Take a group of people who are already feeling conflicted about the disconect between their sexuality and their religion. Then use their confusion and insecurity to make a profit all while promising a "Cure".
So yesterday kicked off Major League Baseball's annual Winter Meetings. Which basically consists of a bunch of old guys haning out in a hotel (this year in Indy) talking potential trades and free agent signings. I emphasize potential becuse for all the HTML that is going to be spilled over the next few days, a lot less is going to be accomplished.
I am cautiously optimistic about the Mets' offseason plan. I think that Omar Minaya has an opportunity to rectify a lot of the mistakes he has made in the past. And given the current financial climate, a team in NY has a decided advantage over teams who do no currently have that type of financial flexibilty.
So far, I have like a lot of what I have heard.
The Mets need a Starting Pitcher, a Catcher (that won't block Josh Thole for the next 3 years), a first baseman (who won't block Ike Davis for the next three years, a second baseman (if Omar can unload is second worse signing, Luis Castillo) an everyday Left Fielder (and unless this person is Matt Holliday, I want someone who won't block Fernando Martinez for the next 4 years).
And we could use help in the bull-pen.
I realize that this is a ton to ask, and most of these areas will not be addressed until January of February if at all.
The fact remains, if the Mets can get their core players healthy, they will have a solid lineup, regardless of what Omar does with position players.
Reyes Castillo Wright Beltran X Francouer Murphy X X
is a solid foundation. A big bat for either First Base or Left Field would be clutch.
There is a real possibility of the Mets entering 2011 with a completely home-grown infield (Wright, Reyes, Reese Havens, Ike Davis, Josh Thole) which would be clutch.
The Mets finally have some up and coming players in the upper levels of the Minor Leagues
The rotation is a completely different animal altogether.
Right now it stands at
Santana Pelfrey Maine Perez X
This simply is not good enough. We could use a legitimate #2 and #3 starter.
If Omar could bring in Randy Wolf, along with one of Jason Marquis, Doug Davis, or John Garland, this would be a start.
I would be all for a trade that sent Luis Castillo to KC (sorry Drew) and brought Gil Meche to NYC.
A rotation of:
Santana Wolf Meche Pelfrey Perez
would be something I could live with.
The Pen is going to be an issue. Beyond K-Rod and Perpetual Pedro Feliciano, I have no idea what we have down there.
Needless to say, Omar Minaya has his hands full, and I have almost no faith that he has the capacity to get this done. I will say that I am pleased to see and hear almost nothing from him in recent weeks. Lock yourself in your office Omar and fix this mess.
Let Go Mets
If you are as interested in following this as I am...
So I tried this once already, and it did not work. I cannot find the Video on Youtube, even if Carly claims she found it no problem.
If you want to see a first look at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part one of which comes out at Thanksgiving of next year, you can see it here...
Needless to say, I am unbelievably excited about this. Count me among those who have thoroughly enjoyed films 5 and 6. I think they are finally starting to understand which parts of the books to trim away and which are absolutely critical to be left in the films (I am speaking directly at you, guy who cut out any explaination in film 3 of the relationship between the map and James Potter, or why Harry's Patronus was a Stag, or who the effing Marauders were) except for that stupid scene in Half-Blood Prince with the attack on the Burrow, which made no sense and was simply a waste of time and money.
Let the countdown begin. I guess I'll have to read book 7...again.
One nice thing about the continued existence of the BCS is that there is a ton of new images that I can use for my yearly "The BCS Sucks" post.
This time a year ago I wrote This which stated in no uncertain terms my hatred of the system that we have.
This year is no different. In a way, this year is worse.
Defenders of the BCS will state that it has accomplished its ultimate goal of pitting #1 vs #2 in a battle that will end all battles. In this sense, yes they succeeded.
But in their success, we see the failure of this system, the short comings that define why we need a playoff.
Are #1 and #2 playing each other, yes. But are the two best teams in the country playing each other, I do not know.
