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  • Series Preview: Iowa Cubs of Chicago (36-53) at Pittsburgh Pirates (45-42)

    I was going to write a longer preview for this series, but I saw the Cubs probable pitchers and gave up.

    Friday: Rodrigo Lopez

    Saturday: TBA

    Sunday: Ramon Ortiz

    Saturday will probably end up being Dempster as he threw a bullpen session yesterday and was reportedly feeling good. Though I guess it’s possible he could produce a human infant in the next few days and get scratched, given how wierdly his injury was described.

    The Cubs did an admirable job losing to the Nationals though they managed to screw up yesterday’s game. At this point I’m confident that they’ll be swept by the Pirates this weekend. At Vivid Seats, tickets can be purchased for all three games.


    Berselius
    He's got a two day head start on you, which is more than he needs. He's got friends in every town and village from here to the Sudan, he speaks a dozen languages, knows every local custom, he'll blend in, disappear, you'll never see him again. With any luck, he's got the grail already.
    Berselius

    145 Responses to “Series Preview: Iowa Cubs of Chicago (36-53) at Pittsburgh Pirates (45-42)”

    1. 1 shawndgoldman says:

      I love the draft race at the bottom. Is there a presumptive first overall pick next year?

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    2. 2 Berselius says:

      [quote name=shawndgoldman]I love the draft race at the bottom. Is there a presumptive first overall pick next year?[/quote]
      BA hasn’t released their 5th round projections yet

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    3. 3 shawndgoldman says:

      [quote name=Berselius]BA hasn’t released their 5th round projections yet[/quote]
      We did that again this year, didn’t we?

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    4. 4 Mish says:

      [quote name=shawndgoldman]We did that again this year, didn’t we?[/quote]Nah our picks were actually defensible this year.

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    5. 5 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=shawndgoldman]I love the draft race at the bottom. Is there a presumptive first overall pick next year?[/quote]
      As of now, all the picks in the top 5 are pretty comparable in terms of value.

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    6. 6 shawndgoldman says:

      [quote name=Jame Gumb]As of now, all the picks in the top 5 are pretty comparable in terms of value.[/quote]
      So if we finish in the top 5, we’ll be set and have ample reason to be pissed when they screw things up next Summer?

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    7. 7 shawndgoldman says:

      hmmmm….
      http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?brand=wxmap&query=Kennedy+Space+Center

      Pretty cool to be at NASA HQ today. Lots of energy in the building.

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    8. 8 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=shawndgoldman]So if we finish in the top 5, we’ll be set and have ample reason to be pissed when they screw things up next Summer?[/quote]
      Yeah. I think it’ll be like the 2007 draft, with a top tier of 5 or so players but no consensus leader.

      Basically, don’t worry about getting the No. 1 pick. Just hope they stay in the top 5…and don’t fuck it up.

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    9. 9 WaLi says:

      B, I thought we were going to have a TV show discussion series preview thread. I’m disappointed. (dying laughing)

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    10. 10 jtsunami says:

      B puts this up a week after mb commended him for still caring about the series previews
      (dying laughing)

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    11. 11 mb21 says:

      I just thought it was funny. I haven’t paid any attention at all this season, and enjoyed reading the series. That part just made me laugh a little.

      My initial thought was to write it as a back and forth and then I just figured I’d write in two parts and use basically the same introduction. Glad you liked it.

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    12. 12 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      Oh shit, I just realized it’s Friday. I have to decide which seat to sit in.

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    13. 13 mb21 says:

      [quote name=jtsunami]B puts this up a week after mb commended him for still caring about the series previews
      (dying laughing)[/quote]Not to mention he didn’t do the last one. Fucker.

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    14. 14 mb21 says:

      Though the last one he didn’t do is because we were switching servers. Still, there’s no excuse for this shit he pulled today. It makes me look bad. (dying laughing)

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    15. 15 mb21 says:

      (dying laughing) (dying laughing) http://www.obstructedview.net/tag/oh-fuck-it.html

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    16. 16 shawndgoldman says:

      Did I tell you guys I went to 3 of the 4 games here in DC this week? Figures last night was the game I skipped.

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    17. 17 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

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    18. 18 Mucker says:

      http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/5347/could-soriano-ramirez-be-fits-for-yankees
      Anybody see this yet? Could the Yankees be that desperate?

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    19. 19 mb21 says:

      [quote name=shawndgoldman]Did I tell you guys I went to 3 of the 4 games here in DC this week? Figures last night was the game I skipped.[/quote]It’s too bad you didn’t go. The Cubs dropped a game to the Astros who are already going to be tough to catch.

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    20. 20 mb21 says:

      [quote name=Muckey]http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/5347/could-soriano-ramirez-be-fits-for-yankees
      Anybody see this yet? Could the Yankees be that desperate?[/quote]No, but I wish they were.

