Happy 2019 FKers! ← FREE KRAUT!

Happy 2019 FKers! 236

I’m not at the South Pole this year, but can still share the festivities. Looking forward to another 97 wins by the efforts of 237 anonymous and fungible pitching units (PUs).

236 thoughts on “Happy 2019 FKers!

  1. andeux Jan 1,2019 8:51 am

    Happy New Year. As I write this, there’s a float in the Rose Parade playing “Celebration.” (I think it is actually Kool & the Gang?) May we all hear that song many times in the year to come.

    TINSTAAFK
  2. FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 1,2019 10:46 am

    Happy 2019 FKers, may all our hops be as fortuitous as Stanford’s last night.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  3. Glorious Mundy Jan 1,2019 11:08 am

    Interesting deal

    • DFA Jan 2,2019 9:38 am || Up

      So if he is Hideki Irabu the Mariners are on the hook for 56 million?

      That seems awful high for a contract where you are signing up for a lot more if he is any good.

      In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
  4. Glorious Mundy Jan 1,2019 11:20 am

    Judging by the quality of the “Redbox Bowl,” the Pac-12 Championship Game, and the 49ers in general, I think Levi’s may just be cursed for american football.

    The only good event to happen at that place is El Tri getting eviscerated by Chile.

    • Soaker Jan 7,2019 8:18 pm || Up

      At least the National Championship Game is providing some points, which neither the Pac-12 game nor the Redbox Bowl could do. It’s in keeping with the tradition of lousy games though.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 7,2019 11:00 pm || Up

        I loved Little Wayne as the Hamburgler though.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  5. Jennifer Jan 1,2019 8:51 pm

    Now begins the time of year where I have no idea what day, month, or year it is. All I know is that’s it’s cold.

    • colin Jan 2,2019 7:02 am || Up

      I really lost track between Christmas and New Years. Back at work today, which gives a better perspective. And it’s surprisingly un-cold!

  6. FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 2,2019 9:36 am

    Having already vanquished the batgirls and the Eds, tonight the Tar Heel nonconference tour de kraut continues as the andeuxs visit Chapel Hill.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • andeux Jan 2,2019 9:42 am || Up

      That seems like it could be a mismatch. (Or not. Albeit they possess the might, nonetheless we have the will.)
      I saw that the Eds also lost to the Falwells last week.

      TINSTAAFK
      • Future Ed Jan 2,2019 10:42 am || Up

        oh, good lord. I am glad I don’t pay attention

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 2,2019 12:03 pm || Up

          Steve Alford wishes he could say the same.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  7. MikeV Jan 2,2019 9:42 am
    And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

    Thanks, and go As.

    • AV Jan 2,2019 5:12 pm || Up

      nothing! i don’t remember him! at all!

      a quick video review says he can thread a nice pass.

      did hear too that barros schelotto is going from boca jrs to LA.

      the thing with him (that i’m not clear if LA is going to continue) is that he coaches with his twin brother on the bench. so it’s kinda BOGOF.

      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
      • Future Ed Jan 2,2019 7:18 pm || Up

        My friend just went to eureka records and got a bunch of stuff, can you tell me if he got ripped off?

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • AV Jan 2,2019 8:49 pm || Up

          i think i’ve been there. one of the better shops for used rock in buenos aires, but does it make sense to buy rock in argentina? i guess if you know (and like) argentine rock it might. i don’t.

          counterpoint, they might undervalue tango and other local stuff.

          san telmo fair is fun for digging.

          but to answer your question, yes. if he bought something in argentina he got ripped off.

          unless it was a steak. tell him or her to shut up and go here.

          *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
          • Future Ed Jan 3,2019 11:45 am || Up

            i should have asked earlier. They just got back.

            He of he and her, was “complaining” that they were in Austin the weekend before going and was going to eat too many tacos endangering his meat consumption in Argentina

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • MikeV Jan 2,2019 8:02 pm || Up

        Yes, the scum announced that they hired GBS.

        Also I love the Quakes social media guy.

        And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

        Thanks, and go As.

        • AV Jan 2,2019 8:36 pm || Up

          *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  8. Glorious Mundy Jan 2,2019 7:25 pm
  9. Glorious Mundy Jan 3,2019 11:52 am

    Biggest premier league match of the season about to kick on NBCSN if you are into that sort of thing.

    • Glorious Mundy Jan 3,2019 12:43 pm || Up

      Bad hair, good finish for El Kun.

      • ptbnl Jan 3,2019 1:36 pm || Up

        First team to put more than one past ‘pool in the Premier League this season (though Kompany should have been off 10 minutes before the first goal).

        If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
        • Glorious Mundy Jan 3,2019 2:01 pm || Up

          That was a fun game.

          • ptbnl Jan 3,2019 2:13 pm || Up

            It’ll make the rest of the season more interesting.

            If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
  10. Glorious Mundy Jan 4,2019 11:49 am
  11. Glorious Mundy Jan 4,2019 12:02 pm

    If I’m litigating this one I’m throwing in a third amendment challenge just for the hell of it.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 4,2019 12:58 pm || Up

      After googling to remind myself wyf the 3rd amendment is I learned it’s considered the least litigated amendment.

      Presumably the rebuttal is that it helps ensure a well regulated militia.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  12. andeux Jan 4,2019 1:49 pm

    TINSTAAFK
    • Glorious Mundy Jan 10,2019 9:39 am || Up

      Optimistic/pessimistic prediction: Barreto has a breakout year, but the reason he gets a chance is that Profar has to play third while Chapman is recovering more slowly than expected from his offseason surgeries.

      • MikeV Jan 10,2019 9:42 am || Up

        Barreto is traded for a reliever.

        And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

        Thanks, and go As.

      • Glorious Mundy Feb 10,2019 11:59 am || Up

        • MikeV Feb 10,2019 10:09 pm || Up

          OK CALM DOWN SATAN

          And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

          Thanks, and go As.

