Lip Man 1

The most significant change will come when JR is gone and new ownership arrives although no one knows when that will happen so Tony does have a valid point.

They split the four game series.

From what a source told me this past winter: “People, his friends… have tried to tell him what has been going on, “Hawk” Harrelson, the late Ed Farmer… God rest his soul, Darrin Jackson, Scott Reifert (Author’s Note: Scott is the Senior Vice-President for Communications) , Bob Grim and others but it’s just not registering for some reason.”

Exactly, Kenny is not running things, he's got one foot out the door to retirement already.

Mine as well when I had to write his obit for the Chicago Baseball Museum. And speaking of 1977: https://www.southsidesox.com/2023/7/31/23813733/dish-deluxe-3-the-1977-chicago-white-sox-best-july-record-ever-chet-lemon-steve-stone-eric-soderholm

I don't think they want to. I think they simply realize the reality of the situation and that by the time the Sox are (maybe) good again he'll be on his way out the door. Another 'between a rock and a hard place' situation created by the Sox themselves.

July 31, 1910 - Lee Tannehill hit the first White Sox home run at Comiskey Park when his ball rolled under the fence. According to the rules at the time it was still considered a home run and a grand slam to boot. It’s ironic that he’d be the first player to get a home run as he was considered one of the worst hitters in the early days of the American League. The Sox lost to the Tigers that afternoon 6-5. July 31, 1964 - Sox star left hander Juan Pizarro struck out 14 Senators in a 6-0 win in Washington. Pizarro allowed only four hits striking out at least once, eight of the nine starters. Pizarro would make the All-Star team that year and win 19 games with an ERA of 2.56 July 31, 1972 – It was another baseball rarity. Dick Allen’s magical season continued with two inside the park home runs in a single game. That tied the Major League record. It happened in Minnesota at old Metropolitan Stadium as the Sox beat Bert Blyleven 8-1. Bobby Darwin was the Twins center fielder who misplayed both of Allen’s drives. He slipped on the first one which saw the ball bounce completely over his head in right center, then on the second one he mistimed his dive in left center and the ball got by him and rolled all the way to the wall. Allen was credited with five RBI’s on the day. It started a stretch that saw the Sox win 14 of the next 17 games. July 31, 1977- It was the high point of the 1977 season. The “Southside Hit Men” had won the first two games of the crucial four game series with the Royals by coming from behind each time. In the first game of a Sunday double header, Chet Lemon’s two run home run in the last of the 10th tied the game at four, then Ralph Garr’s single drove in the game winner. The Sox were now six and a half games in the lead, the franchise’s largest margin at the top since 1967. Three straight come from behind wins had the crowd of over 45-thousand in a frenzy. The second game also produced fireworks as the Royals routed the Sox 8-4. Hal McRae homered, then did a slow trot around the bases, tipping his cap as he touched home plate, mocking Sox fans who had called for ‘curtain calls’ all season long. Sox fans reacted by throwing garbage at McRae and the Royals from the stands. Pitcher Steve Stone, now a Sox announcer, always felt that manager Bob Lemon made a major mistake by not putting his best lineup out for the second game and going for the jugular. The Sox would finish the surprising season with a record of 90-72 in third place. July 31, 1991 - The white-hot White Sox capped off a sizzling month with one of the most dramatic moments in team history. The Sox trailed the Rangers 8-6 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Texas brought in former Sox All-Star pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage to close things out. But the goose got cooked on this night as with two out, Robin Ventura hammered a grand slam into the right field stands winning the game 10-8. A full house, which included noted Cub fan Bill Murray sitting almost directly behind home plate, went wild as Ventura was bodily lifted off the ground by massive Frank Thomas in a celebration hug at home plate. The Sox went 19-8 that month. July 31, 1993 - With the Sox looking for any type of reliable starting pitching help in the middle of a pennant race, G.M. Ron Schueler was finally convinced to deal two of his ‘can’t miss kids,’ to Cincinnati for pitcher Tim Belcher. Belcher provided some consistency to help the rotation including throwing a shutout against Oakland, but came up big when it was really needed, in the post season. In game #4 of the A.L.C.S., he relieved a shell-shocked Jason Bere, pitched nearly four innings, and picked up the win which tied the best of seven series at two games each. July 31, 1996 - The White Sox infuriated their fans and angered their own players by refusing to make any significant trade moves at the deadline, settling for relief