Phil Rogers is Still Wrong – Because He HAS TO

In News And Rumors by aisle424305 Comments

MB, you ignorant slut.

As someone who has been around the Cubs blogosphere for as long as you have, you should know damn well that Phil Rogers is never right about anything.  I’m fairly certain he needs a couple of tries to get his own name right in the byline.

It was disturbing to realize that I was coming down on the same side of things as Steve Rosenbloom when talking about the Cubs’ ownership and administration, but it is wholly unsettling to realize we may also be looking at information before us and coming to the same conclusions as Phil Rogers.  That can’t possibly be good for our credibility as the most unrediscredited Cubs blog in existence.

So, given that we know Phil Rogers is always wrong, we have to look and determine how that could be so.  Because, as anyone who has ever Wikipedia’d Sherlock Holmes knows, “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

We’ve been awfully upset lately about the Ricketts’ apparent disconnection from the issues at hand with the team.  We’ve been jumping up and down on him pretty hard for seemingly ignoring the calamity that is unfolding as the season progresses (hence the new banner) and foolishly clinging to the idea that the Cubs, once healthy, are a force to be reckoned with.

We wonder how it could be so.  We wonder how any rational human being with two operational brain cells to scrape together could possibly look at this team and this season and possibly be surprised at how it’s going. 

Maybe they’re not surprised.  Maybe they knew damn well this disaster was a possibility.

We all saw the projections before the season.  As much as Jim Hendry scoffs at advanced metrics, he had to be aware of them.  Surely someone somewhere in the Cubs office realized this was a 77 win team if things went our way, and would surely be a trainwreck if they went typically Cub-style as the season wore on.  We talk about how stupid they are, but they seem to at least be literate people who presumably don’t need to be reminded to inhale and exhale.  (Maybe not so much Todd, but he may be the exception that proves the rule.)

So maybe this was semi-expected.  Maybe the reason we haven’t gotten votes of confidence on Quade and Hendry is because ownership isn’t panicking over something they foresaw as long ago as we did.  Maybe Hendry is being allowed to go on his merry way in the rebuild because they knew all along this was going to be a potential shit storm and it couldn’t be helped.

I’ve talked before about the attendance floor and the buffer zone the waitlist provides allowing the Cubs to do some things that aren’t popular.  I’ve always put it in a context of raising ticket prices and basically screwing over the fans in the pursuit of cash, but it works just as well for doing things on the baseball side that are unpopular amongst the common fan.  Think about it, Rogers thinks that the Cubs HAVE TO do something soon to offer up a sacrifice to the masses. 

Something has to give, and probably soon, even if the calls for an organizational clean sweep have yet to penetrate the clubhouse doors.

Where have we heard that before?  Now suddenly we find ourselves on the same side of the argument as Rosenbloom, Rogers, AND Yellon?  Holy shit!  What bizarro universe is this?

We have to ask ourselves, if the Cubs do not fire anyone and allow the season to go on the way it has, will Al Yellon quit being a season ticket holder? I’d be shocked if he did.  And I’d be shocked if most of the thousands of season ticket holders that have stuck with this team through the 80’s and 90’s would jump ship at this point.  There will be turnover.  There is no getting around it.  the attrition might even be higher than the Cubs expected in their worst nightmares, but they do not act like a team that is concerned.

They say they aren’t concerned and none of their actions indicate they are concerned. Even Hendry always seems pretty calm for someone who is supposedly one more lost series away from the unemployment lne:

“People don’t believe me, but I don’t worry about that,” he said when asked if he’s concerned about losing his job. “I’ll leave that up to what (Chairman) Tom Ricketts thinks is best for the club.”

So we are left with two possible conclusions.  1) The Rickettseses don’t give a shit or 2) They saw this coming and are working through their playbook to some endgame that involves the team getting better through Jim Hendry and Crane Kenney.

I am going to throw out the idea that they don’t care.  They may not be the kind of Cubs fans that we want them to be, but they do care.  You don’t sink $850 million into something during the worst economy since the Great Depression if you don’t care about it.  They might not have understood what they were taking on and may have underestimated just HOW bad it was going to get as they ran their playbook, but they have a plan.

I believe that plan involves Jim Hendry and Crane Kenney, and if it involves those two, then it also involves Mike Quade at least through the season.  The Cubs don’t HAVE TO do anything drastic to assure that 26,000 seats are sold for every game next year.  On the flipside, I also don’t think any additional seats will be sold this year or next year based on who manages this team or who the general manager is. Anyone who abandoned the Cubs over Hendry still having a job isn’t going to come back the minute Hendry is gone.  They will wait to see how the next guy does, so there is no short term gain to be had by cleaning house. This leads me to suspect that no meaningless change for change’s sake is imminent.

We can argue about whether the plan the Rickettseses have is any good or if they are actually on the right track, but what I don’t think is likely is a scrapping of that plan when they have no real reason to do so and it hasn’t been allowed to play out as they drew it up.  They say their goal is to continue to build up the farm system and spend money more smarter (or something).  Well, as MB pointed out, the just concluded draft showed a change from recent Cubs drafting history and if they do manage to sign some of the guys who fell because of perceived signability issues, they might have done a nice job re-stocking the system.

