver safety course, additional insurance, and be at least 21.
Unfortunately, our representatives did not anticipate the difficulty in enforcing the legal requirements to ride a cycle without a helmet. Previously, it was much easier to enforce the helmet law since everyone had to wear a helmet. Now, when someone is not wearing a helmet, one does not know if the individual has met the legal requirements. In addition, once other cyclists see others riding without a helmet, they think it is permissible and may not know about the requirements.
Our representatives did not research the effect of allowing some to ride a cycle without a helmet. Fewer motorcyclists die in states that require helmets, and the costs to society are lower too, according to a new federal study. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that about five times as many no-helmet biker deaths occur in states with less restrictive laws.
Seems 107th District State Rep Frank Foster was quick to vote without gathering all the evidence. What other laws did he vote for without due process?
Delores Hedges • Alanson
Service standard needed
I couldn't have agreed more with Rick Coates' article, "Tipping Point." As an ex-server/bartender/manager from the restaurant industry in East Lansing, Traverse City, Albuquerque, Los Angeles and Dallas, I have some knowledge on this topic.
When I moved up here in 2007, I couldn't believe the complacency in the service industry. I've had great service as well, but generally the service has been lackluster. I'm also into solutions. The idea of a "service standard" definitely has my backing.
James Behrmann • via email
And the winners are...
Six Northern Express readers from across the region were randomly selected to win prizes last month for participating in the paper's reader survey.
• Rich Pantano of TC was the winner of two Zipline Adventure Tour passes to either Boyne Highlands or Boyne Mountain.
• Jada Morgan of TC won four passes to Boyne Mountain's Avalance Bay Indoor Waterpark.
The winners of $50 restaurant gift certificates included:
• Henry Rodgers of TC, Firefly
• Nancy Dye of Mackinaw City, The Boathouse in Cheboygan
• Joe Renner of Central Lake, the Lakeview at Shanty Creek
• Bob Reinke of Lake Ann, Amical in TC
Thanks to all who completed the reader's survey.Our next survey and chance for prizes will be the Best of Northern Michigan, coming in January.


text:
Each week when the General Assembly is in session we try to keep you abreast of bills that are making their way through the legislative process. It occurred to me last week when I wrote to you about the many voices crying out in unison for increased state funding of education that there are plenty of other issues for which many of you have said you could use more information.
This week our staff put together the first, of what we would like to be, a series of fact sheets, under the title: Did You Know? We would like to offer you a one-pager that briefly details an issue in a format that is concise enough to tuck in your date book, post on your bulletin board, share with your school board members, or include in your school newsletter. One issue that appears to be of great concern is Senate Bill 3001, the Governor's legislation that requests $2.2 billion in bonding authority to continue and re-fund the school construction/ maintenance grant programs.
When I first became aware of the bill, it concerned me, not so much because it removes ISBE's ability to fairly run the program, but because it strips school districts of their ability to oversee the construction of their own schools.
I know that if I was a local superintendent, investing
an awful amount of money in a new building, that I would like my general
contractor on-site, not running the program from
Last week, in
I would really appreciate your assistance in this effort. Are there certain pieces of legislation that gravely concern you? Others whose consequences seem too vague? Whatever the case, I would like to know. Those are issues we can also explore.
I felt that SB 3001 was a good starting point for this project, because upfront it looks like it means $2.2 billion for schools, but the devil is in the details: schools must sacrifice a lot, and all for an uncertain result.
While the General Assembly is on Spring Break over the next few weeks, we would like to get more issues completed and posted on the web site. We can really use your insight, and, as we did with Mr. Gordon, your voice, too.
Please check out this new feature through the links below:
One more thing -- last week we began ISAT testing. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to the principals and district superintendents for their oversight and attention to detail throughout this process over the next few weeks. Because of last year, I think it is fair to say that we are all operating with a heightened awareness about the importance about checking and re-checking data. We really appreciate the attention that you are paying to the details as they come in on the front end of assessment, because all of your work ensures a quality work product by data analysis.
Thank you.
