Lip Man 1

Now THAT was impressive. Getting those two out hits was huge. My goodness even Garcia got two hits! Loved the fact they nailed the game winner off Floyd. Guess Gonzales isn't the answer so the Sox need to keep looking for a fifth starter. Third time this year the Sox have won a game when trailing in the 7th inning or later. That's your stat of the night. Mark

Congratulations to the White Sox for guaranteeing themselves a winning month of April for the first time since 2009. Lip

Interviewed Jason Benetti for Sox Net last Monday. Have turned in the story to Daniel. He'll publish it when he feels the time is right. Benetti is a very interesting guy and I think he's going to do well this year and eventually, perhaps as soon as next year take over full time duties. Mark

I don't know if Gonzales is the answer it would be a God-send if he was...but I do know that Danks ISN'T the answer and skipping him is worth the shot. Mark

I want to believe, they are starting to show me something. Let's see how they do off the road trip. Four extra base hits today was a very good sign, if you can't get a ton of hits at least make the ones you do get count for something. Lock down pitching today all across the board. Very, very nicely done. Mark

The box says the attendance was over 20, 000 today. If most of the seats were empty they must simply be counting tickets sold. Now to the game itself. After the Sox took the lead in the eighth inning you hoped they could close it out. But the offense is so bad they simply aren't giving the pitchers any room for error. And it's unrealistic to think they could go an entire season without coughing it up once in awhile. Wasn't able to see the game so I don't know if the Sox were being aggressive on the bases trying to force the Rangers into making plays (which they did) or if it was simply stupid base running. Someone will have to let me know on that one. Sox actually had double digit hits and multiple base runners which is very good. Garcia is getting worse daily it appears, box today said he left more guys on base. With Ventura saying they have no plans to send him down, that's a bad sign to me. How can you not do so right now? And if there aren't any better options in the minor league system what does that say about the system if you can't replace a guy hitting what, .150? (Even for a short time...) Glad to get the win though. Mark

Loney has family in San Diego. I don't think at this point he wants to leave the area. He must feel the Padres (who are deliberately tanking) are going to bring him up sooner or later. I don't know what can be done with Garcia since Ventura said they won't send him down. The Sox dislike change throughout the organization even at the cost of wins but sooner or later, hopefully sooner, they'll realize this guy simply doesn't have it. When they realize that is another question. Mark

Just wondering when was the last time the Sox had 10 or more hits in a game? Offense is still poor but to their credit they made some hits count tonight. Nice they finally gave Q some runs for a change. About time! The triple play though strange was executed perfectly. Well done. Now let's see if they can beat a guy who has won six straight against them tomorrow. Five runs...amazing. Mark

April 22 is one of the wildest, craziest days in White Sox history, from total strangeness over the years in Kansas City to fights on the field. There's also the audio from April 22, 1991 as Frank Thomas unloaded the first White Sox home run at 'new' Comiskey Park. It came off Ben McDonald of the Orioles and helped the Sox win the game 8-7. Announcers: Ken "Hawk" Harrelson and Tom Paciorek. Courtesy: SportsChannel-Chicago. Here is the link to it: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/04/t...s-new-comiskey/ Mark

Danks actually pitched decent but the offense remains putrid. Updated numbers: In 10 out of the 16 games played, Sox have scored three runs or less (62.5%) Have now lost three games when holding opponents to three runs or less. Garcia needs to go away now to Charlotte. He's brutal. Mark

For April 21 we've got a real gem courtesy of Phillip Humber as on this date in 2012 all he did was throw a perfect game against the Mariners in Seattle. We've got the audio AND video of his 27 outs as he pulled off the rarest feat a pitcher can do in major league baseball. Announcer: Dave Sims. Courtesy: Fox Sports. It can be found here: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/04/t...merican-league/ Mark

With a poor offense (doesn't matter who is pitching) plus John Danks...well let's just say I'd be pleasantly shocked if the Sox won this one. Mark

I like the idea. April in Chicago, why make fans usually endure miserable weather? Have a better chance at least if the sun is out - weather wise. I wish the Sox would go to more of these early in the season. It's not like they are drawing 30+ thousand anymore anyway at night. Maybe they will again someday but not right now. Mark

Five runs??? It's a hitting orgy!!!!! Seriously it's nice to see something out of the offense. Garcia on the other hand is absolutely brutal. Mark

