Thursday, July 31, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; JD, RF; Thome, DH; Ram, 2B; Swish, 1B; Fields, 3B; Wise, CF.  Danks pitching.

A little different look to the lineup today.

Thoughts on the Day

I think we helped ourselves with acquiring Griffey in the following ways …

Depth

Options for Ozzie (based on who is hot, who needs a day off, etc)

Rest (keeping everyone fresh down the stretch)

Flexibility (both in the field and in the lineup)

I will be interested in seeing Griffey in center.  It seems to me we have some parks where CF is manageable (like ours) and others where there is a lot of space to cover.

Another school of thought … that having a chance to play for a postseason slot will re-engergize Griffey.

It is going to be a fun two months (and hopefully, three).

True

When I got into the car this morning at 7 am to come to the office, the first thing I heard on the radio was, “Ken Griffey Jr.”  My heart skipped a beat.  But the local host was saying that the Cubs should pursue Griffey, which brought a smile to my face.

We become the first team in baseball history to feature a 600 and 500 home run hitter at the same time (source: Elias).

Griffey also becomes the second 600 home run hitter to be traded in-season, joining Willie Mays.

Word out of Minnesota late this afternoon has Swisher passing uniform No. 30 along to Griffey and switching to uniform No. 1.

Griffey is expected to join the club in KC tomorrow.  I may be a little off on the numbers, but he owns a 16-game hitting streak against the Royals and has homered in his last six games.  Of course, that was in 1999.

This from the press release:

            Griffey, who has hit safely in his last 12 games with the Reds (.318,

14-44) and owns a .927 on-base plus slugging percentage in July, is batting .245 (88-359) with 15 home runs, 53 RBI and a .355 on-base percentage in 102 games with Cincinnati in 2008.

That OPS is July would rank fourth on our club behind: Dye, 1.046; Thome, 1.004; Quentin, .941 and Missle, .933.

So let me know what you think of the trade.  I’d love to hear your thoughts …

And best of luck to Nick and Danny with the Reds.

I am out this weekend and won’t be back until Tuesday to blog.  Just a reminder, that Friday is the deadline for purchasing Blog Night III tickets.

Details:

To order tickets for Blog Night 3, click here.

Game is 8/6 vs. Detroit (7:11 start).  Tickets are $18 each and supplies are limited so order early.  Passcode when you order is:  “Blog” (creative, I know).

If you have any problems or issues ordering:  dmilliken@chisox.com (my good friend Dustin)

As in past years, Blog Night III attendees will be asked to arrive by 5:45 pm for an event in the Conference & Learning Center (details to follow).  From there, you can head up to your seats as a group.

Order Now.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; JD, RF; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Swish, CF; Ram, 2B; Fields, 3B.  Gavin Floyd on the mound.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

OC, SS; BA, CF; Q, LF; JD, RF; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Ramirez, 2B; Fields, 3B; Hall, C.  Richard pitching.

Back Home

I am back in Chicago after spending the weekend in La Jolla, Calif at the Surf Cup youth soccer tournament, so I’ve been a little out of the loop lately (save the pun …)

I “watched” the first few innings last night on whitesox.com from the airport, but slammed the computer shut on Mourneau’s home run.

Counting Days

Until Blog Night III …

Here are details:

To order tickets for Blog Night 3, click here.

Game is 8/6 vs. Detroit (7:11 start).  Tickets are $18 each and supplies are limited so order early.  Passcode when you order is:  “Blog” (creative, I know).

If you have any problems or issues ordering:  dmilliken@chisox.com (my good friend Dustin)

As in past years, Blog Night III attendees will be asked to arrive by 5:45 pm for an event in the Conference & Learning Center (details to follow).  From there, you can head up to your seats as a group.

We are going to need to close out this group sale soon, so order now.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Today’s Lineup

OC, SS; Swish, CF; Q, LF; Dye, RF; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; ARam, 2B; Hall, C; Uribe, 3B. Clayton Richard.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

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

FYI.  Mark Buehrle, who learned of the death of his grandfather yesterday, will start on short rest tomorrow to join his family for services.  Clayton Richard will start Wednesday’s matinee against the Rangers.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

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

Crazy Day

My day started with a round of golf at Olympia Fields Country Club with Harold Baines, Mark Salas and Kevin Hickey as part of the Chicago Corporate Challenge and courtesy of the OFCC and good friend Jack Yeo.

After waiting out the rain, we snuck in 15 holes before having to head to the ballpark.  As we prepared to tee off on the last hole, I received an email.

“Jerry is looking for you.”

This, I don’t need to tell you, is never a good sign.

