The Beast

This is f***ing embarrassing. They were down by 4 runs. 4 RUNS! The other teams in the central can put up that amount of runs and pick up their ace. The bullpen even kept them in the game. Get pissed off and go win tomorrow or have a f***ing fun trip in KC.

What reasoning do you think Cub fans have about coming to the Cell to see a game? I swear, whenever I go to the ballpark I see a Cub fan. I think it's that they enjoy baseball and that the Cubs are out of town, but I don't understand why they go to the Sox games. I think, I'd never wear my Sox stuff to Wrigley unless it's the Sox playing the Cubs. 34,000 people is pretty sweet, I hope attendance can stay up and they climb to at least 23rd in the standings. Apparently Ventura was disappointed in the attendance at Sale's last outing.

QUOTE (The Mighty Mite @ May 22, 2016 -> 12:37 PM) I've always believed that, the Sox would have had a Bonanza in the Burbs. The biggest mistake was building the new park at 35th and Shields but after Addison turned down the move the Sox had no other choice. Would Oakbrook have been an option? I wish it was in the suburbs, at least they would have built bars and restaurants around the park. I mean, I guess it doesn't matter, I only don't like going south of the ballpark. It was never going to be Clark street anyway.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 22, 2016 -> 12:26 AM) It doesn't work bringing the fans in the upper tank down to the expensive seats. Once a person in an expensive seat sees in the second inning he has some room to spread out, he doesnt want some family coming down and cramping him. my take. Let me be clear that I am talking about areas in the lower deck where that are rows of empty seats, because there are definitely those. They'd have to know their analytics well to see how this would work out and where people could sit. And I wouldn't say the lower deck is "expensive," not with all of the coupon codes that are out there. I got $49 seats for $22 to sit 4 rows from the field in right. I never pay full price for a Sox game anymore and always sit in the lower bowl.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ May 21, 2016 -> 11:49 PM) Well I think you could've pushed the deal to just make it between you and the Reds. No one else was going to trade for Frazier. I am glad I get to catch Thompson live now as I live in LA and have gone to a couple of Dodger games because of him, but I thought it was an overpay for the White Sox since the Reds had no other suitors for him. I really felt like the Reds got the short stick of the deal and LA made out the best with the Sox coming in second. I think because Andersom wasn't in discussions a third team was needed. And that lineup that was mentioned with Carter, Semien, Eaton and Thompson, that's a great lineup. Hopefully they won't have to deal talent like that in future transactions and can have them for the future. Trade some pitching for a change if they have some studs.

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I was thinking of a few things regarding the attendance today when I was at the park. First off, there were 27,631 people there today. It was a beautiful day and it was a Saturday day game against a divisional opponent that travels well and the Cubs were out of town. Given that the park holds 40,000, what do you all think is a good crowd, considering the upper deck doesn't ever fill up on a consistent basis? I think anything north of 25,000 is a good day at the ballpark. If they could average 25,000 that is respectable. I did wonder what you all thought about giving fans in the upper deck the opportunity to come down and sit in the empty 100 level seats after the third inning of games when it's not sold out or the lower bowl is a decent size crowd. Does that negatively impact anything? Does it cause a problem with the value of tickets if they did this once in a while? And, I saw this article today - some cool history here and it's nice to see both parties get something done for a change. Do you see the Sox ever having an issue like this come up again with new ownership and having to move?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 21, 2016 -> 08:37 PM) Ramos might be the only one (along with Jansen) you can get for less than $50 million on a 3 year contract. With Robertson's presence for another two seasons, hard to imagine they'd invest another $10-12 million per season on a reliever with all the other positional holes. Santana probably will have his option picked up for 2017, especially if the Indians make the post-season. Bringing back Gio a 3rd time would be pretty humorous...and result in a Shark-like season in the AL. It does go to show how hard it is to find catching solutions that are not just band-aids. Even someone like Francisco Cervelli is earning over $10 million per season. Great posts as always. If the Sox would draft and get the Schwarbers, Bryants and got the Solers and Russells of the world, we wouldn't be in the predicament we are in with respect to talent in the minor leagues. I would love if they had some depth at catcher that was productive and not just imported stop gap players.

The only players that appeal to me are: Kenley Jansen Gio Gonzalez Carlos Santana Josh Reddick Colby Rasmus Ian Desmond Matt Wieters Wilson Ramos I don't know much about the minor league system that we have but I hope that at least one or two of the guys you've mentioned can come in and contribute. I don't regret trading Thompson to get Frazier either - they needed smeone to play third that didn't suck. Who knows what will happen, I just hope they draft better, play better and get better overall. Otherwise, we'll have to hope they sell the team when JR passes.

I heard something at today's game about Ventura making a comment about the attendance after Sale's last start. Does anyone know what was said?

When I was at the ballgame today I almost wondered if Hahn should eventually consider trading Sale to get a kings ransom while they still can. If they did that it would signal a white flag for several more years but at least they would have some more talent at different positions. I look at this club and I see weaknesses at catcher, starting pitcher, relief pitching and temporary weaknesses at second base, first base and center field. Maybe some starters and relievers are in a funk, but they definitely need some more positional talent up here. I hope that the almost 23 million that is going to be off the books for LaRoche and Danks next year will allow them to sign some more free agents, but I would prefer that the Sox organization would scout better and get more than just pitching each year. If they suck at picking positional talent, why not trade with teams like the Northsiders that have a surplus of positional talent and don't have as good of pitching in the farm system? I definitely think Abreu, Frazier, Lawrie, Avila/Navarro, Rollins and Jackson need to step up. It's not good when Abreu can't get guys in with no outs and the bases loaded and Sands, a AAAA player gets a hit. I know that baseball is streaky, but these guys really need to improve from tomorrow going forward if they want to stay in this thing. I don't think getting someone like Ryan Braun (some rumor the other day talked about him...where would he play?) would be necessary to trade the farm for this year either. It's just time for guys to start hitting and everyone being more consistent in order to win.

If only Sparks and Stevenson could tell all of the jackasses to stop swinging at the high ones and missing on balls in the dirt...Lawrie, Abreu and Avila need work. Avila looks completely lost at the plate, at least Abreu has good defense.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 20, 2016 -> 10:41 PM) Yes but we swept a meaningless 3 game series late vs. KC. It was 6-1 before that. When the Sox are the real Sox (not the team that started 23-10) it seems they waste so many run scoring situations. This is huge, folks!! You've got to whack a lot of home runs to win. Only way we were gonna survive that was with the big four pitching as they did during our amazing April, first week of May). Sale, Q, Rodon and Latos were lights out! Had me dreaming of a WS vs. the Cubs. Mental midgets since Robin brought in Carroll. If Carroll isn't on this team, I don't think we blow a 5-run lead with six outs to go. As expected, that was the season (til the Sox prove otherwise). Year after year it seems that is always the case. Chen, all those stiffs the Twins trot out against us (prior to this year and half of last year). Surprised nobody mentioned the Royals showing their supremacy by hitting their hated nemesis, Lawrie. Royals beaned him and said in effect, "f*** you Lawrie. f*** you White Sox. We are here to sweep your ass." Of course we didn't immediately retaliate. IMO the Royals won the series when they hit Lawrie and set the tone of WS champ beating the first place pretenderes. So far mental midgets since the Texas disaster. The LaRoche haters need to turn over the dinner table. How can anybody argue with Fathom on this? Mr. Sale? Please lead us and kick some clubhouse ass. True. I think we all hate to see us blow the big lead so quickly ... even though, seriously, the standings mean LITTLE to nothing until mid July for goshsakes. I have a pet peeve tonight. I watched the game (sparing you my angry commentary on purpose) tonight and the Sox were b****ing about strikes. That pitch Frazier b****ed about was a f***ing strike. That last pitch to Eaton was a f***ing strike. I love Adam, but hey, swing at a pitch that close with two strikes. I do not think the ump was that bad. My own obsesrvation ... I despised Melky last year, but when he was hitting .320 I was pushing for him to bat second. Still wouldn't mind him there. Folks ... having Abreu bat second is just stupid and silly. I read the entire game thread and commented on the posts that intrigued me. I really feel I'm right on my posts. Comments? Let me just say that there are significant holes - catcher, relief and starting pitching to say the least. The Sox also need a home run bat and lack some power. Abreu is not feared and everyone is in a slump right now. They need some home runs, more consistent pitching and guys to wake the f*** up. They need to win at least six of the next 11 to stay in this thing...it could be a huge blow if they perform poorly. Long term, guys like Jackson, both catchers, Latos, some relievers and a few others will go and they'll need to add again. I almost feel like they need to spend like crazy next offseason in free agency or make some moves to get younger and shake things up. It's still "early," but this is getting ugly. I'm going tomorrow and hope that Gonzalez doesn't get lit up.

QUOTE (SonofaRoache @ May 20, 2016 -> 11:24 PM) I was answering a question about this lazy journalism stuff. Facts are facts whether you want to see them or not. Cubs will be shoved down our throats until we do something about it, or they start sucking again. He's got a point...doesn't matter if this is Soxtalk, we still have to deal with the pieces of s*** on the Northside.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 20, 2016 -> 09:32 PM) Jackson is a horrible hitter now. So many holes in his swing and has lost all his power. I guess I am more pissed about Abreu looking lost at the plate than Jackson as a hitter. Lots of guys can't hit like they did to start, which is a problem if they actually want to win this year.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 20, 2016 -> 09:30 PM) They both suck and are this year's Keppinger Jackson isn't that bad, it's a one year deal for both players. They need to step up but so does Lawrie.

I really think Avila looks lost at the plate. Someone said Jackson can't hit and I disagree. Son of a b****, they really need to do well in the next 11 games or they are f***ed.

I wish the Sox weren't the champions of April and would rebound tomorrow and over the next week. That would fix a lot of things...they really need to get hot again and get out of this rut.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ May 17, 2016 -> 11:04 PM) The batter would of been out and the runner would of returned to his original base on the interference. I guess I don't remember this and remember it being a double play.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 17, 2016 -> 10:58 PM) Wouldn't they have just made Springer go back Batter and runner would be called out.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ May 17, 2016 -> 10:55 PM) The offense has not been the problem lately. The losses have...they look too familiar. I'm. It jumping ship but man this doesn't look like a playoff bound ball club right now.

I understand being upset over the umpiring (I am too), but man, this corpseball looks too familiar.

QUOTE (South Sider @ May 17, 2016 -> 10:50 PM) Pathetic umpiring. And...Champions of April looking like the corpseball we have seen over the last 8 years.

Reviewable or not, the baseball gods need to give the Sox a break sometime down the road. That's the game, but that's a bs win.

Interference?

Does Avila do a poor job of framing pitches?