GT 4/27: Best Team in Baseball vs. 4th in the AL Central - 6:10 CT

[greg775]

I feel sorry for Yoan with the back issue. Obviously as many times as these players swing a bat and check their swings, etc., I truly am befuddled how more players don't have severe back issues. Also bending for grounder after grounder, same thing.

As far as this series, the boo birds will be out if the Sox play badly again.

Finally I'm in a bad mood after listening to that Sox fan rant on Twitter. It makes me think of the tank/rebuild and all the misery that folowed from the ridiculous tank/rebuild. Everybody responsible for this roster MUST be fired and soon. Of course the Sox won't want to pay guys for not working and would have to spend a lot of money hiring a new GM and scouts, etc., so they won't do anything. 

Play ball.

[greg775]

4 hours ago, Greg Hibbard said:

The best thing that can happen to this organization at this point for the real fans is if this team continues losing every game in an embarrassing fashion until they are national news for how incompetent they are 

the players will be fine, they got paid

the FO idiots will be fine, they got paid

the owner will be fine, he made billions off of us suckers

its best for the fans that this team lose as many games in a row as possible. I’m hoping for at least 10 more losses

winning is utterly counterproductive at this point 

I agree with you in theory but Sox are such a bad team (with no possible recovery for many more seasons to come) so we might as well treat every individual game as the WS. Savor each win when they come. I think we're in one of those weird franchise droughts that is gonna cover many many years.

[chitownsportsfan]

3 hours ago, Tomtom said:

That's 10 cents to me broski.

[pcq]

Totally psyched for another L. 

[Tony]

We're well past the post of anything left to salvage, the train has left the station...I'm just here to see how bad it's actually going to get. 

[Lip Man 1]

1 hour ago, fathom said:

Funny thing is he will end up top 5 in WAR this season for the Sox.  But yeah, this feels like the beginning of the end for his Sox career.

It can't come to soon, good riddance.

[Lip Man 1]

When Merkin starts writing honest things you know things are badly off the rails:

 

"Fans not only embraced the rebuild starting with the Chris Sale to Boston trade in December ’16 but almost reveled in it. To follow up said rebuild with two total playoff wins since ’20 and last season’s major disappointment leaves this team with no good graces or room for platitudes while things go sidewise."

[LittleHurtCG]

11 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

It can't come to soon, good riddance.

Agreed 100% The day Moncada is off the White Sox can't come soon enough. Eloy as well.  It's time to dump them for pennies on the dollar and move on. 

[Capn12]

When Hanser is back, Burger is riding the bench again. Circa TLR/Leury 2022.

[The Kids Can Play]

3 hours ago, A-Train to 35th said:

How come nobody ever brings up JR's other younger son Jonathon?  He took me on a tour of Sox Park before a game about 4-5 years ago, walked past JR's office (we were gonna go in but JR was there) saw Kenny in the hallway, took us to the boardroom.  Nice guy.

That's a great question. I read his bio and he seems like a really sharp guy and as you said a nice guy, unlike his father.

I would have no problem and would love if Jonathon ran the White Sox. He has a law degree from Northwestern and an MBA from another school. He has worked in a law firm and as an investment banker in two different large firms. Evidently he got tired of finance and he changed paths and went into real estate. He spent 8 years as a managing partner of Stonegate Development Partners LLC and then recruited away by the Michigan Avenue Real Estate Group. He currently is now managing partner of TripleShot LLC, a specialized software developmental company. In addition he also serves as the CEO of FroogalPay, a virtual payment platform. 

Based on all that above background, he definitely sounds sharp enough and well rounded enough to do a better job than his clueless detached father. I've heard somewhere he isn't interest in the Dad's two sports teams, because if he did, I'm sure he could be involved. That's really too bad actually.

[The Kids Can Play]

3 hours ago, Tomtom said:

What are the odds that this Tampa Bay team loses 3 in a row?

Not good! BetRivers favors Tampa Bay at -150 on the Win line. The Sox are +128 on the Win line. Those odds are pretty much the same at almost any betting site. 

[The Kids Can Play]

5 hours ago, Greg Hibbard said:

The best thing that can happen to this organization at this point for the real fans is if this team continues losing every game in an embarrassing fashion until they are national news for how incompetent they are 

the players will be fine, they got paid

the FO idiots will be fine, they got paid

the owner will be fine, he made billions off of us suckers

its best for the fans that this team lose as many games in a row as possible. I’m hoping for at least 10 more losses

winning is utterly counterproductive at this point 

I couldn't agree more with you. This season has to be beyond embarrassing to wake up Jerry up and do something. It has to be a non-stop daily trashing from national media besides local. You're right, there is nothing to gain for this team winning occasionally or coming close to 500. It has to be an total disaster, which it's on track for. 

[South Side Hit Men]

1 minute ago, The Kids Can Play said:

Not good! BetRivers favors Tampa Bay at -150 on the Win line. The Sox are +128 on the Win line. Those odds are pretty much the same at almost any betting site. 

Wow that juice is obscene.

Old enough to have bet a nickel line in Vegas (-120 + 115) and fine through a bookie here (-120 +110).

Westgate Sportsbook typically has the best juice for gamblers in Vegas, Stardust s and Boyd were on point too back in the day. Don’t bet MGM or Ceasars.

