Lip Man 1

Well that's not necessarily a bad thing, Boston and Philly have had a hell of a lot more success so fans would have more to cheer for.

This week is a prelude to what we'll be seeing on a regular basis for the upcoming season.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/rob-manfred-says-athletics-relocation-plans-to-las-vegas-still-solid-despite-multiple-obstacles/

Oh you mean the Brother Rice news letter, got it.

Just wanted to put this out there. Mainstream media stories came out yesterday that the Chicago Red Stars of the women's pro soccer league said they now want to get a stadium built for them. One of the quotes in the story way "women deserve a seat at the table..."

Just my opinion. I don't think anyone is "happy" but I think most are convinced (and I'm one of them) that JR's threat is pure unadulterated bullshit. Again just my opinion but I'm willing to call his bluff at this time. We are years away from the situation becoming critical so we'll see how it plays out. But I can't blame the fans, JR has the unadulterated gall to not be willing (at least yet) to pay one thin dime and then has the audacity just last week to blame the fan base for his incompetence, dysfunction and ineptness. He is a smart guy and I can't think he honestly believes the BS his spouts.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/27/white-sox-garrett-crochet-strikes-out-ohtani-makes-good-first-step-in-path-toward-starting

https://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials/2024/02/27/gov-pritzkers-reluctance-to-fund-jerry-reinsdorfs-field-of-dreams-is-the-right-call The White Sox continue to paper the town with pretty renderings of their proposed taxpayer-funded new stadium — along with vague promises of the community benefits the ballpark is supposed to bring — so it's good to see Gov. J.B. Pritzker express at least some initial skepticism over the plan. So as Reinsdorf makes his rounds of public officials, we agree with Pritzker reminding the billionaire sports franchise owner that Illinois has bigger fish to fry than helping figure out how to pay for a ballpark, and that funding for the stadium isn't just there for taking.

Thank you.

Happened Saturday, just a very nice time for my wife and I. Received a nice medallion and a crystal trophy....then did back to back broadcasts for Idaho State men and women wins over Weber State...then when I got home wrote a game wrap story on the men's win for the Idaho State Journal. Long day. When were you at Idaho State? Moved here in January 1993 from Louisiana to work as sports director at KPVI-TV.

At least they scored some runs today but the pitching is horrid.

The afternoon Sun-Times newsletter question of the day is what will it take for Chicagoans to agree to help pay for a new stadium? I'll be curious to read the reply's Wednesday.

I never wish ill on a player but this guy was flotsam and jetsam anyway. From a baseball perspective it is no big loss. By my count four pitchers hurt already not that it will matter this season.

He did indeed say that. Some called it the "Aparicio curse." He was upset that after the 1962 season Ed Short wanted to cut his salary.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/27/white-sox-lose-jesse-scholtens-to-ucl-tear-acquire-lefty-bailey-horn-in-trade-with-cubs

That deal revitalized the franchise and directly led to back-to-back-to-back years with 90+ wins. Ward, Hansen, Nicholson and Wilhelm for Aparicio (who had worn out his welcome at the time) and Al Smith.

The man "Hawk" Harrelson traded a young Bobby Bonilla for: https://chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2024/02/26/jose-deleon-former-white-sox-and-cardinals-pitcher-dies-at-age-63

This is a good move, it only took them how many years? The Sox will have a mental performance coach, Cristian Guzman, in uniform and traveling with the team this season. Director of Sports Performance Geoff Head said the Sox also have a full-time dietician for the first time, welcoming both upgrades in areas he said were past due. “We had a mental skills department (in Kansas City),” manager Pedro Grifol said. “You know what? This is a very tough game and there is a lot of interference in this game, and you need resources and tools in your tool box to navigate 162 [games]. Whatever it takes. “It’s our responsibility to provide these guys resources and tools that can help navigate whatever interference they’ve got going on.” Guzman previously held mental health and performance positions with the Mariners and Mets. Jeffrey Fishbein, in his 13th season as the Sox’ team psychologist, is also part of that support team.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/26/its-time-to-stop-the-stadium-money-train-bears-sox-reinsdorf-mccaskey-sports-telander

What matters is what he did for the White Sox. Bobby Knoop never came close to doing this. From my interview with him: "Hansen was Cal Ripken before Cal Ripken, combining physical size, defensive ability and long ball power, traits which weren’t usually seen in Major League baseball in those days at the shortstop spot. He was 6-3, tall in those days for a shortstop (like Ripken), but that didn’t seem to slow him down defensively. In fact Hansen is the third best fielding shortstop in White Sox history. Ozzie Guillen is the all-time leader at .974; Aparicio is second at .97137 and Hansen checks in third at .97126. (Author’s Note: Thanks to Scott Reifert of the White Sox for providing this information.) At the plate, his ability to hit a home run or deliver an extra base hit was practically unheard of for a shortstop to do (like Ripken) back then. In the years from 1963 through 1965, playing half his games at spacious Comiskey Park, Hansen averaged almost 15 home runs a season. The 20 he blasted in 1964 stood as the Sox record for shortstops until it was broken by Jose Valentin in 2000. He averaged 68 RBI’s in that same time period to go along with 76 walks per year. In four of the seven years spent in Chicago Hansen had more walks then strikeouts. He never had Ripken’s ability to hit for a high average but adjusting for the time period, his offensive numbers stack up quite well with him. He missed most of the 1966 season due to injury but came back in 1967 to provide stability and leadership to a team that nearly…..very, very nearly copped the pennant in the greatest race Major League baseball has ever seen."

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/26/trade-surprised-new-white-sox-of-dominic-fletcher-who-knows-it-was-probably-for-the-best

I think your memory is failing you. Between 1963 and 1965 Hansen hit 44 home runs, drove in 201 RBI's, and walked 211 times.

Well thought out post.

Because MLB isn't going to give up the billions they'd charge a city/new ownership for an expansion franchise as opposed to transferring a current team and not getting a dime out of it.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/26/gov-jb-pritzker-white-sox-stadium-south-loop-public-subsidy