Lip Man 1

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 21, 2015 -> 06:46 AM) Many of us die hard Sox fans dread the upcoming fervor, we're convinced will be sweeping across the city, over the Cubs' quest for their first World Championship in over a Century. We're skeptical that the front office will take the necessary steps to complete revamping the pathetic offense, which wasted so many terrific starts by Sale and Quintana. So, some of us have already resigned ourselves to the inevitability of a 2016 Season, in which the North Side will capture all of the attention of the city, and maybe even the baseball world. We might be a little premature in sinking into this gloomy defeatist mood. Chicago is a great baseball town, and baseball fever is contagious. When the buzz starts to capture everyone's attention, lots of casual fans, and even formerly uninterested by standers, will begin to feel the first symptoms of baseball fever. Picking up the paper every morning and reading about all of the excitement, listening to friends, family and co workers bantering back and forth about players, plays and stats, could all create an irresistible attraction to the sport we all love. Who knows better than we, how much fun and how addicting it can be to be a baseball fanatic? Wrigley can only accommodate 42,000 fans. Where will the rest of the baseball fever struck fans go, for their baseball fix? Everyone in town knows a Sox fan, or two and with a little encouragement from them, the newbie just might be encouraged to buy a ticket and see just what all of the excitement is about. The Sox need only have a decent, competitive product on the field. And if baseball fever is contagious, so is winning. Who knows, with a few more fans in the seats and some of the new personalities in the Sox clubhouse, these guys might just catch fire. If they could get off to a good start, the town could explode with enthusiasm for the game. Imagine the so longed for talk of a crosstown World Series. It wouldn't take much to set off this contagion. We all have our own opinions about whom the front office should acquire, but let's just hope that Sox ownership has a little imagination and can see the opportunity that they would be missing if they don't at least try to make the team a legitimate contender. I'm not suggesting that we Sox fans should celebrate the emergence of the Cubs, but we shouldn't regard it as a negative for our fortunes. The Sox will decide their own destiny and the growing enthusiasm for their crosstown rivals may actually be a positive. Lillian: One thing I've found in being a Sox historian and following the team for 55 years is this. Chicago baseball fans are probably the most provincial and most hateful (and I really mean that term) towards the other team in town. Far more than any of the other two team markets. It has transpired over the course of 100 years. This was the first major mistake of the Reinsdorf - Einhorn operation and they should have known better given how long they lived in Chicago before getting the club. From the very beginning their attitude was "we are Chicago's American League team..." They said this publicly and often. I have in my library for example the post game show on WGN from April 81 after the Sox crushed the O's 18-5. Harry Caray asked Einhorn about the excitement around the Sox and how the Cubs bad start would help them and EE immediately started in with the same nonsense, "we don't care what the Cubs do, we compete against ourselves..." and so forth. That refusal to acknowledge the fact that both teams are in direct competition for the entertainment dollar, for media coverage, for sponsorship deals is a big reason the Sox are where they are in their own home market. They have had solid, reasonable chances to take back a good percentage of those areas and urinated them away every single time. The fact is Cubs fans are not going to come out and root, root, root for the Sox at U.S. Cellular Field when they are on the road or can't get tickets and the opposite is also true. I'd say 90% or higher of Chicago baseball fans are for one team at the expense of the other. The term "casual baseball fans in Chicago" in my mind really doesn't apply. So the Cubs selling out won't force those folks in any great numbers into heading south for a baseball fix because their aren't a lot of them in the first place. Just my opinion. Mark

If the Sox truly are "All In.." let's hope like hell it turns out better than the last two times they took this approach (2011 and 2015). I mean they couldn't fall flat on their faces a third straight time could they? Mark

The fall back plan is one of the following: 1. Perhaps make a trade or sign a free agent from out of the bargain bin as February rolls around and guys are looking for any team to join. 2. Do nothing and "hope" Garcia figures it out. Mark

