Lip Man 1

Awful AnnouncingJohn Schriffen's future as White Sox TV voice reportedly...John Schriffen's contract as White Sox TV voice expires after this season, and CHSN has reportedly begun exploring replacements.

Good luck, fingers crossed.

EIGHT factoids today: October 3, 1906 - The White Sox clinched the pennant while in their hotel room in Cleveland on an off day after the New York Highlanders (Yankees) lost a game to the Philadelphia A’s. Frank “Yip” Owen shut out St. Louis the day before 4-0 putting the Sox on the cusp for the pennant. That year the Sox would go 93-58-3 beating the Highlanders by three games. Then then would upset the Cubs in the only all-Chicago World Series. October 3, 1965 - By pitching the eighth inning and giving up only one hit and earning his fourth hold, Eddie Fisher set an American League record for most games in one year, with 82. The White Sox beat Kansas City 3-2. Fisher would be named A.L. Relief Pitcher of the year in 1965 with 15 wins, 24 saves, an ERA of 2.40 and 60 games finished. The Sox would win 95 games that season. October 3, 1972 – Terry Forster was one of a trio of hard throwing, young White Sox fireballers coming out of the bullpen in the early 1970’s. He along with Bart Johnson and Rich “Goose” Gossage struck fear in the hearts of hitters because of how hard they threw a baseball. But Forster was also a terrific hitter. For the 1972 season the 20-year-old batted .526, 10 for 19, with three RBI’s and one run scored. The Sox trailed Minnesota 4-3 in the ninth inning with two out in the next to last game of the year. Tony Muser was on third and pinch runner Jim Geddes on first. Hank Allen was due up but manager Chuck Tanner called on Forster to pinch hit. He promptly ripped a single to center tying the score and sending Geddes to third. Then incredibly Forster was given the steal sign and took off for second. When Twins catcher George Mitterwald’s throw sailed into center field Geddes scored, Forster had the only stolen base of his career and the Sox led 5-4. That would turn out to be the final and the 87th win on the year for the “Outhouse to Penthouse” White Sox. October 3, 1993 - The Sox rung down the curtain at old Municipal Stadium in Cleveland by beating the Indians 4-0. Jason Bere got the last win in the cavernous stadium which was replaced in 1994 by Jacobs Field. October 3, 2005 - As baseball was wrapping up the regular season, the Sox Paul Konerko appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated sliding into second base in a game against Cleveland. The cover’s caption read, “Playoff Scramble. Who’s Out, Who’s In? White Sox vs. Indians. Yankees vs. Red Sox. 4 teams, 3 Spots” October 3, 2010 - She was beloved by Sox fans for generations as the organist at White Sox ballparks. Nancy Faust played her last White Sox game as the team beat Cleveland 6-5. Nancy took over as Sox organist in 1970 and in the ensuing 40 years rarely missed a game. Her lasting contribution was unearthing a little-known rock song in 1977 which turned into an anthem used by numerous pro and college teams. Nancy started playing Steam’s, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” when an opposing pitcher was being removed from the game. It caught on like wildfire with Sox fans and became one of the things identified with the franchise. When she was hired by then vice-president Stu Holcomb her position was out in the center field bleachers near the scoreboard. After a few years though she was moved behind home plate in the upper deck to be surrounded by fans and closer to where the action was taking place. Eventually that positioning led to a professional relationship with broadcaster Harry Caray. Then Sox owner Bill Veeck heard Caray singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” one day, secretly positioned a microphone and had Caray’s voice piped through the stadium P.A. system so fans could sing along with him. It was Faust who supplied the organ music to the song and like with the “Na Na Hey Hey” song Harry’s ‘Seventh Inning Stretch’ became a part of Comiskey Park lore. October 3, 2012 – Sometimes even a journeyman player can have one of those games. For White Sox first baseman Dan Johnson it happened in Cleveland on the last day of the season. Johnson had just 17 at-bats in the year going into the game. He was in the starting lineup primarily because the White Sox didn’t want Adam Dunn to get two strikeouts and break Mark Reynolds’ single-season record of 223. So what did Johnson do? He only blasted three home runs, driving in five in the Sox 9-0 win. He was granted free agency that November. October 3, 2022 – It caught the baseball world by surprise, it elicited everything from derision to head-scratching and it was a risky move perpetrated by White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf as he convinced his friend Tony LaRussa to come out of retirement to try to lead the Sox to a World Series. LaRussa was in his late 70’s, had been out of a dugout for almost 10 years, had already been elected to the Hall of Fame, and had some personal issues but Reinsdorf, against his front office, got his way. The move seemed solid when LaRussa led a beat-up team to 93 wins, a Central Division title and a spot in the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history. The 2022 season though was a different story. With talk of World Series by the front office and the players, the Sox stumbled out of the gate, seemed to show little emotion or urgency, lost a dozen games where they led in the seventh inning or later, had a pair of eight game losing streaks and were never able to put things together. For LaRussa, the situation was worse. His on-field decisions were bizarre; his press conferences saw him stumble and mumble seemingly forgetting things at times and he was caught looking like he was asleep in the dugout. It turned out he was having health issues which resulted in a pacemaker being implanted in February without common knowledge and then an issue with it which caused him to leave the club on August 28, never to return to the dugout because of doctor’s orders. It was also later revealed he had cancer. On this day, in a press conference at Guaranteed Rate Field, LaRussa retired with a year to go on his contract. He managed the Sox the first time from August 1979 through June 1986 and then from the 2021 season to the 2022 year. He won two divisional titles in that time in 1983 and 2021 but his post season White Sox mark was a dismal 2-6. Most baseball people felt the move in total, was counter-productive to the White Sox rebuild but Jerry Reinsdorf insisted and got what he wanted…it simply did not work out the way he was expecting it to.

