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08 July 2013
Recording Interviews When You Are NOT in the same room? What's a Genealogist to Do?
Source: Josh Bancroft, http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshb/1461257223/
The genesis for this post is a query posted on the Technology for Genealogy Facebook (FB) page.
Someone asked about taping conversations with her father over the phone.
It really hit a nerve with me (probably since when I grew up and even now have lived far from family).
This person went on to say that her father wouldn't use the recorders that she had left with him over the years.
Gosh – doesn't that sound like my family! Not necessarily the recorders element and the aspect of trying to get information from family members when it's not a priority for them!
And, since, back in the day, I was trying to get information, before the internet, smartphones, netbooks, ipads, cheap/free phone calls, etc, one was limited to meeting in person, letter writing and phone calls for getting information. Except, when a transatlantic phone call was involved – you couldn't afford the time or $ to do a family history inquisition and normally just chatted about what everyone was doing and that they were well.
Now, let's come forward again ... the query on the Technology for Genealogy FB page got me thinking about how, with all our new technologies, can we use those to "remotely" get family history information from those relatives who are still alive and yet live remotely from us?
Obviously, if someone has internet access and can type – you might just find the answers in grandma's blog or on a cousin's website or find that if you write them an e-mail, they will respond to "posed questions."
And, I bet we all know someone who just can't or won't respond in writing...
What is a genealogist to do?
The referenced posted question asked about recording phone conversations with her father and how she might do that. I thought, how brilliant, to record (with permission) a phone conversation that you have with someone where you ask questions of interest and listen to the resulting answers and stories. Quite a few "technical" suggestions on how to do this were proved in response to the post and can probably be found elsewhere on the web.
Do you have your own thoughts on how to record "phone" conversations?
That got me to thinking about when my daughter was in Sevilla
for a semester, we used Skype to chat.
This way we could see and hear one another. Spain
Can one record skype video/audio? Have you done this? Please share what you used?
Apparently yes. I did some GoogleTM searching and there are some programs out there for just this purpose.
Then, I got to thinking, what about Voice over IP (VoIP) calls through some other provider like RingCentral? Though I happen to have a physical handset (I still like to use one for making phone calls when just talking to my computer won't do
) many who use VOIP phone numbers don't, they just use
their computer's native mic or they use a headset/mic combination.
Can these phone calls be recorded? Have you done this? Please share what you used?
Are there other ways that we "might" communicate with distant relatives whom we want to interview and yet won't be physically in their presence to either video and/or audio record them? Any thoughts or suggestions?
Though we can communicate more easily than ever with so many living in so many places, this doesn't yet mean that it's like being together with a tape and/or video recorder in hand in the same room. And, can it be?
Editor's Note: Technology for Genealogy is a closed FB page and that just means that you ask to be added and wait for approval.
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Posted by Diane L Richard at Monday, July 08, 2013
Labels: family stories, Interviews
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(Jan. 22, 2013) The office of Maldives' President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik announced on January 11, 2013, that he had signed the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Bill; the bill had been passed in the People's Majlis (the legislature) on December 25, 2012. (Press Release, The President's Office of the Republic of Maldives, President Ratifies Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Bill, (Jan. 11, 2013); Luke Powell, Ratification of Limits on Freedom of Assembly Won't Affect "Revolution": MDP, MINIVAN NEWS (Jan. 12, 2013).)
The legislation outlaws demonstrations held outside private homes or government offices, in addition to limiting media coverage of protests. (Powell, supra.) In addition, it states that no public gatherings may be held within 200 feet of the presidential and vice-presidential residences, harbors with economic activity, airports, and tourist resorts. The distance restriction on protests applies to the President's office, the courts of law, and the legislature as government buildings as well as to mosques, schools, hospitals, and buildings with diplomatic offices. Furthermore, demonstrations cannot be held near private residences after 10 p.m. nor can demonstrators use loud speakers or similar equipment near schools and hospitals or near homes after 8 p.m. While prior permission is not required for protest gatherings, when they are planned in advance notice should be given to the local police. (Id.; President Ratifies Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Bill, HAVEERU ONLINE (Jan. 11, 2013).)
Article 7(a) of the new statute defines a gathering as more than one person "attending a public or private place temporarily and peacefully" with the objective of expressing their views. (Mariyath Mohamed, Parliament Passes Bill Redefining Limitations on Freedom of Assembly, MINIVAN NEWS (Dec. 26, 2012).)
The bill had passed the legislature despite considerable opposition from some members and criticism from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Maldives. The concern is that the changes could restrict freedom of assembly. Hamed Abdul Ghafoor of the Maldivian Democratic Party, which has proposed revolution in the country, objected to the bill, stating:
We are not happy with this bill, and on principle alone we are against it. The current government feels the need to restrict freedom of expression and unwind the democratic gains of this country. … The whole intention of this bill was to respond to our popular uprising. But when the time comes [for the revolution] the bill won't matter. We will still go out onto the streets. (Powell, supra.)
Two NGOs, Transparency Maldives and the Maldivian Democracy Network, issued a statement on January 2 that raised the issue of the legislation's ability to "weaken the democratic, good governance system." (Ahmed Naish, Recent Bills "Restrict Fundamental Rights," NGOs Warn; MINIVAN NEWS (Jan. 2, 2013).) The statement indicated that the NGOs are particularly concerned about the impact on the constitutional rights of freedom of expression, of the press, and of assembly. (Powell, supra; Dheena Hussain, trans., Functional Translation of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives 2008, arts. 27, 28, & 32, Republic of Maldives Department of Information website.)
In addition, the Maldives Journalists' Association and the Maldives Media Council have brought up the issue of the impact of the law on news reporting by local and international journalists. The key provision is the one stating that the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC) must within three months create a regulation on accrediting journalists; only those given accreditation will have the access to report on demonstrations and police activities near demonstrations. The concern is that the process of issuing accreditation will not be independent. The President of the Journalists' Association has said, "[w]e are seeing the MBC failing to address many existing issues even now, so we cannot support handing over additional responsibilities like this to such a body." (Powell, supra.) He added that the required procedure would create difficulty for reporters from abroad. (Id.)
The new legislation follows an early December 2012 Maldives Supreme Court decision that police should investigate any criminal acts that occur during the exercise of people's rights to free assembly and expression. (Constance Johnson, Maldives: Supreme Court Decision on Freedom of Assembly and Expression, GLOBAL LEGAL MONITOR (Dec. 13, 2012).)

subset: commoncrawl


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Beyond the Bars A new model of "virtual incarceration" for low-risk offenders
High prison costs and overcrowding are endemic in many US states. Can states use mobile technology to replace physical incarceration with a virtual system for low-risk, nonviolent offenders?
As on most days in this sun-drenched part of the country, May 23, 2011 dawned clear and pleasant in California. Surfers took to their boards, golfers grabbed their clubs, and life ambled along as usual for most of the state's 38 million citizens.
In the capital of Sacramento, however, the mood in some quarters was not as bright. State corrections officials awoke to news of a landmark US Supreme Court ruling ordering the California Department of Corrections to take immediate steps either to release 33,000 prisoners or build new prisons.1
This decision in Brown v. Plata came after the justices deemed that crowded conditions in many of the state's 33 prison facilities violated the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. In one prison unit, for example, up to 200 prisoners were stacked on makeshift cots in a gymnasium never designed to house them, and in another, one toilet served more than 50 men.2
With limited financing to build new facilities, the state was forced to begin releasing 33,000 low-level offenders back into the community with little to no transitional support. Californians were ill prepared to deal with the onslaught of newly released offenders, and some citizens feared for their safety.3
California is not alone in facing high prison costs and overcrowding. States across the nation are beginning to realize that incarceration, while perhaps the safest solution for dangerous and violent offenders, may not be the best option for everyone in the system, particularly nonviolent criminals.
Is there another way? What if states could de-emphasize brick-and-mortar incarceration in favor of a more innovative virtual system for low-risk and nonviolent offenders?
Such systems are possible and are being introduced with positive reviews throughout the nation. By combining cutting-edge technologies with cognitive restructuring techniques, corrections departments can introduce effective new control mechanisms for select offenders that save money and improve outcomes.
In this report, we will examine these new models and how they work. We will also highlight criminal justice reform efforts—"pockets of progress"—already working across the country, and describe how their principles can be integrated into a new model and even applied to other areas of government.
Overcrowded, violent, and costly
During the late 1700s, the Quakers of Pennsylvania devised America's first prison system, with dual goals of confinement and rehabilitation that stood in sharp contrast to the gallows and other harsh punishments of the colonial period. The Quakers' theory was that "punishment should not be such as to plunge the criminal still deeper into destruction. The prison should make better instead of worse."4
Despite the evolution of American society and advances in neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and technology, our criminal justice system still largely favors incarceration as the default sentencing solution. The result is a system that is overcrowded, violent, and costly, often resulting in poor outcomes for nonviolent offenders.
