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Tagged: Kansas City Royals
2015 MLB Mock Draft 2.0: BONUS Compensatory Picks
I have decided to add on the last ten picks for the compensatory picks, mainly because I'm on track to break my monthly views record set back in June of 2013. So as a bit of a "thank you" to those of you who have taken the time to read this site, here are the last ten picks of the 2015 mock draft. A side note: Although James Shields has not been signed yet, the mock draft will be done based on the assumption that he will be signed before June.
28. Colorado Rockies
(First Selection: Daz Cameron, OF, Eagles Landing Christian Academy)
You can't teach pitching to established major league arms, which presents a problem for the Colorado Rockies. In their atmospheric conditions, humidor or no humidor, the best plan for success is to develop starters and teach them how to pitch in Denver. The Rockies seem to have this figured out as they have a trio of impressive future starters coming through the ranks: Jon Gray, who projects to be an ace, Eddie Butler, a solid second arm, and Kyle Freeland, a pitcher who, as a Colorado native, may already have figured out the nuances of pitching in thin air.
Alex Young of TCU would be an interesting fourth arm. While he doesn't have teammate Riley Ferrell's fastball, or Brandon Finnegan's tools, he does have the feel that allows him to be a more versatile pitcher. Like Ferrell, Young has more experience in the bullpen, but he also has worked in the rotation, and could make a seamless transition during his junior year.
Young's best asset is his pitch movement, his curve and slider are considered his best weapons, and while he's reticent to use his changeup, proper development of said pitch, which already has some movement, will allow him to become a four pitch starter.
29. Atlanta Braves
(First Selection: DJ Stewart, OF, Florida State)
And you thought the Miami Marlins were the king of fire sales.
The Atlanta Braves have all but openly stated that they are building their future after the 2014 fiasco. Having unloaded much of their hitting corps, including their top power source in Evan Gattis, the Braves may want to look at developing another power bat at another position, And while previous selection DJ Stewart looks like a power hitter, he still needs to learn how to be one.
The selection I have in mind for the Braves here is smaller than Gattis, but certainly could match him in terms of power. Chris Shaw an outfielder for Boston College, is likely going to play first base professionally, as that's his original position.
Much like Florida's Richie Martin, Shaw needed a year to figure out how to hit collegiately, and when he finally did, he made an impression. After going deep 6 times last season, Shaw feasted on Cape Cod pitching, adding another 9 blasts, good for the league lead. He's a left handed power hitter, a valuable commodity to have in a major league lineup, and he makes a conscious effort to correct his swing if he gets aggressive.
Shaw's not a fast runner, and there's still a question as to why he was in the outfield during his sophomore season, but these concerns can be covered up by his defensive ability as a first baseman. He'd be a solid part of the Braves future lineup, and someone who could help fans forget Gattis in the future.
30. Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto is often at a disadvantage when it comes to the draft, as their home stadium is less then ideal when it comes to position players. The turf has been known to be a deal breaker for many an athlete, and the Jays have lost many talented players because no one wants to play there. Last season, they lucked out when they nabbed Jeff Hoffman and Max Pentecost, two high level players from college. Hoffman was coming off Tommy John surgery, and Pentecost was coming off an outstanding summer ball and junior season.
The Jays are going to look for a homegrown post-Jose Reyes plan, as two seasons on turf have worn him down, and I estimate he's good for maybe five more seasons before there are more obvious problems. In this case, the best option is the defensively versatile John Aiello from Germantown Academy.
Aiello is a third baseman primarily, but he's also capable as a shortstop. His power swing is better utilized when he's hitting right-handed. Aiello also has the benefit of playing in a northern high school, which allows him to adapt to the cold of Toronto.
If developed as a shortstop properly, Aiello figures to be a 5 hitter in the Jays lineup. Again, the turf issue may cut his career by a couple years, but he may be one of the more underrated prep stars in the draft.
31. New York Yankees
(First Selection: Phil Bickford, RHP, College of Southern Nevada)
The Yankees need to realize that the perfect balance for a winning team is a mix of developed and bought talent, and while they certainly have the bought part down, they do need to develop another few bats for when their high profile acquisitions do finally wear down. Brett Gardner has been a solid start, but there needs to be more.
Sometimes, when it comes to scouting players, especially for teams like the Yankees, there's some value in looking in their own backyard. Look at the crosstown rival Mets and their developing prospect Steven Matz, or the Toronto Blue Jays and their prospect Dalton Pompey.
It would be a pretty expansive backyard for the Yankees, as Niskayuna High School outfielder Garrett Whitley is almost 3 hours away from Yankee Stadium, but his talent is undeniable, and with the potential to be the first MLB draft pick in the school's history, he's really making a solid case for a first round pick.
In a way, Whitley is like Gardner, but with more pop. He's got value in the 9 or 2 spot of a lineup based on his speed, and he has the defensive capability and the arm that allows him to play centerfield for a major league team. The fact that he's used to playing in the cold weather that comes with the territory of upstate New York makes him even more attractive.
32. San Francisco Giants
(First Selection: David Thompson, 3B, Miami)
I'd be remiss to not point out the state of the Giants outfield in the future, as both Gregor Blanco and Hunter Pence will be 32 by the end of the 2015 season. While Gary Brown may be part of the future of the Giants outfield, am I supposed to believe that Nori Aoki and Juan Perez will be part of the long term future?
The Giants have many outfield options, both prep and collegiate in the compensatory round, but none offer quite the ceiling like North Carolina's Skye Bolt. Similar in story to LSU shortstop Alex Bregman, Bolt started his college career quite nicely, showing signs of both power and speed, a rare combination. He slashed ACC pitching, hit 6 home runs, and showed solid patience at the plate.
Bolt regressed slightly this past season, but he still has the potential to be a big time hitter in a major league lineup. The fact that he is a switch hitter will help his value even further. Should he play like he did his freshman year, he could be considered a dark horse top 15 pick.
33. Pittsburgh Pirates
(First Selection: Nick Plummer, OF, Brother Rice High School)
Gerrit Cole is certainly going to be a solid right-handed rotation arm for years to come, and while the rest of the Pirates homegrown arms, Glasnow, Taillon, and Kingham will come in due time, they will also all be right-handed, and there's a certain predictability about that which makes drafting a left-handed pitcher that much more important.
Tyler Jay, the Illinois southpaw, was originally mocked to the Nationals, but it's become all but official that Max Scherzer will sign with the team, forcing them to lose their first round pick, which puts Jay back in the draft pool. I put him here for the exact same reasons. You can find them, albeit with strikethrough text, in my previous post.
34. Kansas City Royals
(First Selection: Riley Ferrell, LHP, TCU)
Note: Keep in mind, this pick isn't official yet, but in all likelihood, will happen. Whether or not the team who signs James Shields is one of the ten worst teams or one of the 19 other teams who stand to lose a draft pick, is yet to be seen.
One of the major proponents of the build, not buy, philosophy, the Royals finally saw their long term plan come to fruition by becoming the 2014 AL champions Thanks to a nucleus of well-developed talent, Kansas City could be a legitimate dark horse threat in the AL for years. And to continue that sustained success, the Royals should look to develop more parts. Losing Nori Aoki and Billy Butler, both a key hitter and a key runner, is going to be difficult, and the Royals would love to have a guy who can at least try to replicate both.
Gulf Coast High School outfielder Kyle Tucker may not be as fast as Aoki, and he may not be as powerful as Butler, but if developed properly, he could be an adequate replacement for both of them in about four or five years. The brother of Preston Tucker, an Astros farmhand, Tucker is one of the more gifted hitters in his class. Although he's somewhat lanky, he still is an excellent hitter, his swing is one of the best, if more unorthodox, in prep ball. Tucker is defensively capable, but while he is a centerfielder now, expect him to move to right field when he turns pro, as he has an arm more suited for the corner positions.
35. Detroit Tigers
(First Selection: Andrew Suarez, LHP, Miami)
We all knew that Max Scherzer was never going to stay in Detroit, and in all likelihood, neither will David Price. A contingency plan had been in place with Jonathan Crawford and Kevin Ziomek, but Crawford left by way of the Alfredo Simon trade. I know it sounds like I'm talking about replacing Scherzer and Price immediately, but I could not be any further from that sentiment. Rather. it may be time to develop another set of arms for Detroit for the future.
I still think the Tigers should opt for Andrew Suarez, but maybe I should flip him and their hypothetical second selection, Stroudsburg right-hander Mike Nikorak. A classic case of value in a northern prep arm, Nikorak has excellent tools, including a fastball which ranges from low to high 90's. Well built, Nikorak really brought attention to himself during the showcase season, when scouts gushed on his pure stuff.
