Monday, April 23, 2012

So the once in a lifetime feat just happened a second time for a White Sox pitcher as Philip Humber threw the 21^st Perfect Game in MLB history on Saturday.

 

Humber heard from Mayor Emanuel immediately following the game, and today, he received a congratulatory call from President Obama.  Commissioner Selig also sent along a congratulatory letter.  He was named American League Player of the Week today as well.  Tonight, Humber appears is part of the Top 10 list on The David Letterman Show.

 

If you didn’t catch all of the postgame reaction Saturday, here are Philip and manager Robin Ventura’s comments after the Perfecto.  Even two days later you can sense the joy, excitement and wonderment in Philip’s comments:

On the game:

“I wish I could tell you (what happened out there). It was something that was out of my control. I know God had a hand in it, and I’m thankful. The team played awesome. The first thing you want to do is get a win, and it was nice to have that last run there and have a four-run lead going into the ninth. A.J. (Pierzynski) did a great job. There were a couple great plays in the outfield. It was just awesome. I don’t know what Philip Humber is doing in this list, what my name is doing there, but I’m thankful it’s there.”

On what was going through his mind on the last pitch:

 “’Go get it. Throw him out.’ – That was it. I saw it get away from A.J. and I saw the umpire ring him up and that point, just a ton of emotions, a lot of joy, excitement and most of all gratitude. I’m just thankful for where I’m at. I’m thankful. That was awesome…what just took place was just awesome.”

On his nerves going into the ninth inning:

 

“Probably more than any of the other innings (my nerves were going). Once you get past the fifth you know what’s going on, but at that point there’s a slim chance that’s going to happen. But going into the ninth, you stand there on the mound and realize ‘I’m standing here on the mound in the ninth inning with the chance to throw a perfect game.’ – I can’t lie; I know I was thinking that. I overthrew a couple of pitches to start the leadoff hitter but I’m just thankful I was able to get back in the count there.  A ton of credit goes to A.J. because he knew just what to call today; he kept them off balance all day. Honestly, I didn’t feel like I had great stuff up until maybe the sixth or seventh inning when I felt like the ball was starting to come out of my hand a little better. A.J. and I have worked well together since I’ve been here and a lot of credit goes to him.”

On rating his “stuff”:

 “I don’t really rate it on swings and misses and stuff like that. I more rate it on how I feel like I’m getting out there, the ball coming out of my hand with some life on it. Like I said, I felt like I was maybe rushing a little bit at the beginning, but I was able to slow myself down a little bit and had a lot  more life on the ball at the end of the game.”

On the journey over this past year and a half to where he is now:

“It’s not me, it’s really not. I’ve said it a lot, but it’s God, it’s just timing. I’ve worked as hard as I’m working now my whole career, but before it used to be about me and now it’s not. I’m just thankful for where I’m at – put it that way.”

On what he was thinking on the last pitch:

“Well, that it’s way outside for one thing. Hopefully that it doesn’t go to the backstop. Really, it’s hard to say, I was just trying to make a good pitch. I felt like I jerked it a little bit, but in a situation like that guys are anxious. I’ve been in the dugout when a team’s getting no-hit and the batters tend to get a little more anxious when they get deeper the game like that and so you get some swings at some pitches you might not normally get swings at. “

On if he threw a slider:

“Yes, that was a slider.”

On if he’s ever thrown a perfect game before in his life:

“I have no idea, but maybe back in youth baseball or something like that, but nothing even close to something like this.”

 

On the effects of short rest between some innings:

“It was nice because it doesn’t give you a whole lot of time to think. After my last start, and Robin (Ventura) can tell you, that was a rollercoaster start to watch. I was in and out of the strike zone and walking guys. Today what I wanted to concentrate on was throwing first-pitch strikes, getting the first guy out every inning and just keeping it simple. Those innings there, they seemed to be a little more aggressive in the count, mis-hit some balls and it made for some easy outs.”

On his thoughts during the 3-0 count to the last batter:

 “Throw a strike. Get it over the plate somehow. That would be the last way that I would want to lose it. You want to go out with your best stuff over the plate and challenge guys. I definitely wanted to get back in the zone there. A.J. stayed with me the whole game and he makes you feel very comfortable as a pitcher, and I’m thankful to have a catcher like that.”

On his demeanor in the dugout:

 

“Yeah, I don’t believe in superstitions or anything like that so when guys were getting hits or scoring runs I was shaking their hands. When they’d make plays in the field I was telling them ‘Great job’. I don’t like to be isolated like that. I like to stay in the game, be relaxed and be a teammate regardless of if I’m pitching or not, it makes it more fun that way.”

