South Side Hit Men

Carlos Mendoza’s background: 42 Year Old Venezuelan Played in the Minors 13 seasons. Played 28 games in The Show. Began coaching in the minors in 2009. Managed the Yankees 2011 Gulf Coast team. Served as a roving defensive instructor until his promotion in 2017 to Yankees infield coach. Replaced former Yankees bench coach Josh Bard, who left to move closer to his home in Colorado, after the 2019 season. Served as Yankees interim manager after Aaron Boone’s pacemaker surgery in 2021. Interviewed for the Boston and Detroit jobs after 2020. https://www.pinstripealley.com/platform/amp/2021/3/6/22316467/yankees-future-manager-carlos-mendoza-interim-mlb-baseball-aaron-boone-spring-training

Personally, I see no indication Jerry, even if he is batshit senile at this point, has any more or less baseball acumen than Rick Hahn. Kenny Williams has his faults, but he is the only person with input who has any clue about Major League Baseball in the FO. The problem is he’s gone after next year, and I’m not sure how involved he is at this stage. The more stupid rumors we hear, the higher the probability is: 1. They will make yet another stupid hire. 2. Teflon Hahn will do all that he knows how, which is to s%*# blame to others. 3. Hahn will be promoted after 2023 when Kenny leaves, an equally unqualified Yes Man will take his current spot, and both will remain as the new new White Sox Gar / Pax until Jerry is gone.

The only twitter account I look at for White Sox rumors (look to James Fegan for actual news) is Bob Nightengale, and he hasn't tweeted anything Sox related for nearly a month: I don't expect anything until early to mid November at this point. I don't know much about Kevin Long, though would take him or almost anyone over Ozzie, Shildt or Washington among the rumored candidates in the thread. Still hoping Joe Espada is viable and eventually hired.

Sax was less proficient flicking his balls to the first baseman.

https://nypost.com/2022/10/27/frank-thomas-called-out-as-douchebag-by-ex-teammate-in-new-book/amp/

The few years I've been here, people have been staying a healthy (insert core guys except Abreu) will bump up their WAR to the 4-6 range if they "stay healthy". These players can improve, but they should not be expected to significantly increase their availability or WAR production per game. White Sox Players - % Games Played 2019-2022 (545 available games 2019-2022; 384 2020-2022) (# seasons / Average bWAR) 96.9% Abreu (4 / 3.2) 80.6% Vaughn (2 / 0.0) 79.3% Moncada (4 / 2.7) 68.6% Anderson (4 / 3.2) 62.0% Grandal (3 / 1.0) 58.0% Jimenez (4 / 1.3) 57.8% Robert (3 / 2.5)

Player manager, taking over for Abreu at 1B. Cito Gaston vs. Ozzie Guillen was the last legitimate interview process for the White Sox. Think the Marlins got a solid candidate to lead their young rising team. Kudos to Kim Ng! https://www.mlb.com/news/skip-schumaker-named-marlins-manager Joe Espada has been my choice since 2020. Happy with a few other mentions. Don't want Washington, who was outmanaged by Tony 10 years ago, or anyone else in their 70s.

Is that primarily to help prepare for the amateur draft, free agency, spring training, or really just all of the above. Fascinating world few of us are privy too, I've only read a few articles about it, including the Cubs significant analytics department of solid college graduates agreeing to work for nominal sums just for the glory and ring. I believe it is more important to chase your dreams, especially when you are young without significant commitments. When you look at your life 30 or 50 years down the line, you will reflect on the good times despite the hard work and settling for cheap beer and wings night as a rare social escape among the hard work you put in. Few other industries would command that level of commitment for peanuts financially. Yes, just guestimated with my 50-60 + hour statement. Had a busy season throughout my career, but never more than 3-4 months throughout a calendar year (either quarter ends or the Winter/early Spring). Don't think I would be happy with 75 hour weeks six months each year, unless I knew it led to "f*** you money" and could retire before 30. Never understood how the "Big Four" people who worked on our engagements dealt with it, though many were on work visas and don't really have an option.

Assuming the Kevin Long talk would be for the manager position and not a lateral move which nobody in their right mind would leave Philadelphia for the White Sox. TV dictates, also need date certainty to accommodate the hundreds of hotels required for players, media, sponsors, etc. This new schedule avoids NFL Sundays vs the Thursday & Monday off day format. Since the 87 win Phillies prove how meaningless the 162 game exhibition game schedule has become, they really should target 140-154 games, expand the division series also to seven games and wrap things up in October. Couldn’t avoid this year due to the late start caused by yet another owner lockout.

