Lip Man 1

Suggest you let brooks know about your experiences. It won't hurt I guess.

His arrogance and gall are pretty amazing considering his track record of failure. But as I've said that attitude permeates this organization and has been publicly revealed time and again over the years from folks like JR to Kenny to Hahn to Ozzie, Don Cooper...you name it.

Fans is short for fanatics for a reason. I've been a fan for 63 years (I'm 67) born and raised on the South Side. I'm also loyal to the team that going back to very early in my childhood has been a big part of my memory. That being said I find myself drifting more to what you are suggesting (which personally is very unnerving to me) I want to take pride in the Sox, to enjoy a baseball summer and this incompetent, dysfunctional and inept organization keeps ruining that not only for me but for a lot of other good Sox fans. Like I said it's a hell of a position to be in.

April 15, 1954 - The White Sox reintroduced baseball to Baltimore for the first time since 1902 as they played the new Baltimore Orioles as their first home opponent. The franchise had moved from St. Louis that off season. Virgil “Fire” Trucks got the start for the White Sox but the O’s beat them 3-1 on the afternoon starting a run of numerous unfortunate, strange and bizarre happenings at Memorial Stadium over the next 37 seasons. April 15, 1972 - The labor impasse, over the pension plan, caused regularly scheduled games to be cancelled for the first time ever. Opening day was consequently pushed back. The Sox opened in Kansas City and lost to the Royals 2-1 in 11 innings despite Dick Allen’s first White Sox home run. Allen blasted a shot in the ninth inning off Dick Drago to give the team a brief 1-0 lead. Kansas City would tie the game with two out in the ninth inning on a Bob Oliver home run off Wilbur Wood, then go on to win the game. The Sox would drop three consecutive one run games to the Royals to start the season, two in extra innings, but would end up with 87 wins in only 154 games and battle the eventual World Series champion Oakland A’s until the end of September. This series also marked the Major League debut for future Hall of Fame pitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage who pitched a scoreless inning in relief the next day for the White Sox. April 15, 1983 - Former Cub pitcher, Milt Wilcox had his perfect game ruined with two out in the ninth inning at Comiskey Park. Sox pinch hitter Jerry Hairston ripped a clean single up the middle. It was the only hit of the night for the Sox who lost to Detroit 6-0. It was only the third time, at that time, a perfect game was ruined with one out to go. Sox star pitcher Billy Pierce being one of the other two pitchers to have that happen to him when he lost his to the Senators on June 27, 1958. April 15, 1985 - In a game at Boston, pinch hitter Jerry Hairston collected his 51st safety in that role, setting the franchise record. Jerry would lead the league in pinch hits from 1983 through 1985 and would retire with 87 of them in his career. He also hit the last home run to set off Bill Veeck’s original exploding scoreboard in October 1981 and he hit it off future Sox pitching coach Don Cooper who was with the Twins. Hairston’s blast was a grand slam. April 15, 2006 – It was an incredible play. In the ninth inning of a game at U.S. Cellular Field against Toronto, Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi had to charge in on a slowly hit ball by Bengie Molina. His momentum carried him forward and because of it he left his feet and starting falling to the ground. Before he hit the field though, he got a throw off, despite being parallel to the playing surface. His throw was strong enough to get Molina at first. The Sox would win the game 4-2.

I know I posted the link to the entire column, so everyone can get the benefit of Rick's wisdom. ?

Sox fans are in a hell of a position aren't they? Knowing this bunch of stiffs and clowns aren't going to win, having to hope a disastrous season leads to massive changes...but knowing even under those conditions change isn't likely at all.

Every time Rick opens his smug mouth I dislike him even more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/white-sox/ct-chicago-white-sox-baltimore-orioles-20230415-5taix33nlfcediifdadd2cq2ri-story.html

Quote of the Night: “I don’t want to say we just beat ourselves, but it feels like every game we kind of feel like we beat ourselves,” Mike Clevinger said. It's called fundamentals and not being "baseball-stupid" Mike. The Sox are bad in the first and great in the second.

