LVSoxFan

This game had it all: smallball, homers, oppourtunity hitting, pitching, CREDE on 3B, BABY!, sacrifice hitting and even a couple of stolen bases. I was just waiting for a controversial A.J. Pierzinski play! We looked like the 2005 team but even more fearsome. I like it so far! BTW the banners look amazing. Very tasteful. Those light towers (the "toothbrushes") look completely different now.

If I do get in--and I think I will--I will give her endless crap about paying so much. Granted, she can afford it, but...

So as of today, the going rate for tix in the lower bowl is $250 per. Yup. $250. That's online, at craigslist, even the brokers linked here. Phooey! For UD it's hovering around $150, although my boss found three tix in LD for $150 apiece. She's gonna end up paying (she skipped those because she wants stadium club passes as well) so I've decided to wing it and maybe prove a hunch. Just show up and see if the parking lot ends up containing a lot of people desperate to unload tix they thought were going to be sold for so much. Will I get in? How much will it cost? Or will I merely get a whiff of the polish, standing in the rain? Perhaps Jerry will take pity and invite me into his box? Or, perhaps I end up watching the whole thing at Jimbo's. Stay tuned this Monday for how it all turns out!

OMG how OLD is that picture? That is embarassing. Did somebody email them? Forget getting respect from Bristol, CT. ESPN--while their broadcasts are great--will always go down in infamy for the infamous call of "Ohhhh NOOOOO!" when Graffanino (sp?) booted Uribe's ground ball during the Boston series here. I'm guessing a few things are at play: a) ROC syndrome (people on the coasts only value the East Coast and the West... we're what's called the "rest of country," or ROC) B) Because they're easterners, they care primarily about Boston/Yankees c) On a more capitalistic note, the White Sox don't have a national audience the way Boston, Yankees or perhaps the Dodgers do. And, dare I say it? The Cubs. Yup. The Cubs have a huge national audience. ESPN is probably prayin' they don't have to do a lot of White Sox games this year. So there you have it.

QUOTE(chiguy79 @ Mar 31, 2006 -> 02:31 PM) I have no problem with people smoking on the ramps but it could become a similar situation during sellouts where it will be like the 40 people huddled around the entrance of my office building laying down a smoke screen to enter. At least at a baseball game you aren't wearing a suit that cost $$s to get dry cleaned. Well at Detroit and KC it wasn't like this, so I wouldn't worry about it being like that at the Cell.

The Onion absolutely rules.

I'm in on this, BTW. I just faxed in my order this morning.

They're not kidding about the smell thing. Boy, does that ever change after you quit.

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 30, 2006 -> 10:19 AM) Yours is a good post, very fair and balanced IMO. I too like to stand up on the OF concourse, did it all the time when I had bleacher seats. One time I was standing at the top of 162 and four guys wandered up next to me and they all lit up. It bothered me, I started to move. Before I moved, an elderly guy and his wife were sitting in the last row of 162 and they asked politely if these four guys could put out the smokes. One of them said "we can smoke here if we want". And they were right. But to say the smoke was hardly bothering anyone else ... I don't agree with that. I don't follow politics much but this Act was signed into law, and this whole smoking/non smoking thing is a lightning rod issue, to say the least. If this Act withstood lobbyist pressure, legal challenges, etc. and still went on the books, in my somewhat uneducated opinion there must be some irrefutable documented studies by competent unbiased experts that 2nd hand smoke causes health problems. To me this is well past the "does it make sense or not" stage, this Act took a long time to become reality as I understand it and now it applies to the ballpark. So be it IMO. I do think the White Sox security personnel will have their hands full enforcing it though. Some smokers will simply not be aware, while others will intentionally defy the ordinance. I just hope there aren't confrontations in the stands but unfortunately I suspect there will be. If anybody ever told me that I was bothering them I would put it out or move. That was rude of those guys. For God's sake, just move a few feet away so they don't have to breathe it. How hard can that be? Having said all this, I wonder what Wrigley is doing. Not that I go to more than two games there a year (both for work, ugh), but there you could, if I'm not mistaken, only smoke against the Sheffield Ave. fence in the bleachers (meaning: all the way back) or on the ramps against the fence on the Addison/Clark sides (and maybe on the outdoor patio up top at Clark/Addison side. I wonder if they've gotten tighter, too. But to reiterate: this is what they do at other parks, what the Sox are doing. I think it's inevitable. And just one more reason to quit!

