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Messages - MidgetSellingWater

#1
Desipio Lounge / Re: Theo Epstein Sploosh Thread
January 06, 2012, 04:54:27 PM
Quote from: Chuck to Chuck on January 06, 2012, 03:51:47 PM
Quote from: Eli on January 06, 2012, 03:47:39 PM
Quote from: BH on January 06, 2012, 03:13:17 PM
Quote from: CBStew on January 06, 2012, 03:10:06 PM
Quote from: Sterling Archer on January 06, 2012, 03:07:33 PM
Damn. They just got San Diego's #1 prospect for a broken reliever. Either SD knows he's overrated or we're seeing why Theo wanted Hoyer and not Byrnes.

On the other hand, Cashner is the kind of player that Theo would trade for if he were on another team.

Doubtful Theo would target a reliever as the primary piece of any trade.

I don't think Cashner will always be a reliever for them, unless they plan for him to stick at closer.

That would seem to be their bet. He closed at TCU.

Here's the take from a senior level executive at another ML franchise (sic'd):

"Rizzo is about as good a 1B prospect as you can be – young for every level, succeeding at every level, etc. The only problem is that still isn't a great prospect. The offensive expectations at 1B (roughly .280/.360/.470 to just be average) are so high that no matter how good a minor league hitter you are, we can't really expect you to hit that well. 50% of players might "outperform" our expectations/projections/translation, but Rizzo will have to do that to be an above average 1B.

We like Cates a decent amount – a chance to be a mid-rotation starter.

Cashner is tough. Our scouts love him, but they disagree whether he can get back into the rotation. Statistically, he's pretty good in either role, but obviously has much more value as an SP. But his shoulder issues mean he hasn't thrown more than about 100 IP in any season in his career, so I kinda doubt he can stay healthy as a starter.

We have one great report on Na from last year and one terrible one from this year. Statistically he kinda sucks. He's definitely worse that Cates.

I generally like the trade...just keep remember how high your expectations are for Rizzo to be a good 1B."


In other words, decent trade because Cashner is no guarantee but 1Bs are a dime a dozen.
#2
This could turn into the longest thread in the history of history.

I'll submit Muse and Foster the People for your consideration.
#3
Quote from: BH on July 07, 2011, 09:48:35 AM
Quote from: R-V on July 07, 2011, 09:41:25 AM
Quote from: Chuck to Chuck on July 07, 2011, 09:33:57 AM
Quote from: PANK! on July 07, 2011, 09:07:52 AM
Quote from: Fork on July 07, 2011, 09:03:35 AM
Quote from: PANK! on July 07, 2011, 08:32:21 AM
Quote from: BH on July 07, 2011, 07:33:16 AM
To continue this theme, I'm most likely moving back to Chicago. Any of you folks on here with kids recommend certain areas of the city?

RV - you like north center?

If you're moving back to the area, you don't have a very big window with your kids to live in the city, unless the Big JP Morgan in The Sky has dropped a six figure salary in your lap and you can afford private schooling for junior.  You know, my brother did say you were a pretty big wheel down at the cash factory.

So sell him your place.

If he moved here, his window would definitely close when the kid goes to kindergarten.  RV's point is good--enough up-and-coming trixies and chads have settled into Lakeview and North Center to make them more realistic than nearly most every other neighborhood for the early years of schooling.

Our choice was similar.  Lincoln Elementary School was one of the better ones.  But the option of a yard, finished basement, and extra bedrooms for the same price as Chicago was too good to skip.  That, and the schools were superior.

BH, your choice boils down to:

having a finished basement & living next door to Chuck

vs.

living in delivery range of Pequods and Art of Pizza & within walking distance of Old Town School of Folk Music where you can get a part time job teaching Oasis riffs to the next generation of rockers.

Besides north center, are any public elementary schools worth a damn? roscoe village, lincoln park?

Besides Lincoln, the better ones are Bell, Hawthorne, Blaine and Coonley.  But it's all still relative.  Those are the decent schools in a shitty public school system.  My two are in private until they get to 1st grade, when I kill them.
#4
Quote from: flannj on June 03, 2011, 10:05:54 AM

So I arrive home yesterday afternoon after a delicious shoutlunch and I find a small FedEx package waiting for me.
Wondering who this could be from I glance at the return address... 1060 W. Addison St. Chicago, IL.
Now what could the Cubs have sent me?
Crane Kenney's severed ear I hope!
Opening the box I find an OFFICIAL MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL inside of a clear plastic cube.
And inscribed upon that baseball is...




