Piranha'd
Not much went right for the White Sox and John Danks on Wednesday night. Danks was pulled with 1 out in the third when he forced Ozzie's second trip to the mound of the inning by walking in a run ushering in Masset time.
Danks failed to make it through the lineup twice, facing only 16 batters in his outing. Of those 16, he walked 3 and struck out two. Simple math tells us that 11 balls were but into play, with 7 of them finding a soft spot in the defense. All 7 hits Danks allowed were singles.
Rounding up Danks outing is a simple one. He was falling behind hitters, and paying for it. When he wasn't falling behind hitters, he was unable to put them away. The Twins didn't really hit him hard, but he was visibly out of sorts with the number of piranhas circling the bases.
Nick Masset came on in "relief" and quickly turned a bad situation worse, clearing the the bases of inherited runners and allowing the games first extra-base hit. After limiting damage for a few innings, allowing the Sox to briefly make a game of it with solo homers by Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko, and Joe Crede, Masset blew up in his fourth inning of work. He walked Delmon Young -- No easy task. Delmon entered the day without a walk in his last 97 trips to the plate -- after being ahead 0-2, then gave up a grand slam to Jason Kubel on the next pitch.
The Twins had scored just 23 runs in their first 8 games (2.75 R/G), yet managed to score 5 runs in an inning twice Wednesday. Not surprisingly, Masset was involved in both innings.
Trivially, the Sox have yet to have a lead after the 3rd or 4th inning this season.
* * * * *
Ozzie Guillen has remained true to his word. He's got it turned up to 11, continuing to call out umpire and Sopranos reject Phil Cuzzi.
"I don't like that guy behind the plate, and I'm going to let him know," said Guillen, during his pregame meeting with the media. "It's one reason if you don't like me as a man and what I do, I respect that. But if you don't like me, and all of a sudden you're going to take it out on my players, you're wrong.
"That's unprofessional, and I just let him know I didn't like him the first day I saw him, and I think he feels the same way about me. Every time he's behind the plate, we might have a problem. We might. We have. I think the last couple times behind the plate, we have a problem."
Ozzie must have known the Sox were gonna stink up the joint Wednesday, so he decided to take the heat off his players. That Ozzie, he's sly like a, well, like a something.
* * * * *
Andy Sisco, obtained from the Royals before the '07 season in exchange for Ross Gload, will undergo Tommy John surgery. Of all the moves Kenny Williams made last off-season, the Sisco deal was on the one I liked best. I thought acquiring a high-upside arm in exchange for a perennnially underutilized career back-up was a great move. Of course, I was basing that assumption off Sisco, who lacked in minor-league seasoning, spending all of 2007 in the Charlotte rotation. The Sox put him on the 2007 opening day roster over Boone Logan, and he never settled into a role.
Sisco was always a bit of a long-shot to succeed, but the Sox, like the Royals before them, never seemed to be focused on the long-term with Sisco. With the injury, Sisco is probably done with the Sox, and maybe done with baseball altogether. He'll be out of options next year, so if the Sox elect to keep him (doubtful) he'll have to go straight from the DL to the bigs with only a rehab assignment to get things straightened out.
In short, adios Andy.
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That was the first time I've bailed on a game in a while, but it was really frustrating to watch those bloops and bleeps and I guess I couldn't rationalize them away. How did BA and The Missile's at bats go?
dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.
by colintj on Apr 10, 2008 12:06 AM CDT 0 recs
I think the box score is too kind to Masset
It has Masset down for five earned runs, but I'm counting six, what with the:
That makes six, if I'm not mistaken.
by Sox Machine on Apr 10, 2008 12:06 AM CDT 0 recs
Unless
Lamb doesn't count as a Masset runner because he grounded into a fielder's choice.
by Sox Machine on
Apr 10, 2008 12:08 AM CDT
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Everett followed up with a FC, I mean
Not Lamb. I'll hang up and wait for my answer.
by Sox Machine on
Apr 10, 2008 12:12 AM CDT
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I'm not sure
I hadn't noticed, but you're right that it seems like that could be charged to Masset, since he reached base on his watch.