Robin Ventura:

On when the subject of a perfect game came up between the coaches:

“I don’t think it was really that way, I think it was just the way he was pitching. You look at the game and instead of it being about a perfect game you’re talking about him winning it or if he’s going to finish it, whether he’s going to give up a hit or a walk or whatever. You’re kind of going through the scenarios of looking at their lineup. Once we got the fourth run it was pretty much his and he was pitching well enough unless the moment happens that he gets into trouble, but he was kind of cruising. He was going through, making pitches all day long and he had a couple innings there where he had quick pop-ups, one-pitch pop-ups. You look up and he’s thrown 68 pitches so there goes that, using a pitch count. So no, there wasn’t really any (conversation about the perfect game). I still haven’t talked to him – I just have that superstition – so I was staying away from him.”

Philip on if he felt they couldn’t get solid contact on the ball:

 “I thought Seager hit a ball, an 0-2 pitch where I threw a good curveball down and away, and he put a good swing on it but Lilli(bridge) ran it down. They got a lot of left-handed hitters and I think that’s my reputation around the league is to stack your lineup with lefties. I was just trying to concentrate more on when I threw a slider down and in, to throw it down and in. But like that one (with Seager) I left up a little bit and he put a good swing on it. There were a couple different ones – the ball that was hit to Rios, I can’t remember who hit that ball, but they squared it up to right field and he made a nice catch on that. For the most part, I was not thinking about any of that. I was just happy that they were making plays and keeping us in the lead more than thinking about a great play that saved my no-hitter or perfect game or something like that.”

On the amount of foul balls hit and if that was an indication of anything specific:

 “We threw a lot of breaking balls, a lot of sliders, so when you throw those and they’re not down out of the zone you’ll get swings and misses. If they’re in the zone, normally a breaking ball is going to be a fly ball, some type of pop-up or something like that, whereas a changeup or a fastball has more of a chance of being on the ground. They just happen to be hitting those balls in play.”

On what it was like to have the visiting fans cheering for him:

“Honestly, I didn’t hear them. I didn’t hear them until after the game when all of them got up and gave me an ovation. I didn’t really hear them. You could hear the noise but I wasn’t sure if they were cheering for me or for the guy, whomever I was assuming they were cheering for on their team.”

On his shift and change in mindset as a player:

“I worked hard at my craft and I wanted that work to pay off so that I would be validated. My identity was a baseball player. My whole evaluation of myself was my stat line so if my stat line was great I felt good about myself and if it wasn’t then I didn’t feel so good. It took me a long time to figure it out that it’s not about me or us. Whatever we’re doing we should be doing it to glorify God and that’s a whole lot better way to live because you know that when he’s in control then you can just be thankful for what’s happening. I’m not saying that I’m always going to be successful because of the attitude I have on the field and I’m not always going to have good games, but I will be a joyful person because of where my heart is.”

On if there was a temptation to throw Brendan Ryan another fastball on 2-2:

“The way that at-bat went we did throw him a fastball there and he fouled it off, but my slider was good today and I felt like I could command it. Obviously, I didn’t throw a great one right there, but just knowing the situation and knowing that they’re going to be a little bit more anxious in that situation I think a breaking ball is probably a better pitch right there.”

Robin: On if he wants another rainout when Humber’s scheduled to start next time:

“That was (Pitching Coach Don) Cooper’s fault. He showed us. He’s about right where he should be pitch-count wise.”

Humber on if there was any doubt that Pierzynski saw the ball after it got by him:

 “I knew he saw it and I saw that the batter obviously didn’t think he swung so he was standing there talking to the umpire, so I knew that as long as A.J. didn’t trip over himself or something bad like that, that he just had to play catch with Paulie (Konerko). The rest of it was kind of a blur. I felt (Jake) Peavy on my back and I was like, ‘Let me up’ because I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I skinned my forehead on the ground there when everyone knocked me down. It was just so happy hearing all your teammates excited. That was probably the best part of it just seeing all my teammates so excited.”

On whom his first call was to after the game:

“I’ve already called my wife and my mom’s there with her. I just wanted to make sure she didn’t give birth while I was pitching. I called my dad. I’ve got last I looked 50 texts messages and there’s no telling how many missed calls so I’ll spend the next couple of days getting back to people. There are a lot of friends and a lot of family and a lot of people that I need to thank and share this moment with because there’s been a lot of people that have helped me along the way.”

On if he tweeted about the game yet:

 “I have not tweeted yet. I don’t tweet very often. I think my followers are about pretty disappointed with that. Maybe I’ll tweet something later.”

On where this moment ranks in his life:

 “I don’t know. It’s about sixth, seventh somewhere in there? I’d say as far as baseball goes it’s at the top. Hopefully there’s more to come. I think something that would be even better would be World Series Championship. The individual thing is nice and the team is a part of it, but at the same time when you can do something like that as a team it’ll be even better.”

