Lip Man 1

As Paul Sullivan suggested yesterday in his column the only guys the Sox have who may bring anything back are the core guys.

Let their be dancing in the streets, the White Sox won a game.

I know he's been coaching but the Sox need genuine outside people to come in and look at the problems and issues this franchise is facing with an open mind and fresh ideas. Not folks in any way connected to this organization or have any loyalty to JR. Haven't they learned for what's happened in the past along these lines? The times it has failed greatly outweigh perhaps the one time it worked (for awhile anyway) with Ozzie.

If Hahn shows up at Sox fest, the first question he should be asked by a fan is this, "Mr. Hahn the Sox have had eight losing seasons in the 10 years you've been the G.M. why should any fan believe anything you say moving forward about the future of this team?"

Here's the exact quote from DVS's story: Robert had three specialists examine the wrist and will have it looked at it by another one in two weeks, he said. “Depending on the results of that checkup, then they’ll let me know what we’re going to do,” Robert said.

After discussing how LaRussa, Cairo, Hahn and Williams deserve blame he closes this way: "There are no untouchables on the Sox, aside from Dylan Cease. But there are a few unloadables, including Yoán Moncada, Yasmani Grandal, Joe Kelly and Leury García, whose contracts make them likely to return in 2023. Fortunately for Williams — and maybe Hahn — there are several talented, relatively young players who could be dealt, including Anderson, Robert and Kopech, who were focal points of the rebuild. The Sox could get something of value in return for any of them, and the player would have the motivation to prove he can stay healthy and productive the whole season. One or more of the Sox core should be dealt early in the offseason, sending a message they’re serious about changing the culture. The Cubs blew it by hanging on too long to the core of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez. Now their fans are paying the price with a second rebuild in a decade. The picture the Sox painted from day one was one of a team that felt like it could turn it on when it really mattered. The lack of emotion on display in those shots of the dugout has been a constant reminder of the joylessness of playing for an organization around .500"

Robert also said in that interview the Sox have told him that he'll be reevaluated in two weeks to see where the hand is and go from there. I'm guessing next stop surgery.

Paul Sullivan of the Tribune gives a sobering account of what decisions face the Sox this off season. Hint: They may have to trade some of the "core group" to get anything back of value: https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/white-sox/ct-chicago-white-sox-culture-change-20220928-tp6opiud4nfz3pej7yso4yukua-story.html

if the stories I've been reading his name always seems to be mentioned. Just what the Sox need, another member of "the family" with no previous experience.

it's seasons like this that make me so thankful I have 72 (and counting) Sox games in my library dating back to the 1981 season. At least I can get some enjoyment out of years when they were actually good.

Cairo tonight defended Moncada: A lot of people get him wrong because of the way he is,” Cairo said. “He reminds me of Robinson Cano. When I was with the Yankees [as a coach], everyone said he was too laid-back, he was lazy. No, he wasn’t. That was the way he played the game. That was himself. [Moncada], he’s so talented. This season, with the injuries he had in the beginning, it was tough.” ?

You know I honestly think now they have a chance to lose the last 15 in a row to close the season. Then next year they have to open at Houston and play 10 of the first 14 on the road (if memory serves). You could be looking at a historic losing streak!!!!! One other note about tonight, the Sox have the most expensive bullpen in MLB history, yet every guy who came out of the pen tonight had an ERA of at LEAST 4.6. That's some "brilliant" G.M. the Sox have isn't it? if Hahn is retained (I'd bet money he is) the first question he should be asked by the media is, "Rick, with respect, based on your 10 year track record why should any Sox fan trust your judgement moving forward?" I'd love to hear him answer that one.

Says what a lot of Sox fans have been posting: https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2022/9/28/23377063/biggest-disappointments-2022-white-sox-in-own-shameful-category-jerry-reinsdorf-tony-la-russa

Valid points. I'm simply saying that MLB is a 10-12 billion dollar a year business now with money pouring in from domestic and international sources. The Sox in my opinion could pay out whatever they wish without financial harm to any of the owners.

Regarding your last sentence, there's no way to know of course since we can't see the books and has been brought out in past labor situations the owners have "cooked" the books, but I have a hard time thinking the White Sox are overstretched at any point financially. In my opinion and based on some conversations I've had with people who know some of the investors, the financial restraints are self-imposed.

And remember a famous Kenny quote, (paraphrasing) 'When JR wants to know something he calls me first, not Rick.'

Many feel he started to lose the club after the Mercedes situation in Minnesota. And the record shows that after the All-Star break in 2021 the Sox were just a .500 club so I don't know how much "success" you can give TLR that year.

It's been going on for years in different areas, won't change now I'm guessing.

I think it more likely TLR's influence has caused the issues not something with Jose. If anything JR would sooner cut off his left arm then let him go and that will probably result in another contract that will bite the Sox on the rear end.

"Luck is the residue of design" - Branch Rickey. You are right though the baseball side of the operation at all levels is inept, dysfunctional and incompetent.

Some of what DVS wrote tonight in the game recap at the Sun-Times: The dark space below the .500 mark is no place to be. Not for a team in its championship window. Not for an organization that six years ago admitted to being ‘‘mired in mediocrity’’ and launched a rebuild that left its fans waiting through seasons of 67-95, 62-100 and 72-89 in 2017-19 before finally reaching an American League wild-card series in 2020. With a punchless 4-0 loss Tuesday to the Twins, the free-falling White Sox’ losing streak hit seven games. The Sox are plunging toward a totally unexpected losing season after two on the right side of .500. The latest loss dropped them to 76-78 and let the third-place Twins (75-79) creep to within one game of them for second. It could be the eighth losing season in the last 10 for a franchise that has made it to only three postseasons (2008, 2020 and 2021) since the 2005 World Series. They won once in each of those series to go with eight losses, falling well short of the parades general manager Rick Hahn talked about during the planning stages of the rebuild."

The Jamie Navarro and John Danks deals had to have some impact on JR's thinking but you are right, JR will not authorize the record breaking nine figure deal because of what may happen. Sox are one of only four teams never to have given one, the others are Pittsburgh, Oakland and Kansas City...that's some company eh?

The garbage rebuilding Cubs now have 68 wins the "supposed" World Series contending White Sox have 76. Six straight games scoring three runs or less, now up to 77 in 154 games, that's 50% This is beyond embarrassing, these guys gave up last Wednesday night. Just disgusting.

I read that today and like I posted on twitter I'll be curious if Scott lays any blame at the feet of his friend Rick Hahn. Both went to Michigan and I was told that Hahn likes him and has provided info to him that he hasn't shared with other media members. If Scott thinks the Sox have the most talent when Hahn's off season acquisitions were brutal, when his trade deadline acquisition blew up in his face again and when this "talent" can't stay healthy for seemingly one week, he was watching a different team than I was.

His take on what went wrong. Oddly he seems to place the blame totally on the players but not anyone else at least in print (I listened to his rant a few days ago which was different in placing blame): https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/2022/9/27/23375653/pinpointing-what-went-wrong-in-a-lost-chicago-white-sox-season-cleveland-guardians-central