Balta1701

QUOTE(Texsox @ Aug 31, 2006 -> 09:26 AM) It would seem that smaller organizations, that can get closer to the problem, would have a better understanding of what is needed. But those are more likely to not have large resources and more likely to be corrupt. So you're saying that the small organizations are more likely to be corrupt? I'd say our experience in the last 10 years or so shows exactly the opposite...that the large organizations, i.e. corporations, governments, the U.N., are much more likely to be corrupt, as they are big enough to be able to cover up the things they're doing. The oil-for-food program turned corrupt because it was a gigantic program which, while it saved a lot of lives, also was moving around billions of dollars, and with that kind of cash flow, it's easy to steer a few million in business one way in exchange for a few million in bribes. The corporations working in Iraq have done the same things...they work in so many places and move around such huge amounts of cash that if they overcharge the government for $50 million and do a shoddy job on a few other projects...unless there's an auditor monitoring all of the work they do (which there isn't), the company makes out like gangbusters.

It's not just the UN who does this sort of stuff. The US has done exactly the same sort of screw-ups in Iraq. Companies shipping over parts that cost tens of millions of dollars that are totally incompatible with the Iraqi infrastructure leading to expensive equipment that sits around and does nothing, tons of money spent on expensive equipment that breaks down when its handed over to Iraqis who aren't taught properly how to run it, etc. At least based on the U.S. experience, neither the U.S. nor private companies seem to be good at this sort of rebuilding either.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Aug 31, 2006 -> 06:34 AM) The Who's most successful US single was "I Can See For Miles." Wouldn't have guessed that. Led Zeppelin's most successful single is "Whole Lotta Love."

QUOTE(Jenks Heat @ Aug 31, 2006 -> 08:05 AM) For Cy Young I think wins mean more than ERA. If he somehow gets to 21 wins, not likely, and a sub 4 ERA he has a shot. What if Jenks gets to 50 saves though and a sub 3 ERA isn't he 38/41 in opportunities while blowing those saves to the Orioles, Royals and I forget the third. 38/40. There was no 3rd.

The way the Royals are playing right now...we better make sure we take care of business today.

Nothing matters until they put a hole in the outfield wall so that pedestrians can look through and see grass.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Aug 30, 2006 -> 04:16 PM) Didn't Konerko have an injury back in the first half of '03 that the Sox kept under wraps? In general, it's never a good idea to tell your opponent that "this guy is hurt" if he's in the game. Played through a broken foot at the end of 2002 in the pennant race. Came back in 03 before it was completely healed.

Thank you Tampa Bay, for giving us that game so many, many, many times.

A ground ball now would be nice.

QUOTE(GoRowand33 @ Aug 30, 2006 -> 07:52 PM) after the way we played tonight a win is ridiculously underserving Tampa Bay has played roughly 4x worse than the White Sox. They literally handed us about 6 white flags. We shot the guys carrying the first 5. Those flags wound up red. Eventually we remembered what a white flag means.

QUOTE(daa84 @ Aug 30, 2006 -> 07:50 PM) im sort of worried abotu them actually....they have a scrappy lineup and is much improved with shealy there and with sweeney And they get to face Freddy "The Royals crack corn and I don't care" Garcia too. Hopefully Buehrle and Contreras take care of business in game 1. And hopefully the Royals are spending their good pitching performances on the Twins.

QUOTE(Yoda @ Aug 30, 2006 -> 05:00 PM) That's quite an amount of money for a guy who has shown to be reliable the last couple of seasons. But if I were the Astros I would try to save some money for a good impact hitter. A Carlos Lee playing in LF would not be bad. That would put Berkman in RF or 1B. The Astros have Clemens's $12 million and Bagwell's $18 million coming off the books this offseason, together with a couple million leaving with Aubrey Huff (who is making >$6 million but wasn't there the whole year). And that's only about a $3 million raise over the $11 million Oswalt is making this year. So that's about $36 million freed up, with about $3 million extra committed to Oswalt. They have money for 2 bats if they want to spend it.

Ok, Garland gets the win, MMac and Thor can pitch the 8th, and everyone is happy in Chicago. Well, except Cub fans.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Aug 30, 2006 -> 07:44 PM) I think McClunk beat us in the dome down in tampa this year I believe so also. So we're really, really due to beat this guy.

Seth McClung and his 6.53 ERA in. Lefties are only hitting .299 against him, 5 home runs in 175 at bats.

QUOTE(SinkingShip06 @ Aug 30, 2006 -> 07:42 PM) so...who on tampa is gonna break our hearts tonight... Neal Cotts. Yes I know he's not technically on Tampa Bay...but close enough.

Ok Jim, this is Tampa Bay's bullpen. Finish them!

KC won that game within 1 second of Iguchi hitting that home run, I swear to God. Our whole night turned around in 1 second.

KC Wins

Nice play Grudz...

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 30, 2006 -> 07:38 PM) I've been hoping for a DL trip for a long time now. Think we could arrange a collision between him and Mackowiak when Ozzie starts Mack in CF tomorrow?

(Whispering in Ozzie's ear)...suicide squeeze...

4-3 Royals, solo home run by Cuddyer. Thank God Mauer let a passed ball slip behind him in the top of the 9th.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 30, 2006 -> 07:31 PM) Why is Juan batting? We have some good lefties on the bench. You know...that's a real good question. The one time in this game where I'd agree with going righty-lefty... How much you want to bet Mack PH's for Anderson.

Ah, yet another Tampa Reliever with an ERA around 5. Tampa Bay has the 2nd worst bullpen in the AL. We better be able to scrape together 2 more runs.