Out of the Past

So the Yankees spend the money they generate on players. What is wrong with that? Would it be better for the owner to pocket the money?

A few years ago, I think around '03, Broward voters voted down a referendum for a half penny or penny increase to the county sales tax to funds the public schools. If Broward feels they don't get enough funds from the state for the public schools they are free to raise the funds themselves but of course they wont do it. It's not as easy as you make it sound. There is a long process to get a referendum going, and in any case it's not like that would resolve their financial issues right now. Going forward, yes, but you make it sound like they can react in a matter of a month or so. There is a process to follow. The referedum was on the ballot so I don't understand what is the relevance of the ease of getting a referendum on the ballot. Schools are always in a "crisis" mode as they continuously complain with alarmist comments about the lack of funds. It was another "crisis" back then that led Broward to put the referendum on the ballot and Broward voters in effect said they didn't care about the so-called "crisis" because they voted it down.

Well, if I remember correctly I heard Adam Dunn had something like a .400 average when he didn't strike out... Obviously. He also hit's .431 when he doesn't hit into an out. If you get rid of the outs, the BA will always go higher. How do you figure this .431? I took the AB's with non-strikeout-outs and subtracted it from his AB. Then that leaves me with Hits divided by that new number, which only has hits and strikeouts...come to think of it, I could have just taken Hits and divided by Hits + Strikeouts. Thanks. The other day I looked at his hits divided by his ABs minus his strikeouts and his average calculated this way was lower than the average of all players and that surprised me a little bit. H / (AB - K)

A few years ago, I think around '03, Broward voters voted down a referendum for a half penny or penny increase to the county sales tax to funds the public schools. If Broward feels they don't get enough funds from the state for the public schools they are free to raise the funds themselves but of course they wont do it.

He did give you a reply he stated his opinion on why he thinks he sold out: "I think representing that country over your own country is taking things a little too far" whether that is right or wrong he gave his opinion on why he thinks he's a sellout. We obviously have a different understanding of what "selling out" means. I don't see how playing for the DR is selling out in any way. If anything it'll likely cost him endorsements and will "earn" him the disdain of people who think like Puma. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sellout 4. Informal. a person who compromises his or her personal values, integrity, talent, or the like, for money or personal advancement. Winning the WBC? (E.g. He'd believe he has a better chance with the DR than the US) To say he's a sellout because one thinks ARod thinks he has a better chance of winning the WBC playing for the DR is pretty flimsy. The guy who made the original accusation just quoted Barkley and that figures because this accusation is Barkley-like.

Well, if I remember correctly I heard Adam Dunn had something like a .400 average when he didn't strike out... Obviously. He also hit's .431 when he doesn't hit into an out. If you get rid of the outs, the BA will always go higher. How do you figure this .431?

