Former GM Ken Williams patiently waits to ask new GM Rick Hahn a question

SoxFest was fun this year. Although last week I was lamenting that there wasn’t a Festivus session, it turned out to be a perfectly good thing. There were plenty of great stories, good looks on the players (despite what some may think, Matt Thornton’s beard really is spectacular!) as well as learning that there is a ton of personality with this group and they enjoy each other.

In past year’s, I have done posts where you can read my timeline from twitter over the days. However, this year I just didn’t have time to do that. You can always go back and look at it and I may get around to compiling it to archive soon before it is no longer available. The best news of me tweeting this year was that I managed to stay out of Twitter Jail. This was surprising to me considering all the good tidbits the players and coaches had to share. » Continue reading “Lessons Learned At SoxFest 2013″

This afternoon, some White Sox bloggers got to speak with Brooks Boyer. As we’ve all become aware, the White Sox are honoring the 1983 “Winning Ugly” team this season by wearing the 1983 uniforms on Sundays like they did last year for the 1972 team. Like last year, there will be Retro Racers on Sundays. This year’s 1983 racers will be Harold Baines, Ron Kittle and Carlton Fisk. Many of this year’s giveaways will be centered around the 1983 team, including the Harold Baines and Ron Kittle bobbleheads.

Boyer said that with the vast history of the White Sox and the use of some cool and some not-so-cool uniforms of the paste, the Sox are using the throwback jerseys as a way to not only honor great teams of the past but also to teach younger generations about the history of the team. The Sox would like to continue wearing throwback jerseys, and Boyer said they don’t need a milestone to celebrate to wear a jersey

Boyer was asked some specifics about the uniforms the players will be wearing on Sundays. They will be wearing the 1983 caps and helmets, and the uniforms will feature the All-Star Game patch. The players won’t be required to wear red shoes to go along with the 1983 uniforms. Most players wore red shoes with the pinstripes last season, so it’s possible that many players will wear red shoes this season. Boyer said they could wear ballet shoes for all he cares, as long as they go out and play well.

» Continue reading “Chatting with Brooks Boyer”

Welcome to November 1, 2011 folks. Hard to believe that we are getting so close to the end of the year. Of course, that also means we are that much closer to the 2012 baseball season. First things first though. We have to find out who the 2012 White Sox will be. We’re getting closer though. Yesterday, the rest of Robin Ventura’s coaching staff was named.

From the press release, Jeff Manto is the hitting coach, Mark Parent will be the bench coach and Joe McEwing will be the third base coach. All of these guys have some coaching experience, but not at the major league level. Given the experience level, it seems fairly clear that the direction of the team is to try to be “young” while still saddled with some veterans that if they could be moved, those guys would be out of here.

I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing, to go young. However, I still am leary of the general manager trying to use this manager and his coaching staff as a shield for his failures and missteps the past few seasons. I hope Ken is smart enough to own up to his mistakes and is truly trying to fix them, but not by trying to outspend. I also hope there is a serious look at the minor league system and perhaps some re-evaluating of how things are being done. Just once I’d like to see a player drafted by him actually developed and utilized BY THE WHITE SOX instead of shipped off elsewhere. » Continue reading “Happenings At 35th & Shields: Welcome To November White Sox Fans!”

The White Sox finished off their series against the Boston Red Sox, hoping for a series win. Despite their best efforts, the White Sox fell to the Red Sox with a final score of 5-3.

Mark Buehrle pitched six solid innings and left with a lead. He gave up two runs, both earned, on five hits and three walks. Trouble came in the seventh with Jesse Crain. He lasted 0.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Only one of those runs was earned. Chris Sale came on in relief for an inning. He walked one and struck out two. Jason Frasor pitched for 1.0 innings. He gave up an earned run on one hit and one walk. Will Ohman finished off the ninth, pitching 0.2 innings, intentionally walking Kevin Youkilis and giving up one hit.

Despite racking up 11 hits, the White Sox only scored three runs. Brent Lillibridge, Paul Konerko, and Gordon Beckham were the only starters that did not pick up a hit. Konerko went 0-for-1 with a walk and was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning and left the game. Alexei Ramirez went 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Brent Morel went 2-for-3 with an RBI before Omar Vizquel replaced him as a pinch hitter. Adam Dunn went 1-for-5, but three of those outs were strikeouts. Again. » Continue reading “Red Sox Slip Past White Sox”