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* NBC Sports Chicago’s associate producer for White Sox Baseball…
From 1901 to present, the Cubs have had 4+ home runs & 5+ stolen bases in a game only once.
Tonight.
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) July 26, 2023
* The Question: Should White Sox ownership sell the team? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 9:36 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
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Voted No, they won’t so why wish….
Comment by Annon3 Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 9:41 am
I’m not sure if I can make a judgement on this, but…the team went from the funnest team in Chicago with up-and-coming stars to just another one of our mediocre teams. It all went downhill after they canned Renteria, who seemed to be helping with the development. All for a La Russa vendetta pipe dream.
Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 9:47 am
Yes, bc Jerry has pretty conclusively demonstrated that he can’t be trusted to build a consistently high-performing organization.
And frankly, same thing for his product at the UC, too.
Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 9:49 am
As a Pirates fan I don’t think I have any justification in deciding the fate of other crappy teams.
Comment by The real Captain Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 9:51 am
Sell the team no, a fire sale of players yes. Before the August 1st deadline they should be entertaining offers for everyone but Luis Roberts.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 9:53 am
Yes. Professional sports team ownership is an exception to the economic maxim of profit maximization. If you own a professional sports team, focus on winning, not profits.
Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 9:54 am
It seems to me as a casual fan that in this age of massive income and massive profits for high-level sports teams, there’s no excuse for this type of product. (I’ll include the Bulls here as well.) The LaRussa hire, like the Dr. Tim Floyd hire in 1998, was absurd and showed that the organization/Reinsdorf isn’t serious about winning.
Meanwhile, the sale price would be in the billions for a team purchased in 1981 for $19 million. Seems like a no-brainer.
Comment by Lefty Lefty Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 9:59 am
I have thought about this question way too much for way too long. My answer is Yes. But I would be happy with a full house cleaning of the front office. It is time to get serious baseball people doing serious scouting and development. Have a General Manager that is actually in-charge. Stop selling false hope and start winning. I am sick of feeling like a baseball masochist for my ongoing support of this team.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:01 am
I am a Cubs fan, so I voted “No.” Keep it up, Jerry!
Comment by The Truth Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:02 am
IIRC, Jerry Reinsdorf is the managing partner fronting a group of investors in the team. As the value of professional sports franchises grows and grows, I think his partners are doing quite well. Why in God’s good name would they sell?
Their asset keeps appreciating regardless of the product on the field. Sound familiar? It’s the same problem the Cubs have had for generations.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:03 am
Yes. One World Series appearance in 43 years (no, they’re not making it this year) is perhaps all that needs to be said.
Comment by Cromulent M. Biggens Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:06 am
Yes
Hard to see how there is any other answer.
Comment by Etown Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:07 am
47th Ward: you raise good points. About a year ago, I compared the records of teams in two-team markets–New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco-Oakland–since Reinsdorf et al. bought the team. The worst two were the Chicago teams.
Comment by Cromulent M. Biggens Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:10 am
Major League Baseball, unlike NFL franchises, doesn’t have a model predicated on mutual coexistence and sharing of wealth in an overall, driven by national television/consumable revenues that in actuality are windfalls for each franchise, forcing uniformed spending and modeled profitability at the core.
Why is that important to this question?
Should they sell? They should, yes.
The answer of yes, for me, is because the premise of this franchise is that it’s a small market ball club that has revenues that can’t match large market franchises. As preposterous as that sounds, the monetary measure of the franchise AND how they spend, AND how they generate revenues… yeah, they live and exist on their own created premise… that is within how MLB sees their franchises, not as whole partners but partners with different challenges in their business, not even close to the NFL model.
Should they sell, yes, but under the caveat that a new owner / ownership group embraces that sharing the 3rd largest media market isn’t a negative but a strong positive to expand a footprint by spending and being relevant in the success of the product on the field. The nostalgia base of fandom has also been terribly neglected, clubs that were exceptional, including a World Series championship should be embraced far-far more than nods and cheers, the Blackhawks’ model of celebrating past players is a really good example to bring deeper rooted fandom that seemingly lacks because, again, the culture is that of a small market franchise that can’t think how large the White Sox *should* be, and not wish for it but strive to make a reality of it all.
Should? Yes.
But if the model stays as it is, nah, no need to change for unknown ownership driving the ball club as it’s being driven today.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:11 am
They will be the Nashville White Sox in 4 years.
