Lip Man 1

Happy Opening Day of Spring Training to all White Sox fans. Sox Machine reports on Getz's opening comments: https://soxmachine.com/2026/02/chris-getz-white-sox-open-spring-training-with-open-ended-mindset

Getz speaks: https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/09/white-sox-100-losses-spring-training-rebuild

https://www.mlb.com/news/munetaka-murakami-jokes-about-misspelled-locker-nameplate

Said it was the COVID shot that ruined his career: https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/09/white-sox-covid-19-lawsuit-vaccine

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/02/06/its-time-for-white-sox-active-offseason-to-show-improved-results-on-the-field

February 9, 1988 - Another one of the smaller moves completed by Sox G.M. Larry Himes that paid off in a major way. Himes shipped pitcher Jose DeLeon to the Cardinals for pitcher Ricky Horton and outfielder Lance “One Dog” Johnson. Johnson, would blossom into one of the better defensive center fielders in the American League, become a solid hitter and steal 226 bases in his eight years on the South Side. He led the American League in triples four straight seasons between 1991 and 1994. Johnson would have a 25-game hitting streak in 1992, batting .439 during that stretch and would also collect six hits in six at-bats in a game at Minnesota on September 23, 1995. Three of his six hits were triples. His most significant defensive play came as part of Wilson Alvarez’s no-hitter in Baltimore on August 11, 1991. In the eighth inning, Johnson sprinted to his left and dove full out catching a low line drive off the bat of Chris Hoiles to save it. He would sign a free agent contract with the Mets after the 1995 season.

Why should we expect anything else?

There's also a chance that pigs will fly, that the Bulls will win an NBA title this year and that zombies will attack humanity. But I wouldn't bet your life on it. Everything indication including based on his own comments says ishbia ownership will be 180 degrees different from JR when it comes to spending and acquiring talent.

February 7, 2005 - After one of the more acrimonious disputes in team history, four-time All-Star Magglio Ordonez signed a free agent deal with Detroit. Ordonez engaged Sox management in a war of words over how he was treated, the contract offered to him and his health status. Magglio’s agent, Scott Boras, refused to turn over medical information, which infuriated G.M. Kenny Williams and basically sealed Ordonez’s fate. Then manager Ozzie Guillen publicly called out Ordonez in no uncertain terms as well over the contract situation. Considering the severity of his knee injury, which required a secret trip to Austria for experimental surgery, it was hard to blame the Sox for their stance. Ordonez, who was almost traded to the Red Sox at the winter meetings in 2003 for Nomar Garciaparra, played with the team for six full seasons and parts of two others with 187 home runs and 702 RBI’s. In his full seasons he never hit less than .282 and in five of those years he was over .300.

MLB says this kid could crack the opening day roster: Braden Montgomery, OF (MLB No. 36) Part of the Garrett Crochet trade with the Red Sox at the 2024 Winter Meetings, Montgomery could shore up what might be MLB's worst outfield contingent. A switch-hitting right-fielder with well-above-average raw power and arm strength, he slashed .270/.360/.444 with 12 homers and 14 steals in 121 games while advancing from Single-A to Double-A in his pro debut.

Keep having a few more beers friend. The Sox aren't coming anywhere until Ishbia takes over. Until then not losing 100 games and keeping their players actually healthy should be the reasonable goal.

The Sox aren't going to be contending for a playoff spot in 2027 so the labor impasse won't be the same as in 1981 or 1994.

I wouldn't take that bet. The owners seem determined to have a salary cap which the union will never agree to.

https://soxmachine.com/2026/02/wrangling-2026-white-sox-prospects-when-injuries-interfered

JR must be having heart palpitations! 😆

Never say never if he gets cut/released.

They have had a lot of these under JR including some situations with the Bulls too, as in the Thibodeux press release statement to the media. But specifically regarding the Sox you can go back to Carlton Fisk being released after he traveled with the team to Cleveland. He had to make his own way back to Chicago while the Sox didn't even have a press conference instead sending out a press release to the media. They really don't seem to have a good grasp of these type things.

Then they should leave and live happily ever after. They'll still be the Chicago Bears and fans in the Chicago area still will make the trip to see them play. It is what it is.

https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/grant-taylor-role-2026-white-sox-bullpen

If I remember right Ishbia gains the first option to get the team at a certain date. That would negate the if JR is still alive factor.

Excuse me but once again my sources weren't nobody's in the Sox organization or the media. You can certainly think that if you wish but you'd be wrong. And I find your comment insulting. I'm nobody's f#$%^&* stooge.

Like I said, have another beer (or six...) Of course they are coming...pretty hard to duplicate three straight 100+ loss seasons in a row. Doesn't mean 92-96 losses is much better though. Still miles to go before ishbia takes over and we can start to see a competent ownership/organization.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/02/frank-thomas-chicago-white-sox-snub/

I think that's why Sully wrote "three or more years..."

Don't know what years you are referring to but in my library I have audio from Bob on the road at various stadiums in the 1950's. The days when Ronald Reagan recreated games went out in the 1940's I think.