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2016 MLB thread. Baseball is upon us! Royals are the champs - Page 221
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The visitors bullpen in Fenway Park is built into the front of the stands in right-center field, and Mariano Rivera has been booed there each time he has arrived for work, he said recently. But through the years, there has been a shift in the relationship. After those initial obligatory boos, he said, he receives a lot of sincere affection from the Boston fans. He likes them, he said, and they seem to like him.
And why not? What's not to like about Mariano Rivera?
He is the best ever at what he has done, serving as the Yankees' one-man cavalry, galloping in to save the lead, almost as predictable as a sunrise.
He has 650 saves, including 42 in the postseason; if you add the career postseason saves for the No. 2- and No. 3-ranked relievers of all time, Brad Lidge (18) and Dennis Eckersley (15), they don't come close to matching Rivera.
Watching Rivera throw his cut fastball has been like seeing Michael Jordan cut into the lane and dunk, or Jerry Rice sprint past defenders to separate himself. We didn't get to sit in while U2 created their songs or when Picasso painted, but for the past 17 years, we've been able to watch Rivera step into crises over and over and over, throwing the same pitch over and over and over even when hitters knew which pitch was coming, and almost always Rivera has come out the other side shaking hands and high-fiving teammates.
But when he lost, such as in the 2001 World Series, he carried himself as he did in success. He walked off the field, head down, with an even stride, his expression no different than when he has shattered bats with his cutter. He has been humble in his greatest moments, dignified in his worst moments, respecting teammates, opposing players, fans, all with dignity.
So there is sadness throughout the sport today, because nobody in the game wants bad things to happen to good people no matter what uniform they wear.
The most appropriate ending for Rivera would have been to finish his career throwing a cut fastball at the end of a defeat or victory. Instead, the last moment of his playing career might have been riding in the back of a groundskeeper's four-wheeler as he was hauled away for an MRI, seemingly smiling to alleviate the concern of teammates -- while knowing how serious the injury might be.
Rivera might be just as conflicted in his internal debate whether to continue his career. He has talked about retirement in years past, but when he all but said two and a half months ago that this would be his last season, Rivera seemed at peace with his plan, whatever it was; he said he knew what he was going to do but just didn't want to tell reporters yet.
Now the circumstances have changed. His 2012 season now ends in the first week of May, in all likelihood, and Rivera has to decide whether he can find a similar peace in that conclusion or whether he wants something different.
The most misunderstood part of Rivera, masked by his outward demeanor, is how competitive he is. The challenge of attempting a comeback won't bother him, and he would attack his rehabilitation in the way that he has pitched to hitters. If he decides that he doesn't want the last chapter of his career to be about lying on the dirt of the warning track in Kansas City, he would undoubtedly go through his rehabilitation with confidence of success. That is how his mind is built.
But it may be that Rivera prefers something different in his life now. He suffered through an offseason illness that affected his voice, and there were a few scary days when Rivera wondered whether he had cancer. Rivera came through that experience perfectly fine, but the episode seemed to underscore the fragility of life for him. He's pitched in 1,147 games in his career, thrown 141 innings -- almost two full seasons' worth -- in October, and closed out regular seasons and playoffs and the World Series. He doesn't really care about numbers and records, he reiterated a couple of weeks ago, and in any event, the numbers he's posted are likely out of reach for anyone who follows.
The only real question is whether he prefers to leave the game standing upright, walking off a field rather than being carried. But whatever he decides will not alter his standing in the history of the game, or the respect he has engendered in his career, from opposing players, from fans from the Bronx to Seattle to Fenway.
Rivera spoke with reporters after the game.
From ESPN Stats & Information, some Rivera numbers:
Rivera in the regular season
Appearances: 1,051<<
Saves: 608<<
Blown saves: 73<<
Strikeouts: 1,119
Walks: 277
Opp BA: .210
>> Leads active pitchers (min. 1,000 IP)
Rivera in the postseason
Appearances: 96<<
Saves: 42<<
Blown saves: 5
Strikeouts: 110
Walks: 21
Opp BA: .174
>> Best all time (min. 30 IP)
Most saves, MLB history
Mariano Rivera: 608
Trevor Hoffman: 601
Lee Smith: 478
John Franco: 424
Billy Wagner: 422
Most career saves all with one team
Mariano Rivera (Yankees): 608
Jeff Montgomery (Royals): 304
Bobby Thigpen (White Sox): 201
Danny Graves (Reds): 182
Most 30-save seasons
Mariano Rivera: 14
Trevor Hoffman: 14
Lee Smith: 10
Billy Wagner: 9
Most consecutive 20-save seasons
Mariano Rivera: 15
Lee Smith: 13
Jeff Reardon: 11
Most postseason saves, all time
Mariano Rivera: 42
Brad Lidge: 18
Dennis Eckersley: 15
Lowest ERA, live ball era (since 1920)
Mariano Rivera: 2.21
Hoyt Wilhelm: 2.52
@@%@@% Ford: 2.75
Dan Quisenberry: 2.76
Sandy Koufax: 2.76
(minimum 1,000 IP)
Lowest WHIP, all time
Addie Joss: 0.97
Mariano Rivera: 1.00
Ed Walsh: 1.00
Monte Ward: 1.04
Pedro Martinez: 1.05
(min. 1,000 IP)
• By the way: The notion that Rivera's injury resulted from recklessness on the part of the pitcher, manager Joe Girardi or the team is just silly. For many years, Rivera was regarded by some scouts as the American League's best center fielder because of how he covered ground while shagging fly balls in batting practice. For two decades, this is how Rivera has augmented his conditioning. He has never done stupid stuff in this regimen, slamming himself into fences or diving headlong. He just took an awkward step and suffered a freak injury.
• The Yankees have suitable replacements for Rivera in David Robertson or Rafael Soriano, but the Rivera injury does serious damage to what was probably the best part of New York's team. There is a ripple effect no matter what, because Girardi must replace the seventh- or eighth-inning work left behind by Soriano or Robertson, weakening a bullpen corps that has essentially been cut in half by injuries to Rivera and Joba Chamberlain in the past six weeks.
There was a moment early in Thursday's game when Girardi walked up to the railing where Robinson Cano and bench coach Tony Pena were standing, and put his arms around both men and spoke, his words heartfelt; when he finished, he slapped each on the back. That's when you realized with near certainty that Girardi and the Yankees knew that Rivera's season was probably finished, and the Yankees had started to steel themselves for a summer without him.
Rivera's career may be over, writes David Waldstein. The Yankees are bracing for life without Rivera.
Rivera doesn't second-guess his decision to shag fly balls.
Robertson isn't ready to address the question of whether he will be the Yankees' closer.
• A day after Jered Weaver threw a no-hitter, he was still pumped up. From ESPN Stats & Info, some perspective on Weaver's no-hitter: Weaver is the fifth pitcher in MLB history to throw a no-hitter the year after he finished runner-up in the Cy Young vote: Pitchers to throw a no-hitter year after being Cy Young runner-up TEAM 2012 Jered Weaver Angels 1997 Kevin Brown Marlins 1990 Dave Stewart Athletics 1974 Nolan Ryan Angels 1961 Warren Spahn Braves
• Think it's rare for a pitcher to issue just one walk in a no-hitter? Think again. When Weaver did it Wednesday, it was the 47th time a pitcher has walked one batter in a no-hitter. And 15 times a pitcher has actually walked no batters and NOT gotten the perfect game.
• Although plate umpire Mark Carlson had never called a no-hitter, he was at second base for Ubaldo Jimenez's no-hitter on April 17, 2010. The more interesting note, however, belongs to first-base arbiter Ed Hickox, who has now umpired four no-hitters -- one at each position; he was at home for Matt Garza in 2010; at first for Weaver; at second for Clay Buchholz in 2007; at third for Jim Abbott back in 1993.
1. There have been 11 no-hitters since the start of the 2010 season (including postseason). There were eight no-hitters thrown from 2005 to 2009.
2. This is the Angels' second no-hitter in as many seasons (Ervin Santana last season). Since 1961, the Angels' first year, no other MLB team has more no-hitters (10). The Astros and Dodgers also have thrown 10 in that span.
3. It was the first complete game no-hitter at home for the Angels since Nolan Ryan in 1975.
4. The past four pitchers to throw no-hitters have been 27 to 29 years old.
5. The last time the Twins were no-hit was when David Wells threw a perfect game on May 17, 1998, at Yankee Stadium.
Thursday's games
1. Bryce Harper did it again.
2. The Jays and Brandon Morrow shut down the Angels, Ken Fidlin writes. From ESPN Stats & Info, how Morrow beat the Angels:
A. He threw 75 strikes out of 102 pitches (73.5 percent), the highest percentage in a start in his career. He also allowed no walks for the second straight start.
B. He threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of 28 hitters (75.0 percent), the third-highest percentage in a start in his career. Morrow went to a career-high 11 0-2 counts in the game; his previous best was nine (done twice).
C. He threw 75 fastballs, his most in a start this season, and Angels hitters were 1-for-18 in at-bats ending with the pitch.
D. Angels hitters were 2-for-10 with six strikeouts in at-bats ending with the slider (Mike Trout was 2-for-2). The six strikeouts with the pitch are tied for his second-most in a start over the past four seasons.
E. Angels left-handed hitters were 0-for-7 against Morrow with no walks, the first start in his career in which he did not allow a lefty to reach base.
F. Angels hitters were 0-for-6 with runners on base, including 0-for-3 with two strikeouts with runners in scoring position.
Pujols clinging to long ball myth.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
If you've paid any attention to the 2012 season, you know that Albert Pujols has yet to hit a home run. The three-time MVP, fresh off the first homerless month of his career, is hitting just .208/.252/.287 with career-worst walk and strikeout rates. Jered Weaver's no-hitter Wednesday temporarily deflected some attention away from Pujols' struggles. But while Weaver mowed down the Minnesota Twins, Pujols' homerless streak reached 107 plate appearances, ensuring that scrutiny of his every swing will only intensify once the no-hitter hubbub dies down.
Pujols averaged 39 home runs for the St. Louis Cardinals during the past five seasons. After factoring in some age-related decline and the difficulty of hitting home runs from the right side in Angel Stadium, PECOTA projected him to hit 33 in 2012. The probability that a 33-home run hitter would go homerless in 107 plate appearances by chance alone is just 0.3 percent. Either Pujols has been extremely unlucky, he's declined more quickly than PECOTA expected, or he's pressing at the plate.
