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Those stars would have sunk them if they paid them what they were asking for. Kris Bryant has played almost exactly a seasons worth of games for the Rockies in 4 years and until this season Baez has been an albatross contract for Detroit. They absolutely made the right decision letting them walk. And I would be pretty fucking happy if our rebuild lasted as long as theirs did and they went back to the playoffs already.

I, for one, am very happy that Toronto is proving everyone wrong so far

1. Albert Belle. That's it. That's the list.

In an unrelated story, the Assyrian Church of the East has been Excommunicated.

This team is fun to watch. 5-0 to start the season

The Sox aren’t moving to Nashville or anywhere. Nashville will get an expansion team or nothing.

Eh, it wasn't quite the same as ACTUAL free agent top of the market spending, but I will say it did set a record for that time period.

There's a nice round table about an article James Fegan wrote this week about possible free agent pursuits this offseason: Podcast: 2025-26 Offseason Plan Project Kickoff - Sox Machine Fegan article on free agents in Sox' price range: The White Sox need an innings-eater or two; let's pick some favorites - Sox Machine

Actually, don't run anything. Hire good people and support them. Give them a reasonable amount of time and if their plan doesn't work move on.

There isn't an owner responsible for wins, that credit goes to the players. But loses fall in their laps. That's just the nature of the world. In that regard that makes JR about the worst of the worst. Start factoring in things like market size and he looks even worst. Other owners only take action when an owner is accused of harassment or racist comments. If some franchise wants to be the Washington Generals the other owners don't care. So there really aren't many bad owners in their eyes. Sports are a weird business. I want someone to make a fortune in another business then spend all that further to make my team a winner.

Wasn’t aware that the Braves relocated to the AL Central

From the names in the article, I'd be fine with: Martin Perez again - he was good when he could pitch and shouldn't be expensive Anthony DeSclafani - seems like a reunion with Bannister might help Cody Ponce seems like a good guy to bet on given his success in the KBO with good stuff, though there will probably be competition for him Anthony Kay - throws strikes and generates grounders in NPB The rest don't seem as intriguing to me, and this is even including my love for unknown Japanese pitchers with NPB numbers they have no hope of reproducing here.

This is the way Jerry has run the Sox for at least the last 20 years now - a lot of smoke and mirrors and never seriously investing in scouting/player development and/or landing marquee free agents.

The clause that triggered his "out" was that he had to be among the top three players in the game.

It was also in all likelihood a "middle finger to the rest of the owners" free agent signing because JR was unhappy with what they settled for to end the strike. Also note that the Sox included a perfect opt-out clause that would allow Belle to declare free agency after only 2 seasons here. In the end, the Sox only paid Belle $20M total, not the $55M he was signed for.

The team made an honest effort at Wheeler and set the market for him. That's fine.

Yeah back when the big spenders were in the "penalty box" from overspending the prior year (the old International Amateur rules).

Good call, ya bozo.

I believe we are now using this.

I don’t buy that at all. They won only one World Series, then broke up that team by letting the two biggest stars leave via free agency and starting a rebuild. You would be happy with that? Come on.

Yes, he started off super hot in AAA, Vaughn was scraping the bottom of the barrel. We brought him up, he hit a homerun and then struck out like 10 times in 20 at bats, and WBWSF decided that he was going to the hall of fame. Seems like Kreevitch did too

