Lip Man 1

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 03:13 PM) A single late-season game assures jack squat. Any pitcher can have one really good game. Remember when Humber threw a perfect game? He's not pitching anywhere now. Agreed. However it does give teams the impression that if they can get Shark away from the clown college known as the White Sox, he could turn it around. The talent obviously is there. Mark

Have no idea what they'll be able to do. Free agent list isn't impressive in the areas they need. They'll probably have less money to work with given season tickets holders, many, won't be back. Still far to many black holes in the lineup. Starting pitching may be an issue as well if they trade Q. Yet they'll try to sell the fans on the notion of "contending" next year. Maybe the best thing they can do, maybe the only thing is to bring in an experienced manager who has won in the past and let him bring in his own coaching staff. Maybe they can get more out of what the Sox already have. That and removing Kenny completely from interfering. Mark

Nice to get some wins but this team has still scored three runs or less in five of their last six games (so what else is new?) Hadn't checked this in awhile so I took a look. Sox have played 150 games this year, in 75 of them (50%) they have scored three runs or less. Mark

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Sep 20, 2015 -> 09:23 AM) We are talking about the same Viciedo that we could not wait to get rid of just last winter, right? I take his AAA numbers with a grain of salt. If the Sox thought there was something there he would have been called up. Shows you how desperate things are. Mark

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 20, 2015 -> 02:07 PM) Oh I'm sure they won't do that. They'll spend some money and bring Alexei back and say that they're ready to go and they're going to compete for the wild card. Left unsaid will be the extra clause "We're ready to go to compete for the wild card.....just like we were in 2015". Remember it's a "three year plan" LOL. Mark

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 04:42 PM) They also have made some poor choices in terms of how guys would fit into the clubhouse/get along with coaches. Orlando Cabrera, Swisher, Samardzija are prime examples. At least Cabrera performed on the field. personally I think clubhouse chemistry is over rated. The "Swingin' A" of the early / mid 70's hated each other. yet they won three straight World Series. It's about talent, pure and simple. The Sox have very little of it. Mark

32 years ago tonight (back when the Sox were actually a good franchise) they won the West and went to the playoffs for the first time since 1959: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2015/09/t...e-west-was-won/ Mark

Former Sox announcer Milo Hamilton passed away today at the age of 88. Called MLB games for 60 years, second longest to Scully. Here is a link to my interview with him: http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/rwas/in...=11&id=3133 Mark

By the Numbers: 10th time this year Sox lost a game when leading in the 7th inning or later (and the first time didn't happen until May 26th) Second time Robertson gave up a three run home run in the 9th inning to lose a game. 7th blown save this year for Robertson. It's simply the White Sox...no matter who they bring in the results are exactly the same. Mark

Jim Thome's 500th home run from September 16: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2015/09/t...500th-home-run/ Mark

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 15, 2015 -> 08:13 PM) It really is remarkable how these acquisitions of stable consistent vets keep becoming the worst players in baseball as white sox. More bad luck I guess. Nothing we can do. Or maybe it has something to do with the manager and his coaching staff as well...luck only comes into play so much. Mark

Wish Ozzie the best as long as it's not with the Sox. Mark

In fairness to Robertson keep in mind Ventura hasn't used him well this year at all. He'll pitch him three days in a row than sit him for a week because the Sox can't consistently put him in a situation where he can pitch regularly. And I understand X-Rays are negative on Thompson...shoulder sprain, day to day (as are we all...) Mark

Sox thought they were facing Bob Gibson today apparently. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 10:09 PM) Somebody at sox fest should ask KW or Hahn if they feel confident the Sox can survive that long road trip to start next season over .500. I mean I don't want to be a broken record (already) but are any of you confident the Sox can get through those first 13 games better than 5-8? or 4-9? That would immediately tell the fanbase and the world that .500 remains the best case scenario for the season. And those games aren't even full of Central teams, which normally mean tons of Losses. Maybe managers don't matter at all. But I have no confidence Robin's troops can even play .500 ball the first 2-3 weeks of April. That would fit right in with the franchise recent track record. They haven't had a "winning" month of April since 2009 and that was only one game over .500. Mark

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 11:25 AM) Absolutely agree DA and you make a great point about the money saved by Samardzija rejecting the Sox extension. Do you think this means the could extend the payroll some for next season? Imo, they should since, as you said, they had money allocated for the extension but since that money has not been spent and the Sox are in need of hitting, there should be some money available towards bringing in a positional player to help the offense. Not necessarily through FA but maybe acquire a player through trade. Keep in mind though some (perhaps most) of those who bought season ticket plans after last winter's spending spree may not be back after seeing this stinkfest. That's less money to work with since the Sox historically won't go much into the red if at all. Mark

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 05:16 PM) True, and the fans don't have to justify why they stay away from his ballpark in droves. It cuts both ways. Tell that to Kenny and Cooper who have had negative things to say about the fan base on at least four occasions this season. That's part of the Sox M.O. in my opinion. 1. Never admit you screwed up... 2. Blame Sox fans... Mark

QUOTE (harkness @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 09:13 PM) Another inspired home stand in September under ventura..no reason whatsoever to keep this guy around. . In JR's mind there's a big reason... probably a few million of them......it's called being under contract for next year. Mark

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 09:55 PM) They need to find a way to determine if a player is a mental midget. Too much choke, need more clutch. I've found that guys who are "mental midgets" are generally poor at baseball fundamentals and simply don't know how to play the game. The Sox have them by the bushel full. Which explains a lot to me. Again it comes back to accountability. There is very little showing in this franchise right now. I understand you can't fine players for doing stupid things and not executing like Richards, Lopez and Stanky could do but you sure can bench guys, or send them back down to the minor leagues. Instead we get another game where guys like Ramirez, LaRoche and Melky are in the lineup instead of kids who need seasoning and to see what they can do. Mark

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Sep 10, 2015 -> 07:14 AM) Who? Anytime I've seen his name come up, it's because that's the type of guy the FO will hire. Not because that's who the person actually wants them to hire. The typical post is "I'd like to see them hire ____ or ____ but they'll probably just hire someone like Jim Thome instead". I don't know if Thome would be interested, I've never heard or read him say anything on the subject one way or another. I do know that Thome is very well respected and liked by JR, that he is an advisor to the team and that they are close. Tony LaRussa told me that he and JR and Thome have had dinner together and that Jim's passion for the franchise was clearly evident. Make of that what you will. He does fit the profile though. Remember before Kenny talked Ventura into taking the job he offered it to Konerko as a "player-manager." Paul turned him down saying it would be to much for one guy. Let's put it this way, I wouldn't be surprised to see Thome be offered the job at some point in the future. It would be so White Sox (i.e. we're smarter than everyone else with our hirings...) Mark

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Sep 9, 2015 -> 10:17 AM) Win 75 games? The team this year is on pace to win 78 despite several players having their worst season of their careers. What reasons do you think there are for a possible regression? The young players (Sanchez, Saladino, Garcia, Thompson) will have more experience and should improve. Abreu, Sale, Quintana, Eaton, Cabrera, Danks, Flowers and Ramirez are going to give you roughly the same performance if not better. The likelihood of LaRoche being as bad isn't good. I don't think Erik Johnson will have any trouble being as good if not better than Samardzija this year and the bullpen should be roughly the same. That's if they make zero moves which we all know is not going to happen. This team will ABSOLUTELY plan on competing next year. Briefly since I have to get to a radio show (I'm a co-host) Sox have little power, are bad defensively, bad at base running, baseball stupid regarding fundamentals, will not go to a manager who can in essence 'crack the whip' and maybe help players get better. They have black holes at catcher, DH, third base. Will need another starting pitcher with Shark leaving. RF can't seem to stay healthy. Middle infield is still young and learning (assuming Ramirez is gone). The free agent market is poor this off season, if they trade a pitcher they weaken that position (many are advocating they trade Q), will probably have less money to work with since I expect many season ticket holders not to renew. That's a lot to overcome and with this management / front office I don't think they can. Sorry, that's just my opinion. Mark

Quick bottom line take on Ramirez. If you think the Sox will contend next year, maybe you sign him and hope for the best. If not, you don't. Why sign him and take away playing time for youngsters in order to win 75 games? Personally, I don't think Kenny is going anywhere. Robin isn't going anywhere. This team has gaping holes to fill at catcher, third base, DH and they are going to need another starting pitcher (Shark is gone). They are going to have to do this with less money since a lot of folks who bought season tickets this off season aren't coming back. JR is also still going to be "heavily involved" (Hahn's words from yesterday) is trying to fix this as well. I don't think the Sox are going to contend next season either...so why waste money on Ramirez? Mark

In that memorable season of 1983 on September 9th the Sox did something they had never done before in franchise history. You can listen to it by clicking on this link: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2015/09/t...to-back-homers/ Mark

Found this comment to be interesting in the Tribune today from Rick Hahn: Hahn said the Sox will be careful not to overreact and create more problems when they make their changes, given that they still believe they have some of the pieces in place needed to win. He said Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who was “heavily involved” in their offseason restructuring last winter, has asked for their plan to get back on track. Mark

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Sep 9, 2015 -> 06:40 AM) Stats don't lie, it's your eyes that twist things and make you see what you want to see. The stats say Alexei has been one of the better shortstops in baseball since 2009. I think I'll trust the stats a little more than basing my opinion off an offhand comment by one of our broadcasters. Stats don't lie but people do and as stated can twist them into whatever they choose to make of them. To me baseball is more than a game of numbers and all you have to do is look at the boneheaded plays Ramirez has made over the years (including his 360 spin this year in Toronto which was very humorous) to see he checks out of games on a regular basis, can't hit in cold weather and always seems to have some sort of issue impacting his performance. Again with respect, I've seen enough of him and it's time to move on. Speaking of stats, here's one for you. Last I looked Ramirez was next to last in WAR among all qualifying shortstops in MLB, 25th out of 26. Baseball is more than offense, there's defense, base running and simply knowing the game. Ramirez has had some very nice offensive seasons. Those are counterbalanced by his "baseball - stupidness" The Sox have had a lot of those guys to be sure but Alexei may be the poster boy for that. Which is why I say his career has been a disappointment. He showed so much in 2008. Oh well. Mark