Results tagged ‘ Bobby Thigpen ’
Alex Delivers, Alexei Laughs and “Off-Day” Fun on the Golf Course
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Today’s News
Rios to the Rescue
In Wednesday night’s WBC elimination game between Puerto Rico and Italy, Alex Rios was a key factor in PR’s 4-3 win. He singled in the eighth inning and scored the go-ahead run on Sox minor leaguer Andy Gonzalez’s infield single. Let’s hope Alex celebrates like this frequently in 2013.
Alexei’s Passion
Apparently, a certain White Sox shortstop from Cuba has a certain passion for more than just baseball.
Try the canned air horn.
A grinning Alexei Ramirez can often be heard well before he’s seen in camp over the past few days, sneaking up on unsuspecting teammates and startling them with a burst of an air phone.
Then he laughs.
In the shower.
Alexei laughs.
In the clubhouse.
Alexei laughs.
Echoing down the hallway.
Alexei’s laughter following right behind.
Where Can You Find the Sox on an Off-Day?
For many players and coaches, it’s on the golf course. Two White Sox foursomes tackled TPC Scottsdale on the off-day Tuesday. Here manager Robin Ventura lines up a putt, while director of team travel Ed Cassin, an unidentified golfer in a white floppy hat, coach Daryl Boston and caddie look on. “Unidentified” was latter pegged as bench coach Mark Parent. For more off-day action, see Photo(s) of the Day.
Congratulations are in Order
Darius Day (below on the left) and Rahman Williams (right), both Chicago White Sox ACE participants, have verbally committed to play baseball in college. Day, who attends Simeon Career Academy, will be heading to the University of Arizona. Williams, who attends Morgan Park Academy, will attend the University of Michigan. Both will enroll in the fall of 2014.
Quote of the Day
Bobby Thigpen: “You took a photo of me golfing? Worst round of my life.” The photo in question is below.
Play of the Day
Dewayne Wise homered, his second of the spring, Blake Tekotte tripled and drove in two runs and Jordan Danks went 2-2 with an RBI in the Sox’s 12-4 loss to the Angels in Tempe.
Tomorrow’s Schedule
White Sox vs. Cubs at Camelback Ranch-Glendale (2:05 p.m., Chicago time). Gavin Floyd will start for the Sox while the Cubs starter is TBA.
Did You Know…
…that while the College of Cardinals selected the first Pope Francis, the first Francis to play for the White Sox was Chicagoan Francis (Frank) Roth in 1906 (compliments of @soxnerd on Twitter)
Photo(s) of the Day
Here are bullpen coach Bobby Thigpen (top) and third base coach Joe McEwing on the famous Par 3 at the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale. Can you hear the roar?
Sox, Dodgers Tie as Dunn Goes Deep
Today’s News
Out of the corner of my eye, I sense someone in a Dodgers uniform walking into the dugout.
“Is Robin here yet?’ he asks.
I turn an immediately recognize that it is Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. Behind him, I see lots of autograph seekers and hear people calling his name.
“Not yet,” I say. “He’ll be here is a couple minutes.”
Mr. Koufax started to talk. Fine by me. (editor’s note: I did meet Mr. Koufax one spring in Vero Beach, Florida, when I was a kid. My dad and I were walking down a sidewalk in Dodgertown when here came Mr. Koufax walking toward us. He was very pleasant but, of course, he doesn’t remember me.)
So of course I start small talk with Sandy Koufax. I ask him how he’s doing (fine), where he’s staying down here (West Valley), where he lives (up and down the East Coast depending on the weather) and why in the world are “you guys” throwing Kershaw and Greinke at us this early in the spring … since there is a long way to go.
He laughed a little and then explained that he liked to go nine innings once or twice each spring so that he had dealt with the soreness issue before the season had even begun. “I didn’t care about the first start,” he said. “I was concerned with how I’d feel going into the second. Back then, we didn’t have playoffs.”
You either won the pennant or you went home, he explained, so every start mattered.
After about 10 minutes, Robin showed up to a big smile and hug from Koufax.
“Back when I was with the Dodgers,” RV said, “we used to sneak off and play basketball with Sandy.”
(Sandy, by the way, went to the Universithy of Cincinnati on a hoops scholarship).
Basketball? With Sandy Koufax? That would have made him about 65 back then (Sandy, not Robin).
“Guy could play.”
Truth.
Another true story … maybe
Former White Sox pitcher Grady Hall was in camp on Saturday to say hello and he re-connected with former teammate Mark Parent.
“We played together in the Dominican one winter,” Hall said of the Sox bench coach. “His nickname down there was ‘Grande Lama.’”
“Grande Lama,” I laughed, almost choking on my lunch.
“Nothing to do with the Dali Lama,” Hall corrected. “It had to do with a sponsor and of course, he’s the Grande Lama.”
Quote of the Day
Coop on pitching: “Anytime you shut someone out, you’ve done something,” he said referring to yesterday’s win. “Every game no matter spring training or regular season, there are always going to be 10 balls hit hard. It’s what happens to those 10.”
Play of the Day
Dunn’s first homer of the spring.
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Scott Reifert
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