South Side Hit Men

True story, worked a james Brown concert at the Rosemont Horizon in 1986. He looked out at the very small crowd, turned around and refused to perform. Apparently the show must not always go on.

I'm waiting for him to become the all time White Sox leader in hits among players named Nick/Nicky/Nicholas first. (All time White Sox hit rank) / Player / Hits (333) Nicky Delmonico 114 (342) Nick Swisher 109 - "I hate Nick Swisher with my heart." - Ozzie Guillen 8/5/2020 (373) Nick Madrigal 94 (400) Nick Altrock 84 - Played for the 1906 World Championship Team

For the umpteenth time, "pace" is meaningless. Check back at season end (for every player), after the full grind and ebbs and flows of a season. If he registers a 4+ fWAR season in any year it will be a major cause for celebration. A 3 win season would be solid. I think he can consistently hit 2-3 fWAR win seasons, making him a solid selection. Not doing stupid shit to cost the White Sox wins is a huge improvement, regardless of the fWAR impact. In terms of the Jarred Kelenic start, he's 21, too early to fret. Most players, including Madrigal, are in college or Rookie/A ball at that age. Playing for that horseshit organization is a challenge in an of itself.

"Clueless" Joe was stuck with a 134 game under .500 record managing the late 1970s / early 1980s Mets (286-420) to start his career. That's a big hole, even for Joe Pesci, to dig out. Also, liked the Fegan article regarding the challenges he faces covering Tony, who looks at him as the only reporter asking probing questions. Has to get under Tony's skin that James know the rulebook better than him. Hopefully James will be covering a new White Sox manager in 2022. Would say the best managers in my lifetime were Earl Weaver and Davey Johnson (who played for Earl), both far ahead of the curve in terms of strategy and intuitive knowledge of the proper strategy decades before their tactics were utilized widely. Davey Johnson is one of three managers in MLB history who took four different teams to the playoffs, with the Casey Stengel mentored Billy Martin and underappreciated Dusty Baker being the other two. Tony could learn from Earl's pregame spoof (language advisory) regarding fleas on the bases and playing for home runs and big innings.

Yes, he has avoided a lot of flat out stupid baserunning and fielding plays which were too commonplace last year (very costly in the playoffs) and April this year. If he can keep the contact rate near / at where it is, will at least be a decent 2B while under team control. Glad I listen to games and only have to hear Benetti yell "Nicky Two Strikes" while watching condensed games.

And on the flippity flip Most managerial losses post Jackie Robinson Tony La Russa 2,388 (.536) Gene Mauch 2,037 (.483) Bruce Bochy 2,029 (.497) Bobby Cox 2,001 (.556) Joe Torre 1,997 (.538) Sparky Anderson 1,834 (.545) Jim Leyland 1,728 (.506) Lou Piniella 1,713 (.517) Dusty Baker 1,693 (.532) Walter Alston 1,613 (.558)

#Team Dave Wills Forever

Like I said, I don't care what the vocal cubsessed fans think. Last year several posted they weren't rooting for the Cubs against Cleveland in September. Sad, but expected by the cubssessed, many who hate the Cubs more than they like the Sox. I care about beating the teams the Sox face the most, competing for the postseason. It didn't matter if the Sox beat the Cubs or not, they lost the Division each and every year since the aughts, to their Division Rivals, the most important games the White Sox play each regular season. Take a poll of the players who they rather win the season series against, Cleveland, Minnesota or the Cubs. Cubs will finish third in that poll, and the players would be right. The Division Rivals are the focus of the season.

I noted Hendry, not because there was noted public criticism or personal attacks by Stone of Hendry, but based on Hendry's quote regarding Stone's admission of the personal nature of Stone's attacks against Baker and several players in the Cubs organization. Stone had a chance to respond and challenge Hendry's public comments, but instead dug in stating "I regret nothing", and then later stated he was moving on and refused to comment. Stone (no checkmark, keeps losing it for how he conducts himself on Twitter) tweeted a few weeks ago that he would have worked in a front office. However, he sat unemployed, no front office job, after leaving the Cubs beyond his PT Score gig, where he of course developed a feud with his co-host (though Mark Murphy is also a tool). Jerry, the employer of last resort, brought him into radio and then the TV booth, where Stone then developed a well noted feud with his legendary play by play partner, including engaging in a "slap fight" with the 71 year old. Hawk retired and was then elected to the BBHOF for Broadcasting Excellence.

What the hell is this about? Recording a music video in the off-season. Please. Have actual links to support this, or just another unsubstantiated rumors and innuendos lobbed at Moncada?

So awesome to have a complete ML centerfielder out there. Hopefully Tony has the sense to play him over Leury Garcia on a regular basis.

Not on Tony, outside of complete bullshit when it comes to kissing Tony La Russa's ass, while holding others to a much different standard. Ask Dusty Baker, Lou Piniella, Ricky Renteria, Jim Hendry. Ask Yoan Moncada, the subject of this thread. The answer to Lou's question is despite baseball's crony job hiring practices, nobody on Earth would empower Stone's pompous arrogant ass with a management position. Can't imagine being a human being having to report to Steve Stone, or having that well documented asshole work in my organization, Even the king of crony hires JR has enough sense to keep him in a non management role, where his toxicity is limited to his feuds with longtime broadcast partners and trashing White Sox fans on twitter.