Five factoids today: October 2, 1904 - Guy “Doc” White’s streak of 45 consecutive scoreless innings was broken when the New York Highlanders (Yankees) got a run in the first inning of the first game of a twin bill in Chicago. White would pitch in both games, getting decisions in both. He won the first game, lost the second. October 2, 1908 - In the heat of a three-team pennant race it may have been the greatest game ever thrown by opposing hurlers against each other. Cleveland beat the White Sox 1-0 as Adrian “Addie” Joss fired a perfect game. Meanwhile the White Sox Ed Walsh struck out 15 Indians and allowed only four hits. The winning run scored when catcher Ossee Schreck couldn’t hang on to one of Walsh’s spitters with a man on third. An interesting note happened before the game. Joss had finished his warm up throws and was strolling in the outfield when he saw Walsh sitting by himself on the Sox bench. He came over, sat next to him and the two pitchers had a quiet conversation while a photographer snapped their picture. October 2, 1959 - Game #2 of the World Series was looking like a repeat of game #1. The Sox were leading the Dodgers 2-1 in the seventh inning with two out when Chuck Essegian and Charlie Neal slugged home runs off Bob Shaw. Making matters worse was that in the middle of an eighth inning Sox rally, the slowest man in baseball, Sherm Lollar was waived home with what would have been the tying run on a double by Al Smith. He was out by five feet. Instead of having men on second and third with no out, it was a runner on third with one out. The Sox lost the game 4-3. Earlier in the fifth inning Sox outfielder Smith would get hit in the face with a cup of beer knocked over by a fan reaching for Neal’s first home run. It would become one of the most famous photographs of the 1950's. October 2, 1985 – The White Sox named Ken “Hawk” Harrelson as the new Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, as well as the de facto G.M. replacing Roland Hemond. Harrelson, one of the clubs TV broadcasters and former big-league player, immediately started implementing his vision for the organization. Manager Tony LaRussa was offered a one-year contract but Harrelson fired three of his assistant coaches including pitching coach Dave Duncan. Fellow broadcaster and Hall of Fame pitcher Don Drysdale was named as a pitching consultant. Former Sox pitcher Myron “Moe” Drabowsky was hired as a relief pitcher coach, Harrelson decreed that all Sox minor league coaches were to be former Major League players. He made a series of trades to try to improve a team that won 85 games in 1985. His best was getting outfielder Ivan Calderon from Seattle; his worst was trading outfielder Bobby Bonilla to the Pirates for pitcher Jose DeLeon. He also thought All-Star catcher Carlton Fisk would best be served by moving to left field to make way for prospect Joel Skinner. Bottom line was the Sox went 72-90 in 1986 and Harrelson resigned at the end of the year replaced by Larry Himes. October 2, 2015 – Sox starter Chris Sale broke “Big” Ed Walsh’s club record for most strikeouts in a season. Sale struck out the Tigers James McCann, the future Sox catcher, in the second inning of a 2-1 win giving him his 270th strike out of the year. Walsh’s record had stood since 1908. Sale would finish the 2015 season with 274 strike outs.

