Lip Man 1

Don't want any part of Avi long term. None what so ever.

9th game the Sox have lost when leading in the 7th inning or later.

Personally given the number of injuries, the time not playing, the inconsistent performances of some guys and the youth of others I hope the Sox don't call anybody up this year. Let the guys heal, maybe Hansen, Dunning, Robert can play in the Arizona Fall League and then see everyone in February.

Here you go gang: Robert out another four to eight weeks with another injury to that thumb. Assuming the middle ground (four weeks), that'll run his total time missed to 16 weeks (four months) of time because of two injuries to the same thumb. Eloy out two weeks with a strained left adductor muscle. So the total for the prospects is: Robert (two serious injuries), Eloy, Dunning, Burger (two serious injuries), Burdi, Cordell, Hansen and Adolfo. The "baseball-gods" keep giving the middle finger to the Sox. Unbelievable.

He fired him because it became personal between him and Himes. To wit: On the firing of G.M. Larry Himes in September 1990: “The fact is, Larry Himes cannot get along with anybody. You can hardly find anybody in the Sox organization that wasn’t happy when Larry Himes left.” – Jerry Reinsdorf to radio talk show host Chet Coppock. September 1990. “The past is gone. The fact we did reach Point C this year doesn’t mean Larry (Himes) wouldn’t have reached it. It does mean we guessed right with Ron (Schueler). I just felt at the time a change was necessary, so let’s not think about anything but the future. We all have a good relationship now.” – Jerry Reinsdorf to the Chicago Sun - Times’ Joe Goddard and Tony Ginnetti. September 28, 1993. Pg. 92. Also I've been told that down the stretch in 1990 JR and his people were pushing Himes to acquire some vets to help, Himes refused. (Pitcher Mike Scott was the name I was told) Plus you've got this from my interview with then manager Jeff Torborg: ML: At the trade deadline the Sox were only three games behind the A’s yet the only thing the organization did was get reserve outfielder Phil Bradley from the Orioles. Were you disappointed especially since there was a lot of talk about the Sox getting guys like pitcher Mike Scott? JT: “Sure we were disappointed especially since that same day the A’s picked up Harold Baines and Willie McGee. I was sitting in my hotel room when I saw the news come across the TV and I thought ‘how did that happen?’ because we were behind Oakland, we could have put in a claim. At almost the same time I was thinking this I got a call from Jerry Reinsdorf and he asked me “what’s going on?” All I could tell him was that I didn’t know.” “And you mentioned Mike Scott…this is the first time I’ve ever heard anything like that. If that’s true that just goes to show you that I wasn’t involved in everything that may have been going on. (Author’s Note: ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight’s” lead anchor Dave Marash reported when Larry Himes was fired in mid-September, that part of the reason was, that he wasn’t interested in trading any of his minor league talent for more highly regarded players for the stretch drive. This apparently caused a wedge between him and ownership.)

Apparently Robert is back on the DL with a thumb injury. I don't know if it is the same one he hurt in spring training or not. Eloy left the game today after he hurt himself on a swing. Garfein thinks it may be a leg injury. They keep dropping like flies the past three seasons.

A number of bad starts and an ERA of around 5.5 I think.

I understand where you are coming from and there is some truth in your comment but JR isn't selling. He didn't sell yesterday, he isn't today and he's not tomorrow. Just not happening and he's not going to fire the baseball side of his front office like John Allyn did in September 1970. He probably should, but he won't. As Kenny said many time. "it is what it is..." All we can do is hope it works out.

From Sunday's Sun-Times: Manager Rick Renteria said Moncada didn’t go all-out to the plate, thinking Andrus, fielding Jose Abreu’s sharp grounder to his right, was conceding the run and throwing to first. “If you’re asking me if he gave his best effort, no he did not,” Renteria said.

What is going to be the important part for the Sox is what do they get money-wise for the new TV deal? Considering the past 11 years and the fact they are rebuilding, that could depress the market for them (as well as not potentially having multiple suitors. Seattle, Arizona and St. Louis all got billion(s) dollar deals when their rights were up. I don't know if the Sox can get that in a split market but we'll see.

They still own I think 40% combined between the Sox and Bulls since they are owned by the same group / individual.

I think it's 55 games but I could be wrong.

Don't think they show the Pacers in St. Louis do they? That's not Indiana's market and they don't show the Royals in the St. Louis area obviously. As far as soccer that doesn't move the needle much either way.

Well let's all hope the Sox get good.

Basically Fox Sports Midwest out of St. Louis, only other pro team on it is the Blues. They have no competition during baseball season and are affiliated with a major broadcast organization.

Just a guess, I haven't spoken with anyone on this but I think the Cubs are going to try to go solo. That's been their wish for a long time. I think the other three teams are going to return to NBC Sports Chicago. In the Sox case I think they'll still have some games (maybe 35 or so) on "free" TV, one of the other channels (not 2,5,7, or 9)

Apparently he's back in Chicago now. Guy is done.