Robert Schiller
State Superintendent
of Education
Also in today's message:
Legislative Update
The third Senate Education Committee hearing concerning
Senate Bills 3000 and 3001 is anticipated to be held April 14 in
There were two key legislative committee hearings last week, both occurring almost simultaneously.
On Thursday, April 1, the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee held its second and final hearing on the Governor's proposal to create an autonomous teacher certification board as called for in Senate Bill 1074. I appreciated the opportunity to speak on this issue and share with the committee, which included Speaker Michael Madigan, why this bill is bad public policy.
I believe the concerns raised by different interest
groups regarding the teacher certification process can be resolved without the
creation of a new state agency. I
have provided my suggestions on how
The other hearing on Thursday before the Senate
Insurance and Pensions Committee concerned Senate Bill 3002, currently a shell
bill that simply calls for a technical amendment to the downstate teachers'
portion of the Illinois Pension Code.
Senate Bill 3002 will become the Governor's proposal to create a pooled
health insurance program for all teachers and school districts outside of
A staff member from the Governor's office briefly
explained the administration's plan which they are negotiating with the Illinois
Education Association, Illinois Federation of Teachers, and other groups. The administration wants to see the
Retired Teachers' Health Insurance Program extended for three more years. By Fiscal Year 2007,
According to the Governor's office, local school districts would have the opportunity to opt out of the state system, but would still be required to pay approximately 7 percent (current estimates are between 6.2 and 6.8 percent) of their healthcare costs to the State of Illinois. In other words, districts that choose not to buy into the insurance pool and keep their local control will face an increase in healthcare costs.
Many school districts from across
Also this week, the House passed the following education-related bills:
HB4522 (David E. Miller), as adopted by the House, would eliminate the current provision of the School Code that provides for any appropriation shortfall in General State Aid to be taken against the poverty component (supplemental GSA) and not the foundation GSA.
HB6954 (Ronald A. Wait) provides that, upon enactment of a federal transportation bill with a dedicated fund available to states for safe routes for schools, the Department of Transportation would, in cooperation with the State Board of Education and the Department of State Police, establish and administer a Safe Routes to School Construction Program for the construction of bicycle and pedestrian safety and traffic-calming projects.
HB4167 (Brent Hassert) would require pupils to daily engage in courses of physical education for such periods as are commensurate with the students' other courses of study. It also changes requirements with regard to a physical education course of study and requires a physical education course of study to provide students with an opportunity for an appropriate amount of daily physical activity. The legislation would allow a school board to excuse pupils in grades 9 through 12 from engaging in physical education courses if those pupils must utilize the time set aside for physical education to receive special education support and services.
HB3980 (Patricia R. Bellock) amends provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act prohibiting sexual harassment in higher education so that they also apply to sexual harassment in elementary and secondary schools.
HB5215 (Renee Kosel) Amends the section of the School Code that requires a school district that provides transportation on buses that are owned by the district and are operated by drivers who are employed by the district to solicit sealed bids if the district receives a request from an interested private school bus contractor, provides that a district or special education cooperative is not required to respond to such a request more than once every 3 years.
NCLB Performance Reports Due
Districts that participated in the following programs for the 2002-2003 school year must complete and submit the NCLB Performance Report by May 30, 2004
Title I Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
Title II Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund
Title IV
Safe and
FY 2003 Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP). (Only districts using REAP authority under Titles I, II, IV, or V.)
Districts will be able to submit NCLB Performance Reports electronically via the internet using the IWAS system. If you have any questions regarding the NCLB Performance Report, please contact the System of Support Division by telephone at 217/524-4832 or by fax at 217/785-9031
of Services from
Public Act 093-0282 amended The School Code by changing Section 14-8.02 to read:
"If the child is deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired and he or she might be eligible to receive services from the Illinois School for the Deaf or the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, the school district shall notify the parents or guardian, in writing, of the existence of these schools and the services they provide. This notification shall include without limitation information on school services, school admissions criteria, and school contact information."