Part of me still wants (hopes) the Sox can turn it around and at least have a winning season...something, ANYTHING to take some pride in. But part of me also wants them to lose as many games in as humiliating a way as possible to be completely embarrassed. The problem with that though is even if that were to happen it wouldn't change a thing...JR won't sell while he's alive, Kenny still hasn't retired and Hahn won't be fired. A hell of a position for a fan to be in isn't it?

Sox players have been "baseball-stupid" for years. It's part of the issue. Garfein in his last podcast was lamenting how bad their fundamentals are.

The Sox have now had two games where they led in the 7th inning or later and lost. Diekman has been instrumental in both of those games, both lost in the 7th inning. And here's something that's being lost, granted injuries, but the Sox offense has now scored three runs or less in seven of the 14 games played. 50%. And four of the last five games. If memory serves they were around or exactly at 50% in this same category last year. Maybe it wasn't all TLR?

Never happen in a million years. The arrogance of the FO/ownership knows no bounds...they'll probably blame the fan base in some way and then of course, the easy excuse of "injuries." As if other teams don't get guys hurt but still win.

Maybe when Crochet becomes available he'll be let go but another stunning talent acquisition failure by the G.M.

Good point.

Five out after two weeks. At this rate the Sox will be DOA by June 1.

I concede the point, well played. Allow me to divide the statement. I get the sense Burger wants to play, I don't get the same impression about Moncada and provided statements from others close to the organization who feel the same way.

No one said that, talk about making an assumption. LOL............................. Burger has overcome two serious injuries, career enders in some cases given what's happened to guys in the NBA who had it. And he and his wife just had a kid if I remember right. Moncada fouls a ball off his leg, acts like it needs to be amputated and then can't play for three days. Give me a break. Again if I remember right to Sox will owe this stiff 18 million next year. I've been around athletes for over 40 years in the business at both the pro and college level, I think I have a good idea of someone who gives a damn. Moncada does not.

From my State of the Sox story published in November. I spoke with six sources all connected to the organization in some capacity sometimes for decades: “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.” “In 2016 when the rebuild started I thought he (Rick Hahn) did the right thing and he deserved credit for that. I also thought at the time that giving out those long-term deals was good. No one could have foreseen how those contracts impacted those guys and their effort." "Another one was the Triple Play Game against the Twins. (Author’s Note: The Sox ran themselves into an 8-5 triple play on July 4. They wound up losing the game 6-3 in extra innings) Adam Engel faced the music afterwards, he made a mistake and owned up to it. Moncada who also made a mistake was nowhere, he was already gone. Then the next day he was saying that he didn’t know people wanted to talk with him.” “It could happen, maybe there’s a 5% chance this front office could get it right. But first the front office has to admit they made mistakes. The catcher (Yamani Grandal), third baseman (Moncada) and shortstop (Tim Anderson) need to go. They need to get guys with a higher baseball acumen, the lack of urgency, the way they beat themselves this season was embarrassing".

I saw where the Penguins fired both their GM and Team President for missing the playoffs for the first time in I think 18 years earlier today. They had 91 points and a winning record this season. Accountability. Meanwhile Rick Hahn who has literally wasted millions of dollars and had produced only two winning seasons in 10 years still has a job. Only in the world of the White Sox.

Cliff Floyd had the White Sox among his "no-trade" clause teams in his contract. Which was shocking given that he grew up on the South Side and said his favorite player was Harold Baines.

He's been assigned to Charlotte.

Like I say take care of yourself and hope to be alive to see the changes.

Burger is an issue defensively no question. But unlike Moncada I get the sense Burger at least wants to play and to try to provide for his family. To me that's a big deal even though Moncada has far more talent. But what good is it when the guy is supposedly always hurt?

Solak has been assigned to Charlotte. Didn't know much about him but Jim Margalus of Sox Machine did a deep dive into today's moves. Don't expect miracles from Solak is basically what he writes. Guy is defensively challenged and outside of a small stretch with Texas can't hit: https://soxmachine.com/2023/04/white-sox-reinstate-eloy-jimenez-from-il-shelve-yoan-moncada/

You are right, no guarantees with new ownership that anything will change. But we know how things have deteriorated under the ownership since 2007. I'll take my chances.