Harry Chappas

The piece was right on the money, I almost missed my train. They did not sugar coat the love for the cubs but they did kind of show that there is much more going for the Sox and much more excitement stirring at US Cellular. It is still a cubs town but....... I think the biggest difference is that cub fans wear their pride on their sleeve. Sox fans simply enjoy their team and are not rah rah up your ass with it.

QUOTE(Steff @ Feb 20, 2006 -> 08:02 AM) They still count. And yes you can have more people then tickets sold or comp'd. Children under turnstyle height don't need a ticket. What about midgets and dwarfs? Is the turnstyle flipped for them?

I spent last season waiting for the let down that comes every year. When I got really excited in August I had to run numbers to keep myself into thinking we were ok through the end of September. I thought the Red Sox would win the last three, and then the Angels. When the World Series came around I thought Oswalt and Clemens would beat us and Petitte never loses in the playoffs. Then poof, World Champs. After going 16-1 in their last 17 games it wasn't until the final out did I Beleive It! This year if I have faith and they fail but win 92 games, what the hell. For the first time in my life I get "Sit back, Relax and" simply enjoy the great game of ball. That and a $95M payroll is what I will enjoy.

Early March amiled to your home. I just got the opener and cubs e-mailed to me last night. I was a tad scared.

Dave Wilder I really think this guy is the cats pajamas and will force Kenny into an Executive role with the team and become the GM. As JR gets up there in years, there needs to be a new Chariman of the Board. A sustained run could open this for KW?????

Do I need to get the girlfriend a special ticket every game or just to this one???? Crap.

If Joe Borchard can bat 8th, (he would be an average CF and gold glove LF. problem is Pods is nowhere near a CF at least Borchard has an arm) I would be fine with this. I actually think Borchard is going to have an impact for us.

Two words SUPER TACO, cheap and good.

Is Bentley still with us?

QUOTE(hi8is @ Feb 8, 2006 -> 11:28 AM) give me a f***ing break I said this after the Q & A session, "This f***ing guy has balls. I think if he keeps grounded this could be a great thing." He and Williams have great prescence in a commanding way. YOu know who the boss is so don't f*** around. It was great to see.

Two years ago Manny was owed $100M now he is owed $60M. His production has not tapered off so he is close to worth it.

He played for the Sox accomplished something very cool for them. That milestone was a great moment in White Sox history as was Bo Jackson's homer in the clincher in 94. Great moments. The White Sox are not erecting monumets or anything, should he be part of a historical recount of the White Sox, yes. As should Ivan Calderon standing on the top of the wall at Tiger Stadium making a catch and Daryl Boston diving headlong into the seats. These are moments and players in White Sox history. If George Foster hit his 500th homer it would be a hi-lite. Come on.

I think Hermanson will be a second closer for us. Jenks has trouble on back to back days and will again this year until he gets used to it. This gives Hermanson this opportunity. He was a great closer with the Giants after mving from the rotation. He is no longer a starter and if healthy can be a top notch closer. He had a 21 inning scoreless streak not sure that was an accident. The year before HE was the Giants bullpen that was in it until the end. He was throwing 2 innings almost every day. He was brought up by the Padres to be their next closer and was dealt to the Expos who needed starting pitching thereby putting him in the role he held for the next ten years. If he is healthy he can be as good as anyone out of the pen and can spell Jenks. I am not sold on Jenks being able to handle the workload he is not the same guy on the second day and Politte and Cotts are not closers. Also Jenks arm had some issues. Dustin is a great option. McCarthy is the 6th and 7th / long guy. Politte and Cotts 7th and 8th. Jenks and Hermanson the 9th. When Hermanson wasn't finishing his pitches, lefties lit him up.

As I read this article I continued to ask myself, "What is the point of this?" Where is the Sox fan newspaper that touts the Trib only covers the cub? As I was reading this it sounded like an 8 year old was writing this. It had no direction or point. I kind of laughed because I don't care anymore the cubs and their fans are a great source of humor.

During the Q&A session with Farmer, Singleton, Mack and Thome someone mentioned Rooney. Farmer says, "John quit, he was offered a contract and turned it down." It was very cold no sugar coating it. This did not seem like a company line it was harsh. Also Singleton was very impressive. Maybe the SCORE got it right, wouldn't be the first or last serving of crow for me. Farmer and Singleton did a great job of keeping the players from saying anything questionable. It was a great session, not as good as Ozzie, KW and Hawk. All three had awesome presence and are right on. Ozzie has a future in anything he wants.