The Illinois Department of Human Services has developed one-page fact sheets which include all of the mandated information regarding each of these schools. Districts are encouraged to provide this fact sheet to the parents or guardians of each student with a primary disability label of hearing impairment or visual impairment at the IEP meeting. Copies of the fact sheets are attached, and may also be obtained on our Special Education homepage at www.isbe.net/spec-ed.
Districts are reminded that all decisions regarding
placement of a student with a disability must continue to be made in accordance
with 23
Amendment Request #2: Averaging and Exceptions for Participation Rates
In light of new policies issued by the U.S. Department of Education on March 29, 2004, the Illinois State Board of Education is requesting the following modifications to its Accountability Workbook:
· Using averages across 2 to 3 years to determine 95% participation rate, for schools and for countable subgroups, and
· Allow schools to exempt students with serious medical conditions from being counted in participation rate calculations (numerator and denominator).
Illinois is among the many states cited anecdotally by the U.S. Department of Education as having many small rural schools where a student or two makes the difference in overall school participation rates. For the 2003 tests, we had 310 schools with fewer than 40 students in the tested grades (smaller than our minimum subgroup size.) Of these schools, 6 missed their 95% participation rate due to the absence of one student to a few students. In addition, subgroups near the low end of the minimum size of 40 are similarly affected by small numbers of non-participating students.
The averaging process will apply to all schools and will begin with 2004 data, averaging back with 2003 participation rates to determine 2004 (averaged) participation percentages. Beginning with 2005, and in the subsequent years, a "rolling" three-year average will be used.
The changes in this portion of our request simply codify into the Illinois Accountability Workbook the policy changes issued by the Department this week.
Application for Approval of Private Residential Placement Room and Board Reimbursement
The ISBE Form 34-37 (Application for Approval of Private Residential Placement Room and Board Reimbursement) is now available on the ISBE Web site, in an on-line format. As a result, private placement coordinators will be able to complete the 34-37 Form on-line and then print it for mailing. This improvement to our on-line system was a direct result of input from the field for a more "user friendly" system. In addition, the 34-37 form was revised slightly in December 03 to align with the language found in IDEA. Please note that the ISBE Form 34-37 is found on the ISBE Web site at: http://www.isbe.net/Funding/pdf/34-37_residential_room_board.pdf.
Training Available for Transition Planning: Aligning Characteristics and Developmental Traits with Transition Service Needs
This training is the first in a series being presented by The Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services for staff working with transition-aged youth. "Aligning Characteristic and Developmental Traits with Transition Service," is fast paced, informative, and will cover topics such as: Chronology of Laws Governing Service for Students; Possible Transition Service Needs Based Upon Characteristics and Developmental Traits Needs of Students; and Reasonable Accommodations and Assistive Technology for Employment will be presented by Illinois Assistive Technology Program.
This training is specifically designed for: High School Special Education Teachers, Transition Specialists, Transition Counselors, RCD & BBS providers of transition - aged youth, and DRS' residential schools' staff, and Transition Planning Committee members.
Allotments Per Zone:
30 Slots for DRS Staff
30 Slots for Other Participants
Cost: No Charge
Locations/Dates: One in each zone
Zone A: June 1, 2004 - Holiday Inn Select and Convention Center @ I-80 and Harlem Avenue, 18501 S. Harlem Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477. Phone 708-444-1100
Zone B: May 18, 2004
- Radisson Hotel and
Zone C: May
25, 2004 - Four Points
Advanced Registration Required – NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION. Complete Registration Form and FAX to Marva Campbell-Pruitt
Space is limited and seating is first come, first served. No reimbursements of any kind by DHS for staff outside the Division of Rehabilitation Services
Additional E-Grants Training Workshop Scheduled
The Illinois State
Board of Education (ISBE) has scheduled an additional training date and location
for a total of nine workshops throughout the state for the new E-Grant
Management System (eGMS). The
additional workshop is scheduled in
ISBE will release its first grant application through eGMS this spring. Districts will submit the FY05 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) consolidated application for the following grants:
· Title I, Part A, Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
· Title II, Part A, Teacher Quality
· Title II, Part D, Enhancing Education Through Technology (formula grant)
Title IV, Part A, Safe and
· Title V, Part A, Innovative Programs
All districts will use ISBE's Web Application Security (IWAS) to access eGMS and submit the NCLB consolidated application via the Internet. The system will significantly reduce grant preparation time for districts, improve data quality and communications, standardize ISBE grant applications, and improve efficiency of the grant review and approval process. Questions about the workshops can be directed via email to email@example.com.
