5 minutes ago, TheBooneLoganEra said:

Some notes from tonight: Whoever said not kid friendly got it right. I brought my 7 yr old who enjoyed it anyway but having the kids location separate was not smart. Theres not really much for them to do and i felt like i observed other disappointed parents.

This format works better for a smaller event and it was fine but nowhere near what it had been in years past. The "state of the Sox" seminar was very uncomfortable. Chris didn't have the balls to get up there so he loses points. The group gave a lot of cliche statements about playing hard, improving fundamentals blah blah blah. A lot of antsy people wanted to ask questions but instead shriffen and stone asked "fan" questions from pre selected cards. Here's where I give Scriffen a lot of credit. He saw this wasn't working and went to the audience for questions. There was no mic so he repeated them. Some okay, nothing super pressing, but props to him for getting a few legit questions. 

Jerry made an appearance from the balcony to watch. As soon as a handful of fans caught that and started chanting to "sell the team" he bolted. And the seminar was cut at about 30 minutes as they stated they ran out of time which was crap too. 

The meet and greets were the only thing that I thought worked. My son was pumped to get his first autographs and we legit walked right in and out with some of our younger players. This format will not work if this franchise ever draws legit interest again. Nice restoration though.

Just curious, did they have restrictions on what people could have autographed?

Gus Varland autographs going like hotcakes?

Was wrong about JR staying away completely...but seems he was not greeted as he might have hoped.

Maybe he was expecting cheers for a Top 3 farm system, but that came at the expense of Garrett Crochet.

Wonder if the 62 Mets had a fan fest that off season, and how it went with Casey Stengel...

Edited January 26, 20251 yr by caulfield12

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/25/photos-soxfest-live-ramova-theatre/

Tauchman tossing t-shirts lol?

Looks like Thorpe was still able to participate.

Schultz is gargantuan.

Teel with the bushy moustache and Meidroth Prince Variation look.

Who actually buys a Sox jersey with the theatre name on the back lol?

JR must have disappeared quickly from the balcony...guess there's no embarrassing video out on social media, damage contained.

Edited January 26, 20251 yr by caulfield12

Varland was a cromulent player last year, no issue with him whatsoever 

Looks like the players were happy to be together at least...have to be bonded together to weather a storm like the final two months last season.

Nice to see all the smiles.

Plus, no Gavin Sheets (finally).

Edited January 26, 20251 yr by caulfield12

49 minutes ago, Balta1701 said:

Just curious, did they have restrictions on what people could have autographed?

Yes. I thought that sucked too. A bunch of people brought baseballs. We brought one. Couldn't bring em in. I saw a guy at the door with a whole bag of baseballs he wanted to get signed get told he had to leave them or put them in his car. My little guy just got the poster they provided signed. 

26 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/25/photos-soxfest-live-ramova-theatre/

Tauchman tossing t-shirts lol?

Looks like Thorpe was still able to participate.

Schultz is gargantuan.

Teel with the bushy moustache and Meidroth Prince Variation look.

Who actually buys a Sox jersey with the theatre name on the back lol?

JR must have disappeared quickly from the balcony...guess there's no embarrassing video out on social media, damage contained.

JR couldn't have been there more than a minute. As soon as multiple fans started to squawk he was gone.

44 years into his ownership and he can’t even show his face at a fan convention. what a legacy. 

44 minutes ago, thedoctor said:

44 years into his ownership and he can’t even show his face at a fan convention. what a legacy. 

There’s a reason he issues press releases to relay his “disappointment” in the team.  He doesn’t want to face the music. The truth is, as long as they are turning a profit for him, he’s fine.

Edited January 26, 20251 yr by WhiteSox2023

2 hours ago, TheBooneLoganEra said:

Some notes from tonight: Whoever said not kid friendly got it right. I brought my 7 yr old who enjoyed it anyway but having the kids location separate was not smart. Theres not really much for them to do and i felt like i observed other disappointed parents.

This format works better for a smaller event and it was fine but nowhere near what it had been in years past. The "state of the Sox" seminar was very uncomfortable. Chris didn't have the balls to get up there so he loses points. The group gave a lot of cliche statements about playing hard, improving fundamentals blah blah blah. A lot of antsy people wanted to ask questions but instead shriffen and stone asked "fan" questions from pre selected cards. Here's where I give Scriffen a lot of credit. He saw this wasn't working and went to the audience for questions. There was no mic so he repeated them. Some okay, nothing super pressing, but props to him for getting a few legit questions. 

