Lip Man 1

According to the Awful Announcing web site and their story on final regional baseball network ratings for the 2018 season: Things are not great for the White Sox, A’s and Marlins: The White Sox were the only team to average a rating below 1.00 (a 0.68). They did that last year too with a .88, joined by the A’s at .68. The A’s actually showed some improvement this year, but their 1.07 was still second-worst, with the Marlins’ 1.08 (a drop from 1.32) third-worst. Keep in mind the Sox TV deal with NBCSports Chicago expires after the 2019 season. Can the Sox convince any network that the ratings are awful because of the rebuild and that they'll get measurably better when the team starts to win? We'll see. I'd assume that will be the argument they are going to make. Will a network or networks accept it? Again we'll have to see.

Got out of the hospital yesterday. Have lost 25 pounds but am starting to feel better at least. Should be able to resume my broadcasting duties soon.

Saw where the Reds have a list of eight guys they are going to interview including Girardi.

Being in the hospital I just found out the Cubs lost a few minutes ago. That makes my day. I'm sure there are more than a few "unbiased" media members walking around town today with black arm-bands! Thank you Colorado Rockies.

SS: All I can go by is what I see. I don't think he's that good. Just my opinion. Maybe he gets better but so far not that impressive. Won't matter next year, may not matter in two years but I don't think you'll see this guy around for very long.

How many inherited runners did Bummer allow to score?

I said this was a thought experiment, nothing more. The guys above with the possible exception of L. Garcia are all flat out bad, just awful. They need to be flushed out of the system along with all the other deadwood in a perfect situation, this is not a perfect situation of course but those guys have all had chances and either failed miserably or can't stay healthy which is just as bad.

That is my bad I meant Castillo

Thank you but it is pretty bad. Have been here eight days and have had this GI issue for a month. It hasn't been easy. Like the Sox rebuild unfortunately it is a slow process.

Really getting bored and frustrated here in the hospital so I thought this may be a nice way to pass some time. I do this every year as a thought experiment just to get opinions. Naturally this has little connection with reality since roster construction is so interdependent on things like health, free agent signings and so forth. But looking at the current 40 man roster with each player taken in a vacuum unrelated to other players who would you like to see just flat out gone from this rag tag bunch? Here would be my selections (and the sheer number of them says all you need to know about the current overall talent) Bummer Covey Farquhar Fulmer Gomez Gonzales Jones Minaya Ruiz Santiago Scahill Shields Vieira Castillo Cordell A. Garcia L. Garcia LaMarre Tilson Obviously the Sox aren't probably going to cut half of these retreads, stiffs and deadbeats but in a perfect world, every single one of them would be out the door for me for various reasons...no talent, can't stay healthy, shows little hope of getting better, age etc.

100 is such a nice round number, thank god this disaster is done.

Maybe with a full year of recovery and off season work, Rodon will be OK next year. But frankly he's just not that impressive. I know he had that brilliant stretch but remember Covey had a brilliant stretch this season as well. Could have been a fluke (in Covey's case we know it was...) We'll see.

With the Sox over the past 12 years it's even extremely difficult to win more games than they lose in a year.

Time will answer all the questions. I for one do not see any major free agents signing here. I do see the Sox trying to get pitching depth and improve a bullpen that basically has been a disaster and have blown 16 games where they had a lead in the 7th inning or later and wound up losing. Even those modest improvements would help next year but they are not even close to a winning record / let alone contending.

No I haven't. He'll throw a good game then stink the joint up in the next five. He's quad AAAA filler in my opinion.

Not happening guy. Better get used to it.

And in typical Sox fashion on a big event day, they completely look like shit.

Wish him well in retirement. Now it's Jason's show.

It was more than just fan attendance though and their exceptional marketing / promotion department had a lot to do with building the Wrigly Field culture regardless of how the team was doing on the field. John McDonough was a genius at this approach.

Didn't expect this. At least the Cubs won't clinch shit on the Sox home field. But that Sox bullpen made it interesting yet again. What garbage.

Yes. I agree they should explore options for trading both those guys. I'd like to keep Jose' around if but they can get something decent for him, you move him. Regarding A.Garcia, since the guy is a walking injury waiting to happen they won't get much for him anyway so personally I wouldn't care if they just cut him. Just tired of his bad defense and ability to always be hurt. Believe me I don't like tanking. These are the Chicago White Sox not the San Diego Padres or Pittsburgh Pirates but with so many kids still two years away it is the logical thing to do (short of ownership spending millions on free agents which they really haven't done much and when they do they fall right on their faces.)

I was referring to Lillian's post since she is advocating that they do. I don't see how it is even remotely possible.

Covey shouldn't even be a 5th starter in double A, if you are actually trying to compete next year you need five solid starters, not four, (two of who are young and one has an injury history). Look back at the White Sox staffs of 1996, 2003 and 2004 to see the impact of not having a solid back end starter on your staff. When I said three outfielders I was counting Eloy as one of them. Both A. Garcia and L. Garcia need to be sent packing if for no other reason they are useless always being injured. I go back to the basic premise, unless the Sox dramatically overspend in their offer why would anybody want to sign with a franchise that has had six straight losing seasons, nine out of the last 12 and have shown little growth potential as of yet? (because most of the best prospects are either injured or still a few years away.) Maybe I'm wrong, I've basically forgotten what meaningful September games are like save for watching my tapes and DVD's of the Sox in better years, but I can't see 2019 being worth a damn either at this point.

To be fair he's been able to overcome those mistakes and actually win. When the Sox sign stiffs like Dunn, LaRoche, Shark et al they're DOA.

Lillian: With respect they need a hell of a lot more than just one more bat and one more arm. Try two solid starters, basically a brand new bullpen, at least three guys, and a new outfield. It would also help if they could get a catcher who can both hit a little and actually catch the baseball. 2019 is going to be another very long season.