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User:Samantha Groves
Samantha Groves is the Project Manager at OWASP. Samantha has led many projects in her career, some of which include website development, brand development, sustainability and socio-behavioural research projects, competitor analysis, event organisation and management, volunteer engagement projects, staff recruitment and training, and marketing department organisation and strategy implementation projects for a variety of commercial and not-for-profit organisations. She is eager to begin her work at OWASP and help the organisation reach its project completion goals.
Samantha earned her MBA in International Management with a concentration in sustainability from Royal Holloway, University of London. She earned her Bachelor's degree majoring in Multimedia from The University of Advancing Technology in Mesa, Arizona, and she earned her Associate's degree from Scottsdale Community College in Scottsdale, Arizona. Additionally, Samantha recently attained her Prince2 (Foundation) project management certification. .


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VIDEO: Foye Makes It Fun
ALL BALL NERVE CENTER — It's late here on the East Coast, but I started watching the Nuggets/Clippers game in the second half and had this vague idea that maybe, just maybe, this thing could come down to a game-winning buzzer-beater. And that's why we're here, right? But no, that probably wasn't going to happen. Still, I kept watching, and kept watching…and then Randy Foye happened.
Before we get too far into this, we should stop and explain why we're here: What is the Horry Scale? For those who are new around these parts, the Horry Scale examines a game-winning buzzer-beater (GWBB) in the categories of difficulty, game situation (was the team tied or behind at the time?), importance (playoff game or garden-variety Kings-Pistons game?) and celebration (is it over the top or too chill? Just the right panache or needs more sauce?). Then we give it an overall grade on a scale of 1-5 Robert Horrys, the patron saint of last-second daggers.
OK, so you understand? For your edification, this is the thirteenth GWBB this season, an incredible pace. Can we keep it up? We're gonna try. In the meantime, let's break this shot down…
It was a difficult shot, but that was almost completely of the Nuggets' making. Down 2 points, with just over six seconds to play, the Nuggets ran an inbounds play that didn't really seem to put them in a situation to succeed. They threw the ball in to Kenneth Faried just inside the three point line. Faried then turned and tossed it to J.J. Hickson, who was even further away from the basket. What are they doing?! With just over 2 seconds left, Hickson found Foye, cutting toward the top of the key on the right side of the court. Foye caught it, well covered by Jamal Crawford. Foye used Hickson as a quasi-pick, and Blake Griffin switched onto Foye. With the clock ticking down, Foye forced up a long, contested three, from four or five feet behind the line, and he drained the shot. It wasn't much of a play — the shot was born out of necessity more than anything. But Foye drilled it, which is why we're here.
It had been a back-and-forth game down the stretch, with both teams fighting to grab the lead. Just moments earlier, the Nuggets were sitting on a two point lead, when the Clips got the ball to J.J. Redick. When the defense ran out on Redick, he half-heartedly drove the lane and eventually kicked it out to an open Matt Barnes on the wing, who drained the three to give the Clips a (temporary) 115-113 lead. Denver got the ball back with 6 seconds to play, with a chance to go for two to tie or three to win. They went for three, although again it seemed to be almost an accidental play. Whenever your play-by-play announcer has time to nervously say "Too much time!" twice, that probably wasn't the play you were going for. But then, it worked, didn't it?
It's tough to see well in the clip above, but Foye hit the deck when the shot went in, and moments later, several other Nuggets (Hickson and Faried) hit the court and slid into Foye as if he were a base on a baseball diamond. Then the Nuggets performed several group hugs as they all left the floor. Overall, it was a fairly excited celebration, which was fun to see.
It was a tough shot — fading left and shooting right. Although, again, this was mostly Denver's own doing. It wasn't much of a play, wasn't much strategy involved. I'd give this two Horrys, except that it was a really, really long three, and I enjoyed the celebration. So I'm giving this three Horrys….
What say you? How many Horrys would you give Randy Foye's GWBB?

subset: commoncrawl


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It started like any other event in our life.. .I make a million efforts at researching a place for our family to go spend quality time together for a winter get away. Unlike other families, our trip is 100% based on where can I get a full kitchen to cook for my children in our room because of their food allergies to milk and soy.
Amazingly I stumbled across Great Wolf Lodge where they provide a microwave and sink in the suite. I also found out that they actually have concerned and educated chefs who will accomodate my children's needs for their meals. This left us with the ability to go have an amazing time at their fabulous indoor water park and then go to the restaurant to enjoy hot prepared meals.
This is one in a million for us. We are not accustomed to this service and we had an incredible experience. My children were elated that they could not only swim at the best waterpark ever, but go eat like "normal" families without feeling like we are hiding in our rooms to eat.
Thank you a million times Great Wolf Lodge for the best mini vacation ever!!
Melinda Joseph
Zanesville, OH


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The Board of Regents—the governing body for the University of Nebraska—consists of eight voting members elected by district for six-year terms. The Board also includes four non-voting student Regents, one from each NU campus, that serve during their tenure as student body president.
The Board supervises the general operations of the university, as well as controls and directs all expenditures. A corporation secretary provides governance advice and support to the Board, and is the official record keeper for the proceedings of the Board of Regents meetings.
Time: TBD; Location: Varner Hall Lincoln, NE
Time: TBD; Location: UNL Campus Lincoln, NE


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A Born Loser Tells a Tale of Too Many Two's and the Evil Twin
That's right. I'm one of the few people who can truthfully say they were born losers. I am a twin and the second one born. So, I managed to lose the first race I ever ran and was born in 2nd place – the worst kind of loser. Luckily, I can't remember much about my horrible awakening to the outside world that day so long ago, another loss I suppose. Maybe I'm double, double born loser though.
That's right a second time. It is not the end of the terrible two's that day. I was also born on the 2nd day, of the 2nd month in a year that was 2 years past 1/2 a century. I mean there ought to be a law that limits how many two's a twin can be stuck with on one day don't you think?
I would love to have back all the money I have bet on 2 and 22 over the years - roulette, lotteries, sports, etc. #2 has never been kind to born losers like me, but that doesn't stop us from trying to make it our lucky number. We are eternal optimists and think things will change after all these years of suffering. We think we will wake up from this bad dream and be born first and the number 1 has really been kind to us. But no – it isn't so – at least not yet.
So to celebrate, at lunch today, my wife and I split a 2 cheese, 2 bread and 2 meat panini with 2 homemade kosher dill pickles and 2 hot condiments, salsa verdi on chips and pickled jalapenos sans seeds. The 2 breads can be found here :
White Whole Wheat with Combo YW, Poolish, SD Starter, Water Roux and Wheat Berry Scald
Multi-grain Sourdough Chacon with Olives, Sun Dried Tomato, Garlic, Rosemary and 2 Cheeses
We split one of the 2 sandwiches in two to make 3 sandwiches since I was going to eat 2 of them and there was no really good reason for my wife to go hungry again this time. . My wife lit 3 candles, one on each sandwich representing one for my brother and 2 for me since I am twice as good him on my worst day – which can be pretty bad come to think about it.
He always was and still is - the Evil Twin. Most people don't even know there is always an Evil Twin but, take it from a real Born Loser, you are twice as likely to be the Evil Twin if you were unlucky enough to be born first on that day - a day of too many twos. Yes, I guess I'm saying my twin is a real Double Doofuss of the Twofuss!
Happy Birthday Brother - still thinking of you often and kindly but why…. we can't remember, even though we do forget and forgive at least as easy as any other Born Loser is likely to do – when celebrating the worst day we can remember J
Tonight we will have the panettone birthday cake that is oddly cut in two, with 2 candles. One candle is for the Evil Twin; the Double Doofuss of the Twofuss and the other is for the Born Loser.
I suppose there could be a sadder tale out there somewhere but, it I think will be difficult to duplicate The Tale of Too Many 2's for Twins.


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Police say Bedford man robbed taxi driver
November 22. 2013 1:44AM
BEDFORD -- Police arrested a Bedford man and charged him with robbing a taxi driver early Thursday morning.
Police said Brandon J. Gorgone, 25, of Reed Drive, was arrested Thursday night and charged with one count of robbery, a Class B felony.
According to police, a cab driver for Queen City Taxi reported being robbed in the area of Technology Drive at 3:21 a.m. Thursday morning. The driver told police he was driving a man to a residence off Technology Drive when he was assaulted and robbed of an unknown amount of cash and some personal belongings. Police said the man then ran from the cab toward a condominium complex.
A search of the area with a State Police K9 unit failed to locate the man. Police said further investigation led to the arrest of Gorgone.
Gorgonr was taken to the Hillsborough County Department of Corrections . He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday at 8 a.m. in the 9th Circuit District Court in Merrimack.


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10 Things Roberto Cavalli Can Do To Be More Like God
Roberto Cavalli made an amazing statement to Elle when asked why he uses so much leopard print. It's not because leopard print is totally on-brand with his vision of darkened plains full of slutty cowgirls on safari with their legs spread. It's because of God. Did you think it was something different? Idiot.
Cavalli explained:
"I copy the dress of an animal because I love to copy God. I think God is the most fantastic designer."
Holy fuck!
…TheGloss editors Jennifer Wright and Ashley Cardiff made a list of other things Cavalli could do to be more like God (after he's finished designing all those vagina-revealing slutty cowgirl outfits).


