greg775

I get the feeling the Sox payroll has not hampered the team's bottom line at all this season and the Sox are comfortable keeping all the players they acquired. I get a gut feeling the front office thinks 5.5 out of the wild card chase is close enough to keep the team together. During their all-star break meetings, I can see the front office and Robin pointing to the exceptional starting pitching they've been getting and improved defense and them saying, "If we keep up this recent rate of winning we will get the wild card. Let's stay on course and make no changes." Makes too much sense to me. I would prefer dealing Shark immediately and seeing how the team does with Johnson as his replacement. But don't you all agree with me the Sox have made a business decision to stay with the same players and see if the team can grab a wildcard even though they are in last place in their own division?

How bout Hawk and Ozzie and Stoney, three man booth? Now that would add to ratings. Keep the radio team as it is.

Great article. I don't understand why Sale wouldn't pitch this series. When are the writers going to tell us what is going on with the babying of Sale? Is this the Sox's chance to give him a long extended break during the season just to re-energize him after a lot of innings? Or is something bothering Sale? Otherwise it makes absolutely no sense for him to skip the entire Royals series.

Great article. He can't be moved to the outfield for all the reasons you suggested. It's interesting how Micah has gone from being a savior type (Hawk's hype last year) to somebody considered laughably bad defensively and not even much of a hitter on the big league level. A month or so of big-league ball took the luster off Micah. Does anybody actually expect anything from him now? His reputation now seems to be a horrific defender with fantastic speed yet limited hitting skills as well.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jul 16, 2015 -> 02:33 AM) Greg, first it didn't say the sun was gonna die, just be at a low point in its heat that comes to us. It didn't say it would get so cold life would end. PLus, your second paragraph there seems to imply that the sun being 'inoperable' is somehow mans fault? WTF are you smoking sometime? If the SUN is changing temps, no amount of AC or coal burning is the cause. The article I read said it'd be so cold rivers would freeze immediately and no human life could survive the bitter cold. Glad it's not true.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 07:48 PM) FWIW, the report was completely, utterly wrong in a number of ways and that interpretation is 100% wrong. 60% drop in sunspots = Here's a full description of how that report went wrong, if you want the details. This was, FWIW, actually written by a geologist. Awesome. Thanks for posting. No ice age is coming after all which is good news after such reports a few days ago.

I'd link to it if I could find it, but there is a report that the sun will be in an inoperable stage in about 20 years and it will be winter all the time, so cold that rivers will freeze. There will be no baseball; there will be no football; life as we know it will end with such cold temps. Look, it's pretty obvious we people of this earth are ruining our own planet and that will be our ultimate demise (as well as the possibility of some nut lobbing a nuke at us and other countries). It's time to make the environment No. 1 priority with economy 1.a.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 08:21 PM) please, greg. go to applebees or something I've never once been to Lawrence's applebees. Not ever even considered it actually. Too many local places to savor. QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 08:23 PM) I mean it's the All Star Game, who gives a f*** whether a player from your team plays or not. What are we, seven years old? I wouldn't have cared except for the issue being reported before the game. If he just hadn't pitched and we didn't know why that would have been fine. Although I would have wanted Sale to get revenge on Yost this weekend. QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 08:23 PM) Hey Greg if Chris is so dominant then why isn't Yost worried about facing him? Because KC is 18 over .500 and we are 4 under. Sox are not a threat to KC even if they win all 4. QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 08:27 PM) This is brilliant. Penalize a team for not wanting the ace to play in a meaningless exhibition game. Great idea Greg. Why didn't you throw your name into the hat when they were looking for a new commissioner? Sale is a big name in baseball. A lot of people notice when something like this happens. QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 08:28 PM) The Cardinals and Bruce Bochy better be reprimanded too Commissioner. http://www.missourinet.com/2015/07/15/no-m...merican-league/ I'd have rather had a backdoor deal like this alleges than Robin and the Sox seeming like whiny people over this. I still want to know the reason if Sale doesn't pitch Friday. Again that is just as maddening.