Nikorak is an athlete, having played quarterback in high school, but his focus is strictly on baseball now. Development of his secondary pitches is key for him to establish a reputation as a solid starter, and given Detroit's handling of pitching these days, Nikorak wouldn't have much to worry about.
36. Los Angeles Dodgers
(First Selection: Demi Orimoloye, OF, St. Matthew's School)
It can't be expressed how important a bullpen is in Major League baseball. There's a difference between letting a starter sit because the manager is confident that a reliever can keep the momentum, and forcing said starter to pitch longer because the particular relief corps is weak. And while the Dodgers have one of the best rotations in baseball, not to mention some decent relief pitching from Paco Rodriguez and Kenley Jansen, it wouldn't hurt to add another solid arm to that mix.
Like AJ Reed (who ended up being drafted as a hitter), Alex Meyer and James Paxton before him, Kentucky pitcher Kyle Cody is considered a high talent. Cody has the ideal pitcher's body at 6'7″ and 245 pounds, and he uses it as an emphasizer for his mid 90's fastball. Cody has the potential to work his fastball into the triple digits, should he be used exclusively out of the bullpen, but there will be teams who want to try him in the back end of a major league rotation. Should the Dodgers take him, I see him more of a former than a latter.
37. Baltimore Orioles
(First Selection: Richie Martin, SS, Florida)
Oriole Park at Camden Yards isn't exactly the most ideal place for a speedster, but that doesn't mean that there shouldn't be one in the Orioles future lineup. While it's ideal to have a fast slugger in a lineup, sometimes a guy whose primary weapons are his legs may be the perfect solution to adding a degree of dimension to a lineup that's more power oriented.
Clemson speedster Steven Duggar is considered the fastest collegian, perhaps even the fastest first round prospect this year, depending on if you're in Kyler Murray's boat. Duggar's primary weapon may be speed, but he is fleshed out enough that he can be more than a singles hitter, even if he has shown limited potential on the power front.
Duggar is also a decent defensive player. While situated in a corner spot right now, scouts believe he has the potential to play center field. However, in a park like Camden Yards, perhaps the corner would be the best spot for him.
Duggar would be the perfect future complement to Chris Davis and Adam Jones, and his speed will ad another dimension to the Orioles offense and will allow them to continue their stronghold of the AL East for years .
And that is the final part of the 2015 Mock Draft. Stay tuned, as the next one will likely be released in time for MLB.com's top 100 prospects and team top 20 prospects lists.
2015 MLB Mock Draft 2.0: Part 4 of 4
It's time for the last quartile of the second MinorLeagueMadhouse 2015 MLB Mock Draft. Nothing has changed in the draft order since then, making this mock still somewhat relevant, but again, there's still work to be done, especially with James Shields and Max Scherzer still on the market. Anyway, here comes the next batch of picks.
22. Kansas City Royals
Everyone loves a good human interest angle, and in sports, when that human interest angle is a good side note for a really good player, then not only are there good results on the field, but the publicity is great as well. The Royals may not need any human interest angles for the foreseeable future, especially after all the stories from their AL championship season, but they could use another injection of youth, especially into their pitching.
After selecting Brandon Finnegan, their quick-to-the-Majors bullpen arm from TCU, they may want to double dip, going after his teammate, Riley Ferrell. And yes, I know I mocked him here last time for precisely the same reason.
Ferrell may have one of the best fastballs in the class, a mid to high 90's offering with minimal contact. Although he's been used more out of the bullpen since he started pitching for the Frogs, Ferrell's fastball and secondary pitch, a slider, have made it impossible for the coaching staff to not move him into the rotation.
Ferrell's weaknesses as a starter are his strengths as a closer, a developing third pitch, a rough delivery, and a lack of height, and while two of the three can be fixed, unless Ferrell is absolutely dominant as a starter, his ceiling at the major league level is most certainly a closer role in a major league bullpen. For Kansas City, finding the perfect future complement to Greg Holland would further strengthen what is seen as a solid rotation in a tight division.
23. Detroit Tigers
College seniors are a double edged sword when it comes to Major League Baseball. On the one hand, they have the leadership and the skills that allow them to kickstart their careers in an advanced minor league level, but on the other, their clock ticks faster than a college junior. It isn't often that a college senior is drafted in the first round; the most recent exception was Mark Appel, the number one pick of the Houston Astros back in 2013. While Appel has taken his collective lumps at the minor league level, he should be ready to pitch in the majors as early as late 2015, especially if he continues to rebound from his disastrous 2014 start.
This little detour was made possible thanks to 2014's elephant in the room, University of Miami pitcher Andrew Suarez. Considered by many to be one of the more majors-ready pitchers, especially as a starter, Suarez is still a potential first round pick, despite his decision to stay another year in school.
Injury history aside, the former Blue Jays and Nationals pick is advanced enough to have confidence in his pitches. a low to mid 90's fastball, and a good arsenal of secondary pitches that are accentuated by above average command.
Suarez may be somewhat of a reach, but should he have a season that justifies a high selection in the draft, I don't think any team will care that he's a senior.
24. St. Louis Cardinals
Back in 2012, when the Cardinals took James Ramsey ahead of such guys as Rickie Shaffer and Victor Roache, I blasted the team for going with a too-safe selection. Two years later, after running through the system faster than Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III, Ramsey was the centerpiece of the Justin Masterson trade. Lesson learned, never underestimate the Cardinals scouting department.
Ramsey wasn't the only loss for the Cardinals this past year, Oscar Taveras was tragically killed in a car accident, leaving Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk as the future of the Cardinals outfield, if you don't include Jason Heyward.
I hate using BPA as the reasoning for a selection, but in a class that's weak in the Cardinals organizational positions of need, BPA may be the best option, in this case, it's Richland High School outfielder Trent Clark.
Clark isn't a power hitter, not that he needs to be, rather, he profiles as a 2 or 6 hitter in a lineup. His best weapons are his contact and his speed. In a way, he reminds me of Brandon Nimmo, a guy who had similar tools in his senior year. The difference between Clark and Nimmo is that Clark has more opportunities for visibility, as he actually plays high school ball.
Clark's biggest weakness is his arm, and while there is some belief that he can play a big league center field, he might provide more value in left.
Clark's development may be somewhat protracted, but if he is drafted by the Cardinals, he'll have the opportunity to be the next high level prospect going through their system.
25. Los Angeles Dodgers
Every sports generation has their defined superstar, and every draft has their fair share of prospects who are supposed to be the next version of said star. This generation will be headlined by such stars as Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, and Clayton Kershaw, and while it may be somewhat early to call someone the "Next Stanton" or the "Next Kershaw," in some cases, it's justified. Canada, for instance has what many believe is the "Next Giancarlo Stanton", and I swear, I've heard those words attached to this kid before.
St. Matthew's (Ontario) High School outfielder Demi Orimoloye may not have a name like an athlete, but he does have the body and the athletic attributes which have made him incredibly attractive to teams. Late to baseball on account of a switch from football, the Nigerian born Orimoloye has a frame similar to Minnesota Twins prospect Miguel Sano. Orimoloye has undeniable power, there's footage of him hitting a 400 foot home run in a showcase game on Youtube, not to mention solid speed and a strong arm.
Orimoloye may have the tools, but his late start means his abilities are raw. Should he continue to impress the way he did for Team Canada and the showcase circuit, there's no doubt he will be a highly sought after commodity.
26. Baltimore Orioles
JJ Hardy will go down as one of the more underrated shortstops of all time, and when his career is finished, the Orioles will have him to thank for building a strong defensive foundation on the left side of their infield. Having just signed a five year deal at the age of 32, it wouldn't surprise me if midway through that contract, he begins to decline. So who would the Orioles groom as Hardy's successor?
Richie Martin, the University of Florida shortstop, is a late bloomer in the hitting department, but defensively, he's a college version of Hardy, provided he doesn't try too hard. Having spent the first two years of his college career learning to regain his hitting stroke, he finally found it in the Cape, playing for Bourne this past summer.
Martin's high defense and low hitting reminds me of 2012 draft pick Deven Marrero, a similar product at the time, who since then has somewhat regained his hitting stroke as he's progressed through the Red Sox system.
The key to Martin's stock rising is how he can handle SEC pitching in his junior year. Should he be able to hit the way he did up in Bourne, then there's a good possibility he could actually go higher than Baltimore.