Yes, in season I would imagine 50-60 + hour weeks the norm (excluding travel), not the exception. Not sure how the off-season works. Many intern jobs pay these days, but I would estimate in this instance you might not be getting much more than the below poverty level minor league players, sans the “free” slumlord conditions Jerry houses his players. These four jobs are foot in the door, hope you are financially wealthy enough to cover your expenses outside of the meager pay we give you jobs. The data engineering job is entry level, but after you break down your hourly with uncompensated OT, you likely would be compensated at a higher hourly in a different industry. Posted primarily because some will still think it may be worth it for the experience and perhaps future opportunities for people passionate enough about the team / sport that they spend time here.

Here is your chance to help the White Sox if you have a background as a data engineer. Chicago or Glendale are the listed locations. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/job-posting-white-sox-operations-data-engineer-player-development-affiliate-intern/ Link also lists their four minor league locations and a job posting for Player Development Affiliate Interns.

This is not true for his core guys in terms of having any relevant baseball executive or managing experience before being hired. Hawk Harrelson was Jerry’s first big hire, straight out of the broadcast booth with zero executive experience to replace the competent and beloved GM Jerry inherited. Kenny Williams was hired as a scout by the Sox in 1992 after he retired as a player. Rick Hahn was a players agent for two years before being hired by Jerry in 2002 to handle contracts for Kenny. Don Cooper was hired in 1988 after retiring as a player, promoted to pitching coach in 2002 and outlasted four managers. Robin Ventura retired from playing in 2005, dabbled in TV and had zero experience beyond player until he was hired four months prior to his manager job as Buddy Bell’s “special assistant” in June of 2011. Harold Baines (2004) and Daryl Boston (2001) also have lasted multiple managerial terms as coaches after being hired after retirement with zero outside coaching experience.

Dead $ contracts are gone. Top 10 Farm System. Smarter Front Office. Payroll likely going up. Sox should still be better at least on paper for at least a year or two, but then what?

Most of that seems plausible. Setting aside the past, my take on the future: Good: Jose 1 year offer Nimmo interest Nobody is untouchable Training staff out Hahn upset, may quit Bad: Jerry vetoing Espada Kenny is still involved No big changes planned, including coaches

It was Mendick, who had to turn his back to hide what he was saying to avoid being optioned to AAA for mocking “The Big Guy”.

This is why time is of the essence. It isn't as much about somehow fixing roster and budget, it's about creating a successful domestic scouting, farm and player development system to create the legitimate window which should have occurred over this decade. Jerry World Draft Picks who signed with the White Sox (Player, Year and Round Drafted, Career bWAR 10+ considered) Italics = Still Active Hemond (5 years): Ron Karkovice (1982 R1 14.6); Doug Drabek (1983 R11 29.2). Himes (4 Years): Jack McDowell (1987 R1 27.8); Robin Ventura (1988 R1 56.1); Frank Thomas (1989 R1 73.8); Alex Fernandez (1990 R1 28.5); Bob Wickman (1990 R2 16.9); Ray Durham (1990 R5 33.8) Schueler (10 Years): Mike Cameron (1991 R18 46.7); Chad Bradford (1996 R13 10.1); Joe Crede (1996 R5 14.7); Aaron Rowand (1998 R1 20.9); Mark Buehrle (1998 R38 59.1) Williams (12 Years): Chris Young (2001 R16 16.5); Brandon McCarthy (2002 R17 10.0); Gio Gonzalez (2004 R1 28.3); Marcus Semien (2008 R34 34.6); Chris Sale (2010 R1 45.5) Hahn (10 Years): Tim Anderson (2013 R1 18.2); Carlos Rodon (2014 R1 16.7). Potential additional players: Madrigal (2018 R1 2.4); Vaughn (2019 R1 0.0); Crochet (2020 R1 1.5); Montgomery (2021 R1); Kath (2021 R2); Schultz (2022 R1).

Kenny had a plan and a much smaller budget (14th) than what Rick has had to work with (7th). Kenny was able to identify several low priced veterans which still had the desire and ability to contribute. The pitching staff he assembled is among the greatest assembled in the 50+ years of division based playoffs. Rick Hahn also signed a couple solid bargain veterans (Cueto, Elvis), but not the level of a Postseason MVP and the other stars assembled by Kenny. Most of Hahn's veterans came at an above market rate. There were no reported bids close to what Hahn handed Keuchel and Grandal. People blame Tony for the FA mess, but Tony was with Anaheim when $12M Parrot and $6M on Cishek were signed. Not to mention the $50M he pissed away on Herrera, Alonso and Castillo while tanking.

Not to be critical of your post which has merit, but want to clarify a point regarding my analysis and sticking solely with WS and Pennants. I don’t use divisional or playoff appearances in my analysis because they do not translate over the majority of years MLB existed (69 League Based, 53 years Divisional). The Sox could/would have had many playoff appearances if they split the American League in two, based on 4-5 team divisions. The other point is the fact that Harry Grabiner may have finished with one of the best records in Sox history if his entire core, acquitted in a court of law, were not banned for life. Landis’ destruction of the White Sox devastated the organization for decades.

