The Losers Lounge

[Tarkus]

Kudos to Steve & Catman for this opportunity to dissect our teams...& others... on where it all went wrong. Hopefully our teams reps will see this thread & get things squared away with our analysis....:rolleyes:

[themush]

Devil Rays, Devil Rays, Devil Rays... and now Bucs, Bucs, Bucs. I'm really depressed right now.:(

[boston_aloha]

YES!!!! Thank you Tark!!!

Redsox beat the Yankees in game 1 today!!!!! Game 2 is underway now!!!!

LOL.... this is classic!!! I'm laughing out loud right now at my desk!

EDIT: And the Redsox tie it up in the 8th, go ahead in the 9th to beat the Yankees again today.

[catman]

Red Sox win game 2 as well. Nice game.

[boston_aloha]

Yeah, I'll take it.

[catman]

The Sox have a tough time avoiding being eliminated with the Twins coming to town Tuesday. Garza vs. Wakefield in game 1.

[boston_aloha]

Whoa, whoa, whoa... I forgot to mention... If you're team is 1. Leading their division, or 2. leading the WC race. You are not allowed to post in the "losers lounge" :lol:
Yeah Wake got ruffed up in his return. We'll see how they do. Twins are just flat out playing good ball. They got something good going and they know it / believe in it.

[Tarkus]

My White Sox....

They love me...they love me not......

When did the Sox forget the forget the meaning of R-E-L-I-E-F.... Then again, maybe it's just that they have forgotten to give our team a sigh of relief...not the opponents....:rolleyes:

[catman]

Sorry. I'll refrain from posting here further. I wasn't aware of these rules, although I should have been.

[boston_aloha]

Sorry. I'll refrain from posting here further. I wasn't aware of these rules, although I should have been.
:lol: :lol: :lol:

This thread may serve as a good stress reliever too

[Tarkus]

Sorry. I'll refrain from posting here further. I wasn't aware of these rules, although I should have been.

Don't you dare go anywhere, Cat...

You do & this thread'll be on suicide watch. We need a dose of sanity for ballast.....:P

[boston_aloha]

No kidding... too much negative energy.. you need to surround it, harness it, and bring out the good.

[Tarkus]

Well said, Obi-Wan.....:P

[themush]

Losers lounge... how about the Rays bullpen? If we were to have a mascot for this thread I nominate them.

[boston_aloha]

I have no objections... but wait... this thread just started a few hours ago - give the Cubs fans a chance to speak up!

[themush]

Fair enough. I would say the Royals fans too....but the Rays have an even worse record then them.

[boston_aloha]

True... but IMO the Rays are a young club. Looking to the future, what team would you want as yours (as a fan) Rays, Royals, or Cubs???
I like the Rays - too bad they gotta contend with the BoSox and Yanks. But what Kasmir did this season was cool - he had some great games. Maybe I just know that cuz they beat up on the Sox a few times... I honestly can't say the same for the others.
Wait, the Royals swept the Sox... where am I again - oh yeah, the loser's lounge!

[themush]

I just gave you rep points Steve. Great post! Just because you are the first Sox fan to admit the Rays "beat up on the Sox".

[boston_aloha]

I'm absolutely LOVING this thread... I feel like I'm on a shrink's couch!!!!
This is where the healing begins!

[themush]

Go to your happy place Steve.

[boston_aloha]

I'm there dude.

[suedon1970]

Losers lounge... how about the Rays bullpen? If we were to have a mascot for this thread I nominate them.

Amen to that! Joe Maddon's unbridled optimism is annoying - doesn't he realize that the Rays have now replaced the Royals in the most losses category?!!!

Our Bucs are going down the tubes quick Mush - How in the heck can Chris Simms pass for nearly 300 yards in that game yesterday and STILL not score a touchdown????:redhot:

[bama4256]

I'm afraid it is a little too late for Boston this season.

[catman]

I'll sit and observe as a good analyst should.

[Tarkus]

Please save a seat for me for when I calm down & am able to rationally ***** about my ****ing White Sox....

Thank you.......

[davematthews3]

Why Didn"t They Take Bush.

[boston_aloha]

Papi hits #50 today and ties the Redsox club record....
Perfect post for this thread, huh?

[Tarkus]

Yes it is, Steve....

