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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (20038)	6/10/2003 1:22:03 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 89467

jpg: Hope you are doing well too...Sosa clearly made a big mistake...yet, his remaining bats were cork-free and the Cubs are doing Ok all things considered... Quick pick: Cubs hold off Yanks BY TONI GINNETTI Staff Reporter The Chicago Sun-Times June 9, 2003 Cubs manager Dusty Baker and his team weren't interested in "sending a message'' in their dramatic, historic and often spell-binding three-game series against the New York Yankees. "We're just trying to win ballgames, especially after Houston and St. Louis won today,'' Baker said Sunday. But the Cubs' 8-7 victory Sunday night in the rubber game of the long-anticipated series did mean something more. It came after a tumultuous week of Sammy Sosa's corked bat, Roger Clemens' anticipated 300th victory, crowds, hundreds of media and the frightening sight of Hee Seop Choi carried off the field in an ambulance. CUBS 8 YANKEES 7 "I don't think you could pack an entire season into what happened this week,'' winning pitcher Mark Prior said. "With the unfortunate incident Tuesday [of Sosa's corked bat], and the Yankees coming to town is like a circus. Then everything about Saturday's game with Clemens and [Kerry Wood] and Hee Seop going down. "For us to overcome all that, this team has a lot of heart. I don't think anyone can question that anymore.'' Few questions seem to exist about Prior, the 22-year-old whose performances continue to amaze. "You're more amazed every time you go out there,'' catcher Damian Miller said. "On that stage tonight of ESPN and against the Yankees, he showed what he was made of.'' Prior (7-2) struck out 10--the third time this season he has recorded double-digit strikeouts and the ninth time in his 32 career starts. He gave up three runs on seven hits--two of them solo home runs by Jason Giambi (15th) and Raul Mondesi (fourth). He lasted six innings, bolstered by an explosive first two innings of Cub offense against veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte (5-6). "I had a good game plan off what Kerry did [Saturday], and they gave me a comfort zone early, which is something you want against a team like the Yankees,'' Prior said. The support came in the first from a booming three-run homer by Moises Alou (sixth), with Ramon Martinez also homering to lead the three-run second--an inning Yankees manager Joe Torre didn't allow Pettitte to finish. "Give Prior any kind of lead and you feel so confident he's going to get the win,'' Alou said. "All of our guys in the rotation are good, but with a 6-0 lead [for Prior], I knew we would win.'' Another standing room crowd of 39,341 probably thought so too as the Yankees batted in the ninth trailing 8-5 against Cubs closer Joe Borowski. But the onetime Yankee made things uneasy before a final element of surprise. "Unfortunately I got myself into trouble with walks,'' said Borowski, who recorded his 11th save. Bor-owski's trouble came after striking out Alfonso Soriano. Derek Jeter walked and Giambi doubled, both scoring when Jorge Posada singled. Baker had left-hander Mark Guthrie warming up, but stayed with Borowski against left-hander Robin Ventura. "But after Ventura we would have gotten to Mondesi [a right-hander] and we would have been down to one pitcher,'' Baker said. "The way they had their lineup throughout, they make you make those tough decisions.'' Ventura flied out, but Torre sent Charles Gipson to pinch run for Posada. Borowski kept throwing to first to keep Gipson close. But with an 0-2 count on Mondesi, he surprised the Yankees and Gipson with a throw that picked him off for the final out of the series. "He was probably thinking at 0-2 something would be in the dirt, but we just caught him leaning,'' Borowski said. "The funny thing was I thought Dusty called it, but it was Miller.'' "I just had a feeling that on 0-2 he'd be going,'' Miller said. "Joe made a good move on him.'' Torre had given Gipson the green light to get into scoring position as the potential tying run. "Your stomach drops out when that happens,'' Torre said of the pickoff. "Borowski is pretty slow as far as delivery. [Gipson] just got a little anxious. He wanted to do the right thing. He just got caught.'' It was the final quirk in a series so electric that a feat like Sosa's 2000th career hit that came in the seventh inning to drive in the Cubs last run became an afterthought. suntimes.com

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (20038)	6/17/2003 10:04:28 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 89467

Compuware, IBM fail to reach accord _____________________________________________________ [This is actually GOOD NEWS for me and the law firm I'm consulting with -- we are assisting with IBM's defense campaign] Computer giants may be headed for costly trial BY JEFF BENNETT DETROIT FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER June 17, 2003 freep.com The simmering legal fight between Compuware Corp. and IBM turned scalding hot Monday after the leaders of the two high-tech giants failed to reach an out-of-court settlement over allegations of stolen software code and trade secrets. Compuware, the largest high-tech employer based in Michigan, asked a U.S. District Court in Detroit to bar IBM from selling two software products. Compuware charged in a March 2002 lawsuit that IBM copied its software and was reselling it under IBM's name. A second Compuware suit filed in July claims IBM also tries to undercut competitors on prices and through false advertising. Daniel Johnson, an attorney representing Compuware, said in Monday's court hearing there are hundreds of examples in which IBM used Compuware's software secrets to build products that now directly compete with Compuware's products. In one instance, he said, an IBM software engineer contacted a Compuware worker to ask how to bypass a problem in software he was designing for IBM. The move helped IBM cut production time and market a product that now competes against Compuware, Johnson said. IBM responded by blasting Compuware's allegations as an attempt to stop competition in the software business. That competition, IBM said, was ignited by customer complaints about Compuware prices. Compuware sells software that helps customers run IBM computers. "You know what Compuware's customers say about their prices in the 1990s, exorbitant, gouging and blood money. They referred to them as the evil empire," said Evan Chesler, an attorney representing IBM. "We got into the business because customers were telling us they were not going to buy IBM products anymore." Chesler said the only reason this litigation, which has cost IBM "millions and millions," continues is competition. "They have rolled over the little guys, but they are not going to roll over IBM," Evans said. "We are here because the customers told us the evil empire is gouging us." Johnston said the price gouging claim is a "pretext and relates to complaints surrounding Y2K." As for the evil empire charge, Johnson said it is "a theatrical flourish to hide the fact that IBM has targeted Compuware." U.S. District Judge George Steeh is expected to rule on Compuware's suit late next month. Monday's hearing came 12 days after Compuware's chief executive officer, Peter Karmanos Jr., and IBM CEO Samuel J. Palmisano confronted each other in a court-ordered fact-to-face meeting. Karmanos and Palmisano had been asked by Steeh to reach a compromise in order to end what Steeh says will be a costly and lengthy court fight. Steeh, who was optimistic on the day the CEOs met, said he was not told why negotiations failed. He said another settlement discussion could occur. Joe Nathan, Compuware's president, attended the hearing but did not say why the talks failed. "Both parties saw things differently." Contact JEFF BENNETT at 313-222-8769 or jbennett@freepress.com.

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (20038)	6/17/2003 10:14:03 AM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

Baker and The Cubs are getting the job done (so far this year)... Cubs add to their list of happy endings BY MIKE KILEY Staff Reporter The Chicago Sun-Times June 17, 2003 CINCINNATI--The Los An-geles Dodgers considered first baseman Eric Karros finished. And Joe Borowski was a reliever never once considered a finisher--except in a lopsided loss. Together, they and the Cubs have turned such conventional thinking on its ear. This upstart and upwardly mobile group has the baseball world listening to a different kind of mantra--CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN--that is becoming more of a habit than ever in recent memory. With Houston and St. Louis pressing at their backs, the Cubs solidified their hold on first place by beating the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 in the opener of a four-game series Monday. Moises Alou and Karros hit consecutive homers in the sixth to put the Cubs on top to stay. CUBS 4 REDS 3 But the most staggering stat of the moment is this: The Cubs are 31-0 when entering the ninth in-ning with a lead. ''Who would have thought that, especially when Antonio [Alfon-seca] was hurt to enter the season?'' Borowski said. ''We didn't know what was going to happen. On most teams, when they go closer by committee, look what happens. All these teams have tried it, and nobody knows what their role is. Boston comes to mind right away. You're not mentally prepared down there when the phone rings [in the bullpen]. ''But with us, everyone has accepted their role in the bullpen. When guys are unhappy, it causes friction, and that rubs off on other people who feel it. But everybody here has been great. There is no animosity at all.'' Borowski's 14th save was dramatic. After retiring the first two batters, Jose Guillen singled up the middle to bring National League home-run leader Adam Dunn to the plate. Considering the Reds have 17 victories in their last at-bat, including eight walkoffs, a crowd of 28,669 was cheering wildly to see that happen again. Instead, Borowski smartly walked Dunn, then struck out Barry Larkin. ''If you make one mistake [to Dunn], he can run into it,'' Borowski said. ''It's no mistake he has 22 home runs. I'm not saying Larkin's not a clutch hitter, but I'd rather be facing a righty than a lefty like Dunn.'' It should not be overlooked that former closer Alfonseca, who is having a tough time getting back his job from the unstoppable Borowski, was as sensational in a perfect eighth as Kyle Farnsworth was in a perfect seventh to secure the victory for starter Matt Clement (5-6), who struck out nine and walked one. ''[Borowski] is riding it pretty good, but that eighth inning is as important--or more--than the ninth,'' manager Dusty Baker said in support of Alfonseca's continued progress of late. ''You lose more games in the eighth than the ninth. You have to commend Alfonseca. He is getting his act together daily. I'm glad we have both of them.'' Karros replaced Hee Seop Choi at first when Choi collided with Kerry Wood on June 7 and went down in a heap when he smacked his head on the third-base foul line. Karros' three-run homer that day lifted him into the hero's role, and he and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek--acquired in De-cember for catcher Todd Hundley and outfielder Chad Hermansen--are rewarding general manager Jim Hendry with one of the best trades of the winter. Besides his homer, Karros saved the day in the ninth when he picked shortstop Alex Gonzalez's throw out of the dirt to retire leadoff man Jason LaRue. ''Eric picked a very tough ball,'' Baker said. ''I'm just glad we have him. Everybody we signed [in the offseason] has come up big.'' Karros gave some of the credit to Great American Ball Park, although he hit this ball with authority to center against loser Jimmy Anderson (1-3). ''This may be the most hitter-friendly park in the National League, if not all of baseball,'' he said. ''He got the ball out over the plate where I'm sure he didn't want it.'' Clement pointed to his strong working relationship with pitching coach Larry Rothschild as a key element in his improvement in recent games. ''It's nice to see all the work and thought with Larry paying off,'' Clement said. Baker summed up the night and the season in one succinct sentence: ''We just continue to get it done,'' he said. Sometimes you wonder why the Cubs are in first place. But there are 31 winning reasons entering the ninth with a lead that go a long way toward accounting for their team success. suntimes.com