On his wife’s due date and where she is at:

 “May 8 but he’s ready to go though. She’s in Chicago right now.”

On if he can wrap his head around this:

 “I saw it. I glanced at the TV in the clubhouse and like I said earlier I don’t know what my name is doing on that list, it’s just so humbling. I’m just so thankful and it’s an awesome feeling. People are telling you, ‘I got to get this for the Hall of Fame’ and send stuff to the Hall of Fame – I’ve been there and seen the stuff that’s there. To think that something of mine is going to be there is pretty awesome and I don’t know what to say about it.”

On if he knows the ratio of fastballs to sliders:

 “No idea. Usually I throw more off-speed than fastballs. Our go-to pitch today was definitely a slider and we got a lot of outs on that. Yeah, I don’t know the ratio I’ll have to look at that.”

On if he has a message for the troops:

 “Thankful for what they do. This is small compared to anything that goes on in their lives. I’m just thankful that there are people out there protecting our freedom and giving us an opportunity to go out there and entertain people and not have to worry about our safety. I’m just thankful for that.”

Thursday, April 19, 2012

I missed a chance yesterday.  Harold Baines could have been beaten.  Baines, Mark Salas, Joe McEwing and I snuck out yesterday morning to battle the wind and Harborside International Golf Course in a competitive round of golf.  And Baines, you see, is the best.  He’s the one we shoot for.

“This isn’t personal,” I said to McEwing, Harold’s partner for the round.  “This isn’t about you.  It’s about him,” I joked, pointing to the quiet one.

Several times each spring and season, we’ve paired up in two-man golf competitions and once, only once, have we gotten Harold.  The date was September 27, 2009 at Bolingbrook Golf Course.  The key was that this win came in the final round of the year, meaning we did hold bragging rights all winter long.

But yesterday, Baines faltered and opened the door for me and Salas.  And we choked.  Blew it.  Couldn’t make a putt to save our lives.  And therefore Baines and McEwing enjoyed lunch on us yet again.

“I need a short game lesson,” I moaned after missing yet another.

“Evidently,” the winner responded with a smile.

In Case You Missed It

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland had some complimentary things to say about the White Sox (and some not so complimentary things to say about baseball prognosticators) over the weekend.  Here’s what he said to media:

“Since 2006 when I got here (Detroit), this has been one of the best teams in the league every year.  And they will be right there,” Leyland told Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune.  “They picked us fourth last year and we won 95 games.  So don’t pay attention to those people.  They pick and they talk, but they don’t know what they are talking about.

 

“Look at their pitching staff.  Look at the arms they throw out there.  Look at some of the arms they bring out of the bullpen.  You know, Paul Konerko is one of the best hitters in baseball.  You know Adam Dunn is going to do a lot better than he did last year.  I mean, this is a good team.  Ramirez is one of the best shortstops in the league.  This is a real good team.  Pierzynski is one of the best catchers, gets a lot of big hits.  I don’t know why anybody would not pick these guys as a solid, solid contender.

“I mean, we have a good team,” Leyland concluded.  “Don’t get me wrong.  So do they.  They’re proving that.  The people who make those picks … I don’t pay attention to that.”

Anti-Bullying Message

Robin Ventura, Alexei Ramirez, John Danks and Gordon Beckham teamed up to record an anti-bullying message for youth.  See it here.

Highlight Film

 Alexei Ramirez provided his own highlight film last night.  Catch all two of these amazing plays.

And then this …

Other Notes

• White Sox starting pitchers own a 2.43 ERA at home this season
• AJ has recorded an RBI in a career-high seven straight games, the longest streak by a Sox player since PK in eight straight
• Gavin Floyd owns a 1.97 ERA in his last five starts at home
• AJ leads the AL with an .829 slugging percentage, is tied for the lead with 13 RBI, ranks second hitting .400 and is tied for third with four home runs
• Can you name the last White Sox player to lead the AL in RBI?
• The Sox have thrown out four of five basestealers
• Jake Peavy owns a 21:2 strikeout to walk ratio

Monday, April 16, 2012

So what did everyone think of the new/old red pinstriped White Sox uniforms?  I’d love to hear your feedback.  Here’s a great interview with Carlos May about his memories of Dick Allen, Chuck Tanner, Wilbur Wood and that 1972 team.

 

Small Things

Catcher Tyler Flowers received kudos for his home run in Saturday’s victory, but a smaller thing caught the eye of former major league manager Buddy Bell.

With the Sox up 3-1 in the seventh, Flowers was hit by a pitch.  Gordon Beckham struck out and with the Tigers not paying much attention to Flowers, he stole second base.  (Why not?)  Now with lefty De Aza up and Flowers on second, first baseman Prince Fielder now moved off the line and back to the normal position occupied by a first baseman.  What happened next?  Of course, De Aza shot a ball down the line for a triple, scoring Flowers with the team’s fourth run.

