Tag: White Sox

CACTUS LEAGUE REPORT: 3/18 & 3/19

3/18: Saw the White Sox play the Padres in Peoria, AZ. Peoria is alot farther than I’d remembered it being from Phoenix, about 40 minutes. Got to the game with tailgating time to spare before the game started. 95 degrees, very hot, but who’s complaining, with beer in the house. John Danks is competing with … Continue reading “CACTUS LEAGUE REPORT: 3/18 & 3/19”

wells

3/18: Saw the White Sox play the Padres in Peoria, AZ.
Peoria is alot farther than I’d remembered it being
from Phoenix, about 40 minutes. Got to the game with
tailgating time to spare before the game started. 95
degrees, very hot, but who’s complaining, with beer in
the house. John Danks is competing with Gavin Floyd
for the 5th spot in the Sox rotation, Danks threw
better, but Floyd put up the better numbers. Adrian
Gonzalez, a lefty hitter, bombed one 460 to center off
the southpaw Danks. And leftfielder(?) Russell
Branyan hit an opposite field drive to left, two
(charged) errors on him. Boomer Wells got boomered by
the Southsiders to the tune of seven runs in three
innings, they weren’t saying Boomer. Paul Konerko
nailed one to left and Ryan Sweeney rode one out to
right, late in the game. Good Guys two TD’s, SD 7.

3/19: Went to see the Cubbies do battle against the
Brewers in Maryvale (Maryvale – see generic, no
frills, new ballpark, in bad part of Phoenix). The
beers were going down easy before the game. Wanted to
see three kids and saw all three, Ryan Braun, Felix
Pie, & Jake Fox. If I were the Cubs (thank God I’m
not) I’d play Pie in CF, Alfonso Soriano in LF, &
Jones in right. Alfonso was a no show, with Felix in
RF & Jacque in center, Murton was in left. There were
some 16 year old bikini clad girls hooting it up for
Matt, his face turned as red as his hair. Braun
fouled off three 0-2 pitches before getting all of a
three run bomb to center. Jake Fox (one of at least
six Cub catchers) was called out when an 0-2 pitch
crossed the plate. Final score 11-7 Cubbies over the
Brew Crew.

US Celluar Field has Y2K issue

Rich B from the Home Run Derby crunches the home run numbers on US Celluar Field. Apparently, they are WAY up since year 2000. The most impressive renovation was in 2004 with the removal of the last eight rows of the stadium (6,600 seats the Sox weren’t selling anyway) and the addition of a roof … Continue reading “US Celluar Field has Y2K issue”

Rich B from the Home Run Derby crunches the home run numbers on US Celluar Field. Apparently, they are WAY up since year 2000.

The most impressive renovation was in 2004 with the removal of the last eight rows of the stadium (6,600 seats the Sox weren’t selling anyway) and the addition of a roof which covered almost the entire upper deck. The roof and other adjustments have made the park both more aesthetic and much more potent …

US Cellular HR Numbers

  • 1991-1999: 150.9 HR/YR, 34.85 AB/HR
  • 2000-2006: 232.3 HR/YR, 23.92 AB/HR

Honestly, I have never noticed this before. Surprised none of my Sox friends brought this up.

Anyway, Rich has a simply snarky tone in his posts. That’s not ALWAYS bad, is it? Not if you have the numbers to back it up, I guess.

MY CHICAGO WHITE SOX

I know it’s all about winning. And don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the 2005 World Championship season as much as the next Sox fan. But there is something to be said for being a kid and rooting for your team, win or lose, it was a good day.

I went to my first ballgame the Boys Benefit game played between the White Sox & Cubs at Milwaukee’s County Stadium in 1968. In LF for the White Sox was a hustling youngster that earned a special place in my heart because of his smile, hustle, & love for the game. I’m talking about Walt “No-Neck” Williams!

Walt was selected off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Houston Colt 45’s (he’d batted .000 in nine at bats with Houston). Things could only get better for the 5’6″ 195 pound outfielder, and soon they would when he was traded to the White Sox from the Cardinals along with pitcher Don Dennis in exchange for Johnny Romano and Lee White.

In 1969 “No-Neck” won the regular rightfield job with the White Sox, along with the hearts of their fans. The 25 year old Williams batted a team high .304, with 22 doubles, 1 triple, & 3 HRs, in 471 at bats. Walt would run out EVERYTHING, and always run onto & off of the field! I can still see the smile he brought to my father’s face, as he’d exclaim, “NOW THAT’S A BALLPLAYER!”

THOME IT AIN’T SO JIM

Jim Thome Oprah Winfrey I couldn’t believe it when I heard Jim Thome was in Oprah’s audience. It gets MUCH worse! Dr. Oz was on talking about vah-jay-jays (Oprah’s term, not mine). Then they said it was like a self cleaning oven down there. How embarrassing!!! Thome was there with his wife, but admitted he … Continue reading “THOME IT AIN’T SO JIM”


Jim Thome


Oprah Winfrey

I couldn’t believe it when I heard Jim Thome was in Oprah’s audience. It gets MUCH worse! Dr. Oz was on talking about vah-jay-jays (Oprah’s term, not mine). Then they said it was like a self cleaning oven down there. How embarrassing!!! Thome was there with his wife, but admitted he was sure to take some good natured ribbing from his teammates, OH YEAH!

