Per NDB Paul Sullivan, some dude wearing a purple tshirt thinks he saw Theo Epstein at a Chicago Starbucks. True to form, he managed to work in a completely unrelated dig on Zambrano. Seriously, Tribune? There have been sightings of Theo all over the city, and this is the one you dug up?
We intrepid investigators at Obstructed View have heard reports of Epstein in no less than seven locations in the past 24 hours.
- A woman in an orange sweatshirt may have spotted Theo in the Jewel produce section buying bananas
- A cab driver wearing a yellow hoodie picked up a man that looked like Theo who asked for a ride to Wrigley Stadium.
- My friend’s cousin’s dog Fred, who was wearing a green collar, saw Theo taking an early morning swim in Lake Michigan this morning. Somehow Fred managed to take a picture despite lacking opposable thumbs:
- A man wearing red pants saw someone that looked a lot like Theo taking two bags of bananas into a house in lakeview. The nameplate on the mailbox said “T. Shakur”
- Yesterday afternoon, an airport employee wearing brown shoes spotted someone Epsteinesque getting off a plane piloted by an A. Earhart. The plane was supposed to arrive earlier that morning but it had been hijacked by someone calling himself D. B. Cooper.
- A 3 month old child wearing a blue diaper saw Theo eating dinner a downtown restaurant last night with Carlos Zambrano and Ozzie Guillen.
- A man wearing nothing but a tiger-striped thong saw Paul Sullivan wearing a purple tshirt in a Chicago Starbucks, having a long conversation with Scott Templeton.
(h/t to Aisley for a few of these)
Comments
Also, I didn’t realize you were in Chicago this weekend, MB.
BerseliusQuote Reply
This is truly embarrassing.
GBTSQuote Reply
I mean, everything he writes is embarrassing, but this isn’t even subtly embarrassing.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]I mean, everything he writes is embarrassing, but this isn’t even subtly embarrassing.[/quote]But…he had a source!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Exactly. Sullivan made this whole thing up. He is the most subhuman grabasstic piece of mongoloid shit employed by that paper.
Remember that they also employ Haugh and Rosenbloom.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Also, did HJE and Andy give you permission to point out the pile of journalism FAIL that is their GOOD FRIEND Paul Sullivan’s career?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Also, did HJE and Andy give you permission to point out the pile of journalism FAIL that is their GOOD FRIEND Paul Sullivan’s career?[/quote]
No, I did not ask permission. Rediscredited and no dinner tonight.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]No, I did not ask permission. Rediscredited and no dinner tonight.[/quote]A guy in a visor on Wabash and Jackson told me that HJE is fine with it.
GBTSQuote Reply
Mary Gerdle, a Ukranian Village resident wearing a flowered mou-mou, told me she bought a beer for Jimmy Hoffa at Happy Hours taproom last night.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Mary Gerdle, a Ukranian Village resident wearing a flowered mou-mou, told me she bought a beer for Jimmy Hoffa at Happy Hours taproom last night.[/quote]
(dying laughing), I meant to work Hoffa into this
BerseliusQuote Reply
Texas Tech students covered the A& M team buses in cow shit and then shat in the drivers seats during the game in Lubbock.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Texas Tech students covered the A& M team buses in cow shit and then shat in the drivers seats during the game in Lubbock.[/quote]
aTm fans should buy a bunch of billboards in the Lubbock area and put a giant picture of the scoardboard on them.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]aTm fans should buy a bunch of billboards in the Lubbock area and put a giant picture of the scoardboard on them.[/quote](dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I just figured out the Etymology of “hearsay”. (dying laughing)
MishQuote Reply
Not sure if this guy counts for The Rule of Three.
http://saskatoon.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111009/ex-weezer-bassist-dies-111009/20111009/?hub=Saskatoon
I thought this guy might have been the first of the three,
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44755546/ns/health-health_care/t/dead-nobel-medicine-winner-keep-prize/#.TpH1f5yYOys
cdwQuote Reply
Also,
cdwQuote Reply
ALCS game 2 was just postponed until Monday afternoon.
ACTQuote Reply
wow, unusual to see Garcia walking so many
BerseliusQuote Reply
I was skimming through the comments since Friday and wanted to add something that I think hasn’t been stated anywhere. A lot of GM contracts don’t expire until October 31st or even at the end of the calendar year. Friedman’s contract likely has not expired yet and they would need permission from the Rays to speak to him at this point.
We need to put on the brakes here. It’s October 9th. I’d like to know who the next GM is going to be as much as anyone, but this is a process that shouldn’t be rushed. It’s also a process that can’t be rushed considering who the targets are. It’s quite likely that Cashman and Friedman are employed by their teams through at least the end of the month. Theo is employed through next season. The Cubs aren’t going to have a GM in place for awhile and there’s nothing wrong with that.
I do agree that the longer this Theo business plays out the less likely he is to join the Cubs, but such is life.
mb21Quote Reply
What pisses me off about this shit being published is that searching for Theo Epstein on twitter now is fucking useless.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]What pisses me off about this shit being published is that searching for Theo Epstein on twitter now is fucking useless.[/quote]Paul Sullivan is a menace.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I was skimming through the comments since Friday and wanted to add something that I think hasn’t been stated anywhere. A lot of GM contracts don’t expire until October 31st or even at the end of the calendar year. Friedman’s contract likely has not expired yet and they would need permission from the Rays to speak to him at this point.
