South Side Hit Men

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna123372

Beyond dementia like Peter Angelos has or other health issues which would prevent Jerry from continuing as managing partner, Jerry will continue to hold complete control, regardless of what the other minority owners want, based on the existing partnership agreement. It benefits his heirs to not sell family shares until after his death, and there is no guarantee that Michael and family won't continue to hold a substantial stake in the club after Jerry dies, Significant tax savings and being bored with nothing else to do have always been the two stated reasons by Jerry as to why he intends to not sell the club.

I'd say the way to rebuild is acquisitions and player development. Trades can be a component, especially if you're acquiring prospects due to be ready at your next window. The trades Hahn made after 2016 aren't being made as often these days beyond say top players (Top 30-60, perhaps the Top 10-20). Sale definitely qualified as Top 20 at the time, Eaton falls far short of either, Quintana outside of the Top 60 metric. Teams almost universally value the six years of cost control over marginal increases in current talent, and don't hand out top prospects as often as several years ago (and prior). This has been exacerbated by the vast expansion of the postseason, which now makes the season basically a race to finish slightly above .500, and allows teams to depress player salaries for all but the elite top of the pay scale. Also depresses urgency to improve in the offseason or deadline.

Rubenstein and friends will not own a controlling interest until Peter Angelos is dead. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/angelos-family-reportedly-selling-orioles.html In terms of ownership involvement in Chelsea, Leeds fans have it right.

And previously Chris Singleton, until he left for ESPN before the 2008 season. Stone slotted in radio after being out of full time work since leaving the Cubs in 2004, and then moved into the elongated TV booth with Hawk, sitting as far apart as possible.

Reports in the WSJ as recent as late December indicated the Orioles would not be sold with Peter Angelos alive. Gives White Sox fans at least a sliver of hope. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/angelos-family-reportedly-selling-orioles.html Hope they fall more in the Cohen camp than the Rays Stuart Sternberg camp. Cleveland and Pittsburgh are the lone non-expansion teams to have a longer World Series draught, and the city and fan base can really use some good news going forward. World Series Championship Droughts since the previous millennium - # of Seasons 75 Cleveland Guardians (1948 - Bill Veeck Owner) 55 Milwaukee Brewers (1970 - present) + Seattle Pilots (Expansion Franchise 1969) 55 San Diego Padres (Expansion Franchise 1969) 47 Seattle Mariners (Expansion Franchise 1977) 44 Pittsburgh Pirates (1979) 40 Baltimore Orioles (1983) 39 Detroit Tigers (1984) 37 New York Mets (1986) 34 Oakland Athletics (1989) 33 Cincinnati Reds (1990) 32 Minnesota Twins (1991) 31 Colorado Rockies (Expansion Franchise 1993) 30 Toronto Blue Jays (1993) 26 Tampa Bay Rays (Expansion Franchise 1998) Note - Los Angeles Dodgers fans have not witnessed in person a World Series Championship season since 1988, or 35 seasons ago.

You don't win fans with salad.

I went to the ultimately worthless 2020 ST, paid $23.75 total for shaded seats including $6.75 in fees direct from the team. A game like the Royals shouldn't be crowded, so you can buy pretty much any level seat and be able to move around. There were less than 2,000 for the game I went to vs. the Padres. Would think beyond the Dodgers, Cubs and possibly the Diamondbacks, shouldn't be large crowds to contend with. The club isn't going to discount behind dugout seats for $10, but you should check on stubhub or other reseller sites and you should find a solid price even with fees from people who can't use their tickets if you are patient. The White Sox typically rank last (or near last) in Spring Training Attendance. https://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/attendance/spring-training-2020.html

MLB Trade Rumors put the White Sox (plus Cleveland and Miami) in the mix for a possible deal with the Angels to clear their logjam of outfielders. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/the-opener-twins-angels-mlbtr-chat.html No mention of Karl Hungus in the article.

Tis article provides a solid overview including of the prospects Minnesota received. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/mariners-twins-finalizing-jorge-polanco-trade.html The Twins are projected to spend the savings on filling remaining holes. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/falvey-twins-plan-to-reallocate-money-saved-in-polanco-trade.html

They will be low, but not all time low. The Sunshine boys pulled in minuscule numbers of viewers during their on-tv fiasco. And while I don’t believe the Sox ever had to pay a radio station for airtime like the Hawks did for a period while Dollar Bill was still alive, I doubt the Sox drew many on the now shuttered 1300 AM in the early 1970s, even with Harry Caray beginning his tenure here after leaving Oakland. I do expect mostly Jesus and Union ads this season similar to last year’s mix. Still beats the strip clubs, blue sex pills and other lowlife advertisers found throughout The Score’s existence.