I'm sure the archbishop of Chicago would be thrilled if the Sox got Max Pentecost and he turned out to be Catholic. Free pub.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 08:15 PM) How do you know this? DO you work in the MLB office? And what if the Sox didnt want Roberston pitching? Then your panties would really be in a bunch over it and we would have another thread where you would hate life because of an exhibition game I'd be OK with all of this if the Sox got reprimanded or fined over this issue. And this exhibition game would be considered way more than that if the Sox made the WS. We'd get the first two games in the great city of Chicago not have to wait.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 02:13 PM) I find it funny that my 11 year old son, who adores Chris Sale, took the news that he wasn't pitching better than most adults in here. Not "most." Only a few of us were really furious. QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 02:33 PM) This thread is hilarious. I would have liked to see him pitch, but I also don't mind him getting extra rest. There is absolutely zero reason to get upset about this. Sale is a great pitcher. I wanted to see him pitch. Yost even said to the KC Star the reason it was a big deal was "he's a great pitcher. the world kind of wants to see him pitch." It was rinky dink of the White Sox to hold him out. QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 02:38 PM) The thing I don't agree with is him not starting on Friday against the Royals and maximizing his second half starts if the team actually believes they're still in it. At this point, I'm expecting them to split the next 14 games or go 6-8, and the trading will begin. And then they'll shut down Sale at the end of the season with 30 starts, and they'll put him back in the glass case until next spring training. The competitive thing to do would be to pitch Shark and Sale Friday and go for something special, a sweep right off the bat. Danks doesn't even have to pitch in the first series. QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 03:24 PM) There were 29 pitchers on the AS roster. There were 17 starters and 12 relievers. Only 16 of those 29 pitchers actually pitched in the game. Of those 16 only 5 pitched on Saturday or Sunday. Of those 5, only one of them is a starting pitcher: Dallas Keuchel. Had Sale pitched he would’ve been the only other starting pitcher going on 2 days rest. Of the 13 pitchers that DNP 7 of them pitched on Saturday or Sunday. 4 of them were starters: Sale, Burnett, Gray and Scherzer. The last two took themselves out because they pitched on Sunday. So to wrap it all up, there were 5 starting pitchers on the AS rosters that pitched Saturday or Sunday. Only one made an appearance in the game. Holding Sale out was not unprecedented. So please stop throwing a tantrum about it. Thanks for looking up the stats and the facts. QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 03:24 PM) Today's SouthSideSox post sums up very nicely why the Sox were silly to carry on the way they did about Sale not pitching. Nice. QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 07:01 PM) Chris Sale gets over a week off, making him better prepared to finish the season in games that count. Perhaps even lowering his risk of injury. It's basically a timeout during the season. Why do people have a problem with this? Would you would rather watch Sale pitch 1 inning in a meaningless game, or have him actually pitch for the White Sox? And Greg, your stance is beyond crazy. When Ozzie managed the All Star team, he didn't play 4 White Sox players. If Ventura and Cooper are evil, what is he? Sale gets the honor of being an All Star, and still gets his in season "timeout". It's a win win. If the Sox don't start Sale in the Royals series, something MUST be wrong with his arm. That again would make no sense. My stance isn't beyond crazy. The Sox are going nowhere and have a dominant pitcher. I wanted to see him excel in the All Star game, not just sit there after Robin told Yost not to use him. Seems very unprofessional to me. I bet when Robin showed up for all star games he sure wanted to get in and play.

I can see why the TV ratings are horrific. Blackhawks were hot and looking strong throughout the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Sox became irrelevant early and incredibly boring while falling out of the race after a short period of time. I don't want to get in an Ozzie argument, but the White Sox have a small fanbase and if you are going to suck right out of the gate, most of Chicago (not us zealots but most of the city) will not even cconsider watching the Sox on TV. With Ozzie, he at least kept us on the front page, so to speak or at the top of the Internet webpage. If you are going to suck, at least suck with controversy and flair. Let's face it ... we'll watch every game but most people? They deemed the Sox not worth their time a long time ago.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 03:26 AM) Thomas, Walsh, Lyons, Appling Just because people weren't there for the past doesn't mean it should be ignored. Walsh, Lyons and Appling should be on some oldtimers list ballot. No offense but nobody besides Sox fanatics like most of us have ever heard of those guys. We did win a WS in 2005.

QUOTE (Middle Buffalo @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 06:41 AM) I'm not really sure who the face of the Sox is, but I doubt many would say Minoso. He's Mr. White Sox. He was our treasure ever since he was playing until his death. I think the four who made it are deserving for reasons I listed. How can you argue with a Hall of Famer, Mr. Near 3000 hits; Mr Home Run King and Minnie? Again no offense to the old timers nobody but Sox historian zealots like us have heard of, but I like the more modern foursome that was selected.

Please, please, please jury do the right thing and convict this mass murderer of murder! http://news.yahoo.com/closing-arguments-be...072039653.html#

