The Kids Can Play

Never thought of him, but that's a great suggestion.

Can't wait for Rick's BS excuses and ways to rationalize and spin this.

You're right and this is the most embarrassing and disgusting season ever in my Sox lifetime.

GAME ON!

Thank you Kenyan Middleton for being brave enough and convicted to tell the truth about this Sox team, that evidently has no rules and accountability. We all heard about the team's horrible toxic culture. Your comments confirm more clearly for everyone, which many of us already knew. Your comments are further documentation in a slew of reasons why this Sox team is so horribly bad. Thank you also Lance Lynn for confirming these Middleton statements are accurate. I know there is always a risk to come out like you did, especially the fact you'll be a free agent after the season. It was very disturbing to hear Kenyan's comments this morning. However now with your follow up comments, it just confirms the cancer that does exist on this Sox team. A big thank you in advance to any future ex-Sox players who have the courage to come out publicly to tell the truth about this dysfunctional FO and manager/coaching staff. I guess for many of us who were blasting this manager early on, who had to take a lot criticism that it wasn't Grifol's fault, due to the fact Rick Hahn gave Pedro a bad roster. We now know our thoughts about Grifol were accurate and vindicated. We can now close the book on whether Pedro Grifol is a good manager or not and deserving of another shot next year as the White Sox manager in 2024. Of course whether Grifol is fired or brought back is not the point. We will never be able to change the fact that JR, KW and RH are inept executive clowns. As a result, if they choose to keep Grifol next year, that would simply be their normal MO crap, which none of us would be shocked by...maybe pissed and irate...but not shocked. At least we now realize what many of us said all along, Pedro Grifol was a huge mistake being hired. Now there is no more gray area about why Grifol is seriously "over his head" managing the White Sox. He needs to be given his walking papers.

That was the hope, but you can cross that off the list of things we think Tim Anderson is capable of in the future.

I really enjoy these posts too, as it's the only way for us die-hard Sox fans to remind ourselves of when the Sox were actually fun and exciting to watch in past years...obviously something we will not see for many more years.

Updated notes for Jerry Reinsdorf. Checklist for Reasons to Fire Rick Hahn! - Overall losing record in 11 seasons as the GM - W-L (745-885) .457 ✔ - Only 2 playoffs in 11 years with first round eliminations in both. ✔ - Only two seasons over .500 in 11 seasons. ✔ - Failed miserably on the 2016 rebuild which he convinced me on, that I was wasn't that in favor of. ✔ - Promised me a team that would contend for multiple championships and at least one parade. ✔ - One of the worst farm systems in baseball. ✔ - A documented record of signing unsuccessful and unproductive free agents. ✔ - A documented record of making unsuccessful trades. ✔ - Allowed a team 81-81 last year to regress badly with a current 45-68 record being 14 games out of first place in the worst division in baseball. ✔ - He was given a strong team payroll to start the 2023 season, which has produced one of the worst teams in baseball this season. ✔ - According to Baseball Reference, we have the #1 largest decrease in attendance in 2023 from 2022 in MLB ✔ - Hired Pedro Grifol who evidently is a terrible hire and someone who has zero rules and accountability with his team ✔

I wonder what J Hood said after Jesse Rogers interview about this lack of accountability from Grifol. J Hood is a huge Sox fan and he is not afraid to speak his peace and be harsh. I hope he did call out Grifol and the FO.

This is all comes down to the absolutely horrible decision Rick Hahn made in hiring Grifol. Let's go back to the original press conference when Hahn introduced Grifol as the new White Sox manager. Two key parts to watch on this video: 1. Hahn introduction of Grifol - 3:10 - 6:22 - This is Hahn gushing and arrogantly telling everyone what a stud he just hired. 2. Grifol taking the mic - 14:46 - 15:47 - These were the strong promises that Grifol boldly made about the effort and accountability he was going to demand.

My favorite part of his rant: "The second I found out I was traded, I shaved my face," Middleton said. "I was ready to play by their rules because all I want to do is win games. ... You know how to act [here]. You know not to be late and you know there are consequences if you are late."

I just find this funny and ironic all on the same day: Quintana - Mets Bassitt - Blue Jays Rodon - Yankees Lynn - Dodgers Keuchel - Twins

Ok good, I just checked and I see he went there 8-1. Btw, didn't he finish the season in AA last year? I know he was injured for a long time, but when he was ready to play again why didn't he go back to AA?

Wow, such emotion from such an awesome leader of men!

Thanks for posting this here because with all the Sox misery, we need some good news to talk about occasionally. I agree this guy is a stud. My concern is why in the hell is he still in high A? It seems like overkill and the old proverbial "a big fish in a small pond." The Sox didn't do this with Robert, Madrigal, Sale, Rodon and others. I want this guy at SS in 2024 as much as anyone. I think we could be looking at a real star. However Colson needs to go to AA sooner than later and then AAA.

