Lip Man 1

QUOTE (Carpe Diem @ Oct 23, 2016 -> 11:39 PM) I don't fault management for giving it a run with this core, but after 2+ years I've seen enough to know this team is 4-5 impact players away from even contending for the division. I'm going to sound repetitive, but this issue I'm about to bring up CANNOT BE STRESSED ENOUGH. The franchise's future is at stake. The White Sox have a once in a generation opportunity to create one of the best farm systems EVER ASSEMBLED if they blow this thing up leaving only Carlos Rodon and Tim Anderson in its wake. I'm talking potentially having anywhere from 16-20 of the top 100 prospects in all of baseball if you factor in Fulmer Collins, Burdi, Hansen. That is unprecedented a team can make over their entire farm system/trajectory of their franchise in one house cleaning session. If the White Sox trick themselves into thinking Chris Sale will somehow magically learn to control his emotions and not get hit hard bu the AL central I'm going to REVOLT in a way that will resemble Braveheart. Obama or Mark Cuban for owner signs will be EVERYWHERE. Stay tuned. Just playing "Devil's Advocate" here but do you trust the same people who put the franchise in this position in the first place to get them out of it? Mark

QUOTE (Tony @ Oct 24, 2016 -> 09:07 AM) What type of acquisition was Paul Konerko to the White Sox? He came to the Sox originally in a trade for Mike Cameron. He resigned as a free agent with them after the 2005 season and then towards the end of his career. Technically he was both a trade acquisition and a free agent signing. Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 24, 2016 -> 10:47 AM) The Will To Win...forgot about that marketing debacle. Pretty soon Harrelson will be gone, too. Regarding Hawk, I don't think so. He is like Harry was, you would have to physically remove him kicking and screaming from the booth. Hawk has always stated his wish is to die in the booth and as long as JR owns the team, he's got a job. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 24, 2016 -> 10:34 AM) Good post. You and the Sox have been "Robin-ized." Ozzie kept itr fun and entertaining always as he knew the Sox were second fiddle in town. Winning a title had us on Cloud Nine. But the Robin years have been just what the front office wanted: calmness, focus on the field, but our performance has been .500ish and very blah. The post Ozzie era has been crickets, just like everybody demaneded it be. Overall Sox have done a pretty darn good job of fielding a competitive team the past many years it's just that in the Robin era we've had a few too many holes to even finish above .500. We're always going to be second fiddle to the Cubs and when they are winning? Ouch.. It's too bad Ozzie had to get X rated and political to where nobody would ever touch him again. But he had the right idea. He had everybody buzzing. Overall the Sox have done a great job of putting a competitive team on the field. It's just been the Robin era where we've had zero chance of making the playoffs. Sad. I disagree in the fact that the Sox have put competitive teams on the field during Robin's tenure. 2012 was a fluke a reaction to Ozzie not being around and everyone saw how it ended. From that point on, the Sox teams were basically "a wish and a prayer" or "hoping to catch lighting in a bottle." Just look at last season...Rollins, Latos, Jackson ? That says it all about the overall talent level. They have had some very good players but little to no depth and more holes then a block of swiss cheese. Just my opinion. Mark

