Lip Man 1

Where did I say that I agree with the way things are done in hockey? And these are two different sports so it is not an apples to apples comparison anyway. Personally I say get rid of the ghost runner, period. End of story. If you have to play an 18 inning game, that's to bad. It is what it is. Deal with it.

If the 'ghost runner' is so good for the game why isn't it used in post season play? Maybe it's not that good after all? 😉 If you insist on trying to limit long extra inning games, do what they do in Japan. A tie game is declared after so many innings are played.

Well...try not to suck. Assuming Wednesday they go with another opener/bullpen game it will be the 3rd time in the last six games this happened. That's simply not sustainable over the final six weeks if you want to win the division. And the rest of this week still sees a game with the Braves and then a red hot Mets team.

By my count Sox are 7-10 in extra inning games.

Also the Sox fail yet again, to get to eight games over .500 for the season.

Always disappointing to lose to the Cubs especially when you had a great shot against them. 10th time this season the Sox had a lead in the 7th inning or later and lost the game. BUT it's the third time this has happened in the last 11 games. Something to keep an eye on. Given the pitching situation this may have been their best chance to win at Wrigley. This division hasn't been won yet, not even close.

Rain outs could allow the Sox to adjust things so they can use guys like Burke, Kay and maybe Martin if he's off the IL, giving them better chances to win. Since the games would have to be made up later. Also because of the make up game Thursday they are playing 17 games in 17 days. They could use a day off. And who said anything about the season being over? But it is a fact the Sox starting pitching is shaky at best. When you have TBD listed for not one but two games against a team that's pretty good and happens to play in the same city, that to me is noteworthy.

Maybe we can get a couple rain outs! Pitching match ups on paper favor the Cubs tremendously. Just don't get swept...win a game somehow.

Given the uncertain labor situation and JR still in charge I wouldn't bet money on your prediction.

Five factoids today: August 17, 1985 – In a 12-7 win at Milwaukee, the White Sox Carlton Fisk tied the American League record when he was intentionally walked three times by Brewer pitchers. Fisk was given a free pass in the second, eighth and ninth innings of the game. Officially on the day he’d go 1 for 2 with two RBI’s. August 17, 1990 - In the second game of a double header at Texas, Carlton Fisk became baseball’s all- time home run leader by a catcher, as he nailed a Charlie Hough offering and drove it into the left center field seats. The Sox would win the game 4-2. Hough would become a teammate of Fisk in 1991. It was his 328th career shot as a backstop and also established himself as the White Sox all-time career home run champ. The team record would be passed by Frank Thomas. Fisk’s record for catchers would eventually be passed by Mike Piazza. August 17, 2000 - In a 5-3 loss to the Orioles Sox pitcher James Baldwin tied the big-league record by hitting four batters in the contest. Baldwin hit two batters in the third, one in the fifth and one in the sixth inning. He became the 15th pitcher to ever plunk four batters in a game. August 17, 2020 – Sometimes strange things happen on a baseball field. On August 12 in Detroit, Tim Anderson and Eloy Jimenez opened with home runs off the Tigers’ southpaw Matthew Boyd, and on this night at Guaranteed Rate Field, Anderson and Yoan Moncada accomplished the feat on consecutive pitches from Boyd in the first. According to Stats by STAT'S, the White Sox were the first team in Major League Baseball history to hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the game twice, off the same pitcher, in the same season. They’d go on to win the game 7-2. August 17, 2025 – A 6-2 win over the White Sox at Kauffman Stadium gave the Royals not only a weekend sweep but a season sweep at home for the year. They beat the Sox in all seven games played outscoring them 34-9. It also marked 14 consecutive losses by the Sox at that location having not beaten Kansas City there since September 2023.

Dodgers also wanted Terry Forster but Roland Hemond refused to include him in the deal.

He didn't work the game today. He's in Houston calling the Mariners-Astros game for NBC Sunday Night Baseball right now.

https://www.mlb.com/news/tommy-john-passes-away

I'd like to get them locked up sooner rather than later bit I suspect both the Sox and their agents are going to want to see what the next CBA looks like and when they'll actually be playing baseball in 2027 before any potential discussions.

