Lip Man 1

A fan posted this at another Sox web site. The numbers don't lie: "Castillo's White Sox numbers after 4 starts: 5.89 ERA, 1.53 WHIP. And that was WITH 7 innings of shutout, 1 hit ball. So he's been complete DFA level crap for 3 of 4 starts, and they're on the hook to pay him 22 million next year. Getz is a genius." Well...could Castillo turn into James Shields version 2.0?

From the Sun-Times recap tonight: "Castillo will be around longer and figure much more into how this season plays out. If he can recapture some of the form that made him a three-time All-Star, the Sox could have something. If not, then the rotation will still be short." https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/08/22/luis-castillo-struggles-again-luis-robert-jr-hits-two-home-runs-in-white-sox-10-5-loss-to-mets

All you can do is look at the results and they have not been good to say the least. Can they get better? Sure. Getz, the organization and the fan base damn well better hope so. A division title may be riding on it because the pitching staff is short handed and running on fumes.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/08/22/white-sox-prospects-roch-cholowsky-billy-carlson-done-for-2026

NINE factoids today: August 23, 1906 - The Sox beat Washington 4-1 for their 19th straight win, a franchise record that still stands. Roy Patterson picked up the win. This was the streak that propelled the Sox into a position to take the A.L. pennant and eventually the World Series crown beating the Cubs in the only all-Chicago World Series. During the run the Sox beat Boston six times, Philadelphia five times, New York seven times and Washington once. When the streak started on August 2 the Sox were seven and a half games behind Philadelphia, when it ended on August 25 at Washington, the team was in first place by four games over the A’s. August 23, 1956 – In a double header sweep at Yankee Stadium, Sox second baseman Nellie Fox recorded seven consecutive hits, six singles and a triple in the 8-3 and 6-4 wins. Fox went 5 for 5 in game one with four RBI’s then recorded two hits in his first two at-bats in the nightcap game. For the day Nellie went 7 for 10 with two runs scored and those four RBI’s. August 23, 1958 – Nellie Fox pops right up again, with another momentous feat. On this day, Fox struck out, in the first inning of a 7-1 win at Yankee Stadium, vs. Whitey Ford. A strike out doesn’t sound like much until you realize it was the first time Nellie struck out in 98 games setting a Major League record! The streak started back on May 17, in a 3-2 win over Cleveland. He logged 451 plate appearances and 356 official at-bats during those 98 games, leading the White Sox to a 54-43 record. Fox struck out only 216 times in his 21-year career. For the 1958 season he’d finish with a .300 batting average and only fan 11 times leading the league with 187 hits. August 23, 1972 - Sox slugger Dick Allen would make history again on this day. He slammed a pitch from the Yankees Lindy McDaniel into the center field bleachers directly under the scoreboard at Comiskey Park, becoming the first Sox player to ever do this. It came in the seventh inning with a man on base. Sox announcer Harry Caray, who was broadcasting the game from that area, nearly caught the ball in his fishing net which he kept with him for just such an occasion. The Sox would win it 5-2. August 23, 1983 - Normally a first baseman, manager Tony LaRussa moved Mike Squires to third base in the eighth inning of a 10-2 loss to the Royals. Squires was left-handed! Squires faced three batters from that spot without handling any chances. Twice Mike also caught an inning left-handed as well. During the 1983 and 1984 seasons Squires was moved to third base a total of 14 times by manager Tony LaRussa the most ever for a left hander in big league history. August 23, 2002 - Sox third baseman Joe Crede hit the 1,000th home run at the new Comiskey Park (now Rate Field) when he put one into the seats off former Sox pitcher Tanyon Sturtze during the 8-2 loss to the Devil Rays. His home run came in the ninth inning. August 23, 2005 - In an excruciating game in Minnesota, the Sox Freddy Garcia tossed a complete game one-hitter and lost 1-0. The only mistake he made was allowing a home run to Jacque Jones leading off the eighth inning. August 23, 2011 - Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, a mainstay for the team since being acquired in a trade before the start of the 1999 season, collected his 2,000th career hit in a 5-4 loss to the Angels in Anaheim. The hit was a single that tied the game at four all. All but 48 of those 2,000 hits came with the White Sox. He’d finish with 2,340 of them over 18 years. August 23, 2026 – It’s a painful way to set a record but he’ll take it. Sox rookie Sam Antonacci set the franchise record when he was hit by a pitch for the 24th time during the 2026 season, in the 2-1 win over the Mets at Rate Field. He broke the record originally shared by “Minnie” Minoso in 1956 and Carlos Quentin in 2011. He was hit in the fifth inning of the game.