BMAGS: A thoughtful discourse which brought up some very good points. I've only a few things to add: 1. And it pains me to say this since it is my profession, is that the media which is supposed to be "neutral" is far, far from it with Cub fans literally in the media, open about it. Mark Gonzales told me about covering a Sox/Cubs game and when a close call went against the Cubs, certain members of the media stood up in the press box and b****ed about it. Simply a Cardinal Sin in broadcasting or journalism. This is just one example. 2. The fact that the White Sox simply don't seem to have any coherent plan, everything is RE-acting instead of being PRO-active from a baseball and a marketing sense. Brooks is a friend and I know he works very hard at his job but really has anything come close to the "Win or Die Trying" or the "Us vs. Them" ad campaigns? 3. This town actually was a Sox-town (despite what JR has publicly stated) back in the 50's and 60's until Durocher came to town. Seriously, the Cubs had Ernie Banks...and that's it. The Sox got the lion's share of media attention because they usually were fighting for a pennant every season. At the very least they had a winning season 17 years in a row. (Think about that one for a minute). They also had the stars, nationally known guys who could play...Aparicio, Fox, Pirece, Wynn, Minoso, Peters, Horlen etc. 4. Maybe the most important to me is that the Sox HAVE NEVER EVEN TRIED to take on the Cubs directly. Almost from the moment the new owners took over it was "we're Chicago's American League team..." (direct quote) Ownership never understood (which was bizarre since both guys lived full time in Chicago since the late 50's), that Sox fans WILL NOT ROOT for the Cubs and visa versa. It's that simple. The Sox are directly competing with the Cubs in the same market...but they refused to acknowledge that or deal with it. And the Sox had their chances. As "recently" as 1983 the Cubs were closing the upper deck because nobody cared. That's just one opportunity. The Sox urinated everyone of those chances away. Again you see the result of that folly today. In short this is an ossified, inbred (as in only members of the "family" get hired), stuck in the mud organization. Making a lot of money and satisfied with the status quo. I'm lucky. I have a library full of audio / video / print material that I can turn to in bad times, like right now. Others aren't so lucky. Mark

As I've often said they are between a rock and a hard place with no clear answer or direct path until or unless (in my opinion) new ownership arrives or the existing ownership purges the front office on the baseball side and brings in successful people from completely outside "the family..." Your points are good ones but again, do you trust this front office who put the franchise in this position in the first place to dig them out of it? And by front office I also include the people in charge of minor league talent / development and major league scouting. Mark

October 23, 2005 - Game #2 of the World Series ended in an unexpected and dramatic fashion as outfielder Scott Podsednik blasted a walk off home run. The shot, off Houston’s Brad Lidge, ended the game in a 7-6 White Sox win at U.S. Cellular Field. Earlier, with the Sox losing 4-2, Paul Konerko drilled the first pitch he saw for a grand slam turning the game and perhaps the series around. We've got the audio AND video of both of these incredible moments. Announcers are Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. Courtesy: Fox Sports. http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/10/t...s-walks-it-off/ Mark

Given the circumstances some good news is needed so here you go! October 22, 2005 - 46 years after their last World Series, the White Sox finally got back to another one. Game #1 against Houston was played with the Sox winning 5-3 at U.S. Cellular Field. Jermaine Dye and Joe Crede hit home runs. Jose Contreras pitched seven innings and the bullpen tandem of Neal Cotts and Bobby Jenks saved the game. We've got the audio AND video of the final out. Announcer: Joe Buck. Courtesy: Fox Sports. http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/10/t...e-world-series/ Mark

I never thought I'd live to see the day when the Cubs were in the World Series. Seriously I thought I'd be long gone. Now I know how Cub fans felt in 2005, it's the "nuclear scenario." Even if the Cubs lose the series, to a certain extent they've already won...they've buried the Sox deeper into irrelevancy. It is what it is...nothing left to say but Go Indians! Mark

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Oct 21, 2016 -> 08:48 PM) Owners usually don't build stadiums. They fleece governments for that which are then put on the tax payers. True and perhaps I worded that wrong. I meant that by the time a new ballpark is even up for discussion the Sox will have new ownership. Mark

