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DLD 11/28/07

Img_0162_tiny by ArakSOT on

This article by Matthew is interesting. Very sobering. You should read it.

Uh oh: Runaway rats.

"You go to Rat Island and there are hardly any chocolate lilies," said Jeff Williams, another refuge biologist.

Star-divide

As the days shorten, and the weather cools, links become scarce...

In lieu of more links, how about a poll?

Poll
My least favorite thing is:
Fred Thompson
6 votes
Brian Orser
3 votes
The "Vacation" Series
2 votes
Ketchup
3 votes
Joan Cusack
5 votes
Roundabouts
4 votes
The Anaheim Angels
53 votes
"Le Morte d'Arthur"
1 votes
weei.com
3 votes
Trash
1 votes

81 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 162 comments

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Comments

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Instead of links

we could also insult each other.

All of you suck ass!!!

I love you, k^2. -Poppy*

by kaweahkaweah on Nov 28, 2007 9:51 AM PST   0 recs

Ned?! Ned Ryerson!?
I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.

by franks a lot on Nov 28, 2007 9:57 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Needle Nose Ned?
"He's a misfit. He gets along with everyone." - Reggie Jackson, describing Joe Rudi

by McFood on Nov 28, 2007 11:08 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Ned the Head?
I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.

by franks a lot on Nov 28, 2007 11:17 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

"C'mon, buddy. Case Western High.
I did the whistling belly-button trick at the high school talent show? Bing. Ned Ryerson, got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn't graduate? Bing, again. Ned Ryerson, I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple of times until you told me not to anymore? Well?"
"He's a misfit. He gets along with everyone." - Reggie Jackson, describing Joe Rudi

by McFood on Nov 28, 2007 11:32 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

oh, THAT Ned Ryerson!
I find your lack of Faith disturbing...

by rebus on Nov 28, 2007 11:54 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Great.

Now it's in my head.

"That doesn't happen in Spiderman."

by Jennifer on Nov 28, 2007 9:57 AM PST   0 recs

That guy with the cape...

is playing two keyboards simultaneously!  Outrageous!

I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.

by franks a lot on Nov 28, 2007 10:02 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Nothing says "cool" like...

sequins and synthesizers.

Steve Howe channels all his ugliness and cocaine energy into his guitar virtuosity. The man can rock.

It's almost like winning twice when you beat the Angels." -- Milton Bradley

by Elvez on Nov 28, 2007 10:16 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

question

Is your user name in honor of El Vez, the Mexican Elvis? If so, then congratulations because you are awesome. I love the Zeroes and the El Vez stuff is super fun as well.

Oh wait, maybe you are El Vez? <head explodes>

by colin on Nov 28, 2007 12:52 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, I love that guy. His album titles

are awesome. I'm particularly fond of "Graciasland" and "Snow way, Jose".

My name is Ellis, and for some reason a bunch of years ago a friend of mine started calling me El Vez and it caught. I started listening o some of his songs and got a bit hooked.

I was playing a lot of video games at the time, and people on those forums generally thought I'd misspelled "elves".

It's almost like winning twice when you beat the Angels." -- Milton Bradley

by Elvez on Nov 28, 2007 1:22 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

they were probably mistaking you for ...

... this guy.

The administration will punish those who have broken the rules. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 28, 2007 1:27 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I think that's Kiefer Southerland...
It's almost like winning twice when you beat the Angels." -- Milton Bradley

by Elvez on Nov 28, 2007 10:17 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

It's Rick Wakeman, and that's what he does

Why play one keyboard when you can surround yourself with multi-tiered banks of keyboards?  That's a must in prog rock, along with the standard issue guitars with multiple fretboards.

That said, I <gulp> love a few Yes songs, like "Sweetness" and "Your Move."

by Ray of Lite on Nov 28, 2007 12:34 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Kendall's contract

What were the Brewer's thinking? Apparently all the incentives are for games started and games played!

"The Athletics at Fremont" is ignoble

by ArakSOT on Nov 28, 2007 10:02 AM PST   0 recs

Obviously

they wanted a punchin' judy catcher who can pop the ball to the 2nd baseman, 1st baseman, or right-fielder with consistency.

The NL Central just cornered the market on track shoes....

by WannaBeGM on Nov 28, 2007 10:05 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Puzzling

I figured some team would be stupid enough to actually allow Kendall on their team, and I figured Kendall would get paid far more than he deserved.  I did not figure that Melvin would be theone to step on that landmine, though, because he appears to be one of the brighter GMs in baseball.  Of course, smart GMs sometimes do stupid things, like signing CFs with known back injuries to three year contracts.  

