Lip Man 1

Not sure what the parameters are involving this discussion but the time period from 1951-1967, the "Golden Age" of White Sox baseball the Sox outdrew the Cubs in 16 of those 17 seasons, sometimes by a wide margin...they also got the lion's share of media coverage in the market and had a radio network of approximately 100 stations throughout the Midwest and down into the South including Jackson, Mississippi, Atlanta (before the Braves came) and most of Florida (because they trained in Sarasota.) Generally until the Tribune Company bought the Cubs in 1981, and used their tremendous marketing and media influence, the team that was winning more usually drew better between the two clubs. After that though because of John McDonough (who grew up a Sox fan by the way) and again because of the power of the Tribune Company (to say nothing of the Sox not being willing to even fight for their own market i.e. "we're Chicago's American League team...) the Cubs have dominated since 1984. I have in my library a story out of The Sporting News in 1993 where Ron Schueler was quoted as saying that the Sox were in first place, the Cubs in last, yet they were still outdrawing them. Part of that dynamic was because the Tribune Company had done a wonderful job selling the "Wrigley Field experience" as well as the Sox not being in the playoffs for 10 years at that time. There is no easy or simple answer to this situation. You have to examine history, understand the dynamics of the two fan bases and look at the outside factors that have played heavily into the situation.

Seemed like old home week for former Sox relief pitchers...and they pitched about as well as when they were with the Sox too.

I think you won't really see success until 2021 now because of all the injuries. I think next year they'll sign some free agents (not the major ones) to help stabilize things especially in the bullpen. Hopefully they sniff the .500 mark in 2019, contend for a wild card spot and a winning record in 2020 and then seriously contend in 2021.

He certainly has the speed to play in center. Who knows he may be pretty good there and make less errors.

The only way the Sox make the playoffs this season is if 10 other clubs in the league decide to forfeit the remainder of the year.

Speaking of Fulmer, this is a bizarre line tonight for him in Charlotte: 5IP, 6BB, 5Ks, only 1 ER.

Hell must of frozen over...Covey looked terrific. Of course the Sox have lost Castillo and L. Garcia for awhile. Can't keep guys in the lineup.

While I don't necessarily agree totally with Steve I can see his point. The last decade has been awful for the franchise. Unless the Sox are willing to offer way more money / years than another team you wonder if any of the "Type-A" "Superstar" free agents are going to really consider them. Potential is a nice word but these guys want to win and win now (again all things being relatively equal salary-wise). Given the circumstances and their history I'd be shocked if the Sox land one of the top guys this off season. I'd welcome it but I'm not counting on it. I do think however the Sox will be able to sign some guys who can make a positive contribution in 2019, especially in the bullpen but as far as signing someone that would send shock waves across the baseball landscape? Don't think so.

Jones continues to live on the edge but hopefully he keeps doing well and the Sox can get a prospect for him at the deadline.

Correct like Jeff Torborg told me he was out of place in right field, it wasn't his spot. They moved him to left in 1990 and he did very well.

I think this pretty much seals his fate with the Sox. They won't be able to trade him for anything at the deadline and with all the prospects coming down the line, given his injury history and production, it doesn't make sense to extend him. Guy can't stay healthy and outside of one season, which appears to be a major outlier, he's not that good.

He sure looked great in left field on opening day at home didn't he? He's an infielder trying to play the outfield (like Delmonico) and that usually doesn't work very well.

Very impressive performance. Hope is alive.

Giolito pretty solid tonight. Good sign.

Dunning looks pretty good to me.

Covey...God help us.

Had to be done. Kid right now is probably a mess. Personally I would have sent him to Double A to start rebuilding things then work him back up if he figured it out. If not? Then you've got another major draft bust by the organization.

I think he can be a solid role player for the team moving forward and who knows if Burger never gets on the field, he could be the starting 3rd baseman when (if) they actually get good in two years.

3rd time this year Sox have won when trailing in the 7th inning or later. Refreshing change. On the postgame show Melton was wondering how Jones continues to get himself in trouble with the "stuff" he has.

Gonzales is done / gone assuming either Rodon or Kopech arrives.

I think this is the game you are referring to. It was in Baltimore. I remember listening to it in Louisiana where I was working at the time. http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1983/B08050BAL1983.htm

And the 1981 season when the Sox had the town buzzing, new ownership and just two games (I think off the lead) when things shut down. It would be so very White Sox for it to happen again to them a third time.

"It's time to talk about the Sox young pitching..." YES! Please! Anyting to not have to talk about how bad the major league pitching is!

I think this is called a win, been a long time since I've seen one. Don't know how they did it with Giolito awful again and the Cubs running wild on Narvaez but you take it and thank the baseball gods.

He's 32, I don't think anything is going to change now.