Privately, Pujols is probably feeling some pressure. Publicly, though, he claims to be unconcerned: "I don't think about that, man. It could be tomorrow, maybe the next day, a month from now, I don't know. My job is to get myself ready to play and take my swing. Home runs, when they come, they come in bunches."
At this point, Pujols would probably settle for hitting homers in dribs and drabs, let alone bunches. According to his comments, though, when he does start hitting homers, they'll add up in a hurry. But can he be believed?
The belief that home runs are hit in bunches -- in other words, that they're hit in flurries followed by droughts, rather than at regular intervals -- isn't unique to the struggling Los Angeles Angels star. When Bryan LaHair went homerless this spring, Chicago Cubs manager Dave Sveum said, "People forget that home runs come in bunches." Since then, they have for LaHair, who's hit six in the regular season, if not for the Cubs, who've collectively hit fewer home runs than Matt Kemp.
But the history of "home runs in bunches" goes back well beyond LaHair. Writers and players alike have been referring to the idea at least since the middle of last century. In 1958, Willie Mays said, "When I hit home runs, I get them in bunches and then no more for a time."
Is there anything to this, or is "home runs are hit in bunches" another baseball myth that deserves to be busted? Google "clutch hitting," "pitching to the score," or a host of other time-honored baseball beliefs, and you'll find countless studies that have tried and failed to find any statistical evidence supporting them. The contention that homers are hit in bunches seems to have escaped investigation so far, but it's just as easy to check.
Using a statistical concept called binomial distribution, we determined the theoretical rates of zero-, one-, two-, three- and four-homer games for the average major league batter. By comparing those predicted rates to how often those games actually occurred, we could see whether there was anything to the idea that home runs are hit in bunches. If players actually alternate between home run hot streaks and dry spells, their long balls would be bunched together, and we would see higher rates of two- and zero-homer games and lower rates of one-homer games than predicted.
In small samples, of course, some players do have more two-homer games than predicted. In 78 games last season, Mike Cameron hit nine home runs, six of which came in three two-homer bunches. Those three two-homer games were about 2.6 more than the model would have predicted. Cameron was one of five players to have at least two more two-homer games than he "should" have in 2011:
In larger samples, though, we don't see correspondingly large differences. See the following table:
It's possible that Guerrero's homers had some slight tendency to be "bunched," but even in his case, it's likely that the difference was due to chance.
So what's the verdict when we look at home run distributions for all players? The table below shows the predicted and observed percentages of games in which an average major league batter hit each number of home runs from 1994-2011.
The model predicted that the average player would go homerless in 89.29 percent of his games, hit one homer in 9.99 percent of his games, and hit two homers in 0.68 percent of his games.
The predicted and observed results are almost identical, and the slight differences aren't significant.
Now look at the table below to see what those percentages look like for Pujols' career. As one would expect, both the theoretical model and the in-game results show that he's been much more likely to go deep than the typical player, but he hasn't had more multi-homer games than expected.
So why do Pujols and so many other players mistakenly believe that they're hitting home runs in bunches? A cognitive bias called the "availability heuristic" might be to blame. According to Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman, the psychologists who coined the term, the availability heuristic is our "tendency to make a judgment about the frequency of an event based on how easy it is to recall similar instances."
The easier it is to summon instances of an event to our minds, the more often we believe that event to occur. For hitters, few events are more memorable than a multi-home-run game or a long stretch without hitting a homer, so it's not surprising that those events seem to them to happen more often than they do.
Home runs aren't really hit in bunches, but it's probably in the Angels' best interests not to burst Albert's bubble. There could be some psychological benefit to believing in bunches. In the midst of a home run barrage last May, Mark Teixeira explained his success by saying, "Home runs come in bunches, and right now I'm just in one of those streaks where I'm hitting them out of the park a lot." After ending the longest homerless stretch of his career in July 2009, Teixeira used the same reasoning to explain his struggles: "I'm a streaky home run hitter. They come in bunches, and after hitting a bunch in a row, it took a while to get another one."
Teixeira's all-purpose explanation suggests that while hitting homers in bunches isn't fact, it is a useful fiction. One of the most important qualities for a hitter to have is confidence, and the "bunches" belief provides a confidence boost for any occasion. A player who has homered recently can go to the plate believing he's mid-bunch and about to hit another. A player who hasn't homered in ages can console himself with the thought that a bunch of long balls could be a game away.
What Albert Pujols could really use right now is a homer. But some confidence can't hurt.
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
So what now?
That's the question on every Yankees player's, coach's and fan's mind in the wake of the likely season-ending injury to closer Mariano Rivera.
Rivera suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee while shagging fly balls before Thursday night's game against the Royals in Kansas City.
The Yankees organization may have been mentally preparing for moving on without Rivera following this season after the all-time saves leader hinted that he might call it quits after 2012. But there was no definitive plan in place for having to worry about replacing Rivera this season.
So what is the club's most likely move? Well, manager Joe Girardi told ESPNNewYork.com's Wallace Matthews that he's leaning toward using David Robertson as closer with Rafael Soriano handling the 8th inning role.
The other thing to consider here is that the Yanks bullpen, once a strength, is now going to be stretched thin. There's no Rivera, and Joba Chamberlain is likely to miss all season after his gruesome ankle injury in March. That puts a lot more pressure on Robertson, Soriano and the rest of the healthy arms to perform, knowing there's no safety net.
- Jason Catania
Marmol losing gig?
Carlos Marmol | Cubs
To hear Cubs manager Dale Sveum tell it, Carlos Marmol is in danger of losing his job as closer.
"I've definitely thought of it now," Sveum told the Chicago Tribune, regarding removing Marmol from the ninth-inning role.
This comes after Marmol was the primary person responsible for the Cubs' coughing up a three-run lead in the ninth inning against the Reds Thursday. The righty gave up a hit and walked three without recording an out, then he handed the ball off to Rafael Dolis, who proceeded to allow the tying run to score on a double-play grounder, earning him the blown save. Dolis would later pick up the loss in the 10th inning, in part because of his own throwing error.
Marmol's ERA sits at 6.23, and even worse, he's surrendered 12 walks in 8.2 innings. On top of that, he has as many blown saves (2) as actual saves. No wonder Sveum is having second thoughts about his closer.
Sveum mentioned that the only two options to replace Marmol, if it happens, would be the right-handed Dolis and lefty James Russell. Perhaps temporarily letting those two handle the ninth based on matchups would help Marmol get his stuff in order.
- Jason Catania
Abreu's role with Dodgers
Bobby Abreu | Angels
A week after being released by the Los Angeles Angels, Bobby Abreu has foun a new home -- in the same city.
FoxSports.com's Jon Morosi writes that Abreu is close to signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman tweets Friday that the agreement is in place.
Abreu is likely to be a part of the seemingly-endless laundry list of left fielders the Dodgers have employed so far this year. Each of Juan Rivera, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Tony Gwynn Jr. has had a hand in holding down left field. So why not add Abreu to the mix?
- Jason Catania
Eric Karabell
Abreu a fantasy value?
"As bad as most people would assume Abreu is, the fact is he managed to steal 21 bases last season, and for those in OBP leagues Abreu does take walks. The power appears to be gone and it's not coming back at Dodger Stadium, but Abreu boasted a .353 OBP last season, nearly 100 points better than current leadoff man Dee Gordon. Those fantasy owners in NL-only formats should spend a few bucks on Abreu."
Pettitte's final rehab outing?
Andy Pettitte | Yankees
With Michael Pineda lost for the season, the return of Andy Pettitte to the New York Yankees' rotation has suddenly become more of a necessity than a luxury.
The left-hander will make what could be his final rehab start Sunday for the Yanks Triple-A affiliate against the Red Sox's affiliate.
So far, Pettitte, who decided in spring training to end his year-long retirement, has made four rehab outings across different levels of the minors. He's worked primarily on getting himself stretched out and threw 95 pitches during his last start. Assuming he approaches 100 pitches again Sunday, he could be ready to return to the Yankees as soon as next week.
Pineda recently underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a labrum tear in his right shoulder and will be out for the rest of the season. Add in the poor performances to date from Freddy Garcia, who was demoted to the bullpen in favor of rookie David Phelps, and Phil Hughes, who may lose his job to Pettitte, and the veteran left-hander now has to be counted on to bolster the rotation.
- Jason Catania
Berkman returning this weekend?
Lance Berkman | Cardinals
St. Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman hit the disabled list two weeks ago with a strained left calf, but he's getting close to returning.
Berkman took some swings in the cage for the second straight day on Wednesday. On Thursday, he indicated he could be back by the end of the weekend.
The Cards are using Matt Carpenter and Allen Craig, just back from the DL himself, at first in Berkman's absence, but barring any setbacks the veteran should be back next week.
Carpenter could be the odd-man out for a roster spot, despite knocking nine extra-base hits and 14 RBIs so far. With Craig back, it's likely that either Carpenter, Shane Robinson or Tyler Greene could be sent down when Berkman is ready.
- Jason A. Churchill and Jason Catania
Replacing Panda
Pablo Sandoval | Giants
The bad news got worse Thursday for the San Francisco Giants.
After Pablo Sandoval left Wednesday night's game with an injury to his left hand and/or wrist, it's been confirmed that Sandoval will have surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand -- one year and one day after having the same procedure on his right hand.
The switch-hitting Sandoval is expected to miss four to six weeks.
Sandoval missed 41 games during the 2011 season with the injury, and the Giants offense struggled in his absence. Three possible fill-ins include Ryan Theriot, Emmanuel Burriss and Joaquin Arias.
San Francisco, however, has called for 24-year-old Conor Gillaspie, the club's first-rounder from 2008, and he is in the lineup Thursday batting second and starting at third base. He's was hitting .362 at Triple-A Fresno and has limited big-league experience.
Perhaps the best offensive prospect on the Triple-A roster is Charlie Culberson, a second baseman by trade.
- Jason Catania and Jason A. Churchill
It's been an odd beginning to the 2012 season for the Colorado Rockies rotation.
Arguably the club's top pitcher heading into the year, Jhoulys Chacin, was sent to Triple-A Thursday because he's currently sporting a 7.30 ERA.
Then there's the recent injury to righty Jeremy Guthrie, who may be ready to start by next Tuesday after hurting his shoulder while falling off his bicycle last week.