Also, if the Cubs suck this year (and we had every reason to think that was just as possible as contending), they’ll get a nice draft position to further the stockpiling of prospects.  The trade for Garza makes less sense if we choose to completely believe their words about building the farm, but it seems far more likely a deviation than one that involves Phil Rogers being right about something.

So I’m going to say that the Cubs stick with the status quo if for no other reason than to not be in agreement with Phil Rogers.  He wants the Cubs to go after Ned Coletti, for crying out loud.  When looking at the Dodgers and seeing Kim Ng and Ned Coletti side by side, Rogers wants Ned.  This is not someone I ever want to agree with on something as basic as pizza toppings.


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Comments

  1. The Wreckard

    Holy shit, Al criticizing Dave Eggars is a new standard in comedy.

    The writing wasn’t even very good.
    GM’s are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.
    by shoemile on Jun 9, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

    Nope.
    It wasn’t.

    Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation’s Baseball Nation
    by Al Yellon on Jun 9, 2011 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

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  2. Aisle424

    [quote name=The Wreckard]Holy shit, Al criticizing Dave Eggars is a new standard in comedy.[/quote]
    I like how he promises to “rip it apart” and then pretty much just says “Nuh uh” except with more commas.

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  3. Aisle424

    [quote name=Ace@BleacherNation]Eggers talked about Bartman! I hate Bartman! I can relate! Long-form articles win![/quote]
    I’m glad Al decided to rip him apart. That showed him.

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  4. mb21

    I am not a slut!

    Even though 424’s article follows logic in ways that may argument did not, I’m not sure that, 1) the Cubs are logical and 2) firing a manager is ever logical. Most of the time a manager is fired it’s for no other reason than to change directions or appease a frustrated fan base. Actually, I’d say those are the only two reasons managers are fired. Ozzie Guillen and his fat mouth still has a job. Tony LaRussa and his drunken ass still has one too.

    I agree that attendance isn’t going to increase if they fire Quade. I also don’t think the Cubs will improve because they fire him or even if they fire Hendry. Any improvement from firing him is going to be seen over time and not something we see in 2011, 2012 and probably not even 2013 or 2014. I also agree that Tom Ricketts cares. Nobody sinks that kind of money into this team who doesn’t care about at least one thing: profit. And right now, the Cubs are not maximizing their profits in a number of ways. One of those ways is that the direction of this franchise is clearly opposite that of a franchise that has success on the field. As fun as it is to say that Ricketts is an idiot, I don’t believe that either. I believe he’s very likely an intelligent person who is more than qualified to be in the position he is.

    If we accept that managers have little impact on wins and losses then we have to accept that changing managers isn’t about improving a team. Will it increase attendance? No, but the worst thing someone can do when things are going bad is look like they’re doing nothing. Even in 2007 when the Cubs were horribly unlucky, they’d have looked better to a lot of people doing something rather than sitting idly by. They wisely waited it out with only a few minor changes.

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  5. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]Ramirez looked safe.[/quote]
    I think he was out by a step but Brenly is giving him the business for watching the ball instead of running. Looked like Ramirez was running all the way though.

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  6. Doogolas

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I think he was out by a step but Brenly is giving him the business for watching the ball instead of running. Looked like Ramirez was running all the way though.[/quote]
    Brenly will use any excuse possible to bitch about a Latin player. Ramirez has no right to look at the play in front of him.

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  7. mb21

    [quote name=cwolf](dying laughing), mb. I thought he was out and then thought safe on the replay.[/quote]Funny what we see, isn’t it?

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  8. mb21

    [quote name=Mish]Moustakas called up.[/quote]Nice. I’ve got tickets to the 3 Iowa Cubs/Royals games coming up in a couple weeks.

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  9. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]Nice. I’ve got tickets to the 3 Iowa Cubs/Royals games coming up.[/quote]
    RC —-> jealous

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  10. Aisle424

    [quote name=mb21]I am not a slut!

    Even though 424’s article follows logic in ways that may argument did not, I’m not sure that, 1) the Cubs are logical and 2) firing a manager is ever logical. Most of the time a manager is fired it’s for no other reason than to change directions or appease a frustrated fan base. Actually, I’d say those are the only two reasons managers are fired. Ozzie Guillen and his fat mouth still has a job. Tony LaRussa and his drunken ass still has one too.

    I agree that attendance isn’t going to increase if they fire Quade. I also don’t think the Cubs will improve because they fire him or even if they fire Hendry. Any improvement from firing him is going to be seen over time and not something we see in 2011, 2012 and probably not even 2013 or 2014. I also agree that Tom Ricketts cares. Nobody sinks that kind of money into this team who doesn’t care about at least one thing: profit. And right now, the Cubs are not maximizing their profits in a number of ways. One of those ways is that the direction of this franchise is clearly opposite that of a franchise that has success on the field. As fun as it is to say that Ricketts is an idiot, I don’t believe that either. I believe he’s very likely an intelligent person who is more than qualified to be in the position he is.

