Lip Man 1

Takes aim at the organization, Grifol and the players who sat out the "fan appreciation" day game Sunday among other topics:

I'd argue they had legit chances to win during the time period from 1951-1967 too.

Historically that isn't true. It is since 2007 but the time period from 1951-1967 was excellent. The time period from 2000-2006 wasn't bad either.

It always comes down to ownership and for a century or so Chicago sports teams owners have been less than willing to go all in, regardless of consequence, less than willing to hire the best and the brightest and less then willing to put personal beliefs aside in the interest of winning. It always starts at the top folks.

The 19 thousand surprised me as well but it's in the middle of the day on a work day. What did you expect?

The guy has barely pitched in what three years? Something like that. This isn't even a long shot.

More flotsam and jetsam. As if this bad bullpen doesn't already have a slew of those types. How did that work out this year?

https://soxmachine.com/2023/10/report-white-sox-coaching-changes-include-firing-daryl-boston-jose-castro/

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2023/10/3/23902121/chicago-bears-cubs-white-sox-bulls-blackhawks

Hemond supercharged the Sox rebuild after the 1970 disaster by being able to make deals where the Sox would trade a player and get two back or trade two guys and get three back. They weren't as good individually as the player the Sox traded like Aparicio and Berry but they were solid returns. I don't think this current front office has the moxie to be able to duplicate what Roland did.

You can try to trade some of the guys who are at least decent but I don't think the current front office has the expertise of say Roland Hemond.

They wouldn't be held responsible until the trade deadline. If (when) the Sox get off to a bad start next year you can't trade the team in May...you can fire the manager by Memorial Day (a la Gene Lamont) and frankly that is what I expect to happen. https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/10/3/23901805/daryl-boston-jose-castro-out-as-white-sox-coaches

October 3, 1906 - The White Sox clinched the pennant while in their hotel room in Cleveland on an off day after the New York Highlanders (Yankees) lost a game to the Philadelphia A’s. Frank “Yip” Owen shut out St. Louis the day before 4-0 putting the Sox on the cusp for the pennant. That year the Sox would go 93-58-3 beating the Highlanders by three games. Then then would upset the Cubs in the only all-Chicago World Series. October 3, 1965 - By pitching the eighth inning and giving up only one hit and earning his fourth hold, Eddie Fisher set an American League record for most games in one year, with 82. The White Sox beat Kansas City 3-2. Fisher would be named A.L. Relief Pitcher of the year in 1965 with 15 wins, 24 saves, an ERA of 2.40 and 60 games finished. The Sox would win 95 games that season. October 3, 1972 – Terry Forster was one of a trio of hard throwing, young White Sox fireballers coming out of the bullpen in the early 1970’s. He along with Bart Johnson and Rich “Goose” Gossage struck fear in the hearts of hitters because of how hard they threw a baseball. But Forster was also a terrific hitter. For the 1972 season the 20-year-old batted .526, 10 for 19, with three RBI’s and one run scored. The Sox trailed Minnesota 4-3 in the ninth inning with two out in the next to last game of the year. Tony Muser was on third and pinch runner Jim Geddes on first. Hank Allen was due up but manager Chuck Tanner called of Forster to pinch hit. He promptly ripped a single to center tying the score and sending Geddes to third. Then incredibly Forster was given the steal sign and took off for second. When Twins catcher George Mitterwald’s throw sailed into center field Geddes scored, Forster had the only stolen base of his career and the Sox led 5-4. That would turn out to be the final and the 87th win on the year for the “Outhouse to Penthouse” White Sox. October 3, 1993 - The Sox rung down the curtain at old Municipal Stadium in Cleveland by beating the Indians 4-0. Jason Bere got the last win in the cavernous stadium which was replaced in 1994 by Jacobs Field. October 3, 2005 - As baseball was wrapping up the regular season, the Sox Paul Konerko appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated sliding into second base in a game against Cleveland. The cover’s caption read, “Playoff Scramble. Who’s Out, Who’s In? White Sox vs. Indians. Yankees vs. Red Sox. 4 teams, 3 Spots” October 3, 2010 - She was beloved by Sox fans for generations as the organist at White Sox ballparks. Nancy Faust played her last White Sox game as the team beat Cleveland 6-5. Nancy took over as Sox organist in 1970 and in the ensuing 40 years rarely missed a game. Her lasting contribution was unearthing a little-known rock song in 1977 which turned into an anthem used by numerous pro and college teams. Nancy started playing Steam’s, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” when an opposing pitcher was being removed from the game. It caught on like wildfire with Sox fans and became one of the things identified with the franchise. When she was hired by then vice-president Stu Holcomb her position was out in the center field bleachers near the scoreboard. After a few years though she was moved behind home plate in the upper deck to be surrounded by fans and closer to where the action was taking place. Eventually that positioning led to a professional relationship with broadcaster Harry Caray. Then Sox owner Bill Veeck heard Caray singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” one day, secretly positioned a microphone and had Caray’s voice piped through the stadium P.A. system so fans could sing along with him. It was Faust who supplied the organ music to the song and like with the “Na Na Hey Hey” song Harry’s ‘Seventh Inning Stretch’ became a part of Comiskey Park lore. October 3, 2022 – It caught the baseball world by surprise, it elicited everything from derision to head-scratching and it was a risky move perpetrated by White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf as he convinced his friend Tony LaRussa to come out of retirement to try to lead the Sox to a World Series. LaRussa was in his late 70’s, had been out of a dugout for almost 10 years, had already been elected to the Hall of Fame, and had some personal issues but Reinsdorf, against his front office, got his way. The move seemed solid when LaRussa led a beat-up team to 93 wins, a Central Division title and a spot in the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history. The 2022 season though was a different story. With talk of World Series by the front office and the players, the Sox stumbled out of the gate, seemed to show little emotion or urgency, lost a dozen games where they led in the seventh inning or later, had a pair of eight game losing streaks and were never able to put things together. For LaRussa, the situation was worse. His on-field decisions were bizarre, his press conferences saw him stumble and mumble seemingly forgetting things at times and he was caught looking like he was asleep in the dugout. It turned out he was having health issues which resulted in a pacemaker being implanted in February without common knowledge and then an issue with it which caused him to leave the club on August 28, never to return to the dugout because of doctor’s orders. It was also later revealed he had cancer. On this day, in a press conference at Guaranteed Rate Field, LaRussa retired with a year to go on his contract. He managed the Sox the first time from August 1979 through June 1986 and then from the 2021 season to the 2022 year. He won two divisional titles in that time in 1983 and 2021 but his post season White Sox mark was a dismal 2-6. Most baseball people felt the move in total, was counter-productive to the White Sox rebuild but Jerry Reinsdorf insisted and got what he wanted…it simply did not work out the way he was expecting it to.

