The Critic

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylc=X3oD...ov=st&type=lgns Ross Gload is your AL Rookie Of The Month for September! Congratulations Ross!

Also a good example of a team overcoming adversity. INSTEAD of using it as a crutch. Which is what the Cubs do best.

This is a good point. The Astros have been without Pettitte and Miller for a while lately, while the Cubs have been healthy, with the exception of Nomar and Ramirez's groin strains. Fact is, they CHOKED away the WC by losing a slew of one-run HOME games to "inferior" teams over the last week. Simply amazing how poorly they play the game.

Interesting claim. I've never heard him disparage a player personally. I've heard him comment on a player with regards to what he does on the field, or any off-field things which could negatively affect their on-field play, such as calling the booth to whine while a game is being played. But I cannot remember him ever attacking a player's personality. If you have some exact quotes, I'd love to read them.

What do you expect him to say? He IS a Cubs broadcaster. If he were to be let go, he would NO LONGER be a Cubs broadcaster. Doesn't diminish the fact that IMO he is the best analyst I can ever remember in Chicago sports, and would be a great asset to any organization he worked for.

Most amazing part of the record - SportsCenter reported that Ichiro has more SINGLES this year (222) than any other MLB player has total hits (Juan Pierre - 218)! That is simply amazing.

Because mediocrity is tolerated, not congratulated. He made no noticable improvement over last season, even though it was all Manuel's fault. He's a fine #5 starter, but I'm not jumping up and down about him. Buehrle was a much lower draft choice, and is the same age, yet has done MUCH more than Garland at this point.

....OK, so the "comes up BIG" joke was weak...sorry.... But Bartolo shut the A's down last night while Mark Mulder continued his AWFUL late-season run. 0-4 with an 11+ ERA lately. Ugh.... Now the A's are on the brink of extinction. Guess this year, MONEY beats Moneyball, huh?

Baker is to blame for so much of this. Not only did he NOT tell his players to grow a pair, shut up and play better, he actually FED the fire by defending his players' selfish, whiny, misdirected complaints in the media. I guess that's why he's a "player's manager", right? Do whatever you want and he'll back you up, no matter how wrong you are.

Give it a listen for yourself: http://archive.wgnradio.com:8080/ramgen/wg...talk040930sc.rm It's a VERY honest, very accurate analysis of this year's Cub team by a guy who WANTS the Cubs to win, but isn't an embarrassing senseless howling homer dope like their brain-dead toupeed radio "analyst". Stone's the best and I'd LOVE to see him broadcasting, managing or generally managing for the White Sox. The man knows baseball and I think he'd be great at anything he wanted to try.

That's not the point, really - we were told that the tolls were temporary when it began. The old Bait And Switch is what it is. I don't have a big problem with it - I'll pay the extra tolls to avoid getting the I-Pass, just because I don't drive the tollway that often and I don't WANT an I-Pass.

I'll join in.... MARK B!!!!! If 16-10 is a "decline and fall", I'll take it!!! AGAIN Mark gets more wins than the IMMORTAL "Kid K" has ever had in a season....

Jose might lead the American League, but I know a certain roid-loaded, cork-filled scatter-armed, iron-gloved, hypersensitive Gladiator who would DOMINATE the "QK" rating in the National League... "Ay sayeev mye stryowts for dee mos' opportooon tines...joos lie Ay sayeev mos' of mye hon rons for when weer weeneen by fye ron or looseen by fye ron....."

It would be news to SOMEONE out there if it was former Blackhawk Steve Smith, or NBA player Steve Smith! I just REALLY hope we never hear about a Stephen A Smith tape....

done.

Scary thing about MoistHands is that he's swinging the bat real well today.

The Chimp and Steve Second-Guessing Show is ON THE AIR!!!!! I guess since they figure there won't be any more team charters to get kicked off of, they can let loose. My favorite - Stone referring to the decision to pitch to Dunn with Billy Bob: "Not the choice I would have hoped for, but there you have it." HA!

Wait....you mean to tell me that the players of the only other "Big Four" sport without a salary cap is siding AGAINST a salary cap???? f***ING STUNNING! What a brave and noble stance the MLBPA has taken....not self-serving whatsoever....

Borrowing a GREAT line, but who coined it escapes me: "My interest in this can be measured in micro-give-a-s***s." Paris Hilton is completely and thoroughly uninteresting to me in any capacity.

I'm not pissed off, I just don't care much about him. I'm watching his assault on the home-run title, and his insane offensive numbers, and I'm impressed, but I'm not happy for him and it doesn't change my opinion of him. Much like Ted Williams, who was an egomaniacal jackass, Barry Bonds is not likable in my view and really never will be. I put him in the Carlton/Abdul-Jabbar/Fisk file. Great players all, but I don't care.

I read somewhere that the Braves are playing their regulars to keep them sharp, and also to try to keep the Cubs out of the postseason. Some people think they hold a grudge for the Cubs eliminating them, but I don't buy it. Staying sharp I can agree with, but arranging your lineup based on some grudge isn't smart. Realistically, the Cubs need to take 3 or their last 4 games to get in. They have the talent to do it, but they sure don't look like a playoff team lately. I also thought I read somewhere that Oswalt would go for Houston on Sunday.

I knew EXACTLY who that line referred to. Sad part is, the Cubs and Sox play a very similar style of ball, too reliant on power and not enough speed and situational play. If they had SHINGOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! they'd have locked up the Wild Card already!!! ( only half-kidding there, but Shingo > Hawkins )

A STRIKEOUT AND AN ERROR?!?!?!?!?!?!? THANK GOD THE SOX TRADED HIM!!! THAT'S ALL WE NEED, ANOTHER FREE-SWINGING, STONE-HANDED OUTFIELDER!!!!

To be fair, before he made MASSIVE improvements defensively in 2003, Carlos was a pretty scary LF. He took AWFUL routes to the ball, dropped many a catchable flyball and his throwing was an adventure. To see where he is today compared to where he was then is nothing short of amazing, and he should be applauded. Perception will keep him from receiving a Gold Glove, but an errorless season ( during which he played HARD and didn't shy away from tough plays ) should definitely NOT go unheralded! CARLOS LEE 2004!!!!

No Barry Bonds = GO ASTROS!!!! Bonds is an amazing player, but I still just don't like him at all. Can't root for him or his team. HEY, why aren't the CUBBIES on that poll??????