Lip Man 1

Nice to see the Sox give me a present on my birthday! 12th game this year the Sox have won when trailing in the 7th inning or later. Mark

Doc: Maybe another way of putting it with what I posted earlier is this. (And I know this is a generalization). Most Sox fans don not believe this organization is capable of sustained success. They have lost confidence in them and they have lost credibility for a number of reasons. Some say that makes Sox fans bad, I say it makes them realistic and skeptical with good reason. Change those dynamics and I'm sure things will be fine...continue on the path they are on now and it's going to get worse. Just my opinion. Mark

QUOTE (Scoots @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 04:41 PM) Not saying this to be offensive, but isn't this old news? Hahn just said that today before the game meeting the media. Said they are "likely" done for the year. Among the things he said was that there is no rift between him, Jerry or Kenny and that they all want to move the franchise forward "to get us on an extended period of success even if that involves a short term step-back." He said that Navarez "put himself on the map for the next several years of playing some sort of role on this club going forward. He has opened some eyes." He also said Davidson and Jackson are "likely" out for the season. Just being around athletes myself at Idaho State my sense is Jackson must have done something more then just tear a meniscus. Normally if it's just that you don't miss three and a half months. Mark

QUOTE (Doc Edwards Shot @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 04:36 PM) You highlight a good point. Winning has some correlation to Sox fan attendance (as seen in 2006), but not always. I remember the attendance being surprisingly weak for a good portion of the historic 2005 season when they well ahead of the pack in first place from the get go. And it wasn't particularly strong in 2012 when they were battling with Detroit for the division title in September. The fans inexplicably didn't turn out as much as could have been expected down the stretch when the team needed the support. I admit it that as a Sox fan, I'm guilty of not showing up at the park for long stretches without realizing it. I guess I just love watching it on HD TV at home or at a neighborhood bar better than going down to the stadium. Doc: As I posted in a series of stories called Sox and the Media, the problem is the Sox haven't consistently won making fans willing to take a chance and spend time and money on them. You talk about 2005 where they finished with good attendance but what happened in 2002, 2003, 2004? 2002 a .500 seasom, 2003 they urinated away a playoff spot in the final three weeks...2004, lost Frank and Mags, fell out of first place at the All Star Break (not the team's fault it happens.) My point is there was no reason for fans to expect or believe anything different was going to happen in 2005. When it looked like the Sox were for real things picked up in the second half of the season. 2012 you say? Well 2009 was a disaster, 2010 they fell out of firs place in August when the bullpen fell apart and got injured, 2011 was a losing season. Again no track record for fans to say, "this year will be different." And that historically has been a problem. The Sox after all are the only one of the original pre expansion 16 MLB franchises to have NEVER made the post season in consecutive years. Ever. They won in 2005 and 2006, attendance was 2.3 and 2.9 million. Had they been able to keep it going instead of falling apart in 2007 and 2009 this wouldn't be as bad of a situation in my opinion. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 01:07 PM) You obviously take offense to anything resembling discussion about the fan base. I understand that, as I see people bothered by it all of the time. What it does not change is the truth. The White Sox would not be signing a third rate ballpark naming rights deal if the Sox fan base was more loyal. I know it hurts your feelings, but it is the honest to god truth. What I have never done is make a judgement of what the fans should or should not do. All of that is the manifestation of someone who is working harder than most at being offended. Loyalty is a two way street of course and as we discussed my opinion is that sports fans are under no obligation to support a bad product. No different from any other type of business and sports today is now a billion dollar business. You disagree with that and have made that clear consistently. Again I disagree with you but I respect your consistency. If the Sox want an average of say 2.5 million fans a year...fine, win 90 games three seasons in a row and they'll get that. Not have a winning season at least in six out of nine years...well that's a tough sell for anybody. Mark

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 11:47 AM) I just have no clue why you keep defending the way this franchise is run. Maybe he has a relative working for them? Just kidding...(I think!) I do think I'd like to arrange a legit interview with him for the site. Seriously. I disagree with his views but he has been consistent and I'd like to explore the reasoning behind his beliefs. I think it would make for a good one and interesting to a lot of people. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 11:41 AM) Just because they aren't doing it the way YOU want it done is irrelevant. They have made a ton of moves the last few years, again, they just haven't worked out. They know there is a problem, and are trying to fix it. It just isn't the way that most people want to see. But they are trying. I honestly appreciate the effort (I'm not being sarcastic) as I've said I've never doubted for a minute the desire to win from JR on down. Baseball though is a results business...the results have been bad for six of the last nine years, soon to be seven out of ten. Radical changes are needed starting with the removal of people on the baseball side of the front office who simply aren't very good at their jobs based on the bottom line...wins and losses. Mark

Story provides some financial details and an interesting comment from Adam Eaton: http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/guarant...white-sox-home/ Mark

Rick Morrissey's take on the new naming rights: http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/there-c...-field-cant-be/ Mark

And I understand the Bears and Cubs have already gotten into the act on this, much like the Royals earlier this season dissed the Sox on Twitter followed by the Padres after Shields started getting lit up: http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/chicago...ium-name-082416 Mark