Plus TBS and truTV

Can't ask for a better start to the playoffs for me... Cubs LOSE Red Sox LOSE White Sox WIN Now for Tampa to beat the Yankees and I'll be one happy camper.

That I think would be a mistake.

Five factoids today: October 1, 1950 - Luke Appling got his final hit with the White Sox in 4-3 win over St. Louis. The future Hall of Famer spent 20 years and 2,422 games in a Sox uniform. He’d later come back as a coach for the club in 1970 and 1971. Appling had 2,749 hits, all with the Sox in his career and won two batting titles. October 1, 1959 - After 40 years, the wait was over and the Sox were back in the World Series facing the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Sox reacted in game #1 like they were trying to win the title in a single afternoon, burying L.A. 11-0. Ted Kluszewski slammed a pair of home runs and tied a series record with five RBI’s. The Sox assaulted Dodger starter Roger Craig early and often to give Cy Young award winner Early Wynn a lot of breathing room. October 1, 1970 - It was the end of the worst season in Sox history to that time and as it turned out the final game ever called by longtime Sox announcer Bob Elson. “The Commander” began his White Sox career in 1930 and for the next 40 years called games in good times and bad. His style simply no longer fit the environment and with the Sox needing to make drastic changes everywhere, he was let go. The Sox closed out a 106-loss season in Anaheim losing to the Angels 5-4 in 15 innings. They lost their last seven straight to end the year. Elson found work for 1971 calling the Oakland Athletics while the A’s announcer, Harry Caray took over for Elson with the Sox! October 1, 1975 – Sox owner John Allyn appeared on Johnny Morris’ sports show on WBBM-TV. While talking about the pending sale of the club he said if he did own the team in 1976, Harry Caray wouldn’t be back as lead announcer. Allyn was tired of Caray and wanted to fire him which he actually did later on. The next day Caray had this retort, "I can’t believe any man can own a ball club and be as dumb as John Allyn. Did he make enough to own it or did he inherit it?" Caray also told the Chicago Tribune, “Why would he fire me? I’m the only thing fans have to talk about. If there are any players who don’t like me it’s only the ones who had lousy seasons. They weren’t producing and I said so.” As it turned out neither man had to worry, Allyn sold to Bill Veeck and Veeck immediately rehired Caray who continued in his broadcasting role for the rest of Veeck’s ownership. October 1, 2015 – In the seventh inning of a game at U.S. Cellular Field, Jose Abreu’s two run single gave him 100 RBI’s for the season, the night before he collected his 30th home run of the year. Both milestones came off Kansas City’s Luke Hochevar. Abreu thus became only the second player in Major League history with at least 30 home runs and at least 100 RBI’s in their first two seasons. He joined Albert Pujois in that exclusive club.

Given his history I wouldn't count on it. He feels rightly or wrongly giving long term big money deals to pitchers is an unnecessary gamble. You can argue and say he's right in his thinking. The problem is, and has been, most of the other teams the Sox are competing against don't feel that way which puts them at a big disadvantage. Plus the failure of the minor league system to keep pitchers healthy complicates matters. And as I posted last week a good friend has lunch with JR recently and JR said that because of the labor situation he doesn't do anything when those situations come up. I don't even know if teams will be allowed to do anything before the lockout starts anyway, they may be told 'off the record' don't sign, trade or do anything until the new labor deal is hammered out.