Comment by Anon 10:16 Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:16 am
They have been mediocre to bad for so long. Reinsdorf isn’t really concerned with winning. It’d be nice for them to a consistent winner.
Comment by Downstate Dude Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:17 am
Current owners get credit for keeping here and the WS win, but show no current signs of wanting to win again. If they cannot change then time to to sell.
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:17 am
Yes, sell Jerry sell. You can read Sox Machine for all the reasons the organization has failed. I think you can basically distill it down to one word: time. Baseball has changed, and Jerry and his board cannot keep up. It happens to everyone.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:19 am
Yes, clearly. The current ownership–Reinsdorf is technically just “chairman,” but in the same way that Mao Zedong was chairman of the Chinese Communist Party–shows no interest in hiring capable management or paying for necessary upgrades.
Comment by Benjamin Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:22 am
===Nashville===
The Nashville Sounds play in First Horizon Park, a ball park built in 2015, seating a maximum of 10,000
Is Nashville building a *baseball* facility at the same time they are building a billionS of dollar domed building for football no one knows about?
Smart point made above too…as long as the Sox ball club is making money, tough to see how the premise that I see will actually force any sale anytime soon
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:22 am
Is Eddie DeBartolo still available? I can assure you the Sox would be more than just competing for a title regularly and would have one more than one WS since 1981.
Comment by Chisox fan Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:26 am
Sell. Chicago is a major market and the run the team like a dollar general.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:28 am
Yes. We need a modern Bill Veeck; if the team can’t win, it should at least be fun to go to the ball park. Veeck knew how to put on a show.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:33 am
If you support a Reinsdorf owned team, you are the mark. As a Bulls fan it pains me to say this but it’s inescapable. They have zero interest in competing to win playoff games in their respective leagues and they think you’re stupid to care about that. The important things are 1) the profit, and 2) the Reinsdorf family’s “relationships” and loyalty to the halfwit leadership groups they put in place every so often. Literally none of the rest of it matters as long as marks buy tickets and merch. You can only ever be a sucker to these people.
Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:34 am
Voted yes but will never happen while Chairman Reinsdorf is alive.
Comment by ChicagoBars Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:41 am
no. respect all they have done for chicago. think Mike has done some decent things with the Bulls. maybe give him control over at Sox and he can dispatch Hahn. Mr. Reinsdorf can go out with the team that gave us 2005….and 1983. all that said if they sell it may be to Michael Jordan, who is now just a minority owner in the NBA. I could see him coming back. but be careful what you wish for.
Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:43 am
First off, I’m a Cubs fan. Anyone saying that Reinsdorf doesn’t care about the Sox winning has clearly never met the man. He loves the White Sox and cares deeply about their on field success.
From the outside looking in, the Sox did everything right from 2016-2020 with trades, international signings, free agents, player development. Anyone who knows anything about baseball knows they built and acquired an amazing core of young talent and were perfectly set up to compete for years to come.
We now know that didn’t exactly work out, because of injuries, off the field problems and, IMO, Reinsdorf’s worst offense, hiring Tony LaRussa. But as an organization, I think they put together what any GM or owner would kill for- a group that set them up for future success for a long time.
I, like many thought 2022 was a fluke and I think that core deserved another year with another manager to try to turn things around. They are somehow worse this year, which is crazy to me.
I think Reinsdorf’s loyalty is his biggest fault. I don’t know much much different different ownership would be. At the end of the day, White Sox’s fans refusal to show up at the park really affects the teams resources on the field. That’s the biggest difference between the Sox and every other big market team.
Comment by So_Ill Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:44 am
=The Nashville Sounds play in First Horizon Park, a ball park built in 2015, seating a maximum of 10,000=
Nashville is very quickly becoming an urban mecca to be reckoned with. An NFL team, an NHL team and the possibility of an NBA team at the end of the decade. A Triple A team for the Milwaukee Brewers is nice, but trust me, the city is worthy of an MLB franchise.
The current ownership structure, with an 87-year-old man at the helm is likely thinking about the long game and how to manage his estate. Rocky Wirtz’s sad passing yesterday brings that into focus, I suspect.
Whether or not the city/state/private market has the appetite for a new, larger baseball stadium to accommodate the White Sox move in the near future is anyone’s guess. I just wouldn’t rule it out.
Comment by Anon 10:48 Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:48 am
Voted yes but agree with Annonn3. He is the smartest guy in the room so he will show us. ANd thy do very will financially with TV rights, etc.
