Re: General Discussion

3541
MtFan wrote:
Tribe Fan in SC/Cali wrote:
MtFan wrote:Question:

How does one access the "ignore" function on this board? I looked around a bit and wherever it is, it's not obvious.
Glad I do not work in your mine, MtFan. I found the ignore button for Rusty with the same effort as a knife slicing through melted butter.

I used to have you in my book as a good and strong and open minded guy, Mt Fan.

It seems you do not wish to scroll by my posts about lack of respect for Cleveland and the Cleveland Indians front office at this particular time.

Like Hemingway in "Midnight in Paris," my posts are honest.


I didn't look very hard, and didn't spend any time because I don't really care. On some boards it's much more obvious. I don't spend much time here except to check up on the team I root for, then I leave.

You are a total asshole, and you have zero idea of what you're talking about, you douche. Only a complete douche-bag would troll a message board full of sports fans of a team and a city, never posting any actual sports related content but only posts bashing team management and the fans who post on that message board.

On top of that you have the nerve to preemptively announce your plans to jump back on the bandwagon if this team ever starts winning. That exposes your true lack of character. Bash a team but plan to come back if they win, real class. You've given up your fan card.

You're a head case. Just leave, and let the people here enjoy their pass-time without your utter bullshit.
Mt Fan, forgive me but you sound shrill. Have a bad day or couple of weeks? Such has happened to me, more than I care to recall, but I bulldog it back to my terms, and proper perspective.

My most recent lack of love for Cleveland after 50 years of fandom in my 57 years was prompted like lightning when The City of Cleveland went for your apparent man, Barack Obama, by over 90% and by 100% in many and many in many Cleveland precincts. I posted such early and often on the night of the 2012 "election."

In my life, and my experiences and family life, that does not play well.

I was in Cleveland and the Cleveland area in early March and was appalled that the area has fallen into a deeper abyss of "society" than what your man Rusty was telling us all had happened five years ago as he defended Cleveland ownership and management for reasons they could not sign players to play in Cleveland.

Mark Shapiro? I have called Shapiro out for here for years, with my displeasure for getting the GM and now President reigns beyond Baseball Fan belief.

Have you not been paying attention for the last six plus seasons here of Cleveland Indians fandom? Nothing new in my opinions of Mark Shapiro in those years.

Jimmy Haslam initially thrilled me to be a Cleveland Browns owner, but then he pissed me off as apparently being an absolutely conspiring crook with his sales guys that produced $$ he purchased The Browns with.

I've stated all that before, just in case your reading comprehension has fallen to the level that Rusty has previously pinned on JoeZ

I'm not sure of the complete definition of "troll," but I am pretty sure that someone who has a change of thought and opinion after posting of parts of 17 seasons on these same Cleveland boards would never meet that social internet definition.

MtFan, I have had you in my perspective as "a rock" on this board with strong shoulders and resilience through family and life.

Pay attention to history and context before you call out a poster.

Re: General Discussion

3542
Damn. PBS had to toss up a Paul McCartney special in My Town, tonight.

"Long and Winding Road."


I once had an album.... double vinyl....with that tune once.....but I was late for a birthday party being held at my place and the guests who had keys realized before I arrived that another girl was in attendance who happened to share the same birth date. Social etiquette it seemed was to grab something of mine for the forgotten girl and gift wrap it to make it all right.


That was cool. The girl was the girlfriend of one of my very best friends, and I was happy he had found and induced to be his girl friend THAT particular girl.

It was a great performance, on his part.

He later married another girl.


Both were good choices.



The latter left me sans a "Molkie Cole" album when he met her and brought her back to my place and our friends. Look that up in your Funk & Wagnals.


Molkie Cole
was my fave pseudo glam band of the era in Northeastern Ohio.

That's the Cleveland area of my youth, guys The good days. Including "Howard the Duck."


If you were a guy looking to get laid after a Molkie Cole performance, and did not, well I hope you all did well after a David Bowie show.

Molkie Cole was cheaper, and more efficient.

I will always fondly associate "Peggy, and her friend Michelle" with "Molkie Cole."

Peggy and Michelle were from Springfield.

The "other" Springfield.


Oh crap, now Paul McCartney has now broken into "Live and Let Die." The hottest girl I may have ever met, aside from my first or second wife, was with me as that song aired on the dash board of my 1967 Chevy Chevelle as she was 16 and I was 17.

I've posted before, but my guy friend invited me over for an afternoon party on his back deck as his step Dad and Mom were away. I'd had my share of girls to that point when I set foot on that deck I glanced to my left and saw a long haired brunette with legs unbelievable, in short cut off jean shorts, barefoot. Sitting atop a rail on the side of the deck. She was smoking a cigarette and seemed lost, desiring someone to help her out.

