Lip Man 1

I respect your point of view but as far as I'm concerned I'm so sick and GD tired of losing, of incompetence of dysfunction and of ineptness not just from the White Sox but from all Chicago teams (save for the Cubs they can keep being incompetent) that I could care less if they win with "honor and class." Just GD win for a change. Perfectly fine with me.

Winning solves all problems.

Assuming he is still with us.

Strongly disagree. And I understand why JR would start making noise about the stadium situation but the law of averages say this is all a moot point. More than likely he won't be around to deal with this in six years. So I wouldn't worry about this.

September 18, 1940 - A game originally played on June 20 with the Sox beating New York 1-0 in 11 innings, was ordered replayed by the commissioner’s office after the Yankees protested an out call on a fly ball in the second inning. A Sox win was literally taken away. In the original game, umpire John Quinn ruled that Sox left fielder Julius “Moose” Solters hung on to a foul ball off the bat of Bill Dickey long enough for it to be considered an out. New York’s protest was upheld by A.L. president Will Harridge on July 2 and declared the contest a no decision. The Sox found themselves in the middle of a pennant race and losing 9-8 in the eighth inning of the replayed game, which was the second game of a double header, when umpire Harry Geisel ordered the game ended, claiming it was too dark to finish. The decision meant a split for the two teams on the day after the Sox took the first game 6-3. September 18, 1971 – Sox outfielder Carlos May pulled off one of the rarest baseball feats of all when he got an inside-the-park grand-slam against the Angels Tom Murphy. May, a left-handed hitter, sliced a drive down the left field line at Comiskey Park in the first inning. California’s Ken Berry, the former Sox outfielder, slammed his head diving for the ball which rolled into the corner. By the time center fielder Mickey Rivers came over and threw it back home, Pat Kelly, Jay Johnstone and Bill Melton had crossed the plate ahead of May. The Sox behind pitcher Tom Bradley won the game 5-1. Inside-the-park grand-slams are even rarer than no-hitters. As of July 2022 there have been 225 inside-the-park grand-slam home runs dating back to 1881 in Major League Baseball. For comparison, there have been 304 no-hitters pitched in MLB games since 1876.

Ron Kittle's 83 jersey. When the Sox weren't a laughingstock and fans could be proud of them:

They could lose 100 games for the next four years in a row and he won't sell. He's made that clear, the tax hit would be enormous.

With rule changes emphasizing speed, Grifol is determined to go the other direction: https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/9/17/23877879/robert-jr-yoan-moncada-tim-anderson-arent-running-like-they-used-to

September 17, 1955 – “Jungle” Jim Rivera was quite a character when he played for the White Sox and after a home run he hit in Kansas City helped the Sox beat the A’s 12-8 he made an impression on a former President and his wife. President Harry Truman and his wife Bess were frequent fans at Athletic games and after the game ended Rivera and teammate George Kell were outside the stadium when they noticed a crowd. They walked over and discovered it was the former President. Rivera asked him where his wife was and Truman said she was in the back seat of the car so Rivera leaned over and introduced himself by saying, “I’m sure sorry my home run beat your club but it was a helluva wallop eh, Bess?” September 17, 1971 - The White Sox defeated the California Angels 9-4 at Comiskey Park. An unusual event marked this game. All nine players in the White Sox lineup that night got one RBI, including pitcher Bart Johnson, who started, gave up eight hits and struck out 12 in going the distance. September 17, 1983 - Before a packed house at Comiskey Park, Harold Baines hit a sacrifice fly driving in Julio Cruz with the run that won the American League West title for the Sox as they edged Seattle 4-3. The Sox went to the playoffs for the first time in 24 years, drew a then record, season attendance of over two million fans and had the best record in baseball at 99-63. They’d win the division by a record 20 games over second place Kansas City. Baines drove in three runs that night and had a solo homer. September 17, 1984 - Harold Baines became the only player in franchise history to have more than one game with three home runs. Baines had his first three homer game in July 1982. On this day at Minnesota, he’d club three more in the 7-3 win. He’d drive in four RBI’s. September 17, 2007 - The Sox tied the club record for the most runs ever scored in the fifth inning of a game when they sent 11 guys home at Kansas City. In addition to the 11 runs, they also collected 10 hits and three homers, one each by Danny Richar, Jermaine Dye and Josh Fields. Richar, Jerry Owens and Fields all had two hits and Fields drove in four runs in the inning. Four times the Sox have scored 11 runs in the fifth inning in their history. This was the last time it had been done. September 17, 2020 – In the most bizarre, strange, unusual and “Twilight Zone”-like season because of COVID-19, the White Sox made the most of it clinching a spot in the expanded playoffs coming from behind to beat the Twins 4-3 getting two runs in the seventh inning to do it. The win ran the Sox record to 33-17 best in the American League on that date and put them in position to win their division for the first time since 2008, which was the last time the franchise made the postseason. They ended the shortened season a game behind Minnesota and lost to Oakland in the first round of the playoffs two games to one.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/white-sox/ct-chicago-white-sox-pedro-grifol-chris-getz-20230917-xmhqofotpfblzpefh6qmc3c4ju-story.html

Sosa had to go because he did not get along with Walt Hriniak who wanted him to be the player he was in 1990 (when he was the only guy in MLB in double-figures in doubles, triples, home runs, stolen bases and outfield assists). Given what history showed he became he was no real loss. Bell had 112 RBI's in 92 and something like 68 in 93 when he only played half the games.