AIM: SouthSideCheat
by The Cheat on
Apr 10, 2008 12:15 AM CDT
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yeah if ERA has anything to do with what SSS thinks as a majority
i think we could pass this sucker
dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.
by colintj on
Apr 10, 2008 1:09 AM CDT
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16, 499
It's gone unsaid, but that's probably the lowest attendance for non-makeup night game since early '05.
Hawk was pushing season tix too hard on opening weekend, I knew the ticket base was down, but coming in that far under 20K is surprising. I bet we see some even lower totals than that this season.
AIM: SouthSideCheat
by The Cheat on Apr 10, 2008 12:27 AM CDT 0 recs
So this is what Kenny knew he needed to be fighting against
with this farm dump. It's hard to blame him I suppose, but again this is one game, the weather was pretty miserable from the looks of it and they did go 72-90 last year.
dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.
by colintj on
Apr 10, 2008 1:10 AM CDT
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I smelled something too with that Swisher trade
I don't think this is something he wanted to do, especially after accumulating young arms the prior offseason.
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 7:41 AM CDT
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It was freezing, it was mid-week, and we're in a recession
Let's not jump to conclusions. And Swish has been a pretty good trade thus far. And, last time I looked, the play of the team has improved significantly, as has the attitude, becuase of the trade.
No conspiracy theories, please. How about maybe it was a good baseball move?
I took the "under".
by winningugly on
Apr 10, 2008 7:51 AM CDT
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And it was a school night...wait until June
"We're gonna bring it all day, everyday...we're gonna keep grinding it out." - Nick Swisher (4/1/08)
by tailgater on
Apr 10, 2008 9:18 AM CDT
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16,499 paid, probably half of that probably attended
You didn't see the game on TV, the bleachers were deserted. To put it in perspective, last April the lowest attendance for any game for the entire month was 23,139. When weather is as shitty as last night you have zero walk up sales, so that attendance figure is pure season ticket holders. It's got nothing to do with conspiracy, the season ticket sales are way down - looks like a third based on last night. Simple math Columbo, I hope you use better deductive reasoning when you're trading for clients.
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 9:25 AM CDT
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But last year, Spring Break lasted all of April
as opposed to March this year. College kids were partying hearty at the Cell, some even stayed through May! You could look it up.
Actually, with a temp of 42 and 16 MPH winds producing wind chills in the 20s I'm surprised anyone was there.
Skanberg, if I wanted to hear your opinion, I would have brainwashed you by now-
Don Guillote
by Chiburb on
Apr 10, 2008 9:44 AM CDT
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Plus that was the 2nd game of the year
A lot of people who get shut out of opening day tickets will buy advanced tickets for Game 2. So that attendance figure includes season tickets and a decent chunk of advance sales too.
Remember the odd timing of the Stone hire for radio this spring? Mike North said radio ad sales were down. Larry could answer more definitively, but I'm pretty sure the Sox have a lot of skin in the game with radio and TV advertising sales too.
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 9:51 AM CDT
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Gotta take issue with this, Pete.
2nd home game of the year is consistently the smallest crowd of the year, IMO (and I've read this).
Sox without Carlos Quentin, 0 - 2.
by ballyb on
Apr 10, 2008 10:34 AM CDT
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Yeah, you're right
I was just thinking back to personal experience from 2006 after the WS. I couldn't get an opening day ticket for the life of me, and just ended up settling on going to Game 2.
But if that's the case and there were minimal advance sales and zero walkup sales, then last night is a pretty good reflection of the full season ticket packages sold.
A good start for the Sox is VERY important this year. If they don't play well and attendance lags, look for White Flag Part Deux.
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 10:39 AM CDT
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Thats the full and weekend partial
Weekend partial gets the second game - weekday gets the first.
Help! My groin's fallen and I can't get it up!
by Brush Back on
Apr 10, 2008 10:55 AM CDT
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Well, whatever the mix is
Last night was a third lower than the lowest attendance for ANY game last April.
