IlliniKrush

I also read that this morning and was laughing my ass off. I love Morissey

Uhhhh... duh! You are correct. Lot E folks.. Looks like someon's got a case of the "Mondays" Oh, you're not kidding. I've been on the go since last Thursday with 6 different projects. They are finally nearing completion and I am frazzled. I hate month end. Wish I was just a stupid Loan Officer.... Well, good luck with that, hope the load lightens up, and just think, only a few hours til you're chillin in the cell watchin some baseball in an electric (i hope) atmosphere.

Uhhhh... duh! You are correct. Lot E folks.. Looks like someone's got a case of the "Mondays"

Steff - Wouldn't lot E, not F, be the closest to the bullpen sports bar? It's right outside the right field corner...isn't F on the other side of 37th street?

1549 - You lost me when you tried to downgrade playing FSU, a football powerhouse, and then trying to mention how the Big Ten schedule is rugged because Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Northwestern, are all good "once in a while". You say chalk up one victory for the Irish because of Navy (and yes it does matter why they play, and everyone schedules creampuffs for nonconference games, please), chalk up 4 victories right there if those 4 teams end up on ND's projected Big Ten schedule. You don't make the schedule after the games are played. Playing FSU (who still won the ACC buddy) is a tough game when you put it on the schedule. You can't fault them if they had 5 losses. Besides, we went into FSU and took that game. So the year before the BCS ND played 3 25 ranked teams, and Michigan played 4? And that's a huge difference? And if you play the so called 30th ranked team or what not, that doesn't count? Schedule strength isn't determined by how many top 25 teams you play along. It's a collective look at the schedule. I like to look at how many "tough" games or losable games they play. Granted, when ND plays Navy or Rutgers, that's a guaranteed win (i would hope). How many more games can you point to on the ND schedule that are automatic wins? Every damn team has those year in and year out. As far as your Michigan goes, well holy crap, Central Michigan is one helluva team! Not too mention Houston!!! Oregon is on the way down (I'd say Wash st is better) and gee they play Indiana and Northwestern this year. Gee Michigan, don't go too hard on yourself with your nonconference schedule. Every big game this year they play at home (nd, purdue, ohio st.). Those are there only real tough games. And you discount Purdue as a marginal team (which they aren't right now), so should we discount that game? You call purdue and msu marginal teams? Again, it's not how many top 25 teams you are playing. If MSU fall in the 26-40 range every year, that's better than playing the 95th ranked team. MSU and Purdue have been pretty good football teams (and for your sake you'd have to argue that otherwise the Big Ten schedule is a joke because it comes down to only Ohio St and Michigan). Trying to compare stanford and pitt to indiana and northwestern...well, that's a good laugh too. Please. Pitt isn't great usually but they are usually a formidable opponent, as is Stanford. NW had a few miracle years and Indiana hasn't made a bowl in a decade. Ridiculous argument. Plus, if you are going to talk about these teams that are good once in a while in the big ten, that means at any given time 1 out of those 5 or 6 you mentioned might be a top 25 team, which seems to be your evaluating tool. Not to mention you don't credit ND for going into Air Force last year (one of the tougher places to play), and dominate them when no one gave us a chance. After that, Air Force folded....gee, i wonder what happened. And - you should go check your facts. Michigan has won more games than any other program, but ND has a better winning percentage, thank you very much. I didn't know the fact that you've played more games makes you the better squad....riiight. They wouldn't have won championships and had Heisman winners if they were in the Big Ten? Ok, now you are really losing me. ND, up until the last like 10 years, would have dominated the Big Ten up there with Michigan. And great players are great players - you are the first and probly only person i'll hear try to discount some of the great ND teams and players past. That's absolutely ridiculous and holds no ground. ND is one of the most storied football programs, and i don't think they'd be that if they only played a creampuff schedule all these years. You really need to take a look at ND's scheduling and get a clue. They have one of the toughest schedules year in and year out. And, oh about your "they scheduled harder after the BCS" thing, scheduling harder only means you have a better chance to lose - and, ALL teams started doing that because they realized strength of schedule was part of the BCS. That's pretty obvious junior.