Let me chip in here as a person who smoked up until months ago and smoked at every game I went to at the Cell. First, I would never smoke in the seats. That's just rude. And against the rules. People who do that should be called out. Second, I'm not quite sure what the harm is, though, in smoking on the outfield concourse--that's where I stood literally every game in '04 and '05, with my buddies, some who smoke and some who do not. Part of standing there was habit (I just like standing) and part of it was that we could smoke. But that smoke was hardly bothering anybody else. So that I don't get. But let me tell you, as somebody who has been to the park in K.C. and in Detroit (both of which I will be at in the next two weeks), this is how they do it. You can't just smoke on the concourse there like it used to be at the Cell--they stick in you in designated areas, usually an entrance well away from the seats and the concourse. Detroit does have a little TV there for everybody. So while if I still smoked I'd be bummed, this is the trend around the league as I can tell--not just Chicago. God knows what they make you do in California. Bottom line: I think it may be a little bit overkill, but this is what everybody does now. I wonder if they include the Bullpen Bar--now THAT would suck if you're watching the game there and a smoker. Just my 2 cents. I don't have to worry about it anymore, which is good, but I do know what smokers go through.

I take the red line from up north every game (from Belmont or Wellington) and am curious to see how bad it gets on that since nobody will be driving on the Ryan. However, if it does, the green line is a nice plan "b".

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 29, 2006 -> 04:27 PM) It's also not like we're trying to turn me into a lefty here. Thornton's already got the big part down...thanks to some quirk of genetics, he's a lefty that pops 97. Once you get that far, it's just a matter of getting the rest down. The rest is easy compared to that part; you just have to have someone teach you how to do it. I don't mean to be a wet blanket because I know we got Thome for this but... I just hope we're not forgetting small ball/Ozzieball/smartball, whatever. Meaning: home runs are fun. There were tons of them. In 2004. Having said that, it sure is fun to watch! Um, Frank who?

Yeah I just saw a pair of UD seats for opening day going for $250. Amazing. Helloooo, parking lot! Oh well, if worse comes to worse I can watch the game from Jimbo's.

QUOTE(Steff @ Mar 29, 2006 -> 01:21 PM) Oh, I know. He said what do I expect them to go for.. I cannot believe he was trying to jack you for that for club level. For that kind of dough, I expect a seat and a [crude reference to an oral act]. I think you guys are probably right, and I'm this/much closer to showing up Sunday night and taking my chances in the parking lot. You're also right in that dopey Cub fans and the like overestimate how much real Sox fans will pay for something like that. Just as we don't fill the park when the team sucks, on the other hand, we don't start shelling out rent money for one freakin' game because some greaseball happened to scam the tix ahead of us. Have a nice time, scalpers! In the parking lot...

I totally agree with Tony--better to have him rest and bring him back when he's ready so we're not missing him in the second half, which almost cost us the season last year. I can handle a slow start or, if you will, if we pulled a Cleveland this year but went all the way still. I don't know if I can live through another dominate-the-entire-year and then nosedive-in-September season, LOL. But rest him until he's ready. More playing time for Pablo, I guess. Or whoever.

QUOTE(Steff @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 04:57 PM) LV... we know a ton of new "fans" who are thinking they are going to jimbo's on opening night and getting $500 for LD tickets (even though they aren't getting near that on ebay or stubhub). If you have the time to wander the lot for a bit might be worth it to come down. Even for the playoffs you could get tickets just over face outside. These "fans" who are looking to make a buck are nuts thinking Sox fans who care about the game and the team are going to pay those prices. Really? I just might try that. $500? You're right--there's gonna be a lot of people desperate to get rid of tix they thought were going to make them some bank. Thanks for the tip. I may be at opening day after all! (Er, night...)

