OldRetiredGuy

For the record, Belle had perhaps the greatest invidual season I witnessed.

There is a nice article on ESPN about the bats that Ruth, Shoeless, and a couple other old timers used. The reporter had replicas made and players tried them out in batting practice. Sorry, I can't figure out the advanced stuff here.

I guess for the purposes of this poll I believe in Polytheism.

ebbs and flows. Playing at 100% for a season is impossible. I'm believing this is more of a collective deep breath and waiting to exhale for the playoffs. It must be difficult to stay in the here and now with a big lead. I think a strong couple week leading into the playoffs are more important than even August.

Interesting thoughts. I've never heard of most of these bands, so my opinion is flawed at best, but I think you should first define what it is you are trying to define? Objective criteria in music makes for interesting cocktail banter but poor conclusions. Record sales? Influence? How does longevity fit? Since this is about American bands, it seems the Beach Boys did the most to define America in their songs. Turning this around a bit, what would someone from England or the continent pick? My guess would be Beach Boys.

I can't get any of the Chicago papers down here, any of the other players have a response? That would say a lot about how the remark was meant, and taken. If it was nerves, what's he going to be like in the playoffs?

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 08:44 AM) I wasn't trying to show you up or anything... It just popped into my head and I thought it merited mentioning. This does have me thinking. How many protests are even filed?

That seems like an odd statement from someone who should be doing everything he can to keep riding airplanes instead of school buses to minor league games. For the best example of how to handle this situation he should review Koch's statements after causing a loss. That guy was about as classy as they come. Shame he had so much practice.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jul 28, 2005 -> 08:34 AM) George Brett and the pine tar bat is the only time I can think of. I didn't say there wasn't one, I just said I couldn't remember. Senior moment. Thank you.

There is still corruption in Chicago government? I'm shocked. I would have thought that was all solved back in the 70s after the Shakman Decree. I worked for the city during the patronage days in the late 50s and early 60s. We took it for granted as the way of life. You got a job by knowing someone who usually won an election.

When the Sox clinch the division, then start thinking about matchups. Until then, it is always best to keep a good team down. The Twins are a good team.

I'm trying to remember in my 50+ years of watching baseball, if I can recall a protest changing the outcome of a game. I can't. It always seems more like theatrics.

Ahh, the follies of youth. Enjoy this season until the team plays it's last game. I usually would say until they are mathamatically eliminated. My kids use to play a song We'll take the most from living, have pleasure while we can live for today And don't worry 'bout tomorrow, just live for today or something like that.

It's called the "loser's limp". When a defensive back gets burned for a TD, he always starts a little limp on the way back to the sideline. I'm going to toss you a life preserver and rephrase what you said. If you are asking does the injuries hurt more after striking out or hitting a home run? Even your worst critics will agree it will hurt more after striking out and going 0-4. Duh. Attitude and emotion have a lot to do with healing. I've let a bad back keep me from gardening but if my lovely wife suggested sex, hell my back is fine. If you are suggesting Frank is faking to get back on the DL, you must be related to Jay Mariotti and I'm pulling that life preserver away, you are on your own.

Thank God this isn't the NFL and I have a guaranteed contract.

Fun Fun Fun. Enjoy baseball, it's a great sport. See a game at every level this summer. Go to a park and see a pickup game. Call your local HS and get a schedule. Call the local American Legion Post and see if they sponsor a team. And of course grab a few buddies and visit the Cell. If the team is winning, great. If they aren't enjoy the game. Being a Sox fan means loving baseball more than pennants.

The players have to play. I could give Emeril a 5 pound horsemeat roast, and while he'd do better than my housemate with it, he isn't going to turn it into steak. I figure the manager is about 5% of the equation, and only after the first 95% realizes it.

Every generation should have their own artists that speak to their experiences, the times that they are living in. I think it is far scarier for kids today to be listening to recycled 60s and 70s hits than to have their own music no matter how crappy. So no matter how gifted and talented I believe Dylan to be, kids -- find your own damn muse.

I guess I have now heard everything. Amazing.

Are there a set of instructions anywhere? Sometimes I feel like I'm a little lost.

And that's about what it use to be. If a fellow could support himself during the season, maybe have a couple dollars extra in his pocket, if felt like the luckiest man in the world. Now if they don't have private planes and luxery hotel rooms, they feel cheated. Players use to have to live in the community. A man with a family couldn't afford two homes on a player's salary. Player's could be seen in the grocery store and playing at the park. I know they are making ungodly amounts of money for the corporations they are working for, maybe that's the root of the problem. I'll bet ol' Chuck Cominsky wasn't looking to make a King's Ransom from the team, any more than Wrigley was.

I'll bet the heroes of my day were not the best characters. But reporters had the decency to only talk about on field performance. They didn't need to have financial backgrounds, understand geography of the world, speak four languages. Now we have to know all the warts and shortcomings. Maybe it goes with all the money they are getting paid.

Is it just me, but does anyone else find it surreal that we are discussing $90,000,000 payrolls for a baseball team? Players use to work jobs in the off-season to make ends meet and would try to line up contacts for careers after they finished playing a kids game. Now they are set for life. I guess that is progress.

The US will never see a multi-sport athlete like Jim again. Kids today are forced to specialize as early as High School. Too much money involved I guess.

Soon they will add so much stuff, there won't even need to be a game going on to bring fans in. I'll bet soon enough the stadiums will be open to watch a movie, play wiffleball, buy a trinket, and have dinner. Honey is there a game going on? I don't know, I didn't look.