Only the White Sox could make a win excruciating. Santos is another guy who can't handle later inning situations.

September 16, 2007 - Sox slugger Jim Thome joined an exclusive club when he hammered his 500th career home run in the ninth inning of a White Sox 9-7 win over the Angels at U.S. Cellular Field. Thome was playing in his 2,000th career game when he connected off Dustin Moseley for the win. The Sox trailed 7-1 at one point before coming back. It was the first time that the 500th home run for a player was a walk off winner. Jim would hit 134 home runs in a White Sox uniform.

The overall free agent class this off season is a poor one.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/white-sox/ct-chicago-white-sox-pedro-grifol-chris-getz-20230916-l7jg3o5vu5brjcoendixadi6r4-story.html

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/9/15/23875967/sox-turnaround-might-take-longer-than-one-offseason-grifol-robert-clevinger-reinsdorf

12 errors for Anderson another guy who has turned into a major disappointment on and off the field.

True because the current bullpen is total garbage but relief pitchers should not be the top priority.

September 15, 1901 - In a doubleheader nightcap hosting Milwaukee, the White Sox hit an MLB-record five triples in the eighth inning — and three of them were consecutive! Sam Mertes, Fred Hartman and Herm McFarland started off the barrage with three three-baggers in a row, and after Frank Isbell failed to triple, two more were hit consecutively, by Frank Shugart and Billy Sullivan. The second-biggest crowd at South Side Park that year saw the White Sox rally, from down 4-2, with a seven-run eighth to pace a sweep of the Brewers, 5-4 and 9-4. Billy “Dummy” Hoy had hit a triple earlier in the game, giving the White Sox a total of six, setting the American League record — which the Sox would tie oin September 17, 1920 against the Yankees. The White Sox also had three triples in the opener (including from Hoy and Mertes), making nine total for the doubleheader. September 15, 1940 - Ted Lyons Day was held at Comiskey Park. The “Baylor Bearcat” won 260 games with the club and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955. His number #16 would be retired in 1987. This was the second time he was honored this way, the first time coming in 1933. This was the first game of a twin bill with Lyons getting the complete game 5-1 win on a three-hitter. September 15, 1964 - In his first at bat in the American League after many seasons in the N.L., pinch hitter deluxe Forrest “Smoky” Burgess belted a game tying home run at Detroit. The Sox would eventually win the game 3-2 in 10 innings keeping their pennant hopes alive. Burgess would lead the league in pinch hits in 1965 and 1966. The 20 pinch hits in that 66’ season tied the big-league record originally set by Ed Coleman in 1936. September 15, 1970 - Shortly after taking over as the new director of player personnel, Roland Hemond targeted the man who’d eventually in his words, ‘save’ the franchise. Hemond called the Cardinals “Bing” Devine to see what the chances were of making a deal for slugger Dick Allen offering Luis Aparicio. Devine turned him down, but 15 months later Hemond would get his man from the Dodgers for pitcher Tommy John and infielder Steve Huntz. The Dodgers also wanted a young, hard throwing left hander named Terry Forster but Hemond refused to include him in the trade. September 15, 1983 - The White Sox set the franchise record for most runs scored in the sixth inning of a game when they got 11 in a 12-0 win over the Mariners at Comiskey Park. LaMarr Hoyt got the win, his 21st on the season. The game only lasted seven innings due to rain. Harold Baines had a grand slam as the Sox cut their magic number down to two for winning the division. The Sox sent 17 men to the plate in the inning which saw them get nine hits. September 15, 1990 - Owner Jerry Reinsdorf fired G.M. Larry Himes citing ‘personality differences.’ Himes drafted and signed Sox future stars like Frank Thomas, Jack McDowell, Robin Ventura and Alex Fernandez. During the press conference announcing the hiring of Ron Schueler as new G.M., Reinsdorf issued his famous ‘Point A to point B to point C’ comment. Later in a rare radio appearance he was candid on the subject to host Chet Coppock. “The fact is Larry Himes cannot get along with anybody. You can hardly find anybody in the Sox organization that wasn’t happy when Larry Himes left.” September 15, 1996 - Frank Thomas slugged his 215th home run in a Sox uniform breaking Carlton Fisk’s team record. Thomas homered three times at Fenway Park off the Red Sox Tim Wakefield yet the Sox lost the game 9-8. Thomas went 3 for 4 with three RBI’s and four runs scored. September 15, 1997 - In an 11-10 loss in Milwaukee, Sox rookies Mario Valdez and Jeff Abbott both hit their first big league home runs. Valdez got his in the fifth inning, Abbott an inning later.

