LouisEly

The collective brain power of this site is amazing, and I tried this before here with just as little information and found what I was looking for, so I'll try it again. I'm trying to figure out the title and artist of a song I've heard a few times. It is a techno/trance song, and I heard it most recently last Saturday night on Sirius 36 during their Adrenaline show, and have heard it a few times before that. It has a female vocalist, the lyrics are something like this: "Much too close to heaven, but it's close enough for me..." I tried searching those lyrics, but no luck. Anyone here know what the title and artist might be?

Seattle fan in-game passion generally consisted of the following: A) Cheering when the scoreboard told them to B) Supporting Mariner players that were nice and/or cute C) Butchering the snapping portion whenever the Addams Family theme played over the PA system D) Loudly and angrily screaming "balk!" whenever an opposing pitcher stepped off the mound Classic!

TheCrew got it. There are about twice as many A ball teams as AA (and I think some teams like the Yankees have three A ball teams). So at best only the top half of A ball players make it to AA; plus add in the career minor leaguers/roster fillers/major league rehab stints, and that means only the top 1/3 or so of A ball players make it to AA. At every other level there are the same number of teams from one level to the next (rookie to A ball; AA to AAA; AAA to majors), except A to AA. A+ isn't really that much different from A ball. Many top prospects go right from low A to AA (Fielder, Gwynn, Weeks, Sheets, Sarfate, Rottino all skipped A+; Hardy and Hart skipped low A). Top picks often start at low A, and if they tear that up go straight to AA; high school players who tear up rookie ball sometimes go straight to A+ and skip low A. Usually the top prospects skip one level of A and/or spend half the season at low A and the other half at A+.

My $0.02 since I've lived here 3 years: 1) Traffic is horrible. Depends on where you are coming from though. If you are coming from West LA/Beverly Hills, take Olympic east to Figueroa north to Sunset west and follow the signs to parking. If you are coming from the south, take the 110 freeway North to the Figueroa exit, then Figueroa north to Sunset west. The 110 will be fine until Figueroa. Avoid the freeway once you get to downtown, because you have the 10, the 110, and the 101 all merging just south of the stadium, and it seems like everyone is trying to cross three lanes. Not sure about coming from the North or East of the stadium - I'm not sure there is intelligent life north or east of there. 2) Agree - get lower level seats. You can't walk around the stadium. But you can move around in the lower level. Don't sit anywhere in the bleachers - they are obnoxious and care more about tossing around a beach ball than watching the game. 3) According to the latest issue of the Leinie Lodge newsletter, they now serve Leinie's in Dodger stadium, but I'm not sure where. I didn't see it in the lower level - maybe it's in the restaurant in the club level. Call Leinies or Dodger stadium to find out. 4) There is no tailgating, and food is expensive. Best bet - find a Subway/Quizno's/In-N-Out somewhere along the way and bring it with you and fill up before you go in. You can't grill out, but you can eat in the parking lot. Or stop at McDonalds and get a 42 oz. drink for $0.69 (or a large cup from any fast food restaurant) and then pour your beer into that cup in the parking lot so it looks like you are drinking a soda from McDonalds. Enjoy the game!

2.5 more years for a 35 year-old is forever Good leftys pitch until they are 43 (see: Franco, John; Glavine, Tom; Stanton, Mike; Moyer, Jamie). Heck, Shouse is 38. 35 for a lefty is just reaching their prime. Al, Attanasio owns the team now, not the Seligs. They gave $3M to a backup infielder this year; $4.5M for a good reliever is not out of the realm, especially if the other team picks up a significant portion of the salary. The added revenue of making the playoffs will more than pay for that salary.

Walker just signed a huge long-term deal. He's not coming to MIL. Huge? Walker's deal It's $3M this year, $4.5M each of the next two. That's not huge, and it's only two more years. If anything, that deal means that they would have to give up even less to get him, and the O's can always pick up part of that contract (see: Dessens, Elmer). I'd hardly say that puts him out of reach. (Edit: fixed busted link --1992casey)

If what they say about Parra - that it takes him a while to warm up because of his injury history - then that would make it hard to put him in the bullpen. LOOGY - Jamie Walker, Orioles. He has the experience from playing in the WS last year for Detriot. Good numbers - 3.23 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, .626 OPS-A. This year he has been even better vs. righties than lefties, but that defies his 3-year (2004-2006) average. Plus with his age - 36 - he wouldn't require a top prospect. The O's are out of it too, so they should be looking to retool. Marte would be good too. Pitched for White Sox in post season two years ago. Would probably have to give up more for him. Otsuka would be nice, and probably easier to get given his age (35). Gagne would cost a lot. Now is the time to use some of those mid-level prospects (Sarfate, Dillard, Nelson, Moss, Fermaint, Escobar, the glut of A/A+ OFs) to make a run for it.

No, it's not what people said about Hart. Hart didn't produce until he got regular playing time. He started producing last year when he finally got regular playing time. He started producing this year when he finally got regular playing time. Weeks has had regular playing time - what's his excuse? I get that some first rounders never make the bigs, but that shouldn't happen. And usually it's not the #2 overall pick in the draft; I understand that it happens (see: Taylor, Brien), but that's usually because of injury (see: Gold, JM; Jones, Mike; and not by waggling the bat in the dugout), stupidity on the players part (see: Taylor, Brien; Allison, Jeffrey; Harrington, Matt), or stupidity on the drafters part (see: Green, Chad; Krynzel, David; Peterson, Kyle; Williamson, Antone; Felder, Kenny - and none of those were the #2 overall pick).

unless you are judging him using your draft day expectations as the measuring stick. I think part of the problem is that people had such high expectations of Rickie. He really was more hyped than JJ Hardy and Bill Hall He should have higher expectations and be more hyped - he was the #2 overall pick in the draft for crying out loud! We should expect more than an average major leaguer from the #2 overall pick in the draft. A 6th round pick like Hall, or even a second rounder (like JJ), I would be happy with an average major leaguer. But not the #2 overall pick in the draft!

All I judge is what he's done as a professional hitter. Which, so far, has basically been diddley-squat. I think it was Casey Stengel who said, "Potential is a French word - it means you're not worth a (darn) yet." Weeks has looked horrible lately. But his injury comparison to Hardy isn't apples-to-apples; Hardy's injury was to his leg, not to his arm, and anything on the arm is critical in baseball. Hardy's injury, if anything, made his swing stronger because he could only work upper body when he was recovering from the injury. Nik - I really hope you are right and 2007 Hardy = 2008 Weeks. But if someone is "injury-prone" at 24... what are they going to be at 30? Is Weeks going to be Hardy, or is he going to be Griffey and on the DL 13 times in the next 5 years?

I heard him in an interview talk about guys like this, who just keep getting people out. He loves 'em. Where was Melvin when Jack Krawczyck and that "soft-tossing lefty" whose name I can't remember (Lee? Threw high 80's, about 5-6 years ago, was in AA for like 3-4 years in a row before being lost in the minor league Rule 5 draft) were getting everyone out at A+ and AA but never saw AAA? Oh wait, he was in Texas, and we had the immortal Dean Taylor as GM.

This whole selection of pitchers for the NL is baffling... it reeks of managers calling LaRussa and saying, "I don't want my ace starter pitching in the All-Star game - pick a reliever instead, they're used to the work and it won't mess with my rotation." Really, how else do you explain Fuentes over Young, Webb, and Gorzelanny. And Sanchez as the Pitt rep over Gorzelanny or Snell. Please vote en masse for anybody other than that jackass Zambrano.