Jerry made an appearance from the balcony to watch. As soon as a handful of fans caught that and started chanting to "sell the team" he bolted. And the seminar was cut at about 30 minutes as they stated they ran out of time which was crap too. 

The meet and greets were the only thing that I thought worked. My son was pumped to get his first autographs and we legit walked right in and out with some of our younger players. This format will not work if this franchise ever draws legit interest again. Nice restoration though.

Typical. He's gutless as s%*#. 

49 minutes ago, thedoctor said:

44 years into his ownership and he can’t even show his face at a fan convention. what a legacy. 

Yes, you reap what you sow JR!

45 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Typical. He's gutless as s%*#. 

But we should give him credit when Nutting in Pitt didn't?

At least they (Pirates) currently have an exciting young team and especially dominant cost controlled rotation when they add Bubba Chandler to Skenes and Jones.

At least two years ahead of the Sox rebuild...if not three.

Edited January 26, 20251 yr by caulfield12

delete  double post

Edited January 26, 20251 yr by caulfield12

https://soxmachine.com/2025/01/white-sox-announce-mark-buehrle-statue-to-energize-soxfest-2025-schedule/

From Fri night but still an excellent Fegan read...

 

"The sponsors in the SoxFest picture seem pretty telling. Guaranteed Rate: The Sox are guaranteed to hit new lows. Beggars Pizza: Reflects how the team cries poor and acts like beggars during free agency. Blue Moon: Symbolizing how rare success is on the South Side. Wintrust: Something they’ll never achieve as long as Jerry’s in charge."

Pretty funny line in the comments...

Edited January 26, 20251 yr by caulfield12

5 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/01/25/photos-soxfest-live-ramova-theatre/

Tauchman tossing t-shirts lol?

Looks like Thorpe was still able to participate.

Schultz is gargantuan.

Teel with the bushy moustache and Meidroth Prince Variation look.

Who actually buys a Sox jersey with the theatre name on the back lol?

JR must have disappeared quickly from the balcony...guess there's no embarrassing video out on social media, damage contained.

Lots of pictures .Thanks

6 hours ago, Milkman delivers said:

I’m not interested in the tickets, but I’m interested to know if you were able to give them away for nothing. Please update. I find it hilarious that seemingly nobody on a team’s fan site would take them.

Not if you’re doing your job as a parent.

Haha, hilarious.

I could not give them away for free and unfortunately ate $150.

29 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I could not give them away for free and unfortunately ate $150.

Such is the state of the Sox today...feels as if quite a few of the kids of SoxTalk members aren't even invested in the team anymore.

4 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Such is the state of the Sox today...feels as if quite a few of the kids of SoxTalk members aren't even invested in the team anymore.

I  have always felt a camaraderie with White Sox fans, especially those in the City and suburbs where I have friends. I feel honored to be a White Sox fan and was pleased to be among them again at SoxFest. I laugh at those who think they somehow benefit the WSox or our players with some misguided notion that they can improve anything by no longer going to games and supporting the team.  Keep your ticket money and enjoy your new camaraderie - one that includes Sox haters, trolls and Cub fans. Nobody cares if you choose to stay home and waste your life slamming the Sox and their ownership. It's your choice to be miserable. Meanwhile, I'll be watching games on TV or at games with friends enjoying life.

Edited January 26, 20251 yr by tray

Tray, yet again choosing unity

34 minutes ago, tray said:

I  have always felt a camaraderie with White Sox fans, especially those in the City and suburbs where I have friends. I feel honored to be a White Sox fan and was pleased to be among them again at SoxFest. I laugh at those who think they somehow benefit the WSox or our players with some misguided notion that they can improve anything by no longer going to games and supporting the team.  Keep your ticket money and enjoy your new camaraderie - one that includes Sox haters, trolls and Cub fans. Nobody cares if you choose to stay home and waste your life slamming the Sox and their ownership. It's your choice to be miserable. Meanwhile, I'll be watching games on TV or at games with friends enjoying life.

No one cares if you choose to be miserable because other people are miserable either.

Starting to feel like China...you only have one choice of official news, which is always the most positive, rosy view of the White Sox.

