Three Things

[GMAN81]

Again, I know it's baseball but we are in a slow period so....

I see the White Sox and Cubs both open the 2016 season on the west coast. Both teams open on Monday April 4th. The Sox open in Oakland with a four game series while the Cubs open against the LA Angels for two games. Without looking it up I don't recall ever seeing this happen. Maybe it has, I just don't remember.

Looks like Pete Rose is going to the HOF...the Cincinnati Reds HOF anyway.

Finally, Kenny Williams...the executive vice president who loves to preach integrity in the White Sox organization, has a son who has now been busted TWICE for failed drug tests. His son, Tyler has been given a 50-game ban with the second offense. So much for integrity.

It definitely helps to be "connected" in getting a professional contract as Tyler has a .211 batting average and 13 home runs in five minor league seasons. Talk about a waste of time and money. Arizona signed him first in June of 2011 and released him one month later. Then daddy and the Sox picked him up in July 2011. Obviously pops isn't commenting on the current situation and suspension.

 

[UlbKA91]

Again, I know it's baseball but we are in a slow period so....

I see the White Sox and Cubs both open the 2016 season on the west coast. Both teams open on Monday April 4th. The Sox open in Oakland with a four game series while the Cubs open against the LA Angels for two games. Without looking it up I don't recall ever seeing this happen. Maybe it has, I just don't remember.

Looks like Pete Rose is going to the HOF...the Cincinnati Reds HOF anyway.

Finally, Kenny Williams...the executive vice president who loves to preach integrity in the White Sox organization, has a son who has now been busted TWICE for failed drug tests. His son, Tyler has been given a 50-game ban with the second offense. So much for integrity.

It definitely helps to be "connected" in getting a professional contract as Tyler has a .211 batting average and 13 home runs in five minor league seasons. Talk about a waste of time and money. Arizona signed him first in June of 2011 and released him one month later. Then daddy and the Sox picked him up in July 2011. Obviously pops isn't commenting on the current situation and suspension.

Im just happy the Sox are not opening with one of their fellow AL Central teams - I would wager that they have always opened against either the Tigers/Twins/Royals/Indians (Brewers for a short time) since the beginning of 3-division play in '94, being that they are not considered a national media draw for marquee games. Im probably one of the few who liked the 14-team-in-a-league "balanced" schedule from the AL in '77 to '93.

 

[MC63]

Why is Williams at fault for his son's behavior? Isn't he an adult by now?

 

[eireog]

Why is Williams at fault for his son's behavior? Isn't he an adult by now?

Didn't he supposedly raise him ? I'd look at it as a failure on my part if my son didn't know wrong from right.

 

[GMAN81]

Im just happy the Sox are not opening with one of their fellow AL Central teams - I would wager that they have always opened against either the Tigers/Twins/Royals/Indians (Brewers for a short time) since the beginning of 3-division play in '94, being that they are not considered a national media draw for marquee games. Im probably one of the few who liked the 14-team-in-a-league "balanced" schedule from the AL in '77 to '93.

You are exactly right UlbKA91. Although they play in a big city the White Sox are the equivalent of a middle market team. Unlike the rest of the Chicago teams, they don't travel well at all. Without knowing, I would guess they are in the bottom half of team gear sold in the U.S. Just not a very good organization and a very below average team as well. I would expect them to be feeding near the bottom again this year.

As for the scheduling and number of teams I am with you on that too. There are too many teams in major league baseball. It's time to do away with the inter league nonsense. It may be OK in other sports but I don't like it in baseball. My biggest problem is that teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles come here only once a season. That really aggravates me because I like to go see those three teams as much as possible. I am tired of watching Cleveland and Minnesota most of the time.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

How many White Sox players this year would be on the Cubs 25 man? How many position players would start?

 

[MC63]

Didn't he supposedly raise him ? I'd look at it as a failure on my part if my son didn't know wrong from right.

Williams might have some shortcomings as a parent, but his son is responsible for his own actions. We can't go blaming someone else ... not unlike a former governor who's blaming her son's domestic abuse on the president.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

How many White Sox players this year would be on the Cubs 25 man? How many position players would start?

It doesn't matter. What matters is the WS roster compared to ALC.

 

[eireog]

Williams might have some shortcomings as a parent, but his son is responsible for his own actions. We can't go blaming someone else ... not unlike a former governor who's blaming her son's domestic abuse on the president.

I agree that everyone is responsible for their own actions. Im just saying as a parent when an adult son or daughter screws up I'd feel that I failed too.

 

[GMAN81]

How many White Sox players this year would be on the Cubs 25 man? How many position players would start?

Probably none would start.

 

[Anon1754760634]

Keep slamming my White Sox and see how much longer this tread last.