Tyler Colvin's autograph.

I resist the urge to take the baseball outside and bounce it off of the blacktop driveway and remove the cube from the box.
And discover another inscription on the ball...



60 day DL occupant Andrew Cashner's autograph.

Maybe I'll just leave the ball in the yard before the next rainstorm where it will eventually be run over by the lawnmower.
I turn the cube over and find another autograph in handwriting that appears to have been produced by an 8 year old with Parkinsons...


Starlin Castro.
Now what am I supposed to do with this thing? Will Wite-Out work on a baseball?
Looking in the box it came in I find... nothing.
No letter from the Cubs thanking me for my continued support.
No indication at all as to why they sent this out.
So in another brilliant move by the Cubs marketing department I have a baseball with one mildly interesting autograph and two autographs that emphasise how shitty their team is. And no attempt to actually, you know, market to me.

I can't wait too see what they send out in September.


They offered that to season ticketholders who paid for their seats by check.  I opted to use credit card.  Those Amex points can buy me something much more valuable - like a $10 Red Lobster gift certificate.
#5
Quote from: Slaky on May 19, 2011, 02:14:32 PM
The new Bon Iver record leaked. It's self-titled. The last song sounds like it's straight out of 1986.

It's great.

Wow, you weren't kidding.  Sounds like a Bruce Hornsby ballad performed by a church band that had alternated ludes and coke over a three-night retreat/bender in Eagle River, WI. 
#6
Quote from: Slaky on April 15, 2011, 09:18:47 AM
New Panda Bear - holy lord.

Yes, I am one of those Animal Collective/Panda Bear evangelists and I don't care. This guy is an absolute genius.

Song of the year*


http://vimeo.com/13442972

*not just this year but every year before it

I'm with you.  I love this album.
#7
Quote from: Slaky on March 04, 2011, 10:45:14 AM
Quote from: Oleg on March 04, 2011, 10:37:15 AM
That Sunday lineup already looks awesome...although once I hear more of Dismemberment Plan, I'll probably think the same of Saturday.

What should I think of James Blake or das Racist?

Who cares. Kylesa.

Also, you definitely should get started on D-Plan but even if you don't hear a note before the show you'll be a fan when they're done.

James Blake is awesome but I don't see his music translating very well to an outdoor festival environment - unless everyone is supplied with headphones.  Das Racist will be pretty cool but OFWGKTA will be ridiculous.
#8
Quote from: Yeti on February 24, 2011, 04:31:39 PM
A bunch of bands.

I'm with you on Mumford and Edward Sharpe and some Florence.  I soured on Muse after Absolution and never got into much of the Black Keys or Temper Trap.

[shameless self-promotion]  I started a dumb little website this year with my favorites from 2010 that you can stream and/or download along with my liner notes (mostly written in a late-night, red wine-induced stupor - so there's that).  I'm also updating it as I come across new things in 2011.  It leans toward the poppier side of things with some electronic music dribs and drabs but it's free and might interest some of you - www.cdsplaylist.com [/shameless self-promotion]
#9
Desipio Lounge / Re: I admit it...
February 21, 2011, 09:40:07 PM
Quote from: Oleg on February 21, 2011, 09:29:50 PM
Quote from: SKO on February 21, 2011, 06:37:34 PM
Quote from: Slaky on February 21, 2011, 04:06:56 PM
Quote from: SKO on February 21, 2011, 04:01:24 PM
I really like "Creep," because I usually only know the songs that Everybody knows, but I use my love of that song to say that I like Radiohead because that seems to earn me some kind of street cred with a lot of other people who are most likely as ignorant of these bands as me.

I hate obscure, underground bands like Radiohead, too.

That's kind of my point. I've never understood what it was exactly that made Radiohead all that 'cool'. But people seem to treat them like they aren't mainstream alot of the time.

