In light of the damage wrought by Tropical Storm Harvey, the Astros have released a statement about their plans for the coming week. The team, after playing the Angels in California this weekend, is currently scheduled to host the Rangers in Houston on Tuesday. However, the team now plans to fly to Dallas, and will provide an update on their schedule on Monday. It seems reasonable to speculate that the upcoming series will be moved to Arlington. “At this point, our focus is on the safety of our fans, our players and their families and our front office staff and their families,” says Astros president of business operations Reid Ryan. “As we continue to monitor the conditions, we have been in communication with Major League Baseball and the Texas Rangers and will provide an update on Monday.” Obviously, these potential changes to the baseball calendar pale in importance to the continued dangers Harvey poses, and we at MLBTR send our thoughts to any readers currently dealing with the devastation of the storm.
Here’s more from the West divisions.
- A series of trades left the Rangers‘ minor-league system light on starting pitching talent, so the organization has changed its priorities to accommodate their talent vacuum, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News writes. While pushing for a World Series title, the Rangers dealt Jerad Eickhoff, Alec Asher and Jake Thompson (in the Cole Hamels deal), Luis Ortiz (in the Jonathan Lucroy trade) and Dillon Tate (for Carlos Beltran). In the wake of those departures, the team focused on their prospects’ fastball command and slowed down the pace at which they moved through the system. The team’s remaining top pitching prospect, Yohander Mendez, has exemplified those changes, as Grant points out — last year, Mendez went all the way from Class A+ High Desert to the Majors, mostly with fine results, probably thanks in part to an excellent changeup. This year, though, he’s spent the entire season with Double-A Frisco. “I was uncomfortable at first,” Mendez says. “I was not used to pitching like that. But I was falling in love with my secondary stuff and it hurt me. If I know my mechanics and could locate the fastball, it would make my secondary pitches better.”
- The Giants‘ struggles this season — culminating today in a sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks — show that the team will yet again have to upgrade its bullpen in the coming winter, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes. One key recent acquisition, Mark Melancon, has missed part of the season with elbow issues, and another, Will Smith, has missed all of it. Josh Osich and Steven Okert have struggled in their attempts to replace retired lefty Javier Lopez. On the bright side, the team can hope for more from Melancon and Smith next year, and Sam Dyson has proven very helpful. And the team will have pieces it can mix and match in Cory Gearrin, Hunter Strickland, Derek Law and Kyle Crick.
The Giants are going to need a LOT more than bullpen help. Outfield production all around (hitting, defense, base running) has been lackluster. Crawford losing all ability to get on base didn’t help.
Crawford’s been much better lately. Main areas of need are OF and 3B. Unless Parker and Slater continue on their production from this year, outfield is a priority. I have doubts about Christian Arroyo at 3B for next season cause he’s done for this year
SF has a league average SP rotation and a league average BP. The problem is their 29th ranked offense in runs scored, 22nd in BA, 29th in OBP, and dead last in SLG and OPS. The least of their concern should be about the BP.
The Giants are done for a while as I have been saying for a while now….it’s not as if they had a dynasty smashing teams to win the WS 3 times in 5 years and that is why they have a poor farm system….if that were the case I would be like “hey they were dominant and now they need to restock the farm”….thing is….they weren’t dominant….none of their 3 WS lineups scared anyone….no 35-40 HR guy….no 40 SB guy….just a bunch of overachieving guys when it came to the last month of the season….they backed into the playoffs one of those years on the last day of the season….they were down 2-0 to the Reds and went on to win the series and then had to get past the Phillies who were heavily favored as they were the far better team….then they beat the Rangers who also were favored….they even swept the favored Tigers in the WS….yes the Giants won 3 WS in 5 years….but they won each as the 4-10 best team in baseball….they were never the best team….or even a top 3 team….not many stars etc….they had a ton of luck go their way….to beat far superior teams and that is why they are hurting so bad now….they never belonged in the elite….they had a lucky stretch in September every WS year and now their luck ran out….they are old now and have the worst OF in the MLB…..bullpen is weak….farm is irrelevant and the division just got a whole lot better….the Padres still may be the worst team in the division but they are getting better….they have a core of young players that I would take over the again Giants core players….
You’re a clown to think that it just took luck to win all of those WS. Its easy for a fan to make such ridiculous assessments anyway.
Baseball is about success on all fronts and thats what the Giants had. Sluggers and stats don’t win games, its a culmination of scoring when you need to and preventing the other team from doing so.
By your definition the favorite should take the title every year and we all know that this is hardly the case.
The truth is, they made poor trades during years where they didn’t win, like Duvall for Leak and the Beltran acquisition plus other factors that depleted the farm system. Most of the core from those days are old or retired or no longer productive, and thats mostly pitchers like Lincecum, Wilson, Affeldt, Lopez, Romo, Cain. The Giants haven’t done much in free agency since.
I agree with all of this except that the Leake trade was poor.
There was zero indication of Duvall’s breakout. Also, he benefits from playing LF in Cincinnati, which is a pretty small outfield. He was never slated to be an OF in the Giants organization. They didn’t have a foreseeable spot on the roster, thus, they moved him.
Good for the Reds for finding his groove. But it wasn’t a bad trade, especially not at the time it was made.
Giants also have a huge hole at 3B where Duvall played with them. You can deny it all you want. Duvall has power that the giants desperately need. He wouldn’t hit as many home runs in SF but he would still be a good player
I think luck has more to do than anything. The best team rarely wins. The Cubs last year are an exception. It’s all about who gets hot att he right time.
duvall actually started as a backup catcher (@ least in his first spring) but was converted to IF by the time he go to the majors, t he last time he was up with the giants before he was traded he saw most of his time @ 1st due to need and defensive issues.
dodgerfan711: Huge hole? Maybe a temporary minor hole. Nunez liked it in SF and is a candidate to return. Christian Arroyo is the heir apparent and is the top Giant’s prospec Also a possibility is Ryder Jones. Besides, Duvall just isn’t that special to be considered a huge loss. He had a huge start to the season fueled bu a .318 BABIP, but in the second half has slashed an anemic .208/.279/.429.
Lol go look at Ryder’s numbers
Christan Arroyo was flat out awful in his time up. If you are relying on him or ryder jones as a long term solution at 3B well good luck with that.
Because you know, every young player puts up amazing numbers upon his debut. Every time.
And if they don’t, they must suck.
Oh, hey there Mr. Trout.
Duvall has a .306 OBP. If the power gets diminished as much as it would, you’d need the on-base ability to be there. He’d be among the worst in San Francisco in the OBP department, if not the worst (as several home runs would come off the board and be turned to outs, thus lowering his on-base totals).
Everyone is wise with 20/20 hindsight. In 2015, when he was traded, it made a world of sense.
You think the Orioles would love to have Arrieta back? Of course they would. But he was horrible in Baltimore. If anything, you can only give credit to Chicago for turning him around. You can’t blame Baltimore for moving him.
No players who wouldn’t even sniff the major leauges if they were on any other team wouldn’t get the benifit of the doubt. Ryder Jones wouldn’t be on most teams top 10 list but the Giants had to call him up. Some minor leauger who wouldn’t even be a top 250 prospect is not who you count on as a long term solution. Arroyo is hurt and was awful. You want me to say he is the next josh donaldson?
No, you suggested relying on Arroyo, because he put up terrible numbers is a terrible idea.
The guy has 130 PAs. Mike Trout was terrible in his first season too. Give him time.
This is a silly argument, and you’ve yet again proven to everyone reading that you know next to nothing about the Giants.
I picked the Giants to lose all 3 WS as they really weren’t the dominant team that they faced in the Rangers or Tigers….the Royals were like the Giants a bit as they didn’t have the bomber lineup and 3 aces etc….just good bullpen at the time and steady hitters….they were evenly matched up bit the Tigers and Rangers were better than the Giants….not to mention the Phillies who the Giants beat to get to the WS….the Giants are the luckiest team in professional sports as it takes luck to win the WS even if u are as dominant as the Dodgers are this year….they will need luck to go their way to win the WS….and the Giants 3 WS teams were no where near as good as this years Dodgers….or Astros for that matter….the Giants had the luckiest run ever because some people don’t even think they should have been in the playoffs none less the WS….maybe 1 of them but not all 3…..now they are old and suck…..I called this years ago….I knew it was coming….
3 rings in 5 years. That’s all I heard.
This.
You called this years ago…just like you called them losing all three WS…which didn’t happen…
I hear football is starting soon…maybe stick to that…cuz you are terrible baseball fan…
…and terrible at punctuation……………
A Dodgers fan picking the Giants to lose?
Consider me shocked. SHOCKED!
I agree they weren’t your typical dynasty. But you don’t luck into THREE! Come on man. Get outta here with that crap. You must be a Dodgers fan, lifelong giant hater????
I’m still upset about the Phillies series.
That was an excellent series with more twists and turns than a George R.R. Martin book. How the Giants didn’t let Game 6 get away from them and managed to win it, I still have no idea.
usafcop: You pretty much lose all credibility when you complain that the winning team was just lucky…3 times at that. That whole just lucky complaint is weak.
Point being….they won 3 of 5 WS….while being a top 4-10 team at best….they were never dominant….the lineups they put on the field scared no pitcher or manager….the top 4 is being generous and may only be used for one of those years….the other 2 years they were closer to top 7 or 8….they only won the WS because they were hot at the right time….he’ll if they missed the playoffs due to being buried in the standings but played the way they were playing in September….they still would have beaten the Rangers and Tigers….in my opinion the best team in baseball wins the most games during the season….wins their division etc….not the team that gets in as a wild card and gets hit at the right time and all of their scrubs start hitting like all-stars…..Ross…. Ishakawa….Gillespie….I can go on….but won’t
You called this years ago…just like you called them losing all three WS…which didn’t happen…
I hear football is starting soon…maybe stick to that…cuz you are terrible baseball fan…
…and terrible at punctuation……………
Point being, you’re just blatantly being an idiot. Hush now, let the big boys talk.
The big boys watch Football!!!!
actually the heroes of the series’ were bumgarner, affeldt, lincecum, panik, blanco, crawfrord…. they won the years because of their pitching and defense, offense is tough in SF because unless you are bonds you are not going to hit 40+ hr, the park doesn’t allow it. Hitters need to spray the ball which is why guys like scutaro raked, the sf game is about doubles and triples and that isn’t what is happening right now. – and the biggest bombs that people around here talk about were posey, burrell, and of course the most important was renterria – burrell and renteria weren’t scrubs they were just at the end of their carreer.
Say your fantasy baseball team goes 20-2 and loses to the other divisions wild card team that finished 13-9….are they better than your 20-2 team? No. In fact if u played again u would probably win….take the Giants in 2 of those WS where they barely made the playoffs….say they missed the playoffs….the Tigers win the WS over the Cards for instance and the Giants play a series vs the Tigers the next week after the WS….as hot as the Giants finished the season they would probably beat the Tigers in the series….does that mean the Giants are the better team? Hell no. Hottest team? Yes. Luckiest team? Hell yes.
I’m sorry you don’t like the way the MLB had decided to crown a champion. however end of the day the Giants had a great run and achieved the most for 3 seasons.
“Ellipses…ellipses…ellipses…ellipses…Giants suck…”
This is very informative. I learned just how much you hate the Giants. So much that you posted the same comment using different words four times.
This years Dodgers are far superior than any Giants team that won the WS….yet it will take luck to win the WS….the Giants know all about that….
No matter how much you hate the Giants..
They still won 3 out of 5 years when different players stepped up…..they played as a team and WON as a team….
Schulman vastly overstates the bullpen woes. As stated here, the Giants have players coming back that should improve the bullpen, namely more innings from Melancon and getting Smith back.
Aside from a veteran lefty, I’m not sold that the Giants need a massive upgrade in the pen.
Still not at all happy about any of JD’s trades the last 4-5 years. We’ve traded away a lot of quality prospects for nothing. But Texas has added a few pitching prospects in the lower minors that hopefully will replace what we gave up. Mendez, Ragans, Crouse, Cody, Martin, Alexy (Darvish trade), Palumbo (out this season with TJ), Speas and Matuella. Lots of promising arms in A ball and AA ball. Hopefully they’ll be able to replace what we gave away
Agree….Still like the Hamels trade but anytime JD does a deadline rental trade it seems to be at an unusually high cost. Beltran/Tate, Garza/Edwards, Dempster/Hendricks, Lucroy/Brinson and Ortiz, etc.
Yes they won 3 of 5 WS….but none of those years were they the best team in baseball and no I am not a Dodgers fan….just a guy who has been a fantasy commissioner for all major sports for over 25 years….Stat guru basically….I called the Indians and Mets reaching the WS about 3-4 years ago….I called out the Astros as the next up and coming team about 3 years ago….I know baseball and I am not saying the Giants didn’t win the 3 WS fair and square….they played and won because they were the hitter team in each….but they were not the best team in any of those years like the dodgers are this year….furthermore….the dodgers who have over 90 wins already are no lock for the WS….they could lose to an underachieving Cubs team….u need luck to go your way to win the WS….the Giants just had more than your your normal championship team….
Heh. You play fantasy baseball, so you’re a “stat guru”? Seriously? For a stat guru your posts are remarkably stat free and vacuous. You are either lying, insanely egotistical, or trolling. It’s very easy to be wise after the fact. Still, it would be advisable for you to drop your irrational dislike of the Giants. You cannot dismiss their accomplishments with nebulous luck.
People who never win cite luck for the reason others do.
It takes luck to win any championship….I can’t in 105 games and expect to be the WS champions or go 15-1 and expect to win the SB….u need luck on your side….players performing above their level….lucky breaks etc….Dodgers vs Astros look like a lock to meet in the WS this year but it could be the Indians vs Nats or Red Sox vs Cubs….we don’t know….but my point is that say the Cubs get in the WS as the worst division winner in the NL and beats any of the AL teams in the WS….it doesn’t mean they are the best team in baseball….it just means they were the best team that week….I have been saying the Giants were lucky all along and their luck will run out soon and they will be one of the worst teams in baseball for s while now….don’t hate me because I was right again….lol
Are you done yet? zip it
Nobody even cares about this topic. It is not relevant
Well it is kind of relevant….the article touches on the Giants struggles….I just pointed out that I seen this coming as I also seen the success of the Indians and Mets in recent years and the emergence of the Astros….all about 4 years ago I had stated that the Indians and the Mets would both reach the WS soon….both did….I also said the Cubs and Astros would be on the rise about 3 years ago….I was right again….I also said when Ivan Nova was 5-0 with a ridiculous ERA….that he would finish around .500 with a record around 13-12 or so and an ERA around 3.00 and I believe that I will be very close….I also said the collapse of the Giants is coming fast….as they were not your typical powerhouse dynasty….they were soft champions who had a ton of luck go their way….they were hot at the right moment but they were never the best team in baseball….and now they have a weak farm and the same soft lineup….we each know baseball or we wouldn’t be here….we each have opinions too….I respect your opinion of the Giants and I do not care either way if u agree with my opinion of the Giants because it is what it is….they are a joke and I saw it coming….look at them….the proof is there….one of the worst teams in baseball with one of the worst farm systems….they are in a tough division now and the only team that is similar to the Giants in that division would be the Padres who have a good farm system and a young core of players in the MLB….they are ahead of the Giants in their rebuild and these are the 2 worst teams in the division….
Giants, on their way to three World Championships, played in ten series.
They were favored in exactly ZERO of them.
They won them all.
Those are the facts.
Exactly…..in each series in each of those years they were underdogs….because they weren’t the better team in any of them….yes they won 3 WS….because it was then that they were hot….but some people don’t even think they were the best team in their own division….which at the time was a weak division….any team needs luck to win the championship….the Giants needed a ton of it in every series….guys that no other team wanted were coming through with career hits….only to disappear the next season and be irrelevant again….the Giants are the luckiest team in professional sports….to win all 10 series as underdogs….did they have talent? Yes. Did other teams have way more talent? Yes. Point blank the Giants were lucky to even be in the playoffs on at least one of those runs….just my opinion….
Lucky? Sure. Keep telling yourself that.
You want less teams in the playoffs? Great. I’m actually all for it.
But that’s not the deal. Deal is, 10 slots.
When it came time to win, when it mattered, under these rules, the Giants won. Against more talented teams. Every time.
Not luck.
Lying? About what? Lol….I have been doing fantasy baseball and football for over 25 years as a commissioner….recently I expanded and started doing basketball and hockey as a commissioner as well….though I know way more about baseball and football my 2 favorite sports….than I do about the other 2….with baseball being my moneymaker….yes Stat guru….friends call me ESPN….walking baseball encyclopedia and statistician….I can pretty much predict what a players stats will be before the season and be very close in most cases barring injuries etc….but if u want stats on the Giants during their run….here ya go….no power threat….no speed demons….just a few 10-20 HR guys that came through at the right time….guys that wouldn’t have started on any other playoff team were heroes in each series….statistically the Giants were eliminated before each series began….but they won with heart….dedication….lots of luck and perseverance….they never gave up even when they were down and even when they faced elimination….they have one of the best managers in baseball who took the Padres to the division title before he went to the Giants….the Giants won 3 WS….I am not taking that away from them….but they were never the best team in the league or a scoring machine or dynasty….they were soft champions and I knew eventually the run would not only end….but it would be ugly because they weren’t the dominant team that had won championships and then had the pieces to trade for prospects to build the farm up….the Giants had to fight and work hard for each title….and were left with the worst OF in the MLB and a bottom 10 farm….not many pieces they can trade to right the ship….nobody wants their OF….their catcher costs a fortune….and Samardzija is way over paid….not many assets to trade away to start a re-tool….and I saw this coming….though it’s later than I expected it to happen….it was inevitable
I see now what stephaniepetagno was getting at after re-reading his/her post…. lying about the fact that I called out the Indians and Mets to go to the WS in the next couple of years….about 4 years ago I posted that on my Facebook account….then the following year I posted that the Cubs and Astros would be great soon but some of my friends were like….yeah right to all 4 bold predictions….as these teams were bottom feeders for years….now they don’t question my predictions….lol….so no I am not stating these predictions after the fact….these were my predictions about 3-4 years ago and all of them have panned out so far….I also told my son several years ago that Scherzer….and Morrow would be aces someday….I was only half right on that one though Morrow has good stuff….he just never panned out as Scherzer has….
Man you just think you’re all that and a bag of chips, don’t you? Quite the savant, huh?
Any number of us have made very accurate “predictions” over the years. And been wrong a lot too. Not even gonna say you didn’t “call” it, but don’t act like you knew the pieces were gonna fall together the way they did.
You are easily the most narcissistic and egotistical person I have seen online. That’s saying something.
News flash : no one cares.
The reason the Giants are where they are now is simply because after they won a bunch of times, they extended a bunch of their guys (Pence, Belt, Cain, Crawford). Happens all the time, teams have good cores, but forget that father time is undefeated.
The question, however, is how to compete again?
Obviously Posey’s staying put as the franchise icon, but honestly, if I’m Bobby Evans, Im fielding offers for everyone. Get out from as many of those contracts as possible while stocking the system. The Giants have plenty of valuable pieces.
Belt, Crawford, Strickland, Melancon, Panik, Span, Law and maybe Moore on his c/o will probably draw, at the very least, some level of interest. Honestly, I would listen on MadBum this offseason too. He’s proving that he’s fine and he could really build that system.
I agree Phillies2017….that they need to do something drastic….the Giants need to trade from their core to be competitive again….Panik is middle of the pack 2B so he won’t bet a huge return….Belt is being passed by up and comers such as Bellinger and 1B is so stacked that Belt really wouldn’t be much of an upgrade on many teams….he is a dime a dozen 1B just like Panik is at 2B….the OF is old….Posey is costly….the best bet is to trade Crawford as they have Arroyo who can play SS and trade Samardzija if a team will take on his 18 million contract….I never said the Giants sucked….I just said they didn’t belong in sane conversation as other WS winners or considered elite….they fought tooth and nail in each series and came back to win many of those series when their backs were up against the wall….they earned their wins….I am not saying they didn’t…I am saying that they were lucky to be in the playoffs to begin with and that they were underdogs in each series for a reason….they had one of the worst lineups ever to win a WS….were they a bad team? No. But they weren’t great either. They struggled in each series. They won with scrubs being heroes. Did I call their demise? Yes. It just took longer than I expected because they are pesky and they have no quit in them…
I would tell you to get a life, but your paragraphs of blather just to hear yourself (since I’m guessing no one else will) and your quarter of a century wasted on fantasy sports says you’re already beyond hope.
