South Side Hit Men

It's only acceptable when the Sox are in first place per "The Book". This was Jerry's homage to the only MLB he ever gave a rats ass about on the field, his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers.

Rick Hahn tied Harry Grabiner last night for the most games (123) under .500 in White Sox General Manager history. Please note Harry Grabiner’s White Sox teams won two AL Pennants and unlike Hahn held an actual parade after winning the 1917 World Series. White Sox All Time General Manager Records .568 Hank Greenberg ( 267-203-3 +64) (1959-1961) (1959 American League Pennant) .556 Charles Comiskey II (257-205-2 +52) (1956-1958) .535 Charles Comiskey (1115-968-48 +147) (1901-1914) (1906 World Series Championship & 1901 American League Pennant *) * = No 1901 World Series. .527 Ron Schuler (817-734-3 +83) (1991-2000) .521 Kenny Williams (1014-931-0 +83) (2001-2012) (2005 World Series Championship) .518 Frank Lane (559-519-9 +40) (1949-1955) .508 Stu Holcomb (243-235-0 +8) (1971-1973) .504 Ed Short (735-723-1 +12) (1962-1970) .491 Roland Hemond (922-957-6 -35) (1974-1985) .487 Harry Grabiner (2285-2408-27 -123) (1915-1945) (1917 World Series Championship & 1919 American League Pennant) .481 Larry Himes (311-335-0 -24) (1987-1990) .460 Rick Hahn (707-830-0 -123) (2013-April 21, 2023) .444 Hawk Harrelson (72-90-0 -18) (1986) .425 Leslie O'Connor (195-265-4 -70) (1946-1948)

We bought two tickets from someone on the street, to attend the first night game which we also did at Wrigley three years earlier with my 8/9 Mets tickets (the 8/8 Phillies game was rained out). The Expos and Mets were my second/third favorite teams behind the Sox. Went to 15-20 games in 1990 at the old park including the final night game and final game. Boycotted the new park beyond free tickets after this game until 2003. Hoping my second/current boycott (last home game attended March 2, 2020 in Arizona) until new ownership is much shorter in duration, but assume I’ll be disappointed yet again with Jerry possibly living another twenty-five to forty plus years into his 110s-120s.

Detroit, Cleveland and Kansas City each made the World Series since 2012. Detroit is the only team with an above average payroll among the three. Cleveland was within a Game 7 extra innings of winning like KC. Cleveland and KC didn’t have high priced free agents. It’s possible to be competitive with a solid development staff, front office and coaching / training staff. Sadly, Jerry is only interested in employing cronies, not competent baseball professionals, to manage and operate this ball club. We still have a city others would want to live in during the Summer. A competent owner can build a winning franchise here. Just need the right person to take over.

@VAfan- I think much of your sentiment is just a natural progression of life. You get older, time is more precious / valuable. Players are your kids ages, than your grandchildren's ages. I'm giving it one more try to be all in with the White Sox after Jerry and Hahn are gone. Would also get back in if baseball returned to Montreal. Gave up the other sports years ago. Still enjoy watching family kids play sports, hopefully future generations of girls will not be subject to what they are going through now.

Ricky and his team had fire, gave a s%*# and played hard for their manager. Hahn used Ricky as a scapegoat for his own failure to assemble more than two starters through the pathetic owner lockout / 60 game season. Hahn was so condescending and arrogant saying Ricky didn't meet expectations. Rick Hahn has zero redeeming qualities as a GM. I hope Lucas, Anderson, Robert and others have great success after they leave this toxic organization. Also hope Jose Abreu wins a World Series before he retires, Hahn denied him of an opportunity despite Jose giving everything for this organization.

