UndraftedFA

The game isn't in my market, so I am listening to it again. The radio guys keep mentioning that many of our at-bats are ending in hard hit outs(for the last few games now). Is that true, or just a rosy picture?

So is Ned a moron for not bringing in his best reliever in save opportunities? Isn't that what everyone gets so cranky about the closer role - it's a waste of the best reliever? Who is Ned's best reliever? Is a 2 run lead too big for Ned to expect Gagne to hold? Who is good enough to hold a two run lead? That is why I don't understand the harsh Yost critics. It seems as more time is spent running in circles trying to come up with new ways to blame Ned. I guess at least in to Yo injury thread, I read one poster admit that he has no intention of providing a fair analysis of the job Ned does.

Everyone wussed out on me. Booooo! Oh-well, I might have an exam the Monday after the series. I'll probably be exempt, but if I wasn't, Boston would be dangerous for my grades.

oh yeah. I remember watching Sir Mix-a-lot! Baby Got Back! Just had to hope mom or dad didn't walk in at that time, or else we would be in trouble.

My First car: 1991 Ford Escort GT! I had it for 10 years before I wouldn't bother trying to pass the emission test anymore. I actually made money on the car. It was totaled twice while I owned it. Once, I gently rolled over in a ditch during a snowstorm. It was scratched all over, so it would of needed to be repainted. I bought the car for $5150, and I got like $4800 from insurance after driving it 3 years already. I didn't bother with repainting, because the scratches were small. The second time, after telling a co-worker's friend not to hit the blue car on his way out of a party - he did. His Dodge truck didn't hold up to well compared to my Escort. He had $8000 in damage. The Escort certainly wasn't pretty after that, but all I did was put in a $40 tie rod end to get it going again. The insurance company gave me $3200 that time. I drove it for a few more years yet. I had some trouble passing emmisions, but got past it. The next time it was due for the test I decided I wasn't going to put anymore money into it. I sold it to a friend who does Enduro racing. I wanted the car to go out in style. She did, as he easily won the race with her. I always said that car should be in Ford's Hall of Fame. It was totaled 3 times (once before I bought it). I called it Christina for a while, because it just wouldn't die. I never really had any big problems with it either. I doubt I will have another car that I loved as much as that one. I sure miss it. So many stupid things were done in that car. When I bought it, I had the nicest car in the high school parking lot. I paid cash for it, and I was so proud of it. Then within a month a lot of people started taking out loans to get a car. Mine didn't stack up as nice anymore. However, it was a pretty sweet, paid-off ride for a 16 year old kid. I sure had a lot of fun with it. I even took it to the drag strip once. I didn't give 'er too hard off the line, because I didn't want parts laying everywhere 75 miles from home. It still ran a shade over 80 mph. Closer to home where I paced off a 1/4 mile, I think I got 88mph. My friends always called it the Racecort or the Ott Rod. My last name is Ott. Another fun fact: I have bought 3 cars and a truck. All 3 cars were purchased on the same day of the year pretty much by coincidence. The truck was off by exactly a month. Edit: Years - Oct. 27, 1995 - Oct. 2005

I guess I am more shocked that Parra wasn't sent down than getting rid of Turnbow or McClung. Parra is going to have to start getting deeper into games pretty quick. If the bullpen is run down, Dave Bush can take one for the team, Parra can't(At least he shouldn't). Before today's game, I thought it would be Parra and Stetter going down for Cameron and Dillon. Stetter has made a pretty good case to stay up though. I guess I have always thought a change of scenery would be good for Turnbow, but I felt if he could be the same pitcher he was most of last year, he would be more valuable to the team than a trade. I think I have finally swayed to think it just isn't going to happen. Yost is reluctant to use him in key situations, and we don't have many blow outs happening. He isn't going to get enough chances to ever really get back into a groove.

