Lip Man 1

It's also called a serious lack of offense and an atrocious bullpen.

The way they pitched in 2020 I thought Foster and Heuer were really going to be something, maybe the next tandem like the Sox had in the early 70's with Forster and Gossage.

Why? Both are done, D.O.A. basically as productive players. Sox need to play the kids not more retreads.

Not as long as JR is the owner unless they get real lucky.

July 11, 2006 - Coming off a season where the White Sox won their first World Series championship in 88 years, seven players and manager Ozzie Guillen made the trip to Pittsburgh for the All-Star Game. The seven players were tied for the second most in team history equaling the number of Sox representatives in 1960. The seven players were; Mark Buehrle (P), Jose Contreras (P), Jermaine Dye (OF), Bobby Jenks (P), Paul Konerko (1B), Jim Thome (INF/PH) and A.J. Pierzynski (C). None of the Sox players though were in the starting lineup. The A.L. won the game in dramatic fashion 3-2.

That's a bold statement, just can't ever see that happening.

Baseball attendance seems to be pretty good though overall. And given the way the free agent market played out over the last few years I can definitely see some collusion in play. How many times have the owners been fined for this before? I can absolutely see this as an issue in 2026 when the labor deal is up. Some folks are already saying that season will be disrupted.

This would be contrary of course to what Nightengale wrote just last Sunday, that the Sox were set on trading Crochet after not getting much response/positive vibes from a contract extension proposal.

He never does. For a sharp businessman (which he is) he doesn't grasp the concept of getting good players = good teams = more ticket sales, more fan attendance, more parking money, more concession money, more souvenir money, more advertising opportunities. Harper paid for his contract immediately as the Phillies I read sold over a million tickets after he signed. Remember JR said finishing second, third or fourth doesn't mean you had a bad season! ?

It may have happened before but this is the only other time I know of that a Sox pitcher threw an immaculate inning: August 22, 1923 - In a game at Comiskey Park, Sox pitcher Hollis “Sloppy” Thurston struck out the side on only nine pitches versus the Philadelphia Athletics. It came in the 12th inning. He retired the A’s Frank “Beauty” McGowan, Clarence “Chick” Galloway and Sam Hale. Thurston however, who came on in relief starting in the 11th inning, got the loss in the game, 3-2 which went 13 innings. Striking out three hitters on only nine pitches is called an “Immaculate Inning.”

My god...they actually beat the Twins!

Greg: They had as much talent or more after the first rebuild than anyone else in the division. It led to a pair of first round playoff losses. The Sox under JR simply don't have everything that is needed to consistently win from top level front office types to a medical training and conditioning staff that can actually keep players healthy to scouts and minor league developmental people. I'm sorry you CAN NOT overcome JR's cheapness and disdain for his own fan base. Something happened to this franchise starting in 2007 and it has gotten consistently worse over time.

Greg: I respect your Sox fandome but if you can't see or understand the dilemma this franchise is in because of ownership there's nothing I or others can tell you. I'd LOVE for the Sox to at least have a winning season which is something they regularly did between 1981-2006 under JR, 99 Sox fans out of 100 would love this. But that's not where this franchise is today. For a final time I'll try to make you understand. KEEPING FEDDE, KEEPING CROCHET WON'T DO SQUAT because the Sox are going to suck for the next few years at least. Why? Because ownership refuses to put the talent around them needed to win as others have expressed accurately and in what specific areas. The ONLY way, under current ownership the franchise has any hope of winning is getting literally as many talented kids as possible through trades and the draft and hope they can produce, come up to the big club and win games. That's it Greg, that the only possible way and frankly even that is a long shot. "Hope" generally is not a recipe for success. Feel free to continue thinking as you will but it is akin to tilting at windmills. Having two good pitchers, maybe a good hitter or two may win you 65 games. And I'd be curious to know who this "baseball expert" is? Care to share their name?

More detailed story on the upcoming draft and Shirley talking about things: https://soxmachine.com/2024/07/mike-shirley-previews-the-2024-white-sox-draft/

There is a lot of truth to this since we know real change won't come until ownership does.

DVS spoke with Mike Shirley: https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/07/09/pivotal-draft-upcoming-for-white-sox

Because by the time this franchise is respectable he'll be nearing or at free agency and JR will NOT pay him especially if he can put together a few more seasons like the one he had last year. Now if new ownership is in place they may feel differently about him. Thus endeth the lesson.

Great! A night where they can't possibly urinate away another late game lead!

What will be interesting is if he learns anything from this season and improves next year. He has to understand this isn't slamball or the G-league. Different sport, different rhythms, different skill sets.

????? Leasure is not getting traded. He's exactly the type of player the Sox need to get right now. Young, raw, full of potential and cost controllable.

As Hawk would say, "He gone!"

At the risk of offending a certain individual This group is a bunch of clowns and buffoons. 18th time this season the Sox had a lead in the 7th inning or later...and wound up losing the game. Third consecutive game this has happened: Saturday: 7th inning Sunday: 9th inning Monday: 7th inning The Sox are now 0-8 vs. Minnesota this year with five game remaining. Serious question, have the Sox ever gone winless for a year against an individual team?????

Maybe he's sick

If new ownership arrives in the next two/three years and cleans everybody out it is possible a contention window could be six/seven years away. It would depend on how aggressive new ownership would be and how much money they would be willing to spend.

Fundamentals have been an unknown word to this organization for years. The only real meaningful change comes when new ownership arrives. If I had to guess I'm thinking Steve was talking about Grifol (fall guy) and his staff.