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Sec. 31-288. Additional liability. Penalty for undue delay, noncompliance with insurance requirements and for defrauding workers' compensation insurance carrier. Notice of penalty to Attorney General and State Treasurer. Payment. Civil action for nonpayment. (a) If an employer wilfully fails to conform to any other provision of this chapter, he shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars for each such failure.
(b) Whenever (1) through the fault or neglect of an employer or insurer, the adjustment or payment of compensation due under this chapter is unduly delayed, or (2) either party to a claim under this chapter has unreasonably, and without good cause, delayed the completion of the hearings on such claim, the delaying party or parties may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars by the commissioner hearing the claim for each such case of delay. Any appeal of a penalty assessed pursuant to this subsection shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of section 31-301.
(c) Whenever an investigator in the investigations unit of the office of the State Treasurer, whether initiating an investigation at the request of the custodian of the Second Injury Fund, the Workers' Compensation Commission, or a commissioner, finds that an employer is not in compliance with the insurance and self-insurance requirements of subsection (b) of section 31-284, such investigator shall issue a citation to such employer requiring him to obtain insurance and fulfill the requirements of said section and notifying him of the requirement of a hearing before the commissioner and the penalties required under this subsection. The investigator shall also file an affidavit advising the commissioner of the citation and requesting a hearing on such violation. The commissioner shall conduct a hearing, after sufficient notice to the employer and within thirty days of the citation, wherein the employer shall be required to present sufficient evidence of his compliance with said requirements. Whenever the commissioner finds that the employer is not in compliance with said requirements he shall assess a civil penalty of not less than five hundred dollars per employee or five thousand dollars, whichever is less and not more than fifty thousand dollars against the employer.
(d) In addition to the penalties assessed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner shall assess an additional penalty of one hundred dollars for each day after the finding of noncompliance that the employer fails to comply with the insurance and self-insurance requirements of subsection (b) of section 31-284. Any penalties assessed under the provisions of this subsection shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars in the aggregate.
(e) The chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission shall notify the State Treasurer and the Attorney General of the imposition of any penalty, the date it was imposed, the amount and whether there has been an appeal of said penalty. Any civil penalty order issued pursuant to subsection (c) or (d) of this section shall state that payment shall be made to the Second Injury Fund of the State Treasurer, and that failure to pay within ninety days may result in civil action to double the penalty. The State Treasurer shall collect any penalty owed, and if the penalty is not paid within ninety days, the State Treasurer shall notify the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission and the Attorney General so that civil action may be brought pursuant to section 31-289. Any appeal of a penalty assessed pursuant to the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of section 31-301. The chairman shall adopt regulations for the commissioners to use in setting fines which shall require the commissioners to take into account the nature of the employer's business and his number of employees.
(f) When any employer knowingly and wilfully fails to comply with the insurance and self-insurance requirements of subsection (b) of section 31-284, such employer, if he is an owner, in the case of a sole proprietorship, a partner, in the case of a partnership, a principal, in the case of a limited liability company or a corporate officer, in the case of a corporation, shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(g) Any employer who, with the intent to injure, defraud or deceive any insurance company insuring the liability of such employer under this chapter, (1) knowingly misrepresents one or more employees as independent contractors, or (2) knowingly provides false, incomplete or misleading information to such company concerning the number of employees, for the purpose of paying a lower premium on a policy obtained from such company, shall be guilty of a class D felony.
History: P.A. 84-299 added Subsec. (b), providing for penalties of up to five hundred dollars for each case by a party of undue delay in the completion of hearings or the adjustment or payment of compensation; P.A. 86-174 added Subsec. (c), establishing a civil penalty to be assessed against employers who don't comply with the insurance requirements of Sec. 31-284; P.A. 93-228 added Subsec. (d) to provide that employer which defrauds its workers' compensation insurance carrier for the purpose of paying a lower premium is guilty of a class D felony, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-419 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-277 amended Subsec. (c) to provide for specific procedures, penalties and hearings associated with the failure of an employer to comply with insurance and self-insurance requirements, to make assessment of civil penalty mandatory, to impose minimum penalty of not less than five hundred dollars per employee or five thousand dollars whichever is less and to increase maximum penalty from ten thousand to fifty thousand dollars, inserted new Subsecs. (d) re additional penalty after the noncompliance finding, (e) re monthly transfer of penalty funds by the chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission to the custodian of the Second Injury Fund, appeal procedure and regulations to use in setting fines, and (f) classifying knowing and wilful violations as a class D felony and relettered the existing Subsecs. (d) to (f), effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-267 amended Subsec. (e) to require the chairman to notify the State Treasurer and Attorney General when penalties are imposed and when penalties are not paid within ninety days to give notice of the prescribed method of payment and to give notice of potential double penalties for nonpayment.
See Sec. 52-570e re action for damages resulting from violation of chapter.
Cited. 7 CA 142.


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You are here
Your Baby's Milestones
Is your baby on track? From smiling to talking, how to tell if your child's development is right on course by Kimberly Tranell
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When these three toddlers were babies, they hit developmental markers on a wide range of "average." Of course, if your baby isn't hitting milestones as early as your friend's child, or your firstborn, it's easy to get a bit anxious. Relax: Here's proof that kids develop at their own pace.
19 months, Castaic, CA
Already a big sports fan, Ethan can't get enough football on TV or baseball on Wii.
24 months, St. Paul, MN
Mayli enjoys going on the swings at the park -- but only if she can go really high!
27 months, Huntersville, NC
He's a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine and was giving his parents high fives by age 1.
Average age: 5 to 8 weeks
"During a shopping trip, I was running down the aisles with Sam in his car seat in the cart. For the first time, he looked right at me and smiled. It seemed like he was enjoying himself, so I kept at it!"
-- Leslie Netta, Sam's mom
Though a 1-week-old may give you a gas grin, you may not see a social smile -- where your baby reacts to your facial expressions while maintaining eye contact -- until he's 2 months old. "Smile and coo at him while giving a bath, dressing, or changing him, and a true smile will come naturally," says Alice Sterling Honig, Ph.D., professor emerita of child development at Syracuse University in New York.
Average age: 3 to 4 months
"First, Mayli grabbed my hair! Then we found a lightweight rattle to encourage her new skill -- and she never wanted to let go of it!"
-- Cassi Willoughby, Mayli's mom
When your child reaches for an object, put it in her palm, hold it still, and let her grab for it. She still gets the sensation of touching different textures even if the object falls out. "Use a feather, a blanket, your finger, whatever," says Tanya Remer Altmann, M.D., a pediatrician and editor-in-chief of the American Academy of Pediatrics's book The Wonder Years. "They're learning from every little thing!"
Average age: 6 to 7 months
"My first child, Parker, sat up by five months, so I was worried when Mayli couldn't do it at the same age. She was wobbly at first, but eventually she got it. I stopped comparing my kids after this."
-- Cassi Willoughby
"If your baby can hold up her head and push herself up from her tummy with her arms, she's probably ready to try sitting up," says Paula Jackson, a certified nurse-practitioner in Philadelphia who specializes in early childcare and safety. You can prop her up with pillows on the floor at 4 months (stay close by!) or have her lean forward with her legs apart, supporting herself with her hands. That'll help her learn to balance.
Average age: 8 to 9 months
"Mayli was feeding herself crackers at six months and using a spoon by the time she was a year old. Once she figured out she could do it herself, she didn't want me to feed her anymore."
-- Cassi Willoughby
Once your baby's on solids, she can try feeding herself under your supervision while she's seated. (She can choke if she's moving around.) Offer small chunks of finger foods, like ripe bananas, chicken, or cereal. When you feed her, she may start grabbing the spoon. Most kids can't use utensils until they're 15 to 18 months old, so have one spoon to feed her with and another for her to play with.
Average age: 8 to 10 months
"I would always sing Sam songs with his name in them, but I couldn't tell if he understood he was Sam. One day, he turned around to look at me when I sang his name, and then I knew."
-- Leslie Netta
If your 8-month-old isn't turning to the sound of his name, try cutting out background noise (TV and music can drown out your voice) and giving him plenty of time to respond. Say his name clearly and loudly, and wait until he stops what he's doing and refocuses his attention on you before you say anything else, says Dr. Altmann.
Average age: 8 to 10 months
"My friend's son walked at a little over ten months, so I was nervous that Ethan still wasn't even crawling. Then he started, but he crawled backward! And he'd only do it while dragging his toy truck along."
-- Top Nguyen, Ethan's mom
Many kids skip crawling, but the ones who do it may start without warning -- and it may not look quite like what you expected. Babies may scoot on their bottoms, slither on their tummies, or just roll around. If you have hard flooring throughout your home, lay down some interlocking foam tiles so your child has a more comfortable crawling surface, suggests Dr. Altmann.
Average age: 9 to 11 months
"Mayli would use furniture and other people to get wherever she wanted to go. Even though she couldn't yet stand on her own, she always found a way to move around!"
-- Cassi Willoughby
Once your baby's cruising, put some sturdy, stable pieces of furniture -- like low tables and heavy chairs -- close together so that she's motivated to get around by using her feet instead of by crawling.
Average age: 10 to 12 months
"By three and a half months, Sam was trying to stand in my lap, and at seven months, he could stand on the floor while holding on to furniture. But it took him five months to let go! He likes to take his time."
-- Leslie Netta
Put toys on a low table to encourage your child to pull himself up to reach them. He'll hold on to the table for support, but the toys will prompt him to let go a little. Or try holding a toy a little bit away from him so he reaches for it. Just be ready to catch him if he falls!
Average age: 12 to 13 months
"At four months, Ethan babbled dramatically with hand motions, like he was telling a story, but that first real word didn't come for five more months. He still babbles a lot, but we understand more of what he says now."
-- Top Nguyen
"Mama" and "dada" are the most common first words, but some kids say "baba" (for bottle or ball) or the name of their sibling or pet first. "It's usually whatever word kids hear the most or need to say to get your attention," says Dr. Altmann. At around 18 months, they'll say entire words("mommy," "daddy," "bottle") instead of repeating the first syllable ("mama," "dada," "baba"), and they'll even start saying two-word phrases.
Average age: 12 to 15 months
"At the fourteen-month mark, we were really concerned and about to take Ethan to the doctor. Then, one night, we put him on the floor and he took nine steps. Later that night, he even made a U-turn!"
-- Top Nguyen
Walking takes tons of confidence -- build your baby's by taking steps with him while holding his hands. Then switch to offering him only one hand to hold. Finally, use a single finger as a guide when you think he's almost got it. Try dancing together, too -- it's a fun way to get him comfortable with moving on his feet. But also: Don't worry. He'll walk when he's ready!
Kimberly Tranell writes frequently about health.


