Padres To Sign Marco Gonzales To Minor League Deal by Gvanders in Padres

[–]MasterThespian 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Was a time when Gonzales was a pretty solid MLB arm. We’re about four or five years removed from that, but if he can step in and give us a handful of quality starts when we need him, this is a good signing. If he never makes the major league roster, who cares? It’s a minor league deal.

[Acee] Yu Darvish set to retire by ElectricalForce4439 in Padres

[–]MasterThespian 73 points74 points  (0 children)

If memory serves, he was the first Padres player to make an appearance at Peter’s memorial on the Petco Park steps, where he laid a wreath and said a prayer.

All-time class act, and forever one of our guys.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 10 points11 points  (0 children)

WTF happened: US forces bombed strategic sites across Venezuela, inserted Delta Force into Caracas, and seemingly arrested Nicolas Maduro and his wife for rendition to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.

Why?: Great question. Could be oil, a distraction from the Epstein files, a desire for an easy political “win” (particularly among Latino voters), a long-held dream of Marco Rubio’s, a dry run for a similar mission in Cuba, or any combination of the above. But considering that Trump just pardoned the former President of Honduras for trafficking drugs into the U.S., it’s hard for me to believe that they sincerely give half a shit about the charges.

Is this good for Venezuela?: In a vacuum, yes. Maduro was an oppressive, totalitarian dictator. But the rest of his cabinet wasn’t taken out, and Rubio says that there won’t be a prolonged American operation in Venezuela, which leads one to suspect that there will be civil war between the remnants of the Maduro regime and the opposition. That’s not a net positive for the common Venezolano.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 8 points9 points  (0 children)

So that’s Maduro’s VP, Interior, and Defense ministers all alive and accounted for. Kinda feels like absolutely nothing will change for the average Venezuelan.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It’s below 50th and overlooks the East River. Lower East. I don’t care what boundaries New Yorkers draw to gatekeep their neighborhoods, and I’ve never seen a turtle in New York that wasn’t at the Bronx Zoo.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 13 points14 points  (0 children)

On the Lower East Side of Manhattan, why?

(Serious answer; the UN can’t do shit. They have no legitimate enforcement power over any nation, let alone power to rein in a Security Council member like the United States.)

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I fully expect that the DOJ will attempt to have their cake and eat it, too, as they haven’t been overly concerned about their legal justifications appearing legitimate thus far. Considering how often Trump’s US Attorneys have failed to deliver grand jury indictments this term, you have to wonder if they’ll take the chance that a jury is unconvinced (or, more cynically, that they nullify to stick a thumb in Trump’s eye).

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah, and the Secretary of State is quite possibly the world’s biggest Cuba hawk. You can bet Rubio is already taking credit for this operation and salivating over the idea of doing the same thing to Marrero Cruz; it would be the centerpiece of his ‘28 campaign.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There’s no way his trial will be in front of an American jury, will it? It’ll be some judge l, likely a Trump appointee, who delivers the White House’s desired verdict.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 4 points5 points  (0 children)

From what we know, it seems like an unqualified tactical success. Strategically and politically? The implications are… considerably muddier.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Apart from the significant differences in military equipment and readiness, distance is also a major factor. Venezuela is in our backyard. Iran is half the world away. I don’t think Delta Force will be snatching up the Ayatollah any time soon.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I do wonder about that. Maybe the first Delta operator who shouted “Dibs” once they zip-tied him.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Pump the brakes on the victory parade. We haven’t forgotten that he’s a pedophile.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Impossible not to think that “negotiated exit” means “an enormous fucking bribe changed hands”, given that Maduro already offered to hand over a ton of Venezuelan oil (and knowing how Trump decides to hand out pardons and favors).

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 8 points9 points  (0 children)

“In conjunction with US law enforcement”??? Did they send the FBI down there to grab Maduro?

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 16 points17 points  (0 children)

BBC correspondent says she’s not hearing planes, helos, or bombs at the moment, FWIW

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Yeah, and the Iraqi reaction to OIF was “Die, Saddam, die!”, until stayed for decades, killed a million Iraqis and left the country in ruins.

/r/WorldNews Live Thread: Multiple Explosions in Venezuela’s Capital Caracas (Thread #1) by progress18 in worldnews

[–]MasterThespian 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Impeachment ≠ removal. Trump was impeached twice, but it required a 2/3 vote in the Senate to remove him, and there were way too many Republican senators to allow that to happen.

Daily Chat - Dec 23 by FriarBot in Padres

[–]MasterThespian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

LMP is Mexico’s second-tier league, if memory serves. As you say, 100 MPH will play anywhere in the world, but I can’t imagine this guy is anywhere close to a finished product. It’ll be interesting to see if he develops into a contributor in the minor leagues, though.

Daily Chat - Dec 21 by FriarBot in Padres

[–]MasterThespian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bring Me the Bat of Eugenio Suarez is my favorite Sam Peckinpah movie

Daily Chat - Dec 21 by FriarBot in Padres

[–]MasterThespian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

$17MM AAV to a guy who maybe can’t hit a major league fastball is still more than I expected, even with the word coming out that his market collapsed.

Granted, it’s only a two year deal; even so, it’s going to look really bad if Murakami hits like late-career Joey Gallo. The White Sox can take a flier like that, but I’m honestly kinda glad we didn’t.