having no quit is what makes them win – I don’t think though you need to trade either posey or crawford, or bumgarner – I think those guys are actually your core that you need to keep because you can build around an ace, an extra bat (posey, otherwise you bring down your offense as catchers aren’t a production piece in an offense) and IF defense. They are going to pick high after this year – hopefully they will do something good with it, the last time they had a good high pick it meant posey which was in a lot of ways the key to winning all of those WS’s. But there are small things they can do – move pence even if you have to eat salary – maybe decline moore or utilize him as a swing guy to bolster the pen, bring some guys along like duggar and beede… just take what is in the system and water test it – the reason the farm gets crap ratings a lot of times is because a lot of those guys were mid-low picks but there still are guys that can produce – offense needs to come out of the OF right now – it is terrible and that is the biggest things when ll 3 positions in your lineup are just anemic – it is a huge hole and if you keep protecting span and pence and not exposing some young guys to see if they can sink or swim – you are asking yourself to spend big for what might be another albatross on your neck. next year they ought to try to move either span or pence and whoever they don’t – gotta be a bench piece because at this point they are more valuable off than on the field.
Hey usaftroll, haven’t u noticed that you’re a stupid troll with nothing to add to these conversations? You’re clear dislike for the Giants is obvious, but nothing you’ve ever said has done anything but make people disagree with you. You need to check your attitude, your writing style, and baseball reference once in a while.
And despite your opinion, your complete lack of social skills has made even dodgers fans confused by your misplaced anger. Why World Series from 7 years ago, won by a team you don’t like, is still so important to you, shows that you should probably stay on your meds…and the fact that you keep doing this on these posts shows that you should probably increase the dosage considerably.
What a loser!
This is your tenth comment saying the exact same things. We get the point. You think you’re always right.
Uh, the Giants were actually dominant in their WS appearances, going a combined 8-1 against the Rangers and Tigers. They went down 2-1 against the Royals in 2014 but generally had the upper hand in that series until the final out.
Yes they were, but I think the point is that they probably weren’t the best team in the league.The 2014 one especially considering they were a wild card team. But baseball is a sport where the best team rarely wins. I think that’s where the “luck” argument comes. They were just a couple team who got hot at the right time and rode their ace to a ring.
Agreed JD….that’s all I was saying….the Giants were never the best team in baseball but they got hit at the right time and the fact that they won these championships without a stacked roster like many other champions have has hurt them to this day….they don’t have a whole lot that anyone would want….few pieces yes…but they need an overhaul and all I was saying is that I seen this coming….I know baseball as much as anyone here….we just have different opinions and we have different ways of expressing it….i.e. Getting it out….but for the toads that want to call names and say derogatory comments because I am right….grow up….as far as grammar….it’s baseball talk….I use proper grammar daily in my reports….
“but for the toads that want to call names and say derogatory comments because I am right….grow up”
A lot like the pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think?
Also, the ellipses make your comments almost impossible to read.
The only loser here is ABStract….to base the label “loser” on baseball rant….get a life….u don’t know me….u don’t know what I do day in and day out at work….the trash I deal with daily….my grammar is great….I don’t need to use it here so I type like this….spelling is impeccable minus typos….my math skills are rare….very sharp guy….so for the name calling….stupid….loser….etc….look on the mirror as u are calling out names on a baseball blog….based on someone’s opinions….opinions that I have nailed time in and time out….u don’t have to be a dodgers fan to know the Giants were not the best team in baseball….EVER….lol
Are you doing a bit? Because it’s a very strange one.
usafcop:
Seek help. You are obsessed and narcissistic with all those repetitive, inane, self-justifying, baseless comments.
Oh I see….someone states facts and they need help…..seems legit….not
Nate Walter, toads was meant for the ones who were calling out names over my factual baseball comments….no need for names in that case….people have opinions….u don’t need I resort to name calling….me calling them toads was because they are name calling over baseball opinions….legitimate reason to call them toads….but I would never call names based on another’s opinion….that is asinine to even think it would be okay….that is the person or people that have no life….not the one calling out names to name callers….zap no it’s not the tea pot calling the kettle black….if anything they are teapots calling the kettle black as they are the toads for name calling and putting others down for their opinions….I was right about everything I posted….I have been wrong a lot as well….I am sure we all have made educated guesses and been right and wrong occasionally….get over it
Aside from autocorrected words (we all do it) my posts are very readable….stop and pause in between…..names like loser…. narcissistic….stupid should not be used on a baseball site….over someone’s opinions….I know I wouldn’t use names to bash someone’s opinion….those are the people you need to look at sideways….not the guy stating facts….so what….I was right about a few things….we all have been right on many things I am sure….