“A Reinsdorf Hahn led White Sox organization cannot be fixed.” - Scott Adams

Sadly, Peak White Sox Glory since 2008 was Rocky Renteria's 1-0 Series lead over Oakland in the 2020 American League Wild Card Series, and the lone 82 + win season in 2021 (93-69 .601) over the past decade. Next milestones to reach if the Sox winless series streak continues: Latest Six Series Winless Streak: 0-5-1 (March 30, 2023 - April 19, 2023, ongoing) - Rick Hahn Declared "Multi Championship Window" Season Split 2-2 at Houston Astros (9-10) Lost 1-2 vs. San Francisco Giants (6-11) Lost 1-2 at Pittsburgh Pirates (12-7) Lost 1-2 at Minnesota Twins (11-7) Lost 1-2 vs. Baltimore Orioles (11-7) Lost 1-2 vs. Philadelphia Phillies (8-11) Latest Seven Series Winless Streak: 0-6-1 (August 27, 2019 - September 18, 2019) - Rick Hahn Declared "Rebuilding" Season Swept 0-3 vs. Minnesota Twins (101-61) Swept 0-3 at Atlanta MLB Team (97-65) Split 2-2 at Cleveland MLB Team (93-69) Lost 1-2 vs. Los Angeles Angels (72-90) Lost 1-2 vs. Kansas City Royals (59-103) Lost 1-2 at Seattle Mariners (68-94) Lost 1-2 at Minnesota Twins (101-61) Latest Eight Series Winless Streak: 0-7-1 (September 18, 2018 - April 10, 2019) - Rick Hahn Declared "Rebuilding" Seasons Lost 1-2 at Cleveland MLB Team (91-71) Lost 1-2 vs. Chicago Cubs (95-68) Lost 1-2 vs. Cleveland MLB Team (91-71) Swept 0-4 at Minnesota Twins (78-84) - 2018 Season Ending Series Lost 1-2 at Kansas City Royals (59-103) Split 1-1 at Cleveland MLB Team (93-69) Lost 1-2 vs. Seattle Mariners (68-94) Swept 0-3 vs. Tampa Bay Rays (96-66) Latest Nine & Ten Series Winless Streak: 0-9-1 (July 3, 2017 - August 6, 2017) - Rick Hahn Declared "Rebuilding" Season Lost 1-2 at Oakland Athletics (75-87) Lost 1-2 at Colorado Rockies (87-75) Swept 0-3 vs. Seattle Mariners (78-84) Swept 0-2 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (104-58) Swept 0-3 at Kansas City Royals (80-82) Split 1-1 at Chicago Cubs (92-70) Swept 0-2 vs. Chicago Cubs (92-70) Lost 1-2 vs. Cleveland MLB Team (102-60) Lost 1-2 vs. Toronto Blue Jays (76-86) Swept 0-4 at Boston Red Sox (93-69) Latest Eleven & Twelve Series Winless Streak: 0-7-5 (September 24, 1996 - April 30, 1997) - Manager Terry Bevington Split 1-1 vs. Kansas City Royals (75-86) Lost 1-2 at Minnesota Twins (78-84) - 1996 Season Ending Series Split 1-1 at Toronto Blue Jays (76-86) Lost 1-2 vs. Detroit Tigers (79-83) Swept 0-2 vs. Toronto Blue Jays (76-86) Lost 1-2 at Detroit Tigers (79-83) Swept 0-2 at Texas Rangers (77-85) Split 1-1 vs. Baltimore Orioles (98-64) Lost 1-3 vs. New York Yankees (96-66) Split 1-1 at Baltimore Orioles (98-64) Lost 1-2 at New York Yankees (96-66) Split 1-1 vs. Texas Rangers (77-85) Latest Thirteen & Fourteen Series Winless Streak: 0-10-4 (June 30, 1980 - August 20, 1980) - Manager Tony La Russa Lost 1-3 vs. California Angels (65-95) Split 2-2 vs. Oakland Athletics (83-79) Split 1-1 vs. Baltimore Orioles (100-62) Swept 0-3 vs. New York Yankees (103-59) Lost 1-2 at Texas Rangers (76-85-2) Lost 1-2 at Milwaukee Brewers (86-76) Lost 1-3 at Kansas City Royals (97-65) Split 2-2-1 vs. Texas Rangers (76-85-2) Split 1-1 vs. Milwaukee Brewers (86-76) Lost 1-2 vs. Kansas City Royals (97-65) Swept 0-3 at Baltimore Orioles (100-62) Lost 1-2 at Boston Red Sox (83-77) Lost 1-2 at New York Yankees (103-59) * Lost 1-3 vs. Cleveland MLB Team (79-81) * Note * - Does not include 1 Game Played hosting Boston on Friday August 15 (a 8-5 Loss). The remaining two games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday were rained out and not made up later in the season. Latest Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-One, Twenty-Two, Twenty-Three & Twenty Four Series Winless Streak: 0-16-8 (May 15, 1970 - August 4, 1970) - Team played partial schedule previous two seasons in Milwaukee. Split 2-2 vs. Kansas City Royals (65-97) Lost 1-2 vs. California Angels (86-76) Swept 0-4 vs, Oakland Athletics (89-73) Lost 1-2 at Kansas City Royals (65-97) Lost 1-2 at Boston Red Sox (87-75) Lost 1-2 at Washington Senators II (70-92) Lost 1-2 at New York Yankees (93-69-1)* Split 1-1 vs. Boston Red Sox (87-75)* Lost 1-3 vs. Washington Senators II (70-92) Split 1-1 vs. New York Yankees (93-69-1) Lost 1-3 at Oakland Athletics (89-73) Lost 1-3 at California Angels (86-76) Split 2-2 vs. Minnesota Twins (98-64) Swept 0-3 vs. Oakland Athletics (89-73) Lost 1-2 at Minnesota Twins (98-64) Lost 2-3 at Milwaukee Brewers (65-97-1) Lost 1-3 at Kansas City Royals (65-97) Swept 0-3 vs. Detroit Tigers (79-83) Lost 1-2 vs. Baltimore Orioles (108-54) Lost 1-2 at Cleveland MLB Team (76-86) Split 2-2 at Detroit Tigers (79-83) Split 1-1 at Baltimore Orioles (108-54) Split 2-2 vs. Cleveland MLB Team (76-86) Split 1-1 vs. Kansas City Royals (65-97) Note*: The White Sox also lost a single June 8th makeup game at Milwaukee 5-2. This game is not reflected above. @Lip Man 1 - Would be interested if any other team in the major leagues had as a long a stretch since the start of divisional play.