Buddy was elated at the importance of the stolen base.  (And Buddy Bell and the word elated aren’t used that often in a single sentence).

Interruption

You won’t realize it by reading this, but as I was typing the entry above, manager Robin Ventura stopped by my office to recruit my assistance in a practical joke (I, of course, never stoop to such levels).  Any ways, I told him he must be bored to come see me …

Cool Stat

With two doubles Sunday, Adam Dunn tied his USCF output for doubles for all of 2011.  In fact, he has three at home so far in 2012.

Not Your White Sox

We have allowed just one stolen base so far in 2012 while recording three caught stealings … yes, three!

Nice Column

Check this out from FOX Sports Ken Rosenthal on the White Sox.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Pregame BP

Guys are fired up to wear the red pinstripes tomorrow for the first time, honoring the 1972 team.  Brent Lillibridge, John Danks and Matt Thornton snuck on their red shoes during BP today just to get the feel.  Of course, with tomorrow being Jackie Robinson Day, the entire roster will wear uniform No. 42 in his honor, all in red.

Yesterday

Tough to ask for much for out of yesterday … a White Sox win, a very nice day, a standout start by Jake Peavy, two great defensive plays and offense from Dayan Viciedo.  To be completely selfish, all we needed were a couple of hits from Adam Dunn and Gordon Beckham.

Best line of the day yesterday belonged to manager Robin Ventura, who replaced Viciedo (who had a sterling play in left field) with Lillibridge as a late-inning defensive replacement: “I told Lilly,” Ventura remarked after the game, “’You had better be really good.’”

How about Jake Peavy’s first two starts of the season against offenses like the Rangers and Tigers.  Impressive.

Poor Roger

First time for everything as yesterday marked the first time I ever remember a game being stopped to re-draw the batter’s box.  I’ve seen an umpire erase the back line and re-draw it with the end of the bat, but I’ve never seen the grounds crew called out to re-do the box.  It led to a delay in the first inning.

“We had a rhythm going,” one member of the Sox laughed today.  “I was just like, ‘Let Cabrera hit from wherever he wants and fix it between innings.’”

Makeup in Cleveland

The Indians have announced that Tuesday’s rainout will be made up on our next trip in to Cleveland as a split doubleheader on May 7.  The first game is at 12:05 p.m. CT with the second at 6:05 p.m. (for those of you contemplating a Monday baseball trip to Cleveland).

Thursday Night

At Thursday night’s Bulls game, one notable moment came when the dessert cart arrived at the suite.  A few of the guys checked it out.  A few let it be.

“Let him go first, he needs to fatten up,” Chris Sale’s dad joked as Sale headed out into the hallway only to come back with a big piece of cake.  Then, when he learned there was ice cream to be had, he went back for a second trip.

But Viciedo drew the best reaction from his teammates.  He passed on dessert, drawing laughs.  When the topic came up, Viciedo just smiled, shook his head and signaled, “No.”

Mr. Mayor

Mayor Emanuel attended yesterday’s home opener and afterward, we saw him dining at 11^th Street Diner.

“I need to talk to him,” my high schooler said.  “I’m not happy with him.  He’s trying to make my school day longer.”

Sometimes it’s tough being mayor.

COMMON

You really can’t make stuff like this up and it’s one of the many reasons I love my job.

Prior to throwing out the first pitch yesterday, Chicago-native rapper, author and actor COMMON wanted to warm up.

So one of my staff ran into my office and grabbed the first glove they saw.  COMMON and the staffer played catch, and COMMON proceeded to go outside and bounce his ceremonial first pitch.  So much for practice.

But my staffer told me afterward that “I borrowed that glove in your office.”

Glove in my office?  I don’t have a glove in my office … oh yeah, wait a minute.  I do.  It’s an authentic, signed Luis Aparicio glove.  “You used my Hall of Famer’s glove to play catch with COMMON!”

I said to COMMON … “You used my Aparicio glove to play catch and then you threw that pitch!?!?”

He smiled, but I think he felt a little embarrassed.  He should. (The glove is fine, by the way.  No worse for wear).

This glove really belongs under glass somewhere.  Here’s the story …

A few years ago, I had the idea of having Wilson create Aparicio and Fox gloves that Sox fans might want to buy for their homes/offices.  Proceeds could benefit Chicago White Sox Charities.  We never really followed through on the plan, but as part of the project, the great guys at Wilson checked to see if they still had the pattern for Louie’s glove.

Amazing enough, their old glove maker, then 80-something years old, still happened to have the pattern out in his garage.  The folks at Wilson made one to show us.  And then one day, Aparicio was in the clubhouse, so I had him sign his actual glove.

