posty

Truth!

* you’re

https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia NEW YORK, June 30, 2025 – The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) today announced a major expansion to 18 teams, with new teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. This expansion – subject to WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors approval – marks a significant milestone in the WNBA’s commitment to growing the game, increasing opportunities for players, and bringing professional women’s basketball to new and passionate fanbases in more cities. The three new teams join the league’s 15 existing teams, including the Golden State Valkyries, who tipped off play in May 2025, as well as the previously announced expansion markets in Toronto, Canada (2026) and Portland, Oregon (2026). The Cleveland team will begin play in 2028, followed by Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. Each location was selected based on an analysis of market viability, committed long-term ownership groups, potential for significant local fan, corporate, media, and city and state support, arena and practice facilities, and community commitment to advancing the sport, among other factors.

That isn't really saying much IMO... True that KC is 29th, but the Twins are 28, Indians are 25, and Tigers are 24... Not really a huge advantage... PLUS, this chart is different: https://www.tankathon.com/mlb/remaining_schedule_strength As is this one: https://powerrankingsguru.com/mlb/strength-of-schedule.php

The Japanese league was the top league in Japan, the minor league hits wouldn't count because they aren't the top league in the US... Yes, Rose was technically a "professional" then, but definitely not against the best in the US, unlike Ichiro...

https://wtop.com/business-finance/2025/07/u-s-inflation-may-have-worsened-last-month-as-trumps-tariffs-start-to-bite/ WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation rose last month to its highest level since February as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs are pushing up the cost of a range of goods, including furniture, clothing, and large appliances. Consumer prices rose 2.7% in June from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Tuesday, up from an annual increase of 2.4% in May. On a monthly basis, prices climbed 0.3% from May to June, after rising just 0.1% the previous month. Worsening inflation poses a political challenge for President Donald Trump, who promised during last year’s presidential campaign to immediately lower costs. The sharp inflation spike of 2022-2023 was the worst in four decades and soured most Americans on former president Joe Biden’s handling of the economy. Higher inflation will also likely heighten the Federal Reserve’s reluctance to cut its short-term interest rate, as Trump is loudly demanding. Trump has often insisted in comments on social media that there is “no inflation” and that as a result, the central bank should swiftly reduce its key interest rate from its current level of 4.3% to around 3%. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core inflation increased 2.9% in June from a year earlier, up from 2.8% in May. On a monthly basis, it picked up 0.2% from May to June. Economists closely watch core prices because they typically provide a better sense of where inflation is headed. The uptick in inflation was driven by a range of higher prices. The cost of gas rose 1% just from May to June, while grocery prices increased 0.35. Appliance prices jumped for the third straight month. Trump has imposed sweeping duties of 10% on all imports, plus 50% levies on steel and aluminum, 30% on goods from China, and 25% on imported cars. Just last week the president threatened to hit the European Union with a new 30% tariff starting Aug. 1. The acceleration in inflation could provide a respite of sorts for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who has come under increasingly heavy fire from the White House for not cutting the benchmark interest rate. Powell and other Fed officials have emphasized that they want to see how the economy evolves as the tariffs take effect before cutting their key short-term rate. The Fed chair has said that the duties could both push up prices and slow the economy, a tricky combination for the central bank since higher costs would typically lead the Fed to hike rates while a weaker economy often spurs it to reduce them. Trump on Monday said that Powell has been “terrible” and “doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.” The president added that the economy was doing well despite Powell’s refusal to reduce rates, but it would be “nice” if there were rate cuts “because people would be able to buy housing a lot easier.” Last week, White House officials also attacked Powell for cost overruns on the years-long renovation of two Fed buildings, which are now slated to cost $2.5 billion, roughly one-third more than originally budgeted. While Trump legally can’t fire Powell just because he disagrees with his interest rate decisions, the Supreme Court has signaled, he may be able to do so “for cause,” such as misconduct or mismanagement. Some companies have said they have or plan to raise prices as a result of the tariffs, including Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. Automaker Mitsubishi said last month that it was lifting prices by an average of 2.1% in response to the duties, and Nike has said it would implement “surgical” price hikes to offset tariff costs. But many companies have been able to postpone or avoid price increases, after building up their stockpiles of goods this spring to get ahead of the duties. Other companies may have refrained from lifting prices while they wait to see whether the U.S. is able to reach trade deals with other countries that lower the duties.

Ichiro would like to have a word…

No, it isn’t…

Also, in before they start calling us losers and then we live rent free in his head (which there is A LOT of space with them having no brain) and why we keep answering if we have them on ignore...

Honestly, I wasn't a fan of him or the Reds and Phillies (Expos in '84 wasn't even thinking about), so I don't have a story...

His pedophilia? Also, not really, but wanted to get it in before others...

seafoam is actually 1,000x worse than their online persona... Seriously, if some acted like they do here out in the world without a keyboard, they would probably get their ass kicked or even lose their life...

Very true...

They declined because they pitched on Saturday and Sunday... Even if they said yes, MLB would have had to replace them then... Having Miz there was a good thing because they can showcase the real young ones currently in The Show... You know, "the future is bright" kind of thing... It would be even better if Manfred was gone and recent rule changes were revoked...

Another list I am guessing I didn't make...

I would assume that Mis would be shutdown some time in late-August or early-September... Thrown around 90 IP this year after 97 last year, which was a career high...

Proxy for GuardBum: 2.08 - Merrill Kelly, SP, ARZ

Was he on your radar or did you take him because GB had him next??

You are one tall wascawwy wabbit...

GB having avatars turned off...

Thanks @squistion... Ugh... Recovery has got to be one of the most difficult things to do...

What is the current death total for this catastrophic event? I don't feel like looking it up...

https://www.tmz.com/2025/07/14/this-spinal-tap-actor-david-kaff-dead/ David Kaff — best known for his role as keyboardist Viv Savage in the iconic film, "This is Spinal Tap," has died. Kaff's band, "Mutual of Alameda’s Wild Kingdom," posted an announcement on Facebook, saying he died peacefully in his sleep, but no cause of death was given. The hard rock group said they were devastated by Kaff's death, explaining that he was kind, quick-witted and would always make people smile. Kaff (real name David Kaffinetti) launched his music career as a pioneering member of the British rock band, "Rare Bird," from 1969 to 1975. During this time, the group released five studio albums and their single, "Sympathy, rocketed up the charts and sold an estimated one million copies worldwide. Then Kaff got his big break in the 1984 Rob Reiner directed mockumentary, “This Is Spinal Tap,” when he was cast as Viv Savage, who played the keyboard in the fake English rock band. His character had some memorable lines in the movie, such as “Quite exciting, this computer magic!” and “Have a good time…all the time.” Even though "Spinal Tap" was a fictional band, Kaff and the other actors played some live shows through the first year of the movie's release, even performing on "Saturday Night Live." But then Kaff left the band by year's end and never looked back, cutting all ties. Kaff was 79. RIP

Yep, that is true...

Angel Reese has really been better recently... In her last ten games, she has shot 50.8% from the floor and 83% from the line... She also has only four offensive rebounds in her last four games... First Last G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS GmSc 2025-06-21 2025-07-14 10 10 33.3 6.2 12.2 .508 0.2 1.0 .200 4.6 5.5 .836 2.9 10.7 13.6 3.9 1.3 0.7 3.7 3.8 17.2 15.3