The Critic

He could probably find other ways to make money, but I highly doubt he could think of another way to get to a B-Jay... For the record, I didn't even find it funny the first time he howled off-key. It's f***ing sad that a talentless doofus like this is given a recording contract and everything else he's gotten simply because he cannot sing AT ALL.

Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I voted josE6. I have had enough of the Sosa Swing at the slider in the dirt. Also don't want to worry about every grounder that goes his way - I know he's improved slightly over the years, but I still think "Where's the throw gonna go" whenever he raises up with a grounder. I want Maggs to stay, but josE6 can leave after the season.

I have REALLY enjoyed Paulie's approach at the plate these days. He seems to be seeing the ball really well and for the most part he's laying off the bad pitches.

Jim didn't do anything to the Cub Couple except warn them that some people would probably harass them over their Cub stuff. I personally never bother anyone wearing any team's stuff because I also enjoy wearing the clothing/caps of other teams I like ( Reds, Pirates, A's, Cards ). It strikes me as stupid to concern yourself with the clothing choices of others. Most of the people here seem to have the biggest problem with Cub fans who try to start fights at Sox games, and I agree that it's annoying. But you have to be smarter than ending up in a fistfight with an idiot at a ballgame or you're going to get into more trouble than that type of person is worth.

NO team in any sport has cornered the market on imbeciles. If you go to any game of any sport in any city,you WILL find morons. There's simply no way around it. It's pointless ( and honestly a bit stupid ) to assume that the dopes at USCF are Cubs fans - there are exceptions of course, but I guarantee that the larger percentage of idiots at Sox games are Sox fans. And sorry to say, when the Sox are in the stretch run for the AL Central title, it's only gonna get worse when the bandwagoners hop aboard. Such is life.....

I read his column for two main reasons: 1 ) The Southtown is not printed in tabloid format. I do the vast majority of my newspaper reading on the train to work, and I do NOT feel like doing oragami on the train. Therefore, I buy the Sun-Times. 2 ) His opinions make me laugh WAY more often than they get me upset. It's hard to get mad at someone as dumb as Jay.

"Ballmall" is a cutesy little phrase that some people came up with for New Comiskey becuase there were things to do in there other than just go to your seat and stare at the field ( most;y just fun stuff for kids like radar guns and baseball card photo booths ). I can't understand how having extra amenities for fans is a bad thing, but "purists" apprently think it is.....

Didn't see anything over 95, but with that hook droppin' in at 78, the 95 must seem like 102!

Ended up being a very nice, sunny afternoon with a VERY good result! To all who went, I hope you had a GREAT time!!

VERY nice! 2 of 3 from the Angels, and a NICE 1-2-3 from Billy Koch! Billy had a SWEET little curveball workin' today - if he can drop THAT thing in regularly for a strike, that fastball will gain a couple MPH just from the contrast! A GOOD WEEKEND INDEED!!!

Zambrano's been in Retard Mode since the beginning of the game, talking to himself and jabbing at the ball when it's thrown back to him by the catcher. He is a talented pitcher, but if he doesn't grow up and soon, his fragile psyche is going to cost him some winnable games. He's a f***in' nut.

Yes, the Sox COULD do without Magglio, but I hope they don't have to. Of course, they could always trade Maggs to Pittsburgh for Randall Simon....right, Brando?

I mean "comic relief" to the extent that his opinions are so f***ed-in-the-head that you have to laugh at the workings of that giant hollow head of his. When he TRIES to be funny, it's a sad dismal failure each and every time.

For what it's worth, the skies appear to be clearing up a bit in the SW suburbs right now. It's too bad that the rain is going to lower the attendance today - Sox have had some nice weather lately, but a LOT of rainy days early in the season. It sucks.

Mariotti's columns are still fishwrap. He's a minor-league columnist with really really weak "catchphrases" ( example: "Whatever They're Calling The Ballmall These Days" for USCF - f***ing sad attempt at an insult ). His column is purely comic relief.

I just get tickets for games vs. the teams I want to see ( Angels, Jndjans, Red Sox, A's so far ) and let the lineups take care of themselves. I enjoy the entire ballpark experience, so it doesn't really matter to me who's scheduled to pitch. Things like injuries, illnesses, etc. can affect that anyway, so I just don't bother to consider it at all.

I'm not going to go around in circles with you about this. You want Randall Simon and that's fine. I happen to think that starting pitching is more important right now than another first baseman, and that's fine too. You keep wanting to separate this from the pitching situation, but I maintain that the starting pitching situation should be THE TOP item on any shopping list the Sox have, and they should do nothing else until they obtain a decent starter.

It DOES to the extent that worrying about acquiring Randall Simon is secondary to acquiring a decent starting pitcher. The 5 hole in the rotation worries me FAR more than anything Simon would possibly add to the offense. Priorities.......

There's a pretty new Aurelio's in Burbank/Bridgeview on 79th and Harlem, and it's not half-bad. Not as good as Barraco's as far as neighborhood stuff goes, and CERTAINLY no competition for Lou's, but a good pizza nonetheless.

Apparently, he'd walk out early if he blew a sale...

Simon might address a few things the team could use, but I'd rather they worry about what they NEED, and what they need is a starter - I'd like a quality #2 or 3 but would gladly settle for a reliable #5 who could win 7-10 games from here on out. Simon might be something to think about over the winter, but another hitter is low on the list of priorities right now.

When Guillen hit that HR, it landed about 8 seats away from me in the LF bleachers. As soon as the guy caught it, a bunch of f***tards started the "Throw It Back" chant. IMMEDIATELY chants of "Keep The Ball!" and "This Ain't Wrigley" started and the guy kept the ball. When everyone settled down, I yelled as loudly as I could "WE DON'T DO THAT CUB STUFF HERE!" It was nice to see the crowd squash that most idiotic of all "traditions".

Rob Mackowiak had the coolest day ever. His son was born today. He hits a walk-off grand slam in Game 1. He hits a 9th inning, 2-run, game-tying home run in Game 2. Pirates go on to win Game 2 as well. I don't know how much better it can get for a guy than that! Props to Rob M. and welcome little Garrett Metthew Mackowiak to the world!

That's funny, that is EXACTLY what the young lady across the aisle from us said!! My little one was SO cool tonight - she kept asking me who was batting and then she would yell their names - "Dad, it's Carlos - COME ON CARLOS!" I was bursting with pride all night, and now I really can't wait until our next scheduled game together on June 24th - on that day, I get to teach her to hate the Jndjans!

Whattya mean "we didn't deserve it"? Well pitched game, enough timely hitting ( most of it by Konerko ) to offset one REALLY bad decision by Olivo to try to score on Willie's bunt. Shingo's stuff looked as silly live as on TV. Overall a really fun night at the ballpark, and my daughter was REALLY into it, chanting PAULEE PAULEE and GO SOX GO with her usual 4-year-old GUSTO!!!! my kid!!!