CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 12, 2014 -> 10:41 AM) We better be getting back one helluva player to trade Viciedo right now. That's the whole point of selling high. And unless Vicedo shows he can continue to take walks , and keep his average up there and hit for more power and manage to not trip over himself too many times on defense, we're not at a "helluva player" in return for him yet. Not even close.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ May 12, 2014 -> 10:38 AM) If we assume Abreu and Eaton are for real and that Garcia bounces back fully from surgery, I'd have no problem at all moving Viciedo and getting a defense/speed guy to slot in to LF. That's why I wanted Ellsbury in the off season. But now I realize that thinking was a bit premature and the whole Viciedo/De Aza saga had to be resolved.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 12, 2014 -> 10:24 AM) And how much would that marketing strategy matter if the Hawks hadn't made the playoffs once in six seasons? And as I have already stated that is surely the most likely question asked. What came 1st the "this is a new owner ,a new team ,a new attitude towards the fans, a new beginning /marketing strategy or the winning ? Likely they go hand in hand, but at least they realized they had to sell the fans a lot better than they were and even though now that it's a great product they continue to do so.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 12, 2014 -> 10:12 AM) It all comes down to winning. The Hawks are winning. When they were not, they occassionally had tickets for FREE on ticketmaster.com, and still didn't have half the seats full. The White Sox need to win consistently. It has to be where making the playoffs is the expectation year after year, not hoping to get in once every 5 or 6 season. Then, attendance will be fine. I'd say this is accurate. But it still wouldn't hurt for marketing to start gearing up ,showing they have some interest in getting fans in the seats before hand on a more consistent basis. If winning is the only thing that puts butts in the seats then a marketing department is highly over rated.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 12, 2014 -> 09:37 AM) Are you actually saying that the Hawks' box office success is directly related to their postgame fan salute? Are you actually as stupid as that last question ? Damn either read everything I say or don't twist my words around. I said it's one of the many ways the Hawks show appreciation for the fans in a well run , well orchestrated marketing strategy.

QUOTE (bmags @ May 12, 2014 -> 09:35 AM) I have seen that. Have you seen in baseball where the players and field workers will throw balls to fans nearby, and often even sign autographs before games? That's pretty nice of them. I don't know how to get fans in. I don't really care if fans come. I am excited about this team and will go to see them more this year. When I get to games I sometimes find out it's bobble head day and that's great. I feel like that promotion often just dictates when people show up to the games. But if we want some wacky ideas to get fans to feel appreciated, how about there is a number on every baseball, and at end of night they pick a random number that was on one of the baseballs played that night. If that baseball happened to find it's way to a fan that night, they'll get a sports massage from Herm Schneider. Those are all very nice things and I hear players even visit hospitals and schools and do work in the community so yea I'm pretty well aware of things that go on around a team. But with the Hawks you can tell it's all a very well orchestrated attempt to get it all on camera and in the interviews after the games you know the reporters are instructed to mention to the players " hey how about those fans ?" Last year on the Hawks website they gave away a lot of things, good things too. My idea are not at all wacky. People have been let into games in the late inning for free many times in the past. Being nice to fans isn't wacky or more commercials promoting new players and stars isn't at all farfetched. I think it's wacky for you to not care if fans come to games unless you have a desire for the team to always be an afterthought in the city and around the nation or want to see the team moved to another city.

QUOTE (VAfan @ May 11, 2014 -> 11:26 AM) I think the odds of the Sox trading Ramirez this season are almost nil. 1. The Sox may be out of the AL Central race at some point, given the Tigers pitching, but they aren't likely to be out of the wildcard race at any point where a trade could still logically be made. 2. You don't trade a guy who's playing above his contract, where the Sox have no one who could come close to replacing his production, offensively OR defensively. To trade Ramirez, in other words, is to CREATE A HOLE, when the object of moves is to FILL HOLES. 3. Trading the Cuban would send a very bad message. The Sox have several Cubans now, and with Jose Contreras and El Duque, had several other Cubans recently. This is a plus for the team. We got Abreu for a bargain. Would he have signed with the Sox without that Cuban connection? Would Viciedo have signed? This would not be a good baseball move. The Sox aren't so poor that they need to unload Ramirez's contract. And it would be very bad for fan enthusiasm. It's really a HORRIBLE idea. Judging from Hans M.O. I'd say trading Alexei is a possibilty if and only if he can get a MLB ready position player or starting pitcher. I think it's far more likely Hahn is hoping a guy like Viciedo has a good year and pawn him off after a strong season like he did with Santiago and the Angels did with Trumbo. Most likely the Sox will be looking for a LH outfielder who can catch the damn ball.