Burke has his first bad game in a month and somehow these guys still find a way. Very impressive. You can't ask for anything more from them under the circumstances this weekend. Now don't get swept at Wrigley, at least win a game.

Typing this with one hand and unfortunately, I can't do something on Tommy. Passed away today bladder cancer. He was 83. I grew up watching him and then had the chance to meet and talk with him when Steibrenner brought the Yankees to Grambling in 87 if I remember right for an exhibition game. I was working in TV then and we covered it. John got the start for the Yankees. He's the last of the great Sox pitchers of the 1960's who made the All-Star Team. Him, Ray Herbert, Gary Peters, Juan Pizarro and Joe Horlen. This from my interview with J.C. Martin: ML: Tommy John (1965-1971.) Won 14 games both in 1965 and 1966. Member of the 1968 All- Star team. Sox record 82-80 but overall in his career won 288 games.) JCM: "He was a fun guy. He was a pleasure to catch because he only had one pitch, an 82 mile an hour sinker. Guys on the other team would see him and be yelling ‘go warm up’ because they couldn’t believe he was throwing that softly. He’d throw 20 ground ball outs a game. He threw more "worm killers" (Author’s Note: ground balls) then anybody I’d ever seen. And of course there was this: 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. He of course was traded for Dick Allen. Hope the Sox honor him the next homestand and that he gets into the Hall of Fame.

Four factoids today: August 16, 1927 - The Yankees “Babe” Ruth hit the first rooftop home run in Comiskey Park history when he blasted a shot off Tommy Thomas. The ball was estimated to have gone 474 feet. The Yankees won 8-1. Ruth’s home run came in the fifth inning and was a solo shot. Former White Sox manager Clarence “Pants” Rowland was the first base umpire in this game. August 16, 2011 - In an 8-7, 14 inning win over the Indians at U.S. Cellular Field, the White Sox hit five triples. That was the most in a single game since September 17, 1920 when they got six against the Yankees. Alejandro DeAza had two and Alexei Ramirez, Tyler Flowers and Alex Rios got the other three The Sox won the game on a Juan Pierre single in the last of the 14th inning. August 16, 2017 – Sox outfielder Leury Garcia homered on the first pitch of the game at Dodger Stadium off Yu Darvish. It marked the second straight game; the Sox leadoff man homered on the game’s first delivery. The night before shortstop Tim Anderson did it off Alex Wood. It was the first time this ever happened in franchise history. August 16, 2020 – On this day the White Sox tied the Major League record by hitting four consecutive home runs. It came in the fifth inning at home against the Cardinals and pitcher Roel Ramirez. The four home runs were hit by Yoan Moncada, Yasmani Grandal, Jose Abreu and Eloy Jimenez. It was the second time in franchise history the White Sox had hit four straight homers. This feat last took place on August 14, 2008, against the Royals, when Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez and Juan Uribe did the honors. The Sox would win the game 7-2. It marked the 10th time a team had hit four straight home runs in a game. It was also the first time in MLB history that three Cuban-born players (in this case Moncada, Grandal and Abreu) went back-to-back-to-back, or that four Latin-born players had homered consecutively.

They got just enough of Melton to get the job done and he had been pitching very well. Braden has had an excellent series so far. Let's see if Burke can get the sweep Sunday.