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 10:57 AM CDT
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Always personalizing, eh Pete?
As soon as anyone (well, at least me) critiques anything it gets personal. Learn to play nice, would you? I saw the game on mlb.tv (remember, Einstein, how I posted that you were a minute ahead of me, even though I was watching?).
I don't agree with your reasoning. It's OK to disagree, right? Or is that not allowed in your world?
I took the "under".
by winningugly on
Apr 10, 2008 9:49 AM CDT
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30 seconds as I recall.
Skanberg, if I wanted to hear your opinion, I would have brainwashed you by now-
Don Guillote
by Chiburb on
Apr 10, 2008 9:50 AM CDT
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You're one to talk
At least this is a step above your "U R a fag" posts of a few days ago
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 9:52 AM CDT
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I think it was a "Master Card users are poofs"
line, and it clearly was said without malice, directed at no one. Perhaps you are thinking of some other slight, because I can't believe you'd hang your hat on that one.
I took the "under".
by winningugly on
Apr 10, 2008 10:05 AM CDT
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Go reread your shit, you were probably too drunk to remember
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 10:06 AM CDT
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from the guy who was pointing everyone to the "how to disagree" fanpost
i would think you'd be able to recognize the rather obvious humor from anyone posting "U R a fag," if WU did indeed post such a thing, considering that was the exhibit A in the article for how to not disagree. settle down a little.
somewhere in arizona, jerry owens silently weeps.
by larry on
Apr 10, 2008 10:10 AM CDT
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He started it
If he wants to play that shit then he shouldn't come back and cry like a bitch when I fire back at him.
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 10:11 AM CDT
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Man, when you miss your Ritalin dose
you are a coiled spring, aint'cha?
I took the "under".
by winningugly on
Apr 10, 2008 10:25 AM CDT
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You thought I was gonna let that shit slide didn't you?
Vengeance is a dish best served cold.
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 10:26 AM CDT
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You have never had a cold day in your life
White Heat. Cagney's gotta be your inspiration. "Top o' the world, Ma!!!" is how I picture a day in the life.
I took the "under".
by winningugly on
Apr 10, 2008 10:47 AM CDT
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I'm in the middle of 3 real estate deals as we speak, waiting for the phone to ring
I'm en fuego baby!
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 10:51 AM CDT
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wow
why don't you 2 bitches clean the sand out of your va-jj's and quit bickering like 4 year old girls. You 2 sound like Nile's and Frasier. Actually keep fighting it's kind of entertaining.
by Where Triples Go to Die on
Apr 10, 2008 1:40 PM CDT
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You want some too?
You're lucky I don't beat up retarded kids.
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 1:47 PM CDT
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Hey pete
is that your boyfriend in the picture with you?
by Where Triples Go to Die on
Apr 10, 2008 2:03 PM CDT
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That's your A game huh?
"U R a fag", that's painful.
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 2:06 PM CDT
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I was being
facetious. thats actually my B game.
by Where Triples Go to Die on
Apr 10, 2008 2:12 PM CDT
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That's your B game?
Oh, then please don't hurt me. I'm sorry, whimper whimper
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 2:14 PM CDT
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Last night:
I hope they win this one in
convincing fashion because I doubt they'll play tomorrow. I can't imagine this site on an off day after a bummer.
by Chiburb on Apr 9, 2008 7:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Skanberg, if I wanted to hear your opinion, I would have brainwashed you by now-
Don Guillote
by Chiburb on
Apr 10, 2008 2:15 PM CDT
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Wait till Thome's batting .200 in July
and attendance is 12,000 a night. Sharpen your knives boys.
by ChicagoPete on
Apr 10, 2008 2:18 PM CDT
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Consistent as usual, SoB
Contradicting youself within 2 sentences. You are equally entertaining, my man. And I'm on record - I don't want you to EVER stop posting.
;)
I took the "under".
by winningugly on
Apr 10, 2008 1:50 PM CDT
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in this case, you're like those people who watch jerry springer just to feel better about themselves, aren't you? ;-)
Just because you are a character doesn't mean you have character.
by Toonderstrook on
Apr 10, 2008 1:52 PM CDT
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Yeah, my self-esteem has been bushwhacked
by Pete, so I need the rebuilding.
