Sox fire Katz and Thames

[southsider2k5]

7 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

Just talking about the coaching situations, and you snapped. As usual. 

Sure.  Snapped.  Asking for objective reporting is "snapped."  Well I guess that makes sense in the White Sox world where you get punished for stepping out of line.

[Lip Man 1]

1 hour ago, WestEddy said:

Which do you want? If concrete examples seep out, you'd criticize the org for spitting on these guys as they leave. When the nebulous (it was time to let Venable pick his staff) reasons are reported, you claim no reasons are ever given. I mean, Liptak posted some vague, unsourced blurb about how somebody in SF called Katz "High School Harry", and you couldn't say enough bad things about the White Sox org for allowing some nameless, independent reporter to quote somebody anonymously from San Francisco about an inconsequential nickname. 

I  posted the exact comment I was told by an individual connected to the organization for decades.

It was not changed or altered in any way, shape or form.

My profession doesn't allow me to name sources without their approval.

I have no idea if the comment about Katz was malicious, or if said person who originated it was jealous or what. Which is why I always say "for what it's worth." You can dismiss it, accept it, do whatever you wish.

I just assumed Sox fans would be interested to know what I was told.

[WestEddy]

17 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

I  posted the exact comment I was told by an individual connected to the organization for decades.

It was not changed or altered in any way, shape or form.

My profession doesn't allow me to name sources without their approval.

I have no idea if the comment about Katz was malicious, or if said person who originated it was jealous or what. Which is why I always say "for what it's worth." You can dismiss it, accept it, do whatever you wish.

I just assumed Sox fans would be interested to know what I was told.

You didn't indicate it was from somebody within the org. In that context, it seems like your source should have been fired, too, as all he does is criticize the org he works for. 

I found it very interesting. The Thames blurb was moreso than Katz. I always appreciate the insider info. 

[Lip Man 1]

1 hour ago, WestEddy said:

You didn't indicate it was from somebody within the org. In that context, it seems like your source should have been fired, too, as all he does is criticize the org he works for. 

I found it very interesting. The Thames blurb was moreso than Katz. I always appreciate the insider info. 

If they fired everyone who criticized the organization based on my conversations they'd have no one left working.

The detailed story I did in November 2022 quoting six sources brought out how completely dysfunctional this organization was at the time and it doesn't appear to have changed much. 

FYI, these are the comments told to me at that time about the organization:

“Things started to change when Howard Pizer (Author’s Note: Pizer is the Senior Executive Vice-President) was told that he’d no longer be in charge of everyone, that some folks would no longer have to answer to him. That opened the door and some people are trying to get themselves into position to become a team president. Folks aren’t telling JR everything; in some cases they are lying to him.”

“Howard Pizer was the only guy who could tell JR ‘no’ and stop something. If people are angling to try to become a vice-president or president that’s just embarrassing.”

“I know the friction in the front office just wore Bob Grim down.” (Author’s Note: Grim retired after 30 years with the organization. He was the Senior Director of Business Development and Broadcasting)

“Here’s a story about scouting/development. Nick Hostetler was ‘promoted’ to the Special Assistant to the Vice-President/General Manager. He was ‘promoted’ because he was overheard complaining about a scout in Arizona, Ken Williams Junior. Someone got their revenge. I liked Nick, he was independent, he was his own guy.”  

“People wonder why Dennis Gilbert (Author’s Note: Special Assistant to the Chairman) is around.”

“Mike Shirley is the darling of amateur scouts right now. (Author’s Note: Shirley is the Director of Amateur Scouting) He’s the power broker. I heard him saying that he’s been in baseball a long time, I looked up his career and it was only a couple of years maybe a half season of at-bats.”

“I think Chris Getz (Author’s Note: Getz is an Assistant General Manager and in charge of Player Development) is getting to much power to soon but I like him, he’s got some interesting ideas.”

“There are department heads in the organization who don’t know what they are doing, worse, all they care about is getting ahead themselves, some of them are real snakes.”

[WestEddy]

10 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

If they fired everyone who criticized the organization based on my conversations they'd have no one left working.

The detailed story I did in November 2022 quoting six sources brought out how completely dysfunctional this organization was at the time and it doesn't appear to have changed much. 

FYI, these are the comments told to me at that time about the organization:

“Things started to change when Howard Pizer (Author’s Note: Pizer is the Senior Executive Vice-President) was told that he’d no longer be in charge of everyone, that some folks would no longer have to answer to him. That opened the door and some people are trying to get themselves into position to become a team president. Folks aren’t telling JR everything; in some cases they are lying to him.”