We need to put on the brakes here. It’s October 9th. I’d like to know who the next GM is going to be as much as anyone, but this is a process that shouldn’t be rushed. It’s also a process that can’t be rushed considering who the targets are. It’s quite likely that Cashman and Friedman are employed by their teams through at least the end of the month. Theo is employed through next season. The Cubs aren’t going to have a GM in place for awhile and there’s nothing wrong with that.
I do agree that the longer this Theo business plays out the less likely he is to join the Cubs, but such is life.[/quote]
Having the White Sox Ozzie/Ventura stuff right now isn’t helping either. From what I remember most MLB teams have an unspoken agreement not to announce any deals etc. until after the WS.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Having the White Sox Ozzie/Ventura stuff right now isn’t helping either. From what I remember most MLB teams have an unspoken agreement not to announce any deals etc. until after the WS.[/quote]Just not during the World Series, I think.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Having the White Sox Ozzie/Ventura stuff right now isn’t helping either. From what I remember most MLB teams have an unspoken agreement not to announce any deals etc. until after the WS.[/quote]The unspoken agreement is to not hire anyone during days the LCS is played or any day during the WS. There often is a team or two who hires somebody in between the LCS and WS. The Cubs did this with Lou Piniella. Dusty was in the WS so they obviously couldn’t hire him until after the season was over. The Cubs hired Quade toward the end of the LCS, but I’m pretty sure there was a game that day. It’s mostly the WS.
mb21Quote Reply
What 424 said. Much shorter. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
The Angels are looking to hire a GM too and I’ve barely read anything about that. If the Cubs do interview Theo and he’s interested in leaving they’ll probably get that done before the WS starts. Otherwise it’s probably going to be closer to December.
mb21Quote Reply
Tim Tebow’s throwing style is the perfect metaphor for Paul Sullivan’s writing style. Inept, ugly, and proudly so.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]The Angels are looking to hire a GM too and I’ve barely read anything about that. If the Cubs do interview Theo and he’s interested in leaving they’ll probably get that done before the WS starts. Otherwise it’s probably going to be closer to December.[/quote]Meanwhile, the Cubs want their fucking money by November 16.
Aisle424Quote Reply
I think the Cubs end up with Theo. I have no idea when it will be. It could be tomorrow, next week, next month or in February, but I think he ends up the GM of the Cubs. In all honesty, I don’t much care when it is. As long as he’s available, I don’t want the Cubs to hire anyone else.
mb21Quote Reply
How do you get a time out there when the pitcher is in his motion?
mb21Quote Reply
This says it all to me. What owner would say that about a guy who is not even 40 years old? Obviously it’s true. Everybody knows it is, but I have never heard an owner say that about a 65 year old GM or manager. Unless something drastically changes soon, and I doubt it does, I think Theo is as good as gone. That’s just not what an owner says about his GM or manager.
mb21Quote Reply
If there’s no discussion with the Cubs, Henry says that Theo is the GM through the end of his contract. That’s all. That’s all any employer would say. Henry said a lot even though he thought he didn’t.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]This says it all to me. What owner would say that about a guy who is not even 40 years old? Obviously it’s true. Everybody knows it is, but I have never heard an owner say that about a 65 year old GM or manager. Unless something drastically changes soon, and I doubt it does, I think Theo is as good as gone. That’s just not what an owner says about his GM or manager.[/quote]
I thought the same thing when I heard this on the radio the other morning. He also said they would only give Theo permission to interview with another team if it was a title above GM. So, I’m left to surmise Theo will be the Cubs new President if they want him badly enough.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]I thought the same thing when I heard this on the radio the other morning. He also said they would only give Theo permission to interview with another team if it was a title above GM. So, I’m left to surmise Theo will be the Cubs new President if they want him badly enough.[/quote]Did you see him walk his dog down your street earlier this evening?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]I thought the same thing when I heard this on the radio the other morning. He also said they would only give Theo permission to interview with another team if it was a title above GM. So, I’m left to surmise Theo will be the Cubs new President if they want him badly enough.[/quote]So Tom has to figure out what to do with his best beer bonging bro Crane before he can hire Theo? No wonder this is taking so long.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Did you see him walk his dog down your street earlier this evening?[/quote]No, but a man in red flip-flops told me he heard that Theo loves Chicago pizza.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I don’t think Henry said “only if” it’s a promotion. At least that’s not how I read it anyway.
To me that just means 1) the Cubs asked to talk to him about a position that includes a title above what he currently has and 2) that they wouldn’t necessarily decline if it was for a lateral position.
I think we can safely say that the Cubs have asked the Red Sox to talk to Theo about the GM job, as well as some type of President title. We can then safely assume, based on Henry’s comments and what teams typically do, that the Red Sox gave the Cubs permission to contact Theo. I think that’s about all we can be sure of at this point.
I think it’s a safe assumption that the Cubs got on the phone and called Theo after the Sox gave them permission. That seems a reasonable assumption to me. Perhaps the Cubs are playing hard to get. Maybe they’re the one who sends the “I like you” note in class and then acts all cool and shit. I doubt that. The Cubs are the 29 year old virgin in the room with a chance to date the most beautiful girl in town. So I’m guessing the Cubs got on the phone the very minute they were given approval to talk to him.
