Eddie's Baseball Blog

Final Project: Results of Chicago Tribune's April 2009 Baseball Coverage

2009-05-11T18:33:00.013-05:00

Results of data colleced from the Chicago Tribune's sports section via their website

Introduction:
Beginning on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009, I began collecting and recording stories from the online version of the Chicago Tribune’s sports section, in an effort to compare the company’s coverage of the White Sox and Cubs. Considering the recent financial struggles of the Chicago Tribune, and the subsequent sale of the Chicago Cubs imminent, I was curious as to how the Tribune’s coverage of the two teams would differ at the outset of the 2009 season. Growing up a White Sox fan, I’ve always felt as though the coverage has been unbalanced, if not biased toward the Cubs – and probably rightfully so. But as the Tribune sits on the threshold of a new era of ownership, I thought it would be interesting to track how – if at all – coverage of Chicago’s baseball teams would change. And, with both teams entering the 2009 season as champions of their divisions, and both having high hopes for the upcoming year, I considered it an intriguing matter as to how the Tribune would handle its coverage; not only initially, but throughout the month of April as well.

(Data collected from the Chicago Tribune’s online sports section from April 7th – April 26th. Stories considered to be “headlines” are bolded.)

A: "Headline Story"; B: Additional Stories

April 7th
Cubs: 3
- “Cubs, Big Z beat Astros in season Opener”
- “Cubs follow script in Opening Day win”
- “Ryan Dempster hopes Cubs fans can enjoy ride”
Sox: 1
- “White Sox’s goal: Have each starting pitcher work 200 innings”

April 8th
Cubs: 3
- “Astros trip Cubs 3-2 in 10 innings”
- “Soto’s shoulder a nagging concern for Cubs”
- “Lee disputes that his age is a cause for concern”
Sox: 4
- “Thome’s homer powers White Sox in Opener”
- “Sox need big boppers’ pop”
- “For most part, ‘new guys’ paid off for Sox”

April 9th
Cubs: 5
- “Cubs beat Astros 11-6”
- “Lilly yanked after homerun derby”
- “Cubs adding Spanish radio broadcasts”
- “Cubs catcher Soto thinks soreness no big deal”
- “Cubs third in 2009 baseball salaries”
Sox: 4
- “White Sox blanked 2-0”
- “Royals pitcher targets Quentin”
- “Buehrle hesitant to change offseason routine”
- “Wise to leadoff – for now”

April 10th
Cubs: 0
Sox: 1
- “Crede has fond Sox memories”

April 11th
Cubs: 4
- “Brewers rally to beat Cubs”
- “Koyie Hill offers mea culpa on spike”
- “Soto doubtful for Cubs Brewers series”
- “Harden shows skeptics with sharp outing”
Sox: 2
- “White Sox fall to Twins 12-5”
- “Lillibridge latest leadoff hitter for White Sox”

April 12th
Cubs: 3
- “Rain Threatens Cubs Opener”
- “Bradley leaves game with leg injury”
- “ESPN’s Steve Phillips apologizes to Cubs’ Piniella”
Sox: 3
- “Sox put away Twins 6-1”
- “Sox begin 10 game trip”
- “White Sox will try to rest catcher Pierzynski”

April 13th
Cubs: 3
- “Cubs wait out rainy weather”
- “Cubs host Colorado”
- “Cubs beat Brewers 8-5”
Sox: 2
- “White Sox begin 10-game trip”
- “Series Matchup: White Sox at Detroit Tigers”

April 14th
Cubs: 4
- “Ted Lilly brilliant as Cubs blank Rockies 4-0”
- “A day of firsts on Cubs’ first home game of season”
- “Cubs exercise caution with Milton Bradley’s groin injury”
- “Cubs’ Piniella tinkers with lineup”
Sox: 4
- “White Sox 10, Tigers 6”
- “Wise separates shoulder, Owens recalled”
- “White Sox Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko hit 300th career homeruns”
- “Sox’s Floyd struggles with control, happy to get win”

April 15th
Cubs: 3
- “Cubs warm to Wrigley climate change”
- “Cubs relievers learning Piniella life lessons”
- “Bradley working hard to change ways”
Sox: 2
- “White Sox give Anderson shot in center field”
- “Sox shuffle rotation after postponement”

April 16th
Cubs: 1
- “Ramirez back in Cubs’ lineup to face Cards”
Sox: 0

April 17th
Cubs: 4
- “Cubs starter likes Blackhawks in Cup Finals”
- “Suspension for Cubs’ Bradley?”
- “Cubs hear nothing on Bradley’s status”
- “Starters, relievers, hitters and fielders all sloppy in loss”
Sox: 2
- “Sox hold off Rays 3-2”
- “Guillen still smarts of playoff losses to TB”

April 18th
Cubs: 3
- “Cubs rally to top Cardinals 8-7”
- “Cubs’ Milton Bradley suspended for 2 games”
- “Zambrano’s explanation: ‘Things happen’”
Sox: 2
- “Grand slam sinks Sox”
- “Guillen won’t overuse his starters so early”

April 19th
Cubs: 2
- “Ramirez’s walk-off HR wins it for Cubs in 11 innings”
- “Cubs’ Bradley to appeal on matter of ‘principle’”
Sox: 2
- “Konerko has 3 RBIs in White Sox’s 8-3 win”
- “Dye’s 1,000th RBI”

April 20th
Cubs: 2
- “Sunday Night’s Cubs-Cardinals game postponed”
- “Piniella vs. La Russa”
Sox: 2
- “Sox’s Floyd allows two runs over seven innings”
- “Ozzie vs. Nick Swisher”
Both: 1
- “Phil Rogers’ rankings: Cubs at 4, White Sox at 10”

April 21st
Cubs: 2
- “What we know about Cubs after 11 games”
- “Hoffpauir grateful for string of at-bats”
Sox: 3
- “White Sox meet President Obama”
- “Returning to mound isn’t enough for White Sox Contreras”
- “Nix to start minor-league rehab stint”

April 22nd
Cubs: 1
- “Harden, Ramirez star in Cubs’ 7-2 victory”
Sox: 1
- “Contreras wild as White Sox fall 10-3”

April 23rd
Cubs: 3
- “Piniella lays down the law to Bradley”
- “Reds blank Cubs 3-0”
- “Samardzija called up, Vizcaino likely to be cut”
Sox: 2
- “Sox dump Orioles 8-2”
- “Contreras in rotation”

April 24th
Cubs: 2
- “Milton Bradley breaks silence after Cubs’ loss”
- “Bradley not close to coming back”
Sox: 2
- “Colon flops in 6-2 Sox loss”
- “Up next: Sox-Jays”

April 25th
Cubs: 3
- “Cubs’ Carlos Marmol out with knee sprain”
- “Cubs’ Ramirez out for today’s game”
- “Cardinals edge Cubs 4-3”
Sox: 0

April 26th
Cubs: 2
- “Cubs have scored just 1 earned run in 4-game skid”
- “Marmol: Knee sprain”
Sox: 2
- “White Sox crush Blue Jays”
- “Slump? Slam for Alexei”

Cubs Final Total: 53
Headlines: 5

Sox Final Total: 41
Headlines: 2

Mutual: 1 (4/20)

2008 Archive Results
Cubs: 184
Sox: 107

(Note: Graphs included in hard-copy)

Source used for attendance rankings (used in hard-copy):
ESPN

Sources used for recent Television ratings (used in hard-copy):
Chicago Sun-Times
Comcast Sportsnet Chicago

Poll Voters....

2009-05-07T18:19:00.002-05:00

So I didn't get a chance to do this earlier, but figured it'd be a decent idea to put up my project proposal and approach to what I'm trying to do - just so you don't think I'm some paranoid freak Sox fan looking for reasons to complain.

On the other hand, if you already see me as a paranoid freak Sox fan looking for reasons to complain, or just flat out don't feel like reading...carry on.