A.J. Pollock wanted out so bad he left money on the table to do so to cite one example.

While Oscar Colás was struggling, you routinely talked to us about what was bothering you about the way he was playing. Fans see, or have the perception of, similar mistakes being made by other players, specifically a lightning rod this year was Tim Anderson with the numbers that he put up. We didn’t hear the same kind of language from you in regards to him or some other players. Fans want to know: What is the difference? “The difference is that Tim Anderson’s been in the league for a long time and he’s done it over and over and over again. And he got ample time in the minor leagues to develop. Oscar hasn’t. ?

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/10/2/23900562/white-sox-2023-season-could-not-have-been-much-worse

One thing is for sure, if the rumors/reports of massive changes to the coaching staff are true, if (when) the Sox get off to a miserable start next year there aren't any "fall guys" left...save for one...Pedro.

October 2, 1904 - Guy “Doc” White’s streak of 45 consecutive scoreless innings was broken when the New York Highlanders (Yankees) got a run in the first inning of the first game of a twin bill in Chicago. White would pitch in both games, getting decisions in both. He won the first game, lost the second. October 2, 1908 - In the heat of a three-team pennant race it may have been the greatest game ever thrown by opposing hurlers against each other. Cleveland beat the White Sox 1-0 as Adrian “Addie” Joss fired a perfect game. Meanwhile the White Sox Ed Walsh struck out 15 Indians and allowed only four hits. The winning run scored when catcher Ossee Schreck couldn’t hang on to one of Walsh’s spitters with a man on third. An interesting note happened before the game. Joss had finished his warm up throws and was strolling in the outfield when he saw Walsh sitting by himself on the Sox bench. He came over, sat next to him and the two pitchers had a quiet conversation while a photographer snapped their picture. October 2, 1959 - Game #2 of the World Series was looking like a repeat of game #1. The Sox were leading the Dodgers 2-1 in the seventh inning with two out when Chuck Essegian and Charlie Neal slugged home runs off Bob Shaw. Making matters worse was that in the middle of an eighth inning Sox rally, the slowest man in baseball, Sherm Lollar was waived home with what would have been the tying run on a double by Al Smith. He was out by five feet. Instead of having men on second and third with no out, it was a runner on third with one out. The Sox lost the game 4-3. Earlier in the fifth inning Sox outfielder Smith would get hit in the face with a cup of beer knocked over by a fan reaching for Neal’s first home run. It would become one of the most famous photographs of the 1950's. October 2, 1985 – The White Sox named Ken “Hawk” Harrelson as the new Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, as well as the de facto G.M. replacing Roland Hemond. Harrelson, one of the clubs TV broadcasters and former big-league player, immediately started implementing his vision for the organization. Manager Tony LaRussa was offered a one-year contract but Harrelson fired three of his assistant coaches including pitching coach Dave Duncan. Fellow broadcaster and Hall of Fame pitcher Don Drysdale was named as a pitching consultant. Former Sox pitcher “Moe” Drabowsky was hired as a relief pitcher coach, Harrelson decreed that all Sox minor league coaches were to be former Major League players. He made a series of trades to try to improve a team that won 85 games in 1985. His best was getting outfielder Ivan Calderon from Seattle, his worst was trading outfielder Bobby Bonilla to the Pirates for pitcher Jose DeLeon. He also thought All-Star catcher Carlton Fisk would best be served by moving to left field to make way for prospect Joel Skinner. Bottom line was the Sox went 72-90 in 1986 and Harrelson resigned at the end of the year replaced by Larry Himes. October 2, 2015 – Sox starter Chris Sale broke “Big” Ed Walsh’s club record for most strikeouts in a season. Sale struck out the Tigers James McCann, the future Sox catcher, in the second inning of a 2-1 win giving him his 270th strike out of the year. Walsh’s record had stood since 1908. Sale would finish the 2015 season with 274 strike outs.