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    21. 22 shawndgoldman says:

      [quote name=mb21]It’s too bad you didn’t go. The Cubs dropped a game to the Astros who are already going to be tough to catch.[/quote]
      I’m just disappointed that I didn’t have another chili-covered half smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl.

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    22. 23 Mish says:

      Does the UV posts show up on the sidebar themselves or do I have to do something?

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    23. 24 Berselius says:

      [quote name=Mish]Does the UV posts show up on the sidebar themselves or do I have to do something?[/quote]
      It’s there now. It might just take a minute or two to show up.

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    24. 25 Mish says:

      [quote name=Berselius]It’s there now. It might just take a minute or two to show up.[/quote]Got it.

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    25. 26 mb21 says:

      [quote name=Mish]Does the UV posts show up on the sidebar themselves or do I have to do something?[/quote]You have to run around the block 7 times.

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    26. 27 Berselius says:

      [quote name=mb21]You have to run around the block 7 times.[/quote]
      And pay us each $200 under the table. This is a Chicago blog, Mish. It’s pay to play.

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    27. 28 mb21 says:

      [quote name=Berselius]And pay us each $200 under the table. This is a Chicago blog, Mish.[/quote]$200? I thought it was $500.

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    28. 29 Mish says:

      [quote name=Berselius]And pay us each $200 under the table. This is a Chicago blog, Mish. It’s pay to play.[/quote]But I’m one of your best customers!

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    29. 30 mb21 says:

      [quote name=Mish]But I’m one of your best customers![/quote]Ok. $495 then.

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    30. 31 shawndgoldman says:
    31. 32 Berselius says:

      [quote name=mb21]Ok. $495 then.[/quote]
      He can also pay in three equal installments of $199

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    32. 33 Mish says:

      [quote name=Berselius]He can also pay in three equal installments of $199[/quote]I’ll take the payment plan.

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    33. 34 Mish says:

      [quote name=shawndgoldman]Nicely done![/quote]Thanks.

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    34. 35 jtsunami says:

      The Bill James interview on Grantland is pretty interesting. I didn’t know he was such a crime buff.

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    35. 36 mb21 says:

      You sent a lot of prospect names my way the other day, jt. I’m putting together the survey now and will post it later today sometime. I think added 2 others for a total of 30 and am just asking people to rank at least 10. I figure most people are familiar enough with that many it shouldn’t be that much trouble.

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    36. 37 jtsunami says:

      Ya, it’s the guys who I thought could be interesting and those that used to be, but fell off.

      My opinion, but I think we should stick to specs that weren’t drafted this year (and not currently in the DSL).

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    37. 38 jtsunami says:

      Just started watching Breaking Bad last week. Finished disc 2 of season 1 (goes through episode 6). Seems like episode 6 is where it takes off. Blowing up that Ken Wins car and walking through the crowd of Mexican gangsters after blowing the place up with mercury fulminate. Simply. Awesome.

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    38. 39 jtsunami says:

      Also, I know Season 4 starts soon. Keep the spoilers in the UV thread, fuckfaces.

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    39. 40 WaLi says:

      Man all this talk about BB makes me really want to pick it up and watch it. I love all the other shows mentioned here (Borgias, Shameless, Dexter, GoT) so I imagine I’d enjoy this too.

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    40. 41 Berselius says:

      [quote name=jtsunami]The Bill James interview on Grantland is pretty interesting. I didn’t know he was such a crime buff.[/quote]

      Truly, indeed, an interesting read

      http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6739353/bill-james-crime

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    41. 42 Berselius says:

      [quote name=WaLi]Man all this talk about BB makes me really want to pick it up and watch it. I love all the other shows mentioned here (Borgias, Shameless, Dexter, GoT) so I imagine I’d enjoy this too.[/quote]
      It’s a great show. One recent piece I read about it more or less laid it out as playing chicken with its viewers, seeing how dark an ordinary guy can go before you go from sympathetic to disgusted with him. My wife gave up on Walt sometime last season.

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    42. 43 Mucker says:

      I just finished season 3 of BB during the holiday weekend and I don’t think I’ve been so anxious for a season premiere. Well maybe Thundercats season 2, but I was 6.

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    43. 44 Berselius says:

      [quote name=Muckey]I just finished season 3 of BB during the holiday weekend and I don’t think I’ve been so anxious for a season premiere. Well maybe Thundercats season 2, but I was 6.[/quote]
      I’m much more anxious for what’s being released on Tuesday

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    44. 45 Mucker says:

      [quote name=Berselius]I’m much more anxious for what’s being released on Tuesday

      [/quote]What’s that about?

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    45. 46 Rice Cube says:

      [quote name=Muckey]What’s that about?[/quote]
      Mythical creature ballet.

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    46. 47 WaLi says:

      [quote name=Berselius]I’m much more anxious for what’s being released on Tuesday

      [/quote]Just put my pre-order in through Amazon, only $18!