I was told this by sources over the winter: “The problem with this team is there was no real leadership, nobody to hold guys accountable. No red-asses like the Sox had in the past… Carlton Fisk, Jack McDowell, A.J. Pierzynski. Paul Konerko was a quiet guy but when we weren’t doing well he’d get really pissed. Elvis Andrus tried to supply some leadership when he came and Lucas Giolito tried.” “I’d come into the locker room after a game and you couldn’t tell if they won or lost, just nothing.” “You’d go in the locker room and all the Latino guys would be in one place, the whites in another and the African-Americans someplace else.” “I had heard that groups were apart and not close but part of that could be human nature, language divisions for example. I know the Latin guys were always around Jose’s locker, Moncada was always there. The Sox locker room is a big square so guys aren’t close to start with, the Cubs locker room is circular. I don’t know if that was by design or what but that lends itself to guys getting together.” “The problem is some of these guys just don’t care, they want to win sure but they already have gotten their money with these contracts before they proved anything. Moncada would strike out and just walk back to the dugout like no big deal, he fouls a ball off and now he can’t play for three days? His contract makes him untradable but he needs to go.”

If they get off to an awful start next season Grifol will be fired by Memorial Day.

He's laughing all the way to the bank.

"Sheets declined to elaborate on things that went wrong. But reliever Keynan Middleton publicly questioned the culture in the clubhouse after he was traded in late August, and it’s known the bond between Latin and American players is not as cohesive as it could be. Hitters have been divided by their allegiance to the hitting coaches, not an uncommon occurrence on teams with multiple hitting voices. And there have been leadership (or lack thereof) vacuums." https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/9/14/23874332/white-sox-need-to-know-what-went-wrong-what-needs-to-be-fixed

With his back it could go out again, become inflamed again tomorrow. Without surgery it is simply a crap shoot. Everything I've seen and read and heard via Garfien et al is that he's part of the clubhouse issues. I hope he does well next year so the Sox can trade him at the deadline and get something for him. They won't resign him after the 24 season.

September 14, 1952 - In a 17-inning game in Chicago, Sox pitcher Saul Rogovin struck out 14 Red Sox in 15 innings of work. But it was Luis Aloma who got the decision as the White Sox won 4-3 on a single by Rocco “Rocky” Krsnich. It was the first game of a double-header, game two was suspended by darkness after four innings with the Sox leading 3-0. "Minnie" Minoso had a two run home run. Game was suspended because of league rules regarding lights at the time. September 14, 1967 – The day after the Sox beat the Indians 1-0 in 17 innings, they continued their mastery over them by winning 4-0 in 10 innings. It was Cisco Carlos on the mound who went the distance allowing only five hits. The Sox won the game when Don Buford hit a grand slam off of Orlando Pena scoring Tommie Agee, Duane Josephson and Joe Horlen. It was the first ‘walk-off’ grand slam in team history. September 14, 1974 - Sox first baseman Dick Allen called a team meeting and announced he was retiring from baseball. Allen, the controversial slugger, would still win the American League home run title even though he would miss the final two weeks of the season. Allen was fighting bad injuries to his shoulder and leg from previous seasons but the way he walked out on the Sox left a bad taste in the mouths of many fans. Sox G.M. Roland Hemond would then trade his rights to the Atlanta Braves for catcher Jim Essian. Allen would return and see action with the Phillies and A’s before really retiring in 1977. September 14, 1997 - Carlton Fisk had his uniform #72 retired in a ceremony before the Sox took on Cleveland. But because of the way he was treated by the organization he asked that neither owner Jerry Reinsdorf nor G.M. Ron Schueler be a part of it and that wish was granted. The game was also remembered for manager Terry Bevington going to the mound to change pitchers...expect for the fact that no one was warming up in the Sox bullpen when he called for the change! The Sox would lose 8-3 despite using nine pitchers, a record for a nine-inning game. September 14, 2017 – It was a record setting afternoon for a couple of White Sox players in the team’s 17-7 blowout of the Tigers at Comerica Park. The Sox as a team pounded out 25 hits in the game. Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia went 5 for 5 with seven RBI’s and two runs scored in the game in addition to a walk. Sox rookie second baseman Yoan Moncada went 4 for 5 with two walks and five runs scored and first baseman Jose Abreu went 4 for 5 with three runs scored. Garcia became the second White Sox player with five hits and seven RBI in a game since at least 1913. The other was Carl Reynolds against the Yankees on July 2, 1930 in New York. Moncada meanwhile tied Hall of Famer Tim Raines’ franchise record with the five runs scored. Raines originally set the record against the Red Sox in Boston on April 18, 1994.