Guest JimH Posted October 31, 2003 Share Posted October 31, 2003 Here's the letter from Jerry Reinsdorf which just arrived, it's a very well-written, concise letter ... with one very interesting line. Here goes: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear White Sox Season Ticket Holder, I want to once again thank you for your role in making this another exciting season for the Chicago White Sox. The passion and commitment you show to this team on a daily basis are important to us, and we appreciate everything you do to help the White Sox succeed. Although 2003 had many great White Sox memories - The All-Star Game, the dramatic wins over the crosstown-rival Cubs and Esteban Loaiza's 21 victories - the season ended in a heartbreaking fashion. Despite the team's terrific play right after the All-Star Break, we fell short of our ultimate goal. We share the disappointment with you. We cannot say enough about the positive fan support the White Sox received this season. Thanks in part to our season ticket holders, the White Sox reached the eight-highest attendance figure in this franchise's long history. September's crowds were the biggest we have enjoyed since winning the division title in 1993. Your support of this team also made a difference on the field, as the Sox set a new ballpark record with 51 wins at home. We hope you enjoyed the renovations to the ballpark in 2003. More are on their way for 2004, including dramatic changes to the ballpark's upper deck. Thanks to the involvement of U.S. Cellular, our plan is to present a fully renovated U.S. Cellular Field on Opening Day 2005. The White Sox had the best players in the division this season but not necessarily the best team. We are trying to build that team. Changes have already begun and changes to our roster will take place this offseason. Ken Williams and his staff will continue to be aggressive and creative in putting together the 2004 White Sox. It will be a team. Thank you again for your continued support of White Sox baseball. Sincerely, Jerry Reinsdorf ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Very nice letter, brief, and to the point. Most interesting sentence to me is "Ken Williams and his staff will continue to be aggressive and creative in putting together the 2004 White Sox." Certainly, things can change, but that does not sound like Williams is on the way out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted October 31, 2003 Share Posted October 31, 2003 Changes have already begun and changes to our roster will take place this offseason. Ken Williams and his staff will continue to be aggressive and creative in putting together the 2004 White Sox. i.e., aggressive to the point where dollar figures aren't dramatically increased. Gimme a break. Thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFanForever Posted October 31, 2003 Share Posted October 31, 2003 I like the line about having the best players but not the best team. Too bad they realized this a few months too late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickman Posted November 1, 2003 Share Posted November 1, 2003 Here's the letter from Jerry Reinsdorf which just arrived, it's a very well-written, concise letter ... with one very interesting line. Here goes: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear White Sox Season Ticket Holder, I want to once again thank you for your role in making this another exciting season for the Chicago White Sox. The passion and commitment you show to this team on a daily basis are important to us, and we appreciate everything you do to help the White Sox succeed. Although 2003 had many great White Sox memories - The All-Star Game, the dramatic wins over the crosstown-rival Cubs and Esteban Loaiza's 21 victories - the season ended in a heartbreaking fashion. Despite the team's terrific play right after the All-Star Break, we fell short of our ultimate goal. We share the disappointment with you. We cannot say enough about the positive fan support the White Sox received this season. Thanks in part to our season ticket holders, the White Sox reached the eight-highest attendance figure in this franchise's long history. September's crowds were the biggest we have enjoyed since winning the division title in 1993. Your support of this team also made a difference on the field, as the Sox set a new ballpark record with 51 wins at home. We hope you enjoyed the renovations to the ballpark in 2003. More are on their way for 2004, including dramatic changes to the ballpark's upper deck. Thanks to the involvement of U.S. Cellular, our plan is to present a fully renovated U.S. Cellular Field on Opening Day 2005. The White Sox had the best players in the division this season but not necessarily the best team. We are trying to build that team. Changes have already begun and changes to our roster will take place this offseason. Ken Williams and his staff will continue to be aggressive and creative in putting together the 2004 White Sox. It will be a team. Thank you again for your continued support of White Sox baseball. Sincerely, Jerry Reinsdorf ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Very nice letter, brief, and to the point. Most interesting sentence to me is "Ken Williams and his staff will continue to be aggressive and creative in putting together the 2004 White Sox." Certainly, things can change, but that does not sound like Williams is on the way out. Jim, KW is not going anywhere despite Corgs top notch scouting reports. Remember those days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winninguglyin83 Posted November 1, 2003 Share Posted November 1, 2003 the hiring of Gaston next week will be the latest confirmation that KW is firmly in charge. Then, you'd figure, KW will be judged on how Cito performs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pastime Posted November 1, 2003 Share Posted November 1, 2003 Whoever wrote that is very good at Public Relations. They said and expressed everything the right way. However, there