Thad Bosley

Welcome to Soxtalk! Happens all the time.

EXACTLY! Did we suffer through a rebuild to acquire elite, blue chip prospects, only to sell low on them, just because they didn’t light the world on fire right off the bat (literally)? For now, Madrigal, Cease, and Vaughn should be untouchables due to their huge ceilings. Period. We can acquire that which we need in the starting rotation and in right field via free agency by just spending some cash. Let these wonderful prospects build up some value before we start packaging them all up in the kind of trade proposals being put forth here.

I do wonder what the fan bases of the A’s and Cardinals think of LaRussa, in general, given the success he had with both of those organizations. Because now for the second time in his career, he’s become very unpopular with the White Sox base. The drama he created in his first go-around that eventually resulted in the ouster of Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall made him extremely unpopular with the fans back then, and he was booed mercilessly every time he popped his head out of the dugout. Now with this second DUI business, on top of the already-questionable decision to rehire him, he’s once again very unpopular with White Sox fans. I suspect he’ll get booed quite loudly at the park once again the way things are going, even if the team is successful. The irony is Reinsdorf sided with LaRussa over Caray and Piersall, and thought the fans treated LaRussa unfairly as a result. I think with bringing LaRussa in to most probably preside over a White Sox championship or two, Reinsdorf figured he’d be providing him an opportunity to receive the love of the fan base that he never had the first time around. Looks like he probably figured wrong.

This month coincidentally marks the 40 year anniversary of Jerry Reinsdorf taking over control of our Chicago White Sox. How’s he done, how’s he doing, and where do you stand in terms of your wishes as to his continuation on as owner? Granted, he’s not going anywhere, and the results of this poll won’t influence anything either on him or the organization. But after four decades, where does the loyal fan base stand with this guy?

If the “Do you see this ring?” quote and the subsequent lines he allegedly said about being a Hall of Famer are correct, and what he would have then clearly intended to try to accomplish with saying those lines, and the fact it’s all public now, there is no way in hell that this disgraced individual can proceed as manager of the White Sox. This crosses a line even the most stubborn of octogenarians (you know who) cannot deny or ignore. I certainly hope other owners and the powers that-be in MLB are weighing in behind the scenes to get this resolved appropriately.

Reinsdorf has often said that firing LaRussa was the worst mistake he ever made as owner of the Sox (of course, it wasn’t - there’s a long list of franchise-crippling actions and decisions he’s made over the past 40 years more devastating than that one). But now he doesn’t have to consider the firing as his worst mistake, because this rehiring is probably now going to claim that title. This organization just needs new ownership, and badly. It’s as simple as that.

Tony LaRussa was going straight to Jerry Reinsdorf 40 years ago when Rick Hahn was 9 years old with his specific demands about what he wanted with the White Sox. And even as the youngest manager in the game at the time, Reinsdorf capitulated and pretty much gave him whatever he wanted. So there is no doubt in my mind that, while not on paper, of course, LaRussa is the second most powerful person in the organization right now.

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Well, Nick Capra joins Coop and Ricky at the unemployment line. HE GONE! So what is the future for McEwing and Boston? Very likely McEwing stays because of his already well-developed relationship with LaRussa from back in their St. Louis days together. Boston is a different story. He’s a former White Sox, and we know how that plays with Mr. Loyalty Program. He was also managed by LaRussa at the beginning of his career back from 1884 - 1886, I mean, 1984 - 1986. So that history in and of itself could make his job safe. At the same time, you could easily see them just cut bait like they did with both Cooper and Capra, both of whom were with the organization a long time. So two big questions and ones germane to the logic of the LaRussa hiring: who fills the two current vacancies, and will there be any other vacancies coming? https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/10/31/21543553/third-base-coach-nick-capra-wont-be-part-of-tony-la-russas-staff

So wrong, and not one player, or anyone in the front office, would agree with you. You need to sit closer to your TV when watching the games from now on.

Can you name me one manager ever in the history of baseball who didn’t enforce playing hard? Also, Eloy has improved defensively - no less a critic than Steve Stone has acknowledged that, and he wouldn’t if he didn’t believe it. But there is no one other than you suggesting that any lack of improvement is due to a lack of effort - N-O O-N-E - so until a more reliable source comes in that suggests he’s not working hard enough, I’m going to set your trivial observation aside. No offense. Finally, you are right about something, that any article just stating that the players are working hard is meaningless if the results on the field don’t reflect any improvements. Couldn’t agree more! That’s why we have undeniable evidence right before our very eyes of the hard work this team has put in to go from the sub .500 team they were last year to the playoff team they were this year. The individual and collective hard work is paying off, it will continue, and bigger and better things are yet to come. That is going to happen whether Tony LaRussa is the manager or not. He’s more of a shiny hood ornament at this stage simply in place to placate the current owner.

Ha! I must be mellowing a bit because this move by Reinsdorf this week would have caused an aneurysm in me not too long ago, and yes, also would have resulted in a verbal fisticuffs with SS2K5. (Although don’t tell him, but I’ve enjoyed watching his ire come out in Reinsdorf’s direction. Vindication!). =D Now don’t get me wrong - I truly cannot stand Reinsdorf as owner of this team after watching 40 years of one frustrating incident after another, just like the one we witnessed this week. Oh, for Soxtalk to have been around since the day this guy became owner! I’m just at a point that even with this inexplicable decision to hire LaRussa, the days of Reinsdorf are likely numbered, and we just have to ride it out. But in the meantime, hey, for the first time in a very long time, we have an exciting team to watch and follow!

Is Eloy’s defense a result of lack of effort and/or lack of hard work to improve, or just that he doesn’t have the god-given talent to be a better defensive player? The video that was shared with you shares explains Jimenez’ continuous improvement efforts. Do you doubt his level of effort, and if so, why, and based on what? As for Moncada, can you provide a source to where his work ethic has been questioned even once since he came to the White Sox? There is story after story about how he looks up to Abreu and tries to model his approach for readiness after his. And why are you even questioning whether he at still the young age he is has peaked? Do you think he has, and why? Because he doesn’t work hard enough? And what, precisely (and I already know the answer to this) is fueling your questioning of the work ethic of this particular roster, such that you think the personal profile of the incoming manager is what they really need? “Loafing” and “sloppy”. Interesting choice of words.

Oh, 100% agree, this year’s team wasn’t the “crispiest”, and Madrigal was definitely more sloppy than any of us expected. But this other poster is acting like the team needs some strict disciplinarian to come in and whip these sloppy loafers into place, and that is NOT the kind of roster LaRussa is inheriting.

Huh? Have Moncada and Eloy shown a hard work ethic at this point? Of course they have. Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Both have said they look up to Abreu as their role model from a work ethic perspective, and certainly Moncada doesn’t make the extraordinary improvement from 2018 to 2019 without working his ass off to make the adjustments he’s made. Same with Eloy. Stone has mentioned many times the hard work he puts into improving his defense. He obviously needs to continue to work on that defense, but if you remember where his defense was a couple of years ago, he’s definitely improved some. Also, can you advise us who on this team needs to be called out for loafing? Say what you will about Renteria, but these guys did hustle for him. And the sloppy play comment - what are you talking about? What sloppy play are you referring to? Is it In the field? On the bases? By whom? And who is making mental errors at such a clip that the team needs a manager nine years removed from the dugout to come in and fix the problem?