  13. ptbnl Jan 4,2019 3:29 pm

    What Rashida Tlaib said was very wrong … he’s clearly a daughterfucker, not a motherfucker.

    If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • andeux Jan 4,2019 4:25 pm || Up

      I would have gone with something with a little more content. “Blithering idiot.” “Compulsively lying sack of shit.” That sort of thing.

      TINSTAAFK
    • Future Ed Jan 4,2019 4:28 pm || Up

      Easy, words like that got alexander hamilton killed

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  14. Future Ed Jan 5,2019 6:37 pm

    Well, they are trying?

    Before righty Anibal Sanchez signed a two-year, $19MM guarantee with the Nationals last month, the Athletics made him a three-year offer, according to Rosenthal. It’s unclear how much the A’s were willing to pay Sanchez,

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  15. Future Ed Jan 7,2019 9:47 am
    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • andeux Jan 7,2019 9:53 am || Up

      Chad Gaudin 12.3 K/9!

      TINSTAAFK
    • 5Aces Jan 7,2019 12:35 pm || Up

      A trigger warning would have been nice before throwing Collapso at me.

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • Future Ed Jan 7,2019 8:01 pm || Up
        I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • andeux Jan 7,2019 8:10 pm || Up

          Chad Gaudin 0.0 BB/9!

          TINSTAAFK
          • 5Aces Jan 8,2019 9:17 am || Up

            Come for the Chad Gaudin, stay for the Jemile Weeks and his 0 SB/2 CS.

            Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  16. FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 7,2019 10:51 am

    Our 40-man roster is currently Chad-less…

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • andeux Jan 7,2019 10:58 am || Up

      Pinder is still here. However, the farm system is devoid of Chads.

      TINSTAAFK
  17. Glorious Mundy Jan 7,2019 11:00 am
  18. FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 8,2019 2:44 pm

    I’ve never attended an A’s Fan Fest. I’m not really a meet-the-players kind of fan. But dang, if Bob Melvin can pass on the awards banquet for his manager of the year accolades to be there Jan. 26 maybe I should too.

    https://m.sfgate.com/athletics/article/A-s-announce-plans-for-2019-FanFest-at-Jack-13518015.php

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • dmoas Jan 8,2019 3:01 pm || Up

      Good old MLB, trying to schedule an awards ceremony during our fan fest. No respect.

    • Jennifer Jan 8,2019 3:23 pm || Up

      My birthday. I should have invited him to my party. It’s a BBQ feast!

      • 5Aces Jan 8,2019 3:30 pm || Up

        Or you should move your party to JLS. Everyone likes a good BBQ

        Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • MikeV Jan 8,2019 6:16 pm || Up

        where’s mine?

        And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

        Thanks, and go As.

  19. lenscrafters Jan 9,2019 7:23 pm

    I honestly don’t know how you can’t consider this now to be a colossal fuckup by the A’s front office.

    • mother pucker Jan 9,2019 7:49 pm || Up

      While I hold them (the A’s) to a higher standard than I do myself — did anyone really expect Kyler to win the Heisman? It does feel the risk/reward ratio was way too high though, and not worth taking on.

      • andeux Jan 9,2019 8:18 pm || Up

        Winning the Heisman may not have been seemed terribly likely by itself, but given that he was already more accomplished as a football player than as a baseball player, there were a lot of ways the pick could go wrong:
        – Decides to play pro football
        – Gets seriously hurt playing college football
        – Plays baseball, but doesn’t develop as a hitter.
        Our scouts must have loved him, because that’s a crazy amount of risk for a top 10 pick.

        There does seem to be some hope. He’s still considered undersized as an NFL QB, and if he doesn’t go in the first round, I would think he’ll choose baseball.

        TINSTAAFK
      • lenscrafters Jan 9,2019 8:52 pm || Up

        The A’s are responsible for more than just ascertaining talent level – they need to make a full and accurate assessment of a player’s mentality and commitment to the sport as well. That includes assessing the possible change of circumstances in a worst case scenario (from a baseball perspective): Murray excelling at football and being valued as a top NFL draft prospect. Simply put, with the #9 overall pick at stake, they needed to be 100% sure the kid was committed to baseball even if that scenario occurred. We gave them the benefit of the doubt at draft time, but it’s pretty clear now that assessment was completely wrong.

        Christ, even the fact that the kid was only signing if they gave him that provision allowing him to play football this year should’ve been a warning sign that he’s not committed to baseball mentally.

        Murray played this perfectly. He knew he preferred football. But he also knew that he physically wasn’t a strong prospect. So at MLB draft time, he simply had to convince some pathetic team that he was committed to baseball instead as long as he was drafted high enough and still had football for one more year. A pathetic team did indeed bite on that, and he balled out this year knowing that he has financial security already, with football still an option if he completely dominated.

        The A’s will probably still get Murray if he’s drafted later than the first/early second round of the NFL draft. But they’ll be getting a kid who’s lost a year of development time, and who now has to commit to the grind of minor league ball for 3 or so years when he clearly would’ve preferred the bright lights and massive crowds of the sport he wanted to go pro in instead.

        • Englishmajor Jan 10,2019 12:37 am || Up

          Do you think Boras was part of the scheme, or was he also deluding himself that Murray was going to choose baseball? I really want to be able to blame Boras for this.

          • AV Jan 10,2019 7:39 am || Up

            if you fly on xmas day you get to blame anybody you’d like.

            *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
          • Glorious Mundy Jan 10,2019 8:27 am || Up

            Boras will pay for it through reimbursement/other.

          • lenscrafters Jan 10,2019 11:00 pm || Up

            Agents frequently represent amateurs who end up not signing their draft offers. From Boras’s perspective this is not much different than that. I doubt representing Murray while negotiating the A’s signing bonus was much of a costly investment for him, because the eventual payoff is the significant cut of Murray’s future career earnings. While obviously Boras would’ve preferred for Murray to play baseball, in the end, this is just the nature of the business for him.

