dc.

I agree that Warren will win the primary if she runs.

Some were known but not household names. You were definitely paying more attention than most if you knew many of them early. Meanwhile, as a blank slate to the whole world, O'Malley has more appeal than some give him credit for I think. He can spin some very liberal victories in MD as being his and that will win a lot of progressive votes. Sure it will come out that he's not loved here, but that will get lost. No one cares what we think of him. And he'll get to counter it all with, look at my actions - and there is plenty there that can be spun into looking good. Not saying it will work but I don't but that being unknown is bad. He's on the Sunday morning skies almost weekly. He's been head of the Democratic governors association. He gave a convention speech at least once on national TV.

You know, most of the guys that win the primaries aren't well known UNTIL they run... Barack Obama Mitt Romney (took him two tries) John McCain (hardly a household name prior to running in 00, almost won) Bill Clinton John Kerry I'll even add GW Bush - not known, but the last name was known of course. People make a big fuss about name recognition before the race starts. Once the race begins, name recognition can be as much a hindrance as a help. O'Malley, because of the lack of name recognition, would get a nice long stretch of getting to define himself before anyone else can (also a reason newcomers tend to do well early - think about how the GOP Primary jumped from newcomer to newcomer until settling on Mitt in 12). O'Malley has as much a chance as anyone to make himself a household name and be a real spoiler over some of the bigger names - who carry a lot more slush around with them.

I was reading too that MLB lost for good reason - they first created the agreement and signed it, and now they created the commission that decided its validity. In almost every other circumstance of league issues, there is a pre-determined and agreed upon arbitration or mediation system (you can't win a suit over that because it's been pre-established as the method of dispute resolution). In this case, there was no set method and the league created this ad hoc committee which - surprise - ruled in the way the league saw fit. The O's have a pretty good chance here to win overall - not sure how you invalidate an agreement reached ten-plus years ago that both teams and the league signed and agreed to.

Everything crav says is a curse. Meanwhile, we can't hit no names. Hutchinson isn't quite a no name but had been horrible for the last month - 23 runs in 21 innings they said - so we were bound to flop. He's owned is a few times this season.

Didn't say I disagreed with him on this point. I don't actually. But he's not a valid source in this or anything because he's generally a moron.

Chris Davis looks BEYOND lost at the plate. Last night was hard to watch him. I maintain, very simply, he has to bunt against the shift EVERY at bat they put it on. Period. Consider it a walk. Regardless of inning, outs, count (should be 0-0), score, getting him to first base is better than a strike out or a pop-up. If they are willing to give him that walk every time, I am willing to take it. If they eventually decide they don't want to give up the walk, start swinging again. But this is going to have to become the norm for just about all shifted hitters or they are going to continue to see their averages drop dramatically.

I just think the number of stadiums under construction is way down from the last decade. When new proposals start showing up, it will be harder to get support - especially as long as the "tea party" / anti-tax, anti-spend, anti-debt trend remains a major part of our society. (Not that I entirely support that). I feel like I have a read a few stories recently about leagues and teams putting up the money more often - quick Google search shows me that the NFL and Dolphins are paying for major improvements there. They are getting some tax changes, but the owner is putting up $350m himself. http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Sun-Life-Stadium-Modernization-Plan-Approved-By-Miami-Dade-County-Commission/18610982-a679-4ddc-abe5-e9bf1518c8e7

I was thinking more that public perception has already begun to swing against stadium payouts - the recession has only added to that and its lingering effects, including the effect on national and local debt.

Never know what we'll see in ten years, could be a very different world. Regardless I am sure that many would beg the state to pay and there was a time I would have been in that camp. But tides are changing and I am sure plenty of food would simply day to Steve, screw you.

Well, I knew the real answer. I just don't get it.

Certainly but it's really only the to three that matter come payoff time. I'm still convinced Samardzija will come down and Hammel already has

Stealing is one kind of small ball but you can manufacture without stealing. Bunting I will give you, we can't do it

It's not just the lack of a truly positive effect but also that the city/state never earn their money back directly. I wouldn't be so opposed of the public held more rights in the contracts too - but we build the stadiums for free, practically give away all the value in them including alternate use, etc, and then just sit on our asses. Why can't teams build their own stadiums like every other business in the country?

Lots of his teams have been slow but it certainly doesn't help manufacture runs. Definitely hard to beat those staffs, but all of them are beatable individually - take our one or two and you have a chance.

I think publicly funded statements need to be a thing of the past. But that's a different discussion.

Certainly, but the O's are showing more ability to manufacture runs in the last month plus which happens to correspond to taking and holding first and one of the best records in the league.

What makes sense about it is that they would be unable to sign him next year - so unless they were really confident they could a) close the gap to win and b) actually do damage in the playoffs, they would be losing him at year's end with almost no compensation. Instead, they get the compensation and a better shot next year and forward. Meanwhile, Angelos would NEVER do that trade because he liked his "big money" stars. It was a rare day when we unloaded at the deadline - at least anyone truly decent. Angelos would always keep them for the tickets they could sell, but in turn he'd be selling off the long-run future of team (14 years worth or so). A's and Tigers both look great now. Tigers in the playoffs you have to face Scherzer / Price / Verlander... even if Verlander is off his game, that's hard. And that could be the entire 5 game series! Meanwhile A's you get Gray / Samardizja / Lester. At least the O's can hit. We have shown the ability to beat up on guys like Weaver, Verlander, and even Price.

The Yanks aren't a major threat. The Sox have given up. Without Price, the Rays are practically conceding the division. The Jays are the only serious threat left and I think we can hold them off - I don't like their pitching much either.

Sorry to hear that.

Deal surprises me. It's going to hurt the A's in the long-run. First, they are trading a serious bat. I wonder how their line-up functions without him. Not to mention the defensive hit they will take. I already mentioned how I thought their bats were overperforming - maybe this will hurt. Their arms of course are going to be outstanding. But they won't be able to keep Lester or Samardizja beyond this year - maybe one, but I doubt it. I guess it could be all in for this year, but I am not convinced they can do it without the bats!

I'm not moving Bundy. No way. And Harvey is now out for the year, so I doubt he's on the table. But some of those guys like Rodriguez we hear about 'on the farm'.... they were never meant to be anything anyway, they just happen to be decent suddenly. Doubting they ever turn it up. I will say on the other side, though, that most of the guys you mention came through our system when it was at it's absolute worst - not just in terms of who the prospects were, but also in terms of the organization of our coaching. Showalter has been focused on that issue especially - trying to bring our lower level teams into line teaching and building the right skills so that guys are actually major league ready. Most say he's been fairly successful and Duquette and some other additions (like our new pitching coach, name is escaping me) have helped because they have been "organization" guys in the past, not just coaches and top level.

For those not looking super close.... The O's now have the third best record in all of baseball, behind only the A's and Angels (of course, we've just taken 4 of 5 from the Halos in the last week... so that's nice to think about too). They've done this with the 5th toughest schedule in the league - really only matched by the Rangers and Astros, who of course play these west coast teams all the time. Big midseason push here. Manny's bat is clicking and helping this team like in '12. Just hope the arms can keep it up with some solid performances - would love to see us add one. And really hoping Bundy finds his way.

Yeah - but you also have to play the odds sometimes. Not only is it unlikely that so many of those second tier guys will ever pan out, but even if they do, the odds of being a "real gem" are almost nothing. The teams you tout, Papa, don't find "gems" that just pop up out of no where - they've seen them coming for years. I'm not putting stock in much of our farm system if we haven't heard their names in legit top prospect conversations yet.

Depends who we give up. Gausman, Harvey, Bundy - no way. But any of our second tier guys - sure. I mean, it's not a huge win for us and I doubt he will sign with us, but the odds that so many of our really young guys become what we envision... slim to none. Not sure why the Red Sox are asking so much (maybe in the end they won't). Lester has practically promised to come back if they make a fair offer and almost anything in a trade will be better than a compensatory pick. What do they have to lose?