Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Today's Lineup

Ozuna, 2B; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Swisher, LF; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Crede, 3B; Ramirez, CF.  Floyd pitching.

Cuts

As I've written before, nothing is more painful than cut day in camp.  And the later in camp, the tougher because guys understand they were thisclose to making the major league club.

Yesterday was no different.  Josh Fields was told he was going to start the year at Class AAA Charlotte, while Jason Bourgeois, D.J. Carrasco and Paul Phillips were sent out as well.

Josh was a tough one for the obvious reasons.  He understood and took the decision with class.

Paul had a great spring, but once it was clear that Toby Hall was healthy and ready to go, we no longer needed the protection of the third catcher in camp.

An MRI on Jerry Owens adductor showed a small tear.  This means we'll need to shut him down for 7-10 days to let it heal completely.  Given that he likely suffered the injury in late February, it's pretty impressive that Jerry played all of March with the injury.

Pitching

Here are matchups for the first two series of the season:

Buehrle v Sabathia

Vazquez v Carmona

Danks v Westbrook

Contreras v Robertson

Floyd v Willis

Buehrle v. Verlander

It's about time to get going.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Today's Lineup

Ramirez, CF; Cabrera, SS; PK, 1B; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Fields, 3B; Quentin, LF; Uribe, 2B; Buehrle, pitching.

Also throwing:  Logan, Dotel, Jenks, MacDougal.

Meeting

As you probably read in the newspapers, our staff meeting started early today.  As clubs near the end of spring, conversations about players, roster fits, etc. take longer and longer as KW, Rick Hahn and our coaching staff review all of our options.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Happy Easter

Today's Lineup

Owens, CF; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; Swisher, 1B; AJ, C; Fields, 3B; Quentin, LF; Ramirez, 2B.  Danks pitching.

Updates

Sorry, I haven't posted much over the past few days.  Between not feeling well (the cold everyone down here has had all spring claimed me as well) an driving up and down I-10, I haven't had much time to blog.

After John Danks today, the rest of our pitching for the spring stacks up as:

Contreras on Monday, Buehrle Tuesday, Floyd Wednesday, Masset on Thursday (get-away day), Danks on Friday in Oklahoma City and Contreras on Saturday against the Mets in the Civil Rights Game in Memphis.

Sunday, we'll work out in Cleveland at 3 pm and then Monday they'll count.

The last week is always a tough time in spring training.  Everyone is ready to leave, in part to get out of camp, in part out of excitement to get the season going.  Players are nervous, at those who are still on the bubble about making the team.  It's time to start focusing on Opening Day.

Harold

We officially announced today that this year's statue unveiling (on July 20 by the way) will be of Harold Baines.  No one is more deserving.

Harold will join Minnie, Pudge, Billy, Louie, Nellie and the Old Roman in the U.S. Cellular Field outfield.

March 19, 2008

Starting Pitching Change

Battling the flu (like this correspondent), Jose Contreras was scratched from today's start.  Nick Masset will start in Contreras' place.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Today's Lineup

Ramirez, CF; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Swisher, LF; Fields, 3B; Anderson, RF; Ozuna, 2B; Hall, C.  Contreras pitching.

Others scheduled to throw:  Thornton, Masset, Carrasco

Telecast

Reminder that today's game is being telecast on Comcast Sports Net in Chicago.

Odds & Ends

We made four roster moves prior to the game today, meaning 32 players remain in camp.  Donny Lucy and Andrew Sisco were optioned to Class AAA Charlotte, and Brad Eldred and Tomo Ohka were reassigned to minor league camp.

The White Sox are 5-5 vs. Arizona and Colorado this spring after going an amazing 2-22-2 in 2006-07 ... we are 3-1 against the Rockies in 2008 with two games remaining.

Josh Fields is hitting .429 over his last four games ... Pablo Ozuna has five multihit games ... Nick Swisher is tied for second in the Cactus League with 12 RBI and is hitting .320 with four RBI over his last seven games ... Alexi Ramirez has hit safely in eight of nine starts ... Jim Thome leads the CL with 11 walks ... Jerry Owens has hit safely in all seven CL contests (.440) ... Juan Uribe owns a six-game hitting streak ... Javier Vazquez leads the CL with 16 strikeouts.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Today's Lineup

Owens, CF; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Crede, 3B; Quentin, LF; Uribe, 2B; Danks pitching.

