jasonxctf

First I make no claims to being an economist. However there is one simple economic theory that I wonder if Sox Mgmt has taken into consideration. It's the meeting point between supply and demand. I used to go to 10+ sox games per year. (Before the 94 strike) Last year I went to 2. The team typically increases ticket prices each year. I would think that the team would actually benefit from a decrease in ticket price. For example... Let's say the average ticket price is $30. Avg attendance is 21,000. Ticket Game Revenue of $630,000. Now let's say the average ticket price is $23. Avg attendance is now 28,000. Ticket Game Revenue of $644,000. Now ticket prices are lower but the team makes more money. Look for example at the average draw during 1/2 price Monday's. Also look at the attendance of teams like the Schaumburg Flyers and Kane County Cougars. The baseball sucks at those two games but the people show up. Why.. because it's cheap and fan friendly. Just a thought. "Discuss amongst yourselves"

Does Perez=Todd Ritchie? just asking.

see below story from Espn.com NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees moved to shore up their bullpen, agreeing Monday night with free-agent reliever Tom Gordon on a two-year, $7.25 million contract. Replenishing their rotation also is one of New York's highest priorities, and according to a Newsday report the team has talked to the Dodgers about acquiring veteran right-hander Kevin Brown for beleaguered 27-year-old right-hander Jeff Weaver. Brown turns 39 in March and will make $15 million in each of the next two seasons. The Yankees have been pursuing free agents Bartolo Colon and Javier Vazquez in the wake of Roger Clemens' retirement, Andy Pettitte's free agency, and their refusal to pick up David Wells' option. New York is trying to re-sign the left-handed Pettitte. Gordon's deal was finalized after he passed a physical earlier in the day, a baseball source familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. "Flash" Gordon was 7-6 with a team-high 12 saves and a 3.16 ERA for the Chicago White Sox last season. The 36-year-old pitched in 66 games, striking out 91 in 74 innings. After losing to the Florida Marlins in six games in the World Series, the Yankees again have prepared to pour resources into their bullpen. The club also has been pursuing right-hander Paul Quantrill and is attempting to re-sign lefty Felix Heredia to further bolster the staff. The Hartford Courant reported Tuesday that two-year offers are on the table for both: $6 million for Quantrill and $3.5 million for Heredia. New York also is expected to re-sign lefty Gabe White, who was acquired from Cincinnati last July in the Aaron Boone trade. General manager Brian Cashman was busy all of last season shuffling his bullpen. Heredia and Jesse Orosco also were acquired in midseason as set-up men for closer Mariano Rivera, and Jeff Nelson and Armando Benitez also were added to the mix. Steve Karsay was the right-handed prelude to Rivera but missed the entire year because of an injured right shoulder, and his return is not 100 percent certain. Known for a knee-buckling curveball, Gordon has made a nifty comeback from injuries that threatened to end his career. He had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in December 1999 and spent the next 16 months rehabilitating. Even after he recovered, Gordon was beset by injuries to his triceps and shoulder. Gordon signed with the White Sox after pitching for the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros in 2002. Gordon is 113-107 with 110 saves and a 4.07 ERA in a 15-year career that started with Kansas City. He was an All-Star in 1998, when he led the AL with 46 saves for Boston. Tampa Bay, Oakland and the New York Mets were among the other teams that were interested in Gordon last month. Gordon had thought about returning to a closer's role for next season, though he left open the possibility of being a setup man for two teams: the Philadelphia Phillies, with recently acquired Billy Wagner, and the Yankees. Gordon reached the postseason twice in his career, with Boston in 1998 and 1999. He has never made it to the World Series.

as happy as i was with Loaiza last year.. it worries me that he may be a 1 hit wonder. how much confidence can you really place on a guy who's had 1 great year? hell, mike caruso had 1 great year too.

think that KW is convinced that Loaiza is his new #2 thus is out looking for a #3/#4 guy in the FA market?

i just wish the sox would be pro-active about their financial situation. I would love to hear KW come out and say "With a 15% increase in attendance, we were able to acquire Player X.. without that increase we wouldn't have been able to get him." That in itself would help those Sox fans who feel that management has little care about them feel better about the ballclub and it's direction as a whole. I would love to know how the extra $ I shelled out at the ballgame this year (in ticket prices, parking, concessions, etc) helped to benefit the team in the long run and helped to put a better team out on the field. In fact, I'll go a step farther. I would love for KW to set attendance goals before the year starts. I would love to hear him say, if we get 2mil in fans this year, I will increase the payroll to $65 or 70 mil. That may help attendance late in the year if the Sox fall out of things and help fans feel better about management and the team.

the problem i have is that perception is everything. the sox attendance increases 15% last year and all we hear about is KW looking to unload Ordonez, Konerko, Lee and that he can't re-sign Colon, Gordon and others. the perception is that even with the increase in attendance we cant afford to keep some of our best players. true or not true.. that's how I think many Sox fans feel right now.

ok.. so here's my follow up question. What would possibly make the WhiteSox increase payroll besides attendance? to be honest I'm tired of being a mid to low-market payroll team.

if it was $51m before 15% higher would be $58.5m correct? did we not cover all of Colon's contract last year?

so here's my question/comment. i constantly remember hearing from KW that any increase in attendance would equal an increase in payroll. in 2003 attendance was up 15% from 2002. (1,939,524 in '03 vs 1,676,911 in '02) at the same point, the Sox have sold the naming rights of the stadium as another revenue stream. I understand that this revenue is for ballpark improvements but I can't help but believe that some of that could go to general payroll. so my question is.. with an increase in attendance, extra money coming in from naming rights, in addition to any additional income from the All-Star Game... why are we looking to cut payroll?

soxchik.. i grew up in Schaumburg. did you go to SHS?? i graduated in 97.

after he left, didnt Manuel refer to him as a clubhouse distraction? Does anyone know what that could have been about?

i think you have to go with Mark. I'd bet that unless the Sox go to the ALCS, Colon will not be back next yr. Why piss off one guy who will be on your team next year, by having the guy who won't ... pitch opening day!!! The Sox would then have Buehrle-Finess-type pitcher Colon-Power Pitcher Garland-Finess-type pitcher Wright-Power Pitcher Rauch?-Power Pitcher BY THE WAY, IM GLAD THAT THE SOX PUT THEMSELVES IN A POSITION TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

2 things come to mind.. #1- no way Carlos Lee bats ahead of Konerko in the lineup #2- no way Jimenez hits 8th in the lineup. Rowand will be our opening day CF, making the lineup look like 1. Jimenez-2B 2. Valentin-SS 3. Ordonez-RF 4. Thomas-DH 5. Konerko-1B 6. Lee-LF 7. Crede-3B 8. Rowand-CF 9. Alomar/Olivo-C

Was interested in seeing what you guys think about the Win Potential for the 2003 Sox. My guess is that it will take 90 victories to win the central. Seeing that, the Sox would need Buehrle-20 Wins Garland- 15 Wins Wright- 15 Wins Ritchie- 12 Wins Biddle- 10 Wins Osuna- 3 Wins Koch- 3 Wins Wuensch- 3 Wins Marte- 2 Wins Ginter- 3 Wins Glover- 4 Wins Thoughts/Comments??