Or to put it another way, the two most secure starters at the moment happen to be a 49-year-old soft-tossing lefty and a guy whose career -- and life -- was threatened after he was hit by a come backer and fractured a vertebra last season. You know them as Jamie Moyer and Juan Nicasio. Aside from those two, the team is using rookie left-hander Drew Pomeranz and righty Guillermo Moscoso.
While Chacin, Guthrie and Josh Outman (another injured starter) work their way back, what are the club's plans for filling out the five-man?
Troy Renck of the Denver Post explains in the report linked above that some options include Alex White, Tyler Chatwood and possibly prospect Christian Friedrich, all of whom are pitching at Triple-A. Chatwood, though, left his last outing with triceps tightness, which makes White the leading candidate to take Chacin's place next Tuesday, if Guthrie isn't back by then.
- Jason Catania
Impact of Harper to three-hole
Bryce Harper | Nationals
By now you know Bryce Harper -- 19-year-old phenom outfielder, No. 1 overall pick in 2010 -- was promoted to the majors and made his debut Friday night against the Dodgers. The question remains: Is Harper up for good?
Harper took the roster spot of Ryan Zimmerman, who was finally placed on the DL after missing a week's worth of games with inflammation in his shoulder.
The precocious prospect, who doesn't turn 20 until October, is the youngest player currently playing Major League Baseball, but will he spend the rest of 2012 with the big league club or return to Triple-A for further development?
Harper has certainly looked capable of handling himself in the majors so far. He made his first real splash with the bat Wednesday, and his defense has been pretty good, as ESPN.com's Jayson Stark writes. And it's a promising sign for Harper's status going forward that after just four games, the lefty hitter was bumped up to No. 3 in the lineup and responded with a tiebreaking double to help the Nats win Thursday.
FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal writes that Harper should be here to stay.
Was bringing up Harper so soon a good move by the Nationals? Or are they rushing baseball's top prospect? ESPN Insider Keith Law gives his take:
- Jason Catania
Keith Law
"This looks to me like a panic move, a reaction to modest attendance figures for the Nats despite their hot start this year, rather than a well thought-out developmental plan, as we've seen the club employ for most of its other prospects. Contrast their adamant statements about keeping Stephen Strasburg on an innings limit in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery with this seemingly unplanned promotion before Harper can even reach 90 at-bats in Triple-A."
With May here and most clubs having played about 25 games -- just under 20 percent of the season -- some clubs that have fallen off the pace for a postseason spot may begin to consider pulling the plug on some players in favor of younger talents, or simply different options. One example of this occurred earlier this week when the Los Angeles Angels released Bobby Abreu. Let's take a look at some scenarios, including some role change possibilities.
Chone Figgins, UT -- Seattle Mariners
For obvious reasons, Figgins may not be long for the Mariners regular lineup, despite his ability to manage in left field, center field and third base. After a hot start to the season, Figgins is again struggling and the M's have younger options, including Alex Liddi, Casper Wells, Mike Carp and Kyle Seager, with Vinnie Catricala in Triple-A Tacoma for later this summer.
It's difficult to imagine the veteran Figgins in Seattle beyond June, and he could gradually lose playing between now and the all-star break, even if he isn't traded or designated for assignment.
The Mariners owe him about $15 million through next season, which is a major factor, but at some point production will win out and Figgins isn't producing. Once Franklin Gutierrez returns, which could occur in late May or June, Figgins' days in Seattle may be over.
Luis Mendoza, RHP -- Kansas City Royals
Mendoza has struggled in the rotation and despite some questions surrounding how ready he might be, it's probably getting to be the time where the Royals need to summon lefty Mike Montgomery and roll with him for a few months and allow him to develop. Jonathan Sanchez and Luke Hochevar have also struggled immensely, and 2013 and beyond -- the years the club was expected to start making some serious noise -- now looks bleak. Montgomery could lend some confidence.
Another option is to move Aaron Crow back to the rotation, which may be in the Royals' plans, anyway.
Gaby Sanchez, 1B -- Miami Marlins
Sanchez entered play Thursday batting .200/.235/.325 in 23 games and while it's highly unlikely he's sent back to Triple-A -- he's earning $8 million this season -- he could start seeing the bench more often. It's just been a month, but the Marlins are fishing, no pun intended, for any spark to their season. Sanchez could be replaced at first base by Logan Morrison but that leaves a hole in left field. Chris Coghlan is struggling himself and here are no clear answers in Triple-A New Orleans.
The Marlins could check the trade market for some help if Sanchez doesn't start to hit soon. In the meantime, Greg Dobbs could start to get more time at first.
Ian Stewart, 3B and/or Darwin Barney, 2B -- Chicago Cubs
Both Stewart and Barney are scuffling mightily at the plate and for Stewart he may not have long left to show he can hit big league pitching. Barney is likely remaining on the roster even if he loses his starting gig, but Adrian Cardenas is performing well at Triple-A Iowa. Unfortunately for the Cubs, and fortunately for Stewart and Barney, Josh Vitters, a third baseman, is not hitting, despite the friendly confines of his home ballpark.
- Jason A. Churchill
Drew's ETA
Stephen Drew | Diamondbacks
Stephen Drew is slated to play three innings in a rehab assignment Thursday, manager Kirk Gibson said after Wednesday's game.
Drew, nursing his ankle back to health, could conceivably be back in a couple of weeks, but the club has been playing it safe with their shortstop thus far and may continue to do so. That would push any possible return back to the latter days of May.
Once the all-star does get back to the active roster John McDonald or Cody Ransom may be the roster casualty necessary to make room for Drew's activation.
- Jason A. Churchill
First base is already a bit of a problem for the Milwaukee Brewers, just a month into life without Prince Fielder. Mat Gamel wasn't hitting and has told teammates he needs surgery on his knee. Travis Ishikawa, a journeyman of sorts, is expected to get the bulk of the playing in Gamel's absence.
The Brew Crew entered play Wednesday 11-13 and 4 1/2 games back of first place in the National League Central. They aren't struggling to score runs as much as they are scuffling to prevent them, suggesting GM Doug Melvin might seek starting pitching before a first base bat on the trade market.
Brooks Conrad has begun playing first base in Triple-A Nashville and could become an option, at least in a platoon role, at some point soon. Another option in the minors could be Taylor Green, who saw some time with the Brewers last September. If Milwaukee chooses to move someone from the 25-man roster, perhaps Corey Hart could see some time at first, but if the Brewers expect to contend until the end Melvin may need to shore up the position with a proven veteran.
Among those that could become an option include Daric Barton of the Oakland Athletics, Mark Reynolds of the Baltimore Orioles and Edwin Encarnacion of the Toronto Blue Jays, who can also play some outfield and third base in a pinch.
Wednesday, ESPN Insider's Jim Bowden wrote that Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau could a trade target this summer. Whether or not Milwaukee is a fit is unclear, but if he performs between now and the trade deadline, he'll profile as a significant upgrade on the Brewers' roster.
- Jason A. Churchill
Eric Karabell
Milwaukee has some choices
"There is also talk that free-agent Derrek Lee, who played for the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates in the past two seasons alone could get a call. Lee is past his prime but still hit 19 home runs in both 2010 and 2011. If Lee signed, I would not call him a must-add in 10- or 12-team standard leagues, but don't dismiss him either. Lee hit .349 with five home runs last September for the Bucs. I'd spend a few bucks on Lee in an NL-only format, knowing the Brewers and perhaps Los Angeles Dodgers(James Loney is slugging .347) become interested. What the Brewers do have is other options, one that has been discussed and another I haven't heard. As for the obvious one, Corey Hart, the right fielder off to a tremendous start despite undergoing March knee surgery that was supposed to hamper him in April, has been taking grounders at first base."
If Suzuki hits the DL
Kurt Suzuki | Athletics
Oakland Athletics catcher Kurt Suzuki entered Thursday scheduled for an X-ray on his left hand and if the results force him to the disabled list, the club will likely call on a catcher from the minor leagues.
Anthony Recker is also on the 40-man roster but prospect Derek Norris is the starter at Triple-A Sacramento and is off to a solid start at the plate.
There isn't much on the free agent market, suggesting the A's will have to stay in house.
ESPN Insider's Keith Law ranked Norris on his pre-season Top 100 Prospects list:
- Jason A. Churchill
Keith Law
"Norris can catch, throw, hit for power and take a walk. But for two years now he hasn't hit for average in the minors, remaining on the prospect radar primarily because he plays a position at which the bar is so low that any offense at all is welcome. Behind the plate, his hands aren't the softest but they're playable, and he has a plus arm, consistently under 1.9 seconds from home to second. Pitchers in the Arizona Fall League liked throwing to him, and he has always controlled the running game. He has worked on lessening a hip glide that left him vulnerable to breaking balls moving away from him, showing progress in that department in Arizona. The trade to Oakland gives him a better path to the majors, and I think he'll hit enough -- at least .250 or so -- to let his other skills play and make him at least a solid-average big league catcher, if not more."
Update on Kalish
Ryan Kalish | Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox, who are dealing with massive outfield problems due to injuries to Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury, could get some help soon in the form of Ryan Kalish.
General manager Ben Cherington provided injury updates Wednesday, and said "Kalish is hitting on a field, throwing out to 120 (feet) so he's coming along well. No decision on (when he'll be ready) ... but he's coming along and he's hitting on a field. So we'll let him do that for a little while and get him some live BP and then get him into game action down there."
Kalish could start a rehab relatively soon and be ready for activation later this month or in early June, depending on whether or not he has any setbacks. Once that occurs, the Red Sox will have another option in left and right field.
- Jason A. Churchill
Fister's rehab and ETA
Doug Fister | Tigers
UPDATE: Fister pitched four innings for Triple-A Toledo Wednesday with no issues with the side injury reported, writes George Sipple.
Fister could start Monday or Tuesday in Seattle. If he goes Monday on regular rest, Justin Verlander would be pushed back to Tuesday.
Detroit Tigers right-hander Doug Fister threw a bullpen session Saturday and will head to Triple-A Toledo to make at least one rehab start, tweets Lynn Henning of the Detroit News.
Fister, sidelined by an oblique injury, is almost certain to replace Duane Below in the rotation once he's ready. Below replaced Adam Wilk, who was torched at home last week and struggled in two of his three starts before being shipped back to the minors.
The Tigers are getting a nice boost from rookie southpaw Drew Smyly early on, so perhaps they will feel like they can take their time getting Fister back, though it doesn't appear he's going to need much more than one or two rehab outings.