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 21, 2015 -> 08:33 AM) Your assertion was that home or nothing offenses were a big reason why the Sox haven't made the playoffs consistently, yet I just showed you that our last playoff appearance was off the back of one of the most homerun or nothing offenses in baseball history. You can hate on BP and stats all you want, but the data shows that HR-dependent offenses are more likely to make the playoffs than the more balanced offenses. And again, the 2005 White Sox were the 4th most homerun-dependent offense in baseball that year, the idea that the balanced offense won us the championship is a myth. You say home run hitters go into slumps, which implies that non-homerun hitters don't. Every hitter goes into slumps. Do you have any proof that homerun-dependent offenses go into prolonged slumps more often? And again, I never said balance in an offense was a bad thing, I said I just wanted the better players, whoever they are. If the choice is between Player A and Player B, and Player A adds more "balance" to the offense but is clearly the inferior player, then give me Player B every time. If a guy like Cespedes means a return to the homerun or nothing offenses of the past, I don't care as long as that means we're scoring runs. Omar: The proof I have is to look at the scores from 2000 through 2004. How often did you see the Sox score seven, nine runs in a game then get two or none the next few days? I also remember many of those games came (and still do) against garbage, mediocre, soft tossing pitchers who make the Sox hitters look like complete buffoons (Bruce Chen immediately comes to mind...) "Home Run or Nothing" attitude, philosophy leads to those swings in my opinion. I actually still remember focusing in on that after a particularly strong rant from Bill Melton on the post game show after the Sox were handled in Texas by a particularly bad pitcher, I think it was in 2003. Melton blistered Sox hitters for making no adjustments against a soft tossing guy instead simply trying to hit "eight run home runs..." Like you say home runs are needed, I agree but to me the Sox have yet to recapture the balance that helped lead them to a World Series title. More "adjustments" to that attitude are needed including for God's sake getting some guys who can actually catch a baseball and execute fundamentals (which falls directly on the manager and his staff in my mind, that's what spring training is for...) Mark

Wouldn't signing him require giving up a draft pick? Sox have already claimed supposedly that they aren't going after anybody that requires giving up a pick. We'll see. Mark

Of course I know as do we all who owns the team, that's not the issue (although it is clear from both KW and RH's own mouth as well as the Showtime series from back in 2010 that JR is a very hands-on owner. NO MAJOR decisions aren't made without his approval) That's not the question though is it, who runs the day to day decisions, who makes the calls before submitting them to JR for his final yes or no is the question I submit and the evidence just in print is clear based on their own comments from KW and RH that there is plenty of room for doubt by many fans. I don't find that rooting for or against any individual or from how things have been done. Nor does that suggest I'm for a "go for it (yet again)" approach or a complete rebuild, I've already stated I don't care...yet again, pick a plan and stay with it is all I'm saying. The Sox HAVE NOT been a very successful franchise over the past 35 years, the number of playoff appearances bear that out. That's not even open for discussion. The question is why not given their resources and advantages over the other teams in the division. Could a unwieldy front office be part of the reason? Maybe, hard to say without actually being in the room. But that doesn't negate the legitimacy of the question does it friends and neighbors. I'll be interested to hear what the "excuses" are come this June if the Sox stumble badly out of the gate again and perhaps Ventura is fired, and then we'll get an update on the "three year plan / window." Mark

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 20, 2015 -> 06:58 PM) http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article....articleid=17470 The 2008 White Sox were the 5th-most HR-dependent playoff team ever, with only the 2012 Yankees, the 2014 Orioles, and the 2015 Astros and Yankees ahead of them. I'll take the "HR or nothing" offenses any day over the crap we've seen the last three years. So who says we are just talking about the last three seasons? Ah yes BP, the "bible" of stat-geeks everywhere. LOL. The same magazine who after badly mis-predicting the Sox 2005 season received a flood of letters from upset Sox fans letting them know where they could take their sabermetrics. Sheehan then angerly denounced those same fans in a letter / column as I recall and started to backtrack with some of the numbers by offering "excuses." He got it wrong, period then because he was pissed off that he was called out for it reacted like a child with a tantrum. With respect, stats are fine and useful but they are not the be all-end all BP thinks they are. Billions and billions of variables go into a team and a season many of which simply can not be categorized (i.e. weather, injuries, fluke plays and bad umpire calls.) But I digress and I apologize. Just curious how long it took you to write up this doctorate to prove your point? And that's not a criticism by the way, I admire your dedication. To me this is just baseball, not a life or death struggle to prove something. All I know is that if I can have different ways of scoring runs not just the home run (which as I stated is not a bad thing) I expect my chances to win games will be greater. Home run hitters go into slumps, low average hitters by definition don't get a lot of hits period, hence the low average. Give me some balance...home run hitters and guys who hit for high average and guys who can run and put pressure on a defense and I'll take my chances. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 20, 2015 -> 10:59 AM) Everyone who knows who runs the White Sox too. Anyone who claims different is being disingenuous. And you're assuming that you know which is also disingenuous isn't it? LOL. Again NO ONE knows with 100% clarity which is why you have so many Sox fans, a ton of them wondering who exactly is pulling the trigger on things. And despite what you think the media isn't totally stupid, there are a lot of sharp people in that profession. That fact that they are wondering as well speaks volumes. Based on the track record of both of JR's franchises, it's clear historically and statistically his method of front office alignments isn't working. I hope I'm still around when the Sox and Bulls are under new ownership just to see if a different organizational philosophy breeds more success. Mark

