Lip Man 1

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.

One example I was told was that JR wasn't given all the needed information on the Guaranteed Rate stadium deal from a financial standpoint. Wintrust actually made a better offer. Was told there are certain members of the front office that are angling for the presidency of the franchise. Also given specifics of issues with broadcasters being told certain things were agreed to in contracts then later those agreements were changed. Resulted in things like Ed Farmer getting into a screaming match with Sox front office people at the stadium. Got to the point where broadcasters were going to JR to explain what was happening and he said he doesn't want to hear/deal with this anymore. I'm continuing to speak with people next week trying to sort out truth from fiction.

Haven't read the original story but I can tell you from people I've been speaking with for an upcoming story that there does appear to be a lot of counter productive things going on involving the Sox front office, the broadcasters et al. It really isn't a good situation in what is a very important off season.

Given its the Sox, who knows how hurt he was or even what exactly was wrong. Hendriks did say publicly to the mainstream media that's he's been pitching with a forearm issue for years and its not making an impact. He said (paraphrasing) 'The nerve hasn't moved, the elbow is fine... some guys can't pitch through it, some can. It hasn't bothered me.'

Harrison is a free agent. Do you mean Garcia instead?

Actually no he left on good terms because he had an opportunity. However things got messy after the Sox fired Gene Lamont, Leyland's bench coach and friend. Leyland recommended him to the Sox. After he was fired in May 1995, JR personally contacted Leyland to see if he might be interested in returning at some point since the Pirates were collapsing after losing Bonds, Bonilla and Drabek. Leyland said no, he was pissed about how the Sox treated his friend.

Have been speaking with people in and out of the Sox organization, speaking with members of the media for a story to try to find out what is going on with this organization in this most important off season. What are the internal problems and issues, related items like a new TV network, broadcasters futures etc. Honest to God I have been shocked at what I'm being told. I thought things were bad in the front office...its actually worse with back stabbing, lying (including to JR), people hired who don't know baseball. I couldn't believe it. Regarding Rick I'm consistently being told a few things: 1. He's not quitting. If he didn't when TLR was hired he isn't now. (And I've been told he went to JR and tried to talk him out of that hiring but was unsuccessful. A source told me, "JR signs his checks, what can you do?" 2. He actually has control of the team (which surprised me). Kenny has input and JR, of course, has the final say but Hahn can basically do what he thinks best. 3. The issue with Rick is he’s got all these guys around him like Jeremy Haber, friends from Michigan or someplace and they aren’t baseball guys. They didn’t play the game and have no real idea of what it takes. Darrin Jackson and others have said the same thing.

Just to be fair the Sox have no direct say according to the story I read, in actual salary/benefits/ That's up to the concession company and the Sox have no say in that. However, the Sox do have a say in who gets the stadium contract and they can always go to a company that treats its employees better.

DeLuca is one of the editors for sports at the Sun-Times: https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/2022/10/7/23393066/in-misguided-chicago-white-sox-world-its-all-about-jerrys-kids-rick-hahn-ken-williams-larussa

It does. By the way as of today the Sun-Times announced that they would no longer be having any paywalls for digital readers. The Sun-Times is now considered a non-profit newsroom. You should be able to read any story you wish. This link provides more details on the change: https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2022/10/6/23389729/paywall-sun-times-dropping-news-journalism-nykia-wright-jennifer-kho-celeste-lecompte

He nails all the points: https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2022/10/6/23391152/white-sox-year-in-review-it-wasnt-pretty

A few months ago I saw where someone had done this at another site. They had every transaction that Hahn did since he took over. I'm sorry I can't find it now but as you would expect the vast majority, overwhelmingly when the player came to the Sox they put up a negative WAR for their time here. That of course also reflects the poor scouting and opinions that he gets from others in the organization.

The 1984 team was in first place at the break and had won seven straight. They fell apart in the second half. When I interviewed Ron Kittle he said the club (direct quote) "quit." When I interviewed Tony LaRussa he disagreed citing injuries to Fisk, Cruz (and trying to live up to the pressure of his new contract) and the trading of Koosman which impacted his friend Luzinski.

Just wondering, has he actually done this? I know Kenny in Baltimore turned over a post game food table and called the team "bitches" but I've never heard of Hahn going off the deep end.

Hahn doesn't like being laughed at by his peers is my guess.

I was under the impression because they are going back to "normal" extra inning rules, the ghost runner is gone because that certainly isn't normal. If I'm wrong I apologize.

You were to young then to remember 1968, 1973 or 1984

It's funny you brought this up. I spoke with a member of the mainstream media who has been covering Chicago's baseball teams for years. They told me Hahn is furious that the Cubs basically have been laughing at him for getting Eloy and supposedly they are privately telling other teams the same thing. The thinking is like you said, the Cubs knew his limitations and sold him off to whomever would take him. To me his issue is he has to lose weight and gain flexibility. Just look at videos of him from 2020, he's gotten huge muscle-wise.

I think you have to see what he can do next year but he has been injured a lot, has publicly stated many times how he hates being a DH and is a poor fielder. Those are real handicaps.

Balta: No way to know of course, even if we got to see the books we wouldn't be able to understand them and has been shown in the 1994-95 labor impasse owners have manipulated the books...all I can tell you is I spoke with an individual who knows a few of the minority owners. When I asked that question about if they made money they said, "The Sox haven't lost money in a long time." Take it for what its worth.

The minority owners are making money, they are satisfied with the results although there are a few who have been urging JR to sell since 2005. Hahn's skill is as a contract negotiator, only in JR's world does that make him qualified to be a GM.

I've got 73 games on video going back to 1981. I've got two dozen games on audio going back to 1959 and I've got 12 CD's with game highlights, interviews, Sox commercials et al going back to 1953. At least I've got something to take my mind off this terrible season.

By the Numbers/Random Musings: I guess I was in such a hurry to put this season out of my mind, that I dove right in to some numbers submitted for your edification (as Rod Serling once said on an episode of “Night Gallery”.) Feel free to discuss: *Sox finished at 81-81, only the fifth time in franchise history they ended a year exactly at .500 *Five games over .500 was the high water mark *Five games under .500 was the low water mark *The Sox were 5-9 in extra inning games *The Sox were 37-44 at home *The Sox were 44-37 on the road *The Sox finished -31 in run differential this year *The Sox drew over two million fans for the season. *The Sox scored three runs or less in 82 out of 162 games played (50.6%) *They also ended the year scoring three runs or less in 11 of their last 14 games *The Sox lost a total of 45 games to teams that finished under .500 for the season: Boston-2 games Minnesota-10 Kansas City-10 Detroit-7 Angels-4 Texas-4 Oakland-2 Cubs-1 Arizona-3 Colorado-2 *The Sox won 12 games this year when losing in the 7th inning or later *The Sox lost 12 games this year when leading in the 7th inning or later. 5 times in the 7th inning 2 times in the 8th inning 4 times in the 9th inning 1 time in the 10th inning *11 of those times the bullpen was responsible. (And remember this was the most expensive bullpen in MLB history) Here is the breakdown of the pitchers who gave up the lead (in some cases it was multiple pitchers in the decisive inning) Hendriks-4 times Bummer-3 times Lopez-3 times Gravemen-2 times Banks-1 time Cease-1 time Lambert-1 time Sousa-1 time *Rick Hahn’s track record as G.M. in 10 seasons: 7 losing years 2 winning years 1 .500 year 2 playoff appearances 2 first round playoff exits (2-6 record) 700 wins, 817 losses .461 win percentage ???? Next year at least we won't have "ghost runners" as normal extra inning rules are back and no more shifts along with a pitch clock. Of course with the WBC being played those hoping for a normal/off season are going to be disappointed as guys like Tim Anderson (and I'm guessing a few more Sox players) are going to have to report earlier, and not have as much time to heal.