To: Cactus Jack who wrote (20038)	6/17/2003 10:21:12 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 89467

Cubs' rapid improvement has Baker thinking big _______________________________ BY MIKE KILEY STAFF REPORTER The Chicago Sun-Times June 17, 2003 suntimes.com CINCINNATI--There is nothing small about Dusty Baker. His reputation, his goals and his personality are supersized. Make that downright enormous when it comes to his take on what might happen to the Cubs a few months from now. "You win 67 games one year and go to the World Series the next year, you will be the team of two centuries,'' the Cubs manager said Monday. ''Not one, but two.'' Cubs managers usually aren't casually talking about the World Series as a real possibility in mid-June. In fact, most Cubs managers would be facing the sun rising tomorrow with an ounce of dread and a pound of trepidation rather than counting the gold at the end of the rainbow. But Baker isn't a normal, run-of-the-mill manager. Having just been to the World Series in October with the San Francisco Giants, having learned as a black player to speak frankly and combat racism with honesty, he has no fears of overstepping his bounds. He can easily imagine a return trip later this year. ''Look in the record book,'' Baker told a reporter to support his chase for glory and the immortality that awaits. ''You find me a team that won 67 games last year and were world champs the next year and I'll kiss your butt right here.'' Well, the 1990 Atlanta Braves were 65-97 and went to the World Series in 1991, only to lose. So they weren't world champs. Therefore, Baker is off the hook. Just as the 2002 world champion Anaheim Angels were doubted all last season, when they went 99-63 after being 75-87 in 2001, the Cubs will have skeptics who doubt they can make good on their strong start. In truth, last season's 67-95 record isn't as much of a factor as their decades of being a team left behind, ignored and scorned. ''Don't forget now,'' Baker cautioned, ''we have already improved quite a bit. We won 67 games last year.'' Baker believes the Chicago media is holding his Cubs to an unfairly high standard. ''You guys are expecting more than most baseball teams are capable of giving,'' he said. ''If everything went well all the time, [we'd] have a 15-game lead now. No matter what, it's June 16 and we are still in first place, with some very good teams in our division. ''And we haven't hit our stride yet. We haven't had Sammy [Sosa] hot yet. We haven't had those 10 games in a row when all five starters are dealing two starts [each] in a row. You know that's going to happen.'' The Cubs have had two five-game winning streaks (April 15-19, May 10-15) and one three-game losing streak (May 18-21). ''That's consistent,'' Baker said. ''We haven't lost a whole bunch in a row and haven't won a whole bunch in a row. Somebody is going to get hot. You can count on that. Houston, St. Louis, Pittsburgh. It might as well be us. ''We have some veterans and it takes veterans longer to get their act together than it does young kids. I learned that from the Yankees in 1978. They got their act together later and they kept it together. And we haven't had the hot weather yet. Half of our guys are from hot-weather places and perform better in hot weather.'' The Cubs' offense has slid to the middle of the National League after being among the leaders early. ''Maybe we are where you experts say we should be now that we are in the middle,'' Baker said. ''That's what everybody predicted in the beginning, that we were going to have trouble offensively. ''We have some guys that slowed down. [Alex] Gonzalez wasn't going to hit .380 forever. [Mark] Grud-zielanek is hitting some balls hard and they're catching them. These things go in cycles. We're due for a good cycle.'' Baker likes his club's energy. ''You can't say these Cubs don't play hard,'' he said. ''That wasn't the Cubs' rep before, right? Something's happening, something's going down, even through osmosis.''