thundercleetz

Do you think the Rays would trade Shields to a division rival? I have a feeling the asking price would be way too high. He would be a game changer though. I am very curious to see what is done with Machado and Hardy. Machado is a big shortstop, I just hope he doesn't lose the feel for the position.

Shortstop is probably the most difficult position to play defensively. If a big guy like Manny spends too much time away from the position he risk losing the feel for the position and may not be able to go back. Manny has a lot more worth at SS than he has at 3B. One more name to throw out for LF: how about Nick Swisher? I see him as the Hines Ward of baseball. He doesn't do on thing great but he does everything well (he gets on base, plays defense, has a little speed and has pop). He's a guy you hate but would love him on your team. He always seems to kill us.

First playoff appearance in 15 years and we take the Yankees to the brink in a five game series, all without arguably our best player. I felt a momentum swing in that series between us and the Yankees. Could this be the era of a new generation? The Yankees barely skimped by while I feel we would have been able to give the Tigers a better matchup. At the end of our last playoff game Peter Angelos gave a post game interview, something he never does. He stated something along the lines of being committed toward making sure we will return to the playoffs and Oriole fans can expect this type of success in the future. Does this mean Angelos is ready to spend? We are a very good team and I feel we have the chance to get A LOT better. Dan Duquette made some shrewd moves last offseason, and a few more could put us over the top. Priority list: - The short stop situation: Machado is the guy of the future. With a baseball IQ well beyond his years, Machado also proved this season he is a Gold Glove quality third baseman. While his bat is good for third base, it would be excellent for short stop. If Machado spends another year at third, it may be the point of no return to shortstop. What do we do with Hardy and Machado? - A top of the rotation starter: I feel we have some solid candidates for the rotation with Hammel, Chen, Gonzalez, and Tillman. Britton, Arrieta, and Matusz will all get a shot. And Bundy is waiting in the wings (likely start the season in AAA) and he will for sure get some starts. Do we try and re-sign Joe Saunders. Or do we go for a bigger fish in Zack Greinke or Kyle Lohse? - Left field: Nate McLouth played excellent down the stretch and in the playoffs. He is surprising athletic and plays great defense. He also gets on base. No one knows how Nolan Reimold is. He was tearing it up before getting injured. Do we go with one of these guys? Do we go with a younger in-house option like Hoes or Avery? A plattoon of both? Or do we go for a big bat in Josh Hamilton? - Mark Reynolds: He has a pretty expensive option, but I think it is no doubt we pick it up and he is our everyday first baseman. I think Duquette will make some more trades. I doubt we'll go after a big free agent. But I could see us going hard after Padres third baseman Chase Headley. Headley is an on base guy and plays Gold Glove defense. Headley would immediately be our number three hitter and would allow us to move Machado to SS. Hardy could be an option at 2B at that point. What does everyone else think?

Wall Street is like the NFL, it's a what have you done for me lately league. They don't like what he's saying simple as that.

Ugh I cannot stand Uygur! One reason Wall Street is not supporting Obama is because he wants to raise long term dividend and capital gains tax to 25% from 15%.

Papa, here is my point. I think the whole Romney tax thing is as overplayed as Trump asking for Obama's birth certificate. Like the article says (and to even my surprise), not even the Democrats are attacking Romney on this issue because there many capitalist, billionaire, democrats out there as well. Romney released the required tax forms to run for president. If he doesn't want to release anything more, well that's his right. Howard Stern would not release any tax returns in his run for Mayor of NYC. He actually dropped out because the requirement. I am pretty sure if Romney did anything illegal like Gordon Gekko, the same federal government who spent millions on prosecuting Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds for steriod use would try and suck every dime out of Romney. It is what it is.

Except it still is a capitalist system and because that is the route the world has taken with its development we can not flip-flop between it and expect the players to be transparent. Capitalism by nature encourages its players to get as much as they can. So when you mix too much government intervention with a capitalist system, something like this happens. Pick one or the other and stick with it. What happened was 100% legal. If Romney does not buy those shares someone else does and because a millionaire. The concept is no different than the privitazation of the Soviet Union. If Mikkhail Prokhorov doesn't buy Norilsk Nickel then some other Russian oligarch does and they become rich beyond their wildest dreams. That aspect of competition and who is the quickest to realize a new way to make money is what capitalism essentially is, whether it is "morally" right or wrong. The system encourages "voltures" as the article describes these people. Some people deliberately look for disasters around the world so they can take advantage of the situation. Some people made millions off of 9/11 by investing in military technology or shorting airplane carrier stock. If someone is losing money, then that means someone on the other end is usually making money. It is what it is. More than anything of what I took away from this article: it makes the government look like a bunch of dumbasses for creating such a situation. Some of the language in the article almost implies the government is an innocent, helpless victim and Romney as being "too smart". I mean I guess the government should have just shutdown the stock exchange for a month while this bailout was being processed, just to make sure no one made a large amount of money...

That's awesome. I would have done the same thing.

I did not think Hills was very good.

I don't play golf but those look really cool.

I am starting to think this is more Joe's fault than Cam's.