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    47. 48 jtsunami says:

      So pumped for to read this one:

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    48. 49 Mucker says:

      I just saw that he’s the writer of the books that led to Game of Thrones. I think I might check that guy out.

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    49. 50 jtsunami says:

      Who Nancy French? Ya she’s the shit.

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    50. 51 Berselius says:

      [quote name=Muckey]I just saw that he’s the writer of the books that led to Game of Thrones. I think I might check that guy out.[/quote]
      It’s the fifth book in the series that Game of Thrones is based on. It’s been a long time since the last one.

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    51. 52 GBTS says:

      [quote name=jtsunami]The Bill James interview on Grantland is pretty interesting. I didn’t know he was such a crime buff.[/quote]His book is a really fun read. Its gotten some negative reviews, but I think that’s primarily because its written so casually and he spends 2/3 of the book ripping on academic writing.

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    52. 53 GBTS says:

      While were talking about books, I know there’s a few Marines and ex-Marines who post here. I highly highly recommend reading Matterhorn.

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    53. 54 ACT says:

      Shane Victorino—->DL
      Maybe Cutch can replace him in the ASG?

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    54. 55 GBTS says:

      [quote name=ACT]Shane Victorino—->DL
      Maybe Cutch can replace him in the ASG?[/quote]I say no, hes only been the second best player in the National League, he hasn’t earned it.

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    55. 56 Rice Cube says:

      [quote name=GBTS]I say no, hes only been the second best player in the National League, he hasn’t earned it.[/quote]
      Don’t you like anything?

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    56. 57 Rice Cube says:

      Mike Trout —> cup of coffee

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    57. 58 GBTS says:

      [quote name=Rice Cube]Don’t you like anything?[/quote]I like poetry. Scotch. And of course, little Baxter.

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    58. 59 mb21 says:

      [quote name=jtsunami]Ya, it’s the guys who I thought could be interesting and those that used to be, but fell off.

      My opinion, but I think we should stick to specs that weren’t drafted this year (and not currently in the DSL).[/quote]I didn’t add any 2011 draft picks. I added to your list by adding only Chris Rusin and Dae-Eun Rhee.

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    59. 60 mb21 says:

      [quote name=jtsunami]Ya, it’s the guys who I thought could be interesting and those that used to be, but fell off.

      My opinion, but I think we should stick to specs that weren’t drafted this year (and not currently in the DSL).[/quote]The early part of the first season was hilarious in my opinion. There’s still a good amount of humor spread through it the shows now, but early on it was comical.

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    60. 61 mb21 says:

      [quote name=WaLi]Man all this talk about BB makes me really want to pick it up and watch it. I love all the other shows mentioned here (Borgias, Shameless, Dexter, GoT) so I imagine I’d enjoy this too.[/quote]There’s not a better show currently on tv in my opinion. It’s one of the top series of all time. If you like those other ones, you’d definitely like BB.

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    61. 62 mb21 says:

      [quote name=Berselius]It’s a great show. One recent piece I read about it more or less laid it out as playing chicken with its viewers, seeing how dark an ordinary guy can go before you go from sympathetic to disgusted with him. My wife gave up on Walt sometime last season.[/quote]Didn’t Gilligan more or less say that he doesn’t really care if people find Walt disgusting and that he just hopes people find him interesting? I also think it’s funny that there’s a show on TV where Jesse is the “moral center” of the primary relationship.

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    62. 63 Berselius says:

      [quote name=mb21]Didn’t Gilligan more or less say that he doesn’t really care if people find Walt disgusting and that he just hopes people find him interesting? I also think it’s funny that there’s a show on TV where Jesse is the “moral center” of the primary relationship.[/quote]
      I think I remember seeing that MB.

      Agreed on the Jesse thing, yo. He’s probably my favorite character on that show now. I love Hank and Saul too.

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    63. 64 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=mb21]Didn’t Gilligan more or less say that he doesn’t really care if people find Walt disgusting and that he just hopes people find him interesting? I also think it’s funny that there’s a show on TV where Jesse is the “moral center” of the primary relationship.[/quote]
      I don’t see how anyone could be disgusted with Walt.

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    64. 65 Mucker says:

      [quote name=Jame Gumb]I don’t see how anyone could be disgusted with Walt.[/quote]Agreed. I’d sell Meth too for $12 million a year.

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    65. 66 mb21 says:

      [quote name=Berselius]I think I remember seeing that MB.

      Agreed on the Jesse thing, yo. He’s probably my favorite character on that show now. I love Hank and Saul too.[/quote]Jesse is funny, but Walt is my favorite character. That should would suffer without Jesse and not be nearly as good, but it wouldn’t exist without Walt. I’m not sure it would exist without Bryan Cranston playing Walt.

