Lip Man 1

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 10:49 AM) tasty irony. Be more than happy to, in fact I'd LOVE TO. Let me know when the Sox provide me a real reason to do so OK? Mark

QUOTE (knightni @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 09:59 AM) It's almost as if you enjoy the Sox doing poorly. Right, I've been a fan for 55 seasons. I must be a masochist. LOL. Try something else please. Mark

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 10:07 AM) Who is missing from that group? I don't know, maybe the only Central Division team other than the Royals to win a World Series in your given time frames. Great! Eleven years ago. Four World Series appearances in the last 100 YEARS. Hey we're TOTALLY successful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's put it another way, the Miami Marlins have won two World Series in a shorter period of time. Mark

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Jun 6, 2016 -> 10:12 PM) The 2013 Indians made the WC because they absolutely dominated the Sox that year. They went like 15-4 or something. Not sure why the Sox play poorly against division opponents not named the Twins. I think it was actually 17-2. Mark

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 08:36 AM) Ummm they traded 6. None of the above crazy spending happens without Cabrera, which necessitated gutting their system at the time And by "gutting" their farm system it appears they went to the World Series twice and the playoffs what four times in the last eight years? I'd take that in a New York minute. They took their turn dominating the division much like the Indians in the 90's and the Twins in the 00's and maybe the Royals right now. Geez...I wonder who is missing from that group? Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 6, 2016 -> 03:19 PM) Guy$, Guy$, Guy$ ... Money talks. Flash 5 million or 6 million at Leyland and he'll f***ing come back. Do it now. 3 mill for the rest of this season; 2 years 10 million dollar deal to follow. Just for him to turn the organization around. He will take the money; they all do. If he won't do it, flash a bit more at LaRussa. 4 mill the rest of this season and two years 14 million contract. it's THAT important. Sorry both guys are done with the managing game. Not going to happen, you can flash them 10 million. Tony has complete control of the D-backs and is working with his old friend and mentor Roland Hemond. He isn't going anywhere. Leyland is well into his 70's I think and still has issues with JR over Gene Lamont's firing. Just not in the cards. Mark

QUOTE (Black_Jack29 @ Jun 5, 2016 -> 07:06 PM) If Maddon wasn't available a year and a half ago, Renteria would probably still be managing the Cubs. Absolutely. He did pretty well given the circumstances. But the difference was that when the Cubs had an opportunity to 'upgrade' their situation they did it. Loyalty be damned. And I think Renteria had two years remaining on his deal. Mark

QUOTE (Black_Jack29 @ Jun 5, 2016 -> 07:45 PM) The problem is the lack of player talent, not the guy who fills out the lineup card. The answer is obviously both. Mark

There once was a time when the White Sox were an exciting team with a revived enthusiastic fan base and some of the best players in the league. Now isn't one of those times but that was the case on June 4, 1972 before over 52 thousand at Comiskey Park. It will be forever known as "the Chili Dog Game". Cue Dick Allen in the bottom of the 9th inning with the Sox down two runs and looking to sweep a double header from the Yankees. On a side note, I was sitting in the lower deck right center field when this took place. Still an amazing moment. Announcers: Future Sox broadcaster Frank Messer and Phil Rizzuto. (Rizzuto's reaction was priceless!!!!) Courtesy: WMCA / Yankees Radio Network http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2016/06/t...chili-dog-game/ Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 5, 2016 -> 04:03 PM) My guess it that there is probably a nugget of truth there, don't forget there were times where Kenny wanted to fire Ozzie and Greg Walker, and couldn't. It also isn't unprecidented when you look at what happened with Anahiem last year. Agreed. On a decision of that nature JR has to give his blessing. For example he OK'd letting go Tony LaRussa (and has admitted publicly many times afterwards that was one of the biggest mistakes he ever made as owner. The others? OK'ing the trade of Jerry Koosman and hiring Hawk as G.M.) Mark

Depends... On the off chance there is a new owner next year, it could be an actual person with experience at the big league level who has had some success. If not it'll be another inexperienced, learn on-the-job- former White Sox player because JR loves loyalty and hates paying huge money for top head coaches / managers. Jim Thome, Aaron Rowand, maybe Paul Konerko COME ON DOWN!!!!!!!!!! And the Sox haven't hired a manager with previous managerial experience at the big league level since Jeff Torborg in 1989. Think about that one for a second or two. Mark

Sox have now scored three runs or less in 49% of their games this year. 28 of 57. ------ And that's a very valid point about player development but what the hell else are they supposed to try? They've brought in hundreds of players the last decade. How has that worked out? It's simply a case of trying something different because what they've been doing has been a failure. The REAL solution is for JR to s***can most of his baseball side front office and bring in the best people, pay them whatever they want from top organizations and stay the hell out of the way. But that's a pipedream. Mark