What's Past is Prologue. I'd like to think the whole world is ready to watch (or listen) to White Sox baseball on March 28, 2024, and Spring Training broadcasts leading up to the season. Peter Cetera (Quigley Preparatory Seminary & Mendel High School Class of 1962) - bass, vocals, agogo bells Robert Lamm (Chicago Vocational High School Class of 1962) - acoustic piano, Hammond organ, Hohner Pianet electric piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, vocals, maracas Terry Kath (Chicago Taft High School Class of 1964) - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals Lee Loughnane (Saint Mel High School Class of 1964) - trumpet, claves James Pankow (Notre Dame (Niles) Class of 1965)- trombone, cowbell Walter Parazaider (Proviso West High School Class of 1965) - woodwinds, tambourine Danny Seraphine (Steinmetz High School - Withdrew in 1963 prior to graduation) - drums, percussion

There has been some marginal improvement, but likely not enough to get more than 70 wins. If Getz is ambitious and has another $10M - $15M at his disposal, he could add a legitimate RF, another SP lotto ticket, a couple relievers and possibly a legitimate starting 2B. I’m hoping for a RF at this point and keeping Cease beyond receiving a crazy good offer. Wish I could have found a sportsbook I could bet Sox over 62 1/2 wins in Vegas. The best I found for Illinois is 64 1/2, which isn’t a safe enough margin IMO, especially with Cease uncertainty and likely trade deadline deals.

No reason MLB can't hold 162 games and return to a credible season and playoff format by going with four four team divisions in each of the two leagues post expansion to 32 teams. Opening Day: Thursday, March 28, 2024 (Riverfront Stadium 2 PM EDT) & Friday March 29, 2024 Regular Season: 186 calendar days Season Game 162: Sunday, September 29, 2024 One Game Division Title Tie-Breakers (if Applicable): Monday, September 30, 2024 Division Series (Four Division Winners): October 2-3; 5-6-7; 9-10 League Championship Series: October 14-15; 17-18-19; 21-22 World Series: October 25-26; 28-29-30; November 1-2. Division Format (Division 3 X 18 Games = 54 Games + Intra League 12 X 9 Games = 108 Games) American League East: Baltimore; Boston; New York; Toronto American League South: Houston; Miami; Tampa Bay; Texas American League Midwest: Chicago; Cleveland; Detroit; Minnesota American League West: Colorado; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Seattle National League East: Montreal; New York; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh National League South: Atlanta; Cincinnati; Nashville; Washington D. C. National League Midwest: Chicago; Kansas City; Milwaukee; Saint Louis National League West: Arizona; Los Angeles; San Diego; San Francisco I kept teams changing leagues to a minimum, with two that make geographic / potential better rivals with expansion teams (post 1969) to minimize league disruption.

People rather go to warm weather cities (LA, Phoenix, Houston, Miami, New Orleans) during the winter when a Dome would make a difference. Sure the NFL may give the Bears a Super Bowl as a bone for finagling a half billion to a billion plus out of taxpayers, the same as the one and done they held in a half dozen new northern city stadiums. However, the Super Bowl would never return to the stadium; would only be used as part of negotiations with the state for stadium funding. Jerry's UC and Soldier Field doesn't want another large venue to compete for concert dates (same with NCAA First Four Rounds). CFB prefers to keep their games within the rotating bowl sites, with Las Vegas added due both to the weather and attractiveness of the city to visitors. Chicago is having enough trouble trying to get people to keep coming the past few Summers, still well below 2019 numbers (over 60 million). Need to focus on spending to make the average American and Foreign traveler want to come here, not billions for a one time event.