Well Castillo has had one good game in the four he's pitched, Brazolban has been terrible, Doyle has done nothing and Bart is hurt. Getz gets a big fat F for his trade deadline acquisitions and as has been posted the Sox are stuck with them next year. Not good. And the Sox have lost 10 of their last 18 games.

But they have been showing signs of fatigue since the last Boston game at Fenway, four games lost where they had a lead in the 7th inning or later. And Brazoban has been a failure to this point.

No love for #30 Magglio?

It all depends on the pitching and what they have left in the tank.

I can only speak for myself in this matter but all I care about is what he does for the White Sox. Period, end of story. Anything else is of little to no concern of mine. I don't care where he's from, what businesses he owns, what his political feelings are or what religion he is. If he's willing to invest the time and most importantly the money to reverse the rot that has infused in this franchise from top to bottom over the last almost 20 years, I'm all for the guy 100%...no make that 110%

From MLB.com story today. This comes on the heels of Fegan reporting the pitching staff is "exhausted" a few days ago: Workload finally showing up: White SoxSince July 1, White Sox relievers have combined for 3,278 pitches thrown, the most in the Majors. Only three other teams have reached 3,000: the Padres, Pirates and A’s. The Sox are the Cinderella story of the 2026 season, but bullpen usage is threatening to move the clock to midnight. The good news? In recent years, evaluating innings, pitches and "pulls" has not been as predictive of a September faltering as skill. Massive workload alone isn't fatal. Still, there's reason for concern. Chicago relievers' K-BB% fell dramatically this month, from over 14% in each of the previous three months to 10.9% in August. Their underlying Stuff+ also sits at a season-worst 97 this month. A lot of arrows are pointing up in Chicago, but one pointing down is bullpen performance.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/pope-leo-xiv/2026/08/21/pope-leo-xiv-white-sox-pope-hat-game-us-rep-raja-krishnamoorthi-visit

Five factoids today: 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.” August 22, 1968 - In Detroit, White Sox pitcher Tommy John was attacked by the Tigers Dick McAuliffe. McAuliffe, who made the final out in Joe Horlen’s no-hitter in 1967, walked in the third inning then attacked John while going down the baseline. John had a 3-2 pitch sail over McAuliffe’s head just moments before. As the benches cleared McAuliffe and John wrestled near the mound, during it McAuliffe’s knee struck John’s shoulder damaging it so badly that he went on the disabled list and was lost for the year with a separation. He was 10-5 with an ERA of 1.98 at the time he was hurt. McAuliffe was suspended for only five games. August 22, 1980 - Sox owner Bill Veeck agreed to sell the team to Edward DeBartolo Sr., a multi-millionaire who invented the modern-day shopping mall in Ohio. DeBartolo though was voted down by the other league owners due to speculation about his possible association with mobsters and his acknowledged horse racing interests. The way was then opened for Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn to purchase the team. Einhorn was part of a group originally trying to buy the San Diego Padres and Reinsdorf was part of a group attempting to own the New York Mets. DeBartolo meanwhile eventually bought the San Francisco 49’ers, let his son run the franchise and promptly won multiple Super Bowls. August 22, 2020 – It seemed like every day during the pandemic influenced season something record setting was happening for the White Sox. On this date against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Jose Abreu wrote his name in the record books by homering in three straight at-bats, driving in four runs in the 7-4 win. On the night he went 4 for 4 with three runs scored. Abreu had already homered twice in the Friday night win and added a solo shot on Sunday afternoon giving him six round trippers in the three-game set, the first time a Sox player had ever done that. And his home run Sunday came in his first at-bat giving him four in a row over those two days. He became the 15th player in team history to homer three times or more in a single game. August 22, 2023 – After a failed rebuild that saw the team win only two playoff games total in two appearances and with attendance and fan interest falling off a cliff. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf fired Executive Vice President Ken Williams and G.M. Rick Hahn. Reinsdorf who was very loath to make serious changes and was loyal to a fault, appeared to have no choice as the team, which was expected to contend for multiple championship became one of the worst clubs in baseball. Williams was in his 11th season as Executive Vice President with the Sox after serving as the club’s General Manager for 12 seasons. The Sox won the 2005 World Series under his guidance as G.M. Hahn served as the General Manager for the past 11 seasons, leading the Sox to consecutive postseason appearances in 2020 as a wild card and 2021 as A.L. Central champions but those were the only two winning seasons the franchise had under his guidance.

Absolutely, especially at this level. Everyone in this business has an ego, me included and when you've heard and read the things said about him by others in broadcasting, I don't care how much the Sox are paying him, it hurts and makes an impact.

Everything with him is forced. He's trying to hard I think because he knows he's disliked and lacks credibility with a lot of the fan base.

