Lip Man 1

No disrespect but earlier in the thread you are talking about them targeting top guys like Mason Miller. Your point is correct, JR does not shoot for the best (remember his comment about finishing second or third?) so to think they are going after guys like that just is not realistic. Again maybe when Ishbia takes over. We'll see what the next 48 hours bring.

I get the frustration and maybe that changes in the next 24 hours but like I've been saying history shows the Sox do not go for the jugular and try to acquire the very best available. That's simply not how they operate, always looking for discounts, retreads, guys hoping to catch lightening in a bottle. That usually doesn't work very often, Esteban Loazia non-withstanding.

A) Because we aren't. B) Because JR is still running the show. Look it would be nice if you are right but the last time the Sox absolutely positively went after one of the best and got him was when they signed Albert Belle, who produced terrific numbers. That was in 1997...a long time ago. The Sox simply don't operate in the way you, me and other fans would wish them to.

Six factoids today: August 2, 1921 - A Chicago jury found the eight “Black Sox” players innocent of conspiring to commit fraud by virtue of fixing the 1919 World Series. The players expected to go back to the Sox but then Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis permanently banished them, destroying the only team that could have played with the Yankees throughout the 1920's. It also sunk the franchise into a spiral that saw only seven winning seasons between 1921 and 1950. One of the players George “Buck” Weaver maintained his innocence until his death and applied for reinstatement many times without success. August 2, 1968 - The Sox and Senators completed a trade as infielders Tim Cullen and Ron Hansen were exchanged for each other. Why the notoriety? Because the same two players were traded for each other by the same two clubs on February 13th! The players even wore the same uniform number with the White Sox and had the same identical locker location! Hansen had been with the club since 1963 and played a solid shortstop. August 2, 1979 - Tony LaRussa replaced Don Kessinger as White Sox manager. The Tampa native, who had passed the bar exam in Florida, was only 35 years old. He remained as manager until June 1986. LaRussa posted winning records in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1985. He won the Western Division title in the 1983 season. LaRussa was fired because of basic conflicts on how the team should be run by new G.M. Ken “Hawk” Harrelson. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf later publicly admitted letting LaRussa go was one of the worst mistakes he ever made and he’d eventually correct it by getting LaRussa out of retirement to come back as manager for the 2021 season that saw the Sox win the division with 93 victories. Unfortunately things fell apart after it with health issues causing LaRussa to retire in August 2022. August 2, 1985 - An incredible weekend in New York started with perhaps the most unusual play in White Sox history. As a national TV audience watched on Friday Night Baseball on NBC, and with pitcher Britt Burns on the mound, Rickey Henderson slammed a double to left center over the head of outfielder Luis Salazar. Yankee runner Bobby Meacham was unsure if the ball would be caught by center fielder Salazar or left fielder Reid Nichols, so he went back toward second to tag up before reversing course, and then stumbled slightly. Meanwhile, Dale Berra (Yogi’s son) had taken off from first and didn’t hesitate as Meacham had. So, when the ball finally came to rest on the warning track in deep left field near the 411-foot mark, only about 20 feet separated the two runners. Salazar picked up the ball and fired it to shortstop Ozzie Guillen as Meacham and Berra rounded third. Third-base coach Gene Michael tried to get Berra to hold up at third but it was too late. Guillen relayed the ball to catcher Carlton Fisk in plenty of time to tag Meacham, who didn’t slide and instead tried unsuccessfully to knock the ball out of Fisk’s glove. Fisk did a ‘matador’ on Meacham for the first out of the inning. Meacham did succeed in twirling Fisk around slightly so that he wasn’t facing the field, but he recovered in time to tag Berra, who also did not slide. It was scored an 8-6-2 double play. That’s two for the price of one at home plate! To cap things off the Sox won the game 6-5 in 11 innings. August 2, 1990 - In the first game of a double header first baseman Frank Thomas made his Major League debut in Milwaukee. The greatest hitter in franchise history went 0-4 in his first game. The next night Frank narrowly missed a home run in the seventh inning when his line shot hit the top of the wall in right field and went for a triple. It would be his first Major League hit. The Sox would sweep five games from the Brewers that weekend. A bit of trivia; when Thomas came up with the Sox, he did not wear #35. His first number was #15. August 2, 2016 - When White Sox outfielder Charlie Tilson was helped off the field in Detroit he became, incredibly, the fourth player making their Major League debut for the club to be injured and not be able to finish the game, that season. Catcher Kevan Smith injured his back in pregame warm up’s and was placed on the disabled list, outfielder Jason Coats suffered a cut lip and a mild concussion after a collision, infielder Matt Davidson broke a bone in his foot running the bases and was placed on the disabled list and Tilson tore his left hamstring, he also went on the DL.

I'd be surprised if the Sox went for the best available and said so before the deal went down, that's not the way they operate under JR. As far as the second part of your comment, you're assuming of course, they even play in 2027. No guarantees.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/08/01/chicago-white-sox-mariners-luis-castillo-seranthony-dominguez-prospects-nolan-jones-boston-smith-chris-getz

Better get used to it. There have been numerous times over the past 40+ years I've been sick of hearing Reinsdorf's name so it evens out.

