greg775

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Apr 17, 2014 -> 07:00 PM) Yes, many other forms of live entertainment have gotten disproportionately expensive recently. I don't do many of those things as well, because the cost is outsized to the value I perceive of the product. Concerts, Great America, the Zoo...everything. In the early 2000s, I made about half the money I make now but I found a way to go to about 20 games a year. Nowadays, I'm lucky if I make it to one, even though I have way, way more money. Why? Because my HOME entertainment options are way better. I have better television programming alternatives, I have a better internet. I also now have a high definition huge TV and a DVR to cut out commercials. Personally, I don't go to White Sox games anymore largely because I can watch them on crystal clear high definition television - without commercials - for zero cost. Suddenly, an all night commitment...getting to the ballpark.....all night there.... at $30-$40 plus food becomes a whenever-I-want-thing for 60 minutes at no money. It would be substantially more attractive to me if the cost was more in line with what I perceive the value to me to be. That's just me, though. It could be different for different people. However, if you have a family of four, and the average cost to get them all into the ballpark is $25-$40 a ticket....plus other stuff.....for just a regular season ball game....that would seem to me to be very outsized from what most people can afford to blow on a couple hours of entertainment. Hibbard's last two paragraphs are golden in my opinion I think a lot of people have the exact same philosophy. Hibbard you hit the nail on the head. You seem brilliant. You are a Brother Rice grad right? No wonder.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 18, 2014 -> 03:06 AM) We aren't contending in 2014. That's a fact. It's sad to waste another year of Sale excellence then. If the Sox had any kind of bullpen at all, the team would be having an amazing April in terms of overall record. Since the team in no way shape or form can contend, I still don't know why we even pitch Sale once more than every couple weeks. If we can't contend, why put innings on that golden arm?

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Apr 17, 2014 -> 09:45 PM) I believe Ozzie said that he was going to send Pablo Ozuna out there in Game 3 of the World Series. Can you imagine if they lost that game? That would be infuriating. In any event, I have to agree, I hate forfeiting a game, which is what we did last night when putting Garcia on the mound. That's what I'm so mad about. The Sox elected to forfeit the game basically in the 14th by bringing in a guy you could hit. Even Stoney said this is the time a starter has to volunteer to pitch for the good of the team.

Red Sox fans are annoying. Why are there so many in the Cell? Seems like a series Sox shoulda won 2 or 3 not just one. Maybe it's just me thinking that.

Kill or move this negative thread if you wish, but last night after watching the game on MLB.com for a few hours, I found myself FURIOUS that Robin gave away a baseball game. Normally you can blame the manager, but you can't, if you know what I mean. Their decisions affect the outcomes of every game, but last night ... running out of pitchers in a tie game?? Robin Ventura single-handedly gave Boston the game by having to pitch L. Garcia in a tie game. It was one game on the schedule gift wrapped and deposited in the Sox L column of the ledger. All because of the manager. My question is: Are you as mad as me?? And my question for Mr. Ventura is ... in your long baseball career, did your manager on any level ever run out of pitchers in a tie game where you had to gift wrap the game for the opposing team by pitching a fricking infielder??? Didn't think so. Congratulations on being the first that anybody can remember. Perhaps he was upset at all the walks, but you don't throw an infielder in a tie game. How bout asking for a volunteer from the starting staff to pitch? I am disgusted by last night. Throwing a damn infielder in the 14th inning? My god. I didn't see the Red Sox running out of pitchers.

QUOTE (PorkChopExpress @ Apr 17, 2014 -> 06:19 PM) What Kenny Said: "All he has to do is call." What Kenny was thinking: "All he has to do is call and order tickets like anyone else." Yeah, Kenny owes Ozzie nothing. The shots I saw of Kenny after the WS victory were of his celebrating pretty wildly. Ozzie had a lot to do with the best period of Kenny's professional life. That wasn't all Kenny, folks.

I'll go with Flowers for some reason.

Please no. He could hit 55 home runs and bat .320 and I'd say "Let him walk." Unless he'd take 4 mill a year I guess and that's only if he put up those numbers. He's still Adam Dunn for gosh sakes.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 16, 2014 -> 04:05 AM) Sox 6-2 at the cell. Now that is a nice start. Good job by some guys who had been mediocre to lousy. Johnson and the pen.