I took her to a swimming hole, later that day. My allergy meds in hand. Not so romantic, in retrospect.

She turned me on to Dylan, in days after, as she worried about her brothers and I listened.

She's a college professor now. After buying her ganja in her teen youth, and then stomping it away and tossing it into the air after the last purchase, I stomped on her pipe and told her she needed to get control of herself. Her Dad had died unexpectedly when she was in 10th grade, a rotten thing to happen, and I understood, I told her.

I gave her leeway.

Sometimes "leeway" is a tough distance to determine without a tape.

Last time I was with her was when I found her after my Grandfather passed years ago, and years after either of us were age 16 or 17 and we had had a custard in Kent, Ohio.


Stories.

Re: General Discussion

3543
1) My life is sailing along just fine. Working hard in a demanding job, getting paid very well to do so, and all well in matters of marriage, etc. My discontent is solely from your posts, why you choose to post on an Indians board when you're no longer a fan of the teams or the city.

2) I didn't vote for Obama and he isn't "my man" (nor Romney either). I don't support everything he does, and I don't oppose everything he does. But I don't think he's the anti-Christ either, like so many people do. I knew that either way we'd end up with roughly the same results over the long haul.

3) I expect to read content here that is in some way, shape or form related to the team that takes the field wearing the Cleveland Indians uniforms. Not rambling stuff about Obama and who voted for him, not Harlequin romance essays about people's past sexual encounters, not attacks on an entire city, not horse racing or miscellaneous gambling bets placed. Those topics comprise the vast majority of your posts. Keep that stuff to the Idle Chatter folder and I won't mention it again. Bring it to baseball discussions and I will.

4) I apologize to the rest of the participants here for distracting the baseball discussions in the General Discussion. I won't continue to pursue this conversation here. I will now return to regularly scheduled programming (in the form of baseball related subjects if and when I have the time to make an informed post on baseball or the Indians). Otherwise I'll just continue to read and learn about current Indians related events from those who are more heavily involved than I currently am - (which is the reason this board exists). I appreciate your input to the board as a way to find out things about the team I would otherwise miss.

5) Coffee is done brewing, time to get ready for work.

Re: General Discussion

3544
MtFan wrote:1) My life is sailing along just fine. Working hard in a demanding job, getting paid very well to do so, and all well in matters of marriage, etc. My discontent is solely from your posts, why you choose to post on an Indians board when you're no longer a fan of the teams or the city.

2) I didn't vote for Obama and he isn't "my man" (nor Romney either). I don't support everything he does, and I don't oppose everything he does. But I don't think he's the anti-Christ either, like so many people do. I knew that either way we'd end up with roughly the same results over the long haul.

3) I expect to read content here that is in some way, shape or form related to the team that takes the field wearing the Cleveland Indians uniforms. Not rambling stuff about Obama and who voted for him, not Harlequin romance essays about people's past sexual encounters, not attacks on an entire city, not horse racing or miscellaneous gambling bets placed. Those topics comprise the vast majority of your posts. Keep that stuff to the Idle Chatter folder and I won't mention it again. Bring it to baseball discussions and I will.

4) I apologize to the rest of the participants here for distracting the baseball discussions in the General Discussion. I won't continue to pursue this conversation here. I will now return to regularly scheduled programming (in the form of baseball related subjects if and when I have the time to make an informed post on baseball or the Indians). Otherwise I'll just continue to read and learn about current Indians related events from those who are more heavily involved than I currently am - (which is the reason this board exists). I appreciate your input to the board as a way to find out things about the team I would otherwise miss.

5) Coffee is done brewing, time to get ready for work.
That sounds like you are done with being shrill. Good.

I am perhaps honored, and of course happy, that your only discontent in life is from my posts.

I've posted content here for many years. Sixteen plus. There's an article out there I shared where Mark Shapiro bragged about his high school baseball playing experience.



I am pretty good with internet sleuthing, but I can find nary a scent of Mark Shapiro playing high school baseball.

If you can find proof, I'll send you a $25 coupon for a Kentucky Fried Chicken Dinner for you, and yours.

I posted that I thought Grady Sizemore was done in his Cleveland career when his naked pics hit the net.

I just come from the school that I would like front office guys to be at least former teen baseball players.

I've pounded that drum over the Shapiro Years more than John Adams.

Re: General Discussion

3545
I will never forgive Cleveland for following sheep to vote in 90% to 100% numbers for one candidate.

And no one in a thinking Democracy, should.