It has sat in my office for years, on display … until yesterday.

 

Friday, April 13, 2012

 

On how it feels to be back home:

“It’s good. It’s nice. You feel like you’ve been on the road for so long so it’s nice to get back here and get it going.”

On the home opener

“It’s exciting. I feel like I grew up here so in a lot of ways it’s a coming home of sorts. I think for guys that haven’t played here, it’s exciting for them, and I get to enjoy being a part of that too. You see a kid like Nate Jones or Hector Santiago, guys that it’s their first time for an Opening Day here so that’s the special part that you get to enjoy.”

On if he feels like he’s learning new things about the job day-by-day:

“I think you do. You’re always trying to learn and see different things. It’s still baseball, but you’re looking at (things) differently than you do as a player. Hopefully I keep my eyes open enough to learn every day.”

On starting off the season playing good baseball:

“You play against some good teams, that when you play well, it gives you some confidence. That’s kind of what we did in Texas: you play against a team that’s the best team in the league and you hold your own. It’s one of those that you feel confident and you kind of go from there. It’s still a long way to go and again you’re just trying to continue to keep that pressure as far as bringing the same attitude every day.”

On playing Detroit

“Yeah, they’re a good team, but again you just continue to play. You can’t sit there and worry about it, you just sit and play. You throw your guys out there and play. They’re on the schedule so we’re going to have to play them and we’re not going to back down from anybody.”

On the style he’s hoping for the team to play this season:

“I think a little bit we’ve already kind of showed. You want them to continue to score and put pressure on the other team. You don’t want it to be a comfortable experience for the other team. I think that’s one of the things – it’s maybe a grittier at-bat, things like that – we have good players, but you still need that side element of tough at-bats over and over and over again to make it a successful, team-oriented offense.”

On how important the success of Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski is to the team’s success:

“It’s huge. You get guys like that and you look at what they bring. They’re professional in what they do, they’re good players and that’s the stuff that’s important when you look at it as a manager. They take a lot of the extra stuff that I would have to do, and I don’t have to do it, because they’ve already handled it and just the way they go about their business guys will follow them. It always helps when they’re playing well.”

On if he was excited to be in his office for the first time today as White Sox manager:

“We’re just trying to get ready for a game. I try not to look at it through myself; it’s more about us being home as a team and being here and playing. I don’t worry too much about myself as much as I worry about getting everybody ready to play.”

On how Mark Parent has helped him make it through the beginning part of the season:

“When you’re putting together a staff, you’re putting together people you can trust, a guy like Mark, that you can believe in that can do the right things. Mark, along with Joe (McEwing) and Jeff (Manto) are kind of the new guys, but you trust their ability to do the right things, to be prepared and things like that. That was more of how he’s helping me – they’re all important in what they do, but I also trust what they do, that I don’t have to sit there and look over them as well as looking over the players. They’ve taken it upon themselves to do their jobs and they do it well.”

On if he is the type of manager that has two lineups ready at all times:

“No, I just made one today. You’re going to have to come up with it; I’m not going to make two. If something happens and you have to adjust then you just adjust. You’re only picking from 25 guys. It’s different than spring training because you’re not trying to get guys at-bats, you’re trying to win games.”

On if he manages against the Tigers, against Jim Leyland or just manage his team:

“I guess there’s a little bit of everything in there. You’re trying to maybe sense what he’s going to do in certain situations, but the most important thing for me is that our guys are prepared for whatever they’re asked to do and that’s the part that I’m concerned about. Everything else that they do – it’s not like you’re playing a golf course, you’re playing another team – so you do prepare to play them and plan on going against them, but you’re trying to get your guys ready and get them in a situation that they feel comfortable in and give them the ability to be successful.”

On his learning curve:

“The hardest part is sending guys down – you’re in spring training and you have guys close to making the cut. The best part is letting the news out that a kid like Nate Jones has made the team, that’s the fun part. Other stuff that’s hard, we got a guy on our staff that’s in the hospital, that’s hard – that’s the kind of stuff that’s harder than just normal baseball stuff.”

On the key to stepping out from the shadow of a previous regime and creating his own identity:

“We’re just worried about baseball. We’re not worried about creating anything with me. I want us to be a good baseball team first and I respect what they did – they got a World Series ring so they did a lot of great things, but I’m not here to create my own identity. I want us to be a good baseball team and that’s my concern for this season.”

On Morel’s first road trip:

“I don’t know if it’s jitters, but you get excited the first week, you maybe want to do a little more than you should. He’ll be fine, he’s a good player and I know he’s going to be fine.”

On if he identifies with Morel’s situation:

“It’s probably different. He’s better than I was early on. He’ll be fine.”

