Matt Adams's Chicago White Sox fan blog

The Felix Pie "personal problem" requiring surgery is a "twisted testicle".   I'll just leave that alone.

Continue reading "oh, I see"

The propaganda of course is that Jose Contreras is back on track and the source of his problems last year, lack of concentration due to personal issues, has been resolved. Watching him on the mound I’d say so far so good. Velocity is up and the as a result the forkball, though not quite the killer it can be just yet, is workin. Even more impressive were the hacks he took up at the plate. Struck out lookin in his first AB but not before getting two nice looking swings in and in his second AB he stroked a single. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him actually make contact. I was impressed.

Speaking of nice swings, Brian Anderson does not want to start the season in AAA. He is cleaning up at the plate so far. I believe he’s top 3 in hits for the Cactus league if not leading. If he doesn’t fall off completely once the pitching catches up he’s surely set to be our outfield platoonist.

Continue reading "Nice swing"

You’re killin me!
These “precautionary” scratches from the lineup are really making me wonder. Carlos Quentin got pulled because of a shoulder. Jerry Owens of course missed that time with a groin, and now is missing more games, which worries me greatly (see end of season ’05 Podsednik). Smoke and mirrors really piss me off. I guess it really is only spring training and I should just let it go.

Laying down the law
Ozzie said it himself. More small ball. Well in that case I’ve just upped my Bourgeois assessment from long shot of making the team to pretty darn likely after I watched him lay down a great looking bunt in the Rangers game yesterday. The Sox tried and tried last year to get anybody to lay down a decent bunt and just ended up constantly looking stupid. We need at least one guy we know we can call on. It’s probably a stretch since there is no room in the infield for him but I say go for it. Let Richar spend some more time in Charlotte. He can fill out his visa paperwork for next season in his down time.

Continue reading "OH! IT HURTS!"

In 1947 a man named Willard Brown, playing for the St. Louis Browns was the first African American player to hit a home run in the American League. An inside the park job off of Hal Newhouser.

Am I alone in finding humor in Brown for the Browns being the first Brown player to go downtown?

Continue reading "MLB History"

Steve Stone has signed on to announce games on the radio with Ed Farmer full time.

The good news: Chris Singleton is gone.

The bad news: Farmer has nobody to pick on anymore. The Stone won’t stand for it.

Now if I can just figure out how to get past that tv-radio delay I’ll be in good shape.

Continue reading "Steve Stone!"

Alexei Ramirez as good as advertised. Kind of. Offensively he looks great so far. Against early spring training pitching it doesn’t mean too much I suppose. Defensively, not so good.  Though I guess I could give the same “it’s early” disclaimer. Ozzie went ahead and said that he was a bit rough defensively and I have seen him look terribly uncomfortable out there with my own eyes. I’m thinking we probably end up seeing Uribe at 2B after all.  But more than likely he'll at least make the team.  I really want him to have a shot.

Carlos Quentin is HUGE! I don’t recall this guy and certainly not looking like that but seeing him step to the plate recently he looks like he’s got some serious power. I don’t believe he’s actually

Continue reading "Couple of impressions from barely any action"

Juan Uribe is a liar. He claims he’ll do whatever the Sox want as far as his position goes. I’m gonna go head and call him a liar. Did I already say that? He has apparently dropped a few pounds which is good; he was beginning to look a little like a Molina. That’s not going to stop him from swinging at everything thrown in the general direction of the plate. I think his attitude adjustment will only last as long as it takes Ozzie to award a starting spot to someone else (Ramirez).

Still no official word on the Colon situation though the Tribune is saying they are sticking with Floyd and Danks. Good Grief.

Continue reading "Lies!"

Jerry Owens seems to think that not only is he going to earn himself the starting center fielder spot but he is going to steal 65 bases. Sound ridiculous? Not too ridiculous. He has increased his total every year through the minors: 30, 38, 40, and had a combined 56 last year between Charlotte and the Sox. Scotty Pods had 59 in 05 so if the kid even comes close to his goal that means we’ve got that whole lead off problem taken care of. That also means, without him saying as much, that he’s got to hit a lot higher than the .267 he gave us last year. For the fantasy folks this might be a good sleeper pick. I’m sure he’ll be around pretty late.

Everybody’s been jabbering about Ozzie and the “no more Mr. Nice Guy” stuff he’s been giving the press over the last week. He was a little lacking in the on camera attitude last season, I could take some entertainment, whether it produces wins or not. Preferably with the wins.

Continue reading "¡Andale Andale!"

So Spring Training has arrived, folks are reporting and working out but I’m still freezing. Nonetheless, very excited about what we’re looking at for the season. It’s hard to read between the lines on who looks like they’re in shape, who has healed from their injuries since all the articles are pretty much puff pieces this early. It’s safe to say there’s nothing to be learned until games are actually played but just the fact that it’s only around the corner has me feeling like it’s spring. Unless I’m outside I guess.

A little plus and minus from October til now
Offensively, last years performance was pretty much a fluke. Everything crumbled from the bullpens ineffectiveness. Once it was clear games weren’t going to go to the pen and come out win on the other side it seemed like the intensity at all spots was lost. Yes I know that the season started with Jose Contreras giving up 3,000 runs or something to the Indians but I still think the root of our issues last year was the bullpen. No matter how crappy everyone ended up playing. Despite the abuse he’s taken for the moves, Kenny Williams has made some very positive moves by adding Dotel and Linebrink. I’m a little concerned with Linebrink coming from throwing from the mound in the middle of the Humongus Petco Park but it’s an upgrade regardless.

Continue reading "Take off your coat and stay awhile"