Also throwing:  Wassermann, Ohka and Linebrink.

Yesterday's News

Talk of camp today was Alexi Ramirez's appearance in center field yesterday at Milwaukee where he more than held his own.

Jim Thome remained in Tucson where he played in a Class AAA game against the Dbacks.  The weather was raw (52 degrees) and windy with rain showers off and on around Tucson.

Thome went 4-8 with a home run off Doug Davis.  According to Jim it was one of the three longest of his career, although he admitted this one was wind aided.

His longest?  Came one spring off Alex Fernandez over an apartment building.  Bart Swain, famous Cleveland PR Director, measured that blow as travelling 600 feet.

Blog Night III

I need your vote.  Since I never seem to pick a good date for Blog Night at the ballpark, here are five.  Pick one that works best for you and reply by posting.  Whichever date seems to "win" will become Blog Night III in 2008.

June 18

July 2

July 22

August 5

August 7

Vote early and vote often.

Cut Day

The end of spring training always means one of the toughest days of the year for general managers, assistant general managers and managers:  roster cuts.

Third base coach Jeff Cox told an interesting story this morning.

Cox was released three times before he played in a big league game.

The first time was with the Kansas City Royals.  The next two were by independent league teams ... "and there were only two independent teams at that time," Cox said.

So at age 19 and released three times, he called his dad.

"My dad was a brilliant guy, a college professor," Cox explained.  "When I told him want happened, he said, 'There are always setbacks on the way to success.'"

Cox told his dad he had heard of a tryout the next day for a short-season A's team.

"Do you still have the money I gave you?" Cox's dad asked his son.  "Then get on a plane and go try out."

So Cox shows up along with 88 other guys.  After workouts that day, he gets asked back to play in an "intrasquad" game that night against the regular A's team.

"I hit two home runs and went 4-5 with a triple," Cox recalls like it was yesterday.  Tom Treblehorn, the manager of the team, pulled him aside.  The next day, he signed a contract with the A's and played first base that night.

That was 1975.

In 1980, Cox reached the big leagues with Oakland, appearing in 59 games.

It's probably a good lesson for the hundereds of minor league players who are going to be released in camps from Florida to Arizona over the coming 10 days.

"And you know," Cox added.  "When I finally get a Topps baseball card, they make a mistake and put Steve McCatty's photo on it.  But Donruss, Donruss, made one with my photo on it, and I have it to this day."

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Today's Lineup

Owens, CF; Cabrera, SS; Swisher, LF; PK, 1B; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Crede, 3B; Uribe, 2B; Floyd P.

Odds & Ends

Bob Beghtol, our director of media relations, is "proudly" wearing a vintage Marquette basketball jersey today as payoff for a bet he lost when "his" Badgers dropped a regular-season game to the in-state rivals.

Funny story from yesterday ... I was grabbing lunch in the lunchroom (where else?).  Dale Torborg and Alexi Ramirez were sitting at a table behind me eating.  Jerry Reinsdorf came in and said hello to Alexi, who, you could tell, had no idea who it was.

Dale tried to explain, through a mix of English/Spanish and sign language, who Jerry was.

I turned to them and said, "Jeffe.  Grand Jeffe." (Note: I know NO Spanish except what I've learned over the years in the clubhouse, most of which probably gets me slapped in mixed company).

Alexi's eyes lighted up and he walked over to Jerry to thank him.

Jim Thome had a big smile on his face after his home run yesterday.

"You just have to get your work in and hopefully good things will happen to you," he said againa and again.

It's a bit cool today, high in the mid 50s with chances of afternoon thunderstorms.  Tomorrow is a bit warmer with less of a chance for rain.  Tuesday returns to the 70s and Wednesday to the 80s.