Since these rumors haven’t died and Theo has basically gone silent, i also think it’s reasonable to assume that the two sides will discuss the position. It seems unlikely they have already done so as that would be hard to keep private, but it’s possible considering the cubs sportswriters. Unless they read about it in the paper or get tipped by some random fan, they don’t have a clue. It’s still unlikely the Boston media wouldn’t have that info though.
So my guess is that Theo is interested and the Cubs plan to sit down with him at some point this week or next.
mb21Quote Reply
Looked like they had a bit of a slugfest in NLCS Game 1.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]So Tom has to figure out what to do with his best beer bonging bro Crane before he can hire Theo? No wonder this is taking so long.[/quote]The Cubs can create a new position. My guess is that Theo’s title is going to be President of Baseball Operations and General Manager.
mb21Quote Reply
I also guess that in 5 years Theo steps aside (as GM) and hires a GM.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]The Cubs can create a new position. My guess is that Theo’s title is going to be President of Baseball Operations and General Manager.[/quote]And Crane’s will be Chief Executive of Beer Pong, Bags and Truck Surfing
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I also guess that in 5 years Theo steps aside (as GM) and hires a GM.[/quote]How sweet would it be to hire Theo as pres, send Crane walking off a cliff, then swoop for Friedman as GM?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Old Hoss Radbourn]How odd. I just saw T. Epstein in a Providence bordello. The Grays are coming back![/quote] .
ACTQuote Reply
I was the shooter on the grassy knoll.
The Man In the Purple ShirtQuote Reply
There once was a man from Nantucket. No, really, there was, I saw in him at Caribou Coffee this morning.
The Man In the Purple ShirtQuote Reply
I spoke to an angry hobbit this morning about Theo Epstein.
The Man In the Purple ShirtQuote Reply
Too good to be true. Just ran into Spiro Agnew at a Dunkin Donuts.
The Man In the Purple ShirtQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]The Cubs can create a new position. My guess is that Theo’s title is going to be President of Baseball Operations and General Manager.[/quote]Optimism goggles engaged!
/Cubs Stats’d
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://twitter.com/#!/pinz99
GWQuote Reply
Yesterday, I was at Menard’s buying paint and totally ran into Bob Vila. He smells like lavender and musk.
The Man In the Purple ShirtQuote Reply
[quote name=GW]http://twitter.com/#!/pinz99[/quote]How proud Sullivan must be. Woodward and Bernstein get a high-level CIA operative, Sully gets some guy who wears purple shirts and tweets about how he imagines slapping people who mildly annoy him on the El.
Journalism.
The Man In the Purple ShirtQuote Reply
[quote name=The Man In the Purple Shirt]How proud Sullivan must be. Woodward and Bernstein get a high-level CIA operative, Sully gets some guy who wears purple shirts and tweets about how he imagines slapping people who mildly annoy him on the El.
Journalism.[/quote](dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=The Man In the Purple Shirt]How proud Sullivan must be. Woodward and Bernstein get a high-level CIA operative, Sully gets some guy who wears purple shirts and tweets about how he imagines slapping people who mildly annoy him on the El.
Journalism.[/quote]Check my meta. I learned that from Bob Oedenkirk, who I met at a Toys-R-Us in Kankakee.
The Man In the Purple ShirtQuote Reply
I forgot Sully started a blog. He really put in a lot of work on it.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I forgot Sully started a blog. He really put in a lot of work on it.[/quote]I saw Bill Gates at a Sizzler in Oconomowoc last week. I should tell him to help Sully with his blog. I asked him “Are you Bill Gates?” And he said “No, I’m Stan Tapanski.” Which was a clear sign that it was Bill Gates.
The Man In the Purple ShirtQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I think the Cubs end up with Theo. I have no idea when it will be. It could be tomorrow, next week, next month or in February, but I think he ends up the GM of the Cubs. In all honesty, I don’t much care when it is. As long as he’s available, I don’t want the Cubs to hire anyone else.[/quote]
Congrats to Theo Epstein, the GM of the 2016 Cubs!
Also, in fairness to the Shire’s favorite sports reporter, the article was more about the fact that Cubs fans are so Theo-crazy that they keep thinking they’re seeing him everywhere. Mind you, that’s still not really news, but it’s not such a terrible Chicago-culture piece on a no-news day.
Don’t worry though, I still think he’s a cunt for the Zambrano thing (dying laughing). There’s no reason to put that in other than just to be a small, petty dickhead.
fang2415Quote Reply
[quote name=fang2415]Congrats to Theo Epstein, the GM of the 2016 Cubs!
Also, in fairness to the Shire’s favorite sports reporter, the article was more about the fact that Cubs fans are so Theo-crazy that they keep thinking they’re seeing him everywhere. Mind you, that’s still not really news, but it’s not such a terrible Chicago-culture piece on a no-news day.
