The Critic

I've been reluctant to get on the "BMac as Savior" bandwagon, but when things have been as shaky as they have for as long as they have, at some point SOMETHING new has to be tried. And I don't believe Charlie Haeger or Chris Stewart are the something new. So why not let the kid have a few starts and see what happens? Now that the Sox have three more bullpen arms called up, surely they can mix-and-match to fill up some innings, can't they?

I think the Sox used "small ball" with great success early in games, early in the year. You'd see Podsednik bunt for a hit or walk, then either steal or get bunted over to 2nd (or 3rd if both happened) and then score on a single or sac fly. It then became christened "Ozzie Ball", and promptly started to fade out of the Sox arsenal. Podsednik's leg injury sealed the fate of "Ozzie Ball" and you began to see more reliance on the bomb and the double. Of course, as everyone has correctly stated, Ozzie Ball wouldn't have meant a thing without the pitching and defense the Sox demonstrated last year - the defense and pitching which has too often abandoned them this season. If the Sox make the playoffs this year, they will slug their way in. After that, who knows how well that system will serve them?

Or it could be that he forgot how to bunt. One or the other....

QUOTE(Brian @ Sep 1, 2006 -> 01:42 PM) FYI, wweshop.com has a trailer for the Pillman DVD coming out 9/26 and is also pre-selling it for $18. I was never as high on Pillman as some people were. I thought his promo skills were average at best, his backstage attitude/substance abuse problems made it impossible for anyone to "hitch their wagon" to him, and his in-ring abilities went down after the car crash/ankle injury. I know some people really dug him, and that's cool, but he never did anything for me outside of the Hollywood Blonds.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Aug 31, 2006 -> 06:35 PM) Yea, I'm praying for Lester. It's unimaginable to consider what happened to this Red Sox team in such a short amount of time. Nixon, Varitek, Wakefield, Ortiz, Ramirez, Beckett, Lester, Pena and now Wells is being traded. This is a good pick-up for San Diego. I just can't wait to see for whom. Maybe they're cursed again???

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 31, 2006 -> 06:25 PM) I believe we have to actually play both of those teams as well. Well, yeah, but other than that...............and the fact that Minny is the other main Wild Card contender.............they don't affect the Sox at all............

Maybe he can help them. I thought for sure he'd end up on the Cardinals, they seem to be taking everyone's leftovers these days.

One of my favorite things in life is the opposite-field-lefty-HR!

See what happens since they let Woo-Woo in for last year's playoffs???

QUOTE(DePloderer @ Aug 31, 2006 -> 08:13 AM) Still Phishing! Put down the bong, duuuuude.....

Bet it doesn't get as much attention in the CUBUNE as the Wrigley bleacher expansion, though...

gutless f*cks...

Now that I'm home, I'm SHUFFLIN', muthafuggazzzz!!! Iced Earth - God Of Thunder (Kiss cover) The Almighty - I'm In Love (With Revenge) Rancid - Bloodclot The Replacements - Left Of The Dial Dinosaur Jr. - Yeah Right Alkaline Trio - Take Lots With Alcohol Raven - Born To Be Wild (Steppenwolf cover) Everclear - Amphetamine Thin Lizzy - Renegade Paul Weller - That's Entertainment I really liked this shuffle.....

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Aug 29, 2006 -> 07:42 AM) Am I the only person left in the world who doesn't own an Ipod? I didn't have one until this past Father's Day, and I'm still not 100% into the damn thing. At least it's not freezing on me anymore (knock on wood) - I guess I had a corrupt music video file on there or something, when I deleted all my music videos from it, the freezing stopped. I'm getting used to it, though - it is nice to use it at work to listen to music or the occasional (but very rare) podcast. I only listen to two podcasts - The Rock & Roll Geek Show and Destroy Your Radio. But since I didn't bring the pod to work today, NO shuffle for now!

