No more DPIR cuz PLK is a spoilsport. Also, Blizzard ruined Diablo 3: 

The morning brings a trio of horror-news about Diablo III. I’m outright bewildered about what Blizzard have done, and shuddering about the likely reaction in comments. I won’t muck around here, and instead shall just wade straight into the things that are probably going to end up being PC gaming’s biggest controversy of 2011.

1) The game requires a constant internet connection. It cannot be played offline.
2) Mods are “expressly prohibited.”
3) Items in the auction house are bought and sold for real-life money.

Uh-oh.

When my future children ask me “where were you when the war began, Daddy?” I’ll think of this day. And I’ll say “well, sweetling, I was drinking a cup of instant coffee, sat in my dressing gown in front of my PC, same as every morning. But on this particular morning, I don’t mind telling you, I sprayed that coffee all over my monitor and had to fight the urge to leave the internet for a least a month. For I knew what was coming, child. I knew. Every day since, I thank every god I can think of that we’re somehow still alive, that the Earth somehow still turns.”

All of news this via PC Gamer (who’ve been to see Blizzard recently), here, here and here.

In order, here’s Blizzard’s justifications:

1) “One of the things that we felt was really important was that if you did play offline, if we allowed for that experience, you’d start a character, you’d get him all the way to level 20 or level 30 or level 40 or what have you, and then at that point you might decide to want to venture onto Battle.net. But you’d have to start a character from scratch, because there’d be no way for us to guarantee no cheats were involved, if we let you play on the client and then take that character online.” Also, piracy.

2) “For a variety of gameplay and security reasons, we will not be supporting bots or mods in Diablo III, and they’ll be expressly prohibited by our terms of use for the game.”

3) “We think it’s really going to add a lot of depth to the game. If I have more money than time I can purchase items, or if I’m leet in the game I can get benefits out of it. The players really want it. This is something that we know people are going to do either way. We can provide them a really safe, awesome, fun experience, or they’ll find ways of doing it elsewhere.” Blizzard will take a small cut, but they’re not expecting to make too much of a profit out of it themselves. They also say there’ll be level caps on items, so you can’t immediately shortcut to a high-level sword with a level-1 character, not matter how rich you are, plus there will also be an additional auction house that uses in-game gold. So this element of the game can, at least, be dodged entirely.

As for the online requirement and the mod-blocking? That’s just desperately sad. The DRM was at least in StarCraft II, so it’s not too much of a shock, but given Blizzard’s rich history of allowing user modification, and just how much it’s given to so many of their previous games, it’s hard to not feel let down by the decision to outright ban Diablo 3 modding. Let’s hope they have a change of heart on that point particularly.

Fight of the century, Possibly of the millenia.

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Herman Cain has discovered a way to stand out from all the other Republicans running for president.

The former president and chief executive of Godfather’s Pizza wants to make an offer to Congress that it can't refuse. Unfortunately, it may be an offer so idealistic that it could have Cain swimming with the proverbial fishes -- politically speaking.

Cain wants to stop lawmakers from passing bills that are over three pages long. Talk about small government.

"Don’t try to pass a 2,700-page bill," Cain said to a responsive audience in Pella, Iowa, on Monday. 

"You and I didn’t have time to read it. We’re too busy trying to live — send our kids to school. That’s why I am only going to allow small bills — three pages. You’ll have time to read that one over the dinner table," Cain said.

Continue reading this post »

 

ST. PETERSBURG — It sounded like a good idea to George Grayson: Get $50 for submitting to a 12-minute videotaped beating by an attractive female.

A homeless man, Grayson needed the money.

So he followed the recruiters to a St. Petersburg townhouse on seven different occasions over the last few months, he said, and let five different women use his body and face as a punching bag.

Grayson, 37, became one of many St. Petersburg homeless men allegedly targeted by recruiters from Shefights.net, a locally operated website that sells for as much as $900 videos of scantily clad or semi-nude women beating up men, according to a lawsuit.

 

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riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend
of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to
Howth Castle and Environs.
Sir Tristram, violer d'amores, fr'over the short sea, had passen-
core rearrived from North Armorica on this side the scraggy
isthmus of Europe Minor to wielderfight his penisolate war: nor
had topsawyer's rocks by the stream Oconee exaggerated themselse
to Laurens County's gorgios while they went doublin their mumper
all the time: nor avoice from afire bellowsed mishe mishe to
tauftauf thuartpeatrick: not yet, though venissoon after, had a
kidscad buttended a bland old isaac: not yet, though all's fair in
vanessy, were sosie sesthers wroth with twone nathandjoe. Rot a
peck of pa's malt had Jhem or Shen brewed by arclight and rory
end to the regginbrow was to be seen ringsome on the aquaface.
The fall (bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonner-
ronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthur-
nuk!) of a once wallstrait oldparr is retaled early in bed and later
on life down through all christian minstrelsy. The great fall of the
offwall entailed at such short notice the pftjschute of Finnegan,
erse solid man, that the humptyhillhead of humself prumptly sends
an unquiring one well to the west in quest of his tumptytumtoes:
and their upturnpikepointandplace is at the knock out in the park
where oranges have been laid to rust upon the green since dev-
linsfirst loved livvy.

Vincent: I ain't saying it's right. But you're saying a foot massage don't mean nothing, and I'm saying it does. Now look, I've given a million ladies a million foot massages, and they all meant something. We act like they don't, but they do, and that's what's so fucking cool about them. There's a sensuous thing going on where you don't talk about it, but you know it, she knows it, fucking Marsellus knew it, and Antwone should have fucking better known better. I mean, that's his fucking wife, man. He can't be expected to have a sense of humor about that shit. You know what I'm saying? 

So Which DB do we take in the top 5-10 next year:

-Patrick Robinson or
-Eric Berry or
-Taylor Mays


I then suggest Nate Allen in the 2nd(USF Mancrush of the Year!), and then one of the following positions: (RB, TE, DL, WR) in the 3rd. Then we get more Defensive depth because oh my lord our D is awful. Maybe a linebacker too. Also, Josh Johnson for quarterback.

Those who agree say 'Aye'.

- Avril Lavigne is single again, go crazy, canucks!

-Newsweek hates twitter.

-College Recommendation Engine Gets Launched.

-According to all 4 reviews I have read, Jennifer's Body sucks as much as I thought it would.

-Greatest HL2 Mod Ever?

-Dan Brown's books aren't factually accurate? :O

-The H1N1 virus laughs at your stupid handwashing.

-Edie Izzard is a god among men.

Yes, my research was Google Fast Flip. Don't hate on me.

On Friday, I will be getting a new kitty. Citizens of DRBVille, It is up to you to name that kitty. The name with the most recs(Except anything by TGN1) is my new kitty's name. I have the right to throw out your vote/entry if its stupid and I hate it. Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words Seventy Five Words 

Topics for today:

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AAA: Durham Bulls - 2, Charlotte - 10

So as you probably know, David Price got shelled. Four Innings and Six runs were the story, as well as his continual struggle for control this season cost him. Chad Orvella continues to not be a good pitcher, allowing sixteen earned runs in only ten innings. Also, John Jaso hasn't played in 6 games besides one AB today.

Other Notables:

Chris Richard  - 1-4, HR

Matt Joyce - 2-4, R

Continue reading this post »

AAA: Durham Bulls - 8, Charlotte - 2

Durham pitcher James Houser went five innings and allowed two earned runs, he struck out four, and only walked one. DRaysBay favorite Dale Thayer pitched two scoreless, only giving up a single hit, and striking out one. Reid Brignac went 1-4 with a home run and a walk, while Matt Joyce went 2-3 with two walks.

Other Notables:

Jason Isringhausen: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER

Ruggiano: 1-4, HR

AA: Montgomery Biscuits - 12, Birmingham -2

As you all probably know, Jeremy Hellickson was taken out after 2 innings. This makes me sad. Moving on, Desmond Jennings doesn't, going 2-3 with a triple. Rhyne Hughes went 1-4 with a double.

Other Notables: 

Matt Spring - 1-2, BB

A+:  Charlotte Stone Crabs - 6, Jupiter - 0

Darin Downs pitched eight innings, gave up no runs, struck out six, walked none, and only gave up four hits. 24-years old, Downs was traded to the Rays last July after being a fifth-round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2003. Emeel Salem went 2-5 as the table setter, and 10th-round 2008 selection Matthew Hall went 1-5 with a homer and is currently hitting .259/.333/.407, which isn't bad for a shortstop in his first cup of pro ball.

