rneumann33

They are not bad. I have used Stubhub several times this year and even with the fees I paid under face value. I am going tomorrow night. I paid $30 for club level seats. Two seats with the fees came to $73. Still under face value.

QUOTE (HeGone7 @ Jul 21, 2016 -> 02:21 PM) Not big on posting anymore but always follow this site. I can't be the only one utterly fed up with how this organization is run. To me, the Sox HAVE to sell, and sell nearly everything. This is a broken system. Your organization top-to-bottom is mediocre at best. "If you always do, what you've always done. You'll always get, what you always got." You cannot keep assembling a team of cast-offs, veterans, minor leaguers and 1-2 legit superstar players and expect them to catch lightning in a bottle. Every year it's the same conversation, "we were mediocre last year but if this guy plays up to his potential, and this guy breaks out, and this guy does this - then we have a chance at 90+ wins." And every single year, it flops. The Sox answer to this is, "lets sign someone else mediocre or trade for another mediocre player." All this is, is a Band-Aid. You're not fixing your problem. I think the Sox are in a very tough spot right now as an organization. I think the core of the fan base will always be there and I don't follow this to the extreme, but I'd imagine the organization financially is ok. But when you have kids coming up, your future fan base, and you're a joke while the team competing with you for fan base in the city is borderline great - you're in a world of problems. I've been to two games this season and am not ashamed to say that. I don't feel obligated to spend money on a not serious product. The Sox are not serious about winning. Everything about this organization screams that. You have an inept owner incapable of spending what needs to be spent. You don't need a 200 million dollar payroll, but when you scout like the Sox do, you do need it. Because you have nothing of value in the minors and nothing available for immediate impact far too often. So you can't be a middle-tier payroll in those cases. Their front office and management is a joke. It's like a family, which is admirable, but sometimes you need to disassociate. How Ventura has a job blows my mind. Why KW and/or Hahn are still around is another. Anyone in the scouting department pre-Hostetler should've been fired. Most of them still should be. You do not have the pieces to acquire a star player or 2. That is sadly what this team needs. The "stars" if you can call them that, are incredibly flawed w/the exception of Sale. Even Q, not his fault, but he is flawed in that he just isn't perceived elsewhere like we view him. At least from a fan perspective. Same can be said for Eaton. Unfortunately, the position they're in is their own fault. And they need to sell. If by some miracle people are willing to pay you a premium for Q and Eaton, which their statistical value suggests but that "perception" may not exist, then maybe you don't have to move Sale since that is most of what I hear is difficult for the Sox fanbase to swallow. People fear this rebuilding process, but if this is done correctly, you will not have a lengthy rebuild. The Sox are in such a great spot that you can net probably 10 of the top 50-100 prospects in baseball, amongst others, in a full scale fire sale. Many of those guys being top 30 range guys in a Sale, Q, Eaton deal. I would think Frazier can net 1. Abreu I'm not sure about these days. This isn't a rebuild where you have a bare cupboard. You would have assembled the best farm in baseball. Easily. Most of which are ready to contribute and you'll have 100 million free to spend on whatever you want. Next years class is weak, but a 2 year flier on a Bautista, should he hit the market mixed with several prospects and I'd be relatively excited/interested. He's just for example sake, don't freak out about age and what not. It's a legit 30 homer bat in your lineup and a guy with some charisma for selling seats. People were so thrilled about Anderson and his arrival. Think of 5 or 6 better versions of Anderson on this team offensively. Think of 2 or 3 arms that have potential to be better than Q and Rodon, may not ever be Sale, but I'd argue 27 teams in baseball don't have that and they can all win. You're not selling to acquire long-term projects like SD got. Your chips are far more valuable and you'll see the fruition immediately. Which generates excitement in your fan base, or lack thereof. The other big misconception is that you need all of these guys to pan out to their full potential. I don't remotely expect that. The hope is what you get nets you a few stars who pan out and then several good ballplayers. Some busts are likel. Look at the Royals. They had the "greatest farm ever" a few years ago and as each guy came up, they didn't quite meet the hype. And yet, they still won. Some guys can still be valuable after not completely panning out. They don't have to totally flame out like a Beckham. If they sold everything and got an influx of 12-15 guys lets say. That means Sale, Q, Eaton (our 3rd most valuable chip and a guy who shouldn't be dealt for less), Frazier, Abreu, Melky, Jones, Duke, Robertson. To me, that's like 12-15 guys you're getting back minimum especially if people expect more than 4 for Sale. If 3 of them pan out, by pan out I mean reach