Lip Man 1

Checking the box score tonight it looks like they played well for a change. They should be able to take the series from Miami, I don't think they are that good.

It's going to be a long, cold winter next off season. Simply can't see under any circumstances the MLBPA agreeing to a salary cap.

March 30, 1971 - Another good deal pulled off by the Sox and G.M. Roland Hemond. He sent catcher Duane Josephson and pitcher Danny Murphy to the Red Sox for relief pitcher Vicente Romo and first baseman Tony Muser. Muser was one of the best defensive first baseman in baseball and was tremendous as a late inning replacement for Dick Allen. He was an earlier version of Mike Squires if you will. Romo helped stabilize a young White Sox bullpen with an ERA of 3.33 and six saves in his two years with the team primarily as a middle relief man. March 30, 1981 - Shortly before the start of the regular season, the White Sox purchased the contract of Chicago area slugger Greg Luzinski from the Phillies. The Phillies originally wanted either pitcher Steve Trout or pitcher Rich Dotson in return but when the Sox wouldn’t budge settled for cash considerations. The imposing strongman would become a two-time American League Designated Hitter of the Year and provide solid power to the middle of the batting order. In his three and a half seasons he pounded out 84 home runs and drove in 317 RBI’s. “Bull” would also become the first man to hit three rooftop home runs in a single season at the original Comiskey Park when he did it in 1983. The blasts came against the Twins, Yankees and Red Sox. March 30, 1982 - Needing outfield help, Sox G.M. Roland Hemond sent two prospects to the Dodgers for the speedy Rudy Law. Law would smash the team’s stolen base record in 1983, swiping 77 bases. He added 20 doubles, seven triples and hit .283. His career on the South Side wasn’t long, as he was released by the Sox in spring training 1986, but it was memorable, as he supplied speed and defense to the 1983 Western Division champions. In his four years with the Sox, Rudy stole 171 bases. March 30, 1992 - Seeking another power bat to hit behind Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura and not being able to close a deal with free agent Mark McGwire, Sox G. M. Ron Schueler dealt outfielder Sammy Sosa and pitcher Ken Patterson to the Cubs for outfielder/DH George Bell. Bell would have 112 RBI’s in 1992 and have a solid but limited 1993. However outbursts during the A.L.C.S. over playing time with manager Gene Lamont, sealed his fate and he was gone from the organization. Part of the reason Sosa was traded was because he had issues with White Sox hitting coach Walt Hriniak who wanted him to hit to all fields and stop trying to just hit home runs. Hriniak wanted the 1990 version of Sosa who was the only player in baseball that season with double figures in doubles, triples, home runs, stolen bases and outfield assists…and he drove in 70 RBI’s to boot! Sosa would become the face of the Cubs and challenge the all-time home run marks in the late 1990's. However, in the wake of the steroid scandal and his potential involvement with it, he left baseball with a cloud over him, his future Hall of Fame chances in real jeopardy. March 30, 2024 – He never had much of a Major League career but Braden Shewmake did have a moment in the sun. He became one of the few players with a homer for his first career hit, with Shewmake connecting off the first pitch he saw from Detroit’s Kenta Maeda. It was his first at-bat in the big leagues and came in the second inning.

Sorry for giving credit to the wrong person. It was not intentional, I simply didn't remember. This bullpen though appears to be far from average.

Was that #13 in baseball or 13th in the American League? I don't think Caulfield ever specified so I don't know.

Sun-Times doesn't mince words: MILWAUKEE — It looked like a Colson Montgomery grand slam and yet another home run from Munetaka Murakami on Sunday might cure what had ailed the White Sox on a nauseating opening weekend. But a revamped Sox bullpen showed the same leaks it has for years as a six-run eighth-inning meltdown gave way to a deflating 9-7 loss to the Brewers, capped by Christian Yelich’s go-ahead three-run blast off newly signed Sox closer Seranthony Dominguez. https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/03/29/white-sox-colson-montgomery-grand-slam-murakami-homer

I just feel the start of the downward slope of this franchise started that season. They had one of the worst months (June if I remember right in franchise history) and it all went to hell. In 2008 they came very close to urinating the division away, needed an extra game to win it. In 2010 they had a lead in August then the bullpen fell apart, in 2012 they had a three game lead with 16 to go. You saw how that turned out as they lost 11 of 16.

I thought I read during spring training where he said he hoped to still start someday.

"Luck is the residue of design" - Branch Rickey. Defensive positioning is an important past of baseball situations as well. I have no idea how the Sox stack up in this regard compared to other teams, I don't know if there is a metric for something like this, but that also can be a factor. I appreciate what you are saying but to me it rings hollow. This organization seems to have terrible "luck" in a lot of areas and I'm sorry that's letting people off the hook. At some point you are what your record says you are. And at least the last decade (although I go back to 2007) the Sox have basically been atrocious. That's not all "luck."

