Dick Allen

In 1989 five players in the AL hit 30 homers. And he had Rickey Henderson.

Of Tony’s 3 titles, his first one was an Oakland team that probably had an historically great roster. He also didn’t win with that roster several times. His second one was with a team that won 83 games. His third was a WC team back when being a WC wasn’t as much of a disadvantage in the playoffs it is now. As someone who saw it, if Soxtalk was around when Hawk waxed him, there would have been joy on this board. He really isn’t as spectacular as he has been portrayed.

I don’t think so at all. They knew he would be asked about it just by searching the Internet the day before. I would bet he was prepped.

He was asked, and he gave an answer that seemed crafted by the White Sox PR staff.

But you can call guys who played for Hinch. The guys that played for LaRussa are retired or dead.

Maybe JR should bring back Pippen and Jordan. The game is different today. The players are different. TLR is the proverbial square peg into a round hole IMO,and even if he could somehow overcome that, 76 year olds rarely change their ways, there is little chance he could manage the team through their window. If he was gassed in 2011, what makes him full of energy at 76 nine years later?

Maybe they could talk Bochy into being the bench coach. Fairly stress free gig, he can manage on day games after night games, and various others, and be on call in case Tony has cardiac arrest.

I don’t know. If anything DK was one guy to use to go around speaking to him too soon. And maybe he talked him up among his teammates. They probably asked him to gauge his interest, and probably found it to be pretty high. Steve Stone was in contact with him as well, and if you read his early tweets, he also thought Hinch was the hire. RH admitted to be being thrown for a loop when JR called LaRussa and LaRussa was interested, thus ending anyone else’s candidacy.

He will agree to a really cheap contract, or wind up non tendered.

One thing we will never know but would be fascinating to know is all about the consensus RH mentions between himself, KW, and JR. If JR comes up with a bad idea, do they have no problem telling him they think it is stupid or do they placate him because, after all, he does sign their checks. With this, it seems their balls were cut off. Once JR called LaRussa and he said he was interested, there were no oher real candidates until he said no thanks. At least give yourselves some options.

You can't let the inmates run the asylum, so I am not too concerned no player has commented yet. Many of these guys were in HS or jr high when he last managed. I am trying to open my closed mind on this, but I will tell you , there will be complaints about his managing, and he will get into disputes with players. But most managers do. Hopefully he can keep the tally low. But Eloy is probably going to be told to button a couple more buttons and put his cap on straight.

Willie Harris was probably interviewed so they could meet there minority candidate quota. And I am not saying the White Sox are a racist org. But , unless LaRussa being half Spanaird qualified as minority, Willie was used.

As much as I hate this hire, my greater concern is the 2021 season. The way things are going, 2021 might not be much better than 2020. And then you have a looming strike in 2022.

The problem with having a heir apparent bench coach is if the team is successful, they will become very attractive to other teams. So you basically wind up grooming them for someone else.

The Sox should still make the playoffs with Tony at the helm. There is a minuscule chance of a mutiny like when Bobby V took over in Boston. Besides not being a fan of his managing 34 years ago, my problem with it is the Sox had an opportunity of a lifetime. How many teams in their situation have a managerial opening? They probably had their choice of anyone available. They didn’t even interview everyone available. Why not hire a guy who you can see managing this team through their window? LaRussa is here 2 years tops. You could sense the disappointment in RH yesterday. He tried to be a good soldier and sell the company line, but his heart wasn’t in it.

It is truly amazing what this family of cons gets away with. He is actually calling someone else a moron.

The giveaway is when they let go of Cooper but kept the other coaches around in case the new guy wanted them. It had to be catering to Tony. Duncan has been with him at every stop and supposedly the reason Tony didn’t take an offer last year was because Duncan wouldn’t come with him. i did see Steve Phillips on TV last night and he said the industry talk is the pitching coach will be filled in house. He does think they will try to get Jose Oquendo from St. Louis, who he said was a top infield instructor. Also look for them to try to get Dave McCay who has been with LaRussa everywhere. Finally, Mark McGwire is a guy to keep an eye on, although that is more of a long shot. I think Nick Capra has probably coached his last game in a White Sox uniform

I don’t think who the manager is affects what JR is willing to spend.

Looks like Hinch to Detroit is just about a done deal.

Joel Sherman had a interesting thought. He said for 34 years firing TL has bothered JR so much, that now he brings him back. But is the 76 year old TL the same manager as the 42 year old version? He is well into the losing brain cells portion of life. Has not managed the last 9 seasons. To think he is the same guy he was when he last made out a line up card might be reached.

Hahn clearly didn’t seem all in when discussing the “consensus” decision to hire this has been.

No one is going to sign for less money just for the chance to play for Tony, and no one isn’t going to not take JRs money if it’s the best offer out there because Tony is in the dugout. Tony isn’t going to be the difference between being good and being bad. He may be the difference between being good and being great. I think you have to question his energy. You would think at the press conference he would be about as fired up as can be, but it seemed like he was going to fall asleep a few times while answering questions the way the White Sox wanted him to answer them. I question what will happen by August. He is old, and it isn’t an easy job. It will be interesting to see the make up of the staff.

Dave Stewart, Carney Lansford, Walt Weiss, Jim Edmonds.

This is probably worst case scenario. I think the Sox are young enough and not established enough for that to happen, but you never know.

He looked like Borat back then. He looks like Colonel Sanders now.