Lip Man 1

September 16, 2007 - Sox slugger Jim Thome joined an exclusive club when he hammered his 500th career home run in the ninth inning of a White Sox 9-7 win over the Angels at U.S. Cellular Field. Thome was playing in his 2,000th career game when he connected off Dustin Moseley for the win. The Sox trailed 7-1 at one point before coming back. It was the first time that the 500th home run for a player was a walk off winner. Jim would hit 134 home runs in a White Sox uniform.

The overall free agent class this off season is a poor one.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/white-sox/ct-chicago-white-sox-pedro-grifol-chris-getz-20230916-l7jg3o5vu5brjcoendixadi6r4-story.html

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/9/15/23875967/sox-turnaround-might-take-longer-than-one-offseason-grifol-robert-clevinger-reinsdorf

12 errors for Anderson another guy who has turned into a major disappointment on and off the field.

True because the current bullpen is total garbage but relief pitchers should not be the top priority.

September 15, 1901 - In a doubleheader nightcap hosting Milwaukee, the White Sox hit an MLB-record five triples in the eighth inning — and three of them were consecutive! Sam Mertes, Fred Hartman and Herm McFarland started off the barrage with three three-baggers in a row, and after Frank Isbell failed to triple, two more were hit consecutively, by Frank Shugart and Billy Sullivan. The second-biggest crowd at South Side Park that year saw the White Sox rally, from down 4-2, with a seven-run eighth to pace a sweep of the Brewers, 5-4 and 9-4. Billy “Dummy” Hoy had hit a triple earlier in the game, giving the White Sox a total of six, setting the American League record — which the Sox would tie oin September 17, 1920 against the Yankees. The White Sox also had three triples in the opener (including from Hoy and Mertes), making nine total for the doubleheader. September 15, 1940 - Ted Lyons Day was held at Comiskey Park. The “Baylor Bearcat” won 260 games with the club and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955. His number #16 would be retired in 1987. This was the second time he was honored this way, the first time coming in 1933. This was the first game of a twin bill with Lyons getting the complete game 5-1 win on a three-hitter. September 15, 1964 - In his first at bat in the American League after many seasons in the N.L., pinch hitter deluxe Forrest “Smoky” Burgess belted a game tying home run at Detroit. The Sox would eventually win the game 3-2 in 10 innings keeping their pennant hopes alive. Burgess would lead the league in pinch hits in 1965 and 1966. The 20 pinch hits in that 66’ season tied the big-league record originally set by Ed Coleman in 1936. September 15, 1970 - Shortly after taking over as the new director of player personnel, Roland Hemond targeted the man who’d eventually in his words, ‘save’ the franchise. Hemond called the Cardinals “Bing” Devine to see what the chances were of making a deal for slugger Dick Allen offering Luis Aparicio. Devine turned him down, but 15 months later Hemond would get his man from the Dodgers for pitcher Tommy John and infielder Steve Huntz. The Dodgers also wanted a young, hard throwing left hander named Terry Forster but Hemond refused to include him in the trade. September 15, 1983 - The White Sox set the franchise record for most runs scored in the sixth inning of a game when they got 11 in a 12-0 win over the Mariners at Comiskey Park. LaMarr Hoyt got the win, his 21st on the season. The game only lasted seven innings due to rain. Harold Baines had a grand slam as the Sox cut their magic number down to two for winning the division. The Sox sent 17 men to the plate in the inning which saw them get nine hits. September 15, 1990 - Owner Jerry Reinsdorf fired G.M. Larry Himes citing ‘personality differences.’ Himes drafted and signed Sox future stars like Frank Thomas, Jack McDowell, Robin Ventura and Alex Fernandez. During the press conference announcing the hiring of Ron Schueler as new G.M., Reinsdorf issued his famous ‘Point A to point B to point C’ comment. Later in a rare radio appearance he was candid on the subject to host Chet Coppock. “The fact is Larry Himes cannot get along with anybody. You can hardly find anybody in the Sox organization that wasn’t happy when Larry Himes left.” September 15, 1996 - Frank Thomas slugged his 215th home run in a Sox uniform breaking Carlton Fisk’s team record. Thomas homered three times at Fenway Park off the Red Sox Tim Wakefield yet the Sox lost the game 9-8. Thomas went 3 for 4 with three RBI’s and four runs scored. September 15, 1997 - In an 11-10 loss in Milwaukee, Sox rookies Mario Valdez and Jeff Abbott both hit their first big league home runs. Valdez got his in the fifth inning, Abbott an inning later.

