IlliniKrush

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Oct 2, 2012 -> 06:10 PM) We must rank pretty well in TV ratings, internet viewership (i.e., mlb.tv, gamecast, etc.), and merchandise sales, right? I just assumed it's actual game attendance that we struggle with. Hire a new marketing team. You could hire the best marketing team in the world. The problem is the stadium isn't located in the middle of Wrigleyville, it's stuck on the south side. That's a battle in Chicago you'll never win with casual fans regardless of what you do.

11-11. This is fantastic to watch.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 29, 2012 -> 07:57 AM) Tiger in an ideal pairing this morning--None. He was bad in the morning, but he was great in the afternoon.

US hasn't missed a putt this afternoon I don't believe. This is incredible.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2012 -> 11:05 AM) And as I keep saying, this isn't a just this week phenomenon. Attendance has been falling for six years now. Even in a season where we were in first place for about 3/4 of the season, our attendance numbers are down pretty significantly over last year. All of the hardcore Soxtalk fans are fighting to be the first off of the bandwagon and claim they aren't watching anymore. For my two cents, you can't not go to games as a fan base, but then in the same breath complain that no one is covering or broadcasting your games. Given the choice between the White Sox, or a team that is in the top 10 in attendance, who is going to be more attractive to put on their network? Which team is probably going to generate more hits in a column? Given the choice, of course the media is going to go with another story. The White Sox bandwagon is emptying, not just this week, but over the last seven years now. But attendance would be more likely to spike in the last week of a race. These aren't April, May, or June games. I could care less what media coverage we get anyway. QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 28, 2012 -> 11:11 AM) It also says something that no fans bought tickets in advance. After the Sox beat Detroit to go 3 up, you would think that fans would buy tickets ahead of time for the CLE/TAM series when the division may be on the line. But no one obviously did, so I think that tells you something. Their slump isn't much of an attendance excuse, it's not like a win or two was gonna add 10,000 walk-up ticket sales for a single game. No reason to buy tickets ahead of time when they'll be readily available later anyway. That's just being logical. Then you have an out if they collapse and you aren't stuck with $200 worth of tickets for a Sunday game you no longer want to go to.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 28, 2012 -> 09:59 AM) McIlroy/McDowell vs. Furyk/Snedeker has to be one of the biggest mismatches. Got it to AS with 2 to play.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2012 -> 07:56 AM) The media cares about as much as their fans do... A lot of your posts lately are of this nature, almost like you aren't included as a fan. I find it interesting. I'm pretty sure the fans care. Just because the attendance isn't great, doesn't mean they don't care. That's not exactly the best measuring stick. As has been covered, it's hard to get people to come out this week when you are watching the team suffer a slow, painful death. Here's a good read, especially towards the end. http://www.southsidesox.com/2012/9/28/3421...te-sox-tailspin

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 28, 2012 -> 08:02 AM) USC, Oklahoma, and Stanford have now all been upset. ND's strength of schedule just went down the drain. A month ago, 10-2 would have seemed like an amazing accomplishment. Now not so much. I disagree, those are still very tough teams regardless of a loss. Everyone still knows ND's schedule is murder.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 11:26 PM) Very true. But if Mariotti was out there calling us chokers every day, it would have been addressed in the clubhouse and maybe just maybe some life would have been instilled in our zombie-like ballclub. Robin would have had to address it at least. And our veterans. Truly they should be embarrassed. They won't say that, though, they'll say we're still in it until mathematically eliminated and have to take care of business, etc. If you need media to get you fired up...then we need an entire clubhouse of new players. To me, all that stuff is just noise, I don't think that fires anyone up. Looking at the standings should be enough, and again if it isn't...then there are major issues. I just think the media affects fan perception, nothing inside the locker room. QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 11:27 PM) Good post. I've been wondering where the media outrage has been as well. Sox are going to get let off easy. I'm tired of the posts saying that this was a great season because we exceeded expectations. We didn't, first off, if the other thread is any indication. Second, when you're three up with fourteen to play, the expectation is to win. That's a much greater and important expectation and it's looking like we blew it. I like the emergence of Sale and De Aza, and you hope some of the other young guys you can depend on, but it doesn't look like that will be a trade off with our veterans getting older/moving on Anytime you don't win the world series (or at least the division) it's never a great season. Expectations in March don't mean anything when it's August and September and you are in it. It's all irrelevant. This season is a disappointment because of where they were at, and how they finished it. The people who want to look back on March expectations just want to feel happy about everything and pass out trophies like it's t-ball. That's just their coping mechanism and a way to give the Sox a pass.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 11:22 PM) We've lost 8 of 9 with the only win Dunn's two bomb performance. We are only 2 out after losing all those games. That's a huge choke. Huge IMO. Nobody's biting on my comments on the media ... but I think a lot of people's perceptions of this choke job would change if we had an outlandish columnist in town really letting the Sox have it. I don't think the media matters as much as you do, just my take. Let's face it, the Sox are irrelevant compared to the Cubs, and now you have the Bears going, etc. Plus the people on this board will remember it with or without media coverage, so it's a different crowd you're addressing on here.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 11:18 PM) Collapse? That works. 2-8 (so far) works for that.