The United States is the world's leader in incarceration, accounting for 5 percent of the world's total population but nearly 25 percent of the world's prisoners.5 At present, 2.3 million Americans are imprisoned, 60 percent of them for nonviolent offenses. When combined with other forms of correctional control, such as parole, the number of Americans in the criminal justice system jumps to 7 million, more than the populations of Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Dallas combined.6
This has not always been the case. This trend toward mass incarceration has occurred over the last 35 years as state legislatures and Congress have shifted toward longer, mandatory minimum sentences, states have restricted parole, and "three strikes" laws have resulted in life imprisonment. Drug convictions have also skyrocketed, accounting for nearly 80 percent of federal prison sentences between 1985 and 1995.7
Tougher punishments have brought higher price tags. According to the National Association of State Budget Officers, US spending for corrections totaled $51.1 billion in fiscal year 2010. While down from an all-time high in 2008 due to recession-induced spending cuts, this still represents 1 in every 15 discretionary state dollars; only Medicaid's share in state spending is growing faster.8
Put simply, the average annual cost of incarcerating a prisoner in America rivals yearly tuition and housing costs at most Ivy League universities.9 In New Jersey, it is cheaper to send a student to Princeton than to send an offender to prison.
The high costs of incarceration might be justified if it fully achieved its goals of protection, retribution, and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, while overall crime rates have fallen during the last 30 years, half of the individuals released from prison will return within three years of their release.10 Furthermore, prisons expose nonviolent offenders to networks of hardened criminals, actually increasing their likelihood of committing more serious crimes.11
While prisons serve a vital role in our criminal justice system—and should continue to do so for the worst offenders—they may no longer be the ideal sentencing solution for low-level offenders. Various alternatives are emerging.
Alternatives that work
Criminal justice reform efforts are hardly new. For decades, all levels of government have grappled with the expense and limitations of incarceration. Today, many emerging solutions can improve outcomes in terms of protection, retribution, and rehabilitation. These examples could and should provide a foundation for more holistic solutions.
Improving deterrence and protection
In June 1986, convicted murderer Willie Horton was released from a Massachusetts prison for a weekend furlough as part of an experimental program intended to reintegrate prisoners into the community. Rather than returning to prison as agreed, Horton went missing until the following April, when he assaulted a Maryland couple in their home. Horton's story provides a powerful reminder that, regardless of its merits, any potential reform effort must have public safety as its top priority.12
Thankfully, the Horton case remains an outlier, and innovative alternatives to incarceration have demonstrated effectiveness in protecting the general public while easing the burden on the taxpayer. These approaches are important because, as the Supreme Court's order of release to California demonstrates, overcrowding can force states to release prisoners. It is therefore vital to release only those prisoners least likely to commit new crimes and to use approaches that may prevent them from doing so. These approaches include:
- Electronic monitoring. Originally developed to help farmers track their cattle more effectively, electronic monitoring is now used in a number of countries to reduce costs while protecting society. Common electronic monitoring approaches involve ankle or wrist bracelets tracked via global positioning systems (GPS) or radio frequency identification (RFID), with a continuous signal sent from these devices to monitoring authorities. In 2008, the average daily cost of incarcerating a prison inmate in the United States was $78.95, while the average daily cost of managing offenders through electronic monitoring ranges from $5 to $25.13 These savings have led several governments to adopt electronic monitoring more widely. In the United States, 20 companies provide electronic supervision for more than 100,000 offenders, while in the United Kingdom, about 70,000 offenders are subject to electronic monitoring each year.14 If used in a strategic manner, particularly with nonviolent and low-risk offenders, electronic monitoring allows scarce resources to be devoted to incarcerating more-violent offenders.
- Swift and certain punishment. Research has shown that one of the most effective means of deterring criminal behavior, or recidivism in the case of probationers, is to implement "swift and certain" punishment. In fact, it appears that a low-probability threat of severe punishment such as prison is less effective than immediate, certain, but milder alternatives.15An example of this research in action is Hawaii's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program. The program begins with a judge's warning that any violation of probation will result in an immediate though brief jail stay. HOPE requires regular drug testing and focuses on reducing drug use and helping offenders keep parole appointments. HOPE's results have been decidedly positive. An evaluation of HOPE funded by the National Institute for Justice found that, compared to a control group, probationers in the HOPE program were 55 percent less likely to be arrested for a new crime after one year, 72 percent less likely to use drugs, and 53 percent less likely to have their probation revoked. Efforts to replicate the HOPE program are under way in numerous states.16
Retribution and restitution
The punitive nature of prison is another justification for its existence. Research, however, indicates that non-traditional methods are just as effective as prison in punishing offenders and supporting restitution for victims, without the high costs associated with incarceration.
- Autonomy with oversight. Zones that restrict movement, recording of communications, prescribed check-ins with parole officers, and community service activities are punishments that can result in outcomes superior to traditional prison sentences.17 While some might argue that punishment is negated by allowing offenders to live at home, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy many conveniences and choices unavailable in a cell, others contend that the psychological impact of such non-traditional sentencing can actually result in an even greater sense of restriction than prison confinement.18 Modern technologies allow corrections officers to track many aspects of an offender's life, including their physical location, proximity to other offenders, and drug or alcohol use, while simultaneously supporting community, family, and employment ties—important factors in an offenders' post-release assimilation.
- Restorative justice. Retribution and restitution go hand in hand. A prison sentence is thought to restore the victim by offering closure, justice, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the criminal is safely locked behind bars. Research indicates, however, that a prison sentence is not always sufficient to produce this sense of restoration.19 Instead, it is achieved when victims take an active role in expressing their needs and, importantly, when offenders make amends. According to criminologist John Braithwaite, "Restorative justice is about the idea that because crime hurts, justice should heal. It follows that conversations with those who have been hurt and with those who have afflicted the harm must be central to the process."20 In this model, sentencing can incorporate interactions such as victim-offender mediation, family-group conferences, and community restorative boards, which use trained citizens to confront offenders with the consequences of their actions and discuss possible reparations they can make. A 2007 meta-study of restorative justice research between 1986 and 2005 found that such sentences yielded generally positive results, especially for victims. Benefits included lessened post-traumatic stress symptoms and related costs for victims and a lower rate of recidivism than prison alone for adult and young offenders.21
Enhancing rehabilitation
Given the current prison system's high recidivism rates and its persistent challenges with reintegrating offenders into society, it's hardly surprising that a variety of interventions have been developed to address the factors contributing to criminal behavior, including drug dependence, psychological problems, financial need, and lack of peer support. While these approaches vary in scope and methodology, many have yielded positive results.
- Mental and physical health support services. More than 6 million Americans currently struggle with drug abuse.22 In 2010, 18 percent of state prisoners and 51 percent of federal prisoners were serving time for drug-related crimes.23 Furthermore, substance abuse often coincides with—and is compounded by—mental health disorders. Research indicates that over half of prisoners experience mental health issues and 20 percent suffer from significant mental illness.24 Addressing addiction and mental health issues can play a major role in positive re-entry into society. The state of New York's Parole Support and Treatment Program provides a variety of housing and support services for individuals with mental illness and substance abuse problems. The program reduces re-arrest rates by 44 percent while cutting the cost to less than that of traditional incarceration and less than a tenth of the cost of placing an individual in the Central New York Psychiatric Center.25 Studies indicate that providing community-based drug treatment such as this provides bigger crime reduction returns than prison, with every $1 spent on drug treatment in the community saving $18 in prison costs.26
- Peer support and mentorship. Social science and behavioral economics research both suggest that peer mentoring and social support can provide powerful incentives for good behavior. A community of support creates a sense of buy-in and provides a model for individuals to follow when making potentially high-risk decisions. The Arizona Prison Experience Workshop Program—an inmate-to-inmate peer-facilitated program created by inmates to help prepare their peers for transition back into society—has shown positive results in reducing recidivism. Although 70 graduates of the program were released from prison between 2005 and 2009, only 9 had reoffended and returned to prison by 2010—a 13 percent recidivism rate, far below state and national averages.27
- Education and skills training. Providing offenders with the tools necessary to gain and maintain employment may play an important role in promoting positive social behavior. The Delancey Street Foundation, a residential education center in San Francisco for former prison inmates and substance abusers, provides training in basic employment skills to help participants achieve economic independence. After an average of four years, residents typically gain an academic education and three marketable job skills; the foundation claims a 98 percent success rate in preventing recidivism.28
- Ongoing employment and employer support. Finding and maintaining steady employment is one of the greatest challenges for prisoners reentering society. For example, a year after release, just 39 percent of federal prisoners returning to the District of Columbia were employed either part- or full-time.29 To address this challenge, organizations such as the Safer Foundation in Illinois provide a variety of employment assistance services to persons with criminal records. Safer Foundation clients who have found employment have a recidivism rate of just 13 percent, compared to the state average of 52 percent.30
A new criminal justice system
Given such positive stories, why is the US penal system still plagued by poor outcomes and high costs? One possible explanation is that many promising solutions are not scalable, restricted by high costs, geography, or lack of integration with other interventions.
Emerging technologies, however, can allow us to incorporate important elements of effective programs into more comprehensive and replicable support systems. Imagine a virtual incarceration system that uses advanced risk modeling, geospatial analytics, smartphone technology, and principles from the study of human behavior to achieve superior outcomes at a lower cost.
What would such a system look like, and how would it work?
Risk modeling
To mitigate the risk of another Willie Horton incident, advanced data analytics could be used during the pretrial hearing, post-conviction sentencing, or parole hearings to help determine the most appropriate candidates for virtual incarceration. These tools could also be used to select an effective combination of interventions for a particular offender, giving each a program specifically targeting his or her individual needs.
