Lip Man 1

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Aug 29, 2015 -> 09:05 AM) We've been lucky on injuries, yeah, but we also consistently have one of the healthiest teams every year, that's not an accident. Except in 2001, 2004, 2007 and the bullpen down the stretch in 2010. And the times the Sox suffer injuries they are screwed unlike say the Cardinals or Yankees because the minor league system has offered very little help. Mark

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Aug 28, 2015 -> 09:56 PM) JR has fired many coaches and executives of the past 35 years. Just seems to have a thing for Williams though. He promised his parents when he personally went out to California to sign him that he'd "always" take care of their son. True story. And everyone knows how JR values loyalty. Mark

19th time this year the Sox allowed three runs or less in a game...and lost. 9th time team has been shutout. Have played 127 games, have scored three runs or less in 66 of them. 52% overall. Mark

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Aug 28, 2015 -> 05:10 PM) Yes and no on the Reinsdorf thing. While I understand that he has a certain way of running things, I don't think organizationally he's overbearing on the ways the GM and VP of Baseball Operations run the team. At the end of the day, this garbage is on Kenny and Hahn. If Kenny walks to Seattle, the joke is on them. Austin: You make a valid point to be sure however I've been told from sources for years that JR is more "hands-on" than you may think. I was told for example that one more than one occasion he has interjecting himself into the draft process and 'recommended" who the team should take. That puts the scouting director and his staff in a bind. Put it this way, how comfortable would you be going against the 'recommendations' of the guy who signs your pay check? Mark

One thing is certain one of the possible reasons for not rebuilding completely (or even mentioning that word) is because of the impact it would have on attendance. I think we can throw that one out the window. If they rebuild and only get 12 thousand a game that's not much different from what they are regularly getting now, 14-18 thousand. With all the outside revenue streams pouring money in MLB teams attendance should no longer be used as a reason to do or not do anything in my opinion. Mark

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 28, 2015 -> 08:44 PM) Saladino looks like a utility player I agree. And there's nothing wrong with that, he'd be a solid guy playing once or twice a week and used as a late inning defensive replacement. Teams need a guy or two like that absolutely. Mark

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Aug 28, 2015 -> 09:06 PM) Couldn't live without that bunt pop out by LaRoche. I hate Ventura as manager, they can't possibly keep him. Oh yes they can. Mark

I would love to see Kenny leave for the following reasons: 1. It would eliminate all talk, rumors about who actually is calling the shots in the organization. (Since I don't think JR would hire 'another' VP or promote Buddy Bell) 2. Change in my opinion is DESPERATELY needed in the front office. It has grown stale, set in their ways, and I suspect tend to look at problems from the same viewpoint. New talent, new blood is needed to shake that up and to look at the issues in new ways. No guarantees anybody else would leave after Kenny but to me it's a start. I'd thank him for what he brought to the franchise and wish him well as he walked out the door. But I'd be shocked if it happened. JR doesn't like change (or winning apparently either over the last decade...) Mark

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 28, 2015 -> 11:56 AM) They want experience. Maybe Orsillo is coming to the White Sox TV booth and the Hawkeroo heads to Seattle to be their GM. Mercy! Well played sir! Mark

QUOTE (shysocks @ Aug 28, 2015 -> 09:41 AM) The writing's on the wall; I don't think KW will still be with the Sox next season. I hope you're right but we'll see. Mark

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 11:17 AM) I hear he has a nice house in Arizona I've actually been passed it. Team played at Arizona State a few years ago and we spent three days in the Phoenix / Scottsdale area. It looks like it's three stories high and the top floor is basically a very nice 'man-cave.' One of our assistant coaches step-dad coached Paulie in Little League, and they told me a little about it. Mark

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 09:48 AM) Yea you're right but it might as well be $100M because it is the Sox we're talking about here and they will do everything they can to try and recoup that money by playing the guy . Same thing with LaRoche . Everyone and their brother knew he should be platooned but somehow some way the Sox didnt anticipate that and it left a gaping hole in the middle of the lineup against left handers. You just can't win with such a huge hole in such a key spot yet come hell or high water the Sox want to squeeze every ounce of production or lack of production for the money they are paying him at the expense of playing winning baseball. Which is the same reason they won't fire Ventura. He's got a contract through next year. Mark

Let's just say that if any of these rumors come to pass I'll be mighty surprised. Mark

Seaver remember folks won 15 games each year with the Sox with a very good ERA in 1984 and 1985. He was older byt the guy could still pitch. Mark

18th time the Sox have held an opponent to three runs or less and lost. Mark

The issue with trying to have Johnson, Sanchez and Saladino in the starting lineup potentially for next season is the lack of power. U.S. Cellular Field is a power-park, these guys are not power / RBI type hitters. You can have some of them in the lineup since they bring needed speed, defense and youth but I don't see how you can keep all of them even if Ramirez is let go. Mark

