Lip Man 1

Now try winning a game. Mark

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 07:34 PM) Next year should be do or die for Ventura and Hahn. They clearly want to go for it again, so there needs to be good transactions and Ventura needs them ready out of the gate. If they get hammered by injuries they'll have another ready made excuse. Mark

QUOTE (harkness @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 06:11 PM) Playoffs... probably not. However I expected improvement with the upgraded roster and another year of young players to grow. There was basically none. What do you mean? They've improved buy one game since last year with this weekend to go!!!!!!!!!! LOL. NOW THAT'S PROGRESS BABY! Mark

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 05:09 PM) Manager barely matters unless it is someone as insane and toxic as Ozzie. Ned Yost was the biggest dumb piece of s*** manager in baseball, until their young players finally started playing well. Now he's a genius. And if you want to argue "hey, I never said Ned Yost is a genius," then look at the Royals record and see how much the manager matters if you have a lineup full of valuable players. The amount of anger and vitriol heaped on Robin is at about a 10 when it should be more like a 1.5. So who said I was just referring to Robin? The problems with this franchise run much deeper, wider and higher than him. But to say he's not part of the problem is being in denial. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 04:33 PM) Whatever ... I hope Robin changes a bit. Obviously talent is the biggest thing for a manager. But his teams simply cannot lay down a bunt (reflects poorly on him), they do not play defense, they cannot move runners, they cannot score runners. He does a decent enough job with pitchers (maybe Coop takes care of that). Now maybe it's 100 percent on his players. Who knows? But Robin's teams APPEAR very undisciplined, very fundamentally unsound. He deserves a D for this season, C- at best but I'd give him a D. And an F for spring trainings. Mark

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 10:26 AM) Parent being negative after poor play. Holding players accountable? Now he's not positive enough? Seriously, the giving bad advice to try to steal a job should show you where Lip's head is. It doesn't have to make any sense. If it's White Sox, and if it's negative, he's taking the bait. If I told you I was taking the bait from a former Sox manager with no axe to grind who proved to be right since he told me a week ago Parent was out the door would that change things for you? I don't make this stuff up, I don't try to stir up s***. I pass good information on from my sources in the Chicago media and in the Sox organization to the fans who still care enough about this franchise. Period. You can take it, leave it, throw it in the garbage...doesn't impact me at all...just trying to pass along what I hear from time to time. If the board wishes me to stop, please let the mods know, they'll tell me and I'll refrain from doing so in the future. Fair enough? Really its that simple. Mark

Great player, great person but time for changes...the more the merrier. Mark

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 01:01 PM) From Jeff Sullivan's chat today: Comment From Rexdale Of all the teams 10+ games under .500 who do like best next year? 11:26 Jeff Sullivan: A’s, then White Sox Comment From Nick What would be the best way for the White Sox to fix their 3b problem? Is Quintana and his favorable contract too much for 8 years and$100m of a 30 year old Longoria… too little for Arenado? 10:36 Jeff Sullivan: oh what the hell. sign Juan Uribe! Just wondering. Who is Jeff Sullivan? Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 12:01 PM) That would make a ton of sense. Part of me is also wondering if this is an attempt to slide a replacement manager in to the team in the case they do want to fire Robin next year. Who we hire may well answer that quesiton. Very good point. If the team gets off to another lousy start they may not have any choice with Ventura. Another key point is going to be how this team looks / plays in spring training...especially the last 10 days of it. Mark

I was told Robin hired Parent. Don't know who fired him though. Mark

For what it's worth I was told by someone who knows both Robin and the coaches personally last Friday that Parent "wanted Robin's job" and was giving him bad advice during the season. This person also told me that Parent was a very "negative" person on the bench and with the team. To say nothing of his comment back in May about coaches shouldn't have to work with players "every day" as they are "major leagues" (this at a time when according to Fan Graphs the Sox were on pace to have the worst defense and base running numbers since the late 60's...) If what I was told is true (and I believe the person) this is a good move, but as everyone knows much more is needed...and that's not happening. Mark

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Oct 2, 2015 -> 07:30 AM) Really? When has opening day ever been under 30,000? I write code: My comment was meant to be sarcastic I'm pretty sure you understood my overall meaning given the numerous issues with this organization at this point in history. Mark

Right after his surgery Tyler Flowers needs to be released, pitch framing be damned. (But he won't of course...he probably be returning yet again next year in year two of the "plan...") Mark

Can't say it's unexpected with this organization. Remember loyalty is more important than accountability. Not saying it's all Robin's fault, it's not, but he's made enough boneheaded decisions just this year (remember Eaton bunting with two strikes in Cleveland, the Detroit replay debacle and of course the Zach Duke being announced affair in Milwaukee before the pinch hitter was, to make you wonder just what he is thinking during games. Don't know if I shared this here but last Friday I spoke with someone who knows Robin well and his coaches and was told Parent wasn't giving him good advice this year because "he wants his job." Was also told Parent is a "negative person" on the bench and with the team. So it looks like (as many predicted back in July) at best maybe one or two coaches are changed out. That's it. An organization in serious trouble and that's their idea of fixing the brain-trust, not bringing in new people from outside the organization to look at the number of problems with new ideas. So be it. Basically they have reached the level where they "hope" to be good next year. And hey, it's baseball, it could happen....but I wouldn't bet on it. Mark