Well...the White Sox have officially mailed in the rest of the season by losing to the Tigers 6-2, a team they had a handle on all year.

That pisses me off more than anything. Ozzie & his staff should take an equal amount of the blame along with the players for this season's debacle. Just cuz GM Williams & Ozzie are falling all over themselves to take the blame doesn't change the fact that it's obviously a healthy dose for all.

Gone was the situational fundamentals that earmarked most of last year's success. Gone was the pitch choices that kept the ball in play for one of the better defensive teams in baseball. Gone was the consistent defense that made them one of the better defensive teams in baseball last year.

Gone was the small ball selfless team approach at the plate by the Sox wanting to resurrect the old "South Side Hitmen" moniker from the '70s. Gone was the starters goin' 7 strong & keeping the relief staff from being on parade. Gone was a relief staff that came in prepared & instead failed to scout the opponents by avoiding feeding opposing hitters their favorite pitches.

Gone was the staff that made the game more about the W & instead allowed the game to be more about "the clubhouse drama". Gone was the hunger that made the club pull together & keep a one step at a time, one series at a time formula that translated to avoidance of long losing streaks.

Gone was a manager that knew his place was in the background, not forefront in the press. Gone was the masterful handling by pitching coach Don Cooper & AJ that kept the pitching staff focused. Gone was a leadoff hitter like Pod who kept opposing pitchers pitching from the stretch. Gone was a manager who failed to sound the alarm early in the year when the Sox were piling up easy wins during a soft stretch of schedule by winning 12-9, 8-7, 10-9, etc.

Gone was a middle relief that knew how to shut the door after being given a lead. Gone was a young closer who had a handle on his pitches & instead relied too much on his 98 MPH fastball that opposing hitters sat on. Gone was the conditioning that kept a World Champion club in shape for a stretch run.

Gone was the Champion's heart that would NEVER allow nor even acknowledge questions of failing with 3 weeks left in the season while being within a game & a half of a playoff berth. Gone was the Championship player pride that wouldn't have offered excuses to surface in the press while still having head to head games on the radar with the 2 teams ahead of them.

Gone was the urgency of a Franchise to take advantage of a great opportunity to defend a challenge to their crown as World Champions. Gone is my pride in my home town team that would still be intact if only they would have gone down with a fight instead of laying down....

[boston_aloha]

Tark... good vent. I didn't catch that many Chi-sox games (except the 3 before the all-star break with Boston - where Dye hit that HR in the 9th of game 3 to avoid the sweep!!!) But it seemed to me like the pitching wasn't there (above all else).
Also, tuff division when Detroit jumped out to that HUGE lead... not to metion the Twins haven't lost a game since April!!!!! Or something crazy like that!

[catman]

Cold Pizza just announced that there is a rumor that the Red Sox are looking to pick up both Gary Sheffield and Jason Schmidt for next season. This would mean that Matt Clement would move to the bullpen as well.

[bama4256]

I wouldn't take a chance on Sheffield. I believe his better days are behind him. But hopefully I'm wrong.

[boston_aloha]

Cold Pizza just announced that there is a rumor that the Red Sox are looking to pick up both Gary Sheffield and Jason Schmidt for next season. This would mean that Matt Clement would move to the bullpen as well.
I've always liked Schmidt's stuff... as for Shefield... sure, why not? Guess I'll have to throw my "I slept with Shefield's wife" shirt in the closet...

Papi breaks the Redsox HR record tonight. Pretty cool he hit it off one of the best pitcher's in the league. Not to mention the team that didn't want him... but that doesn't matter, I'd say the Twins are doing just fine w/out him ;)

[boston_aloha]

Let the Manny trade rumors begin!

[catman]

Now that I qualify as a poster in this thread, I will not let it drop to page 2.

[Tarkus]

:lol:

After the pain diminishes, we'll be able to put this all into focus better...

[catman]

No pain, Tark. I accept the Twins' defeat at the hands of the A's. The A's outplayed the Twins.

[boston_aloha]

The Yankees are getting killed 8-0...
They already had the talk about Torre losing his job if they go out today. I still think he is one of the best in the game right now. Pitching wins championships IMO... these big bats mean nothing against a pitcher that is on his game. How bout ARod 0 for his last 40 AB??????

BTW - I made this post in the losers lounge so as not to look like I'm rubbing it in to our Yank fans here. I know I'm (and my team) a loser!!!