It's hard to see how this move makes Milwaukee any better.  Luckily for Milwaukee, Estrada was such a terrible hitter and clubhouse cancer that Kendall isn't really all that much of a downgrade from last year's catcher.

I'd like to eat my lunch, but Billy just kicked me out of my office.

by BlameChannel53 on Nov 28, 2007 10:19 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

He's had a bad couple of months

First the Linebrink trade, then trading away Estrada to begin with (and getting stuck with a salary the Mets wanted to dump) and now Jason Kendall.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Nov 28, 2007 10:55 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

That's a lot of money

for someone who can neither hit nor field.

Urban drives a taxi.

by andeux on Nov 28, 2007 10:34 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Who? You mean that scab...?

This message brought to you by your brothers and sisters at the Plummers and Steamfitters Local 342.

I am Ray Fosse's man crushes for Clay Wood and Jason Kendall.

by franks a lot on Nov 28, 2007 11:20 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Spin city...
"Jason is one of the most durable catchers in the game," general manager Doug Melvin said. "He brings a hard-nose attitude and ability to get the most out of his pitching staff. Offensively, he works the count and will give you good at-bats."

He might as well have said "Jason has the uncanny ability to hit into a rally killing double play whenever there's a runner on first, while at the same time, through his inability to throw out base stealers, he sets up the other team to line into double plays, because their runners are always in motion. And we expect our other players tyo become grittier through osmosis because of the sheer volume of grit Jason brings to the clubhouse. Gritty, grittier, grittiest. On a grit scale of 10, Jason goes to 11. Now I've got to go order some grits for the clubhouse spread in preparation for Dr. Grittenstein's arrival. Like Tony the Tiger says 'Heeeee's GRIT!'"

"He's a misfit. He gets along with everyone." - Reggie Jackson, describing Joe Rudi

by McFood on Nov 28, 2007 11:20 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

incentives

Maybe they put those incentives in so that they can feel good about saving money when they bench him starting in mid-May?

by colin on Nov 28, 2007 12:54 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

4.25 mil

thats about 1 mil per extra base hit.  good work if you can find it.

by Backspin on Nov 28, 2007 1:45 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Dude.
"He's a misfit. He gets along with everyone." - Reggie Jackson, describing Joe Rudi

by McFood on Nov 28, 2007 11:22 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Free basketball!

Cal Women's Basketball! Free! Wahoo! The games this week are FREE! Yay for free!!!!

Today at 11:30 - Cal vs. Loyola Marymount
Friday at 7pm - Cal vs. Saint Mary's
Saturday at 4pm - Saint Mary's vs. Vanderbilt
Sunday at 1pm - Cal vs. Vanderbilt

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Nov 28, 2007 10:28 AM PST   0 recs

Sidebar
Mets, yet again, going after Haren and Blanton...

Odds nothing comes to this, again?

Who would we grab from them anyways? Milledge... and who?

by Zonis on Nov 28, 2007 11:34 AM PST   0 recs

But you always notice it is the NY papers that

report it.  They may want Haren or Blanton, but do the A's want what they have?  

Mike(NY): Dan Haren and Calero for Gomez, Guerra, and Mulvey. Is that a good trade offer?

Jim Callis: (2:21 PM ET ) Good for the Mets. If I'm the A's, I want more than that. I'm not sure how many great chips New York has to play with. I love Milledge's talent, hate the makeup. I'm not as big a fan of Pelfrey, Humber and Gomez as others might be. I just don't see enough enticing pieces to pull off a blockbuster.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave (South Bend): Is Mulvey, Pelfrey, and Milledge enough for Haren? Please say no. What about Blanton?

Jim Callis: (2:23 PM ET ) I'd still rather have Haren. But you know what, I suspect we're going to see a deal that involves sending Milledge to Oakland and Blanton to New York.

by theblackpearl on Nov 28, 2007 11:45 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

yeah

the A's make that first deal and they might as well blow up the team, since they won't receive ML returns on 2/3 of that trade until 2009 at the earliest.

I find your lack of Faith disturbing...

by rebus on Nov 28, 2007 11:53 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Both those rumours are stupid.
On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Nov 28, 2007 12:10 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

gloopid glumours
I find your lack of Faith disturbing...

by rebus on Nov 28, 2007 12:13 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

for 3 cost controlled years

i'd want 4 players in return for Haren. i'd start with Fernando Martinez, Milledge, Pelfrey, and Mulvey.

it would be really hard to recoup the lost performance from either Haren or Blanton in the short term, but i don't think we need a fire sale to make a deal work. in general, i'd prefer to get someone ready to fill CF in the majors (Milledge), 2 top tier pitchers, (+1 prospect for Haren).

