whitesoxfan101

QUOTE (fathom @ May 30, 2008 -> 04:20 PM) I've already started thinking of who I want to see in the playoffs with them. I'd have to say Arizona, Mets, and Phillies. Cole Hamels owns the Cubs, so if the Phillies end up winning the Wild Card, that would be a tough series for the Cubs. And this is totally hypothetical, so spare me the "I can't believe you're saying they're in the playoffs already by the end of May". They are probably in already. Even if the Cardinals stay hot and somehow win the division (unlikely), there is a pretty good chance the wild card will come from the Central right now because of how bad the bottom 3 in the division are. The Phillies and Diamondbacks (despite what happened a few weeks ago) both are better built to win in the playoffs than the Cubs because the Cubs rotation still isn't very good and both also have the lineups to keep up with the Cubs for the most part. I think the Mets are done unless they fire Randolph though, which doesn't look likely anytime soon because Minaya is an idiot.

Today's game won't go down in some sort of lore. They beat one of the three worst teams in baseball on a warm May day where the wind was howling out. This home season for them as a whole might go down in lore for them at this rate though, they don't even need to win on the road right now (and they haven't since their opening series). The home/road splits for their hitters are just astounding.

It's truly a miracle the Cardinals are still in the race. The Cubs have had the easiest early season schedule I have ever seen, are getting all kinds of bizarre wins at home, and still only lead by 2 games pending tonight's result in St. Louis. I haven't felt St. Louis is for real all year and still don't, but they've done well to hang in there so far. I should give the Astros some credit too I guess, but I still think they are just awful with the exception of the middle of their batting order, which as good as it is, will cool off.

I don't think I've ever seen a team better bulit for their ballpark than this years Cubs, and their record both at home and on the road reflects it. That park is truly a joke when the wind blows out, as soon as it was 9-1, I predicted they would come back and win, it was so obvious that it was almost common sense. Just hope the Cardinals stay hot, because the Cubs will cool off at home eventually, but also don't put any emotional stock into what the blue b****es do, because your just going to be miserable when they are at home. I still wonder how people think the NL is on the rebound too, every team the Cubs play is awful, even the Diamondbacks have lost 4 in a row and are generally turning for the worst. The fact that the Cardinals, Marlins, and Astros are right there in the NL (and none of them have ANY real pitching), says a lot.

I thought it was going to happen in 2003 (I still think that might have been our best team, just not mentally tough enough to avoid the choke like the 2005 team was).

Thanks to the magic of wikipedia, I learned that John Malkovich, former Match Game host Gene Rayburn (awesome), and Doug Collins were all born in same small town of just under 3,000 people (Christopher, Illinois). That has no relevance at all, but I thought it was great.

Yeah, I've been to the Trop, it's a dump. It has a cool little restaurant behind the LF bleachers (I think), but it's a dump.

They protested all kinds of post shooting stuff at NIU too, it's just sickening. Whatever you do, don't touch the mother f***ers, they make their money on angry people abusing them, who they sue in turn.

Eh I disagree. When we are bad and they are good (like last year), it really gets old and lame, and I also admit I ALWAYS want the blue b****es to lose. However, when we are a good team in contention such as right now, them winning doesn't bother me. I'd rather they lose, but if we're good then the Cub results are an afterthought.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 29, 2008 -> 01:30 PM) I've been looking at this guy's numbers in his minor league career. He really only had one disappointing full season - 2006 @ W-S. But even that year, he posted a 770 OPS, which isn't exactly bad. In 2007 it was 876 at High A and then 1.063 at B-Ham, now he is at a ridiculous 1.097 in B-Ham. So far at AA, in a total of less than a half a season's work in 07 and 08, he has compiled 18 HR's in 262 at bats. That's about a 40 HR pace, in a park that is NOT homer friendly. Also, unlike a Collaro or Eldred type guy, he walks a LOT and strikes out only rarely. That combined with serious power is a nice combo. I really think this guy may have something. 2 straight seasons of excellent hitting is not a streak, its a pattern. Hopefully, later this year, he'll take a shot at Charlotte and see how he can do there. I love this guy. Everytime I look at his age I cringe, but the numbers he puts up in every category are just unreal.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ May 29, 2008 -> 08:10 PM) Anyone else thinking that they may be grooming Getz to replace Pablo? I think it's not too hard of a read to say that Getz and Richar will have Uribe and Ozuna's roster spots in 2009. Ramirez has the versatility to do what Pablo does, but then again he might be an everyday player, especially if Cabrera is gone as well. Then again, I think we have an option on Pablo, and if Uribe and Cabrera both leave, maybe we'll keep him.

