Lip Man 1

Three factoids today: September 20, 1902 - Jim “Nixey” Callahan threw the first no-hitter in franchise history as he beat the Tigers. The Sox gave him all the runs he needed by scoring three in the first inning. The Sox wound up winning it by that same score in Chicago. The Tigers got one runner as far as third base but that was it for the afternoon. Callahan walked two batters on the day. Callahan was a two-way player for a good chunk of his career, from 1897 to 1903. So, at the time of this no-hitter in the 1902 season, he pitched in 35 games and played outfield in 23 others. By the 1903, he’d shift more or less full time to third base. September 20, 1908 - Sox pitcher Frank Smith tossed his second no-hitter beating the Philadelphia A’s 1-0 in Chicago. The Sox scored in the ninth inning to win the game. The run was driven in by shortstop Freddy Parent. Smith pitched that day with the little finger of his hand being stiff and sore from trying to stop a hot shot against the Indians in his previous start. This date, September 20, is also the only date in franchise history where multiple no-hitters have been thrown on over the years. September 20, 2005 - With the White Sox struggling through eight losses in 11 games — the worst slump of what would become a rare, wire-to-wire first-place season — Joe Crede slugged a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 10th for a sayonara shot that upended second-place Cleveland, 7-6. The White Sox had the game in hand, but rookie Bobby Jenks blew the second save of his career in the ninth, furthering the trend of the club over the past 13 days, as Cleveland shaved six games off of a once nine and a half game lead in the A.L. Central Division. Chicago wasn’t out of the woods yet, as over the next few days Cleveland would trim the division lead to a game and a half but a late kick saw the White Sox swell the lead back to its final six games, including an end-of-season sweep of the Tribe that knocked them out of the playoffs entirely. Combining the five-game winning streak to end the regular season with the 11-1 run in the playoffs, the White Sox ended 2005 winning 16 of 17 games. The homer was Crede’s second of the contest, capping a 3 for 5, three-RBI day.

That certainly helps. Of course the flip side is also an issue. Who the hell are the Sox going to use?

Any idea who the expected Royals starting pitchers will be for the Sox series? Lugo's five day turn would be Tuesday I think.

Nope they don't. Have to hope Texas and or Houston loses.

I'm assuming the Royals will still be throwing guys like Wacha and Lugo at the Sox, NOTHING is going to be easy.

Call it incentive to actually strive for greatness. Besides with Ishbia as owner the situation financially and talent-wise may be putting the Sox into a much better spot to actually take control of a division where they should have a number of advantages. We're not talking about the A.L. East here are we?

To the best of my knowledge no team as least in the modern era (I don't know before 1900) has ever made any type of post season with a losing record in baseball. Had the 1994 season not been ended early because of the labor situation it could have taken place. At the time of the shutdown Texas led the West with a record of 52-62. Every team in that division had a losing record. With only six weeks to go, they'd have to get white hot to get back over the .500 mark. I agree a team getting in with a record of .500 or worse would be an embarrassment in my opinion. To many teams "qualify" for the playoffs, it's becoming a joke. Go back to four teams make it, division winners and the second place team from any of the three divisions that has the best record.

Interesting that some of Getz's biggest defenders weren't around last night but suddenly appear today. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Getz has done some good things, this past trade deadline wasn't one of them. But OK, in a few weeks the season will be over and we can judge him by what JR allows him to do this off season assuming teams are allowed to do anything given the labor situation.

Magic Number to win Division:

Any win right now is a big win. Three more wins for a winning season.

He wasn't rock solid but he had his moments, just ask the Cubs. Instead he was cut and they kept Castillo who is so bad he's not even being used.

Post of the year. Part of the issue with Sox fans as others have pointed out is the low tolerance for what constitutes "success." I'm as guilty of this as anyone. I'm just hoping for a winning season and given the Sox have only had five of those since the start of 2007, you can see why. My point is though that in places like New York, Philly, Boston the fan base would be (almost literally) rioting in the streets. Here though some folks who have shown to be responsible for good, solid information and have access that others don't have, appear to be making excuses, blaming fans who are upset (having Rick Hahn flashbacks) and passing what has happened off as 'one of those things.' Again I use the saying that "the Sox make the post season as often as a Republican wins the mayorship of Chicago." You can understand why the fan base got invested and excited with a team that had a real shot only to see the front office decide for whatever reason it wasn't going to happen. The thing is it still may, we can only hope, but even if it does, they will have had to fight for their lives the last few weeks and will probably be completely spent if they have to play Cleveland or Houston on the road. short of a miracle.

As a sage Sox fan told me many years ago, "Hope for the best, expect the worst..." Or like my dad used to say, "The Sox would screw up a two car funeral..."

He should be fired but won't, not this soon. JR doesn't like to admit he f#$%^& up. I just assume there were issues, restrictions, situations behind the scenes that at least help to explain what happened although what those could be I can't say. My hope is that if the Sox completely fall apart the final week, not even get four more wins for a winning seasons that the mainstream media will hold him to account.

Venable will blow through them by the fourth inning, even if Burke is throwing a no-hitter! 😄