Don’t worry though, I still think he’s a cunt for the Zambrano thing (dying laughing). There’s no reason to put that in other than just to be a small, petty dickhead.[/quote]Even if that’s the point of the piece, that’s entirely unclear, and someone as dimwitted and humorless as Paul Sullivan shouldn’t be trying his hand at comedy, considering he’s so utterly dire at the type of writing he’s actually trained to do. (dying laughing)
Bottom line: that dreck had no place on the pages of a major metropolitan sports page.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=fang2415]
Also, in fairness to the Shire’s favorite sports reporter, the article was more about the fact that Cubs fans are so Theo-crazy that they keep thinking they’re seeing him everywhere. Mind you, that’s still not really news, but it’s not such a terrible Chicago-culture piece on a no-news day.
[/quote]That’s how I took the article. It’s not about Theo; it’s about Cubs fans.
ACTQuote Reply
deleted
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=The Man In the Purple Shirt]Yesterday, I was at Menard’s buying paint and totally ran into Bob Vila. He smells like lavender and musk.[/quote]On my way to meet Dale Carnegie at Moody’s. I’ve never met the guy before but I’m told you can recognized him by his pet marmoset’s prince albert.
Sits By Strangers On Empty ElsQuote Reply
I do not buy that PoS was trying to make a larger statement about Cubs fans as opposed to just passing along gossip. This guy is a hack and he loves to mock Cubs fans, no doubt, but he wanted to pass this gossip along. He doesn’t have shit to report as a journalist and didn’t want to call a random idiot a “source” so he made the fan part of the story. I’m not giving him any credit that he had some deeper commentary going on. Sorry, it doesn’t fit his style.
melissaQuote Reply
1) Paul Sullivan or any other journalist writing about baseball shouldn’t be writing an article about some random fan seeing Theo Epstein somewhere he almost certainly wasn’t. I mean, what are the odds that Theo Epstein, even if he’s in Chicago, is in the one place that guy says he saw him? It has to be less than 1% and that’s if we know he’s in Chicago. Add in that we don’t even know that and we’re talking way, way below 1%. Maybe .00001%. Or lower.
2) It might be a no-news day, but that doesn’t mean there’s not an article to be written about the Cubs. Bloggers do it every day. Sullivan could write about a couple dozen different things. Sullivan chose to write about the silliest thing possible.
3) when someone (anyone!) says they think they saw some famous person at some random place they’re likely to be mocked. Sullivan knows this and as he’s done so often in recent years, he’s only encouraged people to mock this guy. We’re talking about a guy who picks questions for his mailbag just so he can belittle them.
mb21Quote Reply
http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/10/09/report-red-sox-have-granted-cubs-permission-to-speak-to-theo-epstein/
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]http://www.bleachernation.com/2011/10/09/report-red-sox-have-granted-cubs-permission-to-speak-to-theo-epstein/[/quote]That story is about as credible as Sullivan’s. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I assume it’s just some guy putting two and two together, which is obviously above Sullivan’s head.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I assume it’s just some guy putting two and two together, which is obviously above Sullivan’s head.[/quote]Most extant objects are above Sullivan’s head.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
PoS should’ve just checked Theo’s foursquare.
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=cdw]PoS should’ve just checked Theo’s foursquare.[/quote]No one needs FourSquare when you’ve got RandomGuyInAPurpleShirt.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
What editor would actually allow this drivel to be put out as a legit column? This is like some shit you would read in Michael Sneed’s sights seen gossip column. Wonder if any Sneedlings saw Theo spooling pasta at Rosebud.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]No one needs FourSquare when you’ve got RandomGuyInAPurpleShirt.[/quote]
Random Guy in a Purple Shirt has now replaced Ask Jeeves.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]What editor would actually allow this drivel to be put out as a legit column? This is like some shit you would read in Michael Sneed’s sights seen gossip column. Wonder if any Sneedlings saw Theo spooling pasta at Rosebud.[/quote]That’s really the most appalling part of this whole thing. You look at some of tripe trotted out by Sully, Rosenbloom, Rogers, and Haugh, and it really makes you wonder just what the sports editor at the Tribune does.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I really think both sullivan and his editor should lose job for that
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]1) Paul Sullivan or any other journalist writing about baseball shouldn’t be writing an article about some random fan seeing Theo Epstein somewhere he almost certainly wasn’t. I mean, what are the odds that Theo Epstein, even if he’s in Chicago, is in the one place that guy says he saw him? It has to be less than 1% and that’s if we know he’s in Chicago. Add in that we don’t even know that and we’re talking way, way below 1%. Maybe .00001%. Or lower.
2) It might be a no-news day, but that doesn’t mean there’s not an article to be written about the Cubs. Bloggers do it every day. Sullivan could write about a couple dozen different things. Sullivan chose to write about the silliest thing possible.
3) when someone (anyone!) says they think they saw some famous person at some random place they’re likely to be mocked. Sullivan knows this and as he’s done so often in recent years, he’s only encouraged people to mock this guy. We’re talking about a guy who picks questions for his mailbag just so he can belittle them.[/quote]Yeah, I don’t mean to argue that the piece was very good, or that he shouldn’t have gone out and found some real news to write about, or that he’s not a dickhead. It was just one of the many two-minute reads full of junior-high-level insights that you’ll frequently see in the Chi papers (and in middlebrow papers everywhere). But I don’t think he actually thinks some guy saw Theo somewhere — I’d actually blame mlbtr for giving that impression.
As usual with bad journalists, I blame lack of news (or the inability to find it) more than malice or sheer stupidity. Being forced to write something when there’s nothing to write can make anybody sound like an idiot. If you happen to be an idiot anyway, it makes you sound like Paul Sullivan.
fang2415Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]makes you wonder just what the sports editor at the Tribune does.[/quote]Not edit?
[quote name=fang2415]If you happen to be an idiot anyway, it makes you sound like Paul Sullivan.[/quote]Burn!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Incidentally, you guys should see the sports pages here in the UK. Usually the best they come up with is “Terry: we will beat Spain” (replacing Terry and Spain with whatever team member / opponent is coming up this week). I seriously think that article gets written once a week in the majority of London papers.
fang2415Quote Reply
[quote name=MrCubs73]Here’s for hoping Epstein in the new Cubs GM. Then everyone who don’t like him now, can complain after 8 years when the Cubs have twice won the World Series.
The Plan: Since the Red Sox fans think Carl Crawford is such a bad signing, then I have a solution. After the Cubs bring Theo in to run the show, he can ship Soriano and Zambrano to Boston for Crawford. I will take the no good left fielder that Boston seems to hate so much these days. Then I bring up Jackson to patrol center moving Byrd over to right, while the Cubs wait for Szczur to show up and take over for Byrd. I sign Papelbon to take over for Marmol. I either shop Marmol or move him to the rotation, his control scares me. Not the guy I want on the mound in the 7th game of the World Series. I go after Edwin Jackson and Javier Vazquez to complement Garza , Cashner (Wells if Cash is not healthy), Dempster (Wells if Dempster opts out). While I am at it, I go out and trade for David Wright to play 3rd (Marmol, Lake & Barney or LeMehieu)
C Soto/Clevenger
1B Lahair/Vitters (Pena for one year deal, if he will come back for one year)
2B Barney or LeMahieu
3B Wright
SS Castro
LF Crawford
CF Jackson
RF Byrd/Colvin
SP Garza
SP Dempster
SP Edwin Jackson
SP Javier Vazquez
SP Cashner or Wells
CP Papelbon
RP Marshall
RP Samardzija
RP Wood
RP ?
This won’t happen, but this is my 2012 Central Division winning Chicago Cubs
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=fang2415]Yeah, I don’t mean to argue that the piece was very good, or that he shouldn’t have gone out and found some real news to write about, or that he’s not a dickhead. It was just one of the many two-minute reads full of junior-high-level insights that you’ll frequently see in the Chi papers (and in middlebrow papers everywhere). But I don’t think he actually thinks some guy saw Theo somewhere — I’d actually blame mlbtr for giving that impression.
As usual with bad journalists, I blame lack of news (or the inability to find it) more than malice or sheer stupidity. Being forced to write something when there’s nothing to write can make anybody sound like an idiot. If you happen to be an idiot anyway, it makes you sound like Paul Sullivan.[/quote]Agreed. I don’t think he believes for a moment that the person saw Theo. I just don’t know why he’d write it. I’m sure the guy on twitter has caught all kinds of shit for his tweet and probably a lot more because of Sullivan’s article.
mb21Quote Reply
Wait for Szczur to take over for Byrd? Byrd has one year left. Szczur reached only High A last year. He’s not replacing Byrd in 2012. Not gonna happen.
mb21Quote Reply
Gonna be a long night for Rodgers.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Gonna be a long night for Rodgers.[/quote]The NFC North: Where You Get a Franchise QB and Sign A Patchwork OL
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
There’s no point in complaining about his editors because they are complicit. NDB told Julie a while back that he was directed by his higher ups to write more like a columnist, this is just a natural extension.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Wait for Szczur to take over for Byrd? Byrd has one year left. Szczur reached only High A last year. He’s not replacing Byrd in 2012. Not gonna happen.[/quote]
He also suggests moving Marmol to the rotation because “his control scares me.” It’s pretty safe to say not gonna happen about 99% of that entire statement. Mr. Cubs 73 is no random guy in a purple shirt, that’s for sure. (dying laughing)
melissaQuote Reply
Man the Falcons are bringing the wood to the pile tonight. Their defense looks angry.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Man the Falcons are bringing the wood to the pile tonight. Their defense looks angry.[/quote]
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
What a novel idea. Your QB is in trouble, bring an extra TE and run some single wide and singleback sets, run the ball to cool down the defense.
I wish Mike Martz were watching this game instead of engaging in narcissistic masturbation.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Oooh, GB fail.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]He also suggests moving Marmol to the rotation because “his control scares me.” It’s pretty safe to say not gonna happen about 99% of that entire statement. Mr. Cubs 73 is no random guy in a purple shirt, that’s for sure. (dying laughing)[/quote]Yeah, all of it was wrong, but the Szczur comment stood out because there’s literally no chance he replaces Byrd next year. Maybe he gets a cup of coffee in September, but that’s it.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Yeah, all of it was wrong, but the Szczur comment stood out because there’s literally no chance he replaces Byrd next year. Maybe he gets a cup of coffee in September, but that’s it.[/quote]MB, you never know. That’s the beauty of short hops.