Broward county is amazing. They vote down increasing local school funding and now ask for handouts from the rest of the country. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/schools/s...558,print.story Broward schools to seek bailout of their own Broward district ready to seek $500 million federal bailout By Kathy Bushouse South Florida Sun-Sentinel December 10, 2008 If the federal government is giving out money, the Broward County School Board wants its piece. Congress has approved more than $700 billion for the financial services industry and is poised to extend money to Detroit automakers. On Tuesday, School Board members unanimously backed a plan directing Superintendent James Notter to seek up to $500 million in loans from the federal government to help the cash-strapped district. It's a cry for help from a school district that has cut at least $128 million from its operating budgets in the past two years. That has forced the district to scrap construction projects, freeze hiring and keep hundreds of jobs open because of state-mandated budget cuts. But it's a move unlikely to gain traction, school funding experts say, because that would mean all the nation's taxpayers paying for one district's rescue. "I don't begrudge them from trying to protect their children," said Craig Wood, a professor with the University of Florida's College of Education who specializes in education finance. "But as a national public policy, it begs a lot of questions. Whose taxpayers are paying the bill?" Notter said the district would use new federal loan money to renovate old buildings and buy state-of-the-art equipment for schools. That would create jobs and boost Florida's sagging economy, Notter said. "It is an economic stimulus package," Notter said. "? That puts a lot of people to work." Notter will send the request to Broward's congressional representatives to see if any of them would be willing to take it on. Jonathan Beeton, communications director for U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, said in a statement Tuesday that the congresswoman is "is committed to working with them to find alternative revenue sources at both the federal and state level." While Broward's district is the only one in Florida to officially announce its intention to seek federal money, Notter said he got the idea from Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who last month floated the idea of a federal buyout for schools. Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Art Johnson said his board would not seek a bailout. He also said that if federal money is provided to public education, he expects it would be available to all school districts and divvied up based on priorities and needs. Broward isn't the first district in the nation to call for federal money to help schools. The superintendent of a school district in suburban Cleveland said last week that if private industries could get federal money, schools should be able to get a piece. He sought $100 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury through the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. Broward board members agree. If it's good enough for the federal government to loan money to the financial industry and consider a loan for the automobile industry, they said, the nation's public schools should seek help, too. "This would be the perfect time," board member Beverly Gallagher said. "They're bailing out financial institutions. They're bailing out the car companies." The district cut $34 million in the 2007-08 school year, and already has cut $94 million from its operating budget for this school year. It expects state-mandated cuts this year of at least $40 million should the Legislature convene a special session in Tallahassee. Next school year's budget could be cut by as much as $120 million, said board chairwoman Maureen Dinnen. "We're getting pretty darn close to $300 million," Dinnen said. "I know we have a big budget, but we can't take that kind of hit and not cut into, way into, the bone of this organization."

He did give you a reply he stated his opinion on why he thinks he sold out: "I think representing that country over your own country is taking things a little too far" whether that is right or wrong he gave his opinion on why he thinks he's a sellout. We obviously have a different understanding of what "selling out" means. I don't see how playing for the DR is selling out in any way. If anything it'll likely cost him endorsements and will "earn" him the disdain of people who think like Puma. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sellout 4. Informal. a person who compromises his or her personal values, integrity, talent, or the like, for money or personal advancement.

-Born in New York, lived there for 4 years -Moved to Dominican Republic for 3 years -Moved back to the U.S. (Miami) at age 7 and has lived in America ever since... Years spent in the U.S. = 30 Years spent in the Dominican = 3 Sellout. Sellout how? Explain. Does it really need to be explained? He has spent 10% of his life in the Dominican Republic and 90% of his life in the United States. The guy is American. Thus, he should be playing for America. But whatever, that is his own choice. That's where his family is from and apparently he has certain attachment to the DR and as such there's nothing wrong with what he's doing. Your shot at him is typical but that does not make it less ridiculous. It doesn't matter where his family is from. He is from the United States. He was born here and grew up here, with the exception of the 3 years he spent in D.R.--which he might not even remember anyway since he was so young. It is important to note that America is a melting pot of cultures. No matter who you are, your family heritage originated from some other country (well, unless you're of Native American descent). Having said that, your argument of "Well, thats where his parents are from" is basically useless, since EVERY player who will play on the American team can say the same thing--whether it be their parents, grandparents, great grand parents, etc. In my opinion...If you are an American, you put America first and your country of heritage second. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage...but I think representing that country over your own country is taking things a little too far. I am of Italian descent, but I consider myself an American, not an Italian. Most Americans agree with this mentality, but apparently guys like A-Rod and Piazza don't. That's fine... Let them do what they want; I just think it is wrong. Thanks for nothing. You still haven't shown how he supposedly sold out. If you attack the guy you should back it up when challenged. I think you're simply attacking him because you don't agree with his decision. Ridiculous.

-Born in New York, lived there for 4 years -Moved to Dominican Republic for 3 years -Moved back to the U.S. (Miami) at age 7 and has lived in America ever since... Years spent in the U.S. = 30 Years spent in the Dominican = 3 Sellout. Sellout how? Explain. Does it really need to be explained? He has spent 10% of his life in the Dominican Republic and 90% of his life in the United States. The guy is American. Thus, he should be playing for America. But whatever, that is his own choice. That's where his family is from and apparently he has certain attachment to the DR and as such there's nothing wrong with what he's doing. Your shot at him is typical but that does not make it less ridiculous.