pitcher Tony Castillo later in August, to try to help a bullpen that was among the worst in baseball. In fact, the 1996 White Sox would set the record (since broken) for most blown save opportunities. The Sox were in the midst of losing a substantial lead in the Wild Card race at the time after having started the season at 40-21 and fighting Cleveland for the divisional lead. The following week, Sox players, pitcher Roberto Hernandez and outfielder Tony Phillips ripped the organization to The Sporting News. The Sox ended the year a disappointing 85-77 and out of the post season. July 31, 1997 - Perhaps the lowest point in the history of the Chicago White Sox franchise occurred as owner Jerry Reinsdorf issued his "Anybody who thinks this club can catch Cleveland is crazy" comment and gutted the team. Reinsdorf allowed General Manager Ron Schueler to trade Wilson Alvarez, Roberto Hernandez and Danny Darwin to the Giants with the Sox only three and a half games out of first. The Sox got back six minor league prospects. The "White Flag Trade” resulted in catastrophic consequences for the team from an attendance and public relations standpoint both locally and nationally. No team before had ever traded their top pitchers when they were only a few games off the lead. Joe Morgan went on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight and angrily denounced Sox management saying how sorry he felt "For the fans and the season ticket holders." Dave Campbell echoed those remarks on the same show. Sports Illustrated had the “Sox Surrender” as their feature story the next week and quoted both Alvarez and Hernandez as stating that when manager Terry Bevington told them they were traded he was "Laughing." Many Sox fans never forgave Reinsdorf and refused to ever attend games again in person. Sox star third baseman Robin Ventura, who worked his way back from a grotesque injury to his lower leg in late March, then issued his famous "I didn’t know the season ended in August" quote. July 31, 1998 - Albert Belle clocked his 16th home run in the month which set the Major League record at the time. The old mark was 15, set by Joe DiMaggio, Hank Greenberg, Juan Gonzales and Joe Adcock. The Sox would hammer the Rangers in Texas 10-2. He had 32 RBI’s for the month as well. July 31, 2004 - At the trade deadline, G. M. Kenny Williams made a pitching swap that would dramatically alter the franchise. He sent former All-Star Esteban Loaiza to the Yankees for disappointing Jose Contreras and cash. In 2005, Contreras would become the best pitcher in baseball after the All-Star break and help lead the Sox to the World Championship. He then set the club record with 16 straight wins spanning the 2005 and 2006 seasons. July 31, 2005 - In a very minor deal, the Sox picked up utility man Geoff Blum from the Padres for a minor league pitcher. Blum wrote his name into Sox history with his extra inning home run in game #3 of the 2005 World Series less than three months later, helping the Sox beat the Astros 7-5 in 14 innings. July 31, 2007 - Less than two seasons removed from winning a World Series title, the Sox allowed the most home runs ever in a single game in franchise history. The Yankees hit eight of them in a 16-3 pounding at Yankee Stadium. Jose Contreras gave up three, Charlie Haeger a pair and Gavin Floyd the other three. July 31, 2015 – He was one of the greatest players in franchise history and was a key part of the “Go-Go” Sox of the 1950’s. Pitcher Billy Pierce passed away on this day at the age of 78. Pierce was acquired from the Tigers in 1948 and immediately moved into the starting rotation the following season. He’d win 183 games in a Sox uniform, represent them in seven All-Star games, starting three of them with four one-hitters and at various times led the American League in games started, complete games, strikeouts, wins and ERA. He was a two-time A.L. Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News and for one season, 1970 was color analyst on White Sox TV broadcasts. He was named to the team’s all-Century team in 2000. By WAR Pierce was the highest rated pitcher for the decade of the 1950’s. After retiring, for many years, he helped raise millions of dollars through Northwestern’s Cancer Research Charity for Children, and as a White Sox ambassador he’d visit kids, retirement homes, people at the ballpark… he was beloved by the city. July 31, 2021 – It was a night to remember for Sox catcher Seby Zavala. The light hitting catcher blasted three home runs in a stunning 12-11 loss to the Indians. The White Sox had a 6-1 lead in the game before the bullpen gave it up. Zavala became the first player in big league history to hit his first three career home runs in the same game. In the losing effort he went 4 for 4 with four runs scored and six RBI’s.

Who would I like to see traded? Rick Hahn

Giving those big money extensions so the Sox could avoid having to pay arbitration figures for a year or two really blew up in their face when those guys decided they didn't have to work so hard anymore.

