Sambuca

Appreciate that! Doesn't look like they put the link on the website. There are some good promotions during the first few months, so I am considering this.

Where do you see this?

No PS4 release this year. Awesome.

First off, good call on the baseballs. They were 100% confiscating baseballs at security, so you saved me $20 and some major frustration. I still do not understand this policy (which was not communicated), as they were not even selling baseballs at the merch table. A few things turned out very well. As soon as you mentioned no baseballs allowed at entry, I started scouring through my baseball cards (an old hobby I have recently picked up again), and I was able to find a Colson and Bryan Ramos. Since time was limited, I ended my search there and packed both cards in cases. After arriving, we looked around for a bit and found the "meet and greet" room. The workers told us they did not know who would be signing next, but they would be receiving the wristbands and info soon. Once the "package" was delivered to the workers, we approached them and one of the two "meet and greets" just so happened to be Colson and Bryan Ramos together, along with Cubbie Mike Tauchman. It was fate and we secured our wristbands for that line. Colson was extremely outgoing and friendly with me and my son. He took the time to engage and joke around with both us, asking my shell-shocked son what sports he played, which I had to answer for him, and also giving me advice on which pens/sharpie worked best on baseball cards. It was by far the highlight of my son's night, and who am I kidding, mine too. Ramos appeared to be slightly less shell-shocked than my son, but understandably fairly overwhelmed by the event. He still managed to be friendly and welcoming to my son, despite slightly crushing the baseball card he attempted to sign lol. Tauchman kept his shirt on, thank God, and was also kind with my son. He was able to get separate pictures with all of three of the players. After that, we were able to get in the other line with Edgar Quero and Miguel Vargas since everyone with their wristband had already signed and there was still time left in the hour. For those two players, we did not have anything to sign other than the little Sox Fest poster they gave us at entry, already containing the Tauchman auto. While planning to get the posters signed, we struck up a conversation with two young gentlemen in the line behind us who had a whole book full of White Sox baseball cards. After a few minutes, they very generously offered my son a baseball card for each player. He very appreciatively accepted and we were able to get those two cards signed as well. During our downtime for the meet and greets, we attempted to check out the only other activities, which was whatever was happening in the main theater and the merch table (also in the main theater). Every time we checked, there was absolutely nowhere to sit as every seat in the theater was occupied, and even the standing room area was crowded and we were always in the way. We did check out the merch table and made a few trips to make purchases. They were selling "mystery" bags for $80, which included a "mystery" signed baseball, a "mystery" bobblehead, a White Sox Bluetooth speaker and a few other smaller things. The bag was a very nice White Sox cooler bag, which will come in handy for road trips. We went for it, and the Bobblehead was Luis Robert, but unfortunately, the mystery auto was the Cub Mike Tauchman, which was greatly disappointing so I decided to roll the dice again and get another cooler bag in the process. This time it was Yaz Bobblehead and Paul DeJong auto baseball. I was done "gambling" at that point and convinced him that Paul DeJong was an awesome autograph to have. We also purchased a Mark Buehrle slip and slide Bobblehead. Overall, I might have been able to experience more if I was attending with other adults, but that many people crammed in a space with nowhere to go is overwhelming for a child. You were not kidding when you said it was not kid friendly. Since there was nowhere to sit in the theater, we were not able to experience any of the programming happening on stage. When he got a little hungry, we bought a few hot dogs (pizza, hot dogs, and popcorn were the food options), but we ate them sitting on the floor in the hallway because there were no areas to sit and retreat. No tables/chairs outside of the occupied seats in the theater, unless I was missing something. This was also difficult for me as I was carrying around two cooler bags, a bag I brought in, and two Sox Fest posters. With nowhere to sit, it was difficult holding onto everything while trying to eat a hot dog, sitting on the floor in a theater hallway. You were not kidding when you said it was not kid friendly. It was also extremely unorganized where none of the workers seemed to know what was happening, and no schedule of events was provided. I hope they do not attempt this format again. I find it odd that prospects/younger players were the focus of the event, but not younger fans. I miss the previous formats with an open floor, a schedule of multiple activities to choose from at any given time, and an area with tables to sit down and gather yourselves. This event was a cluster, and felt more like an adult night out that requires alcohol to quell the chaos. Oh, and we got to ride on a school bus.

Appreciate the info! About to leave in a bit and stressing out over entertaining the 7 year old/avoiding major disappointment, but he was the one insisting to go. Wish me luck.

Not even baseballs?? What the hell. What other options are there? I couldn’t find baseball cards for the majority of players.

I already paid for two tickets for tonight, unfortunately. I do have a question though. If I am bringing my 7 year old son, and I did not pay the ridiculous price for an MVP ticket, is there any way for him to meet a player/get an autograph?

White Sox need better fake insiders. You listening, Orlando?

Sometimes you just gotta sit down with Caulfield and make some damn lists.

Keith Foulke was a complete stud in the bullpen. Modeled my pitching after him as a teenager, only pitching out of the stretch with mostly a fastball/changeup combo. Carlos Lee had just started a very productive major league career as well. Miguel Olivo and Jeremy Reed brought us Sweaty Freddy a few years later.

Looks like you beat me to a trip down memory lane.

Man... Mark Buehrle Kip Wells (my boy) Jon Garland Danny Wright Jon Rauch (ugh) Lorenzo Barcelo Aaron Myette Matt Ginter Brian West Rocky Biddle Jason Stumm Gary Majewski Some names I remember. I was 100% convinced Jon Rauch was going to rule the world. I had very high hopes for Danny Wright as well. Then both guys appeared to be damaged goods by the time they made to the majors. Kip was already a favorite of mine after his call-up in '99. Rocky Biddle had cool sideburns, and I remember Big Hurt being a big fan of his after his first few stats. Crazy our system was actually producing major league hitters around this time as well. Now we get Lenyn Sosa.

It has been four hours and no further correction or clarification. Maybe he meant what he said. Sad that media can report news and information to the public without having to make a television appearance or publish an article by just typing 7 words and they do it so poorly and don’t even take the time to go back and read it. Every informal text message I’ve ever sent anyone reads better than that.

Basically. Crazy that he will turn 27 by the end of this season. I think he will see time on the major league roster, but who knows what circumstances will lead to that. He could rake in AAA and/or we could see several trades and/or injuries. Unfortunately, I don’t see a major league player either.

I forgot about Tauchman. Can he still play CF? What about Slater? I guess Robert's status (traded or injured) will determine how many ABs will be available to Fletcher. I still believe there will be at bats to go around with the DH spot open, and most of the OF having the ability to play all three spots. We also have Deloach and Colas looking for ABs. Would be nice a problem to have if any of these guys were actually good baseball players.