Milkman delivers

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 1, 2011 -> 06:20 PM) Carlos Pena has an OPS just about as good as Alex Rios and a little bit better than Carl Crawford. Can he actually hit a ball out of a ballpark any more? He crushed a ball and it only went to the warning track. I can't think of many other guys I'd label as more of an obvious steroid user. The fact that he resurrected his baseball career in Boston only solidifies my stance.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:43 PM) It's amazing how many pitchers still throw him fastballs over the plate. He has proven time & time again that he can't hit the slider away but will still swing and miss at it. Sounds like Joe Crede or Aaron Rowand. QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 1, 2011 -> 06:03 PM) Daniel. Hudson. J.J.. Putz. Haha, I like the two periods there.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ May 1, 2011 -> 06:06 PM) Speaking as a season ticket holder there are a lot worse ways to spend a day or night than at Sox Park even when they are bad. I buy season tickets not based on how many games I think their going to win, but whether or not they make every effort to win. JR does that even though I vehemently disagreed with their strategy this offseason. That is the key. I will gladly watch a s***ty team as long as I know they're following a strategy to improve going forward. We have a lot of people questioning others' fandom on this site, but I wonder how serious of a fan someone is when they vehemently argue against ever attempting a rebuild. It's as though they only care about competing at that very moment and wouldn't follow the team during the rebuilding process.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 1, 2011 -> 06:07 PM) There's a reason that teams play better at homes....it's motivating to the players. However, empty seats eliminate that advantage and if they accomplish anything, its de-motivating. Well, pack your bags and get a flight. You can be fan #13,007 at Wednesday's game.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:58 PM) Dude you need to get out of the basement because you are freaking out waaaaaaaaayyy too much over a crappy baseball team. I have an unfinished basement. And I certainly don't think I'm freaking out. I'm not even angry. The things I'm suggesting are very appropriate for a team with a history like the Sox.

QUOTE (lostfan @ May 1, 2011 -> 06:03 PM) Just follow the board guidelines on personal attacks please. That's how threads get out of hands and people end up getting suspended. I understand your position, but I see people being told to shut up constantly. I guess using the word "tool" was over the top, but I stick by it. And I'm betting a lot of people would agree with that characterization after reading this thread.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 1, 2011 -> 06:02 PM) I'm a big boy and can handle inappropriate name calling....it's the holier than thou part I don't get. I'm going to games and and not asking anyone to do anything that I'm not. Staying at home and b****ing endlessly does nothing to help us change results for the remaining 80% of the season. Neither does going to games. at you for thinking that the team will play better if their feelings weren't hurt by the fans not giving them unwavering support. Those poor widdle babies

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:55 PM) It's not a holier than though attitude and if my personal situations allowed, I would love to have a job in Chicago. Despite living in an area with no professional teams though, I still make a dedicated effort to go to as many games as possible. After next weekend, I'll have been to three games this season. There's many "fans" who haven't been to any games this year and lots of people talking that they don't plan to do so. I spend a lot more of my hard earned money to go to the games than those who live in Chicago as I have to pay for travel and hotel in addition to tickets and parking. However, I don't complain about that and will do so the rest of my live no matter how this team performs. If people have legitimate reasons why they can't go to the games (don't live in the area, aren't working now, have a job that conflicts with most gametimes, etc). It's understandable that they don't make many games. However, when you're only excuse for not going is that the team is not in first place now and dominating every game it plays, its sad. True fans support their team to the largest extent possible whether their team is winning or losing. Those that don't can not be classified as anything other than fair weather fans. And that's the case with absolutely nobody on this board. If you read, you would know that there are many reasons why people aren't going to the games. It's not as simple as "the team isn't good, so I'm not going."

QUOTE (lostfan @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:57 PM) The tone, saying shut the f*** up, calling him a tool, etc. You couldn't have gotten your point across without doing all that? Emphasis. Telling people what they need to do when you don't even do it yourself is deserving of being told to shut the f*** up. And yes, I do believe that makes a person a tool.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:48 PM) So tell me when that has been done? It's f***ing sarcasm because that wasn't what I said. You replace some of the scouts both here and in foreign countries. They've already begun the overhaul of both the minor leagues and the draft. You continue to replace the people responsible for the underachieving aspects of the team.