Considering the financial struggles of the Chicago Tribune, and the subsequent sale of the Chicago Cubs imminent, I would like to examine and compare the paper’s coverage of the White Sox and Cubs beginning with the 2009 season. Over the years, I’ve felt as though the coverage has been unbalanced, if not biased toward the Cubs – and probably rightfully so. But as the Tribune enters a new era of ownership, I’m curious as to how the paper will approach each team at the outset of the 2009 season. By following the Tribune’s day-to-day coverage of the Cubs and Sox throughout the month of April, I should be able to gather a solid amount of empirical evidence; either on the side of biased coverage, or on the side of fair and balanced coverage. With both teams coming into the new season as Division champions, it will be interesting to follow the initial reports, but also how coverage develops throughout the month.

Additionally, I’d like to sift through the Tribune’s online archives from last April in attempt to gather how much coverage both teams received a year ago, especially in comparison to now.

To further support or refute my findings, I will also be including other statistics not necessarily tied directly to the Tribune’s coverage, but rather to each team’s popularity in Chicago. By tracking T.V. ratings, merchandise sales, and attendance figures from past years, I think it will be beneficial to see how the Sox and Cubs stack against each other. (I assume the Cubs will lead in most of these – the question is by how much?)

Yankees, Royalty pwned by The Onion

2009-05-07T11:48:00.003-05:00

About 2 weeks ago, I made a post about the empty seats at the "new" Yankee Stadium. Charging $2,500 per seat (what a joke) will do that sort of thing.

Today the Onion has an article slamming the Yankees on the same subject: "Slashed Ticket Prices Allow Lesser Nobility to Attend Yankees Games."

"The Yankees, much like the city they play in, have never cared about the size of your fortune, so long as you have one," said Hal Steinbrenner, the team's managing general partner. "Sure, we'd prefer to have the Queen Herself in the dugout seats, but if that's not possible, we'll take whoever we can get until the economy gets back on its feet."

Well played Onion. Well played indeed.

Just L-i-v-i-n the dream

2009-05-06T14:46:00.003-05:00

With Big Z out after straining his hamstring, the Cubs called up an infielder by the name of Bobby Scales to take his spot on the roster.

Bobby Scales? Who?

Scales has spent the last 11 years (!) in the minors without ever getting a call to the Show. Now, he's getting a shot with the Northsiders. Here's an ESPN article about it.

''It's everything you hope for when you play professional baseball,'' Scales said, according to Chicago-area media reports. ''Some of us late bloomers have to wait longer than others, but I made it.''

And, making his debut last night against the Giants when he started at second base, Scales collected his first big league hit in the 5th inning. Pretty sweet.

Bench the Missile? Naa...

2009-05-05T11:39:00.003-05:00

White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez has started the season, well...terribly. But honestly, I'm not worried. And even if I was worried, there aren't many options the Sox have readily available to replace him. Here's the column I did for class today:

"Just a season after finishing second in Rookie of the Year balloting, White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez has stumbled through the first month of 2009.

The 27 year old Cuban import, who has moved from second base to his more natural position at shortstop, entered Monday night’s game against the Royals batting a mere .210.

Despite his struggles at the plate, however, Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen has elected to stick with Ramirez. And, with no better options immediately available, Guillen’s vote of confidence is undoubtedly the best decision for the time being.

“I wish I had better at-bats from him,” Guillen said. “I think he puts a lot of pressure on himself. He tries to do too much.”

Ramirez, who showed surprising power in his rookie season, has hit only one home run while scattering 10 RBIs in 23 games so far this year. However, through the same number of games last season, Ramirez’s numbers were even more dismal - a problem many attested to the weather.

In 2008, Ramirez entered the month of June hitting .234. Then on June 1, boom! He collected three hits. And most importantly, once he started hitting, he didn’t stop.

Over the course of the final four months of 2008, “The Cuban Missile” belted 19 homers, drove in 70 runs, and began to show flashes of brilliance in the field. He was clutch in the heat of his first ever pennant race, most memorably hitting a grand-slam on September 29th in a victory over the Detroit Tigers to keep the Sox’s playoff hopes alive.

The fact is, there simply isn’t anyone within the White Sox organization with Ramirez’s talent – or resume – to warrant replacing him at starting shortstop in the near future. Consider the options.

Jayson Nix has the potential to be a good utility player, but with just 59 career at bats at the Major League Level, he isn’t yet fit for a starting role. And, while reports rank him as an above-average fielder, he isn’t equipped with the range or the arm that Ramirez has shown in his short career.

Another replacement being tossed around is offseason acquisition Brent Lillibridge. Although drafted as a shortstop, the speedy Lillibridge has looked overmatched in 17 games this season, hitting a meek .179 in 46 plat appearances. Like Nix, Lillibridge seems better suited for a utility role, one in which the Sox can utilize his speed on the bases and his versatility in the field. But a starting shortstop, he is not.

Finally, first round pick Gordon Beckham, who has received rave reviews during his short time at Double-A Birmingham, is still considered a time away from the Big Leagues. He has done well in his first professional season, hitting .302 in 86 at-bats. But at just 22 years old, the White Sox appear devoted to developing Beckham slowly – a fact that rules him out of contention for now.

With their options so slim, the White Sox unquestionably have to continue penciling Ramirez’s name into the lineup on a daily basis. The expectations for Ramirez were certainly high entering the 2009 campaign, and a shaky first month shouldn’t change that.

He might be pressing, as Guillen asserted. Or, the chilly April conditions might be affecting the native Cuban more than he lets on. One thing is for certain, though. After showing star-potential in his first season in 2008, giving up on Ramirez just one month into the 2009 season would be a massive mistake."

A-Rod is....

2009-04-30T12:41:00.006-05:00

....a long list of things. But here's a new one...

In class, we talked about the new book by the SI writer who broke the A-Rod steroid story a few months ago. Here's an article about it.

Steroids this, Madonna that, yadda yadda yadda. But the part that got me in this article is the very last line:

The 255-page book also chronicles A-Rod's off-the-field escapades: his poker habit; his divorce from his wife, Cynthia; the relationship with Madonna, and dalliances with out-of-town floozies.

He was even hated at Hooters, where he tipped the minimum 15%, the book says.

Not only do we get a shout out to floozies, but it also slams A-Rod for being cheap?!

The ridiculousness of this whole situation is awesome on so many levels.

Edit: And now that I think about it, the author really must have done some hardcore investigative reporting. Hitting up the local Hooters restaurants to find out how much A-Rod tipped? She really knows how to cut to the core!

Note to self: Stay on Selena Roberts' good side.

A Melting Pot...

2009-04-29T18:01:00.005-05:00

First, the newest issue of Sports Illustrated has a cover story on Royals starting pitcher Zach Greinke, who has been nothing short of unhittable so far this season. He's 4-0 with 36 K's...and has yet to allow an earned run. (This after not allowing a run in his final 14 innings of 2008...!). Here's a preview:

In 2007, when third baseman Alex Gordon was a rookie, he struggled terribly at the start. Before Gordon's seventh game, Greinke pulled his teammate into the video room and showed him a clip. It was of Greinke hitting his home run. "In case you forgot," Greinke said, "this is what a home run looks like." Gordon hit his first big league homer that night.

It's a great article, and if you have 10 minutes, check it out.

Also, Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo is ridiculous. Not only did he dominate the Pirates earlier today (the 11 win Pirates, mind you) with 8 shutout innings and 11 K's, he also homered - the game's only run. Gallardo earned the 1-0 victory, but the real important thing (obviously) is that he raised his batting average to .333 with his second bomb of the season....

Throwback!

2009-04-28T11:49:00.002-05:00

I'm sure there's plenty of sites around the internet with stuff like this, but...

