Lip Man 1

QUOTE (klaus kinski @ May 30, 2016 -> 06:57 AM) I recall that being a more talented team than this. But that team had some budding future stars about to hit stride. Don't see that on this year's version True on both counts in my opinion. Mark

QUOTE (mataipaepae @ May 30, 2016 -> 08:28 AM) Id like to see more hard throwers in our bullpen. Too many lollipop guys. In 2007 Kenny decided to rebuild the bullpen with guys who all threw 95+. How did that work out? The issue was they fell behind regularly in counts and when they brought that 95+ straight fast ball, it usually went out at about 105+ MPH. Speed without movement is a killer. Big league hitters will catch up to straight fastballs. Mark

For right or wrong JR has never cared what the media thinks, what the agents think or what the fans think. And some of that is certainly good, as a business he has to look at it this way. But historically under this ownership there has always been a streak of arrogance, 'we're smarter than all of you...' 'we know what we're doing, you don't'. It goes all the way back to EE and his comments about 'building a first class organization' on the press conference the day they took over insulting the Veeck family. History again shows they really haven't built a 'first class organization' based on the on-field record. Plus Kenny is about as arrogant as they come. The former PR / marketing director Rob Gallas was as arrogant and taciturn as they come. This can't really be called a 'fan-friendly' organization not based on the record and comments about said fan base over the year particularly from Kenny and Cooper. Mark

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ May 29, 2016 -> 08:19 PM) B**ch and gripe and moan and point fingers. Maybe we can blame the bar boy too,,? b****ing and moaning and pointing fingers generally happens when you have a dysfunctional organization that has posted the worst stretch of Sox baseball historically since the era from 1968 through 1980. Mark

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ May 29, 2016 -> 07:03 PM) Anymore threads of negativity? I can't say, depends if they ever decide to start winning actual baseball games again. Mark

Someone at another Sox site figured this out. Unbelievable. On Friday, when the Sox led 5-1 with 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th, they had a 93.8% chance of winning the game. On Saturday, when the Sox led 7-1 with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, they had a 99.9% chance of winning the game. On Sunday, when the Sox led 4-2 with 1 out in the bottom of the 8th, they had an 88.4% chance of winning the game. The probability of losing all 3 of those games is .0007%, or about 1 in 142,857. Simply incredible....and pathetic. Mark

Given this dramatic collapse after playing so well for a stretch immediately brought my thoughts back to 1991. On August 12, 1991 the Sox were one game behind the Twins. Wilson Alvarez the day before had just no-hit the Orioles in Baltimore and the Sox had won 19 of 23. That night Bobby Thigpen gave up the game tying home run in the 9th inning, Donn Pall game up the game winning home run in the 11th inning. The Sox lost 15 of their next 17 games. They were nine games out on August 28 after getting swept three games in K.C. This year of course they started 23-10 and have now lost 14 of their last 18. Amazing isn't it? Mark

Given what's happened the past three seasons the organization / team has very little credibility or gets the benefit of the doubt on things. That is probably very unfair but that's also reality. No one expected them to run away with the division. Most thought though given the areas of weakness on the team that they were playing far over their heads and that it was only a matter of time. That time has apparently come. Mark

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ May 15, 2016 -> 10:15 AM) As long as the Sox can handle Cleveland, KC, Detroit, and Minnesota, the division is theirs IMO. The Sox haven't been able to consistently beat teams in their division for years. Looks like that's not changing. 2-8 in last 10 games against division opponents. Mark

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 29, 2016 -> 05:31 PM) What a terrible comp to bring up seeing how Bevington replaced Lemont. No more lightning please "By that I mean that JR will approve of a managerial dismissal during the season." You must have missed that part. Mark

That lightening will strike twice: June 2, 1995 - With the Sox having blown four straight games to the Indians, and off to an 11-20 start, manager Gene Lamont was fired and replaced by abrasive, taciturn third base coach Terry Bevington. Bevington would turn out to be a disaster on the field and in the clubhouse and the long term effects of the way Lamont was dismissed would cause his mentor and former Sox coach Jim Leyland to turn down overtures by owner Jerry Reinsdorf to take over after Bevington was removed. By that I mean that JR will approve of a managerial dismissal during the season Mark

