dc.

Several issues there: The Rays have had some success but also some serious let down seasons. They are no more successful the last five years than the Cardinals (who also play the farm brilliantly but are willing to spend). And until they do it for a decade plus, they are just in one window. But I don't really disagree with the premise just this example. Without Davis, we are without a first baseman again... We haven't had one for a decade. And although everyone says you can find 30 HR on the waiver wire, it's just not true. Without that first base slot (and 3-hole in the line up filled) we are not a playoff team. Period. You're trimming the prime of Jones and Wieters and others without reason. Lastly, the Rays don't tend to trade and especially not when a player is still under their control. They don't spend, but they also don't go buy farm talent to frequently. We hear talk of Price moving but it never happens. But I think #2 is the most important still... I can't see saying farewell to this season, right when we're becoming respectable in the eyes of the league and players, to get prospects that may or may not pan. If this season were dead, sure. But I don't think you can ignore the cost of giving up not just this year but perhaps another three. Holding Davis does not mean we can't continue the past we've been on the last five years of avoiding massive contracts and building a deep farm system.

Do you mean are you reading the map right? The answer is no. The map compares this winter to average winter temps since 1981. If the map is great, it means the average temp this winter was the same as for the last 30 years. If red, this winter was hotter. If blue, colder. The point of the map is that even though the northeast USA had a slightly cooler winter than normal (blue), almost the entire rest of the planet was having a warmer season (red). But you still ignore the obvious and I'd love a response on this (if you understand it): If it reasons in the Sahara, does that mean it's not a desert? Being cold for one day or week or month or even year does not change climate. Climate is a long term trend. Here's another fun item, ever see that movie The Day After Tomorrow? The one where a sudden freeze up literally destroys the entire northern US? That's based on global warming ideas. Suddenly warm temps lead to arctic thawing which actually could cool the oceans enough to create "polar vortex" situation all over the world. But sure, sock purchases.

But trade him for what? Do you get another 30 30 first baseman? Unlikely. A truly star ace pitcher? Doubtful. You get some cogs and prospects... Which don't serve a team that has 90% of its pieces together and in playoff caliber shape. I just can't imagine an offer that another team would realistically make that would have improved us in the 2-4 year window we're in.

Anomaly... Sure. Total fluke? Not buying it. Does he ever do even 40-40 again? Maybe not (even that is a rare feat) but that doesn't mean very solid numbers 40-20, 30-30 are out of the question. It also doesn't mean he is underperforming

Fun fact: Chris Davis is the only player ever to hit 50hr and 50 doubles in a season. Only two others did 50 and 40: Babe Ruth and Albert Belle. Now... He may never do it again, but I just can't believe those numbers are a total fluke.

Precisely.

Eh. Fallon just doesn't do it for me. Hits occasionally... probably more than Leno or Letterman... but not the way a really good comic can get a joke moving

Baltimore Landslide: Definitely more just a landslide caused by retaining wall failure. But crazy video when the whole street just falls over railings and all. Caution volume.

Don't care for Lord of the rings either... So meh.

My understanding is that it's a rotten soap opera in an interesting setting. I am passing.

Most of your first two years can transfer and many athletes are on five year plans taking minimum credits per semester so he may not be much past that. Plus I bet many schools will be lenient on credits for an athlete. That said I agree with the general sentiment that schools are far too able to mess with players and their scholarships... Hence why northwesterns football team is about to become an officially recognized union by the NLRB.

Which I agree with... But saying that now is meaningless. If it's worth trading down, it will... but we'll know that only when the other picks are made. Similarly, if we have to trade up, we will... But we won't know that until the time comes. And most importantly re "our guy"... Mike has no clue who our guy is any more than you and I... So speculating that we know who it is our when he'll be drafted or how much we value him is just bull.

I hate draft talk - especially this kind of crap from Preston. Dropping back in the draft only makes sense if our player isn't there when we pick. Not only do we not know who that player is as far as the Ravens are concerned, we have little clue as to whether he will be there or not. We've got some guesses, of course... but there's so much up in the air. Trading back makes sense. Until tomorrow when everyone is high on players X, Y and Z... and then trading back would be silly because there will definitely be our guy there... And then on draft day it will be the move to trade up because there's only one player T in a generation and he's right there if we can snatch him. Shut up, Mike.

Which many knew and said coming in and which has always been his rep... The question is what do you want to do in terms of a closer on this team right now because there aren't lots of other options. The best may be Britton but I think given his performance in long relief we probably want to hold him for some spot starts. The real answer is this team has committed to Hunter and that's all there is to it for now...

Had this stuck in my head for about a month now.

I stole it from a friend here...

Sorry - it's early enough a bad few games have dropped him from mid 300s. His average HAD been at least holding a decent line - above his later months last year. Regardless, did a quick check... his walk rate is up 50% from about 10 to 15% of at bats. His K% is down about 20%, from almost 30% to 24%... those are good signs. I think more than his swing, there are some adjustments being made by opposing pitchers. Palmer has talked about it a lot - especially how they are pounding his "weakest" zone and willing to let him take the walk. But overall, I am still not concerned. When he hits 10 in a month - maybe next month? - no one will be freaking out.

Crav... that was current. Comparing March 2014 temps to average temps the last 30 years. Colder this year in parts of US? Yes. But warmer everywhere else. As for what they'd say about this winter .... as Papa has said a few times: WEATHER is not the same as CLIMATE. To quote someone (here or elsewhere, I can't remember...): If it rains in the Sahara, is it suddenly not a desert?

I have lost. I concede. I have no recourse. In fact, you were right - I couldn't even hold back from posting one more time. But that was because I wanted to share with you that I'm removing my request that you not be banned. That is, if you will let me, Puppet Master. I'm sure Dee will let you live long enough to get in one last good rant about how you hate women and blacks and gays. But maybe not. Look at the flowers, OldSchool.

Waking more, seeing fewer good pitches without some protection. Not worried about his power but satisfied that his average is staying up despite all surrounding him.

The Seminoles controlled ALL of Florida at one point, Crav.

They've gone after others successfully for years... this isn't new. The Indians have removed "Chief Wahoo" this year from most of their gear - a long, slow process. Teams like the Illini of Illinois and others have faced challenges. The Blackhawks also face challenges. The biggest "success" story for a team has been the Seminoles of FSU - who have an agreement with the official Seminole nation. I'm sure $$ is involved.

I'm not going to stick around in this thread. It's an opinion thread so let opinions be opinions. But three parting thoughts: 1. If you actually read my post, you'd read that I literally said it had nothing to do with who finds it offensive. It has everything in my mind to do with institutional injustice. We erased a culture and nearly eliminated a race - in some cases we did entirely eliminate civilizations - but no one ever thinks about it. I think that's sad. We're taught to remember the Holocaust and the Irish Potato Famine and all these other injustices, but we turn native americans into sidekicks in movies and half-witted friends who need our help and ignore the realities of our history with them. As has been discussed in a different thread (not even on a Redskins topic), Andrew Jackson destroyed so many of these groups and we put him the $20. I simply think the name "Redskins" is another in a long line of Americans not even realizing or recognizing who they are. 2. If you think I am offended by you calling me feminine or insinuating I'm gay, that's fine. It says more about you than me. I honestly couldn't care less. I don't particularly care what a "tough guy" says is manly or not. In fact, as I said in my post, I view it as an issue of "right and wrong" more generally anyway. You did prove me wrong on one thing though, you jumped straight from step 1 to step 4. 3. I still don't understand why you seem to think you get to control who responds to you. While I can't speak for anyone else, I'm not seeking you out. This is all of the second thread you're in that I've responded to? But I must be after you. If you want a place to share your opinion without hearing others', a message board is probably not the place. Go start a blog. Even in a thread where my post was entirely on the substance of yours, you jump up as if we're about to throw down (woohoo!). Your post even included an attempt to incite, which I ignored. But apparently, now that we're "sworn enemies" of the message boards, anything I post that doesn't agree with you must be vanquished! This isn't a fifth grade playground. I don't have a nemesis. I was responding to a thread. Grow up.

Add on... The whole issue is of course only worsened by the internet in some ways, allowing us to only engage with info and ideas we like. We can live in bubbles with less less less trouble everyday. Echo chambers. This by the way is one reason I tune to cable news shows from time to time and read sites from commentators I don't care for... Because sometimes good ideas do show up and I don't want to get lost in my "sides" misinformation.

In MD probably not. Though I also yeah at one of those Christian schools you talk of! But we actually do a great job of teaching fact in secular courses and theology in theology courses. But how you educate those who wish to stay in the bubble? That I don't know...