Lip Man 1

https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2024/03/11/bears-new-stadium-alternative-sites-michael-reese-hospital-friends-of-parks-soldier-field-white-sox

https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/2024/03/11/white-sox-prospect-noah-schultz-hopes-to-remain-healthy-as-young-core-starts-to-take-form

Very possible.

The Sox reacquired him before the start of the 1968 season.

Sometimes it doesn't work out. So the alternative is do nothing? Never take the risk? Even the best minor league system and player development staff has holes, to fill them you have to go outside the organization via free agency or trades. Trades cost you players which can lead to opening up other holes. Free agency only costs money and ML teams are rolling in it. The Red Sox aren't going to go broke over this payout I assure you.

Like so many of these guys Kopech has done nothing but disappoint. Will be glad when he is out the door.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/mlb/2024/03/11/red-sox-lucas-giolito-will-have-right-elbow-surgery-potentially-ending-his-season

Just a few weeks ago JR was quoted as saying the reason for the need for a new stadium is because of poor fan attendance and because of that they aren't able to go after the top free agents. And he actually said that with a straight face!

Here's the complete story now back up at the Sun-Times, I've also seen it reported at other mainstream sports sites: https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2024/03/10/bears-new-stadium-lakefront-soldier-field-arlington-heights-public-funding-poll

Story no longer seems to be on their web site. They may have jumped the gun in releasing it is all I can think of since when I read it, the story said the Bears would announce Monday. It was a long detailed story though. Said the Bears were abandoning the idea of Arlington Heights and were shifting their attention to getting a stadium built on the lakefront. Story listed what was known about the financial situation, and what wasn't known including how much money the NFL would be willing to put up to help pay for it. Story also went into the possibility of groups suing to prevent the stadium from being built there a la George Lucas who wanted a museum put there. The Bears according to the story want it built south of Soldier Field where the large parking lots are right now.

To answer your original question, no, having those dead contracts would not bother me because to win you have to take risks. That doesn't mean I would gamble on all of them but you have to stick your neck out at least some times, remember nothing ventured, nothing gained. That should satisfy you, I think. Now back to my question... if JR won't take risks on top free agent pitchers but also won't spend money on developing them via his farm system what is the answer?

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/03/10/time-and-experience-how-korey-lees-time-with-the-astros-guides-him-through-first-sox-spring-training

Bears will announce Monday they are shifting stadium focus and get this...they have decided to invest two billion in private funds to make it happen: https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2024/03/10/bears-new-stadium-lakefront-soldier-field-arlington-heights-public-funding-poll

He had a very solid first two years...then the bottom dropped out.

Winning the World Series is a crap shoot regardless of how good a roster you have (just look at the Dodgers) the key is just getting to the post season. You can't win it if you never even get to the post season. Did the teams you listed get to the post season? if they did, in my opinion, the money was well spent.

Don't stop now boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ?

You can argue that JR's "policy" is right or wrong, but the reality is the other teams in MLB ARE willing to do it, they take the risk and a lot of times it does work out where said pitcher helps get them to the post season for a few years. What's the alternative then especially given JR's publicly stated "policy" against paying for "potential?" (As evidenced by how productive the Sox minor league system has been) If there is a third option between this rock and a hard place I'd like to hear it. You want to win? Then you have to take risks but remember this is the guy who said this: "Sports is a business of failure but the fact that you finish second or third or fourth it doesn’t mean you had a bad year." At this point in time I'd be thrilled if the Sox could even come close to finishing second with a decent record but that's not happening.

Problem is JR's attitude towards pitchers and contracts.

It's a typo, it happens. Nothing along the lines of what ESPN has done over the years.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/chicago-white-sox-2024-season-preview-projected-lineup-rotation-and-how-long-until-dylan-cease-gets-traded/

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/wizards-best-path-to-new-arena-in-virginia-blocked-by-lawmakers/

Certainly the White Sox can.... but they refuse to do things like that because it runs counter to the organizational philosophy under JR. I would think history has made this obvious to everyone.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/03/07/adjustment-at-plate-ignites-hot-start-for-eloy-jimenez

Saw this in the Washington Post this morning: Va. lawmakers to remove arena from budget, blocking Youngkin’s best shot for it. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/06/virginia-arena-budget-removed-youngkin/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F3cfd8ae%2F65e9f6ed0fa79a3a2e7f89b2%2F656f5633386724493aa28bcb%2F29%2F54%2F65e9f6ed0fa79a3a2e7f89b2

Very, very true.