            Murray convincing a baseball team to draft and sign him while still retaining football as an option is a can’t-lose scenario for him. Boras loses a little because he lost his cut of that signing bonus and a potentially lucrative client. The A’s lose significantly because getting absolutely nothing from a top 10 overall pick is pretty unprecedented.

            • dmoas Jan 11,2019 10:29 am || Up

              He signed the contract, Boras gets that money from him regardless.

    • Soaker Jan 10,2019 5:56 am || Up

      Grant Desme quit the priesthood and is playing again. Maybe the A’s can salvage something from that draft choice yet. Although the .539 OPS in independent ball last year suggests he has a long road back.

      Murray will certainly attend the NFL combine rather than spring training, and once he does that, just turn the page and move on. lenscrafters is right, the baseball contract was nothing but a nice insurance policy for him.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 10,2019 7:54 am || Up

        Note to Beaneforst: From now on only draft guys with no outside talents or interests whatsoever. Good thing Zito’s music proclivities were late blooming.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • Glorious Mundy Jan 10,2019 10:15 am || Up

        I want to know at what point the A’s are officially off the hook for the $4.6 million. Because I want that money spent on actual players.

  20. lenscrafters Jan 9,2019 9:08 pm
    • dmoas Jan 9,2019 11:20 pm || Up

      MLB’s financials are just way too out of whack. The haves and have nots are going to get a much deeper division than they currently already are.

  21. AV Jan 10,2019 7:38 am

    wait. did we already know the DoD pays millions of tax bucks to sports leagues to sing GBA, do flyovers, wear cammo, and have players on the field during the anthem?

    *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 10,2019 7:55 am || Up

      Yes.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • AV Jan 10,2019 9:17 am || Up

        i was just wondering how that 2015 report got by me. i thought i could count on all of you!

        you could make it up with some contemporaneous accounts of an up with people! halftime show if you have any.

        *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
        • andeux Jan 10,2019 10:07 am || Up

          You can count on us. Where were you?

          TINSTAAFK
          • AV Jan 10,2019 10:31 am || Up

            [counts years in octobers] musta been dumpy emo times for me. yeah.

            glad i could count on you tho.

            *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  22. Soaker Jan 10,2019 8:33 am

    The Raiders move will get much more real when I see my first Raiders license plate. The Golden Knights already have one, as do UNR/Go Pack! and UNLV/Go Rebels! We already have 32 specialty plates in addition to the standard issue “Home Means Nevada” plate. I didn’t realize we had a Nevada Values Life plate and can’t say I’ve ever seen one; maybe those are in the more Mormon parts of the state. At one point when the Legislature was Republican they approved a Support the Second Amendment plate but it has never been made available.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 10,2019 8:54 am || Up

      When we drove around the western US three years ago I was blown away by the proliferation of alternate license plates. Montana alone must have a dozen types or more. Kind of ruined the license plate game.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  23. Glorious Mundy Jan 10,2019 9:16 am

    Maybe she’ll announce at Fan Fest.

  24. Glorious Mundy Jan 10,2019 9:19 am

    2:35 am Pacific starts for the Japan games, both on ESPN.

    elcroata, we are going to need you to carry the game threads.

    • andeux Jan 10,2019 10:00 am || Up

      This pisses me off every time. They could play these at a time that works for both Japan and us (say, 1 PM Japan time = 8 PM PST) but they don’t.

      TINSTAAFK
      • 5Aces Jan 10,2019 10:25 am || Up

        Thats too late for the east coast and you know they are all super concerned with an A’s-M’s game.

        Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  25. andeux Jan 10,2019 11:42 am
    TINSTAAFK
    • 5Aces Jan 10,2019 11:56 am || Up

      NOTHING HAS CHANGED!!! #email me

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
    • Glorious Mundy Jan 10,2019 1:32 pm || Up

      What

      “They hate me for no real reason except [my] socks,” she wrote, in reference to her apparent habit of wearing statement socks.

      • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 10,2019 7:09 pm || Up

        Of all the drama this was the part I wanted to hear more about.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • Future Ed Jan 10,2019 9:25 pm || Up

          right?

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • AV Jan 10,2019 10:23 pm || Up

            instagram shows, her kneehighs are alright. it’s the writing that socks.

            *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
    • Soaker Jan 11,2019 6:55 am || Up

      So N isn’t the Chief Administrator, or whatever his self-anointed title was, anymore? I honestly have only glanced briefly at that site in the last few years.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • 5Aces Jan 11,2019 10:57 am || Up

        I did not know this. I glanced when all of this went down the other night and I was amazed at what a ghost town it is. I mean I know this isnt the time of year for hundreds of posts and comments, but it didnt look much busier than we are right now.

        Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
  26. Glorious Mundy Jan 10,2019 1:32 pm

    Someone tell Vince Cotroneo that Kyler Murray is a QB not either of those other things.

  27. FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 11,2019 7:49 am

    Huge win for the Sharks last night in Vegas. The Knights had won 7 straight overall and hadn’t lost in their last 12 home games. More generally they’ve owned San Jose there and of course knocked the Sharks out of last year’s playoffs.

    Sharks have won 5 straight, against some of the league’s best, and are playing their best hockey of the year.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  28. Glorious Mundy Jan 11,2019 10:07 am

    The Mets are an acceptable landing spot for Jed. I can root for him there.

    • sslinger Jan 12,2019 10:33 am || Up

      Agreed.

      Also, Khrushed

  29. Glorious Mundy Jan 12,2019 12:43 pm
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 12,2019 5:16 pm || Up

      The East Bay Express has had periods of greatness in my years following local media, so this is sad news. The Gammon 1.0 era was sharp. But since his return (maybe 5-7 years ago) they’ve slumped a lot and have only infrequently been relevant IMO.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  30. Glorious Mundy Jan 12,2019 1:02 pm

    Anyone know what this is responding to?

