Lip Man 1

They say bad news comes in three's. It did today. Billy passes, no moves at the deadline, corpse-ball effort against the Yankees. Back to reality. The Sox sure know how to fall apart just at the time the fan base is getting excited and back into it. Amazing. Can't win when PK retires, can't win opening day, look totally lifeless for the home opener. Stink the joint out on reunion weekend and now tonight. Typical I guess. Mark

Link to a story I wrote back in 2006 when I visited Chicago and spent time with Bill at his home. Pictures of some of his memorabilia are in the story. Just an amazing man. http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/rwas/in...y=2&id=3131 Mark

Disappointing. Would be very interested to hear the conversations between Kenny (Mr. football attitude - go for it right now!) and Rick (patience to rebuild the organization.) Agree though that being mediocre is the worst possible place to be in. Another thing to consider in their heart of hearts the Sox front office may not have been sold on the chances for this team the final two months and didn't want to do anything stupid. If that's the case I agree with them. Also frankly nobody else may have wanted the players they were offering, other might have felt they simply weren't that good. Mark

My interview with Billy: http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/rwas/in...=11&id=1546 Mark

QUOTE (knightni @ Jul 31, 2015 -> 11:15 AM) Is that the one where Thomas hoists him on his back like a fireman? I love that highlight. Correct. Mark

I'm stunned right now. Billy was a good friend, we spent a lot of time talking about baseball and the old days. I've got to write an obit piece for the Chicago Baseball Museum, I'll post the link here when it is published. Just a bad day but Billy lived a long time, had a great life. I will miss my friend. Mark

I did many times. Was at the game where he pinch hit the three run home run in the 9th inning to beat the Yankees and then later that season was sitting in the center field bleachers near Harry Caray when he blasted a pitch into them. Caray went crazy...almost caught the ball in his net. That was on August 23, 1972 and yes when that day rolls around we'll have the audio highlight of it. Mark

Fans: Just wanted to remind everyone that new features have been added to the "This Date In Sox History" page at Chicago Now / Sox Net. July 31st was one of the most memorable days in franchise history. There are a number of notations listed for the day but I wanted to point out that there are four historic audio clips available to listen to from events in Sox history as well. Daniel Shapiro helped me get this done and I wanted to give him a big "shout out" for doing so. The four from July 31st are as follows: 1972 - The first of Dick Allen's two inside the park home runs in the same game at Minnesota. Sox would win 8-1. Announcer: Jack Drees. Courtesy: WFLD-TV / Chicago White Sox. 1977 - Chet Lemon's game tying home run in the last of the 10th inning against Kansas City. Announcers: Lorn Brown / Mary Shane. Courtesy: WMAQ Radio / Chicago White Sox. 1977 - Ralph Garr's game winning single a few batters later. Sox would win 5-4, led K.C. and Minnesota by 6 1/2 games. Announcers: Lorn Brown / Mary Shane. Courtesy: WMAQ Radio / Chicago White Sox. 1991 - Robin Ventura's walk off grand slam off Goose Gossage. Sox would win 10-8. Announcers: Ken "Hawk" Harrelson and Tom Paciorek. Courtesy: SportsChannel-Chicago / Chicago White Sox. I hope you'll enjoy these clips. We'll have more of them in the future. On days that we do (say August 4th...hint, hint) I'll post here to remind everyone. Also feel free to post your memories in this same thread! Where were you when the events happened? Were you watching or listening? What do you remember about that game / season? Feel free to share those thoughts here. Again I hope you enjoy these and thanks to Daniel. Here is the link to that page: http://www.chicagonow.com/soxnet/2015/07/t...-comes-to-town/ Mark

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 30, 2015 -> 07:46 PM) SOB, they're literally right where we are. I have no idea when or how that happened. LaRussa already is turning that organization around. Mark

It was a nice run while it lasted but even with the run the Sox are still under .500. I hope Kenny doesn't mortgage the future on another long, long shot. The remaining schedule is very difficult and I just don't see it happening so I hope the Sox resist the urge and don't do something stupid. Mark

Would be hesitant to get Gonzales. Coors Field has a way of inflating statistics and he's owed a lot of money. Puig, extremely talented appears to be a prima donna and the Sox don 't need that. Don't have an opinion on Ethier. I suggest the Sox look towards San Diego and see what they might be able to get there. Mark