https://www.southsidesox.com/2022/4/20/23033325/today-in-chicago-white-sox-history-april-20 2016 Chris Sale is the first four-game winner of the season, surrendering one unearned run and just two hits (to Mike Trout) over seven innings in a 2-1 win over the Angels. 2018 Danny Farquhar collapses in the Sox Park dugout after throwing 15 pitches in the sixth inning of a 10-0 loss to the Houston Astros. He regains consciousness and is rushed to the hospital, where he undergoes several emergency surgeries but eventually makes a full recovery from a brain aneurysm. Farquhar never pitched in the majors again, but returned to the White Sox in 2021 to become pitching coach of the Winston-Salem Dash.

Rick Hahn Era Series Records By Year (2 + Game Series - Includes Postseason) Robin Ventura (74-105-26) 2013 17-26-8 2014 18-27-6 2015 20-27-5 2016 19-25-7 Ricky Renteria (61-91-23) 2017 18-28-5 2018 14-30-7 2019 19-23-10 2020 10-10-1 Tony La Russa (48-36-19) 2021 26-18-8 2022 22-18-11 Pedro Grifol 2023 YTD 0-5-1

2013 - 2022 AL Central Comparison (Overall MLB Rank) Cleveland Win % .517 (4); Payroll $92.1M (26); Attendance 1.411M (27) Minnesota Win % .480 (19); Payroll $111.1M (21); Attendance 1.833M (20) Kansas City Win % .470 (21); Payroll $104.3M (22); Attendance 1.678M (24) Chicago Win % .461 (25); Payroll $115.2M (18); Attendance 1.735M (23) Detroit Win % .452 (28); Payroll $141.7M (11); Attendance 1.955M (18) White Sox Peers (Teams within two +/-) Winning Percentage: (23) Arizona Diamondbacks .464; (24) Philadelphia Phillies .464; (25) Chicago White Sox .461; (26) Colorado Rockies .461; (27) Baltimore Orioles .453. Average Payroll: (16) Seattle Mariners $116.0M; (17) Colorado Rockies $115.8M; (18) Chicago $115.2M; (19) San Diego Padres $113.7M; (20) Cincinnati Reds $112.4M. Average Attendance: (21) Cincinnati Reds 1.750M; (22) Arizona Diamondbacks 1.749M; (23) Chicago White Sox 1.735M; (24) Kansas City Royals 1.678M; (25) Pittsburgh Pirates 1.644M. Overall MLB Standings 2013 - 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers 931-588 .613 - [$222.2M (1); 3.326M (1)] 2020 WS; 2018 & 2017 NL New York Yankees 858-660 .565 - [$207.7M (2); 2.797M (3)] Saint Louis Cardinals 848-668 .559 - [$144.4M (10); 2.963M (2)] 2013 NL Cleveland Guardians 845-671 .557 - [$92.1M (26); 1,411M (27)] 2016 AL Houston Astros 832-686 .548 - [$124.3M (14); 2.086M (15)] 2022 & 2017 WS; 2021 & 2019 AL Boston Red Sox 818-700 .539 - [$182.4M (3); 2.471M (7)] 2018 & 2013 WS Tampa Bay Rays 809-710 .533 - [$69.0M (30); 1.097M (30)] 2020 AL Atlanta MLB Team 793-723 .523 - [$120.4M (15); 2.207M (10)] 2021 WS Chicago Cubs 789-729 .520 - [$152.9M (6); 2.556M (5)] 2016 WS Washington Nationals 778-740 .513 - [$152.8M (7); 2.114M (13)] 2019 WS Milwaukee Brewers 778-741 .512 - [$95.2M (25); 2.277M (9)] Oakland