greg775

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jun 15, 2017 -> 09:42 PM) I don't pray, but I'm hoping Scalise comes through this alright. NO ONE deserves to be shot for their political beliefs, and any liberal who says he "had it coming" is not someone I want to associate with. Best wishes to you for writing a great statement like that.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jun 15, 2017 -> 09:42 PM) I absolutely hate every single thing about this. I was in Arlington yesterday when it happened. Not far. I had lunch with a former Congressman hours after the shooting, and it was definitely weird for him. He'd played in that game for 23 years. I don't pray, but I'm hoping Scalise comes through this alright. NO ONE deserves to be shot for their political beliefs, and any liberal who says he "had it coming" is not someone I want to associate with. But I will say that I hate that a deranged, far-left radical can completely undermine every single bit of progress liberals have made against the Trump agenda in one swoop, and validate every Trump supporter in America. I'm nervous about the impact it has here in Georgia. I just got to the 6th this afternoon for GOTV, and both campaigns have had to put out statements about receiving death threats in the last two hours. I'm nervous about knocking on doors all weekend. But we can't let fear dictate our lives, and we need to spread a message of compassion. We have to start listening to each other. The end. No time for "I told you sos." But my statements about Texas becoming its own country or California or several other states breaking away don't seem so far off. Our country is so un-divided right now. We all hate each other. Liberals vs. conservatives are ready for war with their pathetic threats against each other on social media, etc. I've never run into more people in real life and social media who DESPISE the president this badly. All these horrible incidents of violence. It is wicked of me to say but it's not unreasonable to think Trump is going to get killed before he's impeached and if some nutjob or some anger driven crazed person kills him, the riots will be all over. I'm praying for the best, but the USA is so divided right now. It's crazy at all the hate. I hesitate to say the only time we come together as a country is in these cities where disasters occur. We do bond together AT THE SCENE of these horrific acts. Not as a nation though. GOD BLESS AMERICA! CMON PEOPLE WAKE UP AND LETS BE TOGETHER not divided.

Who would have ever thought the Sox could win 3 of 4 from Baltimore in June? And only be seven under .500. I'll never be convinced we needed a rebuild in this age of parity. The Sox are trotting out there some of the worst starting pitchers imaginable and are only 7 under .500. They could easily have upgraded 2-3 positions in the offseason via free agency. We could have still had Sale and Eaton with this team that is featuring a rejuvenated Avi, a rejuvenated bullpen (for the most part; yes it's reeked at times) and a live bat in Davidson. Abreu is still good and Melky is having his best year as a White Sox. Catching also is acceptable with this current guy hitting about .250 and having a decent arm. You all can say what you want, but there's no reason to completely rebuild when you have as many veterans as the Sox. This division blows and it wouldn't have taken much of an effort to win it. That's my take. I'm sure El Rockin agrees at least. Or El Rockin likes the rebuild and likes this team as well, lol. I say it lovingly El Rockin. You like whatever the Sox do at all times. Go El Rockin!

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 10:56 PM) I'm so wildly indifferent to this shooting it's insane. Why? All these incidents are heartbreaking and horrible for the USA.

Apparently Kelly's ratings were pathetic for the first show with Erin Andrews and I read (don't know if it's true or not) they may try to get Kathy Griffin as a guest. That would be smart for Griffin IMO.

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Jun 9, 2017 -> 01:34 PM) The stat geeks have ruined this site for me. Why not just sit back, relax, and enjoy the fact that he's having a tremendous season. Instead there's adjusted contact rate stats, ground ball average and peripherals. Why even play the games? Just use fangraphs, war, and any other made up stat to determine the winner through a computer. It seems like every thread deteriorates into a discussion about WAR, peripherals, fip, xfip, or some other random stat. Nice post. Just as many posters refuse to read my posts, I won't read the statniks' posts. I just skim through them. Like I said, some won't rest until Avi gets in an Avi-like slump that tears into his batting average. Yet the same people will forgive some of the other younger players like Anderson for his ridiculous hitting philosophy (no walks) with the crutch that he's young.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Jun 14, 2017 -> 02:21 AM) The stranger thing is that we haven't even talked renewal with Avi. I suggested a while back that offer him a 6 year / $72 million extension. His market value has probably gone up $3 million per year since than and if we don't do anything soon, he'll be out of our budget. Avi could be hitting .390 on Sept. 1 and some people would be saying, "Wait until the end of the season" before they'd even consider locking him up, thinking an 0-for-40 would get that average back where it belongs.

Most will be happy to know I have read the thread and will not comment on the topic. I'm no expert so I'm not gonna go there.

Now people are calling for a boycott of the network. Too many boycotts of late. Why does this guy think Sandy Hook is fake? If this Alex Jones guy is a journalist, it wouldn't be too hard for him to go to the town where the tragedy occurred and find out it actually happened. Is Alex Jones a nut? Mentally disturbed?