BerseliusQuote Reply
I heard about the celebration penalty, but a touchdown-negating penalty? That’s just retarded…
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Video-LSU-8217-s-punter-is-the-first-victim-of?urn=ncaaf-wp7655
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]MB, you never know. That’s the beauty of short hops.[/quote]He could, or could not. It could go either way.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Packers fans getting a taste of what Bears fans see every damn Sunday.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Packers fans getting a taste of what Bears fans see every damn Sunday.[/quote]If Jay Cutler were a better leader Rodgers wouldn’t be in this jam.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]If Jay Cutler were a better leader Rodgers wouldn’t be in this jam.[/quote]
You should see the faces Jay is making at his TV at home. His body language on the couch is just horrible, no wonder Rodgers’ line is so bad.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]
I wish Mike Martz were watching this game instead of engaging in narcissistic masturbation.[/quote]
How do you know he does it in front of a mirror? (dying laughing)
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]If Jay Cutler were a better leader Rodgers wouldn’t be in this jam.[/quote]Rodgers must’ve have been talking to Jay about ways to be a poor leader this week.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]How do you know he does it in front of a mirror? (dying laughing)[/quote]A guy in a purple shirt told me.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Doug Glanville’s piece on being eliminated from the playoffs (specifically in the 2003 NLCS): http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2011/story/_/id/7077713/2011-mlb-playoffs-teams-experience-bitter-end
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]How do you know he does it in front of a mirror? (dying laughing)[/quote]Because it’s a two-way mirror.
GBTSQuote Reply
Man, there have been some huge hits from the ATL defenders in this game.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
If only Martz would let Jay move the pocket, maybe the Bears could see a play or two like that.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Holy shit, that kick would’ve been good from 60+. What a boot.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Holy shit, that kick would’ve been good from 60+. What a boot.[/quote]Monster kick. Packers fans are amazed as well (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Monster kick. Packers fans are amazed as well (dying laughing)[/quote]NBC says it’s a team record.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Aaron Rodgers is a video game character.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Aaron Rodgers is a video game character.[/quote]They’ve set the Atlanta defense settings to “rookie”…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Who poured rocks in Finley’s gloves tonight? I’m going with Rodrigo.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Atlanta special teams also being set to “stupid”…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Falcons are self-destructing. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
This is a very unsportsmanlike game.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Aaron Rodgers is a video game character.[/quote]He’s having an unreal season. GB learned that you build the offense for the QB, not force the QB to bend himself to an offense for which he is ill-suited. Mike Martz is the worst thing to happen to Jay Cutler.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I’m really at a loss to see the GB penalty there. NFL officials have been utterly dreadful this year.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Which button in Madden is the “clutch throw” button? (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I’m really at a loss to see the GB penalty there. NFL officials have been utterly dreadful this year.[/quote]
I think it was the punt returner tossing the ball past the official when the official asked him for it. The refs are dreadful though.
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]I think it was the punt returner tossing the ball past the official when the official asked him for it. The refs are dreadful though.[/quote]So GB gets a penalty because the ref has shitty reflexes? (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]So GB gets a penalty because the ref has shitty reflexes? (dying laughing)[/quote]
No, because their punt returner is a dick. (dying laughing) It looked like he intentionally threw the ball behind the ref. I should have said behind instead of past the ref.
melissaQuote Reply
Al Michaels: “I’m not gonna play doctor here, but maybe a stinger.”
Solid work from an old pro.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]No, because their punt returner is a dick. (dying laughing) It looked like he intentionally threw the ball behind the ref. I should have said behind instead of past the ref.[/quote]I saw that, but I didn’t think it was intentional. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
FAILanta
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I saw that, but I didn’t think it was intentional. (dying laughing)[/quote]
We need to ask the random guy in the purple shirt if he saw what happened. (dying laughing)
melissaQuote Reply
[quote name=melissa]We need to ask the random guy in the purple shirt if he saw what happened. (dying laughing)[/quote]Hell, he probably met that ref in Margie’s Candies last week.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Hmmm…this challenge could go either way.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
On a whim I decided to look up career QB rating leaders and it seems Aaron Rodgers is ever so slightly better than Steve Young at this point.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
How is it possible for them to let ten seconds of action go on before they realized that Atlanta called a timeout?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I honestly have no idea what QB rating supposed to indicate, although it strikes me as the CERA of NFL stats.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
http://twitter.com/#!/AngryHack/status/123228678086856705
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Jermichael Finely would like people to be aware of his biceps.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Sooner or later, Mike McCarthy is going to have to come to grips with the fact that James Starks isn’t really that good.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
This clock eating drive is the biggest difference between the 2011 packers and the 2010 version
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]This clock eating drive is the biggest difference between the 2011 packers and the 2010 version[/quote]Well, that and the time difference.
/pedantic twat
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Sullivan is mocking Cub fans. It’s one of his favorite memes. He is not a good enough writer to make it clear, though, which is why this article is so hilarious.
He is also passive-aggressively slapping the front office for not giving him stories on silver platters, which results in an inadvertent mockery of his own profession.
THis has all probably been said above, in which case I will mock myself.
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
Exactly.
mb21Quote Reply
It gonna rain!
MishQuote Reply
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/10/10/2480737/on-rumors-tweets-and-sourcing#storyjump
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
work sucksQuote Reply
Alvin is an idiot.
mb21Quote Reply
4-1
dylanjQuote Reply
what I have learned at the age of 50 something is that sometimes a “source” doesn’t know every thing.
I wonder what other things has Al recently learned?
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]what I have learned at the age of 50 something is that sometimes a “source” doesn’t know every thing.
