2006-07 MLB Offseason Thread

[naiwf 0]

One of the reasons they're hiring Pinella is because of his relationship with A-Rod.

If Alex Rodriguez was eaten alive in the Bronx, he'll be eaten alive on the north side, only now garnished with celery salt and sport peppers.

 

Who would eat A-Rod alive? The "tourists who go to Wrigley Field" or the fans who root, root, root for the Cubbies despite their ownership and team often being the drizzling shits?

[Guest Felonies!]

naiwf, have you ever watched a Cubs game?

[Guest]

Let's steal Chad Kreuter's hat.

 

OH NOES DUSTY ON ESPN

[Guest Felonies!]

Hey look, there's a guy who could vouch for Cubs fans giving a shit. naiwf is one dumb motherfucker sometimes.

 

 

It's too bad, Dusty seems like a nice guy; I heard that he'd personally call Chicagolanders battling cancer to offer support. Still, he just made a lot of boneheaded moves as a manager.

[naiwf 0]

naiwf, have you ever watched a Cubs game?

 

Yes, and if the fans didn't eat Sammy Sosa alive they wouldn't do it to A-Rod who is superior in every way and actually gives a shit about his teammates. Unlike those other guys made of glass like Lee, Wood & Prior, A-Rod rarely gets hurt and plays his 150 games a year. A-Rod just won't go there because he's had enough of being on last place teams and wants a ring damnit!

[Hawk 34 0]

I want actual explantion in regards to that Cubs fanbase comment. What is, if any, the justification for such a braindead statement? The regularly large crowds that Chicago draws despite horrendous teams?

 

Is that basically the only measure of support? Chicago fans, aren't unlike Philadelphia, NYC and Boston. The Cubs fanbase has this perception of being "aw shucks, let's go Cubbies!", when it really isn't.

 

If anything, they are more angry and bitter about their failure as Boston was. The difference being Boston set their fans up for greater levels of failure, making them much more visible then a 6th place franchise and their respective failures.

 

Naiwf, Sammy was torn apart once the love affair had expired.

[Guest Felonies!]

Derrek Lee is made of glass? He'd never been put on the disabled list before in his life.

[the max 0]

Naiwf, Sammy was torn apart once the love affair had expired.

 

That's very true. Cubs fans (at least the ten or so that I used to work with) thought that Sosa could walk on water when he was in his 3 seasons of 60+ homers. Once he was exposed, traded, etc. they turned on him. I realize that 10 people does not encapsulate an entire fanbase, but they looked at him as if he was the best player, like, ever.

[Guest Felonies!]

I love how people act as if Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park--and really, every single park in baseball--haven't become just as infested with pinkhats and bros on cell phones as Wrigley Field. "Alls youse Cubs fans do is talk on yer cell phones!" Comiskey has its share of cell phone traffic at its cell phone park, and this surprises me, because you'd think being at a White Sox game is something you try to hide from your friends and family.

[naiwf 0]

I want actual explantion in regards to that Cubs fanbase comment. What is, if any, the justification for such a braindead statement? The regularly large crowds that Chicago draws despite horrendous teams?

 

Is that basically the only measure of support? Chicago fans, aren't unlike Philadelphia, NYC and Boston. The Cubs fanbase has this perception of being "aw shucks, let's go Cubbies!", when it really isn't.

 

When a team hasn't won a championship in about 100 years and has 5 playoff appearances in the last 68, yet packs the house every night, that to me screams "aw shucks, let's go Cubbies!". People stopped going to see the Bulls when they sucked for a while, but the Cubs could finish in last place for another 20 years straight and Wrigley will still be packed in 2027. If it was (college or pro) football or something where your team has like 5 to 8 home dates a year I could see not giving up on the "experience" of seeing them live, but I just can't take the "lovable loser" teams like the Cubs seriously. Boston was bad too, but at least their fans sounded borderline suicidal year after year. With the exception of the 2 Cubs fans on this board, it's almost like the fanbase's mantra is "well, there's always next year", said with a cheesy grin on their face.

[Guest Felonies!]

When a team hasn't won a championship in about 100 years and has 5 playoff appearances in the last 68, yet packs the house every night, that to me screams "aw shucks, let's go Cubbies!".

Maybe it screams that their fans love their team and the game of baseball, and enjoy spending time at games. What good will it do to turn on them? How's that to make them any better? It doesn't. You'll always draw a respectable crowd on a nice summer day. I thought you were supposed to unconditionally support your teams. Comerica Park was empty for years and now Detroit "has always been a baseball town." The Cubs draw a crowd day-in-day-out and we get fucking blasted for it. It doesn't add up.

 

People stopped going to see the Bulls when they sucked for a while, but the Cubs could finish in last place for another 20 years straight and Wrigley will still be packed in 2027.

That's because Chicago is a baseball town, and only really cared about the Bulls for like, what, ten or so years? The Chicago Stadium had always been for the Hawks first and foremost. Hardly anyone could tell you a thing about the pre-Jordan Bulls. Even I can't, other than the fact that they had Jerry Sloan. I think that's just about it. Even now, I think most people would be happy to see the Bulls be a contender again, but all the focus now is on the Bears.

 

If it was (college or pro) football or something where your team has like 5 to 8 home dates a year I could see not giving up on the "experience" of seeing them live, but I just can't take the "lovable loser" teams like the Cubs seriously. Boston was bad too, but at least their fans sounded borderline suicidal year after year. With the exception of the 2 Cubs fans on this board, it's almost like the fanbase's mantra is "well, there's always next year", said with a cheesy grin on their face.

Nobody says that and means it.