I have never been more depressed as a Sox fan (I thought last year was bad) and last night was embarrassing. And Williams and Hahn who got us to here will continue at the helm. THe worst.
Comment by James the Intolerant Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:48 am
The White Sox operate like a small market team. They are obviously looking at profits over wins. The decision making is bad. Kenny Williams’ team needs to go. But, the person who picked LaRussa to manage vs. bench coach or advisor needs to go too. I know this is Sox, but the Bulls have had some bad luck (Jay Williams getting on that motorcycle and D-Rose’s knee). But when push came to shove, they shoved out Thibs. One more - I honestly have no idea what Kenny Williams does. They should have kept Ozzie.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:49 am
And speaking of Bill Veeck, I would like to see the White Sox and the Savannah Bananas trade places. That team is hilarious.
Comment by Anon 10:50 Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:50 am
No - bad personnel moves are a hallmark of Chicago sports franchises.
Comment by Just the Facts Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:50 am
===but trust me===
You have no facts, you have no idea, you have no clue that a building that can accommodate a MLB franchise is coming, especially at the same time a billionS of dollar domed facility is currently underway.
No, I don’t trust you.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:51 am
===I think Reinsdorf’s loyalty is his biggest fault===
Meh. His biggest fault is hiring managers with no experience (two out of the last three) or has-beens (LaRussa).
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:53 am
Simply because it’s time. The next generation of leadership in major league sports is best equipped to take the Chicago White Sox to the next level.
Comment by MrGrassroots Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:54 am
===Whether or not the city/state/private market has the appetite===
Check out what Las Vegas has been going through with the A’s move, that facility… then throw in how Raiders ownership feels the town isn’t “appreciative” of having that franchise there.
Tampa - St. Pete built the building first… still didn’t get the Sox.
Leaving this market is a ridiculous idea for any of the “Big 5” Chicago franchises.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:54 am
=No, I don’t trust you.=
So, we aren’t allowed to speculate on this blog anymore? What’s the fun in that?
Comment by Anon 10:55 Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:55 am
Yes. But only if they get assurances, perhaps in writing, that the new owners won’t move it. Chicago should have two teams.
Comment by JJJJJJJJJJ Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:58 am
===So, we aren’t allowed to speculate on this blog anymore? What’s the fun in that?===
No, lol, not at all
I got caught speculating and was brought back to a reality thought not too long ago…
… I’m trying to understand your speculation, is it a fun thought or a thought that isn’t based on a reality of the necessary realities to move a franchise to a city ill-equipped to be there, as you say, in 4 years, and to trust you on that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 10:58 am
== Meh. His biggest fault is hiring managers with no experience (two out of the last three) or has-beens (LaRussa)==
That’s fair. Every great manager has to start somewhere. He hired World Series winning Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen with no experience and it worked well.
Renteria got a raw deal and we never will know if he could’ve been a good manager. He showed promise with the Cubs and then got shafted and the Sox did the same thing. Technically, he wasn’t a first time manager.
Too soon to judge Grifol, who hasn’t really had much of a chance to fairly judge.
Comment by So_Ill Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 11:00 am
Voted yes,
I think some new ownership and perspective would be worth a shot, also, someone with deeper pockets.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 11:00 am
=No, I don’t trust you.=
Why are you so antagonistic to people with different opinions than you? There’s really no need to be mean. That person was stating their belief that Nashville is an up and coming city that may be ripe for an MLB team. I happen to agree. Just because you don’t, you have to be dismissive and vindictive? Maybe grow up and open your mind?
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 11:05 am
Sell or don’t sell, whatever.
But Kenny Williams has as much business drawing a paycheck from an MLB team as Marry Miller has in serving in Congress.
Comment by Save Ferris Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 11:07 am
If you have seven minutes, Berto from the West Side had some thoughts back in May that are still relevant today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYGxY5icxjc
Comment by ChrisB Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 11:09 am
There is serious talk to Nashville getting an expansion team, which is interesting too to any team moving to Nashville, with the commissioner of MLB “sounding” warm to it, an ownership group even hiring Don Mattingly.
Link?
https://www.wsmv.com/2023/06/23/poll-nashville-is-best-fit-mlb-expansion-team/
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 11:09 am
= is it a fun thought or a thought that isn’t based on a reality of the necessary realities to move a franchise to a city ill-equipped to be there, as you say, in 4 years, and to trust you on that.=
The answer is: yes! I was having fun speculating and have no knowledge of an impending move. When I said “trust me” it wasn’t that the White Sox were moving, but that Nashville was a bustling city worthy of more than a Tripe A team, that’s all. Just having some fun as Johnny B used to sing. (Brandmeier, not Bench), lol.