From my interview with Jeff Torborg: ML: The Sox still won 87 games and looked ready to take the next step when word came that you resigned to take the Mets job. I remember reading that you wanted to be closer to your family in New Jersey, Jeff…but I’ve also heard rumors through the years that some in the front office didn’t care for the way you handled pitchers, specifically Bobby Thigpen who went downhill after 1991. When I’ve asked the guys you managed about that, like Donn Pall, he strongly defended the way you used the bullpen. Can you clear this up for me, why did you leave the White Sox? And were you forced out? JT: “My mother was in her 80’s at the time but the reason that I left to be closer to my family was just for public relations, we didn’t want to hurt any feelings. I didn’t want to leave the White Sox. I had no desire to leave…why would I? This was a good young team ready to win; my wife and I loved Chicago and our son Dale was just starting out at Northwestern. (Author’s Note: Dale Torborg now works for the White Sox after a career in professional wrestling as a strength coach) ML: Then obviously by your answer there’s more to the story than was told to fans at the time. What else was going on? JT: “Later in the season we were in Minnesota for a two game series, it was a must win series for us because we were running out of time and I heard Peter Gammons report on ESPN that my job was in jeopardy. I was thinking, ‘where is this coming from?’ Then the last home stand of the year when we played the Twins again, Ron Schueler came into my office before it started and he closed the door. I was wondering what was going on. Ron said to me, “The Mets called me today and they want to talk with you about the managing job.” I told him, “Ron, I appreciate it but I have no interest.” Ron said, “well think about it and I’ll come back in a few days. We’ll talk again.” I’m sitting there wondering what is going on, because I said I had no interest.” “So right before the last games, we had a makeup double header; Ron comes back and asks if I thought about the Mets offer. I told him again that I had no interest but then I said “Ron, I’ve got to ask you because this has come up, where I fit in with you and the organization?” He looked at me and said, “I think both of us would feel bad if you turned it down and then something happened.” “When he said that I had to think twice about what was happening. Ron and I never had a cross word between us that season but he wanted to hire his own guy, so when the Mets called I took the offer. It was the best thing for me financially but it was the worst move professionally I could have made. Ironically about a half hour after I verbally told the Mets I’d take the job the Yankees called and said they were firing “Stump” Merrill and offered me the position. I told them I had already given my word to the Mets and couldn’t go back on it but I didn’t want to leave the Sox in the first place.” (Author’s Note: Schueler and the organization first contacted former Sox coach Jimmy Leyland, then the manager of the Pirates about the position, but he turned them down instead suggesting his longtime base coach Gene Lamont, who got the job.) ML: Was there any truth to the rumor that part of the reason the organization was upset with you was because of the way you handled your bullpen and how Bobby Thigpen just fell apart. JT: “I had heard that I was being criticized by some of the guys upstairs on that. I mean Larry Monroe (Author’s Note: Advisor to the Baseball Department and former Sox pitcher), Ed Farmer, and Ron (Schueler.) They all wanted Scott Radinsky to be the closer. Now Scott was a good pitcher and he could be a closer but at that time he wasn’t ready. The criticism was laughable; remember this was the bullpen that was the best in baseball in 1990.” (Author’s Note: The Sox won the Rolaids Relief Team Bullpen of the Year Award based on their record of 29-21 with 68 saves and an ERA of 3.16. The bullpen was primarily made up of right handers Bobby Thigpen, Barry Jones and Donn Pall and left handers Scott Radinsky, Kenny Patterson and Wayne Edwards.) “As far as Bobby was concerned we played a game against the A’s in 1991. We had a lead and Bobby came in to pitch the 8th inning for Alex Fernandez and a pitch got away from him and hit Terry Steinbach in the head. Tony (LaRussa) went crazy, I still remember him throwing a bat and my first thought was ‘what if that hit a fan? What kind of a lawsuit would he be looking at?’ “Anyway it was an ugly, ugly game, we lost the lead, wound up losing the game but there was a big fight after Steinbach got hit. Bobby was down on the bottom of the pile and he hurt his back. I think that’s why he lost his effectiveness not because of anything that I or the coaching staff did.” (Author’s Note: The game was played on June 1, 1991. The A’s came from behind to win 7-4.)

Wheeler doesn't bother me as badly as the Harper/Machado/TLR troika.

I think a lot of people wanted Elko called up cuz Vaughn was so bad. Not sure the majority of people who wanted him called up thought he would break out. It was basically, we suck at 1B as it is, may as well give Elko a shot. That’s how I remember it at least. I could be wrong.

Whose decision was it to push Jeff Torborg out the door after the 1991 season? Was that Reinsdorf or Schueler? Another bone-headed move by this front office. Was Gene Lamont any better? Or how about Terry Bevington (lol)?

Why is this thread becoming a TMZ report?

Pop culture? Schriffen is doing the same thing when he isn’t talking about his true love, the NBA.

Interesting that the powers that be seem to have no issues with Schiff missing games but it was a real problem with Benetti.

The biggest problem with all his manufactured excitement is he knows very little about the White Sox. I bet before he interviewed for the job, he couldn’t name 5 guys on the roster. Now he’s supposedly a Bill Veeck expert, but last year he didn’t know how to pronounce his name. It really make all his exuberance seem even more insincere.

Only it Ryan Poles can figure out how to properly build a roster.