Lip Man 1

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 15, 2015 -> 08:13 PM) It really is remarkable how these acquisitions of stable consistent vets keep becoming the worst players in baseball as white sox. More bad luck I guess. Nothing we can do. Or maybe it has something to do with the manager and his coaching staff as well...luck only comes into play so much. Mark

Wish Ozzie the best as long as it's not with the Sox. Mark

In fairness to Robertson keep in mind Ventura hasn't used him well this year at all. He'll pitch him three days in a row than sit him for a week because the Sox can't consistently put him in a situation where he can pitch regularly. And I understand X-Rays are negative on Thompson...shoulder sprain, day to day (as are we all...) Mark

Sox thought they were facing Bob Gibson today apparently. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 10:09 PM) Somebody at sox fest should ask KW or Hahn if they feel confident the Sox can survive that long road trip to start next season over .500. I mean I don't want to be a broken record (already) but are any of you confident the Sox can get through those first 13 games better than 5-8? or 4-9? That would immediately tell the fanbase and the world that .500 remains the best case scenario for the season. And those games aren't even full of Central teams, which normally mean tons of Losses. Maybe managers don't matter at all. But I have no confidence Robin's troops can even play .500 ball the first 2-3 weeks of April. That would fit right in with the franchise recent track record. They haven't had a "winning" month of April since 2009 and that was only one game over .500. Mark

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 11:25 AM) Absolutely agree DA and you make a great point about the money saved by Samardzija rejecting the Sox extension. Do you think this means the could extend the payroll some for next season? Imo, they should since, as you said, they had money allocated for the extension but since that money has not been spent and the Sox are in need of hitting, there should be some money available towards bringing in a positional player to help the offense. Not necessarily through FA but maybe acquire a player through trade. Keep in mind though some (perhaps most) of those who bought season ticket plans after last winter's spending spree may not be back after seeing this stinkfest. That's less money to work with since the Sox historically won't go much into the red if at all. Mark

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 05:16 PM) True, and the fans don't have to justify why they stay away from his ballpark in droves. It cuts both ways. Tell that to Kenny and Cooper who have had negative things to say about the fan base on at least four occasions this season. That's part of the Sox M.O. in my opinion. 1. Never admit you screwed up... 2. Blame Sox fans... Mark

QUOTE (harkness @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 09:13 PM) Another inspired home stand in September under ventura..no reason whatsoever to keep this guy around. . In JR's mind there's a big reason... probably a few million of them......it's called being under contract for next year. Mark

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 09:55 PM) They need to find a way to determine if a player is a mental midget. Too much choke, need more clutch. I've found that guys who are "mental midgets" are generally poor at baseball fundamentals and simply don't know how to play the game. The Sox have them by the bushel full. Which explains a lot to me. Again it comes back to accountability. There is very little showing in this franchise right now. I understand you can't fine players for doing stupid things and not executing like Richards, Lopez and Stanky could do but you sure can bench guys, or send them back down to the minor leagues. Instead we get another game where guys like Ramirez, LaRoche and Melky are in the lineup instead of kids who need seasoning and to see what they can do. Mark

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 07:14 AM) Who? Anytime I've seen his name come up, it's because that's the type of guy the FO will hire. Not because that's who the person actually wants them to hire. The typical post is "I'd like to see them hire ____ or ____ but they'll probably just hire someone like Jim Thome instead". I don't know if Thome would be interested, I've never heard or read him say anything on the subject one way or another. I do know that Thome is very well respected and liked by JR, that he is an advisor to the team and that they are close. Tony LaRussa told me that he and JR and Thome have had dinner together and that Jim's passion for the franchise was clearly evident. Make of that what you will. He does fit the profile though. Remember before Kenny talked Ventura into taking the job he offered it to Konerko as a "player-manager." Paul turned him down saying it would be to much for one guy. Let's put it this way, I wouldn't be surprised to see Thome be offered the job at some point in the future. It would be so White Sox (i.e. we're smarter than everyone else with our hirings...) Mark