27. Washington Nationals In baseball, teams don't usually draft pitchers high for them to be relievers, unless they have the stuff that justifies a future in the big league bullpen. Granted, there are exceptions, see Gregg Olsen and Nick Burdi as examples. Drafting and developing a future closer is often viewed as unnecessary and a waste of resources, especially in the age of the free agent closer. Then again, if there's a lively left handed college arm that projects to the bullpen, sometimes the best thing to do is to grab it. Illinois southpaw Tyler Jay may be from nearly uncharted territory, but that hasn't stopped him from impressing at the collegiate level. During the summer, while pitching for Team USA, Jay managed to allow no runs in almost 17 innings of work.Jay's best pitch is his fastball, an offering that ranges from low to mid 90's, with an occasional touch at 97. He also uses a solid curve and is developing a changeup. Jay isn't an effort pitcher, he uses his athleticism to throw. While Jay does have the ability to pitch in a rotation, he'll likely succeed more as a relief pitcher.
Update: Washington is expected to sign Max Scherzer, effectively forfeiting this pick and putting Tyler Jay back in the draft pool.
27. Los Angeles Angels
In today's successful major league system, it's almost a requirement that teams carry two catchers. One catcher is a defensive presence, usually a bottom of the order bat but an outstanding glove. He's not going to win a game with an impressive hitting display, but he'll keep the pitcher in check. The other catcher is a more offensive presence. He may have good defense, but it's not Gold Glove material. He's a middle of the order presence, usually there to provide key hits and keep the inning alive.
The Angels have set the groundwork for their future catching corps by acquiring their defensive presence, Carlos Perez from the Astros. Perez will have a good four or five years to work with current catcher Chris Iannetta before this year's top catcher rises through the ranks.
Wilson High School's Chris Betts may not be as defensively strong as Perez, and he may be one of the slowest hitters in this year's class, but he makes up for his deficiencies with a solid power stroke and good arm strength.
Betts may be a slow runner, but he has had the capability to stretch singles into doubles with his power. This was especially evident during the summer.
Betts is also a local product, being half an hour away from Anaheim, so the Angels probably have gotten a good look at him through the past year. It'll be interesting to see if they opt for the local product.
And so there is the first round of the second mock draft. Stay tuned for updates, especially with the last two QO free agents looking to sign.
Was Ubaldo Jimenez worth forfeiting the 17th overall pick?
Ubaldo Jimenez became the next player with draft compensation to leave free agent purgatory, signing a multiyear deal with the Baltimore Orioles. Jimenez, who rejected a qualifying offer from his old team, the Cleveland Indians, cost the Orioles not only the money, but also the 17th overall pick in the draft.
Ever since the new free agent draft compensation rules have come into effect last year, it seems as if teams are intentionally lowballing these players so that they can get the draft pick. We saw how bad it was last year with Michael Bourn and Kyle Lohse, who waited until the middle of Spring Training to sign with teams. And ultimately, those teams forfeited draft picks.
Bourn went from Atlanta to Cleveland, who used the pick that they obtained in the deal to draft Oklahoma State starter Jason Hursh, Cleveland, however, didn't lose their first round pick, as they had a top ten draft pick. Incidentally, the Bourn case drew a lot of controversy, as the New York Mets who had the 11th pick, which wasn't protected, wanted to sign him, but felt that they would be unfairly losing a draft pick because the Pittsburgh Pirates had gotten a top ten pick for allowing Mark Appel to return to Stanford for his senior season, pushing the Mets one spot out of the top ten. Cleveland ended up signing Bourn, but instead of losing a first rounder to the Braves, they lost a second rounder.
Lohse was signed by the Brewers, who forfeited their first round draft choice. The Cardinals used that pick to select Rob Kaminsky, a New Jersey prep pitcher.
Going back to Jimenez and the free agents that remain, the common theme for these remaining free agents is the draft pick. Ervin Santana, Nelson Cruz, Stephen Drew, and Kendrys Morales haven't gotten offers because teams are afraid to lose a pick for them. It's essentially a simpler form of restricted free agency.
There is no doubt that these players do deserve deals. Santana resurrected his career in Kansas City, Cruz, pre-Biogenesis was viewed as a deadly middle-of-the-order bat. Drew could hit and adequately defend, and helped Boston win a championship, and Morales resurrected his career in Seattle after a couple years of injury trouble in Anaheim.
But herein lies the problem, it's not just the draft pick, it's the money and the risky investment too.
Santana is demanding ace money after reestablishing himself in KANSAS CITY. Kansas City is in no way a place to brag about reestablishing yourself, even if the Royals did manage to get out of the cellar thanks in part to a bizarro season by the White Sox and another really bad season by the Twins.
The problem with Cruz is that nobody knows if he'll be as good after being caught in the Biogenesis probe. Maybe he'll be another Ryan Braun, maybe he becomes Melky Cabrera. Either way, it's a big risk for a PED user.
The problem with Drew is that 2013 could have been a fluke year for him. Drew was protected by a lineup that seemed to envelop his deficiencies, couple that with the fact that he's getting into the "wrong side of 30" territory. While this is okay for maybe an outfielder or a first baseman, a "wrong side of 30" middle infielder is a bit of a problem, especially on the defensive side of things.
And of course, there's Morales. While he did have a respectable offensive season, there are still concerns about his health and defensive ability. People are more inclined to take a look at him as a designated hitter than as a first baseman. Had Morales not gotten hurt, in all likelihood, he would be one of the first players off the board instead of the last.
But going back to Ubaldo. Was the deal worth it?
Jimenez is certainly long removed from his days of dominance in Denver. In Cleveland, he really was just a mid rotation starter, nothing special, basically the baseball equivalent of a one hit wonder. Baltimore however knew that in order to compete in the AL East again, which once again was strengthened by yet another Yankee spending spree, as well as the continuing growth of the other four teams in the division, they needed to add pitching. Getting Jimenez meant the forfeiture of a draft pick, but they went through with it anyway.
Was it worth it though?
From a money perspective, no. Jimenez was not worth that type of money or amount of years. From the pick perspective, certainly.
17th overall picks in the MLB Draft haven't traditionally fared well. To provide an example of how they fared in the past ten years:
2013-2010: Tim Anderson, White Sox, DJ Davis, Blue Jays, CJ Cron, Angels, and Josh Sale, Rays. While Anderson and Davis are a long way from determining if they're good or not, Cron may or may not need another year in the minors, and Sale has been nothing short of a bust.
2009: AJ Pollock of the Diamondbacks has managed to put himself in the Arizona lineup. A leadoff hitter, Pollock may stand as the best bet to break the bad 17th overall pick
2008: David Cooper, who was projected to be the next big slugging first baseman/DH, was a major disappointment in Toronto. Basically a AAAA player, he recently signed a deal with the Indians.
2007: Blake Beaven is another one of those forgettable rotation pieces. His biggest claim to fame was being included in the Cliff Lee deal which sent the former ace to the Texas Rangers for their 2011 World Series run.
2006: Matt Antonelli was supposed to be one of the big middle infield talents for the Padres, almost what Stephen Drew would have been had he not been injured. However failure to be consistent coupled with lack of opportunity led his only major league experience to be a September call up. Afterwards, he bounced around other teams' minor league systems, but failed to latch on and retired last summer.
2005: CJ Henry was the first of Derek Jeter's potential successors, but he just couldn't hit. He was packaged in a deal for the late Cory Lidle and Bobby Abreu for the Yankees' 2006 postseason run, but failed further to establish himself in Philadelphia. He quit baseball and played basketball for the University of Kansas with his more famous brother, Xavier, who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Henry's back to playing baseball now, albeit it's independent ball in Evansville, Illinois.
2004: Scott Elbert was drafted by the Dodgers as a pitcher. Injuries derailed his effectiveness and turned him into a two pitch reliever. While he's not the best reliever on the Dodgers, he is an okay option out of the bullpen.
So in a sense it probably was a somewhat good idea. Losing the pick means that another team, the Royals, will be saddled with the bad pick, while the Orioles will maybe get immediate contribution from Jimenez.
2014 MLB Mock Draft: Spring Training Edition (Part 2 of 3)
Here's part 2 of MinorLeagueMadhouse's Mock Draft.
11. Blue Jays: Kyle Schwarber, C, Indiana
Before the 2013 season started, Toronto had two really good catching prospects and a somewhat decent veteran. Now, they have… Josh Thole, Mike Nickeas, and one prospect whose value has taken a tumble. Kyle Schwarber, who helped Indiana make the College World Series last year, is like Toronto's former big prize catcher, JP Arencibia, except he's not just a power guy who strikes out a lot. Schwarber's game is more balanced on the offensive side. However, for his hitting ability, he's not a plus defender. If he's to stay behind the plate, his defense will need some fine tuning, or he'll become another Piazza.
