tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64100502009-02-20T22:52:55.972-06:00A White Sox fan living in enemy territory talks about his favorite team and the team he loves to hate.Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comBlogger381125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1090294352899366682004-07-19T22:27:00.000-05:002004-07-19T22:50:34.626-05:00

I am happy to report that Exile in Wrigleyville is moving to Most Valuable Network. You can now find my posts about the White Sox at whitesox.mostvaluablenetwork.com. This site, including the archives, will remain at this location. The new template allows readers to post comments, which several readers have asked about here. I hope you'll continue to read at the new address. Thanks.

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1089869516950112642004-07-15T00:31:00.000-05:002004-07-15T00:33:33.603-05:00

When a young man was shot and killed about a block from Wrigley Field in May, I wrote that city officials would make a ruckus about this. Well, the ruckus is finally here. Tom Tunney, my alderman in the 44th Ward, is calling on police to write more tickets and make more arrests in the area around the park. Tunney contends that police officers are wary of making misdemeanor arrests for disorderly

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1089869428307779542004-07-15T00:29:00.000-05:002004-07-15T00:30:28.306-05:00

I am leaving town Thursday morning to drive up to Door County, Wis., for my annual golf trip with a group of friends. Except for 1998, I've been up for this trip every year since 1996. This is a long way of saying that I won't be posting for a few days. Monday evening is probably the best bet for seeing new content. Check back here then, and you'll also read an announcement about the future of

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1089783820759238322004-07-14T00:27:00.000-05:002004-07-14T10:13:47.530-05:00

I think even a big Frank Thomas fan like me can forget just how good this man has been in his career. (Some of that is Thomas's fault. His ability to stick his foot in his mouth is well-documented.) A couple of things triggered my interest in examining Thomas's career Monday night, and my review took so long that I had to wait a day to finish writing this post.I had already been thinking about

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1089498503484093902004-07-10T17:25:00.000-05:002004-07-10T17:28:23.483-05:00

We may not see much more of Frank Thomas during the regular season. Thomas was placed on the 15-day disabled list today and was replaced on the roster by Joe Borchard. The rest could help Thomas avoid surgery on his left ankle, which has been bothering him since he hurt it running the bases in a game at Miami last month. He aggravated the problem during the sweep of the Twins in Minnesota.

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1089498244775934122004-07-10T17:22:00.000-05:002004-07-10T17:24:04.776-05:00

Manager Ozzie Guillen caught his players and even his son Ozzie Jr. off guard Thursday with his dugout tirade during he come-from-behind win over the Angels.Carlos Lee has been at his most effective hitting cleanup this year. He'll stay there with Frank Thomas on the disabled list.Guillen plans to start the second half with Mark Buehrle, Freddy Garcia and Esteban Loiaza in some order depending on

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1089432694790929342004-07-09T23:09:00.000-05:002004-07-09T23:11:34.790-05:00

I certainly liked what I saw tonight from the Sox. Magglio Ordonez returned from more than a month off and went 2-for-4, with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Amazing. Jon Garland had his second straight strong outing, pitching seven innings and allowing only one run on four hits and two walks and striking out three batters. I hope the Sox have him pitch in the first game after the All-Star

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1089431589734997792004-07-09T22:45:00.000-05:002004-07-09T22:53:09.733-05:00

Ozzie Guillen and Ken Williams are like us fans. They had had enough of the way the Sox had been playing during the five-game losing streak that included a sweep by the Cubs (so hard to type that). Guillen let his players know he was seriously unhappy with their performance as the Sox were trailing the Angels 8-5 Thursday afternoon. The Sox came back twice from three-run deficits Thursday,

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1089430534181783072004-07-09T22:32:00.000-05:002004-07-12T09:49:02.720-05:00

I just wanted to watch a baseball game. I wanted to see the second game of a doubleheader between the Tigers and the Sox on July 12, 1979. I was eight years old, so I didn't really have an opinion on rock 'n' roll versus disco (although I know that within four years, I would've come down on the rock side). I couldn't believe what I was seeing on the broadcast when the fans stormed the field on

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1089430038305213682004-07-09T22:25:00.000-05:002004-07-09T22:27:18.306-05:00

Alan Schwarz of Baseball America has written a new book called "The Numbers Game" that tells the history of baseball's love of statistics. ESPN.com has a review of the book and an excerpt from it.I don't know enough about Schwarz to know if he's this way, but Baseball America is generally seen as being on the tools side of the "Moneyball" divide between tools (physical potential) and performance

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1089261165469178932004-07-07T23:28:00.000-05:002004-07-08T08:55:10.693-05:00

I sincerely hope that this is the toughest stretch of the season for the White Sox. They are in the midst of a season-high five game losing streak after getting smoked by the Angels tonight, 12-0. I was at the game tonight and for last night's 6-2 loss to the Angels. I'm embarrassed to say that I had to look up tonight's final score because I left after the bottom of the eighth. I went to the

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088872712073203592004-07-03T11:33:00.000-05:002004-07-04T21:46:42.460-05:00

The White Sox are now 0-2 against the Cubs when I'm in attendance this year. Of course, they were 2-0 against the Cubs last year with me in attendance. I don't have anything to do with how they play. I'm not a Cubs fan, so I don't believes in curses, etc.The funniest moment of the day came as I made my way to the hot, putrid cesspool that the Cubs call the upper-deck men's room on the third base

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088872305233091792004-07-03T11:28:00.000-05:002004-07-03T11:31:45.233-05:00

If I were the conspiracy-minded type, I would think that Tribune Co. is using its newspaper to help the Cubs land Magglio Ordonez. Cubs beat writer Paul Sullivan, who used to cover the Sox, accuses the Sox of failing to treat Ordonez like the superstar he is. In doing so, Sullivan writes, they may be driving him into the hands of the Cubs. They could decline the $11.5 million option on Moises

