South Side Hit Men

Come back Luis, don't follow the light!

He just spent $150M on two rehashed veterans, $23M on complete busts last season (Parrot, Gio and Mazara), burning money on two managers this year with his Renteria extension, and pissing away $60M more during the three tanking years (Kelvin Herrera, Yonder Alonso, Wellington Castillo and Todd Frazier). Hahn pissed away a quarter of a billion dollars in the past four off seasons, after he was declared “all growns up”.

Tony and the White Sox are so fortunate beat writers have little to no access to the clubhouse or front office beyond team managed zoom calls. The vast majority of media and fans has seen many of the first month of decisions as a complete joke. There’s no doubt players and FO experiencing this first hand are even more frustrated at wasting at least another year because of this fossil.

I’m talking about the recent make over, Michael Reinsdorf swapping out Jerry’s decades old relics last offseason with professional competent management. Hahn has spent more than a full years payroll on a #4/#5 starter people are hoping doesn’t vest his 4th year, and a catcher who has matched his backups the past two seasons. His prior high priced FAs have also been busts. He’s not trusted enough in the organization to ever select a manager. If it weren’t for Jerry’s preferred dysfunctional management style, Hahn and Kenny would have been swept out in 2015-2016. Thankfully for Hahn, nobody ever gets fired in a Reinsdorf FO, and there is never any accountability. You blame the players for not performing. Who acquired those players for the past decade? Which team accumulated the second worst record in MLB since Hahn was hired (thank you Miami)?

No, it’s pretty clear Ethan Katz was the only acquisition not initiated by Tony this off-season, hence the qualification of letting the dumpster fire continue. As much as I have criticized Hahn, I don’t believe he would be in agreement of finding new positions for Jake Lamb to learn, playing Leury regularly, or leading the league in 110 + pitch outings. Frankly I was surprised Lucroy and Williams were jettisoned. Bottom line is Soxtalk wanted Ricky gone, I wanted the FO gone with a Bulls type makeover, and someone else making the manager hire. Similar to a Twilight Zone episode, the Faustian bargain didn’t turn out as hoped or planned. Best I can hope for is Tony is happy after reaching #2 on the wins list, leaves after the season and a competent manager is hired who can lead the team to a World Series win.

Not to mention pigs will fly out of Jerry’s behind before Jerry eats even two months of KB’s contract. Jarod Dyson was an “aggressive move” at last year’s deadline, with only one month of contracts to eat and a starting playoff rotation consisting of Lucas, Keuchel and duct tape.

I’m not sure using logic and reason will going to sway opinions here or with octogenarian managers/owners. The only way to solve Tony’s lineups, assuming he can’t be fired, is to DFA Lamb and tell Tony Hamilton, and then Leury are the next to go if played regularly over starters or better bench options. If Hahn isn’t authorized to manage La Russa than let the dumpster fire continue until he leaves. Lineup: TA 6 NM 4 YM 5 JA 3 YM 10 AE 9 AV 7 YG/ZC 2 AEn 8 Bench: DM ZC LG BH. DFA: Lamb

Tony is playing Lamb regularly against RHP once he passed Tony’s LF audition. Both played four games since April 29th, Leary played five. On a team with a competent lucid modern day manager, Vaughn is a regular, Garcia a bench player, Lamb not even invited to ST.

And he remains behind Leury Garcia and Jake Lamb in Tony’s pecking order.

The bigger question are there any statements by Tony that he would even consider playing Engel over his preferred current options of Lamb, Garcia, Eaton and Nick Williams? Vaughn and Engel can fill in a day or two per week, they must wait their turn behind people who earned it. Send Yermin down for a few weeks to let him think about what he did to displease Tony. Opens up more playing time for Lamb, Leury and Williams. Based on many comments yesterday, there is a solid percentage of posters here who would applaud that move. Old school, baby. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the outfield, and the 5 hole. - Tony 5:5

