kevin57

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 11:33 AM) But its SIMULATED Granted I don't follow all MLB teams very closely, but it sure seems to me that the Cubs lead everyone in simulated games. Hell, over the past couple of years, it seems like Prior and Wood have thrown more "simulated" innings than real ones.

I think it is clear that immigration laws need to be adjusted. There would be labor "pandamonium" here if every illegal suddenly left/was shipped out. At the same time, wages and employment levels, especially for other disadvantaged races (e.g., African-Americans) have been pushed lower and lower, depriving them of upward economic advancement. First and foremost, the borders must be secured. This is a responsibility of the Congress and Administration, one which they have neglected. After that, there will have to be a huge, vitally important, and possibly nasty debate on what to do with illegals already here. I think that what is a mostly unspoken fear in this is to what extent illegal immigrants, specfically Hispanics, are assimilating. We see Spanish language everything and it appears as if the new immigrants are treating the country only as a big ATM machine (i.e., for $$$ motives) and not truly wishing to become Americans. As someone who has worked in the Hispanic community for almost fifteen years, I can say that there is some validity to this fear; however, the second generation is as American as were the children of Italians, Poles, and Irishmen of yesteryear.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 08:52 PM) On the other hand, the Sox also had plenty of things go very wrong last season. Scott Podsednik couldn't steal for the last 2 months, and spent a month barely able to play. Crede broke his hand. Jermaine Dye was attacked by a spider. A bunch of our guys continued to hit at levels well under where they should be and even well under their career averages (AJ, Rowand, Crede, Uribe, Everett) One of our pitchers had his arm fall completely off. Our best hitter managed to have only about 90 at bats. Timo Perez got 180 at bats. Our closer to start the year got shellacked Our 2nd closer blew out his back A lot of those things will change as well. So don't just say "Oh we got lucky last year". Yes, we got lucky when Mark Buehlre's foot wasn't really hurt, but there was also a sh*tload of talent on that team, with a lot of ability to overcome adversity. Ah, but you forgot the biggest of all: the Big Hurt. For those who lamented the Sox' lack of power last year, Frank was supposed to be it, yet he was out most of the season.

Nope, I'm going. Sent my form in yesterday.

QUOTE(Frank the Tank 35 @ Mar 10, 2006 -> 01:27 PM) I go to the gym all the time. I've known guys who were taking steroids. Honestly, it's not something that bothers me. There are many worse things you could be doing to your body. If you administer them correctly, the amount of actual harm you do to your body is rather minimal. In addition, these people keep their bodies in the best of conditions with proper nutrition, no drinking, no smoking, etc. What it amounts to is instead of a drinking vice, it's a roid vice. Let's put it simply, people with drinking vices peripherally make poor health choices in general. In my opinion, the negative effects of steroids have been well overblown by the media and the "mothers of America." I would sure like to see some reference(s) to medical journals and the like to verify this statement. Everything I've heard (granted it's anecdotal in nature) has led me to believe that even in small dosages, steriods can cause big long-term problems.

I think that Bernard Goldberg's assessment of the "liberal media" should carry authoritative weight in this argument. Here's a recognized leader in the world of the "mainstream media": honored, acclaimed, above reproach. And he asserts there is a definite liberal bias...at least in the mainstream outlets. He analyzes it, though, from an interesting perspective. He says that it is not a deliberate, conscious attempt to sway public opinion or slant the news in a left direction. He notes that the top networks, newspapers, etc. hire from the Ivy League mostly, where liberal thought/biases are just a given. They want to hire "the best." BG recommends that CBS, the NY Times, et al. hire solid graduates from, oh, let's say, the University of Nebraska. That alone would open up the assumptions of those who studied in environments given almost entirely to leftist thought. Plus, who's the say that there would be any significant qualitative difference between a graduate of Yale and a graduate of the University of Iowa? In my experience, hard-working students will be successful in the business world, whoever their profs may have been. If there were true diversity of background in journalists, this would be far less of a problem.

Despite our disagreements over Anderson or Sweeney or...several other possible players, aren't we fortunate to have so many options? Sweeney would make if not the starting roster for sure the team roster of half the clubs in MLB today.

