Lip Man 1

Awful AnnouncingJason Benetti hailed for 'redefining' broadcastingBrodcasters includingJoe Buck and Ian Eagle praise Jason Benetti after Benetti's ascension to the lead broadcast role for MLB on NBC.

Four factoids today: April 27, 1902 -In a 9-0 whitewashing of the St. Louis Blues, leadoff hitter Sammy Strang played the full game with no official at-bats. That anomaly occurred due to a record-setting five walks in the game. Strang became the first of just six White Sox hitters ever to walk five times in a game (the feat, in fact, would not be duplicated until “Minnie” Minoso in 1956). And despite intentional walks not being an official statistic back in 1902, it’s unlikely that the leadoff hitter in a rout would be issued one; thus Strang became one of just three White Sox (Minoso, Tony Muser) with five unintentional walks in a game. Strang added a steal and scored three runs in the win. April 27, 1930 - One of the most bizarre individual stats you’ll ever see occurred on this date. In a 2-1 Sox win at St. Louis, first baseman John “Bud” Clancy recorded no putouts and no assists in the nine-inning game. His feat has been matched only one other time, by the A’s Gene Tenace. In the game the Sox infield, other than Clancy, recorded 11 put outs and two assists, the outfield seven put outs, the catcher eight put outs and an assist and the pitcher a put out. Clancy later played for the Dodgers and the Phillies. April 27, 2000 - Jose Valentin produced the extremely rare ‘natural cycle’ against the Orioles at Comiskey Park. He singled in the first inning, doubled in the second, tripled in the third and homered in the eighth inning. The Sox would win this one easily 13-4. Valentin scored twice and had five RBI’s in the game. A ‘natural cycle’ has only taken place 15 times in baseball history. April 27, 2014 - Jose Abreu drove in four runs in a 9-2 triumph against Tampa Bay, setting the all-time record for rookie RBIs in April (31). He hit his 10th homer in the sixth, off of David Price, and had a two-run single the next inning. Albert Pujols had held the record previously, with 27 RBIs. Abreu had already set the all-time rookie mark for home runs in April, and his clout off of Price merely extended the record.

When they get good pitching, they can't hit... When they hit and score runs the pitching falls apart... Such is the life of a bad franchise. Have now lost eight of their last nine home games.

Four factoids today: April 26, 1925 - The Sox forfeited a game to the Indians. It happened in front of a Comiskey Park record crowd of 44,000 fans. Some were actually on the field because there was no more room in the stands. With the Sox losing 7-2 in the ninth inning, many fans stormed the field thinking the game was over after a close play at first. It wasn’t, as the runner was safe because of an error on the first baseman and there were only two outs. Order was never restored and a forfeit was declared. For the record the final score went down as a 9-0 Indians win. April 26, 1942 - It doesn’t happen often, but when it does you want to hide: In a 3-2 loss to Cleveland at Comiskey Park, the White Sox batted out of order. Per details via Retrosheet, there was a discrepancy between the submitted lineup to the scorer and the official batting order handed to the umpires (Harry “Bud” Sketchley batting sixth, Bob Kennedy seventh) Kennedy, batting out of order, supplied the third out in the second inning. In the third inning, before Sketchley took his turn at bat, manager Jimmy Dykes ran out to umpire Steve Basil and told him that Sketchley was not the proper batter. Sketchley sat and Tom Turner batted since he was listed after Kennedy. The Indians thought (and the scoreboard showed) that Sketchley was called out for batting out of turn, which was not the case since the Pale Hose successfully changed to Turner before Sketchley completed his turn at the plate. Turner doubled to left center and eventually scored. When the second out was recorded in the inning and the Indians saw they needed one more, Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau argued and then protested the game. Boudreau, after winning the game anyway, dropped his protest. April 26, 1972 – With a thrilling, 7-5, walk-off win over Cleveland, the White Sox completed a 7-0 homestand for just the second time in franchise history. The club rallied to tie with four runs in the seventh, then traded runs in the eighth and ninth, before Dick Allen crushed a two-run homer to left field for the win in the 10th inning. It was Allen’s third home run of what would end up as his M.V.P. season. The win also moved the upstart White Sox into first place for the first time in 1972. The White Sox had a prior 7-0 homestand in 1965, and subsequent ones in 1983, 2000, 2008 and 2010. There has never been a perfect homestand (or road trip) in team history better than 7-0. April 26, 2019 – It was one of the wildest games in team history as the White Sox beat the Tigers in come from behind fashion 12-11 at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Sox trailed 8-1 and 9-2 at various points in the game before making a major comeback to win it. The Sox thought they had a 12-10 lead after Jose Abreu hit what was believed to be a three-run home run in the seventh inning, however his towering drive caused Tim Anderson at first base to hesitate before running and Abreu momentarily passed him on the bases. A three-run home run became a two-run single, an 11-10 lead and an out for Jose. After Detroit tied the game, Anderson then hit a slider into the seats, off Joe Jimenez, to win it in walk-off fashion in the last of the ninth inning.

