Tag Archives: nbsp

NBA Playoffs 2012: With Bynum, Bryant and Gasol, You Can’t Discount the Lakers

Posted on by

1336713321 25 NBA Playoffs 2012: With Bynum, Bryant and Gasol, You Cant Discount the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are the sleeping dragon of the West. actually, the entire West is a sleeping dragon. despite having been virtually called in advance for the Oklahoma City Thunder, like the Miami Heat in the East, there are plenty of teams kicking around the Left Coast that have a thing or two to say about their seemingly preordained trip to the Finals. 

The San Antonio Spurs are, by the numbers, basketball’s best team. nobody wants to play the Los Angeles Clippers with Chris Paul playing as he has been. nobody wants to play the Memphis Grizzlies because—a certain epic collapse notwithstanding—they are the team that refuses to die, and lets you know it on every play. But it’s the Lakers who should really be giving OKC fans the shivers. 

Granted, the Lakers are now only up 3-2 against a feisty Denver Nuggets team that is somewhere between the “We Believe” Warriors and the endless blue-collar ranks of the Grizz. In short, they’re a team that gets labeled “dangerous” as a polite way of calling them entertaining but ultimately irrelevant. 

However, even if the Lakers have been unable to close out a series that a prospective champ would have taken care of days ago, they are still displaying many of the signs of a team suited for a deep run. And hey, haven’t overly long playoff series always been a Lakers tradition? 

Despite Kobe Bryant’s near-scoring title and outside shot at the MVP award, over the course of the season we have seen this become Andrew Bynum’s team—or at least a team where its Hall of Fame-bound superstar is fine with the young center getting his touches. And with good reason.

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Bynum has probably surpassed Dwight Howard as the most valuable center in the league. He may not quite have Howard’s shot-blocking insanity at his disposal, but he takes up space and intimidates like no one else in the league at both ends of the court. He’s enormous, athletic and skilled. There’s a scarcity of centers these days, and it remains to be seen whether they are dinosaurs or the ultimate trump card.

Bynum has looked this way in the playoffs despite somehow ushering in a long overdue (or logically impossible) coming-out party of Nuggets center JaVale McGee. his all-out dominance in the post—remember, he’s been consistently hobbled during the Lakers playoff appearances, which makes his legacy either that much more impressive or that much more confounding—has reached a point where Pau Gasol is operating from the high post, allowing the “skilled big man” side of his game to take over and the useless criticisms of him as “soft” to mean nothing. 

And then there’s Kobe—or at least an older version of himself. sometimes wiser, sometimes still driven to take over games because he trusts his own brilliance above all else. 

What’s been truly remarkable to watch in the playoffs is how he’s rallied behind Bynum’s cause like never before while still finding a way to score an ungodly number of points and draw attention from defenses that would love to focus their attention on the monster in the paint. 

It’s short-sighted to suggest that the Lakers have a serious shot at a title solely on the strength of three players, especially when OKC, San Antonio, the Clippers and the Grizzlies are all so deep. Metta World Peace has yet to return. He can help immensely on defense against, say, a Kevin Durant, but is also prone to disruption and bone-headed plays. 

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Ramon Sessions is a huge upgrade over Derek Fisher in terms of offensive ability and flat-out playmaking, but he can’t guard Russell Westbrook any better than Fisher could. Mike Brown pulled this team together, which is quite different than negotiating the deadly straits or making the quick decisions that decide playoff fates. 

At the end of the day, though, the Lakers have a center, a shooting guard and an all-purpose power forward in Gasol playing as well—and doing as much—as anyone in the league. Plus, they have been here before. As much as LeBron James wants to get that first ring and Kevin Durant’s narrative demands he get one this season, the Lakers are vets who aren’t playing old. And much like in the past, these long series will be important tests for them. 

The Nuggets are making them contend with a young, up-tempo team. maybe it’s not proving as easy as expected, but it’s the ideal test case. They aren’t counting on anything but are still making adjustments for the long haul. With these three players—and that mindset—it’s hard to not be a little scared. 

NBA Playoffs 2012: With Bynum, Bryant and Gasol, You Can’t Discount the Lakers

Deadly 6.5 earthquake strikes north of Acapulco

Posted on by

1336562109 92 Deadly 6.5 earthquake strikes north of AcapulcoBy msnbc.com staff and news services

Updated at 1 a.m. ET: The associated Press reports that Humberto Calvo, undersecretary of Guerrero’s Civil Protection agency, said a third person died in the small town of Ixcateopan.