We decided to take a pass on Shingo Takatsu for our Class AAA bullpen.  There are quite a few arms competing for jobs already at Charlotte.\

It was a bit weird to see Neal and Shingo yesterday.  Felt like 2005.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Cubs Lineup

Here is the lineup from the North Side of Arizona for today's game:

Theriot SS; DeRosa 2B; Hoffpauir, 1B; Ward, DH; Fukudome, RF; Murton, LF; Soto, C; McGehee, 3B; Fuld, CF.  Hill starting, followed by Hart, Lahey, Ascanio, Walrond and Pignatiello.

Shingo Time

Shingo Takatsu, trailed by a pack of 13 Japanese media members, threw for White Sox staff and scouts this morning in an attempt to return to our organization.  I haven't heard what we thought about his outing ...

Welcome to Arizona

My family arrives at 11:35 today and they are looking forward to seeing the sun and 75 degree temperatures, at least for a day (a cold front threatens temp drops and rain for Sunday and Monday).

Friday, March 14, 2008

Postgame Roster Moves

Following today's game, the White Sox optioned pitchers Jack Egbert and Adam Russell to Class AAA Charlotte and optioned catcher Cole Armstrong to Class AA Birmingham.

We have 36 players remaining in camp.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

B Game

We start the morning with a B Game against the Rockies at Hi Corbett.

Our lineup:

Owens, CF; Ozuna, SS; Fields, 3B; Hall, C; Quentin, LF; BA, RF; Richar, 2B; Eldred, 1B; Lucy, DH.  Pitching will be Egbert, Poreda and Broadway.

White Sox vs. Cubs

And our lineup for the 1:05 matchup with the Cubs:

Bourgeios, CF; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1b: Swisher, LF; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Crede, 3B; Uribe, 2B.  Nick Masset throwing.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Today's Lineup

Ramirez, 2B; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Swisher, CF; Dye, RF; Fields, 3B; Quentin, LF; Hall, C.  Contreras pitching.  Also throwing for the Sox ... Matt Thornton, Bobby Jenks and D.J. Carrasco.

Morning News

Early this morning, the decision was made to have Mark Buehrle skip tomorrow's start against the Cubs.  He's scheduled to throw again against the road-weary Dodgers on the 20th in Phoenix.  Nick Masset takes his spot tomorrow.

Before anyone overreacts, the plan was to have Mark skip a start this spring.  As the thinking goes, what's more important, innings now or innings in September?

Rotation

Bringing us to the other news from this morning.  After discussing options internally, Ozzie Guillen is now leaning toward having Buehrle pitch on Opening Day at Cleveland, followed by Vazquez, Danks, Contreras and Floyd.  The main reason: matchups.  Ozzie likes Buehrle against the Indians and Floyd has had success against the Tigers.  This way, Javier will throw the home opener.

Of course, this is all subject to change as Opening Day approaches.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Offices Closed

I'm trying to get some work done this AM before golfing this afternoon.  John Danks is throwing in a minor-league game out back in about five minutes (10:15 am), and we'll get his line from that to the media later today.

Interesting

John Dewan, a great baseball statistical mind, founder of STATS, Inc., produces a "Stat of the Week" that is distributed via email.

His note from yesterday provided hitting and pitching projections from The Bill James Handbook: Projections Update 2008.  According to their projections, Nick Swisher will tie for third in the AL in home runs with 36, Bobby Jenks will finish third in the league with 37 saves and Javier Vazquez will finish third in strikeouts with 196.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Random Thoughts

Impressive, impressive outing by Javier Vazquez today (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 7 SO) in our 4-1 win over the Rockies.

After the game, manager Ozzie Guillen said he is leaning toward having Vazquez start Opening Day, likely followed in the rotation by Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, Jose Contreras and John Danks.

"We expect that from him," Guillen said of Vazquez.  "We need outings like this from him from the go get."

Remember the outcry when we signed Vazquez to that contract extension last March?

Guillen also said he liked the way Floyd threw in his last outing and was comfortable throwing him third.

Jerry Owens

Was scratched from today's lineup with a sore groin.

"It soreness," said Guillen.  "I'm not worried about it but I'm concerned.  Soreness can become injuries and I don't want that to happen."

Batting Order

With Owens out for the time being, Guillen was asked about his options for the leadoff spot.

"Cabrera is a real good No. 2 hitter," the manager said, indicating that he would leave the shortstop in the second hole.  "My lead off hitter needs to do two things:  get on base and score runs."