New OTIS Feature
Another new feature on the OTIS system will be ready for use on Monday, April 5. Individuals who wish to apply for an Elementary (03) or Early Childhood (04) Certificate by transcript evaluation will be able apply for that certificate through the Online Teacher Information System (OTIS) and to pay for it by credit card. Detailed information regarding this new opportunity can be found at the OTIS web site www.isbe.net/OTIS
National Food Service Management Institute's Coaching Employees Satellite Seminar Announced
The National Food Service Management Institute (NFSMI) has announced its next satellite seminar, Coaching Employees: Will You Make a Difference? on FONT size=2>April 28, 2004, from A second viewing is available from
NFSMI invites all food service assistants, managers, food service directors, child care staff, and State agency staff to view the satellite seminar. School administrators and teachers are encouraged to participate as well. Visit NFSMI's website at www.nfsmi.org for further information.
School Breakfast Start-Up Grants Available Now
Breakfast is a bonus that helps prepare students to be
ready-to-learn. Help your students
by offering school breakfast this year! Did you know federal funding—up to $2,700
per school—is available to select schools to begin School Breakfast
Programs? In addition, state
funding of up to $3,500 is also available.
Take advantage of this funding opportunity available to select
Visit the Nutrition Programs and Support Services website at www.isbe.net/nutrition. Click on Breakfast Start-Up Funding. If you have any questions, please contact us at 800/545-7892 or 217/782-2491.
10th Annual Character Education Conference
The tenth annual Character Education Conference will be
held in


text: Global topographic map of Mars produced from high-resolution laser altimetry data collected by Mars Global Surveyor through October 2000. This Mercator projection extends to latitudes 70° north and south. Topographic relief is colour-coded according to the key at the right. Selected major features of the planet and spacecraft landing sites are labeled. This perspective demonstrates the contrast in relief between the planet's northern and southern hemispheres and the dominance of Tharsis in the western hemisphere.


text:
Denon | In-Ear Monitors | $ 349.99
A unique diecast zinc housing follows a monochrome color scheme that shines bright and catches the eye. Twin drivers in each housing powers the sound straight into your ears. These are the Denon AH-C400 Music Maniac headphones. Denon recently updated their line of headphones with offerings to a vast majority: the frequent traveler, music enthusiast, bass-lover, and active-folk. The C400 is their IEM model for the music-lover. (more…)


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come on, i think its a little delusional to think we can get marion.
is there any valid sources to these rumors of getting marion.
you cant just make up crazy trade scenarios that dont make any sense and have a very slim chance of ever happening...
i mean, why doesnt some start a thread on shaq comming to new york?


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Black Flower Belt
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text:
BSC Welcomes Eight New Faculty Members for 2012-13 Academic Year
CreatedMonday, September 10 2012
Created byJim Nelson/Media Relations - (304) 327-4103 email@example.com
(Bluefield)—Eight new faculty members have joined Bluefield State College for the 2012-13 year. The new faculty members include Assistant Professors Dr. Colin Cavell (Political Science), Dr. Sean Connolly (English), Dr. Peggy Johnson (Health Services Management), and Dr. Robert Lowinger (Psychology); Visiting Assistant Professors Dr. Michael Buseman (History) and Ms. Janet Lilly (Nursing), and Minority Teaching Fellows in Arts and Sciences Ms. Janet Boyd and Mr. Lacie Watson.
| Assistant Professor
Dr. Colin Cavell
(Political Science)
|Assistant Professor
Dr. Sean Connolly
| Assistant Professor
Dr. Peggy Johnson
(Health Services Management)
Assistant Professor
Dr. Michael Buseman
Assistant Professor
Ms. Janet Lilly
|Ms. Janet Boyd
Minority Teaching Fellowship in
Arts & Sciences
|Assistant Professor
Dr. Robert Lowinger
|Mr. Lacie Watson
Minority Teaching Fellowship in
Arts & Sciences
Additionally, Dr. Martha Eborall (Biology) has been appointed Interim Dean/School of Arts & Sciences.