Updated at 11:20 p.m. ET: Telemundo reports that at least two people were killed: an 11-year-old child died when the roof of a taqueria collapsed in Iguala, near the epicenter, and a driver was killed and two women injured when a boulder was dislodged by the quake and hit their Ford truck on the Sol highway between Acapulco and Mexico City.

Earlier story:

ACAPULCO, Mexico — A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck the region north of Acapulco on Saturday night, and people in Mexico City fled into the streets. 

The epicenter was about 82 miles north of Acapulco in the southwestern state of Guerrero and about 40 miles deep, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. the quake was intially reported as a 6.8 but downgraded to 6.5. 

Telemundo reported that at least two people were killed..

In Acapulco, hundreds of anxious tourists congregated in the streets after fleeing rocking buildings. Authorities said they had found no structural damage and had no reports of injuries in the Pacific resort.

Buildings in Mexico City, about 100 miles northeast of the epicenter, swayed during the quake, but there were no immediate reports of major damage there.

People in one part of the capital’s upscale Condesa neighborhood ran out of their houses and gathered in the streets, hugging each other while some shook and began to cry. On one street, a group of women joined hands in a circle, closed their eyes and began to pray.

“Please God, help us and let everything be OK,” said one. “It’s OK. It’s OK. everything is OK.”

Reuters reporters in Mexico City said the earthquake seemed to go on for an unusually long period.

“I was dreadfully afraid, I thought it was never going to end,” said Laura Gonzalez, who was drinking in a bar in the capital when the quake struck.

Power was knocked out in parts of the capital, but Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said water services, the subway and the airport were working normally.

Parts of Mexico City rest on the shaky soil of a former lake bed, which tends to magnify the effect of earthquakes. An 8.1-magnitude quake in 1985 killed as many as 10,000 people in the city.

This article includes reporting from msnbc.com staff, the associated Press and Reuters.

Read more content from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Deadly 6.5 earthquake strikes north of Acapulco

Bases Loaded

Posted on by

1335050113 54 Bases Loaded

Dos Pueblos High softball pitcher Hannah Harris retired the side in the second inning, and the loudspeakers played “Another one Bites the Dust.” Little did the Chargers’ fans know that it would be their undoing when the Buena Bulldogs “bit the dust” at the corners of the infield, helping the visitors take a 2-0 victory in their first Channel League showdown of the season at the DP diamond last Friday.

Kai Uyesaka of the Chargers was twice robbed of extra-base hits. She hit a smash down the third-base line that Buena’s Maddie Foulks smothered and fell on the bag for a force-out to end the second inning. in the sixth, Uyesaka hit a rocket toward right field, but Buena first baseman Rieanne Thomas made a diving catch that left her covered with infield dirt. “I play soccer goalie, and I’m used to reacting,” Thomas said.

It was the first taste of the DP-Buena rivalry for Uyesaka, a 9th grader who played third base for the Chargers. “It’s super, super big,” she said. “We were pumped up before the game.”

But DP’s Coach Lee Harris sensed that Buena brought an extra bit of intensity to the competition. “I was looking in their eyes when they came up to bat,” he said. “They were going to make a good hit, no matter what.”

The Chargers did their share of hitting, too, but they stranded 14 runners on the bases in seven innings. “We froze with two outs,” said Coach Harris, who is also the father of DP’s pitcher. “It was one of those days. That’s what you say about softball.”

Softball is a big deal at the edge of the Dos Pueblos campus, where the thriving Goleta Valley Girls Softball Association has a complex of diamonds next to the Chargers’ field. “The girls come over and watch us play,” DP catcher Haley Peterson said. “This is what they aim for.”

Two banners attached to the backstop proclaim the CIF softball championships that Dos Pueblos has won — in 2005 and 2011. the Chargers caught fire last year after a 7-5 loss to Buena late in the regular season. they won seven consecutive games, including five in the CIF playoffs, capped by a 5-0 victory over Kaiser for the pennant. Hannah Harris, then a junior, did all the pitching for the Chargers and allowed just one run in 39 playoff innings. She was named the Division 4 Player of the Year. Fresno State has proffered her a scholarship for next year.

Harris is one of four starters returning from the championship team. this year’s squad already has claimed a high honor — the large-school CIF Southern Section academic title for softball. Agnetta Cleland, a junior, is one of the starters and academic standouts, but she missed last Friday’s game because she was competing with the DP team at the California Mock Trials in Sacramento. they finished second in the state.

