07/19/2011
07/18/2011
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Queen Elizabeth Sets a Code-Breaking Challenge
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The U.S. Is Letting Bankers Off Way Too Easily
Ever since the current economic crisis began, it has seemed that five words sum up the central principle of United States financial policy: go easy on the bankers. This principle was on display during the final months of the Bush administration, when a huge lifeline for the banks was made available with few strings attached. It was equally on display in the early months of the Obama administration, when President Obama reneged on his campaign pledge to “change our bankruptcy laws to make it easier for families to stay in their homes.” And the principle is still operating right now, as federal officials press state attorneys general to accept a very modest settlement from banks that engaged in abusive mortgage practices.
Why the kid-gloves treatment? Money and influence no doubt play their part; Wall Street is a huge source of campaign donations, and agencies that are supposed to regulate banks often end up serving them instead. But officials have also argued at each point of the process that letting banks off the hook serves the interests of the economy as a whole.
It doesn't.
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07/17/2011
Rookie Outfielder Hits A Three-Run Homer To Help The Phillies Beat The Mets
NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Martinez waited a long time for his moment in the big leagues. He never expected it would come on a home run.
The 28-year-old rookie hit a three-run shot for his first major league homer to back a steady outing by Kyle Kendrick and help lead the Philadelphia Phillies to their seventh straight series win with an 8-5 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.
"It was worth the wait," Martinez said through a translator.
Martinez, a Rule 5 pick from Washington, added a sacrifice fly in the seventh for a career-high four RBIs. He came in hitting .213 in 89 at-bats, getting most of his playing time because of his defensive abilities.
"He's got good hands and a good arm," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's got a real chance to be a good utility player."
Kendrick singled twice and scored on Martinez's drive in the fifth inning off Mike Pelfrey (5-9).
Ryan Howard hit a run-scoring single in the first and Philadelphia took two of three from the NL East rival Mets for the fourth time this season. Jimmy Rollins had a two-run single in a three-run eighth aided by Jason Bay's error in left field and reliever Pedro Beato's three walks.
Those eighth-inning runs provided a needed cushion when the Mets took advantage of four walks and a hit batter to score three in the bottom half — Kendrick left after the seventh.
"Fortunately we had enough (runs) to keep us good," Howard said.
Kendrick (5-4) continued his dominance of division opponents, improving to 4-1 in 11 games — four starts — this season. A day after the makeshift Mets roughed up Cole Hamels in an 11-2 rout, Kendrick pitched like one of his more accomplished staffmates.
Until the seventh, when pinch-hitter Scott Hairston hit an RBI single, Kendrick shut down New York anytime he found himself in trouble.
He gave up a leadoff double to Lucas Duda in the second but then induced three straight groundball outs. A leadoff walk in the third was quickly wiped out by a double play. He then retired nine of 10 before Ronny Paulino doubled to open the seventh.
Kendrick gave up six hits in seven innings, walking three.
"You get in jams, you just have to get yourself out," Kendrick said.
Mets All-Star right fielder Carlos Beltran was out with the flu for the second straight game and manager Terry Collins again tried to take advantage of a favorable matchup with his fill-in. Hairston subbed for Beltran Saturday because of his success against Hamels and drove in five runs. This time Willie Harris got the call based on his .316 average against Kendrick.
Batting third, he had a single and a double but was stranded in scoring position each time by Bay, and walked and scored in the eighth. The Mets overall were 4 for 15 with runners in scoring position.
Philadelphia again got the best of Pelfrey. The big right-hander began the season as the No. 1 starter in place of the injured Johan Santana but he has not been able to find any consistency.
After two solid starts in July, he gave up four runs in five innings Sunday. Pelfrey fell to 0-2 with a 9.47 ERA against the Phillies this season.
Chase Utley walked with two outs in the first, stole second and scored on Howard's hit to right field.
Kendrick and Rollins singled in the fifth ahead of Martinez. Playing for injured All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco, the switch-hitting Martinez, batting lefty, hit a drive that just cleared the angled wall in right field for a 4-0 lead.
"I'm not a power hitter so I'm surprised it left the yard," said Martinez, who hit 20 homers in 1,961 minor league at-bats.
Martinez had a sacrifice fly in the seventh for a 5-0 lead.
Booed all day, Bay came in on Howard's sinking liner and the ball hit off the top of his glove for an error to start the eighth.
"I missed it," Bay said. "It's one of those things where I missed it."
Beato then walked three around two foul outs with pinch-hitter Ross Gload taking a free pass to push in a run. Rollins followed with his third hit scoring two needed runs.
"I thought the guys fought hard today," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We just didn't pitch today. That was the difference."
Juan Perez relieved Kendrick and walked the only three batters he faced. Ryan Madson entered and got Duda to hit into a double play that scored a run. Paulino followed with an RBI single. Madson hit Ruben Tejada with a pitch, walked Nick Evans and gave up a run-scoring single to Angel Pagan before giving way to Antonio Bastardo, who struck out Justin Turner with the bases loaded.
While Bastardo warmed up, the Mets showed a highlight of the U.S. women's team scoring a goal against Japan in the World Cup final on the video board.
Bastardo gave up an RBI triple to Duda in the ninth but finished for his sixth save.
NOTES: The Mets left 11 on base. ... Phillies CF Shane Victorino, out since July 8 with a sprained right thumb ligament, went 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI Saturday for Double-A Reading, his first rehab game. He's eligible to come off the DL Tuesday. ... RHP Brad Lidge (right shoulder) threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts for Reading, pitching for the second straight day.
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