Three factoids today: August 15, 1922 - In front of 2,500 fans at Fenway Park, the White Sox and Red Sox set an A.L. record with 35 singles in a 19-11 Chicago win. The White Sox had 21 of the one-baggers, Boston 14. The two clubs combined for 43 hits total (25 Chicago, 18 Boston) and were a combined 23-of-39 with runners in scoring position. Eddie Mulligan and Earl Sheely led the club with three singles apiece (Sheely added a double).The White Sox actually trailed this one, 10-8, after Boston put up a seven run sixth inning. But the South Siders scored 11 in the final three frames, including their own seven spot in the ninth, to put the game away. Ted Blankenship wound up getting the win in relief with Urban “Red” Faber picking up the save. August 15, 1973 - G. M. Roland Hemond acquired starting pitcher Jim Kaat on waivers from Minnesota. All “Kitty” did was become a two-time 20 game winner for the Sox in 1974 and 1975. He made the All-Star Team in 1975 and won 45 games in two and a quarter years in Chicago. He also won the Gold Glove for pitchers in the American League for his fielding ability. August 15, 1996 - White Sox first round draft pick Bobby Seay was declared a free agent because the team failed to offer a formal contract within 15 days of the draft. He was reportedly asking for a two million dollar signing bonus which would have been a record for the time and refused to negotiate with Sox G.M. Ron Schueler when he flew down to see him in Florida telling him to talk with his agent Scott Boras. The southpaw became the first player in the 32 years of the draft to become a free agent in the same summer he was selected. Seay signed with Tampa Bay in November for around three million dollars and made his MLB debut six years later.

Say one thing for this bunch, they do have a knack for surprising you. Guaranteed now not to lose 100 games, DoUEShift, please DM me with your name and address so I can send you the check for the bet. You hit four home runs, good things happen. To bad they had to use so many pitchers though.

Sure does.

Agee with you which put Getz between a rock and a hard place with no really good option but when you get the chance, you have to take it. It's not like the Sox make the playoffs on a regular basis or even have a winning season regularly since 2007.

Unfortunately my feelings right now are that I'd have to agree with you.

From my interview with Ron: "On July 4 of that year (1976) I was home watching John Candelaria no-hit the Dodgers on TV when some Dodger scouts showed up. I signed with them for five thousand dollars and went to Clinton, Iowa to play. In my first game, in my first at bat, I doubled. Mike Scioscia followed me with a single and as I was sliding home the catcher fell on me. It turned out that his fall broke my neck but I didn’t know it at the time. I was partially paralyzed right after it, I couldn’t lift my arm or anything but I thought it was like a stinger that you get playing football. I sat out for a while and tried to come back but just wasn’t feeling right." "The Dodgers asked if I’d like to go to their team in Canada in the Pioneer League and keep playing. I was trying to build myself back up, remember I still didn’t know how bad I was hurt, and I wanted to play, so I went. After another bad year where I just hurt all the time, the Dodgers released me. I wound up going to some specialists in Chicago and they found that I had three crushed vertebrae and a cracked spinal cord. They were amazed that I even tried to play.” “They couldn’t believe I was even walking. I had the discs fused and was put in that halo device to stabilize my spine. The doctors told me I’d never play any type of sports again. That irritated me because I wanted to play. Before the injury I was a switch hitter with power from both sides of the plate. After the operation I had to give up hitting from the left side because I couldn’t turn my neck as far around anymore." ML: So how did you get back into baseball and with the White Sox? Also is it true that Billy Pierce saw you play and recommended you to Bill Veeck? RK: "I wasn’t going to quit. It took me about a year and a half to build my body back up, I was working as an ironworker and that helped get me in shape. I was up to about 240 pounds at the time. I started playing for a local semipro team in the area. In one game I hit a ball on to interstate I-294, and they said it took a shot about 550 feet to do that. That was with a wooden bat mind you. Supposedly Billy was at that game although I don’t recall seeing him there." "In the fall of 1978 I was invited to try out at Comiskey Park. I remember the Royals were in town. "Minnie" Minoso started things by hitting some balls to me in the outfield. The first one he hit I never saw, it was about five o’clock, the worst time for the sun and it went right past my face. I still don’t know how it didn’t hit me. I showed them I could catch and threw one ball from right center field into the stands so they saw I could throw. Then I grabbed a Wayne Nordhagen bat and stepped in to hit. Bruce Dal Canton was pitching. I hadn’t even swung a bat for a few weeks and I completely missed the first swing. Ron Blomberg was watching me and he said “take your time son and relax.” I wound up hitting 12 balls for home runs including one that went out of the stadium through those open arch windows that they had in the lower deck. The last ball I hit was on the roof. By the time I was finished guys from both teams were lined up watching. I was told that Bill Veeck said that I wasn’t to be allowed to leave until I was signed."

The site posted a story thanking him and saying for now they aren't hiring anyone else.