Going back to the regular season the Sox have now won nine of their last 12. Maybe be getting hot at the right time.

It was a long time coming to get a playoff series win. It sure helps to have friends in high places (aka the Pope)! Meidroth 4-7, 4 RBI's in the two game series. Now two days of rest which has to help the pitching staff. On to Cleveland, a team they know they can beat (but it certainly won't be easy...)

Sure wish he hadn't said that...too late now. How did that work out for Pedro Grifol?

THIRTEEN (!) factoids today: September 30, 1904 – Guy “Doc” White fired his fifth straight complete game shutout running his scoreless streak to 45 innings in a 4-0 win over the New York Highlanders (Yankees) at South Side Park. The streak started on September 12 with a win over the Cleveland Naps (Indians). During his shutout run he won two games by the score of 1-0, one of those was a one-hitter on September 16 against the Browns. In 45 innings White allowed only 17 hits. His shutout streak ended in his next start, two days later, against the same New York team when they got a run in the first inning although White went on to win that game 7-1. September 30, 1921 - Sox catcher Ray “Cracker” Schalk tied a Major League record with three assists in one inning. It happened in a 3-2 loss to Cleveland at Comiskey Park. It happened in the eighth inning. Schalk fielded three ground balls, throwing to first to record an out each time, to tie the mark. September 30, 1949 - Sox G.M. Frank Lane started the connection between the franchise and Venezuela when he dealt two minor leaguers and 35,000 thousand dollars to the Dodgers for shortstop Alfonso “Chico” Carrasquel. “Chico” would be named to three All-Star teams and would become the first Venezuelan to appear in the midseason classic. He’d then be traded before the start of the 1956 season, to the Indians for Larry Doby and to open up the position for another countryman of his, Luis Aparicio. September 30, 1956 - In the season ending game at Kansas City, Sox pitcher Jim Derrington became the youngest person to ever appear in a game wearing a Sox uniform. Derrington was 16 years old when he started against the A’s. He went six innings allowing six runs (five earned) in a 7-6 loss. The teenaged lefty didn’t last long in the big leagues. He pitched a total of 43 innings in the majors, appearing in 21 games, and had a career record of 0-2. He was signed as a bonus baby by the Sox only 18 days before making his big-league debut! September 30, 1966 - The Sox defeated the New York Yankees 6-5 in 11 innings on a single to left by Johnny Romano. It scored Wayne Causey. Why was that important? The loss guaranteed the Yankees a last place finish. It was their first since 1912. They went 70-89-1. September 30, 1971 - When Bill Melton smashed a home run on the last day of the season off the Brewers Bill Parsons in the third inning, he became the first Sox player to ever win a home run championship. Melton hit three home runs in the final two games to pass former Sox player Norm Cash and Reggie Jackson for the title. Typically, White Sox, he only had 33, the lowest total for a champ since 1965. In an effort to give Melton an additional at bat or two, manager Chuck Tanner had the power hitter leading off in the Sox final two games. His homer was the difference in a 2-1 win. September 30, 1980 - For all of his contributions to baseball and to the White Sox organization, owner Bill Veeck was honored with his own night. The ceremonies took place before the Sox would drop a 5-1 decision to Oakland. September 30, 1990 - 80 years of baseball history ended as the original Comiskey Park closed with a 2-1 win over the Mariners. An emotional and capacity crowd, including politicians, musicians, sports and Hollywood figures were in attendance. Among the celebrities in the park were Governor Jim Thompson, Major Richard M. Daley, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Ron Howard, George Wendt, John Candy, Wayne Gretzky, Billy Cunningham and Maureen O’ Hara. The Oak Ridge Boys sang the National Anthem and the rock group Styx sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning. Bobby Thigpen got his 57th save in the game. The Sox would close out a miraculous 1990 season with 94 wins. September 30, 1997 - After controversies on and off the field (calling for a relief pitcher with no one warming up, a fistfight with umpire Richie Garcia at a steakhouse, a brawl near third base with Brewer’s manager Phil Garner) manager Terry Bevington was fired. No flowers were sent and no Sox fan (or player) shed any tears. September 30, 2000 - Sox infielder Jose Valentin became the fourth player in franchise history to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game. Valentin connected off the Royals Blake Stein and Scott Mullen. He drove in three runs in the Sox 9-1 win. This had only happened six times in franchise history and Valentin did it three times himself! Also, three times this feat happened against the Kansas City Royals. September 30, 2008 - For the first time the White Sox played an extra game to get into the post season. They hosted the Twins in the 163rd contest of the year known as the “Blackout Game” and won 1-0 clinching the Central Division title. John Danks threw eight shutout innings, Jim Thome belted what turned out to be the game winning home run and Ken Griffey Jr. threw out a Minnesota runner at home. The Sox won the division with a record of 89-74. The 1-0 score was the lowest tiebreaker playoff game in Major League history. September 30, 2016 – Sox left hander Carlos Rodon tied the franchise and the American League record by striking out the first seven Twins hitter in a game at U.S. Cellular Field. The original record was set by the Sox Joe Cowley back in 1986 at Texas. Unlike Cowley though, Rodon actually won his game 7-3. Rodon struck out 11 on the night pitching eight innings. September 30, 2023 – It was the final embarrassment to an embarrassing season on and off the field. The White Sox loss to the Padres 6-1, on the next to last day of the season, was number 100 on the year. It was the fifth time in franchise history the team lost at least 100 games. In two years’ time, in the middle of a supposed window of contention, after a three year rebuild, the Sox went from 93 wins to triple digit losses. A number of players were traded at the deadline and then a few weeks after it both Executive Vice President Kenny Williams and General Manager Rick Hahn were fired by owner Jerry Reinsdorf who called the season embarrassing and said that if he were a fan he’d be “pissed off.”

