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Featured Story
The world came together last week at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS to measure how far we have come and chart a way forward to the end of AIDS by 2030. We've come very far, very fast, particularly in reducing new HIV infections in children. EGPAF's Chip Lyons discusses next steps toward and AIDS-free generation.
By Chip Lyons, President & CEO
On this day, Justice is leading the men in a workshop on sexually transmitted diseases and family planning. The three-hour session involves a lecture, a discussion, and a hands-on activity—the men exchange marked slips of paper to illustrate how sexually transmitted diseases are unknowingly passed from person to person. The men listen intently, ask questions, and voice their opinions.
By Eric Bond, EGPAF
July 6, 2016
Adult Care & Treatment, Maternal & Child Health, Pediatric Care & Treatment, Democratic Republic of the Congo, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, Women's Health
By Aurelie Panzu, Field Supervisor for EGPAF-DRC
June 22, 2016
Adolescent Care & Treatment, Adult Care & Treatment, Healthy Systems Strengthening, Kenya, Health Education, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment
It's 107 degrees Fahrenheit at midday in a village outside of Lodwar, Kenya. Goats and children dash across the sand, while most adults have retreated to the sensible shade of their manyattas, traditional family homes built of sticks, thatch, and mud. Two women in long white coats, Esther Kapoko and Anna Akeru, stride through the village.
June 16, 2016
Adolescent Care & Treatment, Kenya, Adolescent Health, Adolescent HIV
On June 16, 1976, more than 10,000 school children in the Soweto township outside Johannesburg, South Africa, marched to protest apartheid. Police fired into the crowd, killing 23 children and setting off the Soweto Uprising that resulted in hundreds of deaths. This day has been memorialized as the International Day of the African Child. It is a day for reflecting on the challenges, opportunities, and rights of African children—particularly when it comes to education.
June 6, 2016
By EGPAF
EGPAF's longtime partner, Jewelers for Children, announced its 2016 commitment to an AIDS-free generation with a generous $700,000 donation to help EGPAF reach more women, children and families with lifesaving programs.
June 2, 2016
By Kat Calvert, UP 4 THE FIGHT Top Fundraiser
Kat, the 2016 UP THE FIGHT Top Fundraiser, just finished her first year at the University of California Los Angeles. Before she heads to Zimbabwe with EGPAF in a few weeks, she took a minute to introduce herself and to explain her love for Africa, the Pediatric AIDS Coalition and Dance Marathon.
June 1, 2016
By Isabel Garcia, EGPAF Malawi
EGPAF partners with the Media Institute of Southern Africa to support the "Pediatric and Adolescent HIV" category as a way to inspire journalists to concentrate on important topics such as pediatric HIV. This year's winners assisted in spreading awareness of the epidemic in more ways than one.
May 25, 2016
By FLORENCE DZAME, COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY OFFICER, EGPAF KENYA
Musa Oloo, sits across the bench at Magina Health Center in Homa Bay County, Kenya, surrounded by women and nursing children. He is 72 years old; many years ago, a car accident left him an amputee. Amid the chatter of the women, he sits calmly next to his wife. He stands out as the only man attending a support group for mothers who are HIV-positive–
May 19, 2016
Adult Care & Treatment, Maternal & Child Health, Pediatric Care & Treatment, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Community-based Organizations, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, PMTCT
By Team EGPAF
Just days ago, the world celebrated International Day of Families. Here at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), we marked the occasion by celebrating children and parents around the world who are alive and healthy, thanks to testing, prevention, and treatment of HIV.
April 19, 2016
Healthy Systems Strengthening, Lesotho, AIDS Free Generation, Health Systems Strengthening , HIV Treatment
Last week, the Lesotho government, through the Ministry of Health, with support from EGPAF, celebrated the launch of "Test and Treat" guidelines for HIV throughout the country. Lesotho is the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to implement these new guidelines.
April 15, 2016
Pediatric Care & Treatment, Policy & Advocacy, Global, Pediatric Care and Treatment, Sustainable Development Goals, UNAIDS, WHO
By Tamar Gabelnick, EGPAF
On April 6th, the President of the General Assembly organized a Civil Society Hearing at UN headquarters in New York to formally gather civil society's input into the High Level Meeting (HLM) on HIV/AIDS, which will take place from 8-10 June 2016.
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when we are faced with making a decision and deciding between number of different vendors, we often use online reviews to help us make a final logical decision. However there has been a growing problem that has always been around, that fake reviews are often utilised by companies to either make their company seem better than it is or to tarnish the reputation of another company. We will show you 5 ways to be able to spot when this seems to happen and how to avoid making this mistake. Of course you won't be able to always spot this because companies are becoming more and more sophisticated when employing this practice.
1. Disregard the excessively negative and positive reviews
We all know that some people will all be unhappy and always find the smallest things to be upset about, whilst on the other end of the spectrum you will have people who are always overly happy. If every review is very negative or every single review is perfectly positive then you instantly know that there is something fishy going on and you will have to do a little more digging.
2. Minimum 20 reviews for each business
Ideally you want to see a reasonable amount of reviews before you can draw any conclusions and to be able to notice any significant trends that are taking place. A small handful of reviews will not be able to do this and 20 reviews is a good starting sample size that will allow you to see if there are any common patterns emerging.
3. Look for obvious red flags
An easy way to spot a fake or malicious review is to dig deeper in the users post history other than the review you are currently reading. Read the other review they have left for other businesses, services and products other than the one you're interested in. If they use the same language and same ratings for each review then they are either leaving fake reviews on purpose or they are an overly negative reviewer who can never be made happy and enjoys leaving negative comments. With this in mind you should hold less weight to users that are new and have only left a single review
4. Look for detailed reviews.
Avoid all reviews that are light on content and only provide abstract narrative about the customer service experience or product. Give more weight to the reviews that provide detailed descriptions and details about the actual quality of the project and the the actual people who completed the job. If you bare this in mind it is a lot easier to spot the untruthful reviews.
5. Beware of reviews using poor english.
Most genuine actual customers take a little more care with their spelling and grammar, and if the language is broken then it is most likely as a result of using an online translator. This is a common practice used by foreign firms who are paid by UK businesses to post untruthful reviews. Of course a genuine user may write poorly but more weight should be favoured to reviews that are well thought out and constructed with care using precise english and grammar.
6. Search for video reviews
Using youtube you can find hundreds of reviews especially for construction where the reviewer will actually show you the work that the business has completed. These are much more accurate as you can see the results for yourself and its much harder to make false reviews. Just search for them using poplar video websites such as youtube such as the one shown below
So now you have the necessary information to be able to only trust and spot real reviews. We'd love to hear your stories.