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Nick Swisherfree agent
Outfielder | Ht: | Wt: 210
Access our Fantasy Baseball coverage for more!
|MLB | Nick Swisher retires
Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:10:05 -0800
Free-agent OF Nick Swisher (Yankees) announced his retirement from professional baseball.
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|| Source: CBSSports.com - Dayn Perry
|Yankees | Rob Refsnyder the regular 1B
Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:47:28 -0700
New York Yankees 2B Rob Refsnyder is now the everyday first baseman, according to manager Joe Girardi. The Yankees evaluators felt it "wasn't the right time" to call up 1B/OF Nick Swisher from the minors.
Fantasy Tip: The Yanks are out of options with both Mark Teixeira and Chris Parmelee on the DL for the foreseeable future. Swisher has power and the experience, but Refsnyder is more versatile and has more upside with youth on his side. With Refsnyder hitting just .208 with no homers and five RBI on the year, though, he'll likely remain just for depth purposes in AL-only leagues, but added eligibility at first base with everyday playing time makes him much more attractive.
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|| Source: Newsday - Erik Boland
|Yankees | Nick Swisher could see action
Thu, 09 Jun 2016 19:42:55 -0700
New York OF Nick Swisher and OF Ben Gamel are two potential candidates to replace 1B Chris Parmelee (hamstring).
Fantasy Tip: It remains to be seen how much time Parmelee will miss. Swisher could be worth a flier in AL-leagues, but with his best years well behind him, don't expect much.
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|| Source: ESPNNewYork.com - Andrew Marchand
|Mets | New York interested in James Loney
Tue, 24 May 2016 09:25:13 -0700
The New York Mets have "some curiosity" about San Diego Padres 1B James Loney, according to a source. Loney can opt out with Class AAA El Paso for a major league contract. The Mets are not interested in New York Yankees 1B Nick Swisher, who is also in the minors.
Fantasy Tip: Loney has always been a line-drive hitter that can carry a respectable average, but he lacks home runs (career-high 15 home runs back in 2007). He probably would only play first base against right-handed pitchers for the Mets, and he'd be a short-term stopgap with Lucas Duda (back) hurt. If the Mets land him, he'd probably only be attractive to those in NL-only leagues.
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|| Source: ESPNNewYork.com - Adam Rubin
|Yankees | Alex Rodriguez to undergo MRI
Wed, 04 May 2016 09:39:27 -0700
New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez (hamstring) will undergo an MRI exam on his strained right hamstring Wednesday, May 4. Manager Joe Girardi said Rodriguez's injury is "worrisome." Rodriguez had gone 6-for-14 in the last six games but is hitting .203 on the season with five home runs and 12 RBI. 1B Nick Swisher could be called up if Rodriguez goes on the disabled list.
Fantasy Tip: Given A-Rod's age (40), an injury like this is likely to put him on the 15-day DL. Make alternate plans if you own him. Aaron Hicks or Dustin Ackley could see more at-bats as the DH if Rodriguez is sidelined for an extended period, but neither are very attractive outside of AL-only leagues.
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|| Source: ESPNNewYork.com - Andrew Marchand
|Yankees | Nick Swisher could join Yanks
Sat, 09 Apr 2016 10:08:59 -0700
The New York Yankees are reportedly close to signing free-agent OF Nick Swisher (Braves) to a minor league contract. If signed, he would be used as a first baseman, outfielder and designated hitter. The deal is pending a physical.
Fantasy Tip: The 35-year-old Swisher hit just .196 with six home runs and 25 RBI in 219 at-bats last season while splitting time between the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. He would be unlikely to receive enough playing time to be worth considering outside of AL-only fantasy leagues as a possible bench player.
|Comment (0)
|| Share:
|| Source: Newsday - Erik Boland
|Braves | Nick Swisher released
Mon, 28 Mar 2016 10:33:03 -0700
Atlanta Braves 1B Nick Swisher was given his unconditional release Monday, March 28.
Fantasy Tip: There's still a chance Swisher can catch on with another team, but the days of him being a lock for 15 to 20 home runs is long gone. He'd be a speculative waiver addition in single-universe formats if he signs elsewhere.
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|| Source: MLB.com
|Braves | Four ATL veterans battling for two spots
Sun, 27 Mar 2016 09:29:56 -0700
Atlanta Braves OFs Emilio Bonifacio, Michael Bourn, Jeff Francoeur and Nick Swisher appear to be battling for two reserve outfield spots on the opening day roster.
Fantasy Tip: Bonifacio, Bourn and Swisher are prime candidates to be traded or released, with Atlanta likely to be on the hook for the bulk of their salaries if they are moved. Francoeur has played well this spring but could be optioned to Class AAA Gwinnett if he agrees to remain with the organization. None of these players are likely to receive enough playing time to make them worth drafting in any fantasy format.
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|| Source: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
|Tigers | Detroit has no interest in Nick Swisher
Wed, 09 Dec 2015 15:06:33 -0800
The Detroit Tigers said no when the Atlanta Braves asked them about their interest in OF Nick Swisher.
Fantasy Tip: Swisher is more of a platoon player at this point in his career, but he has some appeal because of his ability to play both the outfield and first base. His power numbers have declined significantly in the last two years, too, as he's dealt with a plethora of injuries. Swisher is really only of interest in single-universe leagues or on FantasyScore because of a juicy matchup.
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|| Source: Detroit Free Press - Anthony Fenech
|Braves | Atlanta shopping outfielders
Wed, 11 Nov 2015 10:30:26 -0800
The Atlanta Braves are aggressively shopping OFs Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher and Cameron Maybin at the general manager meetings this week, according to a rival official. However, Braves GM John Coppolella denies that the Braves are considering moving Maybin.
Fantasy Tip: Maybin had by far the best year of any Braves outfielder in 2015, but he tailed off considerably in the second half. Bourn and Swisher are platoon bats that only have value in deep mixed fantasy leagues. Maybin could be even more intriguing to fantasy owners if he's traded to a better situation.
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|| Source: FOXSports.com - Ken Rosenthal


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What was the Eagles' biggest weakness in 2009 that limited them from advancing past the first round of the NFC playoffs?
That's the question Doug Farrar examined in a recent Yahoo Sports article.
His conclusion was that the linebacker play really killed the Eagles. If you ask me, there are really only two possible answers: the linebacker play or the secondary play.
Farrar does a good job explaining specifically how the LBs hurt the Birds, referencing the 73-yard run by Felix Jones in the wild-card round loss to the Cowboys. Interesting stat to consider: In 2008, when the Eagles blitzed on a run play, they allowed a league-low 3.7 yards per carry. But in 2009, that number jumped to 6.4 yards per carry, ninth-worst in the NFL.
Obviously, Sean McDermott tried just about everything in 2009 after Stewart Bradley's season ended during training camp. We've discussed the different personnel groups at length here, and clearly, none of them worked. But Farrar believes that a healthy Bradley and the addition of Ernie Sims from Detroit could be enough to solve the Eagles' problems:
With Bradley back in the fold, and talented young linebacker Ernie Sims(notes) brought over from Detroit to play the weak side, the Eagles should be in better shape when it comes to their intermediate defense. Sims always put up high tackle totals with the Lions when he was healthy, and while his coverage abilities have been questioned, it was difficult to know how talented any defender was in the Matt Millen era. With major changes on offense (in addition to Donovan McNabb's departure, the Eagles also severed ties with running back Brian Westbrook(notes)), the Eagles could rely more on their defense than in recent years, and more consistent linebacker play is the key to improvement.
It'll be interesting to see what kind of competition there is at linebacker during training camp. After the draft, I thought that two of the three spots would be up for grabs, but now I'm not so sure.
Bradley's got the middle locked down as long as he's healthy, and he'll pretty much always be on the field.
During OTAs, it was Ernie Sims manning the weak side. I thought Akeem Jordan would get a shot to win that job, and he still might, but during spring practices, Sims was the guy. Andy Reid and McDermott may have just wanted to get Sims more reps since he's new to the system and Jordan's been here for three seasons.
And on the strong-side, it's tough to figure out who could really push Moise Fokou for the starting job. I know many of you are down on Fokou after he piled up 73 penalty yards as a rookie (most on the Eagles' defense), but considering the circumstances, he deserves a chance to prove himself. Remember, Fokou was a seventh-round pick who worked to get on the roster and eventually found himself in a starting role. He admitted to me during OTAs that he was just kind of running around trying to figure things out last season. If anyone can benefit from an offseason of practices and more time in the system, it should be Fokou.
Other links:
* Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports ranks the Eagles' defensive line 15th in the NFL:
Welcome to the Eastern version of the Bengals line, although it's very likely the Eagles could leapfrog the Cincy bunch and other teams this season. The Eagles have a bunch of lunch-pail guys who don't seem like much when you look at them individually. End Trent Cole, who is the best of the bunch, is undersized and seemingly not explosive. Tackles Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson aren't overwhelming. The combo of Darryl Tapp and Juqua Parker on the other side doesn't make the toes tingle with excitement. But when you put them altogether, they're really a pretty good group. No stars, but nobody you can sleep on either.
* NFL.com's Steve Wyche warns readers not to sleep on the Eagles just because they changed quarterbacks this offseason:
To not bore you with the mundane, one matter has been consistently trumpeted over the past few weeks by a lot of NFL folks -- mainly players and former players or coaches: The Philadelphia Eagles could surprise a lot of people. Most people feel the Eagles will be good depending on new full-time starting quarterback Kevin Kolb. If he struggles under the pressure of stepping in for longtime fixture Donovan McNabb, then things could fall apart. The majority of opinions I've heard are that coach Andy Reid and president Joe Banner wouldn't have traded McNabb to Washington if they didn't think Kolb could handle things -- and handle them well.
* Remember that Bobby Taylor comeback report last week? Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News thinks the Cowboys could be one of the teams that should at least consider taking a look at the former Eagles CB.
* Adam Caplan of FoxSports.com says Brandon Graham's arm length was what caused some NFL teams to have a second-round grade on him:
The top question surrounding Graham seemed to be whether he was better off playing in the 3-4 or 4-3. Graham, who dominated Senior Bowl practices, rocketed up draft boards after that week. However, a source said at least at few teams didn't have a first-round grade on him because of his shorter than ideal arm length. Philadelphia has decent depth at both end spots, but the talented rookie figures to be high in the rotation right away.
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CHICAGO -- Surely, it is a sight that until Monday was contained solely in the nightmares of Phillies fans: Roy Halladay being escorted off the mound with a team trainer.
With a 1-1 count to Aramis Ramirez in the fifth inning, Halladay stepped off and Carlos Ruiz sensed something was wrong. So, too, did Rich Dubee, who emerged from the dugout. Before the pitching coach arrived, Halladay already had his hands on his knees.
He looked absolutely exhausted after pitching four innings. The team only offered this update: Halladay left the game due to the heat. (No word if he'll be joining LeBron in Miami.)
Halladay ditched his usual 3/4-sleeve undershirt after a 31-pitch third inning, when he also required time for a breath behind the mound. The game-time temperature was 91 degrees with stifling humidity.
After Dubee came to the mound, head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan followed. Soon after, Halladay was voluntarily walking off the field.
It represented Halladay's shortest outing as a Phillie. It also snapped a streak of 63 consecutive road starts in which Halladay threw at least six innings. That was the longest since Hall of Famer Walter Johnson did it in 82 straight starts from 1911-15.
Andrew Carpenter relieved Halladay.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for easy access to all of our Phillies coverage, plus app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.