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 28, 2006 -> 04:59 PM) I cannot believe that I am the only one in here who has any classical, jazz or soundtrack music in their iPod. I do see one or two blues tracks, though. Do songs from the soundtracks to The Wedding Singer, This Is Spinal Tap or River's Edge count? Cuz then I'm all about soundtracks!! Ah, hell - since I'm here, I'm re-shufflin'!!! Anthrax - Packaged Rebellion Beat Angels - Grow Up The Boomtown Rats - When The Night Comes Damone - Girlfriends The Alarm - I Never Left, I Only Went Away Life Of Agony - Weeds The Alarm - Superchannel Plasmatics - Tight Black Pants The Black League - Ecce Homo! Off Broadway - Bully Bully

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Aug 28, 2006 -> 03:40 PM) Totally disagree here. Our GM upgraded a roster that won it all last year. Why not expect greatness? Was it an upgrade? We all thought so, but on the field it's turned into 7 or 8 games worse so far. And that's my point. This season shows why it's unrealistic (in my opinion) to ever expect a World Series. Expectation is based on assumption. Each season is its own animal, and last year doesn't guarantee a thing. I'm not daring to tell anyone else what to feel or expect, I'm just saying that all I ever want from the Sox is to field a competitive team. From that point on, it's about performance, execution and the "intangibles" that separate contenders from the rest.

QUOTE(Dam8610 @ Aug 27, 2006 -> 11:10 PM) Ugh. 36. Not a good age for a big contributor to a team with championship aspirations. Yeah, I know - if only Jim was Dominican. He'd only be 28 years old.

QUOTE(mu mu @ Aug 28, 2006 -> 09:47 AM) Here's the results our 24 games in 24 days. TOR W 6-4 TOR W 7-1 TOR L 3-7 LAA L 3-6 NYY W 6-5 NYY L 7-6 NYY W 5-4 DET W 5-0 DET W 4-3 DET W 7-3 KC W 12-2 KC L 2-4 KC L 4-10 KC W 5-4 MIN L 3-7 MIN W 4-1 MIN L 3-7 DET L 1-7 DET L 0-4 DET W 7-5 DET W 10-0 MIN L 4-5 MIN L 7-8 MIN W 6-1 _________ Overall, the Sox went 13-11. Since the 24 game stretch began, on August 4, we went from being 1/2 game behind in the WC (to Boston), to being 1/2 game behind (to Minnesota). Minnesota has gone 14-8 over the stretch. We started 1.5 games ahead of them. Also, we went from being 8 games behind Detroit, to 5.5 games back. Detroit went 10-13 over the same period. Not the results we were all hoping for, but overall not too damaging. The biggest loss is time and games. Sox need a big September to get into the postseason. If they deserve it, they'll be there. If not, the reign ends, no excuses.

QUOTE(Brian @ Aug 27, 2006 -> 05:40 PM) Pieces of Me - Ashlee Simpson Toxic - Britney Spears Independant Woman - Kelly Clarkson Time Warp - Rocky Horror Soundtrack Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield Daydream Believer - Monkees MilkShake - Whoever that on girl is Thong Song - Sisco Star Wars theme Dude, you got one SARCASTIC iPod.... I felt like shuffling again, so here goes: The GC5 - Enjoy The View Goo Goo Dolls - A Million Miles Away The Clash - White Riot The Boomtown Rats - Never In A Million Years Face To Face - Sunny Side Of The Street (Pogues cover) Judas Priest - Jawbreaker Metallica - ...And Justice For All Naked Raygun - Giveaway The Beatles - Help! X-Cops - Tune Up Time (instrumental)

Ross has done a real nice job of digging balls outta the dirt all weekend.

QUOTE(fathom @ Aug 27, 2006 -> 02:25 PM) It's been a real pleasure watching Joe Crede this year. Yep. 2nd in my MVP voting behind JD.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Aug 27, 2006 -> 10:58 AM) Beerfest was a horrible movie, don't see it, you will waste your money. Broken Lizard should change their name to Wasted Money.

That's because the main event is full of retreads. Eric Young is entertaining in this role, but I wonder how long this role can last. No one will miss Ron Killings. Surprised about Monty, except that I can see his ego convincing him that he's better than he really is. He REALLY needs a new finisher. Anyone he hits with that finisher shouldn't fall down for a 3-count, they should say "oh, excuse me" and keep walking. The Pounce...............please..........

If defense wins titles, Uribe needs to stay at SS. His defense there is very good. Dye should stay in the 3 hole, but he won't. Gload in LF would be scary, but Pods hasn't exactly been reassuring out there either, so who knows?

He'll need a hot-as-hell September to get 40. So I hope he does it, but I'm guessing "under" as well.