Lip Man 1

Given Bieber still hasn't really gotten back into what he was before his injuries this was a bad loss. Just like against the Royals when they scored 22 runs, then one the next game, you get 12 Friday, then shut out the next day. Always seems to happen. Still can't get to seven over.

Six factoids today: July 18, 1921 - The trial for eight White Sox players known as the “Black Sox” began in Chicago. The players were accused of trying to defraud the public by throwing the World Series. A jury found the players innocent; however, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned them for life and destroyed one of the finest teams on paper in baseball history and perhaps the only team that could have stopped the emerging Yankee dynasty. July 18, 1936 - Sox outfielder Ray “Rip” Radcliffe became the first player in franchise history to ever collect six hits in a game. He went 6 for 7 with four RBI’s and four runs scored in the Sox 21-14 win over the Athletics in Philadelphia. July 18, 1948 - In the first game of a double header in Philadelphia, Sox outfielder Pat Seerey hit four home runs in a game against the A’s. The Sox would win the slugfest 12-11 in 11 innings. He’s the only Sox player to ever hit that many in a single contest. He went 4 for 6, with seven RBI’s and four runs scored. The seven RBI’s is one off the franchise record for a single game. His home runs came in the fourth, sixth, seventh and 11th innings and his blow in the 11th was the game winner. July 18, 1984 - A dud of a deal because of the long-term implications. The Sox traded Chicago native, relief pitcher Kevin Hickey and prospect Doug Drabek (the player to be named later) to the Yankees for Roy Smalley. Smalley did nothing on the South Side...eventually Drabek would wind up as the ace of the great Pirate teams of the early 1990's winning the Cy Young Award. He finally pitched for the Sox in 1997 going 12-11 but his ERA was 5.74. July 18, 2008 – The White Sox brought their hitting shoes to the park for their game with the Royals. The first eight batters for the Sox reached base safely as part of a six run first inning. They’d wind up winning the game 9-5. Orlando Cabrera led off with a single, A.J. Pierzynski singled, Carlos Quentin was hit by a pitch, Jermaine Dye singled, Jim Thome singled, Paul Konerko singled, Nick Swisher singled and Joe Crede singled. The hits all came off Zach Greinke. July 18, 2021 – In the Sox 4-0 win over the Astros in Chicago a couple of franchise records were set. Shortstop Tim Anderson became the first player to have a hit and score a run in 11 straight games breaking the tie he had with several other players. The record came when he had a solo home run in the fifth inning. Also, that afternoon Carlos Rodon set the team mark by striking out at least eight hitters in 10 straight starts. He was tied with Juan Pizarro for that record. Rodon struck out 10 batters only allowing one-hit in seven innings of work.

It's wild right now...Cleveland, Minnesota can't lose and Detroit is still in the hunt.

They won't demote Braden.

Nice way to start a road trip that's for sure.

Hammering Tampa in the first game of a DH today in Boston so that will make it 10 straight and I think 14 of 16.

Remember Kenny famous quote where he said the first person JR calls is him not Rick Hahn on Sox matters.

Three factoids today: July 17, 1959 - It was a pitcher’s duel for the ages and one of the key games in the 1959 season. The Sox were in New York and before over 42,000 fans, Ralph Terry and Early Wynn hooked up in a classic. After eight innings Terry had no-hit the Sox...Wynn allowed the Yankees one hit, that an infield single in the sixth inning to his mound opponent. In the top of the ninth Jim McAnany broke up the no-hitter with a single to center leading off the inning. The Sox would eventually score two runs thanks to Jim Landis’ bases loaded hit. Wynn closed down New York in the last of the frame and the Sox had a 2-0 win. It was Landis who also had the defensive play of the game, maybe of the regular season, when he robbed Mickey Mantle of an inside-the-park home run with a sensational catch out by the monuments in center field 460 feet away from home plate in the fourth inning. July 17, 1989 - In a game at Comiskey Park against the Yankees, Carlton Fisk notched his 2,000th career hit. It came in the first inning on a single to center off of former teammate Dave LaPoint. He’d have three for the evening in the Sox 7-3 win along with an RBI and a run scored. At the time he was the 173rd player ever to reach the 2,000 hits mark. July 17, 2022 – He came over from the Cubs in the Jose Quintana deal and it was showing to be one of the best trades made by the Sox in recent memory. Pitcher Dylan Cease was dominant against the Twins in the last game before the All-Star break going seven innings, allowing one hit and striking out eight in the 11-0 win. With the eight strikeouts he passed Chris Sale as the fastest White Sox pitcher ever to record 500 of them. He did it just short of 400 innings of work. Sale’s record was recorded in a little over 472 innings pitched. Cease and two relief pitchers only allowed Minnesota that one hit, a single by Alex Kirilloff in the fifth inning.