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088872101485627582004-07-03T11:27:00.000-05:002004-07-03T11:28:21.486-05:00

Who's the bigger idiot -- Hawk Harrelson or Jay Mariotti? The two numbskulls had a little confrontation in the press box in Minneapolis during the Sox-Twins series this week, the Tribune reports. The verbal war between them has reignited with Mariotti's column on the off-duty police officer and his wife who were injured in a fight with two young men during the Indians series last week.I guess my

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088872021573179722004-07-03T11:26:00.000-05:002004-07-03T11:27:01.573-05:00

Ozzie Guillen was wondering where Magglio Ordonez was. Sox trainer Herm Schneider said Ordonez was working on his rehabilitation with a physical therapist near his home in the west suburbs. Scheider noted that there isn't a whole lot of room in the visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley Field for rehab work.Comparisons with last year are not good for Sox starting pitcher Esteban Loiaza. Last year was a

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088871957149336752004-07-03T11:24:00.000-05:002004-07-03T11:43:16.766-05:00

Before the Cubs-Sox series overshadows it, consider that the White Sox are now 6-1 against the Twins in Minneapolis this year, after winning just five games in total there the last two years. The only game the Sox have lost in the Humpdome came on a "bullpen day" on the first trip to Minneapolis. I can't wait to see them play there in person in September.

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088659696274712072004-07-01T00:22:00.000-05:002004-07-01T12:21:03.226-05:00

I don't know about you, but whenever I hear of any kind of incident at the Cell, I get a deep sense of dread, knowing what the reaction is going to be. I hate to acknowledge that Jay Mariotti has a point, but this time he does, to an extent. Mariotti writes about an incident from last week's series against Cleveland, which didn't break into the news until Tuesday. Here's a synopsis of Mariotti's

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088659321762666482004-07-01T00:18:00.000-05:002004-07-01T00:22:01.763-05:00

I do have to wonder what the cop was thinking. There's a lot of bravado in confronting two drunken young men with the words, quoting Jay Mariotti's column, '' 'Do you mind? Our kids are here,' '' he said, confirming the dialogue in a Chicago Police report. 'I am a cop. Watch your mouth.' '' [Emphasis added] It doesn't say much for his judgment as a police officer. He should have notified security

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088659095676680282004-07-01T00:04:00.000-05:002004-07-01T00:31:46.080-05:00

Well, once in a while, anyway. Clifford Grammich wrote regarding my defense of Sox GM Ken Williams:Good points about the trades, but I'll give Kenny Williams credit simply for not signing Colon last winter (or at least not outbidding the Angels).That is a good point. He also wasn't afraid to let Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett walk away if they wouldn't agree to a contract on terms the Sox wanted

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088567968418867192004-06-29T22:47:00.000-05:002004-07-01T00:35:30.146-05:00

Online voting for the All-Star Game ends at 11 p.m. CDT Wednesday. Frank Thomas has moved up to second place in the voting for first basemen, but he's not going to catch Jason Giambi, who's got more than twice as many votes. Still, it's nice to see Thomas getting some recognition. Giambi, meanwhile, is day-to-day thanks to some intestinal parasites that have laid him low. Dude, you make $20

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088566642141016862004-06-29T22:36:00.000-05:002004-06-29T22:37:22.140-05:00

It was a relief to watch Mark Buehrle throw so well Tuesday night. He was still up in the zone with more pitches than I'd like to see, but far less often than he has been in recent starts. The Sox offense combined home runs by their double-play combination, Jose Valentin (solo, No. 16) and Juan Uribe (one on, No. 11) with two-out, run-scoring hits by Carlos Lee, Paul Konerko and Timo Perez to

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088566552784638992004-06-29T22:29:00.000-05:002004-06-29T22:35:52.786-05:00

Everyone in the world thinks Ken Williams got fleeced in the Freddy Garcia deal. Here's a sampling of opinions from the blogosphere (including an excerpt of a post by yours truly). This overreaction is no big surprise, because Williams is the Rodney Dangerfield of baseball GMs. Let's look at a few of the big "bust" trades that people criticize him for.David Wells for Mike Sirotka before the 2001

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088484766099166742004-06-28T23:38:00.000-05:002004-06-28T23:52:46.100-05:00

What the White Sox trade for Freddy Garcia boils down to is that number, or 86 years, if you want to talk about it in that way. The Tribune's Rick Morrissey wrote that he was talking to Sox GM Ken Williams about Williams's hair trigger on trades. Despite the GM's attempts to talk about all the preparation, all the groundwork that must be laid, Morrissey wasn't having any of it. I love the

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088483720269093262004-06-28T23:34:00.000-05:002004-06-28T23:35:20.270-05:00

I'm really looking forward to the series that begins Tuesday in Minnesota. Last year, after taking two of three from the Cubs, the Sox swept the Twins, with both series being at the Cell. The series included a walk-off home run by Frank Thomas in the third game, made possible by a ninth-inning, game-tying home run by the then-struggling Paul Konerko.I'm also going to Friday's Cubs-Sox game.

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6410050.post-1088391648318837652004-06-27T21:57:00.000-05:002004-06-28T10:16:03.310-05:00

After the Sox beat the Cubs 9-4 today, I was already feeling good. But then I checked my cell phone and saw that I had a voice mail. I listened to the message that my good friend Jody had left -- that's how I learned that the White Sox had acquired Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Freddy Garcia. I checked in with Jody from a wedding barbecue I was at -- they got married in St. Thomas and then

Vincehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03108336617291314250noreply@blogger.com