Lip Man 1

https://apnews.com/article/mlb-pitcher-injuries-report-a5606c566920da8f4ebae2ad5a6146ab#:~:text=NEW YORK (AP) — A,changes to address the problem.

Embarrassing. Regarding Poles, the Sun-Times has a story tonight that talks about three possible outcomes: 1. He gets fired 2. Warren gives him a contract extension since he has made improvement in the roster overall and has major cap flexibility 3. Poles resigns himself. https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2024/12/16/kevin-warren-believes-in-ryan-poles-until-he-doesnt https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2024/12/16/big-decision-on-next-head-coach-bigger-doubt-about-whether-bears-are-up-to-it-bill-belichick-george-mccaskey

Very true. With the Sox there always seems to be an "excuse" for not being able to close a deal on a superstar since Albert Belle (and the only reason the Sox got him was because JR was upset the other owners settled the 94/95 labor impasse on terms he didn't agree with and he was going to show them...)

I understand that Burnes would like to sign with the Giants if they'll come up with the money. Don't know if he is from the West Coast or not.

When all is said and done this will simply be another opportunity for the Sox organization to say, "we had a seat at the table...we tried..." without any real chance to succeed.

I knew Harry well, he was a mentor and gave me a lot of broadcasting advice. First met him in September 1971. I came to the park very early to watch BP and infield. Very few folks were there and I saw him coming in and going up to the press box. I stopped him and we talked, told him I wanted to get into broadcasting. He gave me his address and we stayed in touch all through college. Yes he could be a jerk and he certainly had a big ego. But he always treated me well so I have no complaints. This is from my interview with J.C. Martin: ML: After you retired you worked in the Sox TV booth with Harry Carey and Bill Mercer. Did you enjoy that experience? JCM: "Not really. I didn’t really fit in with Harry. He didn’t want to work with me. We didn’t hit it off at all. I wasn’t used to working with a guy that had that kind of authority and Harry used that against me. I was only there for one year. Now Bill Mercer was a great guy, he helped me out a lot. If I had Bill when I started out, I think I’d have been a lot better and things would have worked out. Harry just left me out to dry. I’ll give you an example, we were in Milwaukee doing a game and the Brewers had a pre-game activity which saw the Milwaukee wives playing a game before the regularly scheduled one. That game caused the regular game to start late. Harry opened the telecast and then just left the booth. He left me there by myself for it must have been 15-20 minutes."

From what I remember Shingo was asked about this and he had no issues with it.

It is the fact that they have been a part of my life since I was five years old. You don't just throw that away. As a Sox historian I've had the chance to meet a lot of members of the Sox family over the years, interview many of the same people, get to hear the stories and such. That's important. Especially now with things looking so dismal. And I'm contributing from that perspective, wrote two chapters for Dr. Fletcher's next book for example. And I am pulling back in many ways, I used to literally not go to bed until all the West Coast games were over (I was in TV and usually didn't have to get to work the next day until around noon) because the Sox were usually involved in a pennant race, I'd get upset over a blown game in the 9th inning, sometimes even have a hard time sleeping. Those things either I don't do anymore or it just doesn't bother me. I know this franchise is going to lose 100+ games, and until new ownership arrives there's nothing I can do about it. So I resign myself to that reality and hope to be around to see better days.

Under the circumstances does it even matter? Like I was told by my friend, the long time Sox front office employee, after they traded Crochet, all JR is interested in right now is having as much money as possible to give to his family and grand children.

Rich is still with us and jerry told him to drop the "Son of" moniker and just use Svengoolie, that he earned the title.

Seems the White Sox lead TV announcer can't help but screw up other sports too: https://awfulannouncing.com/college-basketball/oscar-robertson-robinson-john-schriffen-espn-plus.html

I've actually seen that floated already by some as soon as the current CBA expires.

That would be a refreshing change as the Sox have never had an owner like that in their history.