Was at the Wolves game, but a quick look at the highlights, MLB.TV, and box score tell me this is as good a win as we've had all year. Tomorrow's game will be our 54th with a resolution this year (I don't count the O's game since it's not over yet), so let's finish the first 1/3 of the season strong.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ May 29, 2008 -> 11:54 PM) He absolutely did, it was the right call. It's real tough, too, cuz Pochmara only gets one look at that, and no replay. I'm glad he got a good look at it. Yeah, great game to be at. Hopefully they play better defense on Sunday, the Penguins did whatever they wanted to the last two periods offensively.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ May 29, 2008 -> 11:21 PM) Wolves take game one 5-4. Pretty crazy game, hopped out to a 3-0 lead and hung on for the win. This should be a really good series if tonight is any indication. Indeed. I'd be interested to see a replay of the game tying goal that was called off in the last couple of minutes. I thought he kicked it, but it was hard to tell for sure.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ May 29, 2008 -> 10:43 PM) Congrats to LA. Now I'm just hoping they can beat the crap out of whoever comes out of the east. They will. If they were THAT much better than the west (12-3 through the conference playoffs where all 8 teams won 50 games), they are better than an old Detroit team or more likely an also old Boston team. Plus, the Lakers have by far the best player in the world right now. Plus, I think the Pistons will win tomorrow, so it could take Boston an extra 6 games (and at least 5 even if they win) to get to the finals, and that's a lot of extra work for a team with three stars in their 30's.

I honestly have no idea what to think of this signing. I'm not old enough to remember him coaching the Bulls, all I remember about him in Detroit was Grant Hill was great for him, and then in Washington everybody knows it was M.J. running the show. His coaching resume is pretty damn good though, and I love his work on TNT, so I'm optimistic, but unsure overall.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ May 28, 2008 -> 10:04 PM) The Barons are trying to secure a playoff spot at the moment and he is the 3 hitter in that lineup. Charlotte can wait. B'ham's magic number for a playoff spot is 12. Charlotte has plenty of boppers in the lineup. You don't take a good hitter away from a competitive team to promote him to an average team at best. That would be a like a punch to the gut for B'ham. Collaro was promoted to Charlotte beacause it didn't hurt B'ham's chemistry. This logic is ridiculous. Cook is running out of time already as a guy who turns 27 later this summer, ancient by minor league standards, plus he already has proven that AA pitching can't touch him. The minor league system isn't about winning (crazy but true), it's about finding talent and promoting it as it proves itself. David Cook at AA is pretty ridiculous, he should be in Charlotte.

QUOTE (Mr. Showtime @ May 28, 2008 -> 10:52 PM) Nothing official - seems like more speculation than anything but; CSN is claiming Hawks and Wings is set for Jan 2009 at Wrigley with an announcement maybe coming Thursday. It was recently pointed out that logistics would make the Yankee Stadium game impossible, so I'd be shocked if the game next season isn't at Wrigley. I think that this is a good idea too, except for the fact Soldier Field is bigger, newer, has better ammenities, better sightlines/no poles in front of seats, more seats, and more parking.

QUOTE (daa84 @ May 28, 2008 -> 10:14 PM) nl is such a joke and yet almost everyday i read an article saying how the NL has closed the gap.... Anybody who writes that is a legitimate fool. Because there are more runs being scored in the NL and more home runs, people think the gap is closing. Well look around, all it is really is the AL pitching is a lot better this year. The gap is as big as ever, and you'll see it as the interleague results shake out the rest of the way, as well as in the World Series.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 27, 2008 -> 08:25 PM) I need to just stop watching Cubs home games. Coulda told you that a while ago. Man I thought I hated the Cubs.........It's good to see some people do more than I do though.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ May 27, 2008 -> 09:58 PM) Jay Bruce in his Major League Debut: 3-3; 2 BB, 2B, SB, 2 R, 2 RBI He walked in his first major league plate appearance. His first major league hit came in the form of a single on his second time to the plate. He is just unreal. The fact they were willing to trade Hamilton (although they got a hell of a return on him) is a sign of how good they think Bruce will be. And I think they're right. Also, Dunn is on fire, they need to figure out a way to keep him.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ May 27, 2008 -> 10:51 PM) Lakers benefit from a extremely generous no call. Yeah, but the Spurs got the calls all game, and really, if the best play you can get in 2.1 seconds is a 35 footer from Brent Barry, you deserve to lose. That win might have won the Lakers the title, because the Spurs can't beat them three times in a row (2 in LA), and the eastern finals is a real pillowfight right now, with Boston struggling against a team whose best player is on one leg and not doing much.

I'd give him about two weeks to see how the time off/cortisone shot works for him, but if he continues to struggle, he HAS to go on the DL. We're better off with him getting healthy and not being in for a while, then coming back later hopefully back to full strength than we are with him hitting .220 due to an injury. Let's just hope the time off and shot help his thumb feel better, but we'll see.

Blaming Ozzie for having Alexei try a hit and run is just grasping for straws. If he can execute the slug bunt/butcher boy play to perfection, he sure as hell should (and probably could) execute a hit and run. He just swung and miss, simple as that, it happens sometimes which is why you don't see the hit and run more often.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 27, 2008 -> 01:03 AM) There is no comparison. Koch's issues had more to do with no longer shooting up while Swisher has just gotten too much of an upper cut going. He's looking a lot better this past week (each game I've noticed the swing getting more and more level). I think we are about to see the Swisher the Sox acquired. Swish is in a bad spot. His uppercut in the swing is all f***ed up, as well as he needs an approach change. He keeps going up there trying to have one of his 5 or 6 pitch at bats, but he's seeing strike 1 and strike 2 within the first few pitches of every at bat because the pitchers know he won't swing. If he'd be more aggressive early in counts (like in the 12th tonight), I think Swish would greatly benefit from it.