LVSoxFan

I have been a pretty solid Ozzie supporter for years but even I, at this point, am tired of watching the same team, year-in, year-out, since second half 2006. It's like a recurring mythology of Lost, where you can't even remember where it even begins and when it wasn't this way. For at least the last three years it's been: we can't hit for sh*t, much less with RISP. Then just as the calls to fire Walker start, they hit just enough to silence everybody... and then it starts all over again. Granted, pitching has its issues but it's absolutely compounded by the fact that we know we won't come back if the pitchers give up any sort of runs--say, more than 1. Except for Peavy, who showed in Texas that even a crappy 5-run first wouldn't stop him from rebounding and being lights-out for the remainder of the game. At the very LEAST Walk should be the sacrificial lamb--his nine lives should be done. After that, yes, Ozzie--although I wouldn't say blow up the team because on paper, there is no reason these guys shouldn't be much, much better. But SOMETHING has to change. Unless you want to experience 2007 all over again.

I haven't seen a fan run on the field since 2005. Such a dumbass move. Throw the book at these people.

I think there's cause for hope. Even though Peavy got rocked in the first inning last Thursday at the Rangers game I was at, he settled down and looked like... well, this for pretty much the rest of his innings there. So maybe he's turned the corner. I'll take it.

Yeah the more I think about this Dye-as-DH thing, the more I'm starting to like it. Thoughts?

I guess the only thing that intrigues me about this is that when we brought Pods back people thought that was a sign of the apocalypse; if we had to take back an 05-er we must be really desperate. As it turned out, he had something to prove and had a virtual career year. Hmm... I wonder if JD has that same chip on his shoulder. I guess if he did come back that would make JP the '10 Willie Harris.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...owley30.article Although I have to say, as much as I respect J.D., I share Ozzie's sentiment: where would we put him? Unless you're going to bench Pierre and make him a bench player, which would be interesting because that would be an admission of total failure with regard to either 1) his attempt at being the new Pods or 2) his ability to hit in the AL or... both. What are your thoughts about this? Or would he become the DH, and the DH-by-committee would go away?

I'm not trying to look backward, just to point out that a bad start to the season doesn't mean he's a bust.

FWIW I was at the game sitting in their version of the Scout Seats. In that awful first it was control, control, control... he was all over the place. When he did throw a strike they'd tag him. And by the second inning I believe he was already at 60 pitches. However, from that point on he was cruising most of the way; he settled down. He got some nasty strikeouts and shattered a few bats with inside pitches. I'm not pulling the plug on him just yet. We've been through this feast-or-famine thing with Contreras, who, just when you think he's over the hill, surprises everybody. And I think Peavy's way more mentally tough than him. Speaking of which, first half of 2005 Contreras was awful; for the next half he was the best pitcher in baseball.

We should stop calling it Ozzie Ball and call it what it is (what we'd all like to have): Minnesota Ball. They play it year in, year out.

Jesus man we're not even out of April yet and people have dug the grave? I'm cynical but even I'm not THAT cynical.

We're only at April 22 I'm hardly giving up on the team. So a bad start? Ok, it's a bad start...

I was there for Frank Thomas' first game back as an A, and not only did he get thunderous applause, he hit a homer which everybody cheered. When he did it a second time though, we booed him. I'm sure he was smiling. Expect the same for Thome.

How the hell do you boo a guy on the first day of the season?

We were all laughing at the 107 mph pitch too.

Well seeing that I wore the black jersey and the whole "blackout" idea landed with a thud, this is why you keep something like that for special occasions. It's a great idea--to be used sparingly.

Fine, I'll wear the black jersey then! [grumbles] I really think we should save this for playoffs though--keep it special.

I dunno about this; I was at the Blackout game and it was amazing. Not sure if it would have the same effect during a day game. Plus opening day I like everybody being able to choose which jersey they're gonna wear. I may end up caving but I'd rather we didn't do this.

QUOTE (OsweGo-Go Sox @ Mar 31, 2010 -> 10:17 AM) I absolutely love this song. Would you rather we had a crappy 80s pop song? Um, false choice anyone?

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Mar 29, 2010 -> 02:15 PM) Shame on you. That song rules. It would be fine to pull it out once in a while for nostalgia's sake but seriously now. The Hawks' theme song is equally anachronistic--it sounds like a game show theme from 1968, which is when it was written.

My predictions for 2010: -At some point the song "Let's Go Go-Go White Sox" will come on and I will wonder--again: "Really, since 1959 we can't come up with a better tune than this?" -"The catch" and that game will be the new additions to the opening film montage of highlights. Hey, remember Opening Day 2008 when there was nothing to put on it? Oh wait: except Buehrle's no-hitter. -The first losing streak we have people will say "SEE, I TOLD YOU! OZZIE'S PLAN SUCKS!" -The first winning streak we have people will say "SEE, I TOLD YOU! OZZIE WAS RIGHT!" -Question: if Ozzie's small-ball lineup that KW didn't want succeeds--will KW acknowledge Ozzie was right? -Becks will still have the Outfield song as his at-bat theme, and once again you'll scratch your head like WTF but then acknowledge that the song rocks. In a Hot Tub Time Machine kind of way. -Here's a prediction you can steal to take money off your friends. When they do the "dance off" on top of the dugouts between innings, the fat guy always wins. Bet on it. If there's no fat guy, then it's up for grabs. But if there is a fat guy, he will win. I guarantee it. -Cubs/Sox will go back to its rightful place of being a binge drinking weekend, after inexplicably being moved to weekdays last season (?!?!) -At least 10 times Hawkeroo will squeal "STRETCH! STRETCH!" on-air only to watch the left fielder haul in the ball at least 10 yards before the warning track -Somebody will get trampled to death in the RF stands after the wild scrum for one of those crappy t-shirts. Maybe if people saw what they looked like beforehand, they would just land with a plunk in the stands as everybody ignores them -At least one woman caught on "Kiss Cam" will attempt to pull her shirt up, causing the camera operator to give us all whiplash as he swiiiiings away -I'll realize, like I do every year, that as much as I hate the Cubs and their fans, I hate the Twins more. -They'll have those inexplicable medical videos on the Jumobtron that let us know things like: it's bad to keep running if your knees hurt. No sh*t REALLY? -It'll be about a month before a "Why Did We Take Back Freddy Garcia?" thread is started -The first game Ozzie gets tossed from he will tweet about it obscenely afterward. MLB will not be happy, but it'll be front page news here. -Beer will cost another 50 cents more Hmmm I think that's everything

BTW on a side note, I so badly wanted one of those 2008 Division Champ hats that they wore after the Blackout game and had given up hope (I hate the ones you can buy online, which they didn't wear). I'm talking about the ones with the patch. Well, on a whim I hit ebay last week and found a brand new one for $25. So if you had given up, you can get them now no problem. FYI. And it is a SWEET hat... my favorite now.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 19, 2010 -> 05:46 PM) I love the comments. "this team is about to crack." Yes, because Oney Guillen quit his job. I bet when a janitor quits at the Cell the team is in crisis. LMAO!!!!

I like it! I'm feeling pretty good about this season. Two weeks to Opening Day!

QUOTE (ChWRoCk2 @ Mar 19, 2010 -> 09:59 AM) I personally want this one from Lids: http://www.lids.com/pid/20150797 Dude, no.

I vote B.