The Channel League title is yet to be decided, and the Chargers, 9-2 overall, are sure to be in contention when they face Buena twice more in early may. “That’s the best Buena has ever played,” Peterson said Friday. “We haven’t played our best yet.”

TRAGIC LOSS: Dos Pueblos seems to turn out successful student athletes in cookie-cutter fashion. But all are unique individuals. one of the most compelling was Samantha “Sam” Wopat, who shared the school’s “Top Female Athlete” award with her twin sister, Carly, when they graduated in 2010. they balanced each other’s personalities, Carly being described as “laid-back” and Sam as “more stubborn” during an interview at the DP gym. Tragically, the sister act was shattered last Sunday when Sam Wopat, 19, died at Stanford Hospital. her family, friends, and acquaintances at both Dos Pueblos and Stanford University, where the Wopats continued their volleyball careers, are in mourning.

OLYMPIC ACTION: two serious contenders for 2012 Olympic gold are the men’s water polo teams of Italy and the United States, which is coached by Santa Barbara native Terry Schroeder. they will play an exhibition game Thursday, March 29, at 7 p.m. at the Dos Pueblos High pool. the admission prices ($25 for adults and $20 for students) may seem steep, but consider the cost of going to see them in London this summer. … You can see some of the world’s top all-around track-and-field athletes for free at Westmont College on Monday and Tuesday, April 2-3. among them are Ashton Eaton, the silver medalist in the decathlon at last year’s World Championships, and Sharon Day, the national champion in the heptathlon. they will be working on various events at the Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational, beginning at noon each day. Sam Adams was a Hall of Fame UCSB track coach who died in 2010. A poignant note: Sam Wopat was named after Adams, who coached her father, Ron Wopat, in the decathlon.

Related Links

  • More Sports coverage

Bases Loaded

Questions and Answers: Improving Outcomes — Office Ergonomics Success Stories

Posted on by

1334553315 51 Questions and Answers: Improving Outcomes Office Ergonomics Success StoriesFollow us to get the latest developments and updates from Ergoweb®.

On March 21, 2012, Ergoweb held a webinar titled "Improving Outcomes — Office Ergonomics Success stories." Attendees asked many questions — far too many to answer during the webinar — so we've compiled and answered the questions in this article. Keith Osborne and Gene Kay were the featured speakers.

Q: Interested in ergonomic considerations of laptop V desktop computer use.

Keith: In my opinion you have to treat a laptop the same as a desktop but different. Here is what I mean. We all know the portability of the laptop, but when you are in your workstation at your office you need to treat the laptop as a CPU. If it is your only screen elevate it and add a separate mouse and keyboard. If you need a second screen and have the laptop elevated to the same level as your monitor. The better solution to that would be to have a second monitor of the same size installed and simply close the laptop and let it function as a CPU.

Gene: I advise users to first consider the exposure or amount of use of any device and then consider appropriate ergonomic adjustments. for example, if the laptop is only used occasionally the risk from improper ergonomic positioning may be low. If the laptop is used frequently or continuously then the ergonomic positioning is very important. We know that it is difficult to have the keyboard low enough to relax the shoulders while keeping the monitor at a height & angle that is easy on the eyes and neck. Here are some general guidelines:

  • for Occasional Laptop use, prop up the back so the keypad aligns with the wrist and the laptop screen is raised slightly. A portable folding stand such as the Keynamics laptop stand, or propping the laptop up on a book can help.
  • for Frequent Laptop use, add a full-sized external keyboard and mouse to allow separate and proper positioning of the input devices and the laptop screen.
  • for Continuous Laptop use, add a docking station with full size monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Q: IS THERE ANY DOCUMENTATION PROVING THAT ERGONOMICS MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORKPLACE?

Gene: there is a ton of documentation that ergonomics works. Washington State Dept of Labor and the Puget Sound HFES group have collected 250 case studies. see ps.hfes.org. You can also Google search terms such as "economics of ergonomics" for other results.

Q: HOW DO YOU CONVINCE THE EVP AND THE CEO THAT ERGONOMICS WILL HELP THE COMPANY SAVE MONEY AND MAKE THE EMPLOYEES MORE PRODUCTIVE?

Keith: Metrics, metrics, metrics. Maintain good documentation of everything you do with the program. Costs, labor hours, numbers of assessments (to include reassessments). when complaints are reported (i.e., should tension, wrist pain, etc), highlight these and show what was done to alleviate the issue. use historical data from reputable sources for these numbers and work them into a spreadsheet. Talk to mid-level managers to see if employees who have had assessments have shown an increased job performance. not the most scientific measurement (unless your company counts keystrokes, etc) but you can certainly glean information from that and apply it to the impact this productivity increase has had on the performance of the company as a whole. As a defense contractor we have certain measurable criteria we need to meet with our Air Force customer so I have pulled from that data, information that supports the positive, proactive performance of the ergonomics and wellness programs here.