My good friend — and Jerry’s good friend — Jerome Holtzman had passed away on Saturday and his family called Jerry this morning to make sure he knew.

I headed back to the ballpark, and working with the Holtzman family, helped them release a statement this afternoon with comments from Bud Selig and Jerry.

I’ll miss the phone calls from Jerome and the visits to our ballpark — which were growing more scarce over the years as he battled health issues.

I’ll never forget when Jerome joined MLB, they sent him a computer — with no real directions or understanding on his part of how to use it.  He was able to hammer out columns for the website, but dang if he could figure out how to send them.  He would call me and I would try to blindly talk him through it on the phone.

Finally, I’d hop in the car and make the drive up to Evanston.  Climb with him up to his study — filled at that time by the most impressive collection of baseball books you’d ever seen — and we’d try to get it to work. 

Really funny thing is that I’ve run into a LOT of people who tried to help him with that computer.

Jerome, you were the best.  I used to love the calls from you saying, “I need to write a column, what do you have for me?”

We’d talk, and I could hear your keyboard going.  And the next day, I might read the germ of my idea with written in a way, and taken to a place, far beyond the story I could imagine.

And breaking national baseball news?  Jerome was the best.

He really is the last of breed.

We are having a moment of silence tonight for Jerome.  Take a moment at home and share it yourself.

Lance

Here at the ballpark tonight, we are filming a special open for Stand Up 2 Cancer, an initiative supported by Major League Baseball and the White Sox.  So walking down the hall, I meet Lance Armstrong, who is headed into our clubhouse to meet our guys before the game and the filming.

My only thought … he’s not very big

So what a typical, atypical day in Scott Reifert’s life …

Kids to camp

Golf at Olympia Fields with a legend and two other former players

A sad phone call

Working all day on a press release

Heading to the dugout and field for BP

Saying hello to Dr. Gene Budig, former AL President

Meeting Lance Armstrong

Blogging

And now, I am hungry and off to eat.

Last Night

Thanks to all who attended and supported our annual Picnic In The Park event after the game.  Players and their families seemed to have a great time and I heard many positive comments at the event, which ended at dusk with a dramatic fireworks show that had the kids dancing in the outfield.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Today’s Lineup

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

Unis

The 1983 throwback uniforms look terrific and are so appropriate given the unveiling of Harold Baines’ sculpture before the game.

I’m on my way up there now for the ceremony …

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

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

Notes and Things

Each of the White Sox first eight batters last night reached base … the last team to accomplish the same was Baltimore on 7/22/06 at Tampa Bay … the last time the White Sox enjoyed that type of first inning was 6/30/72 vs. Oakland.

Joe Crede said his family thoroughly enjoyed the All-Star experience, shooting plenty of home movies and video.

I asked JD if he thought the airplane message was over the top.  He just laughed, which I took as a good sign given the other options, all of which included at bat.

Baines

Tomorrow, we will unveil a life-sized sculpture of franchise legend Harold Baines tomorrow prior to the game.  His sculpture, which will be located on the main concourse above right field, joins Charles A. Comiskey, Minnie Minoso, Carlton Fisk, Luis Aparicio, Nellie Fox and Bill Pierce.

In addition to Harold’s family, Robin Ventura, Carlton Fisk, Daryl Boston and Ron Kittle will be joining Harold for the ceremony.  Warner Saunders of WMAQ TV will MC the program.

Central Command

The White Sox are 27-12 vs. AL Central foes this season (19-3 at home).

Since May 14

The White Sox own the best record in baseball at 37-20 (.649), topping the Angels (34-21), Cubs (34-23), Boston (33-23) and Tampa (33-23).

Marked Improvement

The White Sox winning percentage has improved (from this point of 2007) by .127, second-best in baseball behind only Tampa Bay (.191) and ahead of St. Louis (.088).

Blog Night III

To order tickets for Blog Night 3, click here.

Game is 8/6 vs. Detroit (7:11 start).  Tickets are $18 each and supplies are limited so order early.  Passcode when you order is:  “Blog” (creative, I know).

If you have any problems or issues ordering:  dmilliken@chisox.com (my good friend Dustin)

As in past years, Blog Night III attendees will be asked to arrive by 5:45 pm for an event in the Conference & Learning Center (details to follow).  From there, you can head up to your seats as a group.

Sound good?

Some Fun Links

This on working with Roger Bossard …

This on our favorite columnist … (warning on some language)

And this from Barry Rozner at the Daily Herald …

Friday, July 18, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

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

Old Faces

Daryl Boston, Robin Ventura and Robin’s son, Jack, are in town for the weekend and are attending the Harold Baines sculpture unveiling prior to the game Sunday.

I’ll try to post more and catch up tomorrow.