-Born in New York, lived there for 4 years -Moved to Dominican Republic for 3 years -Moved back to the U.S. (Miami) at age 7 and has lived in America ever since... Years spent in the U.S. = 30 Years spent in the Dominican = 3 Sellout. Sellout how? Explain.

Now police are reviewing the security tapes and trying to see if they can identify some of the perpetrators. Unfortunately they said it's pretty difficult to correctly identify people from the tapes they have. There's a movie in which a mob tries to kill Spencer Tracy by dynamiting and burning down the jail where he was being held. He escapes but is presumed dead and then about 20 or so guys in the mob are brought to trial on murder charges after they were identified in newsreel footage. I think the movie was based on an actual case but not sure. Fury: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027652/

Really? Hermida's defense is slightly above average? Yes. How do you figure? He's below average in RZR and also in making outs on balls outside his zone and although he ahs a strong arm it's not particulalry an accurate one. Hey Polo, I made a thread with the plus/minus scores of all the Marlin's last season aswell as in '07. You can check it out > http://www.marlinsbaseball.com/forums/inde...showtopic=85864 going via plus/minus, hermida's career has been 06: -3 (21st) 07: +7 (9th) 08: +2 (14th) Going by that, I think it's fair to say Hermida is basically an average RFer defensively. And I believe I've gone over with you before why I prefer +/- over rzr/ooz. But even going by RZR/OOZ, I believe Hermida has been roughly average over his career. I think defensive stats (even the better ones such as + / - or RZR/OOZ) are still lacking so I would only a put so much weight on them when basing what kind of a defensive player someone is especially if it's a player I watch on a regular basis. This is not the case with offensive stats. For example if my eyes tell me Player XYZ can't hit but the stats tell me otherwise, I would go with the stats over my eyes and say he can hit. But with defensive stats, if the stats tell me Hermida is about average and my eyes tell me he's bad I would go with a combination of the two and say he's below average. Offensive stats paint a very accurate picture of what a player actually did but defensive stats do not paint such an accurate picture.

Really? Hermida's defense is slightly above average? Yes. How do you figure? He's below average in RZR and also in making outs on balls outside his zone and although he ahs a strong arm it's not particulalry an accurate one.

I do think, however, that the current proposed legislation has been generally misinterpreted as a bailout, when in reality it was going to be a more traditional loan with strings attached. Regardless, it looks like it's not going to happen anyway. You're completely wrong. This would be a loan at a below market interest rate with no prospects of collection. In other words, this is a give away. At least with AIG the interest rate is high and they have valuable assets to sell-off to pay the loan.

The problem is with or without bailout these companies are not viable businesses unless they get their costs under control and that's not going to happen given that the unions are not willing to make concessions. They'll eat through the $25 billion in a few months and then we'll be back where we are now.

Anyone think that had this been going on during the GOP primaries, he'd be saying the same thing? not sure...but he did say he wouldn't support government help for auto makers during the primaries and I believe he won Michigan. I think he said he'd help the automakers to win Michigan. How did he say he would help them? With a bailout or by addressing the governemt's mileage requirement standards?

Also the adversarial relationship many union employees have towards their employers obviously leads to unproductivity. I disagree. I think unions play an important role. It's freedom of contract at its best. No one is saying unions in general are bad, only that the environment as it relates to the unions in the auto industry is so polarized that it's difficult for those of us outside the business to imagine union member/employees that get along well with their employers and actually wish them success. I think Poloa does. Employees in unions may very well be less productive and efficient (I would be skeptical of this statement and would only believe it if I were to be shown some empirical evidence), but the point is that I believe in people's right to contract. If me and a bunch of my co-workers want to organize and negotiate together I should be able to do that. If my union negotiates a contract with an employer (who obviously agrees to the contract), then that contract should be honored. I find it ironic how many of these "free marketers" pick and choose which parts of the free market to choose from. (I'm not referring to you). If you're referring to me, nowhere did I say people should not be allowed to unionized. With that said, I think unions are a drag to our economy.