Plus, I'm German, and have the schadenfreude thing happening. I can't help it.
I took the "under".
by winningugly on
Apr 10, 2008 1:57 PM CDT
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i understand the schadenfreude,
but it seems less appealing when you are soliciting it.
Just because you are a character doesn't mean you have character.
by Toonderstrook on
Apr 10, 2008 2:01 PM CDT
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Thanks WU
"Can you repeat the question?"
by Where Triples Go to Die on
Apr 10, 2008 2:26 PM CDT
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15,153
That was the attendance for the second home game of last year. Looks like the weather was much better in 2007, at a breezy 60 degrees.
Optimist
by Peder on
Apr 10, 2008 1:05 PM CDT
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Our oldest surviving member of SSS comes with a reality-based post!
At least I think User ID #9 makes you the oldest.
Best of all, you smacked that CrazyPete.
Nice job.
Skanberg, if I wanted to hear your opinion, I would have brainwashed you by now-
Don Guillote
by Chiburb on
Apr 10, 2008 1:12 PM CDT
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Um...
That game was played in Oakland...
AIM: SouthSideCheat
by The Cheat on
Apr 10, 2008 1:16 PM CDT
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shit. I want Peder's UI #9 changes to #9999
sigh
Skanberg, if I wanted to hear your opinion, I would have brainwashed you by now-
Don Guillote
by Chiburb on
Apr 10, 2008 1:30 PM CDT
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btw, i think shaftr is like #4.
Just because you are a character doesn't mean you have character.
by Toonderstrook on
Apr 10, 2008 1:31 PM CDT
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9 used to be greater than 4. no more.
Skanberg, if I wanted to hear your opinion, I would have brainwashed you by now-
Don Guillote
by Chiburb on
Apr 10, 2008 1:35 PM CDT
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Nobody likes to see Pete smacked
more than me, but that was goddamn funny.
Time to extrapolate our attendance based upon Oakland's history. We'll soon be drawing 800K/year if we're not careful.
I took the "under".
by winningugly on
Apr 10, 2008 1:26 PM CDT
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Ok
So I've got some reading comprehension problems. Damn. Point withdrawn.
Optimist
by Peder on
Apr 10, 2008 3:37 PM CDT
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Also
The Sox should just move the start of tomorrow's game up a few hours... Why are they playing at night anyway?
It's gonna be brutal, if they even get it in
AIM: SouthSideCheat
by The Cheat on Apr 10, 2008 12:45 AM CDT 0 recs
Gonzo mailbag goodness
First, why isn't Juan Uribe getting more credit for the great job he is doing at second base? Second, how long can we ride the ineffectiveness of Konerko as our number four hitter? The fans seem to give Paul every benefit of the doubt. I think Kenny missed the opportunity to trade him two years ago. On average, he just isn't a tough at bat.
AIM: SouthSideCheat
by The Cheat on Apr 10, 2008 12:50 AM CDT 0 recs
His OBP is pretty impressive for someone that was slumping prior to that dong.
Pretty sure I'm going to substitute "dong" for any other form of "HR" considering the response it received last time.
dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.
by colintj on
Apr 10, 2008 1:12 AM CDT
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Funny how...
two of the 'smaller' moves Kenny made over the past year-and-a-half (I think that's a fair timespan) that a good amount of us applauded -- signing Hall and the Sisco-for-Gload deal -- have turned out so miserably.
by CWSKeith on Apr 10, 2008 1:14 AM CDT 0 recs
true
but part of the reason we all liked them was the low risk.
by shaftr on
Apr 10, 2008 7:27 AM CDT
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We "all" didn't like them
I hated both of them - never liked Sisco's performance (and am a large fan of Gload) and thought Hall was washed up after watching him in Tampa.
Low risk, perhaps, but we still have a glaring hole in our backup C, and last year we really depended upon these guys to plug the dearth of "role" guys. No help. All told, very disappointing (especially seeing Gload hitting over .300).