Just stumbled upon a site called VirtualNes.com

It has all (or most of) the classics from the original Nintendo. First thing I did was go to RBI Baseball. It's ridiculously hard at first, but once you get the hang of it...it's like it's 1992 all over again.

RBI Baseball

Tecmo Bowl

Tecmo NBA Basketball

And since it's not all about sports, quite possibly the most frustrating game of all time:

The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This game would incite such rage from 6 year old Eddie that many a controller were hurled across the room (Of course they had cords then, so it didn't go far...but still).

I don't think I ever got past the level in the picture.
Seriously, how the hell do you swim past electrocuting seaweed?!

The WTF Story of the...century??

2009-04-25T14:30:00.002-05:00

WTF?

Okay, this is an old story - written in 2005, about something that happened in 1973.

But that something is one of the weirdest (sports) stories I've ever read.

It was only the strangest trade in baseball history.
On March 5, 1973, at the New York Yankees' spring training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson announced they had swapped wives, two children apiece and even family dogs. (For the record, the Kekiches had a terrier, the Petersons a poodle.)

I've never heard anything about this, but seriously...what a time to be alive. I guess...

Clever Title

2009-04-24T14:34:00.008-05:00

The Yankees charge $2,600 (no joke) for their "Legends" seats, closest to the field. Here's what those seats looked like during a recent game:

....and somewhere off camera, Derek Jeter's fist pump wept for more attention.

Obligatory Sox Related Post of the Week: John Danks

2009-04-23T13:38:00.004-05:00

...is awesome. Just a week after turning the big 2-4, Danks dominated the Baltimore Orioles last night: 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run along with 3 K's.

Exactly one year ago, Sox fans watched as Danks started the 2008 season in excellent fashion. Last April, he finished 2-2 with a 3.00 E.R.A., and showed glimpses of an emerging ace.

Danks finished the 2008 season going 12-9 with a 3.30 E.R.A. and 159 strikeouts. Perhaps his most solidifying moment came on September 30th, during the infamous "Blackout" game in which the Twins and Sox played for the Central Division crown. Danks tossed 8 shutout innings, allowing just 2 hits and earning a 1-0 victory to launch the White Sox into the postseason....NBD.

This year, Danks has looked like a bonafied star. In his first three starts, he's 2-0 with an incredible 0.95 E.R.A. Look, I know it's only April 23rd, but Danks is quickly solidifying himself as one of the American League's best. And to think, the pitching starved (to put it lightly) Texas Rangers shipped Danks to Chicago before the 2007 season. Yoink!

(Now watch him go out and get shelled for 11 runs in 1 2/3 innings his next start, thus making me look like a fool. Ah well, them's the breaks...)

Final Project Update

2009-04-22T18:16:00.003-05:00

So for my Final Project, I'm doing a comparison of coverage by the Chicago Tribune of the Cubs and White Sox for the month of April. Here's my initial proposal:

"Considering the financial struggles of the Chicago Tribune, and the subsequent sale of the Chicago Cubs imminent, I would like to examine and compare the paper’s coverage of the White Sox and Cubs beginning with the 2009 season. Over the years, I’ve felt as though the coverage has been unbalanced, if not biased toward the Cubs – and probably rightfully so. But as the Tribune enters a new era of ownership, I’m curious as to how the paper will approach each team at the outset of the 2009 season. By following the Tribune’s day-to-day coverage of the Cubs and Sox throughout the month of April, I should be able to gather a solid amount of empirical evidence; either on the side of biased coverage, or on the side of fair and balanced coverage. With both teams coming into the new season as Division champions, it will be interesting to follow the initial reports, but also how coverage develops throughout the month."

Starting Monday, April 6th, I started checking the Tribune's website each morning to collect the number of stories for each team, plus the "headline" story - or the main story on the page (with the picture). I have not included Blog, Video, or Photo links, as those are basically available on a day-to-day basis.

With just over a week of April left, here's how the numbers shake down thus far:

Cubs Total Stories: 43
Cubs headline stories: 5

Sox Total Stories: 34
Sox headline stories: 2

Pretty even up to this point. Each teams' record would also indicate that coverage would probably be decently mutual, as the Cubs are 8-4, the Sox 7-6.

One interesting note: With both the Bulls and Blackhawks in their respective postseasons, the Tribune has had a LOT more things to cover this April than in years past - which has certainly affected my project. Take into consideration the Bears acquisition of QB Jay Cutler and, well, there's been a massive amount of sports news in Chicago throughout April. For the first time in awhile, springtime in Chicago isn't all about baseball.

Only the Natinals...

2009-04-19T15:47:00.004-05:00

Not only are the Washington Nationals 1-9, they also can't spell.

Even better, as I type this, they just blew another lead in the top of the 9th to the Marlins, who tied it 4-4 off of none other than...Saul Rivera! Poor Washington.

Update Edit: As if someone is not only reading this, but also hitting refresh to get news about the Nationals game...the great Saul Rivera has really done it now. After walking the bases loaded, he gives up a 2 out, 3 run double to Cody Ross. 7-4 Marlins. Ouch.

My Classic Fantasy Baseball Team

2009-04-16T17:26:00.002-05:00

Call me a nerd. Whatever. I like Fantasy Baseball. It's fun. And, over the years, it's given me the honor of taking a LOT of my friends' money. Which is even better.

But season after season, for as long as I've been playing, there are certain guys that I need on my team. Not superstars, necessarily, but good players nonetheless. My teams have probably (definitely) become predictable, but that's fine. As long as I'm reeling in some beer money come October...who cares?

So, looking back over past seasons, here's my All-Time Fantasy Team. Don't laugh.

C A.J. Pierzynski - Yes, even as a Twin. Took him in the 6th round one year. Sure, I was young and stupid, but it was soo worth it.
1B Lyle Overbay - His name is Lyle...and that's about it.
2B Howie Kendrick - A more recent staple on my teams. He's bound to break out eventually...right?
SS Miguel Tejada - Remember when his age was unknown and he was juicin'? Yeah. Glory days.
3B Miguel Cabrera - The Brothers Miguel on the left side of my infield have rocked leagues since 2004. (That year, I took him in the 18th round. One of my finer moments, indeed).
OF David Dejesus - I've had a weird fantasy baseball man-crush on Dejesus since his early days. And, without fail, I try trading him every season...then get ripped on for trying to trade him, every season.
OF Carlos Lee - El Caballo is a monster. Can't add much to that.
OF Alex Rios - Rumored a 30/30 caliber player in 2004...Still riding that train.

SP Roy Oswalt - Roy my boy. He's a horse.
SP Mark Buehrle - Always ranked so low, but always dependable. 15th round? Yoink!
RP BJ Ryan - For awhile, BJ was unhittable. I've made it a point to have him. Until this year, since he's now extremely hittable.

As you can see, it's not the greatest "all-time" fantasy team ever assembled. And sure, it does feature a good amount of incredibly average players. But that's okay, I'll continue to take these guys year after year as long as I'm winning.

Except Lyle Overbay. His overwhelming mediocrity has become poison in our relationship. I'm so over him.

ESPN Chicago

2009-04-12T21:50:00.002-05:00

ESPN Chicago launches tomorrow. I'm not exactly an ESPN supporter, but I am interested in how this works. Here's a Tribune article that gets into it a bit.

With that, I also stumbled on this article which does a really good job defining White Sox fans. Pretty cool.

And so it begins...

2009-04-09T12:15:00.005-05:00

If you've read even one of my past couple posts concerning the White Sox, I think I've made it pretty evident my feelings toward Sox outfielder Dewayne Wise.

If you haven't, here's a recap: He stinks.

This morning, after just 2 games of having Wise in the leadoff spot (and watching him go 0 fer in pathetic fashion), Manager Ozzie Guillen announced Wise will not be leading off in Thursday's game. Rookie second baseman Chris Getz will move up, and catcher A.J. Pierzynski will fill the 2 hole.