Seriously doubt this. My concern is Castillo is 33 and the Sox are now on the hook for additional years. Maybe it won't matter if Ishbia takes over sooner rather than later.

Well played sir...very well played. If only JR answered his letter...how history would have been changed. 😄 If they can go from a third straight 100+ loss season to winning 82 games, a winning season, they deserve all the credit in the world. Anything over and above that is gravy to me. But again replying to WBWSF, if you can't win at least 90 games I'd suggest the adjective "very good" really doesn't apply. And for the record that's only happened 20 times in the 125 years history of the franchise.

At this point in time I honestly have no idea what they may do (or not do...) They obviously need help in some areas but at what cost? Especially for a team that appears to be ahead of schedule with very limited post season experience. And won't be considered a favorite if they make the post season. Do they really try to go for the best available? Historically that doesn't seem to be in the Sox DNA under JR and remember he's still involved in things. Does the upcoming labor lockout factor into their decision one way or the other? Lots of internal moving parts for the Sox. If I had to guess, not hope, I think the Sox will make some small moves but nothing earth shaking. Kind of trying to split the middle. They can tell the fan base, "we tried" and at the same time tell the team, "we believe in you, now go out and do it." That probably satisfies neither group but again the Sox under JR don't take a lot of risks or act aggressively. The last time they tried a few years ago, it blew up in their faces (Hernandez, Kimbrel, Tepera) and JR probably remembers that. We'll know what happens soon enough.

I don't think so but I could be wrong.

Sox just can't seem to crack the seven games over .500 barrier. Maybe if they could they could go off on a run.

Didn't notice that before but you seem to be right especially when they score in double figures in the first game of a series. And I just saw the stats on Cam Booser who sucked with the Sox last season, apparently Tampa is doing Tampa things again with former Sox relief pitchers.

For decades Boston and the Yankees have been locking up playoff spots year after year after year.

Tough loss. Seventh time this year Sox have been shut out. Second time this year they have lost a game by the score of 1-0. Two out/ RBI hit the difference. See what they can do Sunday...at least Minnesota lost.

Five factoids today: August 1, 1901 – In 4-0 masterpiece hosting Detroit, James “Nixey” Callahan tossed the first one-hitter in White Sox history. Only his Tigers counterpart, Joe Yeager, had a safety. Callahan himself had two hits in his win, while the White Sox also tapped out three triples and left fielder Herm McFarland went 3 for 4 with three singles. August 1, 1982 - With the White Sox up, 3-0, in the top of the sixth at Comiskey Park, Ron LeFlore committed the worst error of his career. Catcher Gary Allenson lofted a soft liner to center field, and the ball struck LeFlore on his forehead as he drifted back to make the catch. A crazy bounce aided Allenson’s romp around the bases for an inside the park home run, to trim starter Jerry Koosman’s lead to 3-1. LeFlore, however, had a great day at the plate, leading off and going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. It was his double in the third inning that game the White Sox a 1-0 lead that they would not relinquish. August 1, 1983 - On a nationally televised ABC Monday Night Baseball game, Greg Luzinski drove a Ray Fontenot pitch over the left field roof at Comiskey Park. It was “the Bull’s” second roof shot in 1983 and the first home run ever allowed by Fontenot. The Sox would win the game 4-1 over the Yankees starting a torrid stretch where they went an incredible 46-15 to close out the regular season and finish with 99 wins. August 1, 2003 - The Sox won their 8,000 game in franchise history as they buried the Mariners in Seattle 12-1. Carl Everett had a huge evening going 2 for 4 with five RBI’s including a three-run home run off future teammate Freddy Garcia. August 1, 2005 - Pitcher Mark Buehrle’s streak of 49 straight starts with six or more innings ended when he was thrown out of a game in Baltimore by umpire Brian Gorman. Sox TV announcer Ken “Hawk” Harrelson became extremely upset in the TV booth “You’ve GOT to be kidding me!” over it. Buehrle got tossed without warning for hitting B.J. Surhoff after White Sox hitters were struck earlier in the game. Buehrle’s streak was the longest in the majors since Steve Carlton, between 1979 and 1982. The Sox would get the last laugh however winning the game 6-3 and sweeping the four-game series increasing their divisional lead to 15 games over the Indians.

Met him twice but only in passing.

Ask JR that question.

A few years ago yes.

Didn't he shut down the Sox last month with the O's or am I thinking of someone else?

Move them to Montreal.

Schultz now isn't starting tomorrow, going with Hicks as an opener. Don't know if that means anything or not.

You'll get no complaints out of me. They got a game. Anything more against Tampa at home is gravy as far as I'm concerned.

He has done remarkably well and deserves a lot of credit.

Not at all, trying to be realistic, win a game then go from there...avoid longer losing streaks, stay in what is still (for now) a four team race. Especially with (again for now) the way the pitching assignments line up this weekend. Win...a...game.