When Carl said the Sox won't finish higher than third in their division, he must have been projecting the Mariners' finish in their division.

I think Carter is sincere in his objections to the direction the country is going in, but I could swallow his perspectives if he would acknowledge what a disaster he was in the Middle East. Can anyone say "Iranian hostage crisis"?

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Mar 9, 2006 -> 12:46 PM) I have no opinion on Hitchens. But from my own secular viewpoint I know you don't have to be virulently opposed to religion in order to be steadfast in opposition to the influence of particular religious strains on matters of the public square. Don't go nailing lifts onto the feet of the natives, as George carlin says. I would agree that an over-dependence or control of a particular denomination's theology would not fit with American democracy; however, it is the broad values of the Judeo-Christian ethic that has helped make us who we are as Americans. BTW, your avatar is hilarious.

I don't think CH went through any metamorphis post 9/11. As an ardent atheist, he has always been virulently opposed to religion, or at least religious influence in the public square. Who else would have written a book against Mother Teresa? He sees the Middle East as a Muslim and hyper-extreme version of what he fears in the West. He believes that it is only in dismantling these systems--and the governments that make use of them--that the world will progress. (The above is not said as a commentary, just an analysis of CH's political philosophy.)

Where football players lose out compared to baseball players is in guaranteed money. Baseball players get paid even if they get injured or cut, whereas at least in most cases, this does not happen in football. I believe this is one change in football union is going to go to the mat on. Should be very interesting.

Not to hijack this thread, but that name--Lance Broadway...he's got to be an actor or something with that kind of name.

I respect O'Reilly for bringing a lot of issues to the fore. He is dogged and won't allow politicians or judges to hide. That said, he can also be a bully, and I think that this stunt with KO shows that he's too impressed with his own sense of power.

That lineup is impressive. If not only Crede but a couple of the other regulars have a more "standard" year BA than they did last year, we are going to be popping that ball all over the yard.

I was pleased to hear Crede say that unlike some other players, he would be telling Boras what Crede will accept and not allow Boras to run the show. Also, at the end of the article, he says staying in Chicago is a top priority for him.

I voted Crede. He was a good luck charm toward the end of last year. Why change now?

O'Reilly doesn't like Obermann because he constantly rubs O'Reilly's nose in the mess from that sexual harassment lawsuit he faced a year or two ago. For O'Reilly this is strictly personal.

Frank again took a swipe at Kenny Williams for leaving a voicemail message about his being cut from the roster. Matter of disrespect after all those years, etc.... But I've also heard that KW tried several times to speak to Frank directly, but FT wasn't accepting the calls, so as a last resort, KW left a voicemail. Does anyone know whose version is true? My gut tells me that Frank was indeed playing elusive, just so he could b**** about how he was being "dissed" after the fact, but I don't want to prejudge the guy.

There were a couple of bigger surprises for the Gov. of late: 1. The White Sox making it to the World Series before his beloved Cubbies. 2. Sox fans giving him the raspberries when he went to one of the games.

It hurts me that the Big Hurt is still hurting (sorry ). It looks more and more like he should have retired with the Championship last year. There is nothing sadder than watching a great athlete be remembered for their poor ending performance rather than their many years of spectacular achievements.

Kap, question... In your opinion, which airlines are likely to emerge successfully from the current morass, and which ones are likely, no matter what, to fail?

QUOTE(Drew @ Feb 22, 2006 -> 02:24 PM) Not a guy I'd want on my team, but a hell of a player when he wants to be. I remember that on this board there were LOTS of people last year drooling for Manny to be a (White) Sox.

QUOTE(Cuck the Fubs @ Feb 22, 2006 -> 09:05 PM) Players are not required to speak to the media. Why can't he do what Thomas did, just tell them to f*** off, and he'll talk when he wants to. He seems to let media types get to him a lot more than Frank did. He has a surliness that makes Frank Thomas look like Shirley Temple.

George just doesn't like the fact that Ozzie is grabbing all the headlines.