Lip Man 1

The politicians respond: https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2025/12/18/chicago-bears-indiana-stadium-illinois-legislation And so do the media: https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/12/18/bears-stadium-arlington-heights-indiana-kevin-warrens-gambit-wrong-time-packers-real-football-nfl https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/chicago-bears-stadium-indiana-mccaskeys/

In a sense by owning the team for these many decades JR has brought some stability to the franchise. Like all of us he's a complicated guy who has done some very good things from a community/charitable standpoint. From a baseball standpoint he has done things that make you go, 'what could he be thinking of?'

I'm guessing a lot of people in power and voters are asking the same thing.

Anytime the Sox can get someone from a successful organization with a history of developing young talent and winning is fine by me. Even better he has zero Royals connections.

That's a great point, the Bears are just going to kiss-off a 200 million dollar investment? Anything is possible and I don't know if they'd be able to sell that land to someone and get their money back. Like I posted originally this smacks of desperation to me a "threat" to move unless they get what they want. It worked for JR back in the day, we'll see if the same ploy works again. The Gary Steel Bears...has a nice ring to it. 😉

Given those circumstances you wonder what they could possibly be thinking regarding the TV move and starting their new network. That was foolish given the environment, capital outlay and resistance from carriers.

Pritzker responds: “The Governor’s a Bears fan who has always wanted them to stay in Chicago. He has also said that ultimately they are a private business that makes their own decisions, but the Governor has also been clear that the bottom line for any private business development should not come at the full expense of taxpayers.” Pritzker and other Democratic legislative leaders who pull the levers in Springfield have suggested the team needs to find a mechanism to pay off the $500 million-plus that taxpayers still have left to foot from Soldier Field’s 2003 renovation. https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/12/17/bears-stadium-arlington-heights-kevin-warren-shift

Maybe and maybe their politicians will feel the same way as the ones in Illinois after their voters let them know how they feel and I don't see where that would be a catastrophe if they moved across the state line. The Giants and Jets don't play in New York state.

While it makes some sense... given the current environment, how things are going in the country everywhere, including Illinois, I don't see many politicians sticking their necks out to help the McCaskey family who are worth let's just say a s$%^ load of money. This letter kind of reminds me of desperation setting in by the Bears, I think they know they are between a rock and a hard place regarding the politicians. I don't know if the political will is there and how much political capital the Bears have or leverage. And remember the debt still owed to the renovation in 2002. I mean what are they going to do? Move to St. Louis? 😉

Makes sense but remember who is running the show here.

I specifically said I didn't like it but it was at least a "solution." Since the MLBPA will NEVER agree to a salary cap so that is a pipe dream. As a thought experiment I'd divide things up into three groups. The franchises spending/really trying to win, the middle group that spend somewhat and does try to compete and the bottom group that spends very little, has bad ownerships and basically is coasting along. And like in European soccer if you are successful/ get new ownership you can move up if you wish. I just put it out there because again the only other suggestion I saw was a salary cap/salary floor which is never going to happen under any circumstances. Here's roughly how I'd divide it: A: Toronto, Yankees, Boston, Seattle, Houston, Philadelphia, Mets, Dodgers B: Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Detroit, Texas, Angels, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Cubs, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, Arizona. C : Kansas City, Minnesota, White Sox, Athletics, Miami, Washington, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Colorado Again you can debate/move teams around like Tampa, Cleveland and Cincinnati for example. Just a thought experiment remember, not liking the idea myself.

You wonder how much of this situation is on Sosa or on the Sox minor/major league staff for being unable to teach the fundamentals. I'm guessing both are in play here Sosa and the organization.

Assuming JR is still the owner. If he isn't Getz probably won't be around.

I'm not in favor of this at all but I have seen it proposed and discussed. If some think competition is the ultimate objective and it is being destroyed and you don't agree with my proposal to fix it, i.e. s#$% can all the cheap ass owners, then maybe divide MLB in tiers like European soccer. Then deadbeat franchises like the Rockies, Pirates, Marlins, White Sox, Athletics and so on can play for their own title while the teams that spend and care about winning can play for theirs. I don't like this idea myself but it is a possible solution.

Based on history you'll be waiting a very long time to see that happen. Personally I can't ever see the strongest union in the world, the MLBPA, agreeing to a salary cap. The owners are going to try to get one again starting next December and the comments from the union and individual players like Bryce Harper have already said that is a non-starter. If you believe, and apparently you strongly do, there is a competitive imbalance in MLB you're going to have to come up with a different solution.

Sox Machine with a detailed look at this decision: https://soxmachine.com/2025/12/mlbs-data-regulation-could-be-a-shortcut-to-help-white-sox-finish-what-theyve-started

There are some folks posting here who strongly think that what happened 20-30 years ago doesn't matter in today's game and that the sport has a large competitive disparity. I personally don't think that at all. To me the problem in baseball is the commissioner and ownership of a lot of teams, not the system. Get rid of cheap, dumb owners and replace them with individuals who value a good organization and winning over profits. Those most harmful to the game are franchises that get revenue sharing money, millions of dollars every year and then don't do squat to improve the on-field talent.

If I remember right his agent is Scott Boras, if he has a good season he is going to hit the free agent agent. No way he signs an extension with the White Sox.

And they will stay basically the same until Ishbia takes over especially with the lockout coming next December.

Bears did what they needed to do. 10 wins...remarkable. They have a reasonable shot for the playoffs although the final three games are going to be very tough.

Can't see this happening. This is Boras posturing trying to drive up more interest.

This comes under the heading of "to be expected." Story in the Athletic today saying that with labor unrest on the horizon. the winter meetings may be cancelled next off season.

Suarez to the Braves, three years, 45 million. Milner to the Cubs, one year, 3.75 million Leiter Jr. to the A's, one year, three million

They absolutely need competent bullpen help, you can't expect to make any real progress when you've lost as many leads as they have in the 7th inning or later the past two seasons. It was ridiculous.

https://www.southsidesox.com/chicago-white-sox-news/118639/white-sox-select-rhps-jedixson-paez-and-alexander-alberto-in-mlb-rule-5-draft