The 2005 club could beat you with a blast a bloop or a bunt. They were top five in the league if I remember right in home runs, sacrifice flies, sacrifice bunts, infield hits and stolen bases. They were very well rounded offensively.

During the 94/95 labor impasse players weren't paid but it was negotiated as part of the final settlement that they would be credited with service time for the games missed. That's how the Sox lost Alex Fernandez. The organization didn't think he'd be a free agent for another year but with the service time given for the games missed he qualified went to Florida and helped them win a World series.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/16/white-sox-open-next-season-march-25-in-detroit-home-opener-april-1-vs-brewers

I think I saw as well where Fox Sports is picking up the Cleveland/Sox game on August 8.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/16/chicago-white-sox-chris-getz-will-venable-mlb-trade-deadline-blue-jays

Interesting story in the Athletic today. MLB sent out a memo warning teams against using A.I. to make in-game decisions as far as substitutions and game strategy. Apparently clubs have started doing this instead of humans making the decisions and MLB doesn't like it.

Absolutely correct. As soon as Disney bought ESPN it stopped being about sports and shifted towards "entertainment" and trying to draw in non-sports fans.

Three factoids today: July 16, 1980 - Bill Veeck’s ownership syndicate accepted offers to buy the White Sox. Sox broadcaster Harry Caray was one of those expressing interest along with millionaire Edward DeBartolo Sr. DeBartolo would eventually be turned away from getting the club after he had a deal with Veeck by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and the other owners and Veeck eventually sold the club to Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn in January 1981. July 16, 1990 – It was one of the funniest moments in Sox history, as Sox utility player Steve “Psycho” Lyons made a mistake that wound up on every highlight show in the nation. In the fifth inning at Detroit, Lyons bunted his way on, sliding head first the final few feet to beat the throw. He then called time and completely blanked out as he started to drop his pants to get the dirt out of them. Fortunately, he was wearing sliding shorts. When he realized what he was doing he quickly yanked his pants back up while turning beet red in the process. After he was forced at second base later in the inning and ran back to the dugout, female fans in the first few rows behind the Sox bench began waving dollar bills at him. July 16, 2013 – The White Sox Chris Sale got the win as the A.L. beat the N.L. 3-0 at the All-Star Game from Citi Field in New York. Sale pitched two innings facing the minimum six batters and recording two strikeouts which came during the second and third innings. His strikeouts victims were Carlos Gonzales and Troy Tulowitzki. He got credit for the win when the A.L. scored the lead and eventual winning run in the top of the fourth inning when he was still the pitcher of record.

With respect does it even matter who was MVP of a meaningless exhibition game based on popularity?

From the Sun-Times story tonight: "The start of the second half could be dangerous for a Sox team that has been insatiable at home (31-17) but toothless on the road (19-28). Twelve of the Sox’ next 19 games are away from Rate Field, while the Guardians have 13 of 20 on home turf. If the Sox can keep up with the Guardians into August, though, they’ll be in a strong enough position that general manager Chris Getz could tip the scales with the right pitching acquisition or two at the deadline."

True that's the team he grew up rooting for.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/mlb/2026/07/15/mlb-labor-negotiations-mlbpa-lockout-strike-salary-cap