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 12,2019 5:17 pm || Up

      It’s from the Neville Chamberlain playbook.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • dmoas Jan 12,2019 7:55 pm || Up

      Not sure I see how this makes sense for the A’s. He’s going to be in violation of the contract signed. And any team willing to sign him opens themselves up to a lawsuit. Are they seeking to make their own lawsuit murky?

  31. Glorious Mundy Jan 13,2019 9:33 am

    If this ends up with Boras getting more money out of the A’s, of all teams, he is truly a genius.

    • Future Ed Jan 13,2019 10:51 am || Up

      why not. Like I think it was lenscrafters was saying, this is embarrassing for MLB. he is looking at a lot more guaranteed moneys if he goes to the NFL. He is looking at EBT eligible wages if he continues in MiLB.

      there is no reason for that. not in a $10B industry.

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
  32. Glorious Mundy Jan 13,2019 3:19 pm

    Here we go.

    • MikeV Jan 13,2019 3:25 pm || Up

      HE. ALREADY. SIGNED. A. CONTRACT.

      Regardless, $15M is like “top half of 1st round” money in NFL draft terms. If he declares and is taken in the late 1st or later (where he should be) he’s losing money and getting brain damage.

      This is just such a colossal FKup by Beane etc.

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

      • Glorious Mundy Jan 13,2019 3:29 pm || Up

        Don’t think of it as Murray getting paid for breaching his contract. Think of it as Boras scamming MLB into giving the A’s extra slot money.

        • MikeV Jan 13,2019 4:00 pm || Up

          Honestly not sure the A’s would get anything from MLB if Murray went to the NFL.

          Also, not to be a dick, but the odds are already stacked against him making it in the NFL, let alone being a high pick. I hope he fails miserably.

          And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

          Thanks, and go As.

          • Glorious Mundy Jan 13,2019 4:01 pm || Up

            I mean that the A’s (and Boras) may be trying to get permission from MLB to pay Murray extra to skip the NFL draft.

            • MikeV Jan 13,2019 4:12 pm || Up

              And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

              Thanks, and go As.

              • Glorious Mundy Jan 13,2019 4:25 pm || Up

                Obviously not ideal to start his option clock immediately and clog the 40-man, but if he’s as talented as they must think he is to have drafted him and let him play football for a year, may as well go for it.

                • Soaker Jan 13,2019 6:48 pm || Up

                  Todd Van Poppel is the shining example of what happens when the A’s put a player on the 40-man roster immediately as an inducement to get him to sign (instead of going to the University of Texas in Van Poppel’s case).

                  Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
        • Future Ed Jan 13,2019 4:18 pm || Up

          good for boras.

          this is on the MLBPA, they are the fuck ups here

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • Glorious Mundy Jan 13,2019 4:21 pm || Up

            It’s kind of morbidly fun to watch a smart kid and smart agent play the system rather than getting played by it.

  33. lenscrafters Jan 14,2019 10:11 am

    Lost in the Murray is the fact that we still don’t have a rotation. This could’ve been another decent option:

  34. FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 14,2019 12:25 pm

    Old friend Neil DeMause with a thorough primer on how revenue sharing in MLB has the effect of depressing player salaries at all levels, no collusion required.

    https://deadspin.com/baseball-doesnt-need-collusion-to-turn-off-the-hot-stov-1831644811

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  35. FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 15,2019 1:18 pm

    I will be rooting for the Over in the most important proposition in Sunday’s AFC Championship game: How many fingers will Tom Brady lose to frostbite?

    https://earther.gizmodo.com/the-polar-vortex-could-bring-record-cold-to-this-weeken-1831771032

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  36. FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 18,2019 6:36 pm

    Chose my 10 games today, did not seem to be a problem to pick same game x2, e.g. Opening Day. I suspect folks multipled the weekend SFGs games in August, those were nearly gone (from the four allowed 2nd deck sections).

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  37. batgirl Jan 19,2019 4:35 pm

    Upgrade are you watching International All Stars? It’s kind of fun having the international contestants. It really loses some luster without Heidi and Tim though. Why on earth Alyssa Milano? And I wonder what the off-camera dynamic is between her and Georgina Chapman given all the me too movement.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 20,2019 9:50 am || Up

      Yes, watching and enjoying the new All-Stars season. The bargain with All-Stars has always been getting the best talent (and often biggest personalities though maybe not quite as much this time) and losing Tim and Heidi. That Ann Fulenwieder (?) woman is just horrible in the mentor role, her advice is so bad.

      Apparently Alyssa fully supports Georgina as “one of the victims too” which is a little hard to swallow, to say the least.

      Also Tim and Heidi are gone from regular Project Runway forever, they say.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • batgirl Feb 11,2019 7:04 am || Up

        On what planet did that odd green-skirted dress represent a lion? That guy needs to go.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 21,2019 9:21 pm || Up

      BTW I thought the spin of having a version of the winning design each week available at jcpenny.com was a neat idea…until I went to check on out and found this. Apparently they taped the whole season plugging this gimmick then JC Penny cancelled it. So I’m not quite sure why they’re still plugging it every week.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • batgirl Feb 24,2019 9:00 am || Up

        That is super lame. They should have connected with Target. I’ve been thinking about that every time they pick the winner wondering if it influences their thinking. Like I didn’t think they’d sell a “carpet pad” dress, so I figured they’d pick Anthony Ryan instead.

  38. MikeV Jan 19,2019 5:18 pm

    Sonny -> Cincy

    And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

    Thanks, and go As.

  39. Soaker Jan 20,2019 6:56 am

    Happy Halfway Through Day!

    I’d like to see another Goff-Mahomes game…which means I’ll bet my Magic Beanes on Brees -3 and Brady +3.

    I visited Dad (87 in a few days) and his wife (84) this week, so I’m recovering from that with a few beach days in South Florida. Will be singing “Moon Over Miami” during tonight’s eclipse.

    Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 20,2019 9:51 am || Up

      I am happy to cast aside five decades of habit and fully embrace Mahomes and the Chiefs today.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • Soaker Jan 20,2019 11:44 am || Up

        Today wasn’t a beach day weatherwise so I was out for a long walk. I passed the Trump Palace, the Trump Royale and Trump Towers I, II and III, all 35-40 story condo resorts on the beach in Sunny Isles Beach. He’s big here. A lot of French is spoken on the beach, to match the Quebec license plates in the parking lot, but one of the snippets of English I heard on the beach yesterday was “All I care about is that Hillary goes to prison! And Bill!”

        Since they are Magic Beanes and I don’t have to root for them as if they were money:
        50 on the Saints -3.
        30 on the Patriots +3.
        10 on the NFC over (56).
        10 on the AFC over (56.5).

        Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
        • Soaker Jan 20,2019 3:27 pm || Up

          Why I don’t bet money, Exhibit “A”.

          Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
        • Soaker Jan 20,2019 7:16 pm || Up

          Well I got the AFC right at least. :-/

          I saw the second half of Rams-Saints in a jampacked sports bar, but there were way too many people wearing Patriots crap to consider hanging around for any part of the second game.

          Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
          • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 20,2019 7:54 pm || Up

            Patriots fans are the absolute worst.

            "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  40. Future Ed Jan 20,2019 9:52 am

    Just like the spurs drew it up

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
  41. andeux Jan 20,2019 6:09 pm

    New England gets a bullshit replay reversal in an AFC Championship game? What a surprise.

    TINSTAAFK
    • Soaker Jan 20,2019 6:24 pm || Up

      This isn’t a stellar day for NFL officiating.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • andeux Jan 20,2019 6:45 pm || Up

        Quite the ref show in Q4.

        TINSTAAFK
        • andeux Jan 20,2019 6:59 pm || Up

          Holy Toledo, what a game though.

          TINSTAAFK
          • andeux Jan 20,2019 7:14 pm || Up

            Oh well.
            Came down to the OT coin flip. Or to Bellichik in playoffs vs. Reid in playoffs.
            Go Rams.

            TINSTAAFK
            • MikeV Jan 20,2019 7:40 pm || Up

              or 1 dude lining up offsides on the INT that would have given KC the game.

              And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

              Thanks, and go As.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 20,2019 8:03 pm || Up

      Yeah that reversal brought the bad memories roaring back. The refs sucked in both games, some of the non-calls on Rams DBs were outrageous too. Football gets easier not to miss all the time.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 21,2019 3:46 pm || Up

        This puts it perfectly:

        “…yesterday it felt like football was as damaged as its ever been by its years-long transformation from a sport into a protracted legal proceeding carried out in front of thousands of drunk people.”

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  42. Jennifer Jan 20,2019 6:24 pm

    Interesting read about Micah Bowie.

    Yahoo Sports: Former MLB pitcher seeks financial help from players union as he fights for life.
    https://sports.yahoo.com/former-mlb-pitcher-seeks-financial-help-players-union-fights-life-161546675.html

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 28,2019 6:46 pm || Up

      Story finally picked up locally. Sounds like he’s basically going to die from a doctor’s mistake and get no compensation because of Texas malpractice law.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  43. Glorious Mundy Jan 22,2019 1:36 pm

    Meh!

    • 5Aces Jan 22,2019 2:16 pm || Up

      Should I book my October travel plans now?

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
    • Soaker Jan 22,2019 4:42 pm || Up

      Going by Game Score, his three worst career starts (out of 21 total starts) have all been against the A’s.

      8/30/17: 3 IP, 6 H, 7 R/ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR (Game Score: 18)

      9/4/17: 3 IP, 7 H, 6 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR (Game Score: 25). This was the game in which Scioscia used 12 pitchers.

      4/6/18: 1-2/3 IP, 7 H, 6 R/ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 3 HR (Game Score: 17). An impressive 1 HR every 12 pitches ratio in that one.

      The coup de grace: The Angels beat the A’s in all three of those games, by scores of 10-8, 11-9 and 13-9.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • Glorious Mundy Jan 22,2019 4:49 pm || Up

        I was certain the season was doomed after that 4/6/18 meltdown.

        • Soaker Jan 22,2019 4:59 pm || Up

          I see that I was justifiably inebriated in that game thread.

          Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • colin Jan 23,2019 7:04 am || Up

        In Bridwell’s *good year* (2017), he averaged 5.4 K/9.

  44. Glorious Mundy Jan 22,2019 5:29 pm

    I’m glad Jeter won’t be the first unanimous HOFer.

  45. Glorious Mundy Jan 22,2019 5:53 pm

    Perfect

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 22,2019 5:54 pm || Up

      It’s a huge wall, firm, rigid, towering…

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • dmoas Jan 22,2019 10:15 pm || Up

      Yeah, that’s not a first amendment violation or anything.

  46. Glorious Mundy Jan 23,2019 8:45 am

    BP top 101

    13. Luzardo
    77. Puk
    95. Murphy
    101. Murray (who??)

    • andeux Jan 23,2019 10:27 am || Up

      BA list is also out. It’s behind their paywall, but it seems they like the same three players a little more (#7, #18, and #72).

      TINSTAAFK
      • Glorious Mundy Jan 23,2019 11:56 am || Up

        I’m not thrilled about the Angels suddenly having the BP #2 and the guy we picked ahead of him who plays the same position not making the top 100.

        • andeux Jan 23,2019 12:21 pm || Up

          Keston Hiura, who none of us wanted instead of Beck, is also now a top 10 or 20 overall prospect on most lists.

          TINSTAAFK
  47. Glorious Mundy Jan 23,2019 12:04 pm

    Farhan is really horning in on our bottom-feeding.

  48. Glorious Mundy Jan 23,2019 1:09 pm

    Sad!