[The Mighty Mite]

1 hour ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Their stadium is in an awful location. I'm trying to think of a Chicago equivalent. Maybe if the Sox played near Midway airport or some s%*#. The stadium itself we all know about, arguably the worst in pro sports.

The equivalent would be if the Sox played somewhere around Hammond Indiana. 

[Harold's Leg Lift]

1 hour ago, fathom said:

Yeah Yoan isn’t going to do much this year, is he?

 

Shocking.  What the hell was Hahn thinking?  Everyone (well...almost everyone) could see this happening. Why did he keep this "core" together?  Is he stupid? Is he stubborn?  Is his nutsack empty?  I just don't understand how he could possibly think keeping this "core" together was the best option while not adding significant depth.  I honestly can't figure it out.

[The Kids Can Play]

2 hours ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Their stadium is in an awful location. I'm trying to think of a Chicago equivalent. Maybe if the Sox played near Midway airport or some s%*#. The stadium itself we all know about, arguably the worst in pro sports.

I've been there! It's a horrible location being St Petersburg as opposed to being on the Tampa side where the Bucs (NFL) and Lighting (NHL) play and play to fully packed stadiums. Tropicana is also a horrible stadium to watch baseball and probably the worst actually in baseball.

It's really tragic that the fans in Tampa are so blessed yearly with a super fun and competitive team and don't go show their support or appreciate how good they have it. 

There isn't a single Sox fan right now that wouldn't give anything to have the  Rays be our team and play at GR field. 

The total irony of this was, the Sox were being heavily recruited and tempted to move from Chicago to Tampa back in the late 80's.

https://www.thesportschief.com/new-blog/2020/5/5/the-florida-white-sox-almost#:~:text=In the late 1980s%2C the,minutes away from doing so.

[The Kids Can Play]

2 hours ago, wegner said:

You and your facts

 

But seriously, they are averaging under 17,000 so far this season as the best team in baseball.  Spin it all you want, that ain't too great.  Better than their usual numbers though....averaged around 14,000 last season.

 

It's horrible and it's been horrible for years. 

The first time the Rays were in the World Series in 2008 when Joe Madden was the manager, the team not only had the lowest payroll that year, but they were 26th in attendance. 

[The Grinder]

What are the chances of getting fans to collectively chant Sell Jerry Sell?

 

[The Mighty Mite]

2 hours ago, wegner said:

Should I take it off my list of roadtrips to plan (flying actually)?  I thought Tampa might be nice to visit??  Plus I hate crowds.

Tampa is a great place with a lot to see and do. Channelside district is pretty cool with Amalie Arena and the Aquarium along with the Trolley running to trendy Ybor City which was at one time the cigar capital of the world, a lot of the cigar factories have been converted to some great restaurants and drinking establishments. Around Ybor is where the Rays should be looking to build a new stadium.  North of downtown are a pretty good zoo and Busch Gardens and further north is Tarpon Springs with a lot of Greek restaurants. To the west are great beaches around Clearwater and south of course is St. Pete. Further south is beautiful Sarasota with the Ringling Circus Museum and Ringling Art Museum. A hour or so away are all the amusement parks  in Orlando. We are very happy in Punta Gorda but if we ever moved to a big Metro area, it would be the Tampa Bay Area. 

 

Edited April 27, 2023 by The Mighty Mite

[Lip Man 1]

Saw where Hahn took responsibility in his press conference for the way things have gone off the rails.

Of course talk is cheap and he knows he works for an owner who doesn't fire anybody.

When I saw the comment on Twitter I replied:

"Talk is cheap Rick, so just resign."

Regarding Moncada, Pedro already earlier this year is on record as saying he thinks part of the back issue was caused by halfway round the world flights in the WBC. From Arizona to Taiwan, from Taiwan to Miami and then Miami back to Arizona.

Wonder if the Sox now regret letting their guys participate in that exhibition series now? 

 

[caulfield12]

When did Grifol acknowledge his team gets down psychologically and often lacks the will or ability to fight back when scored on early or giving up a crooked number after scoring...hang their heads, etc.?  (Rays' announcers paraphrase) 

Seems to be manager's job to address? 

Obviously a talent issue as well. 

 

Bullpen has already helped to lose seven separate leads... that doesn't help much, either. 

Not the best combination lol. 

[joejoesox]

attendance posted? 

[caulfield12]

15 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Saw where Hahn took responsibility in his press conference for the way things have gone off the rails.

Of course talk is cheap and he knows he works for an owner who doesn't fire anybody.

When I saw the comment on Twitter I replied:

"Talk is cheap Rick, so just resign."

Regarding Moncada, Pedro already earlier this year is on record as saying he thinks part of the back issue was caused by halfway round the world flights in the WBC. From Arizona to Taiwan, from Taiwan to Miami and then Miami back to Arizona.

Wonder if the Sox now regret letting their guys participate in that exhibition series now? 

 

Didn't seem to hurt Ohtani as much... why didn't they have first class seats where Moncada could recline the whole time? 

[joejoesox]

that exit velo lol

[caulfield12]

1 minute ago, joejoesox said:

attendance posted? 

Not until after the last out of the game...temps in low fifties then into lower forties at night for these games. 

56 officially.