Shaun Marcum is Built to Beat the White Sox
Gavin Floyd did everything you could have reasonably asked of him Thursday night to give the Sox a victory. But a lackluster offensive performance against a pitcher tailor made to shut down the Sox, some poor relief work, and a few extra outs conspired to give him his first loss since July 19th.
For 7 innings, the White Sox and Blue Jays were locked in a thrilling pitcher's duel. Shaun Marcum was every bit as dominating as we saw back in May, and once again there was a Sox pitcher matching him nearly pitch-for-pitch.
Floyd breezed through 6 innings, allowing only 3 baserunners while pitching over an extra out in 3 of those innings. One out was self-inflicted, with Juan Uribe pulling Nick Swisher off the back with a high throw. But the other two were comically bad calls by first base umpire Jim Wolf. In the 7th, he gave up a leadoff double, but pitched out the jam with relative ease. Amazingly, even with the "extra outs," Floyd had only thrown 77 pitches through 7 innings. He was getting the Jays to put the ball in play quickly, inducing mostly weak contact. And then came the 8th.
The 8th inning was a calamity. Floyd gave up 4 hits over the span of just 7 pitches, and added in a sacrifice bunt in there as well. Marco Scutaro, 9/11/08 inductee to the SSS Douche Nozzle Hall of Fame provided the first first blow, lacing a first pitch fastball for the game's first run. Even Mark Buehrle had to be impressed by the speed at which Floyd went from in control to bases loaded and behind. Some complained about Ozzie's slow hook in the game thread, but the sheer speed with which the Jays broke through limited Ozzie's options.
And it's not like the bullpen provided any relief anyway. Matt Thornton recorded the only out of the inning that wasn't handed to the Sox with a strike out of Adam Lind, but the rest of the inning was a debacle. In all, 6 runs crossed the plate in under 10 minutes (including 2 pitching changes) and only 23 pitches.
The Sox offense mounted a comeback, putting up 4 runs of their own in the bottom half of the 8th, and eventually brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the 9th inning. But it was a hollow comeback, with Orlando Cabrera striking out to end the Sox hopes.
* * * * *
If you were to build a pitcher pitch-by-pitch with the purpose of shutting down the White Sox, you might just start with Shaun Marcum. He doesn't throw anything straight. His fastball, which he throws infrequently, isn't fast, both of which are death to a White Sox team that has largely been a fastball-hitting club for years.*
If the infrequent use of an off-speed fastball is the first pitch you'd give our theoretical Sox-shutter-downer, a plus cutter and a plus changeup would be close behind. Marcum possesses both, of course, with his cutter probably being his best pitch. The cutter and change neutralize any advantage a Sox lefty might have, while a change of pace curveball is enough to keep the Sox right-handers off balance.
* According to Fangraphs, the Sox faced three of baseball's least frequent fastball throwers in this series, all of whom possess a cutter as well. So, it should come as no surprise that, for the most part, they got shut down.
I would probably enjoy watching Marcum pitch if it didn't have to come at the Sox expense. It's doubly tough to watch Marcum carve through the Sox lineup, because he's essentially got the same tools as Lance Broadway. But Broadway left his cutter in September '07, and has taken a step back in nearly every phase of the game this year. Marcum is what Broadway could be, with a little coaching, some better control, and some of that fabled pitchability for which he was drafted.
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Comments
bad series
never mind though, we are still in front and remember things could be lot worse.
regards
Sox fan from England, marching on together
by hoodlight on Sep 12, 2008 3:47 AM CDT 0 recs
I lol when I saw the Little Gordon video on the page.
Heres some more http://www.littlegordon.com/.
"I'll take one in the mouth over the eyes anyday." - AJ
by omnipotent grab on
Sep 12, 2008 5:55 AM CDT
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yes that's very funny
I just keep on giving to you lot don’t I?
regards
Sox fan from England, marching on together
by hoodlight on
Sep 12, 2008 6:10 AM CDT
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Actually, the Gary Glitter piece is genius.
"I suck... the Sox don’t." reply actions 25 recs
by SSH2005 on Aug 6, 2008 1:08 AM EDT
by winningugly on
Sep 12, 2008 6:40 AM CDT
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HA!
dailymash is a rip off of the Onion, obviously with the humour catering more for our unique tastes.
regards
Sox fan from England, marching on together
by hoodlight on
Sep 12, 2008 6:44 AM CDT
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couldn't have said it better myself
“Simon Le Bon has a toilet on his boat. And a fish tank and a skittle alley. All of sudden your boat is starting to look like a lot of piss. Fuck off the lot of you.”
this isn't hard. you live in a port city. and you're a slut. do the math. -larry
by rhythm on
Sep 12, 2008 11:15 AM CDT
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Time for Griffey to retire...
He isn’t even a bonus in the lineup with all of the Sox injuries. I think I would rather see Anderson out there everyday. Griffey can’t play defense and he can’t hit anymore. He has lost any power he had this season. May as well go with someone who can catch the ball and run the bases faster than a snail. Either way, we are just praying for the occasional hit whether it’s from Griffey or Anderson. Griffey simply has no chance against lefties either.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on Sep 12, 2008 7:44 AM CDT 0 recs
Sadly, he does suck
And this is his so called last chance for the post-season? He sure isn’t acting/playing like it.
"What now? Let me tell you what now. I'ma call a coupla hard, pipe-hittin' n*****s, who'll go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. You hear me talkin', hillbilly boy? I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'ma get medieval on your ass."
by thekever on
Sep 12, 2008 7:54 AM CDT
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I feel like BA would be fine, if he could actually get a chance in CF.
Seeing him come in for an inning here or there isn’t enough….
I wish Ozzie would get the clue.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 8:50 AM CDT
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Anderson in CF and Griffey in LF would be fine with me.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 8:53 AM CDT
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If Griff had to be somewhere on defense (which would have to be the case unless Thome was benched for a game, of course), I wouldn't mind him in RF. JD in LF. And BA in CF.
Like I said, JD has been impressing me lately in RF…would hate to mess with his apparent adjustment to the position…maybe this is something that could be tinkered with in the off-season…
Just considering this at this very moment, has gotten me to thinking about why Griff is in CF – trying to find the logic in KW calling CF easier than the others.
And maybe this has been said before (I admit that in my busier days, I must skim), but is he in CF because he’s got support on either side then? If he falters in CF, at least he’s got back-up from either direction. It’s not much consolation….but it does save him the trouble of chasing balls laced down the line – the ones that get stuck in the corners of the outfield.
In CF, he can turn a single into a triple maybe.
But in RF or LF, General could easily turn doubles/triples into inside-the-park home runs.
Just a thought.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 9:02 AM CDT
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He really needs to sit.
It isn’t as if we just HAVE to fit him into the lineup – his bat is just as bad as his glove. I don’t get why we don’t have BA in – he’s actually doing fairly well. Is it more valuable having him PH (.333 AVG)? I think not.
"I suck... the Sox don’t." reply actions 25 recs
by SSH2005 on Aug 6, 2008 1:08 AM EDT
by winningugly on
Sep 12, 2008 9:31 AM CDT
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Agreed. But obviously what we think here (Griff is worthless to us), does not jive with KW/Ozzie's big-ticket plans. So ultimately, Griff needs to be somewhere (our opinions aside).
I think BA could be great, if he got the proper opportunity.
It’s frustrating watching him come in and do well for an inning here and there, but never get a start.
Is it because he’s white?
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 9:41 AM CDT
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ah, the legend of BA continues.
“if only….” get over it people. i love BA as much as all of you. but he’s a fourth outfielder. he will not be great or even good. which is not to say that adequacy isn’t an improvement over the current griffey.
fight like a cat: paws up. - ozzie
by larry on
Sep 12, 2008 9:59 AM CDT
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you don't know! you don't know!!
/cartman
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 10:17 AM CDT
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are you disrespecting my authority?
fight like a cat: paws up. - ozzie
by larry on
Sep 12, 2008 10:20 AM CDT
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no, I am disrespecting your authoritay.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 10:21 AM CDT
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you better not be.
there are certain repercussions that arise from such activity.
fight like a cat: paws up. - ozzie
by larry on
Sep 12, 2008 10:24 AM CDT
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What? Worse than my already-sealed fate of being stuffed through the wood-chipper, head-first?
Speaking of, here’s a little somethin’ for you and MM to consider the next time the going gets tough.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 10:28 AM CDT
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"Get over it, person", perhaps.
I see him as an upgrade over GS. That’s it. Not The Answer.
"I suck... the Sox don’t." reply actions 25 recs
by SSH2005 on Aug 6, 2008 1:08 AM EDT
by winningugly on
Sep 12, 2008 10:20 AM CDT
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she's not the only one.
fight like a cat: paws up. - ozzie
by larry on
Sep 12, 2008 10:21 AM CDT
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Just because I said he should play, did not imply that I think he is the second-coming of Q!
He is an improvement on GS, both defensively and offensively (as far as we can tell in the small chances he gets), but the powers that be don’t use him to his full potential.
His full potential is not all-star, perhaps, but he ain’t Borchard either. He deserves more pt.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 10:24 AM CDT
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well, okay.
“great” sort of means something different than what you’re saying now.
fight like a cat: paws up. - ozzie
by larry on
Sep 12, 2008 10:26 AM CDT
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I guess I should have said "good," then.
BA could be good.
Or even, “BA could be gooder than we think.”
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 10:30 AM CDT
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..or allow him to be.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 10:31 AM CDT
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I suppose.
But I do not find BA attractive in particular, if that’s what you’re asking.
Don’t like blondes. Nor pretty boys.
I don’t get attached to baseball players as crushes – I am willing to marry Q!, should he ask, but other than that, I have a very “professional” attitude towards athletes.
When I was 6 or 7, I remember thinking Mark Grace was dreamy. And then Robin after that. But that’s it.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 12:57 PM CDT
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come to think of it...
my dad has more MLB crushes than I do.
:)
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 12:58 PM CDT
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your old man has a pic of crede under his mattress ;-)
by onlysoxfaninboston on
Sep 12, 2008 1:00 PM CDT
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Coincidentally, so does my sister.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 1:08 PM CDT
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were you pissed that spuds mckenzie won roy over gracie?
by onlysoxfaninboston on
Sep 12, 2008 1:01 PM CDT
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What year was that? I don't think I was old enough to feel "pissed" yet.
:)
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 1:08 PM CDT
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youngin' i reckon?
’88. i had his rookie card. threw it in the trash someafter seeing the sox win a no-hitter against andy hawkins, becoming a sox fan in the process.
by onlysoxfaninboston on
Sep 12, 2008 1:51 PM CDT
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Yeah, I turned 4 in July of that year. I may have pouted over it.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 1:53 PM CDT
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Swisher
I was hoping that he would get more productive with Konerko out. He has had some extremely horrible at bats lately (with Wednesday’s double being the exception).
"What now? Let me tell you what now. I'ma call a coupla hard, pipe-hittin' n*****s, who'll go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. You hear me talkin', hillbilly boy? I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'ma get medieval on your ass."
by thekever on Sep 12, 2008 7:57 AM CDT 0 recs
Right now, he looks like one of the most overrated players in the MLB...
He is an easy strikeout if a pitcher can get a curveball or changeup over the plate to him with two strikes.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 8:06 AM CDT
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looks like love to me
"Deserve's got nothin to do with it."
by U-God on
Sep 12, 2008 8:13 AM CDT
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Yet you cannot deny the points.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 8:18 AM CDT
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i didn't say swish isn't struggling right now
that would be lying. all i was saying is it seems you’ve found your missing piece in thekever
"Deserve's got nothin to do with it."
by U-God on
Sep 12, 2008 8:21 AM CDT
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If the Sox stopped playing like shit...
we wouldn’t have anything bad to say.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 8:28 AM CDT
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so the real reason why you root against the white sox comes out
so you can say bad things.
brian anderson would've caught that...
by BuehrleMan on
Sep 12, 2008 8:40 AM CDT
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Where do I root against the Sox?
I rip on them when they suck.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 8:52 AM CDT
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you suck...
the sox don’t.
brian anderson would've caught that...
by BuehrleMan on
Sep 12, 2008 9:01 AM CDT
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and also, your definition of sucks sucks.
brian anderson would've caught that...
by BuehrleMan on
Sep 12, 2008 9:01 AM CDT
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4-6 this month sucks.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 9:02 AM CDT
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you're right, the sox suck. they should be more like minnesota
who is 3-6 this month against toronto, detroit and kc.
brian anderson would've caught that...
by BuehrleMan on
Sep 12, 2008 9:19 AM CDT
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The Sox should have a better record if they are truly a contender...
not a worse record because the Twins are losing.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 9:23 AM CDT
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4-6 > 3-6
logic say they are truly contender, grasshopper.
fight like a cat: paws up. - ozzie
by larry on
Sep 12, 2008 9:24 AM CDT
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oh no.
not logic.
brian anderson would've caught that...
by BuehrleMan on
Sep 12, 2008 9:25 AM CDT
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its muerto
brndnprkns: I'm pretty sure the "badass" value of your life is closer to Gigli than The Dark Knight
by whitesoxmatt on
Sep 12, 2008 12:13 PM CDT
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Not lately.
Hopefully, the Sox can show up for the Tigers this weekend. After that, they face the Yankees in New York for four games.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 9:02 AM CDT
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And how is that helpful?
Do you ever counterbalance your vitriol? (My sig excepted.) Who wants to hear an unbalanced viewpoint all the time. I know you get a great deal of attention for 95% of the time pointing out the hole in the donut, but give it a rest, man. There was a reason you were given a break for a couple days thissummer – it doesn’t add anything to the site. And when you do make a salient point it’s often obscured because I don’t want to wade through the negativity to get to the good stuff.
Balance it out, and you might get your actual point across so one can actually consider it.