Guillen said he is comfortable with Nick Swisher filling that role or a combination of Owens and Pablo Ozuna.

BA

Brian Anderson went 2-3 with an oppo home run to raise his spring average to .381.

"He showed up to play," Guillen said.  "He showed up to show this organization he belonged in the big leagues."

My Day

Included Ed Farmer and Hawk Harrelson in my office talking about colonoscopies ... trying to find a place where our manager can go horseback riding tomorrow if he has time (which now he may not) ... dealing with the Champions Plaza back home while trying to watch our fast-paced victory.

Best Moment

With Guillen in the middle of roster cuts today, one veteran walked up to the manager with a semi-established player and said, "Ozzie, here he is.  Weren't you looking for him."

Without missing a beat, Ozzie replied, "Him, no, not yet."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Funniest Moment in the Game

Not sure if you saw it on Comcast's telecast ...

Ground ball to Juan Uribe at second.  He "Manny Trillos" it and then guns a throw to Swisher at first.  It had to hurt his hand.

Swisher comes off the base to throw the ball around and guns it right back at Uribe, mimicking Juan's throwing style.

You could see the two out on the diamond talking and joking about it afterward.

Fun Read

See this link to an espn.com story by Jerry Crasnick:

click here

Shingo-san

I'm on my phone after the game and who stops in to say hello but Shingo Takatsu.

Great to see him.

Tomorrow

With the only off day of the spring scheduled, tomorrow is valuable for all of us.  If you happen to be on the golf course at Ventana Canyon tomorrow around 3 pm, duck.  It'll be me, Kevin Hickey, Mark Salas and today's starting pitcher sneaking in 18.

Finally

As noted during the game ...

"How come all of our players are always described as aging when you never read that about the competition?"

After all, aren't we all aging each and every day?

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Back Where It's Warm

I flew back to Tucson late last night, forgetting my house keys and car keys in Chicago, of course.  It's good to be back where it's warm.

My two main reasons for heading to Chicago were:  1. to check out the progress on the crews laying the inscribed bricks on the Champions Plaza at Gate 4 (it looks great) and 2. check in on the design group as they worked to complete the scorecard, first edition of the program and yearbook by Opening Day.  Right now, is crunch time.

This weekend is our annual investor/sponsor trip, so plenty of Chicagoans will be down for Friday and Saturday's games.

Tomorrow is our lone off day of the spring, so don't count on much news out of here or this blog.

Cut Day

Ozzie spent the morning calling guys into his office in the first round of cuts in camp.  It's something he hates to do.  Once everyone has been told, we'll release the information to the public.

Today's Lineup

Bourgeios, CF; Cabrera, SS; Swisher, 1B; PK, DH; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Crede, 3B; Anderson, LF; Uribe, 2B.  Vazquez returns to start.

Also pitching will be:  Dotel, Carrasco, Logan, Egbert and Linebrink.

Upcoming Pitching

Friday vs. Oakland:  Contreras

Sat vs. Cubs:  Buehrle

Sunday at Ariz:  Floyd

Monday at Mil:  Vazquez

Tues vs. SD: Danks

Broadcast News

Today's game can be heard on WSCR Sports Radio 670 AM and seen on Comcast Sports Net in Chicago.

Minor League Camp

Games begin for the White Sox in minor league camp on Friday.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Back in The Cold

I'm back in Chicago for a few days, mainly to check in with staff and see the installation begin for our brick Champions Plaza at Gate 4, which by the way, is looking very, very cool.

Bricks are going down -- weather permitting.  Once the palza is complete, the white bronze and black granite center piece will be installed and then covered until the unveiling on April 11.

The final piece is the landscaping around Gate 4, including brick work and installation of special monuments to our retired numbers.

I can't wait to see it all completed.  Christine O'Reilly has been working on this project for two years.  Believe me when I say, she can't wait to see it finished either.

Today's Lineup

Bourgeios, CF; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Swisher, LF; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Crede, 3B; Uribe, 2B.  Buehrle pitching, followed by Wassermann, Jenks, Logan and Linebrink.