This has been going on for years and JR doesn't seem to have a problem with it. But lay out big money for a Machado or Harper? No can do.

Don't know what to think about Leasure anymore. It's just not working for him. To bad because they had a very nice crowd today.

Four factoids today: April 25, 1951 - Sox slugger Eddie Robinson hit the first rooftop home run by a Sox player at the original Comiskey Park. Robinson’s blast was off the Browns Al Widmar in the third inning. The Sox won the game 8-6. Robinson hit 29 home runs that year and drove in 117 RBI’s as the Sox went 81-73-1. He would live to the ripe old age of 101! April 25, 2004 – Coming over from the Bulls organization, Brooks Boyer was named vice president of marketing, replacing the taciturn and aloof Rob Gallas. Boyer immediately instituted a series of great ad campaigns including “Sox Pride,” “Win or Die Trying,” “Us vs. Them” and “Change the Game” over the years that keyed interest, tweaked the Cubs directly and generated excitement among the fan base. Things have taken a turn since those early salad days, including running popular play-by-play man, lifelong White Sox fan and Chicago native Jason Benetti into the arms of division rival Detroit. April 25, 2014 – It was the first big moment in what would be a long and stellar White Sox career for Jose Abreu. The Cuban native smashed a two out ‘walk off’ grand slam off Grant Balfour to beat the Rays 9-6. Abreu would cap off his rookie season by garnering the American League Rookie of the Year award from both The Sporting News and The Baseball Writers Association of America for blasting 36 home runs, with 35 doubles, 80 runs scored, 107 RBI’s, hitting .317 and leading the league in slugging percentage at .581 April 25, 2016 – Relief pitcher Matt Albers threw his 30th consecutive scoreless outing breaking the team record set by Jesse Crain. The record dated back to August 5, 2015 and spanned 33 innings. Albers’ streak would end that weekend in Baltimore on April 30 when two unearned runs would cross the plate that was charged to him because of a two-out error by Jose Abreu.

2nd time this year the Sox trailed in the 7th inning or later and won. Fedde didn't get a lot of help from his defense but the four walks didn't help his cause either. Leasure bitten by the long ball again. I think he has very good stuff but somehow it keeps getting hit. 7th straight game they scored at least four runs. You take the win and say thank you.

Not taking anything away from Nolan one tough SOB but it didn't hurt that Rodriguez had Robin's arms pinned.

And the Yankees then perfected it.

Very true.