“Howard Pizer was the only guy who could tell JR ‘no’ and stop something. If people are angling to try to become a vice-president or president that’s just embarrassing.”

“I know the friction in the front office just wore Bob Grim down.” (Author’s Note: Grim retired after 30 years with the organization. He was the Senior Director of Business Development and Broadcasting)

“Here’s a story about scouting/development. Nick Hostetler was ‘promoted’ to the Special Assistant to the Vice-President/General Manager. He was ‘promoted’ because he was overheard complaining about a scout in Arizona, Ken Williams Junior. Someone got their revenge. I liked Nick, he was independent, he was his own guy.”  

“People wonder why Dennis Gilbert (Author’s Note: Special Assistant to the Chairman) is around.”

“Mike Shirley is the darling of amateur scouts right now. (Author’s Note: Shirley is the Director of Amateur Scouting) He’s the power broker. I heard him saying that he’s been in baseball a long time, I looked up his career and it was only a couple of years maybe a half season of at-bats.”

“I think Chris Getz (Author’s Note: Getz is an Assistant General Manager and in charge of Player Development) is getting to much power to soon but I like him, he’s got some interesting ideas.”

“There are department heads in the organization who don’t know what they are doing, worse, all they care about is getting ahead themselves, some of them are real snakes.”

Again, these are all appreciated. I would think that most people holding a job in America are trying to get ahead. You ever go have a few drinks after work on a Thursday evening? Everybody's smarter than their boss. 

[WestEddy]

2 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

“Mike Shirley is the darling of amateur scouts right now. (Author’s Note: Shirley is the Director of Amateur Scouting) He’s the power broker. I heard him saying that he’s been in baseball a long time, I looked up his career and it was only a couple of years maybe a half season of at-bats.”

“I think Chris Getz (Author’s Note: Getz is an Assistant General Manager and in charge of Player Development) is getting to much power to soon but I like him, he’s got some interesting ideas.”

“There are department heads in the organization who don’t know what they are doing, worse, all they care about is getting ahead themselves, some of them are real snakes.”

And seriously, it sounds like the right people survived the jungle atmosphere. The remark about Shirley, if somebody played baseball, they probably made the traveling park All-Stars at 10, and their entire family participated in the game since. Somebody doesn't need to have played 20 years in the bigs to have been in the game their whole lives. I don't think anyone here would begrudge Dave Dombrowski saying he's been in baseball his entire professional life. 

[almagest]

 

[Bob Sacamano]

29 minutes ago, almagest said:

 

That’s good (if true)

[WestEddy]

Here's an "article" fleshing out the news of the Sanner hire. Nothing more than a little background on his resume - which could get us all through the rest of today. 

White Sox hire JC Scanner to coaching position in organization | Sox On 35th

[caulfield12]

7 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Here's an "article" fleshing out the news of the Sanner hire. Nothing more than a little background on his resume - which could get us all through the rest of today. 

White Sox hire JC Scanner to coaching position in organization | Sox On 35th

Name sounds like a print/copy/fax company from the late 80s/early 90s.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

On 10/18/2025 at 4:43 AM, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I'm not even sure Eddy believes what he says; maybe just trying to convince himself.

What I can't figure out is before the year, in the predict how many games the Sox will win thread, Eddy picked the right answer (same as me!). But now he says "Getz exceeded expectations and was a B to B+." How did he exceed expectations if he won the exact amount of games you predicted from the start of the year. Make it make sense?!?!

Except you made your "prediction" in July or August can't remember which. Most people in that poll made their predictions in March. You had the advantage of watching prospects developing when people in March could only hope for a few to do well and had no idea Shane Smith or Vasil would have decent rookie years. 

[Dick Allen]

Not hearing much about replacements. Usually if they like you but get rid of you, they have a pretty good idea who the replacement will be. They obviously felt they needed to move on from these guys.  I obviously know nothing about the particulars, but for some reason don’t think anyone they let go will come back to haunt them.

[WhiteSox2023]

30 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

Not hearing much about replacements. Usually if they like you but get rid of you, they have a pretty good idea who the replacement will be. They obviously felt they needed to move on from these guys.  I obviously know nothing about the particulars, but for some reason don’t think anyone they let go will come back to haunt them.