    • Glorious Mundy Jan 23,2019 1:15 pm || Up

      He’s so scared of her that his nickname for her is just her name.

      • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 23,2019 1:30 pm || Up

        I know, especially when The Distinguished Gentlelady from Pooptown was just sitting there.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  49. Glorious Mundy Jan 23,2019 1:33 pm

    I sometimes feel like we are only scratching the surface of Silicon Valley mogul insanity.

    What was your most memorable encounter with Zuckerberg?
    Well, there was a year when he was only eating what he was killing. He made goat for me for dinner. He killed the goat.

    In front of you?
    No. He killed it before. I guess he kills it. He kills it with a laser gun and then the knife. Then they send it to the butcher.

  50. Glorious Mundy Jan 23,2019 4:26 pm
  51. Englishmajor Jan 23,2019 11:01 pm

    I moved to Alameda in November and am very happy in general with it, the major downside being that occasionally I’ll be listening to something interesting on the radio just when I get to the Webster/Buster Tube and the reception fades out. So I’m not 100% sure but I think Chris Townsend was implying that the A’s had had some kind of sponsorship offer from a marijuana vendor, and MLB made them say no. Did anyone else hear that?

    • Glorious Mundy Jan 24,2019 10:55 am || Up

      Lots of potential synergies there with his chicken pot pie empire.

    • andeux Jan 24,2019 11:05 am || Up

      I hadn’t heard that, but it seems plausible – both that a quasi-legal pot business would be a potential sponsor in Oakland (first suggested by sslinger in 2010), and that MLB wouldn’t want that.
      And welcome back to the East Bay.

      TINSTAAFK
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 24,2019 1:33 pm || Up

      Perhaps they were approached by their next door neighbors Mr. Blunt and Ms. Moore.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • Englishmajor Jan 25,2019 12:05 am || Up

        I noticed that place yesterday when I was coming out from the Bjarkefest.

  52. Glorious Mundy Jan 24,2019 9:58 am

    OK

    “We want to preserve the field of the A’s, like when you visit Rome and come across urban ruins,” said Ingels, whose firm Bjarke Ingels Group has projects on four continents. “Rather than leave behind a void, we would leave behind the Roman ruin of an ancient baseball field — creating a heritage that adds a lot to the future area.”

    • Future Ed Jan 24,2019 10:38 am || Up

      i mean, I get it, its kinda cool, but come on, its not THAT cool and a total waste of space.

      keeping one MLB sized field is wasteful, compounding that by the bleachers is unfathomable.

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 24,2019 1:42 pm || Up

        People seem to like the re-purposed sites of the former Tiger and Yankee Stadiums for youth sports uses. Better than what the Twins old Metropolitan Stadium site became.

        But yeah, you don’t get shots at that much open land often. I can let the historic ruins go in favor of something more useful to East Oakland.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
        • Soaker Jan 24,2019 2:02 pm || Up

          Tiger Stadium and Yankee Stadium weren’t surrounded by enormous parking lots. There’s way more acreage involved here. The parkland concept reeks of bait and switch, if they ever get a green light for Howard Terminal. It’s the Bay Area, that land just has too much value to be put to that use.

          Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
          • Glorious Mundy Jan 24,2019 2:05 pm || Up

            Yep

            “We have a rather elastic strategy … elements can be moved around,” Ingels conceded after the event. What counts, he said, is the notion of “urban islands in a green landscape,” the islands in turn being linked via trails or roads to the surrounding East Oakland communities.

    • MikeV Jan 24,2019 7:49 pm || Up

      Perfect spot for a small USL stadium. :(

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

  53. Glorious Mundy Jan 24,2019 10:12 am

    MLB is trying to undo the predictable consequences of the DL rule change in the last CBA

    Major League Baseball has proposed going back to a 15-day disabled list and increasing the time optioned players usually must spend in the minor leagues, a person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press…

    As part of the plan, a player optioned would have to spend at least 15 days in the minor leagues, up from 10.

    • Future Ed Jan 24,2019 10:40 am || Up

      great we are going back to the times where coco is on the bench for a week, to come out and pinch hit before his DL stint starts.

      Just make the roster 27, eliminate the 10 and 15 day DLs, go with 20. Alow rehab loand to your affiliates.

      this is all so dumb

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • andeux Jan 24,2019 10:59 am || Up

        I thought the switch to 10-day DL was an improvement, with most of the increased use due to players who were genuinely injured, even if not necessarily very seriously (like your Coco example), not attempts to game the system by DL’ing the 5th starter with “soreness” any time his start was going to be skipped.
        It seems like they are really just looking for ways to make “bullpenning” more difficult, but this probably isn’t the right approach.

        TINSTAAFK
        • Future Ed Jan 24,2019 3:39 pm || Up

          I agree on the 10 day DL.

          I didn’t connect the bullpenning thing, but that makes sense.

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
  54. Glorious Mundy Jan 24,2019 1:31 pm

    Always love it when Prof. Mankiw pops up with one of his vintage “leave the poor rich people alone” takes.

    The Trump phenomenon is not an argument that the moneyed elites have too much influence on politics. If anything, it is an argument that they have too little.

    • dmoas Jan 24,2019 2:28 pm || Up

      “Earned” there seems to mean something completely differently than what I’d consider. But yeah, his conclusion is a whopper.

  55. Glorious Mundy Jan 24,2019 3:23 pm

    Just a massive fail here, it appears.

    • Future Ed Jan 24,2019 3:41 pm || Up

      I mean, I want vince off the air more than most people, but…

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 24,2019 7:11 pm || Up

      If I’m at FanFest and I get the mic when Kaval’s taking questions I’d ask “Shortcomings of 95.7 aside, why on earth publicly tell them to [go pound sand] when you didn’t already have something else lined up? How could that have possibly helped?”

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • Soaker Jan 24,2019 7:50 pm || Up

      “We didn’t feel we had a partner that was a good long-term fit or that was really promoting this amazing team and all we’re doing,” Kaval said. “That was something that was not working and we heard from fans who were frustrated. We needed to go another direction.”