[Tarkus]

Hi...My name is Tarkus & I, my White Sox & my recent bandwagon jump Twins are losers....

I welcome any Yankee fans who are strong enough in character to admit they & their team have a problem.......:D

[boston_aloha]

Ahhh this thread is starting to make me laugh again.

[Tarkus]

Yea...nothin' like a thread with a noble purpose...;)

Ya know, I go with my Sox...they lose. I bandwagon jump to the Twins...they lose.

Anyone want a team to lose & get out of their team's way, just PM me & for a nominal fee, I'll root for them...

Apparently I'm the Kiss of Death....:thumbup:

[boston_aloha]

I did the same thing Tark... Sox were out, I jumped on the Twins (scraped my knees jumping on that bandwagon) and they lose. Oh... not to mention I was also rooten for the Dodgers...

[Tarkus]

We're the SC version of Typhoid Mary...bringin' death & destruction to the MLB scene...:lol:

[catman]

Cheer for the National League, OK?

[Tarkus]

:lol:

As you wish...

http://www.filehigh.com/serve/5293/182767.gif

[Hoosier Daddy]

Answer: A spot in the 2006 ALCS.






Question: What does 82 million dollars buy that 198 million cannot.



Tim.

[Alex]

King George is pissed. Rumor is Torre is getting the axe and Piniella is coming back to the Bronx.

I admire Joe Torre for what he has done over the past 11 seasons but I think it's time for a change. It's a shame it has to end like this but I think the change needs to be made. This team needs a guy who's going to intimidate them and get them to play hard every day. Torre basically sat back and took a laisser faire attitude with the team over the past couple of seasons and failed to properly utilize the bullpen among other bonehead moves.

I think Cashman needs to go too. And IMO, the only players who deserve to have jobs with the Yanks next season no matter what goes down are Posada, Cano, Jeter, Cabrera, Matsui, Damon, Williams, Abreu, Wang, Bruney, Proctor and Rivera. Other than those 11 players, no one should be safe.

This team needs character and identity. The Yankees actually have a decent number of young players who are ML-ready. Phil Hughes could come up and be a solid starter at the back end of the rotation. Melky Cabrera has proved that he is ready to be a full-time starter. Jeff Karstens had some decent starts in August and Sepember, he'd be a good young arm out of the bullpen.

So far the consensus among Yankee fans seems to be that Torre needs to go but Piniella is the wrong choice. Conversely, I think he is a good choice. Piniella knows how to win and gets the most out of his teams. Hell, he managed to get the Devil Rays to finish out of last place. I think his hot-head mentality will be good for this team even though explosive personalities often times struggle in New York. But having been here as both a player and a manager, I think he'll be fine.

[catman]

I saw Cashman at the game yesterday, and he did not look comfortable. The cameras panned back to him after the Tigers built their lead and he looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole someplace. His job is safe, for now -- from what I've read.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2617224

[catman]

I do agree that the Yankees need to re-tool a bit. They have gotten a lot older than the average team and these old guys don't have the stamina they once did.
Phillip Hughes would be a good place to start. They've insisted on keeping him in all of the deals they have made recently and now its time to see if they were right in doing so.

[LA sports]

:whine: :whine: :whine: I guess this is the thread I belong in now.

[Tarkus]

Welcome LA....

Actually this isn't a bad place to be outside of them takin' away all sharp instruments & havin' to eat with plastic spoons & forks...:D

[Alex]

Welcome LA....

Actually this isn't a bad place to be outside of them takin' away all sharp instruments & havin' to eat with plastic spoons & forks...:D

On a not so funny note, they won't let us have plastic knives at my school anymore. People were trying to stab each other with them. :uhoh:

[boston_aloha]

This thread is alive again!!! Welcome LA / Alex - sorry bout your teams (well, Alex - I guess I had to say that to be nice LOL). Don't mind me... I've just been here since mid-August!!!! Not to mention a co-creater of this thread.... not something to be proud of!!! :thumbdown:

[LA sports]

Thanks guys. Well, I guess we can still enjoy the rest of the playoffs and of course with "Hot stove baseball" we have the best off-season in sports with all the moves that go on. Other than some pitching though I don't expect the Dodgers to do a lot this winter. We have a lot of good young players (many of whom have already gotten valuable experience) ready to take over.

