Silva...in case there was any doubt
by BLou on Mar 6, 2010 3:32 PM CST
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PrintCarlos Silva, quite simply, is human batting practice. If there was any more need for proof than his wondrous Cub debut against the White Sox seals the deal. I know it's very early in camp, but this guy A) can't pitch and B) doesn't care. So lets just therefore cut to the chase and put him on the DL for the next two years under injury classification of maximum suckitis.
Lou Piniella? The remaining respect and confidence I have in the man is evaporating by the hour. To actually say with a straight face that Silva flashed electric stuff during a side session with Larry Rothschild is the height of bold face lying and cluelessness. We get it Lou....you don't want to be here and want to go home. At least this season lets try not to simply phone it in on your behalf.
People had better hope like heck that some of these no-name youngsters competing for jobs on the 12-man staff come through. Else this is a 90 loss team.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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700+ comments later....I dont think anyone heard your plea. :)
" It’s spring fever - you don’t know what it is you want, but it fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so. "--Mark Twain
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 11, 2010 8:11 AM CST up reply actions
90 losses
Blou, that is a bit extreme. Plus while we will be sending Silva to the dl for the rest of the next 2 seasons, we cannot forget that we had to get rid of Bradley. The fact that we succeeded in doing so and made a couple bucks is as much as we coulda hoped for. You seen the alternative offers. Luis Castillo and Pat Burrell. I’ll pass on either of them. We were never going to get anything good for him, so we must move on. Bottom line, with him gone we are a better team.
Releasing Silva the day after the trade would have made a statement.
Dicking around with him through spring training and pretending like he has any place on a would-be contender’s MLB roster is a different kind of statement. A more “losery” kind of statement.
The major mistake, obviously, was signing Bradley. In my opinion, that was a firing offense. But trading Bradley for Silva basically allowed us to sign Marlon Byrd.
So why not leave Silva completely out of the analysis, do a little bit of mental accounting that we’re paying Marlon Byrd $10M for the next two years, and send Silva home where he can eat Funyuns without a bunch of trainers getting in his face all the time.
As for 90 losses… well, I can easily see 85 losses, and so can basically every predictive model that has looked at this team. It only takes a couple of bad bounces to get to 90. I’d still put that on my low-end for this season, and I think it’s unlikely. It would require the same awfulness from Soriano and Soto, a bit less from D-Lee, and for the rotation fade even more than what’s expected.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 6, 2010 3:45 PM CST up reply actions
Why then waste valuable spring training time pretending Silva has a role
You are right….signing Milton Bradley to THAT contract is a firing offense. Particularly combined with the overall ruinous stretch of spending nearly $200 million on free agent outfielders who have been, by and large, an unmitigated disaster.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Dicking around
I am not sure how it can be considered dicking around when they are on the hook for $23mil. This is spring training. If he sucks by the end of spring cut him, you gain nothing by cutting him before knowing what he has left. Knowing our luck, we would cut him and he would be picked up by The Cards and Duncan would pull another miracle out his A** and make him into a serviceable 5. We have 3 starters right now. If anything his presence will help the other 3 candidates to pitch to the best of their ability to win the available spots. Now if he stinks it up all the spring and bring him North just because of the money, that is just not allowable. When you start costing the team games that count to protect a bad investment you are not running your company the right way.
by ronniewoowoo2 on Mar 7, 2010 8:44 PM CST up reply actions
Why is this a fanpost?
No new news, no new insight.
Come visit me inside Wrigley along the Addison side mezzanine fence straight up from 1st base.
Here is your insight
Pound sand.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
by BLou on Mar 6, 2010 3:53 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
and NOW
It’s baseball season, folks! :D
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 6, 2010 5:00 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Be careful now!
Remember the mambochicken affair!
This is the year...
by Chanman25 on Mar 6, 2010 5:18 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
ONE OF US
ONE OF US
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 6, 2010 5:38 PM CST up reply actions
I love this place, this is so much fun!
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 8, 2010 11:48 AM CST up reply actions
Fantastic!
I missed this…
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
My guess is you're tired of getting blasted in the game/recap threads.
Is this your new tack?
I think 90 losses is ridiculously pessimistic. My gut is telling me the Cubs will have 85-90 wins. And when I guess like that, things usually end up very close to my predictions.
If you wish to be like this, then fine. See you next year.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 3:53 PM CST reply actions
Why are so many posters fixated on BLou?
It’s like a bunch of middle school girls badmouthing the bad boy they all secretly have a crush on.
I mean, if you really think the guy makes your message board a worse place, why do you bring him up literally every time somehting bad happens to the Cubs?
Fact is, it’s been a bad 12 months for the Pollyanna Patrol. All those awful moves that people were upset about last year turned out to be…. awful moves. But now we’re back to the time of year when hope springs eternal. Why spend so much time and energy speculating about what BLou MIGHT be thinking in threads where he isn’t even present?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 6, 2010 3:58 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
I think what happens is this.
There are numerous posters here on this site, but the thing about BLou is he says the same things, over and over, and if we don’t believe him…
Believe me, there are other people here who I don’t like. But calling me every name in the book just because I don’t believe him is overboard IMO.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 4:04 PM CST up reply actions
I didn't call you any names.
I meant “you” rhetorically, speaking to the entire board. Sorry for not being clearer.
I’m not even sure who was guilty of doing this today, but there was a veritable coffee klatch of posters tut-tutting about how much BLou must be loving the Carlos Quentin HRs in the game thread.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 6, 2010 4:13 PM CST up reply actions
I was not one of them.
To be honest, I largely disappeared from the game threads after the early scoring outbursts.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 4:15 PM CST up reply actions
And as for 85-90 wins --
Hey, I can’t fault you for being optimistic in March. Everyone is optimistic in March. Heck, I’m hoping for between 85-90 wins myself. But we can at least acknowledge that such a prediction is a rather serious outlier.
We don’t even know who the 4-5 starters are going to be, and the list of options is disheartening, to say the least. We don’t know who the RH setup man is going to be, and again, the list of options is rather pathetic and/or unproven.
It’s a team with some pretty gigantic holes. We need Fukudome to be a substantially better player in the second half of his $48M deal than he was in the first half. We need Soriano to have a major, major bounce back season. We need Soto to bounce back. We need Marlon Byrd to show that his career year wasn’t so much a career year as a new plateau of production. And we need our starters to somehow match what they did for last year’s team, despite the fact that 2 guys had career years, and we’re replacing someone like Rich Harden with someone like Tom Gorzellany.
So yeah, while i’m hopeful that we’ll be over .500, I’m very much aware that it’s going to take some bounces to get there.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 6, 2010 4:04 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
It doesn't matter
This board has devolved into the kool-aid patrol who attack like a pack of yapping chihuahuas anytime the unvarnished truth is spoken about the Cubs. I could care less what people think of my opinion on an anonymous blog. I’ve been going to Wrigley since 1977 and am well within my right to be dismayed and angry with the continuing ineptitude of the front office and product on the field.
The 2010 Cubs are not a good ballclub. It brings me no comfort in saying so. But boy does it tee off the charter members of the Luvable Loser Society who have overtaken this once proud board.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
by BLou on Mar 6, 2010 4:04 PM CST up reply actions 4 recs
Citizen Kane?
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 7, 2010 1:16 PM CST up reply actions
Hell yes
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 1:37 PM CST up reply actions
Thought so.
I saw that movie for a class while in college.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 7, 2010 1:48 PM CST up reply actions
The 2010 Cubs are not even fully formed yet
But don’t let that stop you.
This is supposed to be FUN, remember? If it isn’t, go do something you find fun. Like pulling the wings off of flies or something.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 6, 2010 5:49 PM CST up reply actions
For him to find something fun,
I think he should go drink kool-aid.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 7:00 PM CST up reply actions
This is your problem.
This board has devolved into the kool-aid patrol who attack like a pack of yapping chihuahuas anytime the unvarnished truth is spoken about the Cubs.
You think everything you say is the unvarnished truth. It is not. It is your opinion, repeated ad nauseum and defended ad hominem.
Your best bet is to ignore him.
All you’re doing is giving him the attention he craves.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al Yellon on Mar 6, 2010 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
"I could care less what people think of my opinion on an anonymous blog."
Cmon dude, we both know that isn’t true.
I think it’s pretty hilarious the number of people who opened this Fanpost only to attack you for saying the same thing over and over. I ALWAYS find it hilarious when people go out of their way to open a post like this, only to behave as if they were forced to do so. And a lot of people on this site behave that way.
However, you CONSTANTLY talk about how you were right about this, and right about that. You also do post the same thing over and over. So CLEARLY you care what others think of your opinion. You want to be right, and you want to be able to say I told you so.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Hard to know whether to laugh at BLou or feel sorry for him
that he thinks he is the only one capable of seeing the “unvarnished truth”.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 7, 2010 10:07 AM CST up reply actions
Rec'd.
Turns out I’m not alone! Since when did speaking factually and/or objectively about one’s outlook for a team become kinjite?
"I'll take one in the mouth over the eyes any day". - AJ Pierzynski
by lostinthevines on Mar 8, 2010 12:09 PM CST up reply actions
I'm just as guilty at times
But we give BLou too much attention. When he posts comments, I feel like responding. However, there are too many threads where people go and make fun of him for 10 posts and BLou never even posts a topic. I think we all need to take a breather on the hate bandwagon of him. Maybe then, he’ll go away or atleast be less annoying.
And yes, I did post below in regards to this topic. But from this point forward, I’m just not acknowledging his posts unless they truly add to legit Cubs discussion.
Last year soured me pretty badly on the pollyannas.
It was like banging my head against a wall around here to get anyone to acknowledge that the 08-09 offseason stunk, and that the team was flawed.
Basically, 5 months of getting pilloried for having anything remotely negative to say, followed by 2 months of getting pilloried because after all, “what does it matter anyway, we aren’t making the playoffs, so why bother criticizing….”
Legitimate Cubs discussion can include honest assessment of the team, even when it doesn’t result in a uniformly positive report card.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 6, 2010 4:16 PM CST up reply actions
There are quite a few people that aren't overly optimistic about the season
However some (one in particular) just prefer to bludgeon everyone else with their version of the truth.
there's a real easy way to avoid that bludgeoning
complaining about getting beat over the head, when you had to go out of your way to get beat is a little silly
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
I don't mind a little bludgeoning
The self-aggrandizing by the Wizard of NIU can be a little humorous at times.
Who gives a damn about the pollyannas? Just be objective. If every comment you make is negative,
you lose creditability. I think BLou has some good insights to the Cubs situation, but those ideas get drowned out by the namecalling, snide remaks and hyperbole.
Last year’s season was a bit of a trainwreck, but the Cubs won more games than they lost. If some of the key players revert to career norms, they should at least have the same record. There are definite questions on the pitching staff, but Lilly shouldn’t miss that many starts. Realistically, this club should at least be .500.
The bottom line is that if you are continually being an asshole, don’t be surprised when people chafe when you spout your negative views. We all welcome opinions. Some are good and some are not so good. A dose of objectivity goes along way when you are trying to espouse your views.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 7, 2010 9:22 AM CST up reply actions 10 recs
Rec'd
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 1:54 PM CST up reply actions
Green'ed
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 8, 2010 11:11 AM CST up reply actions
Greening is deserved.
Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.
I think for me...
it’s that he spends all of his time insulting large groups of people as often as he can. Most of the time, he doesn’t even respond, and when it does, it’s generally more insults. So if he can insult everyone, why can’t everyone insult him? I don’t even join in with it (in the game threads), but it’s kind of difficult for me to feel bad about him becoming the enemy of this site.
If someone truly believe that the Cubs are going to be awful, that’s fine. I personally respect how you’ve talked about Cubs issues, both in the past and present. But you haven’t insulted the board to make your point.
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? - Jim Bouton
Can't speak for the others, D98, but when I reference BLou in my comments...
…it’s for sheer entertainment value. The guy is so predictable he could be a See-N-Say toy. He’s Pavlov’s dog, Angry Guy and Eeyore all wrapped up into one. He and Worf make me laugh, so I’ve got no problem with them.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
the sad part about a BLou post
is often he is insightful and he does have knowledge, but he says it in such a way it comes off as craptastic and he likes to always make sure to include something insulting to one or all on the board
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Agree completely Tim
I actually like reading BLou’s posts because he does have a certain amount of knowledge and insight. But, yes, he also likes to provoke which automatically leads to the same group of people jumping over each other to take the bait.
Problem is that at this point BLou has become such a legend on this board so that ANYTHING he posts, good or bad, is going to start an immediate firestorm.
As has already been noted, people constantly invoke his name even when he’s not on.
I used to laugh at the song and dance but at this point it’s starting to get seriously boring.
debbie downer
Ya, Blou seems very knowlegeable about the team. But seriously seems to expect the worst possible scenario whenever something bad happens. I mean we win 2 to start and than lose one game primarily due to a pitcher we all knew sucked and are not counting on for anything. now all of a sudden we are a 90 loss team. w/o Silva and Guzman we are fine. Silva is not Zambrano, Guzman is not Marmol. we will not be lost without either.
by ronniewoowoo2 on Mar 7, 2010 8:55 PM CST up reply actions
oh, pish tosh
according to BLou, we were a 90 loss team three weeks ago. And three months ago. And last year.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 10:38 PM CST up reply actions
I wouldn't be surprised if BLou pulled out his abacus to discover...
…we would only win 40 games.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
that's awfully
glass 1/4 full of you. Stop drinking the koolade!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 10:47 PM CST up reply actions
LOL @ abacus
Who knew BLou was a closet sabermetrician?
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
Dude it's day 3
Just go away already…Silva is part of the roster and has every right to prove the team wrong. He didn’t…and just your like your pessimism for the team; both are very annoying.
I don’t think anyone believes he’ll be starting or even throwing in the bullpen come April.
Great logic there
Silva sucks, is doubtful to have a role in April…yet its hunky dory to piss away valuable spring training mound time on him.
And people wonder why this franchise is on a 102 year losing streak.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
As I said its day 3
If he’s pitching on Day 23 and significantly taking away time from other players, then there’s a problem.
Disagree 100%
Fact is the Cubs have two open spots in the rotation and multiple job openings in the bullpen that have to be FIGURED OUT by April 1st. There isn’t time to piss up a rope on the great Carlos Silva experiment.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Exactly
And they needed to see if Silva could pitch well and he didn’t. End of discussion. You can only hope people like Sean Marshall have a better day on the mound.
Huh?
They needed to see if Silva could pitch well?!?! When the verdict of 99.9% of baseball experts around the planet had already decisively concluded that Carlos Silva is awful and useless?!?!?
I don’t want Larry Rothschild wasting time on Silva. I don’t want the tired and disinterested wasting his preciously limited lucid moments on Silva. There is a MOUNTAIN of work to do to break camp with a serviceable pitching staff without wasting a single solitary moment on Silva.
THe only reason Silva is here is because he was the shit sandwich Genius Jim hat to eat in order to dump Milton Bradley.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
The cubs would be heavily criticized
If they didn’t give him an opportunity to pitch in ST considering his hefty contract. If this was a Spring Invitee then that would be different.
by who?
Silva and his agent?
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Mar 7, 2010 5:10 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I would figure throughout baseball
You see Cubs luck, they release Silva without even giving him an opportunity to pitch in ST. Then another team signed him to a minor league deal. All of the sudden Carlos Silva turns his performance around and becomes an amazing pitcher.
I know how unlikely the scenario is but that would be the Cubs luck.
But if he's doubtful to have a role in April...
then why make a fanpost about it. Everyone… EVERYONE knows that he won’t make a difference on our team. Professionals, amateurs, everyone. You’re the only one predicting 90 losses.
Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field? - Jim Bouton
I agree on one thing.
is doubtful to have a role in April
Today sealed it, IMO.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 4:09 PM CST up reply actions
I just don't think you can say that when dealing with Jim and Lou
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Hey, if he never gets any outs, no game time is wasted!
I am not worried about the resources or coaching time that’s being spent on the guy – I’m sure that the Cubs have enough ST mounds where everyone’s getting their required practice in.
I just hate that the team would even consider keeping him. They should have cut him immediately after the trade, and made a big deal about the $6M they saved. Some reclamation projects aren’t worth reclaiming.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 6, 2010 4:09 PM CST up reply actions
Correct.
See Aaron Miles and MB and Heilman and Gregg last year.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 4:10 PM CST up reply actions
well, if you agree with that, then I don't know how you can claim that today sealed
the deal on Silva not being on the team in April? Jim and Lou are sort of notorious for giving bad players FAAAR too much rope
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
he pitched
two innings in the third game. Who, exactly, would have benefited from those two innings SO MUCH that Silva shouldn’t have taken them?
Silva is what he is. No one should be surprised at this. Honestly, I’m a little more unhappy about Cashner’s performance, but as Jim Hendry said, it’s early, and you give these players time, especially at the beginning of spring training.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 6, 2010 5:06 PM CST up reply actions
Pound sand.
Come visit me inside Wrigley along the Addison side mezzanine fence straight up from 1st base.
by section229beer on Mar 6, 2010 4:16 PM CST up reply actions
So, what do you guys think of our new president?
Come visit me inside Wrigley along the Addison side mezzanine fence straight up from 1st base.
................
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Mar 6, 2010 4:52 PM CST reply actions 5 recs
BLou....In Case There Was Any Doubt.
First, what was Lou Piniella supposed to say? “Well Carlos look like shit. He’s real fat, and just sucks at pitching?” Yeah, that would instill confidence in him. Lou Piniella does not owe anyone but the Cubs organization the truth. If you think he cares that fans think he’s a bold face liar then you are dumb as a bag of used hammers.
Second, you must have zero business knowledge. Put it this way, say you have a pile of shit car, and someone offers you their pile of shit, for yours. However you still are going to owe a pretty penny on the car. Do you kick the tires and see for yourself if anything is left or do you just roll it off a cliff without even opening the hood? No one here thought he would be anything worth hanging on to, but its just bad business to say, as you would say, “Carlos, go pound sand.”
As far as Kool Aid Patrol, to an extent we agree. I’m not penciling the Cubs into October but 90 loses seems unlikely. Look at the grease fire that was last year and they still won 83 games. Barring injury there is no way they lose 90 games. I do agree that you get attacked for giving your opinion. However most times your opinions are bold statements that go against hard fact and when presented with the facts, you shrink away. There is nothing wrong with saying they’re going to suck. That is your opinion and you’re welcome to it. But don’t forget you’re the first one to make outlandish comments and categorize people with your fancy name calling.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
by TCobb1911 on Mar 6, 2010 4:58 PM CST reply actions 9 recs
Take that car analogy a bit further.
It’s more like, you had a pile of crap car, and someone traded you their pile of crap car AND $4000.
Both of the lousy cars were way too expensive, and while your old car ran poorly and used too much gas & oil, the expensive car you traded for was completely unsafe and could potentially kill you. Like a Pinto with a leaky gas tank.
On the plus side, you used your $4000 to pick up a bargain used car. Nothing too special, but it gets you to work, anyway.
Are you still going to drive the expensive, potentially dangerous car? Probably not. Your car needs are taken care of, and you’re never getting the money back from the expensive car you bought and traded away, no matter what you do.
The best course of action for the Cubs would have been to shop Silva around, trying to ditch ANY of his contract – even a couple hundred K – and when you found no takers, to release him immediately.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 6, 2010 5:44 PM CST up reply actions
That is just foolish.
There is no way that Silva can kill the Cubs auditioning in ST games. There is about a .01% change he has serviceable innings in him, but outright releasing him before giving him some innings is ridiculous.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
The more I think of it,
If you’re going to outright release a guy, you might as well see if you catch lightening in a bottle and see if he throws well for a few games in ST, then hope to get anything worth any value in a trade for a desperate club. It’s like a garage sale… most of the time you’re going to wind up throwing stuff away but why not see if there’s a taker?
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
certainly
two innings on day 3 of spring training isn’t going to hurt anything. It’s not like Carlos Silva is ACTUALLY going to explode.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 6, 2010 8:30 PM CST up reply actions
sure
but there will be very little shrapnel.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 6, 2010 8:52 PM CST up reply actions
there will be lots of shrapnel
bloody, gross shrapnel
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Blood on the walls incommoting the passers-by!
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
This
Still pisses me off. Meaning Silva getting a chance to prove his naysayers wrong instead comes to his new team out of shape. Badly out of shape, Is it too mmuch to ask someone who is paid millions to be an athelte to be in shape? I would actually go as far as to say that showing up out of shape is grounds for release without pay. Something needs to be done about having guaranteed money being doled out when a player does not even attempt to put themselves into game shape.
by ronniewoowoo2 on Mar 7, 2010 9:15 PM CST up reply actions
Its called the NFL
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
Obviously. But putting him on the 25-man roster would be a giant mistake.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 6, 2010 9:04 PM CST up reply actions
and one I have every confidence Jim and Lou will make
People who think this poor outing will somehow convince the wonder twins that he shouldn’t be on the roster are in denial. Miles continued getting plate appearances despite the fact that he was awful.
Gregg held the closer’s job for MONTHS after it was obvious he was horribly ineffective.
Soriano continued to play despite a mountain of evidence that he was hurt.
Heilman………he was Heilman all season long.
Hell fontenot kept getting significant playing time despite being awful from the word go.
Why exactly are things going to be different with Silva? I hope I’m wrong, but I have no reason to believe Silva won’t be on the roster come opening day
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
If that's the case, it's only because the Cubs don't want to eat a substantial amount of money.
At the very least, it’s worth seeing a couple more spring starts.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
It's silly to try to avoid "wasting" money you've already spent.
Keeping Silva on the team in the vain hope that we won’t be wasting the money we gave Bradley last year is kind of hilarious in its illogic.
This is actually a pitch-perfect description of the disposition effect. Going to ridiculous lengths to avoid realizing losses.
http://disposition-effect.behaviouralfinance.net/
The money they gave Bradley is gone. It’s time to swallow pride, and do the right thing. If it makes everyone feel better, let’s all pretend that we massively overpaid Byrd for the next 2 years. At least he’s not likely to cost the team games.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 8:28 AM CST up reply actions
What is worth seeing?
If Silva suddenly turns into a good pitcher? If the guy had a horrible rookie year, and this was his second or third year, waiting to see what he does over a few starts would make sense.
However, this guy is a veteran, who even in his ‘good’ year was far from really good, showed up to camp looking like a bloated tomatoe, and unsurprisingly got ROCKED in his spring start.
Look, I knew the guy was going to be awful the minute we acquired him. I was still in favor of the trade because it got rid of a cancer, and we actually got some money back. But that should have been the end of our endeavors with this guy. Jim should have announced that the Milton Bradley signing was a horrible decision, that he did what he could to get it fixed, and that Silva was being put on waivers.
This “let’s see if he can contribute anything” approach is just silly. We already know he can’t. Larry R is not the pitching coach genius a handful of other clubs have that can turn a bad pitcher into a serviceable one.
If Silva had even shown up in good shape, I’d be willing to suspend my disbelief and hope for the best, but he seems to WANT to antagonize the teams he plays for.
It’s time to cut the losses and end this charade. While I’m not exactly thrilled with the situation Jim has gotten us in where a majority of our pitching staff is guys who haven’t come close to proving they belong on a major league roster, I would rather give yet another spot to a kid who has proven nothing, rather than this guy, who has proven he doesn’t belong. Not based on his spring start, that was simply MORE proof.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
This "let’s see if he can contribute anything" approach is just silly. We already know he can’t.
And you have reached this conclusion from two spring training innings? I wouldn’t hire you as a pitching coach or manager.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Exactly.
You can have your links to the disposition effect, or the butterfly effect for all I care. What’s silly are the people that actually wanna throw the guy to the trash and not even look at him! There is a word for that: DUMB. Sure, he probably can’t contribute anything, but why in the world wouldn’t you give him a few meaningless innings just to check? I just can’t understand the stupidity of releasing a guy without taking a look. If you’re going to release a guy you might as well just give him a shot; even if he does suck really bad.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
Keeping him around in ST is fine. Adding him to the 25 man would/will be a mistake.
As I’ve said throughout this thread, the Cubs have enough resources to make sure everyone gets their throws in during ST practice. And since Silva isn’t really getting anyone out, he’s not taking up any valuable game time, either.
That said, to paraphrase our former Gov, a spot on the 25-man is a f***ing valuable thing. You don’t just give that away. And if there is anyone else inside or outside of this organization who can outperform Silva - and there IS -, then you cannot keep Silva around just b/c he’s making $10M. That money is being spent no matter what. Go with the best pitcher in that precious roster spot.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 1:32 PM CST up reply actions
any chance that philosophy extends to the outfield? ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I'm not ready to give up on Soriano yet.
There’s at least a possibility that he could be a star again. Even if that doesn’t happen, he’s probably going to be a better power bat than whoever else could take that last spot on the bench….
Maybe in 2-3 years, we’ll revisit that possibility. Maybe not. But Silva has a much longer track record of unbroken awfulness, and a much more palatable sunk cost.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 1:51 PM CST up reply actions
"I wouldn’t hire you as a pitching coach or manager."
Neither would anyone else, which is why I’m spending my time as an armchair manager the same as you. Was that supposed to shoot me down? I wouldn’t hire you for those positions either.
As I have now said many….many times, I reached that conclusion by looking at what he’s done over most of his career, seeing that he showed up to camp fat and out of shape, and by not believing in the magic of the Cubs jersey to turn a crappy player into a good one.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Mar 7, 2010 11:20 AM CST up reply actions
Again, I do not believe two spring training innings can help anyone arrive at that conclusion.
Now, if he did that again in his next 2-3 starts, I’d agree with you.
You know, sample size and all.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Again, I'm not judging his level of crappiness based on 2 innings of spring
I’m basing it on the fact that…….he’s crappy
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Back up your position with facts or an argument.
So far, all you’ve said is “he’s crappy”.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I can do it
60-64 with a 4.72 ERA, a 1.409 WHIP, and a 92 ERA+. I don’t think anyone will go out and say Silva is a good pitcher. 2009 Rich Harden was good. Carlos Silva’s career speaks for itself.
Now I don’t think that’s a reason to immediately throw Silva under the bus. We have him, so why not see what he has in ST games? These games don’t impact the race for the NL Central, so it can’t hurt to throw him out there in a ST start to see what he has. What we’ve seen in one game isn’t great and while I’ve made the “great trade” remark with disdain, I’m not in a hurry to say we should have kept Milton Bradley.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
are you kidding me?
I mean are you freaking kidding me? Look at his stats for god’s sake Al. Cmon man, i know you have the spring training blinders on, but get serious.
If he was on any other team you’d readily admit he was not a good pitcher.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
He has not been good the last two years.
Is it likely he’ll be any good this year? No, it’s not.
But I will not make a final pronouncement after two spring training innings.
Ask me again after 2-3 more appearances.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
my thoughts exactly
he can sink or swim, and its up to him now
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
To cite a recent example, what if he was Russ Ortiz?
Ortiz was better than Silva, back when they were “good”. But you were pretty sure last year that Ortiz was done – even at this point – and you were right.
What would be your reaction if he were invited to ST? Even last year?
Let’s all just hope that someone is willing to take Silva for the MLB minimum. That would be $400K in the Cubs’ pockets. However, I fear that he’s going to make the squad, because the team will fall victim to the logic fallacy I discussed earlier. He has no business being on this squad – I’d much prefer Pedro Martinez, to cite one example.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 7:52 PM CST up reply actions
Ortiz also got at least a chance.
True, when he sucked during the season the D’backs finally just released him and ate $22 million (about what the Cubs would have to eat).
They may eventually have to do this. I do not see the harm in letting him pitch in spring training games, though.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I can agree with that.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 8, 2010 7:54 AM CST up reply actions
I can agree with that, too
I think the earth just stopped spinning on its axis.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 8, 2010 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
That sounds reasonable.
I don’t think it’s good to write him off after one bad start.
Does anyone remember Greg Maddux from 2004?
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 8, 2010 1:02 PM CST up reply actions
the whole just cut him approach
is not only silly, but bad business. it is also easy to say that from ones couch, when you are not the one having to explain to Ricketts why they are cutting checks to someone who (might) be producing elsewhere.
if we want to make moves based on two ST innings, there are a lot of Cubs who would be gone, and some would put BCB up in arms over their release.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 7, 2010 1:10 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Certainly see what happens during ST.
But he really shouldn’t be starting games, and he definitely shouldn’t be on the 25-man roster under any circumstances.
The goal at this point should be to try to showcase him for a “trade”, in which we give and get a PTBNL and the other team agrees to pay Silva the minimum. A penny saved is a penny earned.
Teams in the Cubs position should not be fooling around with the possibility of keeping Silva on the MLB roster. He’s terrible, his salary is a sunk cost, and the Cubs have better options, period.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 2:18 PM CST up reply actions
the point of "see what happens during ST"
is suppose to have an affect on whether or not he’s on the 25 man roster. Otherwise, what’s the point?
I’ve got no problem with giving Silva more time to figure things out. If he does, then you DO put him on the 25 man roster. But you don’t make that decision now.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 5:28 PM CST up reply actions
It's funny, despite the fact that I've said over and over
that I’m not basing it on two spring training innings, that keeps being brought up as the argument.
He shouldn’t be on the 25 man roster because he’s not a good pitcher, and yes his first spring outing underline that point, but it is not the ONLY evidence that he’s a crappy pitcher
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
have I once said he should be in the 25 man roster?
NO I HAVE NOT….
letting him play himself into either making the team or not is what ST is about, so why all the fuss? Not one person who has said to let him throw some in ST have suggested he will be a 20 game winner, we are just saying he deserves to throw in ST and we shall see what happens
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Don't worry, man..
I hear what you’re saying. Lost in all this is the fact that it’s simply shameless of Silva to show up for camp this out of shape, especially after his injury last season.
He looked bad yesterday. Bad in winter ball. Bad last season. Bad the season before. At his best Silva was OK, and that was some time ago. I can appreciate the Cub at least having wanted to give him a couple of starts in Spring Training to see if he could at least sub for Lilly for a few weeks. But given how bad he looked yesterday, after showing up for camp looking like Fat Bastard, his highest and best use right now is probably to just cut him, and use it to start sending the message that the team is serious about winning this year.
by Damen Jackson on Mar 7, 2010 2:45 PM CST up reply actions
Completely agree...
…and is similar to those saying the Cubs should just release Bradley last year.
With the dough he is guaranteed, Silva is going to get plenty of chances to show whether he is at least mediocre, and I’ll stick to my earlier prediction that he does fairly well the first couple months of the season.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
everyone who wants to just cut people and eat MILLIONS of dollars
say so, since it is not their money. if they were the one paying the cash, i bet it would be different
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
well, the Cubs are going to "eat" those millions of dollars regardless
…seeing as how they have to pay Silva no matter what (unless Hendry somehow pulls off another miracle trade).
The real question here is… are the Cubs willing to spend at least another $400K (i.e. the MLB minimum) to take Silva’s spot on the 25 man roster? For those of us wanting to cut Silva right now, that’s essentially what we’re asking the Cubs to do – spend another $400K to make the team better.
Granted, the point you raised still applies since we’re still talking about someone else’s money, but the magnitude of $cale is a lot less.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I am all in favor of giving Silva more ST playing time
but I expect the $400,000 is gone anyway. I don’t think he makes the team out of ST so someone gets that spot.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 3:08 PM CST up reply actions
agreed 100%
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
we're eating the millions no matter what.
I’d rather eat that money then have him contributing to losses
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
ST loses mean nothing
so no harm in throwing a few more innings in ST
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Yes but the more chances he gets in spring training
the more worried I become that Jim and Lou are actually going to keep him on the roster
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Green'ed
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 9:17 PM CST up reply actions
rec'd
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Green'ed.
Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.
Hey! That's my line!
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 11:06 PM CST up reply actions
No
Your line is “Jabooty” who doesn’t even know the name of the team he’s rooting for telling the world that the oddness of being both a Packers fan and Cubs fan is okay. Thank goodness you included a couple carriage returns to make it longer.
Go away, troll.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 11:18 PM CST up reply actions
ol Pete has his moments.
I like the views of others, but he does have his troll’ish times. Ignore him when he’s annoying, engage him when he’s got something interesting to say.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
Most of the time, he has interesting things to add to the conversation.
However, his above comment was not one of those things.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 11:39 PM CST up reply actions
His Comment Was So Smartass...
It actually cracked me up….I shouldn’t admit that in public.
"...but you the living, you're stuck here with the Cubs. So it is ME who feels sorry for you." - Steve Goodman, "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request"
Yeah
the real name of the team is Packer and your silly sig file doesn’t add a couple carriage returns to be longer. That’s trolling.
Why don’t you post your broken record picture in this thread?
Really?
So baiting Cubs fans on a Cubs blog is not trolling?
Go to Urban Dictionary, and look up the word. If you can, obviously … it may be too advanced for someone like you.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 7, 2010 1:13 PM CST up reply actions
Any response on that sales tax?
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 1:58 PM CST up reply actions
LMAO
you know he wont
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Yeah, pretty much.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 2:04 PM CST up reply actions
Did you seriously expect otherwise?
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 7, 2010 10:30 PM CST up reply actions
Any response on that sales tax?
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 1:58 PM CST up reply actions
Wow, I missed this bit earlier
the oddness of being both a Packers fan and Cubs fan
Gee, and you told me you werent xenophobic. Gosh, were you lying?
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 8:38 PM CST up reply actions
Remember to include Doggie Stalker and Clutch16 in that group too.
So I know I’m not alone here.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 7, 2010 10:30 PM CST up reply actions
Yes I'm in.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 11:47 PM CST up reply actions
I'm in too, you know that.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 8:19 AM CST up reply actions
TWHS.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 10:06 AM CST up reply actions
Touche
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 10:10 AM CST up reply actions
Tushie.
Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.
Gooshie
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 8:21 PM CST up reply actions
I actually know that show. Bushie. Politics END.
Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.
Douchy
Ok, sorry everyone . . . I’m out.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 8:28 PM CST up reply actions
Twas mine first. But whatever.
Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.
Whose line is it anyway?
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 8, 2010 8:14 PM CST up reply actions
Too much moose?
Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 8:21 PM CST up reply actions
Carlos Silva, quite simply, is human batting practice
we really dont need a fanpost to realize that, cap’n
SIlva's "physique" makes Mickey Lolich (in his prime) look svelte. More donuts, please!
Actually what I found funny was Lou reading the media guide in the dugout; flipping pages to try and get some background on the new guys and farmhands.
(Thought balloon over Lou’s head) “Who the hell is THIS guy?”
Yawning while he was reading was amusing too…
"Look, what do you want me to do?"
"Who the hell is THIS guy?"
“thats kennard, lou”
“its this kids lucky day”
by jesus christos on Mar 6, 2010 5:23 PM CST up reply actions
That's our manager
I wish I could find that level of incompetence funny
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
"In case there was any doubt"
Um I don’t suppose BLou sees the irony in that headline. Let’s see just replace Silva with….. oh that ’s a hard one.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
Pitching staff = 75 wins max
Rotation….Zambrano, Dempster, Wells, and probably Gorzelanny and Samardizija
Pen….Marmol, Grabow, Marshall and probably Cashner (a terrible idea to ram him into the bullpen), Caridad, Silva, Stevens
Sorry folks, but that is BAD. The Cubs are banking HUGELY on Randy Wells being legit, Ted Lilly returning effective (and soon), Carlos Marmol returning to form AND being able to serve as closer, Tom Gorzelanny to be “serviceable,” and at least two of the “kids” stepping up huge. Not to mention immaculate health from this remaining group. That is WAY too much to ask to happen over a 162 game season.
And as Cub fans amply know, a bad bullpen invariably ends up sabotaging the starting pitching by June. Hence where the infamous June Swoon has its origin in Chicago.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
there's this guy
perhaps you have forgotten him… Goes by the name of Ted “Theodore” Lilly. Pitched more innings than Zambrano did last year. He’s a couple weeks behind, but he’s still scheduled to return in the middle of April.
What’s it feel like to give up on your team a month before the regular season STARTS?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 6, 2010 5:42 PM CST up reply actions
He gave up on the Cubs in 2007 at the latest.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 6, 2010 5:45 PM CST up reply actions
actually he mentioned Lilly
and even the Cubs brass isn’t expecting Lilly back until May 1st. Great if he does come back then. But as Blou said, you’re still banking on him returning effectively. Let’s say he does take until May 1st to get back.