QUOTE (lostfan @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:51 PM) Well this was unnecessary How so? I think it was an entirely appropriate response to a guy telling people that they need to go to games or be labeled as fairweather fans.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:47 PM) Hitting coaches don't do a damned thing and are always the scapegoats when there is very little they can do. That being said, I want to see Walker fired this week. Just to send a mesage to this team that you guys suck and someone needs to start hitting. And I guarantee every single hitting coach knew this in advance and understands it.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:42 PM) That's the best part of all the comparisons to the great run they had last year--they still failed in the end because of the massive hole they put themselves in. I'm not planning on spending a dime on this team this year. I was really excited before the season started and almost pulled the trigger on an Ozzie plan. Really glad I didn't do that. That is easily the worst part of this baseball season. We had such high expectations and it all started out so well, but it went the exact opposite way. It's like a kick in the balls.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:45 PM) So you want to fire an entire organization from top to bottom. Uh, ok. Yes, that's what I said. There's no point in even arguing with you.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:27 PM) I love the "anyone who wants Walker fired is an idiot because hitting coaches don't do a damned thing" defense. It's flawless I never got all of the defending he gets from a lot of posters. It seems that most agree that a hitting coach does basically nothing. So what would it hurt to fire any of them? At best, it can light a fire under a team that is underachieving.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:35 PM) May I hug you? Yes, yes you may. I was hoping someone would get that.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:14 PM) That's not hard at all to believe. Frankly, we're right back in the spot we were last year, where it will take a major, major run to get out of this hole. Memorial day is always the evaluation point, and we're getting closer. And we still failed in the end.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:04 PM) I wasn't because I live almost 2000 miles away. However, I will be in Seattle Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for all 3 games and proudly supporting my team despite their struggles thus far. Haha, GTFO telling other people to go to games, then. If you're such a fan willing to give 110% to this team, find a f***ing job in Chicago and support them yourself. Otherwise, shut the f*** up with your "holier than thou" attitude, telling people they need to support the team. Seriously, what a tool.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:02 PM) These two teams will still be the ones battling for the division title come September and the games played at this point could make the difference. I realize that not everyone can afford to go to every game....but based upon the crowds thus far, there's a lot of people who haven't gone to any games (or just a few this year). If the fanbase is not going to support this team, why should the players give a damn? Anybody who wants this team to give a 110% effort every nite should also be willing to give that effort as a fan. It should be the other way around, big guy. The players need to perform to get people to come out and spend a minimum of 75 bucks that they earned by working hard and doing their jobs well. That last part is something that the team isn't even doing. And in regards to your statement about giving 110%, that's impossible. No one can give more than 100%. By definition, that's the most anyone can give.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:01 PM) Embarrassing is for JR to continue this nonsense. If he does not care enough to s*** can people who need fired then why should fans bust there ass to care to come to the park! I don't like a lot of what you say, but I love this.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 1, 2011 -> 04:54 PM) To the fan base. To the organization. To the players. To everyone. If you can't support our team except when they are winning at a 75% clip, Jerry might as well knock the payroll down to $25 million per season, average about 12,000 fans per game, and make a nice profit off TV revenues. Haha, he might have to do that anyway.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:17 PM) Right now the AL Central is playing some of the worst ball in MLB, and the only teams playing good ball finished at the bottom of the league last year. One of these teams is going to start fattening up on the rest of the division. Traditionally, that wouldn't be us. QUOTE (Paint it Black @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:18 PM) I think around 85, actually. A statistical correction will be coming in their favor. I don't really think it's out of the realm of possibility for them to play .600 baseball for a month stretch. They will have to play .600 baseball for more than just a month. And let's not forget that this team almost always struggles down the stretch. So to make up for the bad August and/or September, they're probably going to have to play better than .600 ball.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:14 PM) Some late innings signs of life today, which is nice to see. Get to 4 games out and at .500 or better by the end of the month. I'm still in b****es. That would require a 19-9 May.

QUOTE (Paint it Black @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:05 PM) The Tigers are a personal thing for me, as I didn't think they were that good to start the season and I still don't. Nor did I think it would take 90 wins to win this division...and I still don't. The Indians just cannot keep this up. I mean I know I can't really prove why they won't, but their pitching isn't that good and there is no way the guys who are always injured (Sizemore, Hafner) will stay healthy all year. The Indians have now won 13 straight at home. That correction will be very, very fun. Hopefully we catch them when it's happening. How many wins do you think it will take? Like I just said, another few losses and we'll find ourselves having to win at a .600 clip just to get to 85 wins.

QUOTE (lostfan @ May 1, 2011 -> 05:04 PM) It's to the point where they lose and I'm not even upset anymore... it's pretty bad that it's April and I'm already there. It's not so much what their record is so early in the season, it's how awful they're playing and I don't see any end in sight. Well, it's May now.