I wonder what other things has Al recently learned?[/quote]He learned how to go potty last week.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]
I wonder what other things has Al recently learned?[/quote]It is always exciting to witness the birth of a meme.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]
I wonder what other things has Al recently learned?[/quote]That Dallas is no longer on the air.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]It is always exciting to witness the birth of a meme.[/quote]What does the afterbirth of a meme look like?
Wait, don’t answer that…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]That Dallas is no longer on the air.[/quote]That “Word.” is a cool way to agree with someone.
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
I recently learned its not appropriate to shit in one’s soup.
Al’d
dylanjQuote Reply
So Al didn’t realize before that the scouting department junior coordinator who is Deep Goat doesn’t know everything?
I wish this could be made up.
Suburban kid 22Quote Reply
Is it considered a sabermetric nightmare if the Brewers win the World Series and the key factor is Yuni Betancourt?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
So I guess Magglio Ordonez is done.
binkyQuote Reply
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Video-Saturday-Night-Live-8217-s-funny-8216-?urn=mlb-wp23428
(dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]So I guess Magglio Ordonez is done.[/quote]His .634 OPS from a corner outfield position will be sorely missed.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]His .634 OPS from a corner outfield position will be sorely missed.[/quote]Actually, yeah, he was worth negative oWAR according to BREF. How did they make it to the postseason with a right fielder posting a negative WAR?
binkyQuote Reply
Still, Maggs had a nice career with several good years. Nothing close to HOF, but a few memorable years. Sounds like it may be the end of the road for him.
binkyQuote Reply
Yeah, snark aside, he had a very good career.
ACTQuote Reply
From Brad for FanGraphs:
http://www.fangraphs.com/not/index.php/theo-epstein-tom-ricketts-meeting-illustrated/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]4-1[/quote]5-0, yo
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]5-0, yo[/quote]/pinkman
mb21Quote Reply
boobs.
WaLiQuote Reply
Vitters triple slash in the AFL
.381/.364/.667
I know sample size and stuff, but it’s still funny that he has a higher batting average than OBP
8volumesthickQuote Reply
[quote name=8volumesthick]Vitters triple slash in the AFL
.381/.364/.667
I know sample size and stuff, but it’s still funny that he has a higher batting average than OBP[/quote]His sacrifice fly and ROE skills are legendary.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
ROE doesn’t count toward OBP or AVG.
ACTQuote Reply
I’m guessing Vitters has 1 sac fly as we’re not that far into the AFL season. I’d love to see Vitters improve his on-base skills, but I think at this point it comes down to whether or not he can hit the ball a long way a lot.
mb21Quote Reply
Word is that Vitters won’t even be able to stay at third base. That decreases his value even more.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]ROE doesn’t count toward OBP or AVG.[/quote]I don’t know if MLB officially recognizes ROE as a statistic but my limited knowledge suggests that it will result in an “0-for” and thus counts against OBP and average, whereas a sacrifice fly will not count against average but will count against OBP. Naturally I could be wrong, but I do like learning new things.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I don’t know if MLB officially recognizes ROE as a statistic but my limited knowledge suggests that it will result in an “0-for” and thus counts against OBP and average, whereas a sacrifice fly will not count against average but will count against OBP. Naturally I could be wrong, but I do like learning new things.[/quote]That’s exactly right.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I’m guessing Vitters has 1 sac fly as we’re not that far into the AFL season. I’d love to see Vitters improve his on-base skills, but I think at this point it comes down to whether or not he can hit the ball a long way a lot.[/quote]
agree. hopefully he can provide some defensive value tho. I wonder if a corner OF position might give him the opportunity to provide some positive offensive value, as opposed to 1B
work sucksQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]That’s exactly right.[/quote]Yeah, my previous comment was meant to take light of Vitters’ goofy slash line.
[quote name=ACT]Word is that Vitters won’t even be able to stay at third base. That decreases his value even more.[/quote]I read via either one of the scouts’ posts or Muskat’s tweets that he was being tried in corner outfield and also at 1B.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]
Yeah, my previous comment was meant to take light of Vitters’ goofy slash line.[/quote]But since ROE counts against,both OBP and AVG, it has nothing to do with the fact that his OBP is lower.
ACTQuote Reply
I think the only thing that can account for a lower OBP is the sac fly.
ACTQuote Reply
BEWB CUPCAKES
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]I think the only thing that can account for a lower OBP is the sac fly.[/quote]Correct + correct + correct.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
DEEP GOAT IS THE MAN IN THE PURPLE SHIRT
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I LOVE LAMP.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]DEEP GOAT IS THE MAN IN THE PURPLE SHIRT[/quote]Nope. My roommate saw Deep Goat and the Man in the Purple Shirt together waiting for a bus outside The Admiral two Thursdays ago.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Nope. My roommate saw Deep Goat and the Man in the Purple Shirt together waiting for a bus outside The Admiral two Thursdays ago.[/quote]One of them was obviously a decoy to throw you off the fact that they are the same person.
/Batman tactic’d
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I recently learned that Theo Epstein may or may not be the next GM.