Fegan takes a look (cover your eyes): https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/7/30/23813492/pitchers-audition-spot-sox-2024-rotation-season-final-two-months-kopech-cease-clevinger-toussaint

First off the Sox aren't contending or competing next year. Not with all the holes they have even in a bad division. Second, Schultz has very little experience and already has had some arm issues, and rushing him would be another hallmark of stupidity for this organization. The kid is a starter, let him learn his trade for two/three years in the minor leagues first that way when he is eventually called up he may not fall flat on his face.

July 30, 1933 - Never had two Sox hitters had days like this on the same afternoon. Sox outfielder George “Mule” Haas reeled off eight hits in 12 at bats in a sweep of a double header with the St. Louis Browns. If that wasn’t enough, his teammate, All-Star outfielder Al Simmons drilled seven hits on the day in 12 at-bats. The Sox would win 8-7 in 10 innings and then 15-2. July 30, 1955 - With the Sox in a three-way tie for first place, pitcher Dick Donovan had an appendicitis attack. At the time, Donovan was 13-4 with a 2.64 ERA. He didn’t return until late August and went 2-5 the rest of the season. The Sox fell out of contention with his illness and ended the season at 91-63, good for third place. He’d pitch with the Sox from 1955 through 1960 winning 73 games. July 30, 1962 - Sox starting pitcher Ray Herbert, who would eventually win 20 games on the season, was named as a last-minute replacement for the All-Star Game. Herbert then got the win, pitching three innings, as the A.L. beat the N.L. 9-4 in Wrigley Field. He was joined on the team by Luis Aparicio (SS) and Jim Landis (OF). In his three innings of work, he allowed only three singles, two of the infield variety. July 30, 1977 - It was the brightest moment for Comeback Player of the Year, Eric Soderholm. In a nationally televised Saturday Game of the Week, on NBC, before a full house at Comiskey Park, Soderholm blasted a three-run home run to left center field, in the last of the seventh inning to put the Sox ahead in a key game they’d win 6-4. The shot came off the Royals Doug Bird, one of the toughest relief pitchers in baseball because he threw almost side arm. Soderholm would finish the season with 25 home runs, 67 RBI’s and a .280 batting average. July 30, 1995 - So this is what a good teammate does? In a game at Baltimore, DH John Kruk who un-retired in May to take the Sox offer, decided to retire just as quickly. Kruk singled in the first inning, raising his average to .308, then went back to the clubhouse, packed his bags and left the game for good. He did this before the game ended mind you, then told certain reporters it was no fun DH’ing on a losing team that “Didn’t have any heart.” July 30, 2003 - In a game at Kansas City, Sox infielder Jose Valentin blasted three home runs in the 15-4 win. Jose went 3 for 5 with five RBI’s. One of his home runs was a three-run shot. His homers came in the second, third and fifth innings. July 30, 2021 – Capping off a wild 24 hours at the trade deadline the White Sox showed they were all in acquiring three players including future Hall of Fame relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel. First the Sox got second baseman Cesar Hernandez from the Indians and relief pitcher Ryan Tepera from the Cubs. Minor league pitchers were traded in both cases to get them. But then the Sox went back to the Cubs to get Kimbrel trading second baseman Nick Madrigal and relief pitcher Codi Heuer in the process. Losing Madrigal, a highly regarded young player was difficult but getting Kimbrel gave the team a chance to have not only the best starting rotation in the American League but also the best bullpen, a throwback to the 1950’s and 60’s when the franchise usually had that. Unfortunately it did not work out as Kimbrel lost his effectiveness pitching in non-closing roles and Hernandez offensively dropped off the face of the Earth. In the off-season Hernandez’s contract would not be picked up. Kimbrel would be traded late in spring training to the Dodgers for outfielder A.J. Pollock. Tepera who was effective in relief for the Sox, signed a free agent deal with the Angels.

It would be nice to see somebody slow the Cubs down, about to win their 10th of the last 11.

1. They simply can't admit they were wrong and screwed everything up. JR, Kenny and Hahn have tremendous egos 2. If they don't at least parrot that nonsense they may not get anybody to buy season tickets

Not happening. There will be no changes in the front office and they claim they are going to "compete" next season.

Like McGuffy said, "It starts at the top down..."

