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Post by Chuck on Oct 21, 2005 18:55:14 GMT -5
Mr. A, I have a question about the cubs, and I'm not being a smart-arse. . . What happened to them that they fell off the face of the earth? I thought they'd be in the WS before the ChiSox would be. . .especially after that great NLCS with Florida. . .thoughts? I could give you a funny answer, but since I'm a fan and a baseball nerd, I have a real one. There are a couple of theories... 1. Dusty Baker. He is scared to play young players, so he trots out mediocre veterans like Jose Macias every day. 2. Dusty Baker. He doesn't know how to manage a pitching staff, so he burns out his starters and ruins the confidence of his bullpen. 3. Injuries. Especially to Prior & Wood. See #2. Add Nomar & Aramis Ramirez to the list. 4. Prima-donna players. This is probably why they blew their 5 game wild card lead in 2004. Sosa and Alou stopped contributing and didn't like being told so. 5. Lower quality free-agents. As a result of #4, they rebuilt in 2005 with guys like Jeromy Burnitz and nobody. They also let Matt Clement go and replaced him with no one. 6. Dusty Baker. They couldn't hit left-handed pitching, they couldn't win at home, they couldn't advance runners or hit with men in scoring position, and while they beat the Cardinals and Astros all year, they couldn't beat the Reds or the Brewers. All of those things fall sqarely on the manager. If they pick up a good hitting outfielder, a top level lead off man, and a number 3 quality starter, they'll compete. If they do all of those things and replace Dusty with a new-school manager (like Florida just got in Girardi), then they'll make the playoffs again. VERY good Analysis, Mr.A! Couldn't agree more. I'm a Cubs fan, and am very happy for the White Sox (even though it doesn't mean a thing to me)! The amazing thing about the White Sox is that there are no "names". They're just regular players playing their white sox off and having fun doing it. Ozzie deserved Manager of the Year. He's a riot!
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Post by Mr. Atari on Oct 21, 2005 21:24:44 GMT -5
VERY good Analysis, Mr.A! Couldn't agree more. I'm a Cubs fan, and am very happy for the White Sox (even though it doesn't mean a thing to me)! The amazing thing about the White Sox is that there are no "names". They're just regular players playing their white sox off and having fun doing it. Ozzie deserved Manager of the Year. He's a riot! If you look at the World Series winners in the last decade, you'll rarely find "names". Last year was the first time in almost 20 years when the league's home run champion played on the WS champion (M. Ramirez). The Yankees run was highlighted by no-nonsense, blue collar players like Paul O'Neill and Scott Brosius. Look at the Diamondbacks, Marlins (twice), and Angels. They all had stellar pitching, smart fundamental coaching, and fielded hard working, no-names. Last year's Red Sox are an exception, but even much of that team were nobodies until they got on a run. Ortiz was a Twins castoff, Mueller & Bellhorn were Cubs throwaways, and neither Millar or Nixon are exactly all-stars. They even traded away their "name" (Nomar) before making a run. So the secret is, load up on pitchers- get high priced veterans if you have to- then fill the rest of the team with fundamentally sound, above-average, hard-working professionals. That's how the Astros & White Sox made it. And it's why A-Rod, Pujols, Sosa, and Bonds are all sitting at home watching.
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Post by StreetDreamer83 on Oct 23, 2005 22:32:55 GMT -5
The Sox look to be a team of destiny this year... they've been getting all the big calls this post season and they just won game two... go Chitown!
Matt
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Post by Blurryeye on Oct 24, 2005 16:41:12 GMT -5
I feel bad for Lidge. To give up a game-winning homer to the best hitter in the game is one thing, but to have it happen again the next time you go out to pitch, against a hitter who had zero home runs in the regular season, THAT'S got to sting. Maybe he's the next Mitch Williams.
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colemanfrancisfan
Moderator Emeritus
Open wide, Lady Liberty. Because CFF is coming to America! Today!
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Posts: 11,300
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Post by colemanfrancisfan on Oct 24, 2005 17:36:21 GMT -5
I feel bad for Lidge. To give up a game-winning homer to the best hitter in the game is one thing, but to have it happen again the next time you go out to pitch, against a hitter who had zero home runs in the regular season, THAT'S got to sting. Maybe he's the next Mitch Williams. You just had to bring up the Wild Thing, didnt you?
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Post by Dave Walker on Oct 24, 2005 22:56:01 GMT -5
I have to tip my cap to the ChiSox. I really didn't think they had it in them, but now they're in the driver's seat. I don't much care who wins at this point, so let's finish this off and end the BoSox reign.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Oct 24, 2005 23:36:48 GMT -5
I have to tip my cap to the ChiSox. I really didn't think they had it in them, but now they're in the driver's seat. I don't much care who wins at this point, so let's finish this off and end the BoSox reign. I think we ended it in 3 games during the ALDS.
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Post by Dave Walker on Oct 25, 2005 7:02:33 GMT -5
I have to tip my cap to the ChiSox. I really didn't think they had it in them, but now they're in the driver's seat. I don't much care who wins at this point, so let's finish this off and end the BoSox reign. I think we ended it in 3 games during the ALDS. This, from a fraudulent White Sox fan. Until one of them wins the Series, the Red Sox remain the champions, that's how this works.
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Oct 25, 2005 9:26:08 GMT -5
I think we ended it in 3 games during the ALDS. This, from a fraudulent White Sox fan. Until one of them wins the Series, the Red Sox remain the champions, that's how this works. Why fraudulent?
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Post by Chuck on Oct 25, 2005 9:45:15 GMT -5
The Houston Astros are now bitching because they may have to open the roof of the Astro Dome in order the play the ballgames. They say it'll be an unfair advantage to the White Sox.
Bitch, bitch, bitch. Unfair advantage to the White Sox? How?
REAL MEN PLAY BASEBALL OUTSIDE!!!
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Post by Dave Walker on Oct 25, 2005 9:51:46 GMT -5
This, from a fraudulent White Sox fan. Until one of them wins the Series, the Red Sox remain the champions, that's how this works. Why fraudulent? South siders like me (recently adopted) Sounds like some serious bandwagon jumping to me. How long have you been a White Sox fan?
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Post by mummifiedstalin on Oct 25, 2005 11:35:37 GMT -5
South siders like me (recently adopted) Sounds like some serious bandwagon jumping to me. How long have you been a White Sox fan? Recently adopted because I just moved to the south side of greater Chicago. If physical presence doesn't allow me adopt a team fairly, then I don't know what else does.
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Post by Chuck on Oct 25, 2005 13:44:04 GMT -5
Amen, Sir Phillip. And welcome to Chicago!
I am a NorthSider, and a Cubs fan. I am perfectly happy for the White Sox, although it means nothing to me other than a spotlight on the city that I live in and love!!
OH! AND it means maybe 7 more games of really good baseball.
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Post by StreetDreamer83 on Oct 25, 2005 21:18:37 GMT -5
I'm tired of all the whining about the stupid roof over the field in Houston. Isn't the entire point of a domed stadium to prevent bad weather from hindering a game? That's what I have always perceived dome stadiums to be. There's no reason why it shouldn't be open if it ain't raining. It's the same for everyone anyway.
Matt
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Post by Dave Walker on Oct 26, 2005 8:07:57 GMT -5
Sounds like some serious bandwagon jumping to me. How long have you been a White Sox fan? Recently adopted because I just moved to the south side of greater Chicago. If physical presence doesn't allow me adopt a team fairly, then I don't know what else does. I'm sure that it does, but it's more fun to give you a hard time.
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