palehose1

Agree to disagree. May not be that exact title but clearer lines of authority will need to be drawn. Owner gets input provides budget, Top baseball guy sets the direction and works with GM to execute. Sox had some unhealthy overlaps and an owner who meddled too much. That's the biggest question, will Jerry truly step away and not pull a TLR or pit KW vs RH etc. I have two contacts affiliated or were formerly affiliated with the team that have good relations with JR and have supported variations of this and that JR has "hit the wall" with the recent deaths of his wife and son and the weight of the last two failed seasons is really weighing on him. Not specific transaction details but similar themes. I hear that a new investment group would transfer his financial ownership to his son helping avoid capital gains taxes which is the biggest impediment to a sale. Ideally Michael R would be a financial owner on the Board but not managing director like JR is.

I may be naive but I truly believe Getz Haber and Grifol are lame ducks. The President of Baseball Ops has to make those decisions, that was the dysfunctional arrangement before with no clear lines of authority, clubhouse snitches, blind loyalties, etc. Those factors are what breeds a bad culture. JR is stubborn but he is not stupid. I hear he is tired of this and wants to remove himself. And I don't believe that Dayton Moore is or will be the answer. You talk to White Sox insiders and these are some of the outcomes that lead to the disappointing seasons and JR is very aware, conforms what Lips sources have said. Again, I'm probably too much of an optimist but I dont think its White Sox business as usual. These were significant long overdue changes and I think there are more "surprises" to come. A new Prez of baseball operations will bring his own GM in. It won't be Getz.

The timing of the teams new stadium announcement, and the changing of the management may be related. I heard a group led by Melody Hobson who already owns 30% of nonvoting Sox stock, CEO of Ariel Investments, Chairwoman of Starbucks and George Lucas wife is part of the potential new ownership group (she is already part of the current nonvoting ownership). Reinsdorf's son would own 25% and that would shelter part of the capital gains tax. Another new investor may be part of the group too. In the end, it's all up to the fact they must hire the right person for President of Baseball Operations and give them full authority over all baseball decisions. Getz, Grifol, Haber are all lame ducks until the new Baseball President is hired. And I believe Jerry will be out of the picture. I truly think Jerry is done and wants to walk away. Ownership consortiums like these are a rarity today, usually they are billionaires looking for a "hobby" investment. But it has to be better than the current structure both at the Board level as well as the Kenny / Rick arrangement. Call me an optimist but I hear and foresee more changes coming in the next several months

I think they went perfectly

I'm hearing something similar from my contacts with different players. The timing of the teams new stadium announcement, and the changing of the management may be related. I heard a group led by Melody Hobson who already owns 30% of nonvoting Sox stock, CEO of Ariel Investments, Chairwoman of Starbucks and George Lucas wife is part of the potential new ownership group. Reinsdorf's son would own 25% and that would shelter part of the capital gains tax. In the end, its all up to the fact they must hire the right person for President of Baseball Operation and give them full authority over all baseball decisions.

These are facts (OK maybe with a shade of opinion): 1. JR is physically and emotionally done with owning the Sox after the loss of two family members in recent years as well as the implosion of the last 2 White Sox seasons. 2. JR’s capital gains tax situation is the primary impediment to a sale. 3. The Sox will never leave the Chicago market. As JR has admitted publicly in recent years (e.g., Cigar Aficionado interview article) regarding the proposed move to Tampa in the late 1980’s was solely leverage and a negotiating ploy. 4. Even that idiot Manfred would not allow a Chicago White Sox move – half of the Chicago area is worth a multiple of markets like Nashville, Portland, and Charlotte. 5. This story was leaked to attract potential suiters / interest (more opinion). 6. Soldier Field is a logistical and facility nightmare- it could never be used for 81 baseball games. 7. White Sox fans are still a strong fan base, but they won’t fully support the team until there is an ownership change (pure fact). 8. In the current political / economic climate, (and Illinois being one of the three worst financially stable states) it will be near impossible to get public funding for a new stadium. Most practical / logical approach is additional investment in the GRF area with Corporate sponsorship support led by new ownership.

well said

Chicago is a world class city and a great sports town that can easily support two major league baseball teams. And I believe two teams can thrive within the city limits. It's not a GRF problem. GRF is easily accessible by public transportation, has ample parking for tailgating etc. It's a "family friendly" facility. There are more than enough Sox fans that would and have supported the team. Sox fans are fed up and demand competent leadership and ownership. I was at Italian Fest on Taylor street Saturday evening. You can argue its south side but its only about one mile south of Madison Ave. I started noticing many fest goers with Sox hats and jerseys on- it was easily 5 to one over Cubs apparel and the Cubs had a day game earlier in the day. There is a loyal fan base out there that someone with a bit of business sense could truly succeed in the third biggest market in the US. Half of Chicago is worth a multiple of Nashvilles, Charlottes, etc. We just need competent ownership that wants to win and compete the way the game is operated now - international scouting, analytics, etc., and, most importantly, treat your fans as your most valued resource. But none of that will change under the current ownership.