Always helps to have friends in high places!

White Sox 6, Astros 3: Grant Taylor survives biggest stre...Will Venable asked more of Grant Taylor than ever before, and although it took a single-game high amount of pitches over a single-game high in innings, Taylor ultimately answered the call. Taylor came

Hope for the best, fingers crossed

Well done. Fingers crossed again for Wednesday!

The Sox needs are obvious and it is going to cost money (Sorry JR): Pitching, pitching and still more pitching. You want to get to the next level? Going to be difficult if you continue to use "openers" 30-40 times a season.

An unexpected win given the circumstances.

ELEVEN factoids today: September 29, 1908 - Sox starting pitcher Ed Walsh fired two complete games in a double header against the Red Sox. He won both by the scores of 5-1 and 2-0 allowing only seven total hits. That season Walsh would have arguably the greatest pitching year in the history of the game, winning 40 times with an ERA of 1.42. He appeared in 66 games, started 49, with 42 complete games, 11 shutouts and a mind-boggling 464 innings pitched. He also would have received credit for six saves had that been a statistic used during the season. September 29, 1917 - With a 3-1 win in the second game of a double header in New York, the Sox won their 100th game of the season. It is still the most wins in a single season in franchise history. Ed Cicotte picked up the win, his 28th of the year. September 29, 1920 - With the Sox trailing the Indians by only a half game with 10 days left in the season, pitcher Eddie Cicotte and outfielder Joe Jackson confessed (without an attorney present) that they helped throw the 1919 World Series. Charles Comiskey suspended eight players; the Sox collapsed down the stretch losing two of the final three games to the St. Louis Browns and blew a possible pennant, losing out to the Indians by two games ending up at 96-58. The losses to the Browns were 8-6 and 16-7. September 29, 1921 - One of the clean Sox, pitcher Dickie Kerr was honored with a day at Comiskey Park. Kerr then went out and fired one of his best games blanking Cleveland on six hits winning 5-0 for his 19th win. He was given a 52-piece silverware set in a mahogany chest. September 29, 1967 - The Sox still had a chance for the pennant before they lost 1-0 to the Senators. The only run was set up when first baseman Tommy McCraw wasn’t able to catch a pop up off the bat of Washington’s Fred Valentine in the first inning. NBC-TV had erected a barrier for their field level cameras in case the World Series came to Comiskey Park and Valentine’s pop fell into that enclosed area near the visitor’s dugout. Valentine then singled driving in the only run. Two errors by the Sox in that first inning led to the unearned run. That season marked the 17th straight year that the Sox finished better than .500 at 89-73. September 29, 1968 – The White Sox ended the 1968 season with a 7-6 win against the Angels in Anaheim. It was the 74th one-run game the Sox played that season, an American League record. They lost 44 of those one-run games which set the Major League record for most one-run losses in a year. It was a big reason why after 17 straight winning years beginning in 1951, the team lost 95 games and finished next to last, 36 games behind the Tigers. September 29, 1990 - The last night game ever played at the original Comiskey Park was won by the Sox 5-2. Frank Thomas