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Friday White Sox blogging

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Single-game tickets go on sale today, so I figured it would be a good time to restart Friday White Sox blogging.

Let’s start with this article in the Post-Dispatch sent in by an alert reader about our star pitching.

But this article about our new DH is very heartening.

As this past offseason progressed, it became increasingly tougher for Kenny Williams to talk with Jim Thome.

It wasn’t that the general manager regretted trading for the native son from downstate Peoria, even though popular “grinder” and defensive whiz Aaron Rowand was sent to Philadelphia as part of the deal for the prolific slugger. And it wasn’t that Thome’s rehabilitation from right elbow and back problems was coming along slower than expected.

If anything, the White Sox had to slow down Thome because he was experiencing such great results during his workouts. Instead, Williams simply needed a break from Thome’s endless supply of intensity and enthusiasm. It was a rough offseason for Williams, who battled painful kidney stones during much of November and December, and he truly needed some time away from the game to get ready for the grind of the 2006 effort to repeat.

“I just got out of bed from all the issues I was having, so I’m not ready for Spring Training yet,” said Williams with a smile, speaking with the media during SoxFest.

“So, I try and stay away from Jim Thome as much as possible,” Williams added. “Seriously, he gets me so fired up and ready to go, and I needed those extra couple of weeks.”

And the accolades keep coming.

“We did a good job getting Jim, there’s no secret,” said Konerko, who led the White Sox with 40 home runs and 100 RBIs in 2005. “We won a lot of low-scoring games where we didn’t hit the ball well.

“You try to shore up that area and score some more runs. You always try to better your weakness, and we got better offensively. With Jim, it’s a guy not only with potential on the field, but he’s also one more guy in the clubhouse with a voice of reason.”

If Konerko’s happy, I’m happy.

Go Sox.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 1:03 pm

Comments

Never too late to change your lousy life and start rooting for the Redbirds

Comment by Packer Fan Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 1:14 pm
Rich,

In the name of fairness, you should have a forum for Cardinals fans. You may even allow an occasional Cubs fan to post as well.

Comment by southernilrepub Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 1:21 pm
Would you walk into a Sox bar and ask that they reserve a table for Cubs fans? Not gonna happen here, either.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 1:33 pm
Well said Rich… Go Sox!

Comment by ISU REP Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 1:45 pm
It’s very tough to repeat in baseball, but the Sox are in a better position to do so than any team since the ‘99 Yankees. Kenny Williams has done a great job. It’s going to be an exciting year. Everybody get out to the park as many times as they can, so we can draw over 3 million. If we do, then Reinsdorf will have the money to keep it going into the future.

Comment by Anon Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 1:48 pm
Amen on the nod to #14.

I’ve never been so geeked for spring training.

Comment by SenorAnon. Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 1:50 pm
The White Sox will repeat before the Cubs end the curse.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 2:55 pm
Sox ticket sales are impressive. How many tickets have to be sold before the Sox pay rent? Can Blago count this as a new revenue stream?

Comment by Mr. Ethics Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 3:27 pm
the White Sox play the game the way that it was meant to be played — good pitching, solid infield defense, all three outfielders have great range and decent arms, and they play like a team — cheering each other on rather than checking their individual stats. Unbiased National League fans might call this National League style ball, and appreciate it — but Cubs and Cardinal fans are hardly unbiased.

Comment by capitol view Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 3:28 pm
Nothing better on a cold winter day than the sight of Chisox hurlers and backstops reporting to camp.

Comment by Farnese supporters Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 4:17 pm
Hey Sammy is still available. He’d be just the ticket to bring the Sox back down to the level of mediocrity. Oh sorry, wrong Chicago team. Go Cards!

Comment by BIG R.PH Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 4:52 pm
White Sox World Series Champs Sweatshirt $49.00. DVD of 2005 White Sox World Series Highlights $19.99. Knowing Cub Fans will never experience any of this…PRICELESS!!!
GO SOX ‘06 REPEAT!!!!

Comment by Cubhater Friday, Feb 17, 06 @ 5:22 pm
It really does make my day thinking back to October and how much fun it was going to the games and watching them at bars with all of my family and friends. Too bad Cubs fans will never experience what that feels like. White Sox, White Sox, Gooooo White Sox

Comment by Anon Saturday, Feb 18, 06 @ 9:46 am
Rich,

What happened to Devin’s brief Sunday afternoon of fame?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Feb 20, 06 @ 3:43 pm
you were exactly right about Steinbrenner, Rich. Tell him to go stick that New York junk right up his rear. what Ozzie said was exactly right. I am so sick of New York B.S. Ozzie should not have apologized.

Comment by Minion Monday, Feb 20, 06 @ 3:47 pm