Lip Man 1

Great news...Sox can't lose tonight! Woo Hoo! Mark

Apparently Cooper or no one on the staff picked up on it. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs...p-some-pitches/ May explain why he's 'suddenly' doing well in San Francisco this season. Sounds like what happened with David Wells and Nick Swisher as soon as they left the organization. Mark

This will be the 11th start this season by a Sox 5th starter. They are 0-7 so far. That's 1996 and 2003 bad. Maybe the 11th time is the charm? LOL. Mark

QUOTE (SCCWS @ May 25, 2016 -> 02:46 PM) Mark: How important is the manager. I thought hiring Robin was dumb because he had zero experience. You say you want a ML manager w a proven track record. I submit 2 current names John Farrell--- was well respected pitching coach w Francona. Goes to Toronto and has 2 mediocre seasons of sub .500 baseball. Hired by Red Sox and wins World Series in first year. Next year w virtually the same team finished dead last. last year struggle again and then he is forced to leave for health problems. Interim manager comes in and Sox improve over last 2 months. Takes over this season and Red Sox at this point are playing very good baseball. My take---the team play determines his success since his career as a manager is a roller-coaster. Ned Yost---manager for Brewers for 5 years w sub .500 record and no post season appearances. He is fired and hired in 2010 by Royals. In 5+ years w Royals he has a sub-500 record but a 22-9 record in postseason and a WS win. Two guys who managed losing teams were rehired and have won a World Series and both are still sub 500 career managers. I think the team is much more important than the manager or his track record before he is hired. Good managers set the tone, make solid baseball decisions and put the players they have in the BEST positions to win games. That's how a manager is important. He is not the be-all / end-all but a good manager is damn valuable. Mark

If Ozzie was the last manager on Earth I wouldn't want him. After the way he quit on the team, whined about a new contract right before the biggest series of the year against Detroit in August 2011 if I remember correctly plus how he embarrassed the organization. No f***ing way. Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 25, 2016 -> 04:36 PM) This road trip to KC, NYM and Detroit is going to be huge. The White Sox IMO wouldn't have released John Danks if they weren't off to such a great start and occupying first place. They would have muddled along like the last 3 years. It has been quite some time since the days of Bevington, Lamont and LaRussa being fired in the middle of a season. That said, it just depends on how long this 4-11 "slump" continues. Obviously, we've let all three of our main opponents back into the AL Central race when the Tigers and Royals were on the verge of being buried. They're going to be playing before large crowds in three very hostile environments. Yet, for whatever reason, the White Sox have tended to play fairly well on the road and inexplicably haven't defended the home field well at all, other than stretches of 2008, 2010 and somewhat in 2012. Maybe they need that excitement and energy of being the underdog and being left for dead to get going again. For whatever reason, White Sox teams can't stand success very well when they are front-runners with higher expectations and manage to put themselves in a situation nearly every time where they have to battle back. I think you got the Bevington part wrong. He was never fired in season he lasted until the end of the 97 year then was dumped. JR went to personally talk with Jimmy Leyland about the job who said no because of the resentment he felt towards the way the organization fired his friend Gene Lamont. Then Tony LaRussa was involved in negotiations and according to Nightengale then with the Sporting News had agreed on a handshake deal with JR. That supposedly was torpedoed because Scheuler was upset LaRussa wanted full authority on player moves for the major league roster. Somehow JR chose Schu over Tony when Schue gave him an ultimatum. Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 25, 2016 -> 03:26 PM) 82 wins after this start and the only ones they can sell progress to will be Merkin's and Boyer's children... White Sox have had close to perfect health. Again. The Indians have been without Brantley and Carrasco. Royals w/o Gordon, Moustakas, Medlen and Young. Tigers without Maybin and Daniel Norris. I get you and you are correct but that's exactly what they'll be doing because they have no other choice. They only good thing will be Ventura will be gone but he'll probably be replaced by another stooge / inexperienced person. Mark

Sox have played 48 games this season; have scored three runs or less in 24 of them (50%) Same s*** as last year and the year before...nothing has really changed. Mark

Not much you can say. 5th starter hasn't won a game yet and we are almost at Memorial Day and the hitting has disappeared plus even more alarming to me, they have started to make more errors and made base running blunders again. This club will probably be out of first place by the end of the week. Now in a real free fall 4-11 since they blew that game in Texas. 3-7 on a very important home stand. Two out runs being allowed now are staggering. It's all gone south and given the recent history and inability to consistently beat teams in the division (which continues save for Minnesota) the future doesn't look great. We'll see. Win 82 game at least and you can say progress is being made with a straight face. Mark

QUOTE (Black_Jack29 @ May 25, 2016 -> 09:13 AM) Because the Sox arguably don't have a better DH option right now, and because Avi was hitting well in late April and early May. His base running? Well that's a different matter isn't it? LOL. Mark

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ May 25, 2016 -> 10:19 AM) I want a guy to come in with a philosophy that makes sense in the modern era I want a guy to come in who has had previous managerial experience at the big league level and has won...not somebody learning on the job, a complete unknown or someone who literally had to be talked into taking the job. Even if such a guy isn't out there right now, that doesn't mean they won't be AND you can always try to negotiate with a team to get a manager even if he's under contract. Players have been traded for good managers in the past, one example is when Pittsburgh traded catcher Manny Sanguillen to Oakland for Chuck Tanner. Mark