QUOTE (bmags @ May 12, 2014 -> 09:11 AM) Yeah, sure, so let's force players to make less so the billions of revenue teams are collecting can...go to the wealthy owners, got it. And raising their bats? Hey don't put words in my mouth. I said I want money spent on promotion and rewarding the fans in some fashion . Sure I'm spitballing ideas. Haven't you ever watched a Blackhawks game where the players, after a game stand at center ice and raise their sticks pointing at the fans as a salute to them for their support ? If you have better ideas throw them out there.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 12, 2014 -> 07:38 AM) It isn't that I don't want them to make it, I just don't see this team as ready yet. Too many questions, and too many guys learning on the job. If a lot goes right, MAYBE 2015, but even in that case, I think we need some help from Detroit. Oh I know you're a great fan and would love to see them surprise and win this year and every year but prophecies of failure bother me. It's just another way for Sox fans to say they arent worth spending their money on and there's already enough reasons fans don't want to go.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 12, 2014 -> 08:59 AM) Didn't they air an hour long special on Abreu's April on CSN? And have replayed it numerous times? It's going to take a lot more than that. Promote Sale , Eaton, PK's last year, show great plays, walk offs. There needs to be a steady constant stream of a combination of promoting the team and convincing , cajoling and bribing the fans into spending their money.

QUOTE (bmags @ May 12, 2014 -> 08:47 AM) It has been on WGN, which is probably a better space to spend it. I'm not sure a thank you fans is really a better use of money than letting fans know that this incredible new player has been setting records and getting them excited to go see him. And really, the player salary thing again? I think people have gotten over that, this isn't the 90s anymore. I did say promote the new players too you know but not by kissing the players ass . The Blackhawks do a great job saluting the fans every chance they get. I know that's sort of the what came first argument, the fan support or the good team, but nevertheless, the Hawks do it every chance they get. The team gathers at center ice at home after every victory to raise their sticks to the fans. Couldn't the Sox players just as easily raise their bats the same way ? And yes it's not the 90's ,it's even worse now with labor being squeezed , the crash of 2008 wiping out half of peoples 401K's , gas prices hovering near $5 a gallon , and the constant growing gap between the haves and have nots. Kiss the middle classes ass because to gets beaten down constantly every chance corporate America gets. You catch more flies with honey than you do vinegar.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 12, 2014 -> 08:00 AM) They made a congratulations commercial for his awards they have been airing. I haven't seen it on Comcast and I watch just about every game. Besides , really , a congratulations commercial ? I mean, yea , it's great to say thank you Jose but why say it over and over to him in a commercial ? There's a growing disconnect between players and fans because of the huge money some of these guys make .The players don't need more accolades , the fans need accolades for spending their hard earned money to come to games or at the very least to be coddled , cajoled or convinced that it's rewarding to come see this team.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 12, 2014 -> 07:11 AM) Their "giveaways" are tickets and parking. $5 seats and $10 parking means $30 for a family of four to drive to a game. Another thing I don't see from Sox marketing is the use of commercials like every homestand to promote the team, promote the promotions, promote the new players. Where's the commercials saying Abreu set rookie records for the month of April for HR's and ribbies ?How hard is it for a MLB team with a marketing department that surely has cameras and production people and voiceover people with an owner who owns 40 % of the station that broadcasts Sox games to throw together some 15 -20-30 second spots and repeatedly put them on air . Marketing needs to get off their ass or get a bigger budget or something. Open the gates and let people in free late at one gate where there can be ample security checks. Have a fan appreciation day every month just with smaller prizes. How hard is it to brainstorm up a few ideas ?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 12, 2014 -> 04:51 AM) We'll see which offense shows up on the West Coast, where baseballs typically go to the power alleys to die during mid-May night games. I'm waiting to see if Robin's threat from last night is empty or just something minor like De Aza being benched for a day or 2.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 12, 2014 -> 07:16 AM) I got all of my votes in on the first day of balloting. You're a good guy even if you repeatedly say the Sox aren't going anywhere this year. I like the postseason even if it is more gut-wrenching to lose there. It's the postseason and we've made far too few of them.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ May 12, 2014 -> 04:16 AM) Another big part of it is "America's Team" being in the same city. I thought Murricans liked winners ? Honestly the last time I heard about America's team in baseball it was the Braves and if not them then its the Yankees. I knew Sox fans had inferiority complexes but really ? The Cubs ? America's team ? f*** that. Oh hell no.

