hogan873

I was in the Coast Guard at the time. I remember sitting at my desk when someone said a plane hit one of the Towers. I immediately thought it was a small plane. But soon enough I heard about the second plane. We all gathered in the conference room and watched the news coverage until our CO chased us out and told us our lives have just changed dramatically. My job changed in an instant. Our main focus became being ready for another attack. We went to 24 hour watches and started patrolling the lakefront and rivers looking for suspiscious behavior. Those of us who had watch duty would get some very interesting phone calls, especially in the first few days afterwards. I remember one woman calling and saying there was a barge on the river that was full of gasoline (there are always many barges on the rivers carrying flammable liquids). She said it seemed like a good target for a terrorist. Then we'd get the calls, over the phone and radio, of people saying they were going to blow up the Coast guard stations or whatever. I was supposed to leave active duty two months after the attacks. Needless to say I had to stick around a bit longer. I got out in January but was called back to active duty in May. I spent four months on active duty just doing 24-hour watches. It's hard for me to remember how things were right after the attacks, in general I mean. The attacks are very vivid, but the year or so after just seems like a blur. Our lives changed so much in so many aspects, but now it just seems like that's the way it's always been.

McDonald's, in honor of Juan's 2000th hit, will unveil the McSingle in restaurants around Chicago. Juan never doubles down when he's in Vegas. Juan watches only one race of the Triple Crown. Juan never stays at Doubletree Hotels.

Plopping a new manager on the bench won't solve everything. It's not going to fix Dunn and Rios. Those guys are professional veterans that need to figure a lot out on their own. But, in regards to Dunn and Rios, Ozzie made the mistake of playing them too often, in the wrong spots in the lineup, and in pressure situations when everyone knew they'd fail. I don't know how much of Ozzie's decision making is cluelessness vs. stubbornness. I don't think Ozzie is a stupid guy. I think a lot of what he does is out of stubbornness. His attitude gets too big for the game, and in turn he makes bad decisions.

That's very disappointing. I saw him get hit, and right away I thought his hand was broken. You could tell he was in a ton of pain when Herm was checking his hand out. Lillibomb was one of the greatest surprises on this team this year. The guy gives it his all. I imagine he'll be back as the 4th OF next season.

2000 hits is 2000 hits. Congrats to Juan. I've heard nothing but great things about the guy as far as how hard he works and how good of a teammate he is. Unfortunately he's not as big an impact on the game he used to be. There was quite a drop in his base stealing ability from last year. I don't expect him back with the Sox, and I would imagine he'll be a 4th OF wherever he goes.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 02:12 PM) I asked some Royals fans I know about Ozzie. Some of them are sabes people. All of them thought it out of the realm of possibility fans want him fired. One guy said he probably should be on the hot seat if they suck next year but the WS title still should bide him some time and our players are overrated. It's like saying a guy was employee of the month once, but in the year since he's been late 6 times, called off 5 times, and been asleep at his desk a few times...oh, and he makes an ass of himself with loud, obnoxious behavior with customers. But, you know, that employee of the month plaque buys him more time. Give me a break.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 02:57 PM) So the WS title gives a manager at least a 5 year pass? Only managers named Ozzie Guillen.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 02:12 PM) I asked some Royals fans I know about Ozzie. Some of them are sabes people. All of them thought it out of the realm of possibility fans want him fired. One guy said he probably should be on the hot seat if they suck next year but the WS title still should bide him some time and our players are overrated. The WS title from 6 years ago? Or was there another one more recently?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 12:18 PM) If Juan Pierre ever reaches 3000 hits (I doubt he will), that will be the most empty 3000 hits in the history of baseball. I also don't doubt that the 2000 hits he will have soon will be one of the most empty 2000 hit careers in the history of baseball. Define empty. I agree his 2000 hits are nothing remotely close to Konerko's 2000 hits, but they are completely different players. A lot of Juan's hits would have been lead-off hits, bloop singles, infield hits, bunt singles, and of course 16 HRs. A lot of those hits may not have led to anything, especially if he got on base and no one behind him did anything.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 11:41 AM) He doesn't? I got jumped for calling him a "good" ballplayer. You can't even get people on here to admit he's "good." Of course I then asked for the definition of good and Quentin wasn't good either. No, he doesn't. As I said, early in the year he got plenty of hate. Since then, I'd say he hasn't been talked about much. We'll see the posts, positive or negative, when something happens, but that's about it. I just don't understand why you'd "challenge" someone to start a thread when Juan gets his 2000th hit. Why wouldn't he be recognized for that?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 12:41 AM) Ozzie's track record of greatness is above all! One shall not question the track record of Ozzie. It is a track record that, if questioned, would cause a rift in the space-time continium resulting in veteran baseball players having career-low seasons.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 10:07 AM) Lol I sense a little bit of smart ass-ness in this post Yeah. I bit my tongue. A simple "No team would want AJ as their starting catcher" would have sufficed.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 09:32 AM) Hopefully fans don't boo in 2012. We would have been a 95 win team this year if it weren't for those jerk fans that started booing in May. They'll have to beef up security to track down the boo birds and give them stern warnings about hurting the players' feelings.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 09:42 AM) Let's see: Yankees? No Red Sox? No Jays? No Rays? No Orioles? No Indians? No Tigers? No Twins? No Royals? No Rangers? No A's? No Angels? No Mariners? No On to the NL: Braves? No Nationals? No Marlins? No Phillies? No Mets? No Cubs? No Cardinals? No Reds? No Pirates? No Brewers? No Astros? No Giants? No Rockies? No Diamondbacks? No Dodgers? No The conclusion? A.J. will be back next year. I know he'll be back next year. I was wondering about the year after. So, after going back and reading your analysis, I would say that no team would sign him as their starting catcher for 2013. So, does he re-sign with the Sox as the back-up?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 12:06 AM) Do you guys think there's any way Ozzie returns? I think he'll be back. I just haven't seen or heard anything that makes me believe otherwise.