12. Brewers: Sean Newcomb, LHP, Hartford
Every once in a while, the state of Connecticut produces a quality collegiate talent. Two years ago, it was George Springer and Matt Barnes, this year, it's Sean Newcomb. Coming out of the same school that produced Jeff Bagwell will do wonders for his reputation, but as for himself, what endears him to scouts is his fastball and his ability as a strikeout pitcher. Newcomb has other pitches which he can get batters out with, but what he needs is a consistent delivery. Still, in a system that's starved for southpaws, Newcomb may be Milwaukee's next big lefty hurler.
13. Padres: Nick Gordon, SS/RHP, Olympia High School, Florida
One of the benefits of drafting a two way player out of high school is that there's more time for that player to develop, so if in one area they fail, they will develop in another. Gordon, who has a baseball pedigree thanks to his father, former reliever Tom Gordon, and brother, Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon, has his brother's speed and arm, and his father's fastball and curveball. Still, scouts see his value as a shortstop more. Although the Padres have tried to stay away from prep hitters as of late thanks to the failures of Donavan Tate and Matt Bush, Gordon's pedigree and adaptability may be too good to pass up.
14. Giants: Bradley Zimmer, OF, San Francisco
The Giants already have one home state product waiting in the wings to take his spot in the outfield, why not go for another one that's right in their backyard? Zimmer, the brother of Royals pitcher Kyle Zimmer, can hit and throw, and while he's not as fast as Gary Brown is, he has the ability to play as a 3 or 5 hitter in the Giants lineup. Although the Giants have locked up Hunter Pence for five years, my gut tells me that they are going to regret it, and will want a younger guy patrolling the vast outfield of AT&T Park.
15. Angels: Luis Ortiz, RHP, Sanger High School, California
The Angels system is arguably the biggest joke in baseball right now. With no one in the top 100 and the top prospect in their system likely making the majors soon, it's time to restock once again. While there are so many options for the Angels to pick, if they want to strengthen their system, they'll opt for a high school talent. Luis Ortiz is a NorCal product who has a fastball that he can throw with ease. When he's not using his fastball, his slider also works as a Major League offering. Ortiz has a body fit for pitching, so development isn't that much of an issue, but what does need improvement is his control. Still, if the Angels want a bona fide prospect to rebuild their system, Ortiz is that guy.
16. Diamondbacks: Braxton Davidson, OF, TC Roberson High School, North Carolina
Braxton Davidson is probably one of the better all around prep players in this year's draft. His offensive game is definitely the most polished, and his arm and fielding ability make him an asset for teams that play in bigger parks. While he doesn't have the speed to play center, his arm makes him a near lock to play one of the corner spots, left field especially comes to mind. Davidson's power isn't as big as Paul Goldschmidt's, but in the Arizona lineup, he definitely looks to be a #3 hitter at best.
17. Orioles: Max Pentecost, C, Kennesaw State
"But the Orioles already have a catcher locked up for the long term!" Yes, but given the life expectancy of a catcher's knees, in all likelihood, if they do draft Pentecost and he rises through the system at the normal rate, Matt Wieters will probably be a designated hitter. Moving along from that, Pentecost isn't as flashy as draft mate Kyle Schwarber, but his game is balanced in areas. He was once a highly touted prospect three years ago, and would have been a Texas Ranger, but an injury and a strong commitment to Kennesaw State kept him from going pro. In a draft class that is ripe with small school talent. Pentecost is a hot commodity. He'll certainly be worth the pick for a team looking for a future catcher.
18. Royals: Derek Fisher, OF Virginia
The Royals are the model of developing prospects, but the prospects that have been highlighted over the past few years are starting to graduate to the Majors. In developing the next crop of quality prospects. Kansas City should go after a good Alex Gordon-type hitter. Derek Fisher is one of the bigger names from a bigger school. The Cavaliers outfielder may have started show in Charlottesville, but a strong summer league has propelled him to the top of a lot of preseason watch lists. Fisher's biggest weakness, however, is his fielding ability, and if he can't improve it, he may end up being what Billy Butler became: a young Designated Hitter.
19. Nationals: Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU
Although the Nationals have been building up on pitchers as of late, another one, particularly a lefty, wouldn't hurt. Brandon Finnegan had a rough year last year, but as Gerrit Cole could probably tell you, a poor record isn't usually indicative of one's draft position. Finnegan has a fastball that's worth a second look, as well as a solid slider. He's short for a starter, but as a bullpen guy, particularly a closer, Finnegan may be one of the best options out there. What he needs to improve upon is his consciousness of his delivery, which could be used as a tell, which may have caused him to have a bad year. Still, the Nationals would be smart to look at him.
20. Reds: Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway High School, South Carolina
There's a stigma that seems to go against heavy pitchers, maybe because of health concerns, but for whatever reason, they still manage to carve out solid careers. Case and point, C.C. Sabathia and Bartolo Colon. Grant Holmes is nothing different. A big pitcher (6'2″ and 190 pounds, although those numbers are supposedly more generous than indicated), Holmes gets people out with a zippy fastball. He does have a couple of secondary pitches, including a curveball with an identity crisis (fast like a slider, but moves like a curve), and a developmental change up. Holmes' baseball pedigree is not as well known as Nick Gordon's, but it's there, as his brother was a two time national champion at South Carolina. Holmes could join the two prep prospects that the Reds already have drafted in Robert Stephenson and Nick Travieso, and they'd make a solid portion of a typical big league rotation.
There's part two. Stay tuned for Part three, coming sometime this week.
2013 MLB Mock Draft: Top Thirteen (Part 1 of 3)
The MLB Draft is less than two months away. With that in mind, it's time to put on my Draft Cap, act like Mel Kiper Jr. and make my predictions as to which prospects are going where. But rather than doing an entire mock draft, I'm splitting it into three posts. The first round, which includes the new compensation round and competitive balance lottery picks, is 39 picks long. It begins with the Houston Astros and ends with the Detroit Tigers. It has been said that this year's class is considered weak compared to previous ones as aside from Stanford ace and former Pirates pick Mark Appel, nobody stands out as a consensus number one selection. Regardless, I relish the challenge and will take a shot at determining who goes where. The general idea here is that the picks will be either best player available or by weakest position in farm system. Here we go.
1. Houston Astros: Mark Appel, Pitcher, Stanford
Mark Appel and first overall draft choice are two phrases that have been used in the same sentence before. Last year, it was almost certain that the Astros were going for the big Stanford ace, but they ultimately decided that prep shortstop Carlos Correa would be a better investment as a top pick. That being said, Appel did not sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team that did draft him, and ultimately returned to Stanford. In a relatively weak class like this one, Appel is a certainty. He has top pick written all over him, especially with the mid 90's fastball that scouts have continually gushed over. Appel seems to also be a top candidate for the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to college baseball's best player as well. If the Astros are willing to give Appel the money that he asks for, expect him to be an anchor in an up-and-coming rotation.
2. Chicago Cubs: Sean Manaea, Pitcher, Indiana State
The NFL Draft has Workout Warriors, the NBA Draft has Tournament Stars, and Major League Baseball has Cape Cod Kings. This is the name given to baseball players who play in summer leagues and excel, raising their draft stock for that sole reason. Sean Manaea became the latest CCK when he registered a 5-1 record and a 1.22 ERA. The Indiana State product had previously not garnered much attention, but with the Summer league and a high-90's velocity on his fastball, the Cubs will likely abandon their latest draft tradition of drafting high ceiling high school position players in favor of Manaea, who draws a comparison to a left handed Matt Harvey.
3. Colorado Rockies: Austin Meadows, Outfield/First Baseman, Grayson High School, Georgia
Last year, the Rockies selected one of the biggest sleeper picks in Oak Mountain High School outfielder David Dahl. Expect them to do something similar this year with Grayson High School's Austin Meadows. While Meadows' primary position is outfield, Colorado could move him to first base and have him develop as an infielder throughout his minor league career. Meadows, like Dahl is a plus hitter with some speed. Whereas the humid Georgia air had a dampening effect on Meadows' power, if drafted by the Rockies, Meadows could become one of the best hitters in baseball.