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Local resident getting experience at museum.
As the fastest-growing sector of today's workforce, older Americans age 55 and older play a vital role in today's workforce - a trend DOL says will continue through the 21st century.
Experience Works Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) joins the U.S. Department of Labor in celebrating the contributions of older workers during National Employ Older Workers Week, through this Saturday.
By 2014, 41 percent of Americans 55 or older will be employed, making up over 21% of the U.S. labor force. The Committee on Economic Development indicates that employers rate older workers high on characteristics such as judgment, commitment to quality, attendance, and punctuality. National Employ Older Workers Week aims to increase awareness of this labor segment and develop innovative strategies to tap it.
Since 1965, Experience Works SCSEP has been a highly effective program, assisting many Oklahomans like Nelda Cain local Shawnee resident. Through a community service assignment with the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Cain is updating her skills in the retail and customer service area. She greets visitors, answers many questions concerning the museum and handles the sales at the museum gift shop.
"Cain will not only gain new and updated skills during her training assignment at the museum she can use this opportunity as a springboard to a permanent job with a local employer," says Employment and Training Coordinator, Sharon Abbott. "It's our goal to help older Oklahomans get the skills they need to be successful, while offering employers skilled and qualified candidates for local job openings."
"Older workers have always been valued employees because of their skills, work ethic, versatility, and ability to mentor other employees," says Sharon Abbott, Employment and Training Coordinator for Experience Works.
For more information on how older workers can benefit your business call 1-877-314-7568 or Oklahoma State Office 918-623-1460 or visit www.experienceworks.org.


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Beaumont/Port Arthur
More than $36,000 gross was raised at the annual Southeast Texas MDA Muscle Walk, held at the Montagne Event Center on Saturday, March 2 and presented by the Medical Center of Southeast Texas. Over 350 participants comprised of MDA families, local businesses, and community organizations were there to flex their fundraising muscles.
While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us "that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas," we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We're of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.
For this week's New York Times crossword puzzle, pick up a copy of this week's The Examiner on newsstands now.


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Now that "Falling Skies"fans have seen how easily Ben Mason took down his older brother, Hal, in the Season 2 premiere of the TNT hit, Connor Jessup can reveal how shooting that scene with Drew Roy really went down.
"I push him down, right? But I'm not doing anything! ... He was totally in control there," Jessup, who plays Ben, revealed.
In the scene from Sunday's premiere, which was seen by 4.5 million viewers, Ben uses his alien-provided super-strength to grab Hal's arms and force him to the ground. It's not a position Hal is used to being in with his little brother, and not one the 17-year-old Jessup expected to be in with 26-year-old Roy.
"In real life Drew is so ... much more muscular than I am and in a real fight he would destroy me—like without question he would obliterate me," Jessup said, laughing. "Most of that scene is just him acting it and me just kind of like putting my hands in the right place.
"It was definitely good for my ego, though."
Roy, who I interviewed separately before seeing the episode or before talking with Jessup, said it wasn't good for Hal's ego.
"Hal gets embarrassed in front of his girl," Roy said, speaking of Maggie (Sarah Carter), who shared some flirtatious moment with Hal in the premiere. "That sets the tone for Ben and Hal."
Roy added that Ben's journey is one of the most interesting of the season, and that Jessup "does an excellent job of it."
Jessup's character may be beating up Roy's, but Roy is solidly the winner in the actors' race to get the most Twitter followers.
"I have like 3,100 followers, which is OK, but he's killing me," Jessup said. "He has like 60,000. He's wiping me off the face of the earth in terms of Twitter because he has the unfair advantage of having 'Hannah Montana' and 'iCarly.' So he kind of had a head start on me, but hopefully, with this season I can catch up a little bit."
As of 2:45 p.m. Monday, @connorjessup has 3,828 followers while @drew_roy has 58,286. Jessup talks more about working with Roy below, and gives a tantalizing tease about what could happen later this season.
Read my previous Jessup interview here. I'll post my full interview with Roy later this week.
You talked about the clashes between Ben and Hal. What was it like changing that dynamic opposite Drew Roy now that the brothers aren't getting along?
Drew and I hate each other! No, Drew is amazing. I'd done a little bit with Drew last season; not a lot. And this season one of the main elements of his character and my character is this kind of newfound tension, which results from Tom going missing and Hal kind of stepping up to the plate as kind of the parental character in the family.
We kind of joke that everyone took a step up because Tom went away and Hal kind of took over Tom's role and I kind of took over Hal's role. Hal last season was the bull-headed, stubborn one who would ignore orders and who just wanted to kill those aliens. And now that's me and he's become the responsible one. And so that's kind of where the tension comes from.
I really love playing scenes with Drew. Some of my favorite scenes in the entire season were the ones I had with Drew because he's such a nice guy and good actor. And he's really, really giving as an actor in terms of like he's up for anything. He has great ideas and he's not much older than me—he's like 25 and I'm almost 18—so he really has this sort of half-friend, half-older brother kind of relationship going with me in that he's very relaxed but also very helpful.
So it's really fun working with Drew. If you know him at all, you know that he's like—he's a southern guy. He's laid back, he's easy to work with. There's no tension in scenes with Drew. It's just easy work, and by easy work I don't mean like the scenes are easy, I mean he's easy to work with, which is always super-appreciated.
Were you surprised by things in this season's scripts?
Yeah, in almost every episode pretty much. There are some mysteries surrounding me in terms of like where I'm going. There are mysteries surrounding various other characters who pop up along the way. There are mysteries about origins of aliens that I really can't talk about freely. ... And there's a whole new element, I can't talk about it freely, but there's a whole new element that's added this season in terms of the aliens that I just totally didn't see coming. ... You find out about it I think about Episode 5 or 6. Again, I can't talk about it at all, but it's really interesting and adds a whole new dimension to everything.
How has it been being the man of the house, so to speak, with Hal's brothers?
That's exactly what he had to do. That was one of the fun parts of playing this second season and being Hal. In the first season Hal was dwelling into himself. He was still very much a teenager, and he still had his dad there to hold him back if necessary or push him in the right direction.
Now that Tom has stepped onto some ship and never came back, I think at three months that hope that maybe we're going to find him is really turning into a small little flicker of an idea. We have to keep on pushing, because these aliens are pursuing us now. We had this huge battle that really depleted our numbers. You find Hal taking care of Matt and Ben. At the same time, we're having a little trouble with the relationship between Hal and Ben, because Ben is growing into himself and he's going through some tough times. A lot of people are very nervous about him being in camp, because of his being harnessed and what all does that mean. What will that amount to? Whose side is he on? At the same time, that's my brother. Hal's going to look after him.
Ben sort of has this rebellious streak in him as well that Hal has. There's some tension between the two guys because they're both trying to be the man of the house. We're going to find that Ben now has an incredible amount of strength along with some other interesting little things that this skitter blood has given him. That's the first time that Ben has been able to put Hal in his place the way that Hal has always put Ben in his place as they were growing up.
Is this just a result of harnessing everything, or is this a regular kid rebellious streak thing but it just so happens that he could kick your butt?
It's sort of a culmination of the two, yes. Because of being harnessed in the same way in the first season there were several members of the sect in Massachusetts that were a bit skeptical of these kids who have been harnessed and were now back at camp. Are they sleeper cells for the aliens, or are they still the kid that they used to be, but they just have the spots on their backs? All of that has progressed. The harness is gone, but the effects are still there. People are still very curious as to what's going on with them. He's finding himself in a position of being an outcast. That's why I just made him feel a bit awkward. He has this completely hate for skitters in the second season. In the opening sequence he's shooting every skitter he can see and even putting people in danger to make sure that a skitter is completely dead, as opposed to wounded and we're just going to leave him. So yeah, we find Ben in a situation where it feels like he's on the outside, and Hal's trying to take care of him. At the same time he's finding a little resistance there from Ben.