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 20, 2015 -> 11:08 AM) http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-play...yths-to-ignore/ HR-reliant offenses also tend to do better in the playoffs. That's assuming they get to the playoffs of course as many Sox teams have showed in the new century, "home run or nothing" often gets you exactly that come October...nothing...because with all the droughts during the regular season you lose to many games to qualify for the post season. Not saying at all that home run are bad, U.S. Cellular is a hitters park but it is significant to me that the best success this franchise has had in decades came in a year when they had great balance and could beat you offensively in a number of ways. Mark

The next two weeks are the holiday season. I'm guessing those guys couldn't make it in to Chicago because of other scheduled plans? Plus I'm sure they wanted the Cubs press conferences to 'blow over' a bit or they'd get lost in them. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 19, 2015 -> 09:40 AM) Which is funny, because across town, we have the exact same executive structure, yet no one is telling Theo to stop talking, even when he is saying the exact same thing as Kenny... such as not having a plan for the winter. The media in this town is embarrassing. The simple fact is that everyone and I mean EVERYONE knows who is running the Cubs. That's why Theo makes the money he does, that's why he speaks the vast majority of the time for that club and let's not also forget, when he took over he made it crystal clear what the plan was going to be to everyone who would listen...in essence, "we're going to get young talent no matter what the cost and keep getting it with no quick fixes." Most Sox fans and I suspect the media as well really don't know who is running the Sox, especially when you have Kenny saying anything and everything that comes into his head, including 'suddenly' talking a lot about 'three year plans / windows' in June when another season with "bold" moves went right down the toilet. Sox fans by and large I think are tired of it, they are tired of the conflicting statements, tired of the meandering, tired of the nonsense about "rebuilding while contending." It hasn't worked. I don't care if they reload or do a complete rebuild, pick a lane, pick a plan and stay with it come hell or high water. Oh it would also help a lot if people like Kenny and Don Cooper stopped ripping the fan base. It happened four times just last season alone. It's right out of Business 101, right or wrong you don't rip the people who pay the freight. Mark

When talking about the 2005 White Sox one has to understand they had something that no other Sox team in the last 15 years had offensively...balance. They could best you with a three run bomb, with a bloop into short right or a bunt down the third base line. The Sox if I remember correctly were in the top four or five in the league in the following categories: Home Runs Sacrifice Fly's Sacrifice Bunts Stolen Bases Infield Hits They didn't have to wait for the three run home run to win a game, they had other ways to do it. It wasn't a "home run or nothing..." offense. Regarding Hawk's comments about the outfield defense, he is so biased towards the organization and the players that when he says that stuff, he truly believes it. It takes a lot to change his mind. But remember his famous (infamous) quote from just a few months later, "our defense SUCKS!" Mark

Jon Heyman wrote today the Sox and Indians are still in the market for Frazier and continue to talk with the Reds. Mark

I can't tell you exactly who has applied since I was never given that information but I can tell you I was told around 50 qualified candidates applied and they actually started in person interviews with some of them back in October. The last I was told was that they (meaning the White Sox) were narrowing down the initial list and they were working at lining up more interviews with those they were interesting in meeting. Just a guess on my part but I think they'll name someone right after the holidays, have to give that person time to start preparing for spring training. And remember JR has the final say on if the selection go on the air, let's just say he's got 51% of the vote when it comes to announcers. Mark