subset: commoncrawl


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Results tagged ' Tim Lincecum '
Free Agent Fits: Where Remaining Free Agents Should End Up
With so many big names finding homes, teams with holes are trying to find the appropriate signing to fill them. There are still plenty of names who make sense for so many teams, but let's take a look at some great potential landing spots for some of the remaining unsigned players.
Rickie Weeks, 2B/OF
Good Fit: Cleveland Indians
Weeks was released last June by the Seattle Mariners after hitting just .167/.263/.250 over 84 plate appearances with the club. He failed to latch-on elsewhere after his release, which shows a lot about his career demise. While Weeks never became the same type of hitter that he was expected to become as the #2 overall pick out of college, he was an All-Star and had several productive seasons. Even after fading over the last several seasons, Weeks has a 162-game average of 28 doubles, 21 home runs, and 17 stolen bases. Now, at 33, Weeks could use his versatility to become a tremendous low-risk gamble for a club like the Indians, who will need to replace the versatility that they lost with Mike Aviles departure. Cleveland has stashed several versatile players over the last few years (Nick Swisher, David Murphy, Carlos Santana), utilizing their roster space in a very effective way. With Jose Ramirez filling the super-utility role, Weeks would be capable of manning the Ryan Raburn role from the last couple of seasons for Terry Francona and Company. Nothing more than a minor league deal, here, but certainly one worth trying out.
Dexter Fowler, OF
Good fit: Milwaukee Brewers
Fowler was a tremendous addition for the Chicago Cubs last season, showcasing his ability to get on base (84 walks) and score runs (102) with unique blend of skills. While he isn't going to be mistaken for Mike Trout with the bat or Kevin Kiermaier with the glove, he can drive the ball, evidenced by 54 extra-base hits, and run (20 stolen bases). He turned down a qualifying offer, which is leading to some lack of interest in the open market, as teams continue to be weary of giving up a draft pick as compensation. With that being said, the Brewers have a protected pick and a possible need for a center fielder. With Domingo Santana currently listed as the club's starter, it would make sense for Milwaukee to sign Fowler to a deal and look to deal him if they are as miserable as they were last season near the deadline. While Santana is just 23, if the Brewers were to attempt to improve their roster, they would get someone who hasn't looked overmatched at the position, as the young outfielder has struck out 77 times in 177 at bats (43% of his at bats). Fowler would become a nice leadoff option, setting the tone for Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy; however, the Brewers would need a lot more help than Fowler to become legitimate contenders.
Matt Joyce, OF
Good Fit: Tampa Bay Rays
Joyce had some solid seasons in Tampa and would be a great bench option for the club, as long as he didn't need to get everyday at bats. Joyce has no chance against left-handed pitchers, having posted a career .180/.252/.302 triple-slash in 382 career plate appearances; however, his .253/.348/.447 line against right-handed pitching would make his a very nice use of a roster spot for the Rays. Having come off the worst season of his career (.564 OPS), the possibility of getting him for a next-to-nothing gamble price is right up the Rays' alley, as well. With Desmond Jennings' inability to stay healthy and a possible opening at DH, this could be a reasonable reunion.
Domonic Brown, OF
Good Fit: Cincinnati Reds
With the recent trade of Todd Frazier and the continued rumors surrounding Aroldis Chapman and Brandon Phillips, the Reds are in sell-mode. Due to all of the deals, they have a gluttony of inexperienced outfielders, including Adam Duvall (acquired from San Francisco in the Mike Leake deal), Scott Schebler (acquired in the three-way deal with Los Angeles and Chicago for Frazier), and Rule 5 draftee Jake Cave (selected from the Yankees). While Jesse Winker, one of the club's top prospects, readies himself in Louisville this season, it wouldn't be a terrible choice to give the left field job to former Phillies' top prospect Brown, who, in 2013, was an All-Star, and now, at the tender age of 28, is jobless and in need of a revival. If you look back at the archives for this site, you'll see quite a bit of love for this young man, and, as a Reds' homer, he'd be a welcomed addition to this writer's hometown team. Brown was granted free agency back in October and still hasn't found a home. I'd be willing to open-up my extra bedroom if the Reds would give him a long look in 2016, struggles from 2015 and all.
Good Fit: New York Yankees
The Yankees have been shopping Andrew Miller this offseason and they have a great replacement in the closer role in Dellin Betances; however, the rest of their bullpen is an interesting blend of young nobodies, as the only remaining bullpen arm outside of Betances, if the club was to deal Miller, with viable innings from 2015 would be 25-year-old Chasen Shreve. Enter Janssen, who is two years removed from closing for the Toronto Blue Jays. He had a less than stellar season in Washington last season, but he has only walked 2.2 per nine over his career and, at 34, should have enough left to add much-needed depth to the Yankees' bullpen. He was bought out by the Nationals after earning $3.5 million in 2015, so he could be a nice, cheap option in a down reliever market.
Tim Lincecum, RHP
Good Fit: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers were willing to give Brett Anderson $10 million for one-year last winter and Brandon Beachy a few million dollars to rehab with the club, so gambling on Lincecum, despite "The Freak" having a few down seasons, is something that the free-spending Dodgers may be willing to do. This is especially true due to the unknown future of Brandon McCarthy's elbow and Hyun Jin Ryu's shoulder. In addition, the lefty-heavy state of the Dodgers rotation (Clayton Kershaw, Ryu, Alex Wood, and Anderson) could use the right arm of Lincecum, even as a back-end option. At 32, the two-time Cy Young winner's career isn't ever going to rebound, but Chavez Ravine could do enough for him to make his numbers look respectable again, and the offense has enough firepower to help him out if he can't do it himself anymore.
Yoenis Cespedes, OF
Good Fit: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Cespedes is going to cost a lot of money and the Angels could use a couple of arms to stay competitive more than another bat. Still, the Angels could use an upgrade in left over Craig Gentry and Daniel Nava, and adding Cespedes to Albert Pujols and Mike Trout has to look pretty sexy on paper for Arte Moreno, who could use something positive after the Josh Hamilton fiasco. It will cost a pretty penny to sign the Cuban outfielder, but it would certainly be a solid addition to an already powerful lineup.
2015 Season Previews: San Francisco Giants
Over the next several weeks, The Baseball Haven will be creating season previews for all 30 MLB teams. You'll find their projected records (based on PECOTA records from Baseball Prospectus, as of 2/15/2015), each team's top three players (based on Steamer WAR projections from FanGraphs), and some valuable notes on each team, including likely bounce-back candidates, potential breakout players or fantasy sleepers, as well as a look back at offseason transactions which led to each team's projections. Stop back frequently to see where your favorite team ranks!
San Francisco Giants
2015 Projected Record: 84-78 (3rd in NL West, 9th in MLB)
Manager: Bruce Bochy (667-629 in eight seasons with San Francisco, 1,618-1,604 in 20 seasons overall)
Top Three Players: C Buster Posey (6.1), LHP Madison Bumgarner (3.5), 1B Brandon Belt (3.3)
Bounce-back Player: RHP Matt Cain
Since the start of the 2013 season, Cain has gone 10-17 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 274.2 innings and 45 starts. Over the previous four seasons, Cain had gone 55-35 with a 2.93 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 882 innings and 131 starts. The last two seasons, Cain has been on the disabled list four times and he has had two surgeries (bone chips removed from his right elbow and right ankle surgery to remove bone spurs). He was never on the disabled list prior to the 2013 season. Some people may think that the 30-year-old right-hander will be a bust after signing his mega-extension, but Cain has had some bad luck the last two seasons with his health, and he has still shown an ability to keep the opposition off the bases, despite the inflated ERA. Look for Cain to be a solid 1B to Bumgarner's 1A as he returns to form in 2015.
Fantasy Player to Watch: C Andrew Susac
Even with Brandon Belt at first base, it doesn't seem like a smart investment to have your best player at such a vulnerable position in the midst of a nine-year, $164 million contract. For that reason, and that fact that Belt would be an offensive upgrade in a corner over Gregor Blanco, you should keep an eye on Susac, a second round pick in 2011 out of Oregon State. Susac is a slugger with solid on-base skills, while providing a strong arm and solid, but not elite, defense behind the dish. While he is unlikely to log 400 at-bats in San Francisco, possibly even 200 in 2015, there will come a time when Susac is catching and Posey will be manning first base or another position, and this 25-year-old will be worth rostering.
Offseason Overview: The defending world champions lost their star third baseman, Pablo Sandoval, to the Boston Red Sox via free agency, but they did sign OF Nori Aoki and 3B Casey McGehee…Is that enough? The Giants held tight across the board, and they hope to survive with their very good rotation until Hunter Pence returns from his broken forearm to help the offense score some runs. Why fix what has been working? Sandoval was good but not great, and they'll benefit from the on-base skills from Aoki at the top of the order. That was a sneak-good signing, and the pitching is still there to be competitive.
The Verdict: Well, it isn't an even year, so the Giants can be written off as champions, since they've won in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Maybe next year, they can continue on with their pattern. The 2015 season will be quite interesting. They'll hope to get some value out of the two-year, $35 million deal they gave Tim Lincecum after his horrific 2012 and 2013 seasons, and they'll look for continued dominance by Bumgarner, who had one of the most historical performances in baseball history down the stretch and in the playoffs last season. The Giants continue to coast with what they have, adding aging pieces in areas of need, continuing to watch Posey and Pence carry a very average (or worse) group of hitters. If they were able to add something more than what they did this winter, perhaps they could have been capable of repeating, but they'll settle into the middle of the NL West with another above .500 record, preparing to pounce on some free agents after the 2015 season.
- 2015 Season Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks (3/1/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Atlanta Braves (2/28/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Baltimore Orioles (3/4/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Chicago Cubs (4/1/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Chicago White Sox (3/4/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Cincinnati Reds (3/11/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Colorado Rockies (2/24/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Houston Astros (3/1/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Kansas City Royals (2/25/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Milwaukee Brewers (3/11/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Minnesota Twins (2/21/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: New York Mets (4/1/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Philadelphia Phillies (2/20/2015)
- 2015 Season Previews: Pittsburgh Pirates (3/22/2015)
- Season Previews: Miami Marlins (3/25/2015)
Pitchers Who Won't Come Up Short
Too small, too fat, too slow, too skinny. These are just a few of the labels that players are given to create an industry-wide opinion as to who will, won't, can, or can't achieve success in Major League Baseball. However, when you consider that Chicago Cubs' scout Duffy Dyer said that Greg Maddux wasn't "strong enough to be a starter" in his scouting report in 1985, it would become quite easy to question those so-called brilliant minds within baseball's organizations. We all know now that Maddux would go on to win 355 games in his career, becoming a first-ballot Hall of Fame member in the Baseball Writers Association of America's vote from earlier this month.
After spending some time collecting easily attainable data, it became evident that scouts are still on a warpath when it comes to the ideal body of a major league pitcher, thinking that the strong, 6'4″, 205 to 235 pound frame that came along with Roger Clemens, is the "norm" for all starting pitchers. How soon scouts forget the apparent aid that Clemens was receiving to maintain his large trunk-like legs and tremendous fastball into his 40's, while assuming that there aren't pitchers hovering around the 6′, 170 pounds that Maddux took to the mound during his career. Pitchers continue to look more like small forwards and shooting guards in the NBA, possessing enough size to make Spud Webb run in fear, while going eye-to-eye with LeBron James.
But, why does the philosophy of monster starting pitchers continue to be such an industry-wide ideal when you consider the data that is out there and the names who have proven that bigger isn't always better?
When taking a look at the most valuable starting pitchers in the history of baseball (based on Baseball Reference WAR), you can see, below, that the average height and weight of the top 25 pitchers in baseball history is 72.68 inches (6'0″) and 186.96 pounds.