Serious question — who is the last coach in the organization that has come back to haunt the Sox?  Francona?  And I think he left the Sox organization in 1995.

[WestEddy]

19 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Serious question — who is the last coach in the organization that has come back to haunt the Sox?  Francona?  And I think he left the Sox organization in 1995.

Coach or Manager? Pretty much every hitting coach who left has found other work. Apparently, TLR still haunts some people here who think LaRussa's "in Reinsdorf's ear". 

[southsider2k5]

2 hours ago, Dick Allen said:

Not hearing much about replacements. Usually if they like you but get rid of you, they have a pretty good idea who the replacement will be. They obviously felt they needed to move on from these guys.  I obviously know nothing about the particulars, but for some reason don’t think anyone they let go will come back to haunt them.

Just know that whoever we hire will be the greatest ever... at least until they are fired.

[caulfield12]

2 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Serious question — who is the last coach in the organization that has come back to haunt the Sox?  Francona?  And I think he left the Sox organization in 1995.

Leyland and Dombrowski...expanding to front office.

Kim Ng?

Dan Evans got the Dodgers' job and rather quickly fizzled out.

Edited October 25 by caulfield12

[Tnetennba]

2 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Serious question — who is the last coach in the organization that has come back to haunt the Sox?  Francona?  And I think he left the Sox organization in 1995.

TLR baby! But only because they were foolish enough to bring him back and his presence haunts the org to this day.

[hi8is]

On 10/20/2025 at 7:44 AM, southsider2k5 said:

No one has said anything about why guys were fired.  I haven't even seen where anyone even asked.

Just seemed like Sergio was doing well as a coach and seeing his name on the chopping block was surprising.

[caulfield12]

15 minutes ago, hi8is said:

Just seemed like Sergio was doing well as a coach and seeing his name on the chopping block was surprising.

Especially with so many Merkin fluff articles on his leadership and all those emotional call ups to the majors videos.

Kiss of death?

Vaughn was similarly profiled the previous year while shedding the majority of remaining 2020-2022 veterans...

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

21 hours ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Except you made your "prediction" in July or August can't remember which. Most people in that poll made their predictions in March. You had the advantage of watching prospects developing when people in March could only hope for a few to do well and had no idea Shane Smith or Vasil would have decent rookie years. 

This is fair. Didnt realize i selected so late!! Although I did say they would win in the high 50's in other spots and that they definitely wouldnt break their own record. 

[Autumn Dreamin]

The Mets were 147-165 (89.1%) on SBs despite not having a particularly speedy roster, by far the highest success rate in the league (Cubs were second at 82.1%). Soto in particular credited Richardson for his career high 38 steals this year.

Considering the Mets' deep pockets, one assumes the hangup isn't money, so...Getz should make a call?

[SoxAce]

5 minutes ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

The Mets were 147-165 (89.1%) on SBs despite not having a particularly speedy roster, by far the highest success rate in the league (Cubs were second at 82.1%). Soto in particular credited Richardson for his career high 38 steals this year.

Considering the Mets' deep pockets, one assumes the hangup isn't money, so...Getz should make a call?

 

1000%. But we know Reinsdorf won't pay up to get him.

[Autumn Dreamin]

3 hours ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

The Mets were 147-165 (89.1%) on SBs despite not having a particularly speedy roster, by far the highest success rate in the league (Cubs were second at 82.1%). Soto in particular credited Richardson for his career high 38 steals this year.

Considering the Mets' deep pockets, one assumes the hangup isn't money, so...Getz should make a call?

Richardson was on the Giants staff with Bannister in 2020-23 too...he could put in a good word for the org? 

Not sure I've ever had a strong position on a potential 1B coach hire, but I think I'd really like this one.

His contract officially ends in a week. I suppose it's possible he's looking for a promotion rather than another 1B coach gig though.

Tangentially related to the coaching vacancies, I also saw earlier that the Sox are hiring more quants:

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

Richardson was on the Giants staff with Bannister in 2020-23 too...he could put in a good word for the org? 

Not sure I've ever had a strong position on a potential 1B coach hire, but I think I'd really like this one.

His contract officially ends in a week. I suppose it's possible he's looking for a promotion rather than another 1B coach gig though.

Tangentially related to the coaching vacancies, I also saw earlier that the Sox are hiring more quants:

They actially wrote JOB and not extended internship?

[Lip Man 1]

3 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

They actially wrote JOB and not extended internship?

I did see where they had openings and were looking for two interns to positions as well.