Lip Man 1

Now another item out of my library. In fact it’s the oldest recording that I have of the White Sox. It’s May 16, 1953. The place is Yankee Stadium and Tommy Byrne, a pitcher, is coming up to bat as a pinch hitter in a game situation. What happened is the only time something like this has happened in the history of the White Sox franchise. Announcer: Bob Elson. Courtesy: WCFL Radio. http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/05/t...s-a-grand-slam/ Mark

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 17, 2016 -> 07:10 AM) Here's something new. I hadn't seen anything like this done before, so it's a bit of an experiment. We invited a writer from each of three other White Sox blogs, to join us (Future Sox) in answering a few questions about the minor leagues and prospects around the White Sox. Just to get some different perspectives. Here is the roundtable discussion. It was really fun to see the different styles and approaches from these other writers. I picked those three because they are, to me, the other three high quality blogs in our space (along with FS). Do people here already read those blogs regularly? Who do you like to read? Very interesting read. Mark

QUOTE (South Sider @ May 16, 2016 -> 09:10 PM) Time to get some home cooking going and get this thing back on track. The Houston series is definitely important, but when KC comes to town I hope our guys are ready to take it to the defending champs and show them that we mean business with this division. Aside from the Twins, we haven't had enough of a test vs. teams in our division. While the current leads we own are nice, whether or not we win this division will still come down to how we play vs. KC, Cleveland and Detroit. It's very important to keep KC down and take at least 2 games. We don't need to be giving that team any momentum at all. Since the Sox intend on pitching Sale against the Astros (why I don't know they could bump him back a day and pitch Q) the match up's don't look great against Kansas City which had a rain out tonight and will probably change their rotational plans. Mark

QUOTE (SI1020 @ May 15, 2016 -> 11:36 AM) f course it didn't but to say that Harry didn't help keep interest in the team a lot higher than it would have been is simply not accurate. In particular the team of Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall kept a lot of us fans interested enough to watch and listen on a regular basis. The Sox had winning seasons in 72 and 77 and for the most part were a dreadful team in the other years Harry was in the booth. Harry was an institution, a lightning rod, some didn't like him but tuned in anyway to see what outrageous thing he might say. More than anything Harry was a salesman. He could sell a baseball game or a brand of beer. His style of broadcasting would never fly today in our milquetoast PC world. He also had his faults which included a sometimes cruel streak, just like Hawk. Still, before he was corporately neutralized by the Cubs and then succumbed to health issues, he was one of the best baseball broadcasters in the history of the game, bar none. He did contribute to increased interest and attendance and the Sox did lose the battle with the Cubs after the Tribune company bought the lovable north siders. I tilt somewhat but not totally to Thad Bosley's point of view on this matter. I remember that era very well. Historically much of what you say is completely accurate. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 16, 2016 -> 09:00 AM) Question of the Day: Are the 2016 White Sox for real, and will they be playing in the playoffs this year? We'll know a lot more by the middle of next week or in about 10 days won't we? Mark

QUOTE (Tony @ May 12, 2016 -> 04:59 PM) I actually think this year may be the worst, considering the Sox are in 1st place and leading the AL in wins. The over-reacting to every pitch is getting obscene. And before you post "That's just how it is every year", don't. It doesn't make it right. I think Baltimore now has the best record in the A.L. Mark

Thought for the Day / Stats of the Day: Thought for the Day: Chase Headley is the new Ryan Raburn. A mediocre player who makes a career of killing the White Sox and ONLY the White Sox. Stats of the Day: We are roughly six weeks into the season and the Sox “5th starter” has yet to record one single, solitary victory. Not…one… On this six game road trip White Sox pitchers allowed 21 TWO OUT RBI’S!!! (That’s ridiculous…) The Sox need to get home and get their collective heads back together. This has not been the same team since they gave away that game Tuesday night in Texas. There obviously has been a hangover from that one and they need to stop it quick. As far as Zach Duke...more and more the deal the Sox gave him is looking like a big mistake. Mark

Yankees have scored four runs with two out today. Don Cooper needs to get off his fat ass and have a talk with his pitchers. This has been going on the entire road trip. Mark