Comparatively, the top 25 starting pitchers from 2011 through the 2013 season look like this:
Certainly, the philosophies that have big, strong pitchers has driven the average height and weight of starting pitchers from the long-term success, Hall of Fame caliber 6′, 187 pounds to the nearly 6'4″, 218 pound forces who toe the rubber today.
The innings, number of pitches, and dominant strikeout totals are clearly different today, but the dominant, powerful arms weren't just limited to today, and certainly not to those who stand approximately 76 inches tall. Year round training, supplements (legal and illegal), and the millions made playing baseball allow today's athlete the opportunity to focus on their bodies and their long-term success and care, but are they truly better off than those who came before them?
Bob Feller was 6′, 185 pounds and possessed an impressive fastball, posting a Fifty Foot Equivalent of 107.6 miles per hour, the second fastest fastball ever. Having missed three seasons due to serving in World War II, Feller still accumulated 266 wins and over 2,500 strikeouts while missing his age-23 through age-25 seasons. If you take away the nine starts that Feller had in 1945, upon his return from war, and the three seasons that he missed while fighting, from 1938 through 1951, ten full seasons, Feller posted a 211-118 record, pitched in 403 games, logged 2,896 innings, and tossed 224 complete games for the Cleveland Indians. Feller's career derailed shortly thereafter, as he never reached 200 innings after his age-32 season (1951), and he retired in 1956 at the age of 37.
One could argue that with today's monitoring of pitcher workloads, Feller may have held onto his stuff, strikeout rates, and career a bit longer. But another argument is that Feller never would have been in the majors at the age of 17, as he was in 1936, and that he may have been a bullpen arm due to his small stature.
After all, when pitchers have electric stuff, like an Aroldis Chapman's fastball, isn't it presumed that it is quite unlikely that said pitcher's stuff could hold up over 100 pitches and 200 innings, which is why Aroldis Chapman is pitching in relief still? Chapman, after all, is 6'4″, 205 pounds, nearly the epitome of an ideally built staff ace.
But I digress.
For so long, labels have been slapped on pitchers to say that they are bullpen bound, not durable enough to start, or unable to repeat mechanics due to unorthodox deliveries or release points. With Whitey Ford (5'10", 236 wins, 1974 Hall of Fame) and Pedro Martinez (5'11", 219 wins, on the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot) leading the ranks of "tiny", dominant arms, there will be others following current shorties like Tim Lincecum (5'11", two-time Cy Young winner), Craig Kimbrel (5'11", 138 saves and 341 strikeouts over his last 206.2 innings), Kris Medlen (5'10", 30-13, 2.96 ERA in 61 starts), and Johnny Cueto (5'11", 33-16, 2.61 ERA over his last 68 starts and 433.2 innings).
Here are some short future stars to keep an eye on in coming seasons:
Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Yordano Ventura, RHP, Kansas City Royals: 5'11", 180 pounds
Marcus Stroman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays: 5'9″, 185 pounds
Julio Urias, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers: 5'11", 160 pounds (he's only 17)
Rafael Montero, RHP, New York Mets: 6'0″, 170 pounds
Jose Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins: 6'0″, 187 pounds
J.R. Graham, RHP, Atlanta Braves: 5'10", 190 pounds
Victor Sanchez, RHP, Seattle Mariners: 6'0″, 255 pounds
C.J. Edwards, RHP, Chicago Cubs: 6'2″, 155 pounds (already has the too skinny label, but he can blow it by everyone in the minors)
For more information on short starting pitchers and their tall impact on baseball, visit these links:
2014 MLB Free Agency: Pitching: What's Out There For Your Team
Another season has finished and with only ten teams having successful, playoff-bound seasons, it is time for the other 20 teams to look forward to the 2014 season. After 162 games, you probably have a pretty good idea of what your team needs. Below, you'll find a list of upcoming free agents. Who would you like your team to sign? Comment away!!!
Matt Garza, RHP, 30; Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP, 30; Josh Johnson, RHP, 30; Scott Kazmir, LHP, 30; Tim Lincecum, RHP, 30; Ricky Nolasco, RHP, 31; Ervin Santana, RHP, 31; Masahiro Tanaka, RHP, 25;
Needless to say, it is a weak, weak market this offseason. The Wild Card is Tanaka, who could be posted by his Japanese club. The youngest of the group, Tanaka has a 1.44 ERA over the last three seasons in 580.1 innings. At 6'2″, 205 pounds, Tanaka is more Yu Darvish (6'5″, 225) than Daisuke Matsuzaka (6′, 180), but he should fall somewhere in between. Garza wasn't really all that productive after moving to Texas in a mid-season trade, and after battling elbow issues prior to the deal, his market may be very weary in its development. Johnson had an absolute nightmare of a season in Toronto, posting a 6.30 ERA over 16 starts (81.1 IP) before being shut down in late August with a forearm strain. Lincecum has shown some positive signs of his former self, but his fastball velocity continues to decrease and his previous contract (two-year, $40.5 million) seems highly unattainable. The remaining four, Jimenez, Kazmir (who sat in the mid-90's all season, stayed healthy, and is young enough to produce through an extended contract), Nolasco, and Santana, had the best seasons of those reaching free agency in the coming months, but none of them are elite. On a good team, none of them should be more than a No.3 starter.
Bronson Arroyo, RHP, 37; A.J. Burnett, RHP, 37; Bartolo Colon, RHP, 41; Freddy Garcia, RHP, 37; Roy Halladay, RHP, 37; Hiroki Kuroda, RHP, 39; Ted Lilly, LHP, 38; Roy Oswalt, RHP, 35; Jake Westbrook, RHP, 36; Barry Zito, LHP, 36;
This group is full of guys who have performed very well at times over the last few years. Burnett has been lights out for Pittsburgh this season (209 K, 3.30 ERA in 191 IP), Dan Haren had a 3.29 ERA over his final 16 games (87.2 IP), Kuroda has a 3.40 ERA over his first six seasons in America, and Arroyo hasn't missed a start in his career. The rest of the group is kind of all over the place, some battling through various injuries and others battling through inconsistencies that come with aging and the loss of stuff. This group could be pretty affordable due to their age and limitations, but they could be very valuable for whoever signs them, tossing useful innings or providing leadership within a rotation and clubhouse.
Reclamation Projects
Scott Baker, RHP, 32; Gavin Floyd, RHP, 31; Phil Hughes, RHP, 28; Colby Lewis, RHP, 34; Shaun Marcum, RHP, 32; Mike Pelfrey, RHP, 30; Edinson Volquez, RHP, 30; Chien-Ming Wang, RHP, 34;
Several guys here coming off of injuries, while some have just long been ineffective, like Hughes and Pelfrey (who seemed to find a tick on his fastball late in the year). While none of these guys are locks to fill a rotation spot, they could become the 2014 version of what Kazmir provided to the Cleveland Indians. An incentive-laden contract for any of these pitchers is a worthy gamble by an intelligent club.
Grant Balfour, RHP, 36; Joaquin Benoit, RHP, 36; Joel Hanrahan, RHP, 32; Edward Mujica, RHP, 30; Fernando Rodney, RHP, 37;
Considering the young, affordable, internal options that have stepped up and become useful in the closer's role over the last several years like Craig Kimbrel, Greg Holland, and Kenley Jansen, as well as the highly-paid closers that have bombed (Francisco Cordero, Francisco Rodriguez, and Jose Valverde, for example), maybe the expensive, long-term deals that used to be handed out to closers in free agency could be a thing of the past. Not one of these free agents have maintained a closer's job for the last three straight years without interruption, and, for that reason, should sign at a relative discount when compared to deals in years past.
Matt Albers, RHP, 31; Joba Chamberlain, RHP, 28; Jesse Crain, RHP, 32; Jason Frasor, RHP, 36; Rich Hill, LHP, 34; J.P. Howell, LHP, 31; Matt Guerrier, RHP, 35; Boone Logan, LHP, 29; Javier Lopez, LHP, 36; Oliver Perez, LHP, 32; Francisco Rodriguez, RHP, 31; Joe Smith, RHP, 30;
More pitchers who are all over the place in production and health, the relief pitcher is probably the most confusing position in all of baseball. Some dominate every year, like Mike Adams, and others, like Rodriguez, have been about as consistent as a politician. A tremendous bullpen typically happens due to gambling and winning on a risk, and being very, very cautious with how much money is given to free agents. None of these guys should receive more than $5 million per season, but it wouldn't be surprising if some unintelligent front office makes the bold move and sets the market way too high.
What If: ARod Ruined MLB's 2013 Season?
Alex Rodriguez hits 24th career grand slam, breaking tie with #Yankees Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig for most in #MLB history.
— STATS_MLB (@STATS_MLB) September 21, 2013
Sure, it's a home run in a game that may appear meaningless, but every game that Alex Rodriguez plays in 2013 that helps the New York Yankees in any way could destroy the integrity of the entire 2013 Major League Baseball season.
After Rodriguez broke Gehrig's grand slam record, the Yankees went on to beat the San Francisco Giants and Tim Lincecum 5-1 on Friday night in New York. The Bronx Bombers are now 22-18 (.550) with Alex Rodriguez after going 59-55 (.518) without him, and depending on the results of the Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers games tonight, the Yankees could be just 2.5 games out of the Wild Card after tonight.
Of course, the Yankees have had a little help late this season, getting solid production from Alfonso Soriano and Robinson Cano in the second half, but Rodriguez and his seven home runs, 18 RBI, and 126 wRC+ shouldn't be ignored, it is certainly more productivity than they were getting from their other third basemen, who combined to post a gross .208/.251/.283 line over 453 at-bats while compiling just 128 total bases in 114 games. Rodriguez has 56 total bases in 40 games and 142 at-bats.
The Yankees have a lot of teams to catch and with two games against the Giants, three against the Rays, and three against the Houston Astros, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that they could make a last minute push to playoff pay dirt.
But should Alex Rodriguez have been responsible for any of those wins, which he clearly has been, then how can Major League Baseball and Bud Selig sleep at night?
The information that the league apparently has against Rodriguez and the BioGenesis investigation was enough to suspend him through the 2014 season, but after allowing an appeal, which was necessary with the league's collective bargaining agreement, the league was forced to allow him to play until the appeal could be heard. Considering the resources that are available to the league, contacting and solidifying an arbitrator for a hearing was within reason well before today…hell, the league should have been on the phone and had a hearing set roughly ten minutes after the suspension was handed out on August 5.
After watching Matt Kemp lose out on the NL MVP in 2011 due to another BioGenesis product, Ryan Braun, and all of the hoopla surrounding Braun's bastardizing of the entire process and system that goes along with testing and collection, MLB can't afford another player impacting the validity of a 162-game marathon due to their impression on the outcome of 40 to 50 games that they shouldn't have been a part of to begin with…not when it is a single player, who could have easily just been suspended.
Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds have tarnished the record books with their use of performance-enhancing drugs, but the players who don't have enough personal worth to be successful with their own god-given gifts don't have to be capable of making it all about them forever. Selig should have manned up weeks ago for the integrity of the game. Alex Rodriguez shouldn't play another game in 2013 and his suspension should be upheld immediately because you can't go back in time to fix something that has already happened. Winning 22 games with Alex Rodriguez in the lineup or acknowledging any of the 21 runs that he has scored this season are already examples of opposing teams being wronged by a policy, a policy maker, and a player that don't have the testicular fortitude to do what is right for the game that they are there to serve, protect, and love.
Either be consistent by upholding a policy that was put in place to protect the integrity of the game or allow the league to be pushed over by the strongest players union in professional sports. You can't really have it both ways. If Selig wants to change things, he needs to get Rodriguez off the field immediately.
Lincecum-ing Around?
Tim Lincecum won back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2008 and 2009 and was an All-Star four consecutive seasons (2008-2011), but in 2012, it all fell apart. Two things happened in 2012:
1) Lincecum was getting big-time money in the first year of a two-year, $40.5 million contract (he did earn $14 million through arbitration in 2011), and…
2) Lincecum's fastball dropped from 92.3 miles per hour in 2011 to 90.4 miles per hour in 2012 (FanGraphs)
We could add that a third thing happened, as well: Lincecum was absolutely lit up, as he posted a 5.18 ERA over 186 innings and 33 starts before being relegated to a relief role (where he pitched very well) in the postseason. He had just 13 quality starts in his 33 tries (39 percent) and his home run rate, which had never been higher than 9.9 percent, ballooned all the way up to 14.6 percent.
The first two months (11 starts) were about the same for "The Freak" in 2013, as he posted a 5.12 ERA over 65 innings, with just three quality starts. However, something changed in June.