    If we accept that managers have little impact on wins and losses then we have to accept that changing managers isn’t about improving a team. Will it increase attendance? No, but the worst thing someone can do when things are going bad is look like they’re doing nothing. Even in 2007 when the Cubs were horribly unlucky, they’d have looked better to a lot of people doing something rather than sitting idly by. They wisely waited it out with only a few minor changes.[/quote]
    The entire premise is based on the incontrovertible fact that Phil Rogers is always wrong. Thus you must be wrong (and a slut).

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  11. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mish]I missed watching Chase Utley, and yes, I realize he didn’t do anything.[/quote]
    He almost got all of that one…sent Fuke into the wall.

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  12. ACT

    [quote name=Aisle424]This is the first wind delay I’ve ever seen. I expect Quade to kill an umpire.[/quote]Nope. Not an official game yet.

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  13. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]The entire premise is based on the incontrovertible fact that Phil Rogers is always wrong. Thus you must be wrong (and a slut).[/quote](dying laughing) I did laugh at the idea of hiring Colletti. For what it’s worth, Kim Ng is now an assistant to Selig or something. I’d like it if the Cubs hired her, but I doubt that happens. How do you explain to Al that a woman can in fact do the same job as a man?

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  14. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21](dying laughing) I did laugh at the idea of hiring Colletti. For what it’s worth, Kim Ng is now an assistant to Selig or something. I’d like it if the Cubs hired her, but I doubt that happens. How do you explain to Al that a woman can in fact do the same job as a man?[/quote]
    Maybe she just needs to wear a fake beard.

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  15. mb21

    [quote name=PFD]Just turned on the game. What the fuck is a wind delay?[/quote]I don’t know, but I don’t think I’d ever seen the wind blowing that hard at a game.

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  16. Aisle424

    [quote name=PFD]Just turned on the game. What the fuck is a wind delay?[/quote]
    Storm is coming, but right now its just a bunch of wind. In fairness, there is lightning in the area.

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  17. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]I don’t know, but I don’t think I’d ever seen the wind blowing that hard at a game.[/quote]
    The wind looked like it actually moved Ryan Howard, and Howard is no small person.

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  18. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius]Lesbian Hobbit in the booth![/quote]
    Is that who that was? What a disgusting little troll.

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  19. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]Lesbian Hobbit in the booth![/quote]Glad I missed it. Whoever said smoking was bad for your health is an idiot.

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  20. Rice Cube

    Is Brett Jackson hurt again? He DH’ed a couple nights ago and this is the second night in a row he’s not playing…

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  21. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Is Brett Jackson hurt again? He DH’ed a couple nights ago and this is the second night in a row he’s not playing…[/quote]
    They cut his playing short because they loved it.

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  22. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Aisle424]They cut his playing short because they loved it.[/quote]
    Ha.

    Looks like we’ve got half an hour or so before the rain goes away. At which point the Cubs still won’t score through five innings and they’ll just call the game, thus allowing Quade to blow his stack. It’s a great plan.

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  23. Bubba Biscuit

    [quote name=ACT]Why couldn’t it have rained on Halladay or Lee, rather than Kendrick?[/quote]
    Cause I own both of them in the Discredited Roto League.

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  24. mb21

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I suddenly want a Philly cheesesteak.[/quote]I’m a vegetarian for the most part, but if I could get my hands on a Philly cheesesteak, I’d eat it. No problem. (dying laughing)

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  25. Urk

    “And I’d be shocked if most of the thousands of season ticket holders that have stuck with this team through the 80’s and 90’s would jump ship at this point. “

    No, but I think that the worry is that the fans who came on board around 2003 will jump ship. Of course, I started watching this team in 2003, but I’m an idiot.

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  26. Urk

    I also think that Quade won’t lose his job due to the team sucking. In fact, my super-secret backwards explanation theory thingie is that Quade will have his job as long as the team is sucking and projected to suck. Or at least through the season. I mean, if they burn the fire-the-manager card during the season, is that going to get anyone excited enough to come back to the ballpark? I doubt it. Whoever they could get to agree to shepherd this mess to the end of the year would do absolutely nothing for putting butts back in the seats.

    But, if its part of the oh-my-gawd-super-awesome offseason rebuilding-this-is-the-YEAR-plan, then they have something to sell. Especially if they can bring in either a name GM or Sandberg. Basically, I’ve felt since the offseason that Quade having this job meant that they were pretty sure this team would suck this season, whatever smoke they’ve blown up various reporters asses about it.

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  27. Aisle424

    [quote name=Urk]”And I’d be shocked if most of the thousands of season ticket holders that have stuck with this team through the 80’s and 90’s would jump ship at this point. “

    No, but I think that the worry is that the fans who came on board around 2003 will jump ship. Of course, I started watching this team in 2003, but I’m an idiot.[/quote]
    I’d be interested to see how many season tickets are held by people from prior to 2003 vs. post. There weren’t that many season tickets to be had when I got in before 1998. No waiting list or anything, but a good portion of the “good” seats were already season packages.

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  28. GBTS

    One of my friends told me that when he was born, one of his uncles put his name on the season ticket waiting list, and he’s in the triple digits now. He’s 25 now. Is he full of shit?