      Ryno, there are perfectly good reasons to be disgusted with Walt. The fact the writer of the show even talks about it means he’s intentionally doing things to make people disgusted with Walt. I do think you make some good points that he was fucked over and all that, but the man is a piece of shit meth dealer. The fact he cooks meth makes him a piece of shit.

      That doesn’t mean there’s not room for some sympathy, though. I do sympathize with him in a way, but he’s not a good human being. He’s never going to be one. It wouldn’t surprise me if Gilligan somehow makes us root for his murder, which is inevitable anyway.

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    66. 67 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=Muckey]Agreed. I’d sell Meth too for $12 million a year.[/quote]
      And all the other shit he’s done.

      The interesting thing about the show to me is how he’s finally come full circle to the man he was initially. He supressed that for his family, yet his nobility in the beginning of the show is what brought out the ruthless person that’s started wearing on his family.

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    67. 68 mb21 says:

      I like the character. I think it’s one of the best characters in a tv show that I’ve ever seen. But I don’t like the person Walt has become. I don’t really care what led him down that path. As a person, he’s not gone through anything that other people haven’t gone through. Most of them don’t become what Walt has.

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    68. 69 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=mb21]Ryno, there are perfectly good reasons to be disgusted with Walt. The fact the writer of the show even talks about it means he’s intentionally doing things to make people disgusted with Walt. I do think you make some good points that he was fucked over and all that, but the man is a piece of shit meth dealer. The fact he cooks meth makes him a piece of shit.[/quote]
      Maybe, but it depends on your perspective. I think just about everything he’s done has been justified within his circle.

      And I don’t think cooking meth makes him a piece of shit. I think a lot of meth dealers/heads are pieces of shit, but I can’t blame Walt for starting his meth business at all. It was the only way he could accomplish his ultimate goal, which was about as noble as you can get.

      You could make the argument that CONTINUING to cook meth is morally reprehensible, but I’m on the opposite side of that argument.

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    69. 70 Berselius says:

      [quote name=Jame Gumb]
      I can’t blame Walt for starting his meth business at all. It was the only way he could accomplish his ultimate goal, which was about as noble as you can get.
      [/quote]
      This is pretty much the whole point of the show. Walt has had nothing but good intentions, but has turned into a ruthless bastard who has ruined his family.

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    70. 71 dylanj says:

      if the yanks are a desperate as everyone says they are for LH bullpen help the cubs have to offer Marshall. Go snag Montero

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    71. 72 Mucker says:

      He’s obviously becoming more of a drug dealer than the dying father looking to secure his family’s future. It’s an excellently written show that in my opinion, has the best characters in tv. I can’t even imagine anyone other than Bryan Cranston playing Walt.

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    72. 73 mb21 says:

      It was the only way he could accomplish his ultimate goal, which was about as noble as you can get.

      What started as a noble action has led to all the shit we’ve seen. People around Walt are far worse off because of that supposedly noble decision. His brother-in-law’s life is ruined. His wife is now as guilty as he is meaning they could both go to prison. At least their son is old enough to live on his own even though he has a disability.

      Just because you make a decision for what you think is a good reason doesn’t mean it’s a good decision. That one decision has ruined far more lives that Walt was trying to provide for. The only person better off is Walt. He’s now living the life he always wanted in a way. Everybody around him would be better off if he made a different decision. They’d be better off if he was dead.

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    73. 74 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=mb21]I like the character. I think it’s one of the best characters in a tv show that I’ve ever seen. But I don’t like the person Walt has become. I don’t really care what led him down that path. As a person, he’s not gone through anything that other people haven’t gone through. Most of them don’t become what Walt has.[/quote]
      I get why most people think that. I think that’s what was so important about that scene where Walt and Skyler are looking at that house before Walter Jr. was born. I think it shows the type of man Walt really was before his disabled son was born and had to make sacrifices.

      Walt is a naturally aggressive, ambitious, power-hungry person who spent nearly 20 years shackled to a shit job because he put his family first.

      It might make him a dick, but I can totally understand why Walt is the person he is now.

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    74. 75 mb21 says:

      [quote name=Berselius]This is pretty much the whole point of the show. Walt has had nothing but good intentions, but has turned into a ruthless bastard who has ruined his family.[/quote]Ruined his family, extended family, Jesse’s life and many of Jesse’s friends (even the ones still alive). Not to mention all the people who used his product and became addicted, but that’s another issue altogether.

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    75. 76 Berselius says:

      [quote name=mb21]Ruined his family, extended family, Jesse’s life and many of Jesse’s friends (even the ones still alive). Not to mention all the people who used his product and became addicted, but that’s another issue altogether.[/quote]
      It’s a little hazier with Jesse. It’s not like his life was especially great before this all started. Though having all that money certainly wasn’t going to help his issues with drug addiction.