On if he remembers his last game he played as a member of the Sox:

“No, I don’t. Do you want to refresh me? I know what year it was, that’s all.”

 

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Ballpark was buzzing today with final preparations and touches prior to tomorrow’s Home Opener against the Tigers at 1:10 p.m.  Manager Robin Ventura chose to not hold a workout today, opting instead to allow players and staff to settle in before coming out to the park tomorrow morning.  Pitcher Chris Sale and pitching coach Don Cooper did come in this morning to hold Sale’s side day of throwing, and a few other players stopped in over the course of the day just to set up their lockers.  Of course, the ever-present head trainer Herm Schneider was present as well.

Ventura stopped by to organize his newly painted office, and yes, if you happened to be driving east on 35^th Street around 1 p.m., that probably was the new White Sox manager you saw walking with his family up the street.  Rumors were he was looking for a hot dog stand for lunch!

 

Go Bulls, Go Hawks

Many Sox players and staff are headed to the United Center for tonight’s Chicago Bulls showdown with the Miami Heat.  I am sure the Blackhawks playoff game also will be on in the suites, as most of the Sox players root for both squads.

Opening Day

For whatever reason, I haven’t been getting too many comments to these blog entries this spring – but thanks to the thousands of fans who are reading on a daily basis.  So here’s a try … tell me your best White Sox Opening Day tradition!  Some of the best entries will receive something from me … let me look around in my office and come up with a prize or two.

Miller Lite Bullpen Bar

To answer one reader, yes, the Miller Lite Bullpen Sports Bar opens two and one half hours before gametime from Thursday-Sunday, meaning it does open before the ballpark on some days.

Early Start (or sometimes it is good to be the boss)

The first of our staff arrive at the ballpark tomorrow morning at 2:45 am (so you wanted to work in sports?) to help local television crews enter USCF and set up for morning live shots.  WGN-TV is scheduled to telecast from Bacardi at the Park from 6-9 am, while WBBM (4:30-7 am), WMAQ (5-7), WLS (5-7) and WFLD (7-10 am) all will be out at the park.  Make sure to listen as well to WSCR 670 AM as Mully and Hanley will be broadcasting from Morgan’s near UIC and then The Dan McNeil show will be live from the ballpark beginning at 9 a.m.

Leave Em Laughing

Two recent great commercials on the internet/TV.  This one shows a friendly competition between teammates Gordon Beckham and A.J. Pierzynski.

And this one from our friends at New Era Cap.

 

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Are you looking forward to the Home Opener?

Yeah, we’ve been at Spring Training and gone it seems like for a long time, so it’s nice to get home and play at home. Openers are always fun, so we’re looking forward to it.

Will you bring your family to the game?

Hopefully, my wife will be there. That would be good.

Do you recall your first Major League Opener?

It was very cold, I know that. It was at the old Comiskey. It’s always fun, I think anytime you start the year things are optimistic, and people enjoy that. It sounds corny, but there’s a little bit of ‘Americana’ when you come out to the Opener at home; everybody comes out, and all the money and everything. It’s fun and I’m looking forward to it. 

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

As the White Sox jump out to an early 4-0 lead in Cleveland this morning, work is underway around U.S. Cellular Field to prepare for Friday’s home opener.  Late yesterday, the White Sox released the following information for fans attending Friday’s game:

CHICAGO WHITE SOX OPENING HOME SERIES ADVISORY

The Chicago White Sox are making the following recommendations to fans attending Opening Series games against the Detroit Tigers:

• First pitch of Opening Day, presented by U.S. Cellular, is Friday, April 13 at 1:10 p.m.; the second game of the series is Saturday, April 14 at 3:10 p.m.; and the series finale is Sunday, April 15 at 1:10 p.m.

• There are a limited number of standing-room-only tickets available for Friday’s home opener and these are the only tickets remaining for the game.  Tickets for the remainder of the weekend are available at the White Sox ticket office at U.S. Cellular Field, online at whitesox.com, through Ticketmaster phone lines at (866) SOX-GAME.

• Fans should only purchase tickets through authorized White Sox ticket agents.  There has been an increase in the amount of counterfeit tickets being sold on the secondary market both locally and nationally.  Purchasing tickets through the White Sox ticket office, whitesox.com, Ticketmaster or Stub Hub are the best ways to guarantee valid purchases.

• The White Sox strongly recommend that fans utilize public transportation.  The CTA Red Line stops near the ballpark at 35th Street, and the Green Line is two blocks further east at 35^th Street.

• There also is a Metra stop at 35^th Street, just east of the Dan Ryan Expressway, along the Rock Island line.  Metra will increase its service on game days to accommodate White Sox fans. For the most up-to-date game day service information including weekend inbound train schedules to meet the various scheduled first pitch start times, check metrarail.com.