All you can do is laugh at these buffoons. Mark

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ May 29, 2016 -> 08:22 AM) Just curious when was the last time the whitesox blew a 6 run lead in theb 9th Inning to actually LOSE the game in that inning (not just being tied, but to actually lose). I can say in 30 years of watching the whitesox I have never seen them blow a 6 run lead in the ninth and actually lose it as they did yesterday. Try this one: April 5, 2004 - New Manager Ozzie Guillen figured he had his debut game all wrapped up as the Sox took a 7-3 lead into the ninth inning at Kansas City. 20 minutes later the Royals scored six runs to take the game 9-7. The amazing rally set the modern record for the most runs scored in the ninth inning to win a game on opening day. Not a six run lead but considering everything, pretty close. And I'll be very curious to see how Sale reacts in this one. He's told the media when the pressure is on sometimes he overthrows and bad things happen. After the farce's the last two games, given how this team has fallin apart the last three weeks, it's safe to say the pressure is on. Mark

With a nod to the narrator from ESPN's 30 for 30 series..."What if I told you a no-hitter was lost not by a player, not by an umpire but by an official scorer?" It's May 26, 1976, newly acquired Ken Brett is looking to make history in Anaheim, the Sox are looking for their 10th straight win. Announcers are Harry Caray and Lorn Brown. Courtesy: WMAQ Radio. http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/05/1397/ Mark

QUOTE (flavum @ May 28, 2016 -> 07:06 PM) Lee Stevens Correct August 25, 1990 Saturday night. I turned 35. Mark

Sox are overall 9-8 against the division. 6-0 against the Twins. Do the math. They can't beat Cleveland, they can't beat K.C. They have ZERO chance if that doesn't change. (And they haven't beaten teams in the division on a regular basis in years...) Mark

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ May 28, 2016 -> 05:36 PM) When Ventura pitches and blows up then it's his fault. Putnam did good. Robertson was a good choice as he needed work. An argument cohldbe made if any time you use your closer in a non save game it might not turn out good. Kahble was not good. But he threw 99. He had been good before. It just seems when we go to the pen one brings the gasoline and the next brings a match Kahle has really never been good. Has a history of control issues. Naturally Robin calls him in to save the game AND has a guy with control issues intentionally walk guys. Robin and Cooper (here after known as Dumb and Dumber) MAKE THE DECISIONS. They put the players in situations that aren't the best and expect them to work through it. Good managers put their players in the best positions to achieve success. Ventura has very little clue after 4 1/2 seasons how to do this. (and before you use the excuse, 'he's doesn't have any talent... he does. It's been upgraded a lot) From the batting order to his use of the bullpen it's total, complete, sheer lunacy. AND THAT'S 100% ON HIM. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 28, 2016 -> 05:20 PM) I've seen it before with the Sox. Can't name examples right now. Too pissed. 1960 vs. Baltimore 1990 vs. Angels 1991 vs. Baltimore (lost something like 16 of 18 immediately afterwards) 2002 vs. Minnesota That's just off the top of my head. Mark

QUOTE (soxforlife05 @ May 28, 2016 -> 04:50 PM) Wasn't that Billy Koch's first game after we traded for him? Yes sir. Another brilliant Kenny move! Mark

Royals have done this before, remember Ozzie's first game April 5, 2004. They scored six in the 9th on opening day. Only Robin and Cooper (Dumb and Dumber) would use five pitchers in one inning, then the next day use the closer in a non save situation. Mark

The season was defined by the Texas Two-Step game. This is just adding insult to injury. If Ventura isn't fired immediately tonight he's not going to be until the end of the year (maybe...) Three more two out RBI's. In a sick way I actually think its kind of funny. Maybe this is what it will take to get JR off his rear end. Mark

What Robin does well is be loyal to JR and a former Sox player so he's "family." That's what he does well and that's all that matters in the White Sox playbook. Mark

Wow...simply Wow. Once again Robin insists on bringing in Duke to face a left hander and once again he can't get the guy out. Three more RBI's tonight with two out. As Tom Petty once sang, "Yea I'm free...free fallin'" It's going to be another long ugly summer fans. Mark

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 26, 2016 -> 09:08 AM) David Wells hurt his back, it wasn't like he pitched the entire season and had a crappy season then went back to normal. He had a bad back from the get go Swisher was a whiny little b**** and pouted when he sucked. And that hasn't changed Which has nothing to do with the fact that as soon as he got out of town he became an All Star with the Yankees if I remember right. At the very least he turned back into a pretty good hitter. And Wells did not have a bad back "from the get go" he hurt his back in June if I remember. If he did, that makes Williams an idiot for trading for him anyway doesn't it? Mark

Reminds me of Jerry Manuel, Neal Cotts, Mark Buehrle and the Yankees from 2003. That didn't work out to well did it? Mark