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    76. 77 Mucker says:

      [quote name=mb21]Ruined his family, extended family, Jesse’s life and many of Jesse’s friends (even the ones still alive). Not to mention all the people who used his product and became addicted, but that’s another issue altogether.[/quote]I agree with most of what you say but I don’t believe he ruined Jesse’s life. Jesse had already chosen that life. If anything, you can say he ruined Walt’s life because he was Walt’s introduction to Meth.

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    77. 78 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=Berselius]This is pretty much the whole point of the show. Walt has had nothing but good intentions, but has turned into a ruthless bastard who has ruined his family.[/quote]
      That’s the irony of the story. If he had just died like he thought he would, his plan would have worked out perfectly. Living really threw a wrench into that.

      [quote name=mb21]What started as a noble action has led to all the shit we’ve seen. People around Walt are far worse off because of that supposedly noble decision. His brother-in-law’s life is ruined. His wife is now as guilty as he is meaning they could both go to prison. At least their son is old enough to live on his own even though he has a disability. [/quote]
      Like I said above, living is what ruined his plan. He accepted his death and tried to set his family up. It backfired, but the taste of success was too tempting to pass up.

      I don’t expect anyone to agree with my opinion on this, but I have a hard time faulting Walt for the position he’s in now.

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    78. 79 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      Skyler poked around and voluntarily got into the business. That’s on her, imo.

      Hank’s life is spiraling out of control, but that’s his part of his job. Yes, it’s mostly because he’s chasing Walt, but it’s indirectly on Walt.

      I’d argue that Jesse (despite the situation he’s in to start Season 4) is better off having gotten involved with Walt.

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    79. 80 mb21 says:

      It might make him a dick, but I can totally understand why Walt is the person he is now.

      I understand it, but being that person for 20 years was his own damn fault to begin with. I sympathize with him because it was a noble action, but we’ve seen 3 seasons of consequences. That’s why I like the show. There’s nothing glamorous about it. Walt was a decent guy who didn’t like his life like most of the people alive. He got a death sentence and started living. Before he died he wanted to provide for his family and found the easiest way to do so. It allowed him to live the live he always wanted, but people are far worse off because of that action. They spare no detail about how fucked up people’s lives are because of Walt.

      I still like the character. One of the things I like most about it is that he’s so unapologetic. I also like that we still see glimpses of him as a caring person though there are fewer and fewer of them. That’s another thing I like. The transformation (breaking bad) wasn’t overnight like I imagine so many other writers would have done.

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    80. 81 Berselius says:

      [quote name=Jame Gumb]Skyler poked around and voluntarily got into the business. That’s on her, imo.

      Hank’s life is spiraling out of control, but that’s his part of his job. Yes, it’s mostly because he’s chasing Walt, but it’s indirectly on Walt.

      I’d argue that Jesse (despite the situation he’s in to start Season 4) is better off having gotten involved with Walt.[/quote]
      It’s tough to say. In some ways he’s better off with Walt since he’s more or less his surrogate father. But seeing what happened to him at the end of season 2 you’d think that maybe things aren’t quite as well off. It’s kind of amazing that Jesse is still alive at this point for half a hundred reasons.

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    81. 82 Berselius says:

      [quote name=mb21]I understand it, but being that person for 20 years was his own damn fault to begin with. I sympathize with him because it was a noble action, but we’ve seen 3 seasons of consequences. That’s why I like the show. There’s nothing glamorous about it. Walt was a decent guy who didn’t like his life like most of the people alive. He got a death sentence and started living. Before he died he wanted to provide for his family and found the easiest way to do so. It allowed him to live the live he always wanted, but people are far worse off because of that action. They spare no detail about how fucked up people’s lives are because of Walt.

      I still like the character. One of the things I like most about it is that he’s so unapologetic. I also like that we still see glimpses of him as a caring person though there are fewer and fewer of them. That’s another thing I like. The transformation (breaking bad) wasn’t overnight like I imagine so many other writers would have done.[/quote]
      I think the better way to describe it is that while people might not like Walt they find him interesting, which is why he’s the driving force of the show.

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    82. 83 mb21 says:

      [quote name=Jame Gumb]Skyler poked around and voluntarily got into the business. That’s on her, imo.

      Hank’s life is spiraling out of control, but that’s his part of his job. Yes, it’s mostly because he’s chasing Walt, but it’s indirectly on Walt.

      I’d argue that Jesse (despite the situation he’s in to start Season 4) is better off having gotten involved with Walt.[/quote]Why did Skyler get involved? To ensure that Walt could hide where the money was coming from. I’m not saying she’s perfect. She’s far from it. She’s an idiot for getting involved.

      As for Hank, Walt makes a call to get Hank away from the RV telling him his wife has been in an accident. Figuring Jesse was responsible, he beats him within a half inch of his life, which I think most of us could imagine doing in that same situation though we probably wouldn’t. Hank was suspended and lost his gun. The brothers come after him right after they take his gun. Walt has fucked his life up in so many ways.