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  29. mb21

    I also think that Quade won’t lose his job due to the team sucking. In fact, my super-secret backwards explanation theory thingie is that Quade will have his job as long as the team is sucking and projected to suck. Or at least through the season. I mean, if they burn the fire-the-manager card during the season, is that going to get anyone excited enough to come back to the ballpark? I doubt it. Whoever they could get to agree to shepherd this mess to the end of the year would do absolutely nothing for putting butts back in the seats.

    I think the idea that firing a manager increases attendance if a myth. I’m pretty sure the numbers would prove that. Teams that fire managers are bad teams and have bad attendance. I don’t believe that a general manager actually thinks a manager really matters that much. The best paid manager makes less than in value per win than a 1 WAR player would make so teams don’t value managers that highly.

    I think Mish linked an article earlier about changing directions. I’m not sure if I read that one or not, but I know a few years ago I read an article or a chapter in a book about teams that fired managers mid-season or after a season is about characteristics. The Cubs let Dusty Baker (a player’s manager) go and brought in Lou Piniella (a hard-ass). They let Lou go and brought in a guy who was willing to write lineups out months in advance and have the players over for sleepovers.

    This is common. When teams change managers by firing someone or not bringing someone back they bring in a manager who is pretty much the opposite of the previous manager.

    I guess what I’m saying is that I don’t think firing a manager is about trying to increase attendance. It’s not going to happen. I think it’s about changing directions. I also think it’s about appearing to be doing something to fix a problem.

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  30. Aisle424

    [quote name=GBTS]One of my friends told me that when he was born, one of his uncles put his name on the season ticket waiting list, and he’s in the triple digits now. He’s 25 now. Is he full of shit?[/quote]
    Yeah, there was no wait list after 1997. I don’t know how many tickets were available, but I got in and another guy who bought in the 500s before the 1984 season moved down into 424. There seemed to be a lot of movement that year since 1997 sucked balls.

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  31. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]Yeah, there was no wait list after 1997. I don’t know how many tickets were available, but I got in and another guy who bought in the 500s before the 1984 season moved down into 424. There seemed to be a lot of movement that year since 1997 sucked balls.[/quote]I remember playing catch with my roommate outside our apartment in Iowa City when the Cubs were 0-13. I remember that because it was the earliest a Cubs season had ever been officially over in my life.

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  32. Horny Goat

    Is Mark Grace getting a DUI old news around here? It just made the ESPN news thingy but it happened on memorial day. that was like 10 days ago. Can’t say I’m surprised.

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  33. Berselius

    [quote name=Aisle424]I think RC is the only one actually watching the game.[/quote]
    I’m watching Firefly and making chicken stock

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  34. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Aisle424]I think RC is the only one actually watching the game.[/quote]
    I figure the Heat-Mavs game doesn’t get exciting until the fourth quarter anyway.

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  35. ZappBrannigan

    [quote name=Berselius]I’m watching Firefly and making chicken stock
    [/quote]
    Firefly makes me sad whenever I watch it. Damn you, Fox.

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  36. Horny Goat

    I’m watching the game only because the Phillies are a good team. I also heard the BOS-NYY game will finally start in 10 minutes after a 3 hour+ rain delay. Beckett-Sabathia.

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  37. Rice Cube

    (dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)

    Ryan Theriot just hit a homer. Lucky for him they’re playing in Houston tonight.

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  38. Aisle424

    [quote name=Horny Goat]the cubs remind me of the 1899 Cleveland Spiders

    well, maybe not THAT bad[/quote]
    They were a recent sucky team I enjoyed.

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  39. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube](dying laughing)
    (dying laughing)

    Ryan Theriot just hit a homer. Lucky for him they’re playing in Houston tonight.[/quote]
    Get ready for the return of power-hitting Theriot!

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  40. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Josh]I understand Theriot has sneaky power.[/quote]
    Minute Maid Park allows a lot of sneaky homers.

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  41. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]RBI double Peenya. could the cubs actually win this game?[/quote]
    Of course not. Silly HG.

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  42. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]which Cub will be the designated all star this year?[/quote]
    I want it to be Carlos Zambrano.

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  43. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I want it to be Carlos Zambrano.[/quote]
    that would be awesome, if he’s not run out of town before that

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  44. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]that would be awesome, if he’s not run out of town before that[/quote]
    That thought makes me sad.

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  45. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]That thought makes me sad.[/quote]
    the end has to come at some point. I hope he gets traded to a team that wins the world series instead of being exiled to the Orioles or something. Not likely this year though.

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  46. cwolf

    [quote name=Horny Goat]Soto, holy cow! never doubt HG again![/quote]HG with the early call on a (maybe) Cub win !

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  47. josh

    I figured it up. If they split 2 with the Phillies, then win every series for the rest of the month, including 3-of-4 against the Giants, bam, 16 wins. Totally doable.

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  48. Chris Dickerson

    [quote name=mb21](dying laughing) I did laugh at the idea of hiring Colletti[/quote]
    Actually it sounds like the Phil wants the Cubs to ‘finesse’ Ned.

