The Critic

That really sucks. I was just trying to explain his "regardless" bit to my wife. She didn't think it was too funny til she saw it. RIP Freddy.

When I go to a game with the family, I take full advantage of the Sox' "bring in" policy. We bring in a clear plastic bag with a liter bottle of water ( frozen to partially solid, to keep it colder longer ), a couple sandwiches, and some cookies or chips for the kid. We barely have to buy anything at the game - maybe a Pepsi and a cotton candy. Of course, this savings is negated by the 17 dollar parking fee. The increase in attendance is nice to see, even when you factor in the s***heads who come to USCF in Cubbie gear for a game between the Sox and A's. They have to pay to get in, too, and they absolutely seem to keep the beer vendors busy. So more $$$ in the coffers for the Sox.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 05:59 AM) West Coast Teams, possibilities for Shingo: I agree with the D-Backs being a potential destination, although they've fallen off lately. San Diego: in first place, bullpen is their strength and it's stacked. Angels: highly doubt the two teams would trade with one another Dodgers: possibility, but they're slumping badly and are basically out of it. Oakland: just made some deals to bolster their pitching. Giants: very far out of it, but the two teams have been scouting one another. Mariners: totally out of it, but the affinity for Asian players can't rule them out. I would have to say the Diamondbacks. Add to the Mariners speculation the fact that they seem to be happy with the returns on the Freddy trade, and therefore they'll trust KW in deal situations, and I think they could be a dark horse for Shingo. But I agree that AZ makes the most sense. I will definitely miss Shingo if he is dealt. He was my highlight from last year, and he seems like a great guy and great teammate. IMO, dealing Shingo shouldn't negatively affect future Asian acquisitions. Players of all races are traded all the time. Part of the business, and I think everyone accepts that fact. Shingo has been shown a lot of respect and fan acclaim during his time here. The fact that he was allowed to struggle past a pretty terrible spring training to become the closer in 2004 underscores that.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jul 15, 2005 -> 12:07 PM) You guys sitting up or down?? Dogs sit up. People sit down. People stand up. You're welcome.

QUOTE(Finkelstein @ Jul 15, 2005 -> 10:46 AM) Well done, this is the "locals" way to get there without all the expressway traffic. Don't tell too many people though, then it won't be a secret anymore. Yeah, don't do anything silly like putting it on the Internet either, or everyone might find out......

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 15, 2005 -> 10:47 AM) What's with the green? I can't go anywhere near him.

QUOTE(Mr. Showtime @ Jul 15, 2005 -> 09:59 AM) Yep, and you gals can talk about me. 30 seconds later, you'll have to talk something else. .....nope, I won't say it.....too damn easy......

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Jul 15, 2005 -> 10:35 AM) I think he needs more work in more pressure situations. With Uribe he is just so streaky. He could easily hit .380 for August and than bat .200 for September. Maddeningly true about Juan. I just hope he gets hot in August. They're gonna need every bat they can find with that schedule.

QUOTE(rangercal @ Jul 15, 2005 -> 03:18 AM) who doesn't hate kalapse? Tim Armstrong. Although Tim may have a restraining order out on Kalapse, so who knows for sure?

Shingo has already been improving, although with less work. He's had a few good outings in a row. I'll go with Uribe. He's gotta dial it up offensively.

QUOTE(Soxnbears01 @ Jul 15, 2005 -> 10:27 AM) settle down. that first paragraph is pretty stellar, especially with the reverse gender bit. Well, YOU go ahead and reverse the gender, I stand by my original comment....

Hey, can you show Kid Gleason the way to the Pale Hose board, too? He's the only guy who spends more time there ( and less time here ) than you!

It's ABSOLUTELY true about the women at Sox games! Every bit as HAWT as women at Cub games, if not better!!! The Sox seem to draw more Latinas to the games, and that is OKAY BY ME!!!! I luuuuuuuuuv the Latin ladies....that's why I married one!!!!

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jul 14, 2005 -> 11:40 PM) Seabrook is highly thought of throughout the organization, probably moreso than Babchuk. I'm pretty sure he'll have a good shot at making the team. He was called up to Norfolk for the playoff run, and the people who saw him said they were very impressed. And Barker is only a year behind. And Brian -- I just don't see it bringing in a whole bunch of new fans. How many extra people are really going to attend a game on the chance (a small one, probably less than 10%) that they might see a shootout? I'm not really that against it, because with the stuff their proposing -- 4-on-4, then a 3-on-3, then a shootout -- I don't see that many games actually getting to the shootout. But I also can't see people coming to a game just 'cause they might see a shootout. If they fix up the other stuff in the game, like smaller goalie pads and start calling obstruction; along with the stuff their doing to make the game faster, like tag-up offsides and no-touch icing, I think the fans will come back. I don't think the idea is that people would go in hopes of seeing a shootout, I think it's more that people might be more likely to go if they know beforehand that someone will definitely win the game. Personally, I've always hated tie games. Leaving a game that nobody won always has that "why did they even play the game then?" feel to it for me. I do like the fact that the shootout is the last resort after 2 OTs. Give the teams every chance to win the game in a game situation first, even if it's 4 on 4 or 3 on 3. I like it.

QUOTE(bmags @ Jul 14, 2005 -> 09:09 PM) i don't know...i really kind of like the post punk of the eighties as well as the pre grunge...which i'll consider the pixies...but joy division, the cure, the fall, the smiths, REM [edit] i forgot Depeche Mode... I enjoy this type of music too, which always kinda got me funny looks from my metal friends back then - my punk friends didn't give me s*** about liking these bands, which was cool. I'd add Jesus & Mary Chain and Peter Murphy's solo stuff to that list, as well as bands like Gene Loves Jezebel, the Stone Roses and Swervedriver. All very cool stuff.

QUOTE(papachiba69 @ Jul 13, 2005 -> 08:14 PM) Excuse "i'll be Missing you" Give me a break somewhere sting and the rest of the Police are throwing up P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean "Puffy" Combs, or whatever you want to call him ruined that song Well, seeing as how Sting would have had to sign off on Combs' use of the song, and seeing as how Der Shtinglehoffer has performed that song WITH Puffy P Diddy Daddy on at least one occasion, AND seeing as how that song has obviously sent some checks to Mr. Sumner's mailbox, I'm sure he's not throwing up too much about it. The other Police? I dunno. I'm not a fan of Diddy's version of the song, but I'd hardly say he ruined it.

WHERE WOO! AM WOO! I? WOO! HEY WOO! PASS WOO! THAT WOO! PIPE WOO!

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jul 13, 2005 -> 10:09 AM) Wow, almost creepy how similar we feel on this. There is no chance I will give any money to Wirtz or the Hawks after this, but I will still be interested in what the Hawks do in the future, and the devolpment of the players in the system. They finally do seem to be headed in the right direction, and the Yawney hire was solid, but my interest has been diminished for sure. I didn't think anything could dampen my love for the game, and in a lot of ways it hasn't been, but the NHL just kinda lost me. I'll pay some attention, but not as closely as I have all my life. If they want to create a headline that would perk me up, it would be this: BETTMAN, GOODENOW AXED Ineptitude, Stupidity Cited As Main Reasons For Firings

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jul 13, 2005 -> 10:19 AM) You wanna know what's really scary? Whoever drafts him might not even see him play for their team, because of the new restrictions being placed on the entry level players. There's a solid rumor that says he will go over to Europe to cash in because of the cap. Personally I think that's bulls***, but that will now be life in the new NHL. That's a very real possibility, and it'll definitely hurt the league, if the league can be hurt more than they just did to themselves. To have the top young players play overseas ( which would be playing at home for most of them anyway ) would be a very bad thing.

If he ends up someplace like Edmonton or Buffalo, then the draft was truly not rigged. I think the chips will fall where they may, and "where they may" will be Madison Square Garden.

I guess I'm happy about this, since I love watching hockey, but man, they took a lot of my interest away with this yearlong bulls*** lockout. I'll watch the NHL on television ( if they find a network willing to broadcast their games ), but I definitely won't pay a penny to see any games in person for the foreseeable future. I'm not going to say I'll never go to a Hawks game again, because I know that's not true, but it's gonna be a while.

QUOTE(zach23 @ Jul 13, 2005 -> 09:29 AM) I think there are ghosts in the bible, so Carl should be ok with the idea. Yeah, but the "Holy Ghost" might be the ONLY ghost he will allow.....

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jul 13, 2005 -> 09:21 AM) Great advice for a no "live entertainment" bachelor party Technically, the monkey and goat are "live".....unless they're NOT....... :puke

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jul 13, 2005 -> 08:47 AM) Heck neither my wife or me are smokers, and ever since she got pregnant we have totally quit going to bars, instead going to places that have real non-smoking areas. We would probably go out more often if something like this were to happen where we live. Well, it IS nice to hear that the pregnant Mrs. 2k5 has given up the bar scene for a while......

I'm waiting to see what Carl Everett thinks before I weigh in......heh.