their talent like a Betts or Bryant have, that's all you'd want. You have cornerstones at that point. Cheap ones. Flexibility to spend and bring in the deficiencies or trade a couple for parts you need. This isn't the Cubs drafting top 5 for a few years and waiting on that. Our rebuilding process started because most of these guys are ready to come up for other organizations and are either blocked or need to finish this season on the farm. If I'm the Sox, I'm selling everyone but the aforementioned young 3. I'm telling teams no chance on Sale and unless teams are paying the premium Eaton warrants, I'm telling them he isn't available. Drive up the price on those two by maxing out what you receive on the other guys. Then, last minute, you make them available and you've established a floor for value. If you get a haul for Q, who would be perceived as the best arm available, you're only going to get that much more for Sale. When Eaton, and his #2 overall defensive WAR, and top 12 overall WAR hit the market, you strike on that as well. Sorry for the long post but this was a much needed venting process. If they stand pat, I'm not sure I'll be willing to stomach another year of this organization or baseball anymore.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Dec 2, 2015 -> 04:40 PM) Need to somewhat echo these sentiments. Brian, you wrote a great article and like everyone else, I appreciate your insight. I wouldnt label the problem of the White Sox FO as one of loyality, I see it as more of a problem of accountability. Kenny took over as GM in 2000 and in that time has been to the playoffs twice and won a world series. We are all thankful for that World Series, but it should not buy this type of freedom. Kenny ran the farm system into the ground along with almost completely ruining the White Sox presence in Latin America through his hires, why is he still around after 15 years? 2 playoffs in 15 years is such a poor resume for a team in a city the size of Chicago. It sends a message of complacency to the fanbase in my opinion. I will go one step further and ask why Buddy Bell still holds a position of power? If Buddy Bell is responsible for the development in our farm system (and the best homegrown players we have barely spent time in it), then how the hell does he still have a job? The White Sox havent produced a position player worth a damn in over a decade. I'm pleased the White Sox seem to be heading in a more intelligent direction as a franchise though. The talent that is starting to be produced by our farm is exciting and Im happy to see them re-establishing themselves internationally. I will say though, it is somewhat aggravating that they dont seem to go all the way in in any facet of organizational development though. For instance, if they are going to spend a 2nd and a 3rd round pick on FA in one offseason, doesnt it make sense to go over your limit in int'l FA the following July to keep an influx of talent coming in? Why did they even spend a 2nd and a 3rd last year in FA when there were so many other holes in their lineup? Im excited for them to have so many picks this coming draft and I hope they make the absolute best of them. Im sure that means this offseason will be less interesting than the fanbase is hoping, but those picks are going to be very important for this franchise moving forward. In terms of what this currently means for the White Sox major league team, well, that's kinda the most frustrating part. They have legitimate superstar talent there in Sale, Abreu, and maybe Rodon and have surrounded it with really nice core pieces in Quintana and Eaton, but if the system isnt really going to yield help any time soon, what good is it to have any of these guys besides maybe Rodon? They can keep trying to patch this up with band aids like they have, but that isnt really working. That is kinda babbling on my part. I guess my overarching thought is that I'm sick of the half measures by this organization. I appreciate that it might be going in the right direction, but it's been brutal to be a fan of this organization. Dunt, this is the best post I have ever read on this site. Everything you said is spot on!! I have to share this story. I received a call from a Sox rep asking if I was going to re-new my ticket plan for next season. First I told him I hope that he doesn't get paid based on how many people he signs up for season tickets because it is going to be a tough sell this year. They second thing I told him is that I will not re-new my tickets until something changes. Meaning changes in management. You are right with you statement regarding Williams and Bell still holding their positions when they have not delivered. Same goes for Ventura. When I talk to my fellow Sox fans about my frustrations with them I use my job as an example. Why would my customer continue to buy from me if I cannot provide him with a quality product that he spends good money for? The same goes for the Sox. Why would I spend my hard earned money on a team that has not delivered quality in years? And it is frustrating because the Sox are wasting the best years of Sale, Abreu, and Q. That is why I am all for a complete teardown and starting over. However, I do not want them starting over with this management team. I do not trust them to develop hitters. As you said, it has been a decade since they last produced a decent bat.