The Royals are the only other team in the division to win a World Series over the past 29 seasons, They are also the only team besides the White Sox to have not won consecutive division titles, only winning one (2015 - their World Series Championship season). The Sox won four division titles, but zero consecutive titles. Consecutive American League Central Division Titles (1995-2023) Five: Cleveland Guardians (1995-1999) - Two American League Pennants Four: Detroit Tigers (2011-2014) - One American League Pennant Three: Cleveland Guardians (2016-2018) - One American League Pennant, lost World Series Game 7 in Extra Innings Three: Minnesota Twins (2002-2004) - One Division playoff series win over Oakland. Two: Minnesota Twins (2009-2010) - Zero Playoff Success, would have been three if the White Sox didn't take the Blackout Game. Two: Minnesota Twins (2019-2020) - Zero Playoff success, generously including 2020 as a "season" or "title". At least Detroit had a sense of urgency to win a championship during Michael Ilitch's final years (died after the 2016 season). Jerry's top priority the past six years: 2019: Getting Harold Baines into the BBHOF. 2020: Cancelling as many regular season games as possible. 2021: Fielding Tony La Russa as White Sox manager to "right a wrong". 2022: One last stab at killing the MLB Players Union via owner lockout. 2023: Hiring Chris Getz, like La Russa without a legitimate job search, to "win now". 2024: Finagle one final stadium out of taxpayers.

How many wins did they need to clinch the division?

I think they will sign a low cost ($2M-$5M) RF before ST once players have no other options. Hicks would be the likely scenario if he had any interest since he is only due $740k, but I don’t see him bothering since he will be paid to stay at home. Merrifield is scary for regular OF play. Duvall would be a good selection since he can adequately fill in defensively in CF for Robert off days. Anything but Sheets manning a glove will work at this point until Colas is possibly ready later this year.

Milwaukee stadium sucks, especially when the dome closed. Much more preferred Milwaukee County Stadium as a fan. The new park is very loud and dark inside, looks like every other shitty MLB dome stadium I’ve attended. Baseball and football are meant to be played and enjoyed outdoors.

Detroit is my pick to win the division. 79 wins likely clinches the title, same as the 2023 threshold. Its why it’s so heartbreaking merely mediocre level White Sox ownership, front office and manager could have had an AL Central dynasty throughout this decade.

Still never thought Baltimore ownership would sign off on paying both cost controlled prospects, their most valuable assets, and paying Cease $20M over the next two seasons. Seattle also has bad ownership, but they have cut net OD payroll year over year by $4.4M, instead of piss it away on Craig Kimbrel. I can see their skinflint owner signing off on a Cease acquisition to bring a modest $3.6M net increase in OD 2024 payroll if they think they can possibly snag a 80+ win wild card spot and generate several million in playoff revenue plus increased regular season ticket sales. Baltimore gets $320M in revenue simply by existing, so they have zero incentive to ever reach a World Series over the rest of the millennium. Seattle has a lot more potential revenue if they can find a way to win, since they don’t collect tens of millions in welfare cheese from the Bud Selig “Revenue Sharing”, i. e. small market permanent tanking funding.

He had a solid 2021 on a prove it $3M deal, then struggled after signing a two year deal. He missed some time, but was mostly used as a swing man after losing effectiveness. Worth a flyer, at minimum will provide innings for Oakland. I just thought he might be someone Bannister or Katz thought they could do something with.

I was hoping the Sox picked him up, with possible interest from Bannister and or Katz. Could battle Jake Diekman for a Top Five A’s FA contract for the decade. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/01/as-to-sign-alex-wood.html Oakland’s 2020s MLB Free Agent Signings by AAV 17 + Alex Wood TBD $11.0M RP Trevor Rosenthal (‘21) $7.25M INF Aledmys Diaz (‘23-‘24) $7.00M RP Trevor May (2023) $4.75M INF Jace Paterson (‘23-‘24) $3.75M RP Jake Diekman (‘20-‘21) $3.50M SP Mike Fiers (2021) $3.25M SP Shintaro Fujinami (‘23) $3.00M SP Drew Rucinski (2023) $3.00M 1B Jesus Aguilar (2023) $2.55M RP Yusmeiro Petit (2021) $2.25M RP Sergio Romo (2021) $2.25M 1B Mitch Moreland (2021) $1.50M RP Trevor Gott (2024) $1.50M INF Jed Lowrie (2021) $0.85M INF Jed Lowrie (2022) $0.85M C Stephen Vogt (2022) $0.28M RP Jeurys Familia (2023)

Dude, I responded to your absurd post stating the Cubs should get state tax subsidies because they have been "trying the past several years". Both points are ludicrous. Sorry you're butt hurt that I responded. Both teams have lost ground this offseason, both teams have been embarrassing the past several years, and both will be mediocre or worse until they acquire significant reinforcements.

The MLBTR projection was $15M for 2 years, or $7.5M AAV. This deal maxes out at $23M, with $18M guaranteed over two years for sixty 2024 appearances ($9M player option is secured, he can still walk if he wishes). Not seeing this as a great bargain, but the Cubs have to add just to tread water from their mediocre season. There is also this: