Tony

I mean...that's kind of the way it's supposed to be, no?

I think you're right about points 1,2,3. But I think you're missing the mark with the bolded. This "When Will He Start?" conversation is golden sports talk radio drama. No one knows the answer so it's just pure speculation, which is what fuels conversation like that. So I think the media actually is enjoying this "controversy" as it's creating manufactured drama they can keep latching onto.

This is called "Fox News Brain"

You aren't offering any solutions regarding COVID. It's easy to say what you don't like, but what do you think should be done? Here would be my question based on what I believe your stance is. The government hasn't mandated every American needs to get the vaccine. But they have mandated all government employees must get it. It's not a right to have a job (as you know), but a privilege. In this case, getting the COVID vaccine is now part of the job requirement. Don't like it, don't have to take the job. I know you're anti-war based only your above post, but as I mentioned a few pages back......since before I was born, there are over a dozen vaccines every enlisted person gets within the military. It's been a "mandate" for years. Unless I've not been paying attention, I've never seen a lot of backlash over that. No one is forcing anyone to serve, but if you choose to take that path, getting vaccinated isn't a choice. It's a mandate. I guess my point is I don't know why so many are up in arms about their "freedoms" and "mandates" when these things have existed for decades. If you don't want the COVID vaccine, right now that's your choice.....but there are going to be things you aren't able to do because of that choice. And the point is that same scenario has existed for decades, but no one seemed to give a shit until now.

This video is incredibly interesting to me. Such a fascinating look into rural America.

I've wondered about that too, and have a few theories. The message seems to be rather inconsistent from the anti-vax side....some of it seems to be "I'm worried about what's in it" or "I've seen so many people get sick from it, I don't want to take the risk" but then I also hear the "I just don't like the way this was handled, I don't want to be told what I have to do, this is America, I'm standing up for what I believe in." For example, a distant family member just shared this TikTok on her Facebook page with a bunch of thumbs up and American flags: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatkid6again/video/6999677258470264069 For me, there are two rather large things that stand out there. 1. He's talking about what the flag represents and the people who fought to protect our freedoms, etc. etc. What he's leaving out is I believe the military requires you to get like 15+ vaccines once enlisted. They fill your body will all sorts of shit in order to serve. 2. He says "Why get mad about someone's else choice they want to make?" Feel like it's safe to assume a lot of anti-vaxxers are probably pro-life as well, which seem like conflicting ideologies for obvious reasons.... It's why I ultimately think it just comes down to politics. If everyone got on the same page from the start on both sides of the aisle and pushed the vax hard.....we don't have nearly as many unvaxxed people right now. But way too many high-ranking officials and talking heads on TV pushed the "freedom" narrative and here we are.

I've watched about 10 innings of White Sox baseball in the last 1.5 weeks. I've been somewhat busy, but I've also had very little interest in the team during that stretch. These are basically spring training games. They don't matter. Yes, I know home field is up for grabs, and I'd love to see the Sox get it....but aside from that there is very little they are playing for right now, and it doesn't draw my interest. I say that because my guess is the players are feeling that too. Right or wrong, it's sort of a natural feeling. The injuries are scary. And we all know it can be tough to "flip the switch" back on once the playoffs come. But I really think they are just going through the dog days with the division been long wrapped up.

There is only one answer to this question, and of course it's "who knows?" That's the beauty of sports. If we knew what was going to happen in the playoffs, what's the point? However....people have a right to feel anyway they want. And as Ribbie said earlier, there are people that love to play the negative card just so they don't get hurt down the line. The problem with that, in my opinion, is it goes against the whole idea of rooting for a sports team. Part of the draw is the uncertainty. You watch because you don't know what you're going to see that night. Is my team going to get shut out? Are they going to hit 6 HR's? A no-hitter? A walk-off? I know for myself, I can't watch a game from yesterday on tape, even if I don't know the outcome. The feeling that it isn't live just wrecks it for me. Anyway, the other point to this being a fan of this specific White Sox team. None of us know how the next 3-4 years are going to go.....but there is enough MLB history on our side to tell us right now is the "come up" which can be the most fun you ever have as a fan. This is the time when your team really arrives on the scene. When all the crap seasons of a rebuild start to pay off, and you see the fruits of those efforts come alive. They have the third-best winning percentage in the AL, have run away with their own division and have a young, incredibly likeable core that's locked up for the foreseeable future. If you want to make the effort to come to a White Sox message board when the team is 79-58 and tell people you only think they'll win one game in the playoffs....that's your call. I just don't really see the point. Then why watch? What are you doing with your time? What's the point in rooting for a team? This will be the FIRST TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY THE SOX MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IN BACK TO BACK SEASONS. If you're a Sox fan, I just can't grasp not being at least hopeful for what's to come. But to each their own.

Dis you?

Such a sad way to go through life.

I know Barstool isn't for everyone, but the Chicago guys made a pretty good video that shows what it can do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leitq2viZqI&ab_channel=BarstoolChicago

Nice work Jas!

Pretty sure he's using a Wiffle ball

???

In my eyes, it looks WORSE if all the background players go but Stan keeps his gig. I'm really curious the backstory on a lot of these. Read the Powers piece today and a ton of people have either left or been moved around the organization with new titles. It seems like a lot of the higher ups that were part of the 3-Cup basically have been moved aside for fresh blood. I can get way more on board with that if Stan goes. If he's still there.......nothing really changes in my eyes.

I think party lines play a huge role, quite frankly. We're tribal in nature...and both sides are guilty of it on a number of issues. Obviously with COVID, the far-right has been very anti-mask, anti-mandates, anti-vax. What I find interesting is all the different "solutions" that side seems to be trying to come up with. Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin, etc....all things not proven to work (and in some cases be very dangerous for human health.) What it tells me is that they aren't taking COVID lightly. They know it's dangerous. It's why they are trying these things. But they are SO focused on sticking with their tribe and going along with the ideology that their leaders are telling them, the vaccine just isn't an option for them. They'd rather spread horse paste on their toast than take a now FDA-approved vaccine because of what their friend posted on Facebook. So yes, there are many factors that are driving the vaccination decision. And I think party lines plays a very large role.

I don't want to speak for everyone, but I think the frustration comes from.....we didn't have to just "live with this." But because a bunch of people are so obsessed with party lines....we're probably going to have to live with it, you're right.

Eh, I'm sort of in the middle on this. On one hand......right now it seems like the Sox are running with a very solid Top 4 in Lynn-Rodon-Giolito-Cease. Different pitchers, but similar to the Sox rocking Buehrle-Garcia-Garland-Contreras. The heart of both teams seemed to occupy 1B, and Eloy and Dye seem incredibly similar to me. The difference-making, veteran FA catcher also sort of holds true in both cases. Aside from that.....I would agree the two teams are pretty different. This 2021 squad is much more "star heavy" and I think the talent on the 2021 teams blows 2005 out of the water. 2005 was in a lot of ways an incredible collection of decent parts that made things work together. 2021 seems more like a powerhouse full of high-end pieces that when all on the field at the same time.......few can match. I didn't feel that way in 2005.

I can’t understand how you haven’t already gotten a GM job somewhere.