Yes, does seem a bit odd, if not laughable

I should be good to go...probly grab a ticket for Saturday at tonight's game

Stop yelling Ya Valentin has played a lot better d this year and that'll happen to a player in the field once in a while. He's certainly not killing us at short and hasn't cost us games like that "all year long"

The Sporting News preview magazine did some extensive work on strength of schedule and they have ND 6th The argument that ND has an easy schedule (or has had one) holds no ground

for those of you worried about tickets for today, i can provide you with this info: i just will called two tickets for monday's game, i went best available and got upper deck box, row 13 in section 542 (around 3rd base) with tomorrow's walkup, i think this will be damn close to a sellout so i'd either order your tix and will call em this morning or get to the park early if you want some decent seats

Love em

Ah, now your true colors come through. You bypass all my arguments because you have nothing to back yours up with - Then rely on insults to try to make yourself look intelligent - It's not happening bro Go check out their schedules in their history and get back to me - one of the toughest year in and year out - i didn't know we plaeyd navy all 12 games - and if you don't know why they play em, you have learning to do and you have to learn what the word "respect" means. You do have a lot of learning to do kid. I don't care if you hate ND, but if you are going to talk trash, at least make sense and have valid points, of which you have zero.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gammons/story?id=1588554 Bud Selig doing something that makes sense...what a concept

How many starts does our 5 starter spot have left? I thought someone said like 3-4 maybe? That's not that many starts to be overly concerned with who's gonna start em. At the same time, you don't want to concede those, chalk em up as losses. I don't know if it would be great for Cotts development to start only a few times, under pressure, with maybe 2 weeks or so between starts It's a real tough call at this point. Another thing to think about is if we do bring up Cotts and he's pretty good, that's another asset we would have when it comes time for the playoffs.

I somewhat agree with your comments on Wright...Everything u said except for the closer part. I think he could be a great closer. He's got dominating power stuff. And he wouldn't have to be so cute all the time comin up to shut a team down for 1 inning. I definitely see somethin atleast close to Eric Gagne as far as closing goes. Far as Cotts go If they bring him up then fine. If he does well great. If he sucks it could somewhat hurt his development. I think it would be a lot to ask of any young pitcher to come up in the middle of a pennant race and produce. There was no pressure on Buehrle and Garland when we brought them up in 2000. We had a 9-10 gm lead the entire 2nd half of that season up until the final week...They were just up because of injuries to Baldin and Eldred... Ya, good point...though i don't know how much of it is Dan being "pretty" and how much it is just him being really wild sometimes. If he picks the first inning to do that, as a closer, he'd be screwed. But yes the stuff is there...just not the control right now IMO

I think everyone is just taking this harder because it was "wright's chance" and we also got an ass kicking and shutout. But ya, let's chill. I tip my hat to Franklin However Wright concerns me at this point, that's what i'll come away from tonight's game with, and i'm lookin forward to 3:00 today

That line tonight is sick, as are his last three or so starts...i think i've seen enough of Danny boy for the time being

I'm glad i stayed home tonight to watch Wright's awful performance. How many times does that guy have to fall behind hitters and throw em meatballs over the heart of the plate? Even Hawk and DJ commented on how it takes him 5-6 pitches EVERY batter to get a guy out or have him put it in play somewhere. Wright walks way way way too many guys for my liking right now. And as a closer? The last thing you can afford to do is walk a guy, esp the leadoff guy. He has a long way to go to get to a closing stage. I don't know if Cotts is the answer, maybe it's worth a shot for a start or two. Although, i'd like to see Wright get one more shot i guess just so we don't have to force the Cotts issue too soon...but boy, tonight was sick.