The BCS claims that if we had a playoff, the "most exciting regular season in sports" would be ruined (Roo-eeend of course). I say bullshit. I say this year's regular season was boring, we knew 5 weeks ago that if Texas won out they would be playing either Alabama or Florida in the National Championship Game. There has been zero drama (until Saturday when both Pitt and Nebraska threatened to throw the whole thing into chaos).
Really, the regular season means nothing, because if you are not one of the anointed teams, one of the chosen few who if you win, you go, you are going to be left on the outside looking in.
TCU, Boise State and Cincinnati might as well have not played a game this year, because winning all of them meant nothing. It meant NOTHING. And what if Texas looks like it did Saturday (which was terrible) but squeaks out a win over Alabama. And TCU crushes their opponent in their game. What then? Is Texas the National Champion because a computer says so, or does TCU, or Boise State, or Cincinnati deserve a share?
The system is a joke and it does not work. I am thrilled that Penn State did not go 11-0 this year, because you can bet your ass if they had, I would be screaming my effing head off for the next month about how we got screwed, because there is no way they would be playing Alabama instead of Texas.
We need an 8 team playoff. It simply has to happen. Thank good I am not the only one who thinks so
I enjoyed this season. I am disappointed that PSU (I am looking at you Daryll Clark) crumbled under the national spotlight.
I am looking forward to New Years Day, Penn State plays LSU (yes Kate, LSU) in the Capital One Bowl (so at least I know where all my money goes with those insane interest rates). I am also excited for the Rose Bowl, which is traditionally my favorite bowl (my second favorite Civil Engineer...sorry, random movie quote) and watching Oregon complete their comeback from their opening Thursday night embarrassment at the hands of Boise, you remember this one for this:
I will be looking for Oregon to embarrass Ohio State in yet another BCS meltdown for the sweater vest.
Because everyone knows, if there is one thing I hate...It's Ohio State.
I am happy for Oregon, and I really hope that LaGarett Blount has turned his life around.
And yes, I realize the irony of my loving Penn State in part because they have remained true to their very boring, very traditional uniforms. While at the same time, loving Oregon, whose uniform changes are borderline schizophrenic.
The next few weeks will be interesting. No doubt about it.
Colt McCoy wins the Heisman, even though Mark Ingram and Toby Gerhart are more deserving.
Interesting article Here, which presents some interesting points about ESPN and its dominace of the Sports News Market.
If you know me, you know how I feel about ESPN. My complaints are not new or original, but they are valid.
Because there is no competition, they set the agenda for what is and is not a story in sports. They have had entirely too much influence for way too long.
I will get behind any legitimate challenger to their Empire any day.
Too bad they used "Blue Harvest", which was the working title for "Empire" for part one. I think this is so funny because of how good of a job they do with these visually.
It's not about words. It is not about your religion. It is about basic Civil Rights.
adding... can someone tell me how to fix my blog? I don't know how the left hand sidebar got bumped to the bottom of the page, but I don't know how to fix it.
At first, upon reading this assignment, I thought this was going to be a fairly easy assignment. I was very wrong. The more I have thought about it the more I realized that my grades mean many different things to me.
My grades mean that I am accurately evaluating the level of understanding that my students are demonstrating, while at the same time giving my student's the greatest opportunity possible to display their true academic ability.
It will not be my goal to trick my students, or play "gotcha" with their grades.
My grades mean that my students are synthesizing the information that I am delivering to them, and are able to internalize it and display to me that they have understood what has been taught.
My goal is for my grades to be an accurate and reliable representation of what my student's have learned and what they understand.
My grades should reflect what I have been successful in teaching as well as those areas where there continues to be confusion within the student body.
I can be counted among those who are uncomfortable with assigning grades to my students, this is an area where I have room to continue to grow and learn.
My grades mean that I am doing a good job imparting knowledge and understanding to my students and that knowledge and understanding is reflected in valid grades.
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