Lip Man 1

The so-called "hatred" is because for the vast majority of time this franchise has been around (save for the Golden Era 1951-1967) this team has had excuse after excuse after excuse as to why they can't consistently compete let alone win. Like Jack McDowell once said the reason the Sox can't win is because they have had bad owners, bad General Managers bad managers and bad players. Many Sox fans alive today haven't even had the pleasure of a long consistent stretch of good baseball, the last era was probably 2000-2006. If they are angry, upset, sarcastic...can you really blame them?

I said on a podcast that I was a guest on that I thought they'd lose around 95 games this season.

Tribune story has quotes from JR and state politicians both for and against: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/02/20/white-sox-owner-jerry-reinsdorf-to-meet-with-legislative-leaders-in-springfield-over-stadium-propsal/

The team will be sold regardless if this stadium is built or not, JR has made it clear publicly on rare occasions when he speaks about this. He has told his family when he goes, "Sell the Sox, keep the Bulls."

It is not the entire story.

To me there's no such thing as a better looking loss. A loss is a loss is a loss.

it's the White Sox way

following up: Jerry Reinsdorf takes case for ballpark funding to Springfield By Jim Margalus February 20, 2024 (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports) Jerry Reinsdorf made his visit to Springfield to make an in-person case with Illinois leadership for $1 billion in subsidies for a new South Loop ballpark, and if he angled for a charm offensive, he didn’t show that hand to the media. He used the word “cordial” with regards to meetings, but he was shorter on words when the media asked about any specifics for his request: And: For those capable of cognitive dissonance, it’s tough to square up being as dismissive of the public as Reinsdorf is, while asking for all of its money (Illinois has a $900 million budget shortfall). The question is whether Reinsdorf’s blithe disregard for the general populace will end up hurting him … … or whether a lot of this has already been generally agreed to, and everybody’s just going through the motions.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/20/jerry-reinsdorf-house-speaker-chris-welch-south-loop-white-sox-ballpark-the-78

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/20/while-embracing-new-vibe-in-white-sox-clubhouse-andrew-vaughn-holding-self-to-higher-standards

And with good reason given the last 43 years of history by and large don't you think?

I think it's the idea that JR already once extorted money for a new stadium AND got a sweetheart least. Given all this he refuses to put a competent product on the field, instead seems to be doing everything he and his front office can, to dump on and alienate Sox fans. I'd be all for giving him this deal if I knew the return on the field would be coming. 43 years of history shows that will not be the case. If he wants this he can pay for it himself.

Lost Cause Stadium

Since the start of the 2007 season the Sox have had five winning seasons, 11 losing seasons and one season at .500. Three playoff appearances. 3-8 playoff record.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/20/jerry-reinsdorf-house-speaker-chris-welch-south-loop-white-sox-ballpark-the-78 https://chicago.suntimes.com/editorials/2024/02/19/white-sox-stadium-the-78-bonds-isfa-state-tax-revenue-crains-guaranteed-rate-editorial "We get the allure of a brand-new stadium —who wouldn't? — but not at the expense of giving up much-needed state revenue." - Sun Times editorial board

JR has publicly said in the past he doesn't believe in paying for potential that's one of the reasons he fought so hard for a cap on draftees and salary slots. I know you way makes the most sense but remember JR always thinks he's the smartest guy in the room and his way is right.

Bottom line, it's going to be another long desolate season.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/19/goal-for-white-sox-robert-jr-moncada-jimenez-150-games-each

https://www.mlb.com/news/liam-hendriks-red-sox-deal

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/18/nothing-but-sunny-skies-over-manager-pedro-grifols-second-white-sox-camp

Rick Morrisey's column: Jerry Reinsdorf might not have much in the way of a baseball team, but he’s got a lot of gall. According to a Crain’s Chicago Business story, the White Sox chairman wants $1 billion in public money to help build the team’s proposed ballpark in the South Loop. He has at least two things going against him: 1) Taxpayers are tired of footing the bill for wealthy owners of professional sports franchises. 2) Fewer people are buying the assertion that the jobs and neighborhood investment that come with new stadiums more than offset the cost to pay for the buildings. Oh, and 3) Reinsdorf’s team stinks. That last one might seem immaterial, but Sox fans are more than a little upset about a rebuild that went off the rails, and some still haven’t gotten over the kick-in-the-teeth hiring of Tony La Russa as manager a few years ago. And now Reinsdorf is asking Gov. J.B. Pritzker to get behind a plan to subsidize a new ballpark? The Sox reportedly want the hotel occupancy tax that is paying for the Bears’ 2003 renovation extended to pay for their ballpark. Reinsdorf surely thinks state residents won’t feel the bite of that, but he’s missing the point, which is enough is enough. The Bears are facing resistance to their plan to build a stadium in Arlington Heights. The message seems to be: You have the money. Build your own home. Or get a loan, like the rest of us do when we take out a mortgage. Here’s another thought for Reinsdorf and the Sox. The weather’s very nice in Nashville.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/sacramento-reportedly-front-runner-for-as-2025-27-home/

https://soxmachine.com/2024/02/report-white-sox-requesting-1-billion-subsidy-for-new-ballpark/

The Giants (Peter McGowan) and the Dolphins (Joe Robbie) are basically the only owners I know of that built their own stadiums with their own money.

Feb. 15: Will Hendriks wait until summer to sign? Liam Hendriks' reported self-imposed deadline came and went without the free-agent reliever signing with a team. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Wednesday that Hendriks was weighing multiple contract offers and would decide whether or not to sign with a team by Thursday. Since he didn't sign, he is expected to continue his rehab from Tommy John surgery before throwing for teams in July with the hope of joining a club for the stretch run.