35thstreetswarm

Yes, it's interesting -- the seasons were really miserable in unique ways; I'm not sure which was worse. Last season was when I came to the realization that the rebuild was a failure and the core's talent wasn't inevitably going to shine through and save the team. So in that sense it was worse than 2023 because the drop in expectations was more severe, but they did have a winning record much of the season and were worth following. This season was uniquely embarrassing because the quality of play was so low and the team continued to outdo itself in humiliating and abusing its fans, (all while the hated Cubs ascended) but as you say, it was easier to just tune the team out because they were out of it so early. You have to hand it to the White Sox -- their ability to harm their fans emotionally is almost artistic. Where some masters work in oils, watercolors or clay the Sox work in failure.

It really does sometimes feel like the organization is actively trolling its fans.

I tend to agree, though I'll note that abandoning Oakland is no small deal, and not like abandoning a place like Tampa. The Bay Area is a top 10 tv market, and the ease with which it was abandoned gives me a little angst.

I'll just add to the chorus to note that of all the things that never happened, the things you described never happened the most.

The crime rate is the worst it's ever been since I've lived here -- except for the many years I've lived here when the crime rate was higher. It's also worse than any city I've ever been to -- except for the many cities where it's worse.

Seriously? What are you, 150?

It is hoped by some that he still will. It is hoped by others, including supposed Sox fans, that he crashes and burns. It is hoped by me that this is the last passive voice sentence I write today

Seeing people in this board race to line up behind our rival’s player in a fight is really something

I'm not gonna read all that, thanks. But you said what exactly? You're in here in 2023 dunking on people for saying they liked the direction of the rebuild *in 2017.* What exactly did you say in 2017 that was so prescient? Did you predict the TLR debacle? The parade of injuries in 2020-2022? The disastrous relief pitcher trades and signings? What was it? And by the way, being generally pessimistic, and popping up and suggesting "bad things will happen" in general from time to time, is not exactly a bold take. It's the classic fan hedge, the conventional wisdom of this and every fan message board, and guaranteed to be "right" at some point in the future.

Ha ha—people six years ago didn’t predict the bad things that would happen multiple years into the future. Luckily I did, as I’m super smart (I just didn’t write it down or tell anybody)

Out of curiosity, why? You don’t like his tough guy schtick?

I'm most impressed with the coordinated liquid spray celebration of the fans in Ole Miss's right field bleachers

One can dream. Well, you could count on me for one rooting hard against them every game of that first round playoff series like a true fan

Goddammit. I’m starting to worry that they will not be sufficiently punished for having a bad April. Watch them make the playoffs, then everyone will forget aaalllll about it. F*** this

The Sox are playing well and 3 games out of first. Who knows what will happen between now and the deadline but they are not on a "sellers" trendline at all.

I'd swap HOU/TEX/KC for DET/CLE/PIT for regional congruity and so you could credibly call the divisions West/South/Central/East. (Might also consider swapping Pittsburgh and Toronto for similar reasons)

Yes! Hopefully this is the right kind of win?

Improvement. Boooooo

It makes me sad how much I agree with this.

There are several webcams and other resources you can use to follow the Chicago area's more than 20 nesting pairs, which are believed to have come from a single pair introduced as part of an effort to bring the species back from near-extinction in the '80s. https://www.fieldmuseum.org/science/special-projects/illinois-peregrines Every time I think that life in Chicago feels drab or inconsequential, I try to remember that the world's fastest animal was brought back from the brink and now speeds over our heads while we go about our daily business, stalking their prey on thousands of years of accumulated instinct and making their homes in modern-day cliffs built by mankind.

Puke-as is right there for the taking

I'm still amazed at the stranglehold New Era has on the hat market given that the 59fifty fit is so...specific. They're just so big and structured and don't look good on everybody at all. I know about the 39thirty and floppy dad hats, but I think it's weird that in a time when every other product has so many options and so much customization you really only have like 3 hat shapes to choose from if you're buying sports team gear. I have yet to find the perfect Sox hat (though plenty of perfect non-sports hats) and I'd pay a premium for one. I feel like there's a fortune to be made just through customizable shaping/sizing of hats.

I once wore a hat in California and it killed me instantly. Also, I once wore an earring in my right ear and it made me gay

Is Moncada just getting more jacked, or is he....a little chubby? He looks slightly thicker every time I see him.

Now this is entirely made up. If any Illinois fan thinks that it's complete projection and compensation for their bottom-of-the-barrel sports presence (and that's coming from an Illinois fan).