• Gates to the ballpark open two hours before the start time of the Opening Day game and Sunday’s game, and one and one half hours before Saturday’s game.

• The Bacardi at the Park restaurant near Gate 5 of U.S. Cellular Field is again open this season.  The restaurant will be open to the public on Opening Day at 6 a.m., with media outlets broadcasting live from the venue. A breakfast buffet, coffee and soft drinks will be served until 9 a.m. when regular food and beverage service will commence.  Fans wishing to attend the broadcasts should park in Lot A.  Bacardi at the Park will open at 11 a.m. on the day of all home games the remainder of the season.

• The Miller Lite Bullpen Sports Bar will open two and one half hours before first pitch of Thursday – Sunday games and one and one half hours before games on Monday – Wednesday (limited to the first 500 fans 21 and over).

• Parking lots open three hours before the start time of the Opening Day game and Sunday’s game, while they will open two hours before the start of Saturday’s game.  Fans holding reserved parking coupons should display the coupons prominently as they approach the ballpark.

• Prepaid red coupons are accepted in Lots A, B, C and G, and prepaid green coupons are accepted in Lots F and L only.  Cash parking will be very limited when lots open (Lots G, F and L; Lot A in the early morning only).  Fans seeking cash parking should follow directional signs to available lots.  Cash parking is $25 on weekdays and $23 on weekends.

• Fans planning to park and take the CTA downtown to work in the morning can park in Lot A (cash parking) starting at 5 a.m.  This option is for fans returning to the ballpark for the game.  Lot A is accessible from Wentworth Avenue between 33rd and 35th Streets.  Tailgating will not be allowed in Lot A on Opening Day until three hours before the start of the game, when the rest of the parking lots open.

• Free shuttle service will be available on Opening Day from parking lots at 31^st Street and Moe Drive (ONLY if all cash lots are filled at the ballpark).

• Fans holding tickets for the upper level will not be able to access other levels of the ballpark.  This policy ensures fans safely and comfortably enjoy the game with access to the areas of the ballpark where they bought tickets.

• In accordance with the Illinois law, smoking is prohibited in all areas of U.S. Cellular Field.  There is a designated smoking area outside of Gate 2 and Gate 5.  Those fans wishing to smoke must proceed to the ground level at the base of the ramps at Gate 2 and Gate 5.
• White Sox magnetic schedules will be given to all fans in attendance on Opening Day, courtesy of U.S. Cellular.  The first 20,000 fans at Saturday’s game will receive a White Sox knit bomber hat.  Sunday is a Kids Day and game tickets are available for kids 13 and under (with a fully paid adult) for just $1 at the ticket windows on the day of the game (subject to availability).

• Lot B at Gate 5 of the ballpark is designated for cars displaying state-issued disability placards or license plates.  In addition, any guests in need of assistance will be allowed by ballpark personnel to be dropped off and/or picked up in Lot B.  Fans will have access to Lot B and Gate 5 (located north of the ballpark; across 35th Street) via 33rd Street.

• Alcohol cannot be taken from the park or consumed on public ways, in observation of city regulations.

• Finally, the White Sox ask fans to be respectful of the neighborhood and homes surrounding the ballpark before and after games.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

 

Preparations are well underway to kick off another season of White Sox baseball at U.S. Cellular Field.  Staff are putting the finishing touches on the ballpark for what promises to be a fantastic home opener (weather permitting, of course).  Although the traditionally superstitious may take exception with the date, here we are looking forward to LUCKY Friday the 13^th of April at 1:10 p.m.

For the home opener vs. Detroit, all fans in attendance will receive a 2012 White Sox magnet, presented by U.S. Cellular, as they enter the ballpark.   To avoid missing out on any pre-game ceremonies, we suggest fans arrive by 12:30 p.m.  The National Anthem will be performed by national recording artist and Academy of Country Music Award winner Jack Ingram.

Grammy award-winning rapper, actor and South Side native COMMON has this season’s honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the home opener.  COMMON, a lifelong Sox fan and former Bulls ball boy, is the founder of the Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to empower underprivileged youth to be strong citizens and includes programs dedicated to leadership development & empowerment, educational development, creative expression, as well as a book club.  He is hosting the foundation’s annual Awards Gala and Fundraiser on Saturday night at the Ritz Carlton here in Chicago.  For making the South Side proud, the White Sox are honored to have you COMMON!

 

The fun continues on Saturday, April 14 at 3:10 p.m.  The first 20,000 fans in attendance will receive a White Sox knit bomber hat (see image below).

Also for Saturday’s game, Kierra Franklin, a Girl Scout Ambassador in troop 60823 of Chicago, will throw out the first pitch.  She is currently working on developing a career camp for middle school-aged girls for her Gold Award project.