Comment by Anon 10:55 Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 11:10 am
I’m not a baseball fan, but I feel the same way about all sports ownerships. I think I’m at the point where I only can care about teams as much as the ownership does. The owners are allowed to run their team as a private business to squeeze all the profits out they can. But if they care about the business side more than winning, as a sports fan they can’t expect me to care about their team either.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 11:12 am
I was thinking of a poll like this:
Who hates this White Sox team more?
Cubs fans
White Sox fans
Comment by Lurker Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 12:20 pm
As a Cub fan, I hope Reinsdorf is always involved. Worst owner in all of sports but great business partner.
Comment by CoachK Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 12:32 pm
White Sox fans need to get Cubs fans to join them in what A’s/Giants fans did last night: chant “Sell the team!” from the bleachers!
Comment by Saluki24 Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 12:39 pm
Responding to the question and adding a question. Yes, they should sell the team. New ownership could add some life to the southside.
The question, who would be/should be at the top of the list of locals to take ownership of the team?
Responding to the thread about Nashville. The Baltimore Orioles are destined for Nashville. They’ve made a huge advance this year on the field making them a quality draw in a new city. John Angelos the controlling interest in the Orioles lives in Nashville and has consistently mislead the public on the future of the team in the city with a deadline to sign a new lease on the ballpark coming due at the end of the year. While MLB claims they will support Baltimore, it will likely be in the form of team from another city or an immediate expansion team. Maybe the Baltimore Orioles (White Sox)?
Comment by CLJ Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 12:53 pm
==Nashville==
I wonder if they good get a good deal on some land in Arlington Heights?
My vote: Present
Comment by skeptic Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 1:23 pm
===The Baltimore Orioles are destined for Nashville===
MLB and the commissioner disagree, as late as June 2023.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 2:26 pm
===Why are you so antagonistic to people with different opinions than you?===
Welp…
===the White Sox move in the near future is anyone’s guess.===
A quick google found MLB is exploring an expansion team there. It’s not antagonistic, it’s merely citing where MLB sits on the issue, which is seemingly a long term plan with an ownership group that the commissioner is liking.
===Just because you don’t===
I linked to the why and what I meant. Clearly.
How’s Contreras looking these days?
:)
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 2:33 pm
==MLB and the commissioner disagree, as late as June 2023.==
June 2023 is a long time ago in the business of sports. Also, note that I think MLB moves quickly to fill Camden Yards with another team if not instantly with another version of the Orioles. Angelos keeps the winning team as is taking them to Nashville. Baltimore starts anew. Unless the deal in Tampa falls apart quickly.
Comment by CLJ Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 3:50 pm
===June 2023 is a long time ago in the business of sports.===
Did you even read the article?
Let’s just start and end here;
===This year, former New York Yankees all-star and major league manager Don Mattingly was named as an advisor to Music City Baseball to help push for an MLB franchise, the group announced. If awarded a franchise, the current plans are to name the new team the “Nashville Stars” in honor of several Negro Leagues baseball teams that played games in Nashville prior to the integration of Major League Baseball.
“We intend to honor that legacy,” the group said. “The name also recognizes that Nashville is home to numerous stars in music, entertainment and sports.”
Mattingly is providing counsel on key strategic matters and working to gain support in bringing a team to Nashville. His support will help advance a plan to develop a diverse investor group with a goal of becoming the first MLB franchise to have majority Black ownership, expanding on the league’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, the group said.===
So, as you are opining about “long time”, and this why I had hoped we could move on, MLB is touting a minority owned expansion franchise, created and embraced as part of a new MLB and a new commitment to persons of color, a nod to the Negro Leagues, with Hall of Famer Dave Stewart attached…
…
… and you think after all the releases, positioning, posturing, and waiting… MLB will scrap all this… for the Orioles?
This ain’t about no silly franchise here or there moving.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 4:01 pm
Who are those 20% who disagree? Cubs fans?
Comment by New Day Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 4:01 pm
I know this isn’t the question you asked, but Elon Musk should buy the team and rename them the Chicago X.
Comment by New Day Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 4:06 pm
===His biggest fault is hiring managers with no experience (two out of the last three) or has-beens (LaRussa).===
Ricky Renteria managed the Cubs.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Jul 26, 23 @ 6:20 pm