Lip Man 1

Names from the past, that was Kenny Williams doing. ?

Fair point. We'll see, the April schedule is difficult and the bullpen won't be getting any help for awhile so they'll have to perform better.

As many stat based folks will tell you (and I'm not one of them, I don't understand many of them) WAR isn't the be all/end all. Leury Garcia had a positive WAR for a number of years, was he a good player? Be honest. Moncada isn't the answer, in many respects his limitations and his lack of baseball sense (getting thrown out at third with no outs being the latest example) is hurting this team. He isn't the only reason, of course, but in my opinion he's a big part of things.

Who said anything about getting something good? Trade him for anything just to get rid of his salary. Maybe another organization can get through to him. After five years now I suspect nothing is going to change with this guy. Like the song said, "Whatcha see is whatcha get."

It wouldn't be ideal but the impression I get with Burger is that at least he gives a damn. “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.” "Another one was the Triple Play Game against the Twins. (Author’s Note: The Sox ran themselves into an 8-5 triple play on July 4. They wound up losing the game 6-3 in extra innings) Adam Engel faced the music afterwards, he made a mistake and owned up to it. Moncada who also made a mistake was nowhere, he was already gone. Then the next day he was saying that he didn’t know people wanted to talk with him.” “It could happen, maybe there’s a 5% chance this front office could get it right. But first the front office has to admit they made mistakes. The catcher (Yamani Grandal), third baseman (Moncada) and shortstop (Tim Anderson) need to go. They need to get guys with a higher baseball acumen, the lack of urgency, the way they beat themselves this season was embarrassing."

Who said anything about cutting him? "Cut" means simply getting rid of him, trade him for anything you can get. Reading is a skill sir. Try it some time.

Which frankly isn't saying much is it... based on the predictions. Moncada's career has been one big tease, all the talent in the world, always an excuse for it not to be realized.

Typical Moncada game...strikes out multiple times in key situations with runners on base...makes a big error and then after striking out walks gingerly back to the dugout like he's been seriously hurt. Somehow, someway as I was told in November by sources the Sox need to cut bait with this guy. Bullpen again fails in the later innings. Ruiz has more lives it seems then Leury Garcia. Why he is on the team still is beyoind me.

April 1, 1975 - It was an indication of how bad off the Sox were financially. On this day Ed Herrmann, one of the top catchers in baseball and an All-Star, was traded to the Yankees for four minor league players and cash. The reason? According to Herrmann it was because he wanted a two-thousand dollar raise! In six full years with the team Herrmann averaged a little over 11 home runs and there were few, if any, better at blocking home plate, thus earning him the nickname of “Fort” Herrmann. The four minor league players acquired never played a single day in a White Sox Major League game. April 1, 2011 – The White Sox started the season with a torrent of runs in blistering the Indians 15-10 in Cleveland. It was the second highest total of runs scored on opening day in franchise history. The record is 17 runs on opening day beating the Browns 17-3 to start the 1951 year. The Sox led 14-0 after the first five innings. Carlos Quentin drove in five runs and newcomer Adam Dunn knocked in four.

Yet somehow after 10 years in charge with only two winning seasons (and they weren't always trying to 'tank") he still has a job. Can't imagine any other organization keeping a guy with a track record like that.

Given the G.M. did little to bolster the rotation depth this off season, to me that would be robbing Peter to pay Paul.

True it does. Of course the Astros have a competent front office that finds ways to do what is needed (legally LOL) to improve the club's chances and to shore up weak areas. Unfortunately the Sox front office can't make the same claim. Bummer has been nothing but inconsistent or injured the past few years and Diekman has been a disaster. Somehow the Sox need to find a left hander who can get hitters out if those two guys continue to struggle.

It wouldn't totally shock me if the Sox were to say he's hurt somewhat again. That's been his M.O. even since TLR insisted the Sox sign him.

They rallied to win a game last night and then turn right around and blow a game late tonight. Graveman has been suspect since the second half of last year and Diekman has been a disaster. The real kick in the gonads tonight was the fact that all the runs they scored in the 6th and 7th inning came after two outs.

March 31, 1996 – Michael Jordan, after his first spring training, was assigned to the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League where he would play in 127 games. He only hit .202 but he had 30 stolen bases, drove in 51 RBI’s and had 17 doubles. He then moved to the Arizona Fall League, where he had a more impressive season hitting .252. Without the 1994-95 labor stalemate, Jordan would have reported to Charlotte in 1995, with an outside shot at seeing the majors that year. March 31, 1996 - Because of a quirk in the calendar the Sox had a March opening day for the first time in franchise history when they started the 1996 season in Seattle on the final day of the month. Frank Thomas hit a home run off Randy Johnson but the Sox lost the game 3-2 in 12 innings striking out 21 times in the process. Johnson struck out 14 hitters himself in seven innings. The Sox have since opened in March a few times since then but 1996 was the first time it happened.