I really like AJ, and he's done tremendous things for this team. But I like what I'm seeing from Flowers so far. At a minimum, I agree that Flowers has to get more time next year than Castro has gotten in the past. I wonder how much time AJ has left. I suppose he could be converted to a 1B, but that doesn't solve anything to keep him in Chicago, unless they get real creative and split time between Konerko, AJ, Dunn, and Flowers. I don't see that happening. Do you think there are any teams that would sign AJ after next season to be their primary catcher? I don't know. He'd be 35 and doesn't throw batters out well. But he's a workhorse, has an okay bat, and calls a great game. I would think the Sox would like to keep him after next season only if he became the back-up, and I don't see AJ wanting to do that.

I don't see a problem with having him get one more start. He looked pretty good last time out. It would be nice to see him duplicate that...go out on a good note for the season.

QUOTE (Brian @ Sep 8, 2011 -> 06:04 AM) Thought the Rescue Me finale was well done and one of the only ePisodes in the past two seasons that made total sense. Great finale. I actually thought last week's episode was the best in the past couple seasons. It was the perfect mix of humor and drama, which always made the show so good in my mind. But, the finale wrap-up was very well done.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 01:29 AM) I challenge somebody to start a thread congratulating Juan. He gets severe hate on here for some reason. Juan is a pro's pro. Congrats on 2,000. He doesn't get nearly as much hate as you proclaim. Early in the season; when he couldn't hit, got caught stealing 94.2% of the time, and dropped some crucial fly balls; he was hated on (and rightfully so). He's been decent since then. He deserves the recognition for 2000 hits, and he will get it. And why would you challenge anyone to start a thread? Why don't you just start a thread when he gets his 2000th hit?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 11:55 PM) I've been talking to a lot of baseball fans outside of Chicago and ask them what their perception is of Ozzie Guillen. They all say that he is a good manager. I ask them all if they can understand why a message board I frequent wants him fired and believes he will be fired. They say, 'No.' If we finish .500, folks, Ozzie being fired will be perceived as unfair nationally. Who cares what people in KC or Houston or Seattle care about whether or not Ozzie is fired. You say you asked "a lot" of fans outside of Chicago, and they all like Ozzie. Since they're not in Chicago, I'm sure they don't know everything that goes on like we do. We are much more informed group of people when it comes to Ozzie than people outside of the area. My guess is that they like Ozzie for the same reason you do: He's fun, loud, tells it like it is, is a "players' manager". How about judging a guy on what he's supposed to be doing, and that's putting the best team possible on the field and making good in-game decisions.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Sep 7, 2011 -> 05:59 AM) Stewart. Humber screams one year fluke IMO. That's my fear.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Sep 6, 2011 -> 11:20 AM) Is Sons of Anarchy worth getting into? My wife and I are looking for a new show and that one has been around long enough that people must like it. Definitely worth it. I was a little skeptical going in...I think we started watching the DVDs when the series was in it's second or third season. Now we're caught up and have to wait for each new episode. I recommend.

I voted for Stewart, mainly because of his age. Humber may be good for quite a while, but we've seen guys like this before. Think Loaiza. I'd like to see both starting next year, at least.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 5, 2011 -> 09:48 PM) What I mean is the guy we get will likely be WORSE than Ozzie. If you are going to sign Tony Freaking Pena, who is horrible, then keep Ozzie. Why in the world is Tony Pena a better candidate than Ozzie? Oops I know why. Cause he won't say anything controversial. Actually he'll be perfect for Soxtalk. Bless Tony, who is a good guy, but you can't understand a word he says cause of the accent. Oz can be bad enough; Pena you can't understand a word on radio/TV. The writers will be able to pick out a few words. *rolls eyes* If having a funny, loud, sassy guy as manager is a recipe for success, then the Sox should just hire George Lopez. I don't give two s***s if a manager is funny or in your face. I want a manager than can win. If he can win and be funny at the same time, great. If he can win and doesn't make a peep, great. Stop saying Ozzie is the guy just because he's loud and funny.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 2, 2011 -> 11:29 AM) Maybe we can send Peavy to Wrigleyville with a bottle of jack and he can sing the go cubs go song again and convince Ricketts to push the trade through I may be in the minority, but I would rather have the insane Zambrano over the underperforming Peavy Could you imagine Zambrano and Ozzie in the same dugout? Maybe they'd actually conteract each other, and they'd both calm down and start doing their jobs well. More likely, Zambrano would throw a fit and destroy a Gatorade cooler with a bat, and Ozzie would PH him for Konerko because he "liked what I saw with him swinging the bat".