Thursday, May 8, 2008

Today's Lineup

As posted in the White Sox clubhouse ...

Ramirez, SS; Q, LF; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Dye, RF; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Uribe, 2B; Hall, C.  Pink-chinned John Danks takes the mound.

I had a chuckle last night when I read Mike Downey's column on chicagosports.com. Read it here.

I know this isn't Craig's List or Ebay, but anyone out there need a used outdoor space heater?  Decent condition, slightly "loved."

Best part of Mark's bat-to-heater explosion last night was that he used one of Uribe's bats.  Juan is very, very protective of his bats and keeps them all down at the far end of the dugout away from everyelse's lumber.  So the idea that Mark grabbed whatever was nearest to him -- in this case Juan's bat -- do inflict his damage is classic.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; Q, LF; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Uribe, 2B.  Buehrle pitching.

Today's News

Actually very quiet, which was incredibly nice for a change.  Sat in the dugout before the game and listened to KW, Steve Stone and others talk about pitching mechanics.  How pleasant.

Earlier today, Nick Swisher (ring leader), Toby Hall, John Danks and Bobby Jenks had their facial hair dyed pink in honor of Mother's Day.  Swisher, Danks and Hall also will make a donation to the Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation (Chicago) on behalf of all White Sox players.

Ozzie joked that if it meant the team got hot, he'd paint his beard pink as well.  You might see everyone around here sporting pink soon.

A group of children from Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, a national organization whose mission is to eliminate pediatric cancer and to provide hope and support to those who are touched by it, attended as part of the Nick Swisher Foundation's "Swish's Wishes" program, and assisted with the players' hair coloring.

And for the skeptics in the group, this event was planned even before Toronto.

Parting Shot ...

Then I'm done.  Wouldn't it be interesting if a female reader of this blog went through the Sun-Times and jotted down all the sexually-oriented material objectifying women that someone might find offensive ...

... as one journalist told me today, "I can't even let my kids read the newspaper."

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; Quentin, LF; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Swish, CF; Crede, 3B; Uribe, 2B.  Floyd pitching.

Today

Well, today sure was interesting.  Indiana primary this evening, thousands dead in Southeast Asia and yet we make Page 1 of the local tabloid ...

Before tonight's game, KW and Ozzie met with the media to discuss the latest story about our team's admittedly inappropriate -- stupid might be the right word -- attempt to break our slump in Toronto.

Williams did reinforce that the effort was "inappropriate," "disappointing" and "irresponsible," particularly given the negative images and issues surrounding women in our society.

"We all need to be a little more sensitive," Williams said. 

The GM met with Guillen over a two-hour lunch earlier in the day to talk about the team and the recent roadtrip.

"We addressed the issue," Williams said.

Guillen and several Sox players stressed that the incident was intended to be a "team joke," and was not meant to hurt anyone.

Certainly, the majority of the Chicago press corps was in attendance, so you'll be able to read several opinions and versions of the afternoon's comments from the dugout and clubhouse.

So what do you think we'll all read tomorrow?

Interesting Study

For what it's worth, a story like this is interesting to me from a journalism standpoint.

A Chicago columnist offered her opinion, and other media have chosen to respond to that story, either picking up on her theme or challenging some of her opinions.

What I find so interesting is how the internet has allowed you -- fans or people with an opinion -- to reply and respond immediately, passionately, thoughfully (or not so thoughtfully, in some cases).  No longer is the public left without a voice.  The internet allows you to speak strongly, to the team, to the media and to one another.

I've spent much of today monitoring websites and chat rooms.  If you have the time and care enough, check out fan reaction on whitesox.com, whitesoxinteractive and even the Chicago Sun-Times website.

Fans are certainly heard.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; Quentin, LF; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Dye, RF; Swisher, CF; Crede, 3B; Uribe, SS; Hall, C.  Vazquez pitching.

Sorry

Crazy-busy today and no time to post.  Will try to write more the next three days.

When it rains, it pours.  We can't seem to make or catch a break right now.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

Swish, 1B; OC, SS; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Q, LF; Crede, 3B; BA, CF; Uribe, SS.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Idle Thoughts

Notice how many bats are shattering lately.  You started to see it more and more in recent years, but it seems worse than ever this spring.  Last night, Kobayashi of the Indians had to dodge what amounted to a spinning spear during Cleveland's win over the Mariners.  Not sure what can be done, but it is scary, nonetheless.

Hate these four-game series because it is so difficult to win three games from anyone. 

Roster Move

Adam Russell joins the bullpen this weekend in place of Alexi Ramirez, who will spend the weekend in Chicago.  It likely wasn't the getting into Canada that was going to be the problem for the Cuban defector, but the returning to the States part.

Class AAA Charlotte happened to be in Buffalo, so "Fargo" (Scott Johnson, our Triple A trainer/traveling sec/chauffer) drove Russell to Toronto today.

