Lip Man 1

Certainly possible but keep in mind this is Bruce Levine, Chicago's answer to Nightengale. (I.e. a guy who more often than not is wrong...)

The group that owns the Dodgers now comes to mind that franchise was a joke under Fox as I recall.

I've been told a reason Hahn hasn't left is because his wife has told him she doesn't want to move anywhere unless the job is in California which is where she is from. And also I'm hearing the same thing from different folks which surprised me, Hahn actually has authority and runs the club but Kenny has a say and JR has the final say on the major decisions. Also was told Hahn did go to JR when the idea of TLR came up. Told him he didn't think a 76 year old man could take the grind. "But JR signs his paycheck so what can you do?"

My sense is that this person means the Sox should have everything in place after a three year rebuild to really be able to contend like the Astros and Cubs did when they rebuilt. That if all that's left is to "hope" things get better then things have badly gone off the rails. That's what I took out of it.

Like I was told by a current member of the front office, "The Sox are past the point in this rebuild where they should have to "hope" things get better."

DVS of the Sun-Times with the latest on the managerial search. Writes some coaches have been told they can talk with other teams: https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/2022/10/12/23401310/white-sox-managerial-search-perking-up-joe-espada

Your last statement absolutely rings true but I also think you are downplaying the role of team chemistry/accountability. Cleveland didn't have the best talent but those guys hustled, seems to enjoy playing the game and with francona you knew there wasn't going to be a lot of BS.

I suggest part of the reason they underperformed is because there was no one holding them accountable either teammates or the manager. The long term deals may also be making an impact although that depends on the individual player's make up.

You may be closer to the truth than you realize. These are some of the comments I've already been told about this past season for example. Also remember moving guys can not only mean trading but in the Grandal situation DFA'ing much like Keuchel. In order to get honest, unbiased opinions from the folks I'm reaching out to I promised them their names or positions would not be used. What I can say is that all have been associated with the Sox professionally in one way or another sometimes for decades. The reader can judge for themselves the comments. “The problem with this team is there was no real leadership, nobody to hold guys accountable. No red-asses like the Sox had in the past Carlton Fisk, Jack McDowell, A.J. Pierzynski. Paul Konerko was a quiet guy but when we weren’t doing well he’d get really pissed. Andrus tried to supply some leadership when he came and Giolito tried.” “I’d come into the locker room after a game and you couldn’t tell if they won or lost, just nothing.” “You’d go in the locker room and all the Latino guys would be in one place, the whites in another and the African-Americans someplace else.” “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.” “There was a lack of urgency the entire season. People would say the right things but they never translated.” “To me it was the May 9 game with Cleveland, (Sox blew an 8-2, 9th inning lead and lost in extra innings). That showed Cleveland that they could play with the Sox but what I noticed was the only person that game seemed to bother was Tony LaRussa. Another one was the Triple Play Game against the Twins. 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.”

For what its worth the people I'm speaking to to try to make sense of the past season and how important the off season is for an upcoming story are saying that somehow, someway the Sox need to move Grandal, Moncada and Anderson.

Had an hour and a half conversation tonight with another person who has been around the organization. I can tell you the comments reinforced the notion that I hearing from others, that this front office is basically dysfunctional and that even includes people in the scouting, development and ancillary departments.

So much for Hahn's comment about wanting someone from a winning organization.

Very true and with the WBC this year again a number of players are going to have a shortened off season.

Probably both.

True, he's now in the Tampa organization.

Based on what I've seen these guys aren't the smartest baseball players around, and I mean that from a purely baseball standpoint.

I have no definitive information on this yet anyway but I'm guessing while the ISFA has a say in things the Sox have the deciding opinion since they are the only client who uses the facility. I do know for example that when the Cubs were thinking about a complete renovation about the time the concrete started falling it was speculated that they could play their games in the Sox facility during the remodel. JR said no stopping that idea before it started so obviously he has a lot of say, maybe the only say in these type matters.

I understand the angst, but I also understand Jose is in his mid 30's and only hit 15 home runs this year. To my mind that's to much of a gamble.

I've been told details on this situation and am trying to get more confirmation. What I can say is that the Sox have an "option" on Jason for the 2023 and 2024 seasons but as of right now there is no signed contract. His deal with Fox is causing some issues with some members of the front office because of the number of days he needs to be "off" working for them instead of doing Sox games. Jason tried to avoid this situation by wanting to work out his White Sox deal first but was told to go ahead and get his other deals done, then get back to the Sox and they'd work out something. It sounds like Jason isn't at fault here if what I'm being told is accurate. And the individuals I've spoken with (and will speak with more this coming week) really don't know what Stone's status will be either since his deal is up.

For what it's worth I had a 45 minute discussion yesterday afternoon with a source and one of the questions/issues I asked about was this season and the "leadership" issue. Here was the response: “The problem with this team is there was no real leadership, nobody to hold guys accountable. No red-asses like the Sox had in the past... Early Wynn, Jim Landis, Carlton Fisk, Jack McDowell, A.J. Pierzynski. Paul Konerko was a quiet guy but when we weren’t doing well he’d get really pissed. Andrus tried to supply some leadership when he came and Lynn and Giolito tried.” “I’d come into the locker room after a game and you couldn’t tell if they won or lost, just nothing.” “You’d go in the locker room and all the Latino guys would be in one place, the whites in another and the African-Americans someplace else.”

Brooks Boyer is in the White Sox front office, he's just not on the baseball side of the operations. I'm not saying by the way this situation has anything to do with him one way or the other. It should also be noted that at least in the past JR has been involved in this area, that's the reason Dave Wills left and took the Tampa Bay job. People in the front office wanted him to start doing the Sox games but JR never gave his approval for some reason. Dave got tired of waiting which I certainly understand.

It's very possible but remember for 40+ seasons JR has always been involved in the major decisions. That's a hard habit to break. My guess he stays out of it but when the rubber meets the road he'll be the guy to say yes or no on the final candidate.

History in MLB is full of young teams that won more games than expected but instead of continuing to move up in the win column took a step or two back before figuring things out. Perfect example the 1990-1993 White Sox.

Allowing one run in 24 innings of work is damn impressive.

Fair point but from what I'm being told the broadcasters are negotiating with Sox front office staff members (was given very specific names) and not the respective individual radio or TV stations. In a few weeks when I come out with the story I'll give a specific example involving Jason who's contract has expired although the club (I was specifically told "the club") has the option on him for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.