The Critic

Sorry, Steff. I won't have an opinion until I clear it with you.

Hmmm??? There are SOME who would ask this question of you, given your glowing reviews of all things Cubbie in the Sports Bar. I was just responding to the insinuation that anyone who wouldn't throw it back is somehow a member of some indoctrinated clan, while anyone who WOULD is a free-thinking nonconformist. Probably not the way you meant it, but it did come across that way, at least to me.

.....mmmmmmmmmmmm........braaaaaaiiiiiinnnnnnn................ no, wait.....I MEANT..... :puke

I understood that, BF, but I just thought it was kind of harsh to throw that label on anyone who disagreed with your preference, that's all. It's not really THAT big a deal to me, except to the extent that if you throw something that could cause injury on the field, you really should be tossed out. That, and I've always found the "drunken mob peer pressure" of the Throw It Back chants to be a little distasteful...

Seriously, I think that's a by-product of the whole Twinkie Mystique of how "the team is greater than any one of its parts" and "the Twinkies sacrifice their personal stats for the greater good of the team" and all that.

What IS it with Brando and guys named Randy/Randall? First it was Randall Simon ( who I always refer to as Brando Simon now, for my own entertainment ) and now Randy Johnson. Next it'll be Randy Winn.....then lure Randy Myers out of retirement....maybe Randy Hundley??

That was a funny little thread. Ncorgbl is an idiot. And I was wondering where HSC went after the whole blowup here. Was there a similar blowup at WSI? I don't see her over there either.

Happy B-Day, cw! Are you expecting one of those "special mentions" on the Today Show??? "Today's BIG BIRTHDAY goes to cwsox of Michigan, who turns 102 today!"

Exactly right. It's seen as a Wrigley tradition, although wherever it may have originated, it's still moronic, IMO. "Your baseball has NO VALUE TO ME!"

Then have fun, I guess. Makes no sense to this "conformed block-headed white trash" :headshake , but if that somehow improves your enjoyment of the game or helps you prove some point.... I'd still expect an escort to the gate if you're seen doing it - as I'd expect an escort to the gate for anyone throwing objects onto the field of play.

YEAH, I always hated that slow fatass! ...of course, I heard that Ruth had a bad hip...

That is great to read, but unfortunately a lot of people don't feel that way, I think. There is a percentage of people who want to "root root root for the home team" more than they want to just enjoy a baseball game, and if the home team isn't doing well, they're not going to attend. In my mind, a day at the ballpark beats most other ways to spend a summer day or night, no matter the home team's W-L record.

You should throw the ball back if you want to. And then you should be ejected for throwing an object onto the field of play. Wherever that happens, it's asinine. I.M.O., of course....flying f*** and whatever. Not telling you what to do, just saying what anyone who does that should expect. If I had a dollar for every time I saw an opposing hitter get upset about a fan throwing away a free souvenir.......................................I'd have zero dollars.

On June 24th, on a rainy Thursday afternoon against Cleveland, the attendance was announced at 22,000+. I was at that game, and was very impressed with the crowd. Lots of groups - looked like summer camp outings, work outings, etc. I assume there were more of the same today. Great to see ( and HEAR ) a nice-size crowd for the Sox!!! to the 27,845!!!

This move has BACKFIRE written all over it. Hasek looked sick last year, and he's kinda long in the tooth. I like the Senators, so I hope this move works out, but I got a baaaaaaad feelin' about this....

Agreed. Although I bet he'd prefer to rot in Chicago than shine in Charlotte. I'm more optimistic about him now than I was before his 2nd recall.

I understand Oz wanting to get another lefty bat in the lineup to balance the attack, and Gload has done a nice job at the plate this season, but he does look a little lost in RF most of the time. If Oz is hell-bent on DHing Frank all the time, then Ross should spell PK at first base once a week or so and pinch-hit, and maybe - MAYBE - play once a week or so in right. ....MAYBE.....

2B or CF is still WAY better than the bench. He hasn't done enough to expect golden treatment yet. Willie needs to separate the hitting from the field, and be grateful when his name is on the lineup card. Young, old or in between, when you play you need to focus on the job at hand.

He's just setting the wheels in motion for his bargaining position. It's not a bad move on his part. If he winds up with 17-19 wins this year, someone will pay him what he wants. If the Sox lose a bunch of FA derbies, such as Pavano/Lowe/Morris, they'll probably end up paying for Esty to return. He's not a bad #3 guy at all, just not for #1 type money.

Every team goes through stretches like this. The team that the Sox tanked it against this past weekend is now tanking it against the Brewers. It's a long season, and no team is going to be "on" all year. I'm just watching the games and hoping for the best, like always. I think it's going to be all right. ( fingers crossed )

".................fly ball.......................................caught."

I agree. Garcia seemed to be more flexible in his expectations, so his deal was easier to get done. NOT saying that Maggs doesn't deserve what he's asking for, because I personally think he's been great for the Sox, but his position seems, from all indications, to be pretty set in stone. I'm pessimistic about his future here.

Does it stop allowing you to vote, or do they only count 25 votes, or what? I must have voted for Frank 50 times, and it keeps allowing me to vote again. I get new validation codes and everything. I'll keep throwing in my votes until it tells me to stop, I guess.

While the grounds crew was RIDICULOUS about raking and re-raking the field, taking WAAAAAY too long, that game DEFINITELY should have been called when it was. The fact that the sun was shining had NO impact on the condition of the field. The outfield was a mess, and the warning track was underwater. The stoppage was valid and correct. By rule, it was an official game, so there's no use crying about that. Had the Sox done anything with the chances they had, the game could have been tied and THEN would have to be played to completion today. They did nothing with their opportunities, so they lose. Simple as that. And if you noticed, it started raining again about 15 minutes after the game was called, so they'd have stopped the game again anyway. Just put it in the right hand column and move on.

Not surprised - Mariotti is a sportswriter. Big mouth, no backup. Hawk could be 110 and simply WRECK Jackass Jay. BTW, that's a great line - "You do what you have to do, Jay." What Jay "had to do" apparently was walk away and think about something to write about Hawk.