YASNY

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ May 24, 2006 -> 12:15 AM) How do you figure? If healthy, Thome's numbers will be comparable to Frank's, Konerko will have comparable if not somewhat better numbers than Maggs, Dye will probably finish with numbers better than Lee, and I think that Gooch's numbers will be very similar to those of Paulie in 2000. I think the 2006 squad will fall short in the batting average dept.

Does anyone have a clue as to why Ozzie was given the name Captain Hand?

Dempster has vehemently denied saying anything about the "bite" or Ozzie's kids. He lays it all on North and said he will discontinue his weekly interview with North. He also mentioned he plans to call Ozzie to straighten things out.

I wasn't in favor of #3 being retired when it was and I'm not in favor of #35 being retired now, or at any time before he retires.

I applaud these American citizens for standing up and exercizing their constitutional rights freedom of speech and the freedom to practice religion.

This is officially just BS. From the Sun-Times:

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 22, 2006 -> 09:25 AM) We won the series, how much more second guessing can happen, jesus. Do you really need an answer to that question?

That DP ball was about as routine as routine could be. Cotts got the big pitch he needed to get out of the inning. The defense let him down.

I remember the roar after the Burke-Hunter incident because nothing was done to retaliate. Well somebody retaliated and it was Anderson. I've got no problem with getting a teammate's back.

QUOTE(Drew @ May 21, 2006 -> 10:57 PM) I am glad Ozzie addressed it recently. When you have a former franchise player who in spite of his humanity did a lot of good in your uniform, someone whose number will someday soon adorn the outfield wall and who will likely enter the Hall of Fame and when he does will most certainly wear a Sox cap, the proper thing to do is thank him. He, after all, let bygones be bygones. So should we. Total agreement here. The man deserves respect for the awesome numbers he put up in a Sox uniform.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ May 21, 2006 -> 10:51 PM) I'm not a guide on the rule book, of course, but that's what the announcers said yesterday: that they can only be suspended if the umpires eject them. Perhaps that's wrong or incomplete, but that's all I know. Which begs the question, Did Lee get ejected?

QUOTE(SoxAce @ May 21, 2006 -> 10:48 PM) He wouldn't have gotten there Yas, I've looked at it plenty of times myself. He probably would had made it closer, maybe even knock the ball down to prevent another runner from going into scoring position, but he wouldn't have made that play. Eh, I disagree but I guess differences of opinions are what keeps message boards going.

What he's saying is that 15 years of douchebaggery is an admirable quality.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ May 21, 2006 -> 10:43 PM) Mack actually got a really good jump on that ball, I don't think Brian would have got to it either. As far as leaving Neal in too long, I disagree. I usually don't agree with what Ozzie does with the pen but Neal is our best reliever and can get lefties and righties out, the 8th should be his imo, lefty or righty. He just completely imploded after the error, that's all on him. Ozzie wasn't going to let JC get the L, that's how Ozzie manages. Take another look at that play. Mack underestimated the length of the drive and had to adjust his route to the ball, which prevented him from getting there. Anderson puts it in his hip pocket.

QUOTE(DannyCooksey @ May 21, 2006 -> 10:50 AM) This is incorrect. Oswalt drilled Barrett in Houston 1 batter after Ramirez hit a 475 foot homer off him to give the Cubs a late inning lead. The next pitch was 96 between Barrett's numbers. Oswalt started that garbage with Barrett, not the other way around. That said, Barrett was out of line yesterday and will be reprimanded accordingly. I applaud Barrett for 1 reason: he at least cares. the rest of that sad array of north-side check collectors show absolutely no life whatsoever. Barrett is an emotional, fiery guy and unfortuantely its misdirected more often than not. I'm sure it was a case of severe frustration boiling over. That doesn't make it right what he did, though. As a Cub fan I am pulling for the sweep today as maybe there will finally be some action taken this coming week. Finally, you Sox fans have a great team to cheer for. Excellent and strong in all facets. The only way you guys don't EASILY win the WS again is if the plane crashes, or Buehrle, Contreras, Konerko miss a couple months each. That's not gonna happen, so I think you guys repeat. Good luck the rest of the way and when you come to Wrigley, I'm certain you guys will sweep there also. Your name really rings a bell with me. You didn't grow up in Chicago Ridge, did you?