      Arguments can be made that Jesse ruined his own life and I wouldn’t disagree, but Jesse was perfectly happy slinging small quantities and not getting the shit beat out of him every other week.

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    83. 84 WaLi says:

      [quote name=Berselius]I’m tempted to turn tomorrow’s series preview into a TV thread instead. Too bad WaLi and I seem to be the only ones who have watched Game of Thrones Good thing everyone but WaLi watches Breaking Bad.[/quote]
      Done. (dying laughing)

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    84. 85 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      Warning: stripos() expects parameter 1 to be string, array given in /home/obstruc/public_html/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/shortcodes/blip.php on line 10

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      [quote name=mb21]I understand it, but being that person for 20 years was his own damn fault to begin with. I sympathize with him because it was a noble action, but we’ve seen 3 seasons of consequences. That’s why I like the show. There’s nothing glamorous about it. Walt was a decent guy who didn’t like his life like most of the people alive. He got a death sentence and started living. Before he died he wanted to provide for his family and found the easiest way to do so. It allowed him to live the live he always wanted, but people are far worse off because of that action. They spare no detail about how fucked up people’s lives are because of Walt. [/quote]
      The change in his motivation was so gradual, yet he realized it almost instantly.

      That”s what I love about this scene:



      Download | Convert YouTube to MP3

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    85. 86 jtsunami says:

      Well fuckfaces, I’m trying not to read all this spoiler jargon. But I did see that some don’t like Walt because he becomes a bad person. I think that’s how I feel with Nancy on Weeds. I don’t like Weeds because I don’t like her. She’s a drug dealing slut.

      Other than that, let’s get back to baseball so I can watch BB Season 1 without knowing what already happens! Fuckfaces.

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    86. 87 Berselius says:

      [quote name=WaLi]Done. (dying laughing)[/quote]

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    87. 88 mb21 says:

      [quote name=Berselius]I think the better way to describe it is that while people might not like Walt they find him interesting, which is why he’s the driving force of the show.[/quote]Exactly. I’d like to see what happens to Jesse along the way and even some of the other characters, but i don’t care nearly as much as i do about what happens with Walt.

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    88. 89 mb21 says:

      [quote name=jtsunami]Well fuckfaces, I’m trying not to read all this spoiler jargon. But I did see that some don’t like Walt because he becomes a bad person. I think that’s how I feel with Nancy on Weeds. I don’t like Weeds because I don’t like her. She’s a drug dealing slut.

      Other than that, let’s get back to baseball so I can watch BB Season 1 without knowing what already happens! Fuckfaces.[/quote]I stopped watching Weeds after season 3. I’ve thought recently about picking it up again, but I don’t heard particularly good things about the later seasons. The first season was awesome. The second was really good, but by the third I thought it was too different from what it started out as.

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    89. 90 WaLi says:

      [quote name=jtsunami]Well fuckfaces, I’m trying not to read all this spoiler jargon. But I did see that some don’t like Walt because he becomes a bad person. I think that’s how I feel with Nancy on Weeds. I don’t like Weeds because I don’t like her. She’s a drug dealing slut.

      Other than that, let’s get back to baseball so I can watch BB Season 1 without knowing what already happens! Fuckfaces.[/quote]
      I can’t argue with you today (on both counts)

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    90. 91 Berselius says:

      [quote name=mb21]I stopped watching Weeds after season 3. I’ve thought recently about picking it up again, but I don’t heard particularly good things about the later seasons. The first season was awesome. The second was really good, but by the third I thought it was too different from what it started out as.[/quote]
      Same here. I remember being pretty meh at the third season. Though I still laugh at the clip they used several times in the “previously on”s where Kevin Nealon was shaking his fist at the church and swearing that they would feel the Wrath of Doug

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    91. 92 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=mb21]Why did Skyler get involved?.[/quote]
      Because she’s a bitch. (dying laughing)

      [quote name=mb21]As for Hank, Walt makes a call to get Hank away from the RV telling him his wife has been in an accident. Figuring Jesse was responsible, he beats him within a half inch of his life, which I think most of us could imagine doing in that same situation though we probably wouldn’t. Hank was suspended and lost his gun. The brothers come after him right after they take his gun. Walt has fucked his life up in so many ways.[/quote]
      Hank’s life is fucked up because he’s trying to stop people from making and selling drugs. It’s one of the hazards of the job, imo.

      [quote name=mb21]Arguments can be made that Jesse ruined his own life and I wouldn’t disagree, but Jesse was perfectly happy slinging small quantities and not getting the shit beat out of him every other week.[/quote]
      Jesse got caught up in the whirlwind as well, yo.