Classes began on August 20, 2012.


text:
Si-yo (hello) to all!! Imagine my surprise to see me, Choogie Kingfisher, on a video on Youtube and on the Indian Country Today website!!! I'm big time now Ma!!! LOL!!! That's the first time I've seen my name spelled like that....it was a good try none the less. Thanks for the coverage and if you would like to contact me....well hit me up on Facaebook at www.facebook.com/kituwahsun. Wa-do (thank you) for all and have a beautiful and blessed day!!! Choogie Kingfisher Kituwah-Cherokee Storyteller
Native American Storyteller
ICTMN Staff
Choogie Kingfisher, a Kituwah-Cherokee storyteller, tells a group of listeners the story of "The Creator" on the Cherokee Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina July 29, 2011.
He tells the story of how the Creator turned a timid creature into a bear so nobody would pick on him anymore. He told how the Creator made the owl's eyes remain big because he's nosey and how the rabbit got long ears and a short tail. Cuchie's use of voices and how animated he is brings the story to life.
After the story he treats his audience to a flute song and then tells the story of "The Boogie Man."
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Grateful Dead
Family Dog at the Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 4/18/70 - SOLD OUT
Is it the Grateful Dead? Well, in name, no, but in music and personnel, heck yes! We're very pleased to present a rare, unknown recording of the Grateful Dead from April 18, 1970, at the Family Dog in San Francisco, a show that was played entirely acoustically. Once a Record Store Day-only vinyl release, we have made this available as a CD exclusively on dead.net.
So, what's the deal with this show, and this recording? In May, 2013, Mountain Girl called to say she had a few reels of Grateful Dead music and wanted to return them. They turned out to be from 1970 and 1971. Jeffrey Norman quickly backed them up, and we were able to check them out. Sure enough, this was music we'd never heard before, nor knew it even existed. One of the coolest things in this small stash was the 4/18/70 tape. We knew the Grateful Dead shared the bill this night with Charlie Musselwhite, and the NRPS, but they billed themselves as Mickey Hart and His Heartbeats, and Bobby Ace and His Cards From the Bottom Of The Deck. What the tape reveals is that they played just one set, an 80 minute acoustic opus featuring some expected stuff from the era, plus some shockers.
Product Details
Street Date: November 29, 2013
Complete 80-minute acoustic show which includes six tracks of Pigpen's solo with acoustic guitar.
Limited edition, available while quantities last.
Dead.net exclusive
You Might Also Like
Took 2.5 years amazingly enough. If you're a Pigpen fan this is a must have.
I was in the right place at the right time about 2.5 years ago (another site) when a veteran Head announced liquidation of his FW69 set, among other releases, to help fund medical expenses...I grabbed it at $300 + $25 shipping. In the interim, prices fell on ebay to somewhere near that floor; though the current secondary market appears to reflect the general inflationary pressure of Year 50. However, I found both a NM and M set over on Discogs for $300 and $450, respectively; in my opinion, it's worth the cash if you've got it! This and E72 are likely unsurpassable despite what DL suggests (that is, I simply can't conceive of a better collection that still remains for a large box release)./K
This is a great, great recording. It's one of the most intimate live shows i've heard. money well spent indeed. Now if only I could get my hands on the fillmore west box...
Oh, but this is a wonderful acquisition for your collection! Only a few have expressed what I consider to be due appreciation for this remarkably unique music from the dark heart of the GOGD's 'primal' period! Tracks 13-17 are like rare treasures from an archeological dig on a remote frontier...enjoy; and, please, do return to this thread with some feedback!
