Lip Man 1

Good analysis in my opinion. It starts and ends with ownership / management as in most businesses. The Sox ownership / management is stale, set in their ways, have a collective 'group-think' at problems because so many people have been together for so long. It's not working and yet they refuse to make the important changes that are desperately needed. It's not change for changes sake now in my opinion. With the Cubs 'success'' (notice I put that in quotes) and the probability of them starting their own network in 2020, it's now change for survival with the White Sox. But given the ages and net worth of the Board of Directors, it's hard to see them or JR wanting to rock the boat. The Sox are in a bad, bad place right now. Mark

Sox are in serious, serious trouble right now but I also agree they aren't going anywhere. Mark

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Oct 5, 2015 -> 04:47 PM) There's gotta be big moves on the horizon. Sox can't roll out Avi,Trayce,Saladino, Sanchez, Flowers, Alexei next year. Big expensive upgrades are coming. Maybe we'll see. Depends a lot on how season ticket sales go and I wouldn't think that's going to go over well. Mark

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Oct 5, 2015 -> 01:11 PM) 2008 also had the likely AL MVP hurt himself at the beginning of September. If Quentin doesn't throw his bat down in frustration we likely win the division without the need for Game 163 and we could have set-up our rotation for the playoffs. At that point anything could have happened, because the playoffs in baseball are a crapshoot. Just to correct a point, he didn't throw the bat down. After missing a pitch from Cliff Lee he tried swinging the bat into his other cupped hand out of frustration (he was supposed to catch it or cup it in that hand). He missed and the bat struck bone towards the bottom of the hand / wrist breaking it. One of the dumber things a baseball player ever did to himself. Mark

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Oct 5, 2015 -> 10:16 AM) Well the Dodgers' TV deal has turned out to be a big fiasco with all the people that can't even watch them in LA. Very true. Of course the Dodgers already have that TV money in the bank. LOL. A lot will depend on how the Cubs do the next few years and if they can keep this going. If they can and (God forbid) get to or win a World Series, they'll probably get a maximum amount of dollars available regardless of what happens outside the Chicago market. No question they are in a much better position right now than the Sox. If you believe Fan Graphs stories over the summer the Sox are the least watched team in MLB. That doesn't give them a lot of negotiating area in their next deal unless that drastically changes. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 5, 2015 -> 10:43 AM) Bruce Levine ‏@MLBBruceLevine 6m6 minutes ago Chicago, IL Breaking news Hawk Harrelson to cut back to 81 broadcasts in 2016 . 78 road -home opening day and two Cub home games . ( industry sources ) This is really bizarre that at his age he'd want to do basically only road games. Scully for example basically only does home games and some short road trips out of L.A. Strange. Guess we should all get ready to usher in the Chuck Swirsky era. (I hope not though...) Mark

Saw this on another web site and it's absolutely perfect. "The White Sox lost 6-0 and collected only three hits in their home opener. The White Sox lost 6-0 and collected only three hits in their home finale. Fitting bookends." Mark

Daniel was able to bring up to date for the past week the This Date in Sox History section at Sox Net. There are eight new additional historic audio cuts for the following days there: September 27 http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2015/10/t...eam-to-victory/ (Bo Jackson's division clinching home run / audio of final out) September 29 http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2015/10/t...o-wire-to-wire/ (Final out as Sox clinch divisional title) September 30 http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2015/10/t...-blackout-game/ (Final out at original Comiskey Park / Thome's blackout game home run / audio of final out) October 1 http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2015/10/t...ld-series-lead/ (Big Klu's 2nd home run in game #1 World Series / Bob Elson's last words as Sox announcer) Enjoy! Mark

I am guessing you are going to see the same guys starting in the outfield next year with Thompson and / or Schuck as the reserve guy. That's the way the Sox roll. Mark

As Rod Serling once said, "submitted for your edification..." Feel free to discuss. By the Numbers… * Sox finished 76-86 this year, a three game improvement over last season. * Sox were 40-41 at home, 36-45 on road…32-44 against the division. (Which killed them yet again) * Sox have now had three straight losing seasons and six out of the last nine. Historically the last stretch where the franchise had so many losing years was 1968-1980. (Two winning seasons, one .500 season,10 losing years) * Sox haven’t had consecutive winning seasons since 2003-2006. * Sox spent one day over .500 (18-17 on May 18th) * Sox haven’t made the playoffs in seven years. Last time was 2008. * Sox were shut out 12 times. * Sox scored three runs or less in a game 83 times out of 162 played. (51%) * Sox have lost 24 games when holding an opponent to three runs or less. * Sox were 13-5 in extra- inning games * Sox came from behind to win 11 games when trailing in the 7th inning or later. Breakdown: 3 times in the 7th 3 times in the 8th 5 times in the 9th * Sox lost 10 games where they had the lead in the 7th inning or later. Breakdown: 3 times in the 7th 4 times in the 8th 3 times in the 9th * Who was directly responsible for losing the lead in those games? Breakdown: 7th inning: Petricka, Sale, Jones 8th inning: Putnam, Samardzija, Robertson, Duke 9th inning: Robertson, Robertson, Robertson * Robin Ventura’s four year record as manager: 297-351 .458 win percentage. Looking through the records, it appears Ventura now has the worst winning percentage for any White Sox manager to last four full seasons in franchise history. The Sox apparently do get the #10 pick in the June draft which is protected. That is all. Mark

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Oct 4, 2015 -> 04:11 PM) Right, because we should've scored runs with that tanking, AA lineup we put on the field today. The Tigers weren't exactly throwing Hall of Famers were they? The Sox couldn't even get a run...typical no? Mark

Perfect way for the Sox to end another crap season...go out with a whimper on offense. Mark

Don't care much for the author who has been a White Sox troll since his days back with the Tribune but it's hard to argue with his comments about the state of the Sox right now: http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/10...ing-irrelevance Mark

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Oct 3, 2015 -> 02:15 PM) looks like you forgot how to use the quote button again lip Don't know why that bothers you so much since I identify who I was referring the comment to. Mark

Great player, class guy. Had a tremendous career. Wish him all the best in retirement. Mark

How much managers matter is open to debate but I think everyone agrees they set the tone, they keep things in control, if discipline is needed it falls on them. Absolutely the players are somewhat responsible, don't think anyone is saying they aren't. However I find it odd that over the past few years more often than not when a new player puts on a White Sox uniform something happens.More often than not they perform worse. Why is that? That's why I think something is going on in the clubhouse. That absolutely reflects back on the manager and by proxy his staff. That's why you needed to make some major changes. One definition of insanity is trying the same failed approach over and over and thinking things will be different. I repeat what I said earlier, for next year the Sox are selling 'hope' because that's all they've got now. And, it's baseball...stranger things have happened, they may catch lightening in a bottle and win 94 games next year. But if it was my money, I wouldn't bet on it. And I also agree with those who feel the blame isn't completely on Robin from an upper management standpoint. Rick and kenny (moreso Kenny in my opinion) have made some poor decisions over the past few years but it was kenny since he was the G.M. until a few years ago who by continuing to make the "big splash' and by his continual "go for it" attitude and short term thinking that is most responsible. Mark

Taylor: To the best of my knowledge I have never said the Sox are deliberately trying to lose. Now THAT's insane. I have said in the past "money matters more than Championships" to them. And that's probably not true anymore either not with the gigantic sums of money coming into MLB at all levels. Probably the best description of the organization right now I've heard comes from others, "stale, set in their ways, refuse to change just about anything." And the bottom line is this, results speak for themselves. The Sox are in a bad position right now in all areas save for financially. Mark

QUOTE (Tannerfan @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 06:09 PM) The good news is Tyler will report to Spring Training in the best shape of his life. And more than likely it will be with the White Sox yet again. Mark

Now try winning a game. Mark

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 07:34 PM) Next year should be do or die for Ventura and Hahn. They clearly want to go for it again, so there needs to be good transactions and Ventura needs them ready out of the gate. If they get hammered by injuries they'll have another ready made excuse. Mark

QUOTE (harkness @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 06:11 PM) Playoffs... probably not. However I expected improvement with the upgraded roster and another year of young players to grow. There was basically none. What do you mean? They've improved buy one game since last year with this weekend to go!!!!!!!!!! LOL. NOW THAT'S PROGRESS BABY! Mark

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 05:09 PM) Manager barely matters unless it is someone as insane and toxic as Ozzie. Ned Yost was the biggest dumb piece of s*** manager in baseball, until their young players finally started playing well. Now he's a genius. And if you want to argue "hey, I never said Ned Yost is a genius," then look at the Royals record and see how much the manager matters if you have a lineup full of valuable players. The amount of anger and vitriol heaped on Robin is at about a 10 when it should be more like a 1.5. So who said I was just referring to Robin? The problems with this franchise run much deeper, wider and higher than him. But to say he's not part of the problem is being in denial. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 04:33 PM) Whatever ... I hope Robin changes a bit. Obviously talent is the biggest thing for a manager. But his teams simply cannot lay down a bunt (reflects poorly on him), they do not play defense, they cannot move runners, they cannot score runners. He does a decent enough job with pitchers (maybe Coop takes care of that). Now maybe it's 100 percent on his players. Who knows? But Robin's teams APPEAR very undisciplined, very fundamentally unsound. He deserves a D for this season, C- at best but I'd give him a D. And an F for spring trainings. Mark

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 10:26 AM) Parent being negative after poor play. Holding players accountable? Now he's not positive enough? Seriously, the giving bad advice to try to steal a job should show you where Lip's head is. It doesn't have to make any sense. If it's White Sox, and if it's negative, he's taking the bait. If I told you I was taking the bait from a former Sox manager with no axe to grind who proved to be right since he told me a week ago Parent was out the door would that change things for you? I don't make this stuff up, I don't try to stir up s***. I pass good information on from my sources in the Chicago media and in the Sox organization to the fans who still care enough about this franchise. Period. You can take it, leave it, throw it in the garbage...doesn't impact me at all...just trying to pass along what I hear from time to time. If the board wishes me to stop, please let the mods know, they'll tell me and I'll refrain from doing so in the future. Fair enough? Really its that simple. Mark

Great player, great person but time for changes...the more the merrier. Mark