Lip Man 1

I think you have to see what he can do next year but he has been injured a lot, has publicly stated many times how he hates being a DH and is a poor fielder. Those are real handicaps.

Balta: No way to know of course, even if we got to see the books we wouldn't be able to understand them and has been shown in the 1994-95 labor impasse owners have manipulated the books...all I can tell you is I spoke with an individual who knows a few of the minority owners. When I asked that question about if they made money they said, "The Sox haven't lost money in a long time." Take it for what its worth.

The minority owners are making money, they are satisfied with the results although there are a few who have been urging JR to sell since 2005. Hahn's skill is as a contract negotiator, only in JR's world does that make him qualified to be a GM.

I've got 73 games on video going back to 1981. I've got two dozen games on audio going back to 1959 and I've got 12 CD's with game highlights, interviews, Sox commercials et al going back to 1953. At least I've got something to take my mind off this terrible season.

By the Numbers/Random Musings: I guess I was in such a hurry to put this season out of my mind, that I dove right in to some numbers submitted for your edification (as Rod Serling once said on an episode of “Night Gallery”.) Feel free to discuss: *Sox finished at 81-81, only the fifth time in franchise history they ended a year exactly at .500 *Five games over .500 was the high water mark *Five games under .500 was the low water mark *The Sox were 5-9 in extra inning games *The Sox were 37-44 at home *The Sox were 44-37 on the road *The Sox finished -31 in run differential this year *The Sox drew over two million fans for the season. *The Sox scored three runs or less in 82 out of 162 games played (50.6%) *They also ended the year scoring three runs or less in 11 of their last 14 games *The Sox lost a total of 45 games to teams that finished under .500 for the season: Boston-2 games Minnesota-10 Kansas City-10 Detroit-7 Angels-4 Texas-4 Oakland-2 Cubs-1 Arizona-3 Colorado-2 *The Sox won 12 games this year when losing in the 7th inning or later *The Sox lost 12 games this year when leading in the 7th inning or later. 5 times in the 7th inning 2 times in the 8th inning 4 times in the 9th inning 1 time in the 10th inning *11 of those times the bullpen was responsible. (And remember this was the most expensive bullpen in MLB history) Here is the breakdown of the pitchers who gave up the lead (in some cases it was multiple pitchers in the decisive inning) Hendriks-4 times Bummer-3 times Lopez-3 times Gravemen-2 times Banks-1 time Cease-1 time Lambert-1 time Sousa-1 time *Rick Hahn’s track record as G.M. in 10 seasons: 7 losing years 2 winning years 1 .500 year 2 playoff appearances 2 first round playoff exits (2-6 record) 700 wins, 817 losses .461 win percentage ???? Next year at least we won't have "ghost runners" as normal extra inning rules are back and no more shifts along with a pitch clock. Of course with the WBC being played those hoping for a normal/off season are going to be disappointed as guys like Tim Anderson (and I'm guessing a few more Sox players) are going to have to report earlier, and not have as much time to heal.

Hahn's 10 year track record: Seven losing seasons Two winning seasons One season at .500 And remember the Sox weren't always "rebuilding." There were years when they actually were trying to win.

As I've posted in the past, it's a nice thought and would make an impact but not as much as you think with money pouring in from the international and domestic revenue streams. Ticket sales don't mean as much anymore as say TV contracts to cite one example. This isn't 1965 anymore.

Agreed, it starts with JR who has gone on the record as saying he doesn't believe in paying for potential, he pays for results.

I'll have more news, notes, facts and factoids in a few days but for right now... How ironic. Six years ago Hahn spoke about being "mired in mediocrity" and started the rebuild. Sox end the year 81-81. How "mediocre" can you get? ????? Only the fifth time in franchise history the team finishes exactly at .500 And of course it's so fitting that at the end of this dismal year yet ANOTHER player gets hurt, a kid who they may be counting on to be a back end starter next year. "Bicep soreness"...oh my...hello TJS!

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2022/10/5/23388683/white-sox-must-atone-for-jerry-reinsdorf-mistake-tony-la-russa

Steve Greenberg of the Sun-Times makes the case for Joe Maddon: https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2022/10/4/23387850/white-sox-joe-maddon-manager-tony-la-russa I don't necessarily agree but he does have a point if Maddon can win with a lot of average/mediocre players in Tampa he possibly could with better talent with the Sox.

It's a tough decision but in my opinion the reality is you have a better chance in the future with Vaughn, or Jimenez maybe even Sheets simply because of the age difference. If the Sox could cut loose (for various reasons) guys like Billy Pierce, Nellie Fox, Jack McDowell, Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura (the player) they can sure do the same with Jose.

He'll be with the Marlins.

Just some thoughts on today. I honestly appreciated TLR's candor and honesty. This had to be damn hard for him but he stood there and took questions. I e-mailed him to let him know that and I thanked him for the courtesy he showed me over the years. He actually responded which was very nice and unexpected. I loved the fact that maybe for the first time Hahn addressed things that have been upsetting Sox fans for a long time, to wit, hiring managers from only inside "the family" (what is this the Mafia?), and talking about the medical, training and conditioning staffs and if you read between the lines changes are coming in those areas. What I didn't like was the guy who is this close to having the eighth losing season in 10 years under his watch is still in a position of power. (And the Sox weren't always rebuilding in those years). And he immediately began to get defensive (you could almost see the hair standing up on the back of his neck) when questions along the lines of why he and others in the front office shouldn't be held responsible. You could tell he was getting frustrated. We'll see what happens, who is hired, which coaches are fired (pray: McEwing, Boston and the hitting coach are cashiered) and how Hahn can fix the huge holes in the roster with a limited budget (season ticket sales are going to drop and JR is going to lower the payroll over it). He doesn't have a lot of room to work with because of insane deals given to stiffs like Garcia, Kelly et al. and the trade for Diekman. It will be interesting.

Only if JR still owns the team.

The Sox have now scored three runs or less in 10 of their last 12 games, tonight marks the 81st time this season they've done that. That mean they have guaranteed themselves scoring three runs or less in 50% of games FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON. Priority number one for the new manager, FIX THE DAMN OFFENSE.

DVS of the Sun-Times recaps Hahn's part of the press conference: https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2022/10/3/23386338/white-sox-gm-reflects-on-failures-of-2022-sets-sights-on-new-manager

I appreciated his direct honesty today

They need to look outside of the organization. Can't believe JR hasn't got the guts to fire an incompetent GM.

Statement from TLR: https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2022/10/3/23386022/white-sox-tony-la-russa-statement

They need to do a legitimate search, looking for the best and the brightest from WINNING organizations. People who have ZERO connections in any way to JR or the White Sox 'family." They need fresh ideas, and new ways to look at their myriad problems and issues.

TLR should never have been named manager in the first place but what's done is done, wish him all the best in retirement.

Maybe I'm mistaken but didn't Hahn just a few days ago say they were going to repair a "cyst" behind the knee? I'm no doctor but I know a cyst isn't a meniscus tear.

The White Sox have now scored three runs or less in 50% of all games played this year. 79 times in 158 games. They have to win their remaining four games to finish over .500 at 82-80. From supposed "World Series" contender to this. WOW! If the season was two weeks longer the Cubs would catch them in the win column. ?

This from DVS Saturday story in the Sun-Times: "A source close to La Russa and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said he expects Reinsdorf to give La Russa the option of coming back but also will encourage him not to do so for his own personal good.