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ May 14, 2016 -> 03:00 PM) Lol - only if facts are to be completely ignored. I mean, really - as absurd a statement as could be made in relation to the Chicago White Sox organization and it's history. Go forth with your fairy take view on it all you want, SS2K5. I'm with White Sox historian Richard Lindberg and so many others in the know who understand and recognize the tremendous impact Harry Caray had during his time with the White Sox, and the extraordinary missed opportunity the organization had when they let him slip away and go to the Cubs. Just my opinion and while I think it was a major mistake to let him go (but the fact is Harry wasn't staying unless they broke the bank for him - he hated the new owners and they hated him although the relationship did start well) the fact is that even if Harry stayed the city was going to 'turn' towards the Cubs because of the following factors that Harry would have no control over: 1. The Cubs winning in 1984 which completely stole the Sox thunder. 2. The Sox sucking in 1984 and not being able to follow up and keep building momentum. 3. The Wrigleyville area turning into one big frat house. 4. The number of yuppies who moved into the area as well as downtown and who became Cub fans. 5. SportsVision But perhaps most importantly because it was the philosophy of new ownership since they took control to not take the Cubs on head to head. How many times did Eddie Einhorn say, "we're Chicago's American League team..." to convince someone that was not going to happen. Then you had JR's radio comment before the first ever real game between the Sox and Cubs that, "Chicago has always been a Cubs town." Given that JR lived in Chicago since the late 50's, he should have known better. I understand Thad where you are coming from but the issue isn't as cut and dried as you make it out to be. Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 14, 2016 -> 05:05 PM) Yeah, they were playing that game like it was the last one of the season with either tee times or flights booked. Eaton probably should have made that play...that said, Q just got tentative out there for some reason. Headley didn't have any XB hits coming into this week, two homers in consecutive games and Jose had him down 1-2 and let him get away by pitching too much to avoid contact. Just kind of a weird situation how Jose got dinged up by the worst part of the Yankees' order. Just goes to show there is zero margin for error from the 6th inning on against the Yankees, and why they won't blow this whole thing up early because they want to keep working on fixes for the offensive and starting pitching in order to make a run at the division. Maybe Eaton just isn't completely adjusted to how well the ball flies there in the outfield, because he had that play and the one in the early going that he took 2-3 steps in, reversed his tracks and had to jump a couple of week in the air to snag and prevent a run scoring double/triple. And it's not like Nova is garbage. He was 16-4 in 2011. His stuff isn't as good as back then anymore, but he had his sinker going and almost nobody other than Frazier and then Lawrie could elevate it...unfortunately, Brett's hit midway on the wall and just didn't have enough elevation. Would have liked to stick with Avila one more game because his swing looked so good his first two at-bats yesterday...try to ride a hot streak there like we did with Navarro, but oh well. Twins SHOULD be at the end of finishing off the Indians,up 6-2 in the top of 9th and still hitting. Going into this series, I expected we might give up 1 game with CLE playing the Twins, and Tanaka going on SUN against Gonzalez (we'll see how the weather turns out on that prediction). A rain out would be VERY nice Sunday! Mark

Guys, you can put money on this. As long as Jason wants the job it's his. And I think he's doing fine, though that doesn't mean I'd love to have Plesac come on board. He can replace DJ. Mark

Fourth time this year the Sox lost a game when holding an opponent to three runs or less. I HATE losing well pitched games like that especially to a guy with an ERA coming in of over four. It was a 'blast from the past' for Q...pitches very well...gets no help. Seems like the Sox were swinging at everything today. Yankees have that bullpen back together now so you better have a lead going into the 7th inning or you are finished. Don't think they're going to win the game tomorrow so it's probably a 2-4 road trip...should have been 3-3 but they urinated it away Tuesday. They need to start playing some home games and some home stands that are longer than six games. Mark

Ironic that this discussion began yesterday / today: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/05/t...svision-debuts/ Also there is a link to a detailed history of SportsVision with quotes directly from Harry and the owners over the entire situation. Mark