- Jason A. Churchill
Miami's Bell getting rung
Heath Bell | Marlins
Heath Bell was at it again last night. And by that, we mean, coughing up a late-inning lead.
Bell didn't actually get the blown save -- he already has three of those, though -- because he left with the Marlins up by one after surrendering a run on three hits and leaving two men on...all while failing to record a single out.
Righty Steve Cishek came in, and despite limiting the damage of what could have been an uglier inning, he "earned" the blown save by surrendering the lead. Still, Cishek worked a second inning and eventually got the win.
Is it time to worry about Bell's job? Um, yes. After his latest meltdown, the free agent -- who landed a three-year, $27 million deal in the offseason -- now owns an ERA of 11.74 and has allowed (count 'em) 21 base runners in just 7.2 innings of work. What's more, his K:BB ratio is a backward 5:8.
Juan C. Rodriguez of the Orland Sun Sentinel speculated via Twitter that either Cishek or Edward Mujica could be candidates to take over ninth-inning duties, should the Marlins opt to get Bell straightened out in another role.
- Jason Catania
Eric Karabell
Who's next in line?
"Fantasy owners might flock to Cishek as the Bell replacement, but it's more likely that Mujica gets the call. He had, after all, pitched earlier in Wednesday's game, and he has twice as many saves as Cishek on the season, signaling eighth-inning use. Cishek is having the better season so far, though. Ultimately the Marlins need to remove Bell from the role so he can work out his issues, but he's actually a decent buy-low option in fantasy leagues. Bell was supposed to regress, but not this much."
The Tampa Bay Rays will have to play without their best hitter for quite a while.
Third baseman Evan Longoria likely will miss 6-8 weeks with a hamstring injury, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Longoria had an MRI Tuesday that confirmed the injury and timeframe for return.
The players most likely to get the most action at the hot corner in place of Longoria are Jeff Keppinger and Elliot Johnson. Will Rhymes was also brought up from Triple-A to help add some infield depth.
Remember, the Rays lost Longoria last year for about a month early on, too. They managed to go 15-11 without their star, so it's not as if the club, currently 16-8 and in first place in the AL East, can't tread water at the very least until Longoria is back.
- Jason A. Churchill and Jason Catania
Eric Karabell
Life without Longoria
"I blogged about the Rays Wednesday and noted there's really nothing on the Rays that can help fantasy owners filling in at third base, but it's time to take a closer look at Longoria, who will miss significant playing time for the second consecutive season. Longoria is a terrific player, but it's hard to nominate him as a top-25 player in 2013 with his durability issues. Perhaps both Longoria and Ryan Zimmerman will see their respective careers held back like similarly skilled Scott Rolen."
Texas Rangers outfielder Leonys Martin will miss the next 6-8 weeks with a torn thumb ligament, tweets Evan Grant. The injury hurts the Rangers' depth, and such depth may be needed during the course of the season.
With Josh Hamilton injury prone -- and he's sat out the past three days with a sore back -- and Nelson Cruz having his own history of injuries, the Rangers need all the depth they can get. Martin was hitting .347/.423/.520 for Triple-A Round Rock in 23 games, including eight doubles and three home runs.
Candidates to take Martin's spot on the Express roster include veteran Brad Hawpe and Engel Beltre, who is on the 40-man roster. As for who is next in line to come up and help the Rangers if they need an outfielder, Julio Borbon may be that player.
- Jason A. Churchill
De La Rosa update
Jorge De La Rosa | Rockies
The Colorado Rockies may get a boost to their starting rotation by June.
Jorge De La Rosa, who is on the recovery track from Tommy John surgery, pitched his first minor-league rehab outing Wednesday for Single-A Modesto. The lefty threw three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk while whiffing four.
De La Rosa had been throwing all of his pitches, breaking ball and change up included, during simulated games and bullpen sessions over the past month.
Presuming all goes according to plan, the lefty could be back with the Rockies before the All-Star break, and perhaps even sooner.
It's a bit early to worry about who will be bumped from the rotation when De La Rosa is ready to return, but the Denver Post's Troy Renck mentioned that one candidate to be demoted could be Jhoulys Chacin, who has pitched very poorly in the early going. The right-hander, though, still has some time to try to turn things around.
- Jason Catania
Zimmerman pushed back
Ryan Zimmerman | Nationals
The Washington Nationals finally put Ryan Zimmerman on the DL last week after he'd missed several games with a shoulder injury -- and they could be getting him back by early next week.
Because Zimmerman, who's out with inflammation in his right shoulder, hasn't played since April 20, his DL time can be retroactive to that date, meaning his 15 days are up this weekend. But will he be ready to play against the Phillies this Sunday?
After some speculation that Zimmerman could return in time for Sunday Night Baseball, the Nats have indicated that the more likely scenario has Zimmerman coming back Tuesday. The team seems to be taking the conservative route with its new $100 million man.
Zimmerman felt great after playing catch Tuesday, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, and he plans to hit off a tee Friday. Without any setbacks or re-aggravation of his injury, the third baseman says he'll be ready to go whenever the club says he can get back on the field.
The player and club were able to breathe a sigh of relief when last week's MRI revealed no structural damage.
As for who gets the boot to make room for Zimmerman? While there's always the chance the Nats choose to return Bryce Harper to Triple-A -- looking less likely when he keeps doing things like this -- the most likely candidates would seem to be one of Chad Tracy or Tyler Moore, a rookie who was just called up.
- Jason Catania
The Boston Red Sox have called up third base prospect Will Middlebrooks from Triple-A Pawtucket to take the roster spot of Kevin Youkilis, and the great Rob Bradford of WEEI.com tweets that the rookie is in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game.
Youkilis is out with a lower back injury, and Boston finally put him on the disabled list after he'd missed four straight games. As such, his DL stint is backdated, meaning he can return by May 14. He indicated to MLB.com's Ian Browne that he's confident he'll be ready to go by then.
Middlebrooks, who batted eighth and went 2-for-3 with a walk, was eating International League pitching alive at the time of his promotion. While it was just three weeks of games, his offensive profile seems to have changed a bit. He entered the season a very aggressive hitter, not drawing many walks, but mashing line drives all over the ballpark. The right-handed hitter has good power to right-center field and was getting more loft in his swing early this season, as evidenced by his nine home runs in 24 games.
There is certainly going to be an adjustment period for him in the big leagues, but he could take advantage of the Green Monster in left field. Expecting Middlebrooks to hit for average right away is asking too much, and he'll likely log his share of strikeouts. He handles third base with the glove and possesses a plus arm, so the Red Sox may be getting better defensively at the position.
The 23-year-old may eventually earn a spot in the middle of the order, but is likely to bat somewhere in the bottom third for now, as he's unlikely to hit for high average but his power should ultimately be worthy of such a role. If he batted .260 with a league-average on-base mark, it's a good first taste for Middlebrooks.
In the long run, we might be talking about a .275/.350/.500 triple-slash that includes 30 doubles and 25 long balls.
ESPN Insider Eric Karabell discusses Middlebrook's fantasy value:
- Jason A. Churchill
Eric Karabell
Enjoy Middlebrooks while you can
"Speaking of debuts, the Boston Red Sox introduced rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks, and he singled, doubled and walked in four plate appearances Wednesday. Middlebrooks will likely play regularly with Kevin Youkilis on the DL, but don't be surprised if his big league stay is short, or lasts until Youkilis returns. Enjoy the next 10 games or so, though."
Phils getting Lee back
Cliff Lee | Phillies
Cliff Lee spent the last part of April on the disabled list with a strained left side, but he's on his way back.
The southpaw, who injured himself while pitching in the 10th inning against the San Francisco Giants two weeks ago, threw a pain-free bullpen session Wednesday, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The plan is to have Lee throw one more bullpen Saturday and then make his start next week.
In Lee's stead, righty Kyle Kendrick, who has gone 0-2 with 9 earned runs over 9 innings while filling in twice so far, will make his (hopefully, for the Phillies) final start in place of Lee this Friday against Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals. When Lee returns, Kendrick is likely to go back to being the team's long man.
- Jason Catania
Translating Farm System Rankings into Wins.
Knowledgeable baseball fans clamor for rankings of farm systems every offseason. Experts' opinions are highly coveted, as fans eagerly await information on where their team's prospects rank. This year, Baseball America ranked the Rangers atop its list, with the Royals just behind them. On the other hand, The White Sox' and Indians' farm systems were ranked at the bottom.
This year's rankings saw big spenders like the Phillies, Dodgers and Tigers in the bottom-third in baseball, while the top-third included some teams with the lightest payrolls — like Rays, A's and Padres. Obviously fans want their teams to be big spenders on veterans — and big farmers of young talent — but which is more important? What does a good ranking mean in the win and loss columns, and how much can payroll explain that performance?
Team building is at the heart of baseball analysis. And analysts like those here at FanGraphs try to deduce what teams should do to get themselves into the playoffs. Recently, I wrote about a couple of important team-building concepts at The Hardball Times. Specifically, I separated all WAR into either "Non-Market WAR
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Non-save situation, but still a good outing.
Joe Girardi and his binder indicated that both Robertson and Soriano will get opportunities to close out games.
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Billy Hamilton has reached on eight infield singles. He has been thrown out by infielders 14 times. When Billy Hamilton hits the ball on the ground to an infielder, and the infielder fields the ball cleanly, Billy Hamilton is hitting .364.
Billy Hamilton scored the walk-off run on April 20 on a sacrifice fly. To the second baseman.
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If the Indians had any one kind of player in their system, I wish it was an elite speed guy that has a chance to play every day in the bigs. Still hope they at least find a way to bring in B.J. Upton this time.
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Why would Chicago move Sale to closer? He's been great so far in the rotation and they have two guys in Reed and Thornton who they should try first.
Having elbow pain and they want to be careful with him. Velocity was down a good amount last start too, around 90-93. I go to his alma mater so we get info on him. I would say he will get back in the rotation eventually again this season, especially if the Sox can stay in contention after the All-Star break.
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text:
Of 47 reported crimes on Monday in Grand Rapids, 19 of them involved theft, including break-ins of homes and vehicles. Police also responded to a dozen assaults.
Here are the crimes reported Monday, April 8, in Grand Rapids. The information is preliminary, and could change with further investigation. The information is available through Grand Rapids Police Department's crime-mapping system. Not every report is necessarily listed.
Related:Four drunken drivers busted early Sunday: Grand Rapids police crime log
Related: Armed robbery, assaults, sex attack: Grand Rapids police crime log
12 a.m.: Aggravated assault, weapon, 600 block Neland Avenue SE.
