Lip Man 1

Lynn, Giolito, Grandal, Hendriks immediately come to mind.

“I thought Hahn was prepared to do well, his last few years as assistant G.M. he was out on the road, watching guys, scouting, trusting what he saw. Then when he became G.M. he started getting guys like J.B. Schuck.”

April 18, 1972 – Because of the labor impasse and the late start to the season it wasn’t until the middle of the month that the Sox finally opened at home. It turned out to be a night home opener and the 20 thousand plus fans who turned out gave a standing ovation welcome to new Sox slugger Dick Allen. Allen didn’t disappoint, going 2 for 4, with three runs and two RBI’s in the Sox 14-0 win over Texas. Afterwards Dick said, “I think I’m going to like it here.” Teammate Carlos May had six RBI’s on the night. Bill Melton added two. The heart of the Sox lineup drove in 10 runs that evening. April 18, 1991 - The Sox opened the new Comiskey Park by falling flat on their faces and getting wiped out 16-0 to the Tigers. It was a strange game that saw Detroit have a six run third inning and a 10 run fourth inning. Sox pitchers Jack McDowell, Brian Drahman and Ken Patterson gave up the 16 runs on 14 hits along with four walks. The next day Sox players burned the jersey of pitcher Scott Radinsky at second base as a ‘sacrifice’ to the baseball gods for leaving the original park, according to teammate and losing pitcher in the first game, McDowell. April 18, 1994 - Sox leadoff man Tim Raines belted three home runs in a game at Fenway Park. He went 4 for 5 with four RBI’s in the easy 12-1 win over the Red Sox. It was the only time in his Hall of Fame career “Rock” had a three-home run game. April 18, 2000 - The White Sox set the franchise record for the most runs ever scored in the fourth inning of a game when they plated 11 of them in Chicago against the Mariners. They trailed 6-2 before sending 14 batters to the plate. Greg Norton and Mark Johnson homered in the frame. Tanyon Sturtze got the win in relief of Cal Eldred as the Sox won 18-11. April 18, 2007 - Mark Buehrle became only the 15th pitcher in franchise history to toss a no-hitter (16th overall at that time) as he beat the Rangers 6-0. Buehrle struck out eight and only allowed one base runner, giving up a walk to former Sox player Sammy Sosa in the fifth inning whom he then promptly picked off. His was the first no-hitter at home since Joe Horlen’s in 1967. Jermaine Dye had a grand slam and Jim Thome added two solo home runs to help Buehrle’s cause.

On Jerry Reinsdorf “JR is 86 and he’s in great shape, he looks good, still drives himself around but I just think at this point he simply doesn’t want to be bothered with having to bring in a new front office, maybe he thinks in a few years it won’t matter anyway.” “People, his friends… have tried to tell him what has been going on, “Hawk” Harrelson, the late Ed Farmer… God rest his soul, Darrin Jackson, Scott Reifert (Author’s Note: Scott is the Senior Vice-President for Communications) , Bob Grim and others but it’s just not registering for some reason.” “I wonder what impact his wife passing away earlier this year has had on him.” “JR has told his family he does not want any of his sons owning the team when he is gone. The Bulls are fine he said because they make Michael (Reinsdorf) money but baseball just doesn’t allow you to do that. (no salary cap)” (Author’s Note: Was told by an individual who knew some of the minority owners that “The Sox haven’t lost money in a long time.” A second source agreed with that statement. Seems to be a conflict doesn’t it? Maybe JR isn’t making enough money to suit him vis a vis the Sox?) “With :30 seconds left in their selection time on draft day JR would say things like “You know this college right-handed pitcher has the lowest injury risk.” “In October 2005 some investors asked JR to sell and get out while the going was good, but he wouldn’t.” “Andrew Berlin, twice tried to buy the Sox around 2008 but wasn’t successful.” (Author’s Note: Berlin, grew up a Sox fan and is now the owner of the Cubs farm team in South Bend, Indiana.) “I heard that JR owns 12% of the team but with some of the original investors passing away that has probably gone up to 18%” (Author’s Note: Even though he only owns a small percentage of the franchise Jerry Reinsdorf has absolute authority to run the team as he sees fit. It is written into his contract. That includes selling or not selling the club despite what the other investors wish. The only way he can be removed from his position is if he has done something illegal, appears to be losing his mental faculties or is being financially irresponsible.) “I was talking with an agent and they said the next owner of the Sox can’t be a group of investors, it has to be a big company. That’s why Dennis Gilbert, who tried to buy the Dodgers won’t get the Sox, he can’t come up with enough big money investors” “JR has become oblivious to things and what he’s allowed to happen is sad. He’s probably the most successful owner in Chicago sports history given the Bulls titles and the White Sox one which is dear to his heart, but what has happened the last two years is just sad. He is out-of-touch. And even worse he’s inaccessible. He’s either afraid of having to answer questions or he’s incapable of doing so.” “JR likes the structure he has because it gives him an extra layer of protection from criticism.”