Four factoids today: April 24, 1901 - The White Sox played their first regular season game as part of the officially recognized American League. In fact, it was the first game ever played in the league overall because of rain outs in other cities. They beat the Cleveland Blues 8-2. Outfielder William “Dummy” Hoy got the first White Sox at bat. Fred Hartman’s hit scored the first two runs for the Sox in American League history. Hoy was a deaf-mute and in order for him to understand what the umpires were calling; the arbitrators came up with a series of hand signals indicating safe/out/ball/strike. The ceremonial first ball by the way, was supposed to be thrown out by Robert Burke, special counsel to the mayor. He declined however, stating that he was afraid the ball might get hit back to him. (True story!) Hoyt by the way, actually preferred being called “Dummy” instead of his first name. April 24, 1955 - In a game at Kansas City, Sox starter Dick Donovan was hit early and often and when manager Marty Marion came out to take the ball from him, Donovan, showing his competitive spirit and concerned about a possible return trip to the minors, refused to give it to him! Marion had to reassure Dick that he’d stay a part of the rotation before Donovan would turn the ball over and leave the field. That season he’d win 13 of 17 decisions with an ERA of 2.70 before an emergency appendectomy felled him in late July. That injury may have cost the Sox the pennant as Donovan wasn’t the same after the surgery. The Sox finished in third place, five games behind the Yankees at 91-63-1. April 24, 1994 - Back-to-back home runs don’t happen often…but how about back-to-back home runs twice in the same game…and both times hit by the same two players? In a home game against the Tigers the rare occurrence took place. The White Sox No. 4 and 5 hitters, Julio Franco and Robin Ventura, were the men responsible. In the bottom of the sixth, tied 3-3, Franco led off with a homer to deep right field, and Ventura repeated the act. In the eighth, down 6-4, Franco again led off with a solo shot, and Ventura tied the game with a homer. April 24, 2010 - With a 7-11 record, it was still far from a magical season. But the White Sox accomplished something that had never happened before in their history: walk-off home runs on back-to-back days. In this game, Alex Ríos clocked a two-out walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Mariners and former Sox pitcher David Aardsma, 5-4. The Seattle reliever completely melted down in the ninth, entering up 4-2 and giving up a one-out home run to Paul Konerko to move the White Sox closer. An A.J. Pierzynski fly out and Carlos Quentin walk later; the stage was set for Ríos’ record-setter. On April 23, it was Andruw Jones who achieved the feat, clocking a full-count, two-out pitch out for a 7-6 White Sox win in front of 24,653 happy fans. Now, this was NOT the first time the White Sox had won consecutive games on walk-off homers, but the previous time, the wins came on the same day. J.C. Martin and Ken Berry upended Cleveland with game-ending homers on July 25, 1967.

The odds are very good they'll never win another championship that I'll be alive to see it.

Depends on how bad the hamstring may be hurt. Teel for example was supposed to be back in 4-6 weeks. He's not even scheduled to go on a rehab assignment yet.

Sox Machine comments on the move: "Whenever Davis does pitch, he will be the 39th player utilized by the White Sox this season, and the 17th relief pitcher (Reese McGuire doesn't count). One wonders how much Chris Getz and Co. are watching what Peyton Pallette is doing with Cleveland and wondering if they made this way too hard on themselves. If you haven't been watching Pallette, he just picked up his first career victory with a scoreless eighth inning against Houston on Tuesday. It wasn't in the typical leverage situation that "victory with a scoreless eighth inning" suggests, as he entered with the Guardians trailing by two, and then they scored six in the bottom of the eighth. Still, he's shown an early ability to bounce back from rocky outings, and so he's clearing the Rule 5 bar with room to spare thus far: 10.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 11 K, 2 HBP."

I actually kind of liked (kind of being the operative word) Schifrin's call of his home run last night. "Show me the Muni..."

I can easily see this.

Nice road trip for a change. Now let's see if they can break that six game home losing streak. Team appears better but let's see how things play out over a long season before crowing one way or another.

Churning through more flotsam and jetsam hoping something clicks.

Four factoids today: April 23, 1919 - Perhaps the greatest White Sox team ever, in terms of talent, opened the season in St. Louis destroying the Browns 13-4. Claude ‘‘Lefty’’ Williams got the win throwing a complete game. This time however, six months later, after winning the American League pennant, the ‘‘Black Sox’’ reportedly threw the series and lost to the Cincinnati Reds. Eight players would be banned the following year, including Williams, and the only franchise capable of stopping the emerging New York Yankees juggernaut was decimated. April 23, 1949 - Sox left hander Billy Pierce won his first Major League game. Pierce came in to relieve starter Al Gettel, throwing almost four scoreless innings, and got the decision as the Sox won 12-5 against the Browns at Comiskey Park. Billy would win 186 games with the Sox, make the All-Star team seven times as their representative, throw four one-hitters and finish with 211 wins overall in his brilliant career. April 23, 1955 - The White Sox hammered the Athletics 29-6 at Kansas City. The 29 runs were an American League record that stood until 2007. The Sox collected 29 hits that afternoon as well with seven home runs. Every starter had at least one hit including pitcher Jack Harshman. Bob Nieman had seven RBI’s with Sherm Lollar and “Minnie” Minoso adding five each. Nieman went 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs. Perhaps most unique of all, with two hits in both the second and sixth innings, Lollar became the only player in MLB history with two hits in two separate innings of a single game. April 23, 1990 - It was an unusual event even though it happened in an exhibition game. Utility player Steve “Psycho” Lyons played all nine positions for the Sox during the annual “Crosstown Classic” game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Manager Jeff Torborg moved him all over the field during the contest won by the Sox 6-5. Outfielder Dave Gallagher threw out the potential tying run at home plate to end the game.

