Back in April, we mentioned that White Sox batting practice pitcher Kevin Hickey was found unresponsive in his hotel room April 5 after missing the team’s workout before Opening Day. Hickey was transported from Parkland Hospital in Dallas to Rush University Medical Center in Chicago a week later, where he remained unresponsive.

Hickey passed away in intensive care this morning. He was 56. We offer our sincerest condolences to the Hickey family. Stay tuned to WhiteSox.com for information on services.

With a heavy heart, the White Sox had to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (which is still the most annoying team name to write out). They ended up losing by a score of 7-2. » Continue reading “With Heavy Hearts, Sox Can’t Pull Out a Win”

In the start of a brief five-game road trip, the White Sox are off to Southern California to visit the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. (Yeah, that is a mouthful to say.) This first of a couple of visits to the Los Angels area. Here is what you need to know for the next couple of days before my “favorite” time of year, interleague play begins.

2012 Record: White Sox 17-20, 3rd in AL Central. Angels 16-21, 3rd in AL West

2011 Series Record: 2-6

All-Time Series Record: 345-342 (The Sox are 163-181 at the Angels)

The following pitchers are expected to start the two games:

Gavin Floyd: 3-3, 2.53 ERA, 42K v. Jerome Williams: 3-1, 4.19 ERA, 26K

Chris Sale: 3-2, 3.08 ERA, 33K v. C.J. Wilson: 4-3, 3.42 ERA, 44K

Wednesday’s games begins at 9:05 pm and Thursday’s game starts at 2:35 pm. All times CDT.  » Continue reading “Glamour & Glitter? Series Preview: White Sox @ Angels”

After today’s 10-8 loss to the Tigers, I have one question for you bullpen boys:

I know, I KNOW, sometimes you face pressure to be perfect because you get no run support. However, you HAD it today. All you had to do was get a few outs. I mean, you just breathed life into a Tigers offense that had been rather stagnant of late.

» Continue reading “Dear White Sox Bullpen”

17-19 this season

The Sox did win last night. I pleaded for them to take advantage and they did. Now I need them to do it again. Because it *is* a division rival they square off against.

This fine afternoon, Robin will send out the following guys in hopes of a nice road send off:

Alejandro De Aza CF, Bacon 2B, Big Donkey DH, The King 1B, AJ Pierzynski C, Alex Rios RF, The Cuban Missile SS, The Cuban Tank LF, Brent Morel 3B.

Jake “Dirt Bag” Peavy will start today. All season long, Jake has looked amazing on the mound. Good enough that he should have zero complaints about anything. » Continue reading “As the See-Saw Continues: White Sox v Tigers May 15, 2012″

Sometimes I don’t know what to make of this team.

The Sox pulled out a win tonight against the Tigers, beating them 7-5. Luckily for them, the offense clicked because John Danks was downright awful again. Danks gave up three runs in the first inning and another two in the third. Somehow, after 80 pitches, he got out of the third and was pulled in favor of Zach Stewart after facing two batters in the fourth without recording an out.

I don’t know if Danks is injured. I don’t know if he’s having a fluke year. I don’t know if his previous years were flukes. All I know is that Danks has been atrocious this season. If he’s feeling the pressure of being labeled an ace, he needs that pressure taken off of him. Because he is clearly not performing like an ace. He’s barely performing at the level of a fifth starter.

» Continue reading “John Danks Makes Me Angry, But Dayan Viciedo Makes Me Smile”

Photo by Amy Swenson

This afternoon, White Sox season ticket holders got a chance to chat with Steve Stone and Adam Dunn. As you may have learned from the last two conference calls I covered for Cheryl, I kind of love them and think it’s a great idea. I also love that Cheryl is a season ticket holder and lets me participate.

First to join the call was Steve Stone. Gene Honda moderated the call, and he asked Stoney whether he was surprised at Robin Ventura being named manager this year like a national columnist was. Stone was surprised but for a different reason. Most people were surprised because Robin had never managed at any level prior to this position.

Stone said this is not a negative for Robin. He gets the respect of every player in that clubhouse, but he doesn’t command it. It goes beyond being a good player back in his playing days because he understands the players today. Stone also said that just like a first-year player, a first-year manager is going to make mistakes. Robin has to deal with 25 different egos and work with his coaching staff as well.