    Maybe if they can’t get him, they can serenade Omar Minaya.

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  49. Horny Goat

    I’m looking at the replay and a lot of bias going on here. philly announcers say no way it’s a HR. but they don’t have a good angle.

    c’mon, you can’t take a HR away from a guy batting under .100 can you? (dying laughing)

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  50. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I’m looking at the replay and a lot of bias going on here. philly announcers say no way it’s a HR. but they don’t have a good angle.

    c’mon, you can’t take a HR away from a guy batting under .100 can you? (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Sure they can…evil!

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  51. Bubba Biscuit

    [quote name=Josh]I figured it up. If they split 2 with the Phillies, then win every series for the rest of the month, including 3-of-4 against the Giants, bam, 16 wins. Totally doable.[/quote]
    The only way they win that many is if they play checkers instead of baseball.

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  52. mb21

    [quote name=Chris Dickerson]Actually it sounds like the Phil wants the Cubs to ‘finesse’ Ned.

    Maybe if they can’t get him, they can serenade Omar Minaya.[/quote](dying laughing)

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  53. Horny Goat

    I hope the umps had a better angle than the philly broadcast because it wasn’t definitive on there. they needed a side angle.

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  54. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius](dying laughing). Time for an 18 inning game that destroys both bullpens[/quote]
    Oswalt in left field! Make it so.

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  55. Berselius

    [quote name=Horny Goat]this is just the impetus the cubs needed to go on a 25-5 tear![/quote]
    It’s Gonna Happen.

    Because it has to.

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  56. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Berselius]What happened on that HR? Fan reached over the wall?[/quote]
    maybe (dying laughing)

    it might’ve hit on top of the fence if he hadn’t reached. who knows. they probably got it right.

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  57. Rice Cube

    I thought if it was over the scoreboard it was a homer. Fan definitely reached out though.

    IBB to Fuke to get to Barney (dying laughing)

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  58. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]that, ladies and gentleman, is the closest the cubs come to winning (dying laughing)[/quote]
    God hates the Cubs.

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  59. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]why am I watching this instead of Boston-Yankees?[/quote]
    Did Jeter get his hits in?

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  60. Xoomwaffle

    [quote name=Horny Goat]why am I watching this instead of Boston-Yankees?[/quote]Why are you watching this instead of Mavs/Heat.

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  61. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Xoomwaffle]Why are you watching this instead of Mavs/Heat.[/quote]
    It’s a way of [L]ife.

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  62. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Xoomwaffle]Why are you watching this instead of Mavs/Heat.[/quote]
    because the NBA blows?

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  63. Xoomwaffle

    It feels like a curse that this team has gone to extra innings recently. Have to watch more of the terribleness.

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  64. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Xoomwaffle]It feels like a curse that this team has gone to extra innings recently. Have to watch more of the terribleness.[/quote]
    If they’re good like in 2007-08 it”s worth watching. I thought 2005 was the worst because there were so many close games and they ended up 79-83. This is entirely diff.

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  65. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I also had faith that the Mavs would win because Jason Kidd is magic.[/quote]
    well, they up 3-2 now. I’m surprised.

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  66. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]well, they up 3-2 now. I’m surprised.[/quote]
    Correct. But it is a nice surprise.

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  67. Xoomwaffle

    [quote name=Horny Goat]If they’re good like in 2007-08 it”s worth watching. I thought 2005 was the worst because there were so many close games and they ended up 79-83. This is entirely diff.[/quote]When is Ryan Howard due up? He’s bound to Pojouls the Cubs, right?

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  68. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]Fuck Selig and his cornhole buds for not letting Cuban buy the Cubs.[/quote]
    Considering the pricetag I think Cuban should thank Bud (dying laughing)

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  69. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Considering the pricetag I think Cuban should thank Bud (dying laughing)[/quote]
    maybe, not sure how much money Cuban had/has. It could have been awesome.

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  70. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]maybe, not sure how much money Cuban had/has. It could have been awesome.[/quote]
    I think the issue was that he didn’t want to have to pay for the Cubs and have the massive home improvement bill (dying laughing)

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  71. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I think the issue was that he didn’t want to have to pay for the Cubs and have the massive home improvement bill (dying laughing)[/quote]
    sure, but that doesn’t answer my question. He was willing to buy the Cubs. I confess I don’t remember now, though. It was the beginning of the economic downturn. That sale dragged on and on.

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  72. Aisle424

    [quote name=Horny Goat]sure, but that doesn’t answer my question. He was willing to buy the Cubs. I confess I don’t remember now, though. It was the beginning of the economic downturn. That sale dragged on and on.[/quote]
    I think he looked at the books, realized Wrigley was a hole, saw the economy tanking and realized Zell was just out trying to fuck people, so he told them “no thanks.”

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  73. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Aisle424]I think he looked at the books, realized Wrigley was a hole, saw the economy tanking and realized Zell was just out trying to fuck people, so he told them “no thanks.”[/quote]
    that’s what he told me

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  74. Rice Cube

    [quote name=dylanj]we are walking a LH with Marshall on the mound?[/quote]
    Phillies are out of pitchers.

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  75. cwolf

    [quote name=Horny Goat]I think so[/quote]I agree with both of you guys.

    As far as Cuban buying the Cubs, I think it would have been great but in addition to the Selig/Reinsdorf factor, Cuban has said even if he had made it past that first round of bidders, he would have dropped out due to the terms of the sale. Of course, that may be Cuban spinning it after the fact but he mentioned the TV/Radio contracts and the debt requirements as factors that he didn’t like so it kinda makes sense to me.

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  76. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]strike that, and strike that bitch out. Marshall is the man. Trade him for Matt Cain![/quote]
    I don’t think Brian Sabean is that stupid.

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  77. Horny Goat

    (dying laughing), I had to step away and didn’t realize the pitcher had to hit. too funny

    c.mon colvin, get on so Z can ding it over the fence!

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  78. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I don’t think Brian Sabean is that stupid.[/quote]
    who did alvin want to flip for Matt Cain?

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  79. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Horny Goat]who did alvin want to flip for Matt Cain?[/quote]
    I dunno…a bologna sandwich?

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  80. AndCounting

    Tyler Colvin being on base again reminds me: the Cubs can’t even score when they hit home runs now.

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  81. AndCounting

    Phillies looked like serious crap that inning. And they haven’t scored since Rodrigo Lopez came in the game. That’s embarrassing.

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  82. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Berselius](dying laughing), I tune back into the game 4 hours later just in time to see the Cubs take the lead[/quote]
    HG prediction, amirite? (dying laughing)

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  83. Horny Goat

    (dying laughing) Quade is still arguing the Colvin HR/double with the umps while hi-fiving the players!

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  84. Rice Cube

    [quote name=ACT]Now all the Cubs have to do is beat Hallday, Lee, and Oswalt to complete the sweep![/quote]
    It’s gonna happen!

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  85. Horny Goat

    now Boston just made it 2-1 NY with a Ellsbury double in the 7th. Sox trying to beat NYY 5 straight times so far this year.

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  86. Horny Goat

    Hey hey holy mackerel
    No doubt about it
    The Cubs are on their way
    The Cubs are gonna pitch today
    They’re gonna hit today
    They’re gonna field today
    Come what may the Cubs are gonna win today.

    Hey hey holy mackerel
    No doubt about it
    The Cubs are on their way
    They’ve got the hustle
    They’ve got the muscle
    The Chicago Cubs are on their way.

    (Instrumental Break)

    Hey hey holy mackerel
    No doubt about it
    The Cubs are on their way
    The Cubs are gonna pitch today
    They’re gonna hit today
    They’re gonna field today
    Come what may the Cubs are gonna win today.

    Hey hey holy mackerel
    No doubt about it
    The Cubs are on their way
    They’ve got the hustle
    They’ve got the muscle
    The Chicago Cubs are on their way!

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  87. Horny Goat

    BOS scored 7 in the 7th at yankee stadium to lead 7-2 on their way to a sweep, again. I think it’s the first time they’ve ever swept the yanks twice in a row in NY. This makes 8 of 9 on the season. Yankees have some issues. Joba is out for the season, Soriano is gone for the season.

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  88. Horny Goat

    Jeter with another hit. 10 away. I think he does it at Wrigley. He has no incentive to wait until the next series, which is at CIN for 3 games, not at home. a cool story, bros.

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  89. mb21

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]Best post of this thread. Can’t wait.[/quote]No doubt. Wish they hadn’t have delayed the season in the first place.

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  90. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=mb21]http://www.savewalterwhite.com/[/quote]
    Walter Jr. needs to take a class on which fucking fonts to use.

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  91. Berselius

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]Walter Jr. needs to take a class on which fucking fonts to use.[/quote]
    (dying laughing). They did a great job of making that look like a shitty geocities site circa 1996

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  92. Aisle424

    [quote name=mb21]I don’t understand that article. (dying laughing)[/quote]
    He probably searched far and wide for someone that would agree with him. Finally he found Sarge who obliged with a meandering comparison to Roy Halladay for some reason.

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  93. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]He probably searched far and wide for someone that would agree with him. Finally he found Sarge who obliged with a meandering comparison to Roy Halladay for some reason.[/quote]I know. Zambrano isn’t as good as Halladay? Who knew?

    Also, Sarge actually agreed with Zambrano so that was kind of funny.

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  94. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Berselius]http://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-cubs/2011/6/10/2217207/wrigley-field-cubs-fans-are-not-stupid-crying-careless-people-dave-eggers-grantland-espn[/quote]

    Wrigley Field Is Not The Taj Mahal, Cubs Fans Do Have Brains, Dave Eggers’ Grantland Piece Is So Wrong

    Then why do they continue to root for a team that’s going to suck forever?

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  95. Berselius

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]Then why do they continue to root for a team that’s going to suck forever?[/quote]
    They’re too busy thinking about cats to stop and think about it.

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  96. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Berselius]They’re too busy thinking about cats to stop and think about it.[/quote]
    Or not. It could go either way.

