Lip Man 1

I would be shocked if the entire 2027 season was wiped out myself. The owners will cave long before it gets to that point. They have always done so in the past and I don't foresee that changing now.

There's a lot of truth in this post, I've thought the same thing myself. Winning the title convinced JR his way was the right way and there was no need to change things. Very glad the Sox finally won the series but the ramifications of winning it may have shaped how things were going to be done moving forward.

If they fired everyone who criticized the organization based on my conversations they'd have no one left working. The detailed story I did in November 2022 quoting six sources brought out how completely dysfunctional this organization was at the time and it doesn't appear to have changed much. FYI, these are the comments told to me at that time about the organization: “Things started to change when Howard Pizer (Author’s Note: Pizer is the Senior Executive Vice-President) was told that he’d no longer be in charge of everyone, that some folks would no longer have to answer to him. That opened the door and some people are trying to get themselves into position to become a team president. Folks aren’t telling JR everything; in some cases they are lying to him.” “Howard Pizer was the only guy who could tell JR ‘no’ and stop something. If people are angling to try to become a vice-president or president that’s just embarrassing.” “I know the friction in the front office just wore Bob Grim down.” (Author’s Note: Grim retired after 30 years with the organization. He was the Senior Director of Business Development and Broadcasting) “Here’s a story about scouting/development. Nick Hostetler was ‘promoted’ to the Special Assistant to the Vice-President/General Manager. He was ‘promoted’ because he was overheard complaining about a scout in Arizona, Ken Williams Junior. Someone got their revenge. I liked Nick, he was independent, he was his own guy.” “People wonder why Dennis Gilbert (Author’s Note: Special Assistant to the Chairman) is around.” “Mike Shirley is the darling of amateur scouts right now. (Author’s Note: Shirley is the Director of Amateur Scouting) He’s the power broker. I heard him saying that he’s been in baseball a long time, I looked up his career and it was only a couple of years maybe a half season of at-bats.” “I think Chris Getz (Author’s Note: Getz is an Assistant General Manager and in charge of Player Development) is getting to much power to soon but I like him, he’s got some interesting ideas.” “There are department heads in the organization who don’t know what they are doing, worse, all they care about is getting ahead themselves, some of them are real snakes.”

My guess is that the MLBPA has been warning the players about what is coming and that they need to start saving their money. The MLPA also probably has a reserve fund (they have in the past) where they'll be able to pay the players something to get them by. The owners also probably will have a strike insurance fund (they have in the past) that will pay them a certain amount of money in the event games aren't being played. But under no circumstances can I see the MLBPA agreeing to a salary cap.

A lot of the players from that 83 club have told me the same thing that if they got to game #5 with Hoyt, they win it.

I posted the exact comment I was told by an individual connected to the organization for decades. It was not changed or altered in any way, shape or form. My profession doesn't allow me to name sources without their approval. I have no idea if the comment about Katz was malicious, or if said person who originated it was jealous or what. Which is why I always say "for what it's worth." You can dismiss it, accept it, do whatever you wish. I just assumed Sox fans would be interested to know what I was told.

Dayn Perry of CBS Sports (who I think is a big-time Cub fan) has a story this morning saying the Dodgers are going to go after Kyle Tucker this off season to take the place of Conforto in the outfield.

From Sox Machine: https://soxmachine.com/2025/10/arizona-fall-league-update-hagen-smith-still-the-same-for-better-or-worse

Doesn't mean Getz won't try to bring him back again though.

Literally every MLB national reporter/media member and many front office individuals have stated a lockout of the players by the owners is coming shortly after the 2026 season has ended. Manfred has gone on record promoting the salary cap idea and the owners of the Orioles and Yankees have done the same. Once again owners are going to try to get a salary cap like they have fruitless tried before, multiple times, which is why the 2027 season is in jeopardy. We'll see how far they are willing to go to try to get this implemented. From a White Sox fan perspective at least we'll have the satisfaction of knowing that unlike in 1981 and 1994 the team won't be good so postseason chances won't be impacted by a shortened season or no season at all.

There is some truth to this but what is also very true is getting new ownership on hand to flush everything the old ownership did right down the toilet and create a new identity among fans, media, players and agents.

Interesting and detailed story on the salary cap argument for MLB: https://www.southsidesox.com/chicago-white-sox-commentary-and-analysis/117449/a-rebuttal-to-salary-cap-enthusiasts-money-cant-buy-everything

Good point, he's still around

Dovetails nicely with the scathing expose' The Athletic did on JR last September.

I don't think any of them are criminals (yet...) 😄

They played better after the All Star Break, that's well and good but it was still below .500. Sorry I don't have your faith for three primary reasons. 1. JR is till the owner and with labor unrest he's not taking any risks 2. Getz has shown to be poor at allocating whatever resources JR allows him to spend. 3. As far as on the field the pitching staff is brutal. Period. Very little starting pitching and a bullpen that the past two years has been the worst in baseball especially at blowing late leads. How do you get to 70 wins with that? You're counting on Getz to somehow make better choices in that area then what we've seen, well.. time will tell. Personally I expect more of the same, cast off's, retreads, has been's, injury prone guys and over 30 guys just trying to hang on and get a paycheck. Not exactly a recipe for winning is it or even getting to .500. But again, time will tell.

That's a lot of "if's" And you know JR isn't going to allow Getz to spend any real money to bring in some quality players. Sorry I can't see them winning more than 65 and that is "if" everything goes right for them, if not? A fourth straight season of 100 losses.

With the labor situation on the horizon, it won't be much if any.

Just incredible. Milwaukee being held to four runs total in four games by the Dodgers is also remarkable.

300 losses is almost a given don't you think?

Probably a wise prediction. But again with labor uncertainty looming I just can't see JR allowing Getz to extend the payroll much (as if JR needed the excuse...)

You've now really gone over the deep end haven't you? 🤡

Oh I'm not forgetting this just that from those two guys perspective it is no big loss.

Good riddance.

Story in the Tribune today as a lawmaker introduces bill that could hinder Bears options. The legislation from state Rep. Kam Buckner of Chicago — a former University of Illinois football player who represents the district where Soldier Field is located — calls for greater transparency around stadium deals in Illinois and could require the team to dig deeper into its pockets. It remains silent, however, about major financial issues, including whether the franchise would have to pay off outstanding debt for the 2003 Soldier Field renovation, a point some opponents of the team’s move have said is a bare minimum for their support. Gov. JB Pritzker said last month the team needs “to pay off what’s owed on the existing stadium,” Soldier Field, as a prerequisite for additional help from the state. He has previously said the state could help with infrastructure surrounding a stadium but has been hesitant to promise public dollars to subsidize the privately owned team. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/14/illinois-lawmaker-introduces-bill-that-could-hinder-chicago-bears-move-to-suburb-as-legislative-session-begins/