Ventura

Fit into a White Sox uniform on Friday and was leaving camp on Saturday, so I missed his last day.  Good to see RV, who was laughing that he's even been snowboarding on his "new and improved" ankle.

Heroes

I met a hero on Friday at our game in Tucson.  I'll write more about Sgt. Del Torro when I get a chance.

I'm back to Tucson (which, sadly, I tend to call "home" during Feb/March) late Tuesday night and will be back working out bright and early Wednesday morning.

Friday, March 7, 2008

Happy Bruin

Groundskeeper Roger Bossard is beside himself this morning after "his" UCLA Bruins (and you thought they were John Wooden's) beat Standford last night.

Welcome

To Steve Stone and Ed Farmer who broadcast their first game togther today on WSCR Radio 670 AM.

Lineups

We sent a pretty potent lineup to Tempe today for that game:

Swisher, CF; Ramirez, SS; Konerko, DH; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Crede, 3B; Uribe, 2B; Eldred, 1B; Wise, LF.  Broadway pitching.

At home vs. the DBacks it is:

Ozuna, LF; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; Fields, 3B; Liefer, 1B; Anderson, LF; Negron, RF; Lucy, C; Bourgeois, CF.  Masset pitching.

We are a little banged up right now with some nicks ... hurting are Carlos Quentin, Jerry Owens, Scott Linebrink, Gavin Floyd (flu) and Toby Hall.  Nothing is serious, but with two games today, we're a little thin.

RV in the House

Robin Ventura came to camp for a few days to hang out and see a few friends.  I was giving him a hard time yesterday trying to get him to put on a uniform.  We'll see if I can wear him down.

St. Baldrick's

Josh Fields and Jerry Owens are shaving their heads today to support the St. Baldrick's campaign against cancer.  Pat Elwood from FOX 32 is down to film the shaving.  Owens has grown quite the distinctive Afro, so he'll look funny bald.

"I figure I can just let it grow all season then," said Owens.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Today's Schedule

Just walked in from our B Game over at Hi Corbett Field this morning.  It started at 10 am, and I left early for a meeting back at the ballpark.

Our lineup for later today against the Rangers:

Swisher CF; Cabrera SS; Thome DH; Konerko, 1B; Dye, RF; Crede, 3B; Anderson, LF; Uribe, 2B; Phillips, C.  Floyd was supposed to start but was scratched this morning due to flu-like symptoms.  Charlie Haeger and Tomo Ohka will take up his innings.

No Joke

Walked into the traning room this morning at 7:08 am (got that, Joey?) and what was playing on the local Tucson FM radio station?  Steve Perry, Journey and Don't Stop Believin' ... go figure.

Today's Lineup

Swisher, CF; Ramirez, SS; Thome, DH; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Fields, 3B; Liefer, 1B; Anderson, LF; Richar, 2B.  Buehrle pitching.

Also throwing:  Vasquez, Linebrink, Dotel, Russell, Wassermann, Perez.

Best pre-game moment:

Starting pitcher Mark Buehrle complaining that he nevers gets to bat even though we keep playing all these "road" games at National League parks.  The Dbacks, Sox and Rockies use the DH even if the NL team is home.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Sox Win

Nick Swisher's two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning helped the White Sox to a 7-6 victory Tuesday over the Angels.

"That's what we brought him here for," said Ozzie Guillen, who noted that only a fluke kept Swisher in the game for all nine innings.  "It was a great deicison by the manager," smirked Guillen.

"On the field, off the field, that's what we need," Guillen said.  "He doesn't like to lose."

Paul Konerko went 3-3, Swisher 2-4 with three RBI and A.J. Pierzynski added a bases-loaded double.

"Every time the lineup is out there, we're a pretty exciting team," said Guillen about the Sox, who improved to 4-4 on the spring.

Jose Contreras started for the Sox and was impressive over his 3.0 IP.

"Best he's thrown in a while," said Guillen.  "He's more aggressive.  We told him to be aggressive and see what happens.  The ball was coming out of his hand really well today.

"Last year, I think he lost confidence and velocity," said the manager.  "Pitching is about throwing strikes, hitting your spots and throwing the big pitch.  He didn't do that last year, but I knew he had too much pride to let that happen again."