All of your enthusiastic responses overwhelms me

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 11, 2014 -> 02:18 PM) Those who say the Sox never quit should not forget today's game. Seems like it was over after the DeAza gaffe. Oh please, it's a long schedule. Every game won't be thrilling . You're going to have some stinkers. Just like we'll make other teams look bad sometimes , too.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 11, 2014 -> 01:46 PM) Goldschmidt doesn't even have a hit this series. Oh, well, the DBacks have actually been playing pretty well the last week or so. They've won their last two road series, including once against the Brewers. Looking to return home 6-3. I think Reed has 5 saves during that stretch as well. It's not who you play , it's when you play them

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ May 11, 2014 -> 01:29 PM) Marshall not hitting his spots. 2 times catcher set up inside and he threw it low and away that Abreu fouled off. Maybe we can get to him. Nope threw some good changeups and stayed away from the middle of the plate with the hard stuff.

Marshall not hitting his spots. 2 times catcher set up inside and he threw it low and away that Abreu fouled off. Maybe we can get to him.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ May 11, 2014 -> 01:04 PM) Good time for De Aza to make up for his embarrassing blunder in the 1st. De Aza looks like he's 50 some times with his rumbling bumbling stumblings in the OF and on the bases.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 11, 2014 -> 12:40 PM) Two straight meh offensive efforts Give Anderson some credit. Can't just knock the Sox when a pitcher has it going.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ May 11, 2014 -> 09:19 AM) I was there, and it was. I wonder if any team would ever consider anything really radical like once the 9th inning starts get in free or for a dollar and sit in the upper deck. After all anything after 9 innings is called free baseball.

I know many of us are baseball fans and we'd like to see the best man win and be fair in our All-Star votes. Well f*** that. Vote early and often for deserving White Sox players and you can be both fair and a homer. Let's face it every city stuffs the ballot box for their favorites. If you have a social media outlet and you talk about the Sox push getting behind the team. Vote for Sox players , go to games. We have a team worth watching with exciting young players. This team believes in itself . Why should we all be the same dour Sox fans pointing at everything thats against the team winning. This team never quits. Lose Avi Garcia . Sucks we should lose. Didn't happen. Lose our leadoff hitter ,the catalyst to this dynamice new team . We should lose. Still not happening. Ok lose our best pitcher . Surely we will start losing now a bunch of games in fact. Nope ain't happening. Damn this bulpen SUCKS ! We are going to lose a lot of games. WTF ?!? How did they go from sucking so bad to being so good ? This is my little grassroots attempt to build some enthusiam around the Sox and I'm relying on you to carry it out. I'll vote for Sox All-Stars but social media isnt my thing and I can't go to games because I don't live there. Maybe getting a wildcard doesn't thrill a lot of people, but it sure would thrill me. I think it can happen especially if the fans get behind the team. They're already playing inspired ball without our support. Imagine with it. Edit: I haven't even pointed out a bunch of other s*** that went wrong.