It's not so much that the word 'mainstream' doesn't apply to Radiohead, it's that it doesn't have much meaning.

They don't really have a record company.

They released their last album online and let people pay whatever they wanted.  I think the album came out on Jan 1 or something like that.  In Rainbows sold over 3 million albums.

This time, they released an album online again; charged 9 bucks for it; announced the launch 6 days in advance; and, in order to beat any leaks, released the album a day early.

Kind of dramatic and all that shit,and they wouldn't get away with it if they weren't popular.  Hardly mainstream though.

By the way, they're also really fucking good at making rock n roll music.
Unfortunately, it could be argued that they haven't made rock n roll music since Hail to the Thief.  Agree with your popular vs. mainstream argument.  They're kind of on a parallel plane from the rest of the popular music industry; and it's worked for them.  Probably because they tend to draw fans more open to the premise of an unconventional distribution system - to go along with an unconventional sound.
#10
Quote from: Slaky on October 04, 2010, 09:32:10 AM
New Deerhunter album - Halcyon Digest

Get it now.

100% agreed.  Desire Lines has been replayed close to 50 time so far.
#11
Quote from: Yeti on September 21, 2010, 10:07:40 AM
I just remembered this group as I was introduced to them in 2001 when I was in Denmark. I enjoyed the album I have (and I would need to check my home computer to see which one it is. I'm assuming Här och nu is the one I have.)

Anyone heard of them? And Slaky, I'm somewhat looking at you. And is any of their other stuff worthy of listening if anyone likes them.

I think Nordman is Swedish for "shit sandwich."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67zKi-1ff5Q&feature=player_embedded#!
#12
This is truly horrifying considering that the streets of Wrigleyville were filled with thousands of Dave Matthews Band fans on Saturday night - which means that the neighborhood was even whiter than your typical Cubs/Brewers tilt.  Oh the humanity.
#13
Quote from: Oleg on September 07, 2010, 03:13:41 PM
Quote from: MidgetSellingWater on December 10, 2009, 04:35:59 PM
Speaking of folksy stuff from across the pond, check out Mumford & Sons.  If you can get your hands on their debut album, it is really, really, really good.

http://www.youtube.com/user/mumfordandsons?blend=2&ob=4#p/u/3/5HHnDEnsdno  Specifically, check out Little Lion Man.


Holy shit.  Sigh No More is fucking awesome.  I will be listening to nothing else for the foreseeable future.  Well, that and their EPs as well.  This is blowing me away.

10/31 show at The Riv (I think it's The Riv).  Can't wait.

They put on a great show.  I saw them a few months ago at Lincoln Hall (fantastic venue, btw) and they rocked it.  Not as good on a large stage at Lollapalooza.  Should be pretty great at the Riv.
#14
Desipio Lounge / Re: Cubs Ticket Thread 2010
August 27, 2010, 11:47:56 AM
Quote from: CBStew on August 26, 2010, 06:13:04 PM
Quote from: Yeti on August 25, 2010, 02:12:37 PM
Quote from: Chuck to Chuck on August 25, 2010, 02:06:18 PM
I've got 4 for the 1st.  Anyone interested?

No
"CHICAGO (AP)—The Chicago Cubs will honor the late broadcaster Harry Caray next month by rededicating his statue outside Wrigley Field.

The team said Thursday that a pregame ceremony is also planned for Sept. 1. Caray's wife, Dutchie Caray, and Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts are expected to be at the rededication"


Come on.  This is going to be big!




DPD

The statue has officially been moved as of this morning.  It actually looks pretty nice and well-placed by the bleacher entrance.
#15
Desipio Lounge / Re: Cubs Ticket Thread 2010
August 27, 2010, 11:46:29 AM
Quote from: Brownie on August 25, 2010, 01:18:01 PM
Does anyone have 4 tickets to the 9/4 game against New York and would rather watch college football and doesn't know anyone else that would want to go to Wrigley that day? A friend of mine is going to be in town and wants to take his kids to the game. He can buy face value seats or he can play the scalper game, but if any of you have 4 tickets you'd part with, let me know so I can help him.

I have four for 9/4 that he can have.  Upper Deck Box, on the aisle.  Not sure off hand what the face is, but I'll give him a good deal (face or lower).