I feel like I'm a Republican but facts suggest strongly I'm an independent. I never vote for the Republican presidential candidate. I despise Brownback and all he stands for. I loved Bernie and he's a socialist. I despise a lot of democrat candidates for president. I love Ventura. So I guess I am an Independent.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 13, 2017 -> 01:49 AM) Injury flared up again. Not throwing for now https://mobile.twitter.com/CSNHayes/status/...371948683440128 If Nate was too stubborn to change his delivery, well he has noone to blame but himself. His style of pitching has to be murder on the elbow. I can see that and I'm no ptatc.

QUOTE (reiks12 @ Jun 13, 2017 -> 02:18 AM) Anderson missing the ball by a foot, not once, but 3 times in that atbat He has a long ways to go. Seems like he has a lot of natural ability but won't do squat in the bigs until he learns plate discipline. Might never happen.

Avi is what sports is all about. Buried by the fans. Buried by the experts. Close to being given the Tank treatment he turns in this. Hail to Avi. Where the draftniks can get all excited about some college third baseman, I prefer to be excited by Avi. I read the draft thread but won't go in there and cause fights. I'll let the draft lovers enjoy the draft and stick with my love -- the CURRENT big league season.

Rodman is headed back to visit North Korea according to CNN exclusive. You know, Rodman is friends with Kim Jon Un. If I were Dennis I'd hang out and shoot hoops with Jon Un and smoke cigars and drink with him or do whatever they do as pals over there. But if I were Rodman I'd plead with Un really, beg him, to let this visit have some significance other than Dennis visiting with the brutal leader. Beg him to let go those 4 Americans being detained. I mean WTF. Just get real with his pal and tell him to do him a solid. Give him the Americans to bring home. I mean those 4 Americans don't mean s*** to North Korea. It'd be a great goodwill gesture and really there's no excuse for not making Rodman a hero. Please Dennis, do some good over there besides smoking cigars with your buddy. Get him to let you bring some Americans home! Just tell Jon Un it's time he do him a favor for gosh sakes. Why go over there and accomplish nothing like Dennis' last visit? Jon Un has been even more despicable since Dennis' last visit over there. Promise your buddy something; autographs of MJ or anything to get those Americans home!

QUOTE (Tex @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 12:47 PM) Civility is the main thing we are looking for. What Greg writes may at times be frustrating, challenging, baiting, maybe what some people would call trolling, I can't think of a post where we attacked someone personally. I don't know Greg the person, I only know what he writes which creates a screen character. Is it his true thoughts and beliefs? I don't know and don't worry about that. Same with every other poster here. I personally believe the 'Buster is a little better because of Greg and other posters like him stirring the pot. Let me offer an example. Years ago a poster here who I greatly respect and like accused me of not liking him based on the battles we had here on the pages of the 'buster. I was shocked that he thought that, but after thinking about the arguments we had and how we responded to each other, it made sense. That should not have happened and are the types of posts we would like to tone down. I recognize that the hope he has for America is the same as mine, we only differ on the route to that dream. Mine works and his won't. A final thought. I believe the topics we discuss here are important to the future of our country. If we each tried to move people to our point of view that is truly doing something for what we each believe is right. We aren't going to do that by insulting each other. I really want y'all to resist a border wall, especially through a National Park. I'm not going to do that by calling you a racist idiot. I want y'all to support a guest worker program and a path to limited citizenship for the undocumented workers contributing each day to our success. I can't achieve that through insults. I'd like y'all to push for less government borrowing. And I will leave you with this. A now banned poster accused me of always humming this tune as I was sitting around this campfire . . . Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya Oh Lord, kumbaya Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya Oh Lord, kumbayah Someone's laughing, Lord, kumbaya Someone's laughing, Lord, kumbaya Someone's laughing, Lord, kumbaya Oh Lord, kumbaya Someone's crying, Lord, kumbaya Someone's crying, Lord, kumbaya Someone's crying, Lord, kumbaya Oh Lord, kumbaya Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya Someone's… Nice post. I like good posts.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 10:47 PM) Meh...all this doom and gloom about Quintana. Honestly...look at his starts tho. It's not like he's getting stellar run support by any means. He's given up more than 4 runs twice...in back to back crappy outings against Boston and AZ (and AZ rakes at home...best record in baseball at home). Besides that: 4 runs- 1 time (L) 3 runs- 3 times 2-(L) 1-No decision 2 runs- 1 time (W) 1 run- 2 times Both No decisions 0 runs- 1 time (W) Correct me if I missed something here. So honestly the guy has only had 2 really bad outings this year. Given his track record...durability...and affordability as well as control...you'd be nuts to think teams won't be calling Hahn. Let's not let this 2-8 record you...he hasn't pitched that awful bad. You don't settle. Man, good job of trying to sell him. The guy is 2-8 with an ERA of over 5.00. He's been pathetic and will get us very very little in return. I realize the advanced stats are loving on him, but ... QUOTE (Soha @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 11:31 PM) I don't know why we keep sugar-coating this. Quintana has pitched like garbage this year. He's afraid of throwing strikes, particularly when he gets 2 strikes on the hitter. He nibbles and they aren't chasing anything he throws outside of the zone. Yes he's an awesome asset moving forward, but no playoff bound team in their right mind would want anything to do with him right now. AMEN! He's been awful and no team is giving up much for Q. Sox fans who love trades are gonna have to accept the fact the team is one of the worst in baseball for a reason. Our players suck (and our manager loves to bunt).