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Sep 9, 2015 -> 10:17 AM) Win 75 games? The team this year is on pace to win 78 despite several players having their worst season of their careers. What reasons do you think there are for a possible regression? The young players (Sanchez, Saladino, Garcia, Thompson) will have more experience and should improve. Abreu, Sale, Quintana, Eaton, Cabrera, Danks, Flowers and Ramirez are going to give you roughly the same performance if not better. The likelihood of LaRoche being as bad isn't good. I don't think Erik Johnson will have any trouble being as good if not better than Samardzija this year and the bullpen should be roughly the same. That's if they make zero moves which we all know is not going to happen. This team will ABSOLUTELY plan on competing next year. Briefly since I have to get to a radio show (I'm a co-host) Sox have little power, are bad defensively, bad at base running, baseball stupid regarding fundamentals, will not go to a manager who can in essence 'crack the whip' and maybe help players get better. They have black holes at catcher, DH, third base. Will need another starting pitcher with Shark leaving. RF can't seem to stay healthy. Middle infield is still young and learning (assuming Ramirez is gone). The free agent market is poor this off season, if they trade a pitcher they weaken that position (many are advocating they trade Q), will probably have less money to work with since I expect many season ticket holders not to renew. That's a lot to overcome and with this management / front office I don't think they can. Sorry, that's just my opinion. Mark

Quick bottom line take on Ramirez. If you think the Sox will contend next year, maybe you sign him and hope for the best. If not, you don't. Why sign him and take away playing time for youngsters in order to win 75 games? Personally, I don't think Kenny is going anywhere. Robin isn't going anywhere. This team has gaping holes to fill at catcher, third base, DH and they are going to need another starting pitcher (Shark is gone). They are going to have to do this with less money since a lot of folks who bought season tickets this off season aren't coming back. JR is also still going to be "heavily involved" (Hahn's words from yesterday) is trying to fix this as well. I don't think the Sox are going to contend next season either...so why waste money on Ramirez? Mark

In that memorable season of 1983 on September 9th the Sox did something they had never done before in franchise history. You can listen to it by clicking on this link: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2015/09/t...to-back-homers/ Mark

Found this comment to be interesting in the Tribune today from Rick Hahn: Hahn said the Sox will be careful not to overreact and create more problems when they make their changes, given that they still believe they have some of the pieces in place needed to win. He said Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who was “heavily involved” in their offseason restructuring last winter, has asked for their plan to get back on track. Mark

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Sep 9, 2015 -> 06:40 AM) Stats don't lie, it's your eyes that twist things and make you see what you want to see. The stats say Alexei has been one of the better shortstops in baseball since 2009. I think I'll trust the stats a little more than basing my opinion off an offhand comment by one of our broadcasters. Stats don't lie but people do and as stated can twist them into whatever they choose to make of them. To me baseball is more than a game of numbers and all you have to do is look at the boneheaded plays Ramirez has made over the years (including his 360 spin this year in Toronto which was very humorous) to see he checks out of games on a regular basis, can't hit in cold weather and always seems to have some sort of issue impacting his performance. Again with respect, I've seen enough of him and it's time to move on. Speaking of stats, here's one for you. Last I looked Ramirez was next to last in WAR among all qualifying shortstops in MLB, 25th out of 26. Baseball is more than offense, there's defense, base running and simply knowing the game. Ramirez has had some very nice offensive seasons. Those are counterbalanced by his "baseball - stupidness" The Sox have had a lot of those guys to be sure but Alexei may be the poster boy for that. Which is why I say his career has been a disappointment. He showed so much in 2008. Oh well. Mark

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Sep 8, 2015 -> 11:12 AM) From 2009 to 2014 Alexei put up fWARs of 2.0, 4.1, 4.1, 2.0, 3.2 and 3.2 which averages out to 3.1. I think it's a huge disrespect to Alexei to say he his career has been a disappointment. I am not a stat guy so I don't even know what the numbers you posted mean with all due respect. I'll simply say I've watched Ramirez for years and stand by my statement. I will also tell you for what it's worth, that one of the Sox broadcasters said privately he's (quote) "the dumbest shortstop in baseball..." I'll take their word and what I've seen with my own eyes over numbers that can be made to say anything you want them to. (Not saying you personally have twisted anything but as someone who worked in TV sports I know how ratings are twisted to mean anything a particular individual or station wants them to.) The sooner Ramirez goes, the better in my opinion. Mark

My off season "plan" is to forget about the White Sox completely. Hope the Cubs lose in the wild card game and pray to all that's holy, JR makes substantial needed changes to the front office in a massive overhaul. Naturally my plan is more of a dream since JR isn't going to do anything. Mark

And so if the wake of another disappointing season with the team looking lifeless and baseball stupid coming out of spring training, Robin and his cadre of clown coaches looks like they are going to return. I told you, JR will not fire him. Basically a big screw you to the fans. "We know better than you people! You'll get nothing and like it!" LOL. By the way Kenny's not going anywhere either. Mark

