The Critic

I just got back from the wake. The body looked so natural, it almost still seemed to be alive. It was weird to see it so lifeless and still, when I remember how vibrant and full of energy and hope it used to be. I was saddened by it, but I'll always have my memories of the good times we shared. The time for has passed, and I've accepted that the 2006 season is over. Congrats to the Twins and Tigers, and good luck to the A's in the playoffs. An Oakland/St. Louis World Series would be the most acceptable to me. Now is the time to look ahead, and if that means playing the kids to get a better idea of what they might be able to against big league opponents, I'm all for it. Might as well wave the white flag - the regulars seem to have beaten us to it anyway.

I'm in, but I think they're out.

I'll be there tonight and Sunday. Let's beat the hell out of Rogers and end the season on a freakin' roll for a change!

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Sep 17, 2006 -> 11:17 AM) Here's where I diverged from everyone on the approach to this the last time. My list of the Top 10 Classic Rock Sounds would not be the same as my list of my favorite 10 songe from that era. For me, cracking the charts at least would be the minimum requirement to make the classic rock top 10. Songs like FZ's Uncle Remus, and Genesis' Battle of Epping Forest would probably make the cut in my favorites from that era, but I wouldn't put them in the top 10 classics because they didn't chart. Of course there are no rules here, and I just tend to suck the fun out of everything, so nevermind. Carry on. Love most of the songs in that list, btw. FWIW, I did try to only place songs that charted (or at least that were popular) in my original list, although I did have to like the songs as well (therefore no Peter Frampton).

I sure didn't smile when Frank was killing the Sox this weekend. And July is way too early to have given up on this team. Hell, yesterday might end up being too early for me to have given up on them, we'll see. But there's no joy in this, and not one smile, at least not for me.

QUOTE(jenksd @ Sep 17, 2006 -> 04:02 AM) I don't know if anybody has heard of this, but I think he can only been on the postseason roster if he was on the team roster on august 31. But what if there's a roster spot from DFA'ing someone??

Horrible news. So damn sad. There's nothing worse than a child suffering. Prayers for her and Derrek's entire family.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Sep 17, 2006 -> 08:34 PM) If it's anything like the way this season has gone... Sox take the first two of the Detroit series, remarkably getting wins from both Mark Buehrle and Freddy Garcia. However, a blown three run lead late in the third game doesn't allow the Sox to sweep. More of the same against Seattle. Sox split the series, but neither Minny or Detroit quite pull away, leaving the Sox three out of the WC and still four back of the division. The Sox gain a game on Minny in the Cleveland series, leaving them two back heading into the series in the Twinkydome, with Detroit already taking the division crown. And, of course, when you think that this season can't get any worse... well, they'll probably take the first two and have some crippling, make-you-want-to-stick-a-gun-to-your-head type loss in the third game, as we watch Minnesota celebrate on our grave. Gotta love my positive outlook, ehh? That actually sounds like the way it should play out, based on how this team has worked this season. The hopes go up, then crushed, then revived, then crushed again, repeat until nauseous. The only part you left out was that the winning run in the deciding game would score on the following sequence: Leadoff walk Bloop single, Uribe and Mackowiak (in center because you can't possibly play Anderson) almost colliding Sacrifice bunt, runners advance to 2nd & 3rd Intentional walk to set up the force play at any base and an inning-ending double play Wild pitch scores the game-winner QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Sep 18, 2006 -> 12:45 AM) Well, we have the next 10 games to try to get within two games of the Twins and then a 3 game series in Minny at the end. Sure this weekend just about killed us, but it's not over. Yeah, they have the 10 games to do that, but nothing they've done since mid-June makes me think they CAN do that. I now believe that magic burst of playoff-experience-based Superplay just doesn't exist.

QUOTE(LowerCaseRepublican @ Sep 17, 2006 -> 10:52 PM) Critic, you could have gotten heel heat in Toronto by calling Trish a b**** and pissing on her retirement match. Hell, Jesus could have gotten heel heat there too by doing that. It's cheap heel heat and it's all Reefer Rest Hold is good at getting. Orton vs Beef Wellington at WM 23. Orton fears the Ass Punch! Reefer Rest Hold - I like it!!! I haven't seen any recaps, did The Ratings Killer really piss on Trish's retirement match? Nothing builds a strong male heel than squashing a female wrestler's goodbye. Ugh.

The Overnight Bored At Work Shuffle! Rock Star Club - Kid Rock Clowns For Progress - Hanging Out Stylex - Wake Up, Go To Work They Might Be Giants - 88 Lines About 44 Women The Methadones - Less Than Zero Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing The Union Dead - Someone To Blame Oasis - Champagne Supernova The Cartels - Tamed Silver Ginger 5 - Anyway But Maybe ....and an extra, cuz YOU ASKED FOR IT: Fields Of The Nephilim - Preacher Man

