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Everything posted by caulfield12
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We'll find out soon enough when they launch a Bourne-themed movie without Matt Damon. It's one thing to ditch Megan Fox from Transformers or Tobey Maguire from Spider-Man, but Bale has become THE Batman of the last 20-25 years.
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Customer reviews of new Ozzie Guillen/Morrissey book But even from afar Ozzie's antics the last few years i.e. battling general manager Kenny Williams on everything under the sun... both business wise and personal... his public threats and whining about a contract extension with owner Jerry Reinsdorf as well as Williams... wound down to the equivalent of a broken scratched record... extremely irritating. The author's constant hashing and rehashing of the same exact thing over and over for two hundred pages... becomes... well... you know. It probably isn't humanly possible to tell the reader more than they've been told here regarding... that he's a players manager... or that he always wants to take the blame for any losses or problems with player's performances. But somehow... you are told more. Probably the best line in the book is when the author describes Guillen as ** THE CHARLES BARKLEY OF BASEBALL **. The only subject that statistically is in the same "ballpark" as his loyalty to his players... is his protective nature to his family. But I believe when the reader makes note of some of the tweets and comments his sons make to the public about the White Sox... it's hard to side with Ozzie's blind... repetitive... loyalty. How about some "tough-love" with the family? And talk about loyalty... it becomes repetitively non-sensical all the many times in this book that Ozzie swears loyalty to the Sox while considering an offer from the Marlins while still under contract with the Sox. It's made abundantly clear that Ozzie was probably vaccinated with a phonograph needle... as he yaks and yaks to anyone... and anything... and normally about the same few subjects... and so does the author. The following observation is for the benefit of potential readers that may have different moralities than I do because what I'm about to share doesn't bother me... but may bother others. There are probably more F's and MF's per page in this book than in any book I've read in the last five years. That's the way Ozzie and a lot of people talk (I'm one)... so no problem for me... but just a heads up. It's also very interesting/amusing that this book was written right before Ozzie's mind blowingly offensive comments about Fidel Castro got him suspended for a few games. (And Oz also has the Marlin's knocking on first place's door!) One of the many reasons I love baseball is the characters you find associated with the game. Since a prime example of those characters is Ozzie Guillen, I was happy to win this book from LibraryThing. I thought it would be full of hilarious stories from his many years in the game, and since Morrissey is a Chicago area journalist, he should know the "real" Ozzie from Guillen's years with the White Sox. The subtitle is "Lessons from the dugout, the clubhouse, and the doghouse." Even more reason to believe this would be funny. Now I wasn't born yesterday so I'm well aware that Ozzie's language is offensive, but I figured it would be easy to overlook. Well, this isn't the first time I've been totally wrong. Ozzie cannot form even a partial sentence without saying F--- at least once, if not two or three times. Just for variety he often precedes this with "Mother" and he uses these words as nouns, verbs, adjectives and in every conceivable situation. And he's LOUD. It sounds like he's actually proud of his language, and yet he brags about how he learned English when he came here from Venezuela so he could fit in! This book would have been excellent as a longish magazine article, but it just isn't right for a book. Morrissey tells the same things over and over so that as you get into the book you feel like you've read it before. And many of the stories just aren't that interesting, seemingly chosen more as examples of his foul language than for humor or insight. I don't mean to completely demean either Ozzie or the book. Ozzie is a dedicated husband and father. He can be brilliant as a baseball manager, and there's a lot to be said for his way of communicating with his players. The cover shows him in full rage, right up in the face of an umpire, but that's his way of defending his players and showing them he's on their side. I think it would take a special person to get along with Ozzie but if a player can get along with him, he's got a friend for life. When he's criticized for the way he spends money lavishly on his family, he tells people he works hard for his money and intends to enjoy it. He doesn't wish to save it up so his widow's boyfriend can have a good time with it. Now that's funny! This is a review of Rick Morrissey's new book about Ozzie Guillen, titled "Ozzie's School of Management." I received this book free as a review copy. So there's that. For his first book, Morrissey picks an interesting subject in Guillen. The profane, voluble Venezuelan is never dull to be around, and that shows up in this book. Guillen has a natural talent for stirring things up and attracting publicity. He was a favorite of the Chicago press for his availability and quotable nature (once you bleeping out about half the words) and he is no less interesting here. Language alert: the author and editor do not censor Guillen in the book. Lots of four-letter words, especially ones starting with the letter "f". The major problem with the