"Real content" posts of mine about this team are that the vast majority of Shapiro seasons are losing seasons over his double digit years with the reigns. Real content obligatory posts of local journalists in Northeastern Ohio are largely irrelevant over the years because the Shapiro organization strikes out on drafting prospects, and mostly strikes out on trades and signing free agents.



Yes, lick chops that we are playing .500 now, but we are still in 8th of the 15 teams in The American League in record.


Anyone here happy with that, and confident the team will make the playoffs?

I'm not.

Not this year, or next year, or the next year with Dolan, Shapiro and Antonetti involved.

I still think Shapiro has a dark side to his personality that scares local journalists dependent upon "access" to make a living from writing, to write what they truly see and believe about the organization.

Re: General Discussion

3550
civ ollilavad wrote:Politics in the politics folder please. Second request.


Read it and it was received and respected, Civ. One never knows what might happen in the moments of a sudden skirmish, but I do respect your wishes.

Baseball relevance for Tribe Fans is that the Mark Shapiro and his molded protege of Antonetti are in the midst of yet another losing season.

Eight teams in the American League have better records than the Cleveland Indians tonight, and that makes The Indians #9 of 15 teams in the AL in record as the mid-season point approaches. Shapiro has not had a winning season with him at the reigns in the last six seasons if he does not get one this year. And I do not think he will.

Looks to me like he is tracking well for 10 non winning seasons in his 12 years as President and GM and I have no idea why other Cleveland Fans are not pissed off about that....

.....other than another "sheep" explanation. (Forgive me, Civ)

Shapiro and his boy were given more money to spend this year than front office guys in Oakland, Colorado, San Diego and Tampa, and all of those teams have better records tonight than Your Shapiro and Antonetti lead Cleveland Indians in 2013.

I posted my distant relative Swisher seemed like little more than an interchangeable part for Choo in production when Shapiro and Antonetti gave him the $54 million contract.

Others posted here that all the other guys Shapiro and Antonetti rounded up to sign in the off season might lead us to the stratosphere of league strikeout records.

Heck, when on the day Shapiro dealt for Jimenez a few years back, I remember even the peaceful and non -engaging TFIR posting, "but THAT guy has mysteriously lost 5 mph on his fastball," a stat I think he said he learned from qualified following of Fantasy Baseball.

Fantasy Baseball guys could run this organization better that Dolan, Shapiro and Antonetti.


The smart and paying attention amongst the sheep likely agree.

Re: General Discussion

3551
MtFan wrote:1)

3) I expect to read content here that is in some way, shape or form related to the team that takes the field wearing the Cleveland Indians uniforms. Not rambling stuff about Obama and who voted for him, not Harlequin romance essays about people's past sexual encounters, not attacks on an entire city, not horse racing or miscellaneous gambling bets placed. Those topics comprise the vast majority of your posts. Keep that stuff to the Idle Chatter folder and I won't mention it again. Bring it to baseball discussions and I will.
I have to give MtFan note for noting I have perhaps been inspired by Harlequin romances. I get it.

Truth be told, I have never read a Harlequin romance, and could not name one.

Even with my memory, their existence had left my radar screen until MTFan brought it up with a right.

I do understand the reference however, and that was a good punch.

I'll confess to being a total romantic, and again....

As with Hemingway in "Midnight in Paris," all my posts are honest.

Re: General Discussion

3552
Let me be perhaps the first to say that The Cleveland Indians need to shop and sell Nick Swisher before the trade deadline. Some pennant hungry team that is not us might be interested, even with the remnants of his $56 million dollar contract Shapiro and Antonetti gave him for four years including this one.

If I were Dolan, here's what I would do tomorrow.

_________________________________________________________

Dolan : (to his admin) Please ask Mark Shapiro to come to my office.

Shapiro: You wanted to see me Larry?

Dolan: Mark, please shut the door and have a seat. Would you like a drink? (it's me, playing Dolan, of course)

Shapiro: Yes, please. Whatever water is now more in style than Perrier once was. I'm texting my stat guys to work on it, and I'll let you know in a couple minutes.

Dolan: That was a nice win last night Mark. We're sitting at 35-35 as the halfway mark of the season approaches. Not bad.

Shapiro: Not bad at all, Larry. Not bad at all.

Dolan: Yes, but Mark, let's be honest, it's not great. Right?

Shapiro: I am not sure what you mean, Larry. I thought "not bad" was good?

Dolan: Well Mark, it IS Cleveland so I get where you are coming from. But Mark, here's the thing. I know you were a history major at Princeton, but you told me once you played high school baseball, so I presume you can calculate percentages, batting averages, and the like, right?

Shapiro: Yes sir! I in fact was an inspired high school baseball player! I could play ALL the positions! (sweat beads building as Mark detects Dolan might be on to the significance of baseball playing experience for his paid guys in the front office)

Dolan: Mark, let's walk through the math. Fortunate for us that Detroit lost tonight, but still the season numbers and prospects do not look so good for us. Let's say we hope Detroit goes 47-46 the rest of the season? Just over .500 baseball. Mark, do you think that is likely to happen?

Shapiro: It sure would be nice if it did, Larry!

Dolan: (pregnant pause) OK........but Mark.... do you realize we would have to go 52-40 the rest of the way for us to end up in First Place on the last day of the season if Detroit DOES go 47-46?

Shapiro: That would be great, Larry! You are awfully good with numbers and things. I sure hope we go 52-40 the rest of the way! And I sure hope Detroit plays .500 ball! By the way, my stat guys just texted me that I need a Voss water to drink, with a lemon wedge!

Dolan: I'll see what we have, Mark. Mark, how's your Dad doing? I hope he is in good health? And I hope he is still active and having fun with his MLB sports connections?




Shapiro
Yes sir, he is! I am so glad he helped me get this job with The Cleveland Indians. After I graduated college he got me a job in Southern California and I kept getting lost on all those freeways! After a few months of phone calls to him for directions help, he arranged this Cleveland Indians job for me and I am so happy he did!


Dolan: Mark, your Dad is a good Father. Mark, we appreciate your 23 seasons in the organization, and the last 12 with the title General Manager and President. We all now believe you have performed and delivered to the level of your best abilities. But Mark, let's get back to those season numbers we talked about....Do you REALLY think Detroit is going to play essentially .500 ball the rest of the season?

Shapiro: Those guys on SportsCenter think they are pretty good, so I think that .500 thing might not happen to them.

Dolan: Mark, do you think our guys on the roster and in the wings will get us to the 52-40 we would need to catch Detroit if they DID play about .500 ball?

Shapiro: I don't know, Larry. The guys on SportsCenter never talk about us, so I am not sure what to say to that question.



Dolan: (pregnant pregnant pause) Mark, I need you to get Nick Swisher's contract off the books by the trade deadline.

Shapiro: I do not understand. My stat guys told me Nick is high on the "super cool" fan graph, and is almost as high as Grady was on the "female fan" graph! That's why I gave them $81 million dollars to play in Cleveland! Wasn't that good?

Dolan: Mark.. (deep breath) .....I am WELL aware that you gave Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner and Nick Swisher almost $160 million over the last seasons. I watched the games, and I signed their checks. (for literary reality, Dolan is not perfect with numbers, either)


Shapiro
: Well I know the numbers did not work out for the best in the standings, but all those guys were big fan draw guys, at least.

Dolan
: Mark, I respect you, but we are last in the league in attendance, and we were near the top of the league when you took over as General Manager.

Shapiro: "But the economy be very, very bad in Cleveland". Hee hee, Mark made a funny! You remember that Saturday late night show when that black guy said something like that, right Larry?


Dolan: (pregnant pause) Mark, I need you to get Swisher's contract off the books ASAP. And I know you have done your very best in your 23 seasons, but facts are we only have TWO winning seasons in the twelve since I made you GM and then President. And things aren't looking good for making the playoffs in 2013, and most fans, and frankly me, do not see our immediate competitive future as a franchise very appealing.

Shapiro: I've always been inspired by your insightful nature, Larry. Hey, did you see that "Moneyball" movie? They put me in there as a character. Wasn't that great!!

Dolan: Mark, I need you to get Swisher's contract off the books. I need to make certain we are not handicapped by his salary over the next three seasons as we do not have the right guys here now to give me any confidence in 2014, 2015 or 2016. And Mark, one more thing. I am glad your Dad is still in good health, and connected. You and he have my blessing to sniff around for another job for you, beginning today.

You need to know that I need you to get rid of Swisher's contract by the trade deadline. If you do not, you will exit mid-season, as graceful as I can make it. If by chance this team makes the playoffs I will tune in and perhaps give you yet another chance.


Shapiro: You are a good and honest man, Larry! Thank you for the words! That new owner of The Browns with the name that sounds Arab is a crook. What a shlock, right?

Dolan: (pause and pause and pause) Mark, one hint if we get to the point, make certain your 3rd base coach knows what stadium he is playing in, and who he has running at 2nd base.

Shapiro: I shall get a diagram of every stadium, sir, and give it to our 3rd base coach in pocket form. I'll have my stat guys run numbers of who might be on 2nd base at any time while the 3rd base coach is performing.

Dolan: Mark. No Voss water. Win tomorrow and it will be a good first step.