SelltheTeamJR @SelltheTeamJR · Aug 7 There will be a Reverse Boycott night at Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday, August 24th against the Oakland Athletics! Lets treat this like a Blackout Night and show the FO that the fans are fed up! We want change at the TOP.

I think "sell the team" would get to the point.............

corner of 35th street and Wallace two blocks west of GRF. SE Corner- Old Red Brick Building.

We are playing the A's on Thursday night and I saw some chatter on Twitter that fans are going to wear all black (like the blackout game) and supposedly organize some "Sell the team Jerry" chants. It doesn't seem to have a lot of momentum. Would it draw more attention to the plight of the Sox fan? Maybe a little. Will it change anything? Probably not. But I would support it out of frustration / anger.

Well deserved. Both Minoso and Pierce played before my time but they were the two nicest baseball players I ever met. Both were White sox Ambassadors for years. Minnie was great with kids, very sincere.

for Jake Eder

Eloy is ice cold too and is having some horrible at bats

Just some additional insight. I have a good friend who is on another Board with one of the White Sox Board members, they have a good relationship. The Sox Board member's comments to my friend: - All of the Sox Board members roles are more "ceremonial" in nature- they do not make decisions and rarely give input on the direction of the team / strategy- they are essentially silent partners. - Jerry has unilateral authority. He runs the Sox like a "business / Corporation" and he is very mindful of providing profitable shareholder returns to his investor group. - The Board is primarily composed of Jerry's long term friends and business associates- they are a very "mature" group of men. There does not appear to be any formal Board succession plan. - Jerry has first right of refusal on any shares being sold and has always purchased the shares for those who wanted to redeem. Although Jerry has increased his shares over the last 40 years he still does not have majority ownership. He will not sell the Sox in his lifetime because of the huge capital gains taxes that would need to be paid by his estate. - Advancing age, the loss of Jerry's wife and son all have taken their toll on Jerry as one would expect. Perception is that he doesn't have the drive or "stomach" for replacing the leadership team, although rumors are Kenny is near retirement. So essentially we are in a stalemate situation. No real surprise here, just extreme frustration.

Just to clarify - the employees in the red polo shirts are ushers. Most are very young, the majority seem to be women. Their role is help people find their seats and yes they do the "ticket checking" that tends to alienate a lot of people especially when they do it at a low attendance game (which Saturday afternoon was NOT). They are not trained or expected to break up fights or get involved in physical altercations. Most of the Security guys wear black and white with a white polo or windbreaker that states SECURITY. They are nearly all moonlighting cops from both the suburbs and the city. It is not a good situation when none of the security people appeared on the fight the scene for almost 10 minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot less security personnel available with all the issues cops are dealing with now- mandatory OT on their primary job, rules that hamper their ability to do their job etc.

TA with MCL sprain out 2-4 weeks

Hearing TA is out 2-4 weeks MCL sprain

and 2008 was fun for awhile (Blackout game year)

Not to nitpick but it was 1983. 2022 resembled the 1984 team- high expectations and a total disappointment of a team.

You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you're a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen. Joe DiMaggio It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. A Bartlett Giamatti There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. Al Gallagher

Sad -only 58 with a family. He used to live in the Oak Lawn area, stopped in occasionally at TC's pub on 99th and Cicero. Friendly guy.

As a kid in Chicago Public Schools in the 1970's those Straight A / Perfect Attendance forms were my entree into Comiskey Park. As long as you didnt piss off the teacher too much you got a form. You got to pick two games for free just send in the form and a SASE to the Ticket Office. My sister had no interest in baseball so I was good for four games each summer. I would always pick a Thursday night Twinight Double header which would start at 5:30. I would take the Archer bus with two ham sandwiches in a brown paper bag and meet my dad at the ballpark. Simpler times, great memories, esp 1977.

I think a player can only do so much as a leader and Jose appeared to me to handle the role well. Jose was an exemplary player to me - a great teammate like a Baines or Buehrle was. Not always very vocal but respected and followed. But he's not the manager and could only do so much.......... When I watched the Last Comiskey video about the 1990 team it was so impressive about how these players on the 1990 White Sox praised Toborg and how he led a team that was picked to finish last to win 94 games - he got the most out of that roster. I'm hoping Pedro has some of that magic in him...it's an intangible that's hard to measure as opposed to game decisions etc.