Lip Man 1

Just some random thoughts from today: Ugly, ugly game but a win is a win, three straight series wins now, something they simply have to do from here on out. They have no more wiggle room. Bummer has been on the IL (yet again) for over two months, he finally gets off it and promptly lives up to his name. For a guy who supposedly has unhittable stuff he sure gives up runs. People overlook the fact the Sox gave him a big money deal and he's not living up to it in my opinion. 3-8 RISP, not bad especially for the Sox and also three extra base hits. Don't know what to make of Kopech's performance today. He was sailing along and then...I don't know what the numbers say but my impression is that he's bitten by a big inning a lot. granted in the 4th the usual Sox defense showed up. On to Oakland where the Sox have struggled even against horrid A's teams for lord knows how long. Have to win at least two games...at least. 13 more wins for a "winning" season...I know, that's some comedown from a "World Series contender" isn't it?

Just playing Devil's Advocate, the Sox have had a hole in right field for the last several seasons. How did they try to fill it? Nomar Mazara and Adam Eaton. No guarantees they'll do anything to try to correct the situation in 2022 off season.

The scary thing is, knowing this organization, if they only finish a few games out, they'll use injuries and a shortened spring training as a crutch to basically have the same unit try again next year, which would be year four of this contention window (and most folks feel the window is only going to be open for six years barring new ownership)

I found this line in DVS's story interesting: As one team source told the Sun-Times recently, everyone from the players to the coaching staff to the front office felt ‘‘drained’’ by the climate surrounding a team that had World Series aspirations in spring training, as well as its record.

I'd like for them to do it and DFA Garcia!

I'm guessing Sully is being facetious based on his other columns basically ripping the Sox for hiring him in the first place.

A desultory effort tonight back to three out. And they need to shut Robert down for the rest of the year. Guy needs five months to try to get healthy if he can, which frankly I don't know if he's capable of doing that. it's always something with him and a few others on this club.

Nice solid win for the Sox but how concerning is it that Hendriks seem to be giving up a run every time he pitches? And it's a small sample size but if Andrus keeps this up, I'd like to see the Sox try to re-sign him and lose Harrison and Garcia. Perhaps he could play second next year?

Very true but you also have to consider (and no one really knows for sure) how much real authority Hahn has. Remember KW famous quote (paraphrasing) 'When JR wants to know something he calls me...' For all we know, and I'm certainly not defending him, with this dysfunctional organization the folks you say should have been hired/fired he may not have been allowed to do so. (Small possibility I grant you but it is there.) Personally the Sox need a major housecleaning on the baseball side because they have lost credibility with much of the fan base. They need to do what then owner John Allyn did in September 1970.

Everyone knows I am not a Rick Hahn apologist but like with Frank Thomas I can't blame the Sox in this case. The injury risk was to great. If someone is to blame first and foremost it's JR and his self-imposed payroll limitations which probably prevented Hahn from even thinking about extending the QO. Where Hahn deserves blame, in my opinion, is the fact that the best he could do to try to replace him was Vince Velasquez. A guy who in five years or so in the big leagues has never been anything but mediocre at best. There were other possibilities out there.

Twins starter Dylan Bundy improved to 3-0 with a 1.77 ERA in his last four starts against the Sox. Another mediocre stiff who somehow becomes a Cy Young candidate when facing the Sox. That's just embarrassing.

M's playing baseball the "White Sox way..." ?

Little things, fundamentals win games. Something the Sox should certainly learn...except this organization seemingly doesn't consider them important.

DVS of the Sun-Times wrote if TLR's medical results were done Hahn was supposed to speak to the media before friday's game. Guess they still don't know what's going on (which is what happened with Roberts "lightheadedness."

If I had to guess, simply my opinion there's three reasons for his struggles (in no particular order): Had put on 20 pounds of muscle and it has altered his mechanics His contract situation, remember how he said he was angry with what the Sox were contesting? Bad, lousy Sox defense which has put him in some tough situations.

Hearing just a few minutes ago the best guess for roster moves this week is that Bummer and Moncada are activated with Peyton and Haseley sent back out. That from one of the beat writers. No word on Kopech. Cairo also said pregame Robert will be in the lineup Monday if his wrist is OK. (Haven't we heard THAT before about a half dozen times...)

Lack of a competent fifth starter cost the Sox playoffs spots in both 2003 and 1996, moreso in 03 but they were a factor in the Sox blowing a 40-21 start in 1996. And I remember the Rogers situation, his agent wanted a million from the Sox...KW said "no."

I just want the Sox to conduct a real search for once but from what I've heard from as far back as last year from some folks who follow the club as a profession Cairo is in line for the job when TLR leaves. If he is truly the right guy, fine...but at least bring in outside candidates, talk with them, pick their brains and see what happens.

Well they won the series, but with time running out just winning a series only does you so much...they need to start sweeping series. Frustrated again by a soft tossing stiff that other teams seem to have little trouble figuring out. And yes the Sox are stuck with guys like Garcia and Diekman.

Naturally. And we'll see if the Sox can finally get to Bundy, a guy who seems pretty bad against everyone else in baseball but looks like a Cy Young candidate when he throws against the Sox.