Well let me be the first to volunteer to be the guinea pig this season. I am lifelong Sox fan this year withOUT season tix who will be scrapping for individual games. How hard will it be, now that we are WS champions? I will let everybody know ('cause I know you're just dying to hear). A little background: while I had the Ozzie plan last year, the majority of the games I went to I either bought the day of or before online (email tix), or for a good chunk of them I just showed up. My friends and I all congregate on the concourse, so we just need to get in, period. The only ones I had to scalp was one of the Cub/Sox game at the Cell (the other I got through the plan). This year, forget it: those are gone, gone, gone. Even the Boston, A's and Yankees series I was able to walk up and at least get one. In September you could go to any game you wanted, no joke. It was when they made the playoffs that all of a sudden it was like there were 2,000,000 Sox fans. So we'll see how this season goes. Should be an interesting experiment. If I had to guess I would say this: obviously opening day is off the table and the Cubs/Sox series. I think day games during the week will be no problem. I think the "premium" games will be tough and forget about the big promotions (Elvis night, 1/2 way to St. Pat's). But for some reason I think it will cool down as the season wears on. We shall see.

Another unknown pitcher suddenly ending up on the Sox staff. Me likey. We know how that's turned out in the past...

QUOTE(PaleHose4Life35 @ Mar 27, 2006 -> 09:05 PM) As much as seeing those predictions makes me mad, last year was the same no respect, and look how that turned out. Predictions are meaningless, if predictions mattered they wouldn't play the games at all. The Sox just have to go out there and prove their doubters wrong again. I would like to see where the experts that didn't pick the Sox to make the playoffs have the Sox finishing in the Central this season. First of all, I'm absolutely FINE with nobody picking us to repeat this year. Fine. The Sox in '05 were noteable for that enormous chip on their shoulder and if being disrespected keeps them from getting fat n' happy (helloooo, Jenks!), then so be it. While I think we're a favorite to win the division, a repeat is a highly difficult feat--some say it's harder than winning it the first time. And as Mariotti pointed out today, nobody has done that in a decade. HOWEVER, you may also remember last year that the whole mantra all year, from KW on down, was: win the damn division first, and worry about the rest as it comes. I surely HOPE that the Sox are not eyeing the WS in mid-May, when they should be worrying about, yes, the Indians and the Twins. A few other points: a) I would NEVER count out the Twins. That team is a model of year-to-year efficiency. So much so that we IMITATED them and it got us a World Series. I would not EVER take them lightly. B) The debate rages about how the Indians will be. Well first of all, they were the best damn team in baseball 2nd half last year, period. It was only by the grace of God, a dropped fly ball in K.C. and Joe Crede that it wasn't them crusing to the World Series and not us. That said, I'd say we've got two contenders for the AL Central besides us, and Cleveland is pissed. I'm sure they're going to love watching the ring ceremony at the Cell, in person. I would not count them out either. Sure they got rid of Coco Crisp (bad idea), but their pitching is awesome. And so is their manager. c) Assuming we can get through the central, look out for the West coast. I don't think the Angels are too happy about getting smoked when they kicked our ass all year long, and while the A's weren't in the playoffs against us, they were our bete noire for years and probably still will be. Oakland stadium is like a house of horrors for the Sox, and 2005 was no different. We got a long road, people. I'm just going to try and enjoy it and not EVEN think about the WS until literally the ALCS. We got a lot of other things to overcome. Game by game, people. Hey: it worked last year!