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So a few weeks ago I got a nice little present in the mail from Crucial. It was one of their nice new(ish) M4 SSDs with a massive 256 Gigs of free space. Here's a review of my experience with the drive so far...
When I got the drive I backed up everything (actually most everything was already backed up to my desktop which has a 1TB disk in it), swapped out the drive in my Asus UL50AG, upgraded the firmware to v9 (which will require a blank CD or DVD) and installed a fresh install of Windows 7.
To be truthful my first couple of weeks with the disk were a little rough. Apparently the drive that Windows installs by default is ... what's the polite word for "total crap" ... as my laptop would just randomly blue screen saying that there was some sort of storage problem. After a little searching around the net (the Crucial support forums weren't all that helpful) I managed to find a thread on the newsbin.com forums that was talking about the exact problem that I was having. They gave some basic info about how to switch the drivers, but that didn't help me much. The best part was that they actually replied with step by step instructions when I asked for them.
So just in case you are having the same problem that I was having either check out the forum thread, or just keep reading, I've got the fix at the end.
I've got to say, now that I'm not blue screening the laptop for no reason, the damn thing is running great. Ironically, when it was blue screening, I wouldn't even notice it sometimes because it would reboot so quickly that when I'd look back at the laptop, I'd just be sitting at a login screen. Personally I thought this was pretty funny (at first).
The laptop is smoking fast now. This laptop was never really all that quick. This machine is the laptop that I take when I travel when I know that I won't be needing more than SQL Management Studio, a SQL Instance with some sample databases, and Office. But now, all I can say is wow. When I launch an app, it's there. The machine boots in 8 seconds from the BIOS posting to the login prompt. Shutting the machine down is about 4 seconds, and the battery live is what it was when I bought the machine 2 or 3 years ago, with over 7 hours of battery life.
Now the only real downside that I see if the drive size. This is a 256 Gig drive, and the disk in here before was only a 320 Gig drive (formatted) so I didn't loose all that much space, but I did have to be a little picky about what I put back on the disk so that the thing isn't totally full already. Things like my music, movies, etc. I didn't both copying back. Basically just my pictures and my documents are all that I put on the computer as those sync up with my other computers via Windows Live Mesh.
If someone was to ask me if they should pick one of these up for their laptop, I'd have to say that the answer is yes (so long as you can deal with the disk space limit). Now Crucial does make larger drives up to 1TB is size (which I'd just love to test out) but they are probably a little to pricey as they run about what a new laptop does.
Now, to fix that pesky driver problem that you may have (these are for Windows 7)...
Click on Start, then right click on "My Computer" and click on Properties from the menu that pops up.
Click on Device Manager
Click the little arrow next to "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers"
You should see something similar to this screenshot.
Right click on the device listed (the "Index(R) ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller" in my case) and select "Uninstall" from the menu that pops up. Make sure to click the "Delete the driver software for this device" check box when prompted to do so.
The computer will prompt you to reboot. It'll do there between two and six times depending on what hardware is installed. Just keep letting it reboot as it wants to. Mine rebooted twice.
If you go back into the device manager (first 3 steps above) you should see that it now says "Standard AHCI Serial ATA Controller 1.0" or something similar to that.
Leave the computer on over night so that the disk can clean itself up (so that TRIM can run) and by morning you'll be find. Make sure that you have any screensavers, etc. disabled before you leave it on over night. You can use the laptop while TRIM is running, but the disk may be slower than expected. This will go away once TRIM is finished.
(For the record so that I'm not running afoul of any stupid US laws, I did get this drive from Crucial as a test unit, in other words I didn't pay for it.)


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Turnbull's lament on the degradation of our politics is justified, but prescribing a solution is more difficult.
FOR the second time in two months, Malcolm Turnbull has delivered an original, thought-provoking contribution to the public debate, the like of which we too seldom see from our politicians.
His earlier lecture was a compelling plea in favour of legalising gay marriage; on Wednesday he addressed the issues of truth, trust and the general degradation of our politics.
Inevitably, his remarks would be seen as a poke in Tony Abbott's eye, whether intended or not. Probably not a day goes by that Turnbull doesn't wonder how it is that Abbott, not he, is the Liberal leader. It would be no comfort that he knows the answer - he could not keep his team's support when he had the job. But let's take Turnbull's propositions on their merits regardless of motive.
He argues that the public deserves an honest and quality discourse, but the political system is skewed to encouraging ''spin, exaggeration, misstatements''. Discussion on complex and important issues is distorted or worse; not surprisingly - it brought him down - Turnbull points to the ''hopeless, confused, hyper-partisan'' debate on climate change.
With the opposition, shock jocks and others throwing charges of ''liar'' at Julia Gillard, Turnbull probes the anatomy of a political lie.
''A lie is a false statement known to be false by the person who utters it,'' he says. ''A change of policy is not a lie. If a politician says the best policy to promote innovation is ABC, and then comes to the view that it is in fact XYZ and says so, he is not telling a lie, he is changing his mind - unless of course he never believed ABC was the best policy in the first place.''
Where does this leave Gillard for her notorious pre-election ''there will be no carbon tax'' promise? Off the hook? Not on Turnbull's argument, because she is guilty of a ''breach of contract''.
Turnbull's analysis of our political system's faults and the public's resulting cynicism seems to me entirely spot on. But prescribing solutions is much more difficult.
Take his slating of question time, which he says arouses fury and contempt, pointing out that for the past two years opposition questions ''have been almost entirely focused on people smuggling and the carbon tax''. Turnbull is right about the inanity, but would his answer make things better? He suggests a British-type model, where the prime minister takes questions only on a certain day, so ministers are the centre of attention on other days.
That system has its advantages - we would, for example, probably get to know more about low-level scandals in a whole range of departments. But our system of an ever-present PM has its strengths too; if a big issue suddenly arises, and Parliament is sitting, the prime minister can be questioned immediately.
It should be remembered, too, that we've already tried a version of the British system: Paul Keating restricted the times he attended question time - the arrangement was not thought a great success.
With the opposition, shock jocks and others throwing charges of ''liar'' at Julia Gillard, Turnbull probes the anatomy of a political lie.
Turnbull admits he doesn't have ''any silver bullet to make us politicians more accurate or more likely to keep our promises'', while urging them to earn trust by refraining from raising false expectations and misrepresenting their opponents.
The adversarial system is at the heart of our democracy. But when it starts to undermine some democratic values, when politicians can seldom co-operate or recognise the other side's better selves, it results in dangerous voter alienation - which is also being seen in other Western democracies.
As former US president Bill Clinton, addressing the Democratic National Congress, said yesterday: ''When times are tough, constant conflict may be good politics, but in the real world co-operation works better. After all, nobody's right all the time, and a broken clock is right twice a day.''
There is much reason for disillusionment with the current state of politics in Australia. But as a slight cheer-up, remember a couple of counterpoints.
The intense, sustained conflict of the hung parliament is a specially nasty period to watch - constant warfare has brought out the worst in many players.
Second, sometimes the bad can actually act as an incentive for good. Politicians don't react to appeals to behave better, but if bad conduct brings pain then they take notice. Gillard's trashing over the carbon pledge is likely (at least for a while) to be something of a deterrent to others.
Apart from its dissertation on political discourse, Turnbull's speech is notable for drawing attention to how the contraction in the mainstream media will affect reporting on politics (''There are just as many political foxes, but a lot less journalistic hounds to keep an eye on them'') and for his latest observations on an Australian republic.
On the latter, he has started to think that an elected president - a model he so trenchantly opposed but the only one likely to get public support - might just possibly work satisfactorily. It's an interesting evolution for one of the nation's most significant republicans, in the event that a new round of that debate comes in the next few years.
Michelle Grattan is The Age's political editor.


