skillz

This is what his brother said: Mike and I talk a lot, so we're generally on the same page here. One thing Mike didn't mention on Jeimer: he's only a 3B/1B defensively. Every tool is a 50 or 55 (average or slightly above) except for his speed. He doesn't move well and he's young, so he only figures to slow down going forward. Still, he draws walks, has a good hit tool, and hits for some power. He's a good-looking, MLB-ready 3B. My beef with Paredes is his body. He's awfully soft for a guy who has been in pro ball for two years already. There's oodles of natural hitting ability but I don't see how he stays up the middle long-term, at which point there's a lot of pressure on his power to emerge. Not a bad second piece here for the Tigers by any stretch as most folks like Paredes a lot more than me.

My co-worker is a huge Cubs fan and a baseball nut. His brother writes about baseball for a publication. Here is what he said about the trade from a Cubs' fan perspective: Here are my thoughts: 1. Candelario - he's one of the few hold overs left in the organization from the Hendry era (pre-Theo). His development has been inconsistent. In part, this has been because he's struggled with his fitness level from time-to-time. He's taken fitness more seriously the past 2.5 years and this seems to have helped his development. He's a switch hitter. I've seen him play a few times and he's got some power from the left side and is a bit more of a gaps hitter from the right side (I don't know if the stats reflect my observation). The hit tool isn't bad. For the last couple of years, he's looked like a major league hitter, albiet one who can produce at a solid, but not spectacular level. His plate discipline has improved substantially since Theo's player development crew took over. This hasn't yet translated in his short trips to the majors but it appears he has the potential to get on base. He looks like the sort of hitter who is good enough to start in the majors but will probably never be much more than the 15-20th best third baseman. He'll put up average, not monster numbers. Fielding wise, he's looked sufficient-to-average since he improved his fitness. He should be a better fielder than Castellanos, although I suppose that's not much of a compliment (Candelario deserves a better compliment than that). He deserved to be a mid-season top 100 prospect this year, as he was by many ranking systems. He's not going to be a star but should be playing in the majors right now. Obviously he was blocked in Chicago with Bryant at 3rd and Rizzo at 1st. He looked great in spring training this year and got out of the gate hot but has struggled since he was passed over for Ian Happ when the Cubs needed to add someone. I assume his acquisition means Castellanos is ticketed for DH or LF. 2. I like Paredes more than Robert does. There's a lot to be interested in. We bought him out of Mexico a couple of years back (using the loophole that He has a nice looking hit tool that projects as at least average and a bit of pop. He also walks incredibly well for a young player. The most important thing to know is he's an 18 year old holding his own in Midwest League. There is plenty of room for projection. He's not naturally quick or fluid in the field and is already getting a bit top heavy. He doesn't look likely to stick at SS and is most likely a 2b or 3b. He's reasonably far away from the majors at this point but was one of the more interesting players left in our system after we gutted it to acquire Chapman and Quintana. Obviously he's far enough away that a lot can go wrong still but he looks like the sort of player who can be an average-to-above average regular at 3b or 2b. Overall, I like this for the Cubs in the our prospect capital is low at this point and it fills our two biggest holes. Its hard to complain about a team that remains all in. I don't think this is a bad deal for the Tigers though. Definitely better than the JD deal, pending how the prospects develop. The price feels a bit steep for a rental catcher so I have to believe that the extra year of control over Wilson is what pushed Theo to include these two.

And then the Goldmans will just go after the money he gets to get paid for their civil judgment. They're not going away.

No, but my high school made swim class mandatory to graduate in order to justify its having a pool in the building.

I don't see why he couldn't do that so long as they don't bill for Jimmy's time.

So you can fly out on the east side of the State without having to drive through tons of Metro Detroit traffic to get to the Detroit airport. Bishop is actually a nice alternative airport.

I am thinking Gus has Nacho killed. He seemed to piece together that Nacho did something with Hector's pills. He is going to view Nacho as being disloyal and as someone he does not want to continue doing business with. Gus is ruthless. The irony will be if he has Mike do it.

Damn I miss Amalfi! I remember that view fondly when the wife and I went last year. My favorite place in Italy.

I hope Avila can make some good trades once this team starts selling.

It's gonna be a bad ending for Chuck. The firm he built doesn't want him back. He either settles for money and leaves the firm, or he returns to a firm that doesn't want him. Plus he is still struggling with his mental illness. Not having any hope of returning to the firm will only exacerbate his demise since he views his true calling in life to be a respected lawyer. That has been taken from him and the lawsuit he is threatening to file won't bring that back for him. Jimmy isn't going to be around to help him either when the firm isn't there to support him any longer.

Kim's check to Howard was dated March 4, 2003. How close is that date to the start of Breaking Bad?

Sans souci is full nude beach too but it is a separated from the traditional beach at a different part of the resort.

Yes went to Couples Sans Souci with my wife three years ago. Very small resort but quiet, the food was good, and the staff was beyond polite. Also had the best coffee. They also have a martini bar that was fantastic. A very relaxing vacation. They had two "festival" events where they had food out almost like a luau vibe. Only downside to the resort was that it is very hilly and depending on where you stay you have a lot of steps to/from your room.

Have they said at all where this season will take place? Last we heard he was with Leon in Paris. It would be funny to have Larry in Europe dealing with the different cultures and ways of doing things. He would be a bull in a China shop.

And J.D. Martinez too.