There have been seven times when a Sox pitcher lost a no-hitter with two out in the 9th inning: "Sleepy" Bill Burns at Washington 1909 Ted Lyons at Washington 1925 Orval Grove Comiskey Park vs. Yankees 1943 Billy Pierce (perfect game) Comiskey Park vs. Washington 1958 Stan Bahnsen at Cleveland 1973 Ken Brett at Aanheim 1976 Dylan Cease Guaranteed Rate Field 2022 ---------- July 31, 1909 - In the first game of a double header in Washington, Sox pitcher “Sleepy” Bill Burns lost a no-hitter with two out in the ninth inning as he gave up a hit to outfielder George Browne. Burns finished with a two-hitter and a 1-0 win. If that name sounds familiar, Burns would later go on to help foster the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal. He had the idea to approach gambler Arnold Rothstein to bankroll the conspiracy. September 19, 1925 - The White Sox set the franchise record (since tied) for the largest shutout margin in team history when they blanked the Senators 17-0 at Washington. The game was the back half of a twin bill. Ted Lyons would throw a one-hitter, losing his no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning on a bloop single to right by Bobby Veach. Earl Sheely had the big offensive game going 4 for 6 with four RBI’s and two runs scored. The Sox had a seven run, second inning and an eight run, fifth inning. July 8, 1943 - Sox pitcher Orval Grove almost got himself a no-hitter and against the Yankees to boot. Joe Gordon’s bloop double with two out in the ninth spoiled it, but Grove did win the game 1-0 at Comiskey Park. It ran his record to 7-0 at the time. He’d finish 15-9 with a 2.75 ERA. June 27, 1958 - He came so close to perfection. Sox left hander Billy Pierce fired four one-hitters in his brilliant career, but he never came closer than on this night to baseball immortality. With two out in the ninth inning, Pierce lost a perfect game as the Senators Ed Fitz Gerald, a pinch hitter, doubled down the first base line on the first pitch thrown. The hit was fair by a foot off a low outside breaking ball. The crowd at Comiskey Park stared in disbelief. The Sox won 3-0 but Pierce never came closer to pitching the ultimate masterpiece. On the night the Senators only hit six balls out of the infield. Pierce struck out nine and only went to a three-ball count on two hitters. The game took 1:46 to play and was Billy’s third straight shutout. Another historical oddity… Fitz Gerald’s grandfather was an important businessman in Milwaukee, including the shipping industry. Years later a ship would be named after him. The name of the ship? The Edmund Fitz Gerald. (Cue the song from Gordon Lightfoot!) August 21, 1973 - Sox pitcher Stan Bahnsen took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Cleveland. After getting the first two outs, former Sox outfielder Walt Williams got a ground single to left past third baseman Bill Melton. Melton inexplicably, was playing in, anticipating a possible bunt from Williams who later said under no circumstances would he try to break up a no-hitter by bunting late in the game. Stan then got the final out finishing with a one-hitter in the 4-0 win. May 26, 1976 - Recently acquired pitcher Ken Brett nearly threw a perfect game and then a no-hitter, only to lose it on a controversial ruling by the official scorer. In a night game in Anaheim, Brett had a perfect game for almost eight complete innings before walking Leroy Stanton. Then with two out in the ninth inning of a scoreless game, Jerry Remy hit a ground ball that Sox third baseman George Orta badly misplayed, with the ball going under his glove. Official scorer Don Merry of the Long Beach Independent Telegram called it a hit. Other writers disagreed with the ruling, the Sox players were incensed and announcer Harry Caray went crazy on the air but the decision stood. Former Sox player Bill Melton would get a clean single with one gone in the 10th inning ending the controversy. The Sox would finally win it 1-0 in 11 innings on a single by Russell “Bucky” Dent. It was their 10th straight victory. September 3, 2022 – He had been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball for the season and on this night, Dylan Cease turned it up a notch against the Twins. Cease had a no-hitter with two out in the ninth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field before a slider cut to much of the plate to Luis Arraez. Arraez didn’t miss it, driving a solid single into right center field ending the no-hit possibility. Cease would finish with a brilliant one-hitter in the Sox 13-0 win. Cease struck out seven in the game recording his 13th win of the year.

Absolutely correct. How many times have we heard this, this season? Then the Sox go out and do things like lose 10 of 19 to the Royals.

A person who appears to have good knowledge of the tax situation posted this here at the site. The difference could be around 200,000 million dollars if JR's family sells the team after he has died in tax savings. here is what they wrote: “In paying the estate tax, Michael Reinsdorf will get a step up in basis to the current market value of the franchise, which will be whatever it is valued at on the estate tax return, so that when he sells, the capital gains tax will be $0. If Jerry Reinsdorf sells now, he has to pay capital gains tax, then the estate has to pay tax on the proceeds. Using a two-billion-dollar example: Jerry’s capital gains tax= $2 billion - $19 million = $1.981 billion X 20% capital gains tax = $396.2 million. Jerry’s estate tax on sale= $1.585 billion X 40% estate tax = $634 million. Total tax paid if he sells while still alive= $1 billion dollars (not counting Illinois state tax!) If Michael (Reinsdorf family) sells the team after Jerry has passed again using two-billion-dollars: Jerry’s estate tax on the franchise interest= $2 billion X 40% = $800 million. Michael’s capital gains tax on sale of team= $2 billion - $2 billion = $0 X 20% = $0. Total tax paid if the family sells after death= $800 million dollars (with no state tax paid!) Obviously those numbers are for the full franchise and since he doesn’t own the full franchise, the numbers would probably be less, but the tax savings would be similar.” JR is no fool...he's not selling.

Can't pitch any better then he did tonight, joins Billy Pierce, Stan Bahnsen, Ted Lyons and a few other guys who came within one out of pulling it off. Kid has been nails the entire season.

On paper (notice I said on paper) the G.M. has authority over the field manager. If that isn't the case with the Sox (and it probably isn't) Hahn is even more spineless then I first realized.