gehringer_2

Parameters I'd like to hope the org has the stats to look into: Are they helping guys acheive breaking ball spin rates that are putting them under more strain than average; or, are they 'unlocking' velo for guys they wouldn't ordinary achieve that is putting them under more arm stress or related to that, are they not fans of guys adding and subtracting from their FB, which may help save wear and tear.; or, are they just encouraging guys to throw more high arm stress breaking balls as their target pitch mix.

No question that for both Russia and China, it is their current relationship to the US that drives them together and agreed that China sees no value in a Russia that neuters itself as that eliminates its value as another counterweight to the US. But whereas Putin's opposition to "the West" is Messianic, Xi's is transactional. Xi's problem with the US is that we are an obstacle in his path. If we would get out of his way (so to speak) he'd lose interest in needing Russia as additional counterweight. That's obviously unlikely to happen but I make the point to argue that Xi's issue with the US is not so fundamental as is Putin's. If the US were willing to take an 'elder economic statesmen' sort of backseat to Chinese economic dominance, sort like England peacefully surrendered its status as leading world military power to the US in the 20th century, I think Xi would have no problem with us. The Chinese want to play in the world as the West has put it together right up the point of wanting to win in it. But to be against the West is Putin's raison d'être, to break the West is the totality of his world view and ambition. The Chinese aren't so interested in that. This may set a limit to how deep the alliance between China and Russia can ultimately be. There was an interesting piece done back in March at the 'war on the rock' webpage that lays out more or less this line of argument. Also points out that Xi is in the generation of Chinese party princelings that got a very Russo-philic education in the 50/60's and that it is part of what attracts him personally to Russia. A lot of other good stuff in the essay though - including that, both Russia and China expect a double cross from the other whenever expedient, as that has been the historical norm. ; ) China’s Strategic Assessment of Russia: More Complicated Than You Think - War on the Rocks

I used to hold that the under the bluster the Chinese tended to be very rational actors, and that overall the Chinese leadership since Deng was basically interested in the welfare of their population, which led them to be big on things that were extremely irritating like intellectual property theft, industrial espionage and currency/trade manipulation but generally did not include being a bad actor on the international stage because they didn't particularly care to even be engaged. But as Xi transitions into your garden variety imperialist cult of personality tyrant, I've pretty much tossed those assumptions away. All tyrants ultimately converge to the same playbook, which of course is "whatever insures I'm as firmly in control tomorrow as I am today." Any and all other values expressed in the state's conduct become subordinate or transactional to that overall imperative. And pretty much every tyrant sees the value in fomenting resentments against outside powers and thus will act to put themselves in opposition to the general international order. So long story short, with Xi I think we are past the point where we can assume he is interested in acting in China's best interests. He acts solely in his own.

they won't say it out loud because it would be positive PR for US leadership and we are in too adversarial a posture with China for that to happen. I don't actually care too much what they say, as long as they are not supplying material support. Likewise I'm sure China isn't thrilled with OPEC trying to raise prices either, but XI will swallow whatever price increases follow rather than present any kind of unified front with us.

sure, understood. These are just bits that are already out there of course....

The blackening on the remaining bridge deck would indicate a strike from above, roughly dead center into the collapsed section to the left. If the edges of a large hole are present in the two ends of the deck in the water that would pretty much prove the story.

Theiner's persuaded Kerch was another long range missle attack. Of course US still claims we have not provided ATACMS, but that's not the same as denying we have supplied various pieces the Ukranians could cobble into a long range weapon themselves. If the latter is true, then the question is what is their production capacity? Do Saki and Kerch represent that they have only been able to produce a minimal number of weapons, or is the issue that they are ATACMS but US has to sign off on each use?

Seems fair, he's belabored and exhausted us as baseball fans for going on six seasons now....

2nd half dominance a very good trait in a FB team. Stupid INT throw by JJ cost them a FG and the cover...LOL

That would be the easy result. The hard one will be if he comes to ST and does hit, and maybe again, hits for high average but little or no power again. So can you/will you make a roster spot for him knowing full well that the knee might put him back into a state of futility for the rest of the season at any time? This is going to test a lot of aspects of the organization to get right - their medical staff, training staff, evaluation of the players that will have to be let go if Miguel stays, etc. And even under the best imaginable circumstance where he is productive, I wouldn't try to play him more than 120 games so you have to consider how you fill the DH for those other 40 games.

Florida as the AARP chapter of Mississippi.

the most coherent explanation I have seen is a remotely or autonomously guided submersible that blew itself up under the span. Strategically, it would have been much more devastating to have dropped a section of the rail bridge, but the psychological impact of this should be shattering enough -- for the time being. Or just this....

and the official blows the call on a Michigan subsititution. And then a PI.

I'm hoping, maybe foolishly, that Hronek is a better player this year. He seemed to be skating in molassas last season and hopefully that was a physical deficit he has gotten over because he had been better than he was last season. Maata looks OK.

Erne had some nice shifts last night, but last year had to lower his stock. Also they may need the physical intensity that is Smith's calling card less on a team with more size.

the balance is between the turnovers and the ability he does have to use his size and reach to regain posssessions in situations that the alternative's can't. To me the Wings single biggest weakness for the last few years was having enough guys who could 'erase' opposition players and take back possession. You can see Lalonde's emphasis there in the uptick in Veleno and Rasmussen's forechecking intensity. Edvinsson brings more of that, the question as you note is the cost balance. The other consideration is that they want him on special teams and if they can't figure that out for Det, that alone might send him to GR until they think he has developed to where he can break into the lineup for the PP or PK in Det.

This a great post. But on Cabrera while I agree in general, I would say the issue with Cabrera didn't really become an issue after 500/3000, but it happen later. Up until roughly the ASG, Miguel was carrying near enough to the best OPS on the team to be where he was (720 on July 5, which for this team was probably 1 or 2 or 3 at the time?). The problem was that the knee pretty gave out completely immediately after that and there was no recognitions or willingness to deal with the change in situation. So again, it goes right back to failure to recognize what the *current* situation is as compared to being on auto-pilot with your prior expections or personal preferences. Now Chasfh also makes the completely valid point that some of the behavior seen once it was clear the season was lost began to be driven by non-competitive considerations. The question of whether you accept that as OK is a philosophical one, rather than an objectively competive one.

it's the constant battle between workers and managers. Managers are psycho paranoid that somewhere, sometime, a guy in a blue collar might have 10 extra minutes in his day, so they schedule the drivers with a slate that can only be met under perfect circumstances. The guys push back by making sure that even when things go completely perfectly they take the full time allotted for each job - (knowing if they do finish early they just get a heavier schedule next time), and then when things do so South, the schedule can't be met. The customer is the collateral damage in this eternal guerrilla warfare. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

shoes need to drop until BWNDITWB* is never again heard in the Tiger org..... *(butweveneverdoneitthatwaybefore)

so far, so good.

he will kill the academic rating of his system, which he probably doesn't care about - but it will mean more of Florida's best and brightest will leave the state to go school, and when kids leave home to go to school as often as not they don't come back.

yeah - makes it a little hard to judge the D especially. I though Edvinsson did a nice job pinching guys off several times, but who was he doing it to?

Morning after videos show that rail section has not collapsed 🙁 https://twitter.com/LucaBianchetto/status/1578708463026606081

fair point

Kerch bridge hit. Section of auto span in the water, fuel train on the rail span on fire. If that burns long/hot enough it will cause structural damage.