Lip Man 1

Chris Sale on reaching 200+ strikeouts four consecutive seasons: “But there’s not a single part of me that wouldn’t give all that to be in the playoffs four years in a row.’’ This is absolutely killing him. Mark

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Sep 10, 2016 -> 07:07 AM) Thank you Lip for all your hard work posting these historic audio and video moments in White Sox history. It's much appreciated. No problem. I'm glad you enjoy them. Was just hoping for more feedback from fans on game rememberences and things like that. Mark

Three quick thoughts from Colorado as I get ready for a football game: 1. As long as Lawrie is around the Sox will not be starting Saladino. 2. There is a story in the Sun-Times today on Morneau where he said he hasn't decided what he wants to do next year, retirement is a consideration. 3. In a limited free agent market, to get the best hitters available the Sox will have to overspend. Are they willing to do that? Mark

Now for the latest entry...we go to September 9, 1983. The Sox do something they had never done before...they hit back to back to back home runs courtesy of Carlton Fisk, Tom Paciorek and Greg Luzinski. 1983 was a very, VERY good year! Announcers are Joe McConnell and Ken "Hawk" Harrelson. Courtesy: SportsVision. http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/09/t...bad-appearance/ Mark

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Sep 6, 2016 -> 07:19 PM) Time will tell. I'm just looking forward to very few complaining on these boards once they do move forward with the rebuild. I'm not sure what some people are going to do if they can't complain any more. Rick and / or Kenny can say whatever they want. The only person who when they speak matters, is JR. And all indications are pointing to him 'not" wanting a rebuild. We'll see. Maybe he can be talked into changing his mind. And another poster mentioned a good point. The Sox are near the bottom in attendance and at the bottom in TV ratings. If they suck another five years because of a true rebuild, from that standpoint it doesn't matter. They are getting more than enough revenue from the different streams to keep themselves going. JR won't be wondering where his next meal is going to come from if they decide to tear it down and average 12 thousand a game. Mark

Hope he comes back next year as a back end starter, what is his contract status? Mark

Newspapers today reporting Sox are considering shutting Shields down for the rest of the season. Supposedly because of a back issue. That certainly could be a part of it as is the possibility that if they keep pitching him he could lose 20 games this year. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 5, 2016 -> 09:17 PM) Build a complete pitching staff somehow. Fire Robin, hire Leyland, fire Cooper and get a pitching coach who believes in 7 innings from his starters minimum. Pitching, pitching, pitching, defense, defense, defense. You can pay Leyland 10 million a season and he wouldn't be returning. Mark

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Sep 5, 2016 -> 11:02 AM) That's a very dramatic post but still doesn't change my stance that signing a few players this offseason and seeing if it comes together during the first half of 2017 is a good approach. If they are out of the race next July then sure tear it up. The Sox aren't losing any players of value this offseason and guys like Melky and Robertson might both be MORE valuable next July then they were this year or this offseason since they will have less money remaining on their contracts. I see no reason to be in a big rush here. This starting staff is going to be really great next season with the emergence of Rodon and Fulmer and possible addition of a capable #5 starter. Fill the holes in CF, C, and DH and see what happens. Players like Moreland and Wieters are not dumpster dives like Rollins, Latos, Avila, etc. but they will require JR to open the pocketbook a bit wider since they are another tier up. It's a crap shoot to be sure. The risk you run of course by not trading your most valuable trading pieces over the winter is if they get hurt, their value is practically zero. As I've said often there are no easy answers or solutions to stop the culture of losing that has hit this franchise. Mark

The Sox won't be releasing him (yet) for two reasons first off: 1. He's owed a s*** load of money. 2. JR doesn't like to pay people that amount to NOT work (even if they suck). Releasing him would be the largest amount ever eaten by the franchise if memory serves. Why do you think they hung on to Dunn two years longer before letting him go? (Answer: money owed...), or Danks (Answer: money owed) The bottom line is short of a front office change, Shields isn't going anywhere unless he retires himself. Also don't underestimate the fact that if Kenny Hahn releases him with all that money owed it's like sending up an exploding rocket signaling how bad of a judgment they have in these matters. Mark

Sale is now Q...when he pitches, Sox score very little. Beck? More four A cannon fodder. Mark