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]I recently learned that Theo Epstein may or may not be the next GM.[/quote]You must know someone with a purple shirt…or you live in the vicinity of Bag End.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
The Indians may not pick up Grady Sizemore’s option. I didn’t realize he was almost 30. He seems a lot younger. If you measure age by playing time, he should only be about 26.
binkyQuote Reply
I recently learned that The Indians may not pick up Grady Sizemore’s option. I didn’t realize he was almost 30. He seems a lot younger. If you measure age by playing time, he should only be about 26.
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]I recently learned that The Indians may not pick up Grady Sizemore’s option. I didn’t realize he was almost 30. He seems a lot younger. If you measure age by playing time, he should only be about 26.[/quote]I’m bored too.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]I’m bored too.[/quote]I recently learned that Josh is bored.
It’s a way of meme.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I recently learned that Josh is bored.
It’s a way of meme.[/quote]I recently memed that RC memed that I am bored.
It’s a meme of meme.
Malkovich.
binkyQuote Reply
Ye gods. Derek Holland pitches like old people fuck.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Throw a fucking pitch, for the love of Pete LaCock.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Holland isn’t pitching effectively, he’s just boring the Tigers to death.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Ye gods. Derek Holland pitches like old people fuck.[/quote]This is why AL games take four hours.
binkyQuote Reply
I recently learned that boredom can be used as a weapon in baseball. Thanks, MO.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I recently learned that old people fucking is frustrating to MO
dylanjQuote Reply
I recently learned that this is a pretty good Cubs Stats article:
http://www.cubsstats.com/2011/10/why-chicago-cubs-fail.html
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Josh Hamilton is strong as fuck.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]I recently learned that old people fucking is frustrating to MO[/quote]I suppose that’s better than recently learning that old people fuck.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Ye gods. Derek Holland pitches like old people fuck.[/quote]That makes me laugh every time you say it. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Josh Hamilton is strong as fuck.[/quote]But is he as strong as old people fuck?
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]But is he as strong as old people fuck?[/quote]Well, yes, but odor isn’t everything.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Well, yes, but odor isn’t everything.[/quote]They stinks.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]They stinks.[/quote]RC has been peremptorily suspended from the blog. He can browse, but he can’t participate.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
The boredom spell has been lifted.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I can’t wait until Al in calls Theo a fun sucker.
mb21Quote Reply
Kevin_Goldstein Kevin Goldstein
Isn’t making a pitching change because Brandon Inge is coming up the very definition of over-managing?
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply
Followed by
Kevin_Goldstein Kevin Goldstein
Sure, never looked right. RT @codymdunlap: @Kevin_Goldstein Normally I’d say yes, but hasn’t Holland’s performance warranted a change?
I recently learned that you can say whatever you want on the internets
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I can’t wait until Al in calls Theo a fun sucker.[/quote]Because he uses analytical tools?
binkyQuote Reply
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/10/so-much-for-that-gm-says-reds-arent-trading-joey-votto/
Cubs can has Alonso?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
KG is a stooge. Holland was missing up, the Tigers were whacking him around, and Inge, even in a down year, has for-real pop. It was the right move.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Because he’s an analytical tool?[/quote]Correct.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/10/so-much-for-that-gm-says-reds-arent-trading-joey-votto/
Cubs can has Alonso?[/quote]Can haz Theo ————> can haz Alonso?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Can haz Theo ————> can haz Alonso?[/quote]No Cubs news —>
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]KG is a stooge. Holland was missing up, the Tigers were whacking him around, and Inge, even in a down year, has for-real pop. It was the right move.[/quote]
You have to leave a struggling pitcher in. Let him work it out. Builds experience. That’s what’s important. Wait, has postseason started yet?
binkyQuote Reply
i just like the fact that you can call it overmanaging and then take it back a second later when challenged. You know its like 50 50 if it was the right move.
dylanjQuote Reply
A.J. Pierzynski is a FOX correspondent? Who’s next? RuPaul? John Cena?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Thayer ——> Not a Nmdaklfjasdlfasdfng Suh fan.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Bears-radio-analyst-Thayer-Chicago-should-retal?urn=nfl-wp9235
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Thayer ——> Not a Nmdaklfjasdlfasdfng Suh fan.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Bears-radio-analyst-Thayer-Chicago-should-retal?urn=nfl-wp9235%5B/quote%5DIt's not that he’s incorrect, it’s just that the Bears have their own headhunting asshat in Brandon “WHOOOOWAHT COVERAGE!” Meriweather, so it looks a little disingenuous to castigate Suh for his cheap shotting (which is clearly the case) when you have a guided missile in your own secondary.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]A.J. Pierzynski is a FOX correspondent? Who’s next? RuPaul? John Cena?[/quote]Uh… How does this not make perfect sense? Take the most grating, annoying man in baseball and put him on the most grating, annoying station on television. Marriage made in heaven, my friend.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Uh… How does this not make perfect sense? Take the most grating, annoying man in baseball and put him on the most grating, annoying station on television. Marriage made in heaven, my friend.[/quote]Joe Morgan is back on TV?
WenningtonsGorillaCockQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]A.J. Pierzynski[/quote]http://www.theonion.com/video/man-born-with-stupid-goddamn-face-you-just-want-to,26263/
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Uh… How does this not make perfect sense? Take the most grating, annoying man in baseball and put him on the most grating, annoying station on television. Marriage made in heaven, my friend.[/quote]I lie down corrected.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
New Theo news: http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/articles/tom-calls-theo.html
Aisle424Quote Reply