Gene: start with getting published results (see answer to previous question), and then demonstrate the effectiveness of proper ergonomics in your own organization. You might also consider asking your insurance carrier to help you make the case for ergonomics. If you develop an effective program you may be eligible for insurance discounts.

Q: what do you think is the most important 'first step' in starting a new program?

Keith: I truly believe there are two important “first steps” in starting a new program or getting a stalled one re-energized. You have to find a champion. someone who is willing to dedicate themselves to the process and really willing to take the time needed to build and sustain it. secondly, management buy-in. Without it you will get nowhere. I was lucky in that two of my early “customers” were the program manager and the lead financial officer. I was able to mitigate their pain during the assessment process and keep it away and from there, I simply targeted mid-level managers to garner their support by doing the same for them. 

Gene: it may depend on your company culture and your role and influence within the company. Early in my career I found success by starting with volunteering to work with high risk groups and then demonstrating effectiveness. this method of demonstrating success and then asking for more support can also work with larger more mature programs. do good work, publicize the success — tell everyone about it, and then ask for more (support, backing, money, responsibility, etc.)

Q: Do you use crank or electric sit/stand stations?

Keith: I have both electric and a pneumatic style table. I have a crank table in my lab but I don’t favor them as a rule. with the cost of powered tables coming down, I think spending a touch more for that or even a pneumatic model is worth it.

Gene: Hand crank desks may be acceptable for occasional adjustment within seated computer work height ranges. however, hand crank desks often take too long and require too many rotations to raise the desk sufficiently for sit-to-stand adjustments that might be done several times each day.

Q: whose budget absorbs the cost of the sit/stand station and other furniture?

Keith: There is a company overhead budget that absorbs the cost of what is considered office supplies/consumables — mice, keyboards, mouse pads. The remainder comes out of my Facilities budget as a work station improvement, reconfiguration, or rebuild.

Gene: My previous employer (a global financial firm), and many of my current clients push the cost of ergonomic products onto the receiving employee's department.  

Q: Is the RMI on your spreadsheet is what the employee reports or is documented or are you including potential injury if the ergonomist observes a body part that can be at risk.

Keith: The employee reports the issue of what is hurting them (shoulder, hand/wrist, etc.). From that initial report I assess what the root causes are and if it is still that affected area. Once that is done I place that information on my ROI sheet to include any corrective actions. The costs listed are from known historical data from a couple of sources (OSHA and Liberty Mutual are two good ones) and the subtracted costs are for the equipment used to apply the corrective action and the estimated labor cost depending on who actually completes the installation. I have a couple of Facilities Techs who assist in build outs, etc. (they do not assess).

Q: Any concerns about liability with treadmill and bike station?

Keith: As part of my efforts here at Honeywell to tie ergonomics and wellness together I developed the cyber kiosk area. when an employee comes down for their Wellness Center Briefing (mandatory for the use of the center) they are also getting a briefing for the kiosk area. they then sign a usage waiver before they can use the equipment in either room.

Q: Is Keith doing ergonomics as a Full-time position or is this part of his overall job.

Keith: It would be nice to eventually get to where I can concentrate solely on the ergonomics and wellness aspects of my job but I have several other areas that I am either fully responsible for or have a huge role in: Lead Emergency Responder; CPR, First Aid w/AED Trainer/Instructor; Facilities Budget Coordinator; Wellness Program Manager; Fitness Center Manager; Conference Room Audio-Visual Lead; Internal Safety Audit (for our internal safety systems fire control, AEDs, etc); Internal Construction Lead; Building Utilization and Occupancy.

This year I will be developing a Manual Material Handling Program for our site as well.

I will say that Ergonomics and Wellness do get a lot of my time. some of the other areas are not rapidly reoccurring so I don’t have to spend as much time with them and I have a team that supports me in those other areas as well. 

Q: How much time does [Keith] allocate for an office workstation assessment (time with employee and write up)?

Keith: The initial assessment/interview takes about 15 minutes at the person's workstation. Once we are done there, we move to the ergonomics lab and verify everything, talk about micro-breaks, stretching, any corrective actions needed, fit them for a chair, mouse, keyboard, etc. and if the employee needs a large scale reconfiguration it is scheduled to not impact their schedule. All total 30 minutes to 1.5 hours (if a big build is needed).

