Chicago White Sox - 2008 and beyond

[Dauis]

3/13/2008
Spring Training Game #7 – Texas [3-3] (K. Loe 0-1, 9.00 ERA) at Chicago (A) [3-3] (M. Buehrle 0-1, 4.50 ERA)
Texas 4
Chicago (A) 2
W: K. Loe (1-1) L: M. Buehrle (0-2) S: J. Benoit (2)
HR – TEX: C. Shelton (2)

INJURY NEWS
-The Padres had 2 relievers go down with injuries today. Cla Meredith will miss 2 weeks due to a strained back muscle, and Justin Hampson will miss at least 1-2 weeks with a dead arm.

[Dauis]

3/14/2008
CONTRACT EXTENSION
-The San Diego Padres have reached an agreement with Randy Wolf on a 3 year, $27.09 million extension for the 31-year old.

Spring Training Game #8 – Chicago (A) [3-4] (J. Contreras 0-0, 2.25 ERA) at Oakland [4-3] (J. Duchscherer 0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Chicago (A) 5
Oakland 17
W: K. Calero (1-0) L: G. Floyd (1-1) S: A. Embree (1)
HR – CHA: J. Thome (1) OAK: J. Cust (3), D. Johnson (1), W. Bankston (2)

Only 6 of the runs we gave up were earned, and 11 of Oakland's runs came in the eighth.

[Dauis]

3/15/2008
CONTRACT EXTENSIONS
-The Dodgers and Esteban Loaiza have agreed to a 1 year extension for $1.67 million.
-Tim Wakefield has reached agreement with the Red Sox on a 1 year, $4 million extension.

Spring Training Game #9 – Seattle [4-4] (M. Batista 0-1, 6.75 ERA) at Chicago (A) [3-5] (O. Perez 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Seattle 4
Chicago (A) 7
W: M. Thornton (1-0) L: E. O'Flaherty (1-1) S: B. Jenks (3)
HR – SEA: A. Beltre (2), R. Sexson (1) CHA: J. Dye (3)

[Dauis]

3/16/2008
Spring Training Game #10 – Chicago (A) [4-5] (L. Nunez 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Tampa Bay [5-4] (A. Sonnanstine 0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Chicago (A) 5
Tampa Bay 3
W: O. Dotel (1-0) L: D. Wheeler (0-1) S: B. Jenks (4)
HR – CHA: P. Konerko (4), J. Thome (2) TBA: C. Pena 2 (4)

INJURY NEWS
-Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is listed as day-to-day with back spasms.
-Braves center fielder Fred Lewis will be out at least 2 months with a herniated disc.

[Dauis]

3/17/2008
INJURY NEWS
-Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster will miss 6 weeks after fracturing his wrist while getting mugged on a subway.

CONTRACT EXTENSