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thrashermaxey · 6 years

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Top 100 Keeper League Goaltenders – August 2018

Here are the Top 100 goaltenders to own in your fantasy hockey keeper leagues…

Yeah yeah, I know – late again. Big time. But the vacation season is over now (I managed to squeeze in three mini-vacays in the second half of August) and I'm here all the way through the season's start. Not much in terms of changes this month, as only Dustin Tokarski signed with the Rangers (and he moved up a lot, but still not enough to crack the Top 100 though close). I also tweaked Carey Price and Thomas Greiss – I'm a poet and I didn't know it. With Price I really agonized, again, about moving him into the second tier. But in the end I just can't in good conscience advise my readers that he is as strong a selection as the other Tier 1 guys. Talent-wise he may be the best, or close to it. But injury-wise and team-wise he has certainly fallen.

This month I put the FULL Top 100 list over at Goalie Post and only have the Top 20 below. I not only want to remind you of Goalie Post and the starting goalie grid (set up now), but also you can sign up for emails. Free email notifications. And finally – I want to show you our new logo over there. Goalie Post has a new banner and logo! The B2B schedules and weekly schedules are up and ready for your review as well!

Also – pick up the 13th annual DobberHockey Fantasy Guide right here – updated always. Simply re-download the document whenever you want and it will be the updated one.

Tomorrow I will have the Top 50 Prospect Goaltenders, and I plan to have the Top 300 skaters and Top 100 defensemen later this week.

Aug 20 Goalie Team Rating Jul 20 Tier 1 Connor Hellebuyck WPG 106.6 1 0 2 Frederik Andersen TOR 105.0 2 0 3 Braden Holtby WAS 101.0 3 1 4 Andrei Vasilevskiy TBL 100.8 4 1 5 Tuukka Rask BOS 100.7 5 1 6 Sergei Bobrovsky CBJ 95.4 6 1 7 Devan Dubnyk MIN 92.0 7 1 8 Cam Talbot EDM 90.4 8 1 9 Pekka Rinne NSH 90.3 9 1 10 Matt Murray PIT 88.7 10 1 11 John Gibson ANA 88.6 11 1 12 Martin Jones SJS 88.1 12 2 13 Marc-Andre Fleury VGK 87.1 13 1 14 Jonathan Quick LAK 84.1 15 2 15 Jake Allen STL 81.5 16 2 16 Antti Raanta ARI 81.2 17 2 17 Carey Price MON 79.9 14 2 18 Carter Hutton BUF 77.6 18 3 19 Ben Bishop DAL 76.7 19 2 20 Mike Smith CGY 76.6 20 2

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-home/hockey-rankings/top-100-keeper-league-goaltenders-august-2018/

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jesusvasser · 6 years

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First Drive: 2019 Aston Martin DB11 AMR Signature Edition

NÜRBURG, Germany — There is something serene about the German countryside around the Nürburbring. Small villages append the rolling, tree-lined b-roads where everything is quiet, everything is tranquil. As I cruise through one of these postcard villages, I take a moment to recognize how smooth and quiet ‘my’ Aston Martin DB11 is; and it should be, it’s a GT car right?

However, I am not in any old DB11. This is the 2019 Aston Martin DB11 AMR Signature Edition. After sitting behind a tractor for what felt like an eternity, the road opens and I choose to make a pass. I click the wheel-mounted powertrain switch into ‘Sport’ mode, flatten the gas pedal, and the village shrinks in my mirrors as the twin-turbo V12 wakes from its slumber, sending 630 British horses to me down the road. I lift off the gas and the new exhaust system pops, cracks, and gargles with a sound that invokes classic Group B rally car anti-lag vibes. I giggle, then repeat. The once tranquil German landscape is now resonant in what is arguably one of the best sounding engines in the business.

Aston’s AMR road car division was introduced to us at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Tasked with creating more dynamic versions of existing cars, AMR started with the Vantage AMR and the mental Vantage AMR Pro, but the DB11 was next in line. We liked the standard DB11 V12, so what’s this super GT like after a fettling from the AMR team? But before we get onto those lime green decals, let’s discuss the performance gains.

Outright power is up by 30 hp from the conventional V-12 powered DB11, rising to 630 hp thanks to an ECU re-calibration and marginal boost increase. Not only is overall power up, but the torque curve has been improved, extending the previous 516 lb-ft of peak torque all the way up to redline. The combination of these upgrades makes for a 0-60 time that’s 0.2-second quicker than before, coming in at 3.5 seconds, and a top speed of 208 mph.

The power becomes immediately noticeable when I am let loose on one of Germany’s great gifts to the world: the unrestricted Autobahn. I place myself in the outside lane and set the powertrain into the most aggressive ‘Sport+’ setting. The imposing profile of an Aston Martin with bright green stripes is enough for the traffic in front to move over. They know what’s coming. As I firmly place my right foot all the way down to the floor, I’m swept away by a wave of torque. The engine hardly feels turbocharged and it’s mere seconds until I’m closing in on 170 mph. The Mercedes-sourced infotainment center then kindly reminds me that I need to exit soon, cutting my fun short. Never mind though, the next stretch of the pre-determined route will take me on the meandering back roads surrounding Nürburg. A perfect opportunity to test the AMR’s abilities in the twisties.

Dampers are stiffer in comparison to the existing DB11 V12 thanks to re-valving, but spring rates remain the same. Maintaining the spring rate means that the floating, smooth ride of the DB11 is retained in a longitudinal way. However, lateral acceleration characteristics have improved thanks to stiffer dampers in lower velocity maneuvers.

The bushings holding the subframe to the chassis are made of a stiffer rubber compound than those of the stock DB11 V12, but they’re also the same as the ones found in the DB11 V8. The combination of subframe and damper stiffening gives the Bridgestone Potenza Potenza S007 tire a ten-percent increase in contact patch size in dynamic situations. The wheels are now forged alloy units, saving 7.7-lbs per corner of unsprung weight over the existing DB11 V12, further improving sporting prowess.

Breakaway characteristics of the rear axle predictable and easy to control. Provoking those big hips into oversteer is remarkably easy thanks to the front-engine/rear-drive layout and the mass of torque available to you from low RPM. Having the powertrain in Sport+ mode gives you full performance and aggression, though I found that keeping the chassis in GT mode was the best for backroad blasts. The softer damped GT mode allows the rear tires to bite into the road surface, giving you good mechanical grip on bumpy, uneven roads.

Steering is more direct than the existing DB11, thanks to a 0.5-mm thicker anti-roll bar connecting the two front corners, something that Matt Becker—Chief Engineer, Vehicle Engineering—and his team were stubborn about having. The business case was to not have any new parts that require any new manufacturing, logistics and cost implications, but Becker was adamant that the car needed a thicker front ARB to balance out the changes to the rear axle, and we can thank him for his stubbornness. The front end certainly feels as if it bites in quicker than before, and married to the chassis changes at the rear, makes for a sportier feel to the entire chassis.

Carbon-ceramic brakes are not available on the DB11 AMR, and it makes sense. The extra expenditure to get what is pretty much race car braking technology on a GT car would defy logic. The soft bite of the conventional steel rotors suit the demeanor of the DB11 AMR far more than grabby ceramics would. Good decision Aston.

The exhaust system also benefits from a tweak, with the attitude valve for the system is open for more of the time. Although outright decibel level is unchanged, it gives a more aggressive vocal track for the car in Sport and Sport+ modes. It also gives the car the lift-off pops and crackles that speak to your inner child. Previously unavailable on the DB11 V12, extra fuel is fed to the engine and ignition timing is retarded to induce highly satisfying overrun theatrics. Completely useless in terms of performance, but completely necessary for putting a smile on your face.

Now to those lime green details. The signature edition is limited to 100 units and has bright green accents that span from the Aston logo on the hood to the base of the windscreen. A stripe of the same color also runs along the outside lip of the front splitter, which in my humble eyes, kind of works. The six-piston brake calipers are also clad in the same hue, as is the interior stitching, and a stripe down the half leather, half Alcantara seats.

The DB11 AMR comes with other cosmetic upgrades such as darker headlight surrounds, smoked tail lights, dark front grille, dark tailpipes and gloss black roof (or carbon as an option).

If you miss your chance at the first 100 signature editions, the DB11 AMR will still come with lime green calipers, but not the Sterling Green paint and green stripes.

The only qualms I have with the DB11 AMR is the programming of the eight-speed ZF automatic. In GT mode it works remarkably well with its smooth and soft changing of gears. Flick the powertrain system into Sport mode however, and you get a different story. If you want to overtake someone, the kick-down strategy is monumentally slow and abrupt in nature—it uses the same logic as the manual up and down shifts where there is an engineered kick in the back, which feels great when working your way through the gears, but kicking down from seventh to second doesn’t work so well. Splitting hairs, I know, but an easy fix for Aston’s engineers.

An AMR DB11 can be yours from $241,000 with the first lucky few to receive before the end of the second quarter. If you want the signature edition, dig a little deeper into your pockets and find an extra $37,000 for those green stripes and extra exclusivity.

So the burning question remains, have Aston Martin struck a perfect balance between Grand Tourer and Sportscar? I’d say they have. The 2019 Aston Martin DB11 AMR is smooth and feels at home chewing through mileage on the autobahn, but with the flick of a switch, can demolish back roads with some tail out action if you see fit.

2018 Aston Martin DB11 AMR Special Edition Specifications

ON SALE Now PRICE $241,000 (base) ENGINE 5.2L twin-turbo DOHC 48-valve V-12/630 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 516 lb-ft @ 1,500-7,200 rpm TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic LAYOUT 2-door, 4-passenger, front-engine, RWD coupe EPA MILEAGE 15/21 L x W x H 187.0 x 76.7 x 50.8 in WHEELBASE 110.4 in WEIGHT 4,134 lb 0-60 MPH 3.5 sec TOP SPEED 208 mph

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eddiejpoplar · 6 years

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First Drive: 2019 Aston Martin DB11 AMR Signature Edition

The DB11 AMR comes with other cosmetic upgrades such as darker headlight surrounds, smoked tail lights, dark front grille, dark tailpipes and gloss black roof (or carbon as an option).

If you miss your chance at the first 100 signature editions, the DB11 AMR will still come with lime green calipers, but not the Sterling Green paint and green stripes.

2018 Aston Martin DB11 AMR Special Edition Specifications

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#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger 6

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mikebrackett · 7 years

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Retail Sales Come in Strong – Market Update

Like much of the U.S., we’ve caught eclipse fever here at Quicken Loans. There’s a section of the U.S. that will be able to experience the eclipse in its full force with 100% sun coverage stretching from the top of the Northwest all the way down to the Southeast. Here in Detroit, we’ll see about 80% coverage of the sun at 2:27 p.m. Be sure to check the peak time in your area.

If you were paying attention to the market last week, it may have seemed like economic data was eclipsed by headlines around earnings and politics. Let’s jump right in.

Headline News

Retail Sales: Retail sales beat expectations, rising 0.6% for July. When cars and trucks were taken out, they rose 0.5%. This matches the number for when automobiles and gas were taken out. Numbers in June were also up 0.5% to 0.3%. May was unchanged after initially falling 0.1%. Nonstore retailers, vehicle sales and building materials were all up. Finally, a control group of categories was up 0.6%.

Housing Market Index: Home builders are showing increased confidence in the future of the housing market. This index is up four points to 60 in August. The present sales metric was up four points to 74 and sales in the next six months are up five points to 78. On the downside, traffic of first-time home buyers going through homes appears to be down still, coming in at 49.

MBA Mortgage Applications: Refinance applications were up 2.0%, while purchase applications were down 2.0% overall. The average rate on a 30-year fixed conforming mortgage fell two basis points to 4.12%.

Housing Starts: Housing starts fell 5.0% to 1.155 million in July. The weakness was in multifamily starts, which fell to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 299,000, which are down 34% annually. Single-family starts were at 856,000, up 11% on the year. On the permit side, multifamily permits were down almost 10% to 412,000. Single-family construction permits are at 811,000, up 13% yearly.

Jobless Claims: Initial jobless claims were down 12,000 to 232,000 last week. The four-week moving average was down 500 claims to 240,500. There was a 3,000-claim decline on the continuing claims side to 1.953 million. The four-week moving average of continuing claims fell 6,000 to about 1.960 million.

Industrial Production: Production in July was up 0.2% while factory capacity remained at 76.7%, holding steady. With that being said, monthly manufacturing fell 0.1%. Analysts had expected a 0.2% gain. Motor vehicle production was a drag on manufacturing numbers, down 3.6%. Business equipment fell 0.5% and construction supplies were down 0.4%. Consumer goods, materials and nonindustrial supplies were up. Mining was up 0.4% and utilities were 1.6% higher.

Consumer Sentiment: Consumer sentiment rose 4.2 points in initial August readings. The index was up to 97.6. There was an 8.5 point jump in expectations to 89.0. Current conditions numbers were down 3.4 points to 111.0. The report does note that the events in Charlottesville, Va. may not have been fully taken into account because of the timeframe when interviews were conducted, so that may impact the outlook for the future. The one-year inflation projection is at 2.6%, unchanged. The five-year outlook is down 0.1% to 2.5%.

Mortgage Rates

Fixed rates were down a bit last week. The Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium is next week. The market may move around a bit depending on some of the statements made there. If you’re in the market to buy or refinance, it’s a great time to lock your rate.

This week, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) averaged 3.89% with an average 0.4 point for the week ending August 17, 2017, down from last week when they averaged 3.90%. A year ago at this time, 30-year FRMs averaged 3.43%.

On the shorter-term side, 15-year FRMs this week averaged 3.16% with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when they averaged 3.18%. A year ago at this time, 15-year FRMs averaged 2.74%.

Finally, 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 3.16 % this week with an average 0.4 point, up from last week when they averaged 3.14%. A year ago at this time, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.76%.

Stock Market

The market hasn’t been as high lately with business forces starting to wonder whether President Donald Trump will be able to deliver on his economic agenda. It was against this background that the market rebounded slightly on the news that top advisor Steve Bannon would be leaving the White House.

The news wasn’t enough to head off losses on the day, with the Dow Jones industrial average falling 76.22 points to close at 21,674.51, down 0.84% on the week. The S&P 500 was down 0.65% since last Friday’s close after falling 4.46 points to 2,425.55. The Nasdaq closed at 6,216.53 Friday, down 0.64% on the week and falling 5.39 points on the day.

The Week Ahead

Tuesday, August 22

FHFA House Price Index (9:00 a.m. ET) – The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI) covers single-family housing using data provided by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The HPI is derived from transactions involving conforming conventional mortgages purchased or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Wednesday, August 23

MBA Mortgage Applications (7:00 a.m. ET) – The mortgage applications index measures applications to mortgage lenders. This is a leading indicator for single-family home sales and housing construction.

New Home Sales (10:00 a.m. ET) – This measures the number of newly constructed homes with a committed sale during the month.

Thursday, August 24

Jobless Claims (8:30 a.m. ET) – New unemployment claims are compiled weekly to report the number of individuals filing for unemployment insurance for the first time. An increasing trend suggests a deteriorating labor market. The four-week moving average of new claims smooths out weekly volatility.

Existing Home Sales (10:00 a.m. ET) – Existing Home Sales tallies the number of previously constructed homes, condominiums and co-ops in which a sale closed during the month. Existing homes (also known as home resales) account for a larger share of the market than new homes and indicate housing market trends.

Durable Goods Orders (8:30 a.m. ET) – These are based on new orders placed with domestic manufacturers for factory hard goods.

There’s not that much actual economic data, but we do get some home numbers and durable goods.

If mortgage and economics don’t get you excited, I don’t blame you. We have plenty of home, money and lifestyle content to share with you if you subscribe to the Zing Blog below. If you’re going outside to see the eclipse today, make sure to check out our safety guide. Don’t look directly at the sun unless you have special protective lenses. Your sunglasses won’t help. Happy eclipse day!

The post Retail Sales Come in Strong – Market Update appeared first on ZING Blog by Quicken Loans.

from Updates About Loans https://www.quickenloans.com/blog/retail-sales-come-strong-market-update

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