I just purchased a scooter. That sounds lame, but it's not. It's a 2007 Yamaha Majesty. It's 400cc and probably 470 lbs. fully fueled (that's bigger than some motorcycles). I'm still breaking it in, but they are capable of 100 mph and 75 mpg. Currently, I am getting 55 mpg, but it should get better once it is broken in. It's all city driving for me, so that cuts down the mpg too. I was spending $25-30/week for my Escort fuel needs. I fill the scooter with premium fuel for $10/week(Tucson, AZ gas prices). It doesn't need premium fuel though. I'm just breaking it in with premium. I figured I would save about $1000/year in gas. It was a leftover 2007, and I got it out the door for just under $6000(all the tax, title, set-up, etc included) with a $300 helmet and gloves thrown in. It's automatic, so it's easy to drive. It has tons of storage. I can put my school bag and a full-face helmet under the seat. I only have 600 miles on it so far, but I love it. It's easier to justify in AZ, because if I really want, I can drive it year-round. Honda makes a 650cc scooter, I don't know much about them. Suzuki makes the Burgman in both 400 and 650cc. I was originally looking at used Suzuki's. I don't know if they are popular enough in WI to find a used one in your price range. I would take a closer look at them though. They aren't cool and rumbly like a Harley. They aren't fast like a Sport bike, but probably have more pep than a lot of cars. They are just a great, practical machine. The storage was the selling point for me. Automatic transmission does it for others. I have a lot of co-workers searching around for big scooters now. These scooters have a cult following. I know the Majesty and Burgman each have their own message boards if you want to read some more about them. edit: I haven't had a passenger yet, but there is plenty of room for one. It's the first bike I have ever driven on the road. They are pretty easy to drive, so if the wife is inexperienced, it may be a good starting point for her. They do require a Motorcycle license.

He was shocked that Gabe was running in that situation. Not all the players have green lights to go at their own choice. I think Braun might be a guy that does have the green light though. I have read in previous seasons that Yost gives some players their own choice. I think there are a lot of mole hills here.

I agree that I would like to see Turnbow more. I don't think it is doing him any favors by not using him. It has got to be hard to stay sharp that way.

Dating a woman with a child is definitely a tricky thing, especially when you are both relatively young. I dated 2 women that had kids. The first when I was 21, she was 23. I had a great relationship with the kid, and I wasn't afraid of that part at all. She wanted to get married after 4 months. I had a lot of things I wanted to do for myself yet. I told her that I was really happy, but I wasn't going to get married until at least a year and a half of dating. I figured by then you'll go through enough things to know if it is the right person to spend the rest of your life with. She kept pressing the issue though, and eventually I told her, firmly, I wasn't going to do what she wanted. I tried breaking up with her, but I was happy with both her and her son, so we kept dating for a while longer. Things never changed though and she was in such a rush to get married. We were both firm in our positions, and it did lead to our demise. The hardest part of leaving was leaving the son. We did continue to hang out for about another year, and eventually she met the man she did marry. I thought I would never date a woman with a child again after that. I felt like I hung on too long because of the kid. My last GF had a daughter though. This time around I made sure that I was dating her for her, and not hanging on because of the kid. I was very excited about that relationship. Unfortunately, I met her after my plans were already in place for the move to AZ. She planned on moving here, but wasn't thrilled with it when she came to visit. She didn't want to be the reason I moved back, so she wouldn't even allow the relationship to continue. It is a very intimidating thing to know you are going to be a large influence on two people's lives, not just one. It is a big responsibility. There is a lot of questions that run through your mind? Can I handle it? Does she want it for the right reasons, or is it just because I am nice and responsible(a good father figure)? I think if you are genuinely happy, and believe she is too; go with it. If you want kids someday, even your own will give you a handful at times. I think it is something you will never feel completely ready for. You seem to be a good person, and you'll probably handle it better than most people. I think it is normal to be nervous, doubt yourself, or be afraid when you make choices that affect others lives. If you think she is a person that is worth it, I think you should fight through the fears. That said, there are plenty of people to date in this world. It probably is hard to judge if she is the one worth fighting for if she's the first relationship you have had.

Yo started 3 games for Nashville. I am pretty sure he was over 100 pitches in his last start there. It's not like it was his first time throwing this spring.

I second Guitar Hero! I picked it up last weekend while at Best Buy. It was an impulse buy. I don't think my calculus grades are in approval though. Gotta love getting booed off the stage for that Slayer song though!

Did I say not to have message boards or opinions? I don't think I did. Personally, I would have left in Suppan also, but I think the move to Shouse was a good move also. He could save the bullpen, but that is also the situation Shouse has a spot on the team for. I don't understand complaints about the "closer" when every manager does things the exact same way. I don't think Melvin is going to hire message board gurus to manage the team anytime soon. If they fire Yost, the next manager is going to do the exact same things. It will simply be a new guy to complain about(even if it is a message board guy). Yost gets railed on for going by the book. Yost gets railed on for going by feel. There is no agreement on what the man actually does wrong. My whole point is if everyone's opinion on a message board is suppose to be valid, why aren't Yost opinions valid? My problem isn't that people have different opinions. My problem is that people that become too narrow-minded to understand other's opinions. (pared back long nested quote --1992)

I don't think that people questioning moves in the IGT make them right anymore than hindsight either. It is easy to criticize other's work when you don't have to put your own opinions up for any accountability.

I am surprised no one else has posted this(from what I can see anyway). Free tickets to all active military members and their families. That must be a good chunk of change on his part. Glad to have him on our team for reasons like this. So here is a heads up for those who may qualify! Link Activated link - b19

I hope they remain in AZ as well.. I like it when they have games in Tucson, since I live here. If they move out of AZ, I will never have anyone visit me again. boo! They drive between Tucson and the Phoenix area isn't half bad. It is a lot shorter than a good number of the Florida drives. From what I have been told from the locals, the teams in Tucson were moving on soon too, I am pretty sure this is the last year the Diamondbacks AAA team is playing here.

I will go along the lines of logan. You of course need some similar interest and values, but the differences are what make a relationship interesting and exciting. I have found myself bored in relationships with female versions of me. The most accomplished relationship I have had until this point was with a woman who had many different interest than me. It got me to experience many things I probably never would have otherwise. The downside of those kind of relationships, is when they get mad at you, they say you are too different. Regardless, I don't have much interest in dating a female version of myself again. I want to be pushed into new and exciting things that life can offer. So, I think you know things you have in common. Find out what you don't currently have in common. Have an open-mind, and then see if you are excited. I am a firm believer that the differences are what makes or breaks a relationship. Somethings you will want to share, other things you'll want to save for alone time.

I always get a kick out of his interviews. When asked about Hurricane Katrina he responded something along the lines of, "I ain't afraid of no ternader!" He plays dumb in his interviews leading a lot of people to believe he is dumb. I can appreciate it, since I have the same sense of humor. Watching his first strikeout against the Giants on Sunday, I knew it was going to be a special game for him. Watching the way he pumped his fist, and then the strike zone. It was a treat.

Age 28, started going back to school part-time at 26 at UW-Washington County. I moved to Tucson, AZ and started at Pima Community College. I liked my Calculus teacher, so I will stick there until Junior status. Eventually, I will go to the University of Arizona for Mechanical/Aerospace engineering. The wages stink here, so I think next fall I am going to try and take 4 classes a semester and work the minimum to maintain insurance. I hope to be done in 3.5 years. Then from there I will try and find a job that will make it worth the effort of going to school. I made about $47,000 my last year in WI, I am lucky to get $32,000/year here as a toolmaker. When you are 28 and look 18, you don't get much respect. I think a few gray hairs are worth another $4/hour, even if you stink at your job! haha. All I can say is that I have a lot of respect for those who have made it through an engineering degree. I thought I was above average intelligence until I started going to school again. It's definitely not a degree you can get by without a good effort. There isn't a whole lot of free time for me. Spring break was this week, and I commented to my co-workers it felt like retirement! Back at Differential Equations and Vector Calculus tomorrow!

I don't think making a lineup built for more stolen bases necessarily means they steal more. As said before, it would look great in games when the HR's aren't coming.

Great thread! Made me laugh pretty good!

