As I’m sure you’re all fully aware, SoxFest is this weekend. Fans from all over will flock downtown to meet some of their favorite players and hear some of them in panels. Before SoxFest starts, the White Sox wanted to give season ticket holders a chance to talk to Tom Paciorek and Robin Ventura during a conference call this afternoon.

As with every other season ticket holder chat, Gene Honda moderated the call, and we started with Wimpy. He’ll be a big part of SoxFest this weekend, as it will partly be a celebrationg of the 1983 “Winning Ugly” team. Wimpy is excited to be there this weekend with a great group of guys and a great coaching staff. He mentioned that while most fans remember the players, some people may have forgotten the personnel of the 1983 team. » Continue reading “Conference Call with Tom Paciorek and Robin Ventura”

Can you believe that this year was the first time that there has been a Bulls Night at the Cell? There have been nights to honor the Blackhawks, but not that Bulls. Odd if you consider that the owner of the team also owns the White Sox. But that all changed this past Wednesday, August 22 when the White Sox had the first Bulls Night. Things started off with a pre-game parade of Bulls Season Ticket Holders. Then, Scottie Pippen sat down to chat with Gene Honda. Instead of wearing his number 33 on his White Sox jersey, Pip chose to wear 35, which is Frank Thomas’s number. Pippen did it as a way to honor Frank. You have to love it when superstars of another sport acknowledge another sport’s superstars. » Continue reading “Bulls Night At The Cell 2012″

Photo by Amy Swenson

This afternoon, White Sox season ticket holders got a chance to chat with Steve Stone and Adam Dunn. As you may have learned from the last two conference calls I covered for Cheryl, I kind of love them and think it’s a great idea. I also love that Cheryl is a season ticket holder and lets me participate.

First to join the call was Steve Stone. Gene Honda moderated the call, and he asked Stoney whether he was surprised at Robin Ventura being named manager this year like a national columnist was. Stone was surprised but for a different reason. Most people were surprised because Robin had never managed at any level prior to this position.

Stone said this is not a negative for Robin. He gets the respect of every player in that clubhouse, but he doesn’t command it. It goes beyond being a good player back in his playing days because he understands the players today. Stone also said that just like a first-year player, a first-year manager is going to make mistakes. Robin has to deal with 25 different egos and work with his coaching staff as well.

» Continue reading “Conference Call with Steve Stone and Adam Dunn”

This afternoon, the White Sox held a conference call for season ticket holders with new bench coach Mark Parent and senior VP of sales and marketing, Brooks Boyer. Cheryl is a season ticket holder, but since she was unable to attend, I had the honor of listening in.

Before I get into the actual conference call and the questions asked by season ticket holders, let me say that I think if every franchise is not already doing this, they should. A lot of media members can’t or won’t ask the questions that fans have. As a journalism major, I have learned that I can’t ask questions of athletes that come from my heart. I would never be able to get and/or keep a job that way. So as a fan, it’s a great way to get your questions heard and a great way to get them answered.

And if you have a site like this one where at least one writer is a season ticket holder, all non-season ticket holders get a chance to hear from the coaches and front office too.

Now to the actual call.

» Continue reading “White Sox Season Ticket Holders Speak with Mark Parent and Brooks Boyer”

In case you didn’t know, I have a season ticket for the White Sox. Being a season ticket holder has some perks. Such as today being able to sit in on a conference call with new manager Robin Ventura. It was pretty cool that we were able to ask questions of him and also to be able to say “welcome back” or “thanks for choosing to work with the White Sox” on the call.

When I first heard about this through a phone call yesterday from Robin himself, I was thinking wow, the management is really working hard to win me over. Particularly after a bad season of huge disappointment when a team that was supposed to be All In were really anything but.

It will be a bumpy ride potentially, but I am *starting* to get excited about what 2012 may hold. And if Ken and his guys keep doing such events, then I will be far less inclined to hate him and stuff he’s done. Below are the questions and answers from the session summarized. » Continue reading “Ken Williams & Company Really Don’t Want Me Hating Right Now”