That certainly was an issue for the Sox in 2008. Because they almost completely folded the last week and had to fight for their lives to get to the playoff game to actually get into the playoffs, their rotation was a mess against Tampa Bay. Mark

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Jul 30, 2015 -> 12:38 PM) That may be more common than people think. Such things as poor defense, scouting, minor league instruction, tells me Kenny and J.R. are still in control. JR absolutely is a "hands-on" owner. I've been told by my sources that more than once, for example, he has "suggested" whom the Sox should pick in the June draft. Which puts his scouting / development folks in an awkward situation. How many times would you feel comfortable going against the wishes of your boss? Mark

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jul 30, 2015 -> 08:23 AM) Heck yeah. Reddick would give the Sox some pop from the left side, play solid defense, hits for a good average and does not strike out much. I'm really hoping a trade for Reddick happens. Traded to the Cardinals today for a minor league pitcher. Mark

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jul 30, 2015 -> 07:16 AM) No he isn't. KW just has more power. Probably veto power over things. I don't know for sure just my honest opinion. Hahn isn't a puppet. Wouldn't have taken the job if he was. Kenny himself told the media in June that before anything happens regarding the Sox roster Hahn and his staff have to come to him to talk about it. It strongly appears that he has the authority to say no to anything Hahn does or does not want to do. Mark

Don't think anybody could have predicted or expected this. These guys were DOA a month ago. Just shows you how far down they were that they could win seven straight and still be under .500. If they can keep this going this weekend against the Yankees, I'll be convinced. It does put Kenny (since he's still the one basically calling the shots) in a tough spot as far as selling or buying. Mark

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Jul 29, 2015 -> 08:58 PM) Send Webb down. He sucks. Walking hitters has always been an issue for him. Just doesn't have much control. Mark

I'd be surprised if the Sox picked up his 10 million dollar option next season. He's 35 or so (being born in Cuba who knows for sure...) and is clearly slowing down. I'd have to think you could find a stop gap shortstop for one year (until Anderson is ready) for less then 10 million and use whatever money you save on another position. Mark

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jul 29, 2015 -> 10:16 AM) Sustained success over several years is typically what builds fanbases. Absolutely agree. And it's a fact the White Sox are the only one of the original pre expansion (1961) major league franchises to have never made the post season in consecutive seasons. Not one time. Incredible. Mark

As Ozzie once said, "winning is fun...fun is winning." Mark

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 28, 2015 -> 02:07 PM) It is unbelievable how many moves could have altered the course of history. On the flip side, an interesting series might be on what if the Sox didn't do X? It still amazes me though how poorly the Sox (under numerous regime's) have been from a business perspective. That said, I don't have much appreciation for other teams history in relation to the business side, but those TV situations were brutal. Of course, I don't know how key TV revenue's were at that time (I presume the dynamic then was bulk of the revenue was from ticket sales vs. nowadays where the bulk of the revenue is from tv contracts). The TV revenue was much less back then as opposed to today of course. But the real issue was "exposure". A whole generation grew up basically not being able to watch the Sox and the impact is being felt even today. Many of those kids turned out to be Cub fans because they could actually watch them play. Those kids are now parents and grand parents and their family members are probably Cub fans as well. It was just another missed opportunity to 'take back' their own city that they dominated during the Golden Age from 1951 through 1967. Sadly the Sox probably will never get that chance again. They had a shot after 2005 but were not able to get to the playoffs consistently which is absolutely what you need to sustain and build a fan base. Getting in once every seven or eight years simply won't do that. Mark

Want to thank Daniel for publishing my stories after I send them to him. Always appreciated. Mark

Part II of the series is now up at Chicago Now / Sox Net for those who are interested. We look at how close the Sox came to getting some of the biggest power hitters of the 1960's, who was offered and why they didn't succeed and then look at the White Sox TV decisions with moving to WFLD in 1968 and SportsVision. Hope you enjoy reading it. Mark

BMags: Also keep in mind Robertson threw a lot of innings the last few years with the Yankees and that's not counting the times he warmed up and wasn't used. It all adds up. The Sox have to seriously think about moving Danks to the pen if they in fact get back in the race. You simply can't have a guy getting beat up and blowing out the bull pen in three out of every four of his starts. But with what he's getting paid would the Sox do that? Mark