Lip Man 1

Again attendance is important but not as important as it was the outside revenue sources both domestic and international have never been higher now that MLB is a 10 billion dollar industry.

August 8, 1914 - The Sox purchased the contract of outfielder Oscar “Happy” Felsch from Milwaukee for $19,000 dollars. Felsch, an outstanding glove man and hitter, would become part of history by his participation in the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal which ended his career when he was banned for life due to his involvement in it. August 8, 1976 - With the Sox in last place and going nowhere owner Bill Veeck pulled out another wacky promotion. For the first time a Major League team played a game wearing shorts as the Sox beat the Royals 5-2 at Comiskey Park in the first game of a double header. The Sox would wear shorts two other times, both against the Orioles on August 21 and 22. The Sox record in the three games was 2-1; maybe they should have worn them more often since they finished the season with 97 losses! No other big-league team has worn them since. August 8, 1977 – He was arguably the best manager in the history of the franchise. Al Lopez took his place in the Hall of Fame on this day. Lopez managed the Sox from 1957 to 1965 coming over after the Indians fired him. He also managed in parts of the 1968 and 1969 seasons. Lopez compiled 840 wins and a win percentage of .564. He won the 1959 A.L. pennant, had three consecutive seasons from 1963 to 1965 where the Sox averaged 96 wins and had five second place finishes. He worked a game through his assistant coaches and emphasized fundamentals and if a player didn’t perform… he didn’t play… period. August 8, 1994 - With time running out for labor peace, Sports Illustrated put Frank Thomas on the cover along with future Sox outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. The caption stated, “Top Guns. Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey Jr. Two powerful reasons to keep playing ball.” Their plea would fall on deaf ears as the following week, baseball shut down ending the season. August 8, 2021 – The White Sox put on a show for a national TV audience on ABC Sunday Night Baseball by pounding the Cubs 9-3 and sweeping the weekend series at Wrigley Field. The game marked the first regular season baseball broadcast by that network since August 1995. The Sox jumped out early hammering three first inning home runs by Tim Anderson, Eloy Jimenez and Andrew Vaughn. It was the first time the Sox hit three first inning home runs on the road in franchise history. Jimenez would go 3 for 4 with two runs scored, five RBI’s and a pair of home runs against his old organization.

I posted links from stories that have his quotes in the thread titled recapping the day.

And finally Jim Margalus of Sox machine with his usual detailed in-depth analysis: https://soxmachine.com/2023/08/keynan-middleton-blasts-white-sox-and-he-cant-be-ignored/

True but this year he seems to have gotten worse, I mean seven more tonight.

Exactly and Middleton doubled down on his comments tonight, he didn't back away from them.

And Paul Sullivan of the Tribune takes a look at the strangeness today: https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/white-sox/ct-chicago-white-sox-culture-jerry-reinsdorf-rick-hahn-20230808-r7evzirz5fdkrhozekttilmp4i-story.html

That remains to be seen doesn't it? If I had to bet, I'd wager he returns for next year which is supposedly the final year of his deal again as G.M.

Just shocked that Cease has lost control of his pitches this year and is walking guys left and right.

Couple points to consider: Middleton doubled down on his comments tonight to the media and Lance Lynn in L.A. confirmed what Middleton said on A.J.'s podcast along with telling the media in L.A. the same story.

With the money he's owed that's not happening. Sox will get him scheduled for surgery, hope he is OK next year and try to move him at the deadline.

Steve Greenberg of the Sun-Times recaps the day. Middleton stands by his comments...Jerry Reinsdorf is even quoted! (all be it very, VERY briefly ?) https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/8/7/23823911/white-sox-rick-hahn-pedro-grifol-keynan-middleton-lance-lynn

At this point nothing surprises me anymore. The "face of the franchise..."

For what its worth I just heard back from a longtime source who has had connections with the White Sox for decades in a professional position. They know what has been going on: "Really is a mess. The powers that be continue to put a spin on it that they have been aware of the issues. That may be true but they continue to do nothing about it. The incompetency is unreal, yet they continue to have jobs. Really sad and I feel for a handful of people who are still there and have to deal with it. Front office morale is brutal. They continue to nickel and dime people and I know of a good number of very loyal fans that are done with their season tickets. Truly a shame."

Thank you for doing this!

Even a "journalist" needs to have some standards regardless of who they are employed by. I know a little something about this I've been in the sports media since 1979. I work for Idaho State University as one of their broadcasters but I still have a responsibility to the public. When the team is playing badly I have a responsibility to say so. I know Scott, have met him a few times, we were at a banquet together for one example and he's a good guy but his friendship with Hahn because both went to Michigan is clouding his professional judgement. And Riordan is just an idiot. He's a producer not in my book a real member of the media. (He thinks he is though)

According to DVS of the Sun-Times this is his fourth suspension in the past five years.

Merkin especially.

He refused to report for a minor league rehab assignment claiming (seriously) he was distraught over an entertainers death. Ozzie threw all of his stuff from his locker into the hallway.

Free of charge: I sent it to some friends and they posted it on You Tube.

It was Jon Rauch before a game ended. Kenny immediately released him when he found out.

“The Sox play checkers where others teams play chess” when it comes to injury prevention, conditioning, nutrition, sleep schedules is a phrase I had heard mentioned.

You're assuming the Sox conduct themselves like a major league team. Many would wonder if that is the case with this organization.

Incompetent, dysfunctional and inept from top to bottom. Chuck's podcast this week should be epic indeed.

Agreed. Should have been done months ago but these are the White Sox who were desperately grasping at anything to try to save the season.