» Continue reading “Conference Call with Steve Stone and Adam Dunn”

16-19 this season

Again with the Dirty Beast. It seems the only teams the Sox have played during 2012 have been the Indians and Tigers. And in alternating fashion, it is the Tigers. Again.

Robin is sending out the following guys to hopefully get closer to .500:

Alejandro De Aza CF, Bacon 2B, Big Donkey DH, The King 1B, Alex Rios RF, AJ Pierzynski C, The Cuban Missile SS, The Cuban Tank LF, Brent Morel 3B.

John Danks will start for the White Sox. John has had a less than stellar start to the season. So far this season, his ERA is close to 6.00.

Against the Dirty Beast, he has not fared much better. Last season, he faced them four times and had an ERA close to 8.00 with a 1-3 record. While it might take a lot for things to turn around, tonight would be a good time for John to start changing things up. » Continue reading “PLEASE Take Advantage & Win! White Sox v Tigers May 14, 2012″

Ah yes, after a brief break from the Tigers and Indians, the Sox are back to playing yet another series against the Dirty Beast. This time, we are starting that stupid two game series stuff in preparation for Interleague play this weekend.

Here is what to know for the next couple of days.

2012 Record: White Sox 16-19, 3rd in AL Central. Tigers 17-17, 2nd in AL Central

2012 Season Series: 3-3

All-Time Series Record: 1.024-1,025

The following pitchers are expected to start in the two games:

John Danks:  2-4, 5.89 ERA, 26K v. Drew Smyly: 1-0, 1.59 ERA, 34K

Jake Peavy: 4-1, 1.89 ERA, 44K v. Max Scherzer: 2-3, 5.73 ERA, 45K

Monday’s game begins at 7:10 pm and Tuesday’s game is at 1:10 pm. All times CDT. 

Again the Sox will face an AL rival. This time, they get to see the Dirty Beast. Again. This might not be the best thing for the Sox. They haven’t exactly played the best against their AL competition. In the past few series, the Sox have played the Indians, Royals and the Dirty Beast. All of the series were lost.

There has been some good pitching performances from the starters and bullpen. Then there have been other days when it seems no one used to pitch has it.

The offense has been amazing some nights. Then other nights, lacking if not non-existent.

Meanwhile the Tigers are hanging around .500. This is why the game of baseball needs to be played and standings can’t be determined in April.

The Tigers were picked as the favorite to run away with the AL Central. However, they have been hanging around the break even point and second place for a lot of the season. They are still dealing with injuries. However, starter Doug Fister was recently activate from the disabled list.

I still think the winner of the AL Central will be the one who can beat up on the other division rivals. So far, the Indians have been doing that. But there is still time for things to turn around.

Who’s Hot: Alejandro De Aza  is hitting pretty well this May. So far his average is .362 this month. Andy Dirks who is hitting .555 of late. Who’s Not: AJ Pierzynski is just seven for 46 of late. That is over a span of 13 games. Miguel Cabrera has only six hits in his last 26 at-bats.

For more on the Tigers, be sure to visit Motown Lowdown. 

graphic by Kelly Millin, Aerys Sports Boston Celtics lead writer

Ok, it is finally here. We are 35 games into the season and FINALLY Adam Dunn obliged us with a no strikeout game. It actually happened in game 33 on Friday night, May 11, 2012.

In any event, it is finally here! We finally can be excited that he had a game where he didn’t strikeout. » Continue reading “Introducing . . . Big Donkey’s No K Games!”

finally a good outing gone to waste

Today’s 9-1 loss was not what anyone expected from the White Sox this afternoon. It was a beautiful afternoon. The prior two games, while shutouts for each team, only resulted in five runs being scored.

Not today. In fact, today’s game would be just one of the many reason to refer to the Royals as PITAs. Sure, the bullpen blowup by the Sox was not expected or appreciated.

And yes, the offense while having chances really didn’t do anything to make it easier. But seriously, the Royals are a team that is supposed to get beaten, right?

Perhaps the way the game was foreshadowed in the first inning. Royals starter, Danny Duffy had to leave the game after pitching to just three batters due to elbow soreness. Not a good thing.

Then Luis Mendoza came in and did quite a good job. He did surrender the first run of the game in the third inning. Sadly that was all the Sox would get. » Continue reading “Just When One Thing Goes Right, Something Else Goes Wrong”