My Corneas were too thin, so I had to get PRK, rather than Lasik. It has a longer recovery time, but is a better overall procedure. Your eyes return to 100% strength. I don't think the flap they cut in Lasik ever completely heals. If you get jabbed in the eye, it can pop up (so I was told). Fighter Jet pilots get the surgery I had. They scrape the top part of your eye off to do the surgery. It grows back to 100%, but while it is healing, your vision is poor. After about a week, you are pretty close to 20-20. I did have some double vision for a while too, but it went away pretty fast. The last appointment I had, I was at 20-20. I know several people who do have stronger vision than me though. They might just have really strong eyes though. I am pretty happy with it. It was expensive, but I couldn't wear contacts anymore, and I wrecked a lot of glasses. I had the surgery done in AZ at a large chain called Nationwide Vision. I was a little leery when I found out the doctor had two rooms going that day, and did about 20 people on a Saturday. Everything worked out great though. It was probably no more than 10 minutes per eye. I think the laser hit for no more than 30 seconds tops. It stinks like burning hair though. I thought it was a really neat experience, but I can see some people freaking out. They offered Valium beforehand, but I didn't take it. When they are doing the cutting, it looks like a Pink Floyd light show, and then you lose your vision briefly. It was FUN! My main point is if they say you can't have regular LASIK, don't be afraid of PRK. It takes longer to heal and can be frustrating, but it is better than the constant frustration of uncomfortable contacts or broken glasses. When people ask me if I would recommend it, I always say, "It depends on the person. If contacts or glasses don't bother you much, and give strong vision; I would probably stick with them. I don't have anything bad too say about the surgery though." The only reason I don't give 100% endorsement, is because if you are happy with your current vision correction, it cost a lot of money for the surgery and to prevent the slim chance something doesn't go right. My Uncle's girlfriend had something go wrong, but it was fixed to the point she is very happy with it also. I have really dry eyes, and that is why contacts weren't working. They still feel dry at times, but it didn't get any worse for me. I hear people say that happens sometimes.

Hey buddy, that is the God of Wine isn't it? Are you drinking your master out of house and Home? I don't really fit your requirements, and I live in AZ, but I am going to wish you luck. It would be great to have the time to own a dog.

I moved here (AZ) a couple of years ago. For me it is tough. I am going to school part-time and working full-time. Unfortunately, I work 2nd shift now. It is near impossible to meet people that way. I can't do things at the same time as most people. I did know some people when I moved here, but they were all PhD. students. They all talked about staying here when I was planning the move, but they all seem to be leaving as they finish. By this summer, I will be alone. I'm frustrated because I have no idea what to do now. I think if my schedule was different I would be fine. I have had good times when I can escape work and studies for a little bit. If you are the type of person that makes friends easily and your schedule isn't like mine, I don't think you would have problems. Whether or not I decide to continue life here, I would never suggest a person not try it. No matter what, it is an experience you won't have otherwise. If it works out, great! If it doesn't, you can always move back knowing you gave it a shot.

I agree with gifted1. I think 2 situations that people blame Yost on the most are Aquino vs. Houston and Mench vs. Cubs. Neither one do I find to be as dumb as must people. I don't think double switching was a good option for the Houston game, so the pitcher's spot was due up pretty quick in the bottom of the inning. Aquino was facing Hunter Pence, who is pretty good and was able to hit a pretty good RHP in Sheets earlier in the game. I hardly think it was any guarantee the Coco shuts him down either. I think the defense was just as much to blame for that as well. He either would have had to bat Cordero when he needed runs, or PH for him and send someone else out for a full inning. In the Cubs game, I am pretty sure that Mench was about the only guy hitting the ball with any authority that night. Yes, it was against a LHP earlier, but the guy was seeing the ball well that night when hardly anyone else was. Mench's approach obviously stunk in that at-bat, but I put that on him, not Yost. I hardly think that since people complain about Yost moves in game day threads is any sort of indication that his logic is flawed. People hardly agree with each other about what the right moves are. Everyone has their own belief which is based on some points with merit. That includes Yost. It is easy to say someone else is wrong when you never even have to prove your own ideas are right. On a message board you have the luxury of assuming you are right. Yost is the only one who has his ideas tested. I think if Brewerfan.net was the next manager of the Brewers, there would be threads calling for Brewerfan.net's head with pictures of couches. I don't feel Yost is a bad manager at all. I think I remember seeing a suggestion to start a tally of all his "dumb" moves and see what it looks like at the end of the year. I think if fansites of other teams did the same thing, you would find pretty similar list. After one series, I have seen on Cardinal message boards that people thought our boneheaded Yost schooled LaRussa. I think through the course of the year, you will find plenty of threads asking for the manager's head for all 30 teams.