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Guest Post: "Trade Value," Prospects, and an Adequate Return in a Matt Garza
[This aptly-timed guest post comes courtesy of David Mick, from Obstructed View. If you're a reader of that fine site, you know that David – together with the other writers there – takes an appropriately sabermetric approach to a number of Cubs-related topics. As he describes, this post emanated out of a discussion here in the comments about how to value established players in trade talks, particularly within the context of a long-rumored Matt Garza trade. This is very good stuff, and, even where I've disagreed, I've learned quite a bit through this process. Enjoy.]
First of all, I'd like to thank Brett for giving me the opportunity to publish this on Bleacher Nation. Brett runs a fantastic site and, as one of my co-bloggers said the other day, he gets most of his Cubs news information from this site. I do, too. [Ed. – I totally made him say that.] Some of you may remember a brief discussion that began in the comments a week or so ago regarding Matt Garza's trade value. After Brett and I exchanged some emails, he wanted to publish something on BN, so I put this article together.
When you hear the words "trade value," some of you are instantly thinking that we can't assign a single number to someone's value. Baseball seems far too complex to do that. We're dealing with talented athletes, but the athletes are also human beings who may or may not respond differently depending on the environment. Before I get into this article, I would like to point one thing out. Baseball teams do assign "one number" to a player. Fans have in mind one number for a ballplayer. Recently re-signed Reed Johnson's one number was $1.15 million. Albert Pujols's one number was just north of $254 million over 10 years. 2011 Cubs first round pick Javier Baez's one number was $2.65 million. Fans look at players and think so and so is worth about three years and $24 million. We already assign one number to each player, and this number is his value to the organization. It's based on how many runs and wins he's going to provide the team. That number is representative of how good a player he is.
As a result, I reject the premise that we cannot assign one number when discussing trades. If free agents, draft picks, and international free agents are assigned one number, then we can be pretty sure that one number is uniform across all transactions. That "one number," the dollars paid, represents the value the player adds to the team above a hypothetical replacement level player. Replacement level is based on average, but we know that the typical replacement isn't an average ballplayer. If he was, he'd have made a team out of spring training. Replacement level in the NL is 2 wins worse than average per full season.
We need to know the value of the win. Prior to the economic collapse, inflation in baseball was a steady 10%. If the win value one year was $3.5 million, it would be $3.85 million the following year. Around 2007 or 2008, that stopped. While the ticket sales weren't hugely impacted by the recession, the value that players were worth remained stagnant at $4.5 million. The new CBA is designed to increase veteran salaries by limiting the amount teams can spend on amateur talent. Thus, a reasonable estimate for the value of the win in 2012 is about $5 million.
It's important to recognize that not all players will sign for $5 million per projected Win Above Replacement (WAR). Some will sign for less and some will sign for more, but the average is about $5 million. There are a number of reasons why some players are underpaid and overpaid. Several years back, Placido Polanco signed an extremely team friendly contract. Tangotiger argued in 2006 that Polanco's projected value was equal to that of Derek Jeter, who was making $20 million per year. Jeter, partly because he played in New York, and partly because the media has overrated him (still a first ballot Hall of Famer though), was making significantly more money than he was worth. Polanco, partly because he didn't play in New York, and partly because much of his value was derived from defense, was underpaid considerably. It turns out when you look back since tangotiger's article, the two have been worth the same amount of money. One was overpaid, and one was underpaid.
Popularity can have an impact on how much a player is paid. Teams tend to undervalue defense, so strong defensive players are sometimes underpaid relative to weaker defenders, who derive most of their value from the bat. Years ago OBP was undervalued, and teams focused heavily on SLG. The more teams bidding on a player the more his value may increase. I say "may" because it depends entirely on what kind of bids teams are turning in. Are these teams willing to acquire the player at all costs? Are they only bidding up to what they think he's worth and not getting into any bidding wars? We don't know. The fewer teams that are interested in a player the less he'll earn, or the less his team will receive in a trade.
One example is left-handed relievers. Teams continue to overvalue the 70 innings they get from a solid left-handed reliever. This was evident in the great package the Cubs received in return for Sean Marshall.
Let's take a look at one of the best players in baseball. Albert Pujols signed a 10-year, $254 million contract this offseason. How much trade value would you think he has? Absolutely none. One of the very best players in all of baseball has no trade value whatsoever. Some of you may be thinking that this can't be possible. The reason he has no trade value is that he signed a free agent contract this offseason. He's being paid market value. To illustrate this I'm going to use someone I'll call Player X, who signed a 1-year contract for $5 million. He's projected to be worth 1 WAR, so he was paid precisely what he's worth. Now imagine that teams can trade recently signed players. This player has no value. Just 1 WAR would be traded away, and the team acquiring the player would be paying $5 million (the full price of a win on the free agent market). If this other team wanted him they'd have signed him as a free agent. Perhaps they'd have offered something like $5.1 million if they determined that this player was a necessary acquisition. They didn't, and the player has no trade value. The trading team could agree to pay part of the contract in an attempt to get a prospect back, but that's the only way they'd get anything in return. In fact, almost all players who sign free agent contracts immediately have no trade value. On a long-term contract the player could improve or get worse, which would then change his trade value going forward.
Here's some information I put together about the Matt Latos trade when Brett and I were discussing this valuation issue. I'll post the relevant information, and then explain how I got there.
Matt Latos: 13.5 WAR over next 4 years
Average win value: $5.39 million
Value provided: $72.53 million
Projected Salary based on arbitration 1, 2 and 3 being worth 40%, 60% and 80% of market value: $33.3 million
Projected Salary based on similar players: $26.0 million
Difference between value and projected salary (similar players): $46.55 million
Boxberger: $2 million (early in his career, but he has some minimal value)
Grandal: $10 million (probably not a top 50, but a good prospect nonetheless)
Alonso: $15 million (based on his prospect ranking at the beginning of 2011 by Baseball America)
Volquez: $15 million (projected for 3.5ish WAR over next 2 years, $5.13 per win average, $18 million value, estimated $8 million salary, $10 million surplus)
Total: $52 million
Latos is under team control for four more years. The Oliver projections and the Fans Projections on FanGraphs have Latos being worth 4.1 WAR in 2012. CAIRO's projections are considerably lower for Latos, but we'll weight that less than the others. Say 3.7 WAR to begin with. Oliver has a six-year forecast, but its weakness is that it doesn't adjust playing time. As players age, they play less. Latos is 25 years old, so we can expect him to still be worth another 3.7 WAR in 2013. By that time, an expected decline begins at about -.5 WAR per season, so that would be 3.2 WAR in 2014 and 2.7 WAR in 2015. That's a total of 13.3 WAR, so I've increased it to 13.5 because I'm a nice guy.
The average win value there is the average of the four remaining years. If it's $5 million in 2012 and we increase it by 5% for inflation year, the average of the four is $5.39 million per win. Therefore the total projected value is $72.53 million.
The projected salary based on what arbitration players are typically paid is about $33.3 million, but that's a little high. It's unlikely he'll earn that much money, so I've adjusted it to $26 million. (Matt Garza will end up with four years of arbitration and his total earnings during that period are likely to be about $28 million.) The difference between the projected value and projected salary is his surplus trade value ($46.55 million). The Padres essentially traded $46.55 million to the Reds.
The Padres received four players in return. I calculated the value of Boxberger, Grandal and Alonso using the values found in this article. It's based on information from an article at The Hardball Times. The value for Edinson Volquez was calculated in the same way that I did for Latos. As you can see, the Padres received approximately $52 million in value for the $46.55 they traded away. Relatively comparable.
I went through the same process for Gio Gonzalez, who, like Latos, was recently traded for prospects. I'll just paste the information I sent Brett before we move on to Matt Garza. This is a Cubs blog, and that's what we mostly care about.
The Gio Gonzalez trade is a bit more difficult to evaluate. FanGraphs has him worth 6.7 WAR over the last 2 years, and B-Ref has him worth 9.2. Oliver projects 2.9 WAR. The Fans project 3.1 WAR and CAIRO projects 3.2 WAR. From that standpoint it's relatively easy, but there's a big difference between his defense independent stats and his runs allowed. He doesn't have a large sample, so it's best to assume those will even out and be much more similar to his defense independent metrics (fWAR uses them). That's why we get the 3.0 WAR projection average because they're based on defense independent pitching stats.
2012: 3
2013: 3
2014: 3
2015: 2.5 (29 years old and already on the downside of his career)
Total: 11.5 WAR
Using 5% inflation, we get an average win value of $5.39 million (the same as Latos of course). That makes Gonzalez worth $70 million. A reasonable pay scale will be something like $0.48, $3.5, $7, $12 for a total of $30 million. Gonzalez has a surplus trade value of $40 million.
The prospects the A's received for Gonzalez: Cole and Peacock are both B prospects (Cole a B+). Peacock is worth $7.3 million, Cole worth about $9 million. Norris was ranked 72 entering last year, so that's an additional $10 million. Milone is interesting – 5.5 K/BB ratio in the minors. In a small sample at the big leagues, his K rate dropped considerably, but his BB rate remained about the same. He's not ranked in the top 100 and Sickels has him at a grade B-, so he's worth about $5 million. I'd venture a guess he's worth more than that, but the numbers are the numbers.
$31.3 million was sent to the A's, even though the surplus trade value was $40 million.
Between these two huge trades, there was a surplus trade value of $86.55 million, while the teams traded away a value of $82.3 million.
This all leads to Matt Garza.
Matt Garza has two years remaining of club control, in which he'll make an estimated $8.7 million in 2012 and $12 million in 2013. Oliver projects 3.9 WAR for Garza in 2012. Some of you may say this is much worse than last year, but keep in mind, players who do well one season usually regress the next. Plus, Garza's WAR on FanGraphs (fWAR) was 5.0, but on Baseball Reference (rWAR), it was just 2.9. If you're curious about the differences, I encourage you to check this thread out on The Book Blog.
Knowing that players, once they pass their prime of 26 to 28 years old, get worse by about .5 WAR each year, we can estimate Garza would be worth 3.4 WAR in the 2013. Over the next two years we have a projected value of 7.3 WAR for Garza. The estimated win value over that time is an average of $5.13 million making Garza worth $37.5 million.
He'll be paid roughly $21 million over those two years, so his surplus trade value is $16.5 million (let's call it $17 million). If we look back at our farm system values, we find that the following ranked prospects are worth roughly what Garza's surplus trade value is:
Top 51-75 hitters ($14.2 million)
Top 10-50 pitching prospects ($15.5 million)
A reasonable return for Garza, therefore, would be one top 10-50 pitching prospect or one top 51-75 hitting prospect. That gets us pretty close, but there's still a little extra that the Cubs should want in return. A Grade C pitcher, 20 or younger, is worth $2.1 million, so that would round out our expected return for Matt Garza.
Jacob Turner has been discussed, and, while I don't think he's actually available, he was the 21st ranked prospect in all of baseball last year. If you're interested in putting a name to a C prospect, have a look at Sickels' top 20 Cubs prospects. It's someone of equal talent to a Rafael Dolis or a Dave Sappelt, whom the Cubs recently acquired.
I don't think Turner is available in a trade for Matt Garza because he's not only a top 25 prospect, but he reached the big leagues at the age of 20. The value he could potentially provide the Tigers for 6 more full seasons is far higher than what Garza will provide them over the next two years. I believe Turner would be available for the right player, but I don't believe Garza is that guy.
Garza's trade value and their asking price is why I'm resigned to the Cubs not trading him. The next decision, in my opinion, is about how much to offer him for an extension.
Using the same 7.4 WAR and $5.13 million win value, we get a free agent contract of 2 years and $38 million. But Garza is not a free agent. Arbitration-eligible players make less than they are worth. In fact, the percentage of what they make compared to their actual value is something like this: 40%, 60% and 80%. Over two years, Garza is worth 70% of his free agent value, which is $26 million.
The Cubs wouldn't just sign him to two years though. We project a 3.4 WAR in 2013, so it would be 2.9 the following year, and then 2.4, and then 1.9. That's an additional 7.2 WAR. The average win value of those year is $5.8 million. Add that $45 million to the $26 million over the next two years and you get a 5-year deal for $71 million. John Danks signed a 5-year, $65 million extension, but he had only 1 year of club control remaining. I expect Garza would at least match the $65 million that Danks received.
Question: should the Cubs trade Garza for the expected return, sign him a 5-year extension or let the next two years play out? Strong arguments can be made for any of them. What say you?


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Costco unsure how cooked chicken was tainted in salmonella outbreak
Investigators are still unsure how cooked rotisserie chicken sold at a Costco store in South San Francisco was contaminated with a strain of salmonella involved in a national outbreak linked to Foster Farms brand poultry.
At least one person was sickened by one of the chain's roasted chickens, prompting Costco to order a recall over the weekend of nearly 40,000 pounds of rotisserie chicken products sold between Sept. 11 and Sept. 23 from the store at 1600 El Camino Real.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Foster Farms have assured consumers that poultry contaminated with salmonella is safe to eat so long as its cooked to a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Costco rotisserie chicken is cooked to at least 180 degrees Fahrenheit, said Craig Wilson, Costco's vice president for food safety.
"It was well-cooked," Wilson said Monday. How someone got sick is "part of the mystery."
He added: "It may have been a very, very uncommon cross-contamination issue. We're still researching."
In total, Costco recalled 8,730 Kirkland Signature Foster Farms rotisserie chickens and 313 units of Kirkland Farm rotisserie chicken soup, rotisserie chicken leg quarters and rotisserie chicken salad.
Wilson said the company contacted 7,807 customers who had bought one or more of the recalled products. So far, no one else has reportedly fallen ill, he said.


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Information for shareholders
Information for shareholders
Shareholder Fraud WarningWe understand that some shareholders are being targeted by fraudsters operating what is known as a "boiler room scam". They obtain shareholder registers and then start calling shareholders, often suggesting that they have confidential information to divulge and/or implying that they are appointed by the company.
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Aged 66. Joined in 1978. A Chartered Accountant with international experience. Initially ran the Wine Division as Wine Director. Appointed Marketing Director in 1988, Managing Director in 1992, Chief Executive in 2002 and Chairman in 2007. Chairman of the British Beer and Pub Association 2008-2010. Master of the Worshipful Company of Vintners 2011-2012.
Aged 52. Joined in 1996 from Bass plc where he held a variety of senior operational and strategic planning roles. Appointed to the Board as Retail Director in May 1998, Managing Director, Fuller's Inns in July 2006, Group Managing Director in November 2010 and Chief Executive in July 2013. Non-Executive Director of The National Gallery Company Limited. Previously Senior Independent Director and chair of the Remuneration Committee of Dunelm Group plc. An economics graduate and alumnus of Harvard Business School.
Aged 52. Appointed in 2007 from LSE-listed telecoms operator Fibernet Group plc, where he was Finance Director. Spent eight years with Deutsche Bank as an investment Banker. Qualified as a prize-winning Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Holds a first degree in physics and a master's degree in economics.


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Arlington Hts. candidates differ sharply on issues
They disagreed on flood prevention, a new police station, economic development, and slots at Arlington Park.
But Arlington Heights village president candidates Ron Drake, Tom Hayes and Mark Hellner collaborated in providing voters with clear choices in the April 9 election during a feisty exchange Saturday. The winner April 9 will replace outgoing Village President Arlene Mulder.
Longtime trustee Hayes walked the difficult line of defending his record and promising change while attorney Hellner and Drake, former mayor of Avondale, Ariz., vied to prove who was the bona fide reformer.
Hellner promised to "stir the pot. I'm a realist -- I think it's a good village to live in -- it's not a perfect place. One thing I want to do is make sure it becomes a more perfect place," he said.
"I'm proud of the quality of life we've established over the years together," Hayes told the crowd of more than 150 at the League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights-Mount Prospect-Buffalo Grove forum. "My vision is the same as yours -- to keep this a great place to work and live in for years to come."
"We want a thriving, happening community that's growing and poised for the future," Drake said. "Do you want more of the same, or do you think we can do better? I know we can do better."
Hellner and Drake back gambling expansion at Arlington Park, but Hayes differed, although he noted the decision of allowing slot machines is up to the state.
"I've been a strong supporter of the racetrack for the 22 years I've been on the board," Hayes said. But, "I don't think a separate building with 1,200 slots machines open 365 days a year is in the best interests of this community. (It's) essentially a casino in town -- I don't think that fits our image."
Hellner said his background as an Illinois Department of Revenue counsel meant he'd scrutinize expenses such as a possible $40 million for a new police station.
"We need to go back to the drawing board and say, 'Why are we spending $40 million on a project that's only 38 or 37 years old?'" Hellner said. "We've got to think about renovating and preserving what we've got."
That provoked a rebuttal from Hayes, who quickly countered that "we haven't spent dollar one on it -- other than the space-needs study." He added, "Forty million is an upper ceiling."
Drake recommended a "design-build" approach that "puts the liability on the builder and architects so if there's cost overruns it's on them, not on us."
Drake added he'd heard from village staff the police station could be built without raising taxes which drew a counterattack from Hellner. "The building will have to be paid for with debt," he said.
Differing visions for economic development also dominated discussions.
Drake faulted the village for discouraging prospective businesses with a bureaucratic "maze."
"Business is my top priority," he said. "We need to be business-friendly. (We need to) streamline business processes and applications and change the culture at city hall so everyone knows Arlington Heights is open for business."
Hayes disagreed with characterizations that the village wasn't business friendly.
"There's a perception we're doing worse other communities -- that's completely wrong," he said, adding the village filled 113 vacant businesses spots in 2012, creating 465 new jobs.
Hellner suggested the village pay attention to auto dealers on Dundee Avenue. "We've got to leverage that and create a car dealership highway there -- the way they've been successful in Schaumburg," he said.
A debate also raged over infrastructure with Hellner criticizing incumbents for losing time with flooding studies. It's "way too little and way too slow," he said. "We have to identify the most problematic areas and start fixing those immediately."
Hayes shot back that officials needed "to make sure we've correctly identified problem areas. We don't want Band-Aid fixes ... we want to take a measured approach."
Drake offered two solutions: buying and razing flood-prone homes undergoing foreclosure and converting the land to stormwater detention; and building underground vaults in parks to store rainwater. Asked how he would pay for the projects, Drake said he would lobby Congress for federal funding.


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Expand Space with Repetition
Did you know that repeating a design element several times over can actually make your small home bigger? No, it won't give you that extra closet or another window, but the visual effects can be expansive:
With an element repeating over and over again, our eyes and brains sort of say "Yada, yada, yada, I got it." They fill in the blanks and we're suddenly tricked into believing the repetition continues even when it doesn't. Maybe the expansive capabilities of repetition are why we are so often drawn to:
Book Collections: Rows and rows of books make us feel like we're in an expansive library, even when it's only one (or two) shelves. Image 1 is of Jason Neufeld's Good Books Shelf.
Open Shelving: In image 2 from Desire to Inspire, hanging cups march on, and on, and on…
Hanging Art in Groups: Similar effect as the books: showing off wall hangings in a repetitive group creates a feeling of abundance. The example in image 3 is from Apartment Therapy's Home Hack, How To Hang Art in a Group That Can Grow.
Striped Rugs: Black and white striped rugs are getting a lot of attention lately. Is it because they make our small homes grow? This example is from Cottage Living, via Decor Pad.
Stripes, in General: The striped ceiling in this nursery has stuck in my head ever since seeing it on Ohdeedoh. Stripes on a ceiling have the same expansive quality as exposed beams.
Do you use repetition to expand your small home? How so? Please share in the comments below.


