Lip Man 1

From my interview with Chet: ML: One of the problems I guess you could call it for big leaguers is that they make everything look so easy but that had to be a tremendous change for you going from the infield to center field. Describe to me some of the drills and work that you had to do to be able to pull this off. CL: "It was a challenge and it took a lot of work but I wanted it. I used to say there are no bad hops in the sky. I’d say to myself that no matter where the ball was hit I was going to beat the ball to the spot. I became a student of the game, that’s where a lot of the work was done. After a few years I knew all the pitchers and how they were going to throw to hitters. I knew the signs, I knew where the ball was going to go if a right handed pull hitter was up and one of our pitchers threw him a breaking ball for example." "It got to the point where for me; it was a lot of fun to rob guys of hits. Bobby Bonds said to me one time that I was one of the best young outfielders he had ever seen. This was a guy who played with Willie Mays, and for him to say that to me...boy that was special. Cal Ripken Senior also told me that I was one of the toughest outfielders to go from first to third on. That was because I was always very aggressive charging balls." ML: With the thousands of games that you played Chet I don’t know if you’ll remember this one play, but if so, I’d like to know what you can tell me. It was on July 3, 1977. The Twins were in town and the Sox beat them the first three games to take over first place. I was in the stands that day and in the second game of that double header one of the Twins hit a drive into the gap in left center with a man on base. You sprinted backwards and to your right and at the last second stretched out your left arm making a shoe top backhanded catch before crashing face first into the wall. Do you remember that play? CL: "Oh yea! One time I was invited to appear on that kids TV show they used to have “The Baseball Bunch,” hosted by Johnny Bench. What they do before you come on is show a minute or so of highlights from what you’ve done and that play was on there. I remember it! Anytime you start hitting the warning track you know you’re only a step or two away from the wall. " "That was one of the things about playing center field in Comiskey Park when I was there. They had such a big center field and you had a lot of room to roam. (Author’s Note: In most of the years Lemon was with the Sox there was no center field fence. The barrier was the base of the original grandstand where the scoreboard was located... 445 feet away!) It was terrifying. You could never take a pitch off. You always had to be on your P’s and Q’s. I was always fearful that if I made a mistake or didn’t get to a ball, you could play it into a double or triple or if it went over your head in center, an inside the park home run." "I remember another catch that I made and boy I wish I had the video of it. We were at home and a guy hit a ball over George Orta’s head at second, so it was in right center field. I went after it and said ‘I got it.’ Richie (Zisk) started over and said ‘you take it.’ The problem was the ball was curving away from me! I kept running and running and running and the ball kept curving. Richie had already backed off so it was up to me. Finally as I get to the right field foul line I dive and make the catch. I get up and start brushing all this chalk off me, meanwhile Richie is laughing and the fans are giving me a standing ovation."

On this entire homestand they have scored 18 runs...in eight games. A 10-game home stand one of the longest I can remember in years and they may actually lose every game on it. I wonder if that's ever happened before for the franchise?

Tonight was the 28th time they scored one run in a game to go along with being shut out 13 times. Wow!

If JR wants to pay for the stadium himself I have no objection at all. But he's already been gifted a stadium once along with a sweetheart lease agreement. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. If he wants a new stadium he can pay for it. Especially given how he's run the franchise and the return the fan base has gotten from it.

Why should he, JR is becoming a real embarrassment to all concerned.

Chet has had different and unusual health problems for a long time. Very sad as he was a great player and seems like a good person. Had a great interview with him in 2004.

Don't bet your life on this happening. From a story this afternoon in the Sun-Times: "While state lawmakers have all but rejected the possibility of dedicating any public money to a stadium — either for the Sox or the Bears, who want a new home of their own..." "But Gov. JB Pritzker and state legislative leaders have said there’s zero political will in Springfield to help Reinsdorf or the McCaskeys, who want $900 million from taxpayers for a new lakefront stadium. Both proposals are considered long shots to make any progress during the fall veto session." https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/08/30/the78-white-sox-stadium-related-midwest

Now the Bears are moving? 🤔 It's not like they are going to Springfield or Champaign. They may go to Arlington Heights, or Burbank or Oak Lawn or Wheeling or where ever in the suburbs...big deal. It's all the Chicago area

McCaskey spoke to the media and the stadium issue came up. The Sox may want to take note: There are other issues on the Bears’ agenda. McCaskey reiterated that the team is focused on building a new stadium downtown, just south of Soldier Field. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said it will be “near impossible” for the Bears to gain approval for a stadium during the General Assembly’s veto session in November. McCaskey said the Bears are aiming to get on the agenda, but admitted it will be a challenge. “We’re just trying to continue the discussions,” he said, “and trying to convince people that it will be great for the region, for the city and for the state.” The Bears have pledged to commit $2 billion towards the project. They might have a new way to access some of that money — in a special meeting this week, NFL owners voted to allow teams to sell up to 10% of their franchise to private equity firms, which would remain passive investors.

That actually is what happens in case of a catastrophic accident involving a MLB team, say a plane crash. In order to finish the season the organization would be allowed to select unprotected players to fill out a roster and continue to play. Does this season qualify under those terms?

Can the owner be put on waivers????????????

Good point since JR was publicly opposed to him getting the job.

Jankowski was put on waivers one day to late.

Over time the schedule has never been perfectly balanced so any argument a team from the East or West has is out the window. How many years was Tampa losing 100+ games a year and the Yankees/ Red Sox were taking advantage of that. Or when Houston was God-awful in the west? Manfred isn't going to do squat as long as everyone is making loads of money.

27th time the Sox scored one run in a game. That's seven straight losses, I think they have a third double-digit losing streak in them.

The Sox have used a franchise record 59 players this season, including 31 pitchers, a turnover that has seen the entire Opening Day bullpen not on the current active roster.

Well remember he "saved" the organization a year and speeded up the rebuilding process. 😆

Don't stop now boys! Another double-digit losing streak coming right up!

Sox have scored one run in 26 games so far this season. And for those mentioning "luck" and "cursed" I'm reminded of this salient quote: "Luck is the residue of design..."-Branch Rickey

It would help if he could string a few years together where he's not trying to hit with only one good arm or be able to run without serious injury.

That's probably true. To expect JR to change his attitude towards his front office at this stage in his life is highly unlikely.

And before anyone brings this up when the Sox lose this game. Flexen did not start the game so he is still tied with Danny Wright for the record of 19 straight starts without his team winning.

When you have arrogant, incompetent, dysfunctional and inept people in power making decisions from ownership on down the line why should you be surprised?

That would be a start at improving things. We'll see if it actually comes to pass.

The Sox had multiple chances to usurp the Cubs since the early 80's and every single time they shot themselves in the foot with head scratching, crazy decisions. Although to be fair there were some factors that were outside of their control, for example Tribune Company which owned WGN-TV and radio buying the Cubs.