chitownsportsfan

my body is ready.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Feb 15, 2017 -> 10:48 PM) They are. It's the ultimate troll job. Honestly I have no idea how Sale would react. Part of me thinks it would throw him off his game cause he's in his own head a bit at times but the other part is like "it's chris sale, how off can he be with that stuff"? I do think he'd come out perhaps over jacked and lack command like we see on occasion.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Feb 15, 2017 -> 09:09 PM) Please stand by, I'm cracking open Photoshop for the first time in years. The new banner will feature the kids. oh my, what could have been with Q...he doesn't slam his hand on that bat...

QUOTE (OnlyGillis @ Feb 15, 2017 -> 07:03 PM) At least there won't be a statue in the corner of the dugout masquerading as a manager this year. that will be nice too. And I don't even have to heckle RV this year in Glendale.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Feb 15, 2017 -> 12:53 PM) I think it'll be fun to watch games this year... if they lose, cool! If someone like Davidson blows chunks - oh well... if he does great, cool! Rooting for players who are trade candidates will be a thing and following all the affiliates will be intense. Following the international signing period, the draft, other teams top prospects performances, monitoring trade partners standings... it'll be a much different type of fandom but it'll be lit. agree, the only thing that will suck the fun out of it would be all the new prospects absolutely cratering. I don't see that happening, they are too good, and there are too many of them now.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 14, 2017 -> 06:39 PM) Man, have I missed baseball and am so glad ST is under way! Baseball is my one and only true love in the sports world and its finally back again! f*** yeah. it's certainly a great time of year.

QUOTE (Baron @ Feb 13, 2017 -> 01:22 AM) Look who the GM is and then reassess your comment. I actually agree with Bruce. I wouldnt be surprised if they waited until the deadline then screw it up. I dont see the offers getting any better plus your putting even more pressure on yourself to get rid of him before next offseason. there is no pressure in February, or March, or April...July? Sure. Of course, there is also pressure on contenders then too.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Feb 11, 2017 -> 01:55 AM) 30 combined WAR isn't ceiling though, it's just typical likelihood, and I think that's damn good. middle case, and yea, it's good.

What's the over under on WAR for those guys combind? Man, it feels like it should be around 30 conservatively, that's pretty amazing.

QUOTE (reiks12 @ Feb 9, 2017 -> 12:01 AM) according to OOTP 18 we will be 62-100 with PITIFUL performances from Rodon and Quintana ootp hates rodon for some reason.

QUOTE (Pods70Rowand33 @ Feb 6, 2017 -> 09:43 PM) I'll be heading there Feb 28th and leaving March 6th. I'll be heading to the Sox Angels game on the 4th and Dodgers Mariners game on the 5th. This is my first time going, so I'm really looking forward to it. sweet, there's a good chance I'll be at that Angels game. If so I'll pm you.

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Feb 7, 2017 -> 08:44 PM) His adjustment might - might - last one time around the league. Then pitchers will start jamming him, he'll get frustrated, and go back "to what always worked for me in the past". Not that I dislike the guy. I just don't believe what guys say in the offseason. exactly.

Not often you see a projection that fans think is too optimistic and the fanbase saying "dammit, we need to be worse!"

QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Feb 2, 2017 -> 11:03 AM) Both times I've gone its been just for a long weekend. Its enough time. Glendale is pretty far west from scottsdale/phoenix/tempe (20-30 miles depending where you stay). the cubs stadium is in mesa which is much closer. If you have a car, its obviously not that big of a deal to get there and if you've never been to camelback you should check it out. For sure, camelback is a nice complex and seeing a dodgers/sox game there is worth it just to see the crazy dodger fans. One month to the date I'll be there, can't wait.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Feb 1, 2017 -> 12:30 AM) Rings matter a lot. lol wut?

QUOTE (Knuckles @ Jan 31, 2017 -> 01:17 AM) Will be there Feb 28 to March 2. I will probably dedicate one full day to exploring the sights around the canyon. Hope to catch one home game, and the game @ Giants. I like that the area offers a little bit of everything. Plenty of great eating, clubs if you're into that, recreation, just relaxing, just a nice area. I've been to spring training in FL as well, albeit only in college for baseball training, and IMO as an adult I'd prefer Phoenix area over Ft. Myers 10/10. Beaches in Ft Myers sure but the overall experience of the Valley is better.

thanks for the writeup guys. The job seems to be taking a physical toll on Hahn based on some photos I've seen.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 30, 2017 -> 01:20 PM) Those two are attached at the hip. No reason to move Jose right now given that Moncada is critical to the future and it would behoove the Sox to do everything possible to make sure he's in a great state of mind entering this season. Moncada either steps into the bigs this year, holds his own (say coming up in July for a good 250+ PA run) or he stalls and his status as a potential superstar takes a big hit.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 25, 2017 -> 04:28 PM) Yea I'm just trolling GOT YOU GUYS haha I was kidding all along. Can we trade you as part of the rebuild?

