and whether you apologize or not, I still forgive you.

What’s the significance of today again?

producing an actual data set with value to thousands of college sports fans? that’s pretty awesome. josh kalk is doing the same thing. i’m very jealous.

But the NYT’s mag profiled the economist who saw this whole thing coming and was basically outcast as a cassandra by his peers. Well now he looks like a prophet, although some critics are saying even a broken clock is right twice a day.

FWIW, he said things were going to continue to get worse and that this is just the beginning of a long downward trend.

I’m not really blaming consumers for this mess, they are not monetary or financial policy experts, they saw an opportunity to get a mortgage and took it. The banks should have known better — they are supposed to be the adults here.

It’s terribly sad what happened with the families of foreclosed homes that are now probably for the rest of their lives locked into renting — with no chance to acquire the home ownership that marks most of this country’s middle class wealth and assets.

But let’s not overstate things. The unemployment rate is still only about 5. This is a far cry from the 25 during the great depression.

What’s stupid are people saying that the US economic model has failed and that now China will take over. What happens (like it has in every industrialized society) when China’s massive rural and urban poor organize and form unions? We’ll see if China can continue to export dirt cheap goods as the basis of their economy then.

I’m very pessimistic about things right now. I really think that the standard of living for many Americans has probably peaked. Cheap oil energy is over, the American century (borne of post WWII dominance) is over. Perhaps technology will provide solutions to improve the quality of life, but I am not certain.
  
I am just incredibly thankful that my parents provided me an opportunity to get an education and that I now have a relatively secure job that isn’t directly affected by downturns. I’m glad that outside of student loans I have no dept, I’m also glad those loans are locked in at 5%.

Take cover.

;)

he now carries the profile of a AA flop. And while Allen has some nice tools at the plate, it’s still a big leap of faith to think that he can continue his amazing growth of the past year to become even an average major league 1B

he doesn’t have great range. i will also cite to one “the cheat” for the same proposition.

$6.5M doesn’t look anywhere near what a team would pay a backup. as in, i doubt (m)any teams would pay half of that for a backup.

Isn’t there some question of arm strength (throwing) that comes into play when fielding right and left? Are Swisher and Quentin that different in this area? I seem to recall something being made of Swisher’s ability to throw out runners, whereas Quentin has showed off his arm on a few occasions.

Just curious what people think.

I meant to type “demi-god” (obviously).

looking at the state of SS in the MLB right now, it looks like as long as he isn’t a disaster in the field he’ll be useful there.

This is directed at anyone, btw, despite being a reply to larry.

I’m interested in who would be cheap and provide mediocre production and who wouldn’t be an “A” free agent.

A site with FA listings would be great if you don’t want to copy and paste into the thread. Also, I’m assuming that looking at relative values by win shares is the preferred method, no?

i don’t think…I KNOW