Q: thank you for offering this program!

Keith: it is my pleasure to provide this program and I look forward to making it even better as it continues to mature. it is a lot of fun doing this and the wellness portion and tying the two together with the cyber kiosks and stretching initiatives. I am proud to have developed this into an award winning Best Practice Program (OSHA and Honeywell).

Q: What is annual cost for sustaining this program at an employer?  for instance, IT support, admin management, monitoring, reporting etc

Keith: I just recently set up a Manual Material Handling database with Auburn Engineers so there is an annual cost for that system.

The work request system where I get my assessment requests from is simply a server here in the building. very little IT cost there.

I am my own admin J so I do my own monitoring, reporting, etc.

Equipment is a sizeable cost but with the great vendors I work with, those costs are kept quite low.

The great thing is that as the program matures, material costs (some) will go down. Employee turnover here is reasonably fluid so we get a lot of material back to reuse (except certain items I will not reuse such as mouse/wrist pads, headphones, telephone headsets (unless I can get replacement earpieces)

It would be hard for me to pin down a definitive cost because that would vary with the size of the business, but it is less than 5% of my annual budget.

Q: great job you're doing, Keith… but curious, how much did you utilize the Honeywell Corporate Ergo Program, part of Honeywell Operating system?  You did not reference it at all.

Keith: I honestly was not aware of the Honeywell Corporate Ergo Program other than the one ergonomic training deck I took as a new hire. The HOS or Honeywell Operating system was not even introduced at our site until 2010, well after I had built the program here in Colorado Springs. our site was more heavily involved in VPP and getting Merit and Star statuses so development of the program focused on those areas initially. now that HOS is a part of our site (we are Bronze), I am digging into what our corporate program is more and more, especially to support me in building a good MMH program.

Q: question for Keith: what is total number of employees he's responsible for?

Keith: when we are at full capacity around 800 counting our subcontractors and in house government employees. Everyone in the facility can participate in the program.

Q: For Honeywell – how did you measure the $1.45M savings.  WC or medical claims or perceived savings based on BLS data?

Keith: The ROI and savings shown were built from the following:

Industry average costs for each type of injury-material used for corrective actions- labor cost to implement those corrective actions.

The time ROI came loosely from a formula from Cornell University. I conservatively padded the number taking into account that it sometimes takes a week or so for the employee to be completely comfortable, especially if there were a lot of changes to the workstation, set up, input devices, etc.

Q: how has the life of the chair changed with your 6 month pm schedule?

Keith: I think the life of the chairs has been extended because with the maintenance program we can catch issues with the chairs early, before they have a chance to affect more than one part.

Q: Will we be able to download the slides that are being shown?

Keith: I would be happy to provide a PDF copy of the slides. please send your request to or .

Gene: My slides are also available. please send your request to .

Q: Yay, so nice to get attention to the PSHFES website!  I will pass this along to the current president.

Gene: thanks to the PSHFES group for assembling a great collection of ergonomic studies that benefit our entire profession! 

Q: Can you explain how you determine if a sit-stand workstation will be beneficial?  are they provided based on request alone?

Keith: more often than not they are done when the person requests it, but we have had a couple of instances where I didn't think the individual could physically handle it due to a pre-existing condition. Those individuals were asked to get something from their healthcare professional before I would build something.

During the assessment process I get an idea of what the employee's duties will be, if they currently have any physical issues and then determine if seated versus standing would be the best for them. with the use of conversion equipment, such as the systems from Ergotron, you can show an employee the benefits of doing both. I also give them guidelines on standing techniques, movement, stretching, and time limits until they can build up to standing more than sitting. also these types of stations, with adjustable desks/tables are a great solution if you are running more than one shift and people are sharing the space.

Gene: Sit-Stand workstations can be beneficial and can have a nice return on investment. they can slightly boost individual worker productivity, reduce the costs with providing many ergonomic accommodations required by employees in fixed height workstations (staff consult time, injury costs, cost for ergo accessories, cost to install accessories, etc.). Sit stand workstations can also enable shared workstations for different sized workers, and then allow for multiple shift work and comfortable touch down or temporary workstations. see the recent Ergoweb article on adjustable workstations: Evidence: Investing in Adjustable Workstations Produces Healthy ROI 

Q: Have you seen an increase in reported discomfort due to the increase in sit/stand workstations?

