Re: General Discussion

93
JR - I was there this week, came home today.

And to think, yesterday, I took in a Florida Gators game at 5:00 in my shorts and tee shirt (they beat Boston College 4-0 on a 2 hitter), then walked next door and saw them (Gators) play U of Georgia in basketball at 7:00 (they won by 9).

Today, I got home (we landed in Buffalo), landed in a snowstorm and then had to drive (crawl) home on I-90, then clear my driveway just to get in it!

Sheesh.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain

Re: General Discussion

98
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Indians won't confirm it, but it appears they've signed veteran reliever Chad Durbin to a one-year deal.

ESPN reported early this morning that Durbin and the Tribe agreed to a $800,000 deal with $1 million in incentives.

Durbin's agent, Dan Horwits, was in Arizona on Friday visiting with the Indians.

The Indians have two to three openings in the bullpen. Durbin is expected to fill one of them. He has spent the last four years working exclusively in relief. He spent the last three years with the Phillies. He was 4-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 64 appearances last season.

The Tribe's pen is one of the strongest parts of the ballclub. Led by emerging closer Chris Perez and set-up men Rafael Perez and Tony Sipp, they posted the second lowest ERA in the AL last year in the second half.

Durbin, 33, should make that pen stronger and give it some much needed experience. He worked mostly in long relief last season for the Phillies. He has to ability to pitch more than one inning.

In 2003 and 2004, Durbin pitched briefly for the Indians.

Durbin would be the third free agent the Indians have signed to a big-league contract this offseason. Austin Kearns for $1.3 million and Orlando Cabrera $1 million are the others.

It's believed Durbin will join the Indians on Sunday. He may still have to pass a physical.

Arms race: Josh Tomlin, Aaron Laffey, Jensen Lewis, Doug Mathis, Chris Perez, Yohan Pino, Zach Putnam, Joe Smith and Alex White are scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Reds in the Cactus League opener.

Fausto Carmona, Justin Germano, Nick Hagadone, Frank Herrmann, Josh Judy, Rafael Perez, Yohan Pino, Tony Sipp and Bryce Stowell are scheduled to pitch against the Reds on Monday.

Re: General Discussion

103
J.R. wrote:Yeah, worst winter in 40 years or so. Global warming is a bitch.
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Daily cold records shatter around region

3:40 AM, Feb. 26, 2011

Written by KIMBALL BENNION Great Falls Tribune Staff Writer

Temperature records for the lowest highs and lows across northcentral Montana were either tied or shattered like icicles on Friday.

Cut Bank took the top spot for the coldest place in the state — and the nation Friday — recording a low of 35 degrees below zero. Elsewhere, high temperatures in places such as Valier, Choteau and Lewistown broke records by never cracking zero.

Friday's bitter cold temperatures were the latest in a series of rollercoaster temperatures that have hit the region during an active and long-lasting winter. A dense arctic air mass fluctuating along the eastern portion of the Continental Divide has caused a kind of yo-yo effect in temperatures since November. ...

The weather service issued dual advisories for wind chill and winter weather today for most of northcentral Montana. The wind chill may make it feel like the temperature is 40 degrees below zero today.

Southwest winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour along the Rocky Mountain Front were expected to develop early this morning, increasing to 20 to 40 mph with gusts of 50 mph possible by this afternoon. Winds of 20 to 30 mph tomorrow are expected in Cascade and Chouteau counties and along the Hi-Line.

The winds probably will cause drifting snow today, with visibility reduced to less than half a mile at times, especially in open areas.

Temperatures will drop again as the cold air from the north moves back into the area by Monday evening or so, Williamson said. By Wednesday, the region could see temperatures as high as the 30s, but the warm-up isn't expected to last long before another drop below freezing by next weekend.

"Looks like we're going to be on a rollercoaster ride here," Williamson said.

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I think it was around -25 here in Great Falls when I awoke Friday morning. My wife's SUV wouldn't start when she tried to come home from work Thursday evening. Then the wind was hell last night and the first half of today. The snow drift in my driveway was a bear this evening.