 

[Wassup13_rivals219252]

I really like the White Sox and hate the Cubs all my life, but the Cubs will win a World Series this year and the Sox will be in the basement. Sox need to get serious about rebuilding.

Wassup

 

[SiuCubFan8]

I really like the White Sox and hate the Cubs all my life, but the Cubs will win a World Series this year and the Sox will be in the basement. Sox need to get serious about rebuilding.

Wassup

Even with being the favorite in the NL there is an 85% chance the Cubs don't win the WS in 2016 Per fivethirtyeight.com. It's a crapshoot and that's why the Cubs front office talks about consistently getting to the playoffs.

 

[GMAN81]

Edgy, I wouldn't say the Sox are being slammed here. There are just a few of us who are telling the truth. We aren't happy and we shouldn't be. Now it looks like 2016 is going to be another long year. I do not enjoy saying that in January.

I don't like what the Sox are doing or NOT doing. There needs to be a change in this organization and it needs to start with ownership.

 

[GMAN81]

I really like the White Sox and hate the Cubs all my life, but the Cubs will win a World Series this year and the Sox will be in the basement. Sox need to get serious about rebuilding.

Wassup

I agree with what you say but I can't just pick any team and say, yep this team WILL win the World Series. But the Cubs do have a shot. We'll see. In my opinion, the "rebuilding" you suggest should start with ownership. Nothing will change much till he goes and the right kind of ownership comes in. Hopefully soon.

 

[MC63]

The Cubs have a shot at winning the World Series, but in this town, they'd be overwhelmed by such massive media attention that the pressure and stress would be unbearable. Look what happened to them against the Mets. They were beaten badly by a lesser team. As I recall (and I may be a bit wrong), all but one of their position players slumped during that series. If the Sox did that, the "C" word would have been invoked

 

[DeanOfSelection]

I agree with what you say but I can't just pick any team and say, yep this team WILL win the World Series. But the Cubs do have a shot. We'll see. In my opinion, the "rebuilding" you suggest should start with ownership. Nothing will change much till he goes and the right kind of ownership comes in. Hopefully soon.

All that matters in the wild card era, 10 teams making playoffs, is getting hot in Oct.

 

[GMAN81]

The Cubs have a shot at winning the World Series, but in this town, they'd be overwhelmed by such massive media attention that the pressure and stress would be unbearable. Look what happened to them against the Mets. They were beaten badly by a lesser team. As I recall (and I may be a bit wrong), all but one of their position players slumped during that series. If the Sox did that, the "C" word would have been invoked

The "C" word did come out regarding the Cubs. I believe you used it yourself...correct? I don't think the Cubs choked as much as the Mets got red hot. That pitching stopped the Cubs' bats, which is what it takes. The Cubs didn't hit, but they didn't pitch very well either.

On another note...yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jack Brickhouse. Still my all time favorite Chicago baseball announcer. It aggravates me when I see Hawk complaining about "having no fun" when he is announcing a bad team. Brickhouse would never have said something like that and he announced some rotten Cub teams. Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall did rip into the Sox when they played badly, that behavior was tempered on the north side for Harry, however.

With his attitude, Hawk can't leave the booth too quickly for me. I know he is cutting way back this year and to me it is a welcome sight. He should understand that he is a very lucky guy to do what he does and get paid handsomely for it. Look, if the team isn't playing well I think the announcer owes it to the fans to tell the truth. I am OK with that. But Hawk is a whiner, and I grow real tired when he gets on the umps and everything else under the sun. In the end I don't care whether he is having fun or not. If he isn't having fun...get out.

 

[MC63]

I actually agree with you ... the less Hawk the better.

 

[Wassup13_rivals219252]

Caray, Piersall and Wimpy are the best announcers ever in my lifetime for the Sox.

The Cubs current announcers put me to sleep. I did like Brickhouse but I thought Caray matched up with Stone was very good.

Nationally I liked Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek the best. A lot of people liked Vin Scully but I really am not a fan of his. He was all about citing statistics at the fans and did not teach the fans about the nuances of the game like Joe and Tony.

Wassup

 

[MC63]

The biggest windbag nationally was Tim McCarver. During the '93 World Series, he actually said, "This is the type of game you want to win."

 

[UlbKA91]

Caray, Piersall and Wimpy are the best announcers ever in my lifetime for the Sox.

The Cubs current announcers put me to sleep. I did like Brickhouse but I thought Caray matched up with Stone was very good.

Nationally I liked Joe Garagiola and Tony Kubek the best. A lot of people liked Vin Scully but I really am not a fan of his. He was all about citing statistics at the fans and did not teach the fans about the nuances of the game like Joe and Tony.