Athletics 772-746 .509 - [$76.0M (27); 1.330M (28)] Toronto Blue Jays 770-748 .507 - [$134.2M (13); 2.184M (12)] New York Mets 767-751 .505 - [$148.4M (8); 2.082M (16)] 2015 NL San Francisco Giants 766-752 .505 - [$163.5M (4); 2.558M (4)] 2014 WS Seattle Mariners 762-756 .502 - [$116.0M (16); 1.920M (19)] Los Angeles Angels 743-775 .489 - [$163.4M (5); 2.517M (6)] Minnesota Twins 729-789 .480 - [$111.1M (21); 1.833M (20)] Pittsburgh Pirates 726-790 .479 - [$71.6M (28); 1.644M (25)] Texas Rangers 714-805 .470 - [$139.0M (12); 2.197M (11)] Kansas City Royals 713-805 .470 - [$104.3M (22); 1.678M (24)] 2015 WS; 2014 AL San Diego Padres 707-811 .466 - [$113.7M (19); 2.103M (14)] Philadelphia Phillies 704-814 .464 - [$145.0M (9); 1.977M (17)] 2022 NL Arizona Diamondbacks 704-814 .464 - [$97.3M (24); 1.749M (22)] Chicago White Sox 700-817 .461 - [$115.2M (18); 1.735M (23)] Colorado Rockies 700-818 .461 - [$115.8M (17); 2.408M (8)] Baltimore Orioles 687-831 .453 - [$99.4M (23); 1.638M (26)] Detroit Tigers 684-829 .452 - [$141.7M (11); 1.955M (19)] Cincinnati Reds 684-834 .451 - [$112.4M (20); 1.750M (21)] Miami Marlins 653-863 .431 - [$71.4M (29); 1.161M (29)] Source Data - The Baseball Cube

I want the Larry Himes era. Consistent sustained top drafted players, quality player development, smart trades. Larry built the only consistently great Sox teams over the past half century. Of course Jerry pulled the plug on Larry Himes because he didn't kiss enough Reinsdorf ass, and then Reinsdorf pulled the plug on any hope of a White Sox World Series by destroying the 1994 season to "break the union" followed a few years later with the White Flag Trade.

Jerry should demand a new stadium and real estate holdings (perhaps throw in a Star Wars museum on the Lake) from the new mayor ($4B-$5B plus) that he completely owns with zero or minimal rent or lease payments like his current deal. Get a complete real estate tax exemption as well. They can sell it to the media and masses announcing an historical agreement with Mellody Hobson to purchase the team when he passes, perhaps rebuild a bunch of park baseball diamonds around the city (with Sox Split the Pot Raffle Ticket money) to sweeten the deal. Jerry spends a few pennies on the dollar max ($150M-$200M) to get this through legislatively. Dump every player over $3M, tank for the next five seasons and give Hahn another chance at a rebuild. Maximize profits, without significantly impacting attendance, 1.4M the likely floor, not much lower than the average under 11 years of Rick Hahn. Give Hahn a seven year contract for Kenny's job and let him promote one of his Michigan cronies. Best part of the plan is I can see Jerry living another 25-30 plus years and attempting this scam one more time mid century. Perhaps Mama McCaskey will be gone by then.

