Lip Man 1

Story provides some financial details and an interesting comment from Adam Eaton: http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/guarant...white-sox-home/ Mark

Rick Morrissey's take on the new naming rights: http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/there-c...-field-cant-be/ Mark

And I understand the Bears and Cubs have already gotten into the act on this, much like the Royals earlier this season dissed the Sox on Twitter followed by the Padres after Shields started getting lit up: http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/chicago...ium-name-082416 Mark

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 09:11 PM) Of course it doesn't change what happens on the field but it's pouring salt on the wounds for a completely dejected fanbase and it's embarrassing. It's as if everyone in charge is completely incompetent. How does this even get past the initial question of "How will this fit in with the image of the ball club?" Should have been an immediate pass and look to the next bidder. You are assuming there were other bidders. I'd assume there was but you never know for sure. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 04:42 PM) I know you and the rest of the JR haters have this weird guilt factor any time this is said, but it is a fact. The rate of return is directly tied to how much and how loyal of a fan base a team has. Teams like the Cubs get bigger deals because no matter what has happened they have stuck around. Like it or not, but it is true. One thing wrong with your comment I'm not a JR hater. I respect the fact that he's a self made millionaire and have said that repeatedly. He's also a brilliant businessman and real estate guy. That does not make him a baseball expert or a savant when it comes to the game. We'll just have to disagree, Sox fans are smarter than that to support a garbage, s***ty franchise. They are under NO obligation, none, zero, nada to support crap just like any consumer is under no obligation to support a bad eatery, a lousy supermarket or a bad business. There is no difference especially when said team got their stadium out of tax dollars and didn't even pay for it themselves (unlike say the Giants owner who built that stadium out of his own pocket or the former Dolphins owner Joe Robbie) Want to know a big reason why the Cubs were s*** for decades? It's because they sold out every game win or lose. The motivation for ownership to spend millions to put a winning team on the field was exactly none. But again you are free to offer your opinions and I respect them. I respect the fact as well that you consistently stick to your guns. Mark

James Shields..."20 losses here I come!!!" Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 03:32 PM) What this really does is scare me for their next TV contract. As well you should be. If things don't dramatically improve on the field and in the ratings I don't think the Sox will even be getting what franchises like the Mariners and Diamondbacks got. And they won't even be in the same ballpark (no pun intended) with what the Cubs will be getting. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 03:40 PM) That is exactly what it is saying. The Cubs are getting their own network due to their fanbase, we are getting Guaranteed Rate Field. Apparently it's the fan's fault? Mark

QUOTE (shipps @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 03:06 PM) They may sound like a shady mortgage company but its possible they had a substantial offer. If its helps improve the team then I am fine by it but damn this wasnt the greatest of timing. As others have pointed out and I have no idea on this, the money may not even be going to the Sox. We'll find out more I guess in the next few days. Some say because the Sox simply rent the stadium they won't get the money. Mark

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 03:02 PM) Wow, this is f***ing sad. Some 3rd tier mortgage company/broker/business. Couldn't get Walgreens, a big time bank, airline, Fortune 500 co?? They end up with some shady mortgage broker?? perhaps that says something about the Sox relevance in their own market. Mark

Jokes have already started across the internet..."Guaranteed" mediocrity..."Guaranteed" not to make the playoffs...and the company logo (arrow pointing down is to funny for words...) I wonder if the money must go towards the upkeep of the stadium or if it can be used for other purposes and I wonder how much the deal is worth. Mark

We go back to August 23, 1972. The Sox are hosting the Yankees and Dick Allen did something no other Sox player ever did at that time...he hit one into the center field bleacher seats off Lindy McDaniel in the Sox 5-2 win. I was sitting in the area because Harry Caray was broadcasting from those seats. A young Richard Roeper was also there that afternoon. The only other Sox player to do this in the original Comiskey Park by the way was Richie Zisk in 1977. You can hear the call of the shot at this link: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/08/t...ulie-hits-2000/ Announcer is Harry Caray. Courtesy: WTAQ / WEAW Radio. Mark

Don't see many Sox blow out wins anymore that's for sure. Mark

According to the Sun-Times today Robin said Jose has been dealing with a hamstring issue. The story didn't quote Robin as saying how long that has been an issue but Jose has appeared to be having trouble running most of the season. Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 23, 2016 -> 04:38 AM) http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-white-so...get-it-together This is reassuring. KW: We'll get it together. So basically, the injuries to Petricka and Putnam were enough to blow up the entire season...that's about as lame as Hawk saying the lack of offdays early burned out Albers and Robertson. Nice column in reply to Kenny: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/08/23/baf...-the-white-sox/ Mark

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Aug 23, 2016 -> 08:36 AM) The fans of the team that lost the world series. Because they knew during game 1, they had a better chance at winning a championship than 28 other teams. Not the mention the attendance boost teams get when they go deep into the playoffs. I'll taking making the playoffs and everything that goes with it (being in contention and playing meaningful games late in the season, the fun of watching my team play in October while everyone else is at home) vs the past few crap seasons we've had with very little to look forward to any year. VERY well said. Lip

QUOTE (miracleon35th @ Aug 22, 2016 -> 07:06 PM) I don't care if KW and Hahn stay, just as long as they hire a different group of people to evaluate talent and make more sound Draft choices and trade suggestions. As far as not being in the playoffs more than twice since they won it all, please.... This has been a much tougher Division than say, the National League Central and who cares if a team makes it but then gets swept four games in a row? LOL. I'd rather not make the playoffs than suffer that kind of humiliation. I don't agree. Making the playoffs even if you get blown out in the Wild Card game to say nothing of if you advance further along, still means you had a good enough season to actually get there. To me it beats going to the golf course the first week of October because the team fell flat on their faces yet again. Mark

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 22, 2016 -> 01:47 PM) http://wgnradio.com/2016/08/20/the-beat-fu...roster-shuffle/ I went on WGN to talk about this. I come in at 17:35 if anyone cares. Enjoyed listening to it and learned a few things I didn't know. Example that getting Melky was Williams' deal not Hahn's. Mark

Nice to see Chris finally get that 15th win...despite the bullpen trying to lose the game again for him. Mark

Just wondering. Does anybody know the last pitcher to lose 20 games in a season and when? Not saying Shields will even get the chance. The Sox will shut him down when he hits 19 losses saying that he's "injured" (nudge, nudge, wink, wink SAY no more...) and save him the embarrassment (and of course save the front office the embarrassment too...) Mark

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 19, 2016 -> 09:44 PM) Why we didn't trade Shields in a huge seller's market when he had some value after a good run is beyond me Because the Sox "we're going for it!" LOL. Just like the previous season with Shark. Mark

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 19, 2016 -> 07:32 PM) How about we hope Shields gets FIXED At 35? Not Happening. I hear Aerosmith in the background singing "Dream On..." Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 19, 2016 -> 09:34 PM) Not nearly as effective in 2007, 2009 or 2011 especially...that said, at least every other year the team was entertaining at least. Maybe if he hadn't been drunk half the time, we really would have seen what he could do were he 100% serious like his first 2-3 years as a manager. As time went by, it became more about him and his family and less about the team. Ozzie started to believe his press clippings and got greedy. He quit on the team, wanted out so he could go to Miami and urinated that job down the toilet in one season. Mark

James Shields is John Danks; version 2.0 A pitcher with an albatross contract who is headed downhill fast. The difference is Danks couldn't help that he got hurt. The Sox knew Shields was losing it fast...yet Kenny Hahn got him anyway. Don't stop now boys! Mark