Lip Man 1

Just so you know Sully is a long time Sox fan. I've spoken to him about this many times. He and his family were going to Sox games as far back as the 1970's.

June 20, 1980 - Tigers outfielder Al Cowens attacked Sox relief pitcher Ed Farmer. In the 11th inning of a game at Comiskey Park, Cowens ran towards Farmer after hitting a ground ball instead of running towards first base. The two had a melee on the mound. One-year earlier Farmer broke his jaw when he was pitching for Texas on an errant pitch. Chicago police went looking for Cowens after the game to press assault charges. Farmer, who had polycystic kidney disease, ended up on the bottom of the pile, where his cysts burst and his kidneys weakened. He would be an All-Star the next month, amid his greatest season, but Farmer said from the moment after the brawl he felt weaker, and was never the same pitcher.

Update to earlier story with quotes from Jason and a name to watch moving forward: https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/11/9/23953866/jason-benetti-leaves-white-sox-tv-booth-for-tigers-with-one-year-left-on-contract?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=110923 Afternoon Edition&utm_content=110923 Afternoon Edition CID_9da9ecd5921bcfd59ccb854d64522f6b&utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&utm_term=Jason Benetti leaves Sox booth&tpcc=110923 Afternoon Edition

Just heard from a source who said Benetti spoke with them yesterday to let them know he was leaving. Source said he left because of Brooks Boyer.

Updated info. Story said the relationship had soured: https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/11/9/23953866/jason-benetti-leaves-white-sox-tv-booth-for-tigers-with-one-year-left-on-contract

November 9, 2005 – After a season that saw the White Sox win their first World Series title since 1917, the Baseball Writers Association of America awarded the Manager of the Year award to Ozzie Guillen. Guillen, the former Sox All-Star shortstop, guided the team to a wire-to-wire Central Division title with 99 wins; they then went 11-1 in the postseason capping it off with a four-game sweep of Houston for the championship. Ozzie picked up 17 first place votes and 105 total points to beat out Cleveland’s Eric Wedge. Wedge got six first place votes and 71 points while the Yankees Joe Torre was third with 43 points.

Sun-Times no longer has any type of pay wall, all stories are free since new policy went into effect last year.

Here's why: “Jason Benetti’s deal with the Sox is up, the Sox hold the option for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He went to Fox to negotiate that deal with them after he was told to do it and then come back to the Sox and they’d work something out. Jason wanted to get the deal done with the Sox first and then go to Fox or ESPN or whoever. Turns out when he came back to the Sox and said that he needs 40 days off so he can do the Fox work he was told, ‘no, that’s not happening.’ So I don’t know what’s going to happen to him or Steve Stone.” This was what a source told me last November as part of a story I did on the state of the Sox. Incompetent, dysfunction and inept describe the organization from top to bottom.

Calls out the hypocrisy. Ozzie's family gets into it to:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/11/8/23952946/by-any-name-white-sox-new-gm-getz-has-lots-of-fixing-up-to-do

Which means what exactly to the point about Robert? ? Trading Robert (and again I'm saying it must be done) doesn't impact a club that lost 101 games, has holes all over the roster and isn't going to contend for the next few years AT LEAST (or until new ownership arrives.) It COULD, repeat could, help fill multiple holes with players who could help turn the fortunes around with competent (a key) decision-makers.

Yes...and if you can get two or three "athletes" who can actually play on paper you've improved no? I'm not saying you have to trade him, I'm saying if you get a terrific offer, when you've lost 101 games, when the organization is at a fork in the road, you have to at least consider it. Frank "Trader" Lane said the same thing when he took over, "There are no sacred cows..."

Well to be honest how much worse can they get?

November 8, 2000 - On the basis of an unexpected Central Division championship, and 95-win season, Sox skipper Jerry Manuel was named the Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. He ran away with the award beating out Art Howe of Oakland, 134 points to 74. He got 25 first place votes out of a possible 28. He wasn’t able to work any magic in the playoffs though as the Sox pitching staff was in shambles due to injury and they were swept out three straight by the Mariners.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/11/7/23951656/no-untouchables-on-white-sox-roster-first-year-general-manager-chris-getz-says

I think his role is just to help the big league club in any and all areas.

When the Sox get off to a disaster start he'll be fired by Memorial Day.

Bevington lasted two years as manager.

That's the White Sox way. Waste millions of dollars of retreads, injury-prone stiffs and has-been's but when it comes to nabbing a game changer, a superstar (Hello: Bryce Harper...) no...can't do that! ?

MLB.com has a story today that says Bellinger is the Giants #1 off season priority with Othani expected to sign with the Dodgers.

Because JR feels his way is the correct way regardless of what happens on the field.

It must rub his sense of decorum the wrong way is all I can think of. Ludicrous. There's only 30 of those jobs available, if a team thinks you are very good and his track record says he is, you do what you have to do to get him.

It was Einhorn's attitude and marketing 'philosophy' that helped put the Sox in the situation they are in today. That's why I mention it. Despite he and JR both living and working in Chicago since the late 1950's, EE had this insane idea that when the Sox were out of town their fans would root for the Cubs and when the Cubs were out of town their fans would root for and attend Sox games. "We're Chicago's American League team..." (direct quote) ? Total insanity and stupidity from someone who absolutely should have known better. Maybe if he decided to take the Cubs on front and center instead of bitching about the "unfair advantage" they had because they were owned by the Tribune who also owned WGN he wouldn't have had to threaten to move them to Florida. There was a big story in the paper about how after the Sox lost the 83 playoffs Einhorn stormed out of the press box, when that was reported the next day in the Tribune under the headline, "Griping Sox Owner..." he went off saying there should be an "investigation" about the "insidious" influence the Tribune and WGN were having on things. Instead of bitching and moaning Eddie, why not do something about it? Especially when in 83 the Sox had an opportunity (much like after 2005) to change the dynamic and they pissed away both chances.

As brutal as the Sox are going to be in 2024 it doesn't matter one iota who is playing or not playing. it's a complete cesspool. Nothing can save the situation save for new ownership and even if that were to happen on January 1 it will take a few years to clean out and rebuild the organization.

Anything is possible maybe TA getting a slap in the face regarding other contract offers could result in a motivated player and less of a distraction on and off the field. If that has a reasonable chance of happening then by all means bring him back.