soccer10k

FIFA : Referees :: Dusty Baker : Crappy Cubs Players

Ukraine's second game is looking a bit different than their first game. Good shot but it hit the crossbar.

It's still just one good outing for Guzman. I hope he continues to pitch like this but until I see him do it a couple more times I'm not jumping on the BandWGN.

Why won't the Pirates just win a game and allow us to join them in last place?

I won't know how much interest I've lost in the Cubs season until after the World Cup final on July 9. Even if the Cubs were in first place this year, my interest in the Cubs wouldn't be as high as normal right now solely because of the World Cup.

Unbelievably disappointing performance from Prior today. I tuned in a couple minutes late and saw it was 1-0. I went in my room to get ready for work then came back out and saw it was 6-0 and was happy that I had to go to work.

Sending Jered Weaver down is an unbelievably bad move in so many ways.

Playing for 2008 before 2007 even begins is completely unacceptable in my opinion. As many bad years as the Cubs have had, and with all the disappointment following the promise of 2003, writing off yet another year cannot be tolerated. The Cubs must somehow find a way to contend next year. We deserve much better than still more wait till next year's. I couldn't agree with you more. Numerous teams have made the worst-to-first jump before if the right moves are made. Please save me the "Hendry's an idiot and won't make the right moves" crap because I don't want to hear it. Teams can have a complete turnaroung. In 2002 the Cubs finished 67-95 and we all know how they did in 2003. Same goes for 1997 (68-94) followed by 1998.

Agreed. But, with Jim Hendry at the controls, we should all be very scared. I don't think we have to worry about Hendry trading Prior because he doesn't appear willing to trade the players he likes. Prior's 2003 is the only thing weighing on Hendry's mind.

I would absolutely love it if the Cubs were somehow able to acquire Cabrera. I would be willing to give up anybody except DLee and Z.

He strained his back bending over to grab a box of twinkies.

Of the two, I chose the White Alfonseca. But I've been calling him Gopher Ball Glendon for a long time.

Definately the beer.

What is the order of tiebreakers? I thought that the first tie breaker was always head to head which would mean that if Italy and the Czech Republic tie, then the US could beat Ghana 583-0 and still not advance because the US lost to the Czechs? That was me that said the first tiebreaker was head-to-head, but it looks like I was wrong. there apparently is no head-to-head tiebreaker. I thought head to head was the first tiebreaker as well and I think that it should be. If two teams end up tied and Team A beat Team B, what better way is there to judge which team is better than head to head?

We officially have a series now. This should be interesting to see if Dallas can regroup or if Miami can win one in Dallas. I think Game 6 is Miami's best shot. They have ALL the momentum right now and I don't think they want to play a Game 7. We'll have to wait and see.

theoretically, probably. but i dont think anyone outside of the camp is really sure if hes 100% yet. he hasnt played 90 minutes in almost forever, and against a fast, physical team like ghana, fitness will be key. and really, it comes down to the fact that pablo was one of the best players on the field last night before he got himself sent off- we could have used that performance vs ghana matching up against appiah and essien. I'd not be shocked to see O'Brien in for Mastro, but I'd prefer to see Reyna play in Masro's spot, Landon play in the attacking midfield spot and Eddie Johnson start up front. Keep in mind we have to win the game, and if possible, win by multiple goals. That means we need our goalscorers on the field, and our best offensive lineup possible. Agreed. We need to have an attack minded team out there on the field.

What is the order of tiebreakers? I thought that the first tie breaker was always head to head which would mean that if Italy and the Czech Republic tie, then the US could beat Ghana 583-0 and still not advance because the US lost to the Czechs?

I take offense to changing the game time from 11:20 PT to 1:20 CT. Just because the Cubs play in that time zone doesn't mean that the game time has to show that. I figured I would mix it up. :D

I take offense to changing the game time from 11:20 PT to 1:20 CT. Just because the Cubs play in that time zone doesn't mean that the game time has to show that. I figured I would mix it up. :D

There was never any doubt in my mind. There was talk that Group C was actually the Group of Death. I wasn't sold on Serbia and Montenegro and with Argentina's 6-0 win the other day, it proves that. Right now Group E is the only group (out of the five that have played 2 games) that doesn't have a team with 6 points. All of those other groups all have at least one team that has assured itself a place in the knockout stage. Group C is second place, but Group E is most definately the toughest Group.

I'm going to continue my little rant from above. There were four clear consequences of the referee's actions today. 1. Rather than the US being up a man or at worst 10 v 10 (with Pope still getting the two yellows) and at least have a decent chance of winning the match, he completely killed any momentum that the US had. So instead of having the whole second half up a man or even strength, the US had to play down a man the whole time. This affected who Arena could substitute during the second half. 2. It hurts the US for the next match because now they are without two starters that they shouldn't have to play without. Pope isn't a huge loss, but any time you lose a starter for a game, it's going to hurt. 3. During the game, I'm sure the players had absolutely no idea what the referee was going to call and what he was going to allow. It's unbelievable how much a crappy referee can affect the play of the game. 4. As I said above, the ref cost us a great chance to win the game. Had we won the game everybody in the group would have had 3 points which would put the US in a win-and-advance situation. Now we have to beat Ghana and hope that Italy beats the Czech Republic. Assuming that the US isn't going to demolish Ghana, this is the only realistic way we are going to advance. On a positive note though, everybody has to play hard on Thursday. Even though Italy is in first place, if they lose and Ghana wins, Italy won't advance. If the Czech's lose and either the US or Ghana wins, the Czech's won't advance. If the Czech's tie and Ghana wins, the Czech's won't advance. If Ghana wins, they will advance for sure. If the US wins and the Czech's lose, they will advance. So everybody has something to play for which should provide for two entertaining games.

I have the honor of starting the thread for the game in which Mark Prior will make his first start of the 2006 season. Unfortunately, I will not have the opportunity to watch the game as I have to work all day tomorrow. The Cubs will most likely lose, but hopefully Prior will have a good start. 6 IP 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO, 90 pitches.

That was quite possibly the worst refereed match I have ever seen in my life. Plays he called as fouls one time he didn't call another time. Three red cards? Mastroeni and Pope should have ended the game with just a yellow card each. We got completely hosed on that one. In a matter of three minutes of game time we went from being in complete control of the match up a man to down a man. UNREAL. Italy played horribly and they should be disappointed that they were up a man for the whole second half up a player and couldn't score a goal. We should have won that match (and almost did had McBride not been offsides). Honestly, I'm really happy that the US played like they are capable of playing and not like they did against the Czech's. Hopefully we can find a way to advance.

I really just want the US to play better than they did. Obviously I would prefer for them to win, but losing to Italy is nothing to be ashamed about. I want to see the US play like they are capable of playing.

Saturday July 17 games (Pacific Time) Portugal v Iran at 6 AM on ESPN 2 Czech Republic v Ghana at 9 AM on ABC Italy v United States at 12 AM on ABC USA