It’s a safe bet that he won’t be all the way back by then, so it’s going to take a start, or two, or three to get back into shape. So now you’re missing a pitcher that was arguably your best man for the first month and a half of the season, for a team that desperately needs to get off to a good start. Just sayin, you more than make up for his blind pessimism with your blind optimism
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
He "mentioned" Lilly
but then basically dismissed him. It is one thing to know Lilly won’t be back for a few weeks and might take a few starts to get up to speed, but something else to assume he will be bad ALL year which is what BLou is saying. He also assumes
Randy Wells is a one year wonder, Marmol will be a bad closer and Sean Marshall is not even a factor in the rotation.
It is one thing to be realistic or even pessimistic, but another to assume EVERYTHING will go wrong.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 9:02 AM CST up reply actions
You inferred an awful lot from his post
The Cubs ARE banking on a lot of unknowns and whatifs. And further more, if someone you liked had made that post, you’re smart enough that you would have agreed with it.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Mar 7, 2010 10:37 AM CST up reply actions
I would agreed with writing off Lilly?
Not a chance. I think most people here know me well enough to know I speak my mind REGARDLESS of who is posting. Thanks, but I am not DUMB enough to agree with someone who thinks Lilly will not be a factor, Wells is one year wonder and the Cubs will win 75 games. It could happen if as BLou expects everything goes wrong, but I don’t think one has to be Pollyanna to think , things might go a bit better and a guy who has been the Cubs most reliable pitcher might do OK this year.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 12:40 PM CST up reply actions
well, first of all you and I read that differently
I simply read it as Lilly won’t be effective SOON, because he won’t be back until at least May. I didn’t read it as saying he wouldn’t be effective all season.
As far as the rest of what he said, he may have put it obnoxiously, but I don’t disagree with what he said. Wells could very well be a one year wonder, Marmol may be bad in a full season as the closer, Gorz could still be awful. (He’s had more bad seasons than good ones) I’m not comfortable with this pitching staff, and have a bad feeling it’s going to be a big problem
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
No BLou was assuming Lilly would be a non factor in the season
Remenber pitching staff is Z, Dempster & Wells and that according to him equals 75 wins. He is not counting on Lilly for ANYTHING. Wells was consistant for nearly an entire season and does not have the type of pitching style that burns out so I see no reason to think he is going to drop off a cliff. BLou basically hates Z and Dempster as well. That is what I call not being realistic. Just as there is a huge difference between winning 83 games and winning 89 games, there is also a huge difference between winning 75 and winning 81. Some folks may be optimistic but BLou is and always will be expecting the worst of nearly every Cub player.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 11:54 PM CST up reply actions
Everyone banks on unknowns and what ifs
It’s called a 162-game season. I’m not dismissing what you’re saying, but the Cubs aren’t the only team that deals with injuries.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I agree...
…and the way it usually works is you have a player or two surprise you in a positive way and the samething happens on the negative side of things.
There is no question the Cubs have a lot of ??? that could go either way, and you just hope you have more good than bad.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
that's NOT
what the Cubs are expecting — they expect him back by mid April, per Hendry during the game yesterday. And even if he isn’t back till April 30, the team doesn’t need a fifth starter for most of the month.
So until you get your facts straight, you’ll have to forgive me for not agreeing with your “analysis”.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 9:12 AM CST up reply actions
Well, then Jim and Lou have to get their stories straight.
Hendry may have said mid-April, but Lou said May 1. So who’s right?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I don’t know. I don’t really think it matters. If he’s back in the middle of April, then great. If it’s the beginning of May, that’s probably going to be fine as well.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 9:29 AM CST up reply actions
Your blind optimism is in mid-season form Drew
You don’t even need spring training
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
it's funny
because you’ve decided after two innings that Silva is terrible, Lilly is never coming back, and Lou is incompetent, while I’m the one who is saying “let’s see what happens”… and I’M the one who is blind.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 10:08 AM CST up reply actions
Being "objective" always seems to depend on whether you agree with me or not.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 7, 2010 10:13 AM CST up reply actions
oh please. I'll admit I'm biased on certain issues
but Drew is far from the picture of objectivity when it comes to the Cubs. And you’ve been on here long enough to know that
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Mar 7, 2010 10:41 AM CST up reply actions
That comment was meant for Drew, not for you and I was being sarcastic. We all
know that Drew is the biggest homer on this blog, but that’s OK with me. I think his assessment is much closer to reality than BLou.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 7, 2010 6:58 PM CST up reply actions
No, I've decided after many years that Silva is terrible
And have said before it has nothing to do with these two innings. I simply don’t magically expect him to be better because he put on the Cubs uniform.,
I CLEARLY said that Lilly might not be back to his top form until Mid-May (I guess that’s never in your world) and I’ve thought Lou was incompetent for quite a few years.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Mar 7, 2010 10:40 AM CST up reply actions
no one is expecting him to be magically better. But you cannot TELL if he’s better without giving him a chance to play in MEANINGLESS GAMES.
You’ve got no evidence to suggest Lilly won’t be back in top form.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 5:32 PM CST up reply actions
other than the fact that almost no pitcher returns from an injury
and is at the top of their game their first time out. No, I have no evidence.
If you actually read what I said, I didn’t say he wouldn’t be back to top form at some time next season, simply that it will most likely take him a few starts to get there. Depending on when he comes back in the first place, that could be a problem.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
there has been an entire off-season, remember. It’s not like he was on the DL and then came back in the middle of the season.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 6:39 PM CST up reply actions
And he's still not healthy
I don’t even know what your point is there. Because there was an offseason, he’ll be at the top of his game when he finally returns from the injury? There’s still going to be rust, there’s still going to be the fact that he hasn’t faced live major league batters for a while.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
except
he was completely on track to return early, and then he got a completely unrelated bout of flu or something. It’s not like his rehab isn’t working, or he’s torn something in his elbow or shoulder. Dood got a bad cold, it set him a few days back.
There’s still going to be rust, there’s still going to be the fact that he hasn’t faced live major league batters for a while.
That’s the case for EVERY pitcher.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 10:40 PM CST up reply actions
the glass is half empty crowd
believes it is just being realistic, while the glass is half full crowd, therefore, must be blue kool-aid drinking optimists.
Both sides are on display here. People (like drew) gushing over Colvin’s hitting in the first couple of games is pretty funny. The kid has not played a game above AA. But equally amusing are the people who write the team or individual players off after a couple of games. Both are equally nonsensical.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 7, 2010 10:47 AM CST up reply actions
not true
you can say that me writing Silva off already is nonsensical, but it’s not equally nonsensical to thinking Colvin will be the real deal based on him adding muscle and getting good hits in three games this spring.
I’m backing up my assertions that Silva sucks with proof from prior seasons. Unfortunately, despite the fact that they called Colvin up, Lou refused to play him in September, and therefore we don’t know anything about how Colvin will do beyond these games.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Mar 7, 2010 11:23 AM CST up reply actions
2009 was the first full season colvin played in after TJS
no need in overworking him
by jesus christos on Mar 7, 2010 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
That's a fine argument
I don’t understand why they called him up at all if that’s the case, but whatever.
The point still stands that we have very little idea of what kind of player Colvin is. We have plenty of evidence to suggest what kind of player Silva is.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Mar 7, 2010 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
he was needed because fuld was hurt, soriano was hurt, and bradley was suspended
by jesus christos on Mar 7, 2010 11:59 AM CST up reply actions
that's fine. again. the point is that we don't know what kind of player Colvin is
we DO know what kind of pitcher Silva is. Suddenly putting on Cubs jersey stands very little chance of changing that.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
how many were against signing Edmonds in 2008?
saying similar things.
only one way to know what anyone can or cannot do. that is give them the ball and see what happens. ST numbers and stats do not hurt thr regular season standings
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
I'm sure I missed Edmonds multi-year run as the worst player in baseball.
The situations aren’t even remotely analogous. Edmonds was making the league minimum, and was coming off one bad month. Silva is, as we all agree, coming off multiple years as the worst player in the entire league.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 2:32 PM CST up reply actions
Edmonds was said to be done
which is what many here are saying about SIlva.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Tim...
You’re comparing apple and small nuclear devices.
Edmonds was always ready to play, and would never had dreamed of showing up to camp in this kind of condition. And even when he wasn’t hitting, he still had some elements left to what had been a very good skillset.
I’m no big Edmonds fan, but I’m actually offended that you’d make that comparison.
by Damen Jackson on Mar 7, 2010 2:59 PM CST up reply actions
I am not saying they are the same
just that many were also against Edmonds, saying he was done. Giving Silva a chance now is not the end of the world (during ST)
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Why not invite Garth Brooks, too? The Padres did, right?
The reason is, because when you are a serious baseball team, you should be “giving chances” to serious baseball players.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 3:10 PM CST up reply actions
while cutting vets
with guaranteed millions of dollars. you are going to pay him, why not let him hang himself in ST. It is sensible business to let him play himself off the team.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 7, 2010 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
as I have posted before
glass half empty types like you always believe they are just being logical, when they are rarely any more logical than the blue kool-aid swillers.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 7, 2010 4:48 PM CST up reply actions
I dunno if I'm gushing over Colvin
but he looks good, and he’s hitting well. Just like with Carlos Silva, that means I’m willing to give him more time to see if he can hack it.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 5:31 PM CST up reply actions
If you blinked you would have
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 12:34 PM CST up reply actions
I decided he was terrible after the last 2 years. These 2 little innings of crap just confirmed it.
Still better to have him than Bradley….
I do think he should get a few more chances in ST. What does it really hurt?
Drew, since I didn't say that everything will be fine, no matter what
I fully expected you to not agree with my analysis.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Judging by how the Cubs...
…front office have communicated about injuries, I’m betting Lilly isn’t back until May.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
2012
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 2:14 PM CST up reply actions
before or after the world ends?
and John Cusack saves us all.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Hee Hee
The preview for that movie was hilarious…here California is breaking up into small chunks, but the dude is racing the giant crack to the airport and up into the sky. It is like the laws of physics were suspended to get some good footage! I plan to buy this on Blu-Ray just to laugh at the ridiculousness…
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is." -- Yogi Berra
Poseidon-ography!
Hmm… do I smell a disaster porn thread hijack?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Your clarifications are making me laugh today
Or at least smile :)
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 4:34 PM CST up reply actions
Oh, I understand
But amusing all the same…I think most know that you’re not looking for real disasters.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 4:40 PM CST up reply actions
you never know! or as I have found out recently....
you can never be too careful of what you say or how you say it, around here, lol.
….dont get me wrong tho, I love BCB.
Fair enough!
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 7:34 PM CST up reply actions
No, I've gotten myself in trouble trying to fix women before....
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 10:24 PM CST up reply actions
lol...I feel like I'm doing Theriot's double-clutch
probably not fixable…at least its not a bunny hop :)
Worth renting?
Independence Day is one of my guilty pleasures.
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
Ah . . . I wasn't actually referring to the movie
I haven’t seen it, and it got awful reviews (including in this thread). The trailers looked, well, silly.
OT: Been a long time since I’ve seen you around these parts.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 7:36 PM CST up reply actions
I know...
But sometimes movies are so bad or over the top they have this certain kind of charm…
Nice to be back Badger…..been dealing with lots of issues…but this site always perks me up.
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
Good to have you back
And I hope the issues are under control.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 1:28 PM CST up reply actions
I rented it, and as long as you know to expect massive destruction
and not much else it’s a fine “shut your brain off” movie
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
See, there he goes again
I guess BLou is an attention whore. And I’m just as guilty as giving it to him as anybody else.
But he’s an idiot who isn’t worth the effort. If I could only tell my fingers that.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 6, 2010 5:52 PM CST up reply actions
to be honest
i think this http://tiny.cc/7CpRf sums up a lot of peoples thoughts perfectly
by jesus christos on Mar 6, 2010 6:00 PM CST up reply actions
That comment you link to is just beautiful.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 6:43 PM CST up reply actions
It brought tears to my eyes
Nice link, jc.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 6, 2010 7:08 PM CST up reply actions
so now
he’s getting pwned in THREE sports blogs…
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 6, 2010 8:29 PM CST up reply actions
Want the same crowd?
A lot of the people here are also members of Windy City Gridiron.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 11:18 PM CST up reply actions
That should be the most rec'd post on sbnation
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I especially liked when hackerar tried addressing him with logic,
And BLou’s reply was “Pound sand up your A$$.”
We’ve seen that before, haven’t we?
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 7, 2010 10:40 PM CST up reply actions
Yes. Your compulsion to blast all things Cub and praise all things Brewer
Combined with a staunch refusal to address facts and/or questions that refute what you say.
By the way – do you think a 5-county sales tax to pay for Miller Park was appropriate to institute?
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 2:00 PM CST up reply actions
Yes.
You continuing to hang around on what is by definition a Chicago Cubs blog, despite the fact that you’re not a Chicago Cubs fan.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 7, 2010 10:33 PM CST up reply actions
It's too much, guys ... just use this handy guide.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 6:41 PM CST up reply actions
I can't believe anyone is actually talking about this like its news
Oh, it’s BLou.
My bad.
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we will go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
how is mom?
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Thanks for asking and thank GOD she was asleep when I called her to watch the game
I’d have hated her to have seen the debacle today.
Then again, she’s seen the Cubs crash and burn since the 50’s anyway!
She’s still in a hospital, but definitely out of danger and is rehabbing at a specialty wing for that in Hammond.
I spoke with her briefly this morning and she’s determined on getting out of that place and getting back home to her own apartment in a couple weeks or so. She’s able to get in and out of bed more or less on her own, feed herself, use the restroom, walk around. She’s going to need a lot of monitoring though .. she’s not out of the woods .. and sadly, dialysis 3 times a week.
When that happens, I will probably be heading back up to see her. Are you in Chicago?
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we will go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
As usual, nothing to see here.
Move along. Day 3 of Spring Training. Good Lord.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Mar 6, 2010 7:36 PM CST reply actions
It's never too early
to “Freak Out,” as Chic put it in the ’70s. Or to doom-and-gloom it up, as some Cubs fans put it in the ’10s.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just a lieutenant in the Pollyanna Patrol.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 6, 2010 7:46 PM CST up reply actions
Good idea
Carlos Silva can throw batting practice.
I don’t think it is such a big deal to give Silva chances to prove himself during spring training. The pitchers in camp will still get their time in.
The stats people have made their predictions. They are less than what we would like because there are too many question marks about key players being healthy. The predictions make sense even though they are not insightful. Rich Harden is the only injury-prone player not back this season and he wasn’t by any means the only key player who played through injuries last season.
+1
Brilliant. I think that all of these guys whose talent is gone (if it was ever there), but whose contracts go on and on should be forced to perform menial jobs on the club to get paid. Batting practice pitcher, it is!
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is." -- Yogi Berra
speaking as a ballhawk, I'd love it!!!
I’ve already made peace with the real possibility that Silva will never see the mound at Wrigley during a game so my chance at catching home runs diminishes greatly. Ahhh, but batting practice… that would be an acceptable alternative.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
You dream of the Cubs getting Gregg back
Admit it.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 1:59 PM CST up reply actions
and Trachsel and Howry and Rusch and yes, even Maddux...
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Maybe you can get Maddux to throw BP
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 3:09 PM CST up reply actions
I decided...
3-4 months ago never to respond to a BLou comment and that was it. I don’t understand why people complain and complain and still give him attention rather than just ignore him.
I don’t mind hearing pessimistic Cub views though. Some I agree with, some I don’t.
I can't help myself.
I made the same vow and didn’t stick to it. People, like myself, can’t complain about blou. He lives to get the attention. We give him what he wants. I’m still convinced he’s not actually a Cubs fan, rather a troll from some other team that LOVES to give Cubs fans crap.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
To be honest,
I’ve always believed him to be a Cardinals fan. Certainly, the number of anti-Cub, pro-Cardinal comments he has made over the past few years has given me that impression.
I guess I’m wrong in the sense that I almost always bite when he baits me. I wish I could tell my fingers/brain to not listen to him … so far, no success….
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 6, 2010 11:50 PM CST up reply actions
Pro-Brewers
Pro-Reds
Pro-Astros
About the only NL Central team he doesn’t root for (other than the Cubs, of course) is the Pirates.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 9:15 AM CST up reply actions
it's not a matter of complaining
BLou isn’t like a traditional troll — he doesn’t need attention. He just blathers on and on and on, and SOMEONE has to step up and show the flaws in his “logic” or people who might not know any better will be led astray.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 9:13 AM CST up reply actions
You're joking, right?
I am a long time reader of this blog… have been here since, well… since before the last blog, when most people were posting on Usenet. My postings have gotten far less frequent… almost non existent and the Blou stuff is a large part of it. The mentality that people have in regards to him is simply mind boggling. Yup, he’s probably whatever adjective any of his naysayers with to attribute to him… but the fact that people have allowed him to dominate the culture of this blog befuddles me.
Every time something negative is posted by someone not named Blou, someone has to evoke his name. Every time something good happens and its written about, someone bring up Blou as the guy who will come in and rain on the parade. Someone said it best… the mentality has become that of a bunch of middle school girls. To me, worse that Blou’s negativity and his inane treatment of others is how far too many people here evoke Blou’s name in the majority of threads here. To far too many, the opportunity to throw a jab seems to be more important than to post something productive here.
But beyond all that has become the groupthink that has permeated the blog, to the point where when someone posts something contrary, they’re a ledge jumper of a member of Blou’s Tribe. People here have made it about optimism and pessimism… as though when someone has concerns about a team that hasn’t won a Championship in over 100 years, they’re evil and not a real Cubs fan. Last year some of us had concerns about the Cubs offense very early on in the season and we were jumped on… yet those concerns continued over the course of the season and proved to be a big part of their downfall. Now, at the dawn of a new season, some people have concerns about the team, don’t think they’ll win 90 games, and like last season they’re being chastised.
I’ve respect a lot of the knowledge of this blog and have known Al for quite some time. I was watching games with him in the RF bleachers well before either of his blogs were around, enjoying days in the sun with a good friend of ours named Sid. I appreciate all the work that he’s done and am glad to see that this blog has seen such success. But I will say that there are things about this blog that has changed, and not for the better.
by dmlichte on Mar 7, 2010 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 9 recs
A lot of truth here
I actually prefer stopping by more in the off-season. Behavior gets worse once the games start.
thanks...