QUOTE (Deadpool @ May 24, 2016 -> 10:10 PM) The Sox have been unable to draft a position player for a decade. They have tried, but they have failed. I'm convinced it is a scouting problem. They can draft pitchers, but that's really it. There's some truth to what you say but it's also a fact that the Sox have had multiple guys in charge of the scouting and drafting areas over the past years...and nothing changes does it? Again just another indication to me the problems start higher up in the chain of command. And I've also been told by multiple good sources that JR himself has personally 'suggested' to people who the Sox should draft. Puts the scouting people in a tough spot...would you go against what the guy who signs your pay checks recommends? Mark

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ May 24, 2016 -> 09:34 PM) I don't think the team has quitvat all. I think some fans on this site have quit. This is a long season.I have seen positives snack think we will get it going again. Hahn also kbiwsvthwrevus some autocross do on his end to find some pieces Excuse me...what? I can't even understand what you tried to type. Mark

QUOTE (SpankyEaton @ May 24, 2016 -> 09:25 PM) What happened to the days when they could get players like Dye, Konerko, Ordonez, Lee and Thomas who could jack one? I hope they draft a hitter this year and scout better for position players. I'm tired of all of the failures, lots of other teams get it right, why can't the Sox? Maybe to answer your question its because the people on the baseball side of the operation simply aren't very good at what they are supposed to be doing. The results on the field speak for themselves don't they? Three losing seasons in a row and six out of nine. No playoffs since 2008 only Seattle, Miami and San Diego have gone longer. A lot of those folks would have been fired long time ago in other organizations but not with the White Sox. Remember it's loyalty first, second and third over accountability. Mark

QUOTE (fathom @ May 24, 2016 -> 09:21 PM) By no means did they quit after it. More just lost some of the confidence they had late in games. Albers for sure has lost his swagger. You may be correct. If you are that says a lot about them mentally doesn't it? And that indicates a much bigger issue to me. Mark

Six guys in the starting lineup tonight now hitting .250 or less and Lawrie is at .251. You thought it couldn't happen again offensively from last year? Better think again. Hitters come to Chicago and die. There's an organizational issue in play here, its systemic...all these players the Sox have acquired since 2006 can't all be this bad when they put that uniform on. The players are partly responsible. Those that evaluate them, trade for them, sign them as free agent's are the bigger problem in my opinion. Mark

Another game another desultory offensive performance. You knew sooner or later Sale was going to lose but to Cleveland which is now a game and a half back...that makes it worse. 4-10 since the Texas Two-Step Night where they blew a five run lead in the 8th inning. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 23, 2016 -> 10:42 PM) On paper, not a bad deal. Give the two Reds a chance to get the Sox into the playoffs. I'd either do that or just let Johnson keep starting games until he finally has a good outing. He can't be this bad, can he? Oh yes he can. Not sure if this is right but by my count in ten starts by someone other than Sale,Q,Latos or Rodon that pitcher still has yet to win a game. (Danks, Johnson, Gonzalas) Also 18 runs scored in the last seven games with seven of them coming in a single game! Mark

Even funnier was a few weeks ago the Sun-Times columnists were clamoring that Ventura be given a contract extension RIGHT f***ING NOW! LOL. Mark

My thoughts on the double header: Glad the team got a split. Zach Duke...not good. Eric Johnson...four A player at best, not good. His ship has sailed, he gets ZERO more chances in my book. Try some other stiff. Sox offense against a pitcher who came in with an ERA OF ALMOST EIGHT...brutal, absolutely impotent. Flat out bad. Hope Sale can keep winning tomorrow. Mark

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 23, 2016 -> 08:36 AM) http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/pitching/_/so...qualified/false A lot of very familiar names on this list of the worst pitchers so far. From the Coop can fix 'em category. Man, Sonny Gray's really not doing Billy Beane any favors so far this year. I think Gray was put on the DL yesterday or today. Mark

For those that follow the minor leagues why did the Sox let this Orlando kid go. Looks like at worst he'd be a solid bench player and a good defender. Was he that good in the minors? Or just another Sox minor league stiff that suddenly became good as soon as he got out of the organization. Mark

QUOTE (SonofaRoache @ May 22, 2016 -> 04:21 PM) We made the playoffs something like 4 times in 34 years. I'm sure that plays a part in our crappy attendance and ratings. The 2007 team as bad as they were drew 30+ a night because the team was coming off a good run. They need to start having playoff seasons and the fans will come. Correct. And it's five times since 1981 (when JR and EE bought the team) 1983, 1993, 2000, 2005 and 2008. But right now the only teams with a longer post season drought than the Sox are Seattle, Miami and San Diego. That's some company eh? Mark

QUOTE (The Mighty Mite @ May 22, 2016 -> 11:49 AM) They tried like hell to build the new stadium in Addison on land owned by JR off of 355 just south of 290, Addison and Phillip Pate didn't want them and the issue was voted down. If I recall correctly the motion lost by one single, solitary vote after the public had its say. Mark

Depends on your point of view. I think it's a very lively discussion... a hell of a lot better than discussing someone's WAR on Tuesday's against left handed pitchers with a last name comprised of seven letters or less don't you think? Mark