Keith: I have had to "coach" a couple of over eager employees who thought standing all day was good, but I would have to say no overall increase. Proper biomechanical alignments are discussed throughout the process. Through proper coaching on how to best utilize the sit/stand stations, I have actually seen a decrease in overall employee discomfort.

Q: You recommend different chairs. how many chair vendors do you use?

Keith: I have three different vendors. Two are for our leased chairs and one is for special order chairs.

Q: what is "VPP" ?

Keith: VPP is OSHAs Voluntary Protection Program of which we here at Honeywell in Colorado Springs is a Star site (recently recertified Star in 2010).

Here is a short definition:

The VPP recognize employers and workers in the private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. In VPP, management, labor, and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries, and illnesses through a system focused on: hazard prevention and control; worksite analysis; training; and management commitment and worker involvement. To participate, employers must submit an application to OSHA and undergo a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of safety and health professionals.

Our site here is also a member of the VPPPA:

VPPPA provides occupational safety, health and environmental leaders with networking and educational offerings, up-to-the-minute legislative information, industry advancements, preferred vendors and consultants dedicated to VPP, mentoring opportunities, professional development and volunteer opportunities.

I will be speaking at the Region VIII VPPPA Conference in Denver May 2/3, 2012 and the National VPPPA Conference in Anaheim, August 20-23, 2012.

I have been nominated this year for the OSHA VPP Innovation Award for 2012, which is a huge honor for the program and myself.

Q: what is the annual cost for sustaining [ErgoAdvocate] at an employer?  for instance, IT support, admin management, monitoring, reporting etc

Gene: The cost for the program depends on the size and complexity of the program we build and customize for you and is largely based on the number of users and the special features we build in. there are no extra costs on your side (the subscriber side) because we host and maintain the program entirely on our servers without the invovlement of your IT staff and support. The site has a comprehensive suite of Reporting tools built in and include custom reporting to your desktop. We continuously monitor and maintain the program for you. Your HR or IT staff may be involved in the early stages if we are establishing data feeds from your HR to our system or from our system to your Learning Management program.

Preventing or resolving just one significant Musculo-skeletal Disorder per year can offset the annual cost of the ErgoAdvocate program. most comprehensive ergonomics programs including the one I managed for a global financial firm result in an average cost reduction of 80% on workers compensation costs. there are additional savings from improved worker productivity and improved worklife.

Questions and Answers: Improving Outcomes — Office Ergonomics Success Stories

THE BOOK–Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Posted on by

1333656915 29 THE BOOK Playing The Percentages In Baseball Monday, April 02, 2012

At the end of 2011, Joey Votto was 28 years old.  In his preceding three seasons, he had WAR totals of 6.5, 5.9, 4.2 according to Rally’s version at Baseball-Reference. 

I looked for all baseball players in history that were born in 1972 or earlier that ended their year at age 28, and had at least 5.5, 4.9, 3.2 WAR in each of the preceding 3 seasons.  (I also put in an extra qualifier of getting at least 2 WAR in the upcoming season.  It’s cheating, but it’s a cheat that helps Votto.)

There were 57 such players, most recently by Chipper Jones.

Votto is already being paid for 2012-2013, so he’s getting an extension two years out (starting in 2014), for the 10 seasons after that.

This is what happened to these 57 players:21.3 WAR in preceding 3 seasons (Votto had only 16.6)11.6 WAR in next 2 seasons (Votto was already signed for)28.9 WAR in the 10 seasons after that

Since Votto had only 16.6 WAR in the preceding 3 seasons (compared to the 21.3 of our comp list), this means that the 28.9 WAR of these players is really higher than expectation for Votto.

If we presume a 5MM$ per WAR in 2012, and increasing by 5% a year, then the average $ per WAR will be 6MM$ per WAR.  This gives us 28.9 x 6 = 173MM$.

In order to get him to a 225MM$ extension, 2 years out, we’d have to get him 37.5 wins in seasons 3 through 12. Of the 57 players in his comparable list, only 12 of them got at least 37.5 wins.

Either that, or MLB is poised for a higher than 5% annual growth.  indeed, if MLB salaries grow at 9% annually (which is what it used to be before the economy collapsed around the world), Votto’s comp list ends up at 225MM$ for seasons 3 through 12.

THE BOOK–Playing The Percentages In Baseball

SWX Right Now-Sports for Spokane, CdA, Tri-Cities, WAMariners, As Visit Areas of Japan Hit by Tsunami

Posted on by

1332890110 88 SWX Right Now Sports for Spokane, CdA, Tri Cities, WAMariners, As Visit Areas of Japan Hit by Tsunami

ISHINOMAKI, Japan – Members of the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners got a firsthand look at the devastation from the earthquake and tsunami on Tuesday when they visited one of the towns hit hardest by last year's disaster in Japan.