      Why the hell would you think some station you’re buying a couple hundred hours of airtime from, and then reverts to its usual format the rest of the time, would do a better job of “really promoting this amazing team” than Entercom did?

      And the thing about “the A’s might have to buy time on two or more non-sports stations if they are to serve their fans”…gee, let’s make it really hard for our customers to find us. Are they on 810 AM, or 102.5 FM, or 1450 AM tonight? Click, click, click, nope, I’ll listen to some music instead.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • Soaker Jan 24,2019 8:04 pm || Up

        And by the way…

        “We need to look at this in an innovative way,” Kaval told The Chronicle on Thursday. “Terrestrial radio is kind of dying and we need to look long-term at how you get in front of people with audio.”

        If they’re saying that I’m pretty confident they’re not buying their own station.

        Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • Soaker Jan 25,2019 6:58 am || Up

        I interpreted “two or more stations” as meaning, say, 54 games on each of three different stations, but somebody on another discussion board (not AN) points out to me that it may mean they need to buy on multiple stations to cover the entire Bay Area if the stations are weak and especially weak FM with the hills. It might be 162 games on one SF/Alameda/Contra Costa, one Marin/Sonoma/Napa and one Santa Clara/San Mateo.

        Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
  56. Glorious Mundy Jan 24,2019 3:41 pm

    An overabundance of Kyles

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 24,2019 7:14 pm || Up

      And Kyler.

      If I’m one of those catchers I’m showing up with big ambitions.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • Glorious Mundy Jan 25,2019 9:55 am || Up

        Murphy forcing his way onto the roster would be nice.

        Heim struggled after promotion to AA. But he’s a switch-hitting 23-year old who is supposedly competent behind the plate, so I remain curious.

    • MikeV Jan 24,2019 7:52 pm || Up

      Is Puk even able to pitch yet?

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

      • Glorious Mundy Jan 24,2019 8:53 pm || Up

        Last I heard he was throwing on flat ground.

        • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 26,2019 8:23 am || Up

          In order of readiness, Cotton then Puk then Manaea then Gossett:

          “…Jharel Cotton, who’s the furthest along in his rehab and is scheduled to throw off a mound Feb. 4.

          Puk’s rehab — like Cotton, he had Tommy John surgery — is about a month behind Cotton’s. Manaea, who had a shoulder operation in September, isn’t expected back until after midseason. Yet another Tommy John victim, Daniel Gossett, is behind the others.”

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
  57. Glorious Mundy Jan 25,2019 9:44 am

    Nightmare fuel

    • AV Jan 25,2019 11:16 am || Up

      the good-year tire bit is clever enough.

      and totally makes me hope they broadcast via megaphones as they drive the van around oakland, what with the no-radio thing.

      *i’m* AV. alex vause. put this loon in psych before she hurts someone.
  58. Glorious Mundy Jan 25,2019 10:15 am

    I enjoyed this Ray Ratto career eulogy.

    I don’t think I had seen his Bill King remembrance, which is mentioned there.

  59. Glorious Mundy Jan 25,2019 10:23 am
    • Soaker Jan 25,2019 10:32 am || Up

      Reminds me of how Mexico is now going to pay for the Wall “indirectly” because of Trump’s awesome trade deals.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • Glorious Mundy Jan 25,2019 10:33 am || Up

        “Monetized commuter time savings” mean the gondola is actually paying us.

    • dmoas Jan 25,2019 11:18 am || Up

      Cool. So they can fill the stadium in 6 hours.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Jan 25,2019 7:21 pm || Up

      In the rich genre of stadium economic fantasy stories, this one seems less credulous than many. The construction creates some jobs, the operations more, and if BART to gondola to game commute means exiting onto Broadway there’s some food and retail growth opportunities. Maybe Frank Ogawa Plaza becomes the new tailgate scene/Shakedown Street.

      How much it reduces cars and parking and railroad issues at the site, I dunno about that part.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • Soaker Jan 25,2019 7:36 pm || Up

        As dmoas mentions, “up to 6000 individuals per hour per direction” doesn’t make much of a dent. If a game ends at 10:30 p.m., nobody is still going to be standing in line at the ballpark at 11:30 waiting for a gondola ride which only gets them to BART. Postgame capacity is actually 2000-2500 people in 20-25 minutes.

        Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
        • dmoas Jan 26,2019 8:13 pm || Up

          Jesus. I didn’t think about the exit. I’d be worried more about afternoon games. 4/5PM getaway games which can be mandatory, rush hour traffic, throw in a port activities. And even 10-15K leaving the stadium at once. You’re either waiting 3 hours to get out of there or you’re dodging.

  60. Glorious Mundy Jan 25,2019 10:26 am

    Come on man

    • dmoas Jan 25,2019 10:54 am || Up

      I’m glad they solved ALL of the country’s pressing problems. Now, on to sports.

  61. Future Ed Jan 25,2019 11:20 am

    via monkeyball

    I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • Glorious Mundy Jan 25,2019 11:23 am || Up

      My congressperson is doing a very good job.

  62. andeux Jan 25,2019 12:01 pm


    Pitchers with terrible HR rates are the new market inefficiency.

    TINSTAAFK
    • Glorious Mundy Jan 25,2019 12:12 pm || Up

      Wow, he really sucked last year. I guess hopefully he was injured?

      • dmoas Jan 25,2019 12:32 pm || Up

        Probably. But that just means he’ll look good in Spring Training, throw one amazing outing then have TJS.

      • andeux Jan 25,2019 7:34 pm || Up

        FWIW

        TINSTAAFK
    • lenscrafters Jan 25,2019 12:56 pm || Up

      This is just sad.