"I suck... the Sox don’t." reply actions 25 recs
by SSH2005 on Aug 6, 2008 1:08 AM EDT
by winningugly on
Sep 12, 2008 9:25 AM CDT
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Notice his omission from the threads on Wednesday night, when we were playing a great game. Pitching, plating (verb) RISP, squeeze-bunting....
and no aSSHole to be found!
Suddenly, my desire to see the Sox do well takes on a whole new meaning – shutting him up.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 8:53 AM CDT
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That's because a squeeze bunt is the most overrated play in baseball...
There were runners at the corners with no outs. It shouldn’t be hard to score the runner from 3B in that situation. Just because you and Ozzie apparently love it doesn’t mean that it’s impressive.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 8:55 AM CDT
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That doesn't really respond to my point.
It’s not just that it was a stupid squeeze bunt – it’s the fact that it came after a game riddled with failed bunt attempts, and during a game of really timely hitting and a stellar pitching performance. I actually laughed with glee when Owens (!) laid down that bunt and scored AJ, if for nothing more than a contextual HELL YES!
Still…
I wasn’t recommending that you show up in a thread to oooh and ahhh over the squeeze bunt….I was acknowledging that you didn’t show up PERIOD…not to say one single thing about what a great, fun game it was (you were enjoying the game, right? If not, I am terribly sorry for you).
And you only appear when things are going badly – to remind us all of it (AS IF WE DON’T SEE IT HAPPENING OURSELVES AND WANT SOMEONE TO BEAT IT INTO OUR SKULLS HOW HORRIBLE THE TEAM IS DOING).
Don’t do us any favors and let us know when shit’s failing. The rest of us aren’t fucking incompetent.
...and then some depressed fucked-cake eating.
by homesickalien on
Sep 12, 2008 9:14 AM CDT
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Be easy on him
he’s a closeted Twins fan. It must be difficult for him.
White Sox, that’s baseball.
by vince_ on
Sep 12, 2008 9:18 AM CDT
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Sorry Vinnie-Mac...
I’m not a Twins fan.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 9:20 AM CDT
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Checklist
Feels joy and exuberance at Sox losses – check.
Posts when Sox lose, does not post when Sox win – check.
Constantly posting about how great the Twins are – check.
Angry all the time due to conflicted emotions – check.
Face it you’re a Twins fan. It’s like finding out you are a Cylon. I think you should just run with it.
White Sox, that’s baseball.
by vince_ on
Sep 12, 2008 9:25 AM CDT
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I think you should stick with being a Sox homer.
"god, you’re fucking stupid."
-- Larry
by SSH2005 on
Sep 12, 2008 9:26 AM CDT
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I'd rather be a Sox "homer"
than a closeted Twins fan.
White Sox, that’s baseball.
by vince_ on
Sep 12, 2008 9:26 AM CDT
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How dare you enjoy baseball
Chip, chip, chip, chip.
Sox Machine
by Sox Machine on
Sep 12, 2008 9:36 AM CDT
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we're not?
SSH uses this place to vent. he’s a big whiner. not much we can do about it. it’s better than taking it out in “real life”.
fight like a cat: paws up. - ozzie
by larry on
Sep 12, 2008 9:18 AM CDT
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As usual, larry is the voice of reason
I might add that it would help if everyone stopped bitching about SSH’s bitching absolutely every time he posts something negative. Take a look at last night’s second gamethread, if you will.
Sure, SSH complained when something went wrong and second guessed the powers that be, but it doesn’t help when 7-10 posts show up griping about SSH’s negativity. It is, how do I say this politely…fucking annoying!
SSH is a fan that gets pissed when things go awry and thus questions decision made. He doesn’t question the decisions when things go well. Get over it.
And SSH, it would be nice if you held back a little and just made one post per inning with all of your complaints instead of complaining about each decision as it happens.
In summary, we all suck.
this isn't hard. you live in a port city. and you're a slut. do the math. -larry
by rhythm on
Sep 12, 2008 11:28 AM CDT
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i'll lay off the ssh complaining/mocking/satarizing
“in summary, we all suck”
speak for yourself muthafucka ;-)
by onlysoxfaninboston on
Sep 12, 2008 12:54 PM CDT
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thank you
and next time I’ll be sure to exclude you from the suckfest.
“In summary, we all suck…except onlysoxfaninboston.”
this isn't hard. you live in a port city. and you're a slut. do the math. -larry
by rhythm on
Sep 12, 2008 2:11 PM CDT
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MF OSFIB
"for relaxing times, make it suntory time."
by Toonderstrook on
Sep 12, 2008 3:49 PM CDT
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Sorry, no deal.
onlysoxfaninboston you are, and onlysoxfaninboston you shall remain.
this isn't hard. you live in a port city. and you're a slut. do the math. -larry
by rhythm on
Sep 12, 2008 4:24 PM CDT
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