NWINFan

Sports teams and their fans argue and fight all the time. It's a love-hate relationship. But the White Sox are very bad at it, and the organization causes lasting rifts and true alienation. Its shows at the gate. During the Nineties, it was the worst. The Tribune had its inane attendance stories that were nothing but excuses to rip fans. The Score constantly ripped Sox fans. Yelled at them, insulted them, mocked them, hung up on them. All of this help create an atmosphere of bitterness and anger. It was an awful time to be a Sox fan as the team watched all of this and did nothing. A few years ago I went to a book signing event. McFarland Publishing put out a book on old Comiskey as part of a series of books on razed stadiums. All proceeds of the book went to charity. Anyway Ron Kittle and Nancy Faust were there. Kittle told some great stories. Faust entertained on the organ. It was a great time. The first thing when I got home I ordered two game tickets. The event made me want to go the park and do it soon. I don't know if anyone from the Sox organization knew of the event, but someone from the team should have seen it. Something positive like this helps create enthusiasm for fans. Stone's tweet was condescending and not necessary. It accomplishes nothing except for creating bad feelings. It's okay to call down fans on somethings. Just do it right. Not with this nonsense.

This is what I am baffled about. Why does a losing team lash out at fans? And this is nothing new for the Sox. Fan alienation is something the team has excelled at. The rebuild looks okay, but somehow I get the feeling the team would be happy if it took longer for team to win. It's cheaper that way. I know one thing. I don't feel like watching with Stone in the booth. Please tell me what this organization is trying to do with this nonsense.

But Steve Stone said they don't want to give long-term contracts to pitchers because those players get hurt so often. Don't expect any dramatic action during the offseason. Right now rotation for 2020 will consist of two guys coming off TJ surgery, another who has been struggling, and two who have potential but still haven't proved themselves. There is nothing like a rebuild.

I agree in that I don't think Stone said these things so he could get something off his chest. This is how Reinsdorf operates. Along with the stupid lecture of about building houses, I think you are right about the upcoming offseason. At the moment I expect little news from the White Sox before the 2020 season. If the young players develop quickly, the team has a chance for a .500 season. But I don't expect more than that, and I don't think big money is going to be spent.

I didn't hear this, but I am not surprised. If I was in the broadcast booth, I would not allow myself to be used this way. If Reinsdorf wants to say something, just come and say it. Meanwhile, it is hard to put a rotation together with prospects.

I don't see JR approving a long-term contract for a pitcher. 2020 looks like another non-contending year as Cease and Kopech will develop. But eventually the team will need to invest in someone to shore up that rotation. Logic states that the Sox have the money to spend in the upcoming off season. This doesn't mean they will.

He does have plenty of reasons to build a winner, but that doesn't mean he will. We will see. If the rebuild starts showing results, and a high priced free agent can help put the team over the top, we will see what JR does. Right now Steve Stone is still building that house, and we have a year or two to wait.

You would think any normal person would care about what memories he leaves behind. If I were him, and I was sitting in the owner's box, and looked down and saw an empty stadium and a losing team year after year and then looked in the dugout and saw the same faces, I'd want to do something about it. I wouldn't want to be remembered as someone who didn't care. But that is just me.

It is easy to take shots at Reinsdorf, but the fact is it is hard to know what makes him tick. He has never been good at managing the media, and he can tick off fans at times. Right now he is reclusive and doesn't make direct public comments. Many times he uses the broadcast people to voice an opinion. I don't know if the Stone tweet was an example of this, but it 's possible. Regardless it was another example of bad PR and lousy media management. I have no idea what the plans for the offseason are. I do know this is no normal rebuild, and a great deal is at stake. If the rebuild fails, it will go far beyond fans being pissed off. There won't be much left to the franchise, and the house will crumble.

The streak of arrogance runs deep. The strong feeling of self-entitlement runs just as deep. The team asks for patience and wants the fans to have faith in the rebuild. It is hard to have faith when someone from the organization shoots off his arrogant and stupid mouth like this. For me there is one simple solution: the mute button.