He won't be in this position in 20 years because the Sox will be under new ownership and he'll have been fired.

In Stanky's defense he was also considered a tactical genius, usually two steps ahead of the opposing manager. And I've interviewed a good number of guys he managed, some didn't get along with him...some did. Kind of a mixed bag. Players told me Stanky would also randomly go up to a guy on the bench and ask him, "How many outs are there?" or "What's the count." And you damn well better know the correct answer or you'd be fined. He wanted guys to keep their heads in the game.

It's all Greek to Hahn though. He pays lip service to it but when push comes to shove?

The hard ass manager guys like Al Lopez, Eddie Stanky and Chuck Tanner for example lost their hammer over guys when they were given contracts worth multi-millions of dollars. Before, like you said, if you don't produce you were headed to the bench (Stanky would fine guys for not moving runners over into scoring position, not getting guys home from third base with less than two outs and for not being able to execute fundamentals. He'd also buy a new suit of clothes for any starting pitcher who threw a complete game with a certain number of ground ball outs and a new pair of shoes for every stolen base) Those former Sox managers must all be turning over in their graves when they see how "baseball-stupid" this organization has become.

The last I looked 44 million for relief pitchers was the highest amount for a single team in MLB.

I'd agree with this belief.

44 million being paid to this bullpen. 44 million.

Was excited at first given his reputation (George Brett's comments) but we are seeing the same garbage as before, giving guys time off when they just recently had a team off day or would be getting a team day shortly, bad bullpen decisions, not knowing when to pull a starter and then doubling down on his decisions talking to the media a la TLR.

Maybe they feel if things don't work out everyone of the "core" group will either be traded or will have left in free agency in two years?

April 17, 1906 - The World Championship season began in Detroit with the Sox beating the Tigers 5-3. Frank Owen, who’d win 22 games that year, picked up the victory. Just three days short of six months later, the Sox would close out the Cubs winning the only all-Chicago World Series four games to two. Frank Hemphill, who played all three outfield positions in the game, drove in two runs for the Sox. April 17, 1951 - The “Golden Age” of White Sox baseball was born as on opening day the Sox destroyed the St. Louis Browns 17-3. Sox outfielders Al Zarilla and Gus Zernial both knocked in three RBI’s. New manager Paul Richards emphasized pitching, defense and speed and for the next 17 seasons under two more managers the Sox would do it well enough to have 17 consecutive winning seasons, the fourth longest streak in MLB history. April 17, 1956 - In front of newly elected Mayor Richard J. Daley, rookie Luis Aparicio collected his first Major League hit. It came off the Indians Bob Lemon and helped set up the winning run in the seventh inning in the Sox 2-1 opening day victory. Aparicio would be named Rookie of the Year and after an 18-year career would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984. Lemon would become the Sox manager in 1977. April 17, 1980 - Future Sox star and future Hall of Famer, Harold Baines collected his first Major League hit. It came off Yankee pitcher Jim Kaat, the former White Sox starter, in New York. Baines would have an outstanding career with 2,866 hits. His number #3 was first retired by the team in 1989 when he was traded to Texas. April 17, 1990 - On a cold miserable night in Chicago, Ron Kittle would connect for a roof top home run off Boston’s Rob Murphy. It was Kittle’s seventh roof top shot, the most by any player in the history of the original Comiskey Park. It was also the last roof top home run in the park’s history. The Sox would win the game 2-1. Kittle’s blast came in the sixth inning, tying the game at one all.

Grifol talked about confidence just over the weekend as a matter of fact.

I thought the Cubs this off season did a lot of what the Sox did before 2005, bring in a lot, as in great number, of guys with MLB experience who had some upside. Hope to hell though they don't win the World Series!

Plus you have the public comments over the years from JR, Kenny, Hahn, Don Cooper, Ozzie...even Garfein belittling the fan base or mocking them. Like I've said arrogance literally runs through the entire organization.

Well...at least the Sox can't lose today!

Rick Hahn Quote of the Day: (On the latest Yoan Moncada injury) “But we are optimistic we’ll be able to knock this thing out of him. Then all his problems will be behind him.” Until he fouls a ball off his foot a week later and acts like it needs to be amputated or tweeks a leg muscle trying to run to first or catch a pop up. ?

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2023/4/16/23685813/white-sox-chicago-dylan-cease-pedro-grifol-cubs-mlb

Hahn recently said that he knew the "Sox haven't proved anything." Actually they have...they proved that with an incompetent, dysfunctional and inept front office you can completely flush a rebuild and a "window of contention" right down the toilet.

That may happen under new ownership but not until then.

When players are "baseball-stupid" regarding such things to expect any different is foolish.

Well at least they didn't get swept! LOL. Started great...then...nothing. This bullpen is brutal.

It would be so White Sox!