Lip Man 1

Well they DID spend money...they just wasted it on stiffs, retreads, has-been's and injury prone guys. I never understood how JR given his "fiscal responsibility" would allow his front office to literally waste millions and millions of dollars on unproductive guys over the years without I guess it bothering him. But to pay say 25 million a year for a proven franchise changer like Harper is a no-no for him. I guess it just goes back to his long held notion that baseball players aren't worth that kind of money. The Dodgers have already found out Ohtani's contract is paying for itself in attendance, merchandise and marketing opportunities and of course the lucrative far Eastern market. One thing the Commissioner didn't like what JR said at that press conference concerning him and called him on the carpet for it in a phone call. (Not that JR really cared he didn't even want Manfred as the guy in charge.)

Anytime the people in charge wish me to leave I will certainly honor their request. My comment is accurate, hope he does well personally but it was shown he doesn't have much of a baseball future, especially with the Sox. They made that pretty clear only giving him a limited chance on a team that lost over 100 games again and was desperately looking for power.

They will still stink...just maybe not quite as bad.

If any of those guys did so that would be a big help.

Wish him well personally but from a baseball perspective this is no big loss.

Just as a thought experiment a few years ago, I broke the years down from 51-67 into two A.L. divisions. Under that scenario the Sox would have made the playoffs six times.

Westy: During the time period I was referring to Veeck owned the team for a grand total of 2 1/2 years. You'll have to try again my friend. Veeck had little to do with the time period overall from 51-67. I wasn't referring to him or bringing him up at all so I don't see how you could connect the two. But you do you! 😆

Ah Westy...at it again I see, going off the deep end again. Considering the current state of the franchise no Sox fan of any age who knows anything about the history of the organization should be complaining about the time period from 1951-1967. That was truly a "Golden Age" for the team. But you do you 🤡

Just the fact that the Sox had by far the best pitching at least in the A.L. and maybe MLB with the exception of the Dodgers for a number of years and had good, solid, competitive seasons but simply couldn't get over the hump because they were always a hitter or two lacking. I was comparing that to your post about the Pirates having good pitching but little hitting. Sorry that offended you. By the way the Sox made serious legit efforts during that time period to get Frank Robinson, Carl Yaztremski and Hawk Harrelson to no avail.

Welcome to the White Sox pitchers in the 1960's.

I did see where they had openings and were looking for two interns to positions as well.

Doubtful and who knows there may not even be a season in 2027. I have a very hard time thinking this bunch especially with a limited rotation and an atrocious bullpen is going to go from 60 to 75 wins myself but you do you.

It's very clear they aren't save for more bargain basement pick up's perhaps. And it's even possible JR orders another payroll cut.

Says three more years before they are contenders but likes the direction right now: https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/darrin-jackson-considers-white-sox-chances-of-contention

From The Athletic today, I think this story has been unlocked: “There’s opportunities for all 30 teams to be excellent. Some are investing in that excellence, some aren’t. “The issues that we see in the system we know can be addressed without (a salary cap).”-Tony Clark MLBPA Director https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6748385/2025/10/24/dodgers-world-series-spending-salary-cap-tony-clark/?source=athletic_thewindup_newsletter&campaign=15401221&userId=602876

True, he may acquire that with enough time and experience but right now he is definitely a work in progress. We'll see over time if he learns from his mistakes and doesn't keep making them. Again right now the jury is out on that concept as well. They still have on paper, winnable games coming up before they get hit with more divisional games, we'll see what happens and if they can take advantage of them.

2023: It's OK my friend. As Kenny Williams once said, "It is what it is..." Some folks are satisfied with mediocrity. Given what the Sox have done over the past 19 years I can understand I guess why they try to inflate the limited success they have had. Don't get me wrong in 2020 and 2021 they did some really good things, but in both cases it ended badly in part because of self inflicted wounds. That's hard to take.

Westy: It looks like you're going off the deep end again my friend. 😆 Easy there. As a Sox historian I absolutely know about the successes this franchise has had but i also know this: Since 2007 the Sox are one of the worst franchises in baseball, putrid in fact. 13 losing years, five winning ones and a season at .500 The playoff record in that time? Three appearances, three first round exits and an overall record of 3-8. So given that context if the Sox did what the Cubs have done in the last 10 years, five playoff appearances and a World series title, you're damn right, I'd give a lot for the Sox to do the same thing.

Sox Machine looks back at the 2025 season with a deep dive into some brutal losses: https://soxmachine.com/2025/10/the-signature-white-sox-losses-of-2025

I think they have made the playoffs now five times in the past 10 years. As a Sox fan I'd give a lot for that.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/10/26/bears-doomed-by-problems-coach-ben-johnson-was-hired-to-solve-as-they-lose-30-16-to-ravens https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/10/26/chicago-bears-brutal-baltimore-ravens-nfl-lamar-jackson-caleb-williams-ben-johnson

Maybe when he's in another organization? (The McCaskey effect remember...LOL)

Bears offense is still poor. A lot of it falls on Williams but don't forget Loveland's utter stupidity on the first drive with the false start penalty inside the Baltimore five yard line. Instead of (maybe) an opening drive touchdown they settle yet again for a field goal.

Short answer: No.

Interesting speculation. To me the difference was the White Sox pitching. The starters: Jack McDowell, Alex Fernandez, Wilson Alvarez, Jason Bere, Scott Sanderson. The bullpen: Roberto Hernandez, Paul Assenmacher, Dennis Cook, Jose DeLeon, Kirk McCaskill That's pretty hard to beat.