Lip Man 1

Hahn said a few times over the winter that he expected him to be back on the field around June 1st. I assume that hasn't happened yet.

Maybe he winds up with Manny and the Padres????? ? And look I get those who are saying, screw it, let him go now, event be damned...we need somebody to help this weekend. Again I understand completely. But I'm also suggesting that given it is three games in a season where the Sox aren't going anywhere and won't even have a winning record does it REALLY make a difference? Weighing that against the fact that while he was terrible why embarrass the guy needlessly before his big event...Monday wouldn't do? AND given the fact that the media in many cases LOVES to hammer the Sox at every chance, why open the door for them? To say nothing about how this may all play out in the future with other potential free agents / acquisitions. It could generate a lot of bad play. Understand it many not at all...who knows for sure. I hope the Sox considered all these things before making their decision. That being said he needed to be let go and it is another black mark against Hahn and the people advising him in the organization who scout Major League players.

PTATC: I'm not specifically talking about UCL's but about pitching abuse in general terms, elbows, shoulder, rotator. Kids are being ruined by folks who don't know what they are doing and I'm suggesting that those who are good enough to be drafted have some damage, somewhere in the pitching arm / shoulder.

I don't think he is anymore but I could be wrong on that one. One thing I do know, I'm still working in the business.

You are assuming Palka will be called up and maybe it's not a big deal but the way the media attacks every single thing about the Sox I'd think it would be a factor. Maybe it shouldn't be but already in the stories I've seen one of the first things mentioned was his charity event.

I did? me thinks you are confusing me with Jay Mariotti. And personally I could care less if you think I lost credibility or not. As always I look forward to your enlightened responses, personally I'm glad to be of service to you... always enjoy it when you get irritated! ?

This coming from the person who thinks Hahn is doing a good job. Your honor I rest my case.

That I agree with.

They could have waited a week with the charity event. Regarding what may happen in the future as Sox historian Rich Lindberg once wrote "Expect the unexpected with the White Sox." Nothing surprises me anyone with this group and I wouldn't be shocked if someone did pick him up and he started producing, that's the way the White Sox roll.

Well he tore it again then apparently hurt his heel or something. One injury after another with that guy.

The timing is wrong given the PR hit they are going to take because of the charity event (much like when the had Carlton Fisk travel with the team to Cleveland then released him right before the game sending out a fax to the media) but it absolutely is the right thing to do. The guy is terrible and another organizational failure. But given the White Sox luck watch some other team pick him up and he'll start hitting.

Speaking of Billy (who I had the honor of calling a friend): 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 doubled down the first base line. 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. 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!)

I'd be willing to wager based on Hahn's comments (paraphrasing) 'Lots of pitchers have had success in their mid 30's' that the Sox will give him a chance to get hurt again next season.

I guess that's my point though PTATC; in almost 100% of the cases there is SOME type of injury through abuse. It is just a question of how much, can the player handle it and when is it going to blow up (apart) whatever word you choose to use. Again because pitchers are more or less abused by folks who have no idea what they are doing.

I thought this would be of interest to PTATC and perhaps he'd care to comment: http://kentuckysportsradio.com/main/new-survey-results-paint-alarming-picture-of-ncaa-safety/

Or perhaps pitchers are being "babied" far to much today. I'm not a doctor or a trainer I have no idea. All I know is you look at a number of pitchers from years ago, without all the advanced training and nutritional benefits today when many of these guys had to actually find a second job in the off season and yet they somehow complete 25 games a season and throw 300 innings and even in some cases (like Juan Marichal) strenghten their arms by throwing batting practice between starts. How did they do it? Former Sox pitching coach Johnny Sain who was one of the best ever (along with Ray Berries) had a basic philosophy, 'you throw EVERY single day, even if it is just on the side for 10 minutes to build up the muscles.' He also didn't believe in pitchers running a lot. He once said, "You can't run the ball across the plate...if you could jesse Owens would have been a pitcher." Like I said I don't have an answer but that could be part of it, that and guys getting abused by "coaches" growing up who don't know what the hell they are doing until they get to college (and even then some of those guys just murder pitchers because they need to win to keep their jobs.)

Like a friend and a wise baseball sage told me after the Rodon fiasco from last year and Dunning this year, where things seemed to go months without any real information / progress, "I assume the worst with White Sox injuries until told otherwise." Me thinks that is a good philosophy to have. The entire medical / training / conditioning staff needs to be reevaluated at all levels in my opinion just in case and I've been saying that for awhile. I also had an out of the box thought and I ran it by my doctor who also was a former minor league pitcher in the Orioles and Rangers organization. It went like this. ANY pitcher drafted by the Sox say in the first five rounds, signs his deal and has TJS. He also gets a bonus to be put in escrow for agreeing to this (just in case something goes seriously wrong.) No exceptions. I base it on the fact that so many of these kids growing up through high school and college are abused by people, many of who do not know what they are doing when it comes to protecting developing arms... that there has to be at least some damage to the elbow, ligaments...something. Especially at the younger levels where in a lot of cases you have parents coaching who wouldn't know their rear end from a hole in the ground about arms, pitching and potential injuries. Have the surgery, have them work with the training staff and come back stronger (according to the statistics in the vast majority of cases) than before. I thought him being a doctor he'd have a number of objections. I was surprised when he said he didn't and could see an organization doing this if they could get around the possible legal issues and issues with the MLBPA.

I said before this stretch started that 5-10 would be OK with me due to the fact that they basically have no pitching staff. Now though I'm hoping for one against the Twins which would make it 6-9 at the end which again under the circumstances isn't bad at all.

And I bet you work cheap too! LOL

Speaking of which: I have absolutely no idea how the White Sox won this game today. Jose absolutely saved their asses, kudos to him! It was the 6th time the Sox trailed in the 7th inning or later and won, 3rd time this year in the 9th inning and 2nd time against Boston. That being said it was more stupid decision making in the field and the bullpen is starting to collapse I assume from all the work since the starting pitching is so bad. Had a lead Saturday in Texas (lost), had a lead Monday in Boston (lost), had a lead Tuesday in Boston (lost) had a lead Wednesday in Boston (SHOULD have lost). Bummer and Marshall are reverting back to their norms, even Alex blew a save (although it wasn't completely his fault). Hahn needs to get these guys some help. Not just to get through this year but to prevent even more injuries moving forward. History lesson: Down the stretch in 2000, the Sox were fighting to hang on to the division lead despite having lost starters like James Baldwin and Cal Eldred. GM Ron Scheuler couldn't or wouldn't get the pitching help they so desperately needed forcing guys to work even harder to bring the division title home. End result...a half dozen guys had off season surgery, some never recovered (Mike Sirotka, Jim Parque), Baldwin was never the same, relief pitchers like Bob Howry and Kelly Wunsch came back but were missing something. You can't just think about this year the way this staff is on life support you have to think ahead. Time to earn that money Hahn.

Always glad to make a contribution and to help make your day eminently more satisfying!

I couldn't care less about how much money is being spent to sign a guy, it's not like JR won't know where his next meal is coming from but the earlier part of your statement is correct. Until the Sox actually get it done instead of just talking, which as we all know is cheap, fans are going to be skeptical. And they damn well should be.

The ghost of Billy Pierce (who probably would do better than the guys they are trotting out now...)

In an era where even the bat boys are hitting balls 400 feet (LOL). Home runs can not be the sole indicator of why you bring someone up. I appreciated what he did last year but this guy does nothing besides hit an occasional home run. he can't run, he can't field and if he isn't hitting the home run he doesn't get on base. He's another four A player...period. Nothing more. On a good team he'd be nice to have as a late inning pinch hitter if you need a home run, on a rebuilding / developing team, he isn't needed at all in my opinion.

Two guys will not get you through a season sir. You need quality AND depth. The Sox right now have a little of the first and none of the second.