slapped a two-run single up the middle with two out, off Mariners starter Matt Young to drive in the go ahead runs in the seventh inning. September 29, 2005 - The Sox beat the Tigers in Detroit 4-2 clinching the Central Division title. Carl Everett’s two run triple in the first inning gave the Sox a lead they never relinquished. Paul Konerko also hit his 40th home run of the season later in the game. The Sox won 99 regular season games and led the division every day of the season. They were one of the few teams to go wire to wire in baseball history. The Sox then blitzed through the post season going 11-1 on their way to the World Championship. They swept Houston in four games to get it. September 29, 2008 - Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez set the Major League rookie record (since tied) when he hit his fourth grand slam of the season in an 8-2 win over the Tigers. The home run would also set the franchise record for most grand slams in a year with 12. This was the middle game of a three game ‘must win’ set against three different opponents that propelled the Sox into the playoffs. They had to beat Cleveland, Detroit and Minnesota on consecutive days to get in which they did behind Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd and John Danks respectively. September 29, 2019 – Despite going 0-2 in his final game of the season Sox shortstop Tim Anderson won the American League batting title with a .335 average. That average not only was the best in the league but the best in all of baseball. Anderson joined Luke Appling and Frank Thomas as the only franchise players to win the crown. In the same game Sox first baseman/DH Jose Abreu took the American League RBI title as he drove in 123 runs on the year. He also had a .284 batting average and 33 home runs. He joined Dick Allen as the only Sox players to lead the league in that category. Abreu would win the RBI title again in 2020 during the 60-game pandemic season. September 29, 2020 – The White Sox played in their first postseason game since 2008, facing the Athletics in the Oakland Coliseum and it was a memorable afternoon for Lucas Giolito. The Sox All-Star right hander who had already thrown a no-hitter on August 25 was perfect for the first six innings as the Sox won the first game of the Wild Card series 4-1. Giolito allowed only two hits striking out eight in seven innings. He got support from three Sox home runs hit by Adam Engel, Jose Abreu and Yasmani Grandal. Unfortunately, this would be the highlight of the series as the Sox would lose the next two games including a 3-0 lead in the deciding game three, to be knocked out by a team that had lost nine consecutive elimination games going back to 1973.

By the way the MLB broadcaster who the Sox first offered the job to but was turned down over money was Will Fleming, the Red Sox radio broadcaster.

Hoping for the best. Hope they can win at least a game and get to a game three, where anything can and usually does happen.

Replace Stone? He's not going anywhere, perhaps you misunderstood. McKnight isn't an analyst.

That's very possible also because there may be an "unspoken" agreement by the clubs that even though the lockout doesn't start until Dec. 1, teams won't be signing or trading for anybody until a new CBA is agreed upon.

I think Schriffen knows with his deal expired and with no guarantees baseball will be played next season "he gawn..." Stone isn't going anywhere.