Advanced analytics tools are already being used in some parts of the nation. In 2010, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice began using predictive analytics software to reduce recidivism by identifying the juvenile offenders most likely to commit new crimes. Florida places offenders in specific rehabilitation programs based on predictors such as past offense history, home life environment, gang affiliation, and peer associations.31 Similarly, judges in Oregon can use a tool that matches specific types of offenders with the programs or sentences that have proven most effective in reducing recidivism among their cohort in the past.32
Using data analytics in this way can help mitigate risk to society from virtual incarceration while pairing offenders with interventions most likely to support their rehabilitation.
Support services delivered via smartphone technology
Upon entering a virtual incarceration system, offenders could be issued a smartphone-derived device that would augment existing electronic monitoring solutions. These devices would provide one-touch access to a series of support service applications aligned to the needs identified through the risk modeling process.
Today's smartphones can support a variety of activities that previously required face-to-face interactions. By pairing smartphone technology with existing electronic monitoring practices, the justice system could overcome the issue of scalability associated with many effective interventions. For example, smartphones could allow monitored offenders to check in with parole officers virtually, eliminating travel and other external circumstances as a cause for missing parole meetings.
This would be the next technological step past the use of kiosks for parole reporting, a practice that has garnered positive reviews in certain cities. Between 2003 and 2006, for example, about 70 percent of New York City's probation population was enrolled in a kiosk-based reporting system. An evaluation of the system found that the two-year re-arrest rate declined for both high- and low-risk probationers (by 5 percent and 3 percent, respectively) and that the overall rate of missed appointments fell from 5.2 percent to 4.5 percent. These results were achieved while parole officer caseloads simultaneously rose to more than 400 parolees per officer.33 Replacing these kiosks with smartphone check-ins could further improve outcomes by reducing the need for parolee travel and allowing case managers to serve parolees over a larger and more diverse geographic area.
As the capabilities of mobile technology increase, moreover, interventions could extend far beyond simple check-ins. Mobile technology is expanding into the training and education sector, and applications designed for services such as mental health support and drug relapse prevention are in development as well.34 In fact, existing applications can already estimate blood alcohol content nearly as accurately as a breathalyzer—and predict the onset of depression.35 In the near future, contact with peer support groups, push notifications from case managers, and access to employers and other networks could be available at the touch of a button.
The application of these new capabilities, used in tandem with existing monitoring anklets or other forms of tagging, could yield more effective rehabilitation and reduced recidivism. Even if such a system were to cost as much as 50 percent more than the most expensive existing electronic monitoring programs, it would still likely cost just half as much as housing, feeding, and monitoring inmates within prison walls, while restricting offenders to a degree that would still feel punitive.36
Integrating game mechanics
While smart mobile technology can make alternatives to incarceration scalable and executable across geographic boundaries, it may likely be most effective when incorporated into an ecosystem of support. One way to develop such ecosystems could involve the integration of interventions through game mechanics. Derived from behavioral economics theory, the process of using game mechanics to improve outcomes has come to be called "gamification."
The application of game mechanics is growing in popularity in the commercial sector. Airline frequent flyer programs, Foursquare check-ins, customer loyalty programs, and performance management systems such as Rypple are some commonly cited examples of gamifying non-game environments to achieve improved outcomes.
Gamification has also been applied effectively to large-scale public challenges. Mindbloom's Life Game was created to encourage users to establish and pursue personal health goals. The interactive platform allows users to create goals and then cultivate a virtual tree that represents their physical and emotional well-being. Users can earn "water" and "seeds" by engaging in healthy behavior such as walking or healthy eating. The result: In a recent assessment, users visited the site an average of 35 times a week, completing more than 900,000 healthy actions and engaging in 50 percent more reported healthy behavior than before.37
Imagine a system in which a variety of actions by a virtually incarcerated offender were linked through a system designed to provide incentives for positive behavior—and to allow offenders to easily see their progress through the program on their smartphones. For example, points or badges could be earned by attending scheduled appointments on time, remaining within assigned zones of movement, completing education or training programs, or maintaining employment for specific lengths of time. A sufficient number of points would earn the offender tangible benefits such as additional freedom or extended curfews. A progress bar or other display could allow offenders to directly link their day-to-day actions to advancement toward specific milestones—a connection not clearly offered in today's alternative incarceration programs.
Monitoring through geospatial analytics
Geospatial technologies and location-based data analysis can play a vital role in monitoring offenders and improving resource allocation. Modern geospatial analytics combine GPS, geographic information systems (GIS), and remote sensing systems to allow users to answer geography-based questions, identify patterns and correlations among data, and visualize them to draw conclusions and allocate resources more effectively. Such technologies could help protect society from virtually incarcerated offenders while supporting their reintegration and rehabilitation.
For example, imagine an automated passive monitoring system capable of tracking offenders' movements and pushing notifications to them when they have impending appointments, if they enter high-crime zones, or if their movements indicate that they are becoming more likely to commit a crime. At any point in the process, case managers or parole officers could access a dashboard tracking the movement and activities of offenders under their supervision, see their location on a map, and assess their activities based on gamified interventions.
Geospatial analytics could also play an important role in allowing policymakers to determine how and where to allocate resources and support services. Upon release from prison, many offenders return to neighborhoods or streets that are hotbeds of violence and crime and where support services may be hard to obtain. Such crime hotspots are common in major cities; in Boston between 1980 and 2008, for example, just 3 percent of the city's streets accounted for more than half its gun violence.38 In Houston, 7 of the city's 88 neighborhoods—home to just 5 percent of the city's adult population—receive more than a quarter of all offenders upon their release from prison.39
Such statistics point to the importance of considering location in distributing resources and placing individuals in virtual incarceration programs. One study found that applying "hotspot policing" in 110 Minneapolis high-crime areas reduced total crime calls by 6–13 percent.40
The virtual incarceration ecosystem: A day in the life
What would this new model look like to its participants? To give some indication of how this reimagined prison system would work, we offer a series of vignettes that describe it from three perspectives: a judge making smarter sentencing decisions using predictive analytics, a convicted offender in virtual incarceration, and a court-appointed case manager who enforces the terms of release.41
These vignettes are grounded in research, but are hypothetical in nature. The systems have not yet been developed, and the characters are fictional. However, their stories are possible with existing technologies and techniques. With that caveat in mind, we invite you to explore the possibilities of a prison without walls.
Smarter sentencing through predictive analytics
The seventh-floor hall was filled with convicted offenders waiting for Justice Jack Donnell to call them into his courtroom. With each sentence he delivered, Justice Donnell effectively wrote the next chapter of these men and women's lives. The offenders glanced at the door with a mix of anticipation and fear. Would their mitigating circumstances and potential for reform earn them virtual incarceration—or prison?
As he glanced at his docket, Justice Donnell reflected on his 30-year career in criminal justice. Until recently, he had relied on his experience to make sentencing decisions. There were guidelines and state laws he had followed, of course, but he had augmented them with an intuition born from his years in the courtroom. It amounted to educated guesswork.
Today, however, his guesswork has turned into more reliable decision making with the advent of the National Institute of Criminal Justice's Risk Assessment and Sentencing Tool (RAST), a sophisticated data analytics engine that helps classify offenders as low-, medium-, and high-risk and makes targeted sentencing recommendations based on a host of case-specific factors.
The RAST canvasses large data repositories across multiple states and jurisdictions, accounting for both static and dynamic factors. Static factors are unchangeable circumstances related to crimes and offenders, such as offense type, current age, criminal history, and age at first arrest. Dynamic factors, sometime called criminogenic factors, can be mediated by interventions and include attitude, associates, substance use, and antisocial personality patterns.42
The criminal justice system has used risk assessment tools for years. They have proven more reliable at gauging the risk of criminal behavior than any individual professional's judgment.43 Prior to the RAST, however, risk assessment tools typically consisted of only 10–30 questions evaluating offenders' criminal histories and psychological health, rather like the risk assessment tools used by the insurance industry.
The RAST is more advanced and more useful to judges, juries, and parole boards in three specific ways. First, since the Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice administers it at the federal level, it relies on an exceptionally large, nationwide data set. Second, the data is continually reassessed for its predictive validity: It is reviewed annually to determine how often RAST correctly classifies offenders, accounts for static and dynamic factors, and makes effective sentencing decisions as measured by the rate of recidivism. Finally, RAST differs from traditional risk assessment tools because it takes into account more than answers to questionnaires. Static and dynamic factors are used in combination with specific, real-time data such as an offender's behavior and location.
Using smart mobile technology to navigate support services
It had been 25 weeks since he began the program. Russell Bateman looked down at the electronic band strapped to his left ankle, and again had to admit that it was preferable to prison.
Russell had never thought of himself as a hardened criminal. He'd never been violent and had just wanted to make a few extra bucks by helping out a family member. But when he was charged with money laundering on behalf of his cousin's gambling operation, Russell had been sure that he was about to be locked away in one of the state's less-than-forgiving prisons.
Instead, Russell was assessed as a good candidate for LifeLine, the state's new virtual incarceration system. A whirlwind training course followed, along with some support from his case manager in navigating the online employer database and a solid week spent learning how to use his state-issued LifeLine smartphone. Now here he was, cooking an omelet in his new apartment within a mile of his assigned therapist, his new job, and the community training center where he attended financial management courses at night.
As he plated the omelet, Russell accidentally brushed the hot pan with his skin. Running to the sink to splash water over the burn, Russell heard a loud alarm bell ring from his smartphone still sitting on the countertop. That was the one thing Russell still had not gotten used to. If his ankle bracelet ever got more than eight feet away from the LifeLine phone, it warned him that he had 30 seconds to retrieve it or his case manager would be notified. Rushing back to the phone, Russell picked it up and activated the screen, causing the alarm to stop.