QUOTE (Jack Parkman @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 06:34 AM) If I could, I'd rather set someone up with a good vocational specialist, who would help a financially struggling person get a job and if struggling with mental illness, seek outpatient help. Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life. Nice. The problem for many is time as u said. In a perfect world we could spend 4-6 hours a day helping the homeless. It's a crutch, sure, but people are busy. Also many people understandably don't want to always get involved. Like I said, the homeless person I tried to help get out of the rain was in my estimation beyond help. I was going to take the guy to the hospital after he freaked out or the police station if he didnt stop threatening me. I don't blame the guy for having mental problems, but not many people have the time to spend a good portion of their days helping people. Everybody has their own family problems, etc.

QUOTE (Jack Parkman @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 05:27 AM) I live my life by what I like to call the platinum rule. Treating others like you want to be treated isn't good enough. You treat others BETTER than you want to be treated. Think to yourself "What would make my day if someone did something for me?" Then take it a step further. Go out of your way to do something nice for certain people. See that homeless guy at the corner by Union Station with the I'm hungry sign? Take him out to lunch and have a conversation with him. Attempt to put yourself in his shoes. Imagine for a moment what it would be like if the shoe was on your foot instead of his. How desperate would you be if you had no job, no prospects, no family to take care of you and nowhere warm to sleep in winter and cool to do so in the summer? Awesome. You are a great person. I will say this can be tricky. I've actually picked up a homeless person who was standing in a storm once getting soaked and I won't go into detail but the experience was not positive. Remember, mental illness is possible in some of the homeless individuals. I try to be a good person at all times. I respect your take. I have a friend who at christmas time takes out 5000 dollars in 100s and gives 100 a pop to all homeless he can find. He's a good person.

QUOTE (Jack Parkman @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 05:01 AM) And as a secular humanist I believe the exact opposite, that this is what happens in a highly religious society. Religion is all about oppression, mind control and power. The best thing that ever happened to my mental health was to let go of the idea of god. It punishes good people by destroying their mental health, always worrying about whether they will enter the afterlife, and vindicates evil, by giving them a get out of hell free card, so they think they have carte blanche to be horrible human beings. I don't need a god to look at my fellow human beings and know that they deserve the all of the things that humans need to be healthy, physically and emotionally. That's cool how we disagree completely. In my frame of mine, I feel like if everybody exhibited the qualities of Christ (the father who made us; son who died for us and holy spirit who sustains us; three in one) we would not be so selfish. We would not be cutthroat at all times. We would treat people as we would like to be treated. I respect your take.

QUOTE (Jack Parkman @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 04:06 AM) There is no civility left in America, only hate, blame and excuses. This country is coming apart at the seams, and is weak.We can't continue to push others around and be selfish. I as a stout believer would say this is what happens in a God-less society. But I then would/will duck as all sorts of objects are thrown at me.

QUOTE (maxjusttyped @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 01:39 AM) If the GOP repeals the ACA (which all signs point to them still doing) and Dems don't run on single payer in '18 and beyond they deserve to lose. Very true. If this new plan goes through, the next Democratic nominee may win every state except Kansas which would vote for a Republican if his name was (fill in the blank with name of any despicable human being alive or dead). It's true. Brownback won re-election cause of that R. Single payer will rule in next election cycle.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jun 12, 2017 -> 03:22 AM) i would cook my own s*** brownies and eat them if we got Robles. No you wouldn't, but it's a decent joke.

Sox are lucky Q has good advanced stats. His old day stats reek. 2-7, ERA over 5. Awful. Poor Anderson is striking out too much and never walking.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Jun 11, 2017 -> 05:43 AM) Sox attendance has been going down every season from the previous one since the end of the 2006 season, except for two years if I remember correctly. Shouldn't be a surprise given the state of the team on the field for the past decade. Also I thought I read somewhere about the parking and that what is charged is not the decision of the Sox nor do they get a share of the parking money generated. I could be wrong about that, perhaps someone can clarify. Sox attendance keeps going down, hmmm. I think baseball has a pace problem. Unless you are a total fanatic like most of us here, I just don't think you care about seeing batters re-do the velcro on their gloves after every pitch and all the stalling that's done in the game. It's very slow paced and these annoying defensive shifts are very un-fan friendly. Also the fact that once you hit the sixth inning you start the lefty/righty matchup game ... there are many reasons baseball blows right now and why the average fan would rather do something else on a summer evening. p.s. It's also very insulting as a fan of the home team when a player, faced with an extreme shift, makes NO attempt to just plop a bunt down or point his body in the direction of the green grass to break the shift. It seems very selfish/ridiculous that a lefty hitter would hit to the right side of the diamond when it would be physically impossible to make an out by dribbling something to the left side where there is ONE lonely fielder standing out by shortstop.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jun 11, 2017 -> 05:27 AM) I seriously think contract extension for Frazier and Robertson would be a good move Interesting. I know Frazier has been kind of Adam Dunn like with his lousy hitting and Ks, but I respect your right to want to sign him. Robertson definitely is a B-plus closer.