July 29, 1942 - The Sox staged the first twi-night double header in club history as they beat the Yankees 6-5 in 11 innings and 7-5. Over 27-thousand fans showed up at Comiskey Park for the wartime promotion which became a regular attraction over the next several decades. July 29, 1962 - In a double header versus the Yankees in New York, Sox outfielder/first baseman Charlie “Paw-Paw” Maxwell hit three home runs and knocked home five RBI’s in the split. Maxwell had a curious history of doing his best hitting on a Sunday. When acquired from the Tigers it was discovered that 25 of his 70 career homers (to that point) were hit on the Sabbath. Of his 10 in 1962, five came on Sunday. On July 8, Maxwell got six hits in a double header against Cleveland and on August 19, Maxwell hit a grand slam and knocked in six against Detroit. Yes… all of those games were on Sunday. July 29, 1963 - Facing the Senators in Washington, Sox pitcher Joe Horlen took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. Only leading 1-0 and under incredible pressure, Horlen not only lost the no-hitter but the game 2-1, as Chuck Hinton grounded a roller up the middle with one out for a hit that Horlen wasn’t able to get a glove on and then Don Lock belted a curve ball for a two-run homer with two out to win it. Horlen looked ready to cry on the postgame show talking with announcer Jack Brickhouse on WGN-TV. July 29, 1989 - At the time it was an unpopular deal, but in the long term it worked out very well for the Sox. G.M. Larry Himes sent All Star outfielder/DH Harold Baines and infielder Fred Manrique to the Rangers for infielder Scott Fletcher, outfielder Sammy Sosa and pitching prospect Wilson Alvarez. Fans hated to lose Baines but the Sox weren’t going anywhere and he was expendable. Fletcher and the pre-steroid Sosa played important roles in the franchise’s revival in 1990 and Alvarez would become a very solid starter beginning in 1993 for the Western Division champions. July 29, 1998 - It was a small move at the time that would turn out to have major implications. G.M. Ron Schueler shipped inconsistent relief pitcher Matt Karchner to the Cubs for former #1 draft pick, pitcher Jon Garland. It took time, but Garland finally realized his potential in the 2005 season where he helped lead the club to the World Series title with 18 wins and an All-Star appearance. In seven years with the club starting in 2000, he won 92 games and had double-figure wins in six of those seasons. July 29, 2000 - With the Sox badly in need of pitching at the trade deadline due to injuries to starters Cal Eldred and James Baldwin, G.M. Ron Schueler (a former pitcher with the team in the 1970’s) went off in another direction acquiring catcher Charles Johnson and DH Harold Baines. It was Baines’ third stint with the Sox and while he and Johnson helped offensively, it did nothing to lighten the load on the pitching staff. That staff, even though they’d go on to win the division, suffered even more arm injuries to starters Jim Parque and Mike Sirotka and relief pitchers Bobby Howry and Kelly Wunsch. The Sox would pay for Schueler’s mistake the following season since the staff was decimated, many coming off surgeries. It should be noted however, in his defense, that some of the pitchers the Sox were rumored to be interested in like Mike Mussina and Curt Schilling, said they would not accept a trade to Chicago for various reasons.

And since the start of the 2007 season Sox fans can't even count on having a winning season anymore.

And given their reputation and on-field performance to get a very good free agent they'll probably have to overpay.

That's the way the White Sox roll...dumpster diving.

This isn't a secret, I mean I was told how bad things were last year for my story this past November. There is no leadership in this clubhouse, none. Chuck and McGuffy have been saying the same thing for weeks. There is (or was) talent on the roster but no cohesion and no depth.

Even this bunch will run into a win every now and again.

They'll rush Davis Martin back like with Crochet and Hendriks.

Kenny is semi retired spending most of his time in Arizona. His contract ends either this year or next and I've been told he has already told JR he is done after that. I have no idea where this talk started about Kenny taking over for Hahn but that's nonsense. At this stage in his life trying to fix this garbage is the very LAST thing he wants to do.

It's not my book I've written chapters for Dr. Fletcher's second book on the 1990 Sox and the construction of the new stadium. That comes out next summer. His first book, in which I was a consultant is called, "Chili Dog MVP, Dick Allen, the 1972 White Sox and a transforming Chicago." There will be a third book in the series dealing with the 1993/94 teams and the labor impasse which will come out after the second book is released. The chapters I wrote for the second book are the history of SportsVision and Hawk Harrelson's year as Director of Baseball Activities.