QUOTE (The Mighty Mite @ Apr 16, 2014 -> 12:33 AM) I'm a Senior Citizen and paid 1.25 for General Admission seats back in the 50s and 60s. It's hard to believe how much it is now to go to a ball game or any sporting event. I think it's reached a point were people are saying I'm not going to pay this kind of money anymore to go to a ball game. 2012 was a defining year as Sox fans with a team that was in first place 117 days but did not even hit the 2 million plateau. I give Sox management kudos for trying to resolve the issues that have kept people away from the park such as dynamic pricing and crazy parking fees. All that being said it still hurts to see the Sox just about last in attendance, 10,000,000 in the metro area and only 14,000 on a Sunday afternoon? I agree with you, but we are in the vast minority who think prices of tickets and food at the park and parking has turned a lot of people off. I know cheap seats are available. I want box seats and good ones.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Apr 15, 2014 -> 07:19 PM) Keppinger was coming off a season where he hit .325 with a 126 OPS+ and got a marginal deal that the Sox surely regret. What can Beckham do in 2 months to have any trade value whatsoever? Seriously. GM's aren't that dumb. Don't mess with Semien. Give him the job and play him everyday. He's ready. I agree. GMs know who Gordon Beckham is. Now if he comes out and is the "parents are in the stands" version of Beckham and hits .400, I guess that would help the Sox even more than Semien being in there. QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 15, 2014 -> 07:34 PM) Beckham probably won't be ready to go for a least another week or 2. Let's see where Semien is at then. Opinions can change, after all, Flowers and Dunn are no longer on the dead weight list. I'm sure 2 weeks from now either some who think Semien should remain the starting 2nd baseman or some who think he wouldn't be hurt by some time in Charlotte will change their minds. That's a solid take. If Semien goes 1 for the next 25 even I would probably agree it's time for the minors. But if he hits .333 and has a good on base, I'll be very pissed if Beckham gets the job over him. QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Apr 15, 2014 -> 07:50 PM) I just can't believe that rational fans are even suggesting that it's giving up on Beckham "too early." The book has been written. He's a bust. 27 year olds with 2500 MLB AB's don't just suddenly figure it out. Trade him for some A level pitcher that throws 95 and can't hit the broadside of a barn. Play Semien everyday and let's move on with the rebuild. This isn't a reactionary move. It's Beckham's draft position. People are so slow to give up on top draft picks even when their performance is as blah as Beckhams. That said, if the Sox do give him the job, I will root for the "good Beckham" to emerge again. I want to win even more than I do see Semien succeed.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Apr 14, 2014 -> 07:10 PM) Beckham wasn't rushed. He has a horrible looking swing and pitchers adjusted. He never had a good approach, but had the wrists and reflexes to hit mediocre pitching. He wasn't able to adapt. He's a bust. Even if he starts out on fire, he won't have any value. Teams aren't clamoring for busted prospects in arbitration. I wouldn't compare him to Semien. Semien has a much better approach and a lower maintenance swing. If Semien wasn't a White Sox, I'd be all for keeping Beckham. I LOVE Beckham in comparison to Keppinger.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Apr 14, 2014 -> 05:20 PM) Don't think Beckham is going to raise his stock much either. Still probably worth a few fringe arms/low a prospects no matter how much time he gets in. Great post. By now teams know what Beckham is. The only way this could turn out OK is if the Sox magic of 2014 rubs off on Beckham and he has one of those rare Beckham hot hot streaks right off the bat. I'm talking about those streaks that sometimes come when his parents are in town. Aside from that ... we all IMO need to quit thinking of Beckham as a top 10 pick or whatever he was. That was a miscalculation by scouts. he's just another guy, folks.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Apr 14, 2014 -> 01:05 AM) The only dead weight, frankly, is Konerko. Some of the other guys (pitchers) are bad, but they are used and they play. Ventura has to force things to use Konerko, like he did today Oh come on. All the bad players on this team to pick from and you choose Paulie as the dead weight?

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Apr 14, 2014 -> 05:01 AM) Froze my ass off for 6 hours. They said high 60s. Subtract maybe 20 degrees you dumb bastards. Semien damn well better be hitting in the 2 hole for the rest of the year. I agree with you hammerhead. There's no comparison between Semien and Beckham. If we'd just release Kepp, we could make Gordo the super sub and send down L. Garcia.

QUOTE (OsweGo-Go Sox @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 09:49 PM) While what I've heard of Enberg's Padres work is fine, I can tell you he definitely has lost a lot off of his fastball over the years. His last year doing Wimbledon and the US Open were a bit embarrassing. Maybe, but at the age of 79 ... wow. He was in control of the Pads' broadcast. He had his color man's full attention. His eyesight and ability to pick up the ball and the play was awesome. I just kept thinking about some people barely able to move at 79 and Enberg calling baseball games. He actually seemed like he was looking forward to coming back to the park early Sunday for a day game after a night game. Crazy. I want whatever he's done to be this sharp at the age of 79.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 14, 2014 -> 01:07 AM) You ruined a good post with this inane idea of trading Beckham. Semien hasn't proven anything yet Surprised you haven't jumped on the Semien bandwagon, El Rockin. I can understand being loyal to your favorite players, though. I'd just rather see Beckham on some other team.

