Lip Man 1

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 5, 2015 -> 04:04 PM) One half of the roster is always conspiring against the other half. You're not a team to be taken seriously unless offense defense and pitching all do well together a lot of the time. Well said. Mark

QUOTE (LDF @ Aug 5, 2015 -> 03:58 PM) let me asked this question, if KW goes, do you think that Hahn can guide the org like KW have done?? and this is not including jr hands on appch. ref the bold, does jr ever see himself as partly to blame as well??? I think Hahn can do a better job simply because he doesn't let emotion get that involved that it carries him away. (Remember Kenny tipping over the post game food spread in Baltimore after a Sox loss and calling the players b****es for one example?) Have no idea if JR ever thinks that or not. I've met him twice but don't know him well enough to know how big of an ego he has. Mark

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Aug 5, 2015 -> 01:18 PM) A true rebuild will never happen when JR is in charge. The fans are too fickle and he is still mocked to this day for the last full rebuild he attempted (White Flag trades). That was not a true rebuild the only reason Hernandez and Alvarez were traded was because they were going to become free agents, were represented by Scott Boras and the Sox knew they'd never be able to resign them. In fact a few days before the "White Flag Trade" Scheuler attempted to sign those guys to a new deal and was rebuffed. That's when JR said 'go ahead'. And as it turned out of the six minor league players only two Foulke and Howry ever made any type of impact at the major league level. Mark

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Aug 5, 2015 -> 11:40 AM) JR seems disenchanted with Manfred and losing his influence in the cabal of ownership. It would be a great time to re-evaluate his stake in the club and his influence. I hope he is ready to sell the club needs new leadership. I was told by in May from a source that the topic of "selling" has come up from time to time this year. But as long as the Sox are continuing to make the kind of money they are I can't see major changes especially to ownership. The same source told me at the same time that JR was so pissed off at the way things were going he was almost ready to let Kenny leave. We'll never know for sure. In my opinion though and I've said this for a long time including a recent column at Chicago Now / Sox Net, this organization has become stale and set in their ways. Major changes are needed including bringing in successful front office and scouting people from organizations that have consistently won. The Sox desperately need new ideas and a fresh way of looking at their problems. I just don't see that happening however until JR is no longer on the scene. Mark

Interesting to think about but unless Robin simply resigns for whatever reason he's not going any place. JR and the front office still like him a lot. However if that possibility should occur I'm for anybody who has previous major league managing experience and who has absolutely zero ties to the organization. No more former players, no more former coaches, no more guys 'learning' how to be a major league manager with on the job training. Sox haven't hired a manger with former experience managing at the big league level since Jeff Torborg in 1989. Mark

Been trying to think of a way to sum up the Sox organization the last 10 years. I can't do it in one sentence but these come close: "One step forward...two steps back." "Loyalty without Accountability" "When in doubt, blame the fans" It's a shame that another summer has been flushed right down the toilet. When all is said and done it'll be six of the last nine of them. Beyond sad now. Mark

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 07:11 PM) Why is that a putz move? Seems to me you should be applauding having nothing to do with a guy who was groome dby a guy who was the GM through 15 playoff less seasons leaving his minor league system in shambles. You so blind with the JR hate, even if he does what you want you moan about it. Roland Hemond took over the worst franchise in major league baseball in September 1970. There were worse off then even the expansion teams. They had one foot in the grave and the other in Milwaukee.They had gone through the three worst seasons in franchise history, Comiskey Park was falling apart, they drew 495,000 for the season in 1970 and had very little talent. In two years they won 87 games in a strike shortened season and as Chuck Tanner told me, if Bill Melton doesn't blow out his back the A's dynasty never happens. Hemond build the 72 team, the 77 team and the 83 team. And he did it without any money as Allyn and Veeck were broke. Regarding the minor league system this quote from Veeck to Roland says it all, "sign him for as little as you can, we don't have any money..." And here's another one. Did you know (if not you can read about it Friday) Fernando was down to the Dodgers and the White Sox? He went to the Dodgers because they offered 20 (as in twenty) thousand dollars more. Oh here's yet one more. Hemond had to trade All Star catcher Ed Herrmann in April 1975 to the Yankees because he wanted a 2 (as in two) thousand dollar raise. The Sox couldn't afford to give it to him. Given those circumstances Hemond is one of the three best G.M.'s in franchise history in my opinion. I would have loved to have had Dombrowski as G.M. for most of these past seasons. Mark

Just responding to some of the posts I read here tonight: "Robin Ventura's managerial career is over in two months." My response is I wouldn't bet the house on that. Robin is still very well liked by JR and I don't need to explain how much that counts in the organization. Plus he's under contract through next year. JR does not like to pay people not to manage. And of course if the Sox fired Robin that would make Kenny look bad. He hired him and had to talk him into it. This organization does not like to admit mistakes. "I'd still like Leyland or LaRussa. If they won't do it, Piniella. Of course I'd love Ozzie, but his mouth ruined possibilities of that." Leyland is 73 he's not coming back. Tony is already turning the D-backs around as president. Piniella is also older and has no desire to return. As far as Ozzie, he quit on the team in 2011, b****ed and moaned about his salary and contract. Insulted the fan base numerous times (remember his comments about the fans not liking his lineups? Or how about the infamous "pissing on statues" comment?) If Ozzie was the last manager on Earth, I'd say no thanks. As far as going 7-1 right before the trading deadline all I can say is that's typical White Sox luck if you look at the history of the franchise. Finally some were asking for a Micah Johnson return. He's currently on the DL (yet again) at Charlotte with left hamstring issues if I remember right. That marks the second straight year he's had leg issues. Running is his game...if he can't run basically he's useless. Could just be an unlucky guy who can not stay healthy. Mark

Today August 4th marks 30 years...30 years??????????? since Tom Seaver won his 300th game. We've got audio cuts from that historic event up now at Chicago Now / Sox Net (with thanks to Daniel). You can relive the final out as well as some of Seaver's postgame interview. Oh yes August 4th was also the day Carlton Fisk got into the Hall of Fame and Robin Ventura actually showed some (OK a lot of emotion) in Texas. I hope you enjoy reading / listening. Here's the link: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2015/08/t...ra-fights-ryan/ Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 04:48 PM) Think if the White Sox could have kept Dombrowski, LaRussa, Leyland, Duncan, etc. One of those huge franchise what ifs that stings a little bit less now because of 2005. When I interviewed Tony I asked him that question. If he ever thought about what would have happened had he stayed 20 years. He said he actually kids JR about that sometimes. His answer was that if he stayed he thought the Sox "would have won multiple championships." Because as he put it "everybody was on the same page, from the owners, to the staff, to the players to the minor league system." You're right...a BIG "what if?" Mark

QUOTE (Baron @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 04:54 PM) Nice thought but he's not coming here. Unless you want to clear out Rick and Kenny. I have no issues clearing out Kenny. Mark

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 03:53 PM) Dombrowski also offered a higher rated bunch of prospects. I don't remember Dontrelle Willis being refused by the sox and getting that deal nixed, it was just that Maybin and Miller were more attractive than Fields and others I recall reading that the Sox didn't want to take on Willis salary. And that was the deal breaker. Florida was dead set on taking themselves off the hook with his deal. Mark

Welcome Dan. I think it was four books though. I have them... Mark

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 10:09 AM) The Shark getting blasted for 9 run and Sale getting blasted and a bullpen that can't seem to hold onto a lead. Robertson is really scuffling and I wonder if it's confidence lost or more? Relief pitchers have fragile egos. Last night was a heartbreaker. I wouldn't have sent Ramirez and MLB network showed the play and pointed out Ramirez broke back to second to make sure the ball didn't get caught. Once he did that McEwing should have held him. Aggressiveness can work to your advantage and against you too. This one didn't go our way. Carlos Sanchez almost tied it anyway with that liner to right. The kid has really started to show some promise with the bat. With all the bad we have seen since our 7 game winning streak this team is still only 3 1/2 out of the wild card Robertson hadn't pitched in six days. Hard to stay sharp when you have extended periods off. Ventura should have used him for an inning or two in the Yankee series. He's a good closer...on a team that doesn't give closers much chance to earn their money. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 03:21 PM) He is not going anywhere to be their minor league ops guy. He is either going to be a GM or a team President. I'd take that too in a heartbeat. Mark

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 02:36 PM) I dunno man. How good would he be without Daddy Warbux giving him tons of money to spend? Sure you can point to a few trades he won but Kenny/Rick have won their share of trades too. Dave built and sustained the Montreal farm system which was considered among the best or the best in baseball for years. He's exactly what the Sox need to take over completely the minor league operations. Mark

QUOTE (bear_brian @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 02:32 PM) http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/mlb/477...dave-dombrowski Reinsdorf should already be on the phone - this guy is one of the best in baseball, and he was roland Hemond's protege many year ago, before Hawk talked his way into the GM job. Dombrowski's credentials are the best. Detroit firing this guy is flat out insane. And I agree, JR should already be talking to him about coming back on board this winter. When Hawk fired him, JR allowed him to stay on the Sox benefits package until he could find another position so the two parted well. Mark

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 08:07 AM) This is right. Send Avi down. He has no bench value either if he can't defend or hit. Garcia simply hasn't been the same player since he hurt that knee in Oakland. He was off to a very good start. You wonder if something is still wrong with it. Mark

QUOTE (LDF @ Aug 3, 2015 -> 09:10 PM) during that whole time, i was recovering from a illness, what was, not the official line, but reason for raines being fired??? Supposedly Tim wasn't working hard enough to suit Ozzie. Mark

QUOTE (LDF @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 05:30 AM) let me asked this of those who can answer. to me, i always assumed that the sox picked, esp in the 1 round, prospects who were easy to sign and can make the majors quickly, as oppose to players who were more talented. was that how any saw it??? I can't say with 100% accuracy but there was strong peripheral evidence the Sox used signability and who the players agent was as part of the decision making process. Mark

Sox have now lost eight games where they took a lead into the 7th inning or later. Worst loss of the year was Sale in Tampa after he struck out like 14 guys. Mark

The Sox have lost every game they've played with Tampa this year. A good team wins three out of the four...then you have the White Sox. Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 3, 2015 -> 05:16 PM) Tim Raines is the one name that comes to mind of former Sox stars to be fired. And Raines was fired by Ozzie. Kenny also tried to fire Ozzie but JR over ruled him (perhaps remembering his decision to let Hawk fire Tony LaRussa.) Mark

I don't think Beane was deliberately trying to screw over the Sox, it's just the way he works. He'll either get something for Valencia at the waiver deadline or package him as part of a deal over the winter. Mark

For what it's worth, I was tipped off about something along these lines a few months ago. The person I heard from said Rick started to listen more and more to Hostetler at the expense of Laumann. The person that I was in touch with felt Laumann was actually better at his job than Hostetler. We'll see how it work out. One thing is clear...over the last 15 years the Sox have had a number of people in charge of amateur scouting and minor league operations. In my opinion that's part of the reason the minor league system is in the shape its been in. Mark