Lip Man 1

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. 😉

Well played sir. He keeps this up the Sox may actually get a good haul for him at the deadline, remember his contract is only for two years and if the Sox are hopelessly out of it, that's something they may consider doing.

Beni absolutely doesn't belong in the outfield.

Sox Machine with the autopsy: Brewers 6, White Sox 1: The margins add up - Sox MachineWith a runner on third and one out in the first inning of a scoreless game, Will Venable played the infield in with hopes of keeping Bryce Turang at third. It didn’t work. Christian Yelich instead shoAnd I don't mind the barbs from some, they just don't want to admit what they basically know in their heart of hearts there is absolutely nothing that can be done...let me repeat that... NOTHING that will change the direction of this franchise short of new ownership. It's that simple. Instead of getting pissed at fans who have been fans for, in my case, 65 seasons (I started following the Sox when I was five) save the bile for JR. So it may turn out i could be wrong, they won't lose 100 games, "only" 95 big f#$%^&* difference eh? Only an absolute imbecile would think that's some sort of "improvement."

The pitching staff is flat out atrocious. The hitting is iffy at best. Still making errors in the field. Yet some delusional fans think they are going to not lost 100 games this season. 😜 Going back to spring training and that brutal futures game that makes eight straight losses for the franchise.

March 28, 1940 - During a 10-1 preseason loss at Wrigley Field to the Cubs, White Sox second baseman Jackie Hayes was hit by a drifting speck of cinder in his eye. Hayes’ eye became infected, and by the end of the season had lost full sight in the eye, and retired from the game. By 1943, Hayes was blind in both eyes. At the time, Hayes speculated that it was the cinder during the game, or soap, that had irritated his eye, leading to his eventual blindness. But in truth, as he later acknowledged, Hayes was afflicted with glaucoma, robbing him of his sight. Hayes played as a part-timer in 1940 for the White Sox, getting into 18 games and hitting .195. The second baseman though was a stellar defender, and over nine years with the White Sox was a positive player. Interestingly, on August 23 of his final season, with a rash of beaning’s plaguing the game, Hayes became the first Major League player to wear a modified batting helmet basically a hard leather ear flap. March 28, 1981 - The Sox dealt pitcher Ken Kravec to the Cubs for pitcher Dennis Lamp. Over the next three seasons Lamp would do everything for the club... start, pitch long relief as well as close games. He’d toss a one-hitter against Milwaukee on August 25 of that same year losing his no-hitter in the ninth inning when Robin Yount blooped a double. Lamp would then lead the “Winnin’ Ugly” 1983 Western Division champion White Sox with 15 saves. He was also the winning pitcher the night of September 17 of that same season when the Sox beat Seattle 4-3 to clinch that divisional crown, their first title in 24 years. In three seasons with the Sox Lamp won 25 games, saved 20 and had an ERA of under four every year. March 28, 2024 – On opening day Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet became only the ninth pitcher in the last 110 years to make his first career start on the first day of the season. He joined Tanner Scheppers (2014), Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Elwin “Preacher” Roe (1944), Al Gerhauser (1943), Russell “Red” Evans (1939), Jim Bagby (1938), Robert “Lefty” Grove (1925) and Eddie Eayrs (1920) in this category. Crochet had a stellar outing, throwing six innings, striking out eight and only allowing a single run. But that was enough to beat him as the Sox offense only mustered three singles in the 1-0 loss to Detroit.

Awful AnnouncingJason Benetti puts what it means to be voice of 'Sunday N...Jason Benetti put into perspetive about what it means to be named the lead voice of NBC's Sunday Night Baseball.

I absolutely agree losing in ingrained in this organization and because so few times are anybody held accountable by JR who has publicly admitted multiple times he really dislikes having to fire people, nothing really changes. For years according to a story by Mark Gonzales when he was still covering the Sox for the Tribune, the Sox spent the least amount of money in all baseball on their minor league system. I don't know how much that may have changed but I'm reminded of something my dad always said, "you get what you pay for..." With JR as owner the results shouldn't surprise anybody.

Very true.

More flotsam and jetsam.

Different fans look at the sport in different ways so I don't begrudge you your feelings. Others, like myself, feel that winning is also part of things and since 2007 the White Sox have done very little of this. I can only speak for myself but it doesn't matter much to me if the sun is shining, the beer is cold or how many fans are in the stands. That's all secondary, the top item is did the Sox win the game? Are they having a good season?? And I simply can't see the MLBPA agreeing to a salary cap in any way, shape or form. When Ishbia takes over he'll have the financial resources to buy whatever pitching he needs should he choose to do so.

When you have as much money as he does, "pride" doesn't even factor into the equation. Priority #1, and #2 and #3 and so on down the line, is the bottom line. Period, end of story. And his bottom line is "fiscal responsibility" (his words) which translates into how much profit can we make?

March 27, 2025 – Sean Burke became just the seventh pitcher in the last 100 years to start on opening day with fewer than 20 career innings pitched in the majors and he made it a successful one as the White Sox blasted the Angels 8-1 at Rate Field. The right-hander worked out of danger in the first and second innings and then settled into a groove allowing three hits with three strikeouts in six scoreless innings to aid the Sox in Will Venable’s first game as the team’s manager. Burke, made his fourth career start and fifth overall appearance. In the process, he joined the Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela (17 2/3) in 1981, St. Louis’ Tom Poholsky (14 2/3) in 1951, Pittsburgh’s Elwin “Preacher” Roe (2 2/3) in 1944, Brooklyn’s Hal Gregg (18 2/3) in 1944, Philadelphia’s Edgar Smith who’d go on to pitch for the White Sox, (19) in 1937 and Philadelphia’s Carroll Yerkes (9 2/3) in 1929 as pitchers in the last 100 years to start on opening day with fewer than 20 career innings pitched. Burke’s 19 career innings entering the day were the fewest for a Sox opening-day starter, eclipsing the previous marks of 61 by Pat “Patsy” Flaherty in 1903. Garrett Crochet had 73 before his start in 2024. Burke became the sixth pitcher in the last 70 years to start on opening day with three or fewer career starts, joining Crochet in 2024 (zero), Texas’ Tanner Scheppers in 2014 (zero), Colorado’s David Nied in 1993 (two), San Francisco’s Al Holland in 1982 (three) and Valenzuela in 1981 (zero).

They still have a lot of dumpster dive guys on the roster right now, especially in the pitching area and in the outfield. Sox Machine with the autopsy from Thursday: First impressions from a dreadful White Sox Opening Day -...The White Sox came into this season having struck out 20 times in only three games over their entire 125-year history, and all three took extras. Their 21 strikeouts against Seattle in 1996 required 1

Today show this morning had an almost five minute feature on Benetti.

I'm not holding my breath on either Hicks or Newcomb.

Exactly correct. I'm surprised some fans still don't understand this about JR.

As long as JR is still breathing he's not going to make anymore drastic changes. Remember he doesn't care anymore about the on-field record, he cares about leaving as much money as possible to his family and perhaps seeing the MLBPA finally broken in the next CBA negotiations. But just in case, you may want to submit your resume again to JR. Get it to him early right? 😉

This pitching staff especially the starting rotation shouldn't impress anybody. As far as the bullpen? Considering they have blown and lost 50 games when leading in the 7th inning or later the two previous seasons, I don't think much will change this year. There are maybe, maybe...three guys who could prove to be valuable on a good team in the entire Sox bullpen.