[tominator89 0]

A-Rod unhurt after private jet overruns runway

 

BURBANK, Calif. -- A private jet, carrying New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and six others, overran a runway at Bob Hope Airport on Friday and was brought to a halt by an arresting system.

 

"I spoke to Alex. He's fine," agent Scott Boras said.

 

None of the seven people aboard were injured, federal officials said.

 

The Gulfstream G-II carried five passengers and two crew members, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a statement from Washington, D.C. It departed from Las Vegas earlier in the day.

 

The twin-engine jet was stopped by the Engineered Materials Arresting System, a 200-foot-long stretch of pavement injected with air bubbles designed to collapse under the weight of an aircraft as large as a Boeing 737 jet traveling as fast as 50 knots, airport spokesman Victor Gill said.

 

"It came to a pretty quick stop," Gill said.

 

Damage to the aircraft was minor, the board said.

 

An NTSB official was sent to investigate the 11:35 a.m. incident. The board planned to retrieve the cockpit voice recorder, gather radar data and evaluate how well the arresting system worked.

 

There was no indication that the jet's crew reported any problems before landing or that the runway was wet, according to Tealeye Cornejo, an NTSB air safety investigator. Investigators will look into whether the jet had already arrived and was taxing at the time of the accident or whether it overshot the runway upon landing, she said.

 

The aircraft, registered to a Wilmington, Del., corporation, approached from the west and landed on one of the airport's two runways. The runway was closed and reopened at 3:30 p.m. after the plane was moved, Gill said.

 

Bob Hope Airport, in the San Fernando Valley north of downtown Los Angeles, is used by seven airlines and private aircraft.

 

A Southwest Airlines jet skidded off a runway and crashed through a concrete barrier at the airport in 2000, injuring 43 passengers and the captain. The Southwest flight from Las Vegas went too fast and descended at a steep angle when it landed, according to a NTSB report. That jet ended up on a city street near a gas station.

 

Friday's incident came just two days after Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle's plane failed to execute a U-turn and slammed into the side of a high-rise in Manhattan, killing Lidle and his flight instructor.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2624447

[snuffbox 0]

Might be time to just stop there, nawf.

[Guest]

If we were talking about the Royals, or any other small market team that sucks, the attendance point would be valid. When you're talking about a team in a large metropolitan area such as the Cubs, a lot of people are going to show up, regardless of their record. People love baseball. No, the White Sox don't count because they play in the fucking hood, and nobody wants to go down there.

[Guest Felonies!]

Also, in the case of the Bulls, you have a historic case of Krause and Reinsdorf just really dicking over their fans, by purging everything that was associated with the dynasty and never really committing to any serious rebuilding plan until John Paxson took over. I mean, Tim Floyd? srsly?

[Annabelle 0]

"aw shucks, lets go cubbies"

 

really?

 

ask steve bartman about that one, pal.

[Slayer 0]

I love how people act as if Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park--and really, every single park in baseball--haven't become just as infested with pinkhats and bros on cell phones as Wrigley Field.

I've never seen a pink-hat for any team outside of the Yankees and Boston, thought it might be funny for some teams

 

Pink Marlins hat

Pink Bluejays hat

Pink Indians hat, complete with Chief Wahoo in drag

[Slayer 0]

Also, a Pink Reds hat, for the confusion factor

[Guest]

I've seen Dodger hats in green, black, white, red, and pink.

[Guest Felonies!]

If Tommy Lasorda's son was still alive, he'd bleed Dodger pink.

[geniusMoment 0]

I've seen pink reds hats, they gave them away at a game earlier this year.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

There are pink Phillies hats. I told Meg she'd be much cooler if she bought the baby blue 1980s throwback instead.

[Guest Felonies!]

See, I prefer the current hat, but I liked the old mulberry color better. They should go back to that color with the current uniforms. Red pinstripes make the Phillies look pink.

[Guest Paul]

If Tommy Lasorda's son was still alive, he'd bleed Dodger pink.

 

And he'd be yelling at him to watch some baseball.

 

& I do not fear the southside. I was only there once, but still. I had some good Mexican food down there.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

See, I prefer the current hat, but I liked the old mulberry color better. They should go back to that color with the current uniforms. Red pinstripes make the Phillies look pink.

I actually like the pink look, except I'd rather see the 1950s style unis.

 

 

Compared to...

 

[Der Kommissar 0]

I've never seen a pink-hat for any team outside of the Yankees and Boston

 

I saw a pink Raiders hat once. That just seemed wrong on so many levels.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The Os had a grey hat in the mid 90s which looked stupid but I bought one anyway..they wore it with their grey jerseys which..Im sure they've abandoned now..

 

I wish there was some Os news to get excited about..Im seriously concerned that they wont make one worthwhile move this offseason.

70 wins again in 2007!

 

And for the record since I never got to post about it, I was not a part of the "Free the birds" protest thing even though I went to that game. I joked with one of the Detroit fans in the stands at the game that Peter Angelos should have gotten the Os moved to the NL East as a part of the deal to move the Expos to DC (putting the Nats in the AL East), but then they would probably be a 5th place team..haha. And it was funny cause the Detroit fans (the stands were crawling with em..) were actually pretty cool and said it reminded them of the Matt Millen thing with the lions a couple years ago.

[Guest Felonies!]

They should go back to the cartoon bird they had during the Weaver years.

[the max 0]

I like the Phillies having numbers on the left sleeve, as it's unique to them (I can't think of another team with the number there). That said, i preferred the dark red and white to the slightly lighter that they sport today.

 

And I hate pink hats, jerseys, shirts and everything else. The gal has her "baby blue" Blue Jays hat, which I can deal with.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Cubs are expected to announce Sweet Lou as their new manager Monday. Anything's an upgrade over Dusty, but I sense Hendry's made yet another mistake.