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 05:56 AM) Is this the worst thread going right now? Holy good lord people it's a f***ing All Star Game. Do we have new 12 year old posters that I didn't know about? No need to insult us. Yes it's only an exhibition game, but what makes the White Sox so special that they were the only team to ask (demand?) they not use one of their players? The last place, woeful White Sox. They truly are a laughingstock over this issue. I'm still waiting to see if Chris Sale takes the heat off the front office by saying he "didn't feel right" or something. That's all he needs to say and people like me have to shut up. Will he do that, though? How many teams didn't have a player compete in the game? I do not know the answer. Was it just the White Sox? At least Big Hurt was one of the commentators. Seriously though. Some of us have the right to be mad about Sale not pitching. I wonder when is the last time a White Sox did not appear in the game. Some franchises are proud to show off their best players; the Sox ask that the player not be used. I bet Yost got sick of dealing with Robin and just said, "Fine he won't f***ing pitch unless we need him in extra innings and there's no other option." If I was Sale and I wanted to pitch, I'd sure let the Sox beat writers know it wasn't my call. Hopefully Sale will call out those who made this call or shut me up by saying he hasn't felt 100 percent right lately. He could even say he's had a bug or something. That shuts Greg up.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 04:09 AM) Since the question was asked. I'm not in the least bit disappointed. I am however glad that by not pitching tonight Sale will most likely pitch against the division rival/leading Royals during that four game series this weekend. And yes, I will sleep very well tonight! Somebody else mentioned this, but today is Tuesday. If he pitched tonight he could pitch Sunday on four days rest. I guess Chris' arm really, truly is tired. He needs a lotta time off. BTW kudos to all the pitchers who agreed to pitch tonight and their franchises who allowed them to pitch. They risked life and limb tonight in taking the mound. They could have been hit by a line drive, they could have suffered a career ending injury. Like Atlee Hammaker they could have given up 7 runs and be so shaken they'd never be the same again! Kudos to those who risked EVERYTHING to play in tonight's exhibition. At least the Sox could now, that the damage is past, pitch him, uh in the DH on Friday?? Pretty please?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 01:28 AM) Given that the Sox have been around for over 100 years, that's quite the embarrassing list. I wouldn't call it embarrassing. You've got Thomas, a Hall of Famer. Baines, who was pretty damn good with 2,866 hits, Konerko the Sox all time career home run leader and Minoso, who it goes without saying is the face of our franchise. I like the list. I'm sure the old, old timers who got overlooked would tip their caps to these four as well.

By the way, if Sale wants to coddle Robin/Coop, whoever made this call, he'll say after the game he didn't quite feel right since his last start and asked for the time off. That will shut up people like me whether it's true or not. Will Sale cooperate and say this? Hmmmmm

QUOTE (ChrisLikesBaseball @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 02:40 AM) Sale pitching tonight would set him up to pitch Sunday on normal rest.. With an estimated 10 million people watching this game, is there a better outlet to market arguably the best player the organization has had this century? Sox don't care about such things with their last place baseball team. They need to protect a pitcher for an upcoming series against a team 18 over .500 when they are 4 under .500. QUOTE (La Marr Hoyt HOF @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 02:55 AM) The White Sox get so little focus to begin with, we have nothing to root for with this crap team and everyone wants to see Sale this is such bullsh't. Fck you Robin, seriously........... I'm so pissed off about this. You think every other pitcher on this game most of who are on a playoff race don't have similar 'rest of season' dynamics? I'm still so f***ing mad about this crap. Fire Ventura now! QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 02:59 AM) More arm chair tough guy s*** from people who barely played the game past the age of 12. Hey I played through high school. QUOTE (La Marr Hoyt HOF @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 03:03 AM) Whatever dude. Only team in MLB not represented tonight. Nice work Sox. I agree with you LaMarr. And you were a great pitcher. You'd have won game five against the Orioles if we could have mustered one run in 9 innings in Game Four. QUOTE (reiks12 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 03:46 AM) how many young white sox fans feel disappointed tonight? Tons of them should feel disappointed. I would NEVER let Sale attend the game again because of Robin/Coop, whoever made this call.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 02:30 AM) Players rarely "know their body" that's why they get hurt. Ptatc: Tell me what other pitchers and players are in jeopardy tonight? Is it just Sale? Why haven't we heard about other teams wanting to hold players out tonight? Is this just a Sale issue? Is he the only big league pitcher susceptible to being hurt if used tonight? Would you have told him to stay home and add a player who might help the AL team win?

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 02:22 AM) I don't get why you don't understand that a: teams don't give up on playing competitively at the all star break because fans on Kansas feel that they are out of the race at 4 games under and 80 to play, and b: Chris Sale is representing the White Sox as a selected All Star, which is an honor even though he has done it before. He isn't being coddled, his team would rather him be ready for his normal start on normal rest and normal side sessions, instead of uncertainty from pitching an EXHIBITION game. Then you tell me please why any team has agreed to let their players play in this EXHIBITION game! Anybody could get hurt. How dare anybody be allowed to play. How dare any GM allow his pitcher to pitch. Now he can't pitch the first couple games of the next series!! I can't believe some of you are OK with Sale being babied like this when other big leaguers have to take the mound tonight!

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 02:18 AM) Most people that are angry about him not pitching would criticize the Sox for letting him pitch if he happens to get hurt in the game. It's an exhibition game. No reason to have him pitch. What is the basis of him getting hurt??? Anybody could get hurt? Why did the Dodgers dare let Greinke pitch?? Why are the Mets letting this young flamethrower pitch?

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 02:12 AM) I'm sure they asked Sale beforehand if he would be ok starting in Kansas City and he probably said he'd prefer starting that game to try and get them back into things If every team asked to keep their pitchers out of the game there'd be no game. Especially ones who are on 2 days rest. If Sale is that brittle, outlaw him from all future all star games. I certainly would never add him again if I was the AL manager/selection committee people.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 01:54 AM) First you get upset at beards. Now you are upset that our number 1 pitcher isn't pitching in an exhibition game. You get upset at the oddest things. I just don't get a.) why the White Sox would care if Sale pitches tonight. Very rarely do you hear about something this petty being requested when a guy is already on 2 days rest. b.) why Sale even made the trip. he should be embarrassed and furious he's being coddled like this as a member of a last place team.