I'm sure he has. My guess again from what I've heard, is his family will sell the club when JR has passed on. Time will tell what eventually happens. From what I was told twice Andrew Berlin made offers to buy the club after the 2008 season and supposedly some of the minority owners were urging JR to sell, but he refused.

https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/texas-rangers-unique-approach-local-tv-rights.html

From MLB.com today: Dec. 14: Astros are 'serious suitor' for 3B Arenado (report) The Astros have emerged as a "serious suitor" to acquire Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, according to a report by The Athletic's Chandler Rome (subscription required). Rome writes that no deal is imminent, but talks between the two clubs have picked up since this week's Winter Meetings. Arenado has a full no-trade clause, and it's unclear if he would waive it to go to Houston, per Rome. The Astros aren't on Arenado's wish list of six clubs that he'd be willing to accept a trade to. A source told MLB.com's John Denton that list includes the Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Phillies, Mets and Red Sox. Arenado, 33, is owed $74 million across the next three seasons. The Astros acquired third baseman Isaac Paredes as part of a package that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Cubs on Friday. However, Houston has a need at both corner-infield positions, and trading for Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glover, would ostensibly lead to Paredes moving to first base, a position at which he’s appeared in 71 games in the big leagues. An Arenado trade would seemingly close the door on a potential reunion between the Astros and free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. If there is no path back to Houston for Bregman, the Yankees and Red Sox are two clubs that are among the best fits for him, MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi said Friday.

Thought this might be of some interest. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell was on the George Plaster radio show. He was asked about the entire MLB expansion/relocation issues with the city. The interview ran about 15 minutes. O'Connell specifically said Nashville (direct quote) "doesn't have the ingredients" for any public funded sports teams be it MLB, the WNBA or the women's professional soccer league because of all the public money already invested in the building of the Titans new stadium. He also said (direct quote) "it would be difficult to imagine" any public funding for that.

I agree with you that it is a shame but yet again what is it EXACTLY you want the Sox to do given current ownership and their ways which aren't changing a bit? Spend money, sign big name free agents, bring in experienced support staff, dive into analytics...all of these things are great...until you realize JR simply...won't...do...a...damn...thing. All you can do is tread water and hope for the best until new ownership arrives. When I spoke to the longtime member of the front office after the Crochet trade, we talked about a lot of things but a sentence he said really struck with me, (direct quote) "All JR wants to do is leave as much money possible for his family and his grand children..." There you go.

https://soxmachine.com/2024/12/grading-the-white-sox-no-need-to-keelhaul-for-teel-haul/ https://soxmachine.com/2024/12/white-sox-made-the-sort-of-deal-they-felt-they-had-to-make/

Sully at the Tribune with a slightly optimistic column on the deal: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/11/chicago-white-sox-chris-getz-garret-crochet-trade/

Spoke with a member of the organization this afternoon talking about the Crochet deal but as a side note, found out that Bill Melton fell and hit his head several months ago and that triggered dementia which led to his passing. He was in a rehab environment for a time but it just kept getting worse. Very sad. Also Hawk isn't doing well either as he was in a rehab facility too. He kept falling down and was dehydrated. The unfortunate human condition.

For what it is worth I just got off the phone with a member of the organization. This person, who I trust, was directly speaking with the scouts who were involved in the deal. According to the scout the Sox "did well" in the trade and acquired two guys they think will be good hitters. As far as the catching situation they like Lee's defense but his bat is still a concern. Possibly he'll be moved to another position or included in a trade. Person also thinks Robert will be traded.

https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/white-sox-trade-garrett-crochet-to-red-sox?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage Sox now have six of the top 100 prospects.

In my opinion Rick has it exactly correct: https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/2024/12/11/mets-sign-juan-soto-to-gasp-765-million-contract-somehow-world-doesnt-end-cubs-white-sox

Keep in mind JR wasn't a big Allen fan despite his statement after Allen was voted in Sunday. Paul Sullivan of the Tribune remembered JR's comment on the Sox star: Nice words. But perhaps if Reinsdorf had offered his support for Allen in 2014, when the Sox great fell one vote shy of being elected, it might have made a difference. Reinsdorf was upset when Minnie Miñoso and Billy Pierce didn’t get in that year, when all three ex-Sox stars were on the same veterans committee ballot. When I asked Reinsdorf that day about Allen’s candidacy, he replied: “Dick Allen had kind of a checkered career. If I had been on the committee I wouldn’t have voted for him. He only really had six really good years … But when he was with the White Sox he certainly had Hall of Fame years.”