Great! They'll resign Elvis to play shortstop now! ?

Just heard from a second source, a member of the mainstream media, that they know Hasler has been fired and have heard rumblings about others being told they won't be back.

You survive the next few years by taking care of yourself and outliving current ownership. Then you see what the next owner does.

For what it's worth I got an e-mail from a source dated Monday morning just after midnight that said most of the coaches were told after the loss to San Diego Sunday they were going to be let go. The e-mail specifically named Boston, Hasler, Castro, Johnson "and others". We'll see. I haven't been able to find out anymore info in this regard. I'm guessing we'll all know in the next few days.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/10/1/23898927/white-sox-coaching-staff-changes-pedro-grifol

By the Numbers… If the White Sox are being honest with themselves they’ll find there is not one…single…area where they can say, “We’re OK here, this is something we can build on…” Consider: The offense is terrible. Doesn’t draw walks, doesn’t hit home runs, strikes out far too much The are “baseball-stupid” when it comes to fundamentals The manager is clearly in over his head The front office is new and have to do “deep dives” into all the problems They at best may have two starting pitchers The bullpen is made up of has been’s, retreads, injury-prone guys and cast offs The minor league system is thin at best This has been my 63rd season following this team as a fan and then as a Sox historian. The time period from 1968-1970 was bad…but not this bad. There are so many areas that are crippling starting with ownership that is ossified. Just some numbers that show some of the issues: The 101 losses is tied for the third worst in the history of the franchise. They scored three runs or less in 87 of 162 games played. That’s 53.7% They were 5-10 in extra inning games (lack of fundamentals/bad bullpens). They allowed 10 or more runs in a game 20 times. 19 times they had a lead in the 7th inning or later…and LOST the game! Here is the pitcher breakdown (in some cases it was two pitchers in the inning who lost it): Kelly-5 (7th/5-27); (9th/5-28); (9th/6-10); (8th/7-1); (8th/7-4) Graveman-3 (7th/3-31); (9th/6-11); (9th/7-9); (9th/7-23) Lopez- 2 ½ (7th/4-14); (9th/4-21); (8th/5-4) Santos-2 ½ (7th/7-22); (9th/8-16); (9th/9-5) Crochet-1 (8th/9-22) Diekman-1 (7th/3-31); (7th/4-14) Lynn-1 (7th/4-29) Scholtens-1 (7th/8-12) Shaw-1 (7th/9-18) Banks- ½ (10th/7-23) Middleton- ½ (7th/7-22) With Reinsdorf already publicly setting limits on what Getz is going to be able to do in free agency, and with it being a mediocre free agent class to start with, plus not a lot of valuable trading assets I simply don’t see how this club is going to be significantly better next year, even in a bad division. In the winter of 1970, at least Roland Hemond had some valuable trading assets (Aparicio, Berry) he was able to move to get back multiple pieces and he had some good players (John, May, Melton, Wood) already producing on the roster. That’s how the Sox went from 56 wins to 79 in 1971. That’s not happening here.

Thank god this disaster of a season is over. Next year could be worse. Sell Jerry Sell!