1:22 a.m.: Criminal damage to business property, 0 block Commerce Avenue SW.
1:37 a.m.: Assault and battery, 100 block Carlton Avenue SE.
1:48 a.m.: Drunken driving, 44th Street SE.
2 a.m.: "Super drunk" driving, blood-alcohol level over 0.17 percent.
2 a.m.: Drunken driving, 44th Street.
2:07 a.m.: Aggravated assault, gun, 700 block Union Avenue SE.
2:12 a.m.: Assault and battery, 600 block Harlan Avenue NE.
3:01 a.m.: Arson of residence, life endangered, 600 block Thomas Street SE.
4:30 a.m.: Assault and battery, 100 block Griggs Street SW.
5:36 a.m.: Assault and battery, 1000 block Pine Avenue NW.
6 a.m.: Larceny from vehicle, 100 block Rose Street SW.
6:10 a.m.: Illegal use of credit card, 1500 block 28th Street SE.
8 a.m.: Burglary of non-residence, 600 block Ottawa Avenue NW.
8:16 a.m.: Burglary of unoccupied building, 1400 block Prospect Avenue SE.
9:40 a.m.: Assault and battery, 200 block Dickinson Street SE.
9:41 a.m.: Crack possession, Linden Avenue SE.
9:45 a.m.: Burglary of residence, 600 block Winchell Street SE.
10:49 a.m.: Retail fraud, 600 block Bridge Street NW.
11:30 a.m.: Marijuana use, 2900 block Marshall Avenue SE.
12 p.m.: Criminal damage to property, 1000 block Jackson Street NW.
12:51 p.m.: Marijuana possession, 1000 block Alger Street SE.
12:57 p.m.: Marijuana use, Stewart Street SW.
1 p.m.: Marijuana use, Stewart Street SW.
1:15 p.m.: Larceny, 2800 block Vineland Avenue SE.
1:46 p.m.: Burglary of unoccupied building, 500 block Woodlawn Street SE.
2 p.m.: Larceny from vehicle, 700 block Coate Court SW.
2:13 p.m.: Assault and battery, 400 block Grant Street SW.
3:45 p.m.: Fraud, 300 block Burton Street SW.
3:56 p.m.: Burglary of residence, 100 block Rose Street SW.
4 p.m.: Fraud, 500 block Hall Street SE.
4:16 p.m.: Retail fraud, 200 block South Division Avenue.
4:39 p.m.: Assault and battery, 800 block Liberty Street SW.
5:03 p.m.: Assault and battery, 500 block Harlan Avenue NE.
5:40 p.m.: Retail Fraud, 1200 block Walker Avenue NW.
6:05 p.m.: Burglary of residence, 1100 block Iroquois Drive SE.
6:45 p.m.: Burglary of residence, 600 block East Fulton Street.
7 p.m.: Burglary of residence, 3300 block Brooklyn Avenue SE.
7 p.m.: Larceny, 3000 block Monroe Avenue NE.
7:20 p.m.: Retail fraud, 1600 block Kalamazoo Avenue SE.
7:23 p.m.: Crack possession, 1000 block Grandville Avenue SW.
9 p.m.: Larceny, 2100 block Nelson Avenue SE.
9:13 p.m.: Retail fraud, 1900 block East Beltline Avenue NE.
10:20 p.m.: Assault and battery, Ionia Avenue SW.
10:33 p.m.: Assault and battery, 4200 block Kalamazoo Avenue SE.
E-mail John Agar: email@example.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar

subset: commoncrawl


text:
When spring training begins next week, teams will have dozens of players to get a good look at in the weeks to come before the season arrives.
All the while, they'll have a magic number in mind: 25. They need to take a couple dozen and somehow, some way cut it down to 25.
This is going to involve saying "thanks, but no thanks" to the majority of the non-roster invitees they've invited along for the ride. For non-roster invitees, spring training may as well be one great big Thunderdome: Many will enter, few will leave.
I have my eye on 10 non-roster invitees with solid chances of starting the season in the big leagues.
Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.


text:
Collection Hotchkiss Map Collection
Featured Content
- Sketch of the battle of Bristoe
- Map of the northern part of Virginia and West Virginia
- Part of map of portions of the milit'y dep'ts of Washington, ...
- Map used by Jed. Hotchkiss
- Memoranda of J. Hotchkiss
- [Sketch of a portion of the Antietam battlefield
- [Sketch of the vicinity of the Shenandoah Iron Works
- [Preliminary sketch of the battle of Gettysburg
- [Map of Madison County, Va.].
- [Sketch of the Manassas battlefield].
- Sketch-book of positions of forces of 2nd Corps A.N.Va., ...
- [Map of cavalry engagement near Bridgewater, Va. Oct. 4th and ...
- [Sketch of the battles of Chancellorsville Salem Church, and ...
- [Map of parts of Caroline, Hanover, and Henrico counties, Va. ...
- Battle of Monocacy.
- [Sketches of portions of Madison County, Va.].
- [Base map of Pennsylvania].
- [Map of Chancellorsville battlefield, May 3-4, 1863].
- [Base map of Alabama].
- [Rough sketch of the Rich Mountain battle area extending from ...
Results: 1-1 of 1 | Refined by: Part of: Hotchkiss Map Collection Remove Subject: United States Remove Contributor: Campbell, Albert H. Remove Location: Chesterfield Couinty Remove
Map of part of Henrico and Chesterfield Counties, July 12th, 1862
Shows the names of some residents. At head of title: Chief Engineer's Office, D.N.V. Maj. W.H. Stevens Chief Eng. Pen-and-ink on tracing linen, sectioned in 2 and mounted on cloth. LC Civil War maps (2nd ed.), H40 LC Land ownership maps, 1280 Annotated on the reverse in pencil, "Gen. Lee's." No longer visible because of mounting. Available also through the Library of Congress web ...
- Contributor: Campbell, Albert H. (albert Henry) - Stevens, W. H. (walter H.) - Campbell, Albert H.
- Date: 1862


text:
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Young sex offender poses high risk
Island County Sheriff Mike Hawley isn't happy about a high-risk, 13-year-old sex offender who is living on North Whidbey under unusual circumstances.
"The higher-ups in the state have just dumped him here," Hawley said last week. "Something needs to be done and it needs to be done now."
Nicholas Stroeder, originally an Oak Harbor resident, was released from incarceration Dec. 31 after serving a six-month term for sexually assaulting a pregnant woman at Alderwood Mall. Since then, the boy has been staying at the Child Protective Services building north of Oak Harbor. Until Thursday, he will be living in a secure foster home in the Oak Harbor area. He will need to be placed in a new living situation on Friday.
Off-duty sheriff's deputies and social workers are babysitting Stroeder around the clock. An off-duty deputy hired by the state at $40 an hour drives him to an Everett crisis center and supervises him overnight, then drives him back to Whidbey Island in the morning.
No family members will take him in, according to a state Department of Social and Health Services spokesman. Foster families have refused him and there are no appropriate facilities in the state with openings.
Stroeder is considered a Level 3 sex offender by the county's sex offender review board. He is deemed a high-risk to reoffend.
Stroeder, who is developmentally delayed, set his grandmother's home on fire when he was 9 years old, according to DSHS reports. He later attempted to rape his 9-year-old foster sister.
He pleaded guilty in Snohomish County on July 11, 2001 to a charge of indecent liberties with forcible compulsion in relation to the Alderwood Mall assault. Since he returned the the island, the sheriff's office has been handing out fliers about Stroeder in the neighborhood near the CPS building.
Hawley says DSHS hasn't followed sex offender registration laws. The sheriff's office did not receive a 14-day notification that Stroeder was moving to the county, which is required by law. The boy didn't even come to the sheriff's office to register until a deputy brought him in, Hawley said.
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text:
Joining the Group!
The good news is that spammers usually stick to the threads. More traffic for them and they can't join most groups without permission.
Sabine...I have started us a group for our April challenge so we have one place to talk about it. Go to your profile...scroll down till you see groups...click on join groups & that will take you to the page. Ours is called Best Your Stress. Join it & there you are! I am going to moderate to try & keep out the spammers. See ya there!
Goal: Don't worry be happy!
Joining the Group!
The good news is that spammers usually stick to the threads. More traffic for them and they can't join most groups without permission.
Primal since 9/24/2010"Our greatest foes, and whom we must chiefly combat, are within." Miguel de Cervantes
Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Weight Loss ToolsMFP username: MDAPebbles67
I took a walk over to the Grocery store to use their scale this morning. This was after I had measured myself, so I was already thinking about the inches result. I stayed the same in most places, went up a smidge on my ribcage(not enough to be statistically significant, though), and for the big surprise, reduced around both my thighs!
This fit in with my feeling fat a few days ago. I wasn't thrilled, but I wasn't disappointed, either. I guess, I was...accepting. Wow! Is that meditation working already?
So, I was working out what I thought my feelings SHOULD be regarding any weight loss/gain/maintenance. I decided I would be disappointed at a gain, accepting of staying the same, happy at a loss, and thrilled if the loss was more than two pounds.
And I listed ways I might have got to where ever I am. Due to my eating. Regardless of my eating. Ditto physical activity. Ditto stress. Ditto hormones. Ditto the great unknown.
And then I asked myself if I felt good.
Yes, I do.
And can I eat and move, and sleep like this forever and be happy.
Yes, I can.
I weigh 1/2 pound less. And that's good.
Here's what I did yesterday:
Up at 5:30
6:45 small Liquid Fat Bomb
1 egg
1/4C coconut milk
1/4C cream
2T coconut oil
1/2T vanilla
1/2 packet stevia
12:15 1C mixed greens gratin
1/2C rotisserie chicken breast
1C sausage and peppers and onions and tomatoes
7:00 8oz shrimp
~2T cocktail sauce
8oz lox
cream cheese
capers, red onion
2 choco-coco cups
Outside getting a little sun and doing gentle walking from 10am-4pm at a Girl Scout celebration. Also took a twenty minute nap on the lawn in the shade.
Bed at 9:15
Tedious errands when I got home, so I ate rather late, and more than I needed, but it tasted fabulous, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. No regrets. Also, Littlest joined me in eschewing the use of bagels for our lox, and told me she thinks sugar makes her sick. Honey had given her a zinger while I was out on errands, and she said it made her stomach hurt. I told her not to worry, we had plenty of good stuff without needing sugary things, and she agreed, and stuffed her face with shrimp.
