2023 Chicago White Sox

IlliniFaninHoosierLand · Aug 29, 2023

Would be curious to hear some Sox fan's thoughts on this:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1696575221082321361

They talked about this on the Score today and someone texted in who said they used to work security at GRate and the UC said that all someone had to do was say they had a metal hip or knee in this situation and the security guards would let them in without confirming if they actually had that.

Mr. Tibbs · Aug 30, 2023

Roundball Sage · Aug 30, 2023

IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
They talked about this on the Score today and someone texted in who said they used to work security at GRate and the UC said that all someone had to do was say they had a metal hip or knee in this situation and the security guards would let them in without confirming if they actually had that.

With the White Sox as a baseball operation being dysfunctional and an embarrassment for most of the last 50 years.. why wound anybody think that the Sox would have a reliable and useful system of security? Fact is, they’ve been damned lucky over the years that more serious things haven’t happened.

Sox Ownership is either deliberately or by their innate incompetence ruining any future the Sox have in Chicago. And most likely, is it the former.

I’ll say it again. We Sox fans deserve much better than what we’ve been getting from this franchise (and that includes our fathers and grandfathers).

Illinicpa14 · Aug 31, 2023

Chris Getz…SMH doesn’t need any further discussion just sad

hiberto · Aug 31, 2023

Illinicpa14 said:
Chris Getz…SMH doesn’t need any further discussion just sad

organization continues to misstep at every chance ala northwestern. just like when hiring la russa, no due diligence in conducting a search with other candidates. i'm a cubs fan but do admit that sox fans deserve better than what they are seeing happen on the southside

Roundball Sage · Aug 31, 2023

hiberto said:
organization continues to misstep at every chance...

Business organizations love employees who are ‘Yes People’. Just always agree with The Boss and stroke his or her ego and you’ll go far in that organization. The problem with that is that Yes-People are rarely the right persons for their jobs. In fact, usually they are some of the worst.

The Owner of the Nashvil... I mean, Chicago White Sox is notorious for hiring and retaining Yes People. Or in his way of thinking... ‘Loyal’. Many owners of businesses always want to believe that they are the smartest persons in the room. So they never question their own judgment and are oblivious to the true health of their organization. So this is with the Sox Owner for the past 40-plus years.

Fans always get little to no consideration in the whole deal. The sports franchise is the personal toy of the Owner... and these owners keep findings ways to make sure we remember that.

Roundball Sage · Sep 6, 2023

Roundball Sage said:
In this White Sox Season of doom, it’s possible the franchise will challenge the worst yearly team record they’ve ever had. Just about the only point of interest for the rest of the Season as they play out the string is – how will this year rank in Sox history?

1931 - Won 56 Lost 97
1932 - Won 49 Lost 102
1948 - Won 51 Lost 101
1970 - Won 56 Lost 106

White Sox (Regretable) History Watch...

White Sox are currently 53-86. They are playing about .333 ball in the second half. Projecting that pace for the remainder of the way, the White Sox will win 61 games for this (lost and embarassing) season. That would put the Sox right about 100 losses for the season. One of the worst years in the Sox long history.

BUT... the Owner is banking his cash(!). He is looking to strong-arm the State of Illinois into a building a new ball park. But this may just a smokescreen to cover an agenda already agreed-upon to move the franchise away from Chicago.

Chicago no longer has a great reputation Nationally any more with a great many folks... including much of the business community. Not seen as the City of Broad Shoulders but of Bad (Sports Franchise) Owners.

And a (once) great sports franchise that could hardly have treated its loyal fan base much worse for the last 40 years.

SeattleSlim · Sep 6, 2023

The more I read your posts, the more I’m inclined to agree. I don’t want to, but …

Roundball Sage · Sep 6, 2023

SeattleSlim said:
The more I read your posts, the more I’m inclined to agree. I don’t want to, but …

There may be Sox fans that are as passionate as I am (was?)... but there is likely no one that is (was) more passionate than I. But 'Reality' kept butting in to my understanding over the years of what has been going on with this franchise since the Sox truly Greatest Era ended in 1968. After that year it became a series of really bad Sox ownership groups which continues to this day. And one really lucky year that we actually won somthing big.

A great many Sox fans these days are re-thinking about their fandom and future relationship with this franchise. And that being a sports fan is supposed to be fun and not work and just aggravating.

Whatever happens in the future... nobody can take away Luke and Luis and Nellie and Dick and Frank and Paulie and Mark and Jose... those kind of Sox players.
And the good times that we Sox fans have found along the way whenever we could.

Thanks for being open-minded.

SKane · Sep 6, 2023

I'll add Don Buford to your list - a really solid player who started his career with the White Sox.

Roundball Sage · Sep 6, 2023

SKane said:
I'll add Don Buford to your list - a really solid player who started his career with the White Sox.