I'd take that with the current roster (Robert as #2, at least vs. LHP, when he returns).

Still the case after his two run single?

Andrew Vaughn is awesome. EOM

More idiotic Tigers defense leads to a triple by Adam Eaton. Time to take advantage.

Adam Engel on his hamstring injury: "I'm not going to max out a leg curl this week, but I can do everything on a baseball field."

And multiple managers on both sides of town. Calling out poor play is one thing. Attributing it to lack of caring, to not trying, is an opinion, not a fact, as Steve Stone tries to argue.

A rival is who we are playing for the division title. 1906 was the last time the Sox and Cubs played games that truly mattered. Perhaps the Cubsessed care about the handful of these garbage inter league games, but Sox fans who care about more than thumping their chest and getting into stupid arguments and drunken fights with other idiots have their eye on winning the division, not insert corporate crosstown cup. Meet again in the World Series, game on. Until then, hyped nonsense.

RH: “Tigers looking to split the series. We are better at every single area but one.” KW: “Yes we are, same as when we face the Twins. Salvador Perez and Trevor Bauer are the only exceptions in our division.” RH: “Tony keeps ordering outs on purpose. Bunts, failed hit and runs, batting injured batters, bashing players for home runs. Playing Leury every single game. Poor bullpen decisions, leaving gassed pitchers out there, even after I went over how best to use our staff.” KW: “He may be the worst manager we ever had, clearly the worst in baseball today.” RH: “He’s going to cost us any chance at a World Series, isn’t he?” KW: “God works in mysterious ways.”

Tony La Russa intentionally walked said washed up player before he was DFA’d by Anaheim a few weeks later.

Bob Brenly is taking a week off to reflect on his statements about Stroman and others including Aramis Ramirez who spoke out regarding Brenly's personal attacks. Steve Stone, who has a history of attacking various players and managers, including his current crusade against Yoan Moncada, better check himself before he is also asked to take a time out, either temporary or permanent. https://theathletic.com/2631373/2021/06/03/former-cub-aramis-ramirez-says-bob-brenlys-commentary-was-discriminatory-brenly-to-take-week-off-of-diamondbacks-broadcasts/ Chicago Now Article Link: https://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2015/05/analyzing-bob-brenly-the-way-he-analyzes-starlin-castro/

It's the primary reason he returned. It stuck in his craw that he sat second in all time losses for decades, while remaining third in wins after hanging it up. His White Sox Managerial Record is the primary concern of most of us on SoxTalk. White Sox Managerial Win Records: Jimmy Dykes 899 (13 seasons .489) Al Lopez 840 (11 seasons .564) - American League Pennant Winner Ozzie Guillen 678 (8 seasons .524) - World Series Winner Tony La Russa 557 (9th season .511) White Sox Managerial Winning Percentage Records: Fielder Jones .592 - World Series Winner Clark Griffith .581 - American League Champion (pre World Series Era) Pants Rowland .578 - World Series Winner Marty Manon .565 Al Lopez .564 - American League Pennant Winner Gene Lamont .551 Paul Richards .529 Bob Lemon .525 Ozzie Guillen .524 - World Series Winner Eddie Collins .521 Kid Gleason .519 - American League Pennant Winner Jerry Manuel .515 Jeff Torborg .515 Billy Sullivan .514 Tony La Russa .511 White Sox Post Season Managerial Records: Ozzie Guillen .750 - 1 World Series Championship (4-0 over the Houston Astros); 1 ALCS Championship; 1-1 Division Series Championships Fielder Jones .667 - 1 World Series Championship (4-2 over the Chicago Cubs) Pants Rowland .667 - 1 World Series Championship (4-2 over the New York Giants) Kid Gleason .375 - 1 American League Pennant (Lost World Series 5-3 vs. the Cincinnati Reds) Al Lopez .333 - 1 American League Pennant (Lost World Series 4-2 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers) Gene Lamont .333 - Lost American League Championship 4-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays Ricky Renteria .333 - Lost Wild Card Round 2-1 vs. the Oakland Athletics Tony La Russa .250 - Lost American League Championship Series 3-1 vs. the Baltimore Orioles Jerry Manual .000 - Lost American League Division Series 3-0 vs. the Seattle Mariners

Tony La Russa believes the same thing on Thursday that he did on Tuesday, regardless of what happens on Wednesday.

Firing La Russa and replacing him with a manager physically and mentally residing in the 21st century, would be a good start. Someone who incorporates modern bullpen decision making, such as using your best relievers in high leverage situations, over brain dead push button automatic assigned innings would be a good start. A manager more concerned with winning a ballgame as opposed to getting his buddy a save opportunity. Someone like A. J. Hinch, or a couple dozen other examples.