Thanks

[Chico]

Coach, thanks for the plug on Roger and Friends this morning. Us Sox fans have to stick together.

[Da Coach]

The White Sox are now tied for 2nd in the AL Central and just 2 games out of a Wild Card spot. Go Sox!

I am following the MLB draft, which started last night. I don't really know any of the kids being drafted, but the ones the White Sox drafted so far sound pretty good.
Here is MLB's Draft Tracker. Just set for the round or the team you want-

https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker

And here is a search tool for the prospects. Enter the draftee's name-

http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2019?list=draft

[tornado]

if only Lucas Giolito could pitch every game

[Mikovio]

I’m a Sox fan in Peoria as well. Never made sense to me how a city to the south of Chicago overwhelmingly supports the north side (and STL).

Tough breaks with Machado spurning us and top 2 pitchers undergoing Tommy John. Yet the team competes. Bodes well. Maybe Peoria native Jim Thome talks Peoria native Girardi into taking over for next year?

[Da Coach]

I guess I'll give my opinion, too. The White Sox are on the rise, though few thought they would be contenders this season. They have a lot of young talent on their team, as well as a lot of talent in their minor leagues. But the Tommy John surgeries to young starting pitchers Michael Kopech and Carlos Rodon have blunted the team's progress. But they are currently only 2 games out of a wild card spot, so I think they should make some moves to go for it this season. They were willing to sign both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado to 10-year/$300+ millions deals, so they obviously have money to spend. They should trade for another solid starter before the trade deadline July 31 or maybe try to sign free agent Dallas Keuchel, whose demands have dropped. I actually don't see them doing that, so they should bring up their top minor league starter prospect Dylan Cease. And they should promote slugger & potential superstar Luis Robert now, instead of waiting so they can get an extra year of contract control. If it doesn't work this season, they will still be good shape to be contenders next year and for the future.

[Chico]

The Cubs didn’t draw squat until Harry started there.

[bigjimmy]

Hate to burst your bubble Chico but the Cubs, other than the strike year of 1981, have drawn over a million fans every year since 1968. The first year they drew over 2 million was 1984 and over 3 million in 2004. As much as I loved Harry, being on the Superstation WGN and actually getting to the playoffs in 84 were the reasons they started to draw. By the way the White Sox, other than 81, have also had over 1 million since 1977. They drew 2 million in for the first time in 1983 which was their 1st playoff year since 1959. They haven't made it over 3 million yet but with this young core and with what they have coming they'll get over that barrier. The Cardinals have now gone over 1 million every year since 1963. They drew over 2 million for the first time in their World Championship year of 1967. Their first time over 3 million was in 1987. In fact they have had over 3 million every year since 2004. Both the Cubs and the Cardinals have drawn over 2 million every year since 1996 for both teams.

[molar50]

Ok. I thought is section is supposed to be about Bradley basketball. But I will put my two cents in this discussion. I grew up about 3 miles from Wrigley Field and my dad would never take me to Cub games. He took our family occasionally to see the White Sox. He stated that the Sox were the "working man's team". The Cubs had no lights and only played day games. The owners, Wrigley family, never spent any money on promotions like the Sox. The Sox had bat day, baseball cap day, ball day, fireworks, nice scoreboard, and lots of promotions. My dad stated that Wrigley field is where the crooked politicians met with crooked business people meet to make their deals. After Labor Day, the Cubs would close the upper deck, because of lack of fans. Only pigeons occupied the upper deck after Labor Day. The Bears used to play their first home games in early October. There were no conflicts with scheduling, because everyone knew the Cubs would not be in the World Series.

Over time, the Cubs improved, especially when the Tribune bought out the Wrigley family. Harry Carey helped the Cubs. He was with the Sox before the Cubs and with the Cardinals before that. That's another story about how Harry left St Louis to go to Chicago. Tom Ricketts has invested a lot of improvements in the Cubs and the environment of watching a game at Wrigley Field is special. It wasn't this nice even a few years ago. The neighborhood has gotten expensive and it has lost some of its original character, but that's progress. Most people go to Wrigley for the experience and I understand it, but many of the season ticket holders are corporate owned and really not baseball fans. It is a different world with big money making these decisions.
.

[tornado]

... many of the season ticket holders are corporate owned and really not baseball fans. ....
.

yes, this is also true of Blackhawks, Bulls, etc...but a lot of those people can't go to every game so they do put their tickets up for sale
on StubHub, SeatGeek, etc - so in the end it actually allows average folks to find very good tickets for pretty much every game - when otherwise
they'd never even get into the lower bowl because all the season ticket holders own those seats.

It can still be pretty expensive to take a family if you want box seats - but whole rows of seats down the foul lines are readily available at affordable prices.

[Chico]

What they draw now is a lot more than when I used to go to games. Drawing 1 million is a lot less than 2 million when it comes to an entire season. Harry was a big reason. I’ve there when they had the upper deck blocked off.

[Chico]

Sorry Molar, but there’s not a whole lot of basketball to talk about right now..

[molar50]

Yes, Chico, you are correct. We could talk about Golden State Warriors: 1) can they beat Toronto with their roster of injured players, Durant, Thompson, Looney, etc 2) how Shawn Livingston is playing more minutes. 3) how Steve Kerr is doing his best as a coach. I am enjoying this series finals.

[Chico]

I don’t watch pro basketball. I just check to see how Livingston does.

[tornado]

For Cubs fans....
The Cubs have reportedly reached an agreement with free agent closer Craig Kimbrel to help with all the bullpen disasters that have plagued them so far this year.

[bigjimmy]

IN THEO WE TRUST!