Those are three guys out of how many that management has been unable to develop. Let's look at how many they haven't been able to develop...Beckham, Davidson, Flowers, the signing of the Adam's (Dunn and LaRoche). I do not think they can develop hitters or they are a poor judge in hitting talent. I believe they got lucky with guys like Anderson.

Why all the no's to VMart? The guy is a pure hitter and is exactly what this lineup needs. A left handed (or switch hitting) bat to protect Abreu. I know he is 36 but all he will do is DH and maybe play 1st once in a while. 3 years of VMart at 36 will payoff better than 4 years of Dunn. VMart will still be producing when he is 39. Some guys are just pure hitters and he is one of them. Plus, we will hurt Detroit by taking him and who else on the market is a better bat than him?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 24, 2013 -> 08:52 AM) Making changes earlier in the year didn't make sense. There's nothing you gain by waving the white flag in May. I had a feeling at that point that the team wasn't going to turn it around and start winning, but if they do then you can look for ways to improve. If not, you are still taking calls and piecing together packages for guys you'll consider. There's been no problem waiting until July to make these moves. At some point very soon, the Sox will start making moves. There's literally no point in keeping Lindstrom either. They'll trade him, even if it's just for a guy. Oh, and I absolutely believe the Sox can win next year. If they make some creative moves and add some players offensively, the Sox have a pitching staff that will shut opponents down like crazy. This year feels quite similar to 2004 and especially 2007, and people wanted a full rebuild at that point. The Sox won the division the following season. The need to add several offensive players if they plan to compete. I agree they have a good pitching staff and a desent pen but the offense needs a face lift and I am not sure that can be done in one offseason.

Soemthing has to change with this team and soon or there will be no one in the seats. I have very little confidence in Ventura and Hahn right now. Changes should have been made earlier in the year when the team started down their path of distruction. I also have a feeling that Hahn will not make many trades. I wouldn't be surprised if Crain is the only one that is traded at the deadline. IMO I think the front office beleives this team can win next year with a few tweaks to the roster. I do not think that at all. It is time for a face lift. I am all for a total rebuild and I would support this organization if that is the route they take. I just wish they would make some decisions as to what path they are going to take. I do not think it is fair to the fans that they are not indicating which way they are going to go in the future. Baseball has changed, teams are starting to see that handing out huge contracts for many years is not working. Building through the draft and minor league system is the way to go. Look at Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Oakland. You could even throw Texas in there to a point. Thoughts? Agree or disagree?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 13, 2012 -> 09:35 AM) Uribe is naturally thick, but I always wondered if he was on the same juice that Aaron Rowand was on. It wouldn't be a bad idea to look at him as a back up. He could fill in late for defense at any infield position.

Hey everyone, my first post. I've been reading post on the board for years but finally decided to join in on the conversations. I grew up near the park and I would go with my grand father and friends all the time. My family are Sox fans so I grew up being one too. Harold Baines is my favorite Sox of all-time.