Hello Sox Talk bloggers.  At the beginning of last year, I swore off my allegiance to all the sports teams I had followed since I was a kid, including the White Sox.  And I've pretty much held to that.  

But with the horrific and comical season the Sox just finished, I decided to write a book about Jerry Reinsdorf's 44-year mismanagement of the White Sox.  The book name is the title of this post.  You can find the ebook on Amazon.  Here's the link.  The paperback will be up in a day or so.  

I'm giving away free copies of the book to members of Sox Talk because this has always been my White Sox blog home.  You just need to message me your email address so I can send you a pdf copy of the book.  All I ask is that if you like the book, you give me an honest review on Amazon.  Here's that link. 

The book is a decade-by-decade review of all the incompetence of Reinsdorf's oversight of the team.  Believe it or not, the "Sell the Team, Jerry!" title came to me in a dream.  I wasn't even aware that was the name of the fan campaign to oust Reinsdorf, because I don't live in Chicago.  But I have followed the Sox all these years, so this is the inside view of an avid fan and former Sox blogger on this site.  

The book is not all negative. I included my 10,000 word personal recap of the magical 2005 World Series winning season in an Appendix. So you can relive some joy too. 

I hope the book provides fodder for the ongoing campaign to oust JR, which has already forced Reinsdorf to give up his "never selling" mantra.  With more pushing, we might get him to sell. But it will need to be to the right owners, not someone like Reinsdorf who threatens to move the Sox to leverage a new ballpark in the South Loop.  

I'd be very happy to read the paperback and see if it compares with the notes/quotes/newspaper stories I have in my library and on file from over the years. 

What an awesome idea.

Reminds me of the book called Career Misconduct by Mark Weinberg. It documents all the sketchy doings of Dollar Bill Wirtz of the Blackhawks. 

Great idea. I'm in and will give it thumbs up 

Bought the ebook.

Will likely order a hard copy too. What distribution gives you the most profit?

4 hours ago, VAfan said:

Hello Sox Talk bloggers.  At the beginning of last year, I swore off my allegiance to all the sports teams I had followed since I was a kid, including the White Sox.  And I've pretty much held to that.  

But with the horrific and comical season the Sox just finished, I decided to write a book about Jerry Reinsdorf's 44-year mismanagement of the White Sox.  The book name is the title of this post.  You can find the ebook on Amazon.  Here's the link.  The paperback will be up in a day or so.  

I'm giving away free copies of the book to members of Sox Talk because this has always been my White Sox blog home.  You just need to message me your email address so I can send you a pdf copy of the book.  All I ask is that if you like the book, you give me an honest review on Amazon.  Here's that link. 

The book is a decade-by-decade review of all the incompetence of Reinsdorf's oversight of the team.  Believe it or not, the "Sell the Team, Jerry!" title came to me in a dream.  I wasn't even aware that was the name of the fan campaign to oust Reinsdorf, because I don't live in Chicago.  But I have followed the Sox all these years, so this is the inside view of an avid fan and former Sox blogger on this site.  

The book is not all negative. I included my 10,000 word personal recap of the magical 2005 World Series winning season in an Appendix. So you can relive some joy too. 

I hope the book provides fodder for the ongoing campaign to oust JR, which has already forced Reinsdorf to give up his "never selling" mantra.  With more pushing, we might get him to sell. But it will need to be to the right owners, not someone like Reinsdorf who threatens to move the Sox to leverage a new ballpark in the South Loop.  

Fantastic idea.

Let me know when you have it available to buy.

This is the end of the road…

I’m pretty sure that @VAfan was one of the very last posters that would defend the White Sox on almost each and every move using extensive data analytics that always ended up being wrong.

We have no hope now…

1 hour ago, JoeC said:

Bought the ebook.

Will likely order a hard copy too. What distribution gives you the most profit?

Hardcopy, which I've uploaded to Amazon.  It usually take a couple of days to go live. Thank you for getting the book! 

24 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

This is the end of the road…

I’m pretty sure that @VAfan was one of the very last posters that would defend the White Sox on almost each and every move using extensive data analytics that always ended up being wrong.

We have no hope now…

Very funny!  Yes, I got a few things wrong.  Probably the biggest was defending the La Russa hire.  I've seen the light!!  

1 hour ago, hi8is said:

Let me know when you have it available to buy.

It depends on Amazon making it live.  I uploaded it about 24 hours ago.  Could take a day or two more.  I will post here when it's live.  I also uploaded a hardback version that might take a bit longer.  Thank you.

1 hour ago, VAfan said:

It depends on Amazon making it live.  I uploaded it about 24 hours ago.  Could take a day or two more.  I will post here when it's live.  I also uploaded a hardback version that might take a bit longer.  Thank you.

Would like to buy a hardcover edition of the book or a paperback version when it becomes available please. 