Significant drops in attendance finally forced Jerry and kid to finally make changes with the Bulls. Weather was terrible, but 13,794 paid attendance looks like a substantial drop (22.5%) in the weekend season ticket base from last year. Lowest announced paid weekend attendance in 2022 was Sunday April 17 vs. TB (17,798). Keep up the good work Sox fans, stay at home, wait for new ownership and management before spending a penny on this franchise. Go to a Chicago parade Rick Hahn will never provide. Opening Day Attendance - Rick Hahn Era: Opening Day Attendance / Total Attendance (Year & Final Record) 39,012 1.768M (2013 63-99 .389) 38,533 1.756M (2015 76-86 .469) 38,019 1.746M (2016 78-84 .481) 37,432 1.651M (2014 73-89 .451) 36,948 2.009M (2022 81-81 .500) 36,534 1.629M (2017 67-95 .414) - Tanking 34,784 133,851 6 Games (2023 6-10 .375 YTD) <= You are here 33,318 1.609M (2018 62-100 .383) - Tanking 32,723 1.650M (2019 72-89 .447) - Tanking 8,207 1.596M (2021 93-69 .574) - City & State Government Restrictions into June 0 / 0 (2020 35-25 .583) - City, State & Federal Government Complete Shutdowns South Side Hit Men = Team Fire HahnKen since 2015.

So they paid Grandal $6.8M prorated in 2020 and $36.5M the next two years and he's worth a negative $33.1M through 2022. Sounds right and this was the expected outcome for anyone who has followed baseball for more than a few years. Catchers rarely excel in their 30s.

Rick said this at the 10d press conference. Since that occurred, they have acquired zero players on the major league roster, and have lost Liam Hendriks and likely Mike Clevenger.

Would expect the quotes in bold below that he offered to Danny Parkins two years ago, when asked how Rick was notified of Tony’s February 2020 DUI when Rick is asked about the debacle of offseason, even before the Mike Clevinger investigation was made public. Quote: “You know, Danny, today is … as I sit here today and … really, of all days, the day when there’s optimism and excitement and we’ve got — we’re back together in the same place for the first time in a while, and we have World Series aspirations, I’m not that interested in sort of going through the hiring process and decision and communication and the internal elements of that. Honestly, like, the last few months working with Tony have been — I’ve gotten more and more excited about where this team is headed and what he’s going to contribute. “Sitting here today and looking at the staff we were able to assemble, I’m just thrilled with the conversations we’ve had — unfortunately mostly via Zoom — with the conversations we’ve had and the position we’ve got this team in right now. And my focus is not on rehashing something that happened four or five months ago, it’s about the excitement that we feel as we get ready to try to win a championship. “So I know that’s probably an unsatisfying answer, but honestly, Danny, that’s as candid as I can be about the thing is that I’m looking forward to the future. I’m not trying to rehash the past process.”

I agree the city will likely (a new mayor may not be as enthusiastic) attempt to sell to the public yet another billionaire handout, with the lapdog Chicago media fully on board. Just looking at the current downtown vacancy rate (21.4% Q4 2022), the end of massive Federal COVID cash subsidies, and the fact that even if the city could secure another tax and bond to fund this latest hand out, if downtown doesn’t rebound, the Sox will prefer to shakedown taxpayers elsewhere. The city dodged a big bullet when Daley finished in dead last in the 2016 Olympic bidding. All future stadiums should follow the United Center model, which has worked out for both owners.

Downtown has been a ghost town the past three years, doubtful office workers / businesses will ever return without multiple significant changes. Don’t see the team staying unless they get another free stadium. Chicago, Crook County and Illinois are all bankrupt when you factor unfunded pensions, are lucky to issue above junk status bonds now to pay for current day to day expenses.

your 3rd overall draft pick says 3,000 hits is his destiny, and is stuck on 148 three years later. friends and family are signed before, not concurrent with, the main FA target. both Rick and Kenny claim they nabbed their number one player target at the deadline. can’t stay healthy two weeks after an unforced mid-season contract extension. your all time largest contract goes to a guy who hit 5 home runs last season. your high priced old free agent has no other legitimate offers. Tony recommended the guy.

Is it also a sign you’re still stuck in China? I used to plan trips to visit new stadiums, but the MLB has disgusted me so over the past three “seasons”, I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back. I also hate Atlanta (city/team), and the two other stadiums are shitty domes I hate watching baseball in. I went to a few games in 2021 with free tickets (skybox Wrigley), but my last paid for game or White Sox was March 2020 at Diamondback Ranch in Arizona to watch the Sox play SD, my first ever trip to Spring Training (was always busy at work in Winter). Don’t like the fact the Sox banned all cash including box office and concessions. Fans miss entire innings waiting in line, in part due to CC processing. Problems also noted with lines just to enter games on crowded days. That and LaRussa / Jerry kept me away the past two years, waiting for new owner to return at this point. I don’t see Jerry leaving until the 2030s/2040s. Hell, Virginia and Jerry may still be around entering 2050.