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About Open Box Specials: Jomashop offers deep discounts on open box items (used item with some signs of wear) with our money back guarantee. Jomashop.com will provide a full refund minus the cost of shipping for the item if you are not satisfied with your open box purchase. You have 10 days from when your order is shipped out of our warehouse to request a RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization). Jomashop's watch warranty will still apply from your purchase date. Some conditions may apply. Read our full return policy here.
Open Box / Irregular Issue: Smoke IP coating is peeling off.
Smoke ion-plated stainless steel case with a smoke ion-plated stainless steel bracelet. Fixed smoke ion-plated bezel. Dark blue dial with luminous hands and Roman numeral hour markers. Minute markers around the outer rim. Dial Type: Analog. Luminescent hands and markers. Chronograph - sub-dials displaying: three - 60 second, 30 minute and 24 hour. Quartz movement. Scratch resistant mineral crystal. Pull / push crown. Solid case back. Case diameter: 44 mm. Case thickness: 12 mm. Round case shape. Band width: 22 mm. Band length: 8.5 inches. Fold over clasp. Water resistant at 50 meters / 165 feet. Functions: chronograph, hour, minute, second. Casual watch style. Fossil Grant Chronograph Dark Blue Dial Smoke Ion-plated Watch FS4831.
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Search By Model
|2012 Current Models
|Compact Car
Scion is a United States-only division of Toyota Motor Corporation founded in 2003. It is also a brand of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. It currently has three models: the Scion xD and xB (both rebadged Japanese market cars, named ist and bB, respectively) and the tC coupe. The previous Scion xA was discontinued after the 2006 model year.
Scion's long-term goal is to appeal to Generation Y consumers, expected to dwarf the market size of Generation X by 2020. Scion grew from Toyota Project Genesis, a failed effort to bring younger buyers to the Toyota marque in the United States. Scion is Toyota's entry-level brand, slotting below Toyota in the lineup.
Scion uses sales tools such as Pure Price, innovative Internet advertisements, and monospec trim levels with a wide selection of aftermarket accessories. Extensive market research and testing with Generation Y consumers formed the basis of the Scion badge.
Pure Price means the price posted, whether on the vehicle, in an advertisement, or on a menu display board in the dealership, is the price customers will pay. This includes vehicles, accessories, finance and insurance products. Pure price is designed to ensure a shorter and simpler process, eliminating all negotiation. The concept aims to be open and consistent. The concept is not new to the American market, having been introduced in the early 1990s by the Geo and Saturn marques of General Motors.
Scion's sales approach thus differs greatly from that of the larger Toyota entity. In the United States, for instance, the Toyota Camry offers several trim levels: the standard sedan (for budget-conscious drivers), the LE (popularly equipped), SE (for sporty drivers), and XLE (for luxury-minded drivers). In contrast, all Scions have one standard trim level (monospec) and are designed to be uniquely customized for the driver. The only options available when ordering a Scion are model, color, transmission, and optional Side-Curtain Airbags.
Post Production accessories
Scion offers about 40 different accessories; other after-market companies are adding new accessories, as well. For example, one can add a subwoofer, different types of decals, canvas roofs, and other accessories. The tC now offers an optional supercharger to increase power from 160 to 200 hp (120 to 150 kW). All accessories are sold individually, and do not require special packages. However some options, such as Ground Effects, do prevent other accessories (such as mud flaps) from being installed.
Target Buyers
Advertising disclaimer
Scion advertising includes the disclaimer "Some vehicles featured are modified with non-Genuine Scion parts. Check with your local Scion dealer as some accessories may void warranty, negatively impact vehicle performance and may not be street legal." This is due to ads featuring modified or completely remade Scion vehicles. Most notable are conversions by the 5-Axis team, which include an xB with a rear-sliding DJ mix board, a tC with a hidden widescreen plasma screen, and (most recently) an xA roadster with under-hood video projectors. These and many other advertised vehicles cannot be purchased/created at official Scion dealerships and, as stated, may not even be legally driven.
See Also
|image (between 170-190 pixels)
Toyota | Lexus | Scion | Hino | Daihatsu
t2b Concept · Fuse Concept · Hako Coupe Concept · iQ Concept
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"Star Trek" icon William Shatner and sci fi superstar Amanda Tapping are teaming up for a new animated series called "The Zenoids."
"The Zenoids," which will launch on Shatner's sci fi social network, MyOuterspace.com, tells the story of a family of space-faring Amphibinoid musicians who travel the galaxy performing their musical act. Shatner and Tapping play Kozmo and Zara, the husband and wife who want to keep their superstar dreams alive while taking care of their two kids and dog, Orbit.
"It was definitely exciting to get the call asking me to be a part of 'The Zenoids' with William Shatner," Tapping, who currently produces and stars in Syfy's "Sanctuary," said in a release. "We met last summer at Comic Con in San Diego at the launch event for Myouterspace.com. At that time, I joked that we should do a show together. Who knew it would come true? I'm very excited to be working with such an icon."
Shatner and Tapping will serve as executive producers for the show, which begins production of the initial four webisodes in late February. Tapping has been asked to be a "Starship Captain" on Shatner's site, where viewers can talk about the program, submit ideas, chat with each other and get the latest news on the show. "She will guide science fiction talent to be creative," said Shatner, who currently stars in "$#*! My Dad Says" on CBS.
"The Zenoids" is accepting scripts from fans and up-and-coming screenwriters through an online submission process. One winning script will be turned into an animated short webisode of "The Zenoids." Submission process and guidelines are available at www.myouterspace.com.
Here's a description of the series, which was developed by William Shatner and Sammy Oriti:
Kozmo (SHATNER) and Zara (TAPPING) were once a popular singing duo on their home planet Zeno. Now their family lives on a spaceship as old as their last single, bopping around the galaxy, trying to keep the dream alive. Daughter Ziri and son Iggy have grown up in the band, reluctantly helping their parents sing for their supper—and engine parts. Good gigs are hard to get, but Zara keeps the schedule full, even if it's only bowling alleys and carnival shows on amusement asteroids. Kozmo's always got a new pie-in-the sky idea, invention or big-time deal that would set them for life yet never pans out. Between Kozmo's hustle and Zara's bustle, the Zenoid family always scrapes by—in spite of their adventures.
William Shatner, Amanda Tapping team up for Web series
"Star Trek" icon William Shatner and sci fi superstar Amanda Tapping are teaming up for a new animated series called "The Zenoids."


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It's no secret that BlackBerry has been in talks with many organizations to get apps onto the BlackBerry 10 platform. Thus far, they've done a great job with what they've announced and there's no signs of that momentum slowing down. With that in mind, it's starting to look like they may have a few unannounced companies onboard as well as witnessed in a video from the official BlackBerry France YouTube channel.
In the video above while demoing the Europe1 app, you can briefly spot Flipboard as one of the icons on the screen before the Europe1 app launches. Realistically, there is nothing stopping Flipboard from running on BlackBerry 10 right now.
In fact, I have it installed as an Android port on my BlackBerry Z10 and it works great but it sure does seem odd that it would be sideloaded and then not removed from an official BlackBerry video unless there was something a little bit further going on here. We'll leave it at that I guess since there is no official details. Thanks, @Skinofino!


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|Welcome to Canine Freestyle GB
Canine Freestyle GB is Supported by
2019 Crufts Semi Final Qualifiers so far ....
Canine Freestyle Clothing by CrazyDogs
Canine Freestyle, sometimes known as Dog Dancing or Heelwork To Music, is a sport for those who love dogs and music.
We are a group of dog enthusiasts with members from various backgrounds including obedience, agility, working trials, sheepdog trials and flyball. We have been brought together by our common interest in canine freestyle and heelwork to music.
Our aims are to promote this sport through :-
If you want to know more, please email
Or write to :
|Website designed & hosted by rescomp.net installed 10/06/05


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HERSHEY, Pa. – Marcus Foligno's third-period goal and fourth point of the night stood up as the eventual game winner in a wild 8-7 victory over the HERSHEY BEARS in the BEARS' 75th home opener on Saturday night at GIANT Center.
The goal-fest began 7:57 into the game, and the BEARS got on the board first. Jeff Taffe finished off a Garrett Mitchell cross-ice pass by beating Amerks netminder David Leggio on a two-on-one rush to give the hosts the lead. Rochester tied it seven minutes later on a fluke goal, when Rick Schofield jammed a shot from the slot toward the net. The puck deflected high in the air, over a BEARS defenseman and past Dany Sabourin at 14:38.
Mitchell made the game 2-1 in favor of HERSHEY when he stationed himself to the right of Leggio's crease and tipped Garrett Stafford's point shot in from a sharp angle at 17:24 of the first. The BEARS would add one more first-period strike with less than one minute remaining, when Tomas Kundratek swarmed in toward a pile of bodies in front of Leggio, dug the puck out and snapped it into the open upper portion of the net for a 3-1 advantage.
The BEARS kept up their power play success early in the second, when Jon DiSalvatore fired home his second of the season at the 1:56 mark. Evan Rankin then cut into the BEARS lead to make it a 4-2 game after taking a feed from Foligno and beating Sabourin. But just 3:15 later, the BEARS regained their three-goal advantage after Ryan Stoa tipped a Stafford shot from the right point through Leggio's pads.
Rochester then took control, scoring three times before the period expired to even the match. Luke Adam, Foligno an T.J. Brennan scored in succession separated by a span of 5:08, knotting the score 5-5 at the second intermission.
Boyd Kane started the third period off well for the BEARS, winning a puck battle behind the Amerks net and passing in front. Mattias Sjogren collected the pass and beat Leggio upstairs, giving the BEARS a 6-5 lead. But a key two-man advantage would prove to be the last that the Amerks needed for the victory, as Brennan scored on a slap shot with just one second left in the BEARS' two-man disadvantage. The timing of the goal allowed the Amerks to continue on a 5-on-4 advantage, and Foligno made it count with a backhand spin-around shot that eluded Sabourin at 11:07, giving the Amerks a 7-6 lead.
Mancari beat Sabourin on a cross-ice feed from Mark Pysyk to make it an 8-6 advantage, but the BEARS continued to battle and brought the game within one on Stoa's second deflection goal of the game with 1:43 left in regulation. The BEARS could not draw closer however, giving Rochester the win.
Sabourin drops to 1-1-0 on the season, making 22 saves on 30 shots. Leggio allowed seven goals on 39 shots to pick up his third win and improve to 3-2-0.
The BEARS finished the night 3-for-6 on the power play and 2-for-6 on the penalty kill.
The BEARS will take on the Binghamton Senators at GIANT Center tomorrow night, October 21 at 5:00 PM. Tickets for this game and all HERSHEY BEARS home games are on sale at the GIANT Center box office, by calling (717) 508-BEAR, or online at TicketMaster.com.
Recent News
- NewVanecek Stops 40, Bears Beat Pens to Earn First Win
- NewGame Preview: Bears at Penguins, 7:05 p.m.
- Weekly Release #2: Trip Continues as Hershey Looks for First Win
- Bears Come from Behind Twice, Lose to Rockford
- Game Preview: Bears at IceHogs, 5 p.m.
- Forward Jayson Megna Re-assigned to Hershey
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- Game Preview: Bears at Admirals, 8 p.m.
- Griffins Double up Bears, 6-3
- Game Preview: Bears at Griffins, 7 p.m.


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Nice work! Enjoy the show!
Link Copied!
Despite turning corner on fire, Los Angeles remains on edge
Opening Sequence
Khashoggi died in consulate 'fight,' says Saudi
Saudi account sparks international reaction
Migrants halted on bridge at Mexico border
VERBATIM: Trump to withdraw from INF treaty
Dozens of baby remains found in Detroit funeral home
Afghanistan election overshadowed by violence
INSIGHT: 59 dead as train crashes into crowd
Musk touts 'cheaper' Model 3 that's $10K more than promised
LeBron faces new challenges in purple and gold
World in Pictures
Closing Sequence


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For today's prompt, write a gift poem. Giving gifts, receiving gifts, coveting the gifts of others, admiring gifts, planning gifts, and so on. Consider this prompt a gift from me.
Here's my attempt at a gift poem:
Each morning a gift–
the outline of tree branches
conducting bird songs.
Publish your haiku!
Poet's Market lists poetry publications that accept a variety of poetic forms (and non-forms). From experimental poetry to haiku, the 2014 Poet's Market has a destination for your poems.
Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Content Editor of the Writer's Digest Writing Community, author of Solving the World's Problems, and happy to celebrate the gift of his family today (and every day). Santa visited last night and left plenty of goodies for the kiddos this morning, though he enjoyed his gift of cookies and milk (or so his note indicated). Robert would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year! Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.
Check out more poetic posts:
- Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 246.
- Shann Palmer Has Passed.
- 5 Favorite Poetry Collections: Kelli Russell Agodon.