South Side Hit Men

They are 2025 Free Agents. I agree would be nice to bring in better 4-5 and shift both to the bullpen, but don’t see the Sox being able to sign five solid FA pitchers, will be lucky to get two. With Jerry, they will likely get zero.

Don’t even have to go as far back as Hemond. Himes built the only legitimate multi-year championship contending core, but was shitcanned for not kissing Jerry’s ass enough. Kenny did a solid job collecting scraps to build a legitimate WS winner for less than fifty cents on the dollar, though that ran its course after the Feud with Ozzie. Need a new owner to get anyone qualified to run the show.

The Garfeins, McGruffs and others want to spend even more net money to replace Eloy with Justin Turner, Elvis with Merrifield. Clamored for and pimped La Russia’s arrival. Kelly, Lynn, Eaton, Keuchel we’re great team guys as well. Far higher salaries, far less net production, but oh does it improve “culture”, or so they claim. Funny how the same great culture all looks the same in a police lineup, all are way over the hill and should already be out of baseball, all overpaid, yet highly praised year after year after year by the same Jerry paid media schmucks. Same at the Executive level. Kenny with his WS and legitimate rosters was garbage. Hahn and Getz were great hires with their hands tied. Hahn had great ideas and was foiled for 12 years. Getz is the only guy who does it the right way, the Jerry way. White Sox baseball. Some things will never change…

A substantial percentage of MLB fans will shrink in this market. No more garbage crosstown series to pimp for either team to the drunks and clowns. Less people have Marquee than JerryTV. MLB was fine with Oakland moving because that MSA market is half the size (4.6M) of Chicago (9.3M), and SF/Oakland continues to shrink over the past three years with endless lockdowns, vast numbers of businesses closing / leaving, and net replacement largely consisting of a lowered external immigration rate and large numbers of drug addict homeless moving in. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-25/california-census-data Bottom line is perhaps Ricketts would be happy, but the 29 other owners would not be, including whatever asshole moves the Sox out of Chicago when the long term impact is considered. Same as if Illinois actually followed the law, let the clock run out, and let the scumbag Dodger fans schlep the team to Tampa Bay to field annual 100-120 loss teams with a fraction of the revenue available here. Would have screwed up the Bulls as well with no programming half the years for SportsVision et al.

This would be a nice Opening Day 2025 scenario, would mirror 2019 in terms of having a good solid young core, with payroll flexibility in terms of putting together a solid 2026-2029 run. Other option is to pass on both the 2024 / 2025 classes beyond 1-2 solid long term pieces and target 2026 (Gives Ramos and Quero and extra year, call up Montgomery for 2025) as the first contention year if Jerry lives beyond the 2024 season. Perhaps pair Benintendi with Cease in a 2024 deal for maximum payroll flexibility, have one or two rookie pitchers drafted or acquired to slot in 2026. Let Eloy walk after next year if you're postponing contention until 2026. Possible 2025 Scenario Front Office: Owner: Melody Hobson President of Baseball Operations: Kim Ng GM/Manager: TBD Lineup: SS Colson Montgomery (23 L) Pre Arb 1 2B Gleyber Torres (28 R) 2025 Free Agent CF Luis Robert Jr. (27 R) $15.0M DH Eloy Jimenez (28 R) $16.5M 1B Andrew Vaughn (27 R) Arb 2 C Edgar Quero (22 S) Pre Arb 1 3B Bryan Ramos (23 R) Pre Arb 1 LF Andrew Benintendi (30 L) $17.1M RF Oscar Colas (26 R) Pre Arb 3 Bench: C Victor Caratini (31 R) Free Agent INF Romy Gonzalez (28 R) Pre Arb 3 INF / OF TBD OF Yoelqui Cespedes (28 R) Pre Arb 1/2 Rotation: Shane Bieber (30 R) 2025 Free Agent Tyler Glasnow (31 R) 2025 Free Agent Dylan Cease (29 R) Arb 3 Michael Kopech (29 R) Arb 3 Garrett Crochet (26 L) Arb 2 Bullpen: L. Hendriks (36 R) - 2 Year Contract Adjustment (2024-2025 + 2026 Team Option) G. Santos (25 R) Pre Arb 3 L. Patino (25 R) Arb 1 T. Banks (33 L) Pre Arb 3 M. Foster (30 R) Arb 2 TBD TBD TBD Buyouts: $6.25M Yoan Moncada $5.0M Aaron Bummer $1.25M

Another ho him day for White Sox alumni. Nice to see the Astros come within a game of tying the series and making this a best of three. Both teams go at it tomorrow. Cumulative LCS stats through Wednesday: Craig Kimbrel Philadelphia 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 ER, 1 Save Marcus Semein Texas 2-12, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K Jose Abreu Houston 2-12, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K Dane Dunning Texas DNP

TV largely calls the shots here, plus you have travel arrangement for teams and media to consider. I believe the 2016-2017 through 2022-2023 NBA playoffs are going on as we speak. ? Wonder if they skip him in a Game 6 or 7 situation. Don’t think he is ready at this stage. Not sure why they aren’t using Dunning to start, perhaps he will tomorrow.

So signing yet another old decrepit DH will bring culture change? This is the kind of pathetic mindset that brought this organization into the lowest rungs of professional sports. How about this for culture change? Sign good players who can field baseballs, hit and run. Don’t ever sign another fucking DH, especially one who is over 30 (let alone pushing 40).

So the previous clown show signed Dunn, LaRoche, Parrot, Grandal. They acquired Eloy, Davidson, Yermin, Alonso & Lamb. They drafted Vaughn, Burger, Sheets and this year Gonzalez. All the while having Jose Abreu through last season. And what is the one player both of these podcast clowns want to sign? A 39 year old DH. GTFOOH

If it suddenly ended tomorrow, I could somehow adjust to the fall. Good times and riches and son of a bitches, I’ve seen more than I can recall. These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, nothing remains quite the same. Through all of the islands and all of the highlands, if we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane. - Eloy Jimenez

To be fair, the last GM was also promoted without basically any qualifications.

As bad as Jerry is, he will never rank below 29th in terms of worst MLB owners as long as there is no expansion and this guy is still in the league. Jerry outlast other lower POS like Peter Angelos, Marge Schott and Bud Selig.

Well, well, well. What have we here? More White Sox alumni, two more wins in the 2023 Postseason, consistent with the first two rounds. White Sox alumni are now 3-0 to start their respective LCS, possibly on their way to a 9-1 record heading into the World Series. Losing Graveman and not rostering Zavala has put Houston and Arizona in a distinct disadvantage. League Championship Series statistics through Monday: Marcus Semein Texas 2-9, 1 R, 2 K Craig Kimbrel Philadelphia 1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 ER, 1 Save Jose Abreu Houston 1-7, 1 BB, 4 K Dane Dunning Texas DNP

Not really, since he has 19 more years under his belt than the next closest owners on the list (2000 purchases by Rogers and Nolan). Would say Tampa ownership is the best on the list, because even though they won't spend money, and made a poor decision building a new stadium in St. Petersburg, he at least has the sense to hire competent staff which have an executable plan in the highest payroll division over the past few decades.

Worthless and or Clueless MLB Owners: Owner / Managing Partner (Team Year) # of World Series Seasons or last appearance if none under current ownership. John Angelos (Baltimore 2020) None - Last WS in 1983 Mark Attanasio (Milwaukee 2005) None - Last WS in 1982 Robert Castellini (Cincinnati 2005) None - Last WS in 1990 Paul Dolan (Cleveland 2000) One - Lost in 2016 John Fisher (Oakland 2016) None - Last WS in 1990 Chris Illitch (Detroit 2017) None - Last WS in 2012 Ken Kendrick (Arizona 2004) None - Last WS in 2001 Charles & Richard Monfort (Colorado 2005) One - Lost in 2007 Arte Moreno (Los Angeles 2003) None - Last WS in 2002 Bob Nutting (Pittsburgh 2007) None - Last WS in 1979 Jim Pohlad (Minnesota 2009) None - Last WS in 1991 Jerry Reinsdorf (Chicago 1981) One - Won WS 2005 Edward Rogers (Toronto 2000) None - Last WS in 1993 John Stanton (Seattle 2016) None - Never Bruce Sherman (Miami 2017) None - Last WS in 2003 John Sherman (Kansas City 2020) None - Last WS in 2015 Staurt Sternberg (Tampa Bay 2005) Two - Lost in 2020 & 2008

It's going to take a lot of time to get there, but the Royals are getting a new stadium which may mean they possibly will commit to spending more than their annual MLB revenue sharing on payroll. To me, the poll question comes down to: Will John Sherman build a legitimate FO and contending team with the new stadium? Will a new non-Reinsdorf owner attempt to build a legitimate FO and contending team? David Glass brought Royals payroll to 15th post WS, with $143M the max before shifting down to $97M in 2019 and then selling to John Sherman, a minority owner with the Guardians. I don't see Jerry replacing Getz regardless of team performance as he won't have the will or energy to go through the traumatic experience of replacing his FO in his 90s or 100s. The Tigers have the best chance to win a World Series out of the five AL Central based on the combination of their current ownership and front office. That said, would say more than 15 teams have a better chance outside of the AL Central.

There were 518 respondents to this MLB Trade Rumors Chat Poll Question (results at the 7:38 mark): Who Is First To Win A World Series? 56.2% Royals 291 Votes 43.8% White Sox 227 Votes

She will get work elsewhere. Taking the final option year without an extension means you are operating as a lame duck. No mention she was offered an extension in the two articles I've read. Turning back to the pathetic White Sox, here is another far superior and more experienced hire than what asshole Jerry rushed. Chris Getz' introductory press conference.

The first American League game is in the books. Once Dunning pitches, Texas will assume their two White Sox alumni series advantage. That said, Jose’s single has him with the performance lead heading into Game Two. Jose Abreu Houston 1-4, 2 K Marcus Semien Texas 0-4 Dane Dunning Texas DNP Craig Kimbrel’s team enters the fray tomorrow with an LCS doubleheader.

The American League Championship Series rosters have been released. Houston: Jose Abreu Texas: Dane Dunning & Marcus Semien. Kendall Graveman remains injured for Houston and has not been added to the roster. The National League Championship Series rosters are due tomorrow. Barring an unexpected addition of Seby Zavala to the Arizona roster, there will be one White Sox alumni in this series. Arizona: None Philadelphia: Craig Kimbrel For the previous eight 2023 playoff series, seven teams with the most, or best performing White Sox alumni in the event of ties, have advanced. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the one exception to date. If this continues over the remaining three series, Texas will defeat Philadelphia in the 2023 World Series. Division Series Wild Card Series

You don’t get it. It’s not about limiting exposure to any one platform, be it OTA or PPV. It’s also not about maximizing short term income today at the expense of long term income and growth (where MLB is the past 30 years). It’s about maximizing exposure today and beyond. That’s what the NFL knew for decades, and other teams and leagues are slowly coming to realize in 2023. The market will continue to become fragmented across cable, streaming and OTA. Meet all of it, not dwindling slivers of it. MLB had the future handed to them with a bow on top with the collapse of Bally’s, but their owners once again failed to make the right moves to shift to the 21st century. Hope they enjoy their 2-3% of America’s World Series interest.

So your response indicates you believe the various teams and sports leagues currently on or gradually returning to broadcast television are ignorant compared to The MLB, which blackout out games even for customers willing to pay hundreds of dollars directly to the league, including blackouts for up to six teams in Vegas and much of Nevada and all of Iowa. You must have heard the news by now cable and satellite TV subscribers are dwindling each and every year, with over 1/3 of Americans gone and never returning. Also, allowing multiple methods (over the air, people who wish to stream via MLB, people who still have cable) maximizes exposure. This is what progressive owners from a financial perspective have studied and have come to the conclusion is the best method to maximize long term growth and revenue. I mean, what sports team or league would want that? Certainly not Cro-Magnon Era owners such as Bill Wirtz and his OG Partner Jerry Reinsdorf. Add in Eddie Einhorn who destroyed White Sox TV viewership to twenty one thousand households per season, and lost up to $300,000 a month with his genius SportsVision scheme, while simultaneously shifting a 50/50 Chicago fan interest split to 60/40 + Cubs over a generation. Brilliant. The Cubs sold for $1M less than the Sox within the same calendar year two generations ago. Not surprisingly, the current valuation also reflects a similar split as the current respective fan bases, as today the Cubs are worth $4.1B, or double the $2.05B Forbes pegs the White Sox. Jerry and Eddie did that, all for the privilege of shaking down Sox fans for a few bucks a month, because as they have stated since the day they arrived they are clearly the smartest men in any room.

Liam goes far beyond any potential wins or losses. Even if Jerry Reinsdorf prioritized on field success, which there is no evidence he had over his 43 years as owner, I could see them wanting him involved in 2024 and beyond. Liam’s recovery from cancer was pretty much the lone feel good story in 2023. The team heavily marketed his recovery and return from cancer, and subsequent cancer events and fan meetups were promoted on social media. Perhaps there is mutual interest with Liam continuing with the White Sox in a FO or coaching role after retirement. While Liam will not personally be responsible for $15M in ticket sales next year, I do suspect they will hold a game or two with Liam involved that will feature perhaps a cancer fundraiser (raffle, perhaps extra promotional item with special tickets they do several times a season). I also think they give him a two year deal (2024-2025) with a third year option / buyout, primarily because Jerry takes care of the limited number of people on Earth he likes, and Liam seems to like it here (Chicago + White Sox) despite the organizational dysfunction and losing. You need to have at least a few marketable players for fan interest. You can’t expect the Sox completely and intentionally alienate fans like Oakland has by intentionally sabotaging ticket sales, with their announcer spew the N word during multiple broadcasts, though the latter was probably not orchestrated by owner John Fischer.

Well, several NBA and NHL teams have did what I said the Sox should do and have transitioned from primarily or solely broadcasting games via cable / PPV subscriptions to free over the air broadcasts to, wait for it, increase community exposure and interest and expand advertising revenue by making games available to as many people as possible. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-10-11/why-sports-are-returning-to-free-broadcast-tv Individual Teams Transitioning to both Over The Air Broadcasts: NHL: Teams include the Stanley Cup Champion Las Vegas Golden Knights and Phoenix NBA: Teams include Phoenix and Utah Leagues Transitioning to Over The Air Networks: CW: LIV Golf, ACC Football & 2025 Entire NASCAR Xfinity Series (Busch) Ion: WNBA Los Angeles teams returning partial schedule to Over The Air Broadcasts the past two years include the Dodgers, Kings and Clippers. Meanwhile, The MLB clings to their multi-team MLB.com subscription blackouts, exclusive cable broadcast schedule, and declining national broadcast season and playoff / World Series interest across the country. Out of sight, out of mind. Enjoy the continued declining attendance and TV ratings Jerry, you’ve earned it.