Jack Parkman

Hi all- I graduated in December with a degree in chemical engineering and am currently frustrated with my job search. I go to engineering specific websites and look for jobs available, and all I find are postings for stuff that as a fresh college grad, I don't have the necessary experience to do. Most job postings are stuff like "Sr. Project Manager"(which are obviously for the people with 20+ years of experience) and the stuff that looks promising like "Process Engineer" they say in the job requirements that an MS or PhD are required. The stuff that I have found that only requires a BS, they ask for either "3-5 years experience" or "at least 5 years experience." I became a ChE because I wanted to work in alternative energy solutions, such as batteries and biogas/biofuels. I spent all of my undergrad tailoring my studies to this so I could get in, only to now find that the engineers who work on Alt. Energy sources are very tenured in the field, and usually have the "Sr." in their job title. I've only been looking for a month and I already want to pull my hair out. I spoke with an engineer and this person said that companies are trying to save $$ by not training people and only hiring people with experience, and from a company in the same field so that they already know what they are doing. What is a fresh grad to do?

Goldstein was on the Score and said that these rumors were complete crap, and there have been no talks between Sox/Jays about Floyd. Just some dude making stuff up and others running with the crap.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Dec 21, 2011 -> 02:23 PM) Wouldn't this move pretty much mean complete opposite. Not necessarily. KW could be signing him for one last ditch effort at contending, and if he is signed to a long-term deal then his value is increased exponentially, especially if he has an ERA in the low 3s in before the all star break. If the team sucks again, he could then trade Danks for a king's ransom. I would guess that Danks would have some sort of limited NTC in this contract to where he could only be traded to the high spending, perennially contending teams so that he has a chance of winning. The teams most likely to trade for him in this case in no particular order: Texas, LAA, NYY and Boston. There could potentially be some teams that would be dark horse suitors for him too.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 10, 2011 -> 07:10 PM) I didn't catch the game...but what exactly did Ozzie do this time? He was f***ing around with a fishing pole in the dugout, acting like he didn't give two s***s about managing. He also failed to pinch hit Viciedo for Dunn in the 9th, instead opting to pinch hit him for De Aza, who had 2 doubles in the game.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 10, 2011 -> 06:58 PM) As of like a week ago, he was something like 9 for his last 52. Not sure how he's been since. Rios hit .245/.250/.654 in August. Not the greatest, but an improvement over the rest of the season. Surprisingly, his best month was June, where he hit .266. He has had 4 HR over the last 6 weeks.

You know guys, Rios has improved substantially since he raised his hands. I wish I could post the splits but I don't know when the hand raising happened. I think he has raised his average from around .200 to .220 over that time and hit about 5 HRs in the past month and a half or so.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jul 28, 2011 -> 04:15 PM) If Pence is moved by the Astros, it may benefit the White Sox in trading Quentin. The teams that missed out on Pence would be after Quentin. If Pence is moved, for the Sox's sake lets hope it is to Boston, so that Philly and Atlanta would be bidding against each other for Quentin's services. Even though Boston gets that much better, the Sox might too, because maybe Braves/Phils offer up a crown jewel to keep Q away from the other.