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 5, 2016 -> 02:43 PM) Just say NO to Renteria. Give me Leyland. Go beg him for gawdsakes. JR basically did that after Bevington was let go. Met with him personally and offered him the job. He said no. Partly because of the way the Sox treated his friend Gene Lamont. That door closed a long time ago. Mark

Nine straight divisional losses. 3-12 against everyone in the division not named Minnesota. Total, complete garbage. I’m actually at the point now where I’m surprised that they’ve actually won a game. I’m trying to figure out if this collapse under Robin is worse than the one in September 2012. I don’t think it is (yet) because that team was so close to the finish line. This one when it started, well you still had 80% of the season to go. Given the schedule, if this continues for another two weeks, I’d hope the Sox front office starts thinking about who they can sell off for prospects. Don’t make the same mistake they did last year at the deadline. “But…but we’re in CONTENTION!!” Yea, right. LOL. And the beat(ings) goes on. Mark

As the Sox get ready to play another game against a divisional opponent thought you'd like to know one of their biggest issues: Record vs. Divisional Opponents: 2015; 32-44 2014; 33-43 2013; 26-50 2012; 37-35 2011; 32-40 2010; 32-40 2009; 34-38 2008; 44-29 Can't beat teams in your division? You're not going anyplace but home after the regular season. The 'big money', 'big market' White Sox can't beat the Kansas City and Cleveland's of the world. Two winning records vs. division in the last eight years. Mark

Wouldn't have happened if Robin actually used a guy who had experience playing in center field with Jackson out. But nope can't do that...LOL. Mark

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 4, 2016 -> 06:03 PM) Yeah because they've traded so many young studs away..... With respect that's not the point, they probably didn't. What is a valid point is the 27 million they are going to owe a pitcher in his mid 30's with a lot of wear on his arm. The Yankees can afford that type of gamble. The Sox can't because they either can't or won't spend the additional money then to make up for it if he's terrible. Mark

Forgot to mention (it's probably not a surprise) the Sox get shut down by a winless mediocre pitcher with an ERA of almost five. He gives them two runs total. Nice job boys! Don't stop now!! Mark

The Sox are just getting out from under the anchor of Danks' bad deal and now this. Even with S.D. paying a lot the Sox still now owe 27 million from what I read. For a mid 30's pitcher probably on the downward track. That's the way to build a "consistent" winner in my book! (sarcasm implied) Kenny strikes again. Mark

Coming up on almost a month next week since that night in Texas. Nothing has really changed. Me thinks this is the "real" White Sox team. Unfortunately it doesn't look good. I'm out of ideas myself, that's for those who make the big bucks in the organization. All I know is that when Chris Sale (who has a losing career record against both K.C. and Cleveland...don't know about Detroit) stops winning games especially in the division, you're in serious trouble. Mark

So would I but it hasn't really happened on a consistent basis since at least 2012. Mark

Rollins or Garcia...really doesn't matter. They both suck. But you do have to wonder if at least some of Sox management has finally seen the light on Garcia as often as he's been benched this year. Mark

Had the chance to see him from a far when I was covering a Kentucky Derby one year and the other time was just very special. I'd like to pass that along. In 1980 he was fighting the "South American Champ" basically as an exhibition in Louisville so we drove over from Lexington to cover it. We were wearing our white satin "ABC Sports" jackets. Sorry I don't remember the name of the guy he fought. After the exhibition we headed over to the locker room just to see what was going on when Bundini Brown saw us and saw the jackets. When he saw "ABC Sports" on the back he thought it was "Howard Cosell's ABC Sports" out of New York and let us into Ali's dressing room! He didn't realize it was simply the ABC affiliate in Lexington, WTVQ. When we got inside we were able to get an interview with him. I was just shooting it but it was incredible something I'll never forget. Before the lights were turned on and the interview started he was very quiet just relaxing but as soon as the lights came on, he "became" Ali...loud, brash, talking about how he was going to come back and "shock the world again!" I badly wanted to get an autograph but it wasn't appropriate and never had the chance to get that close to him again. Still that was some night. RIP Champ. Mark

You know something I was thinking of. The Royals have been gutted by injuries and are still doing well. Cleveland has had two key players out for extended periods of time and are hanging in there. The Sox have had ONE real injury (Jackson) and Melky is gone for three days and they basically have NOTHING coming off the bench to plug in. I mean I could see that if it was 2013...but now? Three years later and the depth still isn't there? I guess this franchise was in even worse shape than I thought in 2013 if three years later they still can't find a bench. Guess everything went towards plugging the black holes among some of the starting spots. Mark

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jun 3, 2016 -> 08:39 PM) Just so people know, L. Garcia got taken out of the game early so he could be the one coming up L. Garcia...another "sterling" example of the "quality" in the Sox minor league system. Another stiff. Mark