Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

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

Washed Away

Apparently a Kansas downpour at 2 pm flooded the visiting clubhouse, causing early arrivals among our players, including Ozzie Guillen, Jim Thome and Matt Thornton, to pitch in and help the clubhouse staff move sofas and chairs out of the flooding water.  With the renovations to the ballpark currently underway, drainage can be an issue behind the scenes.  Sounds like the ballgame will be fine, however.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Campaign Slogans

So here are some of the slogans for JD's campaign that I have received via email, on this blog and via voicemail.  Let me know which one's you like and feel free to add others ...

He's to Dye For

Vote or Dye Trying

Live & Let Dye

The Dye is Cast

Vote Jermaine

JD.  Just Dynamite.  Just Deserving.

WWJD -- We Want Jermaine Dye

Vote 'Til You Dye

Other Ideas

Hopefully, you saw today that we started a special offer where anyone who votes for our guy today through Thursday will be eligible to receive a JD signed jersey with six lucky winners.

We tried to get three things done today with no luck.  1. We tried to get a "Vote for JD ... Go Sox" message on the KC Royals scoreboard (you gotta think Jose Guillen would love it) but they need a two-day notice for scoreboard messages. 2. We tried the same at Wrigley, thinking Cubs fans might suddenyl feel the love, but there was no inventory.  3. Right now, I am trying to find a plane to fly past Kauffman Stadium with a "Vote for JD ... whitesox.com" message dragging behind it, but for some reason, it's tough to find a plane in KC.

We did send down some Vote JD stickers for the players to wear on their BP tops tonight and tomorrow, so we'll see what kind of play that gets.

And if you missed my note earlier, make sure you also vote for Aaron Rowand when you vote for JD.  The Giants have agreed to push JD, who grew up in their area, in return for our pushing ARow, which is, of course, very, very easy.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Vote For JD

At the end of day yesterday, MLBAM announced that JD was a close second to Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria in the Final Man voting, which ends Thursday at 4 p.m. CT.

So come on White Sox fans!  Time to mobilize.

You've succeeded in helping Scott Podsednik reach the 2005 game and A.J. Pierzynski the 2006 Midsummer Classic.  JD certainly is deserving, so let's show him the way.

This morning, we are announcing a special offer.  Anyone who votes for JD from this morning until polls close will be eligible to win one of six autographed Jermaine Dye jerseys ... so keep voting (unlike regular All-Star voting, there is no limit to Final Man balloting).

We also reached an agreement with the San Francisco Giants yesterday on a trade of sorts.  I told them we would encourage our fans to vote for Aaron Rowand in exchange for San Francisco fans voting for JD. 

As someone from BAM told me yesterday, "How cool that a team would want to support a former player."

"It's Aaron," I replied.  "If you knew him, you'd understand."

So vote for JD and vote for A-Row.  We can re-unite Aaron and Joe Crede in New York next week.

Off Day

And so how did JD spend his off day Monday?

Along with Harold Baines and Ken Williams, he took part in a special forum for young African-American ballplayers at USCF and then stuck around to watch a few innings as those same high school stars played in the "Double Duty Classic," an brand new event meant to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Negro League East-West All-Star Game and to pay tribute to the tradition of the Negro Leagues at old Comiskey Park.

The morning's forum, hosted by ESPN's Michael Smith, featured three panels.  The first was made up of historians Larry Lester of the Negro League Hall of Fame in KC, Eddie Bedford a professor at Western Michigan who will hold a special Negro League convention later this month, Adrian Burgos, a professor from Illinois who specializes in Latin baseball history in this country, and Sharon Robinson, Jackie's daughter who now works for MLB.

The second panel featured JD and HB talking about their personal experiences and offering their insight and advice to the young players.

Finally, Ken Williams spoke to the group about how young players should approach their lives and the game of baseball.  Williams talked about taking advantage of opportunities presented and the responsibility each person has as just one member of a long timeline of history.

The 1:30 forum was attended by several VIPs, including The Rev. Jesse Jackson, Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, Jimmie Lee Solomon of MLB, Darrell Miller of MLB, Jerry Reinsdorf and members of the Radcliffe family, for which the exhibition was named.  Negro Leaguers like Hank Presswood, Minnie Minoso, Walt Owens, Ernest Westwood and Al Spearman attended.