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  97. ACT

    My favorite part was where he talked about how Zambrano takes an active role in defensive positioning. I wonder if that has anything to do with Z’s low opponent BABIP, or if it’s just a coincidence.

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  98. WaLi

    [quote name=Rice Cube]For Rays fans:
    There’s a team more pathetic than yours in terms of attendance now.[/quote]
    Yep, the Rays have one more fan that pictured there!

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  99. Mish

    [quote name=Rice Cube]For Rays fans:

    There’s a team more pathetic than yours in terms of attendance now.[/quote]
    I don’t know, it could go either way.

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  100. Rice Cube

    [quote name=WaLi]Yep, the Rays have one more fan that pictured there![/quote]

    ONE more Raysfag! Ah-ah-ah…

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  101. Willis Drummond

    [quote name=Rice Cube]CubbieJulie is on the radio and I can’t listen. What’s she talkin’ about, Willis?[/quote]
    Say what?

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  102. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]CubbieJulie is on the radio and I can’t listen. What’s she talkin’ about, Willis?[/quote]
    Damn, missed it.

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  103. Dr. Aneus Taint

    Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life. Electric word, life, It means forever and that’s a mighty long time. But I’m here to tell you there’s something else: The afterworld. A world of never ending happiness. You can always see the sun, day or night.

    So when you call up that shrink in Beverly Hills (you know the one, Dr. Everything’ll-Be-Alright), instead of asking him how much of your time is left, ask him how much of your mind.

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  104. The Wreckard

    [quote name=Berselius]http://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-cubs/2011/6/10/2217207/wrigley-field-cubs-fans-are-not-stupid-crying-careless-people-dave-eggers-grantland-espn[/quote]Oh god, that’s the worst attempt at FMJ’ing an article I’ve ever seen. He quoted each paragraph individually and basically typed underneath each one “Dude that’s so not true! Am I right folks?!”

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  105. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=The Wreckard]Oh god, that’s the worst attempt at FMJ’ing an article I’ve ever seen.[/quote]
    Full Metal Jacketing?

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  106. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]Full Metal Jacketing?[/quote]
    That article will gouge out your eyes and skullfuck you.

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  107. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Rice Cube]That article will gouge out your eyes and skullfuck you.[/quote]
    Only after you…eat the peanuts out of my sheeeeiiiit.

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  108. The Wreckard

    [quote name=Berselius]http://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-cubs/2011/6/10/2217207/wrigley-field-cubs-fans-are-not-stupid-crying-careless-people-dave-eggers-grantland-espn[/quote]Also this is my favorite part:

    And as far as Dave Eggers, the author of this post we’re about to discuss, goes, I’ve never heard or read anything from him besides this.

    Saying you’ve never heard of Eggers doesn’t give you credibility, it makes you look like an idiot.

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  109. Rice Cube

    [quote name=oogernomics]Would you ask Tom Petty that question?[/quote]
    The waiting is the hardest part.

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  110. WaLi

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]Only after you…eat the peanuts out of my sheeeeiiiit.[/quote]Only steers and queers come from Texas, private JG! And you don’t much look like a steer to me so that kinda narrows it down!

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  111. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=WaLi]Only steers and queers come from Texas, private JG! And you don’t much look like a steer to me so that kinda narrows it down![/quote]

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  112. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Aisle424]The Latin talk will STOP NOW!!![/quote]
    OR I WILL GO ON THE MOST LATIN RANT YOU’VE EVER SEEN!

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  113. WaLi

    I’ve been sticking $30 in pennies up my ass for the past 11 years! That’s 3,000 pennies a day; 21,000 pennies a week; 1,092,000 pennies a year! To date that’s 12,012,000 pennies, 8 times the population of Nebraska. Those pennies were in my ass! You think you’re better than me? Oh, you’re not better than me. You handle my ass pennies every day. You pick up my ass pennies for good luck. You throw my ass pennies in fountains and make wishes on them. You give my ass pennies to your little daughter to buy gumballs with. You handle my ass pennies every day! All of you! You all handle my ass pennies! Oh, I laugh at you before you can laugh at me. Because your pennies have been in my ass. You hear me? Your pennies have been in my ass!

    http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=60669&title=ass-pennies

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  114. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius]The endorsement for Julie’s main rival (so far) is capped with “She convinced Jay Cutler to pose for a photo with her!”, so make sure you go vote for Julie.[/quote]
    Where’s the voting page? I just see where to submit testimonials.

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  115. Berselius

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Where’s the voting page? I just see where to submit testimonials.[/quote]
    It’s on the right, where there could be another poll. Try reloading the page. They sure didn’t make this thing easy.

    It looks like the poll module isn’t loading at all now. Great work, ESPN

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  116. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius]It’s on the right, where there could be another poll. Try reloading the page. They sure didn’t make this thing easy.

    It looks like the poll module isn’t loading at all now. Great work, ESPN[/quote]
    I had to do it on Internet Explorer, it’s fuxored on Chrome. I’m surprised Julie isn’t winning.

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  117. WaLi

    [quote name=Berselius]It’s on the right, where there could be another poll. Try reloading the page. They sure didn’t make this thing easy.