QUOTE (Real @ Jul 28, 2011 -> 03:43 PM) Boston has an elite catching prospect in AAA, btw Then go after him too. Now that Beltran has been traded, Q is the top bat on the market, thus the price has to be sky high.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 28, 2011 -> 03:36 PM) Stay away from Minor. Braves fans dislike him. 90 mph fastball straight as an arrow. Sounds like someone KW would trade for these days. OTOH, I think KW has to ask for Teheran, and not budge. If they won't trade him, go elsewhere. See if Philly will part with Dom Brown, or Boston will part with top pitching. If the market is there, you have to get top talent for Quentin.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 27, 2011 -> 12:59 PM) I respect this post. I posted that article because it had nearly the same title as your thread and was on-topic, though obviously partisan itself. One thing I don't necessarily agree with is discussing things with people on the other side of the spectrum. If you insulate yourself with like-minded people, you start to lose sight of what the rest of the country/world thinks. You see this particularly in the hyperpartisan blog world, and it cuts both ways. My political views have definitely been affected by the probably hundreds of internet conversations I've had on various topics in the last 10+ years, often with those who hold sharply different fundamental views from my own. I don't insulate myself with like minded people. In fact, the people I discuss politics the most with lie at the other end of the spectrum. The key words are discuss vs. argue. I prefer a healthy discussion rather than a pissing match. I like getting the opinions from the other side. But when people start badgering and aren't willing to discuss and would rather argue, I cut off the conversation.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 27, 2011 -> 10:38 AM) The Cult That Is Destroying America Strange Sox: I'm trying to spark debate to get other people's view on this issue without divulging my political beliefs. I'm acting centrist, but I'm not really a centrist. I'm a political person, but I don't like to argue it because it is futile to argue with someone who is on the other side of the political spectrum than me. I'm not going to change their mind, and they are not going to change mine. What is the point. I have to be really comfortable with a person to discuss politics with them, an internet message board is not the place where I'd like to actually share them. There is one point in the article you posted that I agree with, is that there has to be a penalty for extremism in politics. However, it seems that extremism is what gets people elected. A few things I will share: I think our political and economic system is broken, and we have to fix things. How the people can do that, I don't know. Serving in public office was meant to be a service to your country, not a career. We need to make it that way again. Then maybe politicians will work for their people rather than their own agenda, or taking bribes from large corporations to promote the corporation's agendas. (which I believe every politician does) It seems that the powers that be in this country whether political or corporate are greedy, and don't care about anyone but themselves. Why do corporations/companies like to f*** their employees to make more money for the CEO? Why do politicians(both sides) when they go to the capitol leave their people in the dust so they can stay in office? This country operates in a f*** your neighbor mentality rather than a help your neighbor mentality. That needs to change. I also believe that the problems that our country faces were caused by the f*** your neighbor mentality.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 27, 2011 -> 08:00 AM) Eh. Whatever. Your characterization of what's happening isn't true. And the real problem is the structure of our government. It wasn't built to be able to handle disciplined partisanship like the current atmosphere is. It was fine when political parties weren't as ideologically defining, people LOVED when southern conservative democrats were democrats because of jim crow, and it made compromises so possible. But the senate and house have written up so many rules it makes it too difficult to get anything to pass. The Senate is a check on the house, and vice-versa, that should be enough, it also has a president to check them AND a supreme court. BUt apparently we also need a super majority to pass legislature in the senate, etc. etc. If we make it so the voters vote a party into power, that party rules to their ideological vision, they succeed/fail, new party comes in, passes their new vision and cuts old party ideas except for ones the voters like, rinse repeat. People are putting too much emphasis on the personalities of congress and not enough on the structure. I know that the problem is the structure of our gov't. We shouldn't need a super majority to pass anything, but we do. I just gave an example of what it feels like when I read the paper/listen to the news about what is going on here. It is bulls***. It seems that the politicians don't care about the consequences of their inaction to its citizens, they just want to bicker with each other and name call. Also, super majorities are bad for the country, because that means that a congress can pass whatever laws they want without hearing the other side, and the other side could be valid and good for the country. What we really need is another couple major parties to compete with the Dems and GOP for votes. Then maybe if there is no super majority possible, then there will be compromise again.

I am sick of Congress whining, pouting, playing hardball, getting in the staring contests saying "I won't blink before you" Nothing is getting done. Our country has many problems for its citizens but the politicians only care about their party's or their own agenda. Why not do something that, you know, helps those who elected you? Example: DEMS: here is a bill GOP: that bill is 100% Left, so here here's something that is 100% Right, Pass this. DEMS: Why do I have to cave into your demands and ignore the people who follow my political beliefs in this country? GOP: Why do I have to cave in to your demands and ignore my people? Either cave or nothing gets done. DEMS: No, you Cave or nothing gets done. GOP: You won't compromise because you won't pass a bill that goes against everything you believe in. DEMS: No, you won't compromise because you won't vote for my bill, which goes against everything you believe in. GOP: I won't cave DEMS: Neither will I GOP: f*** you! DEMS: f*** you! Both parties at dinner in the evening: (/laughing) f*** the people, they don't know any better. They'll still vote for us. (/laughing) I am not attacking a particular party. I am attacking all politicians. Their job is to represent the people and keep them happy, so they can, you know, stay in office. But they stay in office while f***ing over the people they are supposed to represent. Something has to change. The problem, however, is that the solution to all of these problems might not lie in the center of the political spectrum. Some may be on the left, some on the right and some in the center. They need to find a way to work together so we can get out of this economic mess, and get the country back on the right track. I am afraid that this stalling, posturing, and hard headed behavior out of our politicians would delay the recovery even further or pull us deeper into this recession. Our government must act now(but not stupidly), and they need to get together and get something constructive done.

If this is true, did the horrible 2007 season make KW start sniffing glue? CQ is the only good trade that he's made since then. Peavy trade was good at the time, but in hindsight looks terrible.

If this is true, and the prospect is not a good one, KW needs to be fired NOW. This team is going nowhere. Why would you trade starting pitching for relief pitching unless you are getting Drabek back as the prospect.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 25, 2011 -> 09:29 AM) The problem there is there isn't much pitching on the open market. At least 5 teams have been linked to the Cardinals and Rasmus, the Rays are hot after him too. I trust that scouting department. Sox won't get him, someone else will. Even though it's not prospects, I'm sure someone else will offer something better than what the Sox have, if Rasmus is as good as most on here say. Tampa can probably trade any of their starting pitchers not named Price or Shields and have someone in the minors come up and do the job just as well as the guy they traded, because their system is that stacked with pitching(I think I read that somewhere, correct me if I'm wrong or all of them are up in the majors already).

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 24, 2011 -> 02:02 PM) Jackson has no out pitch but had the best k/9 of anyone on the Sox staff. I guess we have really high expectations. His slider is 87-90 mph and his fastball is 94-96 mph. There is not enough velocity difference between his fastball and slider to consistently get swings and misses. Instead the hitters are out in front of the pitch and they are getting a piece of the slider. I've been thinking the whole season that if he could take enough off of his slider to get it in the 84-86 mph range then he would rack up the Ks.

One thing that I noticed about Jackson this season, is that he lacks an "out pitch." all of his secondary pitches are able to be fouled off very easily by hitters. He does not have great stuff. he just throws hard.

Warning: Long post KW has made his fair share of mistakes with trading over the last 3 years, but for him that was bound to turn around. We could all say he is stupid for those things, but the only prospects he traded over the first 7 years of his tenure(2001-08) that had any semblance of success in the major leagues were Chris Young and Gio Gonzalez. Let's not forget the McCarthy for Danks, Floyd and Gio for Freddy, Quentin for Carter and Thornton for Borchard. Even this season he picked up Humber and they have turned him into a useful pitcher. KW needs to go back to doing what he does best-trading players for top prospects that are blocked by large contracts or former first round picks who haven't quite put it all together yet at the major league level, but have a large amount of talent. This is the advantage of having a GM who uses the old fashioned "scouting" mentality over sabermetrics. Someone said earlier that maybe it kept KW in check to have a low payroll, and it kept him from trading too many prospects. I'd agree. We brought up McCarthy and Anderson (though they ultimately failed whether here or elsewhere) and we brought up Floyd and Danks as well. This was under the time when the payroll was around $90-105 MM. In 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 the payroll was increasing each year, and KW had more ability to spend, he traded cost controlled guys for more expensive guys, and instead of filling holes with acquiring 23-25 year old, cost controlled players who had a lot of talent and didn't put it together yet, he went on the waiver wire/trade market/FA and aquired guys like Peavy, Rios and Dunn. What made KW a great GM for those first 7 years was the ability to find hidden gems out of necessity in order to field a competitive team. Now that he doesn't have those constraints, he has become impulsive because he has extra money that he didn't have for most of his tenure here, and apparently, he doesn't know what to do with it. I will always defend KW on the Peavy deal, because it wasn't the deal itself that was bad, it was the mismanagement of a pitcher with violent, awkward mechanics. I maintain that if Peavy doesn't come back in 2009, then he doesn't get detach the lat. Peavy himself said this was true in an offseason interview with Rongey.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 09:59 AM) I fear a Quentin for J. Sanchez trade QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 12, 2011 -> 10:34 AM) We already traded for a guy with great stuff and control issues last summer. No thanks. Furthermore I saw a Sanchez start on ESPN last month, and he has lost about 6-7 mph off of the fastball. He was consistently throwing 87-89 rather than the 93-95 that we're used to out of him. He seems to have gone the way of Oliver Perez. KW should be fired if he makes that trade.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 10, 2011 -> 02:11 PM) I think at this point it's safe to say Peavy is at least a semi bi-product of Petco Park. No, He came to chicago and his stuff declined, then he had a major, rare injury and now his stuff is gone. During the relief appearance, he had the San Diego Peavy stuff, and he struck out 7 in four innings. That is the guy KW traded for. Peavy is a shell of his former self stuff wise.

I said this in the gamethread, but since Peavy went 4 today, and held the velocity through all four innings, might his velocity be returning to him? I saw 92-94 with a couple 95 mph pitches today. If he can have the stuff he had today in his next start and for most of the season(save the few starts where any pitcher just doesn't have it), it would be a huge boost to the Sox to finally have that ace.

Does this mean that Peavy has his velocity back or should we chock it up to adrenaline? He did pitch 4 innings today.

What people fail to talk about is the gross mismanagement of Peavy's ankle injury by the Sox in 2009, which Peavy himself said indirectly lead to his lat tearing off the bone due to altered mechanics in an interview with Ranger this offseason. The Padres had shut him down for the year, but KW had to prove that the trade was not for naught in 2009. IIRC, the Sox had a terrible August, leaving them about 6-8 GB. They were out of it at that point, but at the end of the month they sent him on a rehab assignment, where he got hit in the elbow by a pitch.They were not going to win the division, But they kept pitching him. (still injured BTW)Cooper thought that the altered mechanics that he was pitching with were his normal mechanics, and directed him to continue pitching that way in ST the next season. By the time it had been discovered that Peavy had altered his mechanics, it was too late. His lat was already almost off the bone(remember the whole fluid in the shoulder issue last season) and at that point he was a ticking time bomb. I truly believe that if the Sox would have not brought Peavy back in 2009, last season the Sox get the "Ace Peavy" with only 2 trips to the DL maximum. The Sox also never trade Hudson, and much b****ing and moaning at soxtalk.com ceases to ensue. I now know how Cubs fans felt from 2004-07 with Prior. I have no sympathy for Sox management with Peavy being hurt, because they brought it on themselves. I feel sorry for all of the fans because management traded for this ace pitcher, gave up nothing, and he is ruined by gross mismanagement.

KW and Ozzie should have been fired at the end of last season, and they should have gone young. I was prepared for that as a fan. Now, they have to find takers for underachieving, aging players that are a year older and declining more. I heard on the radio that baseball people were appalled at the Dunn contract because it paid him too much for a guy that has no speed and can't play defense.