I'm starting to see why Ozzie hasn't given Joe what he wants for a contract. With Joe it's always something: a dumb pass, a missed block, a dropped catch, a tipped ball at the line. Whether or not it is Joe's fault something is not working. The phrase having the undescribable 'it' factor. Well with Joe there is something undescribable (or maybe it is) that is completely baffling. Joe's play was embarrassing today. You had two QB's today that are trying to she'd the average label. Schaub looked great and Joe put himself in a league with Mark Sanchez. Joe does not have a defense to fall back on. Having an average QB with a poor defense does not win a Super Bowl. If Joe doesn't pull it together the rest of this season I'm inclined to just let him walk and start over. Bottom line guys, we do not have an elite QB who can win us a Super Bowl.

I cannot help but think that Flacco has hit his ceiling...

At least we know we have our kicker for the next 15 years. Tucker was killing it today!

Considering we had a true freshmen and a sophomore at QB I'd say we played a really good game. A missed XP and FG killed us. Btw Devin Burns is a playmaker and is a perfect fit for this offense. I hope he gets the start next week. Burns was supposedly recruited by a few SEC schools to play QB (had an offer from Georgia) before switching to WR before his senior year. I like this kid a lot.

It's a shame that they don't allow Gary Johnson on the national debates with Obama and Romney (although Johnson has filed a lawsuit saying he has met the minimum requirements to be included in the debate and has been unfairly excluded). The guy is all facts and has a clear, concise plan. He'd humiliate both of them.

Sort of. You're thinking of a Roth IRA it sounds. Being that the Roth vehicle was only created in 1997 I doubt this enormous IRA that Romney has is a Roth. Roth IRA's also have income limits, I think anyone over $105K (for 2012) is ineligible to contribute. With a traditional IRA the cost basis does not matter. So it does not matter if the original value of the investment was low. Whatever goes into the account is tax deferred (once again unless you make over a certain amount of money then you have to pay taxes up front), and you're only taxed on the amount of what you pull out. The money has to start coming out when you're 70 1/2 (the rate is currently around 6% a year). It is not jobbing the system. There are plenty of small business owners around the country who invest their retirement accounts in their own business.

Really interesting article. I will admit, I am not that well versed on those tax laws mentioned in the article. But then again, most of America is not, which is the point of the article I am assuming. The only thing I am versed about is this section: Nothing illegal about this. Apple and Google employees from the 90s probably have IRAs just as large. These people took a risk, these type of investments starting have just as much bust potential as boom potential. As far as the special class of stock, that is nothing out of the ordinary. Anyways, the money is in an IRA so it is tax deferred. The IRS will get more than their fair share when Romney turns 70 1/2 and has to take a good portion out. Anyways, I digress. That is just one small section of a large article. I really haven't heard too much negative publicity lately on Romney's tax records. I would have thought it would have been plastered all over commercials this close to the election. I guess people either don't care or the DNC doesn't think it would be an effective tactic. If you guys really want to see something interesting, papa and I's guy Gary Johnson is debating tonight. His FAIR Tax system is very interesting.

Romney is not very eloquent with words but I think the point he is making is the $2,000 per employee tax that Obamacare will levy on employers could have a major effect on employers being able to retain employees.

John McClain from the Houston Chronicle was on the Fan this morning. Apparantly Houston has some problems (no pun) of their own they are dealing with. I did not hear the whole interview, but here are some of the key points: 1. Andre Johnson is not the same elite player. McClain said that Johnson is struggling to get separation against man coverage and getting deep. Every week reporters ask him if he's injured. Johnson is saying no. The Texans are saying he is being double covered but the film does not support that McClain said. Johnson is on pace for his least productive season since his rookie year. Kevin Walter is not faring too much better. 2. The loss of Cushing is a big factor in this matchup. Cushing was able to blanket runningbacks out of the backfield neutralizing them in the passing game. McClain said the Texans do not have a linebacker that is capable of covering Ray Rice. http://baltimore.cbs...-ravens-texans/

Suggs has a press conference today. I guess we will see. Heck, even if Suggs only plays a few plays that is still very impressive. If anyone else than Adam Schefter reported it I would not believe it, but Schefter is usually spot on.

Outside of last week, I thought Ed has been much improved and more aggressive in run support. Honestly, it is probably only a slight or partial tear (which is the same thing as a sprain). No one in the world outside of young children are 100%. I'm sure if any of us went to the doctor for a full detailed physical some kind of tendon tear would be revealed. Ed has not been on the injury report this season for his shoulder. I am sure he is fine.

http://www.whosay.com/AdamSchefter/content/419997?wsref=tw&code=cxp4oLF

Libertarian Nominee Gary Johnson on Obamacare: ‘A Torpedo in a Sinking Ship’ http://politic365.com/2012/10/17/libertarian-nominee-gary-johnson-on-obamacare-a-torpedo-in-a-sinking-ship/ http://www.opposingviews.com/i/politics/gary-johnson-calls-obama-and-romney-dueling-phil-donahue-acts

@sportswcoleman: BREAKING: So the #Ravens Ed Reed jus tells @1057TheFan he has a " Labrum tear" in shoulder, " is it affecting my game ?,maybe" Good thing Ed is not a baseball player...