I hate the Yankees but I have always liked Torre so I think it would be wrong to fire him, but I'm sure Steinbrenner will do it anyways. But like Alex said it could be time for a change. I am anxious to see what the "hated one's" (Giants) do this off-season with all the apparent rebuilding they need to do, or will they sign or re-sign more oldies?

[boston_aloha]

Again - welcome LA. Yeah I'm curious to see what the Giants do w/ Bonds. Happy to see Nomar got come back player. As for the Torre issue. I agree its time for him to go - not because he did anything wrong. He is a great manager. Its just time for a change with the Yankees. They need to lose Torre, ARod, Sheffield, Johnson, Mussina, Pavano. Time to let go of the vets and bring in others.

[catman]

We'll start a hot-stove discussion thread once the WS is over. Until then, and after that, we can all post here in this thread.
I, too, am interested to see what the Yankees do this winter. King George will not sit back and do nothing, we all know that. Which players will move and which will stay? How much of A'Rod's salary will he be willing to eat?

[LA sports]

Again - welcome LA. Yeah I'm curious to see what the Giants do w/ Bonds. Happy to see Nomar got come back player. As for the Torre issue. I agree its time for him to go - not because he did anything wrong. He is a great manager. Its just time for a change with the Yankees. They need to lose Torre, ARod, Sheffield, Johnson, Mussina, Pavano. Time to let go of the vets and bring in others.
Thanks Boston.

Maybe Nomar will be a candidate for comeback player of the year again next year.:lol:

The problem with the Yanks is that they have depleted their minor league system so the only way for them to replace all those guys is by trading for other big names, but getting other teams to take over the salaries could be difficult. I guess the Yanks can afford to continue paying those salaries though, maybe shoot for $300,000,000 next year.:rolleyes: while other teams get their big names for free.

I look forward to the hot stove thread Catman, the off-season is almost as exciting as the regular season with all the moves.:thumbup:

[dirtywhiteboy]

I need a hug...a 98 year hug.

[boston_aloha]

DWB - you should be the CEO of this thread... It could of been me.. but then there was 2004... then it could of been Tark... but we had 2005.... You are due bro - hang in there!

[catman]

The Cubs will need to make a few more changes in their front office before they can become a legitimate contender. They need a GM that is willing to go out and get the players the Mgr needs to do the job, namely pitchers and a 2B. The internal options at 2B are pretty good with Fontenot and Theriot going into camp next spring. Their pitching looks OK, but they need some bullpen help.

[Tarkus]

This may end up to be worthy of a thread soon but right now, without knowing who the Sox may possibly get, trading Garland to the Rangers, on the surface, may be perfect material for the Losers Lounge....:confused:

I love vague rumors in the offseason....:rolleyes:

[catman]

I've heard that John Danks, a lefty starter is part of the deal. Also, I've heard that Brian Anderson may be included, so the Rangers will have to come up with a couple of players to make this deal. Were I the Sox, I'd insist on Joachim Arias, a SS the Rangers got from the Yankees in the ARod deal a few years back. As poorly as the Sox played at SS last year, he'd be an upgrade both offensively and defensively.

[dirtywhiteboy]

I never heard a word on that one...did the trade happen???

[catman]

No DWB, it is still a rumor at this point.

[Tarkus]

As a Sox fan:

I can see all the advantages for the future with the trades of Garcia & McCarthy but it's more based on positive vibes for 2007. I'm not anything but concerned. Add the loss of Gload who was an important peice to the puzzle for a pitcher that we're gamblin' on changing "mechanical problems" & it's even more concern. I guarantee we'll miss him but we better have even more return to offset the loss

Sure, I can see these might have more under the surface but I'm not privy to what they see & know. I guess I'll just have to keep the faith...

As a Cubs fan:

It's just been too many hearaches to find the silver lining. Yea, there's pluses but also a huge question of why the apparent overspending in some areas. Impending sale or some behind glimpses that make some of these a great move? I have to wait some before I get emotionally involved again. Breakin' down their game sometimes is just a breakdown of the hopes. '69's scars are always breakin' open at the worst times...

Right now we're nothin' but losers on both fronts. I'd love to say different to anybody & everybody but I gotta wait till we get into the real season. I just hope I'll get the chance...