Lip Man 1

The Sox said both Rodon (second half) and Dunning could be available to pitch next year. Will they? Better guess is with Rodon, Dunning doesn't have a whole hell of a lot of experience. On paper next year's rotation (for better or worse) looks like the following: Giolito, Lopez, Kopech, Cease, FA signee with Rodon and/or Dunning waiting in the wings. Certainly looks better than the disaster for this year but still a lot of question marks. Would feel better if they signed two good FA pitchers, then if everyone comes back healthy and strong you've got great trading strength at the deadline for someplace else that you need.

By the end of this week it'll be seven or eight back. Done and done.

Two words: Not Well...

I'll have what this guy is drinking! ? Obviously this comment that he posted was made in jest.

I'll be happy if he can suck less than Alonso myself.

After he got shelled in a game Kenny discovered that he showered and left the park instead of sticking around. He was furious at him and that eventually led to him being released if I remember correctly soon afterwards.

The other side to the Navarro story was that then GM Ron Schueler came right out and claimed that Sox pitcher Kevin Tapani (a quality starter who had a good 96 for the team) was 'faking' a finger injury and that was the reason he wasn't interested in resigning him. The Cubs did sign him...and he had to sit out the first half of the year because of the "fake" injury. He came back to pitch and was OK, not great but certainly better than Navarro who was signed by Schueler to take his place in the rotation.

Alonso to Scott Merkin after the game: "I know I’ve had success. First time ever [for this kind of struggle]. I know I can get out of it and help this team win every single day.” LOL. I'm guessing Keppinger, Dunn and LaRoche said basically the same thing too!

Manfred just admitted to that fact: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/are-baseballs-juiced-mlb-commissioner-rob-manfred-says-centering-of-the-pill-is-partially-causing-home-run-spike/

Which has nothing to do with the White Sox. Who by the way had pretty awful starting pitching in the late 60's / 1970. The best guys they had like Peters and Horlen, successful major league pitchers who were all-stars were usually hurting.

This weekend started off so promising before it turned to crap. Bullpen really starting to show cracks (Bummer, Marshall et al) because the starting pitching is awful and doesn't even give them a chance in a lot of games. This next week is going to probably be very ugly. Sigh... Morrissey at the Sun-Times just posted a story that we are all asking, "When will the Sox sign their Lester" (as in a big name free agent that can change the culture and get them over the top in the rebuild) As long as Mr. Financial Responsibility (JR) is running the show the answer is probably never...instead more shopping at the bargain aisle or in the dumpster. And suddenly Alonso is back in the lineup and sucking even worse than ever.

I understand your point and there is certainly truth to it but it IS up to Ricky on how they are used and if he puts them in the best situation to succeed.

No he won't. Here's Ricky: "As far as we are concerned, Despaigne is here until he's not. He will continue to get his opportunities until we find either a different option or we decide we need an option." I wish I had actually seen this quote to understand the context and exactly how Ricky made it. I almost get the sense Ricky was throwing down the gauntlet at all those who were demanding this clown get released tonight...including David Haugh of the Tribune on Twitter. But hey, don't worry! Hector Santiago will save the staff! LOL ?

Herrera still has a long way to go. Minaya and Osich aren't part of the long term future for this club. Burr, Hamilton, Fry have shown they can't stay healthy. Bullpen is better but half these guys won't even be around in two years. Sox need to get better quality in the pen in addition to upgrading the starting pitching for next season.

Time will tell. So far the results are closer to my comment than yours but for the sake of the kid and more importantly the organization I hope you turn out to be right. With draft busts like Fulmer, Burdi and Hansen they absolutely don't need another one.

How do you go from leading the entire minor leagues in strikeouts to looking like a guy who suddenly forgot how to pitch?

Very nervous game but all's well that end's well! Welcome to the show Mr. Collins! Lopez pitched OK and just a solid effort all around. Nice way to keep things going over this tough stretch of games.

Like a bad penny the stiffs just keep on returning. White Sox baseball...leading the big leagues in dumpster diving!

Two major injuries and now a minor one that's caused him to miss at least 18 months of developmental time. At this point even small injuries are making an impact. Every day he's not on the field means he's getting further and further behind.

Guy can't stay healthy. Mr. Glass.

That's why I suggest you try to get some help this year before everybody and his brother jumps into the pitching pool this off season. Not so much to help this year (although it couldn't hurt) but to try to avoid having to pay through the nose to get that one (or two) serviceable starters next winter.

It always comes down to talent.

Regarding Cease I think much like with Kopech, he's bored now in the minor leagues.

If they intend to actually contend next year the LAST thing they need is another has been who loses most of his starts. How soon fans forget years like 1996, 2003 and 2004 where the Sox "5th starters" were absolutely horrendous and was a big reason they failed to make the playoffs. They need five "serviceable" pitchers guys who actually give them a reasonable chance to win every game they start, not four decent / good guys and a bum. Stop shopping in the dumpster and get some quality and some depth.

Mark Gonzales when he was the beat writer for the Sox told me a story that says something I guess about his "dedication" (for wont of a better word). The Sox were in Cleveland and before the game in the locker room Gonzo noticed that Anderson and another player (he never said who but the talk was it was Brandon McCarthy) instead of watching the video of that night's pitcher which was being shown were watching cartoons. Gonzo said it was definitely noticed by the veteran players. Maybe it was incidents like that that caused Ozzie to "hate" him?