103 mph screwball

I am working on a trip to Arizona for spring training. I have to sell it to the family as a family vacation. They do not want to spend more than a day or so at Sox camp. I am hoping they have fun and change their mind. Other than the Grand Canyon, any cool stuff to do for families? I have pre-teen daughters that are afraid of rattlesnakes so I can't do much desert hiking.

Would someone be so kind as to put the list on on Soxtalk? Twitter is blocked where I am. Thanks.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 21, 2014 -> 01:38 PM) If it's down to the Cubs and Yankees, I hope he signs with the Cubs. Stay out of the league. Go to a bad team. Makes sense! Plus Chicago still gets Japanese tourism money. However, I have to listen to cub fans at work. So anywhere but the cubs is cool with me.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 21, 2014 -> 01:10 PM) Is signing PK, Abreu, and Tanaka plus trading for Avi Garcia, Adam Eaton, and Matt Davidson enough to get an early season attendance boost? Speaking for myself, yes! I will pack up the family and make the 3 hour drive through traffic to put my money where my mouth is. Plus I am excited to see the new players.

Franks and beans! Franks and beans!

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 07:23 PM) Those Japanese tourists will be honored by the number of empty seats we have left for them Yep! Good seats available! Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish starting to boost Japanese tourism to North Texas "Boston saw a significant increase in Japanese tourism when the Red Sox signed Japanese superstar pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka in late 2006. The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau estimated the tourism boost at $50 million, about a quarter of that in new spending and the rest from the value of the media coverage. The demand was such that the Red Sox created a Japanese language tour of Fenway Park." Chicago has non stop flights

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 06:00 PM) If Rock"s report is correct, I'm sure this is what that budget review was all about. I am pretty sure they knew what they had available up to that point. I am sure they believe Tanaka's salary will be offset in part by what they would make marketing him in Japan. If they can get 2 million of endorsments from Japan and consider the exposure for the team worth a million, then paying Tanaka $20 million would be like paying someone like Jake Peavy $17 million. I guess I bring this up because I have seen some comparison between $20 million for Tanaka and $11 mil for Jose Abreu. The Sox can make a big national splash. They can renew season ticket interest. They can stick it to the cubs. They can get a quality pitcher who may turn out to be be an ACE. They don't have to give up a draft pick. They get some Japanese tourists buying tickets. They get some Japanese endorsments. I want it to happen. Crap. Now my hopes are up.

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Jan 12, 2014 -> 05:43 PM) Wouldn't there be other benefits to Tanaka? Would increased exposure to the Japanese market result it jersey sales and things like that? I know Ichiro was big for Seattle. I know Tanaka is not the superstar Ichiro was but would some of his salary be offset by make the Sox a bigger deal in Japan? I found this. How Major League Baseball Clubs Have Commercialized Their Investment in Japanese Stars Mr. Reinsdorf is an outstanding businessman. He knows what he is doing.

Wouldn't there be other benefits to Tanaka? Would increased exposure to the Japanese market result it jersey sales and things like that? I know Ichiro was big for Seattle. I know Tanaka is not the superstar Ichiro was but would some of his salary be offset by make the Sox a bigger deal in Japan?

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 11, 2014 -> 05:48 PM) I get trading Sale when he is the only good piece on this team. But put Tanaka and Sale and Quintana in the same rotation and it should make this team a contender in 2015, maybe even 2014 if Detroit struggles. Adding Tanaka make me LESS inclined to want to trade Sale, not more. It would not surprise me if they have a trade ready for Quintana if they sign Tanaka. I would guess for a catcher. I can not see them trading Sale unless it starts with a young established all star position player and then adds multiple top prospects. I just think the Sox love Sale and they would demand the moon and the sun plus a PTBNL.

Just before Soxfest. In the afternoon so that the radio stations can go crazy during rush hour and the ten o'clock news has time to get footage of Tanaka from Japan.

I loved Shingo Takatsu and his frisbee pitch. Here is a link to what he thought of the Sox. Hire him as White Sox ambassdor to Japan. Shingo Takatsu interview Off topic. Anybody really good at photoshop? I was hoping to make a new avatar to replace Paul Konerko Flash. As you can tell, I am not so good at it and I used microsoft paint. I was hoping to make a picture of Spanky from The Little Rascals with a Sox hat. Little Rascals website with pictures

Tanaka would be a heck of a Soxfest surprise move! I almost put that in green. It would be very unlikely. Which would make it that much more awesome.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 9, 2014 -> 10:59 AM) Maybe he's heard about how s***ty they are and that they're incredibly racist towards Asians. Plus they suck. Didn't they boo Fukadome?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 8, 2014 -> 01:39 PM) I stand by the thought that without his contributions in June, the Sox don't win the division. He hit a ton of big home runs. Agreed! He deserves the ring! No doubt in my mind.

So happy for BIG Frank!! As a player who knows the history of the game, I know this has to mean a lot to the BIG Hurt! First ballot Hall of Fame and deserves it 100%

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 12:19 PM) Kendrick gets $9.35M in 2014 & $9.5M in 2015 We move him then right? Still go with Semien? Man I hope not! Kendrick is what we hoped Beckham could be as a hitter. I have been a Kendrick fan for a long time. With Eaton leading off and Kendrick batting second that line up looks much better to me and I don't think Hahn will be done. I can see Viciedo ending up at DH and Dunn gone.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 11:49 AM) No, Arizona is getting them. No idea from which side. I'd guess one from LAA, one from the Sox. I think the Sox will get something additionally from LAA too, if everything works out. I would love to get Howie Kendrick thrown in. I am just thrilled that there is a real rumor!

QUOTE (Baron @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 10:42 AM) So hang onto your butts guys....Kenny said something is in the works and apparently its going to excite the fans YES! Juan Uribe!

Tony Bernazard Tony Bernazard White Sox Baseball Card site

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 11:21 AM) They don't necessarily need to sign Paulie. They can pick up an outfielder and move Viciedo to DH. They can get more athletic and faster I kind of like this plan. Trade Dunn. I don't want to watch him play baseball for my favorite team anymore. You can give me all the WAR's and OPS's you want. Dunn makes me like the Sox a little less. That is hard to do.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 10:34 AM) But winning one ring 8 years ago gives him a lifetime pass to be a jackass and fail in September. Yes! Yes it does!

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Oct 31, 2013 -> 07:34 PM) What a nice way to welcome a new member to Soxtalk.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Oct 31, 2013 -> 06:20 PM) How are Eithier and Freese not good players? Eithier is going to hit .280+/.350+ with 15-20 hr's and play a very solid LF. Not saying he's great or anything, but how is he bad? And how would he not represent a HUGE upgrade to our OF? Ramirez is bad by the way. Very good glove, but he can't get on base and has lost almost all of his power at this point. What use does he have offensively at this point? Less than 10 hr's and a OBP barely above .300 is pretty horrible. Freese presents a huge upgrade to our lineup. Welcome to Soxtalk! Who would you have playing SS for the Sox? I wouldn't mind Freese. Eithier on the otherhand is too expensive. They would have to pay a lot of his salary.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Oct 29, 2013 -> 01:40 PM) well, that kind of sucks I see your point, but doesn't it only suck if he is a superstar and wants more money. Then the Sox have just signed a superstar!