QUOTE(Brian @ Sep 17, 2006 -> 10:08 PM) And bad news for you Randy Orton haters/jealous folk, lol, he is now pretty much the top heel and wouldn't be shocked to see an Orton/Cena feud and possible Orton/HHH at WM 23. Unless they think it is a good idea to have Edge/Cena AGAIN!?!? This could of been great, have Cena get screwed, let him go to SD angry and make him a heel like the old days. sigh Randy Orton as a top heel just goes to show how weak the E is right now.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Sep 17, 2006 -> 10:33 PM) I have to respectfully disagree. This season is the worst ever in my 16 years as a Sox fan. I remember not being able to sleep at night during the offseason because I was so damn excited about this year's team. Every aspect of this team was upgraded from 2005. How could anyone not be hype? This team was in prime position to do what many others before them failed to do. Repeat. And we won't even get the chance to do that. 3rd place for a team with this level of talent is simply pathetic. I never in a million years thought there would be no playoff baseball in Chicago come October. All I wanted was a chance. I realize how hard it is to repeat. I just wanted to see this team make it to the playoffs. This season has been a complete bust. We all thought the team was upgraded, but the fact is, the rotation faltered. I'm not saying this season wasn't disappointing, I'm simply saying that there have been many many worse seasons for me as a Sox fan. The late 80's, for example. You knew going in that the Sox had NO shot at the playoffs. THAT is a disappointment.

Frank has to feel good about this weekend, and who can blame him? I'll root for the A's if (when) the Sox don't make it to the playoffs. QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Sep 17, 2006 -> 08:38 PM) You Rowand worshipers are funny. The guy hit .245 in August, and he hit .235 in September and hit for nothing in the playoffs. Yet in your mind, because you saw him throw himself on the ground to catch a ball, that Brian glides in to catch without breaking a sweat, you think that the season is lost becaused of his missing presence. Good lord what next, a candle memento for Timo Perez and El Duque. The 2nd half of this season our hitters became pull hitters for the most part and were exploited by low and away pitching. Rowand would of been one of many right handed victims on low and away stuff just like he was last year. If AJ was the AJ of the first half when he forgot about power asperations, and just shot the ball all over and had a great average he would of been a much better fit than the AJ who hit .250 and had more power. If Thome was the same guy earlier in the year who hit the ball all over the field hard. If Konerko was a guy who picked up people who walked Thome, and made them pay. Then our offense would of been fine. But to blame it on someone is missing that was on the WS DVD and blame it on that is a joke. Amen! He was the easiest out in the lineup during the playoffs. Anderson is at least his equal defensively, and I think he's better. The pitching is the reason this season has been worse than last season, end of story.

I'm not entirely surprised that the Sox faded in the 2nd half. They've done this every year since 2000, if I recall correctly. (Except for 2003, as the post above me reminded me) I don't know why that is exactly, but it always happens. It's just more disappointing this year because of the higher expectations. And this has not been the worst Sox season I can remember, not even close. The first half was amazing, the second half heartbreaking. Being at USCF on Ring Day guaranteed that this could NEVER be the worst Sox season in memory.

So we're down to hoping for a miracle, and the bad news is, nothing about this year's team indicates that a miracle is coming. I'll always be grateful for last year, but it seems like it's time to re-open that old phrase: Wait Til Next Year. I'll be at the wake tomorrow night, and the funeral on Sunday. I'll still be cheering for them, and I'll be HAPPY to have a nice crow dinner on October 1st, but I just don't see it happening this year.

Some people have waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much free time..... And just for full disclosure, Too Fast For Love and Shout At The Devil are fantastic and almost everything else they ever did was junk.

QUOTE(DePloderer @ Sep 15, 2006 -> 06:49 PM) I don't know if any of you are aware of this site. Nugs But it's a site that seems to be a portal for many bands who sell recordings of all their live shows. This link takes you to there "Stash" of free-to-download stuff. these are mainly jam type bands along the lines of Phish, Dave Matthews and The Gratefull dead , bands who promote audience taping. Very cool for people into that style of music, but there's exactly zero artists on that site for me.

I don't think anyone's tried to hide the fact that she had work done. She's still a talentless hack with a Popeye chin.

SHUFFALUPAGUS!!! The Wildhearts - Vanilla Radio My Chemical Romance - Helena Face To Face - Can't Change The World Spacehog - Carry On Anti-Nowhere League - Chocolate Soldiers Royal Court Of China - Dragon Park McRackins - So Long The Pixies - La La Love You The Ramones - Needles And Pins Rush - The Big Money and the bonus "this shuffle goes to 11" track is: Coma - Isolation

Yikes! That's not a list, that's an essay!!!

QUOTE(bmags @ Sep 15, 2006 -> 03:50 PM) i think itunes is racist. Rarely does my sam cooke boxset or any rap ever come on shuffle. You shouldn't have gotten the white iPod, then....

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Sep 15, 2006 -> 03:43 PM) Two of Critic's picks would make my list Thin Lizzy - Boys Are Back In Town Cheap Trick - Surrender I believe he and I both got ragged on by Gleason for it the last time we did this too. I'll have to think abot the rest of that list. Don't let that rock snob Gleason trouble ya, 2K!!

Just saw on the ESPN scroll that Fat Matt has been picked up off waivers by the Tiggers. Rangers dump him off on Detroit - he's got to be better than DaMeathook, yes? No?

QUOTE(Texsox @ Sep 15, 2006 -> 12:22 PM) I know it's a bit of a cliche' but I'm going to have to bring in an impartial observer. A man's man. Man Rule: Nobody Trumps Dirty Harry. Good to see Harry had his priorities in order.... and I also vote "NAY" to the Chicago-style "throw all kinds of crap on it" hotdog. Cucumbers on a hot dog = NOT cool.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 15, 2006 -> 10:32 AM) I believe that was Morrisey, but I am not sure. I know it wasn't Kass, it was a sports writer. I'm pretty sure it was Eric Zorn. Beautiful article, that one was.