Yes, he was good. There's so many good solid Sox players over the years that could be named... Minnie... Jim Landis... Ken Berry... Tommy John... Tommy Agee... Bill Melton... Goose Gossage... Black Jack... Chris Sale...

SeattleSlim · Sep 6, 2023

I miss Bob Elson’s game calls, his warm demeanor, and the way he’d pull you in with descriptive commentary on players like Walter “No Neck” Williams.

Roundball Sage · Sep 7, 2023

SeattleSlim said:
I miss Bob Elson’s game calls, his warm demeanor, and the way he’d pull you in with descriptive commentary on players like Walter “No Neck” Williams.

Elson was outstanding. He is probably the best Sox broadcaster they have ever had (sorry Harry... sorry Steve and Jason). Elson could paint a picture with words like a good sports writers used to do in the newspapers. He was knowledgeable, classy, professional... yet not dry or boring. The kind of sports announcer that we just don’t have any more. And he had a pleasant voice that you could listen to without getting tired of it (sorry Brickhouse... sorry Harry – again).

Jason is a fine broadcaster but sometime he gets lost in the weeds with his banter with Stone. I actually prefer Jason at football and basketball than baseball.

Harry was fine but after a while his ego and bombast got to be too much. Besides, he was always a Cardinal at heart... even when he went to the dark side North of Madison Street.

Elson broacast the Sox during a time when the Sox ruled Chicago.

splitter · Sep 10, 2023

Jerry is not going to sell, but maybe he would be willing to partner with someone to build his idea of a new stadium.
Have it finished by the time the current lease runs out. On the southside near Red Line or the Metro.

Roundball Sage · Sep 10, 2023

splitter said:
Jerry is not going to sell, but maybe he would be willing to partner with someone to build his idea of a new stadium.
Have it finished by the time the current lease runs out. On the southside near Red Line or the Metro.

The White Sox and Bears should each have their own stadiums next to each other (with a shared parking area) on the Southwest Side south of the Midway Airport area. Find large enough parcels in the formerly-industrial areas between Cicero Avenue and Pulaski south of the big rail yard south of 67th Street. American League baseball teams and NFL teams already use Midway Airport for their player movement.

Extend the Orange Line further south from Midway to (what used to be) the Ford City Mall area (this was already in the planning stage years ago). Have the new Orange Line terminal ending at the new Sports Complex. And upgrade Cicero Avenue and Pulaski going south from the Stevenson for faster travel times.

Bucktown · Sep 10, 2023

Roundball Sage said:
The White Sox and Bears should each have their own stadiums next to each other (with a shared parking area) on the Southwest Side south of the Midway Airport area. Find large enough parcels in the formerly-industrial areas between Cicero Avenue and Pulaski south of the big rail yard south of 67th Street. American League baseball teams and NFL teams already use Midway Airport for their player movement.

Extend the Orange Line further south from Midway to (what used to be) the Ford City Mall area (this was already in the planning stage years ago). Have the new Orange Line terminal ending at the new Sports Complex. And upgrade Cicero Avenue and Pulaski going south from the Stevenson for faster travel times.

White Sox should buy Guaranteed Rate from the State. The City can rezone the land around the stadium for development to help the sweeten the pot. The White Sox will likely never get a better deal if a new stadium needs to be built in any City. The extra revenue from the hotel tax no longer needed by the ISFA for Guaranteed Rate bonds can be used to help add a dome to Soldier field.

Roundball Sage · Sep 10, 2023

Bucktown said:
White Sox should buy Guaranteed Rate from the State. The City can rezone the land around the stadium for development to help the sweeten the pot. The White Sox will likely never get a better deal if a new stadium needs to be built in any City. The extra revenue from the hotel tax no longer needed by the ISFA for Guaranteed Rate bonds can be used to help add a dome to Soldier field.

That's an option for them to consider.

I have my doubts that whatever group ends up owning the White Sox has any intention of keeping the franchise on the South Side. Many people view the South Side (along the Ryan) as a failing area. And while any redevelopment in the area around 35th Street would certainly help... this could have been done in the last 30 years since The Cell/G Rate was built. And there seems to be less incentive in today's climate.

As for Soldier Field... I think ego will enter into this. The Bears want a Shiny New Thing like other franchises seek. And would it even be 'Bears Football' with a dome? What happens to 'Bears Weather'? Might be sacrilege... like putting a dome in Green Bay. 'Bears Weather' should always be part of their home field advantage.

Roundball Sage · 2023-09-30T15:35:09-0500

Roundball Sage said:
White Sox (Regretable) History Watch...

White Sox are currently 53-86. They are playing about .333 ball in the second half. Projecting that pace for the remainder of the way, the White Sox will win 61 games for this (lost and embarassing) season. That would put the Sox right about 100 losses for the season. One of the worst years in the Sox long history.

(The above from September 6th)

Today: White Sox are 61-99 right now. Two more losses and they hit that 61 wins on the nose!

Hmmm. 61... 61... Where have baseball fans seen that number in MLB history before? Something about that number...