Here are the measurements:
Measurement.....Jan 23/2012.......Mar 1..........Mar 15..........April 1
Weight.............211...................194.5.... ......191.5...........191.0
Underarms........41"....................40.5"..... ......40"..............40"
Ribcage............37.5".................36"...... ........35.75"..........36"
Waist...............40.5".................39.75".. .......39"...............39"
Hips.................44"....................44"... ..........43"...............43"
Thighs L-R........25.5"-25.25".......25"-25..25"....25"-25".........24.25"-24.5"
I am 3.5 pounds lighter over the past month, just a little off my planned pace of 1 pound per week. I am down a total of 13 1/2 inches off the parts of my body that I am keeping an eye on.
And I'm wearing a tank top!
Last edited by Sabine; 04-01-2012 at 06:55 AM. Reason: Bedtime data
*clapping* Sabine! I am thrilled for your losses in the last month and you have inspired me to take my measurements today as part of our April No stress challenge. Then I will retake them on May 1st to see how I did! Thank you!
That liquid fat bomb looks yummy. I don't like stevia, so am thinking one date:-) Reading what people eat is such fun and gives me so many ideas.
Hey, I don't usually think cream cheese because then I think bagel and lox, but I could put it on top of vegetables. Oh, yes! Thank you for the idea.
Gay Panda already has psychic powers. Iodine should definitely make him able to fly through the universe! Doesn't seaweed work? Yeh, I guess that would be a lot of seaweed!
Yay - progress! Good to see it in someone who is just about my size (minus the big booty).
Starting weight: 225
Current weight: 195
Goal: One pull-up by December 31, 2012
Method: Schwarzbein Principle II, program for insulin sensitive/burned-out adrenals
My Primal Journey
Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods
I know, I love seeing how other people about my height and build are doing. Even more so when I see they have made it down to my goal weight and look great!
Good progress, Sabine!
My Journal: Candy in Primal Wonderland
My Blog: Candy in Wonderland
Goal for 2012: keep weight steady (+/- 74 kg): check
Goal for 2013: lose 10 kg and keep new weight (+/- 65 kg)
Getting some extra sleep is not working out. I got some fire ant and chigger bites at the Girl Scout Bash on Saturday, and they are keeping me up. It is just past three in the morning, my time, and I've been lying awake with my legs burning from the pain. Decided I should get up and DO something, so I'm going to cruise the journals and do some chores. At least everything will be done and when I get home from work I can relax, maybe watch a movie and knit.
New meditation: I accept that the pain from these bites will keep me up tonight. I am willing for it to go away soon. I accept that I might as well do laundry and clean the kitchen while I am waiting for the bites to stop hurting.
That's the best I can do for now.


text:
18 Oct 2016
A Venetian Double: English Touring Opera
Francesco Cavalli's La Calisto was the composer's fifteenth opera, and the ninth to a libretto by Giovanni Faustini (1615-1651). First performed at the Teatro Sant'Apollinaire in Venice on 28th November 1651, the opera by might have been sub-titled 'Gods Behaving Badly', so debauched are the deities' dalliances and deviations, so egotistical their deceptions. »


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Rock group Aerosmith announced it had cut short its US tour due to injuries suffered by its vocalist, Steven Tyler, during a concert in South Dakota.
Tyler fell from the stage during an August 5 show that was part of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in western South Dakota, the group said in a statement.
The accident resulted in a broken shoulder and stitches to the singer's head.
After receiving treatment at a local hospital, Tyler returned to Boston to consult with his own doctors.
"In his current condition, Tyler is unable to tour and the band wants to give him time to get healthy," the statement pointed out.
Guitarist Joe Perry thanked the group's fans "for sticking by us through thick and thin" and their understanding.
"We hope we can get the Aerosmith machine up and running again as soon as possible," he added.
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Madonna 'Desperate' To Team With Lady Gaga On Tour
Even if this report about Madonna being desperate for Lady Gaga to open for her next tour was entirely made up, I completely believe the aging pop act would give anything to attract one-tenth of the buzz as her successor, and would actually entertain this idea.
Before the BQB runs to the workshops and begins to sharpen their claws to rip Madonna to shreds with barbs like "she is trying to remain revelant" or "she wishes she could still attract GaGa's fans" yada yada. Take a moment to realize that Madonna was one of the absolute first mainstream acts that embraced the Gay community, lent her name and time to raise money for AIDS awareness and causes. She has never once wavered in her support for our community. She is the role model that stars like GaGa emulate and look up to. And still to this day every time Madonna goes on tour, her concerts are in the top 5 revenue generating events. She deserves nothing less but our thanks and support for decades of being very vocally on our side……….
PS: A concert by the two of would be the most entertaining, Gayest, outrageous, spectacles one could withess this centuryAug 29, 2010 at 4:09 pm · @Reply ·
Now this is something I'd like to see.
So Queerty is in the business of reporting BLATANTLY false news now? I guess Rupert Murdoch bought us out this weekend. And who needs buzz when you just finished the most successful tour for a female Artist of all time and Vegas is throwing billion dollar offers your way for you to do a 5 year stay.
If anyone is desperate to tour with Gaga it's probably Christina. Who knows maybe Gaga will let her open up for her one day.
Queerty 'desperate' for clicks due to business model?
Madonna embraced the gay community??? What sort of an embrace was it? To me, it seemed like lip service designed to get the community on side and then make a lot of money off it. It reminded me somewhat of how the televangelists operate in embracing the faithful and then taking all their money.
Madonna was also a publicity skunk. A publicity skunk who marketed herself to the sleazy straight guy fantasy (by wearing little clothing and kissing women) while claiming to be on the side of the GLBT community. The two cannot co-exist. Women who make out with other women for the sake of publicity are not helping the GLBT community at all.
Madonna and Lady Gaga have got their mansions now but we still haven't got gay marriage.
Yes cause Madonna needs help selling out seats on her tours……..oh wait! She sells out show already! Also at least update the post queerty it's been debunked already.
Madonna didn't embrace the gay community at first; sure, she hung out at gay hot spots in NYC in the beginning (Cafeteria, Tunnel, Roxy, etc), but gays claimed her and she confessed "Vogue" was a gay dance she was inspired by the watching gay men after questioned (watch "Paris is Burning" for reference). Cher, Bette Midler, Tina Turner, Debbie Harry, even Cyndi Lauper claimed the GLBT community before the other way around. She's never one to claim something until she smells a trend brewing- remember her attempt at rapping? Madge dropped that really fast.
As said before, she doesn't need Lady GaGa to sell concert tickets.
A collaboration could be inspired and seeing how they are friends, it's always possible.
"Madonna and Lady Gaga have got their mansions now but we still haven't got gay marriage."
Lesson Time:
Try as you might you won't find "female entertainers" listed as a member of the decision making process in the United States Government………
If you look at the history of the Gay rights movement and especially the AIDS crisis, Madonna was one of the first public persons to speak openly about AIDS. She advocated safe sex, worked to dispell the myths that simply by looking at a Gay person you would immediatley contract AIDS. She worked as a spokesperson and raised millions thru benefits and concerts. She embraced Gay rights, marriage, and has spoken out about almost every single anti-Gay measure…………..
Every celebrity has their mansions. Problem is once Gay dollars help buy them unlike Madonna they simply move into the mansions and dont' speak out to defend some of their most loyal fans……………
I am far from a Madonna fanatic. However I am sick and tired of certain Gays joining the BQB and slapping with venon at the hands that have been extended to us in solidartiy and support…..
Madonna is a legend and Gaga is getting there fast. I love them both to death. They both completely revitalized dying genres (pop had been going downhill until Gaga came along, being replaced by rap/hip-hop and punk-pop) and Madonna essentially invented pop music. And the nerve of some people to suggest she is "chasing in" on gay people! How jaded must you be to assume that, just because one becomes famous, they are automatically shallow and greedy?
We'll be hearing Bad Romance twenty years later on the radio.
Wow, if Queerty keeps posting crap like this I'll stop coming to it. I come here for news. I don't come here to read some bitter and bored queen's rant which has NOTHING to do with anything factual much less newsworthy.
Makes sense as Madonna bet on the wrong pony (Britney Spears) a few years ago as her "successor" in that stupid kiss scene at that award show, & that pony has pretty much flushed herself subsequently in terms of relevency.
If Lady GaGa can keep up the steem of her first album in her continuing work she is most definitely Madanna's true successor, but of course a little time will have to tell.
Without Madonna, I would have been a very sad gay teen.
Now don't get me wrong, I like Gaga, but ask me that question 20 years from now…as for Madonna, I know the answer will be.
"Makes sense as Madonna bet on the wrong pony (Britney Spears) a few years ago as her "successor" in that stupid kiss scene at that award show, & that pony has pretty much flushed herself subsequently in terms of relevency."
Excuse me that Kiss was EPIC and is still talked about to this day. And Britney is still here, in a reduced from but she's still here. It's Xtincta Aguilera people should be worried about. Flop Album, Canceled tours, no hit songs….. Her next album will be make or break for her.
Could you really blame an artist for wanting to work with another artist? Madonna has reigned as Queen of Pop for decades, and EARNED her throne. Gaga is still new, and that's really exciting. Both offer equally interesting opportunities to music. A Madonna/Gaga team up would be beyond amazing, even if it's just collaborating on a couple songs or doing some covers of each other.
Madonna no doubt sees the future in Gaga; and Gaga obviously respects Madonna's contributions to the field. There's no need for the antagonism some fans are hurling at each other.
What's the point of posting this completely made up story, other than to take the usual cheap dig at Madonna?
Madonna has never needed an opening act to generate buzz for a tour. Her last one, was and is the highest grossing solo tour ever….and the last act to open for her was the Beastie Boys in 1985.
Gaga also doesn't need to open for anyone since her own tour is about to reach 200 million in sales.
Madonna is currently directing a major motion picture in 3 countries, and isn't even thinking about a tour or new album at this point.
The constant comparisons between Madonna and Gaga used to annoy me, but it's actually sort of a tribute to Madonna. Her influence on Gaga and all women in pop is undeniable, but there will never be another one like her. Gaga will have to carve out her own identity if she wants to truly make an impact long term.
Who the fuck cares? One eats some shit and the other eats a lot of shit.