4. Minnesota Twins: Jon Denney, Catcher, Yukon High School, Oklahoma
The last time the Twins selected a high profile prep catcher in the first round, his name was Joe Mauer, and he soon became one of the best catchers in baseball. Minnesota's catching depth behind Drew Butera is suspect, and unless the Twins are content with having him or Ryan Doumit serve as Mauer's successor when he retires or moves to another position, Oklahoma's Jon Denney will likely be the best choice for the Twins. Denney is like Mauer in a lot of ways. He has power in his bat, and is a defensive asset. He certainly will fit in with Minnesota's recent philosophy of drafting high ceiling prep products, as evidenced by last year's selections of Byron Buxton and J.O Berrios.
5. Cleveland Indians: Kris Bryant, Third Baseman, San Diego
College baseball players take less time to develop, and Cleveland has opted to go that route before, especially with last year's pick of Tyler Naquin. In Bryant, the team not only gets a dependable third baseman but also a legitimate power threat, perfect for Progressive Field's dimensions. While the team does already have a third baseman in Lonnie Chisenhall and a power threat in Mark Reynolds, Bryant is a better hitter than Chisenhall and doesn't strike out as much as Reynolds. In addition, Chisenhall would be more valuable as a trade chip anyway. Bryant should be at the top of Cleveland's board, especially since he is the fourth best player available.
6. Miami Marlins: DJ Peterson, First Baseman, New Mexico
Miami's biggest weakness in their minor league system is first base, and the draft is relatively weak in that position. Fortunately, there is at least one college first baseman who could fit in the Marlin future. DJ Peterson may be a reach right now, but if he can repeat what he did in the summer leagues and Team USA, his stock should rise exponentially. Peterson also has power, as he was Team USA's best hitter over the summer. That could translate well in the cavernous Marlins Park. It will certainly be interesting to see him, Christian Yelich, and Giancarlo Stanton in the same lineup.
7. Boston Red Sox: Ryne Stanek, Pitcher, Arkansas
The MLB Draft has its fair share of tumblers, players that are projected to go high but fall down. Usually, its money, sometimes its injury related, sometimes it's both. Ryne Stanek is a tumbler because of injuries and possible demands of a high contract. Stanek is projected as the top pitcher in some drafts, and in some cases, he could go as high as first overall. While he does have the talent, the teams that do pick before Boston are usually not at a luxury to spend high on draft picks. Boston is an ideal destination as the Red Sox have a top rotation in the making with Matt Barnes and Henry Owens coming up. Expect Stanek to be a solid second or third starter in Boston's rotation.
8. Kansas City Royals: Jonathan Gray, Pitcher, Oklahoma
Like Sean Manaea, Jonathan Gray has risen quickly up draft boards. Kansas City should take a look at him because of his ability to throw 100+ miles per hour. While the Royals do have a solid cache of pitchers in their arsenal already, Gray could be used in any aspect. Prospects2pros envisions Gray as a closer for the Royals, especially with his speed and his pitch arsenal. In addition, with the Wil Myers trade taking away two of the Royals' top pitching prospects, Gray could become Kansas City's first big pitching star since Zach Greinke.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates (Compensation for inability to sign Mark Appel): Chris Anderson, Pitcher, Jacksonville University
The Pirates are not big on selecting small school prospects, (see Alvarez, Pedro, Cole, Gerrit, Appel, Mark, Taillon, Jameson) but in Chris Anderson, the team may just have to go around that bias and take a hard look. Anderson compares to fellow draftmate Jonathon Crawford in size, pitch speed, and athletic ability, but unlike the University of Florida ace, Anderson has a lot more to gain, especially after facing stiffer competition. Considering the last small-school Florida college star (Chris Sale) has done a lot for himself since being drafted, getting a guy like Anderson could catapult the Pirates pitching rotation to the top.
10: Toronto Blue Jays: Clint Frazier, Outfield, Loganville High School, Georgia
If Austin Meadows were to lose two inches and ten pounds, curl his hair and dye it orange, learn to bat and throw righthanded, and transfer to Loganville High School, then people would probably say that the two were separated at birth. Frazier is a bit undersized for an outfielder, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in ability. As previously mentioned, Frazier and Meadows are similar talents, and in a hitters park like the Rogers Centre, Frazier could make the most out of Toronto.
11. New York Mets: Phillip Ervin, Outfield, Samford
Even if the Mets' outfield is performing better than expected, Sandy Alderson should seriously use the 11th pick on a college outfielder with a high ceiling, especially since the team still lacks a true leadoff man. In Phillip Ervin, the Mets are getting some of the fastest legs in the draft, as well as a bat that can hit ten to fifteen home runs in a good year. Like Clint Frazier, however, he is undersized, and like Chris Anderson, he hasn't had the benefit of playing for a major college program, but in a place like Citi Field, Ervin will certainly thrive for years to come.
12. Seattle Mariners: Colin Moran, Third Baseman, North Carolina
Seattle has made plenty of investments in SEC and ACC players in the past few years, like Josh Fields, Dustin Ackley, Danny Hultzen, James Paxton, and most recently, Mike Zunino. Don't expect them to buck the trend this year, especially if Colin Moran is still on the board. Moran, the nephew of former first overall pick BJ Surhoff, has the ability to spray hits around the park and his defensive capability make him an ideal candidate to play in Seattle's infield with fellow Tar Heels alum Ackley. His power would be ideal for the newly shifted Safeco Field, and he would be a solid fast track developer.
13. San Diego Padres: JP Crawford, Shortstop, Lakewood High School, California
San Diego's recent trend of drafting long term projects could suit them here, especially with a premier talent like JP Crawford still on the board. Crawford is similar to current shortstop Everth Cabrera, but he has more offensive capability. Crawford garnered nation attention in the Under Armour Showcases during the summer, and scouts feel that he will develop into a Jeter-like shortstop. If the Padres get Crawford and he matures correctly, they could have one of the top left infields in baseball by the end of the decade.


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About Us
Lanao Children's Foundation was founded by Dr. Giovanni Demillo Bontilao and his wife Mrs. Natala Catherine Ramsay Bontilao. The initial funding for the foundation was raised by organizing a fun run with a popular Filipino celebrity, Mr. Derek Ramsay, as its guest of honor.
The foundation aims to build an orphanage for abandoned children at Lanao del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines.
Once an orphan enters the orphanage house, the foundation will take care of nurturing the child's needs, such as clothing, food and education. Bontilao Montessori Academy, Inc. (BMA) is an affiliate of the foundation, and will be in-charge of giving the orphans an education while they are in the orphanage. The foundation will aspire to have our orphans adopted into good families, locally or abroad.
Lanao Children's Foundation is open to receiving donations, in kind or monetary, for the food, clothing, education, house maintenance and all the basic needs of our orphans in the future.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sunday, December 15, 2002
Service: * 1/2
Food: * 1/2
Ambience: *
Babe Count: *
"May I please have a quarter chicken -- the quarter with a drumstick -- some chips, and some iced tea, all takeaway?" I say to the dude behind the counter.
He barks the order to another dude, who wields a pair of scissors to snip through the flesh, skin, gristle and bone of one of the unfortunate chickens stewing in its own juices on the rotisserie.
I need it to be takeaway cos I've got to rush home and pack for my trip to Somerset West tomorrow. I'm in a frenzy of excitement, cos I'm finally going to meet Heidi face-to-face. She's nervous cos she and her friends performed some kind of avant garde op art on her hair. But that's cool. It's nothing compared to what I do to my own hair. Every day. With a razor.
But back to my order. I see the guy plonking the quarter without the drumstick into a box. "Uh..." I say, "I want the drumstick, please."
The guy who took my money barks at the snip artist. "Leg! With leg! With leg!!" I don't like it when managers shout at their staff to cover their own ineptitude. And then I don't notice that he hasn't given me my iced tea. It's only back at home when I see this. And I'm not wasting my precious packing time to go and get the damn thing.
The chicken itself is ultra oily. It's the smallest portion of chicken I've ever eaten from a takeaway spot. Literally a drumstick and a small piece of thigh. I estimate that I got six mouthfuls out of the chicken. The chips were made from glassy potatoes. And I'm still hungry. Looks like I'll be eating muesli later tonight.


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Surrounded by sprawling olive groves, fields of fragrant lavender and a 1,100-year-old towering Coastal Live Oak tree, today the resort offers guests cottage-style rooms and suites.
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Highland Springs has the same rustic charm and historic character of its yesteryear's while providing a modern venue for weddings, conventions and other group activities.
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Highland Springs Resort is located at 10600 Highland Springs Ave. Cherry Valley. Resort Website.