I took the "under".
by winningugly on
Apr 10, 2008 7:54 AM CDT
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I liked the Hall signing...
but was not so much a fan of trading Ross Gload. In fact, I wanted Ross Gload to be the starting first baseman before they brought back Konerko.
I didn't think that Sisco was such a bad return for Gload, though.
by The Jerry Royster Experience on
Apr 10, 2008 10:23 AM CDT
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you wanted gload to start at first base?
a guy who has like a .750 OPS as a starter? who was entering his age 30 season? i would hope to god the sox could have found someone slightly better than that to play a corner position. gload is a bench player. a very useful one but still a bench player. if 1Bs are a dime a dozen, 1Bs who produce like gload are threepence a dozen.
somewhere in arizona, jerry owens silently weeps.
by larry on
Apr 10, 2008 10:35 AM CDT
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I did...
at least for a couple of years, until he got expensive, at which point I'd have dumped him for another fungible first baseman. I thought the Sox would be better served spending money at other positions, and Gload, although not an all-star, would have been just fine.
by The Jerry Royster Experience on
Apr 10, 2008 10:44 AM CDT
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I wanted him for part-time LF, PH, and spelling Paulie
which might've fit in pretty well last year, IIRC, as we had a couple of minor issues in the OF. But I think he got hurt last year, didn't he?
I took the "under".
by winningugly on
Apr 10, 2008 10:48 AM CDT
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wow. that would have been fucking awful.
a well below average 1B? we talked yesterday how 1Bs are a dime a dozen. that is a not position you totally punt on in order to spend money elsewhere.
somewhere in arizona, jerry owens silently weeps.
by larry on
Apr 10, 2008 10:52 AM CDT
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I don't think that...
Gload is so far below average. Every time he's been healthy and gotten a chance to play, he's hit. I thought it a superior option to giving Paul Konerko a long-term, 8-figure contract.
But it's academic now - we're arguing a scenario that's two years in the past. He's gone, the Sox are stuck with Konerko, and like you said, guys like Gload aren't too hard to find. Gload's main attraction to me was that he was cheap and decent. If you think he sucks and has always sucked, then I guess that's where we differ.
by The Jerry Royster Experience on
Apr 10, 2008 10:59 AM CDT
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i pointed out
that he was worse when he did get a chance to play, i.e. start. he's well below average for a 1B. he's your classic bench player.
somewhere in arizona, jerry owens silently weeps.
by larry on
Apr 10, 2008 11:05 AM CDT
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He really only has one (partial) season...
as a starter, in his age-31 season. I don't think that's the final word on Gload's abilities, especially since most of his prime years were wasted in the minors.
But like I said, it's academic now. It's not like I'm pining for the guy. I just thought he was pretty decent.
by The Jerry Royster Experience on
Apr 10, 2008 11:08 AM CDT
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Wow, just wow
Konerko is like Anne Hathaway. Above average, but not amazing. Steady, always performs. Someone that you wouldn't be afraid to brag to your friends about.
Gload is like that girl at the corner of the bar, who is somewhat attractive. Slightly overweight but with a cute face. She's smoking Parliament lights, drinking a Miller Lite, and giving you the eye.
From this comparison when can deduct: Just because it’s easier, doesn’t mean its better.
"You might be impressed with your analysis, but I am not. Stop wasting my time." - Chris De Luca
by BoKnows on
Apr 10, 2008 11:32 AM CDT
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That's a pretty tortured analogy.
My thinking was simple - the difference in production wasn't worth the difference in cost.
by The Jerry Royster Experience on
Apr 10, 2008 11:33 AM CDT
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not that tortured
you like chubby girls.
somewhere in arizona, jerry owens silently weeps.
by larry on
Apr 10, 2008 11:44 AM CDT
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Anne Hathaway
is the hottest cartoon anyone has ever drawn. Not counting Daphne from Scooby-Doo.
Anne's eyes and mouth are so big, sometimes she looks like Jani Lane in the Cherry Pie video...
Mosi Tatupu! M