As usual, the first thing he saw was his profile page. His own face in the center, with small straight lines leading out in a star pattern to icons for the various forms of support available to him: case management, peer network and program buddy, employer and jobs database, education and skills development, mental health services, physician. It was a truly holistic support network designed to encourage him to avoid risky behavior and become a contributing member of society.
Beneath the support network icons, Russell saw his progress bar and current risk score. The green "9" indicating his low program risk score was a major achievement in Russell's mind. The score not only afforded him additional freedom, but also told him that he was engaging in the right kinds of activities needed to shorten his time in the program.
The status bar to the right of the green number was an easy-to-view representation of just how close Russell was to knocking another three months off his sentence. In much the same way as a game allows players to gain experience points as they progress through levels, Russell could earn progress points and badges for his performance at his job or school, or for compliance with mandatory therapy and buddy check-in sessions. The LifeLine system helped Russell feel he was actually doing something about how long he had to remain in the program while providing him with access to the resources he needed to take action on his own initiative.
In the six months since he had started his state-issued remote monitoring program, Russell had found that he actually enjoyed bookkeeping and the other financial activities that had gotten him into trouble in the first place. Numbers came easy to him, but he had never had any training or experience with accounting before working for his cousin's gambling operation. Now, though, Russell would actually earn a certificate in accounting and financial management by completing the seventh and final course of his combined online/in-person accounting class. And with that certification, he would gain an additional 10 progress points and an education badge that would reduce his prison term. He was appreciative of his new employer, a small boutique accounting firm that had taken a chance on him to do some low-level bookkeeping while giving him on-the-job training. His hard work and late nights on his employer's behalf had already earned him two high-performer badges, reducing his sentence by three months.
It was almost time for his biweekly check-in with his case manager. Russell decided he could hurry and eat his omelet before the call.
Monitoring offenders with next-generation case management
Jessica Chesson heard the monitor in front of her beep twice. She looked down at the detailed map of the city in front of her, taking note of the flashing dot that had just turned from orange to deep red. Within the new risk-based monitoring system, the change meant that the risk level for one of her 94 offenders in the state's virtual incarceration program had just gone up to "high."
In front of her, 94 dots ranging in color from green to orange moved across the city map on the screen. Some moved slowly, likely walking home or to a job, while others moved more quickly as they traveled via public transit or in their own vehicles. To the side of the map, a newsfeed of the type commonly seen on social media sites provided updates on her charges' activities. Each time one used a state-issued smartphone to complete an online training course, document a major behavioral milestone, or note an acknowledgement by an employer or support service provider for a major accomplishment, a new update would be added to the newsfeed. Similarly, risky movement patterns or behaviors that violated the virtual incarceration agreement—such as a convicted drug offender entering a known high-risk narcotics area—would also receive a notification in the news feed. Each behavior, positive or negative, would affect the prisoner's risk level, with green dots for the most compliant participants and yellow, orange, and red dots representing higher-risk offenders.
The system allowed Jessica to track each prisoner's progress in real time with more certainty than ever before. "The joys of technology," she said to herself. How case managers had once monitored even a few dozen parolees before the LifeLine system was beyond her.
Jessica scrolled her cursor over the newly red dot: Justin Martin. Arrested for cocaine possession four months ago when just 19 years old, Justin was the classic example of a kid who probably would have come out of prison as a more hardened criminal than when he went in. Now Justin had an entry-level mailroom job at a local shipping company, secured via the prisoner-employer database, and had stayed clean for his entire time in the program, according to his monthly drug tests.
Unfortunately, Justin hadn't been completing any of the mobile training courses offered via his LifeLine smartphone and had lately been hovering closer and closer to one of his old neighborhood hangouts. He had said that he needed to make deliveries there for his job, but Jessica had her doubts.
Picking up her own LifeLine mobile device, Jessica activated its two-way intercom.
"Justin? Why am I seeing you at Harry's Tavern? You know that's not somewhere your release allows you to go."
After a minute of silence, Justin's face appeared on the smartphone screen. "I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to stop by and say hi to some of my old friends. Besides, I don't exactly want to be someone's gopher. I don't do anything all day."
"Justin," Jessica replied, "you know the conditions of your release. I'll work to get you a new job placement, but you have to find something that actually interests you and be more active in the program. You're a smart kid. You shouldn't be wasting your life in prison."
"Alright, I'm leaving, I'm leaving," Justin said. As the mobile screen went dark, Jessica watched his red dot move slowly away from the tavern. As she pressed the "situation addressed" icon on the top right of her monitor, the dot changed from red back to orange, and a small note appeared, documenting the event on Justin's profile. Knowing that a troublesome pattern was emerging with Justin, Jessica turned back to his profile screen. To the far left were icons representing Justin's employer, mental health counselor, program buddy, education guidance counselor, and physician. The system made intervening on Justin's behalf so much easier.
A quick push of her finger and the icons were replaced by another screen, connecting to Justin's employer via videoconference. As the burly manager of Herring Shipping answered the phone, Jessica said "Hi, Mark. Sorry to bother you. Justin was over at one of his high-risk areas again. He seems a little bored."
"No problem, Jess. I've been distracted with a few large orders lately. I'm going to give him a new project where he actually has to show some management skills, and hopefully that will get him more engaged. I'll email you details shortly."
Jessica then set up a counseling session for Justin and a touch point with his program buddy, briefing both on his recent troubles. She also scheduled a drug test for Justin during his next physical. While his LifeLine was equipped with drug-testing capabilities, sometimes an in-person test was necessary just to double-check that he was staying clean. Justin would receive notifications for each of the appointments, and his calendar would be updated accordingly. Within 10 minutes, she had created a multi-faceted intervention to support Justin in meeting his goals.
Jessica's monitor beeped again: a calendar appointment of her own—Russell Bateman. One of her success stories. A young man whose analytical abilities could have gone to waste was now progressing rapidly toward a real job as an accountant.
"This touch point shouldn't take long," she said to herself. Instead of driving 20 miles to attend this meeting, she could conduct the whole process via video chat. As if on cue, her smartphone rang.
Smarter policy decisions based on real-time, risk-based data
Gabriela Arredondo heard the clock chime once, indicating she had just 15 minutes left before it was her turn to speak. Looking over the dashboard displays, Gabriela Arredondo went over her presentation once more in her mind. As an analyst in the Reentry and Integration Division of the State Department of Criminal Justice, she had spent two weeks prepping for today's presentation to the department's executive committee.
Gabriela had been asked to give a high-profile presentation because she was considered one of the department's top analysts trained in using LifeLine, the state's new virtual monitoring and prisoner reintegration system. Looking at printouts of her slides, Gabriela felt quietly amazed that a similar system hadn't been deployed sooner. The screenshots of the LifeLine Executive Dashboard showed how the system could reveal patterns that would have remained hidden with more traditional methods.
On the first slide was a printout of a map of three-and-a-half square miles on the westernmost side of the state's second-largest city. Arranged across the map were a series of dots ranging from dark green to dark orange, representing the permanent residences of the 218 virtually incarcerated offenders living in the area.
The second slide overlaid offenses committed by program participants in the area during the last five months. There were two clear hot zones in which 45 percent of the offenses had occurred. The third slide overlaid Lifeline-affiliated support service zones of three different types over the map, including mental health support services, substance abuse treatment zones, and employment locations.
The colored zones and lines on the map clearly revealed that hot zones for criminal activity often appeared in areas without overlapping mental health and substance abuse treatment (as with an offender living within two miles of only one service). Gabriela's final slide covered her proposal, suggesting mobile treatment programs for zones whose residents lived more than two miles away from one of the two support services. Her theory was that traveling more than two miles to reach these services would expose her charges to too many temptations to violate their conditions of release.
Her presentation and conclusions were solid—and all but impossible to assemble only a few years ago. She drew on data collected by tracking anklets as well as by smartphone devices, analyzed by case managers' dashboards, and then pushed to the state-level executive dashboard. Data analysis and visualization had made it possible for people like Gabriela to suggest more workable and more strategically sound solutions than her predecessors could have.
The clock chimed again. It was time to present. Taking a deep breath, Gabriela walked into the boardroom.
Criminal justice and beyond
Today's prison system incarcerates too many individuals who pose little threat to public safety, at far too great a cost. They serve their sentences in overcrowded, outdated institutions that expose them to hardened criminals. Upon release, their employment prospects would have changed forever.
They could have served their sentences as virtual prisoners, holding jobs and taking care of family members, feeling the weight of their punishment while seeing a clear path to avoiding trouble in the future. And taxpayers would have gained a clear cost advantage.
This alternative is speculative, but it is based on real solutions and technologies, and its components are grounded in detailed research. But even the best ideas need testing. In the near term, we invite corrections departments at the state and federal levels to establish evidence-based trials to tease out the most effective elements of this vision.
In the longer term, this approach has intriguing implications beyond criminal justice. The model integrates and digitizes tested programs and services. In arenas such as health and human services, for example, one can easily imagine that a similar system might prove useful for social workers and their clients. The possibilities and applications are only limited by how willing government officials are to embrace a bold new approach.


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Consumer spending in the U.S. rose in line with forecasts in June as Americans' incomes grew, a sign the biggest part of the economy is withstanding fiscal headwinds.