… wish I would have proofed it, but such is life. I’m not a “lets all be civil” kind of guy, but the infighting and pettiness really has led me away from here… not that anyone should care.
I care...not that anyone should care if I care....I think you are right about the optimism vs pessimism...
I love to read other poster’s thoughts on how they think the team could be/get better. People to tend to get passionate about the Cubs and may forget to be opened minded about other opinions. I think we just need to be reminded of this especilly when the season is in full swing. That is why a loss of such a poster as yourself is a “loss” for this blog. You seem to have an even keel outlook.
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 7, 2010 11:23 AM CST up reply actions
I can't agree with you more on the middle school comment
There is a certain amount of “clique-ness” that permeates discussions and detracts from them.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 2:03 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed. Definitely
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
the worst are the game threads
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 7, 2010 4:51 PM CST up reply actions
the game threads
either everyone is smiles, or part of the room turns and the other part takes the bait and it becomes WW3
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Recommended...
More so than I’ve recommended anything here before.
by Damen Jackson on Mar 7, 2010 1:25 PM CST up reply actions
MAKE IT GREEN!
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Green'ed
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 7, 2010 1:45 PM CST up reply actions
Still my word. ;)
Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.
Dan there is middle ground
between thinking the Cubs will win only 75 game and thinking they will win at least 90. Since I have season tickets and plan my summer at least around the Cubs, I tend to be on the overly optimistic side, but I don’t think anyone is going to accuse me of not seeing problems ( Soriano, Lou ,cough, cough). We need people like you to hang out here and keep us on our toes.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 2:08 PM CST up reply actions
I don't disagree...
… there are middle grounds and if someone came here and said that the Cubs were going to lose 100 games, I’d dismiss that. I guess the fact that you see 75 wins as an extreme is a sign of how much better things have gotten for the Cubs… having seen some truly horrid teams in the ‘80s and 90’s… in some of those years, 75 wins would have been wonderful. But I guess my point is that if someone truly believes that the Cubs are a bad team, a 75 win team, they shouldn’t immediately be dismissed and certainly shouldn’t be ostracized. What this forum should allow is the exchange of ideas and in instances of posters who clearly don’t want to engage in true discourse, they should be ignored. Instead those posters are brought up in every single thread or discussion. It just makes the blog unpleasant to read at times and places that could be filled with some real discussion instead are a landing ground for stupid jibes.
Oh I lived through those horrid teams too.
I think the issue with 75 wins prediction is that it pretty presumes everything goes wrong ( Lilly is out, Wells is bad,
Soriano & Soto are as bad as last year etc). I mean it sure could happen, but it is not all that likely. I don’t think it is that well reasoned a scenario and loses a lot of credibility when the poster adds on lots and lots of personal insults to both Cub players and management and fellow posters. There seems to be a consensus among outside stat folks that the Cubs are a mediocre team this year and are not likely to challenge the Cardinals. I don’t personally agree because it just goes against my silly emotions, but it is not some wild eyed theory. Again it is a question of degree and presentation. I do enjoy well reasoned arguments and discussions. When the season starts I hope we can have some.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 2:52 PM CST up reply actions
Very well said.
I can understand the passion that comes out on the board because we are dealing with folks that have invested emotionally in the Cubs and what that can do is cloud objectivity.
Certainly, some people are overly optimistic and a handful are on the other side. During a long season, people on both sides have moments they shine, but I think a lot of people miss the big picture in regards to the successs and failures of the Cubs.
Never a bad thing to take the occasional step back, and force a little objectivity into the equation.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
The upcoming season basically is a jump ball
If a lot of things go right, the Cubs could win 92-95 games. If a lot of things go wrong, they could win 80-82 games.
I think they’ll probably be someplace in the middle. Will that be enough to win the division? Who knows?
IIRC, everybody picked the Cubs to win the division in 2004 and 2009. Not sure many were picking them in 2003. Also not sure many were picking them to do as well as they did in 2008.
I don’t think predictions work very well in sports. Playing a game isn’t like flipping a coin or rolling dice. In those endeavors, there’s a near-certainty of certain results over time. In sports, the human element adds too many variables.
I see no basis for BLou’s 75-win prediction, considering last year was a train wreck and the Cubs still managed to win 83 games. I also see no basis for saying they’ll win 95, at least as the team is presently structured. But odds are good it won’t be structured that way all season.
I think the number of Debbie Downer Cubs fans outweighs the number of Pollyanna Cubs fans, which is part of why this fan base is the most neurotic in professional sports.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 3:15 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
i love the last sentence
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Your "worst case" is a higher win total than the experts' "most likely" scenario
If a lot of things go wrong, it could get very ugly very fast. No one saw 2006 coming, either.
Your “you people are so neurotic and I am the lone voice of reason in the wilderness” act is at least 50% of why this board is so intolerable all year.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 3:24 PM CST up reply actions
The so-called "experts" are saying the Cubs will win less than 80 games this year?
Who are these experts, BLou and you?
I don’t think you understood what I posted, which in your case is no surprise. Read it again, and have someone explain it to you.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 3:27 PM CST up reply actions
Actually,
I can’t find a baseball person or projection system yet that considers the Cubs better than .500 for 2010. CHONE and Pecota for starters, in case you really wanted to know.
BLou does seems to be in the extreme though…by about five games.
by Damen Jackson on Mar 7, 2010 3:31 PM CST up reply actions
CHONE, PECOTA, and so on.
And that was before the Angel Guzman injury.
“Read it again, and have someone explain it to you”. Hilarious. I’d suggest you take your own advice, read literally any experts opinion, and get back to me later, champ.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 3:48 PM CST up reply actions
The same experts who anointed the Cubs champs
in 2004 and 2009. And yes, the Angel Guzman injury will make all the difference in the world this year, just like the lack of your hero-god-patron saint made all the difference last year.
In a way, I guess you proved my point. The experts proclaimed the Cubs champs in 2009 and in 2004, and look what happened. But I guess since you think the Cubs’ natural state is to always be bad, that doesn’t count.
If baseball were played by computers in an office someplace, I’d give all the “experts” more credence, every time. Just like a casino, where the house always wins. So long as the game are being played outdoors, by real-live human beings, I’m not going to call a season over (good or bad) a month before it begins.
You really are a miserable human being, it appears.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:01 PM CST up reply actions 5 recs
Nicely said...
…in regards to just how meaningless these projections are to real life.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Never too early in the year for a strawman argument.
I never placed any credence behind, or made any value judgments about, any expert opinion.
I simply noted that you are substantially more optimistic than the experts.
“miserable human being.” Cripes, you are a loser.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 4:05 PM CST up reply actions
When it comes...
…to predicting how all major league teams will do each year, I’m not sure anyone would qualify as an “expert”.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I'll go with Nate Silver and the mathematicians over NBF and his unsourced gut feeling.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 4:20 PM CST up reply actions
Then why bother watching the games?
If it’s already predicted what will happen, go on to something else.
The stat geeks have their place, but too many fans rely solely on that.
When the stat geeks were declaring the Cubs division champs, were you crowing about that and declaring the season over?
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:22 PM CST up reply actions
You know exactly what I thought about the 2009 Cubs' chances.
We fought about that almost daily. You seemed to like the predictions when they were good – I said that the offense was flawed.
If you’re going to say that 80-85 wins is the absolute low end, though, you can at least acknowledge that you’re more optimistic than the statisticians and oddsmakers.
That’s all I posted in response to you, and that apparently makes me a miserable human. I suggest that you stop reading between the lines, and start reading what people actually write.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 4:27 PM CST up reply actions
Not the predictions
but the track records of the players they had.
I think I said 80-82 is the absolute low end, but whatever.
And I stand by my “miserable person” assessment. When you think my avatar is solely a response to you and you alone (it wasn’t, in any way, shape or form), that tells me a lot.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:33 PM CST up reply actions
I saw when you first got that avatar.
Hilarious.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 7, 2010 10:34 PM CST up reply actions
One of the other members of the site made it for me
I loved it immediately.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 8, 2010 12:06 AM CST up reply actions
See if he can add a halo or at least a glow.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 8, 2010 12:46 AM CST up reply actions
It does kind of glow
There’s a light descending from the heavens upon his head. I was hoping we could make some cash selling it to Cardinals fans, but no go.;)
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 8, 2010 1:24 AM CST up reply actions
Maybe Giants fans?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 8, 2010 1:38 AM CST up reply actions
I know who it was, he told me.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 8, 2010 1:35 AM CST up reply actions
Well, thanks for that...
(not) Bruce. First, you treat us to “If things go really good, the Cubs will be good, and if they go really bad, they’ll still be okay”. Then you give us the idea that BLou is part of some lunatic fringe that is in the discreet minority, then when presented with reputable projections – whose past successes have far outweighed their misses – that agree, you decry the projection business as irrelevant.
And while I’ll let D98 speak for himself, I’ve personally found him one of the more logical posters here recently. Calling him a miserable human being over a difference in opinion is really just too much.
by Damen Jackson on Mar 7, 2010 4:08 PM CST up reply actions
I don't know about you
but I don’t consider 80-82 wins OK, unless there was a massive extenuating circumstance (major injuries, etc.).
If you think the talent level on the Cubs is roughly equivalent to the talent level of the Royals or the Athletics, fine. I don’t think that’s the case. Unlike you and some others, I’ll wait until the games begin (and a lot of them are played) before making a judgment.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:12 PM CST up reply actions
Yet here you are...
a week into Spring Training games, not only sharing your opinions about the team’s prospects with anyone who will listen, but insulting anyone who disagrees.
Why don’t we all do the room a favor, take a couple of breaths, and dial it back a notch, okay?
by Damen Jackson on Mar 7, 2010 4:16 PM CST up reply actions
You'll "wait before making a judgment"
Literally 3 posts below your prediction about how the team will perform in 2010.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 4:17 PM CST up reply actions
Not really
84 wins sounds more realistic than 75 or 95. But we’re not going to know, or at least have a good idea, for quite a while, are we?
I guess unlike you and Darren, I’m not declaring the season over before it begins. Nor am I declaring a division championship before it begins.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:20 PM CST up reply actions
84 is also my prediction.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 4:24 PM CST up reply actions
Man predicts
And God laughs.
Nobody knows what the Cubs will do. (And something tells me that really isn’t your “prediction,” but I’ll take it at face value.)
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:28 PM CST up reply actions
Well,
First off, if you’re referring to me, it’s DAMEN. And we really don’t have to get into these strawmen talking points. I’ve never said anything like that, and I don’t think D98 has either.
Fact is, there are completely legitimate causes for concern with this club, and while I think BLou is a bit too extreme in sharing his views, he’s not a nut for having them, and I’d like to at least see those opinions respected. Those are my points.
by Damen Jackson on Mar 7, 2010 4:25 PM CST up reply actions
Sorry, Damen
I have old, bad eyes.
And yeah, BLou is a nut for having them.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:29 PM CST up reply actions
so only people who declare that this might be a bad season
are wrong, or should wait to make predictions? I’m confused by what internet rules you’ve chosen to enforce
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
Another gem of a post
They’re not declaring it MIGHT be a bad season, they’re doing it with certainty. Big difference.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 9:37 PM CST up reply actions
So many strawmen. You can't win an actual argument, you you make them up.
Who are the “THEY” who are saying, with certainty, that this will be a “bad season”?
I’ll give you all the time you need.
Or, in the alternative, you could admit that you are once again picking fights with strawmen and talking out of your ass.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
BLou for one
You are one bizarre dude, I’ll give you that.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 8, 2010 12:07 AM CST up reply actions
That's not a "They". He's also not a part of this particular discussion.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 8, 2010 7:56 AM CST up reply actions
No, because he isn't posting.
Who are the “they” you are referring to when saying
“They’re not declaring it MIGHT be a bad season, they’re doing it with certainty. Big difference.”
Is the “They” just BLou? Because that would be weird, considering that it’s a plural pronoun, and that you’re in a thread where you’re disagreeing with me and Damen and Nunyabidness, with no Blou in sight.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 8, 2010 1:39 PM CST up reply actions
I've got a word for you, Mr. Semanticist
Unfortunately, manners prevent me from repeating it here.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 8, 2010 1:42 PM CST up reply actions
That's stupid.
I’ll just note that you’re completely out of your element, and I’ll invite you to find one “overly negative” post from me about the 2010 Cubs.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 8, 2010 1:50 PM CST up reply actions
Ooh, burn.
Seriously, though, you shouldn’t start throwing punches when you don’t understand who you’re fighting.
For instance, I started much of the discussion in this thread above, where I point out that all of the fussing and fretting about BLou, even in his absence, is silly. Why turn one poster into some kind of boogeyman/super-poster for no reason at all? It only builds the guy up.
The post I’m most proud of in the last few months was in response to BLou’s pessimistic view of our farm system where I posited that Hak-Ju Lee was a “Chin-Hu Lung clone.” Maybe it was too subtle, I guess.
As an aside, a word of advice to someone who seems to be new to the site (unless you just have a new handle) — message board posting isn’t a sporting event, we don’t have “teams”, no one is keeping score, and the place doesn’t need any more members of these silly cliques.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 8, 2010 2:12 PM CST up reply actions
Really? That's your takeaway from my post?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 8, 2010 2:23 PM CST up reply actions
Is it "uncle"?
You got called out for exaggerating in an internet argument and overstating what your “opponent” actually said.
It’s not a big deal, unless you spend the next 2 days spinning and obfuscating.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 8, 2010 1:52 PM CST up reply actions
"Uncle" only in the sense of trying to reason with you
It just isn’t worth playing rhetorical games with people who specialize in circular arguments.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 8, 2010 1:54 PM CST up reply actions
That word... it does not mean what you think it means.
“Circular argument.” Whatever.
Just another strawman in an unbroken line.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 8, 2010 2:22 PM CST up reply actions
Actually, it's two words
Just giving you a taste of your own medicine. I hope you choke on it.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 9, 2010 3:13 AM CST up reply actions
so only pessimists like you are realists?
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 7:50 AM CST up reply actions
To me...
…these computer projections are not unlike the 10 day weather forecasts you see that are based on “computer models”.
The problem is, the computer is basing what will happen in 10 days on a whole bunch of variables that have to fall in place to make the weather on that 10th day come true. The farther out they try and forecast, the less reliable it is, because a boatload of things can happen that weren’t fed into the computer.
This Pecota stuff to me is like one of those 10 day forecasts.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Mar 7, 2010 4:18 PM CST up reply actions 7 recs
Thanks...
…and I’d love to see Pecota update their projections for each team at the halfway point, and then we can see how much they change from their original dart throwing.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
That would be cool
to see. I have no idea if they already do it.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:29 PM CST up reply actions
Something tells me...
….it would be too humbing for them.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
by MPH73 on Mar 7, 2010 4:30 PM CST up reply actions 4 recs
Rec'd again.
I’ll be accused of being “anti-stat” and “anti-science” for saying that, but I’m in agreement: spreadsheets don’t tell the whole story. A useful tool? Yes. But on April 5, the Cubs start playing for real, and that’s what really counts.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Absolutely, Al
There is a place for spreadsheets, etc. They aren’t the Alpha and Omega.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 5:02 PM CST up reply actions
Well, they do. So it's not too humbling.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 6:44 PM CST up reply actions
They update their predictions constantly throughout the season.
And throughout the offseason, for that matter.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 6:44 PM CST up reply actions
How often?
And I guess just like the weather report, the latest projection is the one to rely on???
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Weekly? Daily?
It’s pretty often. People always look at the final preseason one, because that’s a logical “place your bets” moment. But they keep updating all year. Surely you’ve seen the “% chance of making preseason” stats.
Definitely the latest projection is the one to rely on, of course – that’s the one with the most up-to-date inputs. Would you want out-of-date data?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I guess...
…thats why I tend to think these projections are basically meaningless.
Not unlike the weather report from a few days ago (that is now completely wrong), these projections are just a constant moving target based on the latest information – which will change again in short order.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
And yet, the preseason CHONE and PECOTA are awfully accurate.
These predictive models have value, both figuratively and literally. Smart teams are putting stock – and money – in these player projections.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
What kind of meaning were you looking for from these projections?
Do you not understand statistics? These projections are saying that based on their data, the W-L records they’re projecting are the most likely result of playing a season. They aren’t saying it will definitely happen – that would be ludicrous.
Why do people expect the people making these projections to be ashamed of their projections? Quite often they do come out with “we were wrong, and this is why” articles specifically calling out projections for individuals (such as Soriano’s awful year last year) that threw their model off.
Do you guys get mad at weathermen too?
I could care less...
…how many projections are out there, I just fail to understand why some folks put so much credence in them.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Are people mortgaging their houses to place bets in Vegas or something?
People are bored during the offseason. Rather than creating their own models to project the season, or rather than just coming up with predictions based on gut feelings, they rely on sources that are right more often than the average prediction. What’s so wrong about that?
I just don’t see how it harms you if some people thinks PECOTA could be onto something by predicting we’re about a .500 ballclub. You may think the Cubs are better, BLou clearly thinks the Cubs are worse, and we obviously won’t know until the games are played. it doesn’t hurt you if someone has a different opinion before that time.
mad? No, but
I don’t take long range weather predictions all that seriously either, unlike how seriously some here take the baseball projections. As I said statistical analysis does a much better job of analyzing what happened than predicting what will happen.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 3:20 PM CST up reply actions
Again, how seriously are people taking it?
The closest example I can come up with is when people thought Hendry overpaid in signing Grabow, because they felt that the odds were stacked against him being worth that deal.
Other than that, I’m really failing to see any examples where BCB posters are putting so much faith into stats and projections that it should annoy or offend anyone. Unless we’re talking about last year’s RF again.
quite seriously by some
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 9, 2010 5:09 PM CST up reply actions
I have my problems with PECOTA
I’m a stats guy myself.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Green'ed.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 7, 2010 10:34 PM CST up reply actions
excellent
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 7:48 AM CST up reply actions
how did those projections about the Cubs work out last year?
Something the stat geeks will never learn, stats do a better job explaining what happened than they do what will happen.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 7:48 AM CST up reply actions
Why the animocity?
I do not get why people have such a distaste for anyone who tries to come up with baseball predictions based on math. This reminds me of society’s growing dislike for all things science.
