Rooftop Shots

Don't know if this issue was posted on an earlier date, but usually every year I get a 9 game package which guarantees lower deck boxes to any game. Just received my 9 game order form in the mail. No wonder Yankees, Red Sox , Angels and Dodgers play on wekends this year. They are all in a special group at $39.00 per ticket, Cubs games are now at $44.00 per tick..Depending on the team and date, the others range from $30.00 to $34.00. Definately NO PACKAGE for me this year. Tickets are sold by which team / and day is in which bracket. Too much to explain, but here's the breakdown. Regular Prime Premier Cubs L.D.Box $30.00 $34.00 $39.00 $44.00 L.D.Reserved $26.00 $30.00 $35.00 $40.00 Bleachers $24.00 $28.00 $33.00 $38.00 U.D.Box $18.00 $22.00 $27.00 $32.00 U.D.Reservd $14.00 $18.00 $23.00 $28.00 Last year the teams I wanted were...... I think it was $520.00. This year, the same thing would cost me $630.00! Add $17.00 parking per game and the cost is now $680.00 for 2 tickets for only 9 games! Add to the fact that we had (How many 30.000 plus.... fan attended games last year?) Plus dumping Maggs/ Valentin/And possibly Konerko's salary. My gosh, how can the spending of money on players even be an issue? This is just plain nuts.

Not too thrilled with his control issues. Lead off walks got us into too much trouble. Don't need anyone that will help add to that problem.

Works for me!!!!!!!!

Yeah, but I'll tell you what. After JR forking over $5.3MIL.signing bonus, do you think that he will give him up easily?? No way. They'll beat us into the ground with this guy to make sure he somehow gets his moneys worth. I'm afraid we're stuck with this guy for quite a while. We went through all this garbage with Danny Wright! The Mr. Great Potential that amounted to nothing but "SQUAT!!!!!!!" How much more will we have to deal with this guy when they have 10 times the more revenue invested in him, than in Danny Wright?

I agree totally with your point of view. What I was rather referring to is that if the Sox are going to unload some money on other quality players, they'll also want to figure in a another affordabler starter. Milton being a lefty may put a spark in KW. If not Milton, fine,...... but another proven qualty lefty is what we need in our mix. Grilli is a maybe, but in all likelyhood, after what happened the last 2 years, do you really think KW will want to "take another chance at a "maybe starter" in the 5th spot?" I think Grilli will be fine,but in the pen, unless otherwise needed. Either way, a "proven" starter is what we need. Pitching is a huge chunk why we don't play in October, and KW has stressed that continuously.

I could see maybe someone wantinf Diaz and Munoz, but who in their right mind would want "Billy Koch with a baseball bat." Sorry, I kind of had enough of getting tortured by Borchard.

I was an still am expecting PK to go. I think the guy is great, but Ozzie did state that he wanted to play the game his way. PK can't bunt, can't run, and hits into tons of DP's. Gload is hungry,good defensively, runs decent, etc and management seems to want to give him a chance. Now that we know Big Frank will be back, I think We've seen the last of Paulie. .Between not signing Maggs $14ML, Jose' $5ML, and trading PK $8.75ML, that's 28ML he's got to play with, let alone if he gets a payroll increase. Then money will still be left for an outfielder If KW wants to stay aggressive and get us some top notch players to fill holes, he'll need to free up some revenue. Vizquel, and Eric Milton will be likely candidates.(I hope not Russ Ortiz! Not happy with his control. Walks too many). As far as outfielder, can't see us getting Beltran. Someone in the 2-5 year contract range at $7-$10 ML will be more likely. Either way, I have a great feeling that this off-season will have us buzzing a lot more than it did last year. "Is April Here Yet????"

Sorry, don't mean to sound clueless, but Just curious, why then would Gail Fischer ask him if "HE" would ever give up either team? How could he give up something that he does not own or control? Not looking for any confrontation, just not sure of the answers to the questions. Sorry, but due to computer issues, I haven't been on the board for quite some time.