Eight players and coaches from the Mariners and Athletics went to Ishinomaki on the northeast coast and later put on a baseball clinic for students affected by the March 11 disaster.

The earthquake and tsunami left Ishinomaki, a city of 150,000, with more than 19,000 people dead. About 46 percent of the city was inundated by up to 32 feet of water.  

Mariners Lose 9-3 in Final Exhibition Game

Hisashi Iwakuma had a shaky return to Japan on Monday, giving up six runs over four innings in the Seattle Mariners' 9-3 loss to the Yomiuri Giants in an exhibition game. Dustin Ackley hit a solo homer to left in the top of the first off Yomiuri's D.J. Houlton at TokyoDome. Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder John Bowker tied it with a solo shot off Iwakuma in the bottom of the first. Iwakuma spent 12 seasons in Japanese professional baseball before signing with the Mariners in the offseason. He gave up five more runs before leaving after the fourth. The Mariners are in Japan to open the major league season against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday and Thursday.

(Copyright 2012 by The associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

SWX Right Now-Sports for Spokane, CdA, Tri-Cities, WAMariners, As Visit Areas of Japan Hit by Tsunami

Unitarian Church of Harrisburg members return to church a week after cab driver was shot outside their building

Posted on by

1332706513 41 Unitarian Church of Harrisburg members return to church a week after cab driver was shot outside their building

When cab driver Atlas Simpson was shot and killed last Sunday outside the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg during the morning service, member Laura Edinger felt scared, angry, resentful and guilty.

She and other members faced their fears this week at the first service after the shooting, returning to the church building they bought on Allison Hill almost three years ago. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit scared to be here,” Edinger told the congregation. but she felt strongly about the need for the congregation to continue its work there.

A Highspire man, Adrian L. Collins, 20, of the 500 block of Willow Street, surrendered to police Saturday afternoon, authorities said. Collins was wanted in the killing of Simpson, 37, a Steelton resident and driver for Capital City Cab Co.

“It’s a unique situation for a suburban church to come into the city,” the Rev. Howard Dana said. but the congregation had outgrown its Swatara Township building and wanted to do more social justice work in the community, he said. since then the congregation has met at both buildings.

If the church doesn’t side with the poor, it isn’t a church, but a country club, Dana told his congregation Sunday. “We cannot stay in the suburbs and pretend the crime and problems are not our problem.”

Some members didn’t feel comfortable coming to Allison Hill this week, and they might not for awhile, Dana said. but he’s proud of the congregation for talking about the shooting and how they feel about it and for continuing a commitment to help people who live in Allison Hill and don’t have the option of going home to a house in the suburbs.

Member Marjy Schubauer-Hartman’s parents graduated from John Harris High School, and she knows Harrisburg can be a great city again, she said.

“I want to be part of helping it find its way,” said Schubauer-Hartman, who lives in Lower Allen Township.

Unitarian Church of Harrisburg members return to church a week after cab driver was shot outside their building

AOL suspends ads on Rush Limbaugh show

Posted on by

1331082912 31 AOL suspends ads on Rush Limbaugh showBy msnbc.com staff and wire reports

Update 2:30 p.m. Pacific: Includes Hawaiian station dropping show.

And then there were nine. AOL Corp. became the latest sponsor to suspend ads on rush Limbaugh’s radio show after the conservative shock-jock last week called a Georgetown University law student a “slut” and a “prostitute” for supporting wider availability to contraceptives.

“At AOL one of our core values is that we act with integrity. We have monitored the unfolding events and have determined that mr. Limbaugh’s comments are not in line with our values. as a result we have made the decision to suspend advertising on the rush Limbaugh Radio show,” AOL said Monday in a brief statement on its Facebook page. AOL was not immediately available to comment.

The announcement came almost at the same time that Limbaugh asserted on his radio show that his written apology to Sandra Fluke on Saturday was “sincere.”

“I do not think she was either of those two words,” Limbaugh said on his radio show.

 Fluke dismissed his apology, saying it changed nothing.

“I don’t think that a statement like this issued, saying that his choice of words was not the best, changes anything, and especially when that statement is issued when he’s under significant pressure from his sponsors who have begun to pull their support,” Fluke told ABC’s “The View” on Monday.