QUOTE (BrianAnderson @ Sep 8, 2015 -> 10:18 AM) I'll start with this caveat. I think that this off-season may be full of a bunch of moves. I don't see us staying put like we did a few years back with Dunn, AJ, Peavy, etc. and hoping for different results. So a lot of this is hypothetical -- the first domino will have to fall first to see the direction we're headed. However my thoughts ... Alexei since ASB? .301./.342/.473 -- 7 HR, 27RBI, 11 2B, 7 SB. His range is starting to fall off a bit, but I do think he has value on this team. Even at a $10mm option. Replacing 20-25 SB, 30 2B, a good arm, and a smart, reliable player is not that easy. Check out this stat of starting 3B since Crede for the Sox -- it reads like the Bears starting QB since Favre/Rodgers graphic they always show: Gordon Beckham Wilson Betemit Emilio Bonaficio Eduardo Escobar Josh Fields Leury Garcia Conor Gillaspie Orlando Hudson Jeff Keppinger Brent Lillibridge Jose Lopez Dallas McPherson Brent Morel Jayson Nix Mike Ott Ray Olmedo Tyler Saladino Marcus Semien Mark Teahen Dayan Viciedo Omar Vizquel Kevin Youkilis Also look at the 3B free agents ... nothing much prettier than the above. (Chris Davis/Uribe is about it) So with that being said ... (and I'd still love some kind of blockbuster trade where we trade pitching for Arenado, though I know that is dreaming) why not explore Alexei as a stop-gap at 3B? Declining range, still very strong arm, is better IMO than any in house option and most FA. Get to keep the speed he brings to the team, the consistency of him starting 150-160 games, the doubles, etc. This also allows the Sox to move Sanchez to SS, bring up the speed and bat of Micah (though the D comes with it). I do think he has an MLB bat though. It improves the overall team in my opinion. Also gives them a full year to determine who their starting 2B should be moving forward (Sanchez or Micah) when Anderson is finally up. I do think you have to bring in another Power Bat though to offset a weak infield/sunk coast of LaRoche. Ideally Cespedes, shift Garcia to DH. But don't think Uncle Jerry is opening the pocket book on this mess of a team. These post all star game numbers are what is called in the trade a "salary drive" nothing more. Personally I don't think the Sox are going anywhere next year without massive changes to the front office / manager / coaching staff. That's not going to happen. So...why waste 10 million on a player who is as inconsistent as they come, will be 34, can't hit in cold weather, is a mental midget and loses concentration at the drop of a hat? Alexei showed much promise in 2008 but for the most part, like the entire team, organization has been a disappointment. Mark

Ryan Raburn has 81 RBI against the White Sox. His next highest RBI total against one team is 25 against the Royals. Raburn also became the first player to hit two homers in a game against Chris Sale. Mark

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Sep 7, 2015 -> 07:24 PM) Of all those guys listed I think Cespedes fits the Sox the best although he will probably demand the most money. Right now the Sox have a lineup where only one guy scares other teams, you put Cespedes behind Abreu and this lineup gets better and more powerful instantly. Cespedes also has indicated he wants to return to Detroit for what its worth. Mark

19th time this year the Sox allowed an opponent three runs or less...and lost. Bauer has an ERA of over four and a half, makes the Sox look like garbage. Ryan Raburn, RYAN RABURN...yet again. For those who might have missed it, it came out last year that Raburn has the highest percentage of career RBI's in history against a single opponent. Said opponent is of course the White Sox. Cleveland has less talent than the Sox in my opinion but somehow they are going to shake off a bad start and probably finish over .500. The White Sox will keep running on the treadmill to irrelevancy. And how about that Labor Day "crowd" today? 14 thousand! WOW. Mark

It does if the toxic relationship is putting more pressure on said pitcher and causing issues. Remember Cory Snyder? Good power hitter in Cleveland. Didn't get along with Walt Hriniak who tried to change his approach. Said result, Snyder only lasted a half season with the Sox in 1992. Mark

Got nothing to lose on this but it does say something about the black hole in the organization at third base (and catcher...and DH...) Mark

QUOTE (AlSoxfan @ Sep 4, 2015 -> 01:48 PM) ok I'll pray but I'll warn you I don't think Hahn can get anywhere near as deep in JR's pocket as Williams can. Kenny actually seemed to do better when he didn't have as much money to play around with. Mark