Can't you just imagine the look on the border guard's face.  First, he sees Johnson and Russell (6-8, 250 pounds) leave the country.  Then a couple of hours later, back comes Johnson without his passenger.

"Do you have anything to declare?"

Gratuitous Mention

At dinner the other night with Bulls PR chief Tim Hallam and his wife, Nancy, Hallam smarmily asked if I would mention him in my blog, so here you go.  Dinner at Rosebud Steakhouse was tremendous.

Proud Moment

Not sure everyone saw, but earlier this week, Chicago White Sox Charities made grants of $3.2 million for 2008, taking our all-time giving amount to over $12 million.

None of this would happen without the support of White Sox fans (buying bricks, buying 50-50 tickets, supporting events) ... so thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

This from our media notes for today's game:

SOX AND O'S SUSPENDED

The White Sox-Orioles game yesterday was suspended after 11 innings with the scored tied, 3-3 ... the game will resume on 8/25 in Baltimore and will be followed by the regularly scheduled contest ... all statistics from yesterday's game count.

It is the Sox first suspended game since 5/8/84 vs. Milwaukee at old Comiskey Park ... that game was suspended by curfew with the scored tied, 3-3, after 17 innings ... play resumed on 5/9, with the Sox winning, 7-6, on Harold Baines solo homer off Chuck Porter in the 25th inning.

That game remains the longest in major-league history by time (8:06) and longest in American League history by innings (25).

Tom Seaver earned two victories on 5/9/84 ... Seaver pitched a scoreless 25th inning to earn the win in the suspended game ... he then started the regularly scheduled game vs. the Brewers, allowing four runs on three hits over 8.1 IP of the Sox 5-4 win.

Baines, the Sox first-base coach, went 2-10 with a double and solo homer, while hitting coach Greg Walker started at first base and was 2-4 with a run scored.

VIEW FROM THE TOP

The White Sox have been in first place for 21 days this season, including every day since 4/15 ... by comparison, the Sox led the division for one day last season and 35 in 2006.

They led the American League Central wire-to-wire in 2005 (182 days) on their way to the World Championship ... the Sox current division lead of 3.0 games is their largest of the season.

WELCOME ADDITION

Carlos Quentin leads the American League in on-base plus slugging percentage (1.077), on-base percentage (.454) and at-bats per home run (12.83) and ranks among the leaders in home runs (T1st, 6), hit by pitch (T1st, 6), slugging percentage (2nd, .623), runs scored (T2nd, 20) and RBI (T5th, 20).

Quentin, 25, has reached base safely in 13 consecutive games, hitting .390 (16-41) with five home runs and 10 RBI ... he owns an eight-game hitting streak (.462, 12-26) and has reached base safely 12 times in his last three games, going 7-9 with two doubles, a home run, two RBI, three walks and two hit by pitches.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Suspended Game -- What I know right now

We'll finish yesterday's suspended game before our scheduled game in Baltimore on August 25.  Game time and television coverage is TBA (we hope to know later today).

The game picks up where it left off.  Lineups stay the same and if a player played and then was removed from the game, he's done when the contest begins anew.  Only quirky rule is that a player added to the 25-man roster between now and August 25 is eligible to then play in the completion of the suspended game.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Today's Lineup

Swish, RF; OC, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; AJ, C; Q, LF; Crede, 3B; BA, CF; Ramirez, 2B.  Vazquez pitching.

Roger's report: rain off and on all day.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Today's Lineup

Swish, RF; OC, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; AJ, C; Quentin, LF; Ramirez, 2B; BA, CF; Ozuna, 3B.  Contreras pitching.

Move

Late last night after our second game, Mike MacDougal was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte.  Prior to today's game, Ehren Wassermann was recalled from Charlotte.  He arrived in time for today's game.  In fact, he was sitting in front of his locker when I arrived at the ballpark this morning.

Stats

I started playing around with something, in part feeling frustrated by the scoring opportunities we missed at times yesterday.

I decided to compare our first 23 games last year (we were 12-11) to this year in terms of baserunners earned and runs scored.

Last year, through the first 23 games, we produced 275 baserunners (hits + walks + hit by pitch) and scored 95 runs ... 4.1 per game.  The team was hitting .225 with an OBP of .317.

Thru 23 games in 2007, we had succeeded in driving in 34.5 percent of our baserunners (admitting my math isn't perfect in that I haven't taken the time -- this being Sunday morning -- to check on errors).

This year, through 23 games (we are 13-10), the team has generated 296 basrunners and scored 121 runs ... 5.7 per game.  We are hitting .244 with an OBP of .335.

Thru 23 games in 2008, we've scored 40.9 percent of our baserunners.

Not sure it says anything yet, but something to keep an eye on ...