How much work is left to do? Depends on your perspective. If you think the Sox can "contend" in 2016 then they still have a boatload of holes and needs that have to be upgraded on probably a limited budget because of an expected drop in season ticket sales. If you think they are still biding their time perhaps for 2017 or 2018 when some of their highly regarded prospects may be ready, than they are probably close to being done. Mark

Best case scenario, win 82-83 games to claim a "winning" season, then let Ventura leave and hire a legit major league manager with experience and bring in a solid, professional staff. Not friends of the owner or former players. As many baseball people with ZERO ties to the Sox as possible. Worst case scenario (and unfortunately more likely) they get off to another horrid start (haven't has a winning April since 2009) are irrelevant again by Memorial Day and decide since they aren't going anywhere to keep Ventura because they have no other option. They waste another year of the "three year window" LOL!!!! And get even more lost in the Cubs completely dominating their own home market pushing them more and more into an afterthought. Mark

You guys obviously don't remember players like Ron Blomberg do you? LOL. Especially given the size of the deal Veeck gave him for that time. Mark

I'd like to see if the Sox can do anything more to upgrade a number of starting positional players who were ranked among the worst in MLB from either an offensive or defensive stand point according to a new of places. But more than that I'd like to see them fire the manager who has not gotten any better over four seasons, still makes fundamental mistakes and lacks any passion. That in itself may help the current players perform better. But I don't expect that to happen at least until May if then. More than liekly Ventura will finish out his contract and ride off with some dignity. What the Sox do then is absolutely anybody's guess. Mark

Have to give the Cubs credit. They are augmenting a strong young corps with the pieces they need. And if you think they are spending money right now just wait till they start their own TV network by 2020. I don't know what the Sox can do, if anything, to counter this. Yes pennants aren't won in January but the Sox continue to be considered an after thought in their own home market. That is going to impact fair weather fans, potential advertising and marketing dollars and opportunities and last but not least the money they are going to be able to get when their TV contract expires. Given they are dead last in RSN viewership (according to both Fan Graphs and ESPN.com) they are only dreaming if they think they'll get anything close to the billion dollar deals being handed out most recently to the Cardinals over the summer. I truly believe now more than ever new ownership and a complete housecleaning on the baseball side of the front office is desperately needed. Mark

My hope for 2016 is that the Sox can somehow win 82 or 83 games and at least have a "winning" season which hasn't happened since 2012. Outside of that I honestly don't expect them to contend realistically so I hope to see a continued building of the minor league system, more acquisition of younger talent, the firing of Robin Ventura (and the hiring of a legit manager for 2017) and the selling off at the deadline of more pieces who really don't have a future with the organization. (Hello...LaRoche to cite one example...) Keep building for 2017 then be aggressive next off season. Mark

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 9, 2015 -> 02:54 PM) He was drafted out of HS, and probably thought he was hot ****. A person could mature with age. That was 7-8 years ago. Stop trying to prove your point. Not trying to prove any points simply passing on what baseball people have told me. You can take it or leave it as you choose. Anybody would be better than the s*** they have there now but just be careful what you wish for is all I'm saying. I also think there was an incident with an umpire around 2012 if I remember correctly. Mark

For what its worth I just got off the phone with the former assistant GM for the Helena Brewers. Milwaukee was the team the originally drafted Lawrie and he was supposed to be assigned there. He held out and wound up missing the entire Pioneer League season He said flat out the guy is a "head case" (direct quote) and that's why the Brewers got rid of him so quickly. Mark

Tony LaRussa retooling the D-backs in the desert. Mark

If this deal goes down Lawrie will be an improvement (how can anybody be worse?) but let's keep things in perspective, you still aren't talking about a 25 home run , 100 RBI guy at the position which is traditionally a big time power spot in your lineup. Again he'll help but he's not an All-Star by any means. (And yes I know they are in short supply...) Mark

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 8, 2015 -> 05:50 AM) Because there are massive holes on this team and org across the board. The chances of success are small and the chances of setting the org. back several years are high. The Six tried that patch up approach most of the last 8 seasons and it failed miserably. The one year they didn't and acquired young players, they improved 10 games. Well stated. And remember who is still basically running the show. Lots of evidence says it's still Kenny. Mark