The Chicago White Sox are a mess. The on-field product is in flux, and its future is as empty as Jerry Reinsdorf’s threats of moving beyond 35th and Shields. Remember, everything is cyclical.
Speaking of Jerry, how can a man be wealthy but poor in the operational process? I guess it depends on what Reinsdorf expects to achieve these days as the owner of the White Sox. If he genuinely cares about winning and aches with every loss, as mentioned, then his actions have not aligned with that sentiment, and he has failed, which is evident to most if not all, Sox fans who have been paying attention.
Now, if while watching the White Sox continue to make money, he simultaneously does not care about wins and losses, fan interest, or public persona, then he is doing a fantastic job. Jerry will sell when he’s bored of making money or just bored.
The White Sox want us to believe that things will be different this time
Jerry and others who work for the Sox have cited the division the Sox play in as a reason why fans should still believe in the team and maybe even the new Hahn and Williams-less direction. But, after retaining rookie manager Pedro Grifol despite over 100 losses, promoting Chris Getz to general manager without due diligence beyond the organization, staying vague on a shooting that happened during a home Sox game, and allowing their play-by-play man, Jason Benetti, to walk for reasons that seem petty and unfortunate I am amazed Jerry publicly states his belief that assumes we will still believe in him, the team and the organizational process.
Oh, and the great rebuild that began with optimism in December 2016 only to expire at the trade deadline in 2023 after two playoff wins and a division title is one giant example that should set off unavoidable alarms when it comes to entrusting the Sox organization with hope. The organizational rot is rampant. But the bad men are gone… things will be different this time, right?
Well, everyone but Jerry Reinsdorf.
Although they would probably never be hired to do what they currently do for any other MLB team, Pedro Grifol and Chris Getz are gainfully employed and apparently in sync, along with Reinsdorf. Sox fans have to deal with this. I have to deal with this. The team I love says the quiet parts are loud, and the loud parts are quiet. Their direction and intentions scream of their most obvious outcome, but I pretend not to hear. It’s my problem, and I’m working on it. The unsettling issue is that the remaining Sox fans are reaching an apathetic climax while the organization looks the other way.
Passionate Sox fans and their loyal fandom still exist for various reasons that often go beyond articulation. And that’s okay because it happens when an organization has been around for 120-plus years. We are generationally pot-committed, and Jerry knows it. We hold the Sox to a high standard because we are invested and have every right to exercise our voice. That protest, however, has felt like a punishable offense.
The most recent cause for the widening disconnect between the Sox and the fan base is the lack of a fan festival celebrating fans of ALL ages. No matter what your interest level has been in attending SoxFest throughout the years, the continuous absence of a fan festival is inexcusable but, unfortunately, on-brand for the organization as of late.
Strictly allowing season ticket holders to be celebrated as fans and denying the opportunity for ALL fans to feel included is incredibly shortsighted. Granting some of the fan base the option to embrace the team they love without providing an alternative for non-season ticket holders is not an olive branch or a sign of positive movement. It’s wholly tone-deaf and a slap in the face.
The White Sox, as an organization, need to do just about everything better. That’s an impossible task, but it’s the world Reinsdorf created or at least allowed to be created over many years. It sure feels like he does not care about me or you unless you want to pay to play…, and even then, it’s debatable; however, I will continue to pay attention. I’m not going anywhere. I’m generationally pot-committed and probably should be committed for my own good.
Most messes require immediate attention to prevent further damage. Based on how the Sox have operated, the giant mess they have created might only be cleaned up with on-field success, which might not happen soon. It’s a working theory that probably provides little comfort.
Pride. Passion. Tradition. Jerry.
Jerry doesn’t seem to get the idea that his fans require MUCH more than letting Benetti go, having an empty suit like Getz or changing uniforms. He is a tired old man who is out of touch with his fan base. SELL. THE. TEAM!!
When you own a MLB team for 42 plus years and only have won one World Series title, one American League title and a handful of division titles, that is a lousy winning percentage. A perfect example of a losing organization from top to bottom. Their past win loss record speaks for itself year after year.
Reinsdorf is the same person he’s always been. (His real estate deals were legendary when he made money and everyone else lost theirs.) He wants the taxpayers to support his business goals. He threatens fans, cajoles those in power, and cries poor. When he bought the team, he had to have serious support from Bud Selig, owner of the Brewers (that’s another story). They ridiculed DeBartolo, Veeck’s choice, to make sure DeBartolo didn’t become part of owners club. He then threatened to move the team so he could have the State of IL help him build a new stadium. He made promises about the area surrounding the new ballpark he never kept. Now he wants another stadium — when will his greed end. Never. He’s shown us who he is. And as the adage states…if someone shows you who they are, believe them.
The White Sox 2023 team might very well be the worst team I’ve witnessed since 1960; they are certainly the most boring, predictable, hapless and disappointing team in those 63 years! To have Reinsdorf then install Getz who ran the Sox minor leagues into oblivion and absolutely contributed significantly to the lack of fundamental development of players with obvious potential is sacrilege to Sox fans. Reinsdorf is one of the worst owner/managers in sports. And I won’t even mention what he’s allowed to happen to the Bulls!
It’s funny that a team in such dysfunction is so concerned about where they want to play. It’s the same with the Chicago Bears. It’s doesn’t matter where you play when you’re that bad. The only hope we have is if Jerry would sell the team to a real Sox fan who has some bucks! The same goes for Virginia McCaskey.
I think it’s a shame that such a great sports town like Chicago has to suffer with the mediocrity that exists with our sports teams.
Sell Jerry, Sell…
I’m a life long Sox fan. If they decide to dump guaranteed rat field, GREAT . Put a retractable roof on the new one so I can see a game in March/April . Otherwise what is the point ☝️
Astros just got Hader for $95m, that’s a bargain for a game-changer when you consider they paid $75m for Benetendi. Let Giolitto go to Red Sox……Bruce Bochy has been passed up by this team, they let their heart & soul (Abreu) go, and on and on. Every day is water torture with this front office. The fans that booed Jerry Krause booed the WRONG Jerry.
This article is right on target. Reinsdorf does not deserve ownership of any professional sports team – especially one like the Chicago White Sox with over a century of tradition with so many invested fans. He operates strictly on a selfish level with no concern for the fans except to get their money for a severely tainted product. It is so frustrating for fans to have to literally wait for an owner to pass away for any realistic hope for a revival of the franchise. Reinsdorf has threatened to move the club to Florida to get taxpayers fo fund a new stadium, spearheaded a strike while his team was in first place, engaged in white flag trades when his team was only a few games off the division lead, forced his general manager to hire an elderly former manager who was a decade removed from the game & very possibly an alcoholic just when the team appeared to be ready to contend for a championship & has now hired a new general manager who failed miserably at his previous position with the team & is now filling the roster with minor league personnel & is allowing a manager who lost 101 games to return for another season just to mention a few of the atrocities Mr. Reinsdorf has committed. A single World Championship is nowhere even remotely close to what should have been accomplished during his tenure. It is truly a deplorable time to be a Chicago White Sox fan.
I have been a sox fan for 70 years but with Jerry R. running things it’s hard to believe the Sox can win Jerry let’s our good players walk away