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Apr 19, 2016 -> 08:51 AM) I guess I just don't really understand why there weren't more people. Rodon was pitching against a team with the best player in baseball. It was nice out in Chicago. The team is in 1st place. Fanbase is full of a bunch of bickering excuse makers. I shouldn't have been surprised I guess. Just my opinion but it just may have something to do with: A. Three straight losing seasons B. Six losing seasons in nine years (worst stretch since 1968-1980) C. One playoff appearance in nine years D. Five playoff appearances in 35 years Having a good start for 10 days doesn't magically erase all that. It's going to take time and CONSISTENT winning to bring the fans back. I'm not saying win multiple World Series, that's not going to happen but making the expanded playoffs two or three years in a row would help a lot. And unfortunately the Sox haven't been able to do that...ever. Unlike some I don't blame the fans. When a restaurant gives you bad food you don't go back...when the hardware store sells you a defective tool you don't go back. Sports is no different. When the product is good and worth seeing the fans will return. Until then the onus is on ownership to make it so. Mark

Have three items for April 18 for your enjoyment. First off we go to April 18, 1994. Tim "Rock" Raines hits three home runs in the game against the Red Sox in Boston as the Sox cruised to a 12-1 win. Announcers: Sean McDonough for the first two home runs and Ken "Hawk" Harrelson. Courtesy: NESN and SportsChannel-Chicago. The second item is the audio AND video of all 27 outs in Mark Buehrle's no-hitter from April 18, 2007. The Sox beat Texas 6-0. Announcers: Ken "Hawk" Harrelson and Darrin Jackson. Courtesy: Comcast Sports Chicago. Finally we've got the audio from Mark's postgame where he talked to Comcast Sports Chicago's Josh Mora about throwing a no-hitter. All three items can be found here: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/04/t...rles-no-hitter/ Mark

Offense oh offense where for art thou offense? 12 games played, seven games three runs or less. Mark

QUOTE (MuckFinnesota @ Apr 17, 2016 -> 02:26 PM) More than anything, I'd like to see Frazier get going with the bat. He had 35 home runs last year and could be relied upon. I am expecting big things from him this year. And I expect our catchers not to look uncomfortable behind the plate and looking silly in their own at bats. To be fair he also wasn't the same player after the All Star home run hitting contest either. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 17, 2016 -> 08:52 AM) Instead of stressing about what is going to go wrong, people could just enjoy what is going right. Good point but when you've had six losing seasons in the past nine years (historically the worst stretch for the franchise since 1968-1980) its understandable fans get concerned. Mark

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Apr 17, 2016 -> 08:52 AM) I don't think there's a Sox fan alive who hasn't enjoyed this first place start. We're winning for the first time in a very long time, and the experience is quite refreshing. I think the point some are trying to put forward in this thread is the sustainability of the winning given the continuation of the poor offense we saw all of last year. We were dead last in offense last year, and now early on we find ourselves third to last. It should get better as the season moves on, but when you acknowledge that the only real upgrade in the offense over the winter was Frazier, and to a lesser extent Frazier, it's fair to question whether the offense as currently constructed will be good enough for the long haul. Excellent post. Well said. Mark

I'd give Danks two, maybe three more starts. If he's still brutal I know what I'd do...he gone! (but I seriously doubt the Sox would eat that kind of money) The offense now is really starting to concern me. In six of the 11 games they've scored three runs or less. Sounds a lot like last year doesn't it? Mark

Absolutely love the winning, absolutely love the pitching but man the offense has got to start showing up. Can't expect the pitchers to keep going all year like this, they have to have some room for error. Mark

Just caught the post game show and watched the highlights from today. Have to say it's pretty hard to find fault with the way things have started. Hitting is still iffy but I think that's still because the weather hasn't been great temperature wise. Pitching has been superb but to me the biggest improvement has been defensively. They just haven't been making stupid plays on batted balls, they are catching what they can and not making a lot of mistakes. If you can pitch the ball and catch the ball you'll win a lot of games. I may have to figure out a way to get home this summer if this keeps up! Congrats to everyone on the start...keep it going! Mark

Anytime you can win in Minnesota it's a very good thing (just look at history...) Nice that Q got a few more runs than "normal" today. He should have had more to be honest with you. Sox are still leaving a lot of guys on base. And what can you say about Garcia swinging at the first pitch he saw after the bases were loaded on a HBP. Bullpen was rock solid today...even Jones. Well done overall. Enjoy the day off and take the series by winning Wednesday. Mark

For April 10 we've got one of the most dramatic moments in franchise history both audio AND video. It was Opening Day 1981 in Boston and Carlton Fisk returned only wearing a different uniform. He would immediately make the Red Sox pay for his contract debacle late in the game. Announcers: Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall. Courtesy: WGN-TV. http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/04/t...k-gets-revenge/ Mark