I don't know where you learned that but baseball standings have always regarded the loss column more important than the wins column for over a century. Winning percentage proves this, as the Royals have the edge in the winning percentage (.533-.532) even though they have less wins than the Sox (57-58) because they also have less losses (50-51). Wins only mean more than/as much as losses when looking at the division standings when all teams have played the same number of games (say, at the end of the year, ideally). If not, the All-Important Loss Column takes precendence. Not that the win/loss column mean anything when the teams are in a virtual tie on August 1. As long as they keep on hittin'. You got to it before i did. 100% correct - losses mean way more than wins

Excellent points A team out of contention is much more likely to give guys a "cup of coffee" because they can afford to give them playing time regardless of wins and losses. The last thing the Sox can afford it to bring them up just to play them and give them a cup of coffee. Also, sitting on the bench isn't gonna do much. I think all those guys would understand if they weren't called up to the parent club in september for some experience or what not. When you are in a pennant race you are really only gonna call the few guys up who you think actually will contribute and that you have confidence throwing into the fire at this point in the season.

I really want to see Ginter pitch a good amount in the next few weeks so we can see what we have and know if we'll be able to use him in close/late situations and in the playoffs. white, don't let the door hit you on the way out. Last thing we need right now is any b****ing in a clubhouse that seems to have good chemistry (winning will usually do that)

Cw through are previous talk you like Mich and I like Illini and are both fans of the big ten but, I follow all conferences and matchups look forward in talking some college football with you and other interested parties...PS I hate the ND they were scared to come to the big ten because there ass would be lucky to finish .500 every year and not play Navy and other weak ass teams every year. Soxfest, pretty ignorant comment We have one of the toughest schedules, as we do every single year. We play Navy every year, that's basically our only creampuff, sometimes Rutgers. Look at our schedule this year The reason we aren't in the Big Ten isn't "afraid". It's money, plain and simple. WE have our own TV deal, we make bowls almost every year, why should we join the Big Ten and share all the money we make? It makes no sense. It's about money, not fear. Don't be so ignorant. Besides, we'd be one of the better teams in the Big Ten year in and year out, and our schedule this year is tougher than a regular big ten schedule...please buddy You are the one who is ignorant, there schedule last year was terrible 3 tough games all year what the hell 4/6 home games to start the year. This years is tougher , i will give you that. ND would be lucky to go .500 in Big Ten conference instead of Navy, Bc, Rutgers they would play Ohio st , Penn st, Wisc every year. Maybe the can score this year they were horrid scoring in 02. f*** the Tarnished Dome Again you show your prevailing ignorance - ND's schedule is tough every single year, and you probly don't even know why in the hell we play Navy every year, do you? If you don't you have some learning to do buddy. Why don't you go check that out If you look at sporting news our schedule is in the top 10 toughest this year as it is almost every single year. We play purdue, msu, michigan, usc every damn year. We've played FSU the past 2. Wash St. this year. Oh, and we wouldn't play wisc, osu, penn st every year...every notice how the big ten schedule rotates? Illinois doesn't even play OSU this year. So get a clue about how the big ten schedule works. And, i'm sure Nd would just absolutely fear playing northwestern, indiana, illinois, minnesota, and iowa "every year". Please. We already play all the good teams in the big ten minus OSU and penn st. And if you don't like last year's schedule, how about you go look at the past 10 years schedules and get back to me on that. You are very ignorant to the facts here, that's for sure. For the team that has the most championships and the most heisman winners of every school (go look that up to), you are trying to tell me they'd get killed in the Big Ten? Please buddy, please. And way to work around the whole reason that they aren't in the Big Ten. Now you know why they aren't in the Big Ten, thanks for playing.

Thanks to Spiff for my new sig Votin jurassic carl because of the creativity

I'm pretty sure it's hail, but i could be wrong

Hey asshatsoxfan, i PM'd ya This weather around Schaumburg has been ridiculous