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Interesting write-up by Jennifer L. Schenker published end of January on Techonomy. Some quotes:
"We should not let Silicon Valley be the mission control for humanity," argues futurist Gerd Leonhard, author of a new book called Tech versus Humanity: The coming clash between man and machine.
If autonomous AI software, crunching data far more rapidly than humans, can help eradicate disease and poverty and introduce societal improvements and efficiencies, then we must embrace it, Leonhard says. But "at the same time we have to have governance. And right now there is no such thing." He and others are pushing for human values to be codified into the design of AI systems."
Read full post on Techonomy
Related Topic:
More about Gerd Leonhard's latest book 'Technology vs. Humanity' on http://www.techvshuman.com and watch videos, read a preview and find order links.


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*disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. to learn more, please go here.
failure. failure. failure.
this has been the basic motto since about a year ago since this is the third time that i am attempting a blog. it really started about 3 years ago where i would just show some pictures of fun cakes that i would make. as time went on i started making my own recipes and started to experiment more with flavors. since i'm a broke-fresh-out-of-college girl, i couldn't afford to start a bakery, so i wanted to make the blogger blog that i had into something better. something more. at least this banana coconut rum cake makes everything better.
i had heard so much great and amazing things about self hosting with blue host, so i thought that i'd give it a try. i purchased a domain and everything for a great price as well as a cute theme to use. i was enjoying every single little thing about having my own website when all of a sudden, about 3 months into it, the whole site crashed and i lost absolutely everything! i was devastated and worked hard with trying to communicate with support to get everything back. i wasted almost a month trying to do this. in the end i gave up and got my money back. and that was a year ago!
so now i'm back and attempting to use site ground. everyone that has site ground has basically had a similar experience with blue host. all of those people claim site ground is better so here we go! i'm hoping for the best with this round. third times the charm, right!?
let me just introduce myself a little first. i'm alyx, currently a full-time pastry cook at a popular hotel in minneapolis. let's just say it's a very stressful job, but what else can you do when you're a broke 20-something year old that's only a little more than a year out of college.
i've been dreaming about having a blog after reading so many fun food blogs in the past, present, and hope to see more in the future. i like to see what people do to make it in this industry. so many of these bloggers are very encouraging and helpful on helping others try to get a blog going for themselves. i'm hoping that with this blog that i can make some connections with these amazing people. and also to really just share my creativeness in the kitchen with everyone as well as experiences; both the good and bad. but fair warning, sometimes i get these super wild, crazy flavor ideas! so you are definitely in for a treat whenever you come over to visit and see what's new.
enough about all that boring old stuff. let's get on to what really matters. cake! i'm a major cake person. making it, eating it, and especially decorating it. i love coming up with new unique flavors and fun decorating ideas. and today's cake is super fun, because there's booze in it!! because who doesn't want something a little something something to go in their cake?
this cake has a bit of a tropical feel to it with the main components being banana, coconut, and a bit of bacardi rum to give it a little something, something. it's very flavorful, light, and fluffy and a perfect way to end the summer off right before all of the spicy fall flavors start to blow up everywhere (i personally don't have a problem with that, i love fall. bring on the pumpkin!)
want to learn how to get images onto cookies and even cakes and chocolates? then check out my new online edible printing course that will guide you through everything you need to know about edible printing, from start to finish! you won't regret it! not too sure if you want to buy something so pricey if you aren't sure you'd like it? then you can certainly check out my array of edible paper images you buy and try out before making such a huge purchase.
banana coconut rum cake
makes either a 4-layer 6-inch cake or a 3-layer 6-inch cake + cupcakes
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 egg whites
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter
2 bananas – frozen, thawed, and drained of excess water
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder and baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup rum
1 cup buttermilk
preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line and spray three or four 6-inch cake pans. in a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the egg whites and 1/2 cup of sugar to a soft meringue. in a separate bowl, cream the sugar and butter together, about 2 minutes. scrap down the sides of the bowl and then add in the bananas and vanilla. in another bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. add the dry to the banana mixture alternating with the buttermilk and rum. once fully combined, slowly fold in the soft meringue into the batter. separate the batter among the pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. let cool for about 10 minutes then carefully remove the cakes and continue to cool them. wrap them in cling wrap until ready to use.
coconut cream filling
8 oz heavy cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp coconut extract
combine all of the ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. whip together on high until stiff peaks form. refrigerate until ready to use.
swiss buttercream
5 egg whites
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 sticks unsalted butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
over a double boiler, combine the sugar and egg whites. whisk together until the sugar is fully dissolved. you can check this by rubbing some of the mixture together between your finger and thumb. if smooth, then it is ready. place the egg mixture into a bowl of an electric mixer fitter with a whisk attachment. whip on high for about 2 minutes and the mixture has cooled slightly. gradually add in the butter, about a tablespoon at a time. once all of the butter is added continue whipping until fully combined. add in the vanilla.


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Day Three in Lyon:
There was a very heavy tiredness over the group. We had all returned home from the family dinner at around midnight the night before and were subsequently hugging our duvets yawning when it was time to get up. For the brave few who managed to move for breakfast it was chocolate brownies, which prompted a discussion as to why the French eat so much at mealtimes but somehow stay slim! On our way out R went to elaborate lengths to sneak some sugar cubes out of the dining room; we were fast running out and didn't know how to ask for some more in French.
Our group then split to do one of two activities- one group went out on an excursion to a beehive and myself and the others stayed to do some drama. The children in this class were practicing poetry with a visiting workshop leader. They were talking through the many aspects of successful poem recitation including: breath control, stance and intonation. At some points in this session I was the only French speaker so I had to translate for my group. I was really surprised at how much I could understand and I really enjoyed doing it. I also found that it is a real buzz when a French person speaking English looks to you and says a French word and you can give them the translation that they are looking for. At the end of the lesson we took it in turns to recite a french translation of a strange haiku about a frog which jumped into the water making a 'plock' sound. When I had a go the teacher running the class comically remarked: "I do like the English plock".
We had a break between activities so we headed onto the playground for some sun. The other students sat down on a bench beneath a tree whilst myself and R, on a whim, decided to see if we could join in a game of football with the French primary school pupils. At first they looked at us like we were giant aliens from the land of fish and chips, however with some persistence and some French from me we were soon involved. R was immersed into the football and I was pulled aside by a little girl. She preceded to introduce me to all of her friends and involved me in a very complex imaginary game involving a 'big mouse'. In return I taught them 'heads, shoulders, knees and toes' and how to spin a hool-a-hoop on their arms. The highlight was definitely when the little girl (with her arms wrapped round my neck) told me that my french was 'very good' and asked me how I know French and English. It occurred to me that with children you don't really need to speak the same language anyway. The language which will get you the furthest is the one you learnt in your own childhood- one of imagination, ball games and make believe. Being with the children made me more confident because I wasn't so scared of making mistakes around them because I felt that they would be a lot more willing to bare with my clumsy errors than adults might be. Talking to them and them understanding and talking back made me feel on top of the world and it cemented in my head the fact that languages are certainly for me.
For lunch we had a meal at a catering college. This was at the other side of the city and involved a short journey on the metero. We had all been given day tickets so I retrieved it from my pocket when we reached the machine. I held it up to a member of staff to check it was the right ticket, but she burst out laughing. It was then that I was told that I had very nearly fed a plaster into the metero machine instead. When the ticket was found and we were on the train I was next to a French student called A. She was listening to James Arthur's 'impossible' and singing along.
"Is that James Arthur?" I asked. She looked puzzled.
"James Arthur?" I tried again. I was about to try for a third time whilst beginning to regret my question in the first place when my French teacher ducked down to our level and said: "James Arthur?" In a thick French accent. It is at this point that A's face lights up and she says: "Oui!!". It is amazing what difference an accent can do. The students at the catering college are learning how to become cooks and servers and the food was delicious. As we were now in an unknown part of the city after lunch we decided to go out to do some shopping and tourism. Once we had separated from the french students who had lessons back at CSRP staff member J did an impression of an enthusiastic tourist in order to get us to where we needed to be. His charade even included a very large map held at arms length and a puzzled expression. We decided to go up to the basilica on the hill, to get to which we went on the small tram which goes up the incredibly steep incline. The priest inside the basilica was very kind and said that we could touch everything and anything we wanted because there were so many beautiful things to see. He was right- there were ornate chandeliers and carvings to explore and we enjoyed taking the time to just sit in the calm and take in our surroundings.