Sale is in cruise control mode right now. He can do anything he wants to do on the mound. Just a terrific pitcher. And just my opinion but Dan Plesac is very good to listen to. Knows the game, very pleasant voice. I'd love to see if he'd like to come on board as an announcer. He grew up a Sox fan by the way in Gary. He and Stone would give them the best analysts in the game. Mark

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 13, 2016 -> 09:42 AM) LOL What? This is nonsense. I don't hate Hawk. It is absurd that he left the broadcast to check on a player though. Would he do the same thing is Carlos Sanchez or Tyler Saladino hit their face on a chair? Exactly. This simply isn't professional. The Sox would absolutely give an update to the broadcasters to air for the fans. Mark

Huge mismatch pitching wise tonight. Let's hope it stays that way and something strange doesn't happen during the game itself. Mark

Met Ed in 2012 at the park in Bob Grim's office. Nice guy, very tall and lanky. He went to St. Rita's, I went to Brother Rice so the conversation turned to that. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 11, 2016 -> 06:46 PM) In the post game he specifically said they were trying to stay out of the double play, and going for the big inning. So instead he runs them into a double play BRILLIANT! LOL Going for a big inning with Sanchez batting because of the injury to Frazier? Mark

Here's something else to consider, the Rangers have had at least NINE two out RBI's in the past two games. They had five of them in that horrific 8th inning yesterday and they got four more of them today. NINE at least. That's brutal. Mark

Someone is going to have to explain this to me. Why would Ventura try a hit and run with Sanchez (who hardly plays) AND a slow / average runner at first base? He screws up the bullpen in a winnable game last night and he makes this strange decision this afternoon. Guess he's back to his normal self now. At least they didn't get swept but these last two games...all you can do is shake your head. Since the Baltimore series the Sox aren't playing that well just 7-6. Robin also said the pen was limited today but that doesn't make a lot of sense either since they have two off days in the next five. On to New York and hopefully better things. And I agree suddenly the starting rotation doesn't look so hot...Latos is now back on Earth, Rodon is struggling and the 5th starter, well if I've figured this right the Sox are 0-5-2 (no decisions) in those games that they have started. Doesn't mean the Sox haven't won any of those games just that the 5th starter did not get the decision. Mark

Hopefully they got some sleep and forgot about last night abomination. We'll see what happens today. At least they know whatever happens they won't get swept. Mark

Just some more thoughts on the abortion tonight. Still so pissed off I'm shaking. Now we'll see if the bubble bursts. Ventura lost this game, flat out lost it with his bullpen usage. Here's the way I look at it. I know Robertson pitched Sunday and Monday. I know Jones has pitched a lot but WITH AN OFF DAY THURSDAY and having to face Cole Hamels in an afternoon game after an extra inning game on Monday and after a long game Tuesday because of the delay you do EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO DO TO WIN THE GAME and take the series. Period. You can not lose this game and the Sox did it in spectacular fashion. Letting Carroll go back out there, a guy who has no business being in the major leagues also didn't help matters. Just a devastating loss. I'm speechless right now. They REALLY need Latos to pitch well Wednesday, have got to have it...and it may not matter even if he does, Hamels has won 11 consecutive decisions, one off the Rangers record. Mark

First time this year the Sox lost when taking a lead in the 7th inning or later. They did it in spectacular fashion. Just a brutal loss...really, really bad. We'll see how they react to it with not a lot of time before an afternoon game. They really need a good performance from Latos Wednesday. Still can't fathom this one...absolutely incredible. Rodon is REALLY beginning to worry me. Mark

Blow a two run lead in the 8th inning...doesn't matter. Blow a one run lead in the 9th inning...doesn't matter. This team apparently has "it"...whatever "it" is. Jackson's safety squeeze was old school, loved it. Jennings getting out of the spot, loved it. Gonzales looked good, absolutely deserves another start. Won't get swept in Texas, now win the series. Mark

Saw this on the postgame show a few weeks ago and wanted to point it out before tonight's game. Bill Melton was commenting after a Chris Sale game about how he only had trouble with one team last year, the Twins. But here is what I found interesting. Melton on-air said that he privately told Sale what he was doing wrong and what the Twins were looking for. Melton said he wasn't going to tell everyone what he told Sale but we'll see how he does tonight. Let's hope for another very good game and a win. Mark