Capellan was never the player he was hyped to be coming from ATL. Maybe ATL knew something that we posters didn't, which is why we got him for Dan Kolb. (Along the lines of what someone else said, that trade basically was "horseBLEEP for horseBLEEP".) Regardless of whether it was laziness or performance-enhancing drugs, he never showed that high-90's heat that he was supposed to have. And righties who throw low 90's out of the bullpen who can't change speeds are nothing special if not very effective. Lots of possibilities. I could see Yo staying in the bullpen to limit his innings. Or Parra in the bullpen to limit his innings. I wouldn't mind seeing Thatcher or Balfour come up either. And they get rid of an attitude. Either way, I think it is an upgrade.

Thirded. Uh... you mean fourthed? I said it first!! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif Rosenthal's All Stars Byrnes, who plays all three outfield positions, would be Griffey's backup in right ? a role that also could be filled by Hart. Hey, somebody else thinks Hart is worthy. And he has Byrnes and Rowand going - Hart is basically the same player. (But then again, this doofus has only three Brewers going, but has four Phillies and no Brandon Webb, reigning Cy Young winner.)

Sheets with his 10th win today. 10-3, 3.20 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, pitching for the team with the best record in the NL... punch his ticket for San Francisco. The Brewers will get at least four: Fielder Sheets Cordero At least one of Hardy or Estrada And I say that at least one Brewer will be amongst the five players that fans will vote on for the final spot. If Hardy doesn't get selected, he will definitely be in the final five; in fact, they may put Hardy, Ramirez, and Rollins on the final five and let the fans battle it out for the third SS. Otherwise I'll bet it will be an OF, either Hart or Jenkins.

Dare I say... ... Mat Gamel, Professional Hitter

So who else was surprised to see Landry go so early? Yi was the right pick if they want to trade, as he had the most potential of any player available there. Hopefully he changes his mind, or the Bucks can swing a trade. If he doesn't sign, then let him sit out and not get paid. Makes him look like the bad guy and not the Bucks. I wish the Bucks would have traded down though. As far as the others, I believe that you don't draft a small forward with a top 10 pick. Small forwards are a dime a dozen.

Not bad guesses Schlitz, however Cincy is not good enough for Harang and Phillips to get in. I think they only go with two 2B (Utley and Uggla - hey, when is the last time every player at a position in an All Star game has had a last name that started with the letter "U"?), and I disagree w/McCann - Estrada is matching his production this year and Lo Duca is a bigger name. Here's my guess as the 19 position players: C: Martin (starter), Lo Duca or Estrada (again, best record in NL and LaRussa picking) 1B: Fielder (starter), Pujols, Dmitri Young (you're right - he's the WAS rep) 2B: Utley (starter), Uggla 3B: Wright (starter), Cabrera SS: Reyes (starter), Renteria, Hardy OF: Griffey, Beltran, Soriano (starters); Holliday, Bonds, C. Lee, Dunn or Byrnes I think the last position players picked will be either JJ Hardy (gets the nod over Ramirez because of better team record and too many Marlins with Uggla and Cabrera), Chipper Jones (I think he'll decline though to rest his injuries), or an OF (you laugh, but my guess is that it will be one of Dunn, Hart, Byrnes, Rowand, or Pence). My guess is Hardy and Byrnes (gets the nod over Dunn because of better team record). Edit: My bad, I thought the roster limit was 30 and not 32.

Looking at NL Pitching, I think they go with 13 pitchers: 1) Penny 2) Peavey 3) Young 4) one of Gorzelanny or Snell because PIT has to have a rep - my bet is Gorzelanny because of a better record 5) Smoltz 6) Webb 7) Sheets (I think he's as good as in with LaRussa making the selection and the Brewers having the best record in the NL) 8) Maine or Lowe (but not both) 9) Cordero 10) Hoffman 11) Saito 12) Wagner 13) One of Valverde (not a lock because of no name recognition and mediocre ERA), Isringhausen (LaRussa's guy and has a great ERA), or Morris (because the game's in SF)

