jiml60

It may sound nice to be diplomatic and try to have some dignity about not hating the White Sox, but this quote is why most Cub fans in Chicago don't want to see the Pale Hose win. "When the Cubs played the Marlins [in the 2003 National League Championship Series], I would go places where most people were disinterested and yell out, `Go Fish!'" he says. "There's only one team from Chicago that plays real baseball. But if people up here find out you're a White Sox fan, they look at you like you're an alien." It's just an obnoxious fan base (and I am including close friends and some relatives in that group) and we are going to have to put up with crap like this until the Cubs win a WS, even then it will only take beating them in the WS to finally shut them up.

Yep, same weather for tomorrow also.

With a week off since their last game, I can't see how any momentum can be carried into this series for the Sox. The Astros on the other hand should be a little sharper and rested; so the key for them is to jump on the Sox in the first two games, get into that Sox bullpen early. That's where the Sox will have a problem, those guys haven't pitched in a week and a half, so there will probably be some rust. I can't make a unbiased prediction as I want to see the Sox lose. I'm hoping for the Astros in 6 though.

Bring a newspaper or book and just read during the whole game. Really though do you want your first World Series game to be a Sox/Astros match-up? If you do go, wear Cubs gear and then razz your Sox friends who couldn't get tickets.

"You ought to be a guest on 'What's My Line," because nobody would believe you're an analyst with talk like that- Lou Holtz to Mark May after the ND/USC game" adam, what did May say to cause Lou to say this? I didn't catch the show.

I agree, don't see them falling farther than 15th. They can easily run the table and put themselves in line for a BCS bowl.

Be specific about which idiot on the score is talking. Most are useless, self serving fools that have no knowledge at all. So, which idiot are you referring to? It doesn't matter, they're all interchangeable idiots.

He's just one of those misguided Chicagoans that think you should pull together and root for the city to have a championship.

D'oh, I forgot about the force also. I was just focused on the tag.

Unless Crede totally missed the bag, it sure looked like he was safe. The glove was still coming down and you could clearly see the ball in the glove when Crede hand was at the base. But there was enough dirt flying up to wonder if he got to the bag.

It'll give their fans another reason to cry in a few days.

Sox have history against them now: Since the current format started in 1995, 9 teams have lost the first LCS game at home, only 2 advanced to the World Series (Yankees in 2000 & 2003) with the 2000 Yankees the only team to win the World Series. 14 teams have swept their opening round series and had 3 days rest. Only 4 teams won their opening LCS game. Of the 10 teams that lost, only 2 advanced to the World Series (2004 Red Sox, 1995 Indians) the Red Sox the only team to win it all. 8 teams opened at home, 5 lost and did not advance, 3 won and did advance.

Ozzie can give the choke sign to our fans in 2003 and expects Cub fans to support him and the Sox. When the Sox get knocked out of the playoffs, I will enjoy it for a couple of days safe in the notion that the Indians will keep the Sox from sniffing the playoffs for the foreseeable future.

I hope whoever is playing 2B for the Cubs in '07 doesn't make Graffanino an afterthought.

I think Japan is a viable option for Sammy. He loves being the center of attraction and playing in Japan would certainly afford him that luxury.

You can't blame Aesop for the loss to MSU. The comment wasn't meant to blame him; directed at Weis' use of him in that situation.

If Weis uses Rashon-Neal Powers on those two plays where he used the freshman, ND might be unbeaten now.

The problem with firing Hendry is that MacPhail would still be around. Eleven years is enough, The Tribune should clean house.

July 6-9 at Milwaukee; after 2 seasons of weekday series, the Cubs are allowed to visit on a weekend. The Brewers must be confident that they can fill the park on the weekdays without the help of Cub fans.

Thanks.

AramisFan, who are the two guys on the right hand side of your sig? I think the guy on the far right is Brian Giles, not sure though.

Nathan, Of all the players you've watched over the years, is there a player that you thought was a can't miss prospect but never made it to the major league level?

Schedule 2 day-night doubleheaders each month. That would lop off two weeks at the end of the season. Starting the playoffs in September would guarantee a mid-October World Series and lessen the chance of baseball deciding it's championship in football weather. Also schedule games the first 7-10 days of the season in warm weather cities. Contract two teams, 14 teams in each league with 7 teams in each division. Keep the 8 teams qualifying for the playoffs. Eliminate the DH, expand the rosters to 27, this would satisfy the loss of the DH for the players union and find space for all the players from the contracted teams.

I'd bet on the Cards. I have too many friends who are Sox fans and gave me crap back in 2003. So I'm hoping for some serious blowback.

You just can't expect this to happen season after season. We waited for the Cardinals to "come back down to earth" last year, it didn't happen until the World Series. Houston is playing good baseball, they're getting great pitching, some timely hitting and executing fundamental baseball. Why would anyone expect that to stop? Plus they have the experience of last season when they went on a run to come within a game of the World Series. The Cubs, as presently constructed, are not capable of stringing together a long winning streak or two to make a serious run at the WC. I expect it to stop because they are playing above their talent level right now. Also, what examples of fundamental baseball are the Astros executing? I don't understand why that phrase seemingly gets thrown in to describe a team any time they have a hot streak. The Cardinal pitchers were seemingly "pitching above their talent level" last season. We waited and waited for their staff to come back to earth, then we would pass them...never happened. So why would the Astro's talent level cause them to start losing all of a sudden? They may not be as talented as this Cub team but they are supplementing it with hard work, fundamental baseball and yes, a little bit of luck. It happens in sports, the most talented teams don't always win, history is littered with teams that made the extra effort to overcome their deficiencies and beat the odds. Houston has been playing well for about a month and a half, I hardly call that a hot streak. As for examples, find your own.