Lip Man 1

Long, detailed story on the six players the Sox need to get (in the author's opinion) this off season for the bullpen, starting rotation and outfield: https://soxmachine.com/2025/11/josh-nelsons-2025-26-offseason-plan-project-giving-veterans-a-second-chance

Mark "Gonzo" Gonzales helping out the Sun-Times since he works in Arizona now. Long feature on Smith: https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2025/11/06/sox-prospect-hagen-smith-has-been-impressive-in-the-arizona-fall-league

https://soxmachine.com/2025/11/white-sox-notes-tepid-approach-to-free-agency-comes-as-no-surprise

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/05/chicago-white-sox-soxfest-chris-getz/

And if by some miracle he plays well and stays healthy the Sox can ship him out at the deadline get something back for him and JR will be happy he won't have to pay him for the final two months.

They've made some changes though according to this article (last few paragraphs): https://www.southsidesox.com/chicago-white-sox-news/117814/south-side-shuffle-white-sox-keep-robert-jr-reshape-coaching-staff-and-relaunch-soxfest

That's a very good question.

Fair point.

Based on results you can't blame them.

Cousins shouldn't be allowed to marry should they??????????? 😆

In other words JR has already told Getz a lockout starts in 13 months and don't spend a dime on any long term deals. (Not that any quality free agents would be interested anyway...)

Unless of course Robert is traded before spring training begins.

It would have been good from over 70 yards easily.

Third game this year the Bears have taken advantage of late breaks to win. Dame fortune seems to be on their side, they need to take advantage of this and win some games that doesn't come down to the end. They need to take it to the Giants next week, that game should not be close.

Seems to be working out very well for the teams you mentioned. Milwaukee, Philadelphia and San Diego gets lots of attendance, makes the playoffs on a regular basis and is putting themselves to get a lot of marketing and advertising chances. And the Mets while not making the post season regularly are still packing them in. Would love for the Sox to be in that position instead of a doormat.

Again MLB wants the money expansion teams would bring, possibly two billion dollars according to Sports Illustrated as opposed to moving any clubs right now.

Right now we have no idea even what Perez's availability is considering his latest injury issue towards the end of last season.

The clause that triggered his "out" was that he had to be among the top three players in the game.

The latest: https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2025/10/30/bears-stadium-springfield-megadevelpment-bill-25-million-chicago

Four games does not a season make.

We'll know more about the Bulls in their next six games. Two vs. New York, plus Milwaukee, Cleveland, Philadelphia and San Antonio.

I don't think he ever has done so.

From my interview with Jeff Torborg: ML: The Sox still won 87 games and looked ready to take the next step when word came that you resigned to take the Mets job. I remember reading that you wanted to be closer to your family in New Jersey, Jeff…but I’ve also heard rumors through the years that some in the front office didn’t care for the way you handled pitchers, specifically Bobby Thigpen who went downhill after 1991. When I’ve asked the guys you managed about that, like Donn Pall, he strongly defended the way you used the bullpen. Can you clear this up for me, why did you leave the White Sox? And were you forced out? JT: “My mother was in her 80’s at the time but the reason that I left to be closer to my family was just for public relations, we didn’t want to hurt any feelings. I didn’t want to leave the White Sox. I had no desire to leave…why would I? This was a good young team ready to win; my wife and I loved Chicago and our son Dale was just starting out at Northwestern. (Author’s Note: Dale Torborg now works for the White Sox after a career in professional wrestling as a strength coach) ML: Then obviously by your answer there’s more to the story than was told to fans at the time. What else was going on? JT: “Later in the season we were in Minnesota for a two game series, it was a must win series for us because we were running out of time and I heard Peter Gammons report on ESPN that my job was in jeopardy. I was thinking, ‘where is this coming from?’ Then the last home stand of the year when we played the Twins again, Ron Schueler came into my office before it started and he closed the door. I was wondering what was going on. Ron said to me, “The Mets called me today and they want to talk with you about the managing job.” I told him, “Ron, I appreciate it but I have no interest.” Ron said, “well think about it and I’ll come back in a few days. We’ll talk again.” I’m sitting there wondering what is going on, because I said I had no interest.” “So right before the last games, we had a makeup double header; Ron comes back and asks if I thought about the Mets offer. I told him again that I had no interest but then I said “Ron, I’ve got to ask you because this has come up, where I fit in with you and the organization?” He looked at me and said, “I think both of us would feel bad if you turned it down and then something happened.” “When he said that I had to think twice about what was happening. Ron and I never had a cross word between us that season but he wanted to hire his own guy, so when the Mets called I took the offer. It was the best thing for me financially but it was the worst move professionally I could have made. Ironically about a half hour after I verbally told the Mets I’d take the job the Yankees called and said they were firing “Stump” Merrill and offered me the position. I told them I had already given my word to the Mets and couldn’t go back on it but I didn’t want to leave the Sox in the first place.” (Author’s Note: Schueler and the organization first contacted former Sox coach Jimmy Leyland, then the manager of the Pirates about the position, but he turned them down instead suggesting his longtime base coach Gene Lamont, who got the job.) ML: Was there any truth to the rumor that part of the reason the organization was upset with you was because of the way you handled your bullpen and how Bobby Thigpen just fell apart. JT: “I had heard that I was being criticized by some of the guys upstairs on that. I mean Larry Monroe (Author’s Note: Advisor to the Baseball Department and former Sox pitcher), Ed Farmer, and Ron (Schueler.) They all wanted Scott Radinsky to be the closer. Now Scott was a good pitcher and he could be a closer but at that time he wasn’t ready. The criticism was laughable; remember this was the bullpen that was the best in baseball in 1990.” (Author’s Note: The Sox won the Rolaids Relief Team Bullpen of the Year Award based on their record of 29-21 with 68 saves and an ERA of 3.16. The bullpen was primarily made up of right handers Bobby Thigpen, Barry Jones and Donn Pall and left handers Scott Radinsky, Kenny Patterson and Wayne Edwards.) “As far as Bobby was concerned we played a game against the A’s in 1991. We had a lead and Bobby came in to pitch the 8th inning for Alex Fernandez and a pitch got away from him and hit Terry Steinbach in the head. Tony (LaRussa) went crazy, I still remember him throwing a bat and my first thought was ‘what if that hit a fan? What kind of a lawsuit would he be looking at?’ “Anyway it was an ugly, ugly game, we lost the lead, wound up losing the game but there was a big fight after Steinbach got hit. Bobby was down on the bottom of the pile and he hurt his back. I think that’s why he lost his effectiveness not because of anything that I or the coaching staff did.” (Author’s Note: The game was played on June 1, 1991. The A’s came from behind to win 7-4.)

Supposedly the Mariners top priority this off season is signing him. We'll see.

September 15, 1990 - Owner Jerry Reinsdorf fired G.M. Larry Himes citing ‘personality differences.’ Himes drafted and signed Sox future stars like Frank Thomas, Jack McDowell, Robin Ventura and Alex Fernandez. During the press conference announcing the hiring of Ron Schueler as new G.M., Reinsdorf issued his famous ‘Point A to point B to point C’ comment. Later in a rare radio appearance he was candid on the subject to host Chet Coppock. “The fact is Larry Himes cannot get along with anybody. You can hardly find anybody in the Sox organization that wasn’t happy when Larry Himes left.”