South Side Hit Men

Is Evan Katz Ethan's brother? Dave Duncan's Son?

This. Besides, I expect changes in the next CBA to counter service time manipulation with the new agreement. Former Seattle CEO Mathers helped galvanize union prioritization on this issue. In terms of Abreu, I’m hoping his illness is nowhere close to what Moncada suffered. We won’t know whether Abreu is 100% until Jose recovers enough to release his own music video. Moncada set a high bar, but I know Jose has the passion and talent to make it happen.

That's nonsense. This is one of the few young high quality teenagers the Sox signed, due to their club and Jerry's aversion. He had the pedigree with a professional baseball player father, and was given a half a million by a Wall Street hedge fund while he was in A ball, because unlike the White Sox, they had enough reason to believe it would pay off big time based on their algorithm. https://www.wsj.com/articles/fernando-tatis-jr-340-million-investment-fund-padres-11613732572 The Padres and this hedge fund were playing at a level several levels higher. Analysis of data separates the haves from the have nots. While the Sox have attempted to improve in this area, they are still light years behind other clubs. Six years ago, they were further away, hence Fernando Tatis Jr. for James Shields.

I don't recall coming across this, but a great piece regarding Katz' work with Rodon. I have confidence at least a few pitchers will make big leaps this season, and be much improved to start 2022. I'm hoping the Sox could get big improvements from a Rodon, Cease and or Lopez this year. https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2021/2/21/22294283/white-sox-have-ideas-for-left-hander-carlos-rodon

It’s disgraceful. Many teams are playing these games. Kudos to the Padres, Yankees and other teams who have rewarded top prospects with promotion when their ready.

? It would be cool if the team wins 100 + at some point over the next few years. The team is set to really do well if Kopech/Crochet/Cease, perhaps even Lopez or Rodon, can stay healthy, build their arm strength, and develop as expected/hoped. That said, while the fact they have a strong young core is an asset, there will be development and conditioning bumps this season. There would be even coming off a normal previous season. There are just too many key pieces attempting their first 120+ game season in the majors for the very first time. Love the optimism, but wouldn’t piss on the 2005 team. Their starting staff is better than the current one, but perhaps the 2022/2023 staff can put up a credible challenge.

I'm up for a ban bet taking the under 105 in 2021. You game?

I just find it interesting La Russa mentioned 3B and RF for Vaughn, hopefully this can come to fruition at least on a PT basis. Eloy is more valuable to protect from injury, especially at this juncture. Without viable alternatives, he's stuck in LF, which pleases him but not necessarily his pitching staff or White Sox trainers. Hope they can begin the transition to at least PT DH, and he escapes further injury during his "adventures" in Left Field. If Vaughn has any ability, he is already ahead of Eloy's current metrics. Primary OF dWAR per 162 games Carlos Lee -1.0 Manny Ramirez -1.8 Eloy Jimenez -1.95 Greg Luzinski -2.04 (Phillies stats, DH only here)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/andrew-vaughn-is-looking-to-make-the-leap-from-class-a-to-the-chicago-white-sox-designated-hitter-job-e2-80-94-though-tony-la-russa-cautions-e2-80-98he-e2-80-99s-in-pencil-e2-80-99-not-ink/ar-BB1dXor9 Three key snippets: “But when we start putting down the guys you expect to make the club, the guys that have an opportunity, one’s in pencil, one’s in ink,” La Russa said. “He’s in pencil.” La Russa likes that in addition to first base, Vaughn has worked at third base and in the outfield. “That helps you make the club when you can play in other places rather than the one place,” Vaughn said facing higher level pitching in Schaumburg last year really helped with his prep, including valuing every pitch and at bat.

Just stating facts, Hahn extended Ricky so he should have remained, or Hahn was as wrong on that move as with most of his other 2020 acquisitions. Must be nice to make almost every wrong move possible, and win "Executive of the Year". Must also be nice to be arrested and win a high paying promotion as a result, courtesy of your crony patron. Privilege and greed runs a world in need.

