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″

So far there have been two days of SoxFest. Today was the final day and it did live up to expectations. The first couple of days there was a lot of talk of chemistry.  How well do the players get along? How well does everyone like each other. How much is everyone working toward the same goal? Is everyone pulling on the rope in the same direction? Hopefully you followed along on twitter to know what was been happening in the sessions. If not, you should have as there were lots of fun little nuggets that come up. Such as me realizing I don’t despise Tom “Wimpy” Paciorek as much as I have in the past. And Tony La Russa doesn’t seem quite as douchey as I am used to seeing him be.

As I am sure you know by now, the 1983 team is being celebrated this season, including wearing the 1983 uniform on Sunday home games. There had far been a couple of panels with some members of that team as well as other panels where members of the team talked in general. Additionally, there was a panel featuring Aaron Rowand, Joe Crede, Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko discussing the 2005 team. » Continue reading “SoxFest 2013 All About Chemistry So Far”

As I’m sure you’re all fully aware, SoxFest is this weekend. Fans from all over will flock downtown to meet some of their favorite players and hear some of them in panels. Before SoxFest starts, the White Sox wanted to give season ticket holders a chance to talk to Tom Paciorek and Robin Ventura during a conference call this afternoon.

As with every other season ticket holder chat, Gene Honda moderated the call, and we started with Wimpy. He’ll be a big part of SoxFest this weekend, as it will partly be a celebrationg of the 1983 “Winning Ugly” team. Wimpy is excited to be there this weekend with a great group of guys and a great coaching staff. He mentioned that while most fans remember the players, some people may have forgotten the personnel of the 1983 team. » Continue reading “Conference Call with Tom Paciorek and Robin Ventura”

Hello Sox Fans!!!! Sorry that I have been away from talking to you. Unfortunately, my “real” job got in the way of me keeping up as meticulously as I should with White Sox news of late. However, hopefully you’ve been kept abreast of what has been happening with the team.

So far this off season, we’ve seen some decent re-signings as well as having to say goodbye to old favorites we all love for one reason or another. And now that it is late January, we might be starting to get itchy for baseball. The World Baseball Classic will soon be starting up, which will slightly fill the role of the game until Opening Day. Speaking of WBC, congratulatiosn to Jesse Crain (Team Canada), Alex Rios, Hector Santiago, Andy Gonzalez (Team Puerto Rico) and Andre Rienzo (Team Brazil) on their participation. But of course, the big news is that SoxFest is next weekend. Are you going to be there? If not, no worries as I will be there again to live tweet what is happening. Be sure to follow me on Twitter for all the happenings at SoxFest. » Continue reading “Spring Is On The Way”

Hawk Harrelson and his usual broadcast partner Steve Stone

I know you will be shocked by this confession (ok, maybe not if you have read me in the past) I’m about to make but according to a recent project at Fangraphs, Hawk and Stone come in last in their off season ranking. I can’t say I disagree with this too much. Mainly because I am not a fan of Hawk.

There. I said it. I’ve said it before, but in the context of who Hawk was working with (i.e., Tom Paciorek.) However, in looking at things on their own, I am still not a fan.

Why? Because the things that make him enduring to some are what drive me bonkers. He’s a homer for sure. And there is nothing wrong with being a homer. Except for when you are such a homer that you can’t fairly criticize when criticism should be levied.

There is also the seeming dismissiveness of the person in the booth next to Hawk. Sure, Hawk has been around the game of baseball for a VERY long time. So long in fact that you can pick up some interesting history if you can listen long enough to hear it. » Continue reading “Hawk Harrelson as Worst Announcer?”

This past weekend’s series in Oakland saw a reuniting in the booth of Ken “Hawk” Harrelson and Tom “Wimpy” Paciorek. Steve Stone, Hawk’s usual analyst for games was taking a few days off. When the announcement was made these two would be in the booth, my first reaction was, “why do I have to deal with the blackout restrictions on MLB.TV and this would be a great time to have MLB Package on my cable to watch any games I wanted, both home and away broadcasts.

Hawk Harrelson and his usual broadcast partner Steve Stone

I realize I am in the minority, but I’m saying it anyway. I don’t like Hawk and Wimpy. I never did like them. In fact, their broadcasting was the primary reason that I would listen to the games on the radio with my tv muted back in the day. It was a habit I did for the longest of time, until eventually I just learned to semi tune out Hawk and all of his hawkisms. It also helped that Wimpy was gone as well. I am not totally sure what exactly it is about those two that drove me to the radio broadcast, but it reminds me in general that a lot of broacasters today are just awful.

Nowadays, it seems every guy in the booth is looking to do schtick so he can stand out amongst all the broadcasters. Some of my favorites are the “old school” guys like Ernie Harwell and Vin Scully. Those guys were / are just classy about calling a game. Sure, Vin will tell you a story that seemingly has nothing to do with what is happening on the field, but he does it in such a way, that you just feel comforted. Not to mention when Vin tells a story, he doesn’t miss a beat in telling you what is going on in the game. » Continue reading “Please Stop Hurting My Ears”

I really, really want to know what it is exactly it is that makes the Sox players’ bats wake up and what makes them to sleep. Maybe a few more games intensely watched may yield some answers. As I contemplate this, enjoy some morning reading before a mid-afternoon game.

Thoughts on the six-man rotation.

Jeff Gray was claimed by the Mariners after being DFA’d when Jake returned from the DL.

Kevin explains why he thinks the Sox are watchable again.

Beyond the Boxscore takes a look at teams that are doing well with low BABIP.

Extra rest between starts? Then let me throw up to 120 pitches so says Jake.

Update on Jared Mitchell down in the minors.

Chuck talks to Hawk and Wimpy about their booth reunion for the series in Oakland.