Following lunch, nearly 1,000 fans attended the nine-inning game, which ended in a 4-4 tie when the West team scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The day was a resounding success, most importantly for the kids who got to play on a major league field in front of family and friends, but also for everyone in attendance who learned about the Negro Leagues and had a chance to see some great young talent take the field in old-style uniforms.

It was another moment that made me proud to work for the White Sox.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

So Now It's On ...

Let's go White Sox fans ... it's time to start voting over and over again.  Let's get JD onto the All-Star team ... vote at whitesox.com and/or mlb.com.

You all know we've got a reputation as voters to live up to.  Send me your thoughts and/or ideas for promoting JD over the next few days (voting closes Thursday at 4 pm CT, so our schedule, off day, Tuesday and Wednesday in KC, doesn't help us).

So get voting ...

So far, we've been working on the following ...

+Creating artwork to support his campaign

+We made and distributed 100 signs for fans inside the ballpark

+Our crack scoreboard crew is creating a 15-second TV campaign spot

+We handed out "Vote for JD" t-shirts to our entire clubhouse

Congrats

To Joe Crede and Carlos Quentin on making their first All-Star teams.  I was surprised -- but honestly, happy -- that none of our pitchers were chosen.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Today's Lineup

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

All-Star Announcement

Rosters for the 2008 All-Star teams will be announced today on the Selection Show, carried by TBS at 1 p.m. CT.  As of 2 p.m. CT, we will be able to announce any player(s) we have going to New York and whether or not we have a player in the Final Man competition.  If we do, then voting begins immediately at mlb.com and whitesox.com.  In fine Chicago fashion, we need you to vote early and vote often.  Dead relatives also are eligible to vote.

Double Duty Classic

Two terrific stories in midwest newspapers about tomorrow's Double Duty Classic. And this from the Indianpolis Star.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Happy Venezuelan Independence Day (perhaps, knowing Ozzie, maybe I should have checked first, but he said it's Venezuelan Independence Day ... Viva Simon Bolivar)

Tonight's Lineup

OC, SS; BA, CF; Q, LF; Dye, RF; Thome, DH; Crede, 3B; Swisher, 1B; Ramirez, 2B; Hall, C.  Floyd pitching.

Tomorrow's Trib

Check out these two stories in tomorrow's Chicago Tribune, one on Carlos Quentin and a column by Mike Downey on Alexei Ramirez.

Random Notes

The White Sox lead the American League with 117 home runs, 13 more than Texas ...Paul Konerko went 2-3 with a walk playing first base last night for Class AAA Charlotte ... the Sox are 19-12 when the opposition starts a left-handed pitcher ... the Sox have been in first place 76 days this season.

Double Duty Classic

For those of you who love high school baseball and want to support a neat new event we are hosting on Monday:

WHITE SOX TO HOST TRIBUTE TO NEGRO LEAGUES ALL-STAR GAME

Double Duty Classic to Feature High School Talent from Across Midwest and Commemorate 75th Anniversary of East-West All-Star Game

 CHICAGO - This summer, the Chicago White Sox will host the first-ever Double Duty Classic - an event celebrating the history and tradition of Negro Leagues baseball in Chicago and promoting the next generation of inner-city baseball players. 

The game will take place on Monday, July 7 at U.S. Cellular Field with inner city high school players from across the Midwest (Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee and St. Louis) participating in the All-Star showcase.  The players will dress in uniforms honoring the Negro Leagues' East-West All-Star Game.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the first East-West All-Star Game, which was played at Comiskey Park in Chicago.  The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) will collaborate with the White Sox on the event, which will include a special forum on the history of the Negro Leagues and African-Americans in the game of baseball.  The forum will precede the game on July 7 and feature a roster of speakers and prominent members of the baseball community.

"It is with great honor we host the first-ever Double Duty Classic," said Jerry Reinsdorf, White Sox chairman.  "With this event we hope to provide young inner-city players an opportunity to showcase their skills.  Equally important, the event honors the legacy of the Negro Leagues and its history in the city of Chicago."

Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe was born on July 7, 1902 in Mobile, Ala. and played for the Chicago American Giants of the Negro Leagues.  At the age of 41, Radcliffe earned MVP honors for his performance during the 1943 season with the American Giants.  Nicknamed "Double Duty" because he would regularly pitch the first game of a doubleheader and catch the second game, Radcliffe was one of the most dynamic players in the Negro Leagues and all of baseball.  Beginning in 2002, until the year of his death in Chicago in 2005, Radcliffe threw a ceremonial first pitch prior to a White Sox game.

Chicago White Sox Charities (CWSC), on behalf of the Double Duty Classic, will make a $10,000 donation to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Ed Farmer

Just stopped in my office.  We snuck a round of golf in this morning at Lost Dunes in Bridgman, Mich.  Ed played well.

He looked at the framed newspapers on the wall of my office from the 2005 postseason.

"We played like that team a few days ago," he said.

"I look at those pictures from 2005 ... in some ways it seems like it was a long time ago.  In other ways, it seems like it was yesterday."

He was off to find a dozen baseballs to sign for a friend.

"You want me to de-value a baseball?" he asked his friend, just to be sure.

Running this a third time ...

Blog Night III

OK, we finally got this worked out ... to order 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?

How about anyone who has attended in the past offering their thoughts/opinions/comments to others here to explain how the evening goes and if it's a good time (or not) ...

Friday, July 4, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

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

Honoring our Servicemen and Servicewomen

The White Sox are wearing unique camoflauge uniforms for today's game with two-tone brown hats in tribute to the men and women across the globe serving our country and protecting our freedoms.

Mark Buehrle, who happens to be starting tonight's game, told Brooks Boyer, our marketing head, that he really wanted the Sox to wear the camo uniforms similar to what San Diego wears.  Brooks made it happen and July 4th is perfect.

Ozzie, ever the funnyman, said he thought some of our guys would use the camo tops to go hunting down on Jim Thome's spread this fall ...

There also will be a flyover tonight.

Prior to the game, the White Sox hosted two special servicemen during batting practice and many more will be in attendance for the game.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

Wise, CF; AJ, C; Q, LF; Dye, RF; Thome, DH; Crede, 3B; Swish,1B; Ram, 2B; Uribe, SS.  Vazquez pitching.

Walk Off

A.J. now owns three of the 36 regular-season, game-ending home runs in U.S. Cellular Field history.  The last time the White Sox recorded consecutive game-winning hits was on 5/30-31/05 against Anaheim.

Pitching, Pitching and More Pitching

This series features the best two pitching staffs in the majors as the Sox lead all teams with a 3.38 ERA and the A's are second at 3.45 ...

Notes

Nick Swisher takes on his former foes ... Frank Thomas is at the ballpark this series, rehabbing his sore knee ... Frank said he expects to be back sometime after the All-Star Break ... Paul Konerko packed his bags for Class AAA Charlotte and likely will begin his rehab tomorrow with the Knights ... Ozzie said prior to the game that he wants Bobby Jenks to take his time recovering from tightness in a muscle in his left back.

Blog Night III (Re-printed from yesterday with the consent of the author) ...

OK, we finally got this worked out ... to order 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?

How about anyone who has attended in the past offering their thoughts/opinions/comments to others here to explain how the evening goes and if it's a good time (or not) ...

Finally

Did people like the running, inning-by-inning report from our game in LA or was it a pain?

Let me know ...

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Tonight's Lineup Against Sabathia

OC, SS; AJ, C; Q, LF; Dye, RF; Thome, DH; Ozuna, 3B; Swish, 1B; Ram, 2B; BA, CF.  Contreras pitching.

Vote, Vote and Vote Again

Reminder that tonight is the deadline for on-line voting for the All-Star Team.

Noteworthy

The Sox have won eight of their last nine against the Tribe and we've won six straight at U.S. Cellular Field against Cleveland ... Sox are 23-11 vs. Central foes and have been in first place 73 days this season ... we are 18-9 so far on our 26 in 32 game stretch at home ... the Sox now lead the majors with a 3.38 ERA, 0.03 ahead of Oakland ... at 29-11, the Sox have the third-best home record in the majors (behind the team from the north side, 33-10, and Boston, 31-10).

All-Stars

Congrats to Class AAA pitcher Jason Childers, !B Brad Eldred and 2B Chris Getz on being named to the International League All-Star Team.  The Class AAA All-Star Game will be held on 7/16 in Louisville.

Class AA pitchers Justin Cassel, Jon Link and Carlos Torres were joined by OFs Ricardo Nanita and Miguel Negron on the Southern League South Division All-Star Team.  OF David Cook was also named to the club but has been promoted to Class AAA Charlotte and cannot play in the game on 7/14 at Carolina.

DYK

Tampa Bay certainly deserves the hype, but the team with the second-best improvement since 2007 is ... your Chicago White Sox!

Comparing 7/1/07 to 7/1/08, Tampa owns the biggest improvement in winning percentage at +.201 (.413 to .614), while the Sox are second at +.129 (.449 to .578) and St. Louis is third at .103 (.462 to .565).

Blog Night III

OK, we finally got this worked out ... to order 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?

How about anyone who has attended in the past offering their thoughts/opinions/comments to others here to explain how the evening goes and if it's a good time (or not) ...

Final DYK

Starting last night, the White Sox face on successive nights, the AL Wins leader (Lee), the AL strikeout leader (Sabathia) and the AL ERA leader (Duscherer).

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Tonight's Lineup

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

Battle of Left-handers

Everyone is aware that Cleveland's Cliff Lee is 11-1 with an ERA of 2.34, second in the league, but how about John Danks, who ranks third in the AL with a 2.62 ERA.

Swish's Wishes

Nick Swisher hosted Adam Bender and his family today at the ballpark.  Bender, 8, is from Kentucky.  He caught Swish's eye recently when a wire photo showed Bender catching in his youth league game.  Bender, you see, has one leg.

So Swish invited the boy up to see the clubhouse, play catch on the field and watch BP.  All the guys stopped to say hello.

And for the ceremonial first pitch tonight, there will be a twist.  Swish will throw to Bender.

Here's the release with the details:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Tuesday, July 1, 2008

NICK SWISHER TO HONOR INSPIRATIONAL LITTLE LEAGUER
White Sox Slugger Recognizes the Spirit, Hope and Courage in Kids With Special Visit
From Cancer Survivor on the One-Year Anniversary of Foundation, "Swish's Wishes"
 

            CHICAGO - Eight-year-old baseball catcher Adam Bender, who lost his leg to cancer at the age of one, will join Chicago White Sox outfielder/first baseman Nick Swisher on the field of U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday, July 1 to catch Swisher's ceremonial first pitch.  Swisher invited Adam to the game and to throw the first pitch as a sign of inspiration, hope and courage - the virtues that Swisher has sought to bring to so many during the first year of his "Swish's Wishes™" charitable foundation for kids.

          "I can't think of a better way to celebrate the first anniversary of 'Swish's Wishes' then to spend it with Adam Bender and his family," said Swisher. "I'm a big believer in 'it's when you give of yourself that you truly receive,' and I'm so happy he accepted my invitation to be here today.  He has given me the greatest gift by sharing his fight and no-quit attitude.  He's such an inspiration, and I think we all can learn something from this little boy."

             A resident of Lexington, Ken., Adam, who also plays soccer and is the quarterback of his flag football team, professes to enjoy baseball the most.   He prepares to defend the plate by resting on one knee until a runner tries to score and that's when he hops on one leg to take the throw.  This skill earned him the league lead in put outs at his position at one point this past Little League season.

            Before handling the first pitch catching duties, Adam will get to meet Nick's White Sox teammates, tour the clubhouse, sit in the dugout and watch the team take batting practice before its game vs. Cleveland.

            "I'm not sure who'll be more excited when we meet today, Adam or me," said Swisher.  "On second thought, I'm sure it will be me!"

            "Swish's Wishes" is committed to assisting with vital medical and childhood care, education, recreational activities and other essential programs that will make a difference in a child's life.  All contributions to the Nick Swisher "Swish's Wishes" Foundation are processed through The Community Foundation For the National Capital Region (www.cfncr.org), a 501(c) (3) Tax ID 23-7343119.  For more information about "Swish's Wishes," please visit www.nickswisher.net.

Blog Night

We've got a date ... August 6.  Details on buying tickets tomorrow!

No one complain about the date.  You complain, you can't come ...