This is exactly the reason Ricketts isn't under any real pressure to win on the Northside.

How many times have fans been fooled?

Well there's White Flag, preceded by the 1994 strike year where ownership interests were put in front of fans...the 2005 team not being followed up successfully.  2013-2019 years in the wilderness.  Covid year, nobody could actually enjoy in person.  Worst season in pro baseball history.  Yet another these kids can play.

It's almost as bad as the Guardians going back to the early 90s...except they're actually successful at starting over again and again.  Twins, threatened with constraction by the commissioner, more successful.  Tigers as well.  Royals with two consecutive WS appearances and then a 10 fWAR superstar.

A new stadium seemingly an impossibility...but just suck it up and deal with it.

https://soxmachine.com/2025/01/2025-soxfest-review-party-was-great-wish-the-team-was-better/

49 minutes ago, tray said:

I  have always felt a camaraderie with White Sox fans, especially those in the City and suburbs where I have friends. I feel honored to be a White Sox fan and was pleased to be among them again at SoxFest. I laugh at those who think they somehow benefit the WSox or our players with some misguided notion that they can improve anything by no longer going to games and supporting the team.  Keep your ticket money and enjoy your new camaraderie - one that includes Sox haters, trolls and Cub fans. Nobody cares if you choose to stay home and waste your life slamming the Sox and their ownership. It's your choice to be miserable. Meanwhile, I'll be watching games on TV or at games with friends enjoying life.

2024 was the first time in over 40 years that I didn't attend a Sox game. It wasn't a form of protest; I just thought the team was not watchable, and I was not going to waste money on them. I stopped watching on TV as well. The team was just bad, and the play by play was worse.

I know that fans not attending games does not affect Jerry Reinsdorf.  But why should I go when the FO is making feeble attempts to build a winning team?

I am not miserable, but I am disappointed. The team continues to sink to new lows.

There has been a huge disconnect between the fans and this team for a long time. JR has never understood Sox fans. At this point in his life, he never will.

I remember JR coming to Sox Fest and actually talking to the fans. If I had been at SoxFest, I wouldn't have yelled at him. I  think it is a real shame there is no relationship between the owner and the fan. Perhaps there never was one, and that has  been a big problem forever. You just can't demand fans attend games.  You have to do something to get them there.

25 minutes ago, Highland said:

2024 was the first time in over 40 years that I didn't attend a Sox game. It wasn't a form of protest; I just thought the team was not watchable, and I was not going to waste money on them. I stopped watching on TV as well. The team was just bad, and the play by play was worse.

I know that fans not attending games does not affect Jerry Reinsdorf.  But why should I go when the FO is making feeble attempts to build a winning team?

I am not miserable, but I am disappointed. The team continues to sink to new lows.

There has been a huge disconnect between the fans and this team for a long time. JR has never understood Sox fans. At this point in his life, he never will.

I remember JR coming to Sox Fest and actually talking to the fans. If I had been at SoxFest, I wouldn't have yelled at him. I  think it is a real shame there is no relationship between the owner and the fan. Perhaps there never was one, and that has  been a big problem forever. You just can't demand fans attend games.  You have to do something to get them there.

The only time it was close was 2005...and JR's relationship was more with Konerko Buehrle, maybe even Ozzie, compared to the fans themselves.

1 hour ago, tray said:

I  have always felt a camaraderie with White Sox fans, especially those in the City and suburbs where I have friends. I feel honored to be a White Sox fan and was pleased to be among them again at SoxFest. I laugh at those who think they somehow benefit the WSox or our players with some misguided notion that they can improve anything by no longer going to games and supporting the team.  Keep your ticket money and enjoy your new camaraderie - one that includes Sox haters, trolls and Cub fans. Nobody cares if you choose to stay home and waste your life slamming the Sox and their ownership. It's your choice to be miserable. Meanwhile, I'll be watching games on TV or at games with friends enjoying life.

I spend the thousands I used to spend enjoying myself watching  White Sox games, enjoying myself doing other things. I call this an entertainment budget. I would rather be entertained.  If you still get a kick out of watching a team not trying to win, good for you. You will see me when they not only start trying to win, but actually succeeding at it. I’ve lived through the lies, the losing, and all the failures. Now it’s show me don’t tell me time.