Congratulations

To Javier Vazquez and his wife on the birth today of a little girl (name TBD).

Vazquez left camp to join his growing family in Puerto Rico.

"I hope Javy doesn't have the same doctors Uribe had," said Guillen.  "When Uribe's wife had a kid, he was gone so long the kid was two years old before he got back."

Thanks

NIU Athletic Director Jim Phillips visited camp today to thank Ken Williams, Ozzie and the Sox for the support the organization showed for the DeKalb school during its recent tragedy.

Phillips delivered NIU gift bags to Williams and Guillen.

Enough Already

Enough abuse about the bad photos of me ...

"Did you do something to make the photographer mad at you?"

"Honey, you look really fat."

"Really, as a friend, I need to tell you these don't look good.  I'd hope you do the same for me."

"You're a Vice President of the White Sox and you have that photo on-line?"

"Dad, that photo on your blog ... it's really bad." (then laughter)

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

White Sox vs. Angels at TEP

Lineup

Owens, CF; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Swisher, LF, AJ, C; Crede, 3B; Uribe, 2B; Anderson, RF.  Contreras pitching.

Also throwing ... Broadway, Carrasco, Thornton.

Radio Team Changes

If you didn't hear this morning's news, Chris Singleton is leaving our broadcast booth for a new career in sports television and Steve Stone has agreed to fill in with Ed Farmer for the 2008 season.

The duo should debut from TEP on March 7.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Today's Lineup

Richar, 2B; Ramirez, SS; Fields, 3B; Dye, RF; Liefer, DH; Quentin, LF; Anderson, CF; Eldred, 1B; Armstrong, C.  Danks pitching.

Also throwing:  Wassermann, Jenks, Logan, MacDougal, Dotel.

Hermosillo

Guys had a great time in Hermosillo yesterday -- other than the result -- and laughed about how much easier it would be to get to Hermosillo compared to today's bus ride to Surprise.

Comcast

Today is the first spring telecast by Comcast Sports Net Chicago, Ken Harrelson and Darrin Jackson.

It will be a first look for many of you at Alexi Ramirez.

Photo

Already the smart-aleck remarks have begun about my sorry new blog photo ...

"I thought you wanted people to buy tickets," one friend wrote.  "Why have that be the first thing people see on your site?"

Love the support.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Hermosillo Bound

With half of the White Sox, including manager Ozzie Guillen, flying to Hermosillo, Mexico, for today's 1 pm game there against the Dbacks, the rest of the White Sox, including yours truly, are preparing for our 1 pm game at TEP.

Minnie Minoso and Jerry Hairston are joining the team in Hermosillo.  Minnie and Jerry both starred in the Mexican League as players.  Hairston, who is in the Hermosillo team's Hall of Fame, met his wife there and was married at home plate, prompting then-GM Roland Hemond to quip about the switch hitter, "I wonder what side of the plate he stood on?"

DYK the White Sox actually trained in Mexico City in 1907?  Hermosillo won the Carribean World Series representing Mexico in 1976 with Hairston on the team.

Today's Lineup in Tucson

Ozuna, 2B; Cabrera, SS; Thome, DH; PK, 1B; Dye, RF; AJ, C; Crede, 3B; Quentin, LF; Bourgeois, CF.  Vazquez pitching.  Also throwing today:  Linebrink, Ohka, Vasquez.

Pitching in Hermosillo:  Masset, Day, Carrasco, Haeger, Russell and Childers.

Odds & Ends

The White Sox 3-1 record in Cactus League play is our best start since also going 3-1 in 2004 ... leadoff hitters have gone 7-17 (.412) with four doubles, five RBI, four walks and seven runs scored.

We have scheduled B Games at Colorado on 3/6 and vs. the Rockies on Field 4 on 3/10.

Planes vs. Bus

Today's trip to Hermosillo (via plane) will likely still be shorter than tomorrow's trip to Suprise (via bus) to take on the Royals.  John Danks takes the mound, along with Wassermann, Jenks, Logan, Macdougal and Dotel.

Ban

No comments about the new photos on my Blog, OK?  We needed to change it up a little, so this is the best we could offer during spring training ...