Seven factoids today: April 22, 1940 - In his season debut, sixth career game and fourth career start, Vallie Eaves set a White Sox record that still stands, with 12 walks in a 6-5 loss vs. Detroit. The rookie fell behind in the second inning after four walks, a wild pitch, a double and triple — but escaped the inning down just 2-0! Another three walks and a wild pitch saw Eaves get the hook in the eighth inning — amazingly, the righty left the game with a 5-3 lead. He walked in two of Detroit’s three runs on his watch, but it was Clint Brown out of the White Sox bullpen who blew the game, and Eaves’ shot at his first White Sox win. Just 13 pitchers have ever thrown more than 12 walks in a single game, with two of them coming against the White Sox — including a 14-walk game, tied for fourth-most ever. April 22, 1959 - In one of the most bizarre innings in baseball history, the Sox got 11 runs in the seventh inning as part of their 20-6 win at Kansas City. The uniqueness of it was that fact that those 11 runs scored on only one hit! It took 45 minutes to play the half inning. Johnny Callison got the only Sox hit in it. Here is the play by play from it: WHITE SOX 7TH: GORMAN REPLACED WARD (PITCHING); Ray Boone reached on an error by DeMaestri [Boone to first]; Al Smith reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt by Smith [Boone to second]; Johnny Callison singled to right [Boone scored (unearned) (error by Maris), Smith scored (unearned) (error by Maris), Callison to third]; Luis Aparicio walked; Aparicio stole second; Bob Shaw walked; EARL TORGESON BATTED FOR SAMMY ESPOSITO; FREEMAN REPLACED GORMAN (PITCHING); Torgeson walked (walk was charged to Gorman) [Callison scored, Aparicio to third, Shaw to second]; Nellie Fox walked [Aparicio scored, Shaw to third, Torgeson to second]; Jim Landis forced Shaw (pitcher to catcher) [Torgeson to third, Fox to second]; Sherm Lollar walked [Torgeson scored (unearned), Fox to third, Landis to second]; BRUNET REPLACED FREEMAN (PITCHING); Boone walked [Fox scored (unearned), Landis to third, Lollar to second]; Smith walked [Landis scored (unearned), Lollar to third, Boone to second]; Callison was hit by a pitch [Lollar scored (unearned), Boone to third, Smith to second]; LOU SKIZAS RAN FOR CALLISON; Aparicio walked [Boone scored (unearned), Smith to third, Skizas to second]; Shaw struck out; “BUBBA” PHILLIPS BATTED FOR TORGESON; Phillips walked [Smith scored (unearned), Skizas to third, Aparicio to second]; Fox walked [Skizas scored (unearned), Aparicio to third, Phillips to second]; Landis grounded out (pitcher to first); 11 R, 1 H, 3 E, 3 LOB, 10 BB, 1 HBP The 11 runs in the seventh inning are the most the Sox have ever scored in that frame. April 22, 1972 - In the first game of a double header against the Royals, Sox pitcher Wilbur Wood reached on a fielder’s choice and scored the only run of the game thanks to an error, in the 1-0 win. Wood went the distance allowing seven hits in a game that took less than two hours at Comiskey Park. The Sox also won the second game 3-2 thanks to a home run from Carlos May in the eighth inning. April 22, 1991 - Frank Thomas hit the first White Sox home run in new Comiskey Park, a two-run blast in the fifth inning. The Sox won the first ever night game in the stadium beating Baltimore 8-7. The homer came off of Ben McDonald and scored Carlton Fisk who had doubled. April 22, 1998 - Ray Durham tied a Major League record by reaching base safely three times via error in a 14-7 win over a sloppy Cleveland club. The Indians would commit five errors in the game. The second baseman reached base six times in the game, getting three additional hits, as well as scoring four runs and knocking in two. Amazingly, Durham also advanced bases on the two other errors in the game, once advancing to third due to a wild throw on a steal of second base, and also getting all the way home when his triple forced another error. Four of the five errors were committed by future White Sox players Kenny Lofton, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Jim Thome (two). April 22, 2000 - The Sox and Tigers had an on-field brawl which reminded many longtime fans of the fights from the 1950's with the Yankees. This one lasted for almost 30 minutes and saw eight players from both sides get kicked out along with Sox manager Jerry Manuel. A record number of players would be fined and subsequently suspended, 16 total for various lengths. The brawl started after Detroit pitcher Jeff Weaver hit both Paul Konerko and Carlos Lee in the fourth and sixth innings. Sox pitcher Jim Parque then drilled the Tigers Dean Palmer leading off the seventh and the fight was on. One of the more lingering memories was Sox relief pitcher Keith Foulke suffering a gash on his face courtesy of a sucker punch from the side believed to have been thrown by either Karim Garcia or Bobby Higginson. He needed five stiches to close the wound. Tigers catcher Robert Fick was seen taunting White Sox fans in the bleacher seats in right field and got deluged with beer over it. The Sox won the game 14-6 and used it as a rallying point for the rest of the season as they went on to win 95 games in route to the Central Division championship. April 22, 2024 - The nightmare White Sox season continued as they were shut out in Minnesota 7-0 dropping their record to an unbelievable 3-19. It was the eighth time in the first 22 games the team was held without a run, that had never happened before in baseball history.

