North: Taking issue with some White Sox decisions
The White Sox continue to grind out the season and are hoping their decent first half finish will carry over into the second half.
Sometimes, however, it seems that whatever good they do the results are never completely positive.
For example, star pitcher Chris Sale makes the All-Star Game roster and what happens? Nothing. Even though American League manager Ned Yost thought fans would like to see Sale, the Sox didn't want him to pitch even one inning.
Then there was the franchise four debacle for the South Side. I know the four most impactful players were voted on by the fans, but how was Carlton Fisk left off the ballot?
I completely agree with the selection of Frank Thomas, but Harold Baines, Minnie Minoso and Paul Konerko are iffy. All four selections had Jerry Reinsdorf ties, so I guess White Sox history starts and ends with Jerry.
Here's my franchise four: Frank Thomas, Nellie Fox, Luke Appling, and Billy Pierce.
Then we move to the latest error in judgment. I have no idea about the logistics of reuniting a team and Reinsdorf and the organization did a nice job of honoring the 2005 World Series Championship team. Still, a couple of people were noticeably absent from the on-field activities festivities. Mark Buehrle, still performing at an all-star level (10-5 and 3.35 ERA) and A.J. Pierzynski (hitting .284 with 6 HR with 30 RBI) were hugely popular with the fans and integral parts of that team.
And why not host the main event on a Sunday? The only World Series team in the last hundred years in Chicago should have had a standing-room-only crowd. Yes, they had a nice crowd of 33,000, and the marketing team can take their bows because it was over 25,000, but ...
In reality, these are just little things. So much has to change there to combat the location of the ballpark, the traffic in the evening and the general sense that the White Sox don't connect with the fans.
What's the answer?
I have a few suggestions in mind, but how about starting with more day games? Places like Cleveland, Tampa, Oakland and Chicago can draw some good crowds during the day. The Sox drew 25,000 for a makeup game versus Kansas City during the day. Then there's that 33,000 crowd on Saturday for the 10- year anniversary game. That's almost 60,000 fans, and it would be tough to find two night games in a row in which they filled the seats.
Let them play 50 day games during the week in June, July and August with a 1:10 start time, and on Saturdays and Sundays all season long. The 9-5 work schedule isn't the norm anymore, and more people are free.
Go the Cubs route and play during the day.
But what do I know? It might work and help to build a young base, but maybe it makes too much sense.
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