book is the struggle the author has with moving from the world of newspaper column writing to operating at book-length. It's a big change and Morrissey struggles with it. The chapters in the first half of the book feel very repetitive. There is an attempt to write an introduction and then chapters based on different aspects of Guillen's managerial philosophy, but the author has limited success with the format. It's a lot of, "Boy, that crazy Ozzie, he'll say anything and he sure does cuss a lot." Not until the second half of the book does Morrissey show more skill at separating into chapters. One way to write a book is chronologically, which has the benefit of mimicking the way we live our lives. It feels right to us to see something written out in sequence as it occurs. We tend to assume such is true even when it is not, because it feels right to us, and that is why a movie like "Benjamin Button," which plays with our perceptions, seems so strange. Morrissey chooses not to do that, instead looking at Guillen's managerial stint in Chicago more by themes, and the execution does not always work out. He also pays little attention to the past or Guillen's playing career, except briefly as background. It's a choice that can work, but the book feels choppy, with sentences crafted more in the style of newspaper writing than book writing. For all that, Morrissey has chosen his subject well, because the story of Ozzie Guillen holds the interest and will keep the pages turning. For all the faults of the book, the story wins out. Guillen, his family, and the politics of decision-making in the major leagues are all on display here. Fans who can't understand why baseball teams aren't run in real life like they run their fantasy teams may learn something here, and others will just be entertained. I recommend the story of the never-boring Ozzie Guillen. http://www.amazon.com/Ozzies-School-Manage...howViewpoints=1
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QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 11:08 PM) Took the wife to see Snow White. It was her b'day. Didn't suck. The cinematographer managed to make Kristen Stewart look appealing a few times. She did look more attractive, somehow....not beautiful, but interesting, compared to the Twilight movies. Not sure how to differentiate her "interesting" from Emma Stone's "cute," though. Maybe that Kristen Stewart seems boring, whereas Emma Stone would be the the kind of girl to hang out with and drink a beer or go to Applebee's or Olive Garden with and she could actually make it seem fun. Prometheus very good, but far from great. Rapace, Theron and Michael Fassbender were all excellent in their respective roles, but it still felt a little derivative of every sci fi movie that's ever been made. Hard to compete with movies like Blade Runner or the original Aliens. I would describe it more like a summer popcorn movie with its traditional plot points than a movie which will take your breath away or make you want to watch it again anytime in the next decade. 3D not really a great enhancement or add-on IMO.
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QUOTE (Cali @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 11:29 PM) Floyd is consistently inconsistent. That's what he does. He's bound to go on another run where his curve is biting and he carries the rotation for 6-7 starts. Humber on the other hand doesn't really have a track record established. Last year he had an awesome first half followed by some bad starts more than likely do to fatigue from IP. Perhaps it's another dead arm period right now for him. Having both of them step it up in the Summer will do wonders. As well as a John Danks popping 94 and spotting that change. That or Kenny's gonna have to look for some help in the trade market. I don't even know if he has the pieces to get a guy like Dempster (him and his stand up routine aside) Would be quite happy with 91-93 at this point.
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Kenny Williams JR making a bid for the major league roster, lol. Would be a good birthday present for his son, and some extra cash flow his way.
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He DESERVES to stay on the major league roster, so I'd send down either Santiago or Stewart to start in AAA. However, probably what will happen is they'll send Quintana down to BIRM or CHAR and wait to see how things go with Danks, Humber and Floyd. In order to be prepared to go back into the rotation again, he'll need to be getting starter's innings. Funny, feels completely different from 2010 from when we ditched Hudson after 3 starts for Edwin Jackson. And yet this team has just as good an opportunity as that one did. Thankfully, it will be harder for KW to deal away a future frontline starter this time like Hudson to get this year's version of Edwin Jackson. And presence of Quintana kind of negates that getting a starter (for the time being) is an imperative. We can still wait through most of June to make that decision.
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Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 11:18 PM) What a lousy game tonight. I pity the poor fans who picked this one to attend. Yuk. White Sox can't win at home. Can't beat the Blue Jays (not unlike the Twins and Royals). No homers. Boo!!! -
QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 09:10 PM) I've mentioned this earlier in the season because I remember them talking about it last year. That's terrible news for this team going into playoffs unless one of Danks/Floyd/Humber can find their groove and become a One/Two type of starter. Let's just try getting to August still in first place!