All right, I'll say it... ... if Corey Hart stays hot through the weekend, what are the chances that he makes the All-Star team? He's not qualified yet, but is very close, and his .918 OPS would rank fifth in the NL amongst outfielders, behind only Bonds, Holiday, Griffey, and Dunn. (Well, actually 6th, as Hunter Pence is very close also, and his .960 OPS bests Hart.) Two strong arguments for: 1) His stats - .918 OPS, .315 BA, 10 HR, 31 RBI, 16 SB - that's pretty good all-around numbers 2) Like someone said earlier, don't underestimate the effect of being on the team with the best record in the NL. Remember all those last 15 years, when the Brewers only got one player on the team, and the reasoning was that many guys got selected over Brewers because they were on a first place team? Well, same goes. Example - no way Colorado gets both Holliday and Hawpe on the team with Colorado having a losing record. If it's down to Hawpe vs. Hart, Hart will get the nod. Same with Houston - no way do both Pence and Lee get on the team. The exception is Cincy, where I think Dunn makes it in addition to Griffey. Assuming the starters are going to be Griffey, Beltran, and Soriano, then they need to pick at least four more from: - Bonds - Holliday - Pence - Dunn - Hart - Hawpe - Gonzalez - Byrnes, Rowand, Lee, Nady, Bay I don't think it will be Nady or Bay - I think Snell or Gorzelanny will get the nod for Pitt. I don't think it will be Rowand - PHI will get Utley and maybe Howard, Rollins, or Hamels, and Rowand's stats are almost identical to Hart but Hart has done it in far fewer ABs. I don't think it will be Byrnes - ARI will get Webb and maybe Hudson, plus they are just as small of a market as MIL, and with LaRussa selecting he has seen Hart a lot more. I don't think it will be Gonzalez, as he would be behind Penney, Martin, and perhaps Saito and Lowe, and other than a good OBP he doesn't have any other stats that stand out. I don't think it will be Hawpe, as it is unlikely that COL will get two OFs on the squad. That leaves Holliday (lock), Bonds, Dunn, and at least one of Hart, Lee, and Pence. The wild card is Lee/Pence, as it will be one of those if they don't select Oswalt. The other wild card is Beltran - he may just opt out (the game is in SF, the other side of the country), and certainly by his stats he is not deserving of the selection anyway.

One of the links said that his son was so small that he was almost "dwarfish". Can't remember which one of the links it was. Benoit himself was pretty short - what, maybe 5'5"? 5'9" in wrestling boots with heels?

heard on 620 this morning that there was a chance of the Bucks trading with Philly to get their 2 first round picks. I don't see that being a good decision. Tier 2 in this draft starts and ends with Al Horford. You got that right about Horford. That is why I would welcome a trade down. There are just as many question marks about players projected to go around the 6th pick in the draft as any of the players projected to go in the mid or late first, and IMO, the difference between the quality at #6 and the quality at #16 or #26 is very small. So go with two picks instead of one. Remember - Robert Traylor was picked ahead of Dirk Nowitzki. It's not where you pick, it's whom you get at that slot. There's plenty of power forwards projected to go mid and late first; might as well get two picks and try to get both a point guard and a power forward, then hope Landry is around when they pick in the 2nd.

Yes, steroids are bad, however before pinning blame on the WWE, please realize that this has happened plenty of times before without involving steroids, such as with Andrea Yates. Regardless, it is just a horrible, horrible thing. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Benoit's wife and child.

If the Bucks were in need of a SF I would consider the Richardson trade, but SFs are a dime a dozen. They have Patterson, Simmons, and I called for picking Landry in the 2nd round weeks ago. SFs and SGs are the easiest to find, so if I'm going to trade the #6 pick it better be for a PG, PF or C. Brandon Wright - is he from UNC? If so, I heard rumours that he isn't the most motivated ("flashes" of brilliance often equals inconsistency which often equals lack of motivation). If so, I don't want the Bucks to touch him. I wouldn't mind the Bucks trading down to the middle of the 1st and pick up a first next year, as there are several decent PFs that are predicted to go mid-first.

So I said 6 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5K - do I win?