JoeC

Exactly. You have to have the right players at the right time. We have the right players (Robert and Crochet, assuming Crochet is legit) at the wrong time.

He built a well-rounded team. We DID want that, right?

Yeah for me, it wasn’t one trade or decision. It was the long track record of Wirtz’s decisions that led to the Chelios trade being the straw that broke the camel’s back. Off the top of my head from the ‘90’s, there was the Lindros ordeal, the way he ran Roenick out of town, not to mention the home games on TV. My anger was directed at Wirtz, and that anger disassociated me from the loyalty I felt to the ‘Hawks. At this point, I see the ‘Hawks the same way I see basically any other NHL team. That’s why, even though I am far too emotionally invested in the Sox to give them up as easily, I understand when people make these decisions.

There are several topics that are universal on this board. I'm pretty sure anything related to Maldonado's playing time is one such topic.

Me personally, I ditched the 'Hawks when they got rid of Chelios. It makes me happy to have seen the 'Hawks win, but really from a "I'm happy for my friends who love them" perspective. I just stopped any emotional connection with the team. Does that mean I similarly "showed them?"

Underrated pun there.

From Robert tade rumors to the merits of supporting a Hitler admirer as a young fan in the '70's. Yikes.

Luckily this team has a nice, well-rounded approach to losing ballgames.

Probably worked out for 35+ years.

Just offensively.

I see what is happening in Birmingham, and, if they are actually committing to a strategy of letting players develop as a unit or learn how to win or whatever, it at least gives me hope that Getz might be doing / directing something properly. But yes - generally speaking, our system has produced trash.

Depends on how the team sees the Sosas of the org. I’m all for dumpster diving for flippable assets, but nothing is a cheaper cost basis than some young cost-controlled player who can do just as good a job as the $4.2MM veteran. If the org sees Sosa et al as an equivalent to Biggio, then we should play Sosa and hope for higher returns (or at least a lower sunk cost)

No, but we can get John Rocker for half the cost.

Gotta stand up to walk out.

Honestly, if that is an actual thing they're trying, kudos to the org (and Getz). It's at least different amd shows they're doing something with a purpose and plan.

Who had "Cannon with a 3-inning save" on their bingo card?

It would be entertaining for sure. Hire Tony, with Ozzie as the bench coach. Throw in Milton Bradley as your hitting instructor.

I find this post to be subjectively objectionable.

If he really knew the org, he’d never have taken the job.

Good thing we're a year ahead of schedule.

Maybe the more appropriate response from me would have been to declare that I am not going to take that.

Honestly, what would he have to lose by calling it straight? Fake enthusiasm isn’t genuine. Sox fans, above all else, just want something real. Let your personality show, but don’t force it. Hawk was real (until recently, anyways). Benetti was real. Schriff feels forced and manufactured. If he toned it down by like 10,000 and just delivered the game, he’d be fine. Just quit with that manufactured enthusiasm and stay invisible like a true Milford man.

I couldn’t quite capture the spirit of my intended cynicism.

See? If they could just hold onto leads, they’d be 36-25. Just keep the other team from scoring. Problem solved!

Could be like John Scott a few years ago in the NHL. ...but without the heartwarming part.