Sorry that song belongs to the Blackhawks dynasty years.

Bell looked like he was going to have a fine career until he blew his knee out on a collision if I remember right.

They hit home runs they win games. I look for Bido to be waived/released in the next few days. He was awful.

Five factoids today: April 21, 1900 - The White Sox played their first regular season game as part of the American League. They’d drop a 5-4 decision in 10 innings to the Milwaukee Brewers managed by “Connie” Mack. The 1900 season though wasn’t officially recognized by baseball since in this season, the American League wasn’t considered a part of organized baseball but was designated a minor league. Even so they’d go on to win the pennant with a record of 82-53. April 21, 1947 - A terrifying moment marred a 6-4 win over Detroit, as Ralph Hodgin earned a game-winning RBI the hard way. The fifth batter of the game, facing Tigers southpaw Hal Newhouser with one out and the sacks packed, Hodgin was beaned in the head and had to be stretchered off of the field. Yes, a run scored, and yes, given Chicago never trailed the HBP counted as a GWRBI for Hodgin. The left fielder was fully conscious throughout, including during his X-rays at the hospital. Doctors diagnosed Hodgin with a severe concussion and contusions, predicting two or three weeks before his return. He in fact did not return until July 16. April 21, 1991 - After two losses to open their new ballpark, the White Sox won their first game at new Comiskey Park II, and in thrilling fashion. With two outs in the ninth and trailing, 4-3, Ozzie Guillen singled. Scott Fletcher followed with a deep fly to right-center that should have ended the game — but Tigers right fielder Rob Deer dropped the ball, tying the game as Guillen scampered all the way around to score. With Fletcher on second, Tim Raines was intentionally walked — and Lance Johnson dribbled a single right through the box for the game-winner. April 21, 1992 - In the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Yankees at Comiskey Park, shortstop Ozzie Guillen tore up his knee in a collision with left fielder Tim Raines. On a pop into short left by Mel Hall, Guillen’s knee slammed into the shoulder of Raines who was attempting to make a diving catch. Ozzie had surgery and was lost for the rest of the year, only playing 12 games but through intensive off-season rehab work, came back strong in 1993 to regain his starting spot at shortstop for the eventual Western Division champions. It was the only serious injury he suffered in his 13 seasons on the South Side. April 21, 2012 – Phil Humber was a journeyman pitcher before this day. He was a journeyman pitcher after it. But on this particular day he was as good as any pitcher in history. Humber became only the third White Sox pitcher and the 21st in baseball history at that time, to throw a perfect game. Humber shut out Seattle 4-0 at Safeco Field. He fanned nine Mariners in the game and threw only 96 pitches. The closest a Mariners batter came to a hit was when Dustin Ackley lined out to Alex Rios in right field. Rios had to jump to make the catch of the ball at the warning track. There was some drama at the finish as the last Mariner hitter, Brendan Ryan struck out but argued with the home plate umpire for a second instead of realizing the ball got past catcher A. J. Pierzynski who had to retrieve it and throw it to first. A.J.’s throw just beat Ryan who might have ruined the perfect game had he been more alert and immediately started running!