QUOTE(easyw @ Jan 28, 2006 -> 12:57 PM) Jenks Heat - I totally agree with you on the fans. But I have less of a problem with people who are seeking merchandise in an effort to resell it at a higher price - to me, they're just working. I put myself in the fan category as well - I went for the beer, the broads, the Q&A, thew winter baseball fix,... I met some of the players, but the last thing I would ever consider is asking them for is an autograph. I got there late, so I didn't experience any long lines to get in. I did hear that was awful. they should change the venue - that place smelled like ass. Palmer House next year according to the promo material.

Soxfest is three different groups of people. First off you have your collectible broker folk that are looking to get memorabilla to sell for a profit. They wait in the long lines and try to get as much stuff signed as they can. These I think are the scarier folks. Second you have your autograph seeking fan. They want their 20 seconds of face time with a player and something that they can get to attach themselves with the team. Your third group, the one in which I catagorize myself, is the simple fan. I go mostly for the Q&A sessions, beer, baseball fix in the winter, and see what White Sox cool memorabilia I can get my hands on and what shops I will go to after the fest. The thing that gets me is the long wait to get in. I waited for 4 hours then got into the opening ceremony. last year I waited 2 hours jsut to get in. I think they need to change somthing. I also think the venue blows it is like a warehouse and very crappy in the basement. The ballroom floor is good. Seeing as it is moving next year maybe this will change.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 26, 2006 -> 09:53 AM) All right. T-minus one day and counting.... Its now time for final roll call just for ease of finding names. I'll be there Friday. If anyone wants to say hey, I'll have on the old school Ventura 23 jersey from the early 90's sans the name on the back. I am also going to go with the 1926 style hat (blue with two white socks cross) which is pretty nasty looking. Look forward to seeing everyone! I love that hat.

A couple of thoughts. This guy is a horse. He is built like a brick s***house, not sure what that means but I like it. Phsically I think he is all there. If he is as old as we think he his, wouldn't his agent be inclined to rush into signing a long term deal as an injury now could end his career. I therefore do not think he is that old. When he defected he was thought of more highly than any Cuban defector, he is not a flash in the pan. Hispanic players struggle in NY and he seems to have turned it around. Trading him now will not get what you could get from him. We do not need to gamble on "sure thing" prospects which we probably wouldn't get anyway. I think they ride him out and if he pitches lights out, good for us. I think in the end we get a discount. I think it is a risk for him to ask for more than 3 yr or $10/M a year but if he pitches like he did last year, look out. This guy could cost Cashman his job.

Ben Grieve was signed to fill the need of spring training player to eat innings. He will be nowhere near the opening day roster. Maybe AAA. He is Chris Widger from last year BUT without a shot at a position. Borchard will get a flyer before him and even Owens.

If he likes Chicago enought and the Sox succeed and cubs falter could he gun to play for Ozzie. Imagine if Ozzie could reel in all Venezulean pitching????

Correct me if I am wrong. The Bears play a very vanilla defense called the Cover 2. In this defense there is no man-to-man coverage and there is no double teaming. A player is given an area to cover and there is no real double coverage areas. Blitzes and what not result in adjustments but for the most part you are responsible for a gap or an area and go from there. I assumed this was why nothing was done to stop Smith. All he had to do was find a area to get to and that was that. Tillman should have worn cleats, that would've helped. Vasher is a cover two corner, Tillman is not.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jan 13, 2006 -> 09:59 AM) It's not legal. He was already conivcted of that crime. No s***, how long was he in for.......18 months?

QUOTE(Steff @ Jan 13, 2006 -> 12:01 PM) Despite offers from me to meet up with him, I never met him in person once. He talked a good story and was never really dumped on by those trusted on the various sites so I tended to believe him. I just assumed you knew him, huh. He seemed to pick fights with those I didn't really like so I had no problem with him.

I was out of touch while all of this happened. I always thought he was tight with folks like Steff and what not and believed him. Wow I thought he just got made and left I really believed him. Man do I feel like a fool. I thought there was more tension to the issue and why it was never brought up. Kind of like whatever happend to Hot Sox Chick??? The guy seemed to be decent enough but I guess I am really gullible. This sounds pretyy interesting, who ratted him out and why???? He seemd harmless enough.