A Chicago White Sox fan walked as much as the mic throughout a session with gamers on the 2001 SoxFest and posed a easy query to pitcher Kip Wells.
“What are you going to do about those walks?” he requested. “It’s driven me to drink.”
It was a typical SoxFest second, and Wells didn’t take it personally.
“I know,” Wells replied with a sheepish grin. “I’m the one out there walking them.”
SoxFest tends to be a little bit edgier than its counterpart, the Cubs Convention, with blunter questions and a few heated back-and-forth between followers and administration. When govt vp Ken Williams was common supervisor, you can see the steam rising from the highest of his head. Sox followers don’t mince phrases.
Due to causes unexplained, the group opted to not maintain SoxFest this winter, a choice that has created an amazing quantity of backlash on Twitter and the web, particularly after the Cubs held their conference final weekend.
It was comprehensible SoxFest was canceled in 2021 and ‘22 due to the pandemic, however a number of groups, together with the Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox, resumed their fan fests this month. Were the Sox making an attempt to keep away from the wrath of followers, or was there one more reason for the choice?
It doesn’t matter now. What’s achieved is completed. And with a little bit greater than three weeks earlier than spring coaching begins in Glendale, Ariz., the Sox desperately want some assist getting followers enthusiastic about what’s in retailer for the 2023 season.
Fortunately, we’re right here to assist.
Here are 10 issues to sit up for in 2023.
1. It couldn’t get any worse
This goes with out saying. The Sox have been overconfident heading into 2022, from higher administration to the gamers, however spent many of the season making an attempt to get to .500. Injuries have been part of the struggles, however underperforming stars comparable to Yasmani Grandal, Yoán Moncada and Lucas Giolito additionally factored into the mess. Motivation must be no drawback in ‘23.
2. Pedro Grifol is just not Tony La Russa
SoxFest would’ve been the proper time to get to know the brand new supervisor. Oh, nicely. At first look, Grifol looks like the proper antidote to La Russa, and he’ll get an opportunity to indicate what he’s all about in spring coaching. Every new supervisor deserves a honeymoon interval. How lengthy it lasts for Grifol will depend upon how the Sox begin the season.
3. The chip on Dylan Cease’s shoulder
After being left off the American League All-Star group final summer time, the group’s poet laureate used the snub for motivation. “Just trying to win is enough motivation for me,” he mentioned after getting back from the break. “But I’ll take any chip on my shoulder I can get.” The chip labored, and Cease completed second in AL Cy Young voting. It’s going to be laborious to disregard Cease this time if he continues dominating hitters as he did in ‘22, however the chip ought to stay.
4. Andrew Vaughn is out of the outfield
Vaughn tried his finest, however with a minus-14 in defensive runs saved, he ranked because the second-worst defensive outfielder within the American League behind the Seattle Mariners’ Jesse Winker (minus-16). With José Abreu gone, Vaughn will return to his pure place at first, with slick-fielding Andrew Benintendi taking part in left and Eloy Jimenez changing into the first designated hitter. Sox pitchers ought to profit from the swap.
5. Tim Anderson is wholesome once more
After surgical procedure in early August to restore a sagittal band tear on the center finger of his left hand, Anderson was slated to return for the ultimate weeks of the season. He by no means made it again however must be absolutely healed and able to return to his first-half type. Anderson has two seasons earlier than free company. But after seeing how a lot Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson have been paid this winter, he must be primed to enhance defensively — and to remain on the sphere.
6. Garrett Crochet finally will return
When the left-hander might be added to the Sox bullpen is unknown. After Crochet missed 2022 following Tommy John surgical procedure, the Sox determine to start out him in Triple A and management his workload. But his significance is magnified with nearer Liam Hendriks battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and the Sox will want Crochet within the second half for a postseason run.
7. ‘Hi, Mom!’ Talking Bobblehead Day
The coveted Eloy Jiménez speaking bobblehead will go to the primary 20,000 followers to indicate up May 13 in opposition to the Houston Astros. Eloy’s mother is just not included.
8. Reaction to Joe Kelly’s ebook
After a dismal begin to his Sox profession, Kelly completed with a 1.13 ERA in his ultimate 9 appearances, displaying indicators of his outdated self. With the discharge this spring of his new ebook, “A Damn Near Perfect Game,” Kelly might be within the highlight in every single place he goes, simply as he prefers, after ripping Carlos Correa, Josh Donaldson, the Astros and others. Now he has no selection however to pitch nicely this season.
9. Two new bars within the higher deck
The Sox are opening two upper-deck ingesting spots they’re calling “View Bars” in Sections 516 and 548. The group launched two photographs of the bars, which might be obtainable to all followers and in addition by way of group gross sales. Selling upper-deck tickets has been a tough activity, aside from opening day and the City Series in opposition to with the Cubs, so it is sensible to attempt to entice followers to hike as much as the five hundred degree.
10. Liam Hendriks’ rehab
Cease informed reporters final week that the information on Hendriks was “pretty devastating” for everybody. “But it sounds like something he’ll be able to overcome, and obviously it’s much more important than baseball,” he mentioned. “We’re all with him.” Everyone agrees that Hendriks will beat this factor. Hopefully he’ll be again on the mound quickly, however even seeing a wholesome Hendriks in avenue garments could be an inspiring sight for Sox Nation.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com