Thursday, July 2, 2009

Tonight's Missile-less Lineup

Pods 7, Nix 6, JD 9, Thome dh, PK 3, AJ 2, Beckham 5, Getz 4, BA 8.  Buehrle pitching.

Winning Is Contagious

There is nothing like being around a baseball team that is playing well.  The days seem to fly by.  You can't wait for the next game.  You arrive at the ballpark expecting to win.  Everyone's happy.  There's energy and enthusiasm.  Nothing is better (at least professionally).

Bricks

For those of you who purchased commemorative bricks as part of Phase 2 ...

Installation is underway and should be done by Monday at the latest.  The plaze really looks good and all of the bricks will be in place.  If you recall, we hustled to install Phase 1 in time for Opening Day last year.  The weather wasn't overly cooperative and we just got it done.

We continued to sell bricks all last summer as part of Phase 2 and the response was tremendous.  Net proceeds of the sale go to Chicago White Sox Charities and we have raised well over half a million dollars through this Championship Plaza. 

My point is that if you purchased a brick as part of Phase 2, you will be able to see it on the next homestand.

ACES

I spent my morning at Northwestern University watching our Amateur City Elite baseball team compete in a holiday tournament.  While our team of young players lost to an older team, it was great to see the kids out competing wearing our White Sox uniforms.

DDC

The second annual Double Duty Classic is scheduled for July 10 at 1:05 pm at USCF.  If you have a chance, or know some kids who might enjoy the experience, come on out.  Admission is free.  Gates open at noon and entertainment at Gate 5 will include the South Side Drill Team and the King High School Marching Band.  Michael Wilbon of ESPN is moderating a private forum for the players and Ken Williams will take part.

The game will feature some of the very top minority baseball talent in the nation, with kids coming from NYC, St. Louis and other cities to compete on a Major League Field wearing replica Negro Leagues uniforms.

It really is a fun day to come out to the ballpark and celebrate the history and tradition of Negro League Baseball and the East-West All-Star Game.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Tonight's Lineup

Pods7, Missile 6, JD 9, Thome dh, PK 3, Castro 2, Nix 4, Beckham 5, BA 8.  Contreras pitching.

Random Thoughts

How many of us were praying for that rain to hold off last night ... at least through the fifth.

Great to see so many hard-hit balls last night.

And to beat Cliff Lee ...

Sox go for the sweep tonight.

How lucky is the Chicago sports media to have Ozzie?  Never a dull moment.  Always a good quote regardless of the story.  I was talking with one veteran columnist during the series at Wrigley and he listed Guillen and Mike Ditka as the two greatest Chicago sports voices of all-time.

Don't have a column for the day?  Go talk to Ozzie.

Want a funny comment to close your story?  See Ozzie.

"I love the media," Guillen often says, pointing out that the attention means money in his own pocket.

Hubris.  That's what it is, pride that leads to a fall.  Just when I think I have the photo concept down, my images start showing up all over a particular blog, not necessarily where my cursor is placed.  Go figure.

But there were two more things I wanted to share:

1. The Metra Station is coming

Monday, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new Lovana S. "Lou" Jones/Bronzeville commuter station, which is set to open fall of 2010 (I know, but at least it's coming).  Once completed, the station will offer commuters access to IIT, historic Bronzeville and U.S. Cellular Field.  The station will be part of Metra's Rock Island District line with termini at downtown Chicago's LaSalle Street station and at Joliet's Union Depot.

Also,

Here are matchups for this weekend in KC:

Thu: Buehrle vs. Chen

Fri: Danks vs. Greincke

Sat: Floyd vs. Hochever

Sun: Richard vs. Bannister

Wednesday, June 30, 2009

Tonight's Lineup

Nix 7, Missile 6, JD 9, Konerko dh, AJ 2, Anderson 8, beckham 5, Getz 4, Fields 3.  Richard pitching.  Special new look for Cleveland's Cliff Lee.

Special Event

For those of you who have never joined us, think about coming out to this year's Picnic in the Park on Sunday, July 19.

Following the game, fans can relax on the USCF outfield and collect autographs of White Sox players and staff, many of whom stay with their families and watch the spectacular fireworks show from the outfield grass.  Tickets are limited and cost $250 for adults, $125 for kids.

For more details, click here to visit whitesox.com.

And since I'm figuring out this photo thing, here are a few from past Picnics:

monday, june 29, 2009

tonight's lineup

pods 7, missile6, jd9, thome dh, pk3, aj2, getz4, beckham5, wise8.  Floyd pitching.

Congrats

To Jermaine Dye on being named AL Player of the Week.

Ozzie

What would ESPN do without Ozzie Guillen?

J'accuse

If you saw Sunday's Chicago Tribune, you may have read where the Cubs were upset that the clubhouse conversation between manager Lou Piniella and Milton Bradley on Friday was reported almost verbatim.  And in Sunday's newspaper Jim Hendry, Piniella and Bradley (especially Bradley) are quoted as believing the "leak" of the conversation came from ... ta da, a White Sox clubhouse employee.

Our clubhouse staff denied this to the Cubs, while most of Sunday morning was spent with media and employees at the ballpark debating if it happened, how it might have happened, motivation for the "crime," etc.

But to a reporter's credit, Sunday before the game, it was explained to the Cubs (we were told) that the information did not come from any White Sox employee or White Sox personnel, absolving our clubhouse staff.

It's never fun to be blamed -- wrongly -- in the media, so I want as many people as possible to know that our guys were cleared.  Maybe next time the proof should come before the accusations.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Today's Lineup

Pods 7, Missile 6, Dye 9, Thome dh, PK 3, AJ 2, Getz 4, Beckham 5, Wise 8.  Danks pitching.

Thank you, Sir.  May I have another?

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Ozzie Guillen:

"That's the great thing about baseball, you have the opportunity to come back and do good stuff."

"It's nice to see a kid be in that situation and come through.  That is the biggest hit of his career thus far."

Gordon Beckham:

"You always want to do something good for the team.  When you make a mistake earlier in the game, you want to do it even more.

"Cubs, ninth inning, walk off ... that's pretty special for me.  What a moment!"

"I got a little nervous when I saw AJ and Thome coming at me in a full sprint.  Thome in a full spring doesn't happen that often.  To have the team come at me like that is pretty special."

And a special pre-game recognition of Hall of Fame writer Jerome Holtzman.  After his death last summer, Jerome's wife, Marilyn, gave Jerry Reinsdorf Jerome's old Olivetti typewriter in appreciation of their friendship.  To honor and remember Jerome's contributions to the game of baseball, we unveiled a special display for Jerome before yesterday's game:

A few of Team Photographer Ron Vesely's shots from the past two days ...