bighurt574

Trying to find cash parking was a nightmare yesterday. Got there an hour early, got routed all over the place for an hour and eventually to the remote lot where there was a huge line for the buses (how long have they had remote parking over there?), ultimately ended up just finding a street spot past IIT on 35th. Missed the whole first inning. Now I know why I usually take the red line. It was probably my fault, but I was so ticked.

Standing pat was probably the right move. For buying, I wouldn't give up our better prospects as a gamble on this year's team, especially with how much some of the other potential wildcard teams improved themselves. For selling, hard to say without knowing what we could have gotten for Samardzija. I do hope we didn't turn down a significant offer for him.

I did at least like the idea of the Cubs eating Danks' contract.

The race seems pretty wide open, depends on who has a big second half. Felix is really coming on strong, although his FIP is still lagging.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 24, 2015 -> 10:26 AM) I think shortstop might be in the mix as well as outfielder and starting pitching. Bottom line, this org is never shy about acquiring pitching so if they get the right pitching prospect, I am sure they'd be more then willing to take it. I still think to really get back to 2016, one of Q / Sale needs to go (counter-intuitive, sure, but bottom line, we need some stellar young position talent and those are the guys that can get you multiple impact pieces). You then have more risk on the rotation, however, we have a few more chips their and a much better track record of success. We have so many holes, we can almost just target the best available positional prospects we can get.

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Jul 24, 2015 -> 12:09 PM) That's the kind of impact move that we have all been waiting for! So, who had Gillaspie as the Sox's first move...?

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jul 23, 2015 -> 05:59 PM) Why do you think that he would be more likely to give a "hometown discount" to the Cubs? I understood that he has some hard feelings toward that organization. Moreover, he's always been a big Sox fan. I wasn't aware he had animosity towards the Cubs. It's been said that he would love to stay in Chicago. If that's the case, even if he's willing to give up some $$$ to make that happen, odds are the Cubs still outbid us, and the Cubs are certainly a safer bet to be a contender the next few years, especially if they land someone like Price too (not sure they'd be looking to sign 2 SP's, but they could build a heck of a rotation to go with that young, cheap offense of theirs).

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Jul 23, 2015 -> 05:03 PM) I still think he stays. And signs long term. I'm not seeing it, and I don't think he'll be worth the contract he ends up getting, so I almost hope we don't sign him. And if he's willing to give a hometown discount, I'm guessing the Cubs will get it, not us anyway.

Even during the 11-game stretch where they went 9-2, they still scored just 2, 7, 1, 3, 1, 4, 1, 7, 2, 1, and 5 runs per game. They won 4 times scoring 2 runs or less. That was a nice little stretch of wins, but you're not going to sustain that over a few months with that type of offense.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 22, 2015 -> 09:09 AM) Has there even been any of those comments post KC series? Probably not, but I would have said the same thing a week or two ago. Even when we were playing pretty well, with a league worst offense, that's not something you just overcome to go on a crazy second half run.

I have to think all the comments about not being in sell mode yet are a smokescreen to try to look less desperate and maintain a little leverage. If the Sox actually think they can still contend, they're idiots. I wouldn't blow everything up for next year by any means, but it's well past time to move out who we can, keep the core guys, and hope we do a better job in the upcoming offseason at finding some good pieces on offense. And if they can turn Quintana into, say, two future everyday position players, I think you have to seriously consider it.

I don't know, but once Flowers started setting up inside while Sale pitched outside, V. Martinez was swinging and missing pretty badly. Of course, a lot of hitters do that against Sale.

Jay Bruce to the Sox (while selling other pieces). No idea how they pull it off, but seems like a Sox type of move.

Everything would really need to go perfectly the rest of the way to have a shot. If he misses a start or two, or falls of his recent pace, that's about it.

I'd look for another SP on the cheap -- maybe a flier on someone like Billingsley.

A new deal makes sense. Think of the marketing opportunities as he chases the all-time strikeout record. Only 360 away!

You're kidding yourself if you don't think postseason runs boost attendance. You don't need market research to show that. The actual data bears it out. That said, we didn't go to the postseason this year, so that obviously won't give us a boost in 2013. Within a season, yeah, winning usually doesn't boost attendance that quickly.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Oct 12, 2012 -> 02:14 PM) You have to figure the Sox have done the math that lowering the ticket prices wouldn't equal more revenue when accounting for the increase in attendance and money spent on concessions. The bottom line is revenue (at least that is the Reinsorfian model), so you would have to imagine, the set the prices for what they deem to maximize the revenue. I'm sure they do, but I'm not sure they're adequately taking long-term/harder-to-quantify factors into account. You might not raise more revenue for a particular game by lowering prices, but you're helping to expand your fan base, make games actually look like they're popular and fun, etc... All stuff that can pay off down the road. Maybe I'm off base, but I still have a hard time believing that it's in the franchise's interest to have so many empty seats.

So, have two 100-loss teams ever played each other before? Big series at Wrigley...

If you bought from Ticketmaster, do they automatically just credit your card or do you have to do something with the tix?

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Sep 20, 2012 -> 03:50 PM) Manages the team generally. So one is the general manager, and the other manages the team generally?

Maybe I'm wrong, but ALDS tix on the resale market probably wouldn't get too crazy price wise. ALCS and WS obviously a different story. I'd think $130 would get you in the ballpark somewhere.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Aug 17, 2012 -> 05:52 AM) Hittrackeronline.com is the most accurate. They actually use the physics instead of just kinda guessing. They said 460 on Dunns and 470 on Flowers. I dont know if there is actually an "official" distance. I think as far as ballpark records and stuff go they just kinda say whatever they want. Is it just me or does 460 on Dunn's seem way low? It was right over the 400-foot sign, and it sure seems like more than 60 feet.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Aug 5, 2012 -> 07:10 PM) Easier said than done. The South Side has never been attractive to free agents. That's why if Youk finishes strong, I don't think committing another $12M to him next year is crazy even if you're overpaying a bit, especially once you look at the alternatives.

Tough call. I went with Konerko. He obviously cooled off, but when you look at the entire body of work, and where we would have been without him those first few months, I think he's the pick for now. I'd probably pick someone else in a few weeks if Konerko continues to slump a bit.