I was told this by sources over the winter: “The problem with this team is there was no real leadership, nobody to hold guys accountable. No red-asses like the Sox had in the past… Carlton Fisk, Jack McDowell, A.J. Pierzynski. Paul Konerko was a quiet guy but when we weren’t doing well he’d get really pissed. Elvis Andrus tried to supply some leadership when he came and Lucas Giolito tried.” “I’d come into the locker room after a game and you couldn’t tell if they won or lost, just nothing.” “You’d go in the locker room and all the Latino guys would be in one place, the whites in another and the African-Americans someplace else.” “I had heard that groups were apart and not close but part of that could be human nature, language divisions for example. I know the Latin guys were always around Jose’s locker, Moncada was always there. The Sox locker room is a big square so guys aren’t close to start with, the Cubs locker room is circular. I don’t know if that was by design or what but that lends itself to guys getting together.” “The problem is some of these guys just don’t care, they want to win sure but they already have gotten their money with these contracts before they proved anything. Moncada would strike out and just walk back to the dugout like no big deal, he fouls a ball off and now he can’t play for three days? His contract makes him untradable but he needs to go.”

If they get off to an awful start next season Grifol will be fired by Memorial Day.

He's laughing all the way to the bank.

"Sheets declined to elaborate on things that went wrong. But reliever Keynan Middleton publicly questioned the culture in the clubhouse after he was traded in late August, and it’s known the bond between Latin and American players is not as cohesive as it could be. Hitters have been divided by their allegiance to the hitting coaches, not an uncommon occurrence on teams with multiple hitting voices. And there have been leadership (or lack thereof) vacuums." https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/9/14/23874332/white-sox-need-to-know-what-went-wrong-what-needs-to-be-fixed

With his back it could go out again, become inflamed again tomorrow. Without surgery it is simply a crap shoot. Everything I've seen and read and heard via Garfien et al is that he's part of the clubhouse issues. I hope he does well next year so the Sox can trade him at the deadline and get something for him. They won't resign him after the 24 season.

September 14, 1952 - In a 17-inning game in Chicago, Sox pitcher Saul Rogovin struck out 14 Red Sox in 15 innings of work. But it was Luis Aloma who got the decision as the White Sox won 4-3 on a single by Rocco “Rocky” Krsnich. It was the first game of a double-header, game two was suspended by darkness after four innings with the Sox leading 3-0. "Minnie" Minoso had a two run home run. Game was suspended because of league rules regarding lights at the time. September 14, 1967 – The day after the Sox beat the Indians 1-0 in 17 innings, they continued their mastery over them by winning 4-0 in 10 innings. It was Cisco Carlos on the mound who went the distance allowing only five hits. The Sox won the game when Don Buford hit a grand slam off of Orlando Pena scoring Tommie Agee, Duane Josephson and Joe Horlen. It was the first ‘walk-off’ grand slam in team history. September 14, 1974 - Sox first baseman Dick Allen called a team meeting and announced he was retiring from baseball. Allen, the controversial slugger, would still win the American League home run title even though he would miss the final two weeks of the season. Allen was fighting bad injuries to his shoulder and leg from previous seasons but the way he walked out on the Sox left a bad taste in the mouths of many fans. Sox G.M. Roland Hemond would then trade his rights to the Atlanta Braves for catcher Jim Essian. Allen would return and see action with the Phillies and A’s before really retiring in 1977. September 14, 1997 - Carlton Fisk had his uniform #72 retired in a ceremony before the Sox took on Cleveland. But because of the way he was treated by the organization he asked that neither owner Jerry Reinsdorf nor G.M. Ron Schueler be a part of it and that wish was granted. The game was also remembered for manager Terry Bevington going to the mound to change pitchers...expect for the fact that no one was warming up in the Sox bullpen when he called for the change! The Sox would lose 8-3 despite using nine pitchers, a record for a nine-inning game. September 14, 2017 – It was a record setting afternoon for a couple of White Sox players in the team’s 17-7 blowout of the Tigers at Comerica Park. The Sox as a team pounded out 25 hits in the game. Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia went 5 for 5 with seven RBI’s and two runs scored in the game in addition to a walk. Sox rookie second baseman Yoan Moncada went 4 for 5 with two walks and five runs scored and first baseman Jose Abreu went 4 for 5 with three runs scored. Garcia became the second White Sox player with five hits and seven RBI in a game since at least 1913. The other was Carl Reynolds against the Yankees on July 2, 1930 in New York. Moncada meanwhile tied Hall of Famer Tim Raines’ franchise record with the five runs scored. Raines originally set the record against the Red Sox in Boston on April 18, 1994.

And Bummer is so damn bad. His ERA now for the season is seven. Another guy who has had at best a mediocre career that Hahn gave a multi year deal to.

He's pitched well, I'd have no issues if he and the Sox came to an agreement this season but more than likely that's not happening since he said today to the Sun-Times he'd like to play for a contender.

The Sox (56-90) lost 7-1 and lost the series to the 46-102 Royals, as well as the season series, going 6-7 against the worst team in baseball. The Royals outscored the Sox 73-55 this season.

When you are baseball fundamentally stupid and can't execute in extra inning games with the ghost runner it shouldn't be surprising how bad the one-run record is.

September 13, 1967 - In one of the longest games in franchise history and in the middle of a four-team pennant race, the Sox shut out Cleveland 1-0 in 17 innings! (Now that’s pitching!) The game lasted over four and a half hours and was finally finished when Rocco “Rocky” Colavito singled to right driving home Charles “Buddy” Bradford. One other note from this game, Sox starter Gary Peters allowed one hit in 11 innings, striking out seven…he also walked 10! (I wonder what his pitch count was!) Don McMahon, the fourth Sox pitcher picked up the relief win. September 13, 1987 - In a game in Seattle, Sox pitcher Floyd Bannister fired a one-hitter in winning 2-0. Harold Reynolds two out single to left in the first inning was the only base runner on the night for Seattle and ironically, he was thrown out trying to stretch the hit to a double! Bannister faced the minimum 27 hitters and struck out 10. Mariners’ pitcher Mark Langston only allowed two hits but both were solo home runs by Pat Keedy and Donnie Hill. September 13, 2004 - Due to hurricane Ivan, U.S. Cellular Field hosted the first two games of a series between Montreal and Florida. It was the first time a National League team played a regular season ‘home’ game in an American League park since 1946.

Wilder follow-up. https://soxmachine.com/2023/09/following-up-david-wilder-takes-shots-at-white-sox/

To be fair JR doesn't seem to care for anyone unless they have had a former Sox connection.

Those comments by him dovetail with what I've been told exactly. It starts at the top, it starts and ends with Jerry. Until he's gone they are simply spinning their wheels.

September 12, 1900 - The White Sox beat the Cleveland Blues 12-4 and 9-1 in Chicago to clinch the franchise’s first pennant. However, the American League wasn’t recognized as an official Major League at the time, that would come the following year. Roy Patterson got the win in the game. The season seemed to set the tone for the franchise, exceptional pitching and defense with just enough hitting to win games. Cleveland manager Jimmy McAleer said as much after the Sox clinched against his club. “It's the strangest thing that ever happened. A club with no good batsman to win a flag! Why, such a thing was never heard of before. (Dick) Padden has done most of it. He has been the whole works, and has shown himself a born general. The pitchers did the rest, with special credit to that lad Patterson.” September 12, 1976 – At nearly 53 years old, “Minnie” Miñoso became the oldest player in Major League history to get a hit, singling in the second inning of a 2-1 White Sox win over California. Angels starter Sid Monge surrendered the hit. Miñoso would later strike out and fly out to left in the game, won by the White Sox on Brian Downing’s walk-off double in the 10th inning. Both Monge and future Hall-of-Famer Rich Gossage went the distance in this meaningless September game between teams with a combined record of 125-160. September 12, 2016 – The White Sox tied an unusual franchise record as they beat the Indians 11-4 at U.S. Cellular Field. In the game the Sox scored at least one run in every inning. It was only the 20th time in Major League history that a team had accomplished this. The Sox banged out 16 hits, Avisail Garcia getting four of them. Six went for extra bases. The first time the franchise accomplished this was May 11, 1949 beating the Red Sox at Comiskey Park. September 12, 2019 – All-Star right-hander Lucas Giolito set a White Sox record by striking out eight straight Royals hitters from the third through the fifth inning during an afternoon game at Guaranteed Rate Field. Of the eight, seven were swinging strikeouts and Meibrys Viloria was caught looking. The run started with Whit Merrifield to open the third and ended with Nicky Lopez grounding out to shortstop Tim Anderson to end the fifth. Giolito finished with 12 strikeouts overall. Carlos Rodon (September 30, 2016, against the Twins) and Joe Cowley (May 28, 1986, at the Rangers) previously shared the White Sox consecutive strikeout mark at seven. According to STATS, Giolito’s eight straight tied for the seventh-longest single-game MLB run at that time. But even with his brilliant afternoon he lost the game 6-3 giving up a pair of home runs, one of which was a three-run shot which made the difference. September 12, 2020 – For the second time in his career Sox first baseman/DH Jose Abreu had himself a game to remember. The slugger drove home seven runs in a 14-0 slaughter of the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field. The team record is eight in a game. Jose first did this in 2016. He went 4 for 4 and scored five runs. Abreu became the first White Sox player in club history to get four-plus hits, two homers, seven RBI and five runs scored in a game. It was also his 17th multi-home game.

Getz's comment is analyzed: https://soxmachine.com/2023/09/white-sox-international-approach-in-need-of-overhaul/

If they don't go out and get at least three decent starting pitchers it's possible.

Maybe Getz had very little power or say-so in the final decision. Remember the Sox (aka Hahn) didn't do a thing over the winter regarding RF yet kept saying they were "contending". Basically Hahn boxed himself into a corner on this one and had no choice but to see if Colas could bail him out. Just a guess.