Since June 1, Lincecum has started 12 games and posted a 3.35 ERA and eight quality starts, including a no-hitter on July 13 against San Diego. If you take away his start against Cincinnati the next time out, when he allowed eight runs in just 3.2 innings, due to Lincecum throwing 148 pitches in his no-hitter, his ERA would have been just 2.54.
Lincecum's strikeout rate has improved, as he has an 82:22 K:BB in 78 innings over this time, a 9.46 K/9 rate, and after having just one double-digit strikeout game in 2012, he has three this season, all in the month of July. While his strikeout rate, even when he was struggling in 2012, never dropped below 9.00 over 9 innings, it is fair to wonder if Lincecum has learned how to pitch with the stuff that he has now as opposed to trying to overpower the opposition with a weaker fastball.
As recently as July 13, there were reports that Lincecum could have been traded to the Detroit Tigers and converted into a reliever, which may have obliterated his earning power as he hits free agency after the 2013 season. Luckily for him, and the Giants (who are reaping the benefits of his sudden effectiveness thanks to their patience), that trade didn't happen. Considering Lincecum only has one regular season appearance out of the bullpen (4 IP, 4 BB, 4 K in 2008), that could have been a risky mid-season assumption for success. Clearly, his 2012 postseason (when he made five appearances over 13 innings with a 0.69 ERA and 17:2 K:BB) was a factor in the rumors, but the San Francisco Giants appear to be holding out hope that Lincecum will decline a qualifying offer so that they can get a draft pick for their former ace.
Whatever the background or reasons are for Lincecum's success recently, it is definitely a positive for him as he heads towards being a free agent. He could very well earn a multi-year deal after looking like a lost cause just a couple of months ago. Stars doing what they do best is good for baseball, and Lincecum was a beloved figure in the Bay Area, with good reason, due to his success (and the team's success) during his tenure there. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that the Giants re-sign Lincecum, especially with Matt Cain looking a lot like the 2012 and early-2013 version of Tim Lincecum, outside of a few solid recent starts.
The Surprises of the First 10 Days
It is still early in the baseball season, but with about a week and a half gone since opening night, we've seen a near perfect game for Yu Darvish and plentiful RBI for Chris Davis. While Darvish was expected to take another step towards stardom this season, Davis' production is still quite a surprise to some, though power has always been a part of his game.
10 Days in, what are the biggest surprises of the 2013 season?
Carl Crawford, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers: .458/.519/.542, 2 2B, 2 SB
Crawford isn't necessarily setting the world on fire, but the fact that he has played in all seven games for the Dodgers is shocking, considering his availability for opening day was in question since he didn't make his Cactus League debut until March 23. While he has just two extra-base hits out of his 11 total hits, the fact that Crawford is running (though he's just 2 for 4 on stolen base attempts), and productive in a loaded lineup are reasons enough to begin to wonder if he can return to his glory days of Tampa, rather than the disappointment that he had been in Boston. If Crawford stays productive around Matt Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez, the Dodgers will get out of the NL West basement rather quickly.
John Buck, C, New York Mets: .393/.387/.859, 4 HR, 14 RBI
After watching Ike Davis tear apart pitching in the second half, you may have expected him to be the leader of the New York Mets this season; however, it's the guy who was supposed to just be keeping a roster spot warm for Travis d'Arnaud, the slugging catching prospect that the Mets acquired from Toronto in the R.A. Dickey deal, John Buck. Buck has been mashing to this point, ranking second in the majors in RBI (behind Chris Davis) and tied for second in home runs. With the Miami Marlins around, the Mets should feel comfortable about not finishing last in their division, but Buck has led the Mets patchwork pitching staff, dominated by Matt Harvey's emergence as an ace, to a solid start.
Jean Segura, SS, Milwaukee Brewers: .458/.500/.750, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI
It's too bad that Segura exhausted his rookie eligibility last year, otherwise, he'd be leading the pack in the early stages of the season for the title of NL Rookie of the Year. Segura had 151 at-bats last season (166 plate appearances), but he looks like he learned a little after hitting just .258/.315/.325 in 2012. The 23-year-old shortstop has a very interesting tool-set, with solid gap power and speed, which will allow for solid run production in a lineup with a healthy Aramis Ramirez, Corey Hart, Rickie Weeks, and Ryan Braun…the only problem is that getting all four of those guys on the field at the same time may be harder than finding a needle in a haystack.
Matt Harvey, SP, New York Mets: 2-0, 0.64 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, .093 BAA, 14 IP, 19:4 K:BB
I mentioned Harvey under Buck, but it is worth noting again…he has been nothing short of dominant. He's allowed just 8 baserunners over two starts, and the strikeouts limit the scoring opportunities, as well. Harvey had a 2.73 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 70:26 K:BB in 59.1 innings last season. Like Segura, just missing rookie eligibility in 2013, but a dynamic starting pitcher for a team desperate for pitching in the Mets.
Jeff Samardzija, SP, Chicago Cubs: 1-1, 2.63 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, .125 BAA, 13.2 IP, 22:5 K:BB
The former Notre Dame wideout is leading the majors in strikeouts early in the season and appears to be heading towards super-stardom ..which is why I traded him for next to nothing in my dynasty league this offseason. He has a lousy team around him but the 28-year-old has some help on the way, and the Cubs have him under team control through 2015. While he may not win many games, his peripheral statistics could make him look a lot like Felix Hernandez in fantasy formats.
Ryan Hanigan, C, Cincinnati Reds: .043/.148/.043, 1 for 23, 2 RBI
The Cincinnati Reds are playing their 9th game of the season and Devin Mesoraco is making his second start of the season. As most people would like to do, you can blame Dusty Baker for his inability to find value in young talent, unless, of course, it is a pitcher whose career he can ruin. Mesoraco is a sinner for going 0 for 4 in his only start, drawing a walk in the Reds 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Washington Nationals. Apparently, he may only start in day games following a night game, which should be great for the 24-year-old's development. Ryan Hanigan, meanwhile, will continue to get the at-bats, and the Reds have to hope that batting 8th in the order doesn't allow clubs to assume that there are two easy outs every time through the lineup.
Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies: 0-4, 12.50 ERA, 2.17 WHIP, 18 IP, 19:11 K:BB in 4 starts
Halladay (0-2, 14.73 ERA, 2.45 WHIP) and Hamels (0-2, 10.97 ERA, 1.97 WHIP) have posted ugly numbers to this point. Halladay's shoulder issues from last season and his drop in velocity, along with Hamels' shoulder soreness early in his offseason throwing progr am could be to blame for their struggles. Certainly, the Phillies have to be concerned, especially after dealing Vance Worley and Trevor May to Minnesota for Ben Revere, eliminating their ready or near-ready young pitching to replace Shane Victorino, who left for Boston this winter via free agency. Both starting pitchers earn substantial amounts this season (Halladay makes $20 million and Hamels makes $19.5 million), so a turnaround would be necessary for Philadelphia fans to not want to ring the Liberty Bell with Ruben Amaro, Jr.'s skull.
Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants: .091/.130/.136, 2 for 22, 1 R, 1 2B
After Belt hit .293/.362/.423 in the second half of 2012 and .410/.432/.833 this spring, the Giants had to be hoping that they had developed a solid, middle-of-the-order addition to pair with Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval. Things haven't gone as planned for Belt to this point; however, he has been dealing with some neck issues. The defending champions will hope that he gets that under control, as well as the skills that he showcased over the last couple of months during spring training.
Jason Heyward and B.J. Upton, OF, Atlanta Braves: 5 for 53 (.094), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 7 R, 19:7 K:BB
Heyward (.083/.267/.208) and Upton (.103/.212/.207) have combined for some pretty useless numbers. The Braves are 7-1 going into Wednesday's game despite the lack of production from two of their stars. Needless to say, Upton's pricey contract came with big expectations. We'll see if his big payday after leaving Tampa isn't going to take the same trip that Carl Crawford endured in Boston.
Carlos Marmol, RP, Chicago Cubs: 12.27 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, .444 BAA, 1-1, 1 for 2 in save opportunities
Considering the short leash that the Cubs had on Marmol, you have to wonder if it was even worth giving him a chance to prove himself or build trade value when there was a 70-30 chance that he was going to implode. And…implode he did. Kyuji Fujikawa has already replaced Marmol as the Cubs' closer, and his 8.10 ERA is solid since he is 2 for 2 in save opportunities. It's a process, Cubs fans, and you should be used to that by now.
Brett Myers, SP, Cleveland Indians: 0-1, 12.19 ERA, 1.94 WHIP, 7 HR allowed, 10.1 IP, 4:2 K:BB
When the Indians signed Myers, they wanted him to be a solid innings eating starting pitcher, allowing them to slide him into the No.3 spot in the rotation behind Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez. Myers was to provide solid depth due to Masterson and Jimenez lacking in their ability to throw strikes, resulting in high pitch counts and short outings. However, Myers was a risk since he had pitched out of the bullpen for the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox the last two seasons, and while he had transitioned from starter to relief and back to starter before in his career, guaranteeing Myers $7 million to do that again could leave Indians fans scalping themselves every fifth day. Myers has allowed SEVEN home runs in 10.1 innings, or about six every 9 innings. Some batting practice pitchers don't average that stat. Myers is either hurt or should retire, but there isn't any in between on those choices, and a neck injury from watching home runs could be to blame.
Tim Lincecum, SP, San Francisco Giants: 1-0, 4.91 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 11 IP, 11:11 K:BB
Well, after finding a groove as a relief pitcher in the playoffs last year, the Giants gave "The Freak" another chance in a starting role this season. He has only allowed a .175 average in his two starts, and if he wasn't shutting down those that do hit the ball, he'd have an ERA right around Halladay's. The free passes need to stop if Lincecum is going to re-establish himself as a valuable pitcher, and he needs to do that if he hopes to score a big contract as a free agent this winter.
How the Giants Can Repeat in 2013
The San Francisco Giants won the NL West, won three straight games in Cincinnati in the NLDS to stave off elimination, then won three in a row to stave off elimination against St. Louis in the NLCS, before having an easy go of things while sweeping the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 World Series. The Giants rode the wave of an amazing fan base (over 3.3 million at AT&T Park in 2012) and even more amazing pitching, developing a group of talented arms to lift them to their second championship in three seasons.
Looking ahead to 2013, the Giants have a few players that they may be concerned about as they reach free agency. Marco Scutaro, Angel Pagan, and Jeremy Affeldt played important roles in the playoffs, while Melky Cabrera (prior to his 50-game suspension) was a superstar and Ryan Theriot provided depth for the middle infield throughout the regular season.
Should the Giants bring back Cabrera, trusting that he can be an All-Star without synthetic testosterone, or should they count on the core that brought the team a title, re-signing Pagan and counting on Gregor Blanco in left in 2013? With Freddy Sanchez and his brittle body reaching free agency, can the Giants afford to let Scutaro, who hit .362/.385/.473 in 61 games with San Francisco, leave town?
While the champions have questions at second base and the outfield, they don't have many elsewhere on the diamond. Hunter Pence struggled to a .219/.287/.384 line once he was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies, but he is under team control for one more season, he is a solid regular in right field, and his useful right-handed bat will complement the order, allowing Bruce Bochy to have a switch-hitting Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey, Pence, and left-handed hitting Brandon Belt in the middle of the order. Belt finally has trust from Bochy, as well, taking over the first base job exclusively from Aubrey Huff and hitting .329/.401/.494 over the final two months of the season. Brandon Crawford showed that his slick glove can overcome his career .235/.299/.333 triple-slash, showcasing his powerful throwing arm and range for a national audience during the playoffs.
Beyond the everyday players, the Giants are absolutely loaded with pitching. Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Vogelsong, Barry Zito, and Tim Lincecum are all signed for next season. Some have wondered what Lincecum's role will be, especially after he thrived out of the bullpen in October, but he'll probably get a shot at the rotation before they pay him $22 million to be a relief pitcher in 2013. Speaking of money…Cain, Zito, and Lincecum combine to earn $62 million in 2013, while Vogelsong's $5 million and Bumgarner's $750,000 salaries are clearly bargains.
The bullpen is interesting, as well. Brian Wilson (aka "The Beard) is arbitration-eligible, so could he be non-tendered since Sergio Romo showed that he was capable of dominating as a closer in the playoffs and throughout the season? With Santiago Casilla as insurance in the closer role, it could be possible. Affeldt teamed with Javier Lopez as a dominating left-handed duo. If Affeldt is not re-signed, Jose Mijares, who posted a 2.56 ERA over 78 appearances (27 with the Giants), may see a bump in usage.
The San Francisco Giants are set up to be contenders again in 2013. While the team has a need in center or left field, depending on whether they try to re-sign Melky Cabrera or Angel Pagan, their most glaring hole will be the leadership and skills that second baseman Marco Scutaro brought to the club after being acquired from the Colorado Rockies. With a strong pitching staff from top to bottom, and a solid core of offensive talent, led by Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, and Hunter Pence, the Giants can and will continue to get by with very little offensive help from their other pieces. It is all because their rotation can be so dominant, as evidenced by their 71-49 record and 3.73 ERA in 2012.
Look for the Giants to find a way to keep both Scutaro and Pagan, their No.1 and No.2 hitters, and do very little else on the free agent market to keep the core of this talented group together. They really can't afford to do much else due to the contracts to Zito and Lincecum, but selling out AT&T Park and the revenue that comes along with 3.3 million fans and a title could lead to a surprise signing.
World Series Preview
With the Giants Game 7 win on Monday night in San Francisco, the world prepares for its series, with Game 1 on Wednesday night at AT&T Park. The Giants get home-field advantage with that awesome Bud Selig, All-Star Game idea, as the National League won the mid-summer classic in July.
Some things to look forward to:
The Tigers' starting pitchers are 5-1 with a 1.02 ERA in nine postseason games, covering 62 innings, while posting a 66:19 K:BB. That stat includes the absolute domination of the New York Yankees in the ALCS, where Tigers' starters were 3-0 with a 0.66 ERA. The Tigers have the luxury of setting up their rotation for Game 1, which would allow them to start Justin Verlander in Game 1, 4, and 7; however, Jim Leyland has penciled in a four-man rotation in the World Series, with Verlander, Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, and Max Scherzer slated to toe the rubber for the Tigers.
The Giants taking the St. Louis Cardinals to seven games and losing Matt Cain is sort of devastating for the outlook on the series. Giants' manager Bruce Bochy could surprise people with what he does, especially after moving Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum around from the rotation to the bullpen already within this postseason. If Bochy keeps his NLCS roster, the Giants could start Tim Lincecum in Game 1, followed by Barry Zito, Ryan Vogelsong, and Cain in Game 4. Due to Lincecum's struggles in Game 4 of the NLCS, could the "rest" that Bumgarner received allow him to jump back into the rotation, after Bochy said he was "tired" after his Game 1 loss to the Cardinals?
However the Giants rotation shapes up, the spacious ballparks involved in this series will allow for success from the least likely of candidates. The power that lies in the arms of the Tigers' starting pitchers could make for some high strikeout totals, while the blend of power and finesse in the Giants rotation could lead to some very low scoring games.
Power in the throwing arms is evident but the greatest asset that the Tigers possess are the two bats in the middle of their order, Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera. Those two are capable of changing the game with one swing, and while the Giants have power in the bats of Pablo Sandoval, Hunter Pence, and Buster Posey, they aren't nearly as productive, historically and recently, as the portly sluggers on the Tigers.
While Comerica Park and AT&T Park can sap the power in both lineups, both teams have enough on-base and speed guys (see Austin Jackson and Marco Scutaro) to manufacture runs. However, one swing of the bat can change everything, just ask Cincinnati fans, who saw the grand slam by Posey in Game 5 of the NLDS destroy their lives. While the advantage lies with Fielder and Cabrera, the Giants, so long thought to be ineffective offensively, have enough to win this series.
There is nothing better than postseason baseball. Watching the fans in San Francisco the last two nights is what makes baseball special. While they were there for all of the 81 home games in the 2012 regular season, the fire and excitement over the last two nights fueled the Giants to an amazing comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the NLCS.
The Tigers are showing the passion of a city in the middle of a rebirth. While there were times of weakness, the strengths of Detroit came out to conquer those moments, establishing the franchise as a legitimate juggernaut, just as Detroit has done with the rebound of the American car manufacturing companies.
The pitching is going to make the "normal baseball fan" bored, but this series is exactly what the die-hard fans enjoy. The team that makes the first mistake in each game will lose, and the scores will look lower than a Tiger Woods scorecard before his man-whorishness was made public.
What to Expect:
The Giants will enjoy their home-field advantage in Game 1, continuing the momentum that drove them to a tremendous comeback over the Tigers, but due to the opening game loss, Jim Leyland will run Justin Verlander out for Game 4 and again in Game 7, which the Tigers will win with another Verlander shutout. Max Scherzer becomes the Tigers' version of Trevor Rosenthal, making several appearances but totally shutting down the opposition.
Tigers in 7. Justin Verlander will be the World Series MVP. Brian Wilson's beard is still better than Sergio Romo's, however, it's still a distant second to Peter Griffin's.
2012 MLB Mid-Season Awards
This is where I come in and embarrass myself by making absurd predictions, but they are predictions that I feel are worthy.
NL MVP: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
McCutchen was somewhat productive in April with a .302 AVG and .351 OBP, but it was pretty empty, just seven RBI and six extra-base hits – none of them home runs. Then, May led to an absolute eruption for McCutchen. Since the start of May, he has hit .383/.443/.706 with 11 2B, five triples, 16 home runs, 49 RBI, and 9 steals. In that time period, the Pirates have gone 36-25, taking the lead in the NL Central away from the Cincinnati Reds. At the age of 25, McCutchen is a total beast, capable of hitting for power, average, and running like crazy. You don't have to run when you're trotting around the bases, though.
AL MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
When Mike Trout arrived in Anaheim to stay on April 28, the Angels were struggling. Without Albert Pujols producing and the lack of an identity, they were 6-14, nine games out in the AL West and in last place. However, they are 40-24 since Trout arrived, sitting four games back of Texas in the AL West. Trout would be the first rookie MVP since Fred Lynn in 1995, and he totally deserves it. The All-Star outfielder leads the AL in batting average (.347) and steals (26), while Trout has amassed 15 2B, three triples, 11 home runs, 39 RBI, and 55 runs scored in just 62 games. If it seems like he has two or three hits per night and a couple of runs scored, it isn't a surprise. He has 28 multi-hit games and 14 games with at least two runs scored. He is a machine and at just 20 (he doesn't turn 21 until August 7), he is only going to get better.
NL Cy Young: Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
You can call me a homer if you'd like to, as I live about 30 minutes north of Cincinnati, but Cueto deserves some praise, and he certainly isn't going to get it from Tony LaRussa. He leads the NL in ERA (2.35) and has gone 18-10 with a 2.33 ERA over his last 41 starts. He won't get the publicity of R.A. Dickey due to the lack of a crappy career like Dickey had before deciding to show up in his tenth attempt at mattering as a starting pitcher in the Majors, but he deserves some love, so I'm giving it to him. If he continues to pitch so well, he could win a few more games and matter to all of those people who only look at wins for a Cy Young candidate.
AL Cy Young: Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
If Sale makes it through the whole season without an injury and continues pitching like he has to this point, he has to win the award. The injury concern is present, as he had a tender elbow and was moved to the bullpen for one appearance before the Sox moved him back to the rotation. The 23-year-old lefty is 2nd in the AL in wins (10), 2nd in ERA in the AL (2.19), 2nd in WHIP (0.95), and has an impressive 98:25 K:BB in 102.2 innings. The White Sox are in first place and this surprising, young arm has a lot to do with it.
NL Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper
Anthony Rizzo could win it if he continues hitting the way that he has since his promotion for the Chicago Cubs (.386/.400/.750), but as his sample size grows, his numbers will shrink. Harper is only 19 and he is in the All-Star game, having replaced injured Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. He has a .283/.355/.475 line with 15 2B, four triples, eight home runs, 25 RBI, and eight steals. The National League has a lot of young talent, with Harper, Arizona left-handed pitcher Wade Miley, Cincinnati super-sub Todd Frazier, Cincinnati shortstop Zack Cozart, and Colorado slugging catcher Wilin Rosario, but Harper's skills and his ability to help lead his team to the NL East title will help him separate from the pack in the second half.
AL Rookie of the Year: See Mike Trout, above, AL MVP
Duh. Sorry Yu.
NL Manager of the Year: Terry Collins, New York Mets
At 46-39, 4.5 games out of first in the NL East (good for 2nd place), the Mets are the surprise team in the NL this season. After going 77-85 and finishing 4th in the East in 2011, the team lost Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, then they still had to deal with the fact that Jason Bay was on their roster. No way they got better, right? Wrong. With Johan Santana's resurgically re-glued shoulder actually holding up and R.A. Dickey finding the fountain of youth on his offseason mountain hikes, the Mets matter again. Collins is a miracle worker. Play Scott Hairston every day and they could be in first…just saying.
AL Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore is 45-38 and in 2nd in the AL East. They've begun to slide a little recently, having to replace three starters in their rotation due to being terrible, and they've dealt with a fair share of injuries, including to starters Nolan Reimold and Nick Markakis in the outfield. If they can tread water while they get injuries under control and starters get things rolling again, there is no reason to the believe that there isn't something magical that could happen in Baltimore this season. Adam Jones is a superstar and Matt Wieters is a star in the making, if you don't consider him one already, so they have the pieces to matter.
NL Biggest Surprise: R.A. Dickey, New York Mets
What do you get when you get a guy who climbs Mt. Kilamanjaro and mix him with an 80-mph knuckleball? You get a 37-year-old starting pitcher who is 12-1 with a 2.40 ERA, 123:28 K:BB in 120 innings, and a Cy Young candidate. After never having won more than 11 games in a single season coming into 2012, Dickey has already eclipsed that mark before the break. He has been a different pitcher since arriving in New York, going 31-23 with a 2.92 ERA over 75 starts, so I guess it shouldn't be too surprising; however, I still can't believe what he is doing, especially with his control and strikeout totals, with a knuckleball.
AL Biggest Surprise: Mark Trumbo, Los Angeles Angels
He was supposed to be the odd-man out with the Albert Pujols signing, or so many thought, but Trumbo has been the biggest force this side of Mike Trout for the Angels in 2012. After posting a .254/.291/.477 line last season and an attrocious 120:25 K:BB in 539 AB in 2011, Trumbo is sporting a .307/.361/.607 line and a 63:22 K:BB in 280 AB in 2012. His patience has improved and his power is for real. While many considered him an afterthought this spring, including myself, Trumbo has become an All-Star calibur player on a team with two young superstars.
NL Biggest Fantasy Bust: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
Instead of yelling "Freak", fans may be yelling "you freaking suck," at Lincecum, as his nickname now brings questions as to whether his ability to pitch with such odd mechanics is finally settling in. Lincecum is 3-9 with a 6.08 ERA in 2012, but the strange number is that his 101:49 K:BB in 93.1 innings is still solid, though the walks are at a 4.7 BB/9 (which would be a career high). Lincecum's career high for earned runs was 81 in 2010 and he has already allowed 63 earned runs in just 17 starts, so he'll easily establish a career worst there. If he allowed one earned run over seven innings in each of his next 16 starts, his ERA would still be 3.46, his highest since his 4.00 ERA in his rookie year.
AL Biggest Fantasy Bust: Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians
After hitting 27 home runs last season, Santana was bound to explode, especially after hitting just .239 in 2011 with a BABIP of just .263…not the case. Santana is hitting just .219 with a BABIP of just .266 in 2012, so he is not anywhere near the top ranked fantasy catcher that many expected him to be. He may still have a solid eye at the plate and has improved defensively, but that doesn't help anyone in pretend baseball.


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This was a wonderful episode of Angel, but it was also sad.
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I looked for support but hey will have 19,99$ for one month support. Does anyone has an idea, what the problem could be?
Best Regards from Germany.


text: Thanks to some great recommendations,we had dinner at Dish. What a really great find. Had their collard green dip to start things off then had Shrimp and Grits as our entree. Really good creamy grits andouille sausage tomatoes spinach and of course Shrimp. So much food I couldn't finish it all. Had to run through the rain to get inside but it was well worth it. Dinner was served with a Biscuit and a Deviled Egg it was different but good!


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BRYAN, Texas -- The Rudder vs. Magnolia West Softball game that was scheduled for Saturday, March 8th has been rescheduled. The game will now be played Wednesday, March 12th.
First pitch for JV is set for 1 p.m. and Varsity will begin 3 p.m. Both games will be played at Rudder.


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The Artists of ArtPrize: Passion, Faith And Innovation
I had heard many things about the annual ArtPrize competition. It was described to me as "crazy", "crowded" and "fun". But none of those terms came close to what I encountered in my first stroll into ArtPrize venues Friday night.
What I discovered was a massive art exhibit that gave the art fanatic an added twist, the chance to meet the artist and talk with them about their inspirations, their techniques and their lives. I found out that not only do artists love to talk, they are extremely passionate about their projects, and that made me view their art in a different light.


text: University of Arkansas at Little Rock Fine Arts Galleries WEBSITE ADD TO Trip Planner Exhibitions of local, regional, national and international origin. Get Directions Gas Calculator The pet-friendly icon means that any portion or all of the listing accepts pets. Please check with each individual property for rules and regulations. The handicapped accessible icon notates listings that are either partially or fully accessible. Please check with the property or properties you're interested in for specific information. Details Website: http://ualr.edu/art/index.php/home/gallery/current-exhibitions/ Phone: 501-569-3182 Address: 2801 South UniversityLittle Rock, AR 72204 Facilities & Features: Attractions Kid Friendly Things to Do In Little Rock EXPLORE


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Site Navigation
Follow The Climbs
An "Exploration Live" Adventure From - Mt. Nirvana
The Summits
of Canada Expedition team is en-route towards another
peak. This next adventure will see a return to the Northwest
Territories for a second attempt at Mt. Nirvana (unofficial
name of NTW's high-point).
Taking place during July
& August, 2015, this expedition will begin
and end with some extended paddling activities for some
of the team. There will also be various members joining
in at different times during the journey, with participants
from the US and even Spain taking part.
Team progress can be followed again this
year through the use of GPS feeds into the website.
Click the link to the right for
more details on this adventure, including Photos, Trip Maps,
Journals and even Resource Guides for others contemplating
or planning a similar adventure.
and to view details from their current
Mt. Nirvana expedition.
STATUS - Completed
For details on the highest peak in
the Northwest Territories,
Click here
Inspiring By Example
Remote Canadian Real-World Adventure Learning
Click the Play
button to the right to watch the video preview
from the 2007 expedition to Mt. Logan >>
Note: if you can't see it, you
may need to download the Windows
Media Player (free).


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EXCL. PREVIEW: "Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps" #1 Enforces 'Sinestro's Law'
Comic Books
Showing results 1-17 of 17
Ulises Farinas, Erick Freitas and a team of killer artists unleash deadly viruses, cowboxing, astronauts and more in IDW's "Amazing Forest."
IDW's "Judge Dredd" by Ulises Farinas, Erick Freitas & Jesus Redondo finds Dredd wondering if punishment fits virtual crimes.
Ulises Farinas & Erick Freitas team with hot new artists to deliver fantastical tales starring the devil's horse, murder-bots and invading bears.
Ulises Farinas, Erick Freitas & Dan McDaid's try to solve the mystery of Mega-City One in "Judge Dredd" #4, but will it only bring more questions?
Mega-City One is still a prehistoric mess as Dredd tries to uphold the law in "Judge Dredd" #3 by Ulises Farinas, Erick Freitas & Dan McDaid.
Detective Dunk investigates stolen swords in Ulises Farinas, Erick Freitas and Caitlin Rose Boyle's "Amazing Forest" #2 from IDW Publishing.
Ulises Farinas, Erick Freitas and Dan McDaid's "Judge Dredd" #2 sees Dredd fight to establish order in an unruly Mega-Block in Mega-City One.
IDW launches a new Dredd ongoing from writers Ulises Farinas & Erick Freitas and artist Dan McDaid that finds Mega-City One... in the Stone Age?
Writers Ulises Farinas & Erick Freitas are joined by a variety of artists to share "wicked concepts that stir the minds of those with darkness in their hearts."
Before "Archie" relaunches in 2015, "The Fox" gets a new #1 in April -- here's a look at covers and solicits for that issue and "Black Hood" #2.
With a cabal of indie and alternative artists like Jim Rugg & Benjamin Marra, Joe Casey looks to push one of Jack Kirby's last original characters into the future.
"Red Sonja" surfaces, Moon Knight" soars, "Revival" and "The Shadow" knows how to dodge bullets in CBR's Cover of the Week.
Writer Douglas Wolk and artist Ulises Farinas discuss "Judge Dredd: Mega-City Two," building a new California and Dredd's 'true' face.
IDW Publishing & "2000 AD" publisher Rebellion held a joint panel at Comic-Con where they announced an ongoing U.S. "Rogue Trooper" series and support for the fan-run "Dredd" sequel campaign.
CBR spoke with Dark Horse Comics Publisher Mike Richardson and series writer Joe Casey about the upcoming miniseries "Catalyst Comix" and pushing the superhero genre to its weird, wild extremes.
Ads found in this year's Free Comic Book Day offerings tease the Marvel original graphic novel by Warren Ellis & Mike McKone, a new "Judge Dredd" series from IDW and "Buck Rogers" by Howard Chaykin.
The latest in Dark Horse's relaunch of its Comics Greatest World superheroes is the wild anthology "Catalyst Comix" with Joe Casey at the helm and Dan McDaid, Paul Maybury and Ulises Farinas riding shotgun.
Archives: All | Comic Books | TV/Film | Video Games | Web Comics


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Tim's New CD: Get It Now!
Tim McGraw's first new studio album in nearly three years, Let It Go, hits stores Tuesday, March 27.
One of the highlights of the new CD is Tim's current hit single, "Last Dollar (Fly Away)." Let It Go also features Tim's wife Faith Hill on a couple of songs, "I Need You" and "Shotgun Rider." Tim wrote a tune with The Warren Brothers for the album titled "Train #10" that looks at a man who has trouble letting go of a lover. To help promote the album, Tim will be making several TV appearances, including The Tonight Show With Jay Leno April 3 and The Ellen DeGeneres Show April 5.
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I would like to know if this is possible.
I know how to use the category widget, but I would like to have two category widgets that display different posts.
this is the site.
If you notice the PRESS and FUTURE EVENTS Category widget has various subjects.
I would like the reviews, interviews and articles in one category widget and Ruths blog and future events in another category widget.
Until now, when I create another category widget the exact same thing appears in both, how do I separate them.
I am new to Word Press so simple instructions please :)