Mother's mother's family immigrated from Dublin to Liverpool, mixed family allegiance between Liverpool and Everton, mostly Everton because they're historically the Roman Catholic club. They don't have the same dynamic in terms of geographical or social economic differences than at least stereotypes of differences between Sox and Cubs fans. Anyway, the biggest story in 2021 across all of sports will likely be the smack down of the proposed European Super League, and the continued fallout including the take over of the "Field of Wet Dreams" by protesting fans. It was an absolutely evil and corrupt scheme. The pyramid / relegation system is sacred, and serves the entire nation. No sane fan wants and American system. Protestors were able to force cancelation of the Liverpool vs. United match earlier today. Well done! https://www.independent.co.uk/news/manchester-united-fans-storm-pitch-in-antiownership-protest-manchester-united-manchester-england-liverpool-american-b1841006.html https://www.businessinsider.com/european-super-league-socialism-comparison-american-sports-system-fan-backlash-2021-4?op=1

Possible good news on the Engel front, which will help if Tony decides to play him more than once or twice a week: Len ditching radio for the entire week to cover for Stone on the TV side. Connor McKnight has been solid, but will still miss Len. Two more worthwhile Stone tweets.

Was this context ever applied to Rick Renteria? The manager who literally had: One decent starting pitcher at his disposal in Oakland. Mazara and Parrot instead of Vaughn, Yermin and Eaton. Hand-me-down Don Cooper coasting on 2005 efforts as Kenny’s snitch vs. Ethan Katz. Renaldo Lopez and duct tape vs. Lynn and Hendriks.

The Cubs won three divisions and won a World Series during their six year window. If the Sox fail to at least match this level of accomplishment during Hahn’s “multi championship” window, fans should be deem this entire scheme a complete and utter failure.

By continuing to play Garcia and Lamb (and previously Nick Williams, who may return Tuesday) on a regular basis over far superior players, Tony is putting himself and his biases over the needs and success of the club. Then again, that is what Jerry has done time and again including TLR’s hiring. The problem is the key core players get literally zero days off unless they are hurt (Abreu, Robert, Tim and Yoan), and then you have the other extreme of bench players like Leury getting more starts than regulars like Vaughn, because of a 1980s “veterans code” Tony is using to manage. The needs of the club must also come before the feelings and “gut” of the manager.

Does Jason say “Chicago”, the “Chicagoland area”, “here”, or Naperville? I listen to games, then watch the condensed game, so I honestly don’t know. Solak is from the suburbs, went to HS in Naperville. Close, but not Chicago.

Tony said Yermin had an acceptable reason for being late, and that he knew replacing Yermin was a "disappointing move" from the perspective of fans. I'm sure it was disappointing for the team as well, could have used his bat today with the bases loaded.

All of these post game press conferences are on zoom. Why aren't they streamed and or available in the team video section, beyond one or two snippets?

I'm fine with bench players playing, but it should be 1 per game, and they shouldn't bat 5th. The wrong people are on the roster (Mendick over Lamb). Leury plays more than Vaughn. Tony's creating new positions for Lamb to play in his age 30 season. If Ricky attempted any of this, he would be crucified, and justifiably so. Tony does it and when he is called out, its "ageism" and "he's a hall of famer". People in the hall of fame are long removed from the game and or dead. There is a reason no manager will ever return in a similar manner.

It's a dual issue, because they do have solid players but Tony refuses to use them regularly. When Engel returns, if Hahn doesn't DFA Lamb, he'll still be playing left, along with Leury, and Hamilton, and Nick Williams, and they will bat 5th through 7th, because they "earned it".

Wait, I thought we were supposed to post apologies to Rick Hahn, what for I'm still not clear.

Most were calling for him to be pulled after the first two hitters forced 17 pitches (a walk and an out) up 2-1. Agree it was not a guaranteed win, but why not go to the "elite" bullpen for the final 8 outs after an off day with Giolito at 106 pitches?

He's pitched good to great beyond the weird Boston morning game. Would have won Tuesday if the game was managed properly.

Jake Lamb with Lance Lynn as his backup. They’re veterans, Rony knows who they are. Based on his postgame comments, he still doesn’t know Leury’s name.