35thstreetswarm

The irony was in your post, not his. And I’ll agree with you about one thing: sometimes you can tell a lot about a person based on what they choose to say in a public forum. That is all—I hope trafficking with the unlanded throngs doesn’t cause you too much fright today.

I agree the seedings should be by record after the division winners. I’m also delighted that I’m starting to feel some “bring it on” confidence that we can beat whomever they put in front of us.

Still not sure you’re getting the irony he identified in your post. And by the way, the reason it’s not a big deal to “put down another group” (?) in this context is *because* it’s just sports, which doesn’t really matter, as you point out. The guy with the sticker doesn’t actually want to pee on everyone who likes the Cubs. Normal Cub fans don’t feel denigrated as human beings when they see the sticker. They are all just messing around and engaging in the time-honored tradition of trash talk about a meaningless pastime — engaging in harmless tribalism precisely because the stakes are so low. You, on the other hand, have actually passed real judgment on the character of a whole group of people based on their t-shirts. Also, a ten-paragraph double post is probably not the ideal vehicle for accusing others of being “blowhards”, but I digress.

Hating the Cubs is not the “new thing.” It’s the old thing. The original thing. The new thing is whining about the existence of a natural city rivalry.

I have never been a RR fan and I wanted him fired before the season. That said, I am willing to reserve judgment and reconsider given the stellar results, even if he keeps making decisions I find questionable. I do this in recognition of the fact that, as a guy watching the games on TV, I don’t really know anything. It’s possible—very likely actually—that RR is doing things I can’t see or appreciate that contribute to the positive results. I hope everybody approaches this and other Sox hot topics with a dose of humility and flexibility befitting our lack of qualification here. I hope the proof of the pudding really can be in the eating. Message boards cause people to write their positions down for all to see during fixed moments in time. An unfortunate result of that is that we feel compelled to defend those imperfect positions to the death rather than take the more flexible mental approach available had we not gone “on the record”, thereby joining a contest of sorts and inserting ego into the equation. In other words: Scoreboard, Baby!!! Ricky Prove Me Wrong!

Nor do I. And I actually think this is the Cubs’ last best chance. If it doesn’t happen this year I don’t think it will ever happen.

Remember we’ve already won one “crosstown series”, so we have a buffer

I’ve only heard “redline series.” Anyway, it would be the most terrifying sporting event of my life. The upside so high and the downside so low.

“...damn. How do I keep the negative game thread energy going? We just got a fantastic win...f it, I’ll give it a try”

Horrible matchup. Got the win anyway. Cease hangs in again to keep us in it. This was best I could hope for.

Twice up in a key situation and blew it

Dude...

You have identified the precise problem. I’m increasingly worried the Sox could win the World Series, providing the perfect cover for the org to avoid making my favored personnel moves. Wouldn’t that be just our luck?

There’s no magic to the Twins. They lose to worse teams than the Sox on the reg. We’ve lost to them a tiny handful of times this year—who cares? If we swing it like we have during our good stretches we’ll beat them.

I think the more alarming his looks become the better he gets. I’m good with it. By next season his uniform may well be soaked in urine and he’ll be hitting .375

Not a flattering cut for Jose. His forehead was already a fivehead. Now it’s a sixhead.

Yes, been thinking this for a long time. This shortened/late-starting season has been a huge benefit for the Sox In so many ways. Kind of amazing how it all came together. The only thing missing is Kopech, but oh well.

(in the )NICK (of time) : MAD RAKE! ALL(day)! "NICK, are you MAD?" -Rick. Goal!!! NICK the Murder Gull. I sort of feel like we're reaching now.

...and lost to them. If our trouncing the "bad teams" is unimpressive, the Twins and Indians must be absolute trash...right?

Bingo ?

Not really a “paradox,” (maybe a conundrum). In any event Springer would be a nice addition at the right price, but I hope they address the rotation before worrying about further strengthening an already-strong lineup.

It's settled. I'm going to stop watching the worthless Sox tear up the league and start looking forward to Hahn-free, sub-.500 Hawks and Bulls seasons. And I must say it was so nice to watch the Cubs during our series last month: there was just something so...ACCOUNTABLE about the the way they got their asses kicked all over the field.

Sounds like everyone's circling separately around the prongs of the same two-part answer: a) yes, from a legacy/team morale/merchandising perspective but b) likely no (and maybe even a detriment) from a playoff seeding perspective.

Every time I think about how we’ll have to scrape together a rotation to help this dynamic offense in the playoffs I can’t help but get really annoyed with Kopech. This season is such a perfect opportunity for him to contribute to something special. His team needs him; he’s not here. I’m really not accustomed to finding myself on what’s considered the “meatball” end of the fan spectrum, but here we are.

Sign me up for whatever gets us a first round date with Toronto.