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Oct 21, 2016 -> 06:14 PM) I keep seeing all this crap about the White Sox moving out of Chicago because of the Cubs recent success. First off, the last time I checked; the Cubs still haven't won the WS. I'm aware that they are the odds on favorites and will likely make it there this year, but until they hoist that trophy-- the Cubs are still the Cubs. With that said, it pisses me off that we have to cheer against them in the post season rather than cheer our Sox. It pisses me off that JR is afraid to make difficult but overdue necessary decisions for the better of the team. With that said, JR still owns the team (until his death), KW and Hahn have unlimited lives and will keep coming back regardless of what happens on the field. We are forced to wait around and see what direction this team goes this winter. With the fanbase openly disappointed and discouraged with them-- I do believe we will see a bunch of trades this winter with an emphasis on building a new and exciting core. Chris Sale will be the first to go. If KW and Hahn do it right, trade off their assets and bring in a plethora of young talent, the White Sox may be ready to go for it as early as 2019. Fans have said, they would be more than supportive of a rebuild and with the assets they have to sell-- it will be an accelerated one for sure. By 2019, will the Cubs still be good? Probably, but the White Sox will be younger and more hungry. Will JR still be around in 2033 when the stadium sweetheart lease ends? No. That means a new owner will take over and the White Sox will Continue to play at the G-spot. I have a feeling the next owner will be from Chicago and I'm hopeful that they will stay here. Here is to hoping the Cubs have minimal success until 2019 (meaning very few or zero WS championships) and to hoping KW and Hahn actually do this accelerated rebuild. We will see. By all accounts there will not be a total rebuild / tear down this off season. JR apparently does not want that and is not willing to wait five years for it to succeed (assuming it does). It will be "go for it" yet again and hoping to catch lighting in a bottle. But again, we'll see soon enough. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 21, 2016 -> 12:07 PM) You've all convinced me. Sox are a stepchild and no new stadium will be built unless the new owner fits the bill and you can forget about that. No fricking way. Not when they could move the team and get a free one in Vegas or anywhere. We really truly should stop talking about it. 35th and Shields neighborhood just needs to modernize and become a destination area for fun. That also will never happen. Fans are used to getting to the Cell and most fans have a way to get in and park and get out they are comfortable with. So we're stuck with it. Just enjoy what we've got. Greg: You must remember that when it comes to the city of Chicago and major decisions, politics is going to play a part. Always was...always will be. Mark

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Oct 21, 2016 -> 04:49 AM) Yup, anyone arguing that the Cubs aren't a direct competitor is fooling themselves. The Cubs going on a Blackhawks type run is very bad for us. Unfortunately this ownership group hasn't felt the Cubs were or are their competition since literally almost from the start. They certainly had their chances to become more viable and to pick up a bigger slice of their own home market over the last 35+ years but it didn't happen. In the long term things do not look good but remember conditions change...sooner or later new ownership is coming. Mark

QUOTE (Carpe Diem @ Oct 20, 2016 -> 01:43 PM) There is nothing wrong with "Guaranteed Rate Field" other than the location. The White Sox are blessed to play in a city that features one of the best skylines in the world and one of the biggest lakes in the world. WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT SCENERY?!?! There is absolutely no excuse the White Sox not having a SF Giants like ballpark on the water facing the city. You want to stop being a second class organization? SHOW SOME VISION! If a new park is ever built it will be by new ownership and just as the Mayor and city fought to build the new park at a location they chose in the late 80's (Mayor Washington said the ONLY location the city would support and that he would tell his people on the Stadium Authority Board to vote for was across the street from the original park) you can expect the city to place location demands once again. Mark

It's October 16, 2005...the Sox were in Anaheim about to beat the Angels for the fourth straight time and get themselves into the World Series for the first time since 1959. We've got the audio AND video of the final out as Jose Contreras made it four consecutive complete games by Sox starters. Announcer is Joe Buck. Courtesy: Fox Sports. http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/10/t...5-world-series/ Mark