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 25, 2017 -> 04:11 PM) Sox should have most of what wont be around in 3 years pretty much gone already, especially those are in their contract years and costing over $10m. This is not something ridiculous to ask for and it hardly means to the rebuild should all wrapped up by now. It shouldn't take a full calendar year to turn this ship around and embark on a new direction. haste makes waste. they've been bad for the better part of a decade. Now is not the time to rush. We aren't even close to a "full calendar year" if that's your own particular criteria. The rebuild officially started with the Sale trade, that wasn't even two months ago.

QUOTE (shipps @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 03:33 PM) For sure dude. This place is pretty cool, ton of great beer, lots of great looking coeds from ASU around...

glad to see so many posters headed down there. I can't wait.

QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 12:54 PM) Not going to be there for SXSW actually. Just have heard good things about Austin and have wanted to go for a while. austin is a lot of fun you'll enjoy it. Iron Works BBQ downtown is pretty solid. Check out the bat caves on the river at night if you can, seeing them all fly out is pretty intense.

QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Jan 17, 2017 -> 11:20 AM) I'm not going this year after going the last two years. Going to Austin instead. Camelback is great but it is pretty far away from the phoenix/tempe/scottsdale area. I think our cab was over an hour (traffic didnt help). Last year we went to a sox road game in an effort to see more of the stadiums and we'll probably continue that if we go back in the future. The angels stadium is probably in the best spot location wise but they are all within driving distance. SXSW? I went back in '09. Great time, not sure I'd go back now though from what I here it's not what it was, too many tech bros, not about the music and party anymore so much. Seems similar to Burning Man or Coachella once a festival gets too big it loses some of what made it unique. Austin in March is great as is the gulf coast. We drove from Houston to Galveston, stayed two nights on the beach in San Padre (the actual national seashore not the party beach) and then drove to Austin for SXSW. Gotta make a spring trip somewhere almost every year or I go stir crazy up North. The nice thing about Phoenix is it feels so nice and open and warm coming from Seattle where everything is gloomy that time of year.

With February only 2 weeks away why not start dreaming about the crack of the bat and smell of hot dogs under the warm Arizona sun?! I'll be in town from March 2-6 and will be looking to hit up at least a couple games that weekend at Camelback. Sox spring schedule is here. Please put any travel tips you have as well in this thread. Just some general tips: 1) Everything is pretty centralized and easy to get to in the Valley. Camelback is a bit "out there" by Phoenix standards (about a 20-30 minute drive depending on what part you're around) but there are shuttle services and rental cars are usually only about $20-30 a day. 2) Weather in late Feb/Early March is usually low 50s at night and mid 70s during the day. By the later stages of spring training day time highs are usually around 80 and the lows in the mid 50s. If you're looking for more of "tropical feel" go later in March, but if you're coming from Chicago you're in for a treat whenever you go. 3) Hotwire.com is my go to for great deals on Phoenix hotels. the "Mystery Hotels" by region are especially good because everything is so connected it really don't matter if you stay (for example) in Scottsdale or Tempe, just go where the best deal is is my advice. Even 2 and 3 star hotels in Phoenix usually have an out door pool. 4) Budget for food. I've found that the eats around Phoenix are about as good as it gets, especially if you like Mexican fusion and steakhouses, and who doesn't love that? In general drinks at bars are $5-8, pretty reasonable, and most high end dining comes in at around 20-$50 a head, which is quite a bit lower than Chicago or where I'm at in Seattle. 5) At most parks they just charge general admission and you can either walk up and buy tickets or purchase them online and print them out. At Camelback when I went two years ago both games weren't exactly packed and you had plenty of space to move around. I'm guessing if Chicago plays the Cubs it will be packed so maybe get to that one a bit early. If you go early that's usually when the players are signing. Have a good pen and plenty of memorabilia ready. I got an Abreu signed ball when I went took some persistence but he signed. Helps to have a kid or two on your arm! Hope to see some of you there!