I agree with this in total. And the Stone rant is typical of this organization. The team stinks and the organization lashes out at the fans. He is the last person to lecture me on anything. Don't tell me I have to like it when the team loses another game 10-1 or drops four in a row to one of the worst teams in baseball. What do the White Sox lead the league in? Blaming fans when things go wrong. The Adams. Yonder. Shark. What a bunch of great players. Where did they come from? I've met locusts with better personalities than Steve Stone. The words can't describe how disgusting this condescending crap is. Big changes should have been made 10 years ago. They weren't. That is why you're in this stupid rebuild. You had no plan and now you stink. Hey, Steve: You don't like the fans here? Get a gig in another major league city. I won't miss this crap. Did Reinsdorf tell him to do this? Sounds like it. It's a miracle anyone goes out to the ball park. I know I don't have plans of going there.

I think many things have to go right for the White Sox to contend next year. At this point, I don't see it. The first half was no fluke; the team progressed. It's just that the team has so far to go and they have overcome injuries. I don't anticipate a winning 2020 campaign, because young talent will still need time to develop.

Sometimes I wonder if Reinsdorf thinks about his legacy. The Bulls had that great success in the '90's but that is now 20 years in rear view mirror and a new generation of Bulls fans don't know what real success is all about. The White Sox broke through in 2005, but since then the team has won but one playoff game, and now has a string of losing seasons. Next year makes 15 years. Time sure does fly when you're losing. I don't feel qualified to express an opinion on coaches. Bennetti was defending them the other day, saying they address problems and fundamental play. But with all the losing, one would think change would be needed. But, as others have noted, change is not something that happens much with the White Sox. I don't anticipate any shakeup.

I don't hate you, greg. We're both White Sox fans. That makes us brothers. Under the skin.

I would be with him. I know I'm tired of all that crap. Keep talking, Jose.

I am hoping for two things: Tilson never plays another inning for the White Sox and he ends up on the Cubs.

Tough game to watch. Hot day. Hardly anyone in the ballpark. Sox lose seventh in a row. It doesn't get any more lethargic that this.

I think the first half did provide some real encouragement. But I don't see this franchise "opening up" its wallets. You may be right in the 2021 might be a breakthrough. I just wish I had more faith in this organization.

And this is a big part of the problem with this franchise.

Don't worry. Benniti said the team has had only three five-game losing streaks. He didn't mention any long winning streaks. Gee, Jason, I feel better now.

I don't think the Sox have much to sell, and I have had enough of the tank.

I really don't care about comparisons to other rebuilds. This decade is the worst since the 1970's and that decade began with a 106-loss season and ended with Disco Demolition. I see no sense of urgency with this front office. I have little faith in this rebuild. When I see decisive action, I will change my mind.

In this case, it would be irrational. That was Tilson's ball all the way. Eloy should have backed off. This was one time Tilson looked like a major league outfielder and Eloy got in his way. Other times, Tilson doesn't look like a major league outfielder.

This is very true. Good players don't just put up numbers; they play a smart game. What good does it do to hit a long home run if you miss the cut-off man or run yourself out of an innings? Make the routine play first and worry about the great plays later. Are you listening, Tim? I don't know what is going on in the front office, but this is a time for a big decision. Are this manager and coaching staff the right people to lead this rebuild? The team is not going to get a new owner or GM. So, it is time the current people to make some changes. If they don't, it is likely that this rebuild won't work, and I don't care how much young talent they have.

I don't obsess on this trade bad as it was. For me, the worse thing is a decade where the team has eight losing seasons and no playoff appearances. That is something to obsess about. And I don't want to hear what great young talent the rebuild is producing. Losing just plain sucks. This FO needs to do something this offseason. The next decade needs to be a whole lot better than this. They can start with getting an offense that can put the ball in play.