The White Sox will come home with a losing record from their road trip after dropping tonight’s game by a final of 4-3 to the Toronto Blue Jays. As today’s headline suggests, I really don’t care today. That is because the Boston Marathon was run today and in case you hadn’t heard, there were some explosions near the finish about four hours into the race.

If you’ve read this blog over the past few years, you probably know that I am a runner. Hearing the news of this happening really upset me today, especially knowing so many people who had friends and significant others who were running. One of my very good friends was running Boston today and fortunately, she and her husband are both ok. My friend finished her race before the explosions.

In any event, when horrible things happen I usually find sports to be an escape, but today, not so much. Probably because I have dreams of qualifying for Boston in the next couple of years and running that race. And probably because it has me thinking about how races in the future are going to be different in terms of gear check for runners and what people can and cannot bring to races and how they transport that stuff. » Continue reading “Today, I Don’t Care About White Sox Baseball”

Well, the road trip continues. The White Sox actually have a chance to not have a losing road trip. It won’t be a winning one since they lost the first five games of the 10-game trip so far. In any event, here is what you will need to know about the trip to Toronto to face the Blue Jays.

2013 Record: White Sox: 5-7, Blue Jays: 6-6

2012 Series Record: 6-4

All-Time Series Record: 169-191 (The Sox are 78-104 against the Blue jays on the road)

The following pitchers are expected to start the three games:

Gavin Floyd: 0-2. 5.56 ER, 12K vs. Mark Buehrle: 0-0, 10.24 ERA, 6K

Dylan Axelrod: 0-1, 5.79 ERA, 5K vs. Josh Johnson: 0-1, 11.05 ERA, 7K

Jose Quintana: 0-0, 4.09 ERA, 10K vs. J.A. Happ: 2-00, 3.48 ERA, 10K

Chris Sale: 1-1, 5.21 ERA, 17K vs. R.A. Dickey: 1-2, 5.82 ERA, 13K

All four games begin at 6:07 pm CDT.  » Continue reading “Indoor Baseball. Series Preview: White Sox At Blue Jays”

Lead off home runs are nice to see. Unless your team is not the one who gives it up. Tonight there was a lead off home run. Unfortunately, if you root for the Chicago White Sox, it was not a good thing. The Seattle Mariners’ Franklin Gutierrez led off the game with a ball that initially appeared to be a routine fly to right field. Then the wind got a hold of that ball and out it went for a quick 1-0 lead. The Sox would tie things up in the fourth inning, but then the Sox and Mariners decided it would be a good idea to start trading runs.

yeah, he didn’t help his cause tonight

Jose Quintana started off the evening pitching like the starters had in previous nights. Getting his pitches over and keeping the opposing batters off balance. Then the fifth inning came. And he just fell apart. First, Jason Bay hit a double to left field. Then what should have been an out on Dustin Ackley resulted in Jose committing the first error of the season by someone on the infield. From there, The Mariners decided getting hits was a good idea. All told, they ended up scoring five runs for a 6-1 lead. After they scored the five runs, Jose was off to take a shower for the night. Oh and there were no outs recorded yet.

In came Matt Lindstrom and he did a good job to finally get guys out. He lasted for 2.1 innings before being relieved by Donny Veal. If you thought all hope was lost after that disaster of a fifth inning, all was not as the White Sox came back to score four runs off Mariners starter Blake Beavan. Perhaps that was because he sat in the dugout too long. In any event, the Sox pulled to within one run. » Continue reading “In A Game of Trading Runs, White Sox Come Up Short”

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”

What to do with AJ Pierzynski? The boys didn’t get into the October post season, so immediately questions turned to the off season plans. So far, a little movement has been made in that Jake Peavy was resigned, but still there is the question of should the team re-sign AJ or go with another back stop? AJ filed for free agency as soon as he could and clearly as the season played on, he knew he would be a free agent.

In 2012 he has had an absolutely amazing season with career numbers. He has even managed to improve his ability to throw out runners. Oh and he will be 36 next month so it isn’t like this improvement and career year he had is leading into his prime. No, AJ is well past his prime and theoretically should not have had the kind of season he did. Especially when you consider that he is playing catcher. While catcher isn’t the most demanding position on the field (that is short stop) it does put a ton of wear and tear on a guy. » Continue reading “Should He Stay Or Should He Go Now?”

As you’re probably aware by now, the White Sox beat the Twins in the series finale today, 12-5. It was kind of fantastic, if I do say so myself. For all the struggles the Sox had in the Metrodome, they’re having some better luck now that the Twins play in Target Field. Since Target Field opened in 2010, the Sox are 11-10 there.

Chris Sale continued on with his amazing start to the season, picking up his ninth win and dropping his ERA to 2.27. Of his 93 pitches, 64 were for strikes, and Sale only walked one batter. He did give up two runs, one being a homer in the fifth, but he only allowed six hits over seven innings.

» Continue reading “Sale Shines as Sox Score a Dozen”

Spring Training is over. Things will matter starting tomorrow. For the Sox, the things that will matter begin on Friday afternoon.

Before spring training really had begun, I made an early prognostication on how the AL Central would look come October. Now that spring is done and the season is about to begin, I thought I would revisit how the standings may look. I knew things could change, but how much still remains to be seen.

In addition to what I think, I also talked to fellow AL Central writers, Jen who writes about the Royals, Jessica who writes about the Tigers and Jen, a contributor here on South Side Hit Girl.

So far, everyone is in agreement that the Tigers are the team to beat. From there, opinions vary a great deal. I think the standings will end up with Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City, Cleveland and Minnesota. The White Sox the past few weeks had me thinking there might be something special happening. » Continue reading “Did Spring Make A Difference In Eventual AL Central Standings?”

Getting out of the way of a base stealer.

Happy Sunday! If you happen to be running the Shamrock Shuffle today in Chicago, good luck! The race marks the official start of racing season in Chicago. It also signals that we are thismuchcloser to real games that actually count in baseball.

The Sox of late have started to put things together. They won yesterday’s contest 6-4 against the Brewers. Chris Sale didn’t look awful, but he didn’t look spectacular either. Today’s game will feature Philip Humber facing the San Francisco Giants with Barry Zito starting. Until that time, here is some weekend reading for you to enjoy.

 Friday, us bloggers got a chance to talk to Buddy Bell again. I always enjoy hearing him talk about the minor leagues and the players there. You can read recaps of the call from South Side Sox. » Continue reading “Sunday Reading”

Camp is under way! we finally will get to see what this team will soon look like for the season. Sure, it will take a bit, but in the interim, we will soon enough know about what to potentially expect. As the season draws closer, I will be looking for your help and there will even be some bobbleheads and statues involved for the best ideas to help me out.

On Monday I will be posting about a few contests to get us fired up for spring training. Who knows, you could definitely win a Roger Bossard, Mark Buehrle or Nancy Faust bobblehead or even a Frank Thomas Statue.

And on to news of note. Are you one who suffers from peanut allergies? Have friends who suffer from them and because of that, you can’t attend baseball games with them because of all the peanuts? » Continue reading “Happenings at 35th & Shields: Spring Has Sprung”

The off season is starting to wind down and with the exception of a few moves that other teams made, I’d say this off season has been rather dull. There were a couple of big free agent hitters that had to get new homes and a couple of pitchers needing new homes as well.

The places where those guys landed was rather meh to me. However, the amount of money those guys got to head to new places was ridonkulous. The money that Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder got is . . .  insane. The money C.J. Wilson got was also a bit out there. I should throw Mark Buehrle in that group as well, but given the hometown discounts he gave in the past as well my love for him, I kind of give him a pass.

Sure, the money is insane, those guys got, but the thing that concerns me the most about their deals is the number of years. None of those players is what you’d call a spring chicken. Long term deals always scare me because while a guy has held up well in the past, you just never know what will happen with his health. Not to mention, if that guy does break down fairly early, then you are stuck with a contract that you cannot move. For the team in general, this is one of the worst things that can happen. Especially if you are not very good at developing players from your farm system to use in the majors. CoughtheWhite SoxCough » Continue reading “Early Predictions”