Not gonna lie, I'm ecstatic. Hopefully this is the first step in the process of completely exterminating Dewayne Wise from the starting lineup. For now, just moving him down in the order is reason enough for me to have a party.

What kind of party you ask?

Post-game Edit: So Wise batted 8th today and the Sox still only managed to score 1 run. Brian Anderson, my choice for CF, even got to pinch hit for Wise...and K'd. I refuse to eat crow until Wise at least gets on base. Seriously.

Lords of the Realm Column

2009-04-09T10:15:00.002-05:00

Decades of disagreements, mistrust, and uncertainty between Major League Baseball’s owners and Players Association were the foundation of an already unstable marriage.

In 1994, the urgency of the situation became palpable. The reality of a strike became inevitable.

The quickly deteriorating relationship between the two sides completely collapsed in the early 1990’s. In September of 1992, owners reached an agreement to force then Commissioner Fay Vincent to resign. Vincent’s removal left Major League Baseball without a commissioner. Two years later, owners also approved a revenue sharing plan based on a salary cap – a proposal MLBPA leader Donald Fehr and his players adamantly refused.

Fehr’s correspondence with Owners Representative Dick Ravitch was at the forefront of the crumbling relationship.

“Both have egos the size of Rhode Island, and they genuinely don’t like each other,” said a source close to the situation.

With Fehr and Ravitch at opposite ends, owners agreed to give full power to the commissioner concerning labor negotiations in January of 1994. The only problem: there wasn’t a commissioner in place to make those decisions. Bud Selig, acting as interim commissioner of Major League Baseball, had stood in for nearly two years after Vincent’s departure.

Lacking a true leader throughout the process, Major League Baseball wavered under the pressure of harmonizing two sides completely adverse to the other’s proposals. Some have argued that a strike could have been avoided had the players not been so ‘greedy.’ After all, owners only sought a “predictable labor budget.”

“We have to obtain cost certainty,” Ravitch said. “The players have to tell us how much it’s going to cost to play ball.”

In addition to completely eliminating arbitration, and reducing the time for free agency to begin from six years to four, baseball’s owners believed instilling a salary cap would stabilize the rapidly escalating market. Only in this situation, the owners had argued, would revenue-sharing become possible.

However, Fehr disagreed.

“What the owners are saying,” Fehr said, “is that they’ll do revenue-sharing as long as players pay for it with a salary cap.”

Fehr and the MLBPA recognized that the owners’ plea for a salary cap was an escape hatch. After years of questionable contracts, and millions upon millions of dollars thrown around carelessly, it was clear that the owners’ proposal was simply a way to save face. They sought to cover their own behinds and institute a salary cap, which would have made future negligent spending by owners across baseball obsolete.

Considering the consequences, Fehr also realized that a salary cap would greatly limit the amount of money players could make. Fehr refused to grant owners complete control – Ravitch and baseball’s owners refused to grant players the liberty of unbounded earnings. And, with the two sides at complete odds, the strike of 1994 became unavoidable.

Mercy!

2009-04-07T17:06:00.002-05:00

Just 24 hours after Opening Day on the Southside was froze out, the White Sox kicked off 2009 with a bang, making the one day wait well worth it.

Jim Thome hit a 3 run bomb in the bottom of the 8th to put the Sox up 4-2, and Bobby Jenks slammed the door in the 9th for a nice start to the new season.

Of course, I had class at 3:30, and left my apartment at 3:20 - when the bottom of the 8th started. Oh well, the knowledge I gained from my Language and Society lecture was much more important. (Lame, I know).

Anyway, here's a couple things I wanted to point out:

Steve Stone in the T.V. booth is awesome. Most Chicago baseball fans are familiar with him already, obviously, so this isn't exactly news. I just wanted to say Steve Stone was awesome, and I'm sure he'd agree with me.

Speaking of awesome, add it to the list of things Dewayne Wise isn't. This list includes being a Center Fielder, being a leadoff hitter, and being a major league baseball player in general - all of which Ozzie Guillen had him imitating today. When will the madness end? If not for Sox fans, Ozzie, please, at least think of the children.

Post-Opening Day Musings

2009-04-06T23:04:00.006-05:00

With the White Sox frozen out today, I had a lot of time to do homework. And by homework, I mean watch a LOT of baseball. The big stories of the day are obvious: C.C. gets batted around in his Yankee debut, Webb gets shelled by the Rockies, and Hanley Ramirez was, well, Hanley Ramirez with a HR and 5 RBIs.

So here's some things that probably won't be looked over, but I'm going to highlight anyway:

The Rangers lineup. One word: Ridiculous. They absolutely killed reigning Cy Young Cliff Lee for 7 runs on 10 hits in his 5 innings of work. Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Hank Blalock, and Jarrod Saltala(breath)machia all had multi hit games. Interesting note: In 2008, Cliff Lee didn't give up his 7th earned run until May 18th - his 8th start. Welcome back to Earth, Cliff.

The Orioles. They have a pretty decent lineup to begin with, but I'd take their top 3 over just about any in baseball: Brian Roberts (3-4, 2 runs), Adam Jones (reached base 5 times, scored 3 runs), and Nick Markakis (2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBIs). Of course, Roberts and Markakis are already established stars, but Adam Jones is only 23 - and only getting better. (Also, Camden Yards is sick. It looks better every time I see it.)

Adam Lind and Emilio Bonifacio. Who?? Lind, 25 year old outfielder for the Blue Jays, started his 2009 season going 4-5 with a HR, 6 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Bonifacio, Marlins 23 year old third baseman, went 4-5 with 3 SBs, 2 RBIs and 4 runs scored. Both players helped their team to a rout, and both were instantly snatched from fantasy free agent pools across the nation.

Ken Griffey Jr. Did someone say 1997? Well, no, but Jr. gave Mariners fans the best highlight they'll have all season with his opening day bomb. That's the pinnacle for 2009 Seattle, start thinking football.

The Pirates. Only because they won't go 0-162. All hail Pittsburgh!

2009 Predictions

2009-04-06T12:45:00.005-05:00

Ahh, Opening Day. It's 30 degrees, snowed all day yesterday, and several games have already been canceled, but damn it ... baseball is back.

So, to myself, the one and only loyal follower of this blog, here's how I see 2009 shaking out:

AL West: Angels
AL Central: Twins
AL East: Red Sox
AL Wildcard: Yankees

NL West: Dodgers
NL Central: Cubs
NL East: Braves
NL Wildcard: Phillies

ALCS: Angels v. Red Sox
NLCS: Dodgers v. Braves

World Series: Red Sox v. Braves

Champion: Red Sox *shutter*

Believe me, I can't stand the Red Sox, or "the nation," but all things considered, they're the best looking team coming in 2009. But as we saw last year with the Rays...these predictions are worthless.

So in a sense I just wasted 10 minutes I'll never get back, but whatever. It's time for baseball.

A.L. Central Preview Part 5: Minnesota Twins

2009-04-05T17:10:00.002-05:00

The fifth and final A.L. Central team is the Minnesota Twins. A year after finishing 2nd with an 88-75 record, the Twins enter 2009 already minus several key players.

Catcher Joe Mauer (back) was placed on the 15 day disabled list to start the season, as was starting pitcher Scott Baker (shoulder). But as a Sox fan, I know this means nothing. Minnesota mass-produces minor leaguers using their Nick Punto Machine, which spits out underwhelming, yet somehow adequate talent on a yearly basis.

Case in point is the Twins pitching staff.

Francisco Liriano is back, and he's healthy. He's had a rough spring but when the lights go on for real, Liriano will no doubt be lights out. After him, though, is where I scratch my head and start to ask the question I ask every year: How are the Twins doing it?