There is no evidence any manager with one viable starting pitcher and a bullpen running on fumes the final week will advance in a playoff series. Perhaps if Hahn didn't saddle Ricky with a bunch of high priced negative value players like Encarnacion and Mazara, or secured some (any) pitching help or any help at the deadline beyond the laughable Dyson trade (that Steve Stone hyped as a major spending commitment on the Score - what a fucking boot licking ass-clown), or if Hahn's big high priced free agent pitcher signing could walk the walk in the playoffs matching his non stop "teaching and schooling" bullshit he spewed all season and beyond, they advance. Hahn either concurred with Ricky or ordered Ricky to have the bullpen game Game 3. Hahn called up Rodon to relieve for the first time in in his career, because they were desperate with no other alternatives. Hahn signed a negative war OF, a zero RF, and no starting pitching help beyond the cocky FA who got his ass pounded lasting a few innings in Game 2. McCann was the superior catcher in 2020 over the extremely high priced free agent Hahn signed rather than the starting pitching the team so desperately needed. They couldn't even muddle through 63 games with the staff Hahn built. Still doubt Ricky would have survived even with a 2020 World Series title. Tony was to lose his Angels job, a team already mired in substance abuse, deaths, issues and arrests, once Tony's latest arrest became public, and Jerry was hiring him period, full stop. This is the same manager, mind you, who Jerry (who barely ever speaks on the record) stated had no business returning to managing, in part because he couldn't relate to players 50 + years his junior, several months prior to undercutting his front office, recruiting, and then hiring him with no consideration to any other candidate beyond the disgraceful Willie Harris "Bud Selig" rule interview, and this is even before his latest DUI arrest Bob Nightengale reported Jerry shared with NO ONE. No competent organization or executive, not even an "Executive of the Year", signs a manger, has the team perform finish unexpectedly with a .583 winning percentage with two credible starting pitchers (one in the playoffs), and fires said manager after 63 games. Those are the facts, whether or not you choose to accept them. The players thought he was a valuable manager, he finished second in Manager of the Year voting, and the players sentiment after he was fired was near unanimous. I'll side with the players who worked with him, who he developed into the players they are now under his leadership and coaching, and who loved playing for him over old bitter media types with their over the top and many times inaccurate or one sided with out the full story criticism.

This topic is based on a news report from Jerry's personal leak receptacle, the same designated leak receptacle that broke the story on this idiotic hire in the first place. Perhaps you and the usual suspects would be more comfortable sticking with the White Sox official site and Steve Stone's twitter account, assured all discussions will conform with your myopic view of the world and White Sox baseball.

While I have been critical of Hahn's player acquisitions during both "competitive windows", there is nothing to indicate over Kenny or Hahn's lengthy tenure any professional issues in terms of inappropriate workplace conduct or comments with a hint of racial overtones. Kenny and Rick are also smart enough not to violate the CBA by discussing collusion (owners have already been sanctioned multiple times for previous violations) or service time manipulation. Mathers is not smart or disciplined enough to say the same on any of these fronts. Folks also should consider Mathers was bold/entitled enough to say all of this in a single short public discussion. Coupled with the documented sexual harassment and subsequent settlements, ignorant comments and actions has been his MO, not the exception, for a lengthy period of time without repercussions until this latest public outrage. Replacing Mathers was necessary, but there must be a commitment from ownership for true change over time.

Posters concerns related to La Russia’s previous history with Ozzie Smith or Ron Grant were that it to also happen here. Fans spend a significant amount of time watching and discussing the team, no true fan would want players to be unhappy, have a divided or toxic clubhouse just to say “I told you so”. Also, the totality of posts questioning the LaRussa hire paled in compared to the “frothing at the mouth” against Rick Renteria, the man who earned a contract extension for his player development, positive team culture, the man players loved to battle for, and manager who led the team to their best record since 2008.

Exactly. I believe everyone here wants the players to be comfortable and accepted, regardless of whether we support the hire or not. If his DUI and other discussed issues resulted in positive personal reflection and growth, than kudos to Tony for committing to change at this stage in life. Baseball is a grind and despite COVID based restrictions on media access, players can still communicate directly with the public. Beyond a crazy blowup, the truth good or bad will emerge over time. I expect Tim to be candid via his personal social media in either case, and hope for the best.

My work is done here.

Ken Rosenthal’s statement on the Athletic posted on a Mariners message board. Bob Nightengale and Jerry are likely fuming at Ken’s opinion piece. http://marinertalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4326&start=60#p87759 It’s now 9:52 AM PST, Mathers remains at least publicly as the team’s CEO.

By using Jerry’s own words. Jerry stated in an interview linked in my signature months before hiring La Russa Tony has no reason to return to managing, that as a 75 year old (at the time) he can’t relate to players in their 20s.

The Padres’ made moves to attempt to beat the best team in baseball. The White Sox made moves to hopefully one year pass Minnesota in the worst division in baseball. Hahn may blow smoke up fans asses with talk of “multiple World Series championships”. It’s easy to talk the talk, time to bring in the pieces to walk the walk.

What has that have to do with the pertinent issue at hand? Speaking of assholes (TLR, not Jerksticks) The connection is not the White Sox’ equivalent positions (Williams or Hahn) but the manager who shares many similarities with Mathers: Willing to share their ignorant opinions to anyone who will listen, with pride because they operated their whole careers in a crony protected bubble. Priding themselves on operating under a “family” type atmosphere. Offering “sincere” apologies and claiming they learned from their initially exposed “mistakes” when they clearly have not. Having inept and dysfunctional ownership bending over backwards to acquire / promote / keep these two. These are the people running your game folks. The crony old boys network, whether on the South Side or Seattle are the reasons people remain repulsed by the La Russa hire, and the owner who made it happen. It’s 8:26 AM PST, Mets shitcanned their GM by this time the following day and folks here claimed the Mets dragged their feet in firing their disgraceful GM. In someways I’m hoping the Mariners dig in Reinsdorf style, at least for a few days, and reap what they have sowed with cancellations of significant season ticket and corporate suites, not to mention the media frenzy before finely doing what they should have done in or before 2018.

Do you have any relevant information to refute the facts reported in Olbermann's tweet regarding Mathers' previous history of sexual harassment, the Mariners' subsequent sexual harassment settlement payments, or Mathers' exposed racist statements? Are you opposed to Keith's lone opinion that Mathers' tenure should and will end soon? Are you OK with people like Mathers running the sport? Or are you merely triggered by the fact that people are no longer putting up with sexual harassment and racism?

Oh Snap. https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-ceo-kevin-mather-addresses-jarred-kelenic-team-finances-and-more-in-rotary-speech/?utm_campaign=owned_echobox_sports&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1613949230 On service time manipulation On coach Iwakuma's speaking ability "His English suddenly got better" Mariner "Hall of Famer" is overpaid Wonder if he'll make it out of Spring Training.

And "making the playoffs" is a very low bar. The Franchise won or advanced in the Playoffs a total of zero times beyond the three (1906, 1917 and 2005) World Series teams. Rick Hahn said himself anything besides a World Series Championship would be considered "disappointment". White Sox employees have a much stronger backbone that the handful of posters like the one I'm quoting who "piss their pants" or clutch their pearls at any thought or comment questioning anything the team has said or done, regardless of how ridiculous. After all, said employees survive working in a completely dysfunctional JR organization. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30220736/why-tony-la-russa-sincerely-curious-choice-white-sox-manager I'd bet everything I own Rick Hahn doesn't grit his teeth or get this mad reading any comment on a White Sox message board. There were also reports Hahn storming out of White Sox offices once this decision was made for him, the third manager he had no say in hiring, And based on what was reported last week, the anger was limited to having to hire and introduce this "I don't have a racist bone in my body" fossil, and not the fact that he was hiring a repeat DUI offender whose latest arrest would be disclosed to the world a few days later. And then, of course, you have the bold faced lies, once again delivered by paid for minions employed to sling bullshit to the public on command. So plenty of reasons for White Sox employees to be mad. Being "fed up" at White Sox fans questioning the bullshit above not on their radar.

Do all White Sox employees including paid media get bonus checks from Jerry for being complete assholes to the fanbase? Fan asks a respectful question, enthusiastic about the Rodon hiring, and Steve spews his typical condescending douchebag response.

I'd argue that you have at this point, nobody thinks this beyond a few crony MLB paid media, and a few apologists, not even Jerry. Jerry explicitly stated Tony has no business managing less than a year ago, that he is too old to relate to the modern young athlete. Jerry, who omitted to his "White Sox family" the fact that Tony's drunk ass had yet another DUI arrest, is the only asshole on Earth who would consider Tony La Russa at age 76 as a legitimate managerial candidate. La Russa is just the latest in inexplicable four decades of crony hires and fires. The White Sox will remain dysfunctional like the Bulls until Jerry is dead or incapacitated and gone. La Russa's White Sox teams were as asleep at the wheel as Tony is after "1 or 2 glasses of wine". The Orioles rookie manager pwned Tony's ass in the ALCS, and Tony's teams White Sox teams sucked before and since. His last brilliant move was putting "legit hall of famer" Carlton Fisk in left field. Tony admitted he wouldn't give a thought about accepting Jerry's ridiculous job offer if he had to give up his get out of DUI jail HOF person / ring. Tony's now the second manager of the past three not fully committed including Ventura. Ricky, the other one, was just extended 60 games prior, led the White Sox to their best winning percentage in decades, one DUI guy will likely not match. Ricky was smeared by Reinsdorf's paid for hacks in the process, and dispatched because of the good ole' boy network. It's sad, it's disgraceful, it will end poorly, hopefully without life endangering injuries to adults or children like the Chief's drunken crony coach hire who rammed into a car filled with children on the eve of the Super Bowl, after which the head coach and entire team were embarrassed after the huge distraction earlier this month. https://www.tmz.com/2021/02/05/britt-reid-andy-reid-car-crash-kansas-city-chiefs-super-bowl/