 

7 hours ago, VAfan said:

Very funny!  Yes, I got a few things wrong.  Probably the biggest was defending the La Russa hire.  I've seen the light!!  

I’m not arguing your logic and support.  It was sound.  The Sox just go above and beyond your average terrible moves.  For example — Miguel Vargas’s numbers in the minors.  It seems like the Sox level of scouting on him was looking at his minor league numbers and acquiring him based on the word of an assistant hitting coach that they fired a week later.  Meanwhile, you watch him at the plate or in the field for a few games and the average person would never want to acquire him.

My book is now available in 3 formats on Amazon -- eBook, paperback, and hardback.  

Here's the link.    

Please leave a review here.

Though I stand by my opening post about being willing to send a free PDF copy to anyone who messages me with their email.   

10 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Would like to buy a hardcover edition of the book or a paperback version when it becomes available please. 

 

Both versions just posted on Amazon.  See the post above for the link.  Thank you! 

12 hours ago, hi8is said:

Let me know when you have it available to buy.

Both the paperback and hardback just posted.  Order away!  

I think a whimper may be accurate

On 10/24/2024 at 8:35 PM, JoeC said:

 

VA just heard you on a podcast. Really piqued my interest now. Can't wait to read it!

Just ordered the book.  Looking forward to the read.

Hopefully WestEddy won’t laugh at this thread because it is mostly negative about the White Sox.

Edited October 27, 20241 yr by WhiteSox2023

"pushing out popular play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti after the horrific 2023 season because he didn't genuflect enough and had the gall to feature analytics in his broadcasts!"

This situation always seemed more about his popularity/ego growing, symbolized by his perceived "lack of cultural refinement" in eating concessions items on-air (compared to so called ”elites" such as Hahn/Boyer/Haber), daring to ask for so many days off for FOX college football...maybe it was simply the assumption he would be  treated loyally as a part of the Sox "family," just it wasn't JR's preferred family of ex Sox connected players/coaches.  Jason genuinely grew up as a real/true/genuine/authentic Sox fan and that still wasn't good enough in the end.

And that of course dovetails with how the "average" middle class Sox fan has been treated by JR, especially for the last let's say 15 years or so now...after the core of the 2005 championship team melted/faded away.

If anything, Benetti didn't delve deeply enough into the type of analytics younger fans seem to enjoy most...partially out of a desire to stay on Steve Stone's good side...which also became increasingly difficult as the play on the field eroded.

Finally, just don't think that JR enjoyed Benetti's sense of humor and constant cultural/entertainment  references that were harder for him to "get" being from such a different generation.

Edited October 27, 20241 yr by caulfield12

6 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

"pushing out popular play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti after the horrific 2023 season because he didn't genuflect enough and had the gall to feature analytics in his broadcasts!"

This situation always seemed more about his popularity/ego growing, symbolized by his perceived "lack of cultural refinement" in eating concessions items on-air (compared to so called ”elites" such as Hahn/Boyer/Haber), daring to ask for so many days off for FOX college football...maybe it was simply the assumption he would be  treated loyally as a part of the Sox "family," just it wasn't JR's preferred family of ex Sox connected players/coaches.  Jason genuinely grew up as a real/true/genuine/authentic Sox fan and that still wasn't good enough in the end.

And that of course dovetails with how the "average" middle class Sox fan has been treated by JR, especially for the last let's say 15 years or so now...after the core of the 2005 championship team melted/faded away.

If this is a direct quote from the book, thank you for sharing @caulfield12.  Great stuff!!!

@VAfan FTW!!!

Edited October 27, 20241 yr by WhiteSox2023

5 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

If this is a direct quote from the book, thank you for sharing @caulfield12.  Great stuff!!!

@VAfan FTW!!!

Yeah that first line in quotes...I was just looking to see if there were any reviews yet so I read the "preview" section Amazon typically provides to entice customers to buy.

13 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Yeah that first line in quotes...I was just looking to see if there were any reviews yet so I read the "preview" section Amazon typically provides to entice customers to buy.

Awesome, can’t wait to read it…

I would love to see the mods pin this thread but I will leave that decision to those in charge.

Anxiously awaiting my copy…

Edited October 27, 20241 yr by WhiteSox2023

On 10/27/2024 at 12:15 AM, The Grinder said:

VA just heard you on a podcast. Really piqued my interest now. Can't wait to read it!

Thanks. Chris Lanuti of Sox in the Basement interviewed me. 

Please write a review when you read it. 

 

On 10/27/2024 at 4:48 AM, WhiteSox2023 said:

If this is a direct quote from the book, thank you for sharing @caulfield12.  Great stuff!!!

@VAfan FTW!!!

Yes, that is a direct quote from the book. 

When you have the book, feel free to share other quotes with Sox Talk if you like. And anything else. I hope enough people here read it to have a good discussion. 

Then leave a review on Amazon please. Thanks!