And the new boards are just a part of the overall offseason stadium renovations, although Boyer declined to discuss any of those other plans at this time. "Come Opening Day next year, it's going to look a lot different," Boyer said. --From White Sox.com Mark

I mean really the friggin' nerve of some people. Actually COMPLAINING about five , count em' FIVE World Series appearances in 115 years! Can you believe them!!!!!!!!!!! (LOL) I mean they won three of them right? All is well in the world!!! Look at the bright side, they are still ahead of the Marlins in World Series titles!!!!!!!!!!!!! If only those dead beat, lazy fans would come out and pack the park, regardless of 30 degree sleet in April, despite the fact kids are in school to June, despite the fact the franchise is at its lowest point since the late 60's / mid 70's in terms of dung on the field...IF ONLY THOSE FANS WOULD COME OUT, we could take all that money and maybe, maybe...just maybe...make the postseason in consecutive seasons. To funny! Mark

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 1, 2015 -> 09:38 PM) As long as we are in the top 10 and get that 1st round pick protected, then I am happy. And that my friends is what White Sox baseball has come to. (Not blaming the fans...you take solace with what you can get...) Mark

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 1, 2015 -> 09:38 PM) As long as we are in the top 10 and get that 1st round pick protected, then I am happy. And that my friends is what White Sox baseball has come to. (Not blaming the fans...you take solace with what you can get...) Mark

Brooks tonight said those dimensions reported by Crain's are wrong. Said boards will be much bigger perhaps the 3rd biggest in MLB. Also hinted about other big changes coming to U.S. Cellular Field. Maybe the big change will be that there's more than 10 thousand folks in the stands for opening day. Mark

QUOTE (Saufley @ Oct 1, 2015 -> 06:54 PM) So, do we need two or three more train wreck years in a row? Don't need um'...don't want um'...but we're probably going to get em. Mark

Congrats to Jose. One of the few players on offense to earn his money. Mark

If they had expanded playoffs in the 50's and 60's the Sox are in 1955, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1964 and 1965. But as per the Sox "luck" they didn't. Despite averaging 94 wins in that three years stretch in the 60's they went nowhere. People today don't realize how damn good those clubs were then. Mark

Found this at another location and wanted to share it. This will be the 7th year in a row the White Sox have missed the postseason. Out of the 122 professional franchises in the 4 major North American sports, here are the only teams that now have longer postseason droughts than the White Sox: 1.) Buffalo Bills, 15 years 2.) Seattle Mariners, 14 years 3.) Oakland Raiders, 12 years 4.) Cleveland Browns, 12 years 5.) Miami Marlins, 12 years 6.) Minnesota Timberwolves, 11 years 7.) St. Louis Rams, 10 years 8.) Edmonton Oilers, 9 years 9.) Sacramento Kings, 9 years 10.) San Diego Padres, 9 years 11.) Houston Astros*, 9 years (still alive this year.) Solid company. And as yet another poster pointed out a lot of the teams on this list play in smaller markets than Chicago. The 3rd largest market in the U.S. This franchise is in as bad of a shape as the late 60's / mid 70's. Obviously that's not good. Mark

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 30, 2015 -> 04:48 PM) While it will annoy me as much as you when they make no organizational changes, I have no problem with the radio and TV teams not changing as they have presumably little effect on the quality of product on the field. Unless the front office really is listening to Hawk's ideas on how to build a team. There are enough fans who think time has passed most of those guys by and refuse to listen / watch. That is part of the overall product produced by this organization. It all factors in. No it doesn't impact what happens on the field...it does impact what happens off it and that is part of the issues which the franchise refuses to improve. And again JR has the final call on broadcasters. There were folks in the organization pushing for Dave Willis at one time, they could never get JR to say yes so Dave went off to Tampa where he is very happy. Again JR values loyalty over a good product. The fact is Hawk is 73 years old and has lost his edge (as I broadcaster I know what this is...), Stone can't work with him, Farmer is a great color analyst but is brutal as a play by play guy and DJ is the nicest person on Earth. He's just not very good in the booth. These guys are the fans immediate connection to the franchise, having poor broadcasters hurts the overall marketability of things and God knows this franchise needs all the help they can get. Yet nothing changes. Save for bad baseball. Mark

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Sep 30, 2015 -> 10:14 PM) If you're trading Q then trade Abreu, Robertson, Sale, Danks, Flowers, Lexi, Duke and that guy who supposedly is the DH. Start over with a BOATLOAD of young talent + Rodon and Fulmer as your key pitching pieces. And hire a manager who can work with young talent, who knows how to teach the game. Q, Sale and Abreu would bring you riches. Or do very little, hope for the best and be prepared for another season of below average and very frustrating baseball. Sox are going to do the latter of course. They have now reached the point where 'hope' is all they have. Mark