Beyond being significantly behind the Pirates, I also find it amusing the epically bad Arizona Diamondback team, stuck with Tony La Russa, his vetenarian run analytics department, and GM unable to file standard league paperwork correctly, are also ahead of the Sox. The only team which should be more embarrassed are the Tigers, who have spent more and done less.

Just to be clear, I would have posted that I have historically been very critical about Hahn, wanted him fired since 2016, but I would say I was completely and utterly wrong and open to eating any and all crow about my prior opinion. Even if they fell short of a World Series and “only” won a pennant or were competitive in an ALCS, I would have tipped my cap, because Hahn at least delivered on a legitimate contender. I was one of the few here criticizing his 2020 award and the contracts given to Grandal and Keuchel in real time. I took a lot of heat, but stood by my logic and reasons why the roster construction and priorities were a poor fit for a team trying to have a “multi-championship” window on a Top 10ish payroll. Time is precious. They already pissed away the past two seasons. You can’t waste anymore of it with Hahn.

Tony La Russa took accountability Monday. Stated you are what your record is, and said this season was a failure. Tony La Russa produced the only winning full season in Hahn’s career, wasn’t around for the other eight. Hahn / the Sox also doesn’t move up much in the decade standings if you remove the three tanking years from his record. Still under .500, still no postseason success, but with a higher average payroll to consider. Houston, the Cubs and other teams also tanked during this period, but unlike the Sox have success during both regular season and postseason to show for it. Hahn’s White Sox are 18 percentage points behind the Pittsburgh Pirates with a $40M higher annual payroll. That right there tells it all. I’d like the press to ask him what criteria does Hahn think he should remain when his teams average 18 percentage points each and every year behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Just needs a heavy dose of black hair dye. Created a thread to discuss Hahn's record within White Sox organizational history and also against his peers over the past decade. The Sox and Colorado are exactly the same in terms of record and money spent. They also operate in a very similar bizarre manner. La Russa vs. Hahn

Rick Hahn vs. White Sox GMs and against his peers during his career (2013-2022). (Postseason = World Series, American League Pennants) 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) .461 Rick Hahn (700-817-0 -117) (2013-2022) .444 Hawk Harrelson (72-90-0 -18) (1986) .425 Leslie O'Connor (195-265-4 -70) (1946-1948) Team Regular Season Records (2013-2022) ($xxx.xM = Average Payroll per Baseball Cube) (Postseason 2022 TBD) .613 Los Angeles N. L. (931-588) ($222.2M) (2020 World Series Championship; 2018 National League Pennant; 2017 National League Pennant) .565 New York A. L. (858-660) ($207.7M) .560 Saint Louis (848-666) ($144.4M) (2013 National League Pennant) .557 Cleveland (845-671) ($92.1M) (2016 American League Pennant) .548 Houston (832-686) ($124.3M) (2017 World Series Championship; 2021 American League Pennant; 2019 American League Pennant) .539 Boston (818-700) ($182.4M) (2018 World Series Championship; 2013 World Series Championship) .533 Tampa Bay (809-710) ($69.0M) (2020 American League Pennant) .523 Atlanta (793-723) ( $120.4M) (2021 World Series Championship) .520 Chicago N. L. (789-728) ($152.9M) (2016 World Series Championship) .513 Washington (778-740) ($152.8M) (2019 World Series Championship) .512 Milwaukee (778-741) ($95.2M) .509 Oakland (772-746) ($76.0M) .507 Toronto (770-748) ($134.2M) .506 Seattle (763-746) ($116.0M) .505 New York N. L. (767-751) ($148.4M) (2015 National League Pennant) .505 San Francisco (766-752) ($163.5M) (2014 World Series Championship) .490 Los Angeles A. L. (743-775) ($163.4M) .480 Minnesota (729-789) ($111.1M) .479 Pittsburgh (726-790) ($71.6M) .471 Texas (714-803) ($139.0M) .470 Kansas City (713-805) ($104.3M) (2015 World Series Championship; 2014 American League Pennant) .466 San Diego (707-811) ($113.7M) .464 Arizona (704-814) ($97.3M) .464 Philadelphia (704-814) ($145.0M) .461 Chicago A. L. (700-817) ($115.2M) .461 Colorado (700-818) ($115.8M) .453 Baltimore (687-831) ($99.4M) .452 Detroit (684-829) ($141.7M) .451 Cincinnati (684-834) ($112.4M) .431 Miami (653-863) ($71.4M)