  63. Glorious Mundy Jan 25,2019 1:38 pm

    What the

    • Soaker Jan 25,2019 1:54 pm || Up

      If you take the job as football coach of the Beds you need a backup career. I guess acting, or probably more accurately “acting”, is it.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
  64. Glorious Mundy Jan 26,2019 10:37 am
    • Soaker Jan 26,2019 12:27 pm || Up

      Wearing out some kneepads, a time-honored way to get a running start in one’s career of choice.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
    • Future Ed Jan 26,2019 8:34 pm || Up

      uhg,

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • sslinger Jan 29,2019 10:20 am || Up
      • Glorious Mundy Jan 29,2019 10:42 am || Up

        I agree with all of this.

        • Future Ed Jan 29,2019 10:48 am || Up

          yeah that’s good.

          I hate her for a lot of reasons, that is just stupid

          I have $5. No I don\'t.
          • Glorious Mundy Jan 29,2019 10:56 am || Up

            But we should pause to acknowledge what a creepy dinosaur Willie Brown is.

            • dmoas Jan 29,2019 11:21 am || Up

              No thanks. I think his ego would get too much of a boost for any pausing we do on his behalf. Let’s just forget his existence and move on.

            • Future Ed Jan 29,2019 12:37 pm || Up

              oh for sure. and I don’t care who anyone slept with or if that helped her career. that is just stupid.

              side note, my brother is a union organizer and he was working an event about 15 years ago in las vegas. His job was to host and shepard one member speaker around, an attractive Black women in her early 40s.

              Willie Brown stepped into the elevator they were riding in. Brown stepped right up to the woman, put himself in the 3 feet between my bother and her with his back to my brother and immediately moved into pick up mode. Completely ignoring my brother who could have been her spouse for all brown knew.

              My bother and the woman exited when my brother said, this is our floor and left. According to my brother, although he stayed in the elevator, brown still offered to meet the woman for drinks later.

              Just to be clear, I don’t like what she did as DA, I don’t like what she did as AG, I will not vote for her in any primary, but I will for sure be voting for her is she is the nominee.

              I have $5. No I don\'t.
            • Future Ed Jan 29,2019 1:38 pm || Up
              I have $5. No I don\'t.
              • sslinger Jan 29,2019 9:15 pm || Up

                Yeah, that pretty much laid it out there. Man, our system sucks from a practical and fairness standpoint, but the next two years of this will be riveting.

  65. Glorious Mundy Jan 26,2019 10:53 am

  66. Glorious Mundy Jan 26,2019 10:54 am

    For my money, no one quite understands late-stage Trump like David Roth of Deadspin.

    • ptbnl Jan 26,2019 11:30 pm || Up

      his brain is an old donut bobbing around in a toilet.

      and the toilet from trainspotting to boot.

      If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
  67. Glorious Mundy Jan 26,2019 11:00 am

    Reclining seats at a baseball game. Sure, that makes sense.

  68. Glorious Mundy Jan 26,2019 11:00 am

    Yes, this is what he has to say, but this really does still seem to be up in the air.

  69. ptbnl Jan 30,2019 11:54 pm

    Colder in Chicago than at the South Pole today.

    If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • Soaker Jan 31,2019 7:32 pm || Up

      Locally it looks like we’ll get the Storm of the Season between tomorrow night and Monday night. If the Skiers To Be Named Later could make it up to the slopes during the week next week conditions ought to be fabulous.

      Which reminds me of some comments I made a while back about looking at life after Tahoe. The physically onerous part of dealing with a lot of snow as one gets older is an issue, but it usually only comes up a few times a year…more than that during that “epic” 2016-2017 winter but that was unusual. I’ve realized that what wears on me a little more, as I come up on my 10th anniversary of the move from Oakland to Tahoe in a few weeks, is the touristy-ness on the weekends. I escaped the perpetual traffic of the Bay Area, but the weekend traffic up here becomes more frustrating as time passes, and I find myself staying at home more on weekends because of that. Monday through Friday are still delightful, even in the summer most of the time. I’ll be at Tahoe for a few more years, probably 5 or so, and the destination at that point will be guided by “less touristy” more than by warmer weather and less snow.

      Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
      • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 1,2019 9:51 am || Up

        Note for Soaker’s birthday circa 2024: he’ll be needing a matching white belt and shoe set.

        "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
      • Soaker Feb 1,2019 11:05 am || Up

        Timely story in the local paper: the weekend traffic issues in Meyers don’t usually affect me directly but you can see I’m not the only local who’s finding the increased weekend crowds to be wearing a little thin. On that specific issue part of the blame goes to apps like Waze, but I think there are two broader issues that have changed things over the last 10 years:

        1. I moved up here right at the depths of the financial crisis. The stock market hit its bottom within a day or two of the move. I had some real financial uncertainty at that point but pressed forward. That was the beginning of the Great Recession and the unemployment rate stayed pretty high for Obama’s first three years or so. But since then unemployment has steadily declined and obviously as that happens people have put discretionary vacation spending back into their budgets. Trump has two more years to screw things up enough to knock us back into recession, which would cut back on the crowding, but I’m not sure that’s something to root for.

        2. The popularity of vacation home rentals, driven by AirBnB, HomeAway and the like, has expanded visitor capacity a lot in this decade. So often I walk by these houses and see three or four cars and lots of people, not just Mom and Dad and the kids but groups of adults. I’m not opposed to VHRs in general as they do add a lot to the local economy and are a good free market response to the hotel oligopoly, although there are some sensible restrictions that can be imposed, but they do have some negative non-economic impacts on the local community. The initiative restricting VHRs in the City of South Lake Tahoe to the “tourist core” did pass by a very close margin but it’s already tied up in court and probably won’t ever be implemented, at least not fully.

        Treacherous chasms of half-truth and despair. -- Ken Korach
        • FreeSeatUpgrade Feb 1,2019 11:13 am || Up

          A fee on VHR operators to mitigate some of the traffic and infrastructure impacts would seem like an appropriate response to the latter point.

          "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."

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