Washington upsets Stanford.

I don't describe it as a choke because to me that means you were up 5-6 games etc and let it go. This is just...sucking. I don't know how to describe it. They are just failing to compete at this point.

Washington up on #8 Stanford by 4 with 1:46 left and they have the ball.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 11:09 PM) I'm drinking that orange Groce Kool-Aid. I wanted them to hire somebody else, but as soon he was brought on, I've liked everything I have heard about him, and I am in. Plus, he can't be any worse than the last guy, right? Don't drink all of it, leave me some. I'm in. I might be wrong later, but I'm all in on this.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 11:04 PM) On the bright side, soon I'll be able to use the 7-10pm block to do homework And I'll have a lot more money back in my back account for playoff tickets. But I don't want my money back damn it.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 11:02 PM) Only trouble with that kind of thinking is that you will live a life of pain and anguish over ALL the failed seasons then. And, inevitably there will be plenty of them. I'd rather enjoy and remember what WAS good. No not all of them, for example 2007? I look back on that season and laugh. The seasons you remember that are painful are the ones where you were RIGHTTHERE and then missed it. If we had been out of this for a while, I wouldn't remember this season good or bad, just kind of as irrelevant.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 11:01 PM) For as much as I've bashed Ventura, I'm not sure any manager could have salvaged things down the stretch. Nearly every single player seems to be in choke mode. Outside of Dunn connecting on an 0-2 pitch on Monday, every possible thing that could go wrong has since last Wednesday. He hasn't exactly had a stacked deck to use, but he's made some really stupid decisions this month. I felt like early on he stayed out of the way and didn't do too much, now it's the fact that he has 60 guys on the bench and no clue how to actually use them. Whether the moves work or not, you still have to make the logical move beforehand and lately he just hasn't.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 10:56 PM) I respect that, but maybe it's just that I never felt this team was going to be good enough to hold off the more talented Tigers. Even in 2006 and 2008, I had started thinking of who the Sox matched up better with in the postseason. Hell, I've never once even thought of who the Sox could play in the postseason if they made it. I get that, but at some point I bought into this team as I think many did. You're 3 up on the Tigers after a huge win and then you go 2-8. 2 and 8. This late, you could have held them off, and it wouldn't have even taken that much. We're not a team that makes the playoffs every year, so when it's this freaking close, and it's just right there for you...that really hurts. There's just no way I can look back on this as positive, I commend those that can though.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 10:54 PM) Reasons I think Sox are in better position now than a year ago: - Dunn proved that he didn't forget how to play the game of baseball, meaning his contract wasn't an absolute waste going forward - Manto was able to make Rios into a good player again - Chris Sale proved he can be a very good starter in the majors - Good experience for Reed and Jones (Jones was never even expected to be in the big leagues this year) - Quintana came out of nowhere and gives you hope he can be a 5th starter. Santiago started the year as closer, failed, and then showed some promise as a possible starter - ADA proved he can be a very solid player, and gives us the best all-around leadoff hitter the Sox have had in a long time - Ventura proved he knows how to motivate the players and create a good environment in the clubhouse. The biggest setback was Morel looking like he's not MLB caliber, causing the Sox to have to scramble to find a 3B this year and in the future. Not bad. I'll add to your last part...RV showing he doesn't really know how to manage in-game, especially with an expanded roster.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 27, 2012 -> 10:45 PM) Phenomenal post. It's disappointing that team has collapsed down the stretch, but there's no doubt I'll have positive memories about this season in the years to come. The Sox are in a much better position going forward into the future now as opposed to a year ago. For the rest of time you can bring up 2012 and it's not going to bring positive memories, just pain and anguish for me.

And that's likely all she wrote on this season. Bases loaded twice with no outs...one gift run and a run on a double play. So we did nothing to actually score a run. Unbelievable.

Got the playoff tickets in the mail today.

I missed the open, where's Hawk? Did White Sox baseball kill him?

Hey Jake, no pressure or anything, but this is basically a must win game. One ace-style performance would be great to save this season.