At least Jim was in the audience, the other day I saw a clip where ARod was on the Martha Stewart Show, promoting his new children’s book. Rodriguez told how he got sick while watching the Superbowl. Alex said, it wasn’t because he wanted the Bears to win, but he would have liked Tom Brady to have been playing in the Big Game. ARod was wearing the same pink shirt he was wearing when we shared an elevator in KC, couldn’t he just burn that shirt?

Followup: Sorry for barging in on your post, TB but I thought I’d post a link to the video. It’s quite funny. -TBZ

Erstad going to Chicago: Should White Sox fans be ecstatic?

Darin Erstad has been picked up by the White Sox. The deal is pending a physical (cross your fingers). I’ve never been a big Erstad fan since the downfall after his big year in 2000. He plays great defense and has playoff experience but his value is limited after that. I can get past the … Continue reading “Erstad going to Chicago: Should White Sox fans be ecstatic?”

Darin Erstad has been picked up by the White Sox. The deal is pending a physical (cross your fingers).

I’ve never been a big Erstad fan since the downfall after his big year in 2000. He plays great defense and has playoff experience but his value is limited after that. I can get past the fact that he doesn’t hit for power. But his OBP has been declining in the last few years and he tends to be rather injury prone. Forty games in 2006 and 67 in 2003 (though he did manage a 153 game season in 2005),

For me, Erstad falls in that category of player that I really WANT to like but gosh darn it, he just won’t fit my team. And by my team, I mean the Cubs. If the Sox want him, have at him.

I’ll certainly give him this. He can’t be any worse than Brian Anderson.

Whither Uribe?

Kenny Williams doesn’t seem too concerned about Juan Uribe’s legal troubles. “If he happens to go to jail, I’ll be looking for another shortstop,” said Williams back in October. “I have not been given any reason to be worried just yet.” Maybe Kenny needs to pay more attention. Of course, legal troubles is a nice … Continue reading “Whither Uribe?”

Kenny Williams doesn’t seem too concerned about Juan Uribe’s legal troubles.

“If he happens to go to jail, I’ll be looking for another shortstop,” said Williams back in October. “I have not been given any reason to be worried just yet.”

Maybe Kenny needs to pay more attention.

Of course, legal troubles is a nice way of saying that Juan may have to report to the Dominican Republican court system twice a month for this year. Juan remains resolved that he will return the majors once this is taken care of, though.

“But first I am going to resolve this, and then I will go to the Major Leagues,” Uribe added.

Hitting coach Greg Walker focuses on Uribe’s offense:

“Uribe can get better,” Walker said. “Will he end up leading the league in walks? No chance. But he can get better, and we will figure out ways to help him out.”

One thing at a time, GW.

The Hawk gets a nod

Here’s something that will make Teddy Ballgame feel all warm and fuzzy.

Ken “Hawk” Harrelson is a finalist for the 2006 Ford Frick award. The Sox announcer is among 10 finalists who have a chance to win the coveted honor in February.

One piece of trivia I learned this article: The Hawk was the one responsible for Frank Thomas’ nickname, Big Hurt.

You can put it on the board, yes!

Cubs get serious about their desire to win

The Cubs have inked Alfonso Soriano to a hefty eight-year, $136 million deal and most Cub fans I know are pretty gleeful about the whole thing. The plan is to put Soriano in center and hope for the best. I’m an optimist. I like to think that with the off-season to work on it, he’ll … Continue reading “Cubs get serious about their desire to win”

The Cubs have inked Alfonso Soriano to a hefty eight-year, $136 million deal and most Cub fans I know are pretty gleeful about the whole thing.

The plan is to put Soriano in center and hope for the best. I’m an optimist. I like to think that with the off-season to work on it, he’ll do ok.

Now his bat… we won’t have to worry too much about his bat.

All the reports I’m reading are putting him in the leadoff spot. Maybe I’m off here but I just don’t think a 46-homer guy with his kind of on-base belongs up there.

To his credit, he improved his OBP to .351 in 2006. But in the years before that, it was .304, .332, .338, .324, and 2005’s .309. Yick.

Regardless, I’m thrilled as a Cub fan. With Soriano, Lee and Ramirez, this gives the Cubs three legit power threats.

In other Cub news, the Cubs acquired Neal Cotts from the Sox in a trade. They gave up David Aardsma and minor leaguer Carlos Vazquez. The media touted this as the two Chicago teams trading relievers but the rumors are Cotts is going to give the starting rotation a try. Cotts did very well during his starting pitching gig in AA ball. This trade should work out well for the Cubs.

JOEY CORA OUT AS 3B COACH

Razor Shines It’s about time we FINALLY get to hear the words all Sox fans have been waiting to hear, “YER OUT!”, but this time it relates to Joey Cora being replaced as the White Sox 3rd base coach. Razor Shines will replace Joey, dunno if Razor will be any better than Joey, but one … Continue reading “JOEY CORA OUT AS 3B COACH”


Razor Shines

It’s about time we FINALLY get to hear the words all Sox fans have been waiting to hear, “YER OUT!”, but this time it relates to Joey Cora being replaced as the White Sox 3rd base coach. Razor Shines will replace Joey, dunno if Razor will be any better than Joey, but one thing’s for certain, he can’t be any worse! This move will make the 2007 White Sox five games better than the 2006 team if everything else stays the same.

In a sad note, Man Soo Lee, the Babe Ruth of Korea, will be returning to his native land. Lee has served as bullpen coach for the White Sox. He will be missed.