This and that; First Sox opening day win since 2018 when they beat the Royals 14-7. Matt Davidson's three home run game. Astros had won a MLB record 10 straight opening day's Nice to see the Sox get the comeback win. 1-11 with RISP brings back bad memories of last year. As did the baserunning blunders. But the pitching both Cease and the bullpen were very good tonight. Overall a very nice win. They won't get swept and that's important.

From my interview with TLR: ML: You’ll go into the Hall of Fame this August as one of the all-time winningest managers. Have you ever wondered what may have happened if you stayed with the Sox? I know Sox fans wonder how many championships you might have won had you stayed for 20 years or so. TLR: “Yes, I do, but more for entertainment, I don’t take a lot of time to look back in a serious manner. I just think you have to move on from the past, learn from it and go forward. I will occasionally tease Jerry (Reinsdorf) about it, though. I honestly think had I stayed with the White Sox for 30 years that the team would have won multiple world championships. I think that because we were so united. Everyone from the owners to the front office to the coaching staff was on the same page. Our minor league system was developing and we had good people in all areas.”

White Sox are trying to break a four game losing streak on opening day. Last opening day win came in 2018 when they beat the Royals 14-7. Matt Davidson had three home runs.

March 30, 1971 - Another good deal pulled off by the Sox and G.M. Roland Hemond. He sent catcher Duane Josephson and pitcher Danny Murphy to the Red Sox for relief pitcher Vicente Romo and first baseman Tony Muser. Muser was one of the best defensive first baseman in baseball and was tremendous as a late inning replacement for Dick Allen. He was an earlier version of Mike Squires if you will. Romo helped stabilize a young White Sox bullpen with an ERA of 3.33 and six saves in his two years with the team primarily as a middle relief man. March 30, 1981 - Shortly before the start of the regular season, the White Sox purchased the contract of Chicago area slugger Greg Luzinski from the Phillies. The Phillies originally wanted either pitcher Steve Trout or pitcher Rich Dotson in return but when the Sox wouldn’t budge settled for cash considerations. The imposing strongman would become a two-time American League Designated Hitter of the Year and provide solid power to the middle of the batting order. In his three and a half seasons he pounded out 84 home runs and drove in 317 RBI’s. “Bull” would also become the first man to hit three rooftop home runs in a single season at the original Comiskey Park when he did it in 1983. The blasts came against the Twins, Yankees and Red Sox. March 30, 1982 - Needing outfield help, Sox G.M. Roland Hemond sent two prospects to the Dodgers for the speedy Rudy Law. Law would smash the team’s stolen base record in 1983, swiping 77 bases. He added 20 doubles, seven triples and hit .283. His career on the South Side wasn’t long, as he was released by the Sox in spring training 1986, but it was memorable, as he supplied speed and defense to the 1983 Western Division champions. In his four years with the Sox, Rudy stole 171 bases. March 30, 1992 - Seeking another power bat to hit behind Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura and not being able to close a deal with free agent Mark McGwire, Sox G. M. Ron Schueler dealt outfielder Sammy Sosa and pitcher Ken Patterson to the Cubs for outfielder/DH George Bell. Bell would have 112 RBI’s in 1992 and have a solid but limited 1993, but outbursts during the A.L.C.S. over playing time with manager Gene Lamont, sealed his fate and he was gone from the organization. Part of the reason Sosa was traded was because he had issues with White Sox hitting coach Walt Hriniak who wanted him to hit to all fields and stop trying to just hit home runs. Hriniak wanted the 1990 version of Sosa who was the only player in baseball that season with double figures in doubles, triples, home runs, stolen bases and outfield assists…and he drove in 70 RBI’s to boot! Sosa would become the face of the Cubs and challenge the all-time home run marks in the late 1990's. However, in the wake of the steroid scandal and his potential involvement with it, he left baseball with a cloud over him, his future Hall of Fame chances in real jeopardy

May the baseball gods smile upon the White Sox and their fan base this season.

I guess one more thing to add to what I previously posted would be not to get swept in a series, win at least a game, avoid long losing streaks. Houston is tough, Sox haven't had much success there the past few years...win at least a game. Like Grifol said, "you can’t win a championship in April, but you can certainly lose one."

And long overdue.

Don't be fooled, Kenny still has a lot of say in things.

March 29, 2018 – The earliest opening day in history, at that time, turned out to be a record setting day for the Sox who blasted Kansas City 14-7. The Sox tied the record for most opening day home runs by hitting six at Kauffman Stadium. That tied the 1988 Mets who did it against the Montreal Expos. Matt Davidson became the fourth player in history to hammer three home runs on opening day as he went 3 for 4 with four runs scored and five RBI’s. He also became the first player in at least 110 seasons to score four times on opening day. In his first at-bat he drove a ball deep to right field that was caught at the fence. Tim Anderson had two home runs and drove in three with Jose Abreu hitting the other home run, he had two RBI’s. Yolmer Sanchez also drove in three for the White Sox.

Play meaningful games in August/September. Have a winning record for the season. Anything above that is gravy in my book. Considering everything that has happened over the last 18 months on and off the field, it's best to have modest goals with this organization.