Sure, they’re wrong sometimes. But so are the majority of people who predict things related to baseball. Why are you only angry about the projections for the 2009 Chicago Cubs that were created using stats? I remember BCB doing a lot of talking about our playoff rotation before the season started last year. Yet nobody seems to feel the need to post about how stupid everyone who felt that way was for thinking the Cubs would have a good year last year.
You are letting your imagination get the better of you.
Just because I do not put as much faith in statistical analysis as a forecasting tool as you do does not mean I think it has no meaning. That s you projecting your own issues on me.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 3:23 PM CST up reply actions
"Something the stat geeks will never learn"
You may have been exaggerating for the sake of your argument, but a comment like that doesn’t add anything to the conversation.
Of course stats are better at explaining what happened (since there’s no uncertainty) compared to what will happen (where plenty of factors can affect the outcome). But stats have proven themselves to be at least as important a factor for predicting future results as scouting, gut feelings, superstition, and homer-ism. The majority of clubs employ “stats guys” to assist with their player decisions. What’s wrong with that?
That you are offended by the word geek, does not mean it is offensive
as I said, you are projecting
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 9, 2010 5:10 PM CST up reply actions
I think...
…the Debbie Downer fans are just more noticable, and may seem to out number the ones on the other end of the spectrum.
I agree this year is a “jump ball” (great analogy). In regards to the downside, I could envision a low 70 win team if certain things happen, but I can also see a low 90 win team if most variables go the other way.
I have to add this – it bothers the shit out of me that many within the organization keep pointing to their injuries in 09 as the main reason they fell short. To me, this is a road you don’t go down and use as an excuse. The Angels were killed by injuries last year and they found a way, and the Cards have had years where they have done the same. When you keep leaning on the injury thing, you already have a built in excuse if guys go on the DL. What happens if one of their best pitchers goes down and or Ramirez’ shoulder pops loose again early in the year? With what Hendry, Piniella and several players have been saying since last year, I wonder how they would respond to that challenge.
One thing that I think is overplayed, is comparing one season to the next. Every season stands on it’s own unique merits, and tends to evolve as it goes on. My guess was 84 wins, because like you, tend to think things will fall somewhere in the middle.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I'm not far off
of your prediction.
It drives me crazy that the Debbie Downer element automatically seems to believe anybody contrary to their thinking has the Cubs in the World Series this October.
On the other hand, I don’t get the idiots predicting 75 wins. We’re not talking about the Royals or the Pirates here, last time I checked.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:05 PM CST up reply actions
Point to my prediction, NBF.
You can’t. You’d rather just assume that I HAD made a dour prediction and move along, calling me a miserable human being.
You have terrible reading comprehension, and a hilariously poor track record at predicting baseball.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 4:07 PM CST up reply actions
It's way too early
for jackoffs like you to piss me off about another baseball season.
Go continue your putting-words-in-Torii-Hunter’s-mouth argument with Tim, if he has the stomach for it.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:09 PM CST up reply actions
"Putting words in Torii Hunter's mouth."
Here’s Cubbie-Tim’s original statement that caused me to respond:
“Tori Hunter said a while back he turned the Cubs down due to the fans, and how his friends spoke about them.”
Things that are wrong with that statement:
1. Torii Hunter never issued any statement about the Cubs, whatsoever.
2. Torii Hunter never “turned down” the Cubs.
3. The Cubs never even offered Torii Hunter.
4. To the contrary, no less a source than Derrek Lee said that Torii Hunter personally told him that he would have come to Chicago if offered.
So yes, by all means, go ahead and back Tim up. He certainly could use the help out of this hole he keeps digging. I’m sure you can throw some strawman arguments around to confuse and conflate issues, though – that may help.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 4:23 PM CST up reply actions
placing the Cubs on the
DO NOT TRADE LIST is turning them down, continue to spin it as you want to
Also I have proven your statement a bout Lee to be nothing more than Interpretation not fact below,
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
lmao
depends :=)
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
even worse was the Hawks loss
AUGH that stung
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
nope
pick up the posters and flyers for the next show Thursday
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
I flew yesterday...
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 7:37 PM CST up reply actions
she is talking about
me passing out flyers for the tv show i am part of to help promote it
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
I was being a bit silly.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 7:43 PM CST up reply actions
no way
SILLY IS NOT ALLOWED
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 7:51 PM CST up reply actions
And I was talking
about MPH’s prediction, not yours. Reading comprehension, my friend.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:11 PM CST up reply actions
no, I'm not kidding
and if he’s allowed to post without contradiction, he WILL dominate the culture of the blog.
I don’t call him names, I don’t evoke him during other threads. I do poke fun at him, and I do stand up and say “really? Well these facts contradict what you’re saying, what do you think about that?” when it’s necessary.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 5:35 PM CST up reply actions
Great...
… but if he posted without contradiction, he’d be posting a lot of solitary posts with no responses. Why not let him scream at the top of his lungs… if no one responded that would be the end of it. Why not say “there it is… another BLou post”? Instead you respond which further propels the ripple effect.
He dominates the culture of this blog precisely because of responses like yours. Frankly I don’t care if thats offensive or not, but I (and clearly others) have really grown tired of the sophomoric behavior on BCB. BLou may make this place a little less friendly but IMO others here have multiplied that effect. Every time people respond to him or evoke his name somewhere, you’re empowering him. Keep doing it… it obviously makes you happy, but it will continue to frustrate a lot of people who feel as though it detracts from this site.
by dmlichte on Mar 7, 2010 6:25 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
sorry
but you don’t get rid of people like him without responding. He posts outright falsehoods. They have to be contradicted, or this site becomes that place where BLou’s word is taken as truth.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 6:40 PM CST up reply actions
You're not going to get rid of him...
… either way. You responding just continues the aftershocks of each one of his posts. If you think that anyone is taking BLou’s word as truth, contradictions or not, then you’ve lost any objectivity.
I'm not looking to get rid of him.
I’m looking to help people understand that he’s wrong, and why he’s wrong.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 6:56 PM CST up reply actions
Be advised - BLou isn't always wrong
He’s repetitve and bombastic, but sometimes he knows what he’s talking about.
Drew isn’t always wrong, either, but he’ll always, always, always give the Cubs the benefit of the doubt, warranted or not.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 7:42 PM CST up reply actions
as i have said
BLou is actually quote knowledgable, but what he does wrong is attack and insult people, which ruins his creds
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Absolutely
Unfortunately, sometimes people have trouble getting past that to read the content of what he’s saying. It’s not really fair, nor is it fair when someone looks at one of Drew’s posts and immediately dismisses it as unrealistic optimism.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 7:53 PM CST up reply actions
100% agreed
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
and when BLou isn't wrong
I don’t take him to task over it.
But that rarely happens, really.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 8:08 PM CST up reply actions
I won't argue either way on that
But I will say that there are those that will automatically disagree with what he says because he said it..
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 8:13 PM CST up reply actions
Most of what BLou says...
…I usually agree with, but I would just say it in a different way.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
The problem with BLou
is not his pessimism, it is his idea that pessimists are the only realists and all who disagree are pollyannas. That is pure hubris.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 7:54 AM CST up reply actions
He probably thinks it is a compliment
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 12:36 PM CST up reply actions
That encapsulates the situation
as well as anything I’ve ever read on BCB.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 8, 2010 1:04 PM CST up reply actions
I guess that means my meds are working today.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 3:24 PM CST up reply actions
People understand he's wrong...
… and it has nothing to do with you or any of the other posters who take him on. All that happens is the continuation of his postings and the schoolyard antics that permeate far too many threads here. Obviously I’m not the only person who feels this way.
by dmlichte on Mar 7, 2010 7:02 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
You're not the only Badger that feels that way, either
Not to pick on Drew, because he’s not the only one that does it, but yes – a thousand times yes.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 7:41 PM CST up reply actions
That's EXACTLY how you get rid of people
And the rest of yourr post sounds really pompous.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 7:39 PM CST up reply actions
*people like that
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 7:39 PM CST up reply actions
I've been on the internet for a very long time.
ignoring people NEVER works. On a site where you cannot ban people, only usernames, they ALWAYS come back. What you have to do is show that they are almost always wrong, and SO wrong that they shouldn’t be listened to at all. That requires engagement.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 8:10 PM CST up reply actions
How has that worked out?
The thing is, anonymity breeds a lot of things. The proliferation of the information available on the internet requires people to weigh what they see / read and decide its credibility based on the reliability of the source and the consistency of the information with other sources.
You’re not going resolve anything with this crusade of yours; all this does is make you look like a misguided Captain Ahab.
I can see refuting things that you disagree with or that are factually wrong, but you are not the yang to his yin, even though you seem to think so.
If you feel like responding to him because he bugs the fecal material out of you, carry on. But don’t make it sound like you’re doing a great public service.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 8:20 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
how has it worked out? People who are shown to be consistently wrong end up leaving social sites because they end up with no respect at all.
It’s funny, because the only person Ahabing is BLou. I’m not interested in being the yang to his yin, and I’ve never suggested that I am.
When he’s wrong, I say so. Just like a whole lot of other people.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 10:43 PM CST up reply actions
And yet, he's still here.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 8:24 AM CST up reply actions
and thus, still needs to be stood up to when he’s wrong.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 10:25 AM CST up reply actions
The only whale that Ahab was "Ahabing" was Moby Dick
Doesn’t mean that he wasn’t doing it.
And yeah, you do think you’re the yang to his yin. Go back and read some of your comments – they come across like you think you’re some kind of internet superhero when it comes to BLou.
dml is right, and I suspect I knew that when this discussion started – you’re not going to see it because you don’t WANT to see it.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 8:25 AM CST up reply actions
it’s funny because you’re telling me what I think.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 10:25 AM CST up reply actions
I'm telling you what you are projecting
And I’m not the only one seeing it that way.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 10:28 AM CST up reply actions
all I'm doing
is saying why I do what I do. I don’t need you to validate me.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 10:30 AM CST up reply actions
You also don't need to listen to people who disagree
All we’re doing is telling you what the result of what you are doing is.
This is getting silly. Carry on, which we both know you will, anyway. But as dml said, people are going to form their own opions of BLou independent of someone who “has been on the internet a long time” protecting them from his dastardly influences.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 10:56 AM CST up reply actions
I'm not protecting anyone
I’m simply providing a counterpoint.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
but you don’t get rid of people like him without responding. He posts outright falsehoods. They have to be contradicted, or this site becomes that place where BLou’s word is taken as truth.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 11:09 AM CST up reply actions
Sorry Drew, but that does come off
like you think we are idiots that can’t form an opinion on our own. 
"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes
Well
I’m sorry you feel that way. I don’t think it’s like that at all.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
It's really only when you make statements like those above.
I just don’t see how you could think people would take his comments (or anyone’s for that matter) as truth.
"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes
have you ever
listened to a WGN post game show where they take calls? Or visited some of the other sites out there? There are plenty of people who will agree with BLou, hook line and sinker.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:05 PM CST up reply actions
I just think
that BCB shouldn’t be an echo chamber, for anyone.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:10 PM CST up reply actions
Here!
Maybe not on all points, but many.
"I'll take one in the mouth over the eyes any day". - AJ Pierzynski
by lostinthevines on Mar 8, 2010 12:11 PM CST up reply actions
What drew's house may look like
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Mar 7, 2010 8:27 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
ironic comment
is ironic.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 10:44 PM CST up reply actions
You know, this comic amused me the first time i saw it.
Its a funny little bit, if you take it for what it is. Really.
But we are ALL here, forgoing doing other things in our lives to discuss the cubs. Its fairly obvious that there will be differing opinions. People will debate.
Its the folks that make their particular point of view or opinion out to be more valid than everyone else’s that seem to irk everyone. We all know who BLou is and what he comes here to do. Some of us point and laugh. Some of us wring our hands over the thought that somebody might take him seriously. Others ignore him completely. No form of response is “wrong”. We can play along, or ignore it. Its Drew’s choice to play along, and bashing him over the head for doing so, as YOU YOURSELF and all of us sit here on the same site doing, is silly.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 11:21 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
I agree with a lot of what you say . . . this I don't
I’ve got no issue with people disagreeing, and I usually let that go – but it’s HOW he went about it that prompted my response.
Essentially, the last two days has seen a bit of dml saying, “Hey, can you people be a bit civil, even when you disagree, because it’s taking away some of the fun of this site” and Drew ignoring the appeal while saying, “I HAVE to respond to BLOU, or people will take him seriously!”
That’s absurd, and if someone is going to come charging in on a white horse to protect the innocent denziens of netville, some response is likely to be generated. Frankly, I think that there was restraint shown by pleading the case rather than outright mocking.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
please show where
I have not been civil. Use examples. I’ll wait.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:01 PM CST up reply actions
I didn't say you weren't being civil
But you’re parsing words.
If I could link to the deleted fan post you created attacking BLou, that would qualify.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 12:48 PM CST up reply actions
yep
it sure would. But I don’t do that anymore.
Asking you to show me where I’ve been uncivil in response to this:
Essentially, the last two days has seen a bit of dml saying, "Hey, can you people be a bit civil, even when you disagree, because it’s taking away some of the fun of this site" and Drew ignoring the appeal while saying, "I HAVE to respond to BLOU, or people will take him seriously!"
is NOT parsing words.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
It is parsing words, because I didn't say you were being uncivil.
I said you were ignroing what dml said – and you did. You ignored his request to stop the back and forth – the fact that the request even existed.
Why do you feel the need to grasp at semantic strawman arguments? Would you feel better if I’d worded it longer? “People feel the need to respond to BLou instead of just letting it go and the discussions quickly degenerate to the point of bickering and it really detracts from this site. Can we stop doing that?” Better?
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 1:04 PM CST up reply actions
you're saying
that DML is asking us to be civil, and that I’m ignoring that.
Whatever.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 2:55 PM CST up reply actions
well...
… in your crusade to prove BLou is “almost always wrong” you’re taking his almost always wrong posts and multiplying their impact. You’re creating a virtual ripple effect caused by his throwing a stone. What do you honestly envision would happen if you didn’t? Do you truly believe that the opinions of very many people here would be shaped by his posts?
I don’t think you give people here much credit if you think that your counterpoints of BLou are what make others realize that he’s being irrational and treating others poorly. People think that BLou is inane because of the way he treats others and while you feel as though you’ve assumed the post of BCB gate keeper, its made this place a bit less pleasant.
by dmlichte on Mar 7, 2010 8:57 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
I believe that people who don’t know him, would see his posts and not see any responses, and could very well think that silence means assent.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 10:43 PM CST up reply actions
clearly...
… we’re not going to agree. I think that people will see his antics as childish. You think that people are naive enough that they’ll come here and be converted by BLou, much less anyone else.
I’ll just leave you with what I’ve been trying to get across… people’s incessant need to harp on BLou, to respond to his every post, to jump on his every thought (even when they’re not all that off base), people’s need to evoke his name in fanposts and fanshots that he isn’t even participating in is one of the things that has really, in my mind, made this blog much less pleasant over the past few months. Whether or not it accomplishes your goal to make everyone who doesn’t know him to see him for who he is it detracts significantly from this site. It makes this place a site I participate in far less often than I have in the past. Others clearly agree with me. You think you’ve tamed the monster, I think you’ve created it.
by dmlichte on Mar 7, 2010 11:00 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
BLou
was a problem on this site before I joined it. I have no doubt he’ll continue to be a problem. But problems don’t just go away when you ignore them.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 10:29 AM CST up reply actions
Actually...
…. that’s exactly what would happen. What he wants is attention. If you give it to him, he comes back for more.
Ignore him and he’d be likely to fade away.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al Yellon on Mar 8, 2010 10:35 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Indeed
I don’t know why he doesn’t see that. I think Drew adds to a lot of the discussions, but sometimes it’s like talking to a brick wall – or pounding my head against the wall.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 10:57 AM CST up reply actions
that doesn't work.
I know you think it does. Unfortunately, it doesn’t.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
We have tried it.
it doesn’t work.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:01 PM CST up reply actions
I think what Al is saying
Is that people have tried to ignore him, but too many people’s knee-jerk reaction to an offensive statement is to reply in kind.
I think he wants all of us to try our best to ignore him.
If you keep responding to him when he baits you, then you are letting him win by letting him get to you.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 8, 2010 12:08 PM CST up reply actions
I’m not responding to his baiting. I’m responding to his misuse of facts.
Seriously. When’s the last time you saw me use any kind of derogatory language with him? When he says something like “Zambrano is the only innings eater on the team”, all I’m doing is saying, “Really? Cause Dempster and Lilly both had more IP than Z the last two years running. So if you’re worried that Z won’t eat enough innings, be of good cheer, because Demp and Lilly can carry the slack.”
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:13 PM CST up reply actions
True, but you also know he won't
respond to any fact based rebuttal of his opinion.
Most of us, me included, post facts to counter his argument for 1. sport, 2. to make him go away.
may addition by subtraction be real
sure I know he won't reply
I do it for 1 & the hopes of 2, and also, 3) As a counter point so that people who don’t know the real facts CAN know the real facts.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:17 PM CST up reply actions
How about when he flat-out insults people?
That was what I was referring to. I think that’s what gets so many people here up in arms, and I think that’s what we need to try to avoid, at the least.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 8, 2010 12:16 PM CST up reply actions
I used to get really upset
these days, I more or less ignore those parts, because most people are going to understand how inappropriate they are. If it’s really over the top, I flag it and email Al, and BLou gets banned for a few weeks at best, because if it’s permanent, he only comes back with a different username anyway.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:18 PM CST up reply actions
Oh, come on Al.
This doesn’t make sense in several ways beyond the obvious twist of a sites administrator actively trying to discourage engagement, which is counter-intuitive to almost everybody else on the internet, who wants to drive comments, traffic, eyeballs, SEO, engagment…
Now i know you think you are doing us all a favor with this line of thinking, that there would be some sort of addition by subtraction if Drew just ignored BLou, because you think that would take away BLou’s desire to be here. Its a cute thought, but not how things work.
See, Drew may be one of the MORE likely to respond to BLou’s posts, but he isn’t the only one. YOU YOURSELF REGULARLY CAN’T STAY AWAY. I’ve been sucked in to it. Nearly every one of the posters i look up to here has as well (probably because underneath his counter-productive wording and overly pessimistic outlook, there is something of worth). With thousands of members here, and hundreds engaging daily, if BLou wishes to drop by and spout off for some kicks, he’s GOING to get the attention. Harassing Drew in to shutting up won’t end that. You’d need some sort of site-wide “Ignore BLou” rule.
You can’t ban him. You can’t possibly expect everyone here will ignore him. He’s part of the fabric of your site now, like it or not. As are Drew’s responses, which i think in general you’ll agree are about as well reasoned and (generally) well spoken and respectful as you might hope, considering the context and the bombastic nature of what he’s responding to.
You’ve got BLou here making his points. That won’t stop, and we all know it. Hell, you’ve tried to ban him time and time again. Why discourage Drew from responding? If he has the stomach for it, why not? If you can’t stand it, skip the thread. It’s not as if your site is running out of room for more words.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 11:33 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Not sure where to start here
I’m not trying to slam Drew, but he’ll defend anything and everything Cub in spite of overwhelming evidence, and he’ll attack just about every BLou post . . . hardly what I’d call well spoken/respectful.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 11:36 AM CST up reply actions
I suppose well spoken / respectful...
… is subjective.
How about this… Drew responds to BLou within the rules laid out for commenters on this site. You may see his comments as futile – they likely are in terms of chasing BLou off – but i have no doubt there are others here who appreciate them, just as people find a way to appreciate BLou for what he is.
IMHO any sort of “Oh drew, just knock it off already” comments are only as warranted, likely to work, and worth somebodies time as a “Oh BLou, knock it off” comment would be. It’s not going to change anything, and who are we to dictate that stuff anyways? Isn’t this supposed to be a community? Doesn’t every community have a BLou or a Drew?
We all know Drew is positive where BLou isn’t. We know he’ll defend what BLou attacks. Its fine. They have their stances, their roles, and their contributions. The older members know to take anything that comes from either of them with a grain of salt. The new members get treated to two differing sides of a debate, one where they likely fall somewhere in the middle.
The whole thing smacks of Team Edward / Team Jacob silliness to me.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 11:49 AM CST up reply actions
I hestiated to add this
Because I’ve posted my share of stupid things on this site . . . but he once posted a fanpost directly attacking BLou. In no way, shape or form do I think that’s representative of Drew as a human being, but I do think it’s indicative of the “crusade”.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 12:44 PM CST up reply actions
Whatever it was, it was neither respectful nor appropriate
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 12:49 PM CST up reply actions
one time I totally
disrespected Blou because he attacked someone I cared about (in a friendly way)…the post was even turned green. It embarrassed me horribly, that I got a rec’d post for taking a swipe at someone and not for a baseball comment, so I understand how it could happen.
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 8, 2010 12:53 PM CST up reply actions
I understand that - as I said, I've posted things that I wish I hadn't
But the point is, it really is a pattern. Everything that BLou says is instantly met with bile – whether it’s merited or not. Drew is definitely not the only person that does this. However, again – the way that he phrased a lot of his repsonses drew (no pun intended) me into the discussion because he really did come across like he was doing something noble – whether he chooses to see that objectively or not.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 12:57 PM CST up reply actions
No kidding...radio tomorrow!
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
Well, in that case...
… we’d be dealing with a breach of rules, and its Al’s responsibility to deal with it, not ours.
I understand the point you are trying to make, and even tend to agree – the back and forth is tiresome, and those responding to BLou certainly must understand that they stand to gain very little. But that is THEIR choice, and it seems to me every few months people get fed up with it to the point of requesting / demanding it stop. This, i can’t stand. The nature of this site isn’t like that.
There were those who voiced their opinions that they didn’t appreciate Al’s series of historical photos posts, and Al’s response was “skip them”. It seems everybody fed up with BLou vs Drew would do well to heed that same advice, rather than perpetuate the problem by encouraging one or both sides to give it a rest when neither have broken any rules or given any clear indication they are willing to back down.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
Your point is taken.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 1:26 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, I know I've been sucked into it myself at times.
I need to stop doing that.
I think it simply needs to be understood that while occasionally BLou makes valid points, he almost always accompanies them with bombast, and further, he keeps repeating them over and over.
The latter are what need to be ignored. If people would engage him on the reasonable points and ignore the others, maybe a behavior change would occur.
I won’t hold my breath waiting, though.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Sorry Andrew...
… but you’re assertions just are wrong. I work with kids for a living and behavior like BLou’s is almost always for attention. Kid or adult, its the same thing. BLou does what he does for attention. He may not go away, but responding to his tantrums make the situation worse.
Yes, Drew and others should stop responding to him. The thought that people will see the lack of responses to BLou’s crap as tacit approval and agreement is inane. Beyond that the constant back and forth and jabs are making this place really unpleasant. This needs to stop or BCB will lose members who are sick of the sophomoric behavior.
by dmlichte on Mar 8, 2010 11:50 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs
+1. Well put, dm.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 8, 2010 11:52 AM CST up reply actions
Agreed?
Then put a “sophomoric behavior” rule in place and ban the users that don’t meet the standards!
Although if BLou has proven anything, its that a “banning” form BCB means very little…
Comparing BLou to a little kid who just needs to be ignored isn’t doing his bile justice, isn’t paying his sometimes valid points their due respect, and isn’t going to get you any closer to restoring the noble nature of this site that has apparently eroded due to Drew’s responses to him.
This whole thread is redic.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
except
you’ll always have the new people who dont know him yet, that will respond to him.
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 8, 2010 11:54 AM CST up reply actions
thats likely...
… but it would only be a fraction of what we currently see now, and further, I bet if you looked at those responding to BLou as well as those who evoke his name constantly, its not the newbies, its the veterans.
I am not deluding myself into thinking BLou will leave this site. Frankly, I don’t care if he does… I don’t care about a thing he posts and I don’t know why anyone does. It boggles my mind. Let him spew his diatribes and the rest of us can focus on the good stuff here.
right, I dont care either...
he was the first on my list of those to steer away from…since then I unfortunately have added a few more.
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 8, 2010 11:59 AM CST up reply actions
Don't feel bad, you are among the rest of us who have fallen
into the trap of responding to some of his absurd opinions. The key is to not raise the temperature of the discussion by resorting to namecalling and other childish acts. We should be able to have good back and forth discussions without the silliness. Just because I don’t agree with you is no reason for you to villify me. We can have differing opions without demonizing each other. If someone doesn’t want to adhere to that philosophy, then just ignore them. Don’t feed the troll, it only makes them grow bigger.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 8, 2010 12:06 PM CST up reply actions
I said this before....
usually when I see a difference of opinion, while I’m lurking, its amazing how both sides of the argument can make total sense. Of course the posters invoved dont see it that way. And most of the time these discussions are very civil.
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 8, 2010 12:09 PM CST up reply actions
BLou isn't a kid.
Yes, a 13 year old behaving the way BLou does is probably seeking attention.
BLou is a grown man who feels the need to act this way. That in and of itself makes his case unique. I’ve seen him on other sites with less strict rules and less engaged admins than Al get far more out of line than he does here. Comparing his psychology to that of the whiny kids you deal with is a poor comparison at best.
Some of you are of the mind that if we all just wished him away, he’d be gone. Maybe that is the case, although i doubt it. But the fact is, Al and others are just as guilty of getting pulled in to the BLou fray as anybody else. This site will always provide the attention he wishes for, and asking Drew to not respond with his equally valid points is incomprehensible to me.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 12:01 PM CST up reply actions
first off...
… kid versus adult doesn’t matter. People do stuff for attention.
Secondly, asking Drew (and others) not to respond may be incomprehensible to you, but look at those who clearly agree that this crap is dragging down this site. Drew and others can keep responding but people will move on from this site.
Eh, thats your opinion.
I’ll let you have it instead of telling you “you’re assertions just are wrong” as you did me, as i feel THOSE sort of claims from dudes who AREN’T viewed as some sort of caricature of commenting (like you, generally) do much more to damage this site than anything silly old BLou could pump out.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 12:06 PM CST up reply actions
Its not my opinion
Its based on my working with kids and young adults for the past 18 years and spending a lot of time in both professional development and studying. Its focusing a lot of my time and energy learning about how people work.
Fair enough.
I’ve spent the last 26 years of my life hanging out with people too. And in my personal experience, ignoring the obnoxious ones doesn’t always cause them to give up and go away.
It is what it is, and fortunately, this isn’t like Ronnie Woo Woo sitting behind your shoulder and shrieking. You don’t want to hear from Drew or BLou? Instead of clicking through to let them know, why not ignore them?
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 12:17 PM CST up reply actions
the point is...
… that the BLou crap is everywhere here, now. Its seemingly impossible to avoid, and if you want to call me a hypocrite for bringing it up and not as of yet dropping it, thats fine… but the fact of the matter its getting more and more difficult to just click through.
part of your point was to ignore him and he'll go away,
but now you want to go away….that should not be acceptable…we dont want “US” to go away. The more of us the better. You should stay and you should do the ignoring…. IMHO :)
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 8, 2010 12:26 PM CST up reply actions
you’re welcome to express yourself. So am I. When I respond to BLou, and it’s not all the time, I use facts and statistics to back myself up.
No one makes you read it. It’s not like he comes on gamethreads. He rarely responds to questions. There’s been more conversation in this thread ABOUT Blou than there has been WITH BLou.
Just soak in the irony.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:03 PM CST up reply actions
I am responding...
… after months and months of frustration. After participating on this site far less and less I needed to voice my opinion as frankly, for me, its my last ditch effort to make this place a bit better. Others clearly agree with me.
I don’t know what to tell you. Everything goes in waves. The focus on BLou will diminish when the regular season starts.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:15 PM CST up reply actions
there's nothing for you to tell me
First off, it won’t diminish because bad games will just exacerbate BLou and you and others will feel the need to respond in kind.
Just trying to say that at least a few of us here are getting tired of it and maybe its just time for those of us to move on.
… well, you could have said that with a lot less durm and strang, I guess.
I’m sorry if it bothers you. I really have tried to tone down my responses to him to simple factual statements. I can’t affect how others respond to him. If it’s that difficult for you, then you should find someplace you’re happier. Online communities change.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:21 PM CST up reply actions
The focus on BLou will diminish when the regular season starts.
no, it wont
by jesus christos on Mar 8, 2010 4:53 PM CST up reply actions
Maybe he needs a spanking...ignoring him and time out aren't working.
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
Al...
… on this you are 100% correct and those that disagree are simply wrong. Negative attention is better than no attention and what BLou wants is attention. Every time BLou’s tantrums are responded to, every time his name is evoked in a thread that he’s not a part of, if fuels the fire.
Responding to tantrums?
Sure, up to a point.
I agree with you that his name doesn’t need to be mentioned when he’s not part of the discussion.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
This.
I don’t mind when people make references to some of his sillier comments (“master plan”, etc), but when you have a new FanPost or FanShot and someone posts “I wonder what BLou would think of this?” we really are just feeding his feeling of celebrity around here.
Yep
It reminds me of how taking pictures with HWSNBN just encourages him.
I personally don’t care for it when people use his name as an insult when someone has an opinion that is leaning glass half empty. That’s just rude to both parties.
"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes
by katie casey on Mar 8, 2010 1:49 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Really?
Lets say this FanPost recieved 0 responses. Not even one. You think he wouldn’t come back again?
I stopped responding to BLou a long time ago. As a personal choice, it makes a lot more sense to me. Playing his games doesn’t fit in to what i hope to accomplish by being on this site.
But i don’t dilute myself in to thinking he’d just go away if Drew pretended he wasn’t there.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 11:51 AM CST up reply actions
he may go away...
… if people didn’t respond to his crap. Its not just about Drew, but Drew is the one who picked up the mantle of being the BCB gatekeeper on this one. But if people didn’t respond, at the very least his impact on this site would be minimized. Instead he’s prevalent in fanposts that he doesn’t even participate in. The culture of this site allows him far too much power.
He may not go away, but he certainly hasn’t done so with the constant responses he’s currently getting.
IMHO, it seems to me....
he gets more attention from those who want everybody to ignore him.
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 8, 2010 11:57 AM CST up reply actions
perhaps its because..
… people feel that those who are responding are making this place unpleasant for those of us who are tired of the whole thing
personally
the only time I feel uncomfortable is when he attacks someone viciously, and unprovoked, I want to help, otherwise I just ignore.
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 8, 2010 12:05 PM CST up reply actions
+1
His past personal attacks on one particular member here should have gotten him banned forever.
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
There you go.
Its now to the point that Drew is getting as much attention for responding to BLou as BLou gets for posting. Neither is going to stop the cycle, and this desire to paddle upstream by everybody trying to get either of them to knock it off is beyond me.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 12:11 PM CST up reply actions
Chances are...
…you won’t get him to quit, so I would just move on.
As I have said, I tend to agree (in principle) with many of his rants, but they are clearly delivered in a manner that is over the top and annoying.
The dude’s got a chip on his shoulder, and I don’t think its falling off any time soon.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
...
The culture of this site allows him far too much power.
Than maybe this isn’t the site for you?
As i’ve stated repeatedly, as long as BLou and Drew play within the rules Al has set out, everybody else harassing them to knock it off is silly. You knew what you were in for the SECOND you clicked the link for this FanPost. You don’t like it? Stay away, that simple.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 12:09 PM CST up reply actions
you are correct...
… maybe this site isn’t for me. Unfortunately, there are a more people tired of the BLou infighting than I am.
maybe you should consider
your own role in the problem. Try not contributing to the problem with your incessant requests/demands that others ignore BLou.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 12:39 PM CST up reply actions
really, he's only trying to help....
he brings up alot of good points if you’ve read them all. Both sides of this discussion are correct….you just have to decide which side of the discussion suits you best
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 8, 2010 12:45 PM CST up reply actions
Don't all your posts on this thread
make you part of the problem?
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 12:37 PM CST up reply actions
I think...
… that I’ve fairly called myself to task and recognized that I may indeed be a hypocrite here. I’m not going to rule that out… but what I will say that, first off, this is the only place I am bringing this up. As I’ve said, this is my last stance and if my (and others) requests don’t lead to things improving, I’ll likely move on from this blog. I am not bringing this up in half the blogs and I am not responding to every response that responds to BLou.
I am also trying to address an overaching issue. Maybe that adds to the problem.
I'd hate to see that
I (obviously) agree with your intent. I think if it doesn’t work, those of us that are tired of it try ignoring it as best we can and focus on the aspects of the site that we like – but I don’t see anything wrong with mentioning it.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
The thing is
in spite of all the angst about BLou, etc., this still is (IMHO) the best Cubs site of this ilk on the Internet.
Other sites are far, far worse in their vituperative nature and lack of intelligence. I might disagree with some posters here, sometimes vehemently, but the average baseball IQ here is leaps and bounds above the status quo.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 8, 2010 1:09 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
+ gazillion
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
No doubt
However, that doesn’t mean that he’s wrong to try to make it better (I realize that’s a subjective term).
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 1:24 PM CST up reply actions
The personal pronoun refers to
BLou or drew, SB? (I’m not sure the former is trying to make things better around here — quite the contrary, perhaps. Sorry, I haven’t waded through every post back-and-forth on this.)
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 8, 2010 1:45 PM CST up reply actions
I think he's defending dmlichte's attempts to "make things better"...
Just trying to clear things up.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
You're correct, Andrew.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 1:51 PM CST up reply actions
Exactly.
This is why i get so flabbergasted when we have our inevitable threads like this every few months or so. Discouraging two of the more opinionated people here from being who they are would take away from this site. The tone of both BLou and Drew may rub you the wrong way depending on your outlook, but neither is bringing down the level of discourse in any significant way.
I’ve tried other sites, and even still do lurk / participate elsewhere on occasion. Most of those places are what i’d imagine a room full of 100 BLous, 100 Drews, and a keg of Red Bull would feel like.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
I would think the more logical solution for you
would be to ignore posts with which you are uncomfortable. You seem willing to throw the baby (all the good stuff here) out with the bath water (the BLou nonsense).
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 3:28 PM CST up reply actions
not sure...
… why I’m still responding.
A. Its not a matter of comfort or uncomfort
B. The crap is everywhere
C. Its had a big impact on the overall mindset of this site.
then you should go
if the experience is more negative than positive
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 9, 2010 5:11 PM CST up reply actions
I wish everyone would do this.
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
thing about not responding to him
hell continue to post until someone gives him some sweet attention
a vicious cycle indeed
by jesus christos on Mar 7, 2010 6:49 PM CST up reply actions
if no one responds to him
BCB will lose 2/3 of the site clicks
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
huh?
We’ve seen that people responding to him hasn’t stopped him. Maybe its time to let him yell on his own. I’m not saying he’ll go away, but it won’t allow his antics to permeate BCB.
so? How does that hurt you, or Drew or anyone else?
This nonsense that Drew is somehow righting a wrong, that Blou is WRONG when he posts freaking opinions that must be corrected by Drew is beyond silly.
Drew, you’re pretty knowledgeable about baseball, but when you start on these tangents where you do nothing but argue semantics, and act like only your opinions are the correct ones, you basically become Blou, only arguing the other side.
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Mar 7, 2010 8:30 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
i didnt say it hurts me
i just said that not responding him wont stop him from ranting
by jesus christos on Mar 7, 2010 9:49 PM CST up reply actions
actually, I don’t really care about BLou’s opinions. Oh, I disagree with them, but I’m not out to prove them wrong.
But when he says things to support his opinions like “The only real innings eater in the starting Rotation is Carlos Zambrano” when both Dempster and Lilly had more innings than Z for the past two years, that’s an… untruth. And I think it’s important that such an untruth be refuted with facts.
Or when he says “Fukudome is another So Taguchi” when the only similarity between the two is that they’re both Japanese, for example.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 7, 2010 10:46 PM CST up reply actions
oh, so you're just doing the lord's work then
o.0
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Mar 7, 2010 11:33 AM CST up reply actions
I thought he looked like Alfonseca out there.
Big and ugly and a pretty bad pitcher on top of it. I hope the audition does not go on longer than it has to. I worry that he will stay on the team in some fashion because of his contract.
No Silva has only 5 fingers per hand
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 7, 2010 9:04 AM CST up reply actions
All right already, we get it already, we heard you the first time.
"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." - Terry 'Fat Tub of Goo' Forster
@Twitter as @brommmietze
by eths on Mar 7, 2010 6:55 AM CST via mobile reply actions
you have
to give silva shot to see if he can contribute. if he,s this bad by the end of training i wonder if the cubs will bite the bullet and release him. you cant have a pitcher on the roster who cant get outs.