Wassup

Joe and Tony would often sound like one another to my preteen ears - one would only know who was doing the color by which of the play by play guys (Vin Scully w/Garagiola and Bob Costas w/Kubek) was announcing. Kubek and Costas would be a rarity these days as a decidedly left-of-center announcing duo (most of their ilk does studio hot takes as opposed to play by play).

 

[MC63]

Joe and Tony would often sound like one another to my preteen ears - one would only know who was doing the color by which of the play by play guys (Vin Scully w/Garagiola and Bob Costas w/Kubek) was announcing. Kubek and Costas would be a rarity these days as a decidedly left-of-center announcing duo (most of their ilk does studio hot takes as opposed to play by play).

"left of center announcing duo"?

How does their politics affect their broadcast?

 

[UlbKA91]

"left of center announcing duo"?

How does their politics affect their broadcast?

Back then, I really coudn't tell (Costas has been much more strident since his GOTW days but that includes mostly studio exposure), but Al Michaels tends to sneak some things in from time to time. A competent play by play person does not crowd out his analyst by spouting any political line during breaks in action, but that is also up to the analyst to use his time for insight as opposed to leaving idle air.

Concur on the Cubs announcers, particularly the radio team. I dont get on Farmio/DJ aka Cleveland Brown with the same rancor I have against Hawk.

 

[MC63]

A competent play by play person does not crowd out his analyst by spouting any political line during breaks in action,

So you would be critical of Chris Myers (Fox Sports), as well, for sharing his opinions on the right?

 

[GMAN81]

So you would be critical of Chris Myers (Fox Sports), as well, for sharing his opinions on the right?

I will first start by saying I don't think there is any place in pre-game, the game itself, halftime or post game for any announcer or media person to discuss his or her opinion on politics or social issues. It doesn't belong in that arena. It is why I never watch any NFL football pre-game shows anymore. But, I also can't stand the fake laughing by the talking heads either. Just tell me about the damned game please.

Now, if an announcer says player "A" is not playing today because of a suspension after being arrested and so-and-so is taking his place, that's fine. I just don't want to hear his opinion about it.

I personally think the "politics" and "social opinions" are mainly and overwhelmingly coming from the left. But either way, I just don't want to hear it. It doesn't belong before, during or right after the game.

I never liked Bob Costas from the start. It has nothing to do with his silly anti gun rant a few years ago. I disliked him decades ago. I don't like "jock-sniffing" announcers and he's a big one. I couldn't stand listening to Jon Miller and Joe Morgan because I got very tired of hearing about some minority group not being represented enough for managerial positions and ownership in MLB. Even if it's true...discuss it somewhere else, NOT during the friggin' game. It seemed like every game they announced this crap came up.

I never watch ESPN anymore and haven't in years for this very reason. I may tune an MLB game in for a few innings here or there. But, the minute that garbage starts, the channel is turned. They are the worst for this nonsense.

The NHL is the very best for keeping it all about the game and the players and I watch the NHL channel daily. They tell me what I want to know about the league and players. Sure there are opinions and funny stuff happens, but there is pretty much never any talk about politics or social crap. The pre-game and post game shows are good too. BUT, we are talking about a totally different culture too.

Just give me the games and stuff related to play on the field. That's not too much to ask. Leave the opinions and garbage to the editorial columns.

 

[GMAN81]

Back to announcers. I thought Hawk Harrelson was at his best when he was teamed with Don Drysdale. I hated to see that break up happen. Drysdale was the only one I saw who could keep Hawk in line with Hawk's ego. I don't think Hawk has that same respect for anyone else he has worked with and as a result his broadcasts have suffered. I did like Hawk and Wimpy too. When Tom Paciorek did join Hawk in the booth a few times last year I watched those games and the broadcasts were good. They have a very good chemistry.

I used to Like Tim McCarver when he did the Mets games back in the '80s and we had WOR in our cable package. I watched a lot of their games in 1986. I don't like him as much anymore.

I can't stand Harold Reynolds. The guy actually whistled during games when something he thought was good, happened. Talk about unprofessional. I was so happy to see he has been replaced on the FOX baseball broadcast "A" team.

As far as the best announcers in Chicago goes. That award goes to Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk by a long, long, loooonnng shot. Steve Konroyd is good too. Whoever is second to them is not even a close second.

 

[Thedoctor50]

Listening to Thayer and Joniak is so painful. I hate when I have to drive during Bear games, I can only listen for a minute or two at a time. Lots of switching stations.

 

[DeanOfSelection]

my all time favs : Al McGuire for college hoops. Baseball I liked the the Costas/Kubek combo on NBC game of the week growing up in the 80s.I liked Drysdale to.

 

[Wassup13_rivals219252]

Ditto on Al McGuire - the best in college basketball.

Here's McGuire calling the 1979 West Regional Final 1 UCLA vs 2 DePaul ,,,,,,,