I think it's entirely possible that some people simply became Sox fans because off the playoffs/WS, and I don't begrudge them that. I guess what worries me isn't that there's tons of new fans--hey, Sox fan? We're bros, then!--I guess I'm worried that there's a ton of "casual" fans that will now be going for other reasons besides the team. I'm not sure those people will make it through a whole season of trekking to the Cell, just to hang out. Especially since the Ryan is focked for the entire summer and beyond (a gift to us from IDOT, perhaps?). I would hardly be an elitist and jump on some new guy wearing his new jersey because he's fallen for the Sox--who am I to say you must have "X" amount of years to be "real"? I welcome those people. It's the people who invade Wrigley and Bulls games with their cellphones and the like that I worry about. Last year while arguing attendance between the two clubs, I read what I thought was the most astute observation: the Cubs and Sox probably have about the same number of die-hard fans, but when it comes to casual fans the Cubs absolutely blow us away (which accounts for why the Cubs always outdraw us, at least until now). But that in itself was an affirmation: exactly. Our fans are here for the team. I just hope it stays that way.

Well I agree that it's good to get new fans, no matter how you get them. Point taken. As far as sellouts go--that's true, too. I remember being a few "sold out" games last year and was amazed at how many empty seats were there. I like a crowded park--just not INSANE crowded. Well I guess we'll see. This year I don't have a package because all the Ozzie plan could offer was UD seats--no thanks. So we'll talk in September and see how many games I could go to in this "sold out" season just trying to hustle some tix. Should be interesting.

I agree with the post about the September Slide last year--I actually skipped two games that I had tickets to because it had become so unbearable. That was freaking brutal. I honestly don't care what happens in Spring Training, because it says nothing. I am worried about Jenks, though.

Don't get me wrong--I'm not being sour grapes because now the Sox have crowds, I'm just saying WOW--there did all these people COME from? As for the other topics: THUNDERSTICKS SUCK. S U C K. Those are TOTALLY a California thing (Angels in particular). But for some reason they had them one night last year (I can't remember for whom--Boston?). It was embarassing. That is SO not us. As for THUNDERSTRUCK, nothing rocks harder than when that comes on at the beginning of every game. I LIVE for that moment. Could not have picked a better song for the Sox--love it. Thank the Lord it's also on the 2005 Season DVD as an extra, with the intros. Nice job! The other thing that oughta be interesting now that everybody is a freakin' Sox fan is... Fight Club. Er, I mean 1/2 Price Mondays (1st rule about 1/2 Price Mondays... you do not talk about 1/2 price Mondays!). I wonder how packed that's gonna be now. Last year I made it to 40 games. If I can just match that this year, I'll be happy. But I'm going to have to creative--a hell of a lot more than last year, me thinks.

A couple of weeks ago the Sunday Trib contained a pull-out section for, well, basically, people who weren't Sox fans until the Series last year. It was like your Sox Guide for Dummies, including everything from maps of the park to special promotion nights to local bars/restaurants to hit to a little Sox history 101. In other words, for all the people who are just now going to start going to the Cell. Then, in yesterday's Sun-Times, they had a one page article about how everything's different now--that regulars like us can no longer show up right before first pitch to buy those tix, last-minute. No more 15,000 size crowds at games, longer lines for everything, no parking... pretty bleak. To listen to everybody it sounds like the experience is never going to be the same again. I can't tell if this is all hype, or--based on the Cubs in 2003--it truly is the end of the Sox as being the "other" team, and proud of it. I also know a guy who lived in Cleveland after their win and he said it was a good two years before you could get into games again. Or maybe it's all just overdone--you may remember, we were in first place all year, literally, last year, and in the thick of it in September those games were not even CLOSE to sold out. It was only when we were finally in the playoffs proper (and particularly the ALCS and beyond) that everybody went bat-s***. So I hold out some hope that it won't turn into Wrigley South. There was a story the other day by some guy who said his new favorite team was the L.A. Clippers (NBA). Why? Because, as he pointed out, the Lakers are always sold out and they get all the fame, and all the celebrities sitting courtside at every game. The Clippers are the "other" team. And that's why he'd love to see them crush one year and watch all the Laker fans jump the bandwagon. Trust me dude: I know what it's like when that happens...

I won't be picking one of these up. Ug-ly. The '59 jerseys rule. Too bad they're TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS!