Lip Man 1

You can't ask for a more perfect ending to the first half. Look like s%*# against a garbage starting pitcher. Then urinate away another late lead (for the 12th time in the 7th inning or later) and lose the game. ?

A fitting end to an atrocious first half for a completely dysfunctional organization. Face a garbage pitcher 0-7 with an ERA of over five. What does this stiff do? Holds the Sox to one run (unearned) on two hits with nine strikeouts. ? Then the number gang for today is: 12... 12 times, the most expensive bullpen in baseball took a lead into the 7th inning or later...and lost the game. Five of those leads were lost in the 9th inning. 12. Who was responsible? Well here you go (some games more than one pitcher in an inning wound up contributing to giving up the lead...) Kelly - 5 games Graveman - 2 ½ Lopez - 2 ½ Lynn - 1 Diekman - 1 total (contributed to losing a lead in two games) When you do the autopsy on this disaster when the season ends, be sure to include how bad a bullpen Rick Hahn assembled.

“Jake Peavy made the comment one time, ‘They have no reservations about playing shorthanded.”

If that. Remember that's the White Sox way...?

July 9, 1919 - In a twin bill in Chicago against the Philadelphia Athletics, Urban “Red” Faber won both games. The first one came in relief of starter Dickie Kerr. The scores were 8-7 and 6-2. He threw 11 innings combined allowing 10 hits and four runs. In the second game win he threw a complete game. July 9, 1972 - With the Sox desperately needing a third baseman to replace the injured Bill Melton, G.M. Roland Hemond acquired Ed Spiezio from San Diego for pitcher Don Eddy. Spiezio did a yeoman job holding down the fort the rest of the year as the Sox stalked the A’s and his dramatic extra inning home run against Oakland on August 12 off Rollie Fingers in the Coliseum, put the Sox into first place. It was the latest the Sox had been in first place in a season, since 1967. July 9, 2002 - In the infamous 11 inning tied All-Star Game in Milwaukee, Paul Konerko tied the record for most doubles in the game with two. His teammate Mark Buehrle (P) joined him in the contest. July 9, 2006 - Tadahito Iguchi’s single in the last of the 19th inning gave the White Sox a dramatic 6-5 win over Boston at U.S. Cellular Field in the final game before the All-Star break. Jermaine Dye’s two out, ninth inning home run tied the game at three. Both teams scored two runs in the 11th and the score stayed that way until the 19th. The game took 6:19 to play. It also appeared to take something out of the World Champions, they lost 10 of the next 12 after the break and skidded to a 90-win season.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-draft-2023-three-tricks-for-teams-to-find-their-best-pick-including-avoiding-pitching-prospects/

Anything can happen but the chances of something happening like the Sox rebounding from this disaster are so embarrassingly small it is not worth even considering. I mean it is mathematically possible any or all of these events can happen on Sunday: *An alien spaceship lands on the south lawn of the White House *Scientists reveal they have unlocked the key to cold fusion eliminating any future energy issues *Putin, Trump and Xi all pass away *An earthquake sends California sliding into the Pacific Ocean *An MLB pitcher throws a "perfect-perfect" game...all 27 outs recorded by a strike out Yea, ANYTHING can happen but I wouldn't bet my life on any of the above taking place. Like others have stated this organization is completely dysfunctional in so many areas nothing short of a complete overhaul of the baseball side from ownership on down can change its direction. Exchanged e-mails with a member of the mainstream Chicago media yesterday on Stone's comments, the reply was that they like Steve but it sad he's become nothing but a JR apologist.

Sox pitching has now recorded nine games of 14 strikeouts or more this season—all losses. Only in the dysfunctional world of the White Sox.....

Sure, win the division...and then get embarrassed in the playoffs again. Right...a sure recipe for success. ? But we won't have to concern ourselves with that situation anyway...it's a moot point (or a moo point... the point of view of a cow as Joey once said on "Friends." )

If you aren't trying to pull a fast one or get a reaction, if you honestly feel this way then I don't know if I should congratulate you for living in an alternate reality or feel sorry for your delusion. By the way I'm not depressed, I've come to expect this from this incompetent, dysfunctional and inept organization and besides I've got 74 past Sox games from better times in my library. Plenty of baseball there to keep me going and wouldn't you know it, the Sox ALWAYS win! ? Oh on a related note Hahn should like this gang....Craig Kimbrel was named to the N.L. All-Star team today as a replacement.

“Accountability around here is not a problem.”- Kenny Williams 4/25/23

I wouldn't bet on that...but we'll see.

Why are we not surprised? Nothing changes with this franchise until the owner is gone.

July 8, 1941 - Edgar Smith became the first Sox pitcher to win an All-Star Game. He got the decision in the A.L.’s 7-5 win even though he gave up two runs on two hits in two innings. This was the game where Ted Williams hit a three-run home run in the last of the ninth to win it in Detroit. Smith was joined on the team by Luke Appling (SS) and Thornton Lee (P) of the White Sox. July 8, 1943 - Sox pitcher Orval Grove almost got himself a no-hitter and against the Yankees to boot. Joe Gordon’s bloop double with two out in the ninth spoiled it, but Grove did win the game 1-0 at Comiskey Park. It ran his record to 7-0 at the time. He’d finish 15-9 with a 2.75 ERA for the year. July 8, 1947 - White Sox shortstop Luke Appling played a key role in the A.L.’s 2-1 win in the All-Star Game, held across town at Wrigley Field. Appling, 40, had been named to his seventh and final All-Star Game as a substitute. With the A.L. trailing, 1-0, Appling pinch-hit for John “Buddy” Lewis of the Senators, to lead off the sixth inning and singled off of Harry “the Cat” Brecheen. Ted Williams singled Appling to third, and “Ol’ Aches and Pains” came home with the tying run when Joe DiMaggio grounded into a double play. The next inning, pinch-hitter Stan Spence singled in Bobby Doerr for the A.L.’s eventual game-winner. The other Sox representative that year was Rudy York (1B) July 8, 1958 - Sox ace pitcher Early Wynn got the win in the All-Star Game in Baltimore as the A.L. defeated the N.L. 4-3. Wynn entered the game in the sixth inning with the score tied at 3-3. He pitched a perfect inning. Then in the last of that inning the American League scored the eventual winning run on a single by the Yankees Gil McDougald scoring Frank Malzone of the Red Sox. In addition to Wynn, the Sox representatives were Luis Aparicio (SS), Nellie Fox (2B), Sherm Lollar (C) and Billy Pierce (P). Fox and Aparicio were named starters. July 8, 2016 – In a game at home against the Braves, the White Sox pulled off their third triple play of the season. That hadn’t happened in Major League Baseball since 1979. It happened in the third inning of an 11-8 loss. Shortstop Tim Anderson fielded a Freddie Freeman ground ball, tagged out lead runner Chase d’Arnaud before stepping on second base to force out former Sox infielder Gordon Beckham and then threw to first baseman Jose Abreu to throw out Freeman. Both the Red Sox and A’s accomplished the feat of three triple plays during the 1979 season, according to the Society for American Baseball Research’s triple play database. The White Sox turned a triple play on April 22 against the Rangers and turned the second on May 18 against the Astros.

This season was over at the end of April...you know it, I know it and the White Sox themselves know it. Just counting down the days till the Bears open the season.

Exactly. And even worse if this situation came to pass the Sox front office would start crowing about how they "got it right" in the end. ?

Yep...11 times they took a lead into the 7th inning or later...and...lost...the...game.

The most expensive bullpen in baseball to boot! ?

Your plan as a fan should be to take care of yourself, exercise, watch your diet, see your doctor regularly and hope to outlive current ownership. Even giving Hahn the benefit of the doubt it hard to have any real plan when you don't know how long JR is going to be around (and I'm not trying to be snarky or wish bad upon him, but human nature is what it is). At 86 he's not going to change his beliefs that he has had for 40+ years as owner.

