NWINFan

I think Frank Thomas needs to find something to do.

I'm with you on AJ. I don't want him in the booth. He was a real competitor, but he isn't the most likable person in the world. And it would be a nice change to have someone who has had no connection with the White Sox. Enough of that already. But I expect Stone to be back next year.

What will happen in the next couple of years will demonstrate how serious this team is about building a sustainable winner. It really starts with this offseason. If the FO makes some lukewarm moves, that will say a lot. If the franchise wants credibility, it will have to earn it.

After reading your post, I wanted to relate this story. I have had a booth at SoxFest several times during the years. One year Eddie Einhorn's wife and son were next to me. His son had done a documentary on the 1983 division winners. Since we were going to be next to each other for the weekend, I went over and introduced myself to Mrs. Einhorn. She seemed a little shocked. Someone was being nice to her? I didn't like some of the things Eddie had done, but I saw no reason to be rude to his family. Or to him, for that matter. I heard from one former Chicago sportswriter that Eddie was an engaging person. Anyway, we need to remember we are all people. And fans must remember it is tough to be a public person. Jerry Reinsdorf has become reclusive and that is one reason he uses Steve Stone as a spokesman, although I don't think Stone is all that effective as a spokesman. As I have said before, it is time to tone down the anger. It is not good for the fans, and it is not good for the future of the franchise.

I agree with you even though I think that many are not assholes. And nasty things are said on this board. My point is that Stone doesn't really say who he is speaking to, and you can alienate many well-meaning fans. I also don't think calling out fans when you have seven losing seasons in a row is getting you anywhere, and it hasn't gotten the White Sox anywhere during the past 40 years. Also the White Sox have a major league arrogance about them. That doesn't get them anywhere, either. It goes without saying that having a civilized dialogue would help. I wrote Stone some time ago. There was no profanity or name-calling. I even wrote that it was from one gentleman to another. I didn't like what he did, but there was no need to get personal. I just didn't agree with him. I'd say the same things to his face, and I would do it in a respectful way. But there are times when I think the Sox believe something is owed to them, and I don't buy that. Bottom line is that things need to change, and I don't think winning will solve everything. But I agree with you on another thing: Twitter is just plain horrible. But your first sentence is awfully sarcastic.

Many times fans are no angels, and I can't stand some of the idiocy. The troubling thing is that the relationship between the fans and this organization has been bad from the start. The angry sides feed on each other, and there has been a constant bad and negative aura around the team. The atmosphere was rancid after the White Flag Trade and has never really recovered. Both sides don't understand each other. I never thought Reinsdorf and Einhorn got a good feeling of where the fans were coming from, and sometimes fans thought the organization could spend money like Steinbrenner. Some fans also didn't realize that baseball economics were changing when the Reinsdorf-Einhorn group bought the team. The organization didn't understand how frustrated the fans were by the losing and how cynical they had become. At this point, there needs to be some kind of peace-making. Fans need to accept this organization for what it is because it won't change. The organization should realize that there are still many loyal White Sox fans who only want the team to win on a consistent basis. But the organization needs to take the lead. These public squabbles have been going on for nearly 40 years, and they are counter-productive. The team still struggles at the gate, and the fan base continues to erode. This crap has to stop. That is, if the organization truly wants to have a bright future for the franchise. Right now I am totally frustrated by the fact that the same mistakes are being made. Tell Stone to stick with the color and let's move on.

Stone is a good color man, no doubt about it. The guy knows the game inside and out. As a team spokesman? Not so hot.

Some of them are. But when a public person tends to make blanket statements, it comes across as attacking all fans, and that is a no-win strategy. I'm a Reinsdorf critic, but I'm sure he has a decent side to him. In fact, I'm sure of it. But that is a separate issue from the performance of the team on the field, and for the most part it hasn't been good since the 2005 World Series. So, it is time for this team to show that it is really committed to making this rebuild work. Reinsdorf doesn't need to spend $300 million. Just spend something and improve the team in 2020. I don't want to hear any more promises or happy talk. Time for the winning to start, at least on some level.

The White Sox don't need a one-dimensional player. No thanks to him at first as well. No thanks period. The White Sox should be looking to do better than this.

What exciting news. Now he can spend more time blasting fans.