Outside the basilica there was a fantastic view of the whole of Lyon. E, a french student involved in the trip last year, was able to point out her house in the distance below. I had been squinting through my camera at the beautiful view but I was delighted when we found an amazing tactile map of the scene with Braille and representations of all the tiny houses and monuments. We spent several minutes exploring this and taking our fingers on journeys through the maze of miniature apartment blocks. Next we went to the FNAC- a 'buy anything you can think of' kind of shop- in search of audiobooks. There were no titles which particularly caught my eye in the audio section, but I couldn't help myself from buying a print copy of the 'fault in our stars' in French. I will have to try and scan it or put it under a CCTV magnifier, not the easiest way for me to read by a long shot, but 'Nos étoiles contraires' has a very firm place in my heart. Even if I can't read the words I am so glad to have it.
French supermarkets are similar to English supermarkets in the sense that there are a lot of things which are just too good to buy! We ended up buying far too much food for all of us to eat, even with our dinner guests from the college. When we got back we had the food in a big picnic style with drinks of Cola and Grenadine syrup squash. We relaxed on the sofas and myself and P played a complex game of chess with many missing pieces. This game's complexity was increased by the fact that we had to use alternative pieces for different missing figures, meaning there was always an element of confusion over what we were actually moving. The night finished with us all discussing how much we have become like a family over the last few days. And it is true, we really are like a family now.


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Blue Water Satellite (BWS) a Toledo, Ohio, company that uses satellite and other spectral imagery and patented image processing to monitor the world's land and water resources announced its collaboration with Google Maps for Work. Working with the Google Maps for Work, BWS is providing feedback to the team to help improve Google's image processing capabilities. By implementing Google Earth Engine and Google Maps Engine, BWS can process its satellite imagery and serve the data to desktops and mobile devices supported by Google's cloud. See feature on the Official Google For Work Blog Here
Blue Water Satellite is a world leader in providing algorithmically enhanced spectral images that identify the presence and concentrations of minerals, vegetation, chemical and biological constituents on land and in water around the world. "Our data rich imagery is a powerful tool for science, utilities, oil & gas companies, environmental engineering companies, governments, or anyone seeking more in-depth characterization of water or land resources," states Milt Baker, CEO of Blue Water Satellite. "Working with Google improves the availability of this enhanced image data by making it more accessible through Google's popular mapping platform." See Movie on Google & BWS collaboration
"It is an honor to work with a company as capable as Google" Baker continued, "Our customers are looking for processed images delivered on the familiar format provided by Maps Engine".
Using Google Earth and Maps Engine, Blue Water Satellite will be able to deliver processed images to customers seamlessly formatted for desktops, phones, remote devices, or to other customer requirements. Using the Google Cloud, the images can be delivered to virtually all browser enabled devices anywhere on Earth.
Google has downloaded every Landsat and MODIS image to its servers back to 1984. Google has the capability to input spectral imagery from drones, aircraft, and hyperspectral cameras – something the engineers and developers at Blue Water Satellite are excited about. "Using Google tools we can present our processed spectral imaging data in a 'time series' format so changes can easily be detected and viewed" concluded Baker. "The coming revolution of nano satellites and drone deployed and fixed hyperspectral cameras will benefit from this collaboration."
Blue Water Satellite is a company headquartered in Toledo, OH, and is a leading provider of algorithmically enhanced satellite and other spectral imagery to industry, science, and government organizations.


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What To Do With A Bad Cut
May 24, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Have you ever gone to your hairstylist and told her to do a cute celebrity-inspired hairstyle? Next thing you know you look in the mirror at yourself and your hair looks completely different from the picture you showed her. This is one of the worst feelings I've ever experienced with getting my hair cut. Getting the cut you want is crucial because it has to look this way every day and if you can't even appreciate your own hair, what can you appreciate? Here's what to do when you receive a "grade F" haircut.
Say you give a picture of Victoria Beckham's short and stacked in the back look to your stylist. This cut is extremely hard to achieve because her hair tends to drape down next to her ears and get shorter around the neckline as you go toward the back. Getting everything even and symmetric can be difficult but that's what a hairstylist is there for. If she does the cut wrong it won't make her clients happy and that includes you.
When she begins with the hair shears, you should be very specific and tell her exactly what you want in detail. Make sure she knows exactly how you want your look to be, from color to cut. Sometimes my problem is that when I'm finished getting my hair done, it looks great and I couldn't do it any better. But the next morning when I shower and get ready to style my hair by myself, it doesn't look as good as it could and I end up not being happy. After showering and getting the styling done, I realize it's not the cut I was looking for and I begin to worry about what to do next.
When I get a cut that I don't like, I have found there to be a couple different solutions- I can either have her fix it or deal with it until it grows back out. If I decide to get it fixed, I will go to my hairdresser and explain exactly what I don't like about my cut (again with lots of detail!) When she's done fixing the hair, I will ask if I can style it myself to make sure it looks just how I like it. If it does, then I'm happy and the problem's solved. If I decide to wait and let it grow out a bit, then I usually end up wearing it in ponytails or finding a way to make the bad cut less obvious.
Whether the cut is uneven or the color doesn't look light enough, you can guarantee that your reaction won't be positive. If you get a bad haircut, you can think of these couple solutions and make the experience a good one. No problems will occur if you have a solution in mind. And don't forget to be very specific in the first place so you don't get too bad of a cut that makes you upset with your hair.
A New Way To Style Hair
May 23, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
During the summertime, the dark get darker and the blondes get blonder. Hair begins to change quite a bit when the sun shines during the day and I don't mean the cut. For those who have a harder time getting their hair to gain better style in the summer, there are easy ways to solve that problem. There are plenty of ways to change up your look in the summer. You can lighten things up or mix up the texture to match the hot weather. Surprisingly, you can do so without the use of hair shears!
For those who have darker hair, getting your hair to lighten up isn't always easy. With the help of some home solutions, you can do it. Begin by grabbing a simple spray bottle that you would use to dampen your hair. Empty any liquids from the bottle that may be inside and replace the liquid with lemon juice. You can find this at any grocery store and it doesn't have to be real juice from real lemons- just buy it in a container. Next you'll want to add water to your spray bottle to mix up a solution. If you don't add water, the juice itself will dry out your hair and cause severe breakage because of the strong amount of acid in the juice. After you have your solution mixed, you are ready for some fun in the sun! Spray it throughout your hair and enjoy this home remedy which will lighten your hair in no time!
If you're ready to mix up your style for some fun in the sun, grab your spray bottle again. With this home solution, you can get a beachy wave look without having to actually go to the beach. Your solution will consist of salt and water and that's all! It's a very simple process too- some people add some sort or product as they do this so they can get a little bit of hold to keep the waves all day but it's not necessary. Mix up your salt and water very well in your spray bottle so that everything is in an even solution. Next bend over and flip your hair upside down so you can scrunch it right. Spritz your salt water solution evenly throughout your hair and begin scrunching sections of the hair. This is perfect because it's just like you stepped out of the ocean with beachy waves.
Now that you know the tricks to get great hair, try them out at home. Your hair will thank you when you style your hair each day and get compliments from others. However, whether you lighten your hair or make it wavy, you do need to make sure you use water with each of the two at-home solutions. If you don't add water, lemon juice and salt can both damage hair permanently. As long as you dilute each solution slightly, you should be safe to get your hair in style for the summer- and without the use of shears!
How To Avoid Ponytails
May 4, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
When you walk into a room wearing a sloppy ponytail thrown on top of your head, everyone can tell what your thought process was that day. You either didn't feel like taking time to style your hair or you woke up late and didn't have time to do anything but throw it up quick. Whether this is true for you or not, it is true for a lot of women. Face it, ponytails are the easy way out when we don't straighten or curl our hair. When you do this to your hair it isn't necessarily ugly looking but it doesn't always look as professional as your hair looks when it's down and straight or curled. If sleek is what you're going for every day, then I am going to teach you ways to avoid a ponytail.
Before I get too far into it, I want to make it clear that straightening is not better wearing a ponytail. Usually it's better to avoid straightening but when you want to change up your look every once in a while from wearing a plain ponytail, you should consider these tips. There are looks that are nicer than a bun or pony on top of your head repeatedly each day. One of the best ways to prevent this style each day is to shower at night. For some that may not make sense but it's simple when you think about it. If you shower in the morning, you may not have time to blow dry and straighten your hair before work or school. But if you shower at night, you can wake up in the morning and go straight to styling and save yourself some time in your daily routine. Make sure that when you wake up your hair isn't still wet from sleeping on damp hair all night. That is when the damage comes into play.
Another way to avoid ponytails is to look in magazines and online for fun styles that match the current season. In summer, braids become very popular so try a side braid that flows over the shoulder. This will look chic and will help you prevent some heat damage at the same time. Decide whether you like your hair long or short for this next tip because if you can't stand to see your hair at a short length then this may not be for you. My next tip for avoiding ponytails is to get your hair cut to a very short length. When your hair is chin length or shorter, you usually don't have enough hair to pull it back into a ponytail. This tip may be a little more extreme than the others and should definitely be thought about before you just cut all your hair off. If you really wouldn't mind having to style your hair the same way each day then go for a chop-off. But if you want to be able to do an occasional pony, my advice would be to get a cut but not so short that it can't be pulled behind your head.
Using hair shears to avoid a ponytail style may be extreme, like I said, but some girls prefer short hair over long hair. They say it is away from their face and out of their way each day so they prefer that shorter look. Personally, the first tip I would try is the showering at night tip. It wouldn't be as time consuming and makes the most sense to me. Like I said, every once in a while a ponytail doesn't mean you're a dirtbag or that you are lazy. If you style it right and make it fun and flirty, you will surely get good reactions and feedback. But if you continually wear a ponytail every day, people might think of you as boring and your look won't be as playful as it could be.
Keeping Hair Fresh Makes Your Look Fresh
May 4, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
When I was younger, I could go two or three months between each haircut. It always seemed easier when I was a young girl because my hair hadn't been exposed to heat or damaging chemicals yet. Getting a haircut in April meant my next appointment would be in June or July. However, as I grew up, I started getting into trends from my favorite TV shows and wanted to constantly look like my favorite celebrities. When I was little, fresh haircuts made me look older because of the styles I was admired by. Now that I'm older I realize haircuts should make me look younger. As I get older I don't want to look older, I want to keep my youthful, fun look that keeps me in touch with my youthful personality.
Older women today sometimes have trouble with this concept of staying younger. There are a few common mistakes that they make, thinking these things will make them look older. For example, they tan their skin, grow their hair out, get their nails done and more just to make themselves look younger. Truth is, those things only make them look older. When they tan their skin becomes wrinkly and tight when what they want is to look dark and flawless. Maybe this is what they see but the rest of the world notices an orange shriveled up body. Growing hair out doesn't look great on older women because of the texture of their hair. As we age, our hair gets drier and begins to loose its natural oils and the longer it gets, the more noticeable those dried ends become. Getting nails done aren't that bad of an asset to the aging process. It just looks bad when you combine it with the above trends that don't look good.
Going back to growing out hair, we want to avoid looking old with our hair especially. To do this, we should think of new ways to keep a fresh look and a perfect example would be a haircut! Getting regular haircuts is an essential if you want to look young and fresh. Doing this can also bring out highlights in your other features too. For example, when you get bring out those hair shears and chop off all dead ends in your hair, you can add a little needed volume. Create some layers too if you want a little oomph in the top of your head. Body in the hair definitely cuts a few years off your look and when you build up the hair, you also build up your cheekbones. Shorter cuts are very appropriate for women over fifty and when you use your hair scissors for certain tasks it helps a lot. Another idea is to cut a section from your bangs to swoop to the side. This will cover some of the aging spots on the forehead but it will also draw attention to your eyes when the hair falls right next the eye.
To play up your look, think about ways to make yourself younger. Next time you want a new style, don't think about dying your roots or going tanning to make yourself look younger. Instead try getting it all cut off and making it more of a polished look. Making yourself look younger definitely isn't a hard thing to do when you think about it.


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Blancco Technology Grouphttp://www.blancco.com/en TICKER: BLTG EXCHANGE: AIM
Blancco Technology Group is a leading, global provider of mobile device diagnostics and secure data erasure solutions.
Blancco is the world's leading global developer of 'data erasure' software, used to protect governments & corporates from ID/data theft and cyber-crime, along with being a pioneer in smartphone diagnostics (Xcaliber). The wider Regenersis group is in the process of selling its Depot Solutions (repair and refurbishment of electronic devices), Digital Care (insurance against damage to mobile phone screens) and set-top-box diagnostic operations.
Strong H1 results today delivered Headline Operating Profit (HOP) margins (pre central costs) of 35.4%, compared to our estimates of 33%, and trading was said to be in line with FY expectations. Indeed, we think there is a decent chance that Blancco could exceed our FY16 adjusted PBTA of £5.0m, having delivered £2.4m in H1.
Cyber-crime is so serious that corporates and governments are ploughing billions into protecting their IT networks - a market estimated to be worth $109bn this year and expanding at an 11.3% rate. Blancco has carved out an almost impregnable position in the 'sweet spot' of data erasure. Consequently, for the 6 months ending December, Blancco - assisted by the SafeIT and Tabernus acquisitions - saw turnover, HOP and adjusted EPS soar 46% (£9.9m), 109% (£2.7m), 285% (2.43p) respectively.
Blancco also achieved a world first by launching its 'smartphone erasure-and-diagnostics solution' incorporating Xcaliber technology (49% owned, and co-located in Atlanta). Xcaliber is moving towards EBITDA breakeven in H2'16, and as such we suspect it might become majority controlled by Blancco sometime in FY17. Strategically too, once the disposals of the non-core Repair Services Business (RSB to CTDI for €103.5m, or £78.4m) and Digital Care have been concluded, the group will be a 100% pure play software developer, backed by unique IPR.
Net debt closed December at £8.9m (vs net cash of £7.8m in June 2015), as a result of acquisitions (Tabernus), transaction fees, lower than expected cash conversion at the discontinued activities (50%) and dividends. However, we expect this to bounce back in H2, with net cash seen closing June 2016 at £9.9m, reflecting the receipt of the £78.4m in RSB proceeds, offset by the £50m tender offer.
We predict turnover to jump 43% this year to £21.5m and by another 29% to £27.7m in FY17, along with delivering adjusted EPS growth of >30% pa for the foreseeable future. Our valuation of Blancco nudges higher to £120m on the back of the higher H1'16 margins and stronger FY17 top line growth. This is equivalent to a FY17 EV/sales multiple of 4.6x and generates an updated share price target of 240p per share (vs 227p before).
NB you can see the RGS management present at a webinar this Thursday 10th at 4.45pm: Click here to register
Today's results showed group FY15 turnover (y/e June) at £202.6m (+2.6%, or +16.5% in constant currency), headline operating profit of £15.4m (+40%, or +52.7% CCs) and closing net cash at £7.8m. All of these outcomes were in line with our estimates, and this was despite suffering significant forex headwinds (stronger £ vs €, Polish Zloty and other EM currencies).
Encouragingly too, Headline Operating Profit margins rose from 5.6% to 7.6%, as a greater proportion of profits were generated from Software and Advanced Solutions. Cash conversion improved to 75% from 41% LY in spite of opening of several new locations - while the dividend was hiked 25% to 5p/share, equivalent to a 3.6% yield and >3x covered by adjusted EPS of 16.19p.
Looking ahead, both YTD trading and the outlook for the remainder of FY16 are said to be "in line with expectations" - with Blancco expanding rapidly and delivering "excellent margins in a buoyant market". FY17 should witness a significant jump in profits, as the drag from the legacy Nokia Europe contract diminishes.
Most importantly, the Board also announced that it was "exploring various strategic alternatives, including the potential sale" (or perhaps even spin off) of its Depot Solutions, set-top-box diagnostics and DigitalCare (handset screen insurance) operations - under the umbrella of a new Repair services organisation, headed by CEO Ian Powell.
This will help focus attention on Blancco, Regenersis' unique 'data erasure' division. It is the undisputed world leader in this field (>7x bigger than closest rival) which reported: FY15 turnover of £15.0m up 30% (or +40.9% LFL in constant currency), adjusted EBITA of £5.4m and margins of 36%. On its own, we think the software division is worth 166p per diluted share, or more than the market capitalisation of the entire group; based on a 6x FY16 sales multiple for the enlarged software arm (ie including today's $12m acquisition of US rival Tabernus), along with adding another $4.9m for RGS' 49% stake in mobile diagnostics firm Xcaliber. This is conservatively pitched towards the bottom end of cyber security peers, which trade on an average of 8.4x revenues.
Adopting a similar cautious view with regards to our sum-of-the-parts (SOTP), and valuing the Repairs unit at £71.4m, we still reach a revised target price for the whole group of 232p per diluted share, which is 66% above yesterday's level.
REMINDER - Matthew Peacock and Jog Dhody will discuss these results and changes in a webinar tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd, at 11.45am