Lip Man 1

That's true, I don't think the Sox were picked to finish higher than fifth or sixth in the West that year but they had a hungry group of talented kids who started off well and the ball kept rolling.

When you are on the IL every season and in some seasons more than one time, to me that's "injury prone." Every year he has some type of soft tissue issues that cause him to miss two weeks, three weeks, six weeks. Now I grant you, I personally feel and have been told by some and there seems to be some circumstantial evidence to show the Sox medical, training and conditioning staffs may not be the best, so that can certainly play into why these guys keep missing time, in some cases multiple appearances on the IL. When the Sox can go even two or three weeks without someone having to sit out because of a minor or major issue then I'll start to think differently about this group of athletes.

One step forward...two steps back

I pitched and I can tell you there are two "philosophies" for wont of a better word when it comes to this. I don't think their is a right answer per se. One side says, "Guy can't hit a fastball you keep throwing him nothing but fastballs until he shows you he can hit it." Other side of the coin says, "Wait a minute if you just keep throwing the guy fastballs at some point he WILL hit it and possibly beat you...you've got to keep him off balance and throw different pitches."

Got an e-mail from a friend who reminded me that exactly 32 years ago August 25, 1990 was the "Lee Stevens Game," the game that many fans feel broke the back of the overachieving 1990 White Sox. He brought it up because he feels that Engel's error last night was the final nail in the Sox 2022 coffin....on the same day of the calendar. For those who don't remember the Sox started the night five game back, had beaten California the night before and had a 2-0 lead in the 9th inning with two out when Bobby Thigpen faced left handed hitting Lee Stevens with two on. Thigpen had gotten fastballs by him but someone (Fisk? Thigpen?) called for a change up and Stevens hit it over the center field fence. Sox lost 3-2 and promptly lost five in a row. Jeff Torborg has told me a lot about that night, he was pissed because like he said Stevens couldn't hit a good fastball. He was going to get all over Fisk when he got back to the dugout but saw Carlton was taking his catchers mask and repeatedly hitting himself in the head with it as he was walking back to the dugout when the inning ended. Jeff said that he knew Fisk was pissed and didn't think any good would come out of ripping him, he knew there was a major screw up. Torborg was so pissed driving home he was caught speeding and explained why he was distracted. He told me the cop didn't believe it, he said the cop said, "You guys didn't win?" and just walked away he was so stunned. No ticket was given out.

That didn't help but they did win 93 games in 2021somehow. What happened this year? I'm guessing a bunch of things.

Given how injury prone he seems to be having been on the IL every season, some years multiple times, I don't know if this is a good idea. It means a shorter off season for him and added risk all for an exhibition series that has no meaning in the long run in my opinion. https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/tim-anderson-commits-to-team-usa-for-2023-world-baseball-classic

Based on results I don't see how you can say that but the final totals still have been determined so we will see. If there was one game that looking back may have turned this season around I'd have to say the game on May 9 at home. Sox had won six in a row, had Cleveland beat leading by six runs in the 9th inning, was ready to put them away. Banks and Hendricks imploded Cleveland tied the game then won it 11-9 in extra innings. To me the Sox were never the same.

I was told by a member of the mainsteam media who has covered the Sox the long term deal for Moncada was Kenny's idea. And you have to understand the context as to why the Sox gave these out, it fits right in with the narrative of this organization that it is always about money. They wanted to lock these guys up and delay arbitration years if possible, where if these guys did very well they can rake in the money because of an arbitration decision. The Sox did not want to put themselves in that position so they made them these offers, gave a lot of money figuring in the long run they'd probably come out ahead on the balance sheet. Like with so many things this organization tries, it blows up in their faces.

Typical arrogance from him. The M.O. of this organization.

From DVS post game story, pretty well sums up the TLR situation this year: "While he has been a lightning rod for criticism, it’s tough to pin these types of performances entirely on La Russa, who was hired to guide the Sox to a World Series title in their contention window. But La Russa has been criticized for lineup constructions, in-game decisions that include walking two batters intentionally with 1-2 counts and overseeing a team that often seems to lack urgency, gets outhustled, ranks at the bottom of the majors in defense and looks fundamentally challenged at times. The Sox committed three errors Thursday."

You have to understand this organization under JR has always had an arrogant attitude, "WE know what we are doing...how dare you question us!" And they honestly believe that even though the numbers for 40+ seasons show limited success. It starts with JR and runs right through the main cogs in the baseball side of the operation. Consider all the times Kenny, Hahn, Cooper even Ozzie when he was manager ripped the fan base. Stone does it all the time on Twitter. They feel they have the answers, are always ahead of the rest of their contemporaries and ultimately will be proven right. That's why you may see TLR go in the off season or a coach or two but they won't have the drastic housecleaning they need like John Allyn did in September 1970 when the Sox lost credibility with the fan base. If you are a fan the best advice I can give you is hope to outlive JR and see what new ownership brings.

They've trailed in the 7th inning or later and come back to win eight times.

You are probably right. 9th time this year the Sox had a lead in the 7th inning or later and lost.

Over the decades the most bizarre, strange, unreal things have seemed to happen to the Sox in Baltimore. Bob Elson called Memorial Stadium, "The Chamber of Horrors..." Tonight fits right in with that narrative. And oh yes, more soft tissue injuries. I'm guessing this was the backbreaker.

I'd also add that the more the fans are upset, the more the media rips the TLR hiring that could make him dig in even more. (Not saying the criticism isn't justified)

There basically is no longer a difference between the leagues and I think this is the first step towards realignment especially if they expand to 32 clubs in the future.

In two games in Baltimore the Sox have scored eight runs...on 23 hits. The Orioles have scored eight runs...on 11 hits. Wow...

12 hits tonight and six walks = five runs. Don't know what to think about all that. Here's TLR after the game talking about the issues of leaving men on base in scoring positions: “When you’re struggling like that you try too hard and the harder you try the worse you do,” La Russa said. “Problem is, it’s the big leagues. This league, either you do or you don’t. So it’s up to us to try and have them relax more and develop a better approach. “But when you have that high a batting average [the Sox were second in the AL at .259] and that many guys on base, and that productivity problem. ... And the home run thing, that’s one factor. You can win games with base hits.”

That entire station has turned into a dumpster fire.

Schedule not kind for the Sox to start... 10 of the first 14 on the road, have to open in Houston. The cynic in me says they could get buried early.

TLR said this afternoon Perez will start when Martin is the starting pitcher this weekend. Says it's the logical thing to do.

I recently saw a story that listed A.J., Sandy Alomar Jr., and Ozzie as potential replacements.

It will be interesting to see what happens in case of postponements vs. a team from the N.L.

I disagree with your conclusion but time will tell. As was pointed out (and I assume the person who did it knows something about taxes) there is a big difference money-wise if JR sells while he is alive or if his family does it when he is gone concerning the tax hit. JR, first, last, always has money on his mind. But again we will see. I hope he does sell myself, I'd love to see what new ownership brings...but his history and how adamant he's been along these lines tells me it won't happen. He's turned down offers before, has turned a deaf ear to the minority owners who have been asking him to sell since 2005, I don't see what has changed with him in this matter.