Right now I don't care what Jerry Reinsdorf said or didn't say. At this moment, the White Sox are nowhere near the level of Astros, Yankees, Dodgers, and Braves. The real question is will the Sox ever get there? The ball is in Reinsdorf's court. Steve Stone and the Chicago sports media can spin things all they want, but actions really matters. Does he want a winning team or an also ran?

Yeah, it was real classy the way they treated Steve Bartman. And there were so many times Cub games at Wrigley had to be stopped because fans littered the field with garbage. And there was the time they were hassling Dodger pitchers in the bullpen. And there is a "basket" on the outfield walls because Cub fans don't know how to behave at a baseball game. Yes, they are a happy bunch all right.

We will see how serious this team is about winning this off season. Tanking should be over.

After 65 years, it's a wonder you're still sane. After 55 years, It's a wonder I'm still sane.

The 11 second place finishes sounds good, but three times they had losing records and one time was dead even at 81-81. Another time they finished 14 1/2 games out and another were at 9 games out, so they weren't too close there. I don't know if you're counting 1994 as a first place finish because I don't. Safe to say JR has had his successes and failures. All the more reason to have an active off season this year and eventually not be satisfied with a wild card.

It was quite frustrating. The White Sox had winning teams from 1951-67, but never had superstars. The Mantles and Killerbrews were on other teams. And Comiskey Park was big and expansive and not a homer hitters park, and the team never really was explosive. Finally, things bottomed out when they lost the last five games during a heated 1967 pennant race because their offense was exposed for what it was-terrible. Even though the 1967 team contended, it was labeled as "boring." They lost the first 10 in 1968 and it has been a Cubs town ever since.

Like any other public person, Jerry Reinsdorf has been unfairly treated by the media at times. In some ways, the media has kissed up to him. Regerdless, some of his troubles are of his own making. He is not always taken out context. Other than that, I have seen few examples of a sense of humor.

I am no White Sox insider, and so I don't have a real idea of what Jerry Reinsdorf truly thinks. However, the long-held perception, at least by many, is that winning is not the main thing with him. That is why this rebuild is so important. The franchise, in the long run, must show it is serious about building and maintaining a contending team. If this rebuild leads to only one or two winning seasons, that will damage the credibility of the organization in a large way. Hard core fans are supporting the rebuild and the Sox can't afford to lose them. In a relative sense, they have few hard core fans left. It has now been 100 years since the Black Sox scandal and the team never fully recovered. It is time that it does.

You are so right. Hawk was a train wreck during his last years. And he whined about umpires way too much. Jason is good, but I hope he grows with experience. He still has some rough edges.

I am not for bat flipping or admiring non-home runs. Play the game like it suppose to be played. Clown around in the dugout or afterward. On the field, act like a damn professional already.

Greg - Avi can be a good player at times and can give a team some power. But he is injury prone. Also, when he was the Sox, I never saw him take a good path to the ball. Time to move on. I think the Sox have already.

I think Benetti has great potential and has come a long way already. He just grates on me with the cute stuff sometimes. The "one question" needs to go. But he does come across as likable and is a good descriptive announcer. As far as the Rays fan bases goes: It may shock some people but not everybody loves baseball. And that stadium doesn't even look like a baseball stadium. I saw one funny thing when I went a Sox playoff game in Tampa in '08. In between innings, they had a comedian doing a little bit on the jumbotron. He said he had been a Rays fan for a long time. Since June in fact. No, he then said, since July.

Historically, you are right. Fans underestimate what the Black Sox scandal did to this franchise. 100 years later it still hasn't recovered. It would be great if the 2020's are the exact opposite of the 1920s. Then you can say the rebuild truly worked.

Maybe the Tribune and Cub fans should petition to put Joe Maddon's face on Mount Rushmore. Funny how Joe gets all the credit for success and none for failure. He was solely responsible but the choke of 2019 ranks right up there with 1969, the 1984 playoffs, the Bartman inning, and the 2008 flop, and this year happened on his watch. Excuse me if I don't shed any tears. He made his $25 million and he can what he wants at this point. Hopefully, the Cubs will repeat their choking act in 2020. It is part of their tradition.

I agree with this, although I don't see the team making five signings in this off season. The FO will do something, but I have the feeling fans will be somewhat disappointed. I think 2020 will be another developmental year, but hopefully with more wins. To even contend for the playoffs, so many things will have to go right.