P.S.: I actually purchased multiple copies of R.T. 3.3 (5/15/70) - one of which is still wrapped in cellophane and probably will be for several decades, but is there "just in case..." a hard drive should fail or my original is scratched/eaten by dingos/beamed aboard by aliens/etc...;that's how precious this period of revelatory acoustic and electric folk/blues Dead is to me! :))) /kate
Just picked this up along with Wake Up To Find Out. Won't be getting them till mid-September, but very excited for two shows twenty years apart. DaP11 will surely keep me busy till these arrive.
Non, c'était un problème technique. Il est fixé maintenant, si je comprends bien votre question.
où écouter cette play liste?
I believe 12/11 is incomplete. Can you say bonus disc?
an' it blowed up real good, too!
Bingo! Great show, though well known.
I blew it up...sorry!
You know what this means.
Sorry to break the flow of this thread but heads should know grateful dead edition pono players have just gone on sale. Get one while you can. 120 of the limited 500 have sold in 9 hrs.
No I don't work for them.
I bought this CD when I ordered the May 1997 box (after leaving it until there were only 100 left). Family Dog was a last minute add-on to that order. I was wary about purchasing it because of the mixed reviews re the sound quality…Well…I got it today, and have been playing it, wondering what all the fuss about sound quality is about.
I have a good stereo, but not that good that it would compensate for problems with sound quality. The sound is fine for a CD sourced from tapes stashed at home since 1970 or whatever. In fact it is a nice sounding CD. Further down / up this page, 'kevjones' says re this disc that "It is not sonicly perfect, but it has a very warm and fuzzy vibe to it", and I agree with him.
If you are interested in the 70's period Dead, or the acoustic Dead, or just the Grateful Dead, go for this set without reservations. I think it's great.
I have had exactly the same problem, ordered in October. I have now given up all hope of getting the disc or my money back and have ordered through Deadnet.
I will not be using SpinCDs again. For all of the vagaries of international post and customs duties, discs ordered from Deadnet have always arrived
Man do I love this album!!! I can't get enough of it!!! Such a happy album, no matter what kind of day I have had, It will put a smile on my face. Sit back with a Montecristo, a good drink on the rocks, and Family Dog at the Great Highway and you have got it made!!!
Check your box for PM.
This time though, I have ordered it on CD through English Internet store Spin-CD's. Is shown as payed by November 15th 2013 but no record yet. Everytime I ask for it, someone named Steve tells me it will arrive to them in 4 or 5 days and will ship to me asap!
Well, well, we'll see ... maybe I'll have to get it through eBay in the end, to a much higher cost ...
Micke Östlund,
Växjö, Sweden
I bought this album on record store day at Backtrack Records in Lincoln Nebraska. With my high quality record player, new needle, and bad ass receiver & speakers, I can't get enough of this album! I hope they keep em coming!
Man! was I pissed when I first played this! but after adjusting stereo, it rocks!
You can buy it for 39.95 or 44.95 can't remember, there's a record store in Mentor Ohio , has multiple copies of what you are looking for.
7661 Mentor Ave
Mentor, OH
(440) 946-9909, i am sure they'll be glad to send you one. i was there a week ago and there were more than or around a dozen sealed . with the record store day sticker .
I went to a record store and they had at least a dozen or more of the Vinyl on this one in case some of you want it still, i didn't even bother with CD.
Limited to 500 copies; get 'em while you can!
Maybe I've been kinda hard on this little tape that the Gar himself had hoarded or hidden. Here is a positive review. Everything sails along just like it oughta for an early 1970 acoustic gig until Wake Up Little Susie when the drums come out of hiding. Wake up! Then they disappear again and this is for the best. The real treat comes when Jer busts out the electric guitar for Cumberland Blues. When he plays that magic lick just after "kept me up 'til four" a baby unicorn flies out of my bum and spits up a double rainbow. I'm not kidding. That is THE moment for me. The cowboy tunes benefit from Marmaduke harmonizing every line and I don't think this flavor appears anywhere else in the official releases thus far. Good on him. They finally find Pigpen in the office or somewhere and coax him into a mini solo set. He loves that one key he plays in and he knows it cold. I'm not dissing Ron. He is my fave thing about the early GD. And you don't dis someone who dreams of a mean black snake sucking on his rider's tongue. You just don't.
Hello out there in Grateful Dead web world. I just want to say I have never made a comment before, but I was home today with a bad back and thoroughly enjoying live at the Family Dog!
I don't get what all the fuss is about as far as bad quality. I guess we all live in parallel universes and one mans bla is another women's bla, anyway I have to date my universe. My first show was a very hot summer day 1972, The only time I saw Pig and this "Bad quality tape" brought me right back! Talk about Time travel I am just glad that it ended up at my door far away in Stockholm,Sweden.
They have been giving out some real good quality recordings lately, that had no need of the "plangent processes", which gets rid of wow and flutter in old tape recordings. 16.95 plus shipping probably with shipping comes out to 20 bucks. Dick's Pick's would give a warning of some kind if the the recordings were bad. The Emptor on DP 10 said, "This recording is just exactly perfect", and it was good quality for a 2 track tape recording. If I got something like that, I would have been upset, Warner Brothers is a business, they want to sell stuff. People have a right to complain about bad sound quality, I don't need every recording the Dead ever made, but I'm sure happy about the good stuff that I have.
I'm amazed at how many folks are slamming this release. Have you read the story of the tapes, it's amazing they survived at all. I really like this CD a lot, its great music as well as a historical recording. I have been a fan a very long time and treasure releases like this. If you don't like it, sell it on Ebay and get some of your doe back. The sound quality is the best they could do, that's good enough for me. I hate to read negative post, and see fans being disrespectful to others. Remember this music is 44 years old. I love pristine sound quality as much as anyone, and there is plenty of it. We will get some great releases this year I'm sure. 2014 will be a good year for us.
Actually, I like it quite a bit. In fact, I picked it for my morning commute today before reading your post.
What I don't like is that there was no warning that the audio would be this lo-fidelity.
What I also don't like is anyone being disrespectful and telling others to "shut it".
One Man-OK guy,we get it. YOU DON'T LIKE THIS RECORDING. Nuff said. shut it!
The days and nights out along the Great Highway were and still are the best!
This show is what the Dead are all about, this is exactly what I remember. What a blessing to have it now!
Sound quality was perfect on this release as far as I am concerned. If you are so picky that you can't handle a little feedback or whatever, you really need to go sit out in the woods for awhile and let that crap go!
For anyone thinking of getting this, GET IT! It is intimate,real, and fun. Just lay back close your eyes and BANG you are there!
If you have to choose between this and DaP9 (5/14/74), by all means go with Dap9. But this release is a "rare and important musical event" for 2013. The sound isn't THAT bad. The Pigpen material is iffy (some is almost inaudible), but seriously...this is a treasure, being an all-acoustic show under a different moniker than the GD.
I for one am very happy with the product.
Finally got to open my copy on Christmas morning. I've been excited for this release since it was announced, since I'm a sucker for '70 acoustic stuff. I must admit I was a little disappointed when I popped it in my car CD player, but it does sound much better on my home stereo with nice speakers. I really dig the "Me and My Uncle" and "Mama Tried" with John Dawson and David Nelson. It was kind of a shocker after listening to 100,000 versions of "Uncle," to hear one that sounds completely different from any of the others. I'm glad that Dave put this out despite the warts. A Record Store Day release is intended for collectors, so I think it was the perfect avenue for getting this out.
Yeah, I suppose that one person said he or she would rather not have it released at all. But a lot of people were disappointed and even angry about the audio quality. That could have been avoided if Rhino had come clean in the description of the product. They chose not to alienate any potential buyers up front at the risk of making them mad later. It's their current business model, apparently. Buyer beware. Their choice.
I think you need to read the post " Honestly, the buzzing after the first 30 seconds was driving me absolutely crazy, I would rather not have something that sounds so horrible released and sold to us." That says to me he doesn't want it released. Now I would understand someone who wasn't familiar with the Dead and shows from the misty past being disappointed but the post stated they had been a head for years.