Without Madonna there wouldn't be a GaGa, Britney etc. She IS pop music. Despite how many records sold, how much a tour grosses or how many hits Madonna always will be the first and best (and she's actually sold the most records, had the top grossing tour and the most hits of any solo artist and only behind the Beatles). Madonna spoke of equality and empowerment years before anyone in the pop scene knew how to ride a bike. Do some of year remember the song "In this Life" off her Erotica album? It was a song about her losing a friend to AIDS which was something Madonna experienced quite a bit in the 80's and has periodically discussed. The point is Madonna has always spoken about tolerance and acceptance even in countries that are hostile to gay people. She had the balls to utter the word AIDS when Ronald Reagan wouldn't even do it. Along the way she's made some of the best music in history and has proven to be the most important and influential female musician. I like GaGa but I'll never understand why a lot of her fans and the bitter queens at Queerty always insist on taking jabs at Madonna whenever they can, Jealous much? No matter what they say Madonna will ALWAYS be the Queen of pop and she deserves our respect and gratitude.
@Sean: Serioiusly, I don't care if an artist speaks about equality and empowerment. I care if they make good music. I have a lot of LGBT artists and composers in my collection. And some diva/hag music too. But I don't have a single Madonna song or Lady Gaga song or Cyndi Lauper song and never will, thankfully. Fuck you make good music and I'll support you.
Madonna did nothing for gay rights – absolutely nothing. Her shtick was to claim she's for gay rights but then to sell herself by appealing to the sleazy straight guy fetish for female nudity and girl-girl action. Madonna is, therefore, a disgusting skunk who exploited and trivalized the GLBT movement in general.
Madonna is an icon, Lady Gaga is a pop star. I find it ironic that Madge at 52 is still hotter
Gaga and Madonna both exploit gays. They rob ideas from gay artists and designers. Lady Gaga is a homophobe.
@Kev C: You are off your rocker.
It's funny how the people Lady Gaga stole from to get famous don't want to work with her. David Bowie doesn't. Prince doesn't. Marilyn Manson doesn't. Grace Jones certainly doesn't want to work with Gaga. But Madonna does? Oh, and M.I.A. and Courtney Love don't either because Gaga is the enemy of talented people.
@John Raymond Barker: And I think meds………. :p
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: I've noticed that many people who listen to Lady Gaga like to insult gays.
gagA is a satanist and Madonna wants to get her free from evil spirits by trying Kabbalatology therapy.
Mariah Carey invented pop music
@afrolito: Technotronic opened for Madonna's Blonde Ambition Tour
@Chipsy: LOL! Mariah Carey almost killed pop music, thank God food has now distracted her!
AIDS is not a gay rights issue. Never has been.
Many of the celebrities who cited AIDS were simply doing it because their agents told them. The agents tell them everything. They are guided by the agents.
A lot of these women in the music industry are guided by their agents. Just because they appear to be gay-friendly it doesn't mean they actually are.
The GLBT community needs to stop allowing itself to be so manipulated by women, especially those in the entertainment industry. There are definitely some gay-friendly women around but Madonna is not one of them as far as I'm concerned.
Lady Gaga has more homophobic fans than gay fans. That's a statistical fact. Gaga's music is so homophobic, it even turns gay men into homophobes.
Lady Gaga has done nothing for marriage equality because she refuse to marry a woman. Wake up gay boys – she hate you all and now wants to copy your style! Madonna is far worse because she invented AIDS.
Lady Gaga is and always has been a heterosexual italian catholic. But why is Madonna posing with Edith Prickley? And why is Edith wearing a Lone Ranger mask?
@jason: I agree Jason. It is sad to see gay men who made Madonna rich still defending her as if she had been a patron saint of queer causes. She is a shrewd businesswoman who knows hot to "appropriate" cultural influences, for example, vogueing, use them to her advantange, make bundles of money and then flee the scene. She may be a creative showwoman, but she is, from all reports of people who have worked with her closely, an awful human being. And please, what has she done for gay rights? Cyndi Lauper, by all means. Madonna? I don't think so.
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: Total BS sir.
seach for Madonna AIDS on Youtube and you'll see what an advocate she's been. Wake up people
Madonna and plastic surgery: not a good combo. Burp.
It's beyond pathetic to hear people fault Madonna for not being our leader. As if it's her job to save us simply because we buy her music. As if she has to be some servant of the gay community for the rest of her life simply because she wrote "Vogue." She's a pop star. And part of the reason she's lasted as long as she has is because she's never affixed herself to any one thing for too long. Guess what dumb-dumbs, that includes us. So what? Who cares? Stop looking for other people to be your savior. Do you like her music? Does it make you dance? That's all that matters. The rest of it is all rantings from creatures that probably haven't been on a dance floor in years and long ago lost the ability to smile and enjoy life.
@Kevin B: Not only does Gaga's music cause homophobia, it causes diarrhea. So next time you're on the dance floor, watch out for crap.
@Brihova: Yeah, I'll bet Christina is finished…NOT!!
FYI, the economy is suffering, tours aren't making a lot of money, cancellations in the tour industry are mega-big (even Lilith Fair is suffering)-generally, it's not that great, tour-wise: that's why Christina's tour is suffering. Brit The Clit is dead-she just doesn't know it yet. Christina will come back, mark my words, and she will be fierce.
Hey, maybe Christina, Madge, and Gaga can join up and do a mega tour together as a new supergroup-we can call it 'Sparkle'!
I must say anyone that did a thumbs down for my last post must be crazy. It showed Madonna has the amazing advocate she's been for navy causes over the years and some of you think that's bad? Seriously something must be inherently wrong with some of the people on here as no deed seems to go unpunished. Madonna has been an amazing ally for almost 30 years.
Agreed. I don't like this thumbs up or down thing at all. Express opposing viewpoints if you like, but when a straight fundie comes here and sees us fighting like this they probably laugh at those crazy queers who can't even agree on somebody who so obviously is one of their biggest supporters.
Madonna is literally an LGBT hero who stood by us when we were thought of as "diseased animals" and "perverts who deserve to die"; and yet the very same people she dared to defend are here trashing her. What a damn shame! Do you people understand how much guts it must've taken her to stand up to the same nation that elected Reagan and tell them that they're wrong about men suffering because they love one another?
I mean, I hate to pull a Chris Crocker here, but I feel my somewhat corny defense is warranted for such a talented, big-hearted, wonderful woman.
@PopSnap: Who cares? Her music sucks. Madonna doesn't write, play or record the music, she writes and sings the lyrics. Does anyone actually believe that Madonna (or Gaga) are talented singers? Dancers? Or lyric writers? C'mon, the lyrics sound like they were written by a high school girl on the back of her notebook. Here's Give it 2 Me:
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one's gonna stop me now
Get stupid, get stupid, get stupid, don't stop it (what?)
Madonna wrote these stupid lyrics when she was 50 years old!!
The problem with the gay male community is that, in its desperation for heroes, it latches onto supposedly gay-friendly women who parade around in a half-naked state. Don't you think it's strange that gay men are worshipping women who wear little, if any, clothing? It's a sign of dysfunctionality.
As a community, you need to get back to basics. You need to discern. A lot of these half-naked pop moles are simply using the gay rights issue as a cover for their sexist and demeaning treatment of women. If you gay men had any respect for women, you wouldn't be giving your money to these half-naked pop moles.
@Kev C:
The simple and stupid lyrics make for a really great song to run to.
Thanks again, Madonna!
Do you know how Madonna got her start in music? She slept with a lot of music industry guys and sucked a lot of dick.
Do you know how Lady Gaga got her start in music? She also slept with music industry guys and sucked a lot of dick.
Now maybe these women are good at sucking cock, but their music just plain sucks.
Kev C,
LOL. Pearls of wisdom, my friend, pearls of wisdom….
At the end of the day, it's the same old story about fucking one's way to the top.
Funny = the guy who ranted about sexism and the mistreatment of women and then reduced a woman's near 30 yr career to sucking cock.
Major lulz, kids.
As gays move up in society and form marriages, they have less need for music to smoke crack and turn tricks to. Lady Gaga probably didn't read that memo.
What´s wrong with Madonna´s head? All that plastic surgery is making her look like a fig!
Speaking of Vogue, on of her most popular songs, Madonna stole vogueing from gays. And what role do the dancers in her video play? As servants for Madonna .. as butlers, maids, groomers and furniture.
Listen to Madonna's gay brother (from Time magazine):
Christopher Ciccone, an artist and interior decorator, served stints as Madonna's backup dancer, her "dresser" (a role in which his tasks included wiping sweat from her sometimes-naked body) and later as her designer. But mostly, by his telling, he functioned as her doormat. And, occasionally, her garbage can (one of his chores was allowing his sister to spit cough drops into his palm). "I find no excuse for Madonna's grossly unfair treatment of me."
A 30 year career of exploiting gays.
I think that gays do plenty to exploit themselves without the help of Madonna. How ridiculous to imply this nonsense about her. The irony is that the same has been said of her in different screeching tones over the past 26 years…She's too much of one thing and too little of another. But she is still out there, and even those of you still screeching can't stop talking about her. I can assure you that Gaga will not share such a legacy.
@Alex N: Worker drone must protect Queen Bee. Worker drone dies, Queen Bee lives. Queen Bee gets old, colony looks for new queen.
@Kev C:
LOL, I love the old "she stole it from the gays" rant. Never fails to make me laugh. I can assure you Kev C, the queens at Sound Factory, including Willie Ninja, were more than happy to teach it to her, appear in her video and tour the world with her. I don't know what your definition of a robbery is, but doesn't sound like much of one to me.
Your rant on the maids & butler roles is just plain bizarre, btw.
Her brother's career as a designer is owed, in large part, to his sister's fame so he should probably just STFU and keep catching her cough drops.
Alex, don't pass too much remarks on these boys. Every time they see her name they simply can't help themselves. They're forced to click and start spewing. It's a sickness. Queerty is well aware of this phenomenon and that's why they continue to post articles about Madonna whether true or not. They want clicks. Simple as that. You can find these same people that rant against her in other threads saying things like "I think the lady doth protest too much." Unfortunately they don't realize how that applies to themselves. I absolutely love that Madonna gets under these stupid queen's collective acidic skin. It's phenomenal and makes being a fan such a fun ride. She's been hated since day one. And I hope they keep hating her as much as they do because they unwittingly keep her relevant by doing so and I keep getting music out of her as a result.
@Kevin B: I guess some gays have a need for a supportive mother figure to replace their real, unsupportive mother.
Watch the video for Vogue and see how Madonna imagines gays to be. What role she sees for gays.
Remember Wale, the DC rapper? Here's his comments from DC Black Pride.
"It was kinda hard to understand 10 years ago, but it's 2010. There's gay people that are heads of companies and just functioning human beings.", "How can I be scared of a gay person where most of the designers that I wear are gay", "I don't personally know any gay people".
So gays are like servants or slaves for heteros? They make nice clothing for them and work for them, but aren't friends or equals.
How vogue.
@Kev C:
Your analytical thinking is spectacularly awful.
@Kevin B: I can insult you too, if that's what you want.
@Kev C:
Because this wasn't an insult??
"I guess some gays have a need for a supportive mother figure to replace their real, unsupportive mother."
@Kevin B: My observation and opinion, but where does it say it's addressed to Kevin B? It's a neutral statement.


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Iron Horse motorcycle club
Wednesday, November 14, 2012 6:49 AM
Riders with the Iron Horse motorcycle club head out as a train passes by. Members of the Black Diamond Society of Model Engineers are hosting the 46th annual open house at the clubs quarters on Macada Road in Bethlehem. The schedule is 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 24-25 and Dec. 1-2. Express-Times Photo | BILL ADAMS


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Britannia metal
Britannia metal (also called britannium or Britannia ware[1]) is a pewter-type alloy favoured for its silvery appearance and smooth surface. The composition is approximately and typically 92% tin, 6% antimony, and 2% copper.[2] It should be distinguished from Britannia silver, a high-grade alloy of silver.
Britannia is a specific type of pewter branded for marketing purposes. It is typically spun rather than cast.,[1] and melts at 255 degrees Celsius.[3]
Britannia metal was first produced[4] in 1769 or 1770; it was created by James Vickers after purchasing the formula from a dying friend. It was originally known as "Vickers White Metal" when made under contract by the Sheffield manufacturers Ebenezer Hancock and Richard Jessop. In 1776 James Vickers took over the manufacturing himself and remained as owner until his death in 1809, when the company passed to his son, John, and Son-in-Law, Elijah West. In 1836 the company was sold to John Vickers's nephew Ebenezer Stacey (the son of Hannah Vickers and John Stacey).
After the development of electroplating with silver in 1846, Britannia metal was widely used as the base metal for silver-plated household goods and cutlery.[5] The abbreviation EPBM on such items denotes "electroplated Britannia metal". Britannia metal was generally used as a cheaper alternative to electroplated nickel silver (EPNS) which is more durable.
Some authorities and collectors think this "white metal" sometimes formed a base for early experimentations in mercury and tin or latten metal plating in the 18th and early 19th centuries.[citation needed]. One notable use of britannium is to make the Oscar statuettes handed out each year at the Academy Awards. The 8½-pound statuettes are Britannia metal plated with gold.[6]
In his essay, A Nice Cup of Tea, writer George Orwell asserts that "britanniaware" teapots "produce inferior tea" (when compared to Chinaware).[7]
See also[edit]
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Britannia metal.
- English Pewter (approximately 91% tin, 7.5% antimony and 1.5% copper)
- Nickel silver ('German silver')
- Reed & Barton
- ^ a b "Britannia Ware English".
- ^ "Britannia metal".
- ^ Composition and Physical Properties of Alloys, Oliver Seely, August 18, 2007
- ^ The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Micropædia (2002, 15th edition)
- ^ Krupp, Alfred; Andreas Wildberger (1888). The metallic alloys: A practical guide for the manufacture of all kinds of alloys, amalgams, and solders, used by metal-workers ... with an appendix on the coloring of alloys and the recovery of waste metals. H.C. Baird & Co.
- ^ The Oscar Statuette
- ^ [1]


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Ingrid Fliter master class for Gilmore Festival
Tuesday, April 29, 2014 3:14 PM
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Ingrid Fliter coaching Megan Lee of Cleveland Institute of Music as she plays sections of Beethoven's Sonata in F-sharp Major, Op. 78.
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File your motions, cross your fingers and pray.
Considering how recent public corruption cases have faired before Dauphin County juries, that might be the best hope the six Pennsylvania Turnpike pay-for-play defendants have to avoid jail.
The heart of this case is cash, doled out in various forms: millions in turnpike contracts and consultant fees, tens of thousands in political donations, thousands in trips and travel and mere hundreds in dinners and golf. Throughout the preliminary hearing, Deputy Attorney General Laurel Brandstetter delighted in listing the luxuries allegedly traded back-and-forth, the limo rides, the massages, the cigars and the bottles of fine wine.
In other words, stuff beyond the reach of the average juror.
And, for the most part, the defense isn't arguing these six men weren't well paid, didn't ask for campaign contributions or give and receive gifts. Instead, the defense is saying there was nothing technically illegal about, say, a turnpike official accepting $4,000 in travel vouchers as a thank you gift.
Convincing jurors to even consider the distinction could be tough, according to attorneys familiar with other public corruption cases.
"Any attempt to show that the conduct is not criminal in nature can still appear to a jury to be unseemly," said Walter Cohen, a defense attorney who served as acting Attorney General in 1995. "They can rationalize it as criminal in nature if they want to."
Voters might return the same politicians to office election after election, but that doesn't lessen their suspicion that high level politicians are always on the take.
Those same voters might not care about campaign finance laws on Tuesdays in November, but put them in a jury box, show them a political contribution larger than their monthly wages, and it can be hard to dislodge the notion that something is "wrong." The deliberation room is rarely a place to find men and women preaching that campaign cash really is political speech protected under the First Amendment.
That can especially be true in Dauphin County, where the jury pool is filled with current and former state workers. The Attorney General hasn't filed all of its recent public corruption cases here by accident, Cohen said.
"You have these people getting paid $120,000, $130,000 a year and they're getting all these extra things," Cohen said of the defendants. "A former state employee worked 30 years and is now getting a $30,000 pension. This just isn't something that feels right. So it's criminal."
During closing arguments, the attorney representing Jeffrey Suzenski, a former consultant for a turnpike vendor, rationalized Suzenski's pay, by saying that when averaged out over the decade Suzenski worked for the vendor, he earned about $200,000 a year. In the world of consultants and lobbyists, the attorney said, $200,000 is not that much.
That's the sort of statement you can't make in front of a jury, Cohen said. (Cohen represents Robert F. Brady, the Turnpike's Director of Operations for the eastern half of the state. Brady testified during the preliminary hearing, but has not been accused of any wrongdoing.)
To date, the Attorney General has a pretty good batting average in Dauphin County. Only two defendants who went before a jury were acquitted in Bonusgate, Computergate and other public corruption cases.
While only one of the turnpike defendants -- former state Sen. Robert Mellow -- was elected, all six men in this case were political actors. Even Suzenski and Dennis Miller, the two defendants who didn't work for the turnpike, had a significant history of campaign donations and political schmoozing.
That can't help them.
"These are very difficult times for politicians in a court of law," said William Constopoulos, who represented Bill DeWeese during his Bonsusgate trial. "In the verdicts, the public has indicated their anger and displeasure with politicians as a class."
He agreed with Cohen that Dauphin County juries can be particularly tough on corruption defendants. But, he said, don't expect a judge to move the trial to another county or import a jury. Other cases received more media attention and stayed here. A jury pool prone to disliking politicians and political appointees is not a valid reason to change the venue of a trial.
Instead, Constopoulous expects the defense to request the ability to question individual jurors in an effort to weed out anyone predisposed to thinking all that cash must mean their clients are crooks.
The judge's instructions to the jury, and what evidence he or she lets in, will also be crucial, Cohen said.
The defense is well aware of how difficult it might be to find a truly impartial jury.
After District Justice William Wenner sent the cases to trial, William Fetterhoff, attorney for former turnpike COO George Hatalowich, said he was concerned that a Dauphin County jury might take a "jaundiced view" of political officials after hearing about the various "gate" trials.
But, he said, he still believed that a responsible jury could listen to the facts in the case, understand the letter of the law and find his client not guilty.
Of course, Fetterhoff and the other attorneys will file motions asking a judge to dismiss the charges before jury summons can even be mailed out. Expect them to pay extra care when writing those briefs. The judge reading them might be the most receptive audience their clients receive.


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Officials of United Cerebral Palsy of Hudson County will gather this evening in Bayonne to honor outgoing executive director, Nick Starita, 80, who retired Dec. 31 after roughly 40 years with the organization.
Friends, former co-workers, and several public figures including Mayor Mark Smith are expected to attend tonight at the Chandelier Restaurant, 1081 Broadway, in Bayonne.
"It's really a humble experience, because it's something I really wanted to do," Starita said of the work he's engaged in. "I never expected to get any reward for it."
United Cerebral Palsy of Hudson County, which is headquartered at 721 Broadway, serves individuals with a range of disabilities, providing them a variety of services, including medical daycares throughout Northern New Jersey.
Starita began his career as a contractor, but became involved as a board member through his son, James, who suffered from a form of muscular dystrophy.
He served as a volunteer board member for UCP for roughly 14 years, until 1984, when he was asked to serve as executive director."
""Being a parent, he just had that drive to get everybody what they needed no matter what it took," said Keith Kearney, who took over as executive director of UCP this month after working beside Starita for 11 years.
"He (Starita) just believed in what he was doing, and he wasn't going to let anybody stop him."


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MAIN:ragge:20110803192532 created by ragge on 03 August 2011, 21:25:32 +0200 (5 years 2 months ago) (patch) On non-word-addressed targets we can remove almost all PCONV's by propagating
down the new types and still keepin gtree type correctness. This is true
for almost all targets, so keep it in a common routine.
This is a very invasive change that will affect everything, but it also
allows for the compiler to generate much more efficient code.


text:
SPRINGVILLE, Alabama -- Springville Police say high wind and rain ripped a 40-foot section of the roof from Springville Middle School this afternoon.
A police officer at the scene said the incident happened about 2:05 p.m. Approximately 40 feet of the roof's top layer came off during an afternoon storm.
No one was injured, and the damage was cleaned up within a few hours.
By 5 p.m., workers were covering the section with a tarp.
Fire Chief Richard Harvey said there were other reports of damage around town. A tree fell on part of a house on Wilson Street. Workers spent part of the afternoon pulling the tree off to determine the extent of damage.
There were also reports of tree limbs down, one hitting a truck. There were no injuries in any of these incidents.
"It was nothing too serious," Harvey said
Post updated at 7:32 p.m. to include other damage reports.