The final game of the opening series is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. on Jackie Robinson Day, an extremely important day across all of Major League Baseball.

White Sox players, coaches and manager Robin Ventura will wear No. 42 to honor Robinson.  There also will be a very special ceremonial first pitch honoring four generations of African American contributions to baseball.  Additionally, April 15 is the first throwback Sunday, where the White Sox will wear red pinstriped throwback uniforms and red Sox caps to honor the 1972 team for their 40^th anniversary.  The Sox will continue this at the remaining Sunday home games this season.

Finally, this Sunday is the first Kids Day of 2012. Tickets for kids 13 and under are available for only $1 (with a fully paid adult) at the ticket window on the day of the game. Before the game, players will sign autographs and the kids will be able to run the bases after the game (weather permitting).

We are all looking forward to a great season of White Sox baseball. If you can’t make it out to the ballpark this weekend, you can watch Friday and Saturday’s games on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Sunday’s game will be aired on WGN-TV.

Road Trip Notes

 PK currently is tied with Hall of Famer Luke Appling for second in franchise history with 3,528 total bases.  With his next hit, Konerko will move into sole possession of second, trailing only Frank Thomas (3,949).

• Alejando DeAza’s lead off home run last night was the first lead-off shot of his career and first by a White Sox hitter since Scotty Pods did it on 10/2/09 at Detroit.
• How did Robin Ventura celebrate his first career managerial victory on Saturday night, with tons of calls and texts from friends and a bottle of Dom Perignon from Adam Dunn.
• When Ventura won his first game and Hector Santiago earned his first career save, it marked the first time in Major League history a manager netted his first victory and a rookie pitcher his first save in the same game.
• Adam Dunn’s Opening Day home run in Texas was the eighth of his career, tying Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Robinson for the most in baseball history.

Tigers Pitching

Friday: Max Scherzer vs. Jake Peavy

Saturday: Adam Wilk vs. Gavin Floyd

Sunday: Rick Procello vs. Chris Sale

Home Opener Notes of Interest

The White Sox have won nine of their last 10 home openers (2007 the exception) when they face the Tigers Friday at 1:10 p.m. (the only tickets remaining for the opener are standing room, available at www.whitesox.com.

The Sox are 12-9 at U.S. Cellular Field and 12-11 vs. the Tigers all-time in home openers.  Sox starters are 7-1 with a 3.62 ERA over the last 10 home openers as Jake Peavy becomes the sixth pitcher to start in the last 10 years (joining Mark Buehrle, Esteban Loaiza, Jose Contreras, Javier Vazquez and Edwin Jackson).

 

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Today, Chicago White Sox media took a behind-the-scenes tour of what’s new at U.S. Cellular Field for the 2012 season.

The tour began in the Stadium Club, where members of the media could see, smell and taste new menu items, courtesy of Levy Restaurant.  Fans sitting in the Club Level will be able to enjoy these new items throughout the season.

The tour continued with a first look at the Dugout Shop presented by Nike, one of a few new stores open inside the ballpark, located at Section 123.  Here fans are able to purchase White Sox Nike apparel for men, women and children.

After this, members of the media ventured along the 100-level behind home plate to see a handful of giveaway items for the coming season, including a 1972 replica jersey like the ones the players will wear on Sunday home games.  Visit whitesox.com/promos for a complete listing of the 2012 promotional schedule.

Just in case there weren’t enough good eats earlier in the tour, Sportservice provided samples of dozens of new items that will be available in the 100-level and 500-level.  Hot dog and popcorn vendors walked around, voices booming, while organist Lori Moreland played familiar ballpark tunes.  Anticipation and excitement for Friday’s game was buzzing in the air.

Although they were still working on the finishing touches, media also were able to see the new Red Jacket Store located at Section 142, which will feature men’s and women’s vintage White Sox apparel.

At every game this season, fans will be able to purchase raffle tickets in hopes of winning the White Sox smart car (pictured below), donated by an Orland Park dealership.  All proceeds will benefit Chicago White Sox Charities.  Pretty “smart” idea, don’t you think?

The tour concluded at the Chicago Sports Depot across the street from the ballpark.  Media walked all around the two floors and more than 12,000 square feet, fully stocked with the very best selection in merchandise for the White Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks, Bears, Fire, Cubs and other local professional and college teams.

All in all, the day was a great success.  Brooks Boyer (White Sox senior vice president of sales and marketing), Joey Nigro (Sportservice general manager) and Olegario Soto (Levy Restaurant executive chef) were available throughout the tour to provide inside scoop and answer any questions. Everyone enjoyed themselves, saw some new and exciting additions to U.S. Cellular Field, and all of us are that much closer to the first White Sox home game of the year.  Three days to go…