I find your lack of Faith disturbing...

by rebus on Nov 28, 2007 11:51 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

I wouldn't even pick up the phone with Minaya

on the subject of Haren unless John Maine was part of the package.

Seriously, no one else of theirs is even close.

Blanton's a different story. Heilman, Milledge and a prospect might get that done.

I just don't understand, other than a general media obsessiveness about New York, why people think these guys are going to the Mets. Their farm system is so much worse than any of the other candidates (the Dodgers, the D-Backs, the Red Sox-- heck, even the Reds might be interested).

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Nov 28, 2007 12:38 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Let's be honest here...

unless the NYM plan on kidnapping Danny, they don't have enough for him... period.  Milledge/Gomez/Pelfry/ whatever overvalued by the NY media prospects is not going to get it done.  BB needs somebody who will replace Danny in the rotation if he is traded.  Unless they give up Maine (which they won't) it's quite simply no deal.  Some analyst put NYM #10 in their ability to get Danny.. (I'd place them lower actually).  But at very least they are behind LAA and SEA (of course these are division rivals so it's almost certain that's a no go), LAD, ARI, MIL, BOS, NYY, CIN, MIN in a 3 way, and SD.

Of all the possible destinations, MIL intrigues me the most... they could give up a SS Hardy.  Which apparently according to the Brewers boards is a possibility as they have a possible replacement in Escobar.  Now if that is true, who knows.  For pitching, they could put up Gallardo (Street would also have to be included probably) and Parra amonst others.

For SD, I think any deal would center around Greene and Headley.  Not to mention it would solve that peaky Peavy leaving after his contract issue.  

If (and it's a very slim chance IMO) Danny gets traded we need a SP to replace Danny, a SS, OF, and an additional prospect.  I'm not even sure if NYM has enough for Blanton.  However, if BB is dead set on having Milledge than it makes more sense to trade them Blanton and save Danny for the wealthy teams who can provide a major haul (i.e. BOS or LAD).  

by AsWin on Nov 28, 2007 6:27 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Milwakee will give up

TWO pitchers or a pitcher? Why?

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Nov 28, 2007 9:51 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

better than vice versa
The administration will punish those who have broken the rules. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 28, 2007 11:47 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

in former Soviet Union ...

... Bad Sex in Fiction Award wins Norman Mailer.

The administration will punish those who have broken the rules. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 28, 2007 11:49 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

salb918's shit list
  • exams
  • grading exams
  • regrading exams for students who think you screwed up
  • awarding extra points and thereby admit error when regrading exams for students who think you screwed up
  • writing with your left hand because you are holding a baby while awarding extra points and thereby admit error when regrading exams for students who think you screwed up
  • monkeyball's totally obvious <snerk> toward "writing with your left hand because you are holding a baby"
  • Dan Haren trade rumors
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Nov 28, 2007 11:56 AM PST   0 recs

edit: admit = admitting
  • grammar police
Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Nov 28, 2007 11:57 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Don't forget

Fixing your post and thereby admitting that you made errors in said post

by Zonis on Nov 28, 2007 12:06 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

that's what a tail is for, my friend
The administration will punish those who have broken the rules. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 28, 2007 12:08 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Think for a moment:

Who is the absolute perfect actor to portray Joe Namath on the silver screen?

You guessed it: Jake Gyllenhaal.

by mikeA on Nov 28, 2007 11:58 AM PST   0 recs

worse upcoming casting decisions

According to the inane "rock and the movies" supplement that came with the last New Yorker, two separate upcoming rock pics feature:

  • Kirsten Dunst as Debbie Harry
  • Elijah Wood as Iggy Pop
The administration will punish those who have broken the rules. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Nov 28, 2007 12:07 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Oh, hell no.

That would be awful!

I love you, k^2. -Poppy*

by kaweahkaweah on Nov 28, 2007 12:16 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Can't be as bad as watching Tom Goodman

try to play any of the Monkey Wrench Gang movie. Doc? Heyduke? Ack.

It's almost like winning twice when you beat the Angels." -- Milton Bradley

by Elvez on Nov 28, 2007 1:46 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Speaking of upcoming movies...

anyone have any info on the Enders Game movie?

by Zonis on Nov 28, 2007 12:21 PM PST   0 recs

sports guy marathon chat...

Buster Olney (Bristol, CT): Do you not read my blog? Why not just let Johan hit the free agent market and pay for him instead of unloading prospects?

SportsNation Bill Simmons: (1:49 PM ET ) I read your blog every day, Buster! That sounds good on paper, but if you're the Yanks, can you take the chance that the Mets or Red Sox won't step in on you this winter? No.

