7 minutes ago, Texsox said:

Here's something I thought of. If you were for example a Padres fan. You decide to go see a game that weekend. You look at the schedule and see they are playing the White Sox. Do you decide to pass because the Sox are horrible and not trying and you only want to watch MLB level teams who are trying? 

Are the Sox hurting attendance for everyone? 

 

No, because I would be a fan of a team who's ownership/front office is always trying to stay competitive. Which is the point people are apparently missing.

12 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

No, because I would be a fan of a team who's ownership/front office is always trying to stay competitive. Which is the point people are apparently missing.

So you wouldn't go?

8 minutes ago, Texsox said:

So you wouldn't go?

No I wouldn't pass. The question is "would you decide to pass."

Running the lowest payroll in baseball...or right there with the Marlins, some will perceive that as not trying.

Or being the third largest media market in the US but getting wildly outspent by the A's this offseason, the only other team not to sign a $100+ million contract..behind even the spendthrift Pirates.

Ray Knight on the Reds' broadcast just made a joke that only the Dodgers provided pitch speeds in stadium because the Sox are such a low budget operation.

58 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

No I wouldn't pass. The question is "would you decide to pass."

I failed as an English teacher with that question structure. Lol

I think Eddy has a point. We want "our" team to be trying. Who cares about the other. 

What's the point of arguing how best to be a Sox fan in the pre-Ishbia era?

Really, has anyone EVER successfully changed someone's mind around here?

6 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

What's the point of arguing how best to be a Sox fan in the pre-Ishbia era?

Really, has anyone EVER successfully changed someone's mind around here?

Yes, a few people have changed my mind from "this guy has issues" to "this guy's a moron!!" 

5 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Yes, a few people have changed my mind from "this guy has issues" to "this guy's a moron!!" 

Except Ray Ray is one of the most insightful posters here...when you start losing your best fans, that's when you really have a big problem as an organization.

14 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Really, has anyone EVER successfully changed someone's mind around here?

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

Except Ray Ray is one of the most insightful posters here...when you start losing your best fans, that's when you really have a big problem as an organization.

Look, when you have a decades long season ticket holder telling the organization to f*** off, the problem isn't if the fans are big enough fans.  Most people get that.

59 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Look, when you have a decades long season ticket holder telling the organization to f*** off, the problem isn't if the fans are big enough fans.  Most people get that.

Which is probably the #1 reason baseball franchises have grown in value. If you are a Sox fan you're not going to go see them play the Angels. But if you are an Angels fan you will. 

So Sox fans who reach their limit can

Find a new team to follow. There's even one in town. But any could do. 

Give up going to MLB games unless you move or travel. 

If someone still loves being at a baseball game,  but going isn't an option, and lives in Chicago, do they go to a Cubs game? Drive to Milwaukee? They are still engaging with a MLB team. 

 

 

11 minutes ago, Texsox said:

Which is probably the #1 reason baseball franchises have grown in value. If you are a Sox fan you're not going to go see them play the Angels. But if you are an Angels fan you will. 

So Sox fans who reach their limit can

Find a new team to follow. There's even one in town. But any could do. 

Give up going to MLB games unless you move or travel. 

If someone still loves being at a baseball game,  but going isn't an option, and lives in Chicago, do they go to a Cubs game? Drive to Milwaukee? They are still engaging with a MLB team. 

 

 

Over the last decade...the White Sox ineptitude/incompetence has basically forced me to follow other players, teams like the Royals and Padres and Dodgers...and also playing fantasy baseball.

It doesn't mean the White Sox aren't my favorite team or that I would ever consider switching to the Cubs, it's simply self preservation as a baseball fan.

 

The Padres' debate with WestEddy is instructive though.  Because over spending as a small market team in pursuit of a World Series title, making the playoffs 3/5 years, winning four playoff series and Top 5 attendance in MLB is pretty close to what most teams outside of LA or NYC would aspire to become.  And that's essentially what Matt Ishbia attempted to provide to Suns' fans as well.  Something called hope that had/has been extinguished in the hearts of numerous Sox fans.

Edited March 14, 20251 yr by caulfield12

7 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

There it is.  This is 2025, and there are plenty of things to do with my entertainment dollars and time.  I will be watching more of my local HS baseball team than I will this product.

That’s where I am with most sports now.  I love the games, hate the money in the pro and now college.  Went to a couple SuperSectional games this week and saw some great basketball and had a better time than I would watching the Big Ten Tournament or whatever pro games are on this week.

Given the overall state of Chicago sports right now (basically in the dumpster) why anyone would spend a great deal of time and/or money on any team is surprising to me.

If any of these teams start to develop or show some real (not imagined) possibilities fans will start to reengage.   