Other Notables:

Reid Fronk - 0-4, 2K

Matt Fields - 2-3, 2B, BB

A: Game 1: Bowling Green Hot Rods - 4, Rome -6

Starter Frank De Los Santos got the start. He allowed five runs over three and two-thirds innings. Number one overall pick Timothy Beckham went 2-3 and tripled.

Other Notables:
Jake Jeffries - 0-2, BB

Mike Sheridan - 0-3

Joshua Satow -1 IP, 1K, 1H, 0 ER

Game 2: Bowling Green Hot Rods - 3, Rome - 2

Criminally underrated pitcher Joseph Cruz got the start, he only went 4.2 innings due to pitch count issues, but the 20 year old struck out seven hitters, walked none, and only allowed two hits.  Tim Beckham went 2-4 and homered, bringing his season line to .307/.330/.455. Jake Jeffries went 1-3.

Other Notables:

Jamie Bagley - 1IP, 0ER, BB

AAA: Durham Bulls - 3, Charotte - 8

Tommy's spring training mancrush Carlos Hernandez got the start, and continued to disappoint. Getting absolutely shelled giving up five runs in four and two-thirds inning, giving up ten hits, and only striking out 2. Reid Brignac went 2-4, with an RBI.

Other Notables:

Matt Joyce: 0-4

AA: Game 1: Montgomery Biscuits - 3, Mississippi - 1

Ryan Morse got the start, in a seven inning game, he went five, striking out two, walking one, and only gave up one run. Desmond Jennings continues to be a force of nature. Deezy went 3-5 while fellow teammate Matt Spring went 1-3 with a walk.

Other Notables:

Calvin Medlock - 1 IP, 0H, 0 ER, 1 K

Game 2: Montgomery Biscuits - 6, Mississippi - 5

Jason Cromer was the starter in the other seven inning game, giving up one earned one in five innings, striking out three, walking one. Desmond Jennings crushed the ball, going 3-4, with two runs, a double, and two runs batted in. 

Other Notables:

Eduardo Morlan - 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER

A+: Charlotte Stone Crabs -10, Jupiter - 8

Jeremy Hall was the starter, going four innings, giving up three runs, striking out three, but walking two. Offense was the story, as Greg Sexton and Matt Fields each had home runs. Cody Cipriano went 1-1 with a home run and a walk. 

Other Notables:

Matt Gorgen-1IP, 1 K, 0ER, 0 H, 0 BB

A:  Postponed Due to Rain

AAA: Durham Bulls - 4, Columbus - 2

The starter yesterday for the Bulls was top prospect Wade Davis, who's start was less than ideal. Only going five innings, he had three strikeouts and three walks, giving up only two earned runs on six hits. Matt Joyce went 1-3 with a double and a walk, and Jon Weber went 1-4 with a double and a run batted in.

Other Notables:

Jason Isringhausen - 1 IP, 0 ER

Wilson Abreu - 1.2 IP, 3 K, 0 ER

AA: Postponed Due To Rain

A+: Charlotte Stone Crabs - 5, Fort Myers - 6

Non-Prospect Lefty David Newmann got the start, David is a 24 year old who's previously had Tommy John surgery. David went six innings, struck out five, and gave up three runs on five hits. Cody Cipriano hit a three-run home run in the third inning, but the Stone Crabs would be shut down after that and a blown save would cost them the game.

Other Notables:

Austin Hinkle: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R(0 ER), 2K, 2 BB

A:  Bowling Green Hot Rods - 3, Rome - 10

2008 Sixth Round draft selection Shane Dyer was the starting pitcher. Despite getting over two-thirds ground outs, Dyer was handed the loss by giving up four earned runs in six innings, he did strike out 6, while only walking one. Tim Beckham drove in two of the Hot Rod's runs, via a triple in the fifth inning. Beckham is now batting .284/.310/.383 with one homer, clearly he still has  much learning to do. 

Other Notables:

Jake Jeffries - 1-4

Mike Sheridan - 0-3, Walk

AAA: Durham Bulls - 6, Columbus - 10

Uber prospect and Part Time Velociraptor David Price got the start. On a very low pitch count, he went Three and Two-Thirds innings, only struck out one, but walked three. He gave up four hits, and six runs, but only two of those were earned. Dale Thayer pitched one run inning, as did Dewon Day. Offensively, Matt Joyce went 3-5 with a homer, Chris Richard also went 2-4, homering and doubling.

Continue reading this post »

AAA: Durham Bulls - 1, Columbus - 14

Mitch Talbot got the start, and went 6 solid Innings while allowing two earned runs along with two unearned runs, and had a K/BB of 4:1. You can't really blame him for this. Who you should blame however, is the 1-2 punch of Chad Orvella(2 IP, 5 H, 1K, 0BB, 4 ER) and Jason Childers(1 IP, 5 H, 0K, 1BB, 6 ER) that pretty much turned a loss into a blowout. The only Durham run came off a Chris Richard HR, who went 1-4 with a walk.

Other Notables:

Reid Brignac - 2-4, 2B

Matt Joyce - 2-4, 2 2Bs

AA: Montgomery  Biscuits- 1, Mississippi - 3

Hammel trade return Aneury Rodriguez got the start, trying to improve on his atrocious start to the season. This start WAS an improvement, as he went 6.1 IP, struck out 6, walked 2, but gave up 3 runs. Offensively, Desmond Jennings continues to rake, going 2-4 with a walk. 

Other Notables

Rhyne Hughes - 1-5

Matt Spring - 0-4

A+: Charlotte Stone Crabs - 5, Fort Myers - 2

Fringe Prospect Alex Cobb got the start, and struggled a bit. 4IP, 2K, 2BB, and 2 ER was his line, but '08 Draft Pick Matt Gorgen got the win, improving to almost a 3:1 K/BB, and a 1.67 GB/FB ratio, in 11 IP(14K!). Someone to keep an eye on. Offensively, the big hitters were Cody Cipriano - 1-4, 2 RBIs and Reid Fronk - 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB.

Other Notables: 

Ryan Royster - 1-3, BB.

A: Bowling Green Hot Rods - 4, Augusta - 2

Starting for the Hot Rods was '08 26th round pick Michael Jarman, who went 5 IP, struck out 4, only walked 1, but gave up 2 runs. Tim Beckham went 1-3 with an RBI, and Jake Jefferies went 2-4.

Other Notables: 

Jason Tweedy: 1-4, 2B

AAA: Durham Bulls - 6, Columbus - 3

James Houser gets the start, but only goes 4 IP, striking 3 out but also walking 3, giving up 3 runs. Jaso has another good game, going 2-3 with a double and a walk. Dewon Day gave up 1 ER in 2 innings of relief, and Randy Choate and Wilson Abreu combined for three scoreless innings.

Other Notables:

Matt Joyce - 0-3, BB, 2 Runs

AA: Montgomery Biscuits - 9, Mississippi - 2

The story here is Jeremy Hellickson. Hellboy went 6 IP, striking out 9, walking only 1, but giving up 2 runs. Offensively, Desmond Jennings continues to be a fantastic tablesetter, going 2-3 with a 2B and a walk. Rhyne Hughes went 3-5 with a Home Run.

Other Notables: Matt Spring - 1-4, 2 Runs.

A+: Charlotte Stone Crabs - 2, Fort Myers - 1

Darin Downs, who the Cubs traded to us in July, Goes 6 shutout with 2 strikeouts.  The Offense was led by Nevin Ashley and Ryan Royster, going 2-4 and 1-3 respectively. 

Other Notables: 

None.

A: Bowling Green - 1, Augusta - 3

DRaysbay Sleeper Favorite Joseph Cruz got the start, and went 3 IP, gave up 1 ER, with a 2:1 K/BB. Chris Andujar gave up the other two runs, while '08 Draft Picks Joshua Satow and Jamie Bagley finished the game out with a scoreless inning each. The only run for Bowling Green came on a Micheal Sheridan sac fly.

Other Notables: 

Jake Jeffries - 1-3, Run

Jason tweedy - 1-4

AAA: Durham Bulls - 1, Charlotte - 9

Carlos Hernandez got the start for the Bulls, and shows exactly why nobody should be pining for him over Jeff Niemman. Going 3.2 IP, Giving up 10 ER, while k'ing 3 and giving up 3 walks, Hernandez completely crushed any remaining mancrush Tommy may have on him.  Briggy was the lone bright spot, going 2-4 with 2 doubles.