    It looks like the poll module isn’t loading at all now. Great work, ESPN[/quote]
    I had to refresh like 5 times before it showed up.

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I had to do it on Internet Explorer, it’s fuxored on Chrome. I’m surprised Julie isn’t winning.[/quote]
    Well as Berselius said, Peggy convinced Jay Cutler to pose for a photo with her! Who but Ms She-Cago could do that?

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  118. Rice Cube

    [quote name=WaLi]Well as Berselius said, Peggy convinced Jay Cutler to pose for a photo with her! Who but Ms She-Cago could do that?[/quote]
    Probably a bunch of other girls, actually. But it speaks volume of Jay Cutler to make a girl feel that special.

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  119. Dr. Aneus Taint

    Jeimer Candelario, 3b, Cubs. July 2 is right around the corner, which means Baseball America’s reports on the top international prospects will start next week. Meanwhile the summer leagues in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are underway, with the majority of last year’s international signings making their debuts in those leagues. One of the early standouts has been Cubs third baseman Jeimer Candelario, a $500,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic last summer (although he was born in New York) who has come better than advertised. Candelario, 17, earned praise from scouts for his potential to hit for average and power from both sides of the plate. Even better, his approach at the plate is quite mature for his age, as he’s already drawn 12 walks in 34 plate appearances. Sure, it’s early, but he’s off to a .364/.588/.455 start and leading the DSL in OBP.
    — BA

    .

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  120. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mish]https://twitter.com/#!/JimBowdenESPNxm[/quote]
    He’s obviously still taking something. Your drug tests are ineffective.

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  121. Xoomwaffle

    [quote name=Mish]Does Jeimer rhyme with “gamer”.[/quote]
    When I read it I was assuming High-mer, but not sure.

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  122. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Xoomwaffle]When I read it I was assuming High-mer, but not sure.[/quote]
    It’s HAY-mare…unless there’s an accent over the second E that some dumbass didn’t use.

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  123. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]It’s HAY-mare…unless there’s an accent over the second E that some faget didn’t use.[/quote]
    /surreal

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  124. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=jtsunami]Ah, so it’s a soft J. Like jogging.[/quote]
    It’s more of an H. Like: Hey, you faget fucking cunt.

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  125. WenningtonsGorillaCock

    (dying laughing)

    “@BruceMiles2112
    Bruce Miles
    “@PWSullivan: Kudos to my cabbie, Pedro Martinez. twitpic.com/59oij3″ Hope u tipped”

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  126. Dr. Aneus Taint

    I was at that game. My wife

    (not at the time) was in Philly for some work. We went to the game together and I went alone to that one. My plan was to take the train to the airport. I was yelled and threatened to no end. At one point yelling in my defense “what the hell did I do??”

    I was in the left field bleachers and remember the ball disappearing behind the foul ball. I was also told that “if this were an Eagles Bears game you’d get your ass kicked”. Without getting into a whole Philly fan debate (which is no myth) after being threatened and hearing Fukudome called a “G**k” by a very loud fan – I ended up disrobing from my Cub gear and taking a cab to the airport.

    by Hammer on Jun 10, 2011 1:09 PM CDT via mobile upreply

    Wow. I had no idea Philly fans were like that.

    (dying laughing)

    Philly fans are phuckheads, but you should know what you’re getting yourself into if you go to a game there wearing the road team’s shit.

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  127. WaLi

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/6/10/2217014/tyler-colvin-home-run-overruled-review-cubs-win-anyway-in-11#69352222

    I wonder who hacked into Alvin’s account.[/quote]
    Some faget.

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  128. Aisle424

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/6/10/2217014/tyler-colvin-home-run-overruled-review-cubs-win-anyway-in-11#69352222

    I wonder who hacked into Alvin’s account.[/quote]
    Is someone making lucid, well-conceived points and not using commas every other word?

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  129. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]Why do you think we’re so popular?[/quote]
    UT was lucky to escape with those 9 wins out of 10 vs NU, JG (dying laughing)

    well, 8. I’ll give you 2003

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  130. Dr. Aneus Taint

    [quote name=Horny Goat]UT was lucky to escape with those 9 wins out of 10 vs NU, JG (dying laughing)

    well, 8. I’ll give you 2003[/quote]
    Yeah, same thing with us and Kansas State. (dying laughing)

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  131. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]Is someone making lucid, well-conceived points and not using commas every other word?[/quote]It’s amazing to me that so many fans are finally on Z’s side. Then I realize Z is one bad start from all of those fans being against him again.

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  132. Horny Goat

    [quote name=mb21]It’s amazing to me that so many fans are finally on Z’s side. Then I realize Z is one bad start from all of those fans being against him again.[/quote]
    I’ll take it while it lasts

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  133. Horny Goat

    Paul Sullivan really does have a problem. When he looked at the video of Z and STILL lied…he outdid himself.

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  134. Horny Goat

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-kwMPVqad4#t=0m16s[/quote]
    Tracy Morgan apparently disagrees

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  135. WaLi

    [quote name=Jame Gumb]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-kwMPVqad4#t=0m16s[/quote]Apparently wordplay does not wish to be viewed on mobile phones

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