You are currently browsing Mike's articles.
Let’s see what happens over the next week or two on these.
Jan 06, 2009 – Go Long:
ARM – $3.27
EMKR – $1.21
CPE – $3.15
FED – $3.11
SRZ – $1.66
GGP – $1.45
THC – $1.19
KVA – $3.60
HUN – $4.40
Fun factiod. Since June the market’s down about 30% or more. Bud’s stock has been UP 30%. Coincidence?
While the markets around the world are in the shitter and everyone’s ready and waiting for the sun to explode, it seems that they’ve been enjoying a few beers on the way. I must say that the Bud Light Lime is quite nice. So I must admit to contributing to Bud’s bottom line.
Follow the link to Mark Perry’s site: http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2008/11/market-is-down-by-30-but-buds-up-by-30.html
Ok, it’s a helluva market. Shorting. Buying Puts. Selling Calls. Short ETFs. UltraShort ETFs. Those are all certainly ways to make money (if you’re quick) in a horrible world stock market. So there’s a lot of folks seeking religion in more ways than one…and however they can find it. How about some stocks that have, well, walked on water?
Benchmark…SPY – the Spiders representing the S&P 500. Last 6 months: -36%.
Almost Family (AFAM). Who? What? Yep. Last 6 months: +144% Comon! Really? Yep.
Questcor Pharmaceuticals (QCOR). Last 6 months: +85%
Strayer Education (STRA). Last 6 months: +10%
Pretty amazing, eh? I didn’t think it would be possible to find any that have survived (and even THRIVED) in the last 6 months of ball-breaking. Anyone have any company stocks that have been on the plus side in the last 6 months? Again, no ETFs..especially the shorting ETFs…we’re looking for the Jesus-walk-on-water stocks!
More saucy conspiracy theory mish-mash! Yum! More legal-schmegal stuff. More technicality interpretation stuff. More WTF stuff.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/us/politics/11mccain.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Last night’s game seemed like 2 games in one.
Innings 1-3: the Tigers looked like the Bad News Bears (before they gelled and got good just in time for the end of the movie). Bonderman had control problems – again – racking up his pitch count and giving free passes. “Bad luck” plays: hot shots to Lowell and Youkalis that turned out to be amazing plays to record outs against the Tigers. Polanco and Guillen are supposed to have “soft hands” – each made errors (Guillen wasn’t charged with the error – Miguel Cabrera was – but I think that was scored incorrectly). Soon enough it was 2-0 Red Sox, and it looked like Bonderman might only last 4 innings.
Innings 4-9: It’s the names that aren’t well known contributing the most. Thames with the 2 run homerun to take a lead the Tigers haven’t seen most of the early season. Renteria, well known with baseball ethusiasts, isn’t a household name…he’s been fairly consistent/productive in these early games had a solid 3 hit game and racked up a few more RBI. Clete Thomas – in AA Erie last year is doing most of the little things right, including a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt. Brandon Inge has adjusted his batting stance this year and it’s producing. He shouldn’t even be playing and he’s leading the team in RBI including 2 more last night that helped put the game out of reach for the Red Sox. The bullpen was solid: Bobby Seay (who?), Francis Beltran (who?), Denny Bautista (who?), Todd Jones (Mr. Rollercoaster – typical outing but got the job done).
Observations:
- I miss Sean Casey being on the team. Nice he’s got a new home in Boston.
- Pudge has been trying to hard to get his 2500 hit. He got it. Now relax and produce.
- Sheffield. He’s still able to draw walks, but WTF…he’s been swinging at junk and looking foolish.
- Polanco. For a guy that is automatic at the plate, why is he struggling so much?
- Cabrera. Same.
- Most of the hitters are getting jammed inside. Make the adjustments already!
- Starting Pitchers. Hit your spots already! These walks are ridiculous. It ruins your efficiency and puts more pressure on your offense to constantly produce for your mistakes/laziness/fear.
It’s Robertson v. Wakefield tonight. A bit unusual for the last game of the series to be at night since the Tigers have to catch a flight to Chicago. Could be a little nasty for Friday since there’s supposed to be high winds in the area. The Tigers, if the weather cooperates and they play, may have a tough time getting the win due to the travel schedule. Which makes getting the win today that much more critical. I wonder if Pudge will catch today. He usually doesn’t in the last game of a series. So will it be Inge behind the plate and Clete Thomas in centerfield? Has Clete ever faced a knuckleballer? Nice test for the rookie. He’s delivered so far with every test. Wait and watch!
I heard this morning that NO team that has started a season 0-7 has ever made it into the playoffs. For a season of 162 games, this seems like an incredible statistic. I wish I had the time/resources to see who those teams were. Were they a team of jokers? Or did their lineup and pitching rotation seem worthy of competition?
Interesting, too, is odds makers have already cut the Tigers chances of winning the AL Central from around 50% to 26%.
Dang.
Other notables around the league…seems like everything is upside down.
The 4 highest payroll teams in the MLB: the NY Yankees, Detroit Tigers, NY Mets, and Boston Red Sox are not playing to their salary roll potential. Yankees/Red Sox both 4-4. Tigers…0-7. Mets are 2-4.
Teams much lower on the list (and typically not expected to contend over the past few years) are doing quite well. Orioles – first place. Royals – first place. Marlins (total team payroll is less than A-Rod’s salary) - first place. Cardinals – 2nd place (6-2 record). Diamondbacks – 1st place.
Maybe 2008 will be a year when General Managers start to realize that overpaying players and trying to fill a team with former All Stars doesn’t equate to instant success. Nah – who am I kidding.
Following on Matt’s morning discovery….was THIS one of the plates you’ve seen?
You, too, can have fun making your own license plates. Hours of fun at:
http://www.acme.com/licensemaker/
And if you want to get your full nerd-on, then check out license plates of the world…an attraction soon to come at Epcot Center? Maybe.