SportsNation Bill Simmons: (1:52 PM ET ) I actually thought Buster made a great point this week about the value of Danny Haren compared to Johan - not only would he cost less to get, but he's locked into a reasonable contract for the next 3 years (something like $17m total) and he's a 220-IP horse. Maybe he doesn't have the ceiling that Johan has, but he'd be the Yanks's No. 1 starter. Actually, it almost makes more sense for the Twins to do a 3-way where they give up Johan but get Haren as part of the haul back, then Oakland gets a piece of the prospects. For instance, let's say they get Haren and Cano, the A's get Kennedy, Hughes and Cabrera and the Yanks get Johan... wouldn't that work for everybody?

sign me up.

"He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Nov 28, 2007 12:57 PM PST   0 recs

Well, that would be ridiculous for the Twins

and horrible for the Yankees, while being OK for Oakland.

I'm on board with that, but the Steinbrothers would have to be tripping on LSD to play along.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Nov 28, 2007 1:13 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

it is a lot to give up

for the yankees, but you gotta feel that trading two prospect pitchers (neither of them being joba), a second baseman who while hitting for a good average and decent power, can't run and strikes out a lot, and an outfielder whose ceiling is questioned, for the best pitcher in the game is pretty good. the twins would make out like bandits because of haren's contract and cano's service time/upside.

"He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Nov 28, 2007 1:24 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Minnesota is getting very active this offseason

it seems.

Sources: Rays, Twins close to Young-Garza swap

The Twins would acquire outfielder Delmon Young in exchange for right-hander Matt Garza, sources told ESPN.com's Keith Law.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/s...

by theblackpearl on Nov 28, 2007 1:12 PM PST   0 recs

See, now why aren't more trade rumors like that?

That deal actually makes sense. Each team deals from strength to fill weakness. Both teams get better.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Nov 28, 2007 1:15 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

wow

you'd think they could get more than delmon young for garza (probably in a bigger deal though) but they probably don't want to have to take back any contracts, and young is under control for a looong while.

"He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Nov 28, 2007 1:21 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

There's supposedly more players involved

in that trade.

Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie to the Twins, Garza, Bartlett and Juan Rincon to the DRays.

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Nov 28, 2007 1:24 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

wow

steal for the rays imo...harris feels like a flash in the pan to me. bartlett isn't very good but can keep the seat warm for reid brignac, and the rays could definitely use rincon's arm...

"He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Nov 28, 2007 1:25 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Bartlett is actually

pretty decent, even good. His hitting is league average or slightly above for a SS, his defense is very good. And he has only 2 years of service time.

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Nov 28, 2007 1:27 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

and

oft-injured

"He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Nov 28, 2007 1:38 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

And he is still at least average.

In 2007, which was not his best year, Baseball Prosectus had him at 4 runs below average offensively, taking into account baserunning. BBRef's Batting Runs had him at 7.9 runs below average, not counting baserunning.

Defensively, he is very good, about 10 runs above average.

So in total, offense and defense, average to slight above average, about 0-5 runs above average. This is before adjusting for the fact that he plays SS. If you're conservative, give him 5 runs for playing SS, and he is 5-10 runs above average, 0.5 to 1 win above average. A more aggressive adjustment, 10 runs for playing SS, and he is 10-15 runs above average, 1-1.5 wins above average.

An 0.5-1.5 wins above average SS with a bargain contract.

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Nov 28, 2007 1:47 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

okay

i guess i'm just not high on him. brignac seems pretty close too, so i guess he's a backup by '09 anyway.

"He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Nov 28, 2007 1:51 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, Minny seems to be waving the white flag. I

don't see anyway Johan doesn't get dealt.

by theblackpearl on Nov 28, 2007 1:27 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Steal for the Rays?

Pridie is an excellent corner outfield prospect. Harris is pretty mediocre, but so is Bartlett. Rincon is VERY mediocre.

Basically this solves the Twins' outfield for the next 3 years. It would be a spectacular move for Minnesota, and might cause them to keep Santana and try to win it all in '08.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com

by PaulThomas on Nov 28, 2007 1:49 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

rincon

is better than what the rays currently have. they were having a guy with a 7 era (stokes) set up for part of the season, and there really was no help in sight. he's definitely mediocre, but that's better than terrible.

pridie does look pretty good. interesting that his stats jumped up after being promoted to AAA.

is 24 on the old side to you for just making AAA, or is that about right? i never am sure about these kinda things.

"He has no equivalent." -Paul DePodesta on Jeremy Brown

by flipgatey3 on Nov 28, 2007 1:53 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

24 is almost exactly average

A guy who's 24 in AAA projects to be with the MLB team from age 25-30, which is basically peak years for your average baseball player.

cardinalprecepts.blogspot.com