Household purchases, which account for about 70% of the economy, rose 0.5%, after a 0.2% increase the prior month that was less than previously estimated, the Commerce Department reported today in Washington. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 0.5% rise. Incomes advanced 0.3%.
Rising home values, stock price gains, and an improved job market are cushioning the effects of a payroll tax increase that began in January. Bigger spending gains are needed to overcome federal budget cuts and weak overseas economies, which are slowing growth.
"Consumers continue to spend but they're effectively treading water," Omair Sharif, U.S. economist at RBS Securities in Stamford, Connecticut, said before the report. "There's not a lot of momentum but they're holding their own for the most part."
Projections on spending ranged from increases of 0.1% to 0.7% in the Bloomberg survey of 74 economists. The May reading previously was reported as a gain of 0.3%.
The survey median called for incomes to rise 0.4%. The prior month's income figure was revised from a gain of 0.5%.
Gross domestic product grew at a 1.7% annualized rate in the second quarter after a 1.1% gain in the first three months of the year, the Commerce Department reported this week. An increase in investments for new equipment and construction projects indicates gains could be sustained into the second half of the year.
"Economic growth will pick up from its recent pace and the unemployment rate will gradually decline," Federal Reserve policy makers said Wednesday after a two-day meeting, indicating they'll continue their $85 billion in monthly bond purchases, which are meant to stoke expansion and boost employment.
The Commerce Department this week also recalibrated its measure of GDP with a package of revisions, including a new treatment for pensions that recognizes retirement fund contributions as they're promised instead of when they're paid out. The accounting change boosted the size of personal income and lifted the savings rate a percentage point, to 4.7%, between 2002 and 2012.
Inflation Adjusting
Adjusting consumer spending for inflation, purchases rose 0.1% in June, the same as in the previous month.
The Commerce Department's price index tied to spending, a gauge tracked by Fed policy makers, increased 0.4%. The core price measure, which excludes food and fuel, rose 1.2% from the prior month.
Automakers are on pace for their best showing in six years as job gains boost confidence and consumers replace older vehicles. Cars and light trucks sold at a 15.6 million annualized rate in July and 15.9 million the prior month, the strongest back-to-back readings since late 2007, according to figures from Ward's Automotive Group.
General Motors Co. deliveries rose 16% in July. Honda Motor Co. sales in the U.S. were up 21% and Toyota Motor Corp. reported a 17% gain. Light vehicle sales for Ford Motor Co., Chrysler Group LLC and Nissan Motor Co. were all up 11%, the companies reported.
"With the strength we're seeing in household wealth, consumer sentiment, housing, and manufacturing, we think there's definitely more room to grow this year," GM Vice President Kurt McNeil said on a sales and revenue call yesterday. "Exactly how much upside there is will depend on factors like the job market and interest rates. We'll obviously have to wait and see, but we're optimistic."
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Andrea Adelson, ESPN.com
MIAMI -- West Virginia blew open the Discover Orange Bowl against Clemson with a huge second quarter and leads 49-20 at halftime. Here is a quick first-half analysis.
Turning point: Easy. Clemson running back Andre Ellington was going in for the go-ahead touchdown from the 3-yard line when he fumbled in the middle of a huge scrum. West Virginia safety Darwin Cook picked up the ball and ran 99 yards for a touchdown to give the Mountaineers a 28-17 lead and send all the momentum the Tigers had to a screeching halt. That was the first drive of the game that the Tigers failed to score, and they managed only a field goal the rest of the way.
Stat of the half. 69. The teams set an Orange Bowl and BCS record for total points in a half. The previous record for the Orange Bowl: 48. West Virginia's 49 points in the first half were the most scored by any team in any bowl game ever.
Best player in the half: West Virginia all-everything man Tavon Austin. With three touchdown receptions and 158 total yards, Austin has been everywhere on the field. He has touches as a receiver, running back and kickoff returner, and has been incredibly hard for Clemson to tackle.
What Clemson needs to do: Ask for a do over. The Tigers had three turnovers that led to 21 West Virginia points in the second quarter. They actually ended the quarter with three turnovers on their final four possessions. The Ellington fumble was an absolute killer and essentially began their nightmarish second quarter.
What West Virginia needs to do: Continue to be aggressive. This defense has come to life in the past four games, and now has defensive scores in three of their past four games. This team is playing inspired football right now, and is absolutely dominating in every area. It is an understatement to say this is the team's best game of the year, on the biggest stage of the year.
Back to All News


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Call to Action: MPAA Petition
Last month, we reported that the MPAA was petitioning the FCC to allow the MPAA to shut down the analog outputs of your cable and satellite boxes when viewing certain material. Now it's your chance to actually do something about it. The FCC has a petition that you can fill out until June 25 to voice your opinion. (Put 08-82 in the first field to identify this docket.) What is the MPAA trying to do?
The MPAA wants to start offering pay-per-view, video-on-demand movie releases significantly earlier than before, closer to the theatrical release than the DVD/Blu-ray release dates. However, to protect themselves against piracy, they want the FCC to allow the MPAA to use a feature on cable boxes that shuts down the analog outputs (selectable output controls, or SOCs,) which don't have the copy protection that the digital signals use. If your HDTV is pre-HDMI, or you use the analog outputs for whatever reason, you're SOL.
In their proposal, the MPAA states they want to "provide high value, high definition content to consumers prior to the normal release date of prerecorded media (e.g.,DVDs) for general in-home viewing. Such a valuable offering necessarily would require a higher level of protection against copyright theft than is currently permissible under the Commission's rules, and therefore requires a waiver of the current rule restricting the exercise of selectable output control." The MPAA says these movies necessarily would require a higher level of protection? They don't require anything at all if you trust consumers. It should be noted that they only want to use the SOC restriction until the movie is released on DVD/Blu-ray.
Although SOCs exist, a ruling in 2003 restricted their use. Now, the MPAA wants to use them to protect their property. The problem is, it's putting restrictions on consumers who've paid, legally, to watch a movie, and they should be able to view that movie however they wish. I guess everyone's entitled to their opinion. Let your opinion count. Let us, and more importantly, let the FCC hear your voice. -Leslie Shapiro


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|MLB Career Stats
|23rd in NL
|20th in NL
|25th in NL
|6th in NL
|18th in NL
|12th in NL
|15th in NL
|15th in NL
|15th in NL
|14th in NL
|11th in NL
|18th in NL
|20th in NL
|13th in NL
|16th in NL
|20th in NL
|12th in NL
|16th in NL
|13th in NL
|5th in NL
|19th in NL
|18th in NL
|9th in NL
|13th in NL
|7th in NL
|August 4, 2013
|Los Angeles Angels released RF Brad Hawpe.
|July 29, 2013
|Los Angeles Angels designated RF Brad Hawpe for assignment.
|June 8, 2013
|Los Angeles Angels selected the contract of RF Brad Hawpe from Salt Lake Bees.
|April 17, 2013
|Brad Hawpe assigned to Salt Lake Bees from Orem Owlz.
|April 11, 2013
|Los Angeles Angels signed free agent RF Brad Hawpe to a minor league contract.
|April 11, 2013
|Brad Hawpe assigned to Orem Owlz.
|March 23, 2013
|Pittsburgh Pirates released RF Brad Hawpe.
|January 17, 2013
|Pittsburgh Pirates invited non-roster RF Brad Hawpe to spring training.
|June 19, 2012
|Frisco RoughRiders released OF Brad Hawpe.
|June 3, 2012
|Frisco RoughRiders placed OF Brad Hawpe on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to May 30, 2012. left arm fatigue
|April 7, 2012
|OF Brad Hawpe assigned to Frisco RoughRiders from Texas Rangers.
|April 6, 2012
|Texas Rangers signed free agent 1B Brad Hawpe to a minor league contract.
|March 29, 2012
|Texas Rangers released 1B Brad Hawpe.
|January 20, 2012
|Texas Rangers signed free agent 1B Brad Hawpe to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
|October 31, 2011
|1B Brad Hawpe elected free agency.
|August 8, 2011
|San Diego Padres transferred 1B Brad Hawpe from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
|June 21, 2011
|San Diego Padres placed 1B Brad Hawpe on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 19, 2011. Strained right middle finger
|January 3, 2011
|San Diego Padres signed free agent 1B Brad Hawpe.
|November 7, 2010
|RF Brad Hawpe elected free agency.
|October 13, 2010
|Tampa Bay Rays activated RF Brad Hawpe.
|October 6, 2010
|Tampa Bay Rays reassigned RF Brad Hawpe to the minor leagues.
|September 1, 2010
|Tampa Bay Rays selected the contract of RF Brad Hawpe from Charlotte Stone Crabs.
|August 28, 2010
|Brad Hawpe assigned to Charlotte Stone Crabs from Tampa Bay Rays.
|August 27, 2010
|Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent RF Brad Hawpe to a minor league contract.
|August 24, 2010
|Colorado Rockies released RF Brad Hawpe.
|August 19, 2010
|Colorado Rockies designated RF Brad Hawpe for assignment.
|May 10, 2010
|Colorado Rockies activated RF Brad Hawpe from the 15-day disabled list.
|May 7, 2010
|Modesto Nuts sent RF Brad Hawpe on a rehab assignment to Colorado Springs Sky Sox.
|May 6, 2010
|RF Brad Hawpe assigned to Modesto Nuts.
|April 25, 2010
|Colorado Rockies placed RF Brad Hawpe on the 15-day disabled list. Strained left quadriceps.