AOL is among nine sponsors who have suspended advertising on Limbaugh’s show, which is hosted by Clear Channel’s Premiere Radio Networks inc. Others include mortgage lender Quicken Loans, florist ProFlowers, retailers Sleep Train and Sleep Number, software maker Citrix Systems inc., tax mediation company Tax Resolution Services co., online data backup service provider Carbonite and online legal document services company LegalZoom.  

Hilo, Hawaii, station KPUA, said Monday it was dropping the show. the station was one of three in the state that airs the Limbaugh program according to the show’s website.

Limbaugh on Wednesday called Fluke a “slut” for her support of the administration’s policy on contraception, which would require employers, even ones with religious affiliations, to provide coverage for birth control costs.

The radio show host repeated the charges on Thursday, saying: “Well, what would you call someone who wants us to pay for her to have sex? What would you call that woman? You’d call ‘em a slut, a prostitute or whatever.”

Clear Channel Media and Entertainment operates more than 850 radio stations in the U.S., and Premiere says it’s the largest radio content provider in the country, syndicating programs to more than 5,000 affiliate stations.

When asked which companies or organizations were the largest advertisers on Limbaugh’s show, Nelson said that that information was “proprietary.” Nelson didn’t immediately respond Sunday to questions about how much revenue the company will lose with the advertiser defections or how much revenue Limbaugh’s show brings in.

What do you think of the developments between rush Limbaugh and his sponsors? Let us know on Facebook.

Later Monday, Limbaugh told listeners on his radio show that while he was sorry to see some advertisers go, “they have profited handsomely from you.”

“They’ve decided they don’t want you or your business anymore. so be it. For me, this program is always about you,” he went on to say. Limbaugh said that he rejects “millions of dollars of advertising each year.”

The associated Press contributed to this report.

AOL suspends ads on Rush Limbaugh show

“Venezuelan gov’t must give specific information on oil spill”

Posted on by

1331046910 90 Venezuelan govt must give specific information on oil spillEL UNIVERSAL Friday March 02, 2012  11:50 AM

The presidential candidate of the opposition Unified Democratic Panel, Henrique Capriles Radonski, started the second phase of his pre-campaign with a house-to-house visit to the parishes of Las Cocuizas and San Simón in Maturín, Monagas state. The candidate condemned the government for not being transparent in its reports regarding the oil spill in the Guarapiche River. He also stated that the Executive has not provided citizens with precise information on the situation."The country is paying attention to what is happening in Monagas, and the government has not acknowledged the seriousness of the problem. there are no official numbers, but the Guarapiche oil spill could possibly be the largest freshwater oil spill in history. we think the government should be clear and specific with the information it releases so that all communities can come up with plans of action. there are still many areas without drinking water and, to date, the people from Monagas do not know whether or not the problem is being dealt with or how it is being solved. No official numbers warn about the consequences of this spill, which has diminished the people’s quality of life," expressed Capriles Radonski.The contender for the Venezuelan presidency said that the oil spill in the Guarapiche River could have been avoided if there was "a qualified team that could provide a quick and efficient response. The government must support problem solving, not pose an obstacle for it. our government will facilitate the resources to solve problems. State companies must not work to fulfill the interests of any administration; they must work in favor of the progress of all Venezuelans."Capriles Radonski stressed that oil is a Venezuelan resource. Therefore, it must be produced and used to benefit the Venezuelan people first and foremost."Together, we will start a change process that will ensure that our oil industry will honor the motto "Pdvsa belongs to all Venezuelans and not to a political party." I ask the workers of our oil industry to have confidence and not to be afraid, as all there is to fear is being left behind. Pdvsa is set to become a well-administered and professionalized industry. we must focus on advancing and progressing. Progress means that all Venezuelans have jobs, education, healthcare, security and quality housing," said Capriles Radonski during his visit to the eastern city.

“Venezuelan gov’t must give specific information on oil spill”

The Skin I Live In (2011)

Posted on by

1329693310 36 The Skin I Live In (2011)

The Skin I Live in (2011)

The Skin I Live in (Spanish: La piel que habito) is a 2011 Spanish thriller film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Marisa Paredes, Jan Cornet, Roberto Álamo and Blanca Suárez, and is loosely based on Thierry Jonquet’s novel Tarantula. the film was the first collaboration in 21 years between Almodóvar and his former regular cast member Banderas. the film premiered in May 2011 in competition at the 64th Cannes Film Festival.the Skin I Live in is based on Thierry Jonquet’s novel Mygale (“Tarantula” in English), first published in French and then in English under the same title. Almodóvar described the film as “a horror story without screams or frights”.

Advertisement

The Skin I Live In (2011)