Other Notables:

Dale Thayer - 1.1 IP, 1K, 0ER

Matt Joyce - 0-3, 1 BB

AA:  Montgomery Biscuits - 7, Jacksonville - 13

Jason Cromer had a Carlos Hernandez-esque start, 3.2 IP, 7 ER, striking out 2 and walking 1. Mike Wlodarcyzk got blasted in relief to a tune of 4ER. Onn the bright side,  Rhyne Hughes and Matt Spring both chipped in for 2 hits each, with Rhyne getting his 8th HR of the year.

Other Notables:

Desmond Jennings - 0-4

All other teams had an off day.

I Hereby decree, that in all future rays gamed day threads, that whenever Dan Wheeler or Troyseph Percival are in, All DRaysBay members in the thread will not be allowed to use vowels.

If it worked once, it will work everytime.

via www.fangraphs.com

Promoted from the FanPosts by Kid Nate.

In an interview with Michael David Smith on Fanhouse, Coker confirms the signing of Werdum, but also states that a hw title fight with Alistair Overeem is not a lock:

Will Alistair Overeem fight on June 6?
We're trying to work it out. It's not guaranteed, but we'll try to put it together.

Who would his opponent be?
That hasn't been determined yet. 

Did you just sign Fabricio Werdum?
Yeah, but that's not a fight necessarily we feel we'd have to do first.

Frankly, aside from Fabricio Werdum I'm not sure you have any heavyweights who could give Alistair much of a test.
Well, there are some other free agents out there, and guys fighting with other companies who aren't exclusive. So we'll explore those options before we make the announcement of who he's fighting. 

Frankly, the only other HW Free Agents I can think of are Roy Nelson, and I guess the DREAM HWs would be available in America(CroCop, Schlit, Kharitinov). I don't know for sure if Rothwell is exclusive with Adrenaline either. Saying that, none of them are really more deserving than Werdum. Nelson would be a nice depth signing as a future contender, but the rest of the current Free Agent crop is underwhelming.

Continue reading this post »

http://www.tampabaysportsblog.com/2009/01/14/rays-sign-kapler-really/

Oh deary deary dear.Time for P Brady's patented Bullet Points of criticism!

•  I’ve never been in favor of platoons in general because I’ve always felt that if a guy can play, he can play, screw the other crap. Stats say otherwise and that’s the world we now live in so I’ll go with it.

You know I've never been a fan of specialties in medicine because if a guy can heal, a guy can heal. Screw that other crap, I want my podiatrist giving me brain surgery. Common sense says otherwise and that's the world we live in so I'll go with it.

•  I don’t know much about Kapler other than he was once a highly touted prospect who turned into a journeyman type that was coaching before he decided to jump back into the player ranks. The problem I have with this signing is that Kapler got a mil and Rocco got less, granted there’s incentives, from the Red Sox.
  

I don't think you realize how incentives work.

• Marc Topkin tried to justify by saying that the Baldelli deal “could be” worth more because of playing incentives, but how much more?

5 million reasons for TO not kill himself more.

• If you give Roc the same deal you give Kapler, he walks. If you offer Roc the same deal that Boston did, I think he stays

I think if I made as much money as Ben Affleck I'd sleep with Angelina Jolie.  But I don't and the rays don't.

• All that being said, wouldn’t anyone rather pay a little more for a healthy Rocco than a Gabe Kapler if they are needed full time? I understand the Rays penny pinching, but this is stupid.
  

Not really, In plattoon roles its no lock that rocco is worth even 3 million more than Kaplan. He isn't worth the rays overdrawing their bank account by roughly $4million.

• I can make sense of it thinking that Fernando Perez needs another year in AAA, but how did we end up with an overrated Gabe Kapler over Rocco Baldelli. This is why Boston is the most well rounded organization in baseball right now and not the Yankees, Rays, Phillies, etc
  

How is Kapler overrated by you if you know nothing about him? How does Boston have a better org by having an inferior farm system and spending money on injured players, why am I still doing this?

• The Rays may be the best at operating as a small market, but they aren’t there just yet. It’s a tough position for the Rays to be in here and it’s hard to pick on them for the moves that they make, since they’ve been so good under tough conditions, but this move I can’t rationalize at all. Kapler over Baldelli, really?
  

Also, Red Sox sign The Greek God of Testicles to a 4 year extension.