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The All-Star Break is over! The NEW MLB Thread - This half we get stickied for sure!

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Desperado

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CHICAGO -- WGN-TV analyst Steve Stone met Friday with Chicago Cubs president Andy MacPhail, general manager Jim Hendry and manager Dusty Baker after the broadcaster questioned managerial strategy and criticized the team's approach.
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During a postgame TV show Thursday, Stone wondered about Baker's moves in the 12th inning of a 2-1 loss to the Reds.

Later that night, he went on a talk show on WGN radio and criticized the team for making excuses. WGN and the Cubs are both owned by the same company, Tribune Co.

Stone, in his 20th year as a Cubs broadcaster, is a former major league pitcher with the Cubs who won the Cy Young Award for Baltimore in 1980 when he went 25-7.

His comments have angered several players during the season. Reliever Kent Mercker called the booth during one August game to complain.

Hendry said Stone's comments Thursday went beyond constructive criticism.

"I think it was pretty clear yesterday that it was personal," Hendry said.

"It shocked me," Baker said. "I don't understand it, I don't understand the timing of it. It's bad timing. If there is something personal, you need to talk about it with somebody instead of broadcasting it to everyone else."

Stone didn't spare his opinion when he was interviewed by WGN-AM radio Thursday.

"You want the truth. You can't handle the truth," Stone said. "The truth of this situation is an extremely talented bunch of guys who want to look at all directions except where they should really look and kind of make excuses for what happened.

"At the end of the day, boys, don't tell me how rough the water is, you bring in the ship."

Stone went on to say that the Cubs should have already clinched the NL wild card by six or seven games, instead of trailing by one entering play in the final weekend.

Asked Friday about his future, Stone said: "What happened was I had extended conversations with Andy MacPhail, with Jim Hendry and with Dusty Baker at length. And I think we resolved everything. That's pretty much it."

"We all have things that if we had them to think over again we might change them. But my comments are my comments," he said.

wtf. BOOOO
 

Desperado

Member
Go 'Stros and Go Blue...I'll be missing tonight's baseball action cuz of our homecoming game...which we're gonna lose. awesome.
 

Matrix

LeBron loves his girlfriend. There is no other woman in the world he’d rather have. The problem is, Dwyane’s not a woman.
J2 Cool said:
Im really gonna feel good when you guys lose in a heart wrenching playoff defeat or to the Rockies and relinquish the lead to the Giants. I'll make sure to return the abuse then


Please we took abuse from Cubsfan all season long and last year..I feel nothing for you Cubs fans.Your team choked big time and I'll rub it in all day long even if the Stros dont make it....besides you,all the Cubs fans in this thread have talked shit all season long...I'm glad it bit them in the ass.
 

Eminem

goddamit, Griese!
theend.gif
 

Eminem

goddamit, Griese!
Matrix said:
Please we took abuse from Cubsfan all season long and last year..I feel nothing for you Cubs fans.Your team choked big time and I'll rub it in all day long even if the Stros dont make it....besides you,all the Cubs fans in this thread have talked shit all season long...I'm glad it bit them in the ass.


yeah...you're a new cubbie around these parts. there's been plenty of shit talking going on all year. what goes around comes around.
hell, i'm rubbing in the cubs as much as everyone, and look at where the chisox are. who cares. i heard about it when the sox started going downhill, theyre gonna hear about it now :)
 

Desperado

Member
Mrbob said:
Cubs fans cry tears of joy.....knowing that this has been a disastaer of a season injury wise....Dustiny has fought through it all...with the leadership of this great man he has lead us through troubled times nearly unscathed only a game out of the wildcard....dustiny is here to stay and lead to the promised land shall he.....amen.

I can't believe how many times MrBob said Dustiny in this thread...He even said Dusty's a great manager once, I just don't feel like finding it...

Face it. Dusty blows.
 

Eminem

goddamit, Griese!
Desperado said:
Face it. Dusty blows.


oh haven't you learned from steve stone? you can't say dusty managed a game wrong, let alone is a bad manager. it's totally personal and uncalled for.
 

Matrix

LeBron loves his girlfriend. There is no other woman in the world he’d rather have. The problem is, Dwyane’s not a woman.
To top it off...Cubsfan was even talking shit when the Stros were 7 1/2 games out of the WC and didnt look like they were going anywhere.....he was the king of shit talking even when the Stros looked totally out of it.....pay backs a bitch and of course he left the board for 6 months...he was smart enough to put his head up his ass and get out of dodge before the collapse :D
 

Mashing

Member
Desperado said:
Go 'Stros and Go Blue...I'll be missing tonight's baseball action cuz of our homecoming game...which we're gonna lose. awesome.

I'm curious, what school are you talking about? I think my old school has their homecoming today as well (North Shore).... and we won't lose our game
 

Matrix

LeBron loves his girlfriend. There is no other woman in the world he’d rather have. The problem is, Dwyane’s not a woman.
Dustinys post game interview answers..

His answers to almost every question:

"I dunno..."

"Damn..."