QUOTE (Dunt @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 12:51 PM) Getting off to a good start is paramount. While Im not sure it's very quantifiable, there has to be a lot of positives for teams that dont start out immediately in a hole, that arent making mental mistakes and losing the trust of their pitchers early in the season. They always do seem to come out flat and typically end up getting buried early. Another concern for me is that Robin isnt really the best strategic manager. This lineup might not have been constructed to give him too many options, but the fact that LaRoche got so many starts against lefties this season is really concerning to me. If a platoon is needed, that needs to be determined in april, not august. In 2015, Adam Eaton is batting .227 against lefties and .280 against righties? Why isnt Trayce playing for him against lefties? I think he's had him replace Eaton once since being called up. He just hasnt proven to me that he is a good strategic manager. Why did it take the Sox until SSS posted about CERA to switch up Rodon's catcher? Are these guys just not paying attention themselves? I can't speak with certainty and I certainly haven't been told anything specific but if you look at this organization since the new owners took over I've gotten a strong sense that they want to win but they want to win their way under their conditions. This organization (and I'm not saying they should) has always felt they were "smarter" then the fans, agents, the media when it comes to general concepts like how to build a winner and what that takes to accomplish. I don't think it's a question of 'getting it' or 'understanding things' I think it's more along the lines of 'we're going to do it our way' (for better or for worse. Mark

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 10:20 AM) And so what? What does that have to do with the poster's assessment of Reinsdorf's legacy as "terrible"? You get to that conclusion based on evaluating the results of his tenure, not on how he stacks up against other owners who had their own set of problems. Steinbrenner was forgiven for his "sins" because of the fact that the Yankees never forgot under him that the only thing that mattered was winning. Everything else took care of itself so long as that took place. Mark

I appreciate the time and effort put into the start of the thread. To me though it boils down to basically one thing and one thing only regardless of who the Sox keep, trade, sign, draft. GETTING OFF TO A GOOD START. The Sox haven't had a winning month of April since 2009. That means that by May 1st they are usually three, or four or more games behind the leaders. On paper that's not a big deal not with 130 games to go. However, with this organization it seems that once pressure starts to be applied mentally, the players don't respond well. Four games behind to this bunch IS a big deal in my opinion. This team was woefully unprepared to start the season. They were brutal the last 10 days of spring training. They were flat opening day, they were flat again for the home opener. How can that be? Unless Robin and his staff (since I don't think anyone is leaving) changes their ways I don't think it will much matter what the Sox do in the off season again. Ozzie was the same way, thinking spring training was a joke and the results played themselves out for him as expected to his last few years. Just my opinion. Mark

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 06:43 AM) Is he the guy who sounds exactly like McDonough? I don't think Hawk is retiring unless his eye issues are becoming too extreme. Yes. By the way I've noticed that myself. Also found out another interesting thing about NESN where Orsillo worked. When their new guy, I think he's the G.M. of it took over he instituted a policy where his announces MUST take a break during the season. Don't know how much time they are required to take off and if it's a paid leave or not. Just found that different. Mark

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 07:22 AM) Oh, and you don't have to put quotations marks when talking about the official site of the sox. It's operated by the team and owned by the league. I figure a "journalist" like yourself would understand the meaning of "official" My apologies for the mistake and for offending you. It won't happen again. Mark

This kid needs to be playing every day. Move Garcia to DH and bench LaRoche for the rest of the season. Just my opinion. Mark

He's certainly competent and has been doing the Red Sox for a number of years. Took over for Sean McDonough if I remember correctly. Mark

WB: You'll be interested to know that I've submitted a story on the history of SportsVision and its impact on the franchise to the folks at Sox Net. Hope you'll enjoy reading it. Mark

Interesting discussion here so far. Well done. Again just putting some points out there not advocating either way, devil's advocate more or less. 1. The reply to those who say winning once is better than numerous times getting in without doing so is, "well, you can't win the World Series if you don't make the postseason..." Today the playoffs much like the NCAA basketball tournament is a crap shoot. Match-up's, health, the bounce of a ball or a call (or non call) decides games which in a short series or a one and done scenario can be the difference between winning and losing. Jerry Koosman told me once that he thought it was harder to win in the playoffs then the regular season. I asked why and he said because over the course of a 162 games the best team usually wins, that's not the case in the playoffs especially a short series. 2. When you look back at the ownership of JR and EE it's sad that the Sox have actually wasted more chances to make the playoffs than they actually got in. Sox have made the post season under their stewardship in: 83, 93, 00, 05 and 08. They wasted reasonable chances to get in in 84 (first place at the break, had won seven straight, collapsed in the second half), 91 (one back on August 11 then lost 15 of 17), 94 (1st place at the time play was halted via labor impasse driven in large part by JR), 96 (40-21 in June, finished with 85 wins, collapsed in the second half because of a bad bullpen and no 5th starter), 03 (had a two game lead with 18 games to go, finished three games behind Minnesota. Lost five straight to them in the final two weeks. Again the lack of a reliable 5th starter during the season cost them dearly), 06 (57 wins in the first half, finished with 90, collapsed in the second half), 10 (1st place on August 1st, by mid August were four back, finished six behind Twins) and 12 (had won five straight, had a three game lead with 15 games to go, went 4-11). That's a sad legacy. *Note I don't count 04 in this because even though they were in first place at the break they had lost both Ordonez and Thomas for the season. No team could survive that. Mark