I don't think anybody said others should not be able to enjoy it. But there should have been a better description of the audio issues and there wasn't. So we get to write the Caveat Emptor ourselves!
Let me make sure I understand your thinking. If the release is not up to you audio standards none of us should be able to enjoy it? Sorry that won't work.
They would have probably never released this. I agree sound quality is hard to get past, although I have heard worse, I don't think any of those were official releases though. Others have mentioned recordings from pre-1970 can sound good, the tapes very well could have been damaged when returned, explaining the cuts and hiss/buzz
I was disappointed when I heard. I bought both however. Record first and then cd. Still waiting to hear what's next. On Christmas Eve Dave played 10-18-72 Dark Star > Morning Dew. Wow !! I think that will be released soon
I have been a fan for many years and I have purchased many a live recording from this site as well as my local record store. My wife bought me this for Christmas and I popped it in my car for the first time this morning only to be extremely disappointed in the sound quality. I understand this was from 1970 and the recording equipment was not that great but come on, how can you release this??? Honestly, the buzzing after the first 30 seconds was driving me absolutely crazy, I would rather not have something that sounds so horrible released and sold to us. Are you folks that in need of more money that you have to reach for sub par recordings to sell to your loyal fan base??? We have been buying recordings through the years and eventually they will run out, it is reality, it will happen, there will be no more to release and sell us. So please until that time, choose wisely and release shows and recordings that are worthy of listening to and not something for you all to cash in on by selling it to all of us who keep you in business!!!!
I converted this to Apple Lossless to import on to my iPhone and it sounds perfect playing at high volume on my car's AUX connection. It's great to have some rare Pig-Pen at the minimum and a great show from that era.
Hey zxtttxz, why did you retract that? I was going to say that Rare Cuts is a different beast altogether and does not suffer the same sonic indignities.
Unlike Road Trips, Dave's Picks does anyone know if this will be available, always and forever? ;)
Help a brother (MY brother) out. If you haven't gone over to Brookvale records.com to check out what Jeffry Norman has been working on you owe it to yourself.Dick's Pick's
Vol 5 is out on vinyl 5 LP box set 12/26/79 COMPLETE! Mr. Norman uses the original source tapes for this remastering.Check out my Bro's (Olive Henry) testimonial Video on Brookvale"s Facebook page. Hit the Like icon to support his pursuit of a test pressing of this fine recording. A COMPLETE Hot show remastered by the Master himself from the original Betty source tapes... Fantastic!
Henry's brother in nh
Grateful Dead are known for there perfection. How many times did we hear Bobby say," we want to get this exactly perfect. "
Enjoy heavy hiss,( No matter what it's played out of ) . Cut songs. This is for you.
Jerry ( R.I.P.), love for music & concern for his followers. He would never have approved this.
High end marketing for low ended product .
Bad form.
Times, they are a changing'
This is a great disc to listen to on a Sunday morning. Grab a cuppa joe and pack the one hitter.
I've listened to it on a high end system with high end speakers and it sounds fine to me. It states in the product listing that this release has some problems as far as sound quality and I don't find it that bad at all. Certainly listenable and I've heard worse released from other bands.
People on Amazon are charging up to $100 for a CD, pretty gross markup...
By the time I first visited San Francisco in 1971 the Family Dog was torn down and a new Safeway built on that site. My brother Rick and his wife Shelley used to be regulars while the Dog was going. "Your ballroom days are over". As far as sound quality goes I'm OK with it as the historic significance of the recording is huge. I think back to my early days of seeing the Dead and only a handful of albums were even out at that time. The tape scene had not really started yet. Dead albums were a lot of fun as a kid. Yes those old records were quirky and filled with faults. Oh well. We old timers were very happy when a new Grateful Dead record was released. Huge thanks to Mountain Girl and the GD organization for getting this one out there. I see the cup is half full.
That's a bad poncho Jerry is sporting in the May '70 example. I didn't even know he played a Les Paul Special TV Yellow. He must have played that on the Summer '71 Road Trips.