13 minutes ago, FloydBannister1983 said:

That’s where I am with most sports now.  I love the games, hate the money in the pro and now college.  Went to a couple SuperSectional games this week and saw some great basketball and had a better time than I would watching the Big Ten Tournament or whatever pro games are on this week.

You know there's a problem when even sports like women's NCAA are starting to become controlled more and more by NIL cooperatives...especially the massive budget SEC teams like South Carolina and LSU.

It's pretty noteworthy that elite prospects don't even ask about the school/academics anymore on recruiting visits...being more concerned with guaranteed NIL salary and marketing opportunities to "establish their brand."

11 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Given the overall state of Chicago sports right now (basically in the dumpster) why anyone would spend a great deal of time and/or money on any team is surprising to me.

If any of these teams start to develop or show some real (not imagined) possibilities fans will start to reengage.   

The Cubs are the only team with legitimate playoff aspirations...and Bears' fans are starting to hope once again with this offseason and a new coach and draft coming up.

It also feels bleak right now due to the Bulls/Blackhawks.

Hope is always for spring and the start of a new baseball season.

29 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Given the overall state of Chicago sports right now (basically in the dumpster) why anyone would spend a great deal of time and/or money on any team is surprising to me.

If any of these teams start to develop or show some real (not imagined) possibilities fans will start to reengage.   

I'm not surprised. Put a MLB team in San Antonio and I'm going to games. I love being at the ball park. 

From a fan perspective. If quality of the game and the teams playing was really the deciding factor then many years we'd be going to watch Cub games. 

I'm not advocating for everyone to go watch a Sox game. My streak of 50+ years of seeing a game ended. No one in my family bought any packages. 

 

On 3/13/2025 at 12:28 PM, T R U said:

Yeah I don't get the im not going or watching crowd. Especially the people lucky enough to live close enough to get to go to the games of their favorite team. 

I watch damn near every game because I just love baseball. Would it be nice if they were good? Of course. 

I approve of this post 👍⭐⭐⭐⭐

10 hours ago, T R U said:

I don't understand it because its still my favorite team and im going to watch the games. Im in Houston, so the only time I get to see the White Sox live is when they come down here for 3-4 games once a year. That doesn't mean I would have an 81 game season ticket plan if I lived in Chicago, but I would still go to games when they suck because its just enjoyable going to a major league game. 

I also have kids who like going, and I couldn't imagine saying "Sorry, my team sucks so you don't get to go". I understand that doesn't apply to everyone though.

You're a good man.

8 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

There it is.  This is 2025, and there are plenty of things to do with my entertainment dollars and time.  I will be watching more of my local HS baseball team than I will this product.

Damn ,too bad that doesn't apply to posting on Soxtalk  .

2 hours ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Damn ,too bad that doesn't apply to posting on Soxtalk  .

He’s an admin.  He has to make sure he sticks around here so you don’t continue on with your never-ending grudges against any and all posters that disagree with you.

Edited March 15, 20251 yr by WhiteSox2023

28 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Damn ,too bad that doesn't apply to posting on Soxtalk  .

Rent is due.

the missing tooth analogy is very funny but I don’t think it’s fair. Why be pessimistic about baseball

7 hours ago, Iwritecode said:

I don't watch because I still have too much emotional investment. When they play bad and lose, it makes me unhappy and miserable. So I just don't put myself through the misery.

I'm perfectly fine watching other games where I don't care about either of the teams playing.

Fvck that.  Don’t blame yourself for the garbage teams that Getz has orchestrated under the worst owner in baseball.  I have no doubt that many posters here could build a better team than Getz, even with the deadbeat owner’s current payroll constraints.

11 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

He’s an admin.  He has to make sure he sticks around here so you don’t continue on with your never-ending grudges against any and all posters that disagree with you.

Shows how little you know.My grudges are reserved for people who treat other people on the board like s%*# while pretending to be the protector of all things . How can anyone champion civil rights, women's rights etc yet make fun of other posters writing styles or lack of knowledge, or differences of opinion and encourage  other posters to do the same thing by his behavior thus created a climate of disrespect. He insults people all the time. It is not playful banter nor boys will be boys behavior . It is primitive, childish, behavior think as I do or be ostracized,creating an "I'm a jock you're a nerd", or worse, a Lord of the Flies culture in here. You have quickly followed in his footsteps .You're like the little brother who idolizes his big bro because he's so cool and acts just like him.

Autumn Dreaming one of our posters who posts great content mostly in Future Sox because she was made to feel unwelcome in Pale Hose Talk recently because she dared question the negative hostility in here and SS's gestapo tactics quickly put her in her place.

Baseball wise we actually have very similar views . As an Admin Texsox is one of the best, he never belittles anyone. SS abuses what little power he has. I know there are quite a few other posters who feel the same way if he hasn't driven them away too.

Edited March 15, 20251 yr by CaliSoxFanViaSWside