Three factoids today: July 15, 1963 - Sox pitcher Gary Peters, on his way towards being named Co-Rookie of the Year, threw a one-hitter at Comiskey Park in beating the Orioles 4-0. Future Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts got the start for Baltimore and got that team’s only hit… in fact he would be the only O’s base runner on the night. That hit came in the third inning a single to center field. J.C. Martin and Tommy McCraw blasted two-run home runs for the Sox. Peters would strike out 13 that night and would finish the year with 19 wins despite not getting his first start until May 6 in Kansas City. (On a personal note this was the first Sox game I ever saw in-person...) July 15, 1994 – “Batgate” came to Comiskey Park. Indians’ slugger and future Sox outfielder Albert Belle was caught using a corked bat by Sox manager Gene Lamont in the first inning. In order to keep Belle from being suspended further, teammate Jason Grimsley crawled through the air ducts and dropped into the umpire’s room where the bat was being held for examination. Grimsley replaced Belle’s bat with a Paul Sorrento model which tipped off everyone to the switch. Umpire Dave Phillips then realized the bats had been switched and the police investigated; the league demanded that the Indians return Belle's bat; four days later, Belle's bat was sent to New York; it was x-rayed and cut open in the presence of Belle and G.M. John Hart and discovered to have cork in it; Belle was suspended for 10 games. The Sox lost the game 3-2. July 15, 2003 - Sox pitcher Esteban Loaiza started the All-Star Game being hosted by the White Sox for the fourth time in franchise history the others being the inaugural game in 1933, 1950 and the 50th anniversary contest in 1983. He went two scoreless innings and got no decision in the A.L.’s 7-6 come from behind win. He was joined in the game by teammates Carl Everett (OF) and Magglio Ordonez (OF).

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/07/14/white-sox-all-stars-munetaka-murakami-miguel-vargas-tristan-peters-mlb-philadelphia-citizens-bank-park

Ho hum...AL wins again. That's 23 out of the last 29. Well done guys!

https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2026/07/14/bruce-levine-apologizes-to-cubs-execs-jed-hoyer-carter-hawkins-for-post-on-x

Five factoids today: July 14, 1915 - In a 6-4 win over the Athletics at Comiskey Park, pitcher Urban “Red” Faber stole second, third and home in the contest. He’s one of only three Sox players to ever do this and the only pitcher to pull it off. The circumstances surrounding Faber’s steals was strange in itself. Heavy rain was interrupting the game and in the fourth inning the A’s were stalling trying to force the game to be rained out already losing 4-2. Faber stole his bases uncontested as the Athletics didn’t even try to throw him out! Even stranger, the next Sox hitter Harry “Nemo” Leibold struck out even though Philadelphia pitcher “Bullet” Joe Bush kept trying to hit him! July 14, 1953 - Sox pitcher Billy Pierce, perhaps the greatest lefty in franchise history, started the All-Star Game in Cincinnati’s Crosley Field. Billy threw three innings allowing only one hit. He got no decision in the N.L.’s 5-1 win. Joining Billy in Cincinnati were teammates “Chico” Carrasquel (SS), Nellie Fox (2B), Ferris “Burrhead” Fain (1B) and “Minnie” Minoso (OF). Carrasquel also started the contest. July 14, 1979 - It’s hard to believe given his reputation for sleepwalking and indifference, but Sox outfielder Claudell Washington actually had a good game from time to time. Washington hit three home runs against the Tigers in the Sox 12-4 win. He went 3 for 5 with five RBI’s. His home runs came in the third, seventh and eighth innings, part of the Sox six home runs in the game. July 14, 1991- It was almost a no-hitter with an unusual twist. Sox starter Jack McDowell opened the game at Milwaukee by allowing a leadoff home run by Paul Molitor. It would be the only safety on the day for the Brewers, as Jack recorded the next 27 outs without allowing a hit. McDowell allowed only one walk and a base runner via error the rest of the afternoon in the Sox 15-1 laugher. Warren “the Deacon” Newson had four RBI’s with Robin Ventura adding three. July 14, 2000 - Frank Thomas broke Luke Appling’s team record for most RBI’s when he drove in his 1,117th. It came at home in a 9-4 loss to the Cardinals. This was also the same game where Cal Eldred left in the fifth inning with soreness in his forearm/elbow which would require surgery. In the midst of a tremendous first half of the season with seemingly all the pieces in place for a run to a championship, Eldred’s injury, coupled with the loss for a long period of time, of starter James Baldwin, forced the Sox remaining pitchers into a heavier work load which caused a rash of bad arms. Two other starting pitchers, Mike Sirotka and Jim Parque basically saw their careers ended by arm injuries suffered later in the same season and had the Sox somehow got past Seattle in the opening round of the playoffs it would have been interesting to see who manager Jerry Manuel would turn to for the next series.