The Royal Heffernans


Quite possibly the best family ever

Monday, January 30, 2012

No Dodging This One


Catholics attending Mass on Sunday, Jan. 29, got the news directly from the pulpit that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has grave reservations regarding certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). Regulations implementing the law require employers to include coverage of sterilization and contraception services in health insurance plans offered to their employees. The Church teaches that sterilization and contraception are sinful and wrong. Thus, the Bishops have said that Church institutions cannot and will not comply with the law.

An unequivocal line has been drawn. And Catholics will have to choose one side or another.

Many Catholics will probably tell you that, despite Church prohibitions, they have no problem with contraception or sterilization (abortion is a different story). But the Church has always recognized the primacy of individual conscience, so to a certain extent, one can disagree with Church teaching yet still be Catholic. In the present situation, however, one’s personal views toward contraception and sterilization are not the real issue. At issue is the fact that the US government is requiring a religious institution to provide access to, and financially support the utilization of medical services that directly conflict with its core beliefs.

If the government and the Church both stand their ground, institutions and individuals who call themselves Catholic will be put in a very uncomfortable and unfamiliar position. US Catholics have generally been able to “render unto Caesar” without running afoul of Church precepts. Roe v. Wade and stem cell research may be seen as possible exceptions, but in neither case did the government mandate direct, explicit financing by the institutional Church: Catholics retained the freedom to disagree, oppose, and refrain from participating in the proscribed activity. The Affordable Care Act requires operational and financial participation under penalty of law. There’s the difference, and there’s the rub.

Catholic institutions include significant numbers of educational and health care organizations whose employees and clients number in the millions, and whose economic impact is counted in the billions. Will they forsake their Catholic identity to comply with the law? Will they risk fines and imprisonment in defense of Catholic teaching? Either way, the face of American Catholicism will be forever changed.

The Church is at a crossroads, and this generation of American Catholics, perhaps for the first time, has been enjoined by their leaders to take a public stand on a matter of religious belief. It is a call to civil disobedience with all the unpleasant consequences it implies. How will the call be answered?

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

MLB Power Shift


Don't know if anyone's been paying attention, but the balance of power has shifted heavily from the NL to the AL in the last month or so. With the departure of Albert Pujols and, I think, more significantly, Tony LaRussa, from the Cardinals, the reigning champs will likely see their performances waning over the next years.

Also, with the departure of Prince Fielder to the Detroit Tigers, and with Ryan Braun suspended for the first 50 games of 2012, the Milwaukee Brewers do not look to have the bats to be able to compete like they have been.

What this all means for me is that the Reds have to be the favored team in the NL Central next year. Joey Votto is also the front-runner for NL MVP, with his competition in Fielder and Pujols gone to the AL. The Reds chances look fantastic against a much depleted NL Central. Thanks goes to all those AL teams willing to pay massive salaries to Fielder and Pujols, who will soon both be DHs because they are too old to play in the field.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

All. F-ing. In.


Walt Jocketty is just challenging the NL Central to come get some!!!

Get reacquainted with this image. I just got word that tonight, the Reds have signed Ryan Madson as their new closer. This offseason, we traded depth for an ace starter in Mat Latos. In a separate deal, we also traded for shutdown reliever (and former Reds killer) Sean Marshall.

The projected 2012 lineup now looks almost set. I don't see any LF free agents or potential trade targets left that are worth acquiring. Hey, given a full year in left, Heisey projects to 30 HR and 77 RBI with a .263 avg. I'll take that! So this is what our lineup card should look like most days, with projections provided by RotoChamp:

LineupPlayerPOSTeamABRHRRBISBAVGOBPSLG
1Brandon Phillips2BCIN595931760170.2790.3370.432
2Zack CozartSSCIN38553114600.2830.3170.439
3Joey Votto1BCIN57511531111100.3130.4210.553
4Jay BruceOFCIN565913110070.2550.3410.476
5Scott Rolen3BCIN40055116120.2700.3320.443
6Drew StubbsOFCIN576751873350.2470.3260.391
7Chris HeiseyOFCIN48066307770.2630.3260.494
8Ryan HaniganCCIN2703963300.2890.3830.385

And how about this set of starters:

StarterPlayerPOSTeamIPWLERAWHIPKBB
1Mat LatosSPCIN2001593.651.2119462
2Johnny CuetoSPCIN1751383.451.1912555
3Mike LeakeSPCIN1751183.811.2612145
4Bronson ArroyoSPCIN20011104.231.3011350
5Homer BaileySPCIN1601094.051.3313148

The Cuban Missile, Aroldis Chapman will also be groomed as a starter, but has had some shoulder stiffness this winter. I suspect that he starts the season in extended spring training or the minors to work up his arm strength and stretch him out for starting. Then, when the inevitable collapse by either Bailey or Arroyo occurs, he gets plugged in and is good to finish out the season without worrying about excessive innings!

And don't forget about what I now claim to be the best bullpen in baseball.

PlayerPOSTeamIPWLSavesERAWHIPKBB
Ryan MadsonRPCIN6042322.371.156216
Sean MarshallRPCIN653352.491.156918
Nick MassetRPCIN653353.321.426128
Bill BrayRPCIN603303.901.125722
Logan OndrusekRPCIN603304.351.324026
Jose ArredondoRPCIN552204.421.405131
Sam LeCureRPCIN1105403.521.1310036

I think we need to seriously start thinking about a nickname and theme song for this crew. The Nasty Boys and U Can't Touch This carried us through 1990. This team is being built for a a no-holds-barred run at the playoffs, and is certainly capable of competing in a 7 game series against the Angels, Phillies, Rangers or Yankees.

Anybody want to split season's tickets???