Just saw an interview with Gail Fischer and JR on The Comcast Sports station. The interview was mostly about The Bulls, but I put this on here for all The Sox fans out there that would hope to have a new owner someday. The final question that Gail Fischer asked JR is, "Would you ever consider giving up either team?" His answer was direct.............""Yeah...Only when I die!!" If you are either pro, or con of Jerry's ownership, just wanted to pass along that if you ever have any hopes of JR selling, it's not going to happen. Personally, I don't care who owns the club. I just want to see a friggin' World Series Title. I'm rather sick and tired of year after year of watching October baseball without having The Sox in it, let alone us having "THE"team to beat!!!

Sorry, can't remember where I read it, whether on another thread or in the paper, but I remember hearing that for the leadoff spot in question,and along with the ties that Ozzie has with Florida, that he has an interest in Juan Pierre. Florida supposedly has a clone of him in the minors waiting to come up. A lot of speculation .....of course, but then again....it sure is nice to at least do some hoping! Isn't that why most of the postings are up in the off season??? Just curious, does anybody know if Carl Crawford from TB is signed for next year? ( If these issues were already posted earlier, my apologies. Computer was down for 2 1/2 months. Haven't been here in a while!!!)

Not really sure if speed is the issue.Rowand, Harris Valentine, Lee run pretty well. The problem I see is knowing HOW to run bases. Either we take foolish chances and try and stretch someing out when there is clearly no chance to, or we get too tentative and have a fear of making a mistake on the bases that causes second guessing and hesitations that in turn either accomplishes nothing at all, or an easy out. The only speed problem is PK, but he makes up for it with his bat.

Agreed. Not only that, but after sitting out so long and then coming in right before the playoffs, these guys are going to be "HUNGRY!!!!!!!" My only concern is how sharp they will be, and since missing a lot, how will their patience at the plate be, and will they be too overagressive as well. We'll just have to wait and see.

I know that anything can happen, and sometimes the schedule doesn't mean "DINK", but if the Twins are going to win the division, they will have to earn it. 6 against NY, 4 Oak, 6 Anahein, 11 Cleveland, 6 Sox 3 Tex. Yes we are behind, but our chances are still good if we play the game to the level that our talent is capable of.

I agree! I never had any intentions or thoughts on hoping that either one would get traded. I was just making a comment that I heard on ESPN1000 that Ozzie isn't thrilled with overly laid back attitudes, especially that of Loaiza when he gets shelled. That was one of the reasons (according to ESPN 1000) that Ozzie wanted someone else. Crede, I have some concerns about. Garland........a definate keeper. I believe in time, that Garcia, Buehrle, Garland, can be the next Maddux, Smolts, Glavine combo.

Same thought I had. With Garland, I'm sure Ozzie would put up with it since for the most part, he has done his job. His record does not reflect how he has pitched, whereas, Elo just isn't getting it done. I'm quite sure he's not happy with the CREDE scenario, I mean ...C'mon batting 190 in the month of July???? My guess would be, if someone was to go, it would be Elo to get us the kind of competitor that Ozzie wants, but also, I'm sure he's not too thrilled about Elo's 93 hits in his last 11 starts either. At the same time, what would be Elo's free agent price? 5,6 7 Milion?? Is he worth it?? Probably not, so Why not take a chance, and add some power to the rotation?

Not sure what was posted on other threads on this subject. Sorry if anything is repeated. My understanding is that Loaiza's #1 pitch is his cutter, which he has not thrown nearly as effective as last year. Mussina's down, Yanks need a starter. They couldn't get "Unit" and Steinbrenner always wants veterans in his rotation in the playoffs. Mariano Rivera's "out" pitch is his cutter. Yanks feel that Rivera can help Loaiza get back to form since the cutter is MR's specialty pitch.. They didn't want to wait and play around with Contreras anymore . They want to prepare for post season now. On our side.... On ESPN 1000 it was stated that that Ozzie was rather tired of Loaiza's lackadasiness attitude. If Elo got bombed, Ozzie wasn't real pleased with how he responded with an "Oh Well....." demeanor. Ozzie wants an "I want to win NOW attitude from all his players. The one thing positive that was mentioned was that Garcia, Buehrle, and Garland are control pitchers. If Coop can help this guy out, it will give us a power pitcher in our mix, with one of the best splitters in the A.L. Torre mentioned that Contreras stuff great and dominating, but Loaiza has the better control overall. Steinbrenner is not a patient man. Who knows how much input he had into unloading Contreras. Hopefull things will work out. We'll know in about 4 or 5 starts.

