Sunday, August 10, 2008

Today’s Lineup

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

All of our flights cooperated and Chris Getz, Lance Broadway and Horacio Ramirez have all arrived at the ballpark and are available for today’s game.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Jose Contreras’ injury and our bullpen logging eight innings tonight brought about a flurry of moves postgame.

Josh Fields was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte and Boone Logan will be optioned tomorrow before the game.  We then acquired LH reliever Horacio Ramirez (good sinker, good numbers) from KC in exchange for minor league outfielder Paulo Orlando, who was at Class A Winston-Salem.

Tomorrow before the game, we will bring two other players up and place Jose on the disabled list, giving us 25 players by 1:05 pm.

And as for Livan Hernandez …

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; Dye, RF; Thome, DH; Miss, 2B; Swish, 1B; Uribe, 3B; Wise, CF.  Jose back to the mound.

We’ll See, Let’s Hope

If Jose’s start tonight is as good as his side says that left Coop raving …

Notes

Ehren Wassermann was sent down after last night’s game to make room for Jose’s return … we are 38-17 (.691) at home, third-best in the AL behind Tampa (.726) and Boston (.714) … our 161 home runs lead the majors … Carlos Quentin is attempting to become the first Sox hitter since Dick Allen in 1974 (32) to lead the AL in homers … Alexei Ramirez ranks among AL rookies in multihit games (2nd, 26), average (3rd, .310), slugging (3rd, .474), total bases (3rd, 145), hits (4th, 95), extra-base hits (4th, 29), runs scored (5th, 42) and homers (T5th, 10) … our outfield leads the AL in homers (76) and slugging (.510) and ranks second in RBI (213) and OBP (.354) … our run differential of +68 ranks second in the AL to Boston (+105).

Friday, August 8, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

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

Moose

Moose Skowron is throwing out the ceremonial first pitch tonight.  It’s the first time in his life that he’s ever thrown a first pitch.  And he’s happy he’s throwing it against the Red Sox, because he says he owned Boston as a hitter.  He is upset, however, that Mark Buehrle won’t catch him … Mark catches all the first pitches except for games when he is starting (obviously).

There’s Always More to the Story

Yes, there may have been a few relievers changing teams recently, but beware, many of these deals are waiver trades.  In one case, a team got stuck with something like $7.5 million in future salary for a situational guy … not sure that’d make us better.

Perspective

I found this letter in my inbox the other day …

Mr. Grim,

I wanted to thank you so much for the jersey, towell and hat; they’ve helped to decorate my sparse room her in Afghanistan.  I hope you’ll indulge me for a minute and let me tell a bit of a story.  Not long ago coming to Afghanistan while out on patrol our convoy was attacked and two of my fellow soldiers were wounded (both seriously enough that they are now stateside).  It was a day filled with fear, anguish, and confusion.  We limped into another FOB (Forward Operating Base) and tried to connect our thoughts.  I could see on the faces of my fellow soldiers (and I imagine I looked the same) the exhaustion and complex jumble of emotions running through our heads.  As we walked into the chow hall I was surprised to see White Sox memorabilia all over the walls.  On the TV was a Sox game, and for the next couple of hours I was able to catch my breath and defuse watching the Sox.  It might be a cliche to say this but that game helped me through that day and still does.  Baseball is just a game, but for us it’s also something else:  it’s a day at the Cell where you can forget everything for a few hours; it’s the place where you connect with friends and community; it’s the quiet place where you collect yourself in a chow hall; it’s home.

The jersey, bat and towel are part of all that and I thank you for it.

Very respectfully,

Sgt. Kevin Doyle

Go Sox!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Jr., RF; Missile, 2B; Swish, CF; Uribe, 3B.  Vazquez pitching.

Gossage

Newly christened Hall of Famer Goose Gossage throws out a ceremonial first pitch tonight prior to our game. 

Guys are excited to meet Gossage, who of course, began his career with the White Sox in 1972. 

It’s a scret, so don’t tell Goose, but we also have a gift for him.  Bobby Jenks is going to present him with a specially framed version of three score sheets … his very first career game, his first victory and his first career save.

Jenks is pumped to meet Gossage.

Team Photo

We snapped the annual team photo today, taking three versions … the standard one everyone knows, one with our staff and employees (perhaps for the holiday card) and a third casual shot in our dugout (that one, thanks to BA, might not see the light of day).  A casual shot was first done in 1983.  We liked it and duplicated it in 2005 (sense a theme here?) and then tried again this year.  We’ll see if any of them can be used in public.

Thanks

To everyone who attended Blog Night III.  Steve Stone seemed to be a hit (he told me today he really enjoyed speaking to the group and asked when we do it again).  Moose, as always, is unbelieveably funny (I can listen to his stories for hours), and Rick Hahn is the best.  He very soon will be a GM somewhere in the game … and it will be our loss.

And what is our record now on Blog Nights?

Anyone remember?

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Tonight’s Lineup

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; Dye, RF; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; JR, CF; Ram, 2B; Uribe, 3B.  Floyd pitching.

Tuesday, August 6, 2008

Blog Night III

For those of you who purchased tickets to our Blog Night III group event tomorrow night, I am excited to meet you.

Gates to the ballpark open at 5:30 pm.  Please enter at Gate 3 and proceed to the Scout Seat lounge restaurant located just back from Gate 3.  Staff from my office will be there to check you in and direct you into the Conference & Learning Center.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. and should run until 6:45 p.m. or so (or until Moose Skowron quits telling stories, which may mean 7:30).

See you there.