should another sentence in that letter (in VERY small print): We wish we could spend more money, but we can't. We said we would be aggressive, and we will be. We will offer lowball contracts to every decent free agent we can. They won't sign, but hey, at least we made the effort. That shows aggressiveness! We gave it a shot this year, but fell short as Kenny Williams continued to trade away our minor league talent. Yes, Mr. Jim Hendry on the North Side of town managed to acquire 3 very important players from Pittsburgh by trading garbage, weeds, and a half-eaten apple for those players, but we don't have that luxury, or that much brainpower in our decision-making management. We have Kenny Williams. The overmatched aggressive General Manager who traded two young starting pitchers to that same Pittsburgh team in exchange for a broken-down ragarm starter who was 10 games under .500 in his career, and led the league in losses after his acquisition. He also may never pitch again. Yes, we could sure use those youngsters in our rotation now, but what's done is done. We will have no choice but to fill our rotation with has-beens, never-will-bes, and drunken winos if need be. We can't afford anything else. (They have to put that in small print, because they have a moral obligation to speak the truth.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted November 1, 2003 Share Posted November 1, 2003 We gave it a shot this year, but fell short as Kenny Williams continued to trade away our minor league talent. Yes, Mr. Jim Hendry on the North Side of town managed to acquire 3 very important players from Pittsburgh by trading garbage, weeds, and a half-eaten apple for those players, but we don't have that luxury, or that much brainpower in our decision-making management. We have Kenny Williams. The overmatched aggressive General Manager who traded two young starting pitchers to that same Pittsburgh team in exchange for a broken-down ragarm starter who was 10 games under .500 in his career, and led the league in losses after his acquisition. He also may never pitch again. Yes, we could sure use those youngsters in our rotation now, but what's done is done. We will have no choice but to fill our rotation with has-beens, never-will-bes, and drunken winos if need be. We can't afford anything else. Next is on me next season at USCF PastTime. I couldn't have summed up KW better myself. KW is somewhat of a god around here for his misguided "aggressiveness" you know. Me and you don't share the popular opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pastime Posted November 1, 2003 Share Posted November 1, 2003 I give credit when it is due. He did a pretty good job last year. But now we're looking for starting pitching, and Kip Wells and Josh Fogg are pitching in Eastern Pennsylvania. Sure, neither has been Cy Young caliber thus far, but they would look really good in Sox uniforms right now. Plus, we could spend the free-agent money on hitters since our rotation would be solid. Maybe I'm still irrritated because I liked Kip a lot. If Todd Ritchie was still in the rotation and doing halfway-decent, it would be one thing. But he's long gone. Let's see what Mr. Williams does in the offseason. If he puts together a solid team, then he will get his kudos and praise. But if the team is a disaster waiting to happen, then he will get his just criticism. Criticism not only from me, or you, or a few people. But an entire nation of Sox fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted November 1, 2003 Share Posted November 1, 2003 Gotta Admit Wells' Numbers would look really nice with the Sox right now. I think we gave up too early on him and he was rushed to the Bigs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted November 1, 2003 Share Posted November 1, 2003 Gotta Admit Wells' Numbers would look really nice with the Sox right now. I think we gave up too early on him and he was rushed to the Bigs Nardi f***ed Wells up. Not that he's the second-coming or that Fogg is for that matter. Todd Ritchie=WORST TRADE EVER! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted November 1, 2003 Share Posted November 1, 2003 Let's see what Mr. Williams does in the offseason. If he puts together a solid team, then he will get his kudos and praise. But if the team is a disaster waiting to happen, then he will get his just criticism. Criticism not only from me, or you, or a few people. But an entire nation of Sox fans. I also gave KW credit for the Everett/R Alomar deals. But this is, like you said, KW's make or break offseason. He's had a huge offseason trade each offseason during his tenure...... two during the '02-'03 offseason..... and he's a huge 1-4. KW better get his s*** together this offseason and get back to the .500 mark. NOT dealing with Beane would be a good start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted November 2, 2003 Share Posted November 2, 2003 The White Sox had the best players in the division this season but not necessarily the best team I'm glad they noticed it. I wonder if that will lead to changes based on the club house or changes on the field. It sounds like they would be willing to stand pat, or close to it, if they could create a sense of "team" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted November 2, 2003 Share Posted November 2, 2003 Nardi f***ed Wells up. Not that he's the second-coming or that Fogg is for that matter. Todd Ritchie=WORST TRADE EVER! Nardi was one of the worst pitching coaches in history. At least Don Cooper knows what he's doin, he turned Loaiza into a winner, turned Buerhle's season around afta his 1st real slump etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pastime Posted November 2, 2003 Share Posted November 2, 2003 It's just my opinion, but I think this is Kenny Williams' make-it or break-it season. If he can't get it done this year, I really think he is outta here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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