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Winter is Coming to Winnipeg
Environment Canada confirms what we always suspected: Westeros is part of Canada.
Environment Canada confirms what we always suspected: Westeros is part of Canada.
Whether you're heading out around town or you're planning a long-distance trip, you probably want to know what the weather will be like when you get where you're going—or later that day. A good, reliable weather site or service can tell you, in useful, accurate terms, and this week we're looking at five of the best,…
Remember all that snow Chicago was supposed to get today? It's 41°F and raining right now. Forecasts were always honest that it might not snow, but seeing the potential for up to six inches of snow on Christmas Eve vanish in a cold, dreary rain is still a shock to the system. Here's why that happened.
Mike Halpert, from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, is here today to answer our questions about El Niño, how its forecasting process works, just how likely we are to see El Niño come up again this year, and what that might mean.
Thousands of employees of the National Weather Service are currently working through the US government shutdown, but don't know when they're getting paid. And someone from the Anchorage office has expressed their displeasure in a secret message hidden in the forecast discussion.
The Axial Seamount is an undersea volcano located 250 miles off the Oregon coast. It's one of the most active underwater volcanoes in the world, and it's just started erupting. For the first time ever, scientists saw that eruption coming.


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Although not all the promised monographs of this series have yet appeared, already one of the earlier ones has come to a second edition. This is satisfying evidence that the value of these publications is being recognized. So rapidly changing is the subject-matter of biochemistry that no other form of publication can well be so efficient as the one adopted here; namely, inexpensive monographs written by specialists, each covering that part of the entire field with which each writer is most intimately acquainted..
"The Nature of Enzyme Action," the first of the series to enter a second edition, covers adequately and accurately this interesting and fundamentally important subject. Presented originally in the form of lectures, it is more easy to read and assimilate than treatises of this sort are likely to be, a point of particular favor in the eyes of readers who are interested in the subject only in
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text:
Co-Sourcing Improves Pharmaceutical Laboratory Productivity
Researchers Now Have a Myriad of...
Keep the Opportunities, Lose the Opportunists
Capitol Hill Critics Second-Guess Agencies Using...
Del Mar Pharmaceuticals and Guangxi Wuzhou Pharmaceutical have teamed up for the global development of DAG for Injection (VAL-083), a chemotherapy which is already approved in China for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and lung cancer. Wuzhou manufactures and sells VAL-083 in China for the approved indications, and Del Mar is carrying out clinical trials in the U.S. evaluating the drug as a potential treatment for glioblastoma. The firm is also working to demonstrate the utility of DAG for Injection against refractory cancers, including sub-types of CML and lung cancer that are refractory to tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Under terms of the new collaboration Wuzhou and Del Mar will use Del Mar's clinical and research data to expand the market for the drug in China, and achieve regulatory approval of VAL-083 for multiple indications, globally. Wuzhou will act as the exclusive supplier of DAG for Injection, and will provide financial and other support for Del Mar to start clinical development in China as part of an international clinical development program.
Del Mar will take responsibility for development and commercialization the drug in non-Chinese markets, and will share clinical and nonclinical data to aid Wuzhou obtain approval in China for new indications, including glioblastoma multiforme. The firms will also work together to achieve FDA certification of Wuzhou as a cGMP manufacturer of DAG for Injection.
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MDMA (commonly known as the empathogen "ecstasy") is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which is reserved for compounds with no accepted medical use and a high abuse potential. Two researchers from Stanford, however, call for a rigorous scientific exploration of MDMA's effects to identify precisely how the drug works, the data from which could be used to develop therapeutic compounds.Do you agree that ecstasy should be studied for its potential therapeutic benefits?
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Dar Guzeppa Farmhouse, Malta (all)
- Free parking
Main amenities
- 5 guestrooms
- Outdoor pool
- Free airport shuttle
- Childcare
- Air conditioning
- Garden
- Self-serve laundry
- Multilingual staff
- Barbecue grills
- Tour/ticket assistance
What's around
- Ggantija Temple (0.6 mi / 1 km)
- Ta'Kola Windmill (0.6 mi / 1 km)
- Xerri's Grotto (0.7 mi / 1.2 km)
- Calypso's Cave (1 mi / 1.6 km)
- Ramla Bay (1.3 mi / 2.1 km)
For families
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Kitchen
- Garden
- Laundry facilities
Dar Guzeppa Farmhouse, Malta (all)
Hotel Info: 866-539-8117
- Standard Apartment
Also popular with travelers from the USA
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 5 rooms
- Check-in time starts at 3 PM
- Check-out time is noon
Required at check in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
Travelling with others
- Babysitting/childcare *
Extra people
- Roll-away beds available, charges may apply*
- Free airport shuttle
- Free self parking
- Free area shuttle
Nearby Three Star Malta (all) hotels
In the hotel
- Barbeque grills
- Outdoor pool
- Spa tub
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Laundry facilities
- Multilingual staff
- Garden
In the room
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Air conditioning
- Ceiling fan
- Iron/ironing board
- Balcony
- Cable TV channels
- Phone
- Kitchen
Top Malta (all) hotels
Recently reviewed hotels in Malta (all)
- The Waterfront HotelFrom
"Nice, clean room. I found the bed a little too firm but there is no way to please everyone. My husband liked the bed just fine. We enjoyed our stay and would stay there again in a…"Jun 16, 2016
- Radisson Blu Resort, Malta St. Julian'sFrom
"The location of the hotel, just in the seafront with several pools and near Paceville nightlife, makes it excellent for couples and families alike. "Jun 13, 2016
- Pergola Club Hotel & SpaFrom
"Hotel was clean, staff was super friendly and the spa was amazing and not too expensive. I had a three hour treatment and loved every minute of it! The staff member in the spa was…"Jun 8, 2016
- The Xara Palace Relais & ChateauxFrom
"Everything from the staff to the room, to the location was perfect for what we were looking for in Malta. I would for sure come back again!"Jun 7, 2016
Nearby hotels
Dar Guzeppa Farmhouse, Malta (all)'s small print
Also known as
- Dar Guzeppa Farmhouse
- Dar Guzeppa Farmhouse Hotel
- Dar Guzeppa Farmhouse Hotel Xaghra
- Dar Guzeppa Farmhouse Xaghra
Mandatory fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at check in or check out:
- Destination fee: EUR 0.50 per person, per night
Optional extras
Air conditioning is available for an extra charge of EUR 7 per day
Babysitting/childcare is available for an extra charge
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.
Is the description of this hotel not correct? Tell us


text:
Sylvania schools, public concerned over traffic.
Council can pass, or let voters decide.
Demonstrators chant, beat drums ahead of Democratic party gathering Monday.
Wasserman Schultz announces she'll step down as head of committee
More traffic circles planned.
Sen. Seitz said legally prickly provisions may require changes.
'I Approve This Message' on display at TMA's Canaday Gallery.
Delegates ready to converge on Philadelphia for Democratic National Convention.
VP pick described as 'progressive who likes to get things done.'
An effort to fully eliminate superdelegates in future elections has failed, but DNC agrees to a committee to determine future approach.


text:
Boniblu Candles • boniblu.com
Monday March 28, 2016
Jennifer, I recently updated my website to one of your fabulous templates, "Rose". I love the template and find it is as easy to use as my older one that I got from ya'll. I just love the updated, streamlined look. I also purchased the business card template and they are being printed now. Thanks again! Bonnie Cottingham Boniblu Fine Candles and Gifts


text:
On Target
Credit: George W Hales
Creative #: JD3169-001
Available for Editorial use. Editorial use: To report or illustrate a newsworthy event or matter of general interest. Editorial uses do not typically require a model or property release.Learn more
Licence type: Rights-managedRights-managed products are licensed with restrictions on usage, such as limitations on size, placement, duration of use and geographic distribution. You will be asked to submit information concerning your intended use of the product, which will determine the scope of usage rights granted.
Collection: Hulton Archive
Max file size: 2,725 x 3,462 px (23.07 x 29.31 cm) - 300 dpi - 2.14 MB
Release info: Not releasedNot released: This imagery has no model or property release. Any commercial use requires additional clearance from third parties.
- 1960-1969,
- 1966,
- Adults Only,
- Archery,
- Beret,
- Black And White,
- Close-Up,
- Clothing,
- Fashion,
- Hat,
- Leisure Activity,
- Marketing,
- Mid Adult,
- Mid Adult Women,
- One Mid Adult Woman Only,
- One Person,
- One Woman Only,
- Only Mid Adult Women,
- Photography,
- Rear View,
- Retro Styled,
- Sports Target,
- The Past,
- Vertical,
Similar imagesSearch ResultsSame series
On Target Stock Photo1960-1969,1966,Adults Only,Archery,Beret,Black And White,Close-Up,Clothing,Fashion,Hat,Leisure Activity,Marketing,Mid Adult,Mid Adult Women,One Mid Adult Woman Only,One Person,One Woman Only,Only Mid Adult Women,Photography,Rear View,Retro Styled,Sports Target,The Past,VerticalPhotographer George W HalesCollection: Hulton Archive A bow and arrow beret by Simone Mirman is modelled by Caroline Dalgetty at the Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers show.


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About this Business
From Our Editors
Owner Med Lahlou took the U from U Street and combined it with the beginning of his last name and a restaurant he owned named Tunnicliff's to form Ulah Bistro, according to the Washington Post. Ulah's chefs, who have more than 20 years of culinary experience, handcraft American cuisine, pleasing palates from coast to coast to the pizza-laden streets of New York and back.
Fresh seafood steers the menu ocean-side, with fresh shrimp, scallops, and calamari enlivening linguine, and seared tuna and Atlantic salmon sweeping up the hearty new york strip steak in their currents. In the eatery's brick oven, golden-brown pizzas sport combinations such as Ulah's signature medley of crab, tomatoes, olive oil, and parmesan. Alternatively, a make-your-own option lets pizza-lovers personalize pies with vine-ripened tomatoes to reflect their rosy cheeks, or sun-dried tomatoes to reflect their third-degree sunburns.


