Lip Man 1

February 25, 1946 - The White Sox created what is regarded as the first media guide, handed out to beat writers. Now, clearly there were programs and even media guides published before 1946, even by the White Sox themselves. However, those were often (always?) Spring Training and/or player rosters-only. The guide, written by Marsh Samuel and running 17 pages, actually just triggered a deeper, more interesting story ... that the White Sox were once forerunners of the metrics revolution! According to researcher Alan Kornspan at Cleveland State, beginning in 1946 and following in the footsteps of some other innovative figures (Branch Rickey, for one), Samuel began tracking advanced statistics, likely of his own creation but resembling some of what we see in the metrics world today. Cleveland owner Bill Veeck got wind of what Samuel was doing — and hired him away! At that point, Sox successor Ward Stevens took the reins and continued the work, which was still merely siloed in the P.R. department — not player evaluation. However, once Frank Lane was hired as G.M. he added Earl Flora as both publicity director but also statistician. Lane’s pet stat, tracked as a child rooting for the Cincinnati Reds, was RBI with RISP. Under Lane’s direction, Flora started tracking reach percentage (i.e. on-base percentage), base runs (both bases advanced by runners, as well as bases a batter’s hit moved runners) and GWRBI. In fact, Lane felt so strongly that RBIs were an overblown stat that he created his own offshoot: OBR (Opportunities to Bat in Runs), the percentage of time batters drove in RISP. Without extending this too long, Flora returned to sports editing, to be replaced by future White Sox G.M. Ed Short, a tireless worker who drove statistical analysis on the South Side to new heights.

Rick is good at engaging with fans who reach out to him.

Interesting that yesterday on the MLB Network talking about the White Sox he was not mentioned at all even under the graphic of significant transactions. Maybe they know something?

health is the #1 issue with the team this year because they have very little depth.

From my State of the Sox story released November 1, this from sources: “The White Sox playing shorthanded started in 2007 when Jermaine Dye got hurt and Kenny Williams refused to call up Brian Anderson or Ryan Sweeney. Maybe they were cheap, maybe they wanted to protect Herm’s record of keeping guys off the DL.” (Author’s Note: Herm Schneider was the Sox longtime head trainer and for years the Sox were among the league leaders in keeping players healthy.) “Jake Peavy made the comment one time, ‘They have no reservations about playing shorthanded.”

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/2/24/23613765/its-clear-that-tim-anderson-doesnt-understand-white-sox-fans-at-all-tony-larussa-jerry-reinsdorf

February 24, 1948 - Sox G.M. Les O’Connor sent pitcher Eddie Lopat to the Yankees for three players. Lopat, was a soft tossing, off speed pitcher who won 50 games in four years with the Sox, twice having an ERA under three. He would quickly develop into one of the aces on the Yankees dynasty clubs of the 1950's winning 113 games in seven and a half years. He also went 4-1 in World Series play. Of the players the Sox got in return, only pitcher Bill Wight had any success on the South Side winning 34 games in three seasons. Another one of the players acquired, catcher Aaron Robinson, would be sent that November to the Tigers for a youngster named Billy Pierce. Pierce would win 186 games in a Sox uniform pitching for them from 1950 through 1961.

I understand what you are saying and there is some truth to it that when a team is going south it is difficult on the players however most players get millions and millions of reasons to deal with it. Fans don't have that luxury.

From the White Sox media guide (these are only the times he was hurt bad enough to be placed on the disabled/injured list, not counting other times he missed games but didn't go on it) Sprained right ankle (6/26-7/29 2019) Strained right groin (8/1-8/10 2020) Strained left hamstring (4/5-4/21 2021) Strained left hamstring (8/29-9/13 2021) Torn finger ligament (8/9-10/5 2022) And we haven't even gotten into his suspensions and fines that have caused him to miss games.

WSCR responds to Clevinger threat: https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/danny-parkins-matt-spiegel-defend-interview-mike-clevinger-accuser.html

He can't even stay healthy for a season going on the DL multiple times in some years.

My "State of the Sox" story released on November 1 with information from six sources: https://www.wsiforumstoo.com/74118-the-state-of-the-sox

Had the chance to speak with the driving force behind the documentary, put together a little story on how he put this together: https://www.southsidesox.com/2023/2/22/23609890/1990-white-sox-last-comiskey-documentary-is-on-its-way

This was in the Tribune today explaining why only six Sox spring training games are being televised (while the Cubs are televising 29): "The disparity is jarring, but according to sources at NBC Sports Chicago, there just isn’t a big enough demand for Sox spring training games. So the station prefers to give Sox fans a taste of the action to whet their appetites instead of a daily serving."

Both Sox Machine and Garfein think Garcia is not a sure thing this year, that the Sox may cut him. Here is the Sox Machine story: https://soxmachine.com/2023/02/white-sox-not-treating-leury-garcia-as-a-given/

In response to Cohen MLB has formed a committee. Author says it is the first move to try to get a salary cap imposed in the future: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-owners-create-economic-reform-committee-as-worries-linger-over-steve-cohens-spending-broadcast-deals/

Sounds like based on his first comment if they do, he'll double down the next season.

Mets owner commented today to the media: “I made a commitment to the fans. It wasn’t a short-term commitment. When I do something, I don’t do it halfway. When I’m in, I’m all in. I don’t accept mediocrity well. And so I have a certain high expectation. If it requires me to invest in this club, I’m going to do it.” “At the Owners’ Meetings, I had owners coming up and they go, ‘You're 100% right. You are following the rules.’ Which I am,” Cohen said. “They laid down the rules, and I’m following them.” “You know how hard it is to get into the World Series, right?” Cohen said. “The only thing you can do is put yourself in a position where good things can happen; you’ve got to make the playoffs, your team’s got to be healthy, it’s got be rested, it’s got to be raring to go. And then you let the chips fall where they may. And if you keep putting yourself there, one day, we’ll get there.”

Documentary parts will be released on You Tube at 8PM Central time on March 2, 9, 16.

I've been told tonight that already Chicago Tonight and Chicago Magazine want to do something on the documentary as well as Paul Sullivan of the Tribune.

Like I've been told by those close to the organization, when it comes to things like conditioning, sleep schedules, nutrition et al the "Sox play checkers while other clubs play chess..."

So much for all the fluff stories this past week about how "great" Romy looks. 😁

You've probably heard or seen some of the trailers for this over the past year or so. Now the release dates have been announced for the three part documentary "Last Comiskey" profiling the "Doin' the Little Things" team that won 94 games shocking the baseball world and the final year of Comiskey Park in 1990. Parts will be released on You Tube starting on March 2, with the other parts to follow on March 9 and 16. Many of the players and front office agreed to be interviewed for the documentary as well as fans, media members and Nancy Faust (who provided the music!) Matt Flesch and his people worked for over two years on this which started as a project during COVID isolation. I provided a lot of the highlight video from out of my library. Fans also provided still photos and home movies. Looking forward to watching this...from what little I've seen Matt and his people did a very professional job.

reports are out the Padres have signed Cole Hamels.

I can only speak for myself. I like baseball but I love the White Sox. They have been a part of my collective life as far back as I can remember. However when they are doing badly I want little to do with the sport. I have no desire to watch/listen to other clubs succeeding while the Sox fall on their faces. I'll watch stuff from the Sox out of my library instead from good seasons. I enjoy winning more than the "sport."