QUOTE(Beltin @ May 21, 2006 -> 10:46 AM) What's amazing in all of this is for the past few years since the Cubs picked up Barrett, all I have heard about is what a tough, hard-nosed player he is and how he is a throwback to the old tough catchers of yesteryear. Meanwhile, he doesn't even know the rules of baseball and took a cheap shot at AJ in the process. Further, he pulled another classless stunt several games back and no one mentions his reputation as a punk. Yet, AJ basically fits the hardnosed description always given to Barrett and is looked at as a pariah. It jus doesn't make sense to me. Just consider the source.

QUOTE(TitoMB345 @ May 21, 2006 -> 09:36 AM) I believe he is rating the rivalries as of today, not all time. I would give this series less than 4 stars, because its an absolute slaughterfest. The Scrubs suck, and the Sox have dominated them so far. Sorry, but that is not accurate at all. I think it stands as 27-23 Sox now. That's not domination by any stretch of the imagination.

QUOTE(The Critic @ May 21, 2006 -> 10:43 AM) Just heard that Rich "The AAA b****" Hill is now officially a AAA b**** again. Sent down to Iowa, Michael Weurtz (sp?) called back up. Instant Karma!

I look for Barrett to get 5 games. Tops.

QUOTE(wallyburger @ May 21, 2006 -> 07:27 AM) How is A J different than Torii Hunter? Baseball needs to take thet play out of baseball. Maybe players will just start crashing into infielders on DP balls next. Barrett probably did what every other catcher , who has been cheap shotted would like to do. A J wasn't cheap shotted. Obviously he is no fighter. You don't stick your face in someone else's unless you want to get popped, and that sorry ass excuse will get him about 5 games. Brian Anderson will cost himself at least 5 games. His action was idiotic. What in Hell did Mabry do? A baseball that turns into a hockey game is embarassing. BTW, anybody remember AJ stepping on the 3B as he was rounding the bag earlier. That was as bad as Marcus Vick stomping on Dumerville. That will tell you what a jerk off A J is. Sorry, but this post is just f***ing ridiculous. :headshake

This was an obvious attempt by mariotti to start some s***. There is no way in hell that AJ can be blamed for this. If Barrett didn't want to be flattened because he didn't have the ball, he should have gotten the f*** out of the way. It's been said AJ bumped him just before the punch. The way i saw it was that AJ tried to avoid contact and get to his helmet. Barrett was looking to start some s***. I totally believe that. In fact, that thought crossed my mind at the time I saw the play.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ May 21, 2006 -> 09:33 AM) I don't actually want him to do it and get tossed, but yes Barrett deserves something. If we get up in the game late by a comfortable lead, I would put in a scrub (Logan or Montero) and nail him. Thornton would be the perfect guy. 97 mph

QUOTE(RME JICO @ May 20, 2006 -> 09:31 AM) That's what I was thinking. It doesn't seem like a player friendly environment. It's not a baseball friendly environment.

QUOTE(Soxhawk13 @ May 20, 2006 -> 08:51 AM) It isn't the players fault? Come on now. Maybe management didn't put them in the best position, but ultimately it is the players fault. Their players aren't hitting, they can't run the bases, their pitchers aren't throwing strikes, and they don't play good defense. The Cubs are very bad, and the players are to blame. If the Sox were playing the same way as the Cubs are right now, we would be all over them. Some of us would even be calling for certain players to lose their starting jobs. That's just the way things go. If a team isn't performing, the fans, the paying customers, have a right to display their unhappiness. If the Cubs don't like that, they are in the wrong business. Baseball is a public display of your skills, and if you don't have the skills or you aren't using your skills, people aren't going to be happy watching you. I say it isn't the players fault because management did not gather enough players with skills. Most of the players on the Cubs are just happy to have a job in MLB. I mean really, I'm 48 years old with a piece s*** arm but if I could make the ML minimum for playing s***ty baseball at Wrigley, I'd do it.

The press has really got it's teeth sunk into the Cubs this morning and their not looking to let go. Mariotti sums up his column with "Bleep the Cubs" and it's an accurate reflection of the content. They are getting reemed from all directions. I almost feel for the players. This isn't their fault. It's strictly management, or more accurately, the lack thereof.