3GamesToLove

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 15, 2017 -> 07:34 AM) Also, if you want a list with a few head-scratchers, here is 2080 Ball's Sox list. Basabe is at 3rd, and they have Collins not in the Top 10. Weird. They've had a rocky existence thus far, after a bit of hype.

Definitely the kids. Don't want to put on guys like Q and Frazier only for it to also become outdated within months.

I'm a teacher and my schedule isn't exactly conducive to a longer trip to Arizona for ST--our spring break is the last week when it seems kind of pointless to go out with the regular season just around the corner. I'm not thinking this year, but maybe in the future...do you think a three-day weekend trip would be worth it? Say my wife and I fly out Thursday evening and fly back on Sunday. (or Friday to Monday) She's a Cubs fan so we'd go to at least a game for each. Any pronounced advantages to seeing the Sox at Glendale as opposed to another park?

It was in....I think MLB '10 where one offseason I kept quitting and trying again until I successfully signed Tim Lincecum.

Well, my dad and I really enjoyed our first Soxfest experience on Sunday. Crowds/lines were very manageable, partly because the slate of players signing/doing photos wasn't outstanding. We got May/Kittle, Jones/Petricka, Benneti/Farmer, Renteria/Steverson (Cooper cancelled but I got him after his seminar later), plus photos with Carlos May and the World Series trophy. Never needed to wait too long in lines, and got to the seminars I wanted and then some. Walking around the vendor area was a treat and there were a lot of things for reasonable prices--I got a medium-ish winter coat (originally priced at $130) for $38 at the Sports Depot. Garage Sale was pretty picked over by Sunday afternoon but we still got some stuff like the Dye WS bobbleheads for $15 each and signed 8x10s of former players for $2 apiece. We didn't try very hard to get autos/photos with any of the top prospects or Baines but that was fine because we didn't want to spend the whole day waiting in lines. I'd probably do it again, though I can see how a Saturday and/or a more enthusiastic season the crowds might be overwhelming.

Are there any freebies in terms of items to be autographed? I bought a ball just in case. Will they know to sign a ball with a pen instead of a marker?

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 25, 2017 -> 09:03 AM) I try not to think of Tatis Jr. because when I do I lose all faith in this org's ability to do anything right Hardly makes sense to be a fan when you feel that way. Good thing being a fan isn't about it "making sense."

60-41 today. No Sox, but Fernando Tatis Jr. made it at #47.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jan 23, 2017 -> 12:57 PM) Inarguably, the best starter of our lifetime (Pedro) and one of the hardest throwers (Wagner) were both tiny guys. I understand they're outliers, however, it just shows how unpredictable these things can be. I like Pedro a lot but this is a really bold statement. For peak, sure. But otherwise Clemens, Maddux and Johnson are all ahead of him.

Hm. We'll get there a little before 9 and see what it's like. I could see us totally blowing off autos/photos in favor of seminars and other stuff if it is as you describe.

So any advice for a first-timer? Dad and I are going just Sunday. I want to go to the Farm system panel at the beginning of the day and the broadcaster one at the end. Are the photo lines as long as the autograph lines? How early do we have to be there to receive wristbands for signings? There aren't many HUGE names signing on Sunday, and combined with a general lack of enthusiasm maybe the lines won't be as long? Will Burdi and Collins be easier to get? Should we get there much before 9am? Our tickets are at will-call. How big are the seminar rooms? Can you sneak in late if necessary (like if you got caught up in an autograph line)? Once the signing starts, how fast do the lines move? If I'm in the line at 9:30 for the Burdi/Collins signing, what are the odds I can still make it to a 10am seminar?

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Jan 20, 2017 -> 01:44 PM) That's what rabbit ears are for. I already get CSN on TV. The streaming is for when I'm at work or in the kitchen or in the yard. Rabbit ears don't help me there.

Just occurred to me that games that air on WGN and WPWR (or WCIU, or whomever will be carrying those extra games this season) still won't be streamable, obviously.