Why do you fly upside down?
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 7, 2010 2:04 PM CST up reply actions
I don't disagree with the Silva stuff
and I still don’t believe that Silva will last all that long. We have other guys that can fill Silva’s likely long man role.
Why do you toy around for a few weeks in ST with Silva
easy, how the Cubs look to the other players. If the Cubs jerk around a vet, no matter how good or bad he is, other potential Cubs will see that, and that will play into their decision to sign or lift a NTC to join the Cubs. It also can tick off the agent of said player, and he possibly will make an argument against the Cubs to his other clients, especially if the client is interested in taking less to join the Cubs vs another team.
The whole Silva/Bradley situation is bigget than the players themselves, it is bigger than us posters on BCB, and we all should take that into consideration.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
bigger not bigget
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
I seriously doubt that.
Literally everyone in baseball knows that Silva is the worst pitcher in the league. From the moment he got that contract, it’s been almost a joke. No one is going to condemn the Cubs for cutting the dead weight, just as no one condemns the NBA team that trades for an expiring contract and never even meets the guy they acquired.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 1:47 PM CST up reply actions
the odds of anyone doing anything but applauding
is very low
by jesus christos on Mar 7, 2010 1:49 PM CST up reply actions
Heck, even Silva would probably appreciate it.
He’s still going to get his cash, and maybe he can go to an organization that wouldn’t mind using him as their 5th starter for minimum money.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 1:54 PM CST up reply actions
he can go to any team but st louis
because hed probably become dave duncans latest project
by jesus christos on Mar 7, 2010 2:01 PM CST up reply actions
disagree
and in a similar light, Tori Hunter said a while back he turned the Cubs down due to the fans, and how his friends spoke about them. The players do take notice of things happening around the team when making their decision. Even if you do not think so.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Torii Hunter was never offered a contract by the Cubs. In fact, the Cubs never even spoke to him.
This has become some sort of article of faith around here, that Torii would have come to Chicago but for our horrible racism.
The genesis of this “fact” seems to be second-hand stories from LaTroy Hawkins and Jacque Jones in a Gordon Wittenmyer column from a few years back, a column in which Torii was not interviewed, but where Wittenmyer claims that Torii had the Cubs on his no-trade list.
Fact is, the Cubs never once called Torii’s agent. We never offered a contract. Period. Boston and LA were offering galactically huge deals, and we weren’t involved.
The source for the “Cubs never called, and D-Lee wishes they had b/c he thinks we could have gotten Torii”? Wittenmyer again.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/03/cubs-never-call.html
Anyway, this story has absolutely run off the rails, in terms of what people think happened vs. what has actually been reported. Torii Hunter never actually said anything about the Cubs other than that they were his favorite team growing up. The Cubs never offered him a deal, or tried to trade for him, or even called to gauge his interest.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 2:13 PM CST up reply actions
wonder why the Cubs didnt talk with him
Besides Jones’ experiences, another black former Cubs outfielder who declined to be identified said in a private conversation during a recent spring training that the Wrigley crowd might have been the worst he’d experienced for racist taunts.
’’I’ve heard that from a lot of the players who played there,’’ Cameron said.
Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter said that was one of the reasons he had the Cubs on his no-trade list for years while in Minnesota.
they knew he had no interest due to reasons above baseball itself and the Cubs.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1527182,CST-SPT-cub15.article
yes, these things such as how the Cubs management handle the players, as well as how fans act do weigh in on their decisions
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
That's obviously the Wittenmyer article I was talking about.
There’s no Torii quote whatsoever. And you are jumping to all kinds of conclusions about Torii’s – and the Cubs’ – motivations.
As I pointed out, the Cubs never offered Torii a deal, and D-Lee, a friend of Torii’s was “surprised” by that, because he thought we could have gotten him.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 2:29 PM CST up reply actions
I guess where is says that was one of the reasons he had the Cubs
on his NO TRADE LIST means he loved the Cubs and their fans.
I guess that when the GM’s talk about a player, for trade or to sign, and the GM informs the other GM “your team was one he specified not to be traded to, and he made it known he has no wants to play there” according to you, the team should contact him anyways and try? I dont think that makes much sense.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
never thought I would quote GROTA
but this does seem to sum it up well
we learned that another Twin, Torii Hunter, had specifically said he would never accept a trade to the Cubs because he didn’t want to play in front of racist fans.
Like it or not, the players are well aware of what is taking place outside of just playing the game on the field, and things like fans and management interaction with players can help make their decision for them
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
GROTA is also quoting the same Wittenmyer article.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 2:46 PM CST up reply actions
yet the Suntimes article
I link to that flat says
Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter said that was one of the reasons he had the Cubs on his no-trade list for years while in Minnesota.
makes you believe he was wanting to sign with the Cubs?
and for once GROTA actually does hit the nail well, the fans (and management) dealings with the players can and does actually have weight in the players opinion of playing for specific teams. You can continue to try and deny it all day, thats up to you
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
D-Lee says he would have signed with the Cubs.
According to the Star-Tribune, Torii had CHC, BOS, TOR, DET, and TBD as his 5 no-trade teams. There was definitely some talk between Torii and at least 1 of those teams.
Derrek Lee says that Torii would have had no problem signing with the Cubs.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 2:43 PM CST up reply actions
link to such a thing?
i have not once heard or read that. Where I have read all over the world (so to speak) about Hunter saying he would not play for the Cubs
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
It's from the same "Cubs never called Torii" Wittenmyer article.
Of course, that article predates Wittenmyer’s “Other people told me that Torii said that the Cubs were on his no-trade b/c they are racist” article from last April.
Here is a MLBTR spot referencing it, but the Trib link seems to be broken:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/03/cubs-never-call.html
Lee was “shocked” that the Cubs didn’t call Torii, because, he said, he could have facilitated the talks.
The only place you’ve read that Torii said that he’d never come to the Cubs b/c they are racist is Wittenmyer’s 4/09 article about Bradley, and other articles citing or referring to it. I have seen absolutely nothing from Torii saying he’d never play for the Cubs.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 2:50 PM CST up reply actions
and why does Tori get quoted for saying it
because others who he respects have made the comments about it, and the fans try to do what you are doing now, pretend its not there and look for any way to ignore it or disprove it.
Jones, Hawkins, Baker, Bradley, Hunter, the Horry Kow shirts, these all have given the Cubs fanbase a rep of racism, which I know most of us are not, but sadly it only takes a few to ruin it.
The Tribune removed the article, maybe for being inaccurate who knows, but we all know that MLBTR will print anything true or not, so using them as your one source is plain bad, and you know it.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Both articles are from the same source. Wittenmyer.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 2:58 PM CST up reply actions
yet your article, you wish to use
is not a valid article link, meaning you are using MLBTR and nothing more, when I have linked to an article where hs is quoted saying no to playing for the Cubs due to his personal insight from former players and friends, leading to (IMHO) why the Cubs knew he was not interested in playing for the Cubs and why they did not contact him.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
It's a year older. Which is probably why the link is dead.
Wittenmyer never said anything about Torii’s distrust of Chicago until April of 09, well after he’d already left MIN for LAA.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 3:08 PM CST up reply actions
and had Torri not have said it
Torri would have come out and said so. I will believe what was linked from the Times where it was said, instead of MLBTR and a link that doesnt exist
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Here's the text of that article.
THE TORII HUNT
by Gordon Wittenmyer
March 7, 2008
By GORDON WITTENMYER
Sun-Times news Group
MESA, Ariz. – Forget what White Sox general manager Ken Williams
says. Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee says it’s the Cubs who really
lost out on center fielder Torii Hunter over the winter.
Lee said he was ’’shocked’’ when his longtime friend Hunter told him
over dinner recently that the Cubs never called the two-time All-Star
before Hunter chose the Los Angeles Angels over the Sox and signed a
five-year, $90 million deal.
‘’He said he would have come,’’ Lee said. ’’I said, ’Torii, you
should have called me. I could have got some dialogue going at least,
if you… (REMAINDER BEHIND PAY WALL)
Does that sate your skepticism? It’s a quote from D-Lee directly quoting Torii Hunter as saying “He said he would have come.”
A year later, Wittenmyer uses some “Hawkins and Jacque said that Torii said that years ago he put them on his no-trade for X reason” language, and you suddenly jump to “Torii turned down the Cubs b/c they were racist.”
The facts are – Torii had the Cubs on his no-trade at some point, probably b/c of LaTroy’s bad experiences.
The Cubs never offered anything to Torii.
Torii told D-Lee that if he had been offered, he would have come to the Cubs.
Each of those facts are pretty much beyond dispute.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 3:30 PM CST up reply actions
they are facts that cannot be proven?
they are disputable, a conversation that none of us heard on a phone or over a meal is nothing more than a tale. nothing can be confirmed from that, and who is to say Torri was not just being nice to a friend, etc.
now the Cubs being on the DO NOT TRADE LIST tells more of a story. If he wanted to be a Cub, he never would have put them on such a list.
Either one of us coujld be right, but a story that cannot be verified compared to a proven fact is different.
how about you go back to using 17 ABs as proof, while saying ~100 is not enough, instead of trying to disporve what was linked
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
If you're calling D-Lee a liar, I suppose.
One article is contemporaneous has a direct quote from a rather unimpeachable player about Torii and the Cubs, direct from Torii’s mouth.
The other — written a year after the fact — does not have any direct quotes from Hunter or anyone who spoke with Hunter, and pertained only to an unspecified time PRIOR to Torii’s free agency, when he had the Cubs on a no-trade.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 3:37 PM CST up reply actions
I am saying it cannot be proven
one way or the other, which is fair to say. You are going to guarantee that a reported didnt misquote or twist something to get the spin they want to from it?
Interpretation =/= proof
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
That's only fair to say if you believe D-Lee fabricated the conversation.
It’s not “fair” at all. It’s a direct quote! From DERREK LEE. From the time period in question!
The article you are leaning on has no direct quotes, is not contemporaneous to Hunter’s free agency offseason (in fact, is a year later), and (most importantly) is referencing an unknown time period in the past that is completely irrelevant to Hunter’s free agency offseason.
Dude, just give this one up. You said that Hunter turned down the Cubs in 2008, and we now have evidence that the Cubs never called, and that Hunter told Derrek Lee in March 2008 that he “would have come.”
A year later, in 2009, Wittenmyer says that way back in 05 or whenever, Hunter thought the Cubs were racist and put them on his no-trade for some reason.
Can’t you see why that’s moot? By 2008, he wanted to be a Cub!
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 3:46 PM CST up reply actions
where did i say a specific season?
see as i said to you Interpretation =/= proof
you are Interpretating what i say how you want to, instead of for what i said.
not again, please return to your other argument using 17 ABs being enough for proof and saying ~ 100 ABs is not enough.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Tim,
I’m not going to tell you what to do, but were I you, I wouldn’t waste my breath on this guy. He accuses others of being “all-knowing,” but I think that’s just projection.
Frankly, I don’t think Hunter would come to the Cubs because he’s afraid he might kill himself going for balls against the bricks and ivy at Wrigley.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Mar 7, 2010 4:07 PM CST up reply actions
You said "Torii turned the Cubs down".
He did not.
This is reminiscent of the time you argued in hilarious fashion that Felix Pie had conclusively failed in his 100 AB, and that as such, the Cubs were justified in dumping him because he would never be of value.
You were all over the place in that thread, citing career stats and so forth as evidence of his “failure”.
I can’t really believe that you don’t understand what everyone else was saying to you, but to recap, it goes something like “He had too few AB in 2008 to make any kind of judgment about him, but he seemed to be hitting pretty well in his last month as a Cub, which was the last time he saw anything close to sustained PT.”
But seriously, keep clinging to that “I’d rather have Aaron Heilman than Felix Pie” argument, or the “Torii Hunter turned the Cubs down because of racist fans” argument. You obviously understand what you are talking about.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I think my post below will pretty definitively put this to bed.
Torii told D-Lee that he would have signed with the Cubs.
D-Lee said “you should have called me — I could have gotten them to call you at least”.
The Cubs never offered Torii Hunter. Period.
The first time – and the ONLY time – that anything negative re: the Cubs and Hunter has ever been said was Wittenmyer’s article from April 2009, which has no direct quotes about Hunter whatsoever, and has nothing to do with Hunter’s free agent travails, but rather, said that at some time during his time in MIN, he had CHC on his limited no-trade list.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 3:33 PM CST up reply actions
he told DLee in a conversation
that cannot be proven to have taken place or not. So in that case, “player x” told me he wanted to be a Cub but the Cubs didnt call him, so that would be something you cannot prove as incorrect so it must be true, right?
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
You are flat-out calling D-Lee a liar, apparently.
The article you keep citing isn’t relevant to this discussion.
1. You claimed that Torii Hunter “turned down the Cubs”.
2. I noted that Torii Hunter NEVER turned down the Cubs, because the Cubs never offered Torii Hunter.
3. In my original post, I noted the Wittenmyer 4/09 article.
4. In that 4/09 article, Wittenmyer claimed, with no quotes from Torii, that Torii had the Cubs on his no-trade “at some point during his time in MIN” because he’d heard that their fans were racist.
5. After some searching, I found the absolute money quote — D Lee specifically and unequivocally said, in March of 2008, that Torii had just told him that he would have signed with the Cubs.
If Torii told D-Lee in March of 2008 that he would have signed with the Cubs, then one of two things is possible. Either D-Lee is flat-out lying, or Torii was willing to play for the Cubs as of his free agency during the 2007-08 offseason.
I find it hard to believe that Lee was lying, which means that Wittenmyer’s unattributed “Torii once said that at one time in the past he had a limited no-trade against the Cubs” thing is completely and totally irrelevant.
You were wrong in this thread. Period. Torii Hunter never turned down the Cubs.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 3:42 PM CST up reply actions
putting the Cubs on a list of teams he will not play for
is not a ringing endorsement for him wanting to be a Cub. That is turning them down, plain and simple. Not sure how you can think that he was saying he wanted to be a Cub by placing them on such a list.
Second, if he told DLee that, there are a few reasons I dont accept it as definitive proof as you want to
1. its a conversation that cannot be proven by ANYONE
2. Hunter had placed the Cubs on a list of teams he was not willing to play for is proven fact
3. all of us will say things to a friend about a job or movie, etc to not seem disrespectful to a friend of ours, which is plausible for what Hunter might have been doing, if the conversation did in fact take place
4. you are arguing using facts that cannot be proven, while disregarding facts that are proven.
5. two good friends of his were chased out of town by fans acting like fools towards him, and it has been said that is a big reason he had no wants to be a Cub.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Again, THAT WAS MANY YEARS PRIOR.
By 2008, Derrek Lee reported that Torii Hunter told him, personally, that he “would have come” to the Cubs.
What Torii may or may not have thought – and there’s no direct quote about this — in 2005 or 2006 after listening to LaTroy whine, is completely irrelevant.
By 2008, the only time he was a free agent and therefore the only time period that mattered, he was willing to become a Cub.
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by D98 on Mar 7, 2010 3:50 PM CST up reply actions
say a quote that cannot be verified as 100%
truth, and will never be proven. A private conversation is not something I will accept as proof from a third party reporter. It is possible Torri said to Lee
I would have signed with the Cubs, if the fans were not jerks to Jones and Hawkins
for example and yes, technically he said he would have signed with the Cubs, even tho the context of what was said tells you a different story. This is why I refuse to accept what you define as undeniable proof being a conversation none of us have the transcript to, and was reported by a third party reporter.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
It's not very often that one gets to truly win an internet argument.
But this one is over. If I were in your position, I’d just own up to the fact that the initial statement, “Torii Hunter said that he turned down the Cubs….”, was mistaken. It’s no big deal.
Or, you can keep spinning forever, and I’ll keep doing this sack dance.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Ever notice the number of losses keeps creeping up?
I thought so too. Sooner or later, he’s going to have us being a 100 loss team.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
and before the ASG no less
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
MPH
Hey, does anyone know how hard Silva was throwing? Was the speed on the ball still at the MLB level? It is hard (near impossible) to judge someone after only throwing only 2 innings pitched… but the Cubs coaches and manager have been watching him throw and workout outside of actual game instances. If they feel he doesn’t have anything left, they won’t let him pitch into the season. I’m sure
How hard...
…someone is throwing can have very little to do with their ability to get guys out. Radar readings are relied on way to heavily by most fans as a judge of how good or bad a pitcher is.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Partially true...
… but if Silva doesn’t have the arm strength to throw at a major league level, then he is done because from what I understand, none of his pitches are spectatular.
Anyway, that was just another way of saying you have no idea how hard he threw. haha. Could have just said that. lol No reason to try and show anyone how smart you are because no one really cares.
I guess my point was this...
….Would you rather him Greg Maddux (from a few years ago) and his 85 mph fastball trying to get guys out, or someone like Kyle Farnsworth and his 98 mph fastball that tends to get turned around quite often?
If in the past, Silvas’s fastball was 90 mph and he was only throwing 84 in ST, this would be a concern, but I was just referring to the fact that hitters make outs when pitchers keep them off balance, and you don’t need a 90+ fastball to accomplish that.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I understood your point...
… and we are not talking about Maddux, Farnsworth, or anyone else.
Silvas fastball was once in the low 90’s. He has been injured, and he hasn’t pitched hardly at all…
I just asked if there was any zip in his fastball. I wasn’t going to judge him if he only threw 85… I just wanted to know if he lost any zing to his fastball. (or, in this case, how much) Maddux could throw 80-85 and get people out.
Silva probably doesn’t have good enough other pitches to get away with a max out 84 MPH fastball. IMO
That was all i asked…. calm down… lol
We
We have to remember, as bad as Silva is. His competition for those 2 spots have been anything but spectacular last year besides Marshall"who flourished mostly while in the pen" Gorzelanny was in the mid 5’s and Shark was over 7.00 Sure they are younger. But the same case for them to succed would be equal to the chance of Silva Succeeding besides his poor conditioning. We do have to remember being a perfect physical specimen is not mandatory for a pitcher. Ala Fernando Valenzuela, Bobby Jenks, or Rod Beck(RIP). But counting on Gorzelanny because he had a good season in 2007 is still just as risky. We only need two of them to suceed so let’s hope that happens. My guess would be Shark ad Da Gorz will make it. Mostly, because Marshall is to important to the pen. Especially being one more man down(Guzman)
Is it still raining in the desert?