The Semien and Lexi homers were special. That is all.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 11:14 PM) Time to make Webb the closer. Needless to say, Hahn/Cooper/Ventura made some awful decisions with this bullpen. Fathom is right. It's time for Webb or closer by committee. Lindstrom is a joke. He's ridiculously bad. QUOTE (beautox @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 11:18 PM) Feel bad for Marcus guy can't catch a f***ing break to be a hero both of his HR's in the 8th have been s*** on by Lindstrom. Semien belongs. Please get rid of Beckham. It will be downright unfair to replace Semien with Beckham if/when Becks gets healthy. It'll be a sad day when Beckham is penciled in the lineup over Semien. QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 11:21 PM) Paulie was possibly the worst defensive first baseman in the majors the last few years That's just a flat out lie. It's not true. QUOTE (Soxfest @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 11:29 PM) Matt has to be moved out of the closer role regardless. Amen, brother. QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 11:31 PM) Remember this post when we go to Cleveland. Wouldn't be surprised if Alexei takes one on the numbers. If he does, I hope there's a fight. There was nothing wrong with his freaking out in joy after winning the game. I simply loved his arms flailing in the air. QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 11:35 PM) There's room for a fist pump or the arm raise but hanging around in the batter's box to watch your home run sail 10 feet over the fence? I don't know, a division foe might take exception to that. Maybe. f*** them. QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 11:37 PM) No team with Nick Swisher can complain about hot dogging a big hit. Great post. Amen!!

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 07:11 PM) This team is hardly s***ty. If we get some good starts from Paulino and Johnson and some good outings from the pen, were at least 9-3. While a 5-5 start is awesome after last season, I do hate these type of posts. Ifs drive me crazy. Our bullpen is so bad and starting pitching so average, thinking 9-3 is a possibility is silly.

Got to go with Abreu after today's performance.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 12, 2014 -> 08:32 PM) Royals having a rough time with the Twins. Royals have one home run all season. Should be interesting to see how many homers this club hits. I guess Hosmer still could hit up to 20 and Butler and Perez. But they have none right now. Gordon has the only home run. That's a severe lack of power.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 03:19 AM) Over any of the pitchers? I said 'hitter' Scotty. QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 03:27 AM) Is Dick Allen sending you checks? You kiss his ass quite often. You gotta stop with that. Truthfully I find I agree with Dick a lot or like his posts. No butt kissing. I tell it like I think it is.

Am listening to the Pods-Tigers game. The announcer Dick Enberg is 79 years old and sharp as hell. Crazy how the human body/brain works. Some people can be devastated by Alzheimer's, etc., and others like Dick Enberg ... 79 years old and sharp as a tack. Just listen to the Pods some night. He is amazing. He was describing a controversial out call at second base and immediately proclaimed, 'this won't take long to overturn' his eyes correctly assessing the play. How the hell can he be this sharp at 79? It's probably sports. Sports keep those involved in sports very young.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Apr 12, 2014 -> 11:20 PM) The bullpen certainly seems to either be a work in progress or just needs to be revamped period. But, throwing strikes would help too Amen, brother Rockin. QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 13, 2014 -> 12:38 AM) Really. Struck out 3 times, had footwork troubles at first again, and when he pit the ball in play with the bases loaded in the 4th when a run gets everyone free coffee, he taps into a 1-2-3 DP. Screw him. And screw Don Cooper. If he can't get pitchers to throw strikes, what good is he. When Belisario was signed it was applauded on Soxtalk. Same with Downs, and Paulino was a steal. He can't get them to throw strikes, but in their defense, if any of us were on the mound and threw the meatballs they were offering, we wouldn't want to throw them anywhere near the plate either. I just really love how people freak out after a loss. Figure I will join in on the fun. The bullpen is terrible and probably will remain terrible, but they aren't going to have a 7.00 ERA. Paulino more than likely sucks, but he isn't going to sport an 8.00 ERA for the rest of the season. Nieto played A ball last year. Why anyone would be surprised in the least bit that he will be overmatched 9 times out of 10, is curious. At least so far, this team makes games interesting. They are short a few players, especially pitchers, but maybe their guys can turn it around. It will take a huge turnaround, but it is pretty much a guarantee there will be at least a small one. That was a pretty entertaining post, Dick Allen. One of the best I've ever read. It's why message boards are worthwhile. I didn't get mad at Abreu today at all for his failures, but to be fair, it should be noted that if you had to pick on one hitter who "cost us the game" it probably would be him today. Opposite of the pick to click I'd say. That's OK obviously but he stunk today. Paulino does suck, though. Please cut him loose, White Sox. My god he is buzzkill (so is Axelrod; don't you dare bring him up to the big league club).