Also the adversarial relationship many union employees have towards their employers obviously leads to unproductivity. I disagree. I think unions play an important role. It's freedom of contract at its best. No one is saying unions in general are bad, only that the environment as it relates to the unions in the auto industry is so polarized that it's difficult for those of us outside the business to imagine union member/employees that get along well with their employers and actually wish them success. I think on the average union employees are less efficient and make more money than non-union employees who do the same jobs so as a whole unions are a drag to our economy.

Also the adversarial relationship many union employees have towards their employers obviously leads to unproductivity.

Oh geez, here we go with the "blame it on the labor contracts" BS again. If they were so onerous, how come Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, VW, etc. aren't having as many problems? Do they not have similar labor contracts, even in their home countries of Japan, South Korea, and Germany? Or maybe they don't, because they have governments that offer some of the benefits that automakers in this country have to offer themselves, namely HEALTH CARE!!! Somebody seriously needs to tell me what the differences are between labor contracts with domestic companies and labor contracts with the foreign companies, because I smell a lot of BS. The Number 1 reason why the Big Three are failing is and has always been a complete lack of innovation. While I agree 100% that they are lacking in innovation, I have a few points: #1 - I think you are being naive to think the labor contracts don't make a difference, and a number of the foreign automakers you mentioned have factories here in the US that do not have the ridiculous labor contract issues of the "big three". #2 - You cannot force a company or a person to be innovative. They have to come up with the ideas and be motivated to make something work. A business that knows that it won't be allowed to fail has no motivation to innovate, or make any real changes to increase productivity. You're correct. For example the average hourly cost of a GM, Ford and Chrysler employee is over 50% higher than that of an American Toyota employee. Interesting. Are there any differences in productivity? I don't think the article I read discussed differences in productivity but I would bet the non-union American Toyota worker is more productive than the union big three worker.

Oh geez, here we go with the "blame it on the labor contracts" BS again. If they were so onerous, how come Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, VW, etc. aren't having as many problems? Do they not have similar labor contracts, even in their home countries of Japan, South Korea, and Germany? Or maybe they don't, because they have governments that offer some of the benefits that automakers in this country have to offer themselves, namely HEALTH CARE!!! Somebody seriously needs to tell me what the differences are between labor contracts with domestic companies and labor contracts with the foreign companies, because I smell a lot of BS. The Number 1 reason why the Big Three are failing is and has always been a complete lack of innovation. While I agree 100% that they are lacking in innovation, I have a few points: #1 - I think you are being naive to think the labor contracts don't make a difference, and a number of the foreign automakers you mentioned have factories here in the US that do not have the ridiculous labor contract issues of the "big three". #2 - You cannot force a company or a person to be innovative. They have to come up with the ideas and be motivated to make something work. A business that knows that it won't be allowed to fail has no motivation to innovate, or make any real changes to increase productivity. You're correct. For example the average hourly cost of a GM, Ford and Chrysler employee is over 50% higher than that of an American Toyota employee.

The city of Detroit is next in line and is now asking for a $10 billion handout. Give it to them. We can't let such a big city go bankrupt. It would impact millions of people.

I never expected this new administration to bring less bailouts, I think we are going to see more. I don't think anyone is shocked Agreed. Just think, though, if GM fails: that's 5 million jobs down the drain. Think about the broader consequences. I don't like bailouts, but I think they may be necessary now to avoid a total economic meltdown. Unless they deal with their unsustainable cost structures bailing them out is simply postponing the inevitable and it's kind of like flushing money down the toilet. Perhaps the bailout could require it. Sorry to break it to you for the Democrats are in the pockets of the unions so that's not about to happen.

I'm with Harrington on this one. I never agreed with the "Stand behind your President" guys when Bush was in power and I don't expect that now, but to hope that your President will fail is to hope that your country will fail. Not necessarily true. For example I hope he fails in turning Social Security into an entitlement program and I hope he fails in bailing out the auto industry and I hope he fails in stuffing the federal courts with liberal judicial activists. If he fails in all those things we'll be better of. Sorry to break it to you, but SS has been an entitlement program for several decades. For most people the benefits received are based on their contributions but that would no longer be the case if Obama raises the contribution limit for those making over $250k and redistributes those funds to others.