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 12:02 PM) My attitude is what new ? The Sox have been the sorriest franchise in baseball history. The only team to have ever been caught throwing a World Series . All the lifetime bans from that . Disco demolition, fans attacking umpires. Cheap terrible or no money owners odd uniforms and I'm sure I'm not remembering some stuff. Oh yea a midget batting . One World Series win in forever . But I'm stuck with them and that won't ever change. The midget by the way was when Bill Veeck owned the St. Louis Browns...not the White Sox. His name was Eddie Gaedel. Mark

Well now they've lost a game 13-11 this season (the season changing Texas Two-Step game) and now they've won a game 13-11. I'll say this much for them, this is a bad team, a ton of holes...but they haven't been mailing it in. At least not that I can tell. 13th game this year they won when losing in the 7th inning or later. Pitching just horrible again out of the starter and the bullpen blew another one but all well in the end. One question though...where was this Jose' the first three months when the Sox still had a shot? Mark

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 08:24 AM) Haha. Unless we have some really old grannies posting from their nursing homes it's gotta be zero. I didn't as recently as last week (and I'm sorry I know now...) Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 09:20 AM) The White Sox had an equal opportunity to trade for him...but failed to have the right pieces in their system. You could argue just as easily making great moves for Kinsler, Iglesias, JD Martinez and Victor Martinez...not to mention Price, who was turned into Fulmer. It's not the owner's fault he wants to win...it's almost like you're blaming Ilich for overspending. The difference is JR is always businessman first, hence the departure of Buehrle. He's loyal, yes, but only when 100% comfortable with the cost. Ilich is fan first, profitability second. As I remember it (and someone please feel free to check) the reason the Sox weren't able to finish the deal for Miggy was because they refused to take on the contract of the pitcher the Marlins were trying to get rid of. Sorry I don't remember his name, he had a few good seasons mostly with them, had a funky delivery, then completely lost it. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 3, 2016 -> 10:21 PM) Sox could have talked Buehrle into pitching for pennies this year and kept Danks and worked with him. Danks could have been no worse than Shields, Albers and the like. Fire Hahn. Fire Robin. SELL THE TEAM Jerry. Mark had no interest in returning and supposedly needed surgery to even think about trying to pitch. Mark

QUOTE (captain54 @ Sep 3, 2016 -> 12:27 PM) the only news media outlet in Chicago that anyone really pays attention to anymore is the Tribune. and even though they relinquished a great majority of their stake in the Cubs 7 yrs ago, you will still have Sox fans claiming Cub bias when anyone of the Trib writers goes all negative on the Sox…. which is something I never quite understood…. They still own 5% of the franchise I believe. Mark

Remember the same front office who is either going to oversee a rebuild or "go for it" again next year, is the same group that acquired Shields & Turner. Scary thought isn't it? Mark

QUOTE (miracleon35th @ Sep 2, 2016 -> 02:17 PM) Understanding and also patience. The Sox have had a lot of bad luck, bad breaks and bad timing. There is a plenty of time until Opening Day 2017 to improve the team. "Luck is the reside of design..." ---Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey. Mark

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Sep 2, 2016 -> 07:48 PM) I think they will. It us very hard to replace 40 homers and 100 RBI plus decent dwfebaecabd being a team leader It will be interesting. He's said he wants to stay but we'll see how much he's offered and how much he thinks he'll get on the open market if he reaches that. Personally I don't think he'll give the Sox a 'hometown discount" and I think the Sox will refuse to pay say 75 million for a multi year deal. I think he's traded next July if the Sox are still rolling in mediocrity. If they are actually in it they'll hang on to him until he becomes a free agent. Mark

And the crowd goes wild..."yea..." Mark

Story in the Sun-Times today said the MLB naming rights average sponsorship money is four million a year. Sox are getting less that that. However as others have pointed out the separate deal which the Sox decline to reveal details on could move the needle up on the Sox yearly money figure. Mark

QUOTE (soxforlife05 @ Sep 2, 2016 -> 03:49 AM) If Sale or Q were going to be moved in the offseason it's likely we would have done something like move Melky or Robertson at the deadline. You're assuming another team was interested in them. I'd like to think there was...but who knows for sure. Mark

For what it's worth I can only tell you what I was told after the trade deadline by two sources, that JR does not want to trade Sale or Quintana and that he wants to "go for it" again next year. Maybe he changes his mind over the winter...we'll see. Mark