You're kidding right? Crazy consspiracy alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First off if they fired him for being a Sox fan that would be grounds for a million dollar lawsuit. if he could prove it. I don't know why he was fired but what I will say is that having listened to him for a long time I never thought he expressed himself well on the air. Didn't have the voice for it and to often seemed to stumble trying to get his point across. Regarding David, I know him, have interviewed him and at times provided info to him for his show...he's one of the biggest Cub fans you will EVER see. But, he's professional enough that on the air you can't tell that.

Fegan wrote yesterday that the pitching staff was "exhausted" (direct quote). Yea these guys are gassed right now and considering the lineup they put out there tonight I wasn't expecting much but to their credit they got it done. They are going to have to find a way to keep winning since the cavalry isn't riding in to save them now since the deadline is past and the minor leagues doesn't appear to have any answers.

Tonight will be very interesting.

Very true.

Bridgeport residents angry at Amtrak, Justin Ishbia - Sox...Bridgeport residents express anger over Amtrak's proposed project to build a new maintenance facility. All part of a larger plan pushed by Justin Ishbia to build a new White Sox home in the South Loop

Mets are 11-4 since the trade deadline and have some pitchers going this weekend with pretty good ERA's.

Glad you enjoy the historial factoids.

Well at least Brazoban won't be available Friday after pitching Thurdsay...at least I hope. He's been absolutely awful.

Six factoids today: August 21, 1901 - While the most prodigious team entering the Major Leagues going into the season, the White Sox still could not avoid major controversy before the summer was out. Two Sox players were suspended after attacking umpire Jack Haskell in the fourth inning of an 8-0 loss at Washington. When Senators third baseman Bill Coughlin drew a walk to fill the bases on a disputed ball-four call, White Sox shortstop Frank Shugart punched Haskell, and starting pitcher Jack Katoll beaned Haskell in the leg during the fight. Both players were not only ejected by Haskell, the only umpire on the field, but the Washington, D.C. police intervened and both players were arrested. Clark Griffith was summoned for emergency relief — in 1901, White Sox starters finished 110 of 137 games, so a bullpen was a nascent concept — and immediately served up a bases-clearing triple to Billy Clingman. Katoll was suspended for 11 games and Shugart for 23. Both returned in September but Shugart got into another fight and was blacklisted from baseball when the year ended. August 21, 1915 - The White Sox purchased the contract of “Shoeless” Joe Jackson from the Cleveland Indians for 31,500 dollars and three journeyman players. Jackson, even with the “Black Sox” scandal is still considered one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. “Babe” Ruth said he modeled his swing after Jackson’s and Ty Cobb said Jackson was the best hitter he ever saw. Joe hit .356 for his career in the Major Leagues. August 21, 1926 - Ted Lyons fired a no-hitter in beating Boston 6-0 at Fenway Park. The Red Sox would only get two baserunners in the game; one came on a walk and the other on an error by shortstop Bill Hunnefield who fumbled a ground ball and then threw high to first base. Lyons, a future Hall of Famer, would win 260 games in a 21-year career, all with the Sox. His number #16 would be retired by the club in 1987. August 21, 1959 – It was Nellie Fox night at Comiskey Park. In the midst of a pennant race the Sox honored their second baseman and future Hall of Famer. Fox was given a new boat, shotgun and other presents and teared up when he spoke to the home crowd. He’d go on to become the American League’s M.V.P. that season hitting .306 with 70 RBI’s. On this night he went 0-3 with a run scored in the 5-4 win over Washington before almost 38-thousand fans. August 21, 1973 - Sox pitcher Stan Bahnsen took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Cleveland. After getting the first two outs, former Sox outfielder Walt Williams got a ground single to left past third baseman Bill Melton. Melton inexplicably, was playing in, anticipating a possible bunt from Williams who later said under no circumstances would he try to break up a no-hitter by bunting late in the game. Stan then got the final out finishing with a one-hitter, striking out four, in the 4-0 win. August 21, 2005 - The Sox tied the club record by hitting four home runs in a single inning. It happened off the Yankees Randy Johnson in a 6-2 win at U.S. Cellular Field. The four who went deep were Tadahito Iguchi, Aaron Rowand, Paul Konerko and Chris Widger. The home runs came in the fourth inning. Iguchi, Rowand and Konerko went back-to-back-to-back.

This really has been a tough week. It's not that the Sox lost games...it's HOW they lost them. Couldn't close the door in the 9th inning Monday, couldn't close the door late in the game Tuesday and today you hold a team to only two runs you should win the game. Now they have to face a red hot Mets team while some of the other division teams play refuse like the Rockies and Royals.