I think you mean channel 32? And this is from my interview with Bob Grim, the Sox Director of Broadcast Operations: ML: Have you thought about starting a regional type network for example like the St. Louis Cardinals have? BG: “The issue there is that a lot of the area cable operations just don’t want to take on a channel that’s just going to show ballgames especially if they have to charge a premium rate for it.” “And the issue we have with a regional radio network is that a lot of the “mom and pop” stations that used to be around and aired Sox games in the past just don’t exist anymore. They’ve all been bought up by national corporations and they simply program via satellite from Dallas or Chicago or someplace. The stations simply don’t want to have to pay someone even though it’s probably not a lot, to run the board and insert commercials between innings and such.” (Author's Note: At one time during the 1950's & 1960's the Sox radio network was around 100 stations...one of the largest in baseball stretching all across the Midwest and into the deep South including places like Jackson, Mississippi, Atlanta, before they got the Braves and most of the state of Florida since they trained in Tampa and then Sarasota in the spring) ML: Well taking it a step further have the Sox ever had any discussions about starting their own TV network a la the Yankees YES Network? I mean Jerry Reinsdorf owns the Sox, he owns the Bulls and he has a good relationship with the Wirtz Family, they both built the United Center. That gives you three major sports and you don’t have to play second fiddle to the Cubs anymore. BG: “I’ve never personally been involved in any discussions like that but I think it probably has been talked about. Even with those three teams that you mentioned Mark, we’d still have an awful lot of time to fill. You’re talking about 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” “Right now to be honest the Sox simply don’t have the amount of video, classic games and stuff that could be used to do something like that. We’re getting closer though, Major League Baseball now requires all teams to tape every game and send the copy to New York where they archive it for us. So as time goes on we’ll be getting more and more material that we could use if something like this happens but now unlike the Yankees, we just don’t have material from the 20’s or 30’s that we could use say as a documentary to help fill time. When Jerry and his group took over in January 1981, they looked and any material that the Sox may have had was gone. No one knows where it went or who got it.” Just can't ever see the Sox having their own network.

This may be true but the strikeouts are very alarming and with this pitching staff those errors especially on "easy" plays are causing them trouble because often they can't pitch around them. No one is arguing about his potential but also keep in mind this was the #1 prospect in all of baseball, consensus across the board, to see him struggling like this gets your attention. This wasn't a 17th round draft pick or a minor league free agent. This was supposedly the top guy. Now add in the Sox issues with developing everyday players (non-pitchers) for the last 15 years and fair or not fans start to think, "they're screwing up another kid...again."

Speaking of Hansen how has he been doing? Saw where he had a shaky first start but that was to be expected, but nothing on him since.

I think it's deeper than that, remember since the late 80's the Sox have hired only two guys who previously managed in the major leagues (Torborg, Renteria). JR has admitted that he's never thought managers (or head coaches) make that much of a difference and refuses to pay high amounts to get those type guys plus (and I'm not necessarily knocking him for this) he's always been a guy who likes to give opportunities to people, maybe that's because they are grateful to have a job and will work cheap, although if that is a part of it, I think it is a small part...he just likes to give folks chances and often the inexperience will show through.

Giolito pitched his ass off today. Second good start in a row for that kid. Very encouraging. Was so happy to see the Sox get that run in the 9th inning and get him off the hook...no way in hell he deserved a loss. Speaking of the 9th inning that was the most excited I've been watching a Sox inning in a long time, was standing hoping they'd end it. I have no idea what Moncada was looking for or thinking in that 9th inning at-bat. That pitch was perfect for a left hander (I know I am one) and should have been ripped, instead he stands there. Kid flashes potential but man he's got a long, long, looonnnggg way to go.

Didn't see this posted but Scott Merkin has said Dunning's MRI shows a moderate elbow sprain that "presently" will not require surgery. He's out 6-8 weeks and then will begin a throwing routine. Guess it could be worse but from what I've been reading usually the ultimate result is TJ surgery. Sigh... Personally if the end of the road is ultimately going to result in the surgery I'd rather they do it sooner rather than later and waste precious time. Perhaps PTAC can weigh in.

Scott Merkin was asked this question about Girardi at White Sox.com: How long do you see Renteria leading the rebuild? And do you think the White Sox will go after an experienced manager like Joe Girardi? I don't see Renteria being the manager when the team is ready to contend. -- @JH_Santiago21 Renteria has an excellent grasp on what the organization is trying to do through this rebuild, putting his clear imprint on the process, and he has full support of the front office, his staff and the players. I understand Girardi is the big-name free agent with Chicago ties, but look for Renteria to stay at the helm of this team for the immediate and foreseeable future.

Just a few random thoughts on this issue: 1. I've never understood why some folks are upset when a MLB game goes 3:15 but when an NFL game does that it's OK. When I was a kid and would go to Comiskey Park to see a DH, I'd wonder if eight hours or so was going to be enough baseball. (I'd get there two hours or so before first pitch to watch BP and infield practice, they used to open the gates three hours before first pitch). I don't think the game should be radically changed because a particular generation has a five minute attention span. 2. MLB is becoming like the NBA. Realistically only a handful of teams can win a title. The rest are all flotsam and jetsam. Hard to get fans excited when they know even with expanded playoffs they've got no chance. I can tell you right now the 10 teams that will probably be playing in October and I think I'd get eight or nine right. 3. Marketing is a huge issue with MLB, this I agree with. They have to do a better job. 4. The networks are a big player in this as well. It's always Yankees vs. Red Sox or Red Sox vs. Yankees seemingly every week (not literally of course but you get my drift...only select teams are usually shown). I recall the statement, by the ESPN ombudsman at the time, 'ESPN has to realize that Yankees-Red Sox mean very little to fans west of the Allegheny Mountains.' You want fans to get interested again in baseball? Stop promoting and showing just a handful of teams week after week. It used to be every team was required to be on the "Game of the Week" at least once, that is no longer in play. Ed Sherman wrote about this a few years ago when the A's finally were shown on Sunday Night Baseball.