All Activity

McCullers pitched well why was he pulled? Okert and Ort scare me loud but a good win. Now go P{adres I mean Athletics sorry

Great win. Bats stayed alive. Caratini came through with a clutch double.

I see what you are saying. Possibly I asked a different question. I think MP Materials should review their shareholders. It seems that Shenghe Resources owns stock and is the primary customer. There is so much going on that we don’t jnow about. This is what I found……. Shenghe Resources, a Chinese rare earth company, holds a significant minority stake in MP Materials, the company that owns the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California. As of July 2025, with the U.S. Department of Defense becoming the largest shareholder, Shenghe's stake will be surpassed. Historically, Shenghe was MP Materials' primary customer, purchasing a large portion of its rare earth concentrate, but MP Materials has ceased shipments to China as of April 2025 and is accelerating its own processing and magnet manufacturing facilities. Shenghe's Shareholding Minority Stake: Shenghe Resources holds a significant minority share of MP Materials, which has been reported as approximately 7.7% to 8%. U.S. Government as Largest Shareholder: In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) acquired preferred stock in MP Materials, making it the largest shareholder and surpassing Shenghe's stake. Relationship Evolution Historical Customer Role: Shenghe was a major customer for MP Materials, purchasing the majority of its rare earth concentrate produced at the Mountain Pass mine for processing in China. Shift Away from China: MP Materials ceased shipments to China in April 2025 and is actively building its own separation and manufacturing capabilities, reducing its reliance on Shenghe as a customer. Strategic Context U.S. Rare Earth Strategy: Shenghe's stake has been a point of concern for U.S. policymakers, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, due to its potential influence on a critical rare earth resource. MP's Strategic Build-out: MP Materials is expanding its downstream capabilities, including separating and refining its concentrate and building a magnet manufacturing facility, to reduce dependence on China and its processors

Houston with the 10-7 win. Abreu gets a 4 out save. All four outs via the strikeout.

BTW, here’s the difference in answers on searches pending your personal search history and the engine used. I thought it would be interesting to see the differences since I’ve noticed quite a few using the AI search/compile features in their posts lately. This is the summary from my search on DuckDuckGo—which doesn’t keep a record of your personal searches and compiles using Chat GPT. I used the search criteria ' U.S. Government taking a stake in MP Materials'. (Again, no slam on your post from Google. Just question how the sources Google used warped conservatism/libertarianism and free market principles into an excuse and justification by defining communism into a very broad, abstract idea.) NOTE: I'm a free market, conservative libertarian as far as fiscal/economic policy regardless of administrations. Search Assist The U.S. government's acquisition of a controlling stake in MP Materials, a rare earth mining company, has drawn comparisons to state capitalism and communist practices, particularly due to its significant influence over a critical industry. Critics argue that this move resembles the government control seen in communist states, as it allows for direct intervention in the market. Government Stake in MP Materials The U.S. government's acquisition of a controlling stake in MP Materials, a rare earth mining company, has raised significant concerns and comparisons to state capitalism, particularly in relation to communist principles. Key Aspects of the Acquisition • Nature of the Deal: The Pentagon invested $400 million in preferred stock, convertible to common stock, making it the largest shareholder in MP Materials. This investment is aimed at enhancing domestic production of critical minerals. • Market Influence: By becoming a major stakeholder, the government now has substantial influence over the rare earths market, which is crucial for national security and various industries, including defense and technology. Comparisons to State Capitalism • State Control: Critics argue that this move resembles state capitalism, similar to practices in China, where the government exerts control over key industries. The arrangement allows the government to dictate terms and potentially distort market competition. • Concerns from Experts: Industry experts have expressed worries that this level of government involvement could lead to unfair advantages for MP Materials over competitors, echoing concerns about market manipulation typical of state-backed industries. Conclusion While the U.S. government’s actions are framed as necessary for national security and economic stability, the implications of such a significant stake in a private company have sparked debates about the nature of capitalism in the U.S. and its alignment with more centralized, state-controlled economic models. [Hidden Content] [Hidden Content] [Hidden Content]

Tarkington/ Legacy Prep canceled

Orioles won't go away. 7-6 after 7.

Dubin in to relieve McCullers in 5th. Lance only goes 4 innings. Can't get much more than 4 from him all season.

Walker with a 3 run bomb. 7-3 Stros, middle 5th

I’d say 2-3 but maybe they turn things around

Last I heard HF up 3-1 in the controlled portion of the scrimmage.

That’s a terrible link I posted. It worked when I posted it. Maybe this one is better….. [Hidden Content] Correct me if I’m wrong, but Trump threatened tariffs against Mexico and Canada unless they made an effort to help with border security. Seemed like a reasonable offer to me. Your last sentence is spot on.

McCullers now with 5 BB's through first 4 innings. 87 total pitches SMH

Im thinking like a 3 or 4 win season for the raiders this year.

I was about to start another thread about this. Canada on August 1: “Oh yeah, Trump is imposing tariffs on us!? We will retaliate with a 25% tariff on US goods. That’ll show them!!” 3 weeks later… Canada: “Okay, we will drop our tarrifs.” 😎 I said it months ago about the trade imbalance. Canada has about 20% of its GDP coming from exports to the US and for Mexico it’s maybe 35% with much more reliant on Mexicans working in the US and sending money home. Mexico would likely crumble if trade to the US was halted. They can play hardball if they want or they can negotiate with Trump.

My question was asked incorrectly. McCormick laid down a bunt and the pitcher’s throw to 1st was wild. I always wonder how pitchers lose ‘control’ when making that play. Your info was however valuable because I wasn’t aware of the rule.

That’s actually a solid schedule. Weren’t IC and FBM’s only losses to Randle? Still think y’all are going to be better than people think this year. I have y’all penciled in as third seed at worst.

Lumberton will struggle this year.

You are allowed only one throw over to first per inning. Another one of those rule changes to speed up play like the pitch clock.

Peńa!!!

Can somebody please tell me why a pitcher can’t throw to first? I’m glad it happened, but it’s a mystery to me.

Not there but based on what I’ve heard from someone there… Lumberton looks rough and HF doesn’t

This is one of those situations where a person can agree with many policies, but vehemently disagree with others—for entirely different reasons.

I know the scrimmage was moved to Lumberton and is being played. Have not heard anything yet.

No offense taken, but I still think the first 3 paragraphs make sense. The USPS and Amtrak comment was lame.