FIELDING: Had a .990 (4 E/404 TC) fielding percentage in 44 total games at 1st base...had appeared in just 9 ML games at 1st prior to last season, all in 2010 (6 with COL; 3 with TB)...had 11 errorless chances in his 7 games in right field...moved to the outfield when the Padres recalled Anthony Rizzo in early June.
INJURY: Was originally placed on the 15-day DL on June 21 with a strained right middle finger...final game was on June 18 at Minnesota as the DH...underwent ulnar nerve transplant surgery on his left elbow on August 5 with the operation performed by San Diego team physicians Drs. Heinz Hoenecke and Daniel Keefe at Scripps Clinic in Carmel, CA...was transferred to the 60-day DL on August 8...spent remainder of season and off-season on rehab program.2010 Split the season between the Rockies and Rays after being signed by TB as a minor league free agent on 8/27...Combined to hit .245 (73-for-298) with 21 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 44 RBI and 31 runs scored in 103 games between the Rockies and Rays...Began the season with the Rockies and hit .255 (66-for-259) in 88 games before clearing waivers and becoming a free agent...Connected for two home runs in his fifth game of the season, a 5-4 14-inning loss to the Padres on 4/10...it was his second career multi-homer game...Missed time while on the disabled list from 4/25-5/10 with a strained left quadriceps...Signed a minor league contract with the Rays after clearing waivers and was added to the Major League roster on 8/31... made his TB debut on 9/1, his first appearance for any team other than the Rockies after parts of seven seasons in COL to begin his career. 2009 Hit career-best 6 HR's off left-handed pitchers...led club with 14 HR's on the road...Rox went 17-6 in games when homered...14 of his HR's were on the road, his most since 2006 (16 road HR's)...had career-high 42 doubles, as he led all Rox players in that category (T-5th in NL, tied for NL)...ranked 2nd on the club with 79 walks...68 of his 143 hits went for extra-bases...gave Rox their first 2 last-at bat wins (5/15 at PIT; 5/30 vs. SD) and 3 of their 17 last-at bat wins of the year, including 2 of 8 walkoff wins...reached 50 RBI in 60th game on 6/19, quickest ever to 50 RBI in his career...only Rox position player named to the All- Star team, as he led the club in AVG (.320), SLG (.577), extra-base hits (43), total bases (164), RBI (59) and runs (50) in the first half...ranked 2nd in the NL at the break with a .349 AVG with runners in scoring position (30-for-86)...averaged 4.81 AB per RBI in first half (7th in NL)...led MLB with 33 two-out RBI at the break and his 4.81 AB/RBI ratio ranked 4th in NL in first half...production dropped off in the second half, as he hit .240 (52-for-217) with 9 HR's and 27 RBI...recorded just 7 RBI in September (none until 9/22), 13 in August and 7 in July...went 12-for-62 (.194) w/RISP in second half...received the majority of his at-bats in the No. 5 slot in the batting order, earning 78 starts at that spot...smashed 5 HR's against the Dodgers...left 4/13 in bottom of 5th inn. (left hamstring)...hit 3 of first 4 HR's off lefties...missed 3 straight games (4/28- 5/1) due to a neck contusion (struck in the neck by a thrown ball by San Diego catcher Nick Hundley trying to pick him off at 2nd base)...had RBI in 7 straight games, 5/10-17, best streak of his career...hit gamewinning 2-run HR in 9th inn. 5/15 at PIT (off Capps)...missed time with right groin strain (did not start 5/26- 29)...career-best 12-game hitting streak 5/30-6/10...3 HR's 6/22-7/1 road trip, including 100th career HR 6/27 at OAK...walkoff double in Rox last game of first half, 7/12 vs. ATL (also hit 14th HR, 2 RBI) to give Rox 3 of their 6 last-at bat wins in '09 (2 of 3 walkoff wins)...broke up perfect game (Josh Johnson) with a walk to lead off 5th inn. 8/14 at FLA...had a 2-run home run Rox postseason clinching win 10/1 vs. MIL; was his 3rd home run of that homestand, as he also homered 9/22 vs. SD, and 9/26 vs. STL...had exactly one hit in 8 straight road games as part of a 10-game road hit streak (.297, 11-for-37, 8/16-30)...39 strikeouts in August were a club record for the month. 2008 Batted .283 (138-for-488) with 25 home runs and 85 RBI...led club with 76 walks and posted a .381 OBP...returned from injury on 6/6 and hit .304 (105-345) with 22 HR and 68 RBI over his final 96 games (from that date, ranked 11th in NL in avg., T-9th in RBI, 6th in slugging pct.-.567)...led Rox with 23 go-ahead RBI...13 of his 25 HR either tied the game or gave Rox the lead...hit 8 home runs with 2 strikes (most by a Rockie)...went 24-for-last-72 (.333) vs. left-handers and finished with his highest season avg. vs. southpaws (.282)...ranked 9th in NL with .315 avg. from 7th inning on...had the only hit in the two games the Rox were one-hit (7/13 at NYM, 9/6 vs. HOU-Oswalt CG)...on the Opening Day roster for the 4th straight year and has made four straight starts in an opener...hit Rockies' first HR of 2008, finishing 2- for-4 on 4/2 at STL...broke up Randy Wolf's no-hit bid with 2-out, 7th inning single 4/15 at SD...hitless in 7 AB's 4/17 at SD but drew pair of walks, including bases loaded walk in 14th inning which was first run of night for both Rockies and Padres; Rox went on to win game in 22 innings...walked in 8 straight games from 4/21-28...reached base in 24 straight games from April 2-29, the longest game on-base streak of his career...homered 5/6 vs. STL, a solo shot off RHP Joel Pineiro; was the 1500th homer by a Rockie in Coors Field history...went 7-for-43 in 13 games from 5/5-20 to drop average from .269 to .231...placed on 15-day DL (right hamstring strain) on 5/24 (retroactive 5/21)...hit .091 (1-for-11) during 3-game rehab stint at Colo. Springs...reinstated from 15-day DL prior to 6/6 game and homered in first 2 games back...hit safely in first 5 games back; drove in go-ahead runs with 2-run HR off LHP Brian Shouse in 8th inn 6/6, just 2nd HR off LHP in '08...hit grand slam of Dave Bush (2nd career) as he combined with Iannetta for back-to-back home runs 6/7 vs. MIL...hit go-ahead solo homer 6/15 to give Rox 4-3 lead...5 of first 7 HR in '08 either tied the game or gave Rox the lead...hit .292 (14-for-48) with 4 HR's during Interleague play....followed Atkins' HR for Rox second set of back-to-back home runs 6/21 vs. NYM; marked 5th time Atkins and Hawpe have hit back-to-back shots: Atkins-Hawpe (4), Hawpe-Atkins (1)...was involved in each of the club's five sets of back-to-back shots since 6/15/07...had career-high 4 walks 6/22 (tied for most by a Rockie in '08)...walked in franchise-record 6 straight plate appearances from 6/22-23...hit 8 home runs (T-4th in the NL) and led the league in OPS (1.113) in June...received votes for June's Player of the Month voting, finishing the month with a .316 average, 8 HR and 17 RBI, while also leading the NL with an 1.113 OPS...3 of 4 hits on 7/1-6 homestand were HR's; had 8 RBI despite going 4-for-25 during those home games...had 5 of Rockies' 11 hits during Mets series in New York and scored the Rockies only run (HR) of the series...had 6 hits (6-for-35) in 11 home games from 6/21-7/18; 5 of those 6 hits were HR's...hit 1st sac fly of '08 8/2 at FLA...hit game-winning 2-run single w/bases loaded in 8th inn. 8/5 vs. WAS...hit GW 2-run homer in 8th inn. 8/13 vs. ARI (Rauch)...2-R HR in 5th inn. 8/15 were deciding 2 runs in 4-3 game win...recorded gametying and GW RBI 8/20 as he had 2 of the Rox' 4 hits w/RISP... RBI single 8/23 vs. CIN was eventual GW run...hit 100th career double 8/25 at SF...came within 2 plate appearances of club record, reaching base safely in 12 straight plate appearances as he reached base safely in all 9 plate apps. in the Giants series (4 hits, 5 walks), then walked in his first AB 8/29 to extend the streak to 10...notched only Rox hit 9/6 vs. HOU, a single off Oswalt to lead off the 5th inn., in the 2-0 loss vs. the Astros...hit 25th home run 9/11 at ATL for HR's in 3 of his last 4 games...finished 4-for-29 with 2 extra-base hits and 12 K's in his final 9 games of the season. 2007 In just his second full season in the Major Leagues, Hawpe batted .291 with 29 home runs and 116 RBI in 152 games for Colorado...established career highs in home runs, RBI, walks (81), runs (80), onbase percentage (.387), and slugging (.539)...ranked sixth in the NL in RBI and had second-best RBI ratio in the league (RBI every 4.4 at-bats)...had club-record 66 RBI with two outs, surpassing the previous mark of Dante Bichette (59 RBI in 1998) and Andres Galarraga (59 RBI in 1996)...was twice named NL Player of the Week...ranked among team leaders in home runs (2nd), RBI (2nd), walks (2nd), and doubles (T4th, 33)...hit .315 vs. right-handers, but just .214 off lefties...despite a strong finish against left-handed pitching, still had 44 strikeouts in 126 at-bats against lefties (34.9%)...hit .315 with runners in scoring position, including .377 with RISP and two outs...had a .450 average (9-for-20) with the bases loaded, including his first career grand slam on June 16 vs. Tampa Bay (Andy Sonnanstine)...hit better with 2 outs (.337) than with zero (.294) or one out (.246)...hit far better in the seventh inning and later (.341) than he did over the first six innings of a game (.265)...although he did not start several games against left-handed starters, Hawpe was the club's regular right-fielder and batted sixth throughout the season...went consecutive games without starting just once all year: July 20-21 at Washington...had a .977 (6 e/258 tc) fielding pct. in 142 games/137 starts in right field and recorded six outfield assists, this after 16 in 2006...Hawpe twice homered in three consecutive games in 2007, May 28-30 vs. St. Louis and June 15-17 vs. Tampa Bay...hit .256 in April and was batting .271 as late as May 18...had just one home run over his