Very true. The issue is the Sox can not consistently "win" and I use that term loosely. Especially since 2007 started, I mean only five winning seasons. How do you generate momentum with that type of track record?

My comment was posted on June 24. And the staff has now had a lead 11 times in the 7th inning or later...and lost the game.

Correct. So in a way JR's "fiscal responsibility" philosophy was in part responsible for this situation.

One could make the same claim if they executed a successful bunt though couldn't they (i.e. winning the game on "one swing")? Lay down a bunt, the opponent throws it away, kicks it, fumbles it and a run scores. Not saying bunting is the best approach especially with guys who have no idea how to do it, but it's possible to win the game with it just as it is possible to win the game by swinging away.

I've met JR twice and I've said for years that he wants to win. But... He has ALWAYS wanted to win HIS WAY...with his ideas about salary structure, his ideas about dealing with certain agents (or not dealing with them), his ideas on the MLBPA, his ideas on paying for "potential" (involving the draft and the minor league system), his ideas about dealing with the media/fan base (which involves the always important public relations battle) and his ideas about "loyalty" just to name a few areas. History shows in over 40+ years of ownership his way of wanting to win hasn't been very successful especially since the start of the 2007 season with only five winning years.

July 7, 1931 - In a 12-inning game won by the White Sox over the Browns in St. Louis, 10-8, neither team struck out. It remains the longest game ever played in the big leagues without a hitter fanning. The Sox led 8-7 going into the ninth inning but couldn’t hold it as pinch hitter Chad Kimsey, normally a pitcher, homered to tie the game at eight. Kimsey was on the mound when the Sox scored twice in the 12th inning, helped in part by a key error and he took the loss. He’d be acquired by the Sox on waivers from the Browns and pitch for the club late in the 1932 and all of the 1933 seasons before he was traded to Montreal of the International League. July 7, 1959 - Sox pitcher Early Wynn started the first of the two All-Star Games played that season. This one was in Pittsburgh. Wynn, who’d go on to take the Cy Young Award that season, and win 22 games, went three innings allowing one run. He didn’t get a decision in the N.L.’s 5-4 win. Other Sox representatives in the game included Luis Aparicio (SS), Nellie Fox (2B), Sherm Lollar (C) and Billy Pierce (P). Fox and Aparicio joined Wynn in the starting lineup. July 7, 1964 – White Sox manager Al Lopez, in charge of the A.L. All-Stars saw a former player ruin his afternoon. Johnny Callison, once a top Sox prospect, traded to the Phillies before the start of the 1960 season, belted a three-run home run in the last of the ninth to win the game for the N.L. 7-4 at Shea Stadium in New York. The home run came off the Red Sox Dick “the Monster” Radatz and was the key blow in the four-run inning. The Sox quickly realized what they traded away and tried to get Callison back before the start of the 1962 season without success. Joining Lopez and coach Don Gutteridge from the Sox on the team were pitchers Gary Peters and Juan Pizarro. July 7, 1982 - It was the coming out party for Sox outfielder Harold Baines. In a game in Chicago against the Tigers, Baines blasted three home runs in the Sox 7-0 win. One of his blasts was a grand slam. He’d drive in six of the Sox seven runs. His homers came in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings. Later that week at Toronto in a 16-7 win, he’d hammer two more home runs including a second grand slam and knock in five more RBI’s. No wonder he was named A.L. Player of the Week! July 7, 2009 - On the same date that Harold Baines clubbed three home runs in a game in 1982, Sox first baseman Paul Konerko launched three in a 10-6 win over Cleveland at U.S. Cellular Field. Konerko had a solo home run, a two-run shot and a grand slam in his finest performance in a White Sox uniform. He went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and those seven RBI’s. He became the 12th player in franchise history to drill three home runs in a game and the 13th to hit at least three. He also became the first Sox player to ever hit three in a game at what was then called U.S. Cellular Field.