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 17, 2016 -> 09:41 AM) As I said earlier, he may turn out to be good. By all accounts he's a sharp baseball guy. I just don't like the idea of anyone getting "their shot", as if they were owed something. I'd rather they had gotten someone with deep experience outside the organization, and I don't consider Well written post. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 17, 2016 -> 08:38 AM) This is a pretty fair stretch of the truth. One season after being hired from the outside, never having had anything to do with the White Sox before. I grant you in his case it is somewhat... but as you also said; it is also truth, he was in the Sox organization and is not a total outsider. Personally I think he'll do a much better job than Robin (who wouldn't) but as I stated at the time I would have felt more comfortable had the Sox waited and seen who else potentially may have been out there. I have a hard time thinking that another team was going to swoop in and grab him (paraphrasing Hahn's words) had the Sox waited a month. Again personally I want the Sox to start bringing in people totally and completely from outside the organization with totally new and fresh ideas and perspectives. It's been 20 years of "the family" and the results for the most part have not been good. Time for something radically different. Just my opinion. Mark

So let's recap shall we? Rick Renteria named manager (part of "the family") Capra and Hasler named big league coaches (part of "the family") Now Getz (with all of TWO YEARS experience) is named Director of Player Development (oh yes, he's a former player and part of "the family!") It's like the Sox have a total repulsion with bringing in ANYONE who hasn't had a connection with the organization. All you can do now is shake your head...the jokes write themselves. According to a lot of knowledgeable folks here this position is important, the Sox desperately need their farm system to start producing and they hire a guy with two years experience for it. OK then... Mark

My first reaction was the same as many, no real changes. OK...maybe there will be much needed changes with the players we'll see. I also got an interesting e-mail this afternoon while on the bus from a prominent media member in Chicago commenting on a certain aspect of the coaching staff: "Kenny's spies - Boston and Steverson stay" Take it for what it may be worth. Mark

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Oct 14, 2016 -> 02:25 PM) Don't worry, I won't, but thanks for checking in. No, I was simply reacting to Lip's post where he mentioned that Reinsdorf said as much. If it's untrue and he never claimed that trading Koosman was one of his "biggest mistakes as owner", that would be encouraging, given there are many far more franchise-crippling mistakes he's made as owner over the years that make that trade look like nothing at all in comparison. I'm in Flagstaff, Arizona after an all day bus ride for a game Saturday and I can assure you Thad, JR said that publicly. And I understand where he was coming from. Koosman made a HUGE impact on that team at that time. I've talked to guys like Kittle, Law, Paciorek, Fletcher, LaRussa and they have all said the same thing. Mark

Ron Kittle told me the team outright quit in the second half of 1984. Remember they had won seven straight and were in first place at the break. The big difference between 83 and 84 was Jerry Koosman. I had so many guys tell me off that club him not being there was a difference maker. Even JR admitted that was one of his biggest mistakes as owner, letting the Sox trade him for Ron Reed. Koosman was like a second pitching coach, kept players in line and acted as a reassuring voice in the clubhouse when things got tight. Tony LaRussa told me a big part of the reason Bull had a bad 84 and retired was because Kooz wasn't around. They were tight and would drive to the ballpark together. But back to the point, the 84 team had nothing to do with my comment that the 83 team was in my opinion much more talented than the 03 club as the poster originally suggested (i.e. the most talented in franchise history...) But carry on with whatever you are suggesting. Mark

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Oct 13, 2016 -> 11:22 AM) I get goosebumps watching/listening to this. Every single time. That was one of those "am I really seeing this" moments. Mark

It's October 12, 2005 and one of the strangest, most bizarre ways to end a baseball is ready to take place. Yes...it's the A.J. "dropped third strike" game. We've got the audio AND the video of that surreal moment. Announcers are Joe Buck, Tim McCarver and Lou Piniella. Courtesy: Fox Sports. http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/10/t...lls-a-fast-one/ Mark

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Oct 13, 2016 -> 09:46 AM) Was the '03 team really that good? I didn't follow baseball then. They were good but in my opinion not great, certainly not the most talented team in Sox franchise history in my opinion. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 12, 2016 -> 05:58 PM) The 2006 team won 90 games. The 1984 team is one that absolutely bombed. Who said anything about the 1984 team? And the discussion centered around "on paper" the amount of talent on hand according to the original poster...not on actual results. To wit, here is Buehrle > Wood's original comment: "That team on paper has to be the best team in franchise history." Mark