first 37 games and 122 at-bats through May 15, that coming on April 29 vs. Atlanta...from May 16-July 8, batted .340 (54-for-159) with 14 home runs, 11 doubles, and 42 RBI in 45 games to raise average at All-Star break to .310...the .310 figure was his highest mark all season after the first eight games...the stretch began with a two-homer game on May 16 vs. Arizona...it was his first career two-homer game, and both long balls came against the NL's reigning Cy Young Award winner, Brandon Webb...Webb had gone 19 consecutive starts dating to '06 without allowing multiple long balls to an opposing team, let alone an opposing player...Hawpe was just the second player to ever homer twice off Webb in a game, joining Giants' Ray Durham, who did it on July 24, 2003 at San Francisco...Hawpe would hit another home run off Webb in his next start on May 21 at Arizona, three home runs off the pitcher in a span of six days...the homers off Webb were part of a barrage that saw Hawpe hit seven home runs in span of 13 games from May 16-30...named NL Player of the Week on June 4 after batting .455 and leading NL with eight RBI and a .571 OBP...hit two-out, two-strike, game-tying solo homer off Antonio Alfonseca in bottom of the 9th on July 6 vs. Philadelphia, leading to Rox' eventual 7-6 walk-off win in 11 innings...homered in two of his first three games after the break, but, over his first 58 games after the break through a doubleheader on Sept. 18 vs. Los Angeles, hit .225 (42-for-187) with 10 HR, seven doubles, and 36 RBI...had 72 strikeouts in 187 at-bats in that span, K's in 38.5% of his at-bats over those 58 games...in fact, had a stretch with at least one strikeout in 26 consecutive games from Aug. 17-Sept. 13...that matched the longest streak in the Major Leagues in data going back to 1957, a feat accomplished by just two other players in that 51-year span: Geoff Jenkins and Mike Cameron, both 26 straight in 2001...had a two-run, gamewinning homer on July 23 vs. San Diego off Cla Meredith, capping Rockies' five-run eighth inning in a 7-5 comeback win over the Padres...Hawpe would finish strong, however, batting .438 (21-for-48) over his final 12 games...had multiple hits in eight of those 12 contests...hit a two-run homer off Jonathan Broxton Sept. 19 vs. LA at Coors Field, erasing Dodgers' 5-4 lead in a 6-5 Rockies victory...was named NL Player of the Week for a second time on Sept. 24 after leading league with 10 RBI in the week. 2006 In his first Major League season not involving DL time, Hawpe established career highs in every category as the club's everyday right fielder for most of the year...batted .293 with 22 home runs, 84 RBI, 33 doubles, and 67 runs in 150 games...became just the fourth left-handed batter to surpass 20 home runs for the Rockies, joining Todd Helton (8x), Larry Walker (6x), and Jeromy Burnitz (once)...had 16 outfield assists, the second-highest total in the Major Leagues behind only Washington's Alfonso Soriano (22)...it was the second-highest single-season outfield assist total in franchise history, trailing only Dante Bichette's 17 assists in 1999...just four of the 16 assists were part of a relay...ranked among team leaders in triples (2nd, 6), home runs (3rd), RBI (3rd), walks (3rd), slugging (3rd, .515), and extra base hits (3rd, 61)...had 123 strikeouts, most on club and the seventh-highest single season total in team history...averaged 3.95 pitches per plate appearance, second-highest figure among Rockies...16 of his 22 home runs came away from Coors Field...batted .409 (45-for-110) with none on and no outs, .255 (40-for-157) with RISP...batted .368 (39-for-106) with eight home runs and 19 RBI over his first 29 games through May 5...from May 6-June 23, batted .244 (32-for-131) over 41 games to drop to .300...hit .424 (14-for-33) in a nine-game span from June 24-July 3 to rise to .315...beginning July 4, would bat .266 (61-for-229) the rest of the way to finish at .293...had walk-off RBI fielder's choice in 11th inning on Opening Day, April 3 vs. Arizona...hit home runs in four consecutive games April 9-13, matching the third-longest HR streak in team history...joined Larry Walker (April 2-5, 1997) and Vinny Castilla (July 21-24, 2004) as the only players to accomplish the feat exclusively in road games...each of his first nine home runs were solo shots...fell a single short of the cycle on April 11 at Arizona...was also the first of four four-RBI games for Hawpe in '06...batted .441 (15-for-34) with three HR and five RBI on club's nine-game road trip from April 24-May 2, at which point he led the N.L. with a .374 batting average...reached base safely via hit or walk in 17 straight from April 17-May 5 before going 0-for-3 on May 6 vs. Houston...on May 14 at Houston, used a pink bat produced by Louisville Slugger to commemorate Mother's Day and raise awareness for breast cancer...went 1-for-3 with the pink bat...had four RBI May 16 vs. Los Angeles, as his three-run homer in the 4th inning that night snapped a 1-1 tie and aided Rockies' 5-1 win...homer on June 30 at Seattle came off Jamie Moyer, his second career homer off a lefty...the homer began a 10-game hit streak for Hawpe...the hit streak from June 30-July 13 matched the longest of his career...had club-record 11 outfield assists prior to the All-Star break...was ejected for only time in his career on July 14 at Cincinnati...plate ump Joe West tossed Hawpe after he threw his bat in frustration following a called third strike in the top of the 8th...went 7-for-14 with two home runs and three RBI in four-game series Aug. 7-10 at Los Angeles...homer on Aug. 7 broke a 29-game drought, first since June 30...hit go-ahead RBI single in 9th inning off Dodgers closer Takashi Saito Aug. 9 at Los Angeles, a 3-1 Rox win...also homered Aug. 9, a drive deep into the bullpen in right field...hit walk-off RBI single Aug. 14 vs. Arizona...long ball Aug. 25 vs. San Diego snapped 40-game HR drought at Coors Field...gave up playing time to Jeff Baker in September...hit second career pinch home run in eighth inning on Sept. 24 vs. Atlanta off Tyler Yates, giving Rox a decisive 9-8 lead in win that day...began a stretch in which Hawpe would homer three times in his final six games, including a pair of long balls off lefties...had seven hits his last 10 at-bats with RISP. 2005 Brad spent his first full season in the Major Leagues, but was slowed by a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a month and a half toward the end of the year...batted .262 with nine home runs and 47 RBI in 101 games...ranked among NL rookie leaders in walks (3rd, 43), RBI (4th), triples (T4th, 3), on-base percentage (4th, .350), and slugging (10th, .403)...ranked among Rockies leaders in walks (3rd), triples (T3rd), and RBI (T4th)...had 10 go-ahead RBI, T5th-most on the club...started 79 games, all in right field...led the team with 10 outfield assists, most ever by a Rockies rookie...the 10 assists matched the eighth-highest total in club history as he became just the fourth Rockies outfielder ever to reach double-digit assists...only other Rockies to reach double-digit assists are Larry Walker (five times), Dante Bichette (four times), and Jeromy Burnitz (once)...the 10 assists was T5th-highest total in the National League...was on the disabled list from July 10-Sept. 1 with a strained left hamstring suffered in sixth inning on July 9 vs. San Diego...hit .250 (7-for-28) against lefties and .264 (73-for-277) against right-handers...was 6-for-17 (.353) with six RBI as a pinch-hitter...batted .272 (58-for-213) at night...began the season in a platoon role in right field, but was a virtual everyday player by the end of April...hit .380 (19-for-50) with four home runs and 13 RBI in 20 games in April...all four home runs came in a nine-game stretch to end the month, during which he batted .464 (13-for-28) with nine RBI...went 2-for-3 on May 1 at Los Angeles to raise average to .396, but hit .202 (20-for-99) over 31 games from May 2-June 11 to drop season figure to .270...did have a pair of three-RBI games in that stretch...had two assists on May 14 vs. Arizona, first Colorado outfielder with multiple assists in a game since Jeromy Burnitz on April 27, 2004 vs. Florida...beginning June 14, hit .347 (25-for-72) over his final 23 games before the DL stint to rise from .270 to .295...hit a game-tying two-run homer on June 21 at Houston, his first career home run off a left-hander...hit a solo homer on July 7 vs. Los Angeles off Derek Lowe...went 1-for-2 on July 9 vs. San Diego, before straining his left hamstring attempting to break up a fifth-inning double play...was placed on the disabled list on July 12 (retroactive to July 10) with a strained left hamstring...played seven games on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Colorado Springs from Aug. 24-31, batting .464 (13-for-28) with three HR and 11 RBI...went 5-for-5 with two HR, a double and four RBI in next-to-last rehab game on Aug. 30 at Salt Lake...carried over that success when he was activated Sept. 2...went 5-for-13 with six RBI over first three games, a Rockies three-game sweep Sept. 2-4 vs. Los Angeles...lone hit in that series finale was a walk-off RBI single in bottom of the 10th on Sept. 4...beginning Sept. 6, hit .132 (9-for-68) with one extra base hit and two RBI over his final 23 games, dropping final average from .300 to .262. 