First of all there was a post several weeks ago about new prospect rankings and tons of people posted here the only viable and valid source for rankings was Baseball America. I am only going off that and what I have read. I believe BA is what the GM's look at. I understand the Sox have added some 8-10 nice prospects via the draft and recent trades. Again I sincerely hope they are mid teens, because I hate watching them be losers. However and I'm asking this seriously and not trying to be funny....you have to help me understand how the Sox farm can improve that much from their last ranking of #26 when there are still tons of bad players in the minors Pitching Knights - 6.43 ERA - 20th of 20 teams Barons - 5.64 ERA - 8th of 8 teams Winston-Salem - 5.54 ERA - 11th of 12 teams Hitting Knights - Runs #20, OBP #20, SLG #19, OPS #20 Barons - Runs #7, OBP #8, SLG #7, OPS #8 These horrible pitchers and hitters are a huge collection in the minors and I'm not sure how 8-10 players drastically change that. Regardless of where the new ranking number is, and let's say it's 14-15. Does it really matter? The same player development coaches are in the minors. If they screwed up Crochet what makes you believe they won't screw up Schultz? When the Sox had a high top ranked farm system several years ago, how did that work out as we finish up the 2023 season? Other than Sale and Rodon, when have the Sox last drafted and developed a successful pitcher at the major league level?

So shocking why Eloy pulls so many hamstrings and groins. LOL! Again this only happens because there are no leaders on this team to kick Eloy and others in the ass, as well as coaches and a manager making sure the players stretch better. This organization is absolutely the worse in terms of accountably and leadership skills.

Oh great, such good news!

Not true at all. Btw, I have never talked about wins and losses ever as being relevant in the minors. I only discuss the stats which are relevant. There are several garbage pitchers in Charlotte and Birmingham. Many of them have 5, 6 and 7 ERA's. There is a reason the Sox haven't been successful bringing up pitchers. Name me the last Sox pitcher they drafted and developed other than Rodon and Sale. The reason the Dodgers always have one of the best farm systems, is because they are able to scout, draft and develop great pitchers, that they can bring up to the majors to be productive, or use for trades to grab great hitters. Stats absolutely matter. If a Sox pitcher consistently can't get runners out in AAA and the opposing teams keep scoring runs on that pitcher, then hell yes, stats matter and probably why many of those pitchers won't be in the majors any time soon.

That is a good point. However because of my work, I know a few people in Seattle that were basketball fans and upset at the time. The fact of the matter is, the Supersonics attendance was one of the worst in the NBA at the time and although it was a shitty thing to do to the Seattle fans when the owner moved the team to Oklahoma City, might have backfired on him. The current Thunder team is near the bottom of attendance in the NBA.

I understand they have added some 8-10 nice prospects via the draft and recent trades. I still don't see where these new prospects will come in and erase or all the horrible prospects that currently play in the Sox farm system. Pitching Knights - 6.43 ERA - 20th of 20 teams Barons - 5.64 ERA - 8th of 8 teams Winston-Salem - 5.54 ERA - 11th of 12 teams Hitting Knights - Runs #20, OBP #20, SLG #19, OPS #20 Barons - Runs #7, OBP #8, SLG #7, OPS #8 As a life long Sox fan, I hope I am wrong and they have all this wonderful talent that will make our farm system relevant again. However there is so many bad players, I don't see how they can move to #12 as you suggest. I just need you to help me understand how that crap just gets flushed away and everything is hunky dory! There are a lot more than 8-10 bad prospects in AAA and AA. I think a more realistic number would be high teens 17-19 from #26. Even if the Sox are higher and maybe ranked #12-14, the problem still remains the horrible player development coaches that are still in all levels in the minors. You can add some great bats and arms, but the same inept coaches who allowed the Sox farm system to be ranked #29 in 2002 and #26 in 2023 are still in place. Several good prospects have been ruined by the Sox. As a result, before anyone gets all excited about the new #12 ranking, if that is indeed the case, keep in mind we are allowing horrible inept coaches to continue to produce underdeveloped talent. They screwed up Crochet and what makes you think they don't screw up Schultz? Btw, the last time the Sox had a really high ranked farm system, how did that work out for that promised parade and the championship contention years?

Ok Mr. Expert on rankings. I will wait until Baseball America comes out. According to all this massive farm system improvement to #12 from 26, I assume you are predicting the Sox will be in the playoffs in 2024! LOL! Btw Fangraphs is great for baseball analytics, but they are not the bible on prospects rankings that GM's go by.

That's a great point that the Cub fans are also die-hard fans of our Bears, Bulls and Hawks. It's too bad this town doesn't have just one team and that being the Sox, but I understand that will never happen. I have way more family and close friends that are Cub fans than Sox fans. Father time is ticking away and it's now just a waiting game for the new owner.

With all due respect, Kiley McDaniel is a baseball writer for ESPN and one person. ESPN is not the gospel on baseball prospect rankings like Baseball America is. Again this is all speculation, we all need to slow down a tad and wait until the published rankings come out. An individual or two saying their opinions is not the official baseball rankings. It just doesn't make any sense with this Sox horrible farm system, adding these new prospects will move them from their previous and current ranking of 26 to 12. If you believe that, then you really haven't been the checking the minors closely with the Sox teams at all four levels. Just go look up each team and check their stats and records compared to their opponents in terms of ERA's and hitting.

I appreciate your opinion and I know several people here think the new owner will move. However the next owner would be crazy to leave the third largest market and go to some small market. It wouldn't be wise to take a chance with his new fanbase that might not support the Sox for example like in Tampa Bay. All the new owner needs to do is build a consistent winning playoff team that is exciting to watch, along with eventually a brand new state of the art stadium and the fans will support the Sox with great attendance.