Kevin Slowey, Glen Perkins, and Nick Blackburn will fill out the rest of the rotation. None of whom have overpowering stuff like Liriano, but all of whom seem to follow the Twins' anthem of "getting the job done." Joe Nathan, one of - if not the best - closers in baseball will once again anchor the Minnesota bullpen.

The Twinkie lineup is, all things considered, my favorite in the A.L. Central. It has sluggers, sure, with Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel in the middle of the order (along with Mauer, when healthy). But surrounding them is a ridiculous combination of youth and speed.

CF Carlos Gomez is my pick (worthless, I know) for the A.L. Central breakout player. And if it isn't him, it will be LF Delmon Young. Both Gomez and Young are only 24 and have superstar potential. Along with them, Alexi Casilla and Denard Span, no doubt Nick Punto Machine creations, emerged last year as two more speedy weapons for Manager Ron Gardenhire to have at his disposal. The Twins also signed former White Sox 3B Joe Crede this offseason, who, if healthy, will add to an already solid Minnesota defense and lineup:

LF/RF Denard Span
2B Alexi Casilla
C Joe Mauer (upon return)
1B Justin Morneau
LF Delmon Young
DH Jason Kubel
3B Joe Crede
SS Nick Punto
CF Carlos Gomez

With a fast start, I expect Gomez to be leading off for the Twins before long. If Crede and Mauer stay healthy, and OF Michael Cuddyer bounces back after a rough 2008, Minnesota has the best lineup in the Central - both offensively and defensively. With a decent amount of pitching, they'll be tough to top.

My Prediction: 1st (<--Yuck.)

A.L. Central Preview Part 4: Cleveland Indians

2009-04-03T15:18:00.003-05:00

Part 4 of the A.L. Central brings us to Cleveland. The Indians weren't particularly active over the offseason, but did add a couple key pieces to a team already loaded with potential.

Kerry Wood (if healthy, etc., etc.) solidifies the Tribe's closer role for the first time in a long time. Another former Cub, Mark Derosa, will take over full time duties at the hot corner.

Of course, Cleveland does have its question marks. Travis Hafner is expected to return to DH this season, a year after playing only 57 games and hitting below the Mendoza line, a mere .197. The Indian outfield, anchored of course by Grady Sizemore in CF, will also see Ben Fransisco in LF while Shin-Soo Choo mans RF. Both, although probably fairly unknown, had solid 2008 seasons and are expected to improve in 2009.

Here's what the Indian lineup will probably
resemble on Opening Day:

CF Grady Sizemore
3B Mark DeRosa
DH Travis Hafner
C Victor Martinez
SS JHonny Peralta
1B Ryan Garko
LF Ben Fransisco
RF Shin-Soo Choo
2B Asdrubal Cabrera

Like the rest of the A.L. Central, the Indians should be able to score some runs, especially if Martinez and Hafner are finally healthy.

Cleveland's pitching staff will be led by reigning Cy Young Cliff Lee. Personally, I don't see him coming anywhere close to what he did last season (Re: Fluke), but he heads to rotation coming into 2009. Slotted for the #2 in the Indian rotation is Fausto Carmona. Carmona had an awful 2008, but really...this guy is awesome. He'll be considered the Indians "ace" by June.

Carl Pavano (yes, he's still alive) is considered the Tribe's 3rd starter. No joke. Pavano has pitched a mind-blowing 45 2/3 innings over the past 2 seasons, so yeah...

The Tribe's rotation is rounded out by youngsters Scott Lewis and Anthony Reyes. Reyes, who was traded from St. Louis midway through 2008, seemed to find second life in Cleveland. Once a top prospect, he'll look to build on his solid second half from last year.

With the signing of Wood this offseason, Cleveland's bullpen looks to be solid. A healthy Kid-K at the back end means guys like Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez, and Jensen Lewis can return to their roles as setup men - where each has been fairly successful. And really, any bullpen with 2 guys named Rafael is in good shape already.

So while the Indians do have a decent amount of question marks entering the season, if all goes well, they'll bounce back as serious playoff contenders.

My Prediction: 2nd (<-- Despite Carl Pavano being called on to do anything more than sit)

A soap box rant about ... football?

2009-04-02T17:15:00.013-05:00

In case you haven't heard, a Savior has landed in Chicago. Rejoice!

Look, I grew up in Chicago. I enjoy football. I enjoy the Bears, and I understand Bears fans - a strange breed of human as it is - are excited. The 34 texts, 12 missed calls and 2 voice mails I've gotten in the last hour to tell me about the same thing are great. Really, they are.

But I swear to George Halas himself, if I hear or see one more mention of the following, I'm jumping into the Iowa River - naked:

Any combination of "Bears" and "Super Bowl." Seriously. Stop.
Any combination of "Bears" and "Dynasty." Seriously. Stop.
"Cutler is coming to Chicago...let's get drunk/party/go to the bars/find a reason to act like idiots!" Really? I mean...really?
"You're not that excited...you're not even a Bears fan!" Shut. Up.
Any reference to the 1985 Super Bowl Team. Do I honestly need to elaborate on this?

I'm sure I can come up with a few more, but I have to go plan a Super Bowl party - where we'll be offering bong rips of Jay Cutler's farts. Breathe it in, Chicago, our time has finally come!

A.L. Central Preview Part 3: Chicago White Sox

2009-04-02T11:55:00.004-05:00

All right, so this is where the A.L. Central gets really interesting. The reigning division champion White Sox shifted gears this off-season in an attempt to get younger. Here's a few highlights:

Traded perennial headcase Javier Vazquez to the Braves for catching prospect Tyler Flowers and 14 year old (not really) utility man Brent Lillibridge
Traded Nick Swisher to the Yankees for infielder Wilson Betemit and pitching prospect Jeff Marquez (Why does he have a wikipedia page again?)
Signed 19 year old Cuban linebacker/third baseman Dayan Viciedo (Who, for some reason, has his own website - take that Marquez)
Let SS Orlando Cabrera and 3B Joe Crede walk, moving Alexei Ramirez to shortstop while opening spots at second base for Chris Getz and 3B for Josh Fields

The Sox also added Mike Imrem's boy Bartolo Colon (insert lame Imrem joke about Colon's weight HERE - perhaps something about Hungry Hungry Hippos, while we're hitting these jokes at the height of their popularity)

Coming off a season in which the Southsiders saw Carlos Quentin, John Danks, Gavin Floyd, and the previously mentioned Alexei Ramriez emerge as solid major league players, GM Kenny Williams continued his "get younger" mission this winter. Youth aside, the White Sox are still a team built upon its veterans, as Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, and A.J. Pierzynski will be counted on as much as ever in 2009. Here's what the lineup will look something like on Opening Day:

CF Dewayne Wise (ugh, don't get me started)
C A.J. Pierzynski
LF Carlos Quentin
DH Jim Thome
RF Jermaine Dye
1B Paul Konerko
SS Alexei Ramirez
3B Josh Fields
2B Chris Getz

The White Sox have a lineup mixed with veteran sluggers and new arrivals that should be able to score some runs. Hopefully soon, (by like, say, April 8th), Manager Ozzie Guillen's man-crush on Dewayne Wise subsides and the Sox decide to use a real CF, but I'm doubtful.

Next, as I was told over and over growing up, "pitching wins championships." The White Sox staff, annually anchored by Mark Buehrle, saw the emergence of both Gavin Floyd and John Danks in 2008. Now expected to be front-line starters, Floyd and Danks leave vacancies (RE: Gaping Holes) at the back end of the White Sox rotation. Jose Contreras (if healthy/able to not suck) could fill the 4th slot, while Bartolo Colon and youngsters Clayton Richard and Jeff Marquez are expected contend all season for the last spot in the rotation.

The White Sox bullpen, including closer Bobby Jenks and setup men Scott Linebrink, Octavio Dotel, and Matt Thornton, should be decent. Young arms such as Richard and Marquez will also fill bullpen roles, if not in the starting rotation.

So the 2009 White Sox, while admittedly a team full of question marks, certainly have the ability to be competitive, at the very least. Can Quentin, Ramirez, Danks and Floyd have encore performances of 2008? Can Chris Getz and Josh Fields step into starting roles and produce? Who will emerge as the 4th and 5th starters? And...will Dewayne Wise ever GO AWAY??

2009 should be interesting on the Southside.

My prediction: 3rd place (<--The homer in me says World Champs, but I'd like to retain a smidgen of credibility. That's right...smidgen. )

A.L. Central Preview Part 2: Kansas City Royals

2009-04-01T13:44:00.005-05:00

Story time: About a year ago to the day (whilst quite intoxicated, mind you) I made a $1 bet with my roommate. For whatever reason on this night, I was positive that Royals first baseman Billy Butler would hit .320 in 2008. Well, he didn't. Not even close. He finished at a mediocre .275 and spent 1/3 of the season in Triple A. I was out a dollar, and Butler has since become a symbol of my drunken stupidity.

The point of this story isn't that I'm an ass (which I am), or that my roommate and I are high-rolling gamblers (which we aren't). The point is, Billy Butler and his Royals are primed for a big 2009. And by "big," I mean hovering around .500 all season, or possibly even "contending" for awhile - which would be a huge step forward.

Here's what their lineup will look something like on Opening Day:
CF Coco Crisp
SS Mike Aviles
LF David Dejesus
RF Jose Guillen
1B Mike Jacobs
DH Billy Butler (.320, 40, 120 - bank on it)
3B Alex Gordon
2B Mark Teahen
C John Buck

I'm sure a couple spots will be shuffled, but either way, that's a pretty good lineup. Say it slowly and let it sink in - The Royals...have...a (really) good...lineup.

After adding slugging first baseman Mike Jacobs this offseason, along with CF Coco Crisp, the Royals have a great mix of power and speed. Mike Aviles emerged last year as a legitimate Major League shortstop, while David Dejesus and Jose Guillen add a veteran presence to the middle of the order. If Butler, along with fellow youngster Alex Gordon, have breakout years (or even semi-breakout years), the A.L. Central could have another contender in the mix.

The Royals season, much like the rest of the A.L. Central, hinges on their pitching. While their bullpen is looking solid, anchored by young closer Joakim Soria, the Royals starting rotation is rocky. "Ace" Gil Meche finished very strong last season, and Zach Grienke finally began to live up to the hype. As it stands right now, however, the Royals rotation is filled out by Brian Bannister, Horacio Ramirez, and John Bale. Yuck.

All in all, though, I see the Royals being a very pesky team in 2009. They may not have the pitching to stick around, but they certainly have a good core of young players to build upon. With Gordon, Butler, Aviles, Jacobs, Grienke and Soria as a foundation, Kansas City baseball fans can at least watch their team without having the urge to vomit every few minutes.

To quote Harry Doyle from Major League:

"In case you haven't noticed, and judging by the attendance you haven't, the [Royals] have managed to win a few ball games, and are threatening to climb out of the cellar!"

My prediction: 4th place, a.k.a. not dead last (<--Not an April Fool's Joke)

A.L. Central Preview Part 1: Detroit Tigers

2009-03-31T14:29:00.004-05:00

A year after finishing dead last in the A.L. Central, the Tigers enter the 2009 season well...not much better. Here's some of the slop that the Motor City Kitties have recently flung around:

Gary Sheffield, just 1 HR shy of 500, was released earlier today. A season removed from hitting a whopping .225, the Tigers were forced to eat his $13 million salary. Ouch!
Dontrelle Willis hasn't thrown a strike in nearly a year. Okay, exaggeration, but the guy is a mess. After being acquired from the Marlins in the Miguel Cabrera trade in the spring of 2008, Willis posted a 9.38 ERA in just 24 innings last season. Recently he was designated for assignment, and is apparently undergoing medical exams for anxiety issues.
Nate Robertson.

It's not ALL bad for the Tigers. Justin Verlander is still one of the best young arms in baseball, despite having an awful 2008 season. Expect a bounceback. They also acquired Gerald Laird, Brandon Lyon, and Edwin Jackson in the offseason. Not overwhelming additions, but still, at least they're trying right?

Detroit's lineup is also still loaded with power, including a very dangerous top five:

CF Curtis Granderson
2B Placido Polanco
1B Miguel Cabrera
RF Magglio Ordonez
LF Carlos Guillen
C Gerald Laird
DH Marcus Thames
3B Brandon Inge
SS Adam Everett

Fact is though, the Tigers' pitching flat out sucks. After Verlander, there is a Niagara Falls-esque drop, with Armando Galarraga, Jackson, and Robertson rounding out the rotation. There is also the possibility of 2007 1st round pick Rick Porcello being forced into action.

With Joel Zumaya and Jeremy Bonderman already shelved with injuries and Dontrelle losing it, Jim Leyland and his Tigers already look to be reeling before the '09 season even begins. A good lineup can only do so much...just ask the Yankees.

Prediction: 5th place, again (<-- I actually laughed writing that)

Rosters Finalized

2009-03-30T14:12:00.003-05:00

With the season opening in less than a week, final rosters are starting to be released around the league.

Comparable to the black hole that annually fills in for the Bears at QB, the White Sox will once again enter the season without a Center-fielder. Dewayne Wise will lead off and "captain" the outfield to start the year, presumably only because he has a pulse.

Losing this tallest midget contest for the starting CF job was Brian Anderson, who will (hopefully) play against lefties. Anderson, whose glove in the outfield absolutely trumps Wise, has routinely been an issue of debate amongst Sox fans. The argument usually begins and ends with, sure, he's great in the field, but the guy can't hit.

Well, neither can Dewayne Wise. If it were up to me - the Sox would probably lose 100 games - but at least I'd have a starting CF who can catch the ball.

My hope: Wise loses the job by mid-May, at which point Lance "One Dog" Johnson un-retires and returns to spark the Sox to another title. *crosses fingers*

The WTF!? Story of the Week

2009-03-25T00:06:00.005-05:00

Because I can't title this any better than Yahoo, I'm just going to link it as they did:

Wife of Pirates Prospect Stole Baby?

Believe me, I wish I had a mugshot. Not yet. I guess the good news for Pirates top prospect Jose Tabata (in order to somehow relate this to baseball) is that everyone, including the baby, is okay. The bad news: He's still on the Pirates. Ouch.

Blog Challenge: Very Superstitious...

2009-03-12T11:44:00.009-05:00

Superstition.

For some, it's more than just a habit, or a routine. It's a way of life. An addiction.

Back in 1972, Stevie Wonder warned his listeners: "Superstition ain't the way."
(Warning: Video contains enough funk to make even the whitest people - a.k.a. myself- want to "dance." Please, consider those around you.)

But even with Stevie campaigning against it, superstition is simply nature to many - especially athletes. Think about how many times you've heard of a star basketball player putting on his shoes in a certain order, or how an NFL receiver only wears specific gloves. Okay, they might just be plugging their sponsors, but still...superstitious nonetheless.

For a lot of sports players, superstition even transcends luck and skill. Look at Pedro Cerrano, who, with the help of Jobu and some marbles, finally reached his potential:

Hockey players grow playoff beards. Jason Giambi wears thongs. Nomar Garciaparra twitches for literally 12 minutes and 46 seconds before each pitch. The list is endless.

So in an attempt to defy Stevie Wonder (not really), give me some of your favorite sports related, or even better, non-sports related superstitions. It can be your own, a friend's, an uncle's...whatever, your call.

The only rule: if it involves a big dude sporting a thong, absolutely no pictures. Please.

Iowa Bubbas

2009-03-12T10:48:00.001-05:00

Just hours before the Hawkeyes tip off in the Big Ten Tournament against Michigan, fans throughout Iowa City seem to be carrying a similar attitude: cautious optimism.

The 10^th seeded Hawkeyes (15-16) take on the 7^th seeded Wolverines (19-12) at 1:30 this afternoon at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Despite a disappointing season, fans continue to hope that Iowa can make a late season run.

“I think they can pull it out,” the University’s Library janitor John Schwab said. “I won’t bet on it but – Tate and Gatens have to play well.”

Freshman guard and Iowa City native Matt Gatens was also on the mind of fellow City High High School graduate Joel Maxey. “Amazing,” Maxey, the Library’s fourth floor book stacks manager said of Gatens. “I’ve never seen him have a bad game.”

The cautious optimism being exhibited by Hawkeye fans doesn’t come without warrant, however. Just over two weeks ago, Iowa upset Michigan 70-60 in a thrilling overtime victory at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Jake Kelly had 23 points and eight rebounds, while Gatens added 16 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.

“I think they’ll get ‘em,” sophomore communications major Adam Gettis said. “If Gatens gets 10 points, and Jake [Kelly] does his thing, we’ll be fine.”

Even with this reserved confidence floating around campus, there are still others that don’t exactly ooze excitement for Iowa’s Big Ten Tournament tipoff. In fact, some didn’t even know there was a game.

“The basketball team plays today?” Pat Flynn, senior Anthropology major asked. After informing him that, yes, the basketball team does in fact play later today, Flynn quickly shifted gears. “It’s on a neutral court,” he said. “So I’ll be optimistic and say Iowa wins by three.”

So, equipped with their recent victory over Michigan, Iowa enters today’s game with a dose of faith from their fans as well. And really, for the 10^th seeded Hawkeyes, a little bit of support from the Main Library’s finest employees and students can only be a good thing.

Stadiums

2009-03-05T13:55:00.003-06:00

Like most baseball fans, I really enjoy visiting other parks around the league.

Growing up a Sox fan in Chicago, I've obviously been to Comiskey Park/U.S. Cellular Field more times than I can count. I've been to Wrigley several times as well, and when I was younger went to old Milwaukee County Stadium to see the Brewers play the Sox.

I've also been to Jacobs Field in Cleveland (when it was Jacobs Field), and the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

Typing this out, I now realize how pathetic my list is. Oh well. My favorite of the places I've been to is the Great American Ballpark. It's incredible. And of my remaining, um, 25+ parks I need to see, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and and PNC Park in Pittsburgh (look at that picture) top the list of ones I have to go to.

So...where have you been?

Mudhens being Mudhens, offer Manny deal

2009-03-03T21:31:00.003-06:00

"Mr. Ramirez would receive an hourly wage of $10.54 (this number was calculated by taking his 527 career HR and doubling it). We had to double it as $5.27 is below minimum wage. So if Manny gets to Fifth Third Field early on a game day, he could make nearly $100."

Why not?

Raul Ibanez Plays Defense?

2009-02-26T17:06:00.003-06:00

With Spring Training officially underway, it was great to see some baseball on TV this afternoon when ESPN had the Astros/Braves game on. Sunny skies, green grass, people genuinely happy to be outside...all things missing across the Midwest, but oh well. At least it's happening somewhere...I guess.

There isn't much going on around the league yet. The WBC, which is set to start next week, has made the tournament's final rosters public.

The Manny Ramirez/LA Dodgers saga is still d ragging onward, with the Dodgers offering Ramirez $25 million for 1 season. When - or if - this will end, nobody is quite sure.

Finally, since I have no real way of ending this post, I came across this GIF of Raul Ibanez. I'm not a Raul Ibanez hater or anything (um...do those exist?) but it's hilarious. Good luck in Philly, Raul!

What is that demonry?!

2009-02-22T23:30:00.006-06:00

So I just watched Conan's Late Night finale from last Friday on Hulu. For the past few weeks leading up to the final episode, they'd been playing classic clips from over the years. Friday, they played one of my favorites: 1864 Baseball.

Some say a waste of time. Others say an incredible waste of time.

Not Cool

2009-02-22T18:08:00.002-06:00

Joe Crede in a Twins uniform? Ugh. After signing with Minnesota a few days ago, Crede has arrived at Spring Training and appears to be healthy...for now.

Although he's been out of commission since the start of last season with back injuries, the Twins are taking a chance with him. And why not? A healthy Crede = awesome defense at the hot corner and another threat in an already (very) good lineup.

It's an unfortunate end to his time in with the Sox. After being a huge part in bringing Chicago it's first baseball championship in nearly a century, the thought of Joe being a Twin would've sent chills down the spines of Sox fans everywhere. Now that it's reality, I hope he stays healthy and does well there.... And finishes in 4th place.

Power Rankings

2009-02-19T17:43:00.002-06:00

I usually don't pay much attention to pre-season rankings, especially those that come out before final rosters are even set, but CBS had a particularly interesting take on the upcoming season.

I don't disagree with the top 5, or the bottom 5 for that matter. All of those seem pretty legit. The White Sox are at #23, and while I'd agree that they didn't necessarily make any ground-breaking moves (unless Bartolo Colon actually somehow gained weight) I don't think they deserve a spot that low.

The fact is, general manager Kenny Williams flipped a .220 hitter in Nick Swisher to the Yankees for a decent (okay, slightly below average) utility player (Wilson Betemit) and three young pitchers. Among them, Jeff Marquez, who a few years ago was touted as being a future star. He's even got his own wikipedia page, which means you've really made the big time..... Right?

Plus, Williams sent the ever-underachieving Javier Vazquez (and his huge contract) to the Braves for a top catching prospect (Tyler Flowers) and speedy Brent Lillibridge, who will contend for the 2nd base starting job this spring, plus two more minor league pitching prospects.

Sure, none of these moves are front page, headline material. But the Sox certainly unloaded some dead weight for some promising youth. And while 2nd base, 3rd base, and Center Field might still be question marks, I think they'll have a strong enough pitching staff with Buehrle, Floyd, and Danks at the front of the rotation to be competitive. Are they better than last year's Central Division Champion team? No idea. But I definitely think they're better than 23rd overall. I mean, the Orioles are ahead of them. Really? The Orioles?

Completely unrelated to Baseball but.....

2009-02-17T19:27:00.001-06:00

I have to share this. This is Florida Panthers radio announcer Randy Moller and his completely absurd, awesome goal calls. Wocka Wocka!

Getting closer...

2009-02-17T12:11:00.005-06:00

Woo-hoo! Pitchers and Catchers reported over the weekend, which didn't bring a ton of news, but does mean that baseball season creeps ever closer.

Ken Griffey Jr. looks to be heading to the ATL instead of Seattle. As a baseball fan growing up in the 90s, watching Jr. get older and slower over the past few seasons has been awful. Throw in the fact that he seemed to age even faster after coming to the Sox last year doesn't help. But, if (and hopefully when) he signs with the Braves, at least he'll be in a better lineup compared to whatever the Mariners are trying to do. Plus, Turner Field is widely considered a great hitter's park, whereas Safeco in Seattle is just...massive.

Maybe, just maybe, if the stars align in just the right way, Jr. has one more great year in him. I won't hold my breath, but it sure would be sweet to watch that steroid-free* swagger halfway to first base 30+ more times.

*Hopefully. Who knows for sure anymore?

Translation: This guy's huge

2009-02-10T21:35:00.004-06:00

With Pitchers and Catchers reporting in a few short days, that can only mean 2 things: warm(er) weather and baseball are both right around the corner.

The Sox continue to have a rather quiet offseason, but one pickup I'm particularly looking forward to is 19 year old Cuban Dayan Viciedo. Supposedly, this guy is a third baseman. But at 6'1" and close to 250 pounds, he looks more like a defensive end. Here's a video of him swinging what I assume to be a small tree:

I know it's just a youtube video of him taking batting practice, but from all reports he has a chance to be a monster. He reminds me a lot of Carlos Lee, who also came up as a third baseman with the Sox before getting moved to left field. Either way, if he rakes like El Caballo, and doesn't eat any small children, I think baseball fans will be hearing his name quite a bit in the near future.

Another One Bites the Dust...

2009-02-09T15:07:00.003-06:00

It's rarely news anymore when Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is accused of something. Be it getting called out by teammates or coaches, hooking up with Madonna, or having some strange man love for Derek Jeter (who doesn't?), the guy has been through the wringer.

By the same token, it isn't all that shocking these days for another star athlete to be linked to steroids, either.

This weekend, Sports Illustrated published this report that A-Rod tested positive for steroids back in 2003. Obviously, it's Monday, so this report isn't exactly breaking news at the moment.

However, A-Rod's first interview since the allegations will air tonight on the 5 o'clock SportsCenter. Here's a preview.

Thankfully, it looks like he has remembered how to speak English.

But seriously, does this news really shock anyone? I'm starting to think that the list of athletes who haven't used PEDs in the last decade is A LOT shorter than the list of those who have. Which is disappointing, sure. But shocking? Not anymore.

World Baseball Classic Dream Scenario

2009-02-05T11:06:00.004-06:00

After posting about the World Baseball Classic a week ago, I've been thinking about this since: what if each country fielded its best team? The preliminary roster for the U.S. has some great players, sure, but certainly not the best in the country.

Now I know it isn't realistic to count on - or dream about - each country participating in the WBC only choosing from its best players. Obviously, that isn't going to happen. But, if it did, and it were up to me (play along), here's the lineup I'd throw out there for the U.S.:

C Joe Mauer
1B Mark Teixiera
2B Chase Utley
SS Jimmy Rollins
3B David Wright
LF Ryan Braun
CF Grady Sizemore
RF Josh Hamilton

SP Brandon Webb
SP Tim Lincecum
SP Roy Halladay
SP Jake Peavy
SP Cole Hamels
CL Brad Lidge or Jonathan Papelbon

If, in this dream scenario, each country did offer their elite players, the World Baseball Classic would be...well, ridiculous. And awesome.

2009-02-03T13:27:00.002-06:00

After an offseason full of speculation that outfielder Jermaine Dye would be traded, rumors are now swirling that Bobby Abreu is possibly headed to Chicago.

...and I'm calling shenanigans. A good hitter, sure, but Abreu is a hack in the field. Plus, the only positions he'd possibly be acceptable at are Left Field, Right Field, or DH, all of which are currently occupied for the Sox.

So Unless Dye is actually traded (which I also think is bogus), Abreu serves no purpose on the Southside. And, standing by my previous post, neither does Dewayne Wise, but whatever.

Airing of Grievances

2009-02-02T14:46:00.011-06:00

Well, it's Monday. The Super Bowl is over, the weekend has come and gone, and my obsession with NHL 09 has reached the level of 'unhealthy.' Meanwhile, baseball season creeps ever closer, and the White Sox remain stubbornly quiet.

In an article over the weekend, Sox General Manager Kenny Williams is quoted saying:

"We have learned some tough lessons … throwing as much talent against the wall is not necessarily the answer."

And sure, this may be true. Just look at the Yankees.

But at the same time, what exactly, if anything, are the Sox throwing against the wall then? I mean, Dewayne Wise is supposedly the front-runner to be the White Sox Opening Day center fielder.

Yes. Dewayne Wise.

So, while the likes of Grady Sizemore, Curtis Granderson, Carlos Gomez, and even Coco Crisp (Coco Crisp!) roam the outfields of the rest of the AL Central, the Sox will have...Dewayne Wise?

I know, I know, it's only February 2nd, a lot can happen in Spring Training, yadda, yadda, yadda. But the mere thought of watching Dewayne Wise patrol the outfield for the 2009 Sox is seriously more frustrating than an offsides call on a break away in NHL 09. Speaking of which...

WBC and I Like Baseball

2009-01-29T16:52:00.003-06:00

With the second ever World Baseball Classic beginning in early March, rosters are starting to take shape. From the White Sox, A.J. Pierzynski, John Danks, Carlos Quentin and Matt Thornton have all expressed interest.

Here's a list of MLB players who might participate, along with the USA provisional roster.

Personally, when it comes to tournaments like this, I'm on the fence. On one hand, I think it'd be pretty cool to see some White Sox representing the U.S. But at the same time, I'd also like them to concentrate on the upcoming season (i.e. not risk getting hurt in what is essentially an exhibition.) In fact, teams can actually stop previously injured players from going to the WBC, like the White Sox might do with outfielder Carlos Quentin.

I guess you could argue that the WBC is more intense competition than Spring Training and could actually help players get ready, especially the guys who play in the field. But for pitchers, especially starters, who are counted on to throw 200+ innings...Baseball is a loooong season. Beginning it a month early seems like a huge risk. Maybe that's just me though.

In other news, this guy likes baseball. Greatest sign ever?

The Dead Zone

2009-01-27T17:12:00.005-06:00

Around this time of year, every year, I'm sure all baseball fans feel the same as I do.

Restless. Anxious. Maybe still a little bitter about fantasy football going so incredibly and unthinkably wrong. (Seriously Larry Johnson? Roberto Alomar beat you to your act like 10 years ago). In short, I'm ready for baseball.

So with Spring Training less than a month from starting, and pitchers and catchers set to report in just a few short weeks....why does baseball season still seem eons away? It could be the fact that I look out my apartment window and continually see this.

Or, maybe it's because not much is happening. At all.

Zach Grienke signed with the Royals the other day, Pettite re-upped with the Evil Empire, and Jeff Kent managed to retire without getting in a fight with someone. Boring, right?

Anyway, to waste some time, here's a list of some remaining big name free agents left unsigned with my completely unintelligent predictions of where they'll start the season. Give it a shot.

Orlando Hudson - Mets
Orlando Cabrera - White Sox
Adam Dunn - Nationals
Andruw Jones - Unemployed, still eating
Bobby Abreu- Angels
Manny Ramirez - Dodgers
Jon Garland - Diamondbacks
Ben Sheets - Brewers

Awkward Introduction, Tom Emanski, and Sweet Mustaches

2009-01-26T21:21:00.004-06:00

Hey. My name is Eddie Carroll and I’m a senior at the University of Iowa. For the better part of 22 years, my life has pretty much revolved around baseball. Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, I’ve been a fan of the Chicago White Sox since...well, forever. And while I guess the subject of my blog is technically the Sox, I’m still down to talk about anything baseball.

One thing I’ve gotten used to over the years - especially since coming to Iowa - is being surrounded by Cubs fans (See: This class). My friends? Cubs fans. My professors? Cubs fans. That bearded guy who sits outside the bars with ridiculous, yet strangely legible signs asking for money? Probably a Cubs fan. But that’s cool, who needs diversity.

Since this is the case, though, the one question I’m asked quite a bit is, “Did you even like the Sox before they won the World Series in 2005?” Usually in these situations, I just simply say “Yeah" and try to side-step what could turn into an extremely stupid argument. But since this is a blog, and I have Google image search at my disposal, I'm willing to prove to you just how long I’ve been following baseball and the White Sox – in picture form.

For example, I started watching baseball when Barry Bonds looked human, instead of like Ken Griffey Jr. from that one Simpsons episode.

Back in the day, this commercial was actually more informative than it was hilarious.

And, believe it or not, when I started following the Sox, this guy still knew how to speak English.

So I guess the common theme here (aside from absurdly awesome mustaches, which, by the way, my Dad once sported proudly) is that I’ve been watching baseball for quite awhile...which isn’t really all that exciting, but will hopefully be somewhat helpful in keeping up this blog. So if you ever want to talk baseball, catch up on the Sox, or just so happen to enjoy searching for and laughing at sweet mustaches on the internet, this should a good place to start...I think.