Well... Maybe they'll win a game in Miami. Some of you will be glad to know...check that some will be VERY glad to know I won't be able to follow the Sox as closely the next few weeks. Have gutted a bathroom in our basement down to the studs and with my broadcasting work done for the year it's time to get to work. Monday morning the 21st Century Remodeling Company comes here to start working on rebuilding it. They'll work during the day then at night I'll start painting and doing finish carpentry. I'll still follow this bunch by looking at the box score, seeing the highlights (or lowlights) on You Tube and reading the Chicago papers. I'll still post in the morning before the construction guys arrive with my This Day In Sox History factoids and a few comments. Because my wife had to move her work computers and such upstairs in my office since the noise would be to much downstairs I also have to stay out of here as much as possible during the day. But I'll be around, just not as much for two-three weeks. I'm sure my critics won't be shedding any tears! LOL. And who knows maybe these clowns will start winning and everyone can blame me!

Exactly

So the door is always open and you won't give anyone a specific timetable before you admit things aren't working out. And what defines them not being in a rebuild any longer? Why with this organization does rebuilding have to take three years, five years, multiple rebuilds over a decade?

Time will tell. So far? Not encouraging but again you are free to think what you will.

If that's not incompetence, dysfunction and ineptness then I don't know what is. Thanks for pointing that out and helping to make the case. Last I looked "hope" was not a recipe for success.

Again that's a great question. Perhaps some people would be willing to give you a specific answer (although I doubt it) And a point of clarification. It was brought up why I don't respond until after a game. Just FYI, my computer is located in our office here at the house. It isn't a laptop, it's in a different room from the TV. I'm not going to go bouncing back and forth as games progress. Sorry that's the way it is.

Careful my friend. Certain fans won't like your beliefs! 😉 I mean they have to win some games, they aren't going to go winless for the season (are they?) LOL.

All of those listed were before JR has apparently thrown in the towel too. And they only people of those you listed who left under good terms were Konerko, Duham (I think), Dye (I think), Thome and Raines.

2007 is the start of the slide of this franchise. From 1981-2006 the Sox had 16 winning seasons and were usually competitive. JR still cared about trying to win. From 2007-2025 the Sox have had five winning season (one of those in a 60-game season) a season at .500 and 13 losing years. The difference is striking.

March 29, 2018 – The earliest opening day in history, at that time, turned out to be a record setting day for the Sox who blasted Kansas City 14-7. The Sox tied the record for most opening day home runs by hitting six at Kauffman Stadium. That tied the 1988 Mets who did it against the Montreal Expos. Matt Davidson became the fourth player in history to hammer three home runs on opening day as he went 3 for 4 with four runs scored and five RBI’s. He also became the first player in at least 110 seasons to score four times on opening day. In his first at-bat he drove a ball deep to right field that was caught at the fence. Tim Anderson had two home runs and drove in three with Jose Abreu hitting the other home run, he had two RBI’s. Yolmer Sanchez also drove in three for the White Sox.

I'm guessing the seven stolen bases against the Sox in a single game may be the "modern era" franchise record. Back in the early part of the 20th century games with teams have double-digit stolen bases were fairly common.

That's the million dollar question isn't it?

Say what you will about the pitching and hitting but yet again the "baseball-stupid" play is also worth noting. Basic fundamental skills are lacking in this organization. Maybe that's because the players aren't very good or as I'v said in the past they aren't willing to learn and the Sox coaches et al can't teach them very well. Blame goes on both sides.

Very true and if somehow these kids do start to produce and JR is still around when they get to free agency you know they'll be leaving for greener pastures.

Again you bring up this stupidity that I'm "rejoicing" over Vasil's TJS. You can do better. I still follow the Sox religiously because that is what I grew up with on the South Side and the team my family cared about. I'm loyal but loyalty doesn't mean unlimited, turn a blind eye to the incompetence and thinking that everything is going to be OK. Hint: it is not. And things haven't been OK since the start of the 2007 season and the numbers don't lie. I'm not trolling anybody even folks like you. I'm royally pissed off and letting those feeling show. If that bothers you, I won't apologize for it. I've never told anybody to shut up for being optimistic, you can think what you will. The numbers say having that philosophy with this organization with this owner is a fools errand. But you absolutely have the right to think what you will.

I have no idea who the hell you are or how reliable you are. And you think I'd wager you a thousand bucks? You must have had a few to many tonight while watching the Sox look like baggy pants buffoons. I'd be happy to bet you 30 though. Then when they "only" lose 95 you can say 'told you so...' 😆 And since the Sox only win five in a row to use your example basically as often as an eclipse who gives a s^&*. They won five straight? Great! That only means they are 35 games under instead of 40. 😉