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    92. 93 WaLi says:

      [quote name=mb21]I stopped watching Weeds after season 3. I’ve thought recently about picking it up again, but I don’t heard particularly good things about the later seasons. The first season was awesome. The second was really good, but by the third I thought it was too different from what it started out as.[/quote]I haven’t seen any of the current season yet, but last season was the first one that I started to like since Season 3.

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    93. 94 Mish says:

      [quote name=WaLi]Done. (dying laughing)[/quote]
      I’ve also never seen. I actually tried to see if I can stream it on Monday, but apparently I need to have the DVD membership. Which I’ll get.

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    94. 95 Berselius says:

      FWIW, re: Weeds, I’ve seen a lot of people complain about Weeds having an indirect effect on Dexter. Most of the tv critics complain that there’s too little change on Dexter and they blame it on the fact that there’s so damn much change in Weeds that Showtime was scared off from taking risks with its franchises.

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    95. 96 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=Mish]I’ve also never seen. I actually tried to see if I can stream it on Monday, but apparently I need to have the DVD membership. Which I’ll get.[/quote]
      Better call Saul.

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    96. 97 mb21 says:

      [quote name=Jame Gumb]Better call Saul.[/quote]http://www.bettercallsaul.com/

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    97. 98 mb21 says:

      I’m looking forward to OS X Lion, but how hard would it be for Apple to give us a release date other than July?

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    98. 99 Apple fanboys, everywhere says:

      Fuck you, Apple never does anything wrong and everything always works and all their software is perfect.

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    99. 100 Apple fanboys, everywhere says:

      Also, iTunes is the greatest piece of software ever, and was divinely bequeathed to Steve Jobs

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    100. 101 jtsunami says:

      Apple fanboys are bad. Android fanboys are equally as bad.

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    101. 102 Mish says:

      [quote name=Apple fanboys, everywhere]piece of software[/quote]
      Well, the initials are right.

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    102. 103 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=mb21]http://www.bettercallsaul.com/[/quote]

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    103. 104 Berselius says:

      (dying laughing)

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    104. 105 Rice Cube says:

      He hablas the espanol.

      Saul is real I take it?

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    105. 106 WaLi says:

      [quote name=Rice Cube]He hablas the espanol.

      Saul is real I take it?[/quote]I think he is an attorney on Breaking Bad

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    106. 107 Berselius says:

      [quote name=Rice Cube]
      Saul is real I take it?[/quote]
      False.

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    107. 108 Rice Cube says:

      [quote name=WaLi]I think he is an attorney on Breaking Bad[/quote]
      That is an awesome ad page for any lawyer though.

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    108. 110 Rice Cube says:

      Chipper with knee problems. Might be time to sneak Chase Headley or even Aramis into the ASG.

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    109. 111 Berselius says:

      (dying laughing), nice to see that ESPN is still stroking itself over The Decision. Their front page article is all about how it’s okay because the kids in the audience got to meet LeBron

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    110. 112 ACT says:

      [quote name=Rice Cube]Chipper with knee problems. Might be time to sneak Chase Headley or even Aramis into the ASG.[/quote]Amazingly enough, Aram leads all NL third basemen in fWAR and wOBA.

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    111. 113 Mish says:

      [quote name=Berselius](dying laughing), nice to see that ESPN is still stroking itself over The Decision. Their front page article is all about how it’s okay because the kids in the audience got to meet LeBron[/quote]
      Fucking christ

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    112. 114 Rice Cube says:

      [quote name=ACT]Amazingly enough, Aram leads all NL third basemen in fWAR and wOBA.[/quote]
      He’s probably amongst the leaders in rWAR too but I can’t get the Play Index to work right for me. I’m such a Luddite.

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    113. 115 ACT says:

      [quote name=Rice Cube]He’s probably amongst the leaders in rWAR too but I can’t get the Play Index to work right for me. I’m such a Luddite.[/quote]It’s not sorted by position, but the leaders in rWAR can be found here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2011-value-batting.shtml#players_value_batting::13
      Chase has 2.0; Aram has 1.9.

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    114. 116 ACT says:

      In other random 3B stat trivia, A-Rod is having a great year, but somehow has a negative WPA. So, there’s some support for the theory that he’s a selfish player who puts up good stats but doesn’t help his team win.

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    115. 117 Rice Cube says:

      I think Headley will be the more likely replacement at 3B if Chipper goes down. If Polanco also goes under then they might tab Rami, but that’s asking for a lot. Rami’s mega-slump to start the season definitely doesn’t help his case, considering that he did his stuff pretty much after the votes were in.

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    116. 118 ACT says:

      It wasn’t really a mega-slump. Aram was a more-or-less league-average hitter for the first 2 months. Considering how weak NL 3rd basemen are, he was actually helping the team with his bat relative to other teams. NL 3rd basemen this year are hitting about the same as 2nd basemen and actually worse than catchers: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/split.cgi?lg=NL&year=2011&t=b#defp::none

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    117. 119 jtsunami says:

      Baseball Tonight was playing highlights from the Cubs-Nats (I think) Wednesday night after Aramis hit another homer. Someone commented on his hot streak and I think Kruk said something along the lines of “And he’s the second best 3rd baseman. Add him to the snub list.”

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    118. 120 jtsunami says:

      I hope the probable pitchers are:

      Fri: Rodrigo Lopez
      Sat: James Russell
      Sun: Ramon Ortiz

      That was we can help the Pirates get in 1st place last place in the division AND lengthen our lead on the #2 spot.

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    119. 121 Dr. Aneus Taint says:

      [quote name=jtsunami]Baseball Tonight was playing highlights from the Cubs-Nats (I think) Wednesday night after Aramis hit another homer. Someone commented on his hot streak and I think Kruk said something along the lines of “And he’s the second best 3rd baseman. Add him to the snub list.”[/quote]
      Cool story. Tell it again.

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    120. 122 ACT says:

      I remember back when the Pirates were good. Seeing their team taken apart was distressing, even as a non-Pirates fan.

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    121. 123 Rice Cube says:

      [quote name=ACT]I remember back when the Pirates were good. Seeing their team taken apart was distressing, even as a non-Pirates fan.[/quote]
      S’ok. Giants got Barry Bonds (dying laughing)

      /RC’s gain

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    122. 124 Rice Cube says:

      Fernando Perez —-> unemployed

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    123. 125 binky says:

      Fernando Perez…. part of the Garza trade?

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    124. 126 Rice Cube says:

      [quote name=josh]Fernando Perez…. part of the Garza trade?[/quote]
      Yup. Throw-in.

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    125. 127 Berselius says:

      [quote name=Jame Gumb]Cool story. Tell it again.[/quote]

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    126. 130 Rice Cube says:
    127. 131 WaLi says:

      [quote name=Rice Cube]That’s fucking weird.

      [/quote]
      Is that who Billy Baldwin was impersonating in Forgetting Sarah Marshall during Crime Scene – Scene of the Crime? They did a good job (dying laughing)

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    128. 132 Berselius says:

      [quote name=WaLi]Is that who Billy Baldwin was impersonating in Forgetting Sarah Marshall during Crime Scene – Scene of the Crime? They did a good job (dying laughing)[/quote]
      It’s going to be hard for her to re-enter the pageant….without a face

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    129. 133 jtsunami says:

      [quote name=Berselius]It’s going to be hard for her to re-enter the pageant….without a face[/quote](dying laughing)
      (dying laughing)

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    130. 134 Mercurial Outfielder says:

      [quote name=Berselius]It’s going to be hard for her to re-enter the pageant….without a face[/quote]

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    131. 135 Rice Cube says:

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    132. 136 ACT says:

      Ethier is going to replace Victorino in the ASG.
      Jeter and A-Rod are sitting out.

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    133. 137 ACT says:

      ESPN comments are complaining about the lack of McCutchen.
      Strange how sometimes commenters on that site seem rather reasonable. http://espn.go.com/losangeles/conversations/_/id/6749900/los-angeles-dodgers-andre-ethier-headed-asg-shane-victorino-put-dl

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    134. 138 Berselius says:

      [quote name=ACT]ESPN comments are complaining about the lack of McCutchen.
      Strange how sometimes commenters on that site seem rather reasonable. http://espn.go.com/losangeles/conversations/_/id/6749900/los-angeles-dodgers-andre-ethier-headed-asg-shane-victorino-put-dl/quote
      Broken clocks are right twice a day I guess (dying laughing)

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    135. 139 Rice Cube says:

      I guess Ethier was one of the leading Final Vote guys. Still stupid that McCutchen got hosed.

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    136. 140 ACT says:

      Ethier is having a good year offensively, but probably won’t help the already hilariously awful OF defense.

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    137. 141 Berselius says:

      (dying laughing), Olney just tweeted that the Cubs have no interest in trading Sean Marshall. Bonus (dying laughing) to Alvin saying it’s a good decision.

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    138. 142 Mish says:

      [quote name=Berselius](dying laughing), Olney just tweeted that the Cubs have no interest in trading Sean Marshall. Bonus (dying laughing) to Alvin saying it’s a good decision.[/quote]Yah I responded to the Buster tweet. Of course Al applauds it. They still have a chance of being about .500 on the road during the 2nd half!

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    139. 143 ACT says:

      Dempster will start tomorrow.

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    140. 144 Aisle424 says:

      [quote name=ACT]Dempster will walk a shitload of batters tomorrow.[/quote].

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    141. 145 mb21 says:

      I moved Mish’s excellent takedown to the front page so new shit up: http://www.obstructedview.net/unobstructed-views/cubs/can-rosenbloom-outstupid-rosenbloom.html

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