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Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
QUOTE (Andrew @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 09:50 PM) No, I'm saying they were the all out favorite to win the division and ended third. Like....Detroit is sitting...now. I'm not talking about records; Central was actually a tough division then (3 90+ win teams). I was just talking about the competition WITHIN the division, bud. Okay, buckaroo. Didn't think about it because of the relative weakness in the division this year, vis a vis 2006. And the Tigers weren't coming off a World Series appearance. -
QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 09:36 PM) I know Will Smith was originally attached but after watching the trailer, Djimon HOunsou would of been sweet but people may have seen him and thought Amistad. Give me free! I always think Janet Jackson video ("Love Will Never Do Without You" back when she was super-cute), Gladiator, Blood Diamond. EW gives Prometheus a B+. Score another hit for Charlize Theron this summer. Ridley Scott set new standards for big sci-fi storytelling in the last quarter of the 20th century, and now he's engineered Prometheus for a 21st-century race of moviegoers. This is jumbo-size science fiction, with a handsome, impermeable titanium gleam — and a thick coating of creationism lite. In the deep space of the director's deluxe, prequel-esque nonprequel to his 1979 classic, Alien, striking marble-skinned, monument-shaped beings of godlike intelligence share screen time with the cool old slimy-skinned, vagina-shaped representations of destructive extraterrestrial life known and loved from back in the days of Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley. Prometheus elicits Alien memories for viewers who have them, but works on its own, too, as a model of a contemporary (and, as is the contempo mode, long-winded) sci-fi horror pic. The plot follows the fates of some foolish humans and one devilishly smart robot named David, all of whom encounter big trouble in outer space. The visual images impress as polished movie craft — Scott's visuals always do — with icy, jagged iconography inspired by the otherworldly Icelandic landscape where parts were shot, and benefiting from Scott's trademark attention to mood and wet things. The man likes his moisture. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20483133_20587886,00.html Full review http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prometheus_2012/ 20 negative reviews/60 positive so far
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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 06:31 PM) Am I supposed to knwo well enough who this is that I'm motivated to click on the link for some reason? You should. He was one of the most important members of the commissioner's staff for the last 2 decades. Interestingly, he was also in charge of the umpires earlier this decade, before being "demoted" from that role.
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Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
QUOTE (Andrew @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 09:14 PM) Meh, the Jays are a really well put together team. They compete in a REAL DIVISION every year. They've got a smart GM and so much power (and it's not Dunn-age and higher). I'm happy that the SOX are where they are; totally never expected them to be doing this well. This is a s*** division and if we continue to pwn the Toons and Twins, I don't see any reason to panic. Detroit may be the 06 SOX. Except that team was 26 games over .500 at the ASB and STILL in second place to the Tigers. Better to say DET might be like the 2011 White Sox, in terms of pre-season expectations. -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 08:45 PM) Hector Santiago f***ing sucks In all fairness, the last two games, you could say that about most of the players on our roster. Lillibridge, Fukudome, Ohman, Stewart, Hudson, etc. Viciedo's ice cold, Beckham's fallen off again, no Konerko...we're scuffling, but it's only 2 games. And we're still in first place. And Detroit's in much worse shape than we are. Although the mysterious home woes continue again. -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
Well, whatever he threw for the homer, that most assuredly wasn't good. Might as well let him go back down to start in the minors and give Quintana his spot for now. Assuming Humber's not banished from the rotation soon. -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
Four screwballs in that sequence? Were any of them good? -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 08:33 PM) And to think that, according to a random Jon Heyman tweet, the Mariners wanted to pay dearly for him in the off-season and we wouldn't part with him. Classic sell high situation Was there ever a specific player named? We heard all offseason how Lillibridge was the most inquired-about player on our roster. The other side of it is at that time, we didn't have Fukudome and he was probably our best back-up to Beckham and Morel falling on their faces, too. But yeah, whatever the return would have been >>> 10X Lillibridge's value now -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
Hmmm....Santiago's at only 91-92. Earlier in the season, maybe he was overhyped or too much adrenaline and consistently was 93-94-95. -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 08:30 PM) Absolutely terrible strategy this inning. Also means you can't hit for Flowers if you want to. With Ramirez, Flowers and Hudson hitting, you weren't counting on a run there, but DeAza's always clutch. Just not our series so far. It's the Blue Jays. What new? That would be 11-28 now? or 11-29? Actually, losing these two games isn't the end of the world. It exposes our weaknesses again. Things were just going too well to continue like they had been, so the devil's advocate position is that losing first place might be what our team needs to get back going again and realize there are some obvious areas for improvement. Nobody would have ever expected the Indians to go 5-0 against the Tiggers, either. Especially in DET, now. -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
Figures that Lillibridge would get thrown out with how bad his overall season has become. -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
AJ at .303 at this point in the season? I'll take whatever vitamins or Fountain of Youth drink he's currently imbibing. -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
There will be ZERO desire to rebuild when the division's still so winnable with Detroit currently falling apart. Nobody concedes to the Indians. Although they have the prospects to rent Quentin, they can't go out and take on another Jimenez contract this year. They need help at 3B if Chisenhall can't hold the position, and they're always going to be a bit short offensively with Brantley in CF. Damon, Kotchmann and Marson won't scare anyone. LaFatta (one Ozzie nickname that was pretty funny) has never produced consistently at the major league level. -
QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 6, 2012 -> 08:54 PM) Grimes hard big injury issues this year for GT Was he using Viagra, Cialis or Sustengo recklessly?
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Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
Dayan in "bad streakiness" mode now. -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
There's our break. Dunn tried to pull a high and outside pitch, got the lucky break. Make Morrow pay now. There's just no way we should only be down 2-0 at this point. -
Game Thread: TOR @ CHW, 6/6/12, 7:10pm
caulfield12 replied to NorthSideSox72's topic in 2012 Season in Review
Beckham's lost about 10 points and Dayan 25 points of batting average. Although Viciedo's hit the ball hard twice tonight, right? On the computer, they were line outs, at least.