"I haven't seen that in a long time... man... its rough."

"I'm not sure what's goin on.... man.... we're due for one of these, right?... damn."

This face says it all...

2349621267.jpg
 

El Papa

Member
I'm gonna miss the HS football game tonight unless the Dodgers are getting thier asses kick, but I think they're gonna win so I wanna see them clinch it :D
 

Matrix

LeBron loves his girlfriend. There is no other woman in the world he’d rather have. The problem is, Dwyane’s not a woman.

Matrix

LeBron loves his girlfriend. There is no other woman in the world he’d rather have. The problem is, Dwyane’s not a woman.
OH GOD BIGGIO ! WTF AND VIZ UGHHHH!
 

Mrbob

Member
670 The Score is a riot right now. :lol

Cubs make a come back only to lose by one run. Par for the course for 2004! :lol

I can't believe how many times MrBob said Dustiny in this thread...He even said Dusty's a great manager once, I just don't feel like finding it...

I was towing the company line at the time, but Steve Stone has shown me the light! And Stoney hurt Baker's feeling awww too bad you big baby. If you didn't manage like shit you wouldn't get ripped on.
 

Mrbob

Member
Dusty am crying.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...sbrite,1,5590331.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

With his second season in Chicago slipping into the sewer, manager Dusty Baker defended himself and the organization Friday against charges that these are the "same old Cubs" who always disappoint fans in the end.

"How can they say 'more of the same Cubs' when this is the first time we had back-to-back winning seasons in 30-some years?" Baker asked incredulously. "It's not the same Cubs. Like I said when I came here, I'm about improvement. We're in this for the long haul; seven, eight, nine years of good to excellent.

"Are we satisfied where we are? No. Are we happy about it? Not at all. I'm used to going to the postseason. I'm spoiled by going to the postseason. I expect to go to the postseason. It's not even close to the same old Cubs.

"What I hear from true Cubs fans most of the time is that it's been exciting, it has been up and down, sometimes they want to kiss the TV, sometimes they want to kick it—the fact that we had a chance and that there is hope that wasn't here before.

"This is only my second year here. … We've turned things around rather quickly. Not as far around as everyone would like it or as we would like it. But rarely do these things happen overnight."

The problem this season is not only the monumental last-week collapse against the dregs of the National League but that preseason expectations were so high after the Cubs missed the World Series by one victory last season.

In other words the bar was raised when Baker was given a four-year, $14 million contract and general manager Jim Hendry was given $95 million for a payroll.

Jim Hendry is the man:

Hendry was blunt while assessing his bottomed-out team, which lost two straight 12-inning games to the Cincinnati Reds and three of four overall.

"When you lose games like we have the last two or three days, you can't really say you deserve [the playoffs] if you can't win your share at home," Hendry said. "We're disappointed at just not getting it done. … We've had a tough year. It hasn't gone the way we expected. We had a lot of injuries early. … It's kind of mind-boggling that you just would have thought it has gone a lot better and it hasn't."

Lol, Baker is feeling the heat:

Baker has taken some criticism of late, and he was asked why he's sometimes categorized as a good manager in the clubhouse but not on the field.

"I don't know, man," he said. "There's a whole lot worse than me. If they're saying that about me, what are they saying about everybody else? Very few have done better.

Ahahahah

ICHIRO 257!
 

Matrix

LeBron loves his girlfriend. There is no other woman in the world he’d rather have. The problem is, Dwyane’s not a woman.
WHOOOO STROS WIN!


COME ON LA!!!!!!
 

rc213

Member
Bahumbug, damn offense is still snoozing somewhere in the locker room again. Weaver isnt that sharp tonight, hope he can settle down and go deep.
 

Mashing

Member
Wow, I just saw Sisler's #'s and DAMN... he was a beast.... did it in 60 less at bats, less games and a FOUR HUNDERED AVG! Insane.

Still, all due respect to Ichiro
 

Meier

Member
Dammit... guy on 2nd with 1 out and they cant knock him. The Dodgers offense has been PATHETIC the past few games. Come on Adrian... you need to hit a long ball tonight, dammit.
 

Mrbob

Member
PS2 KID said:
didn't George Sisler set the record in fewer games?

What Mashing said.

Different era.

Anyway, looks like the As want to give the Cubs a run for their money for biggest choke job in September/October.
 
For anyone questioning Ichiro's accomplishment by compairing it to George Sisler's former record, I present you with this amazing letter written by DiamondGenius over at the Insider's Mariner board in response to an article by Rick Rielly who was claiming that Ichiro's run at the record was basically fraudulent.

Rick Reilly's latest column rips into the chase for 257 and calls it corrupt and shameful.

He mentions how far superior Sisler's season was to Ichiro's and lambastes the whole idea that Ichiro is worthy of all the attention.

He went on to say that the new record should be asterisked with an "ss" for stupid stat.

Reilly cites the 162 game schedule and the watered down pitching as reasons why Ichiro's 257+ isn't near as impressive...

Mr. Reilly...I give you the rebuttal sir.

What would have happened in 1920 if Sisler had to play in a 14 team league with the travel that the M's do, against 70 other starting pitchers 2-5 times a year instead of 45 starters MAX 10-14 times a year?

How would Sisler have done in a three game series against the 1920 equivalent of Pedro, Curt Schilling and Derek Lowe, with specialists coming in with a fresh arm in the 7th, 8th and 9th? Specialists like flame thrower Alan Embree and closer Keith Foulke.

How about if Sisler constantly went up against the likes of lefties Odalis Perez, Randy Johnson, Johan Santana, with dominant relievers such as Rivera, Gagne, Hoffman, Smoltz and Wagner?

How about the fact that when Sisler put together his 1920 season where he hit over .400 with 19HR and 122 RBI-A GREAT GREAT SEASON and BETTER than Ichiro's 2004 by far-he faced only 35% of the best players in baseball- THE WHITE PLAYERS.

Ichiro plays against the WORLDS best on a daily basis. Whites, Blacks, Latins, Asians, Australians, Canadians, you name it.

Sisler played against US citizens that were white ONLY.

Furthermore, Mr. Reilly, if the debate between 154 and 162 game seasons is such a big obstacle for you that you don't want to recognize the feat as a tremendous accomplishment and a historical event, then tell me why you have never said the same of Pete Rose?

Pete Rose played parts of 24 seasons, roughly the same amount that Cobb played, BUT Rose played 527 more games and had nearly 3,000 more at-bats than Cobb had. 527 MORE GAMES!...that is the equivalent of 3 1/2 seasons! 3000 AB's!!...again the equivalent of about 3 1/2 seasons.

Why isn't Rose's record a sham, a corrupt event, or a travesty for baseball? You have never tore into the all-time hit king, Not for THAT anyways.

I'm going to stop asking you questions Rick because it's clear you don't know the answers. If you did you wouldn't have missed the entire freakin' boat on Ichiro's chase for 257.

but I'll answer them for you.

Sisler would probably not have hit .400 against that level of competition, nor would he have likely been able to play in all 154 games with the travel schedule.

Facing a fresh arm in the last few innings rather than seeing the 120th, 130th and 140th pitch by a tiring starting pitcher would very likely have bore down on Sisler's run at 257.

George facing Johan Santana and Odalis Perez (more lefties % wise than EVER before in 2003-2004) or taking on Mulder and Zito back to back with Rincon and Rhodes in the pen- is something Sisler never had to do.

For every watered down pitcher there's a fresh relief arm to counter it. For every extra game (6 is what it will be), there's 1500 miles in extra travel and 65% more competition to counter it.

Sisler's season was better. We know this. Sisler's 257 hits in a 154 game schedule is amazing. More amazing than Ichiro's 257+ in 160 games? Sure. I have no problem giving you that.

But don't sit on your high horse and claim that it's a stupid record, or not worthy of baseball's time.

You should have just said that Sisler had a better year when he got his 257 and left it at that. Not many would venture to argue with you.

But you had to grab the attention and drill a positive event in the big leagues for something you think it's not.

The next thing we know, your going to bellow at Cal Ripken for his record not counting because he also had 162 game schedules and Gehrig didn't. Or that Ripken's streak ended because he had needed to end it and Gehrig was forced to becaise of ALS.

Well contrary to Reilly's world, it IS a big deal. It is a historical event worthy of 40 thousand flashing cameras and marked baseballs with MLB holograms.

It IS well earned by a very good baseball player having a very good season on a team that would normally be tough to play your best on.

It's an achievement by a classy player that was bold enough to jump to a culture he wasn't very familiar with and challenge himself against the planets best in his sport of choice.

Congratulations in advanced Ichiro. You deserve it.

To Rick Reilly with Love...

Get a clue pal.


DG


*applause*
 

Matrix

LeBron loves his girlfriend. There is no other woman in the world he’d rather have. The problem is, Dwyane’s not a woman.
Come on Dodgers..get 2 damn runs!!!! :(

FRIGGIN DODGERS..CANT YOU DO THE ASTROS A FAVOR! >_<
 

Eminem

goddamit, Griese!
awesome response to the ichiro bash, and congrats to ichiro. hardcore.

also, ROCK ON stros. and right now, go go giants!
 
Dear God,

Torre and I thank you for the division championship. It was nice and made us very happy. We spoiled Yankees need to ask for one more favor...

Please let the Angels sweep the A's, and please let the Indians beat the Twins once this weekend.

I'm sure Joe Dimaggio will let you in on the secret to getting in Marilyn's pants if you just help us this one last time.

Thanks.

Spoiled Yankee Fan
 

rc213

Member
Fuckin Tracy is retarded or something this last week. Venafro of all people to bring in to a close game!!! FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK Venafro, he's been horrible ever since we got him.
 

Matrix

LeBron loves his girlfriend. There is no other woman in the world he’d rather have. The problem is, Dwyane’s not a woman.
WTF COME ON DODGERS!!! HELP US OUT!!!! >_<
 
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