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 09:11 PM) Of course it doesn't change what happens on the field but it's pouring salt on the wounds for a completely dejected fanbase and it's embarrassing. It's as if everyone in charge is completely incompetent. How does this even get past the initial question of "How will this fit in with the image of the ball club?" Should have been an immediate pass and look to the next bidder. You are assuming there were other bidders. I'd assume there was but you never know for sure. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 04:42 PM) I know you and the rest of the JR haters have this weird guilt factor any time this is said, but it is a fact. The rate of return is directly tied to how much and how loyal of a fan base a team has. Teams like the Cubs get bigger deals because no matter what has happened they have stuck around. Like it or not, but it is true. One thing wrong with your comment I'm not a JR hater. I respect the fact that he's a self made millionaire and have said that repeatedly. He's also a brilliant businessman and real estate guy. That does not make him a baseball expert or a savant when it comes to the game. We'll just have to disagree, Sox fans are smarter than that to support a garbage, s***ty franchise. They are under NO obligation, none, zero, nada to support crap just like any consumer is under no obligation to support a bad eatery, a lousy supermarket or a bad business. There is no difference especially when said team got their stadium out of tax dollars and didn't even pay for it themselves (unlike say the Giants owner who built that stadium out of his own pocket or the former Dolphins owner Joe Robbie) Want to know a big reason why the Cubs were s*** for decades? It's because they sold out every game win or lose. The motivation for ownership to spend millions to put a winning team on the field was exactly none. But again you are free to offer your opinions and I respect them. I respect the fact as well that you consistently stick to your guns. Mark

James Shields..."20 losses here I come!!!" Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 03:32 PM) What this really does is scare me for their next TV contract. As well you should be. If things don't dramatically improve on the field and in the ratings I don't think the Sox will even be getting what franchises like the Mariners and Diamondbacks got. And they won't even be in the same ballpark (no pun intended) with what the Cubs will be getting. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 03:40 PM) That is exactly what it is saying. The Cubs are getting their own network due to their fanbase, we are getting Guaranteed Rate Field. Apparently it's the fan's fault? Mark

QUOTE (shipps @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 03:06 PM) They may sound like a shady mortgage company but its possible they had a substantial offer. If its helps improve the team then I am fine by it but damn this wasnt the greatest of timing. As others have pointed out and I have no idea on this, the money may not even be going to the Sox. We'll find out more I guess in the next few days. Some say because the Sox simply rent the stadium they won't get the money. Mark

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 03:02 PM) Wow, this is f***ing sad. Some 3rd tier mortgage company/broker/business. Couldn't get Walgreens, a big time bank, airline, Fortune 500 co?? They end up with some shady mortgage broker?? perhaps that says something about the Sox relevance in their own market. Mark

Jokes have already started across the internet..."Guaranteed" mediocrity..."Guaranteed" not to make the playoffs...and the company logo (arrow pointing down is to funny for words...) I wonder if the money must go towards the upkeep of the stadium or if it can be used for other purposes and I wonder how much the deal is worth. Mark

We go back to August 23, 1972. The Sox are hosting the Yankees and Dick Allen did something no other Sox player ever did at that time...he hit one into the center field bleacher seats off Lindy McDaniel in the Sox 5-2 win. I was sitting in the area because Harry Caray was broadcasting from those seats. A young Richard Roeper was also there that afternoon. The only other Sox player to do this in the original Comiskey Park by the way was Richie Zisk in 1977. You can hear the call of the shot at this link: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/08/t...ulie-hits-2000/ Announcer is Harry Caray. Courtesy: WTAQ / WEAW Radio. Mark

Don't see many Sox blow out wins anymore that's for sure. Mark

According to the Sun-Times today Robin said Jose has been dealing with a hamstring issue. The story didn't quote Robin as saying how long that has been an issue but Jose has appeared to be having trouble running most of the season. Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 23, 2016 -> 04:38 AM) http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-white-so...get-it-together This is reassuring. KW: We'll get it together. So basically, the injuries to Petricka and Putnam were enough to blow up the entire season...that's about as lame as Hawk saying the lack of offdays early burned out Albers and Robertson. Nice column in reply to Kenny: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/08/23/baf...-the-white-sox/ Mark

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Aug 23, 2016 -> 08:36 AM) The fans of the team that lost the world series. Because they knew during game 1, they had a better chance at winning a championship than 28 other teams. Not the mention the attendance boost teams get when they go deep into the playoffs. I'll taking making the playoffs and everything that goes with it (being in contention and playing meaningful games late in the season, the fun of watching my team play in October while everyone else is at home) vs the past few crap seasons we've had with very little to look forward to any year. VERY well said. Lip

QUOTE (miracleon35th @ Aug 22, 2016 -> 07:06 PM) I don't care if KW and Hahn stay, just as long as they hire a different group of people to evaluate talent and make more sound Draft choices and trade suggestions. As far as not being in the playoffs more than twice since they won it all, please.... This has been a much tougher Division than say, the National League Central and who cares if a team makes it but then gets swept four games in a row? LOL. I'd rather not make the playoffs than suffer that kind of humiliation. I don't agree. Making the playoffs even if you get blown out in the Wild Card game to say nothing of if you advance further along, still means you had a good enough season to actually get there. To me it beats going to the golf course the first week of October because the team fell flat on their faces yet again. Mark