WBWSF hates Ron Santo and complains about him at every turn, across two websites. I get the impression that Santo was a jerk, but the dude was absolutely a HOFer and I don't know why so many Sox fans can't accept that.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 11:48 AM) No way Why not? People like Jim Edmonds and Lou Whitaker and Kenny Lofton fell off after one year and they all have better cases than PK.

No, and he shouldn't. He'll probably fall off the ballot after one year.

Surely if you travel out of market, you won't be able to watch, right?

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 09:41 AM) Couple of thoughts This is a blow to Cubs owned station if MLB does not green-light streaming for them. Would I be able to watch the Sox anywhere if I have a cable package? I'm sure you can only watch it if you receive CSN in the White Sox market.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 09:38 AM) I mean, come on, if you KNOW someone with a cable package. I'm pumped about this, when I'm barbecuing or cooking, nice to have the ipad on with the game. Ways to set it up now, but, too much work. This is great. Yeah, this is good. Particularly early in the season with lots of day games, I often have to stay after work for rehearsals later (theatre director) but have no way of watching the game before rehearsal starts. Cooking, too. Used to mean I'd have to subject myself to Farmer and DJ...

Before reading it: IF you have a cable package, surely...

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 09:03 AM) Just don't expect them to ever finish in the top 6, and you should never be too disappointed. They finished 3rd in 2011-12, technically !

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 08:45 PM) I have gotten into soccer this year. Somehow, I ended up following West Ham. Am I destined for disappointment like my other sports teams? Sort of seems like it. They're a mess. Enjoy.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 04:14 PM) Without Q, we are looking at a rotation of: Rodon Shields Gonzalez (maybe he can get flipped mid-season) Holland One of Covey, Beck, or other Starting lineup would be: C Narvaez, Soto 1B Abreu (could be traded but seems unlikely) 2B Lawrie, Moncada second half unless he is doing terrible at AAA 3B Frazier (could be traded mid-season) SS Anderson LF Melky (could be traded mid-season) CF Tilson, Liriano RF Garcia, Liriano DH Davidson? Garcia or probably more likely a late MLB signing (Carter, Lind, Alvarez) So pumped for super-cheap tickets on StubHub this year!

QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 18, 2017 -> 01:46 PM) By the way, just want to say before it becomes a topic...Raines was a good player for the Sox, but he's not ours. He doesn't deserve to get his number retired or a statue. If the Sox want to have a Tim Raines Day where they give away something, and give him a gift, great. But don't get crazy. I don't think anyone would argue that they give him a statue or retire his number. That's silly. A bobblehead would be cool, though. They did one for La Russa when he got in. QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 06:52 AM) Apparently haha seriously though, who's the next catcher to get in, Yadier Molina probably? Yadi's case actually isn't as strong as you might think. Mauer still has a shot, maybe? So good (historic) at his peak, but moving to first will hurt him. QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 19, 2017 -> 07:22 AM) Andruw Jones while very good was never really dominant. I don't think so. Vizquel maybe but borderline. Jones has a much better Hall case than Vizquel, IMO. But seeing the way Kenny Lofton and Jim Edmonds (who actually have decent cases) fell off the ballot unceremoniously after one year, maybe chances aren't so good...

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jan 11, 2017 -> 10:54 AM) The very first year I went (2003 or so IIRC) I went on Saturday only. It was fun but there wasn't really enough time to get to everything. So we started getting weekend passes the next few years. I haven't been to one since 2006 but I would think if you're only going for one day, Sunday wouldn't be a great day. But that kinda depends on what you are looking for or looking to do. I've always thought that most of the "good stuff" happened on Friday or Saturday. I haven't seen a schedule but I would think most of the bigger name players and the good panels are already over by Sunday. IMHO, if you are going to go (and can afford it since they jacked up the prices) get the weekend pass with the hotel room. Yeah, I'm always busy that Saturday so Sunday's really the only option. I pulled the trigger and bought tickets--buying my dad's ticket for his birthday. Looked at some schedules from previous Sundays and there have still been some decent panels. Neither of us has ever gone so I thought we'd finally go to see if it's worth it going forward, rather than wondering each and every year...