Over 400 posts about a guy that pitched only a couple innings. Wow.
"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes
That was sort of my point.
That and I think we’re all getting very anxious for something to talk about.
"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes
We're going to need an overflow thread . . . .
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 11:39 AM CST up reply actions
No we're not......gotcha!
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 8, 2010 11:41 AM CST up reply actions
I'm buying!
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 8, 2010 11:43 AM CST up reply actions
Thankfully, there will be a game preview thread up in about 10 minutes.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Radio or TV today?
Can’t find any info…
"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball." - Jacque Barzun
Great work all, sorry to have missed it.
I’m proud to see almost everyone in mid-season form.
I do want to call out drew as he appeared to be slacking and did not once make the effort to post the robot ledge jumper pic.
may addition by subtraction be real
lol
Forgot all about that… I had to find it.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:06 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Very tardy, going to have to get quicker with that first move or
guys are going to steal on you.
may addition by subtraction be real
I'll work harder, Coach!
I promise!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:16 PM CST up reply actions
Hello there, old friend!
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 12:18 PM CST up reply actions
in reality
Ledgebot isn’ really needed for this thread. We all know Silva’s probably not going to be able to do anything helpful… :D
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:19 PM CST up reply actions
True, very true...
… but it is as good time as any for me to post a link to one of my birthday presents… a custom Cubs robot (there was a matching Iowa Hawkeyes one as well):
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 8, 2010 12:27 PM CST up reply actions
oh, SWEET!
where was that procured???
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:43 PM CST up reply actions
An ETSY seller named "Robots Are Awesome".
http://www.etsy.com/shop/RobotsAreAwesome
She doesn’t make Cubs ones, my girlfriend custom ordered it… but she did an incredible job. Packaging, product, customer service… everything was top notch.
Robots are sort of my personal mascot, i guess.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
totallly
checking that out.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 2:56 PM CST up reply actions
Because a vision's softly creeping...
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 8, 2010 12:20 PM CST up reply actions
BLou, take a break, huh?
Is there anyone who saw that game that didn’t think “whoa, Carlos Silva really sucks?” So what did you add with this? Some insight you think we were missing?
Anyways, two points: First Spring start means nothing, unless it ends in an injury. If he’d thrown a 2 inning shutout, I seriously doubt you’d come on here and say how great he’s going to be and the Cubs will win 90. The performance means nothing.
Second, assume you’re right and he’s so unbelievably bad he has no value (or worse, negative value) on the MLB level. You think Lou will run him out there for 35 starts anyway? Ger real. Unless Lilly’s injury turns out to be worse than it looks now, there is one open pitchers spot in the rotation. The other 4 are Z, Dempster, Wells, and Lilly. If Silva is not the 5th guy, you’re still picking between Marshall, Gorz, Spellcheck, Cashner, etc. Its fine.
by Orval Overall on Mar 8, 2010 12:15 PM CST reply actions 7 recs
Green'ed
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 8, 2010 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
and he would have gotten away with it, too...
if not for that Daver kid and that damn Badger…
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:20 PM CST up reply actions
He's the Simon Bar Sinister of BCB.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 8, 2010 12:20 PM CST up reply actions
Ha-I forgot about him.
I was thinking of Snidely Whiplash.
"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes
I picture him as the darkly dressed spy in Spy vs. Spy.
Always peering around the corner holding a round bomb with a fuse waiting to drop in.
may addition by subtraction be real
BLou vs Drew
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
by ballhawk on Mar 8, 2010 3:14 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
So who gets to play the part of Mutley, the snickering hound?
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 8, 2010 12:30 PM CST up reply actions
Clutche. :P
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 12:44 PM CST up reply actions
Aramis/Sackings108
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 8, 2010 1:01 PM CST up reply actions
What a pair!
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 8, 2010 12:48 PM CST reply actions
Aw come on guys - You LOVE BLou..
ANd you keep encouraging him… I mean.. over 500 comments. He gets more comments than anyone on this board, which makes him, by definition, a very successful blogger. Why should he change his approach when it is so effective and stirring up debate and winning attention? BLou’s got a pretty good gig around here, and I have about .001% certainty that he’s going to give it up anytime soon.
If he had his own site and people followed, which I doubt would happen,
he’d be a successful blogger. Instead, he provides the counterpoint and acts as the villian necessary in any good film
may addition by subtraction be real
It's true.
Another analogy I’ve used: BLou is the Barry Bonds of BCB. Everyone hates him, but he puts up monster numbers season after season.
Try using some projections/stats/etc.
other than “he sucks.” Seriously dude, you need to find a hobby that makes you smile occasionally. If you’re just trying to garner attention, and really are an optimist, then you need even more help than I originally thought.
''I'm really not a Facebook or Twitter guy. I'm a prime rib and baked potato guy.'' - Sweet Lou
Can you block certain posters?
Most of you know I am the resident luddite, but I thought there was a way to block posts from people if you did not want to see them. If anyone can explain it to me I would be happy to put BLou on my list, so I will not fall to the temptation of responding.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
Luddite
1. Any of a group of British workers who between 1811 and 1816 rioted and destroyed laborsaving textile machinery in the belief that such machinery would diminish employment.
2. One who opposes technical or technological change.
Well there you go. I learned something new today.
"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver
by RiskyBusiness on Mar 8, 2010 1:40 PM CST up reply actions
I finally had to get a cell phone 3 weeks ago
I never learned how to drive a car, I don’t have a DVD player or microwave, but in fairness I am on the computer a lot even if
I can’t use many of the programs. Machines don’t like me and I don’t like them much either.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 8, 2010 1:49 PM CST up reply actions
Cubs win World Series or Doggie Stalker goes Unabomber on us.
Reason enough for me.
"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver
by RiskyBusiness on Mar 8, 2010 2:23 PM CST up reply actions
I was kind of looking at little cave in the Adirondacks
this October if the Cub didn’t win.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 8, 2010 2:32 PM CST up reply actions
Make sure it has a good theatre system
You could probably hunker down, sell off your tickets, and get this set up.
"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver
by RiskyBusiness on Mar 8, 2010 2:38 PM CST up reply actions
That had better be a 35mm theater
with capability to project Academy ratio and variable speed for silent films.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 8, 2010 3:05 PM CST up reply actions
I think it all runs off an iPhone
That setup looks neat, but I’m sure I’d stab my head with a stalactite.
"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver
by RiskyBusiness on Mar 8, 2010 3:08 PM CST up reply actions
What a sap!
He spent all that money and didn’t even spring for the 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio screen? Also, I hope those cave walls are made of absorptive material, or that room will sound like hell.
"There's more to life than profits...like, you know, slurpees and stuff." ~Randy Marsh
Found an article from 2006
Here’s the Product List:
Product List
- Stewart Filmscreen 110" Electriscreen
- B&K Reference 50 Audio Processor
- B&K Reference 7270 Audio Amplifier
- Triad Silver THX Speakers
- Rane THX44 for Equalization
- Faroudja DVP5000 Video Processor
- Extron Matrix switching and distribution
- Sony G90 Projector
- Pioneer DV79 DVD Player
- Crestron STX-1700 Control System
- LiteTouch LC5000 System for Lighting Control
- Aprilaire Remote temp and humidty sensors for HVAC Control
- BTX Custom Manufactured drapes
- Active Thermal Management push-pull units for system cooling
- Monster Cable UPS and Surge Products for power management
- Monster Cable Custom Patch Cords with compression connectors
"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver
by RiskyBusiness on Mar 8, 2010 7:03 PM CST up reply actions
Wow, the G90 is old school.
Their flagship CRT projector from like 2001. It’s unreal how much that thing weighed. It was like hanging a piano on the ceiling.
This room was done about 8 years ago, by my estimation.
"There's more to life than profits...like, you know, slurpees and stuff." ~Randy Marsh
DIGITAL CRAP!
I want film prints. Don’t like much made after 1980 anyway.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 8, 2010 11:06 PM CST up reply actions
Then I'm glad I was born in the 60's
"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver
by RiskyBusiness on Mar 9, 2010 12:17 AM CST up reply actions
No way within the SBN platform.
I briefly had a pipe dream of building a Firefox / Greasemonkey plugin that would let you do this (and i’m sure its possible in some way) but frankly, i think my time would be better spent by just scrolling on past.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
having an ignore author function would be a good idea
and would mitigate a lot of the silliness
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 8, 2010 3:30 PM CST up reply actions
Why?
This post got over 600 comments because BLou said Carlos Silva sucks. As if most if us wouldn’t have just nodded our heads in acknowledgment and moved on if it came from anyone else but him.
by Damen Jackson on Mar 8, 2010 7:17 PM CST up reply actions
No, not just because of that
C’mon…the side discussions are what generated most of this.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 8:22 PM CST up reply actions
Seems like most of those...
side discussions were either BLou is a nut, and/or anyone who shares his baseball views is too. If I’m SBNation, you’d have to add a “block user” feature over my cold, dead body.
by Damen Jackson on Mar 8, 2010 8:30 PM CST up reply actions
That, I'll agree with.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Mar 8, 2010 8:49 PM CST up reply actions
Hopefully an attempt at humor
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 9, 2010 5:15 PM CST up reply actions
Because it could be a useful option for those who want it.
For example, if you decide my posts are not worth reading or even scrolling past, an ignore author would benefit you while not adversely affecting anyone else’s enjoyment of the board.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 9, 2010 5:14 PM CST up reply actions
moar kuul ayd, moar kuul ayd, moar kuul ayd,
"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." - Terry 'Fat Tub of Goo' Forster
@Twitter as @brommmietze
by eths on Mar 8, 2010 1:49 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Mors Mors
"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." - Terry 'Fat Tub of Goo' Forster
@Twitter as @brommmietze
Holy crap
600+plus comments? If anybody really wanted to shut Blou up (not saying I necessarily do) they wouldn’t contribute to gamelog-sized comment threads.
correct, only blou can get 600 comments on a subject that is common knowledge
crap, im adding to it
by jesus christos on Mar 8, 2010 5:00 PM CST up reply actions
we can take
a stupid fanpost and turn it into a reasonable discussion thread.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 5:16 PM CST up reply actions
All the while, he's doing this to us
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Mar 9, 2010 7:14 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
i will not say who
but I received an email that was too funny not to share
Blou was fast asleep on Opening Day Eve. But at the stroke of midnight, he awoke to a ghost of Opening Day past. It was Ernie Banks. "Blou" he said, "what happened to you? You came to beautiful WF as a boy with wonder and hope in your eyes. You must look at the Cubs thru those eyes again". Blou fell back asleep when an hour later he was awaken by yet another ghost….the ghost of Opening Day present. This time the ghost was the giant Kool Aid Pitcher. "I have come here Blou on behalf of the Ricketts. They want me to tell you to be a little positve. They will bring a WS trophy to the Chicago Cubs. It will just take more than a month. Here Blou, take this glass of Kool Aid and drink from it". And Blou did! Every last drop. "Oh, and Wirtz says ditto for the Blackhawks". Blou goes back to sleep, an hour later, poof! another ghost appears. This time it is the ghost of Opening Day future, Bill Gates. "Blou" he says, "I have the technology and the means to covertly implant a computer chip into your body so if you ever try to log in to any sports blog on the internet you will be denied access. Millions of bloggers everywhere will dance with joy . Do you want this to happen? Change your blogging ways Blou". Blou wakes up the next day and tries to log into BCB. He still can! Oh joy! and its still Opening Day. He didn’t miss it. He reached deep into his pockets and called stub hub. "I don’t care how much it costs I would like tickets to Opening Day". So Blou took his Mrs and sat with a bunch of BCBer’s and bought beers all around. And Blou was the best blogger ever after. He even got replies like "100% agree buddy"! And "you said it brother". And he still sips Kool Aid every once in awhile.
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 8, 2010 6:16 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
Santo bless us
every one!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 8, 2010 6:46 PM CST up reply actions
come on
give it one more rec so its green
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
wow, you have magical powers!
btw, hope you’re feeling better
" It’s spring fever - you don’t know what it is you want, but it fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so. "--Mark Twain
getting there
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
This definetly will get some votes for best fight of the year.
Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.
Alright - who gave this fanpost the magic 4th rec???
Ok, ok, I admit it – I have an ego. Not as big as others around here mind you, but it’s an ego nonetheless. And it sure was nice seeing my Wrigley Walkabout fanpost as the only one in the Recommended Fanposts section for awhile there. I guess it was inevitable that this one would be promoted after being stuck on 3 recs for so long, but still…
I mean, it’s not so much sharing the marquee with a BLou fanpost. I can handle that – after all, this is America, right? Free speech, power to the people, home of the depraved, and all that. But for the love of god, did it have to be a fanpost about Carlos Silva? I mean, the guy’s pushing 300 lbs. and now he’s on top of me.
I… can… barely… breathe…
ack… gasp… ack…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
OK-I just rec'd your post. I didn't rec this one.
Does that help?
"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes
yes... oxygen in...
color returning… thank you…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I'll do yours...but didnt do this one!...feel any better?
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 9, 2010 10:53 AM CST up reply actions
yep... heart beating...
I can feel my legs again… thanks.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
TWSS
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 9, 2010 11:41 AM CST up reply actions
I certainly didn't rec this post.
I wish I could find out who did.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 9, 2010 11:26 AM CST up reply actions
lol.... why, what would you do? :)
" It’s spring fever - you don’t know what it is you want, but it fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so. "--Mark Twain
by cooliogirl47 on Mar 9, 2010 11:32 AM CST up reply actions
You can...
…but you’d have to look through the recent posting history of everyone who has posted here.
I'm on it!
I’ll get back to you in May sometime.
"There's more to life than profits...like, you know, slurpees and stuff." ~Randy Marsh
But you are the one person rooting for Silva to make the team
and suck. All you want is balls flying out of Wrigley.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 9, 2010 11:38 AM CST up reply actions
well, I'd prefer it if Silva were traded to, say...
…the Cardinals – not even Duncan can save him
…the Brewers – him and Prince on the same team? Man, talk about your post-game spreads.
…the Reds – he could definitely clog the bases (and who knows what else) for Dusty
…the Astros – him and Lee could market a new beer – Dos Carlos
…the Pirat… nope, then we’d run the risk of getting him back later in the year.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Admit it
Those trades give you MAYBE two Silva starts. You LUST for him on the Cubs throwing every 5th day.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 9, 2010 12:21 PM CST up reply actions
well, when I change my user name to Silva Stalker, then you can say that
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I had a very successful day of stalking so far
One Scottie, two pugs, one golden, two labs , two white fluffy small ones and one psycho nervous one that freaked out over some spilt milk and it is not even 5 yet. Lovely weather and nice doggies here in New York.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 9, 2010 4:12 PM CST up reply actions
pugs do not count towards your total - they take away from it.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Yikes you and Al should team up
He does not like ANY dogs. I love ALL dogs.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 9, 2010 6:19 PM CST up reply actions
you possess an interesting sense of logic
I do not like pugs, Al does not like any dogs. Therefore I should team up with Al?
If I did not like dogs, would I go hiking through state parks with man’s best friend?
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
What have you got against pugs?
So they breath heavy and some slobber a bit, but they are wonderful dogs. All dogs are wonderful.
Your dog seems to have the right reaction do dealing with you. If that is your dog, bring him by the park some day so I can stalk him (well pet, tummy rub , ear rub etc.).
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 9, 2010 6:57 PM CST up reply actions
My guess is that
his dog would be better at catching a baseball than a pug.
"Chicago Cubs baseball is on the air."-Pat Hughes
Well, I'm sure he has an equally appropriate reaction to dealing with you
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 9, 2010 7:41 PM CST up reply actions
nice pugs
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 9, 2010 10:04 PM CST up reply actions
Ohhhh...
I like the idea of Silva on the Reds…
We’d get to see Dusty’s head explode as Silva produced a Conga Line of RISP’s…
- Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
- Germans?
- Forget it, he's rolling.
i didnt rec either.
what should i do?
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Write your own fanpost on why the Cubs (and at least 3 other teams)...
…should relocate to Austin, Texas for spring training.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
will do!
Now do I get to choose the other 3 teams, or do you decide for me
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
Well, I suppose Texas and Houston are automatics, given we're talking 'bout Austin
so for the fourth team, I’d say let’s keep it in the heartland and go with either KC or St. Louis. Probably KC just to keep it 2 AL teams and 2 NL teams.
Then we can watch Milwaukee, Oakland, Anaheim and San Diego fight amongst themselves to see which two get to take over the two-team facility in Surprise, AZ.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
so basically
describe how to realign ST with three states
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
done, hope it lives up to expectations
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
This is awesome...
What a great post!
You just pooped on my day.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Oy Vey
I’m not going to spend 5+ hours of my life reading through 700 posts. Why this steaming pile was rec’d is unbelievable in of itself. Anyways, here’s some stats of first spring training starts of some completely random starters :
Johan Santana – 1 2/3 IP 6 H 4 ER BB K
Tim Lincecum – 1 IP 2 H 3 ER 2 BB
Josh Johnson – 2 IP 2 H 2 ER BB 2 K
Johnny Cueto – 2 IP 5 H 4 R BB 4 K
Franklin Morales – 1 2/3 IP 7 H 8 ER 2 BB
Wandy Rodriguez – 2 IP 3 H 3 ER 3 BB K
Oliver Perez – 3 IP 7 H 5 ER BB 2 K
Adam Wainwright – 2 IP 5 H 4 ER 2 BB
Brad Penny – 2 IP 6 H 3 ER K
Scott Olson – 2 IP 7 H 3 ER
Jason Marquis – 2 IP 3 H 5 ER 3 BB
I’ll say this once. SPRING TRAINING STATS MEAN NOTHING!!!! Especially numbers put up in the first freaking week. OMG, you’d have thought that was game 162 and we lost the division or something. Get a grip people.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Mar 10, 2010 1:10 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
And, Penny threw four shutout innings today vs. a pretty good hitting team, the Nationals.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
This will get a rec.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Mar 10, 2010 7:37 PM CST up reply actions
REC'D
Sunday Feb 28 at 7 PM CST free webcast of the live taping of The Austin Variety Show www.austinvarietyshow.com/
You can add Big Z to your list.
"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris
by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 11, 2010 2:35 AM CST up reply actions
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