Monday Bird Droppings
by duck on Jan 4, 2010 6:33 AM EST
in Open Threads
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PrintSo it's back to the grind, the salt mines, the rat race. And Andy MacPhail and the rest of the O's Front Office get back to work making the Orioles better. Here's a little of what's been going on over the weekend.
The Schmuck Stops Here: O's: Back to the future
Peter Schmuck decides the Orioles need to sign a corner infielder this week. So get on that Andy, will ya? -duck
Alomar's Hall pass anything but certain | MLB.com: News
"I wish I had a Hall of Fame vote, because I would certainly vote for [Alomar]," (John) Hirschbeck recently told the New York Daily News, adding, "I have to say if the spitting incident was the worst thing Robbie ever did, then he's lived a real good life." -duck
Sports Legends Museum sales up
"Baltimore’s Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards posted a nearly 30 percent increase in its combined store sales and admissions revenue in 2009." You need a subscrption to read the details, but revenue was up by more than $200K last year. -duck
Carlos Delgado makes PR Winter League debut
"Carlos Delgado made his long-awaited debut tonight in the Puerto Rican Winter League, going 1-for-4 while batting fourth as the designated hitter for Gigantes de Carolina." -duck
Circus makes deal with the Orioles | HeraldTribune.com |
"The circus reached an agreement last month with the Baltimore Orioles to use the overflow parking site on 12th Street across from Ed Smith Stadium. The Orioles have authority over the county-owned property courtesy of a new 30-year stadium lease." Glad to know that particular disaster was avoided. -duck
Cubs, Byrd agree to three-year deal - baltimoresun.com
"Outfielder Marlon Byrd agreed Thursday to a $15 million, three-year contract with the Chicago Cubs." Rest easy, Marlon Byrd fans. -duck
Big decisions looming on superstars - baltimoresun.com
Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer, Prince Fielder and Adrian Gonzalez. are all due to be free agents within two years. Add in Ryan Howard, and it will be interesting to see which of the four five actually make it to free agency. -duck
Talk of a third baseball team in New York rises again - Big League Stew
'Duk loves the speculation over adding a third team to New York. He sees it as a way to bring the Yankees back down to earth without being punitive. I think it's a way to drive the Mets into bankruptcy, myself. -duck
IN OTHER NEWS: Lone Oriole takes the mat
I know it's not our Orioles. But do you think I am going to miss the chance to include a high school wrestling story? -duck
I found out the way your mind works and the kind of man you are. I know your plans and expectations - you've burbled every bit of strategy you've got. I know exactly what you will do, and exactly what you won't, and I've told you exactly nothing. To these aged eyes, Open Thread, that's what winning looks like!
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Being back to work suuuucks
And now that I’ve had the week off between Christmas and New Years, I can never work that week again. It was just splendid.
Wait 'til you have kids
Dropping them off at daycare and elementary school after two and a half weeks without childcare and coming in to my office knowing that I’ve actually got more than 20 minutes to get stuff done is one of the best guilty feelings I’ve ever had.
by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Jan 4, 2010 8:54 AM EST up reply actions
Guilty feeling file: Xmas vacation with your relatives in the US gets really boring.
Fear: Your relatives are boring. Bigger fear: the US is boring. Biggest fear: Holy crap, is Moscow the only place with enough stuff happenin’ to hold my interest. Moscow?!? To coin a phrase: No-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!!!!
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.
Anyone ever tell you your posts read like Hunter S. Thompson Lite?
And I mean that in a very good way.
From the Land of Pleasant Living...
Mostly the gambling though
I always thought that his ESPN column was waaaay overrated. He had the perfect quote about the 2000-2001 Ravens: “Playing the Ravens is like being trapped in an elevator with Dick Cheney on speed for four hours….the boss raven is an insane creature, etc”
The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST
by the fix is in on Jan 4, 2010 7:35 PM EST up reply actions
I agree
I love Dr. Thompson’s work on exposing the Kentucky Derby and other oddball political/niche racing stories (not to mention The Rum Diary, which is like the best thing ever) but Hey Rube is borderline unreadable except in bits and pieces (his views on pitchers and the Ravens were both hysterical, for example – also his advice on betting against the home team and ramping up your bets as the game goes on is really strong advice).
"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"
Thx!
And I mean that in a very mystified way. I’m sure I read some HST in Rolling Stone some decades ago, but that’s it…
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Churchill,1942-- a rebuilding year.
My dad has been at his place of work for a long ass time
So he has a lot of vacation time, and every year he pretty much takes December off.
This was the first year I had enough
My leave accrual increased in August ’08 when I reached 3 years so I finally had enough without jeopardizing my summer plans.
There are a ton of people here who’ve been here a million years so when they get to December they have so much leave saved up that they have to take leave for most of December or else lose it and some of them get kind of salty that they’re being forced to take off. Whatever, don’t complain about having off. And if you don’t want it in December, take a nice long vacation in the summer. People who don’t go take their vacation time are a mystery to me.
That's my wife
She’s got a million days save up, to the point she has to take personal days every December or lose them. Can’t convince her to take a day off for anything!
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
The thing about my work is
You can carry over 240 hours. That’s 30 days! So the people who have to to take leave every December have more than 240 hours of leave. It’s ridic, considering if you’ve been here for >15 you get 208 total hours (8 hours/pay period). So these people are not using any of their leave from this year plus some from last year. It boggles my mind. Go on vacation!
Seriously
They’re reducing the amount of vacation you can carry from (I think) 480 to 400, so people started disappearing 12/15. One guy quit working Fridays for several months. People want to save it up so they can spend their last X months before retirement on vacation. I don’t get it either. I hit 100 hours once, right before my Argentina trip.
I guess some people would rather go to work than spend time with their families.
I know people in my store always advocate saving up 100 hours of paid time off
But I’m going to use 80 hours this summer and see the Orioles in California.
The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST
by the fix is in on Jan 4, 2010 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
House full of relatives
I had a house full of relatives during the holidays. Thank goodness that’s over. Not too long before pitchers and catchers report. I viewed 2008 and 2009 as bitter medicine we had to take. Remember the starting rotation we had last year at the beginning of the season. We knew that that it was an old, AAAA rotation. We had no long term interest in any of the starters except Guthrie. This year, all of our starters, except Millwood who is a loaner, should be part of our future. The season will be much more fun.
redskins fire zorn
THAT didn’t take long.
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
Surprised they let him give his postgame presser.
He was clearly not ready to be a head coach. I feel kinda bad for the guy, but I guess he got paid, so whatever. Hopefully Snyder can finally keep his stupid hands off for a few years…
One of the NFL wrapup shows gave him 24-48 hours last night
Rumor was they were gonna fire him between the field and the locker room.
he should have been fired right after he called the swinging gate.
Don't give up, don't ever give up. - Jim Valvano
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Jan 4, 2010 3:32 PM EST up reply actions
duck busting out the James Goldman.
I just noticed. Well played, sir.
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
"The Lion In Winter" is a classic
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
Brilliant
The look on Timothy Dalton’s face after that line was classic.
Geoff & Eleanor got most of the quality lines though.
You can't fix stupid. Stupid is forever.
i've never seen the film.
but it’s a great play, for sure.
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
Put it in your Netflix queue NOW
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
by duck on Jan 4, 2010 5:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
High praise indeed.
Considering how you react to most of my movie recommendations. (;-)
You can't fix stupid. Stupid is forever.
Sorry about that
but the brilliance of “Time Bandits” was lost on me.
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
by duck on Jan 4, 2010 7:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
How's this for a 2-fer?
I’d seen both Shaun of the Dead & It’s A Wonderful Life but didn’t fully appreciate them before your expert commentary.
But upon further review, the Red Dawn decision stands. It still sucks.
You can't fix stupid. Stupid is forever.
Went with the ZombieVision commentray track, too
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
WOOOOOOLVERIIIIIIIIIINES!
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
One of the greatest lines all-time in cinema
Cry havoc and unleash the Esskay hot dogs of war! - The Wayward Oriole, Opening Day 2008
by Eat More Esskay on Jan 5, 2010 12:08 AM EST up reply actions
Ah yes, my war cry whenever I played war as a kid.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
war is not a GAME, birdman.
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
i'm looking out for the russians as we speak.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
Heyman is refusing to let the Orioles/Holliday rumor die
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/01/04/heyman.hall/1.html
It is believed the Cardinals at one point offered a seven-year deal for Matt Holliday, and one league source pegged that bid at $16 million per year, making the proposal worth $112 million. But Holliday appears to be shooting for at least $18 million annually, the figure the Cubs paid Alfonso Soriano two years ago. Cardinals people are expressing faith they will be able to re-sign him. The Orioles have been in the bidding despite comments by their people downplaying their interest and involvement, as one person familiar with their situation says they are "laying in the weeds.’’
Shocked! I am Shocked!
that Boras’ mouthpiece would continue to spout Boras’ leaks. Seriously, I think every time I read a new Heyman piece I get that much closer to giving up on SI altogether.
"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"
The Orioles have been in the bidding despite comments by their people downplaying their interest and involvement,
I wouldn’t be surprised if the O’s put in a bid. But I doubt they the amount reported by Heyman earlier and subsequently denied by MacPhail.
as one person familiar with their situation says they are "laying in the weeds.’’
What a weaselesque statement. That “one person” is Boras. And “laying in the weeds”? Par excellence Heyman crap. It’s speculative so it’s completely unverifiable and serves the interest of Boras. The O’s may be waiting to make one last bid but this is speculation from Boras and should be marked as such.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
What a maroon.
I just read his defense of wins as his reason for not voting for Blyleven, despite what “the Internet crowd” says. What a jackass. The sooner people like Heyman are forced out of sportswriting, the better.
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
by zknower on Jan 4, 2010 2:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Darn "the Internet crowd" and their use of stats and logic.....
"The moment you stop thinking you're the best, it's time for you to get out the game." -'King' Mo Lawal
Clearly the issue
is that the stat is called “wins” when it shouldn’t be. It’s no wonder that poor Jon Heyman is too confused to be able to think constructively enough to know that regardless of how you look at it Blyleven >>> Morris. We shouldn’t be blaming him so much as blaming the system that allows the use of the word “wins” to continue to be associated with pitchers.
Also: Mariano Rivera has 71 career wins. Sidney Ponson has 91 career wins. Obviously one of these guys knows how to win and deserves Cy Young Awards. And I won’t back down from this ledge until winning the game isn’t the point anymore!
"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"
There was a great piece in SI about what all of you have been saying
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1163267/index.htm
Don't give up, don't ever give up. - Jim Valvano
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Jan 4, 2010 3:42 PM EST up reply actions
Of course, it's Poz
I actually hate WAR. I prefer RAR, simply because to go through all of that math to come up with some all (most) encompassing numbers, and then to say “and 10 runs = 1 win” makes me gnash my teeth.
And I won’t back down from this ledge until winning the game isn’t the point anymore!
I know what you’re saying…but this sounds extremely “soccer mom-ish.” Are you another helicopter parent Mr. James?
Don't let the sunshine fool ya. - Townes Van Zandt
Two things
1) my name is Andrew, buddy.
2) What is a helicopter parent?
"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=helicopter+parent
Don't give up, don't ever give up. - Jim Valvano
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Jan 4, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
huh
I love learning new words and idioms, but I’m not sure how that applies to an argument about whether or not Jon Heyman is stupid because he refuses to make his statistical analysis any deeper than the misnamed wins and losses?
"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"
Glad to see Sports Legends doing well.
I was worried the O’s crappy performance was going to doom that place.
From the Land of Pleasant Living...
I really hope the Outside Pitch makes a lot of money
they deserve it just ‘cause their scorecards are 10X better than the crap inside the stadium. THe outside pitch is basically run by BSM by now, I’d guess. BSM is like their biggest advertiser.
The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST
by the fix is in on Jan 4, 2010 7:40 PM EST up reply actions
The Red Sox's defense will be insane next year.
They’ll have high caliber defenders at LF, CF, RF, 3B… hell every position except for SS and C.
Vizzini: Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates?
Man in Black: Yes.
Vizzini: Morons.
beltre would have cost us $15M not $10M
"I doubt he could reach [second base]...mostly cuz his fucking arm was in Aybar's nuts." – twistedlogic
by zknower on Jan 4, 2010 10:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
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