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You are a fan of visual nissan ? Come to discover the best forums visual nissan on the internet and share your experience with a community fan of visual nissan . You can also build a forum visual nissan and create your online discussion.
Yuma, Arizona's definitive home for 4X4 enthusiasts!
yuma, arizona, club, offroad, trails, rock, crawling, road, offroading, toyota, jeep, jeepin, jeepers, #nissan, samurai, sidexside, side


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|Home Decor
|Kitchen Accessory
I rediscovered my passion for crochet recently and started blogging about it. After about a year of blogging I have now started to design and sell crochet patterns.View all patterns by designer (168) »
A set of 3 potholder patterns to add color to your kitchen walls. Use them as potholders or just hand them on your kitchen or dining room wall and you won't stop admiring them. They are all easy to make and work up fast. Make them and gift them to your mom or daughter or anyone special who would appreciate them. You need 100% cotton yarns of light worsted weight. These patterns can also be purchased individually.


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Baptist women's day
The churches of the Union St. James Missionary Baptist Association will observe Baptist Women's World Day of Prayer 2003, at 7 p.m. Monday at Shiloh Baptist Church.
The churches include: New St. James, Tabernacle, St. Marys and Shiloh.
This program is sponsored by the Baptist World Alliance and the public is invited.
Pastor Randy Hezekiah will be host for the occasion.
Circle meetings
The United Methodist Women's circles of First United Methodist Church will meet in November as follows:
At 10 a.m. Tuesday, the Rachel Circle will meet at the church; the Fannie Wise Circle will meet at the church at 2 p.m. and the Friendship Circle will meet at 7 p.m. at the home of Brenda Carr.
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the Rebecca Circle will meet at the home of Deele Schmidt.
At 7:30 p.m. the Tommy Hughes Circle will meet Thursday at the home of Betty Hunter, with Carolyn Herndon as co-hostess.
At 7 p.m. Nov. 19 the Living Stones Circle will meet, location to be announced at a later date.
Good Samaritans
Nominations for the annual Good Samaritan Awards are being sought by the St. Augustine Regional Office of Catholic Charities. Individuals receiving the honor do not have to be members of the Catholic Church or to be associated with Catholic Charities in any way.
Nomination deadline is Saturday.
Award winners will be recognized Feb. 17 at a banquet at Casa Monica Hotel.
Nominations for the award should be one to two pages and sent to Catholic Charities Bureau Inc., attn. Rebecca Stringer, COO, POB 543, St. Augustine, 32085.
Name, address and telephone number of person nominated.
Your name, address and telephone number.
Details of the nominee's service to the community and how they have shown the spirit of the Good Samaritan.
Networking lunch
Christian Women are invited to join a new network luncheon forming. The second meeting will be at noon Tuesday at Two J's Steakhouse, 4255 A1A South in Seaside Plaza. Cost is $10 per person.
Reservations are due by 2 p.m. Monday. Call Jeanne Moeller, 471-1975, or RSVP to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Speaker will be Mary Kronjaeger, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Jacksonville. She is vice president of the United Methodist Women's Club and is retired from Avon Inc.
Walsch to speak
Neale Donald Walsch, widely acclaimed author of "Conversations with God" will be featured in a program at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 presented at Pedro Menendez Performing Arts Center, 600 State Road 206 W. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door.
The deluxe tickets, which include an author's reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. with complimentary food and beverages and a personal book signing, are sold out.
For tickets call 825-0815 or visit www.CPLstaugustine.org .
The program is being presented by the Center for Positive Living.
Services at the Congregation Sons of Israel begin at 7:30 p.m. today at the synagogue, Cordova Street, with Rabbi Samuel Cywiak officiating. An oneg shabbat follows. At 9 a.m. Saturday regular services will be held, and a luncheon will follow.
This week's reading from the Torah will be taken from Genesis, Chapter 6: 9-13: "These are the generations of Noah. Noah was in his generation a man righteous and whole hearted. Noah walked with G-d. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. And the Earth was corrupt before G-d, and the Earth was filled with violence. And G-d saw the Earth and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth. And G-d said unto Noah: 'The end of all flesh is come before me; for the Earth is filled with violence through them. And behold, I will destroy them with the Earth.' "
Christ Church at Serenata Beach, sponsored by Christ Episcopal Church of Ponte Vedra Beach, has services at 9 a.m. each Sunday at 9 a.m. at the Serenata Beach Clubhouse.
The Rev. Milton H. Murray is priest in charge, and he is assisted by three other retired clergy.
All faiths are invited, as are all ages. Fellowship is a part of the gathering.
Soul Purpose, described as offering "a place for singles to find purpose" meets at 7 p.m. each third Tuesday at Anastasia Baptist Church, A1A South. Live music, speakers and other features are offered.
For further information, call the church at 471-2166.
Hineni Messianic Fellowship, a congregation of Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Yeshua/Jesus gathers at 7:30 p.m. Friday for Erev Shabbat service and at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday for scripture study.
Pastors John and Joyce Beaird conduct services at 1797 Old Moultrie Road, Suite 102.
Beginning at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 the fellowship will offer Israeli dancing at no charge.
Call 940-5365 for further information.
The sermon topic at Pilgrim Community Church UCC at Sunday's worship service at 10 a.m. is a continuation of the medical issues series started last week. It explores the Reformation theme of law and grace with the issue of assisted suicide.
Pilgrim Community Church UCC is also recruiting walkers and donors for the Nov. 9 CROP walk. If you do not belong to a church or your church is not participating and you would like to walk with someone, join with Pilgrim Community Church. Give them a call at 797-5187.
Services Sunday at Shiloh Baptist Church include 9:30 a.m. Sunday school and worship at 11 a.m., when the Rev. Willie Pittman, assistant pastor, will discuss "Ten Lepers Cleansed."
Baptism will be held at the conclusion of the morning worship. All are welcome.
New Jerusalem Worship Ministries, 1305 State Road 16 and Four Mile Road, welcomes Prophetess Betty Moore as speaker at 7:30 p.m. today. Moore is with Temple of Light Ministries, Jacksonville.
© 2016. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us


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I really enjoyed Riad Dar Saba. It's a cosy place with really friendly and helpful staff. It's walking distance to where all the action is in Marrakech, it's very nice and clean, they clean the rooms everyday while you're there and the breakfast is quite good.
The room we stayed in didn't have air conditioning and was really hot but the vents helped us to fall asleep. No door to the bathroom, only a curtain, but that's common in Morocco.
The major problem is that it's difficult to find the first time, specially if you arrive at night, and seems one always ends up paying some guys to take you there. They can arrange a pickup at the airport and that's what we should have done 'cause that was a stressful and unnecessary moment.
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Riad Dar Saba welcomes you in a typical Moroccan riad located in the medina of Marrakech at 15 minutes walk from the Jamaa El Fna square and surrounded by the beauty and mystery of countless alleys of the souks. The property comprises 6 comfortable double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and toilets. Each benefits from air conditioning. You can dine in the patio or on the terrace. You can also enjoy a sun-lounger terrace. The staff at the Riad Dar Saba will offer you a warm welcome and will be happy to introduce you to the culture, cuisine and Moroccan traditions. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Expedia, Hotwire, HotelTravel.com, Priceline, Agoda, TripOnline SA, Hotels.com, Booking.com and Travelocity so you can book your Riad Dar Saba reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


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I was recently assaulted about a week ago and cursed out a coworker. Now the coworker is trying to use what i said against me. Should i go ahead and file assault charges or has the time to file elasped. Any help is appreciated.
Criminal Defense Attorney
There is no time limit except the statute of limitation for the underlying crime. But you must realize you don't press charges; only the DA can do that. You report the incident to the police and if they think there's anything to it they'll forward it to the DA. Even then the DA can decide not to prosecute.
Criminal Defense Attorney
Misdemeanors in NC have to be charged within 2 years. I gather from your question that the police were not called at the time. Depending on your county, if you want to press charges you would go down to the courthouse and talk to the magistrate. Technically, the District Attorney prosecutes your coworker. But cases initiated by the victim ("peoples' cases") often move forward only if the victim stays in touch with the DA and is a motivated witness.
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Preview: Sleigh Bells @ The Pageant
Here's a quick preview from last night's Sleigh Bells show at the Pageant. Strobes + haze + Alexis Krauss = metal.
Photographer's Notes:
Cameras Used:
- Nikon D3
- Nikon D700
Lenses Used:
My Camera DSLR and Lenses for Concert Photography
Nikon D800:
I use two of the Nikon D800 for the majority of my work. High resolution, excellent high ISO in a robust but still compact body.
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8:
For most gigs, the 24-70mm is my go-to lens. Exceptional image quality at wide apertures and super-functional range.
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR:
A perfect pair to the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, I can basically shoot any job with the midrange and this lens. Superb image quality.
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8:
Ultra-wide perspective, ridiculously sharp even wide open at f/2.8. I love using this lens up-close and personal, where it excels.


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Recent Posts
- HSEA July Monthly Report
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- HSEA General Membership Dinner - June 16th
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HSEA Executive Director Leslie Cole-Brooks Talks Tax Incentives with Hawaii News Now
Posted on Monday, January 14, 2013
HSEA Executive Director Leslie Cole-Brooks Talks Tax Incentives in 2013 with Hawaii News Now:
Featured January 11th, 2013:
See the video interview by clicking here:
Leslie Cole-Brooks, Executive Director at the Hawaii Solar Energy Association stopped by the Hawaii News Now studios last week to talk about the changes to the Hawaii Solar Tax Credit and explain what's different.
There has been a fair amount of confusion around the changes to the tax credits that took effect with the New Year, and Leslie took time to explain:
- First of all, there is a still a tax credit–it hasn't be removed or expired.
- The primary change is that a PV 'system' has been defined as 5 kilowatts–about 20 panels–to qualify for the maximum tax credit of $5,000. (Smaller systems, however, do qualify for a portion of that maximum amount.)
- As with current rules, a system's installation can be broken up over multiple years to take advantage of the tax credits each year.
Leslie points out that while the tax changes may have a negative effect on business, solar is booming here in Hawaii and we all benefit from it: "You can still go solar; solar is still a great idea and a great deal."
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