2004 Spent the majority of the season at Colorado Springs (AAA) but also had a pair of month-long stints in the big leagues...with the Sky Sox, Brad hit .322 with 31 homers, 86 RBI and an organizational-best .652 slugging percentage...only three other minor leaguers had a higher slugging in 2004, Calvin Pickering (.712), Dallas McPherson (.670) and Joe Dillon (.669)...Brad's 31 homers tied for fourth in the Pacific Coast League...recalled on April 30, Hawpe made his major league debut in a May 1st doubleheader vs. Atlanta, going a combined 4-for-5 in the twin bill with 2 runs, a triple, a homer and 2 RBI...made his ML debut as a pinch hitter in game one and singled off Kevin Gryboski in his first plate appearance...then got his first career start in the evening affair (right field) and went 3-for-4 with a 2-run homer off John Thomson in the sixth inning (also first 2 RBI)...in 42 games overall with the Rockies, Brad hit .248 with 3 HR and 9 RBI...started 30 games, 29 in right field and 1 in left...opened his big league career by going 8-for-13 (.615) in his first five contests, while posting multi-hit games in each of his three starts (7- for-11, .636)...slowed down after that and wound up hitting .263 (15-for-57) with 1 HR and 3 RBI in 22 games before being optioned back to the Springs on May 30...spent the next three months in the PCL and earned his way back to the majors thanks to a monster August in which he was named Organizational Player of the Month...Hawpe belted 14 of his 31 home runs in a 27-game stretch during the month of August, when he averaged one HR every 7.7 at-bats...he hit .352 (38-for-108) in August with 14 homers and 28 RBI in 27 games...after rejoining the Rockies on Sept. 7, he clubbed his first career pinch-hit HR off Arizona's Lance Cormier on Sept. 13...it was the Rockies' 11th pinch-hit HR of the season, tying a club record set in 1995...Brad hit .229 (11-for-48) with 2 homers and 6 RBI in his second stint with the club...got an extended look down the stretch, starting nine of the club's final 12 games, all in right field...struggled in limited opportunities against lefthanded pitching, managing just 2 hits in 13 at-bats while fanning 8 times...had better success in road games as a Rockie, posting a .274 average on the road versus .209 at home)...belted two grand slams with the Sky Sox, April 25 at Iowa and Aug. 31 at Oklahoma and collected 3 home runs on June 18 at Iowa. 2003 Another banner season came to a halt on July 14 as he suffered a separated right shoulder while diving for a ball on July 14 vs. El Paso...leading Tulsa in nearly every offensive category at the time, Brad missed the next six weeks before returning for the Drillers' final five games in late August...began to make the switch to outfield in 2003, as he played 49 games in right field, 18 at first base and 22 as DH...despite the extended absence, still finished fifth in the Texas League with a .503 slugging...had a league-high 18-game road hitting streak from April 29-June 13, during which he hit .413 (31-for-75)...named the league's "Batter of the Week," May 12-18, as he drove in 10 runs, including a grand slam May 14 at Wichita...was the Texas League's All-Star Game MVP after he went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in the East's 4-2 win on June 16...drove in a run in eight straight contests, June 6-13...had a career-best 6 RBI during Tulsa's 18-4 win over Frisco on July 2...played in the Arizona Fall League (.276, 4 HR, 18 RBI).
The 2002 Organizational Player of the Year, Hawpe has successfully made his way up the organizational ladder in his four pro seasons...recently rated as the 11th-best prospect in the system by Baseball America, Hawpe is a natural first baseman but is gradually making the move to outfield.


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401 W. Government St., Pensacola, Florida 32501
Total inspections: 18
Last inspection: July 22, 2008
Classification: Sewerage Systems
This facility's fine amount includes at least one case involving multiple facilities, each of which has the total fine amount applied to it.
Last enforcement: Nov. 3, 2006
Formal enforcement: 1
Informal enforcement: 0
This facility has been out of regulatory compliance 9 of the past 12 quarters.
View detailed information from the Environmental Protection Agency. Note: There are no mandated limits for power plant discharges into waterways for many common chemicals such as arsenic, lead and mercury. However some facilities are monitored for these pollutants by state regulators and report the findings to the E.P.A.


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It's tough to beat a fried egg on a hamburger, but adding one to a venison sandwich takes it to another level!
This is one of our favorite things from Stacy Harris, author of Happy Healthy Family, a delicious Western Venison Open-Faced Sandwich topped with a fried egg. If you haven't tried a sandwich or burger with an egg, don't turn up your nose. It's very good. This would be great for chowing down after a morning hunt while watching a football game or relaxing at deer camp at night.
This recipe serves six, so gather some hungry folks and enjoy.
Marinade ingredients
- ¼ cup Rosemary
- ¼ cup Thyme
- ½ cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
Venison ingredients
- 1½ pounds venison hindquarter roast, sliced in half horizontally
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, extra for browning
- 1 Vidalia onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1pound tomatoes, peeled and chopped, or canned with their juices
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- 4 eggs
- 4 slices of artisan bread, cut 1/2 inch thick toasted or grilled
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons Parmesan Reggiano cheese
- 1/4 cup parsley
1. For marinade, mix rosemary, thyme, olive oil, garlic and venison in a zip top bag and refrigerate 4 hours.
2. Remove venison from refrigerator and pound each half to 3/4 inch thick. Season venison liberally with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat until skillet is almost smoking and oil is shimmering. Place venison in skillet for about 4 minutes on the first side, then turn over and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack and allow to rest.
3. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce it to a simmer for about 15 minutes.
4. Half each piece of toast on the bias and drizzle with olive oil. Place toast on the plates.
5. Slice venison against the grain and distribute equally over the toast. Spoon about ¼-cup of the tomato mixture over the venison.
6. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add 3 eggs at one time to the pan. Cover and cook at medium to medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes or until whites are set, but yolk is still soft. Gently remove the eggs from the skillet and place over the tomatoes. Repeat with remaining eggs.
7. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of Parmesan Reggiano cheese over the egg. Garnish with parsley then serve immediately.
We're not trying to rush anything because when Christmas arrives, that means half the deer season is over in the Southeast and all you folks up north are freezing your brats off waiting on summer.
But a glance at the calendar says Christmas is about a dozen weeks away. That means you have plenty of time to buy your presents now, get them shipped and get them scuttled away so you can forget where you hid them. Not that we haven't done that before.
Happy Healthy Family will make fantastic gift for your spouse, girlfriend, office assistant or anyone you know who enjoys cooking wild game and great food. The author, Stacy Harris, has a house full of outdoors-loving kids and is married to a diehard deer hunter, so they get their fill of venison, turkey, waterfowl, fish and small game. Harris has some fantastic recipes in Happy Healthy Family that work throughout the year; you don't have to eat soup just in winter, of course, and after trying her easy venison vegetable soup, you'll want it in summer with a slice of buttered cornbread and some little green onions. Trust us.
Check 'em out and don't wait to shop!
– Alan Clemons, Southern Managing Editor
For more great recipes, tips and stories from Stacy Harris, visit her great website, Game & Garden, at www.GameandGarden.com


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Red Sox' Doubront takes loss against YankeesBy SCOTT LAUBER
Boston Herald
March 20. 2013 10:12PM
TAMPA, Fla. - Go ahead and pin the Yankees' four-run second inning Wednesday on Felix Doubront's faulty pitching mechanics.
David Ross is here to say it was more complicated.
Working with Doubront for the first time in a game situation, the Red Sox' backup catcher conceded his game-calling was "out of sync" in the early innings. It didn't take long, though, for Ross and Doubront to get on the same page. Doubront didn't allow a run over the next two innings, and although the Red Sox lost, 4-0, Ross learned valuable lessons about Doubront's mechanics, pitch preference and tendencies on the mound.
"I didn't even know he threw a back-door breaking ball," Ross said. "I didn't know he had that in his repertoire. And then he struck out (Yankees outfielder) Ben Francisco on a front-door sinker. I didn't know he liked to do that. I thought he liked to throw four-seamers in there. I don't think I called a great game, especially in that inning. It got better as we went, obviously - quicker innings. I really think I was a big hindrance in that big inning."
Doubront took his share of the blame, too, noting that he strayed from his mechanics in the second inning. According to Doubront, he exhibited poor posture and was unable to get as much of a downhill plane on his pitches. Once he made the adjustment, he had more success.
And now that Ross is aware of what Doubront's mechanical flaws look like, he will be able to assist in correcting them.
"What I want to learn is the fixes mechanically," Ross said. "I learned today (that) posture is a big deal for him. If I learn that, I can coach in the middle of a pitch or the middle of an at-bat, 'That one ball, you cut your changeup. You're just bending over and getting to the side of it. Keep your posture.' He'll be like, 'OK.' That's the thing I want to learn - to fix the problem in the middle of the battle."