Thanks Guys!!! You definately helped make things a lot clearer and answered a lot of questions.

A few questions!! When is the waiver deadline? Can someone explain in a little more detail of the meaning and specifics of someone being placed on waivers, and how he is acquired once he is put on there? Also, just curious if anyone has heard of KW not making more trades (in order to save prospects), but waiting for the waiver deadline to see who he can pick up, and who the possibilities are that are available that still may go on waivers! I know it's a lot of questions, but hoping something could still happen to better our team and how the process goes to obtain it Thanks!!!

I agree! For a few reasons. RJ is at the tail end of his career. He wants another Ring with the best proven contender around. The Yanks and Cards have shown domination more than anyone. Don't get me wrong....... I'm happy with our team, but put yourself in RJ's position. He sees us 1/2 game in first in a weak division, and sees others who have a lot more wins than us and are 7 - 9 games in front of everyone else in a tough division. If you were Johnson and was at the tail end of your career, why would he choose us, when there are a couple of real dominating teams out there that look unstopable? Plus, they are in tough divisions where it would bring out the best in RJ's competitive juices. Lets face it, we still have some weaknesses. Shoney is a huge questionmark as of late. Loaiza isn't real sharp right now. And we have a hard time winning games against the west coast, and against other ace pitchers in the league. Forget Johnson! Let's get the best we can get to fill our holes, and hope that at playoff time, we get hot. When we get hot, we're unbeatable!!!

I thought that I read in the Suntimes that it was made clear by AZ management that they have no intentions of putting Randy Johnson on the trading market. Either way, we still made need somebody. I see that Shoney is really taking a dump today. My brother who moved to LA a few years ago has some die hard Angels fans, and they said that they were glad to finally get rid of him. I wonder if Shoney is starting to show his true colors.

I'll also be there the 26th. Fortunately, was able to scrape up enough money for the starting 9 program. Faxed it in February 15.Got it in early march. Starting 9 guarantees you lower deck box to all games. The bonus is being able to get lower deck box at face value. Forgot what Section, but I'm down the 3rd base line 17 rows up. I think it was section 152.

I was born in 1959, (the last year that they won the pennant). My dad and 4 older brothers were all die hard Sox fans and always followed them. I was able to be a part of and learn about them since I was still a fetus!!!! Many great times were spent at Comiskey. Because of all that, I have White Sox ingrained in me since birth. I grew up with The Sox and went to the park and rooted for them no matter what!! That's the inward pride part!! The outward part. I used to do airbrush work, and a few years back I painted A Frank Thomas portrait on a sweatshirt that I proudly wear in showing my support of him at every game I attend. It turns a lot of heads.

On the serious side, what the heck do you do with him? Can't trade him, because nobody would want him. (Even if you did trade him, the most you would get is a slice of meatloaf for him). On the other hand, do you honestly believe that the way Uncle Jerry is with his money that he would actually pay a guy 5 mil to sit on the bench or go to AAA? We went through this with Danny Wright, (and his salary was "DINK").How much more, then, will we go through it with Koch at his salary? Let's face it!!! We're stuck with this clown. It's a shame too! We have Shingo at 1.78 ERA who specializes in closing, but JR will try and squeeze his dollars out of Koch no matter how many saves he blows!

Sounds like a winner to me!!! As long as Billy The "GOATEE" isn't in the mix!

I Think that we all pretty much agree with you, but as someone said earlier, Reinsey won't pay someone 6 mil. to sit on the bench. So much for his philosophy of doing "Anything" to be able to give up Bulls rings for a W.S. title!