South Side Fireworks Man

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ May 24, 2005 -> 10:45 AM) If it was this past weekend, Birmingham was playing West Tennessee, a Cub affiliate. Levine has said the Cubs were close to a trade. Bruce Wolf mentioned this morning the Cubs may be going after Wagner and Polanco. These Phillies scouts may have been scouting Cub prospects. Unless the Cubs grossly overpay, which it seems that Hendry never does, I'll be sick to my stomach if they obtain Wagner and Polanco.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ May 23, 2005 -> 11:30 PM) Trade for Castilla, trade for Huff, trade for someone that can hit better than .238. PLEASE!!! I know it's a pipe dream but I say trade for Chone Figgins. I like that guy.

QUOTE(qwerty @ May 23, 2005 -> 11:08 PM) Garland's loss was not totally underserved in my opinion. Gave up 11 hits tonight is pretty unaccpetable. Granted at least two of those should have been caught. Garland only gave up three runs. And if Crede catches that throw from Timo, two of those runs don't score. I don't think Garland deserves to lose this game.

I want to see Chone Figgins playing third base for the White Sox.

Chone Figgins would look good in a White Sox uniform. He can play 3B and most other positions as well.

QUOTE(sircaffey @ May 16, 2005 -> 10:40 PM) With Dye hitting behind him and now a struggling Everett, Pauly has had THE WORST protection on the team. Carl was hitting third most of the year with sub .200 Konerko and Dye and struggling Rowand hitting behind him. Sure Carl has been struggling a little, but his slumps don't last for weeks on end, and even when he's struggling he gets a few key hits and a home run scattered in there, like yesterday. Plus he's a bargain when you compare his production/salary to Konerko and Dye.

Carl deserves all the love he's been getting, and much more. He's the only one in the middle of the order who has consistently been a tough out. No one has been protecting him. If anyone doesn't deserve the love he's been getting, it's Konerko. I remember earlier in the season after Carl hit a big home run, he barely made it back to the dugout and the crowd was already chanting "Paulie, Paulie!" Carl can come up to bat after hitting a home run or driving in a big run his previous at bat and get polite applause. Konerko can come up after striking out a few times and the crowd is chanting "Paulie!" Anyway, if it weren't for Carl's hitting and his on the field and clubhouse leadership, the Sox wouldn't have 27 wins.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ May 15, 2005 -> 12:51 PM) Timo should go IMO, too. .... But they might move Kevin Walker down to make room for Frank pending on how they feel their need of pitchers. I'm sure Walker will be going back down, but Ross Gload will probably (hopefully) be back by the time Frank comes back. So Perez will probably also have to go. We'll see...

Frank says he will not take any fielding at all during his minor league rehab and will not do any fielding at all any time this year. Sounds like he's in a lot more pain than he has been letting on if that's the case. Anyway, it will be great to have his bat in the lineup at DH, but that means we need Gload back to back up at 1B, and we need guys that can play multiple positions on the bench, as we are going to be one fielder short. Since Harris and Ozuna can both play outfield as well as infield, and Carl is an outfielder, it looks like Timo will be the one to go, barring injuries of course. Anyway, get back soon, Big Hurt!

Per Bruce Levine / ESPN1000

I've always heard Man Soo Lee was a great guy and I guess this is just more proof. We are fortunate to have him in the White Sox family!

Condolences and prayers for Willie and the Harris family. God bless you Willie, and we hope to have you back soon.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ May 4, 2005 -> 02:55 PM) I tend to think he's got himself into a funk due to all the HR's he hit early. You can really see how he's trying to pull everything. The problem is he's pulling way too many pitches outside and just rolling over on it or popping it up weekly. And when he is pulling the ball he seems to be just a bit too quick. He's got to start forcing the issue to the opposite field. Once he does that you'll see him get back. On a sidenote, I'm stunned Everett is even hitting the ball because he has looked horrid at the plate. It seems as if he almost has been getting lucky lately on his hits (I'll take them though). All you have to throw is a changeup down and he's gonna chase it. Carl has been overly agressive if you ask me (although you can't really complain with the results thus far). Carl is just proving what a great hitter he is. He's coming through in the clutch, batting in runs, and keeping his average up with absolutely NO protection from the guys behind him. As for Paulie, he makes way too much money to bring him back. A one dimensional slow first baseman should not be your highest paid position player. Nothing against Paulie, but that's just the way it is. That money can be spent much more efficiently elsewhere. If Paulie wants to come back at a home-town discount, say $6million per year for three years, go ahead and extend his contract. Otherwise, let him go and use the money for a more complete player(s).

Amen!

I hope it's Beltin' Bill. I always liked Melton and he worked well with DJ during that one game spring training game. DJ actually did much better with Melton as the color man. Anyway, get well soon, Hawk!

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Apr 20, 2005 -> 08:22 PM) SUCK IT FLUBBS!!!!!!! OUR 5TH STARTER IS BETTER THAN YOUR ACE. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA You got that right! Garland is much better than Wood and it looks like he's probably just as good if not better than Prior too. Let's see if Prior can prove he can pitch an entire season.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Apr 18, 2005 -> 10:17 PM) J I know this may be crazy and some people may not like it. But if this continues, would anyone be opposed to a Shingo for Latroy Hawkins deal(purely as a setup man to Hermy or Damaso)?? Screw that idea and the horse it rode in on!!! Shingo started off slow last year as well. He's still the man. Anyway, great win tonight. Carl Everett is Mr. Clutch and is the team leader on the field and in the clubhouse. Nice game for Crede tonight as well.

QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Apr 17, 2005 -> 08:59 PM) Also, it's too bad that AJ has been such a disappointment at the plate because he would have been a guy you could hit 3 or 5 but he's continued to not hit as well as he did a few eyars ago. Don't worry about Pierzynski. AJ has always been a slow starter. He'll be just as productive at the plate this year as always.

I'm not about to blame Crede for the loss tonight. But I want to see Pablo Ozuna get a few starts in at 3B to see what he can do. If he handles the job well, then Crede should be the one moved to make room for Big Frank when he returns. Keep Willie and Timo on the bench and trade Joe for a prospect. If Ozuna proves he can't handle the job at third, then at least we'll know and we're back with Crede, where we started from.

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws His offensive production has been crucial to the team's early success, as evidenced by Everett's two-run home run in the first inning Saturday against Minnesota's Brad Radke and his sacrifice fly in the third. Everett's presence in the clubhouse, though, has been just as important. Even as a mid-season acquisition in 2004, players pointed to Everett as a galvanizing force among a group that went in different directions at times. Everett is very eloquent about his theories for success, but they all come down to a basic driving force -- all for one and one for all. "Basically, the only thing I want to bring here is that we respect each other in every aspect of the game," Everett said prior to Saturday's game. "We all share a responsibility. We can't just look for one guy to press the issue. But sometimes a lot of guys want to be quiet, and then if one guy speaks up, a lot of people might be able to voice what they have to say. "We want to put the emphasis out there that if you have something to say, nobody is going to stop you from saying it. We are a family and we can only win this game as a family. We all have to stick together. If we do that, good things can happen." Everett backed up his thoughts by talking about the team-meeting concept. The 13-year veteran would rather have a group get-together, with one or two players airing positive or negative thoughts in front of everyone, than have those same couple of players fear reciprocity over their complaints and possibly take their gripes to the media. Coming in at mid-season, or even later, meant Everett's first job was to figure out the team's overall morale. Starting a full season with the White Sox, and being completely recovered from his myriad of injuries in 2004, not only makes Everett part of that overall morale but also allows him to help continue to make it strong. "In a quarter or a half of a season, you have to find out where everyone is just to have any input," Everett said. "But everyone that comes in, you have to be able to speak your mind and without any scrutiny, saying that if I say something, those guys are going to hate me. "That's not going to be the case here. We are going to talk together and win together. That's how you win. Nine guys aren't going to win this thing. Twenty-five guys aren't going to win it, when you factor in injuries. We need everyone." Making the adjustment: Maybe Everett is the right person to help Frank Thomas fit into this current crew, once Thomas comes back from rehabilitating his surgically repaired left ankle. Then again, a 15-year veteran probably won't need much help. But it doesn't sound as if Thomas is any closer to returning, or going off on a Minor League rehab assignment, for that matter. White Sox athletic trainer Herm Schneider termed Thomas' condition as "status quo" on Saturday and that he still hasn't made close to the necessary strides to break through the scar tissue in his left ankle or do the running needed to get him to the next step. Schneider said that there are still confidence issues that Thomas is dealing with his ankle, although it has been six months since his surgery. Schneider also stated that Thomas' situation really hasn't changed much since he first arrived in Tucson -- he's hitting the ball with authority but not running. Thomas has talked to the White Sox from extended Spring Training in Arizona during the season's opening week. While the players are focused on a few other things right now, Thomas has not been forgotten. "He's doing what he has to do, and we are doing what we have to do here," said Everett of Thomas. "I'm quite sure that when he comes back, he's going to be a great part of this team. "When he gets in, he has to fit into what's going on now. He will have to wean himself into what we are doing. That's why we have to keep him abreast. He's still part of the family, even though he's not here, and we have to be one unit and stick together."

QUOTE(YASNY @ Apr 9, 2005 -> 12:52 AM) Why replace Pods with Timo, another lefty? You misunderstood my point. With Ozuna being able to play outfield, the Sox have seven players capable of playing outfield on the roster (7.5 if you count Gload as an OF, but let's not). This means when Frank comes back, one of those OF becomes expendable. Everett becomes the fourth OF, Ozuna and Willie both play infield as well as outfield and both have speed which leaves Timo with even less chance to play. Nothing against Timo, but he just appears to be the one on the bubble when FT comes back.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Apr 9, 2005 -> 12:09 AM) It makes sense though. Give Scott a day off against a tough lefty, makes perfect sense to me actually. With Ozuna getting a start in left, it looks more and more as if Timo's days with the Sox are numbered with Frank coming back.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Apr 5, 2005 -> 10:01 PM) In other news... Maddux is getting touched up by the D-Backs. 5-3 D-Backs in the bottom of the 5th. He has already served up 2 homers to Luis Gonzalez. Gonzalez now has 9 homeruns in 96 at bats against Maddux. Excellent! (said while tenting fingers)

MILWAUKEE -- Ladies and gentlemen, your 2005 Chicago White Sox. Following their Saturday exhibition finale against Milwaukee, Chicago made a flurry of expected roster moves to complete their Opening Day roster, purchasing the contracts of Pablo Ozuna and Chris Widger, optioning left-hander Kevin Walker to Triple-A Charlotte and placing Frank Thomas on the disabled list. http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws