CubRock2

Well... maybe I"m taking it too seriously. The article was kind of funny, especially with the "twist" on what we assume the articles about. I'm over it now. :oops:

Well said. I thought the same thing a few years ago, but forgot about that while reading this article/thread. Why do we even make such a big fuss about awards like this anyway? They're voted on by jackasses, and just because Carpenter won, does that make Dontrelle less of a pitcher? What about Roger? He (and arguably Petitte) had the best season in baseball. Given some run support, this isn't even a discussion. Yet he finished behind the victimized runner up Dontrelle. Give me a break.

That's the point I was kind of trying to make. Thanks. :oops: Some of their minor league pitching is sick (Anthony Reyes). They really have nothing as far as big impact offense prospects, and the offense is really falling apart. I don't see how the Pitching could even be criticized. Outside of freak injuries, they've been very, very good the last 2 years, and that's not what has failed them in the playoffs. Sure, K-Town. They played some good ball in a couple of Series. I'll give them that. But what exactly happened in the '04 WS and the '05 NLCS? I'm not dogging them, but the absence of an offense was/is their problem.

I know the Sox have had some drastic changes, but the "script" Sox logo has been on jerseys throughout their histories. Yeah, they've tried some ugly, dramatic stuff, but so have the Pirates (painters hats, anyone!?). I wasn't suggesting the Sox are a traditional team, but they haven't seemed to completely abandon their "history" through uni changes. That's all. :lol:

I lived in NC for a year, and even though the NHL in Raleigh is a monumental failure, I wouldn't be surprised to see the MLB put a franchise there. The southern fanbase is strong, and would have only ATL to compete with. The Carolinas have a strong baseball tradition near the Coast, Piedmont and Lowlands. I think a ballclub - with solid talent like FLA currently has - would be very, very viable. Don't forget that FLA also has a strong following in NC. The Mudcats are in Zebulon (near Raleigh), and a lot of people love Dontrelle and Miggy. Plus, the Bulls are wonderfully popular, and the Charlotte Knights (Sox AAA team) has decent attendence considering the crap that's run through their farm system the last few years. Carolina Baseball would work.

The Cardinals pitching has been good enough. The "awe-inspiring" offense is what diappears. Nobody besides Pujols can hit, and until that changes, they don't scare anybody in the playoffs.

I've been pretty disappointed in all the non pinstriped Cubs jerseys in recent years. The current blues are hideous. The red billed cap is clownish. The road grays are hardly a classic. Sure, but the only team that hasn't changed uni's has beent he Yanks, for... well, obvious reasons. Only the Braves, Tigers, Red Sox, Cardinals, and Dodgers have had relativley consistent uniforms. It's pretty cool that only 5 teams have been traditional. The Giants, Pirates White Sox, Phillies and Orioles haven't changed too much, but aren't nearly as traditional as the first 5. TBS, for teams with little tradition, the Brewers are smart by bringing back a very popular logo. I still think the Brew Crew is pretty cool... even though they could beat us out for the WC next year. :oops:

It's the Andruw Jones "you've got to be kidding me that he got 17 first place votes" BandWGN. :wink: Hehe.... forgot the jargon, nd! BTW... GO IRISH!!!

Blah. I'm bummed DLee didn't win. TBS, I'm not too upset with Pujols winning. He's a stud, and deserves to be. But I'm jumping on the Andrew Jones "you've got to be kidding me that he got 17 first place votes" bandwagon. What a freaking joke! :roll:

I think you're right... alcoholics face temptation anywhere. It's a tough life to live if want to go straight. However, Chicago is constantly voted as the "favorite city" by ball players because they love it here so much. I'm sure an early start time opens up the window to a lot more fun after games. I'm not saying that the Cubs are the drunkest team in baseball, but I'm sure it presents a different environment that may be hard to get used to. And let's face it: Wrigley's a hell of a lot more beer-focused that the area around Turner Field. He'd certainly be tempted more if he came to Chicago. I think that it's a valid concern if you're making a $10 million dollar a year investment. That being said, it's also not certain that he'd regress and abuse alcohol. It's a good article. It brought up a concern that a lot of us should have if we're adding such a high dollar player. Age, health and "chemistry" are all factors in player acqusitions, why not this?

I beg to differ, what's more important than the WS clincher? And didn't Uribe go deeper into the stands, too? More important game my butt. I can't stand the Sox, but let's not act like third graders here: they flat out beat every team they played. Yeah, they got breaks, but plays like Juan Uribe's epitomize the way they've played. 90% percent of Cub fans I know/work with/teach are mature and cool about this - though heartbroken - but I don't get why some of you are so petty and indignant about this. Whatever. I'm going to bed hoping my car is right side up tomorrow. :twisted:

And apparently all of us don't fully understand grammar, either. Than or Then?

Credit Ryne Sandberg for that change. The Cubs owned the city from '83-05. That could change now. I don't know if it will. I think it will, but I'm no Nostradamus, either!

Did it do the Marlins any good? If you have a poor fan base, a championship (or even two) does little to change anything, beyond a momentary burp in attendance. The White Sox winning the WS may have an effect, but I sincerely doubt that the Cubs stranglehold on the Chicago market is any real danger. I just can't see too many Cubs fans jumping from one side to the other, especially considering the animosity. I don't think there's a good comparison with Florida. The White Sox have a long history, and have, at times in the past, been more popular than the Cubs. I don't think this WS would completely change everything, but I fully expect a large upswing in attendance and ratings next year for the WS, and after two consecutive disappointments, there will be a decline with the Cubs. Sox fans abandoned that team in the 90's, and have been slow to return. But they're still out there, and they'll be back. I don't think it'll have a negative effect on the Cubs though. The Cubs have a lot more to worry about with their own ineptitude than with any Sox success. Goony's right. there's a heck of a lot of Sox fans out there. They don't tend to wear their heart on their sleave like we do, but they are there. And trust me, we'll see 'em... :roll:

What's the over/under on the number IP's that Tim and the mods are going to have to ban with the impending Sox WS win? I really have no clue, but I'm guessing the mods are going to be busy. Wait... do Sox fans have computer access? EDIT: I can't bolieve I misspelled the word "trolls." :roll:

I don't know, man... as bad of an owner Riensdorf is for the Bulls, as much as I disdain the decisions made, I can't live down those memories made while I was the same age. Granted, the Bulls won 3 Rings when I was in my youth, but I still think that a World Series Championship is something that - sustained or not - is something that a lot of kids are going to cherish. You don't know, you're right, but when's the last time we had a WS in this town to make a comparison to?

Maybe, but not in spades. Chicago will still be a Cubs town, the media will be talking about the Cubs more than the Sox in a few months, the Cell will return to it's nominal half-full status next season, and the Sox will still be the bastard stepchild of Chicago baseball. Actually, I think your terribly wrong here. I teach 7th graders, and I'm seeing an entire generation fo kids becoming Sox fans. Yes, kids are fickle, but our "loveable" failures, personalities and better ball park all fade when a team 8 miles south is holding up a World Series trophy. Despite the "edge" in popularity and the better environment and history, people are going to flock to the White Sox because they're winners. Heck, the Bulls sold out for 3 years after the last Championship, as bad as they were. I really believe that this is terrible for the Cubs. Unless we start off hot next year, and build up a mojo that we can follow the pair of Soxes that broke their long droughts, I don't see us having any of the attention that the Sox will get. And even if we start off hot, guys like Wood, Baker, and Patterson will buckle under any pressure and destroy the possiblity of anything good happening. This could become a fundamental change in the way Chicagoans view baseball. Hell, the Southside may become even further revived because of interest in the area. It won't be Wrigleyville, but maybe it gets better. I'm not just guessing, but I'm SEEING children fall in love these guys. Hispanic kids, black kids, Asian kids are all talking about the Sox. It's cool to see them all jacked up, but heartbreaking that it can't be our Cubbies. The tide is turning more than you realize. :cry:

Hey, screw the brick idea, I've got something better... The fence is only about 12 feet high (give or take a foot or two). The fabric that covers the fence makes climbing difficult, but a ladder would be easy to jump over it with. Once you hop the fence, its clear running... really clear running anywhere in the confines. Is anybody up for a little batting practice? Oh boy, wouldn't launching one over the wall be fun!!!! Granted, there's no bleachers, but the wall's still there, right?

Didn't Cards fans use to love that site? Because it seems like that's what we're becoming here. I love checking out Cub fans' thoughts, but it seems like more and more Cards fans are invading our territory. Don't get me wrong, you're not like the dumba** at the Pressbox/Cards Talk, but you're Cards fans. I like to read Cub info and see Cub fans talk, but why are there so many of you here? Sorry... hate to get on anyone's bad side, but does anyone else see a pattern here?

Since nobody's saying it, I will.... Why isn't DLee still a viable MVP candidate? Andruw Jones? :roll:

Let's not get carried away with arguing about who's better: Pujols or Miggy. The sad thing is that ESPN's obsession with Boston, New York, and Bonds is taking time away from some truely great baseball. Guys like DLee, Pujols, Lee, Peavy, Texiaria, Hafner, Ensberg, Bay, Giles and so on, along with rivalries and pennant races are completely forgotten about because of such a committment to the NY/Bos thing. In 50 years, some people are going to look back on this era of baseball and be amazed by the greatness of people that aren't ever talked about.

I did that same thing, too. I was shocked to see how well he's playing. Any chance of this veteran becoming one of Baker's Boys next year? Oh, and Hafner is terribly underrated, along with Cliff Lee and (this year) Kevin Millwood.

This is going to sound silly, I know, but... Albert Pujols. Before I get my butt kicked, think about it. Outside of our rivalry with the Cards (which constantly brings him up), he isn't thought of as being as great as he is. He's the only guy to ever have his first 5 seasons be .300, 30, 100 RBI seasons. For all his talent, he's never gotten an MVP, and from what ESPN says, he'll lose it to Andruw Jones this year, which is a crime. Anyone outside the Central Division for MVP is a joke. Pujols in pinstripes or a Fenway would be lauded as this generations Joe Dimaggio. Instead, he's going to be as overlooked as Ryno. Okay... more popular thoughts of mine... Ryan Dempster (he's been locking dudes down for 3 months now), Jake Peavy (best pitcher in the NL (besides Rocket), hands down), Jason Bay (kills everyone!), and Brian Giles. Go ahead and shred me. :oops:

I don't get that statement. Without Albert Pujols, aren't the Cardinals... the White Sox? He's clearly the smartest and best hitter on the team, and I can't imagine Eckstien, Edmonds, and Sanders being good enough and consistent enough to make them good. The just become a team relying on scrappy hitters, fast runners, and lots of homeruns for run production.

He only played 111 Games in 1994. Does anyone know why? I sure as heck don't get it. That was the strike-shortned season. :hangs head in embarassment: I should have known that. But the Durham Bulls Athletic Park sells big 'ol beers and I'm just not making too many connections right now. :oops: