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A week after their North Side counterparts held their annual convention, the White Sox will hold their SoxFest this upcoming weekend at the Palmer House Hilton. While Cubs fans were concerned about the future of the Cubs ownership and fate of Wrigley Field, at least when it came to the players on the field there was near unanimous optimism.
But at this year's SoxFest, there's little reason for cheerfulness, from the price gouging just to attend the event to the roster GM Kenny Williams has assembled to questions about the ownership's ability to maintain a competitive organization.
The new ticket policies to attend the fest have angered many, because one can no longer purchase a one-day pass. Instead, fans must pony up $75 for two days. And the Friday night kick off? This year, that's open only to those Sox fans who also booked rooms at the Palmer House. This all makes for a very expensive wake.
And then there's the roster...
The scene is expected to be rather dour, as Williams seems to have done more re-arranging of deck chairs than filling the life rafts following last year's 72-90 debacle. Williams missed out on Torii Hunter, Aaron Rowand, Andruw Jones and Kosuke Fukudome before trading for Nick Swisher. He traded solid starting pitcher Jon Garland in order to upgrade at shortstop, but now has two starting shortshops on the roster. And with this week's signing of Joe Crede, he's also got a logjam at third base. But who's going to play left field?
The pitching's also an area of concern still. This week's signing of set-up man Octavio Dotel does help bolster the bullpen, as did adding Scott Linebrink. But did William overpay in order to improve the bullpen?
Perhaps not given the question marks in the rotation. Last off season, they traded Freddy Garcia and Brandon McCarthy. This year, they traded Garland. They're now left with Mark Buehrle, Javier Vasquez, the aging Jose Contreras and a handful of youngsters. The Sox might be calling to the pen early and often in '08.
At least Kenny Williams realizes that this year's SoxFest isn't going to be the love-in it was two years ago. While throwing out that he feels this team can compete as-is -- has he taken a look at Detroit's roster? -- he says he's not done yet. When asked about facing the fans in person, he said he was not looking forward to the tough questions, but "People have questions, and they deserve answers. And I'll give it to them straight."
Chicagoist wants to know how a team with the sixth highest payroll in baseball can look so uncompetitive? And how long is it going to take them to undo this mess and build a team that can compete again? Because we've already written off 2008...
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Oh come on now, you can not write off 2008 yet.
Granted, we have a lot of question marks, we also still have a tremendous amount of talent. The bullpen was the most glaring weakness from last years team. Last years white sox even WITH the unbelievable lack of offense was a 500 team if the bullpen was solid.
That being addressed, plus the addition of some solid young players in carlos quintin, alexi ramierez, and nick swisher means we are a better team this year than last.
Plus, Joe Crede, juan uribe and mike mcdougal are all on the block, and could all bring back some good prospects from the right team.
Dont write this sox team off yet... they are a 3rd place team, but might surprise the indians and tigers before the years done.
This all makes for a very expensive wake.
snicker.
i shouldn't talk, i've got no more confidence in the cubs this season as compared to last season..
@lletdown
Like any good Sox fan, I'm a total "THE SKY IS FALLING" sort of guy. That said, who the hell in this bullpen do you want to trot out there to face Detroit's 3-4-5 much less Boston's, New York's, or hell, even the "Rays" at that rate.
I'm hoping for the best, expecting the worst, and have a 9 game ticket package already so I can at least catch some of the big teams (LA, Detroit...)
Benji, do you speak as a Sox fan or as a writer? writing off the 2008 white sox seems a little premature considering pitchers and catchers havent reported yet.
Wow guys. That was a completely unnecessary article. Anything can happen this season. To write off 2008 before it's even had a chance to play itself out is ridiculous. I think they have a formidable lineup, a rotation that has potential, and a vastly improved bullpen.
Who knows what will happen? You don't, I don't...all I know is that baseball is entirely too unpredictable to write off a season before it even starts.
Wow guys. That was a completely unnecessary article. Anything can happen this season. To write off 2008 before it's even had a chance to play itself out is ridiculous. I think they have a formidable lineup, a rotation that has potential, and a vastly improved bullpen.
Who knows what will happen? You don't, I don't...all I know is that baseball is entirely too unpredictable to write off a season before it even starts.
This lifelong fan (Wayne Nordhagen , anyone?) would love to be optimistic but can't seem to find any silver lining. Older, slower players have only gotten older and slower. Juan Uribe? Still on the team. Contreras? Dead, but still on the roster. Dye, old. Thome, old. Konerko, slow (running and getting started).
I hope for the best and expect the worst. Seems a World Series did nothing to change my Chicago baseball anxiety/cynicism. Cubs look strong, however.
I always used to get Nordhagen and Bill Nahorodny mixed up.
I too share the Sox fan's cynicism, but it's hard not to with the majority of a 72 win team returning. But there's always 2005. My World Series T-Shirt doesn't have a hole in it yet, and I still see a guy on the El with a Sox championship hat on everyday. Nobody's got a hat from the last Cub championship :-)
Nahorodny...Nahorodny....hey hey hey...good BYE! That's how I differentiated as a kid. Nordhagen didn't fit in the song.
As a fan, I just can't see how the 2008 squad is much of an improvement over the 2007 edition. We have a somewhat better bullpen, but a weakened rotation. Logjams at two infield positions but no leadoff hitter. You're right -- pitchers and cathers haven't yet reported -- which hopefully means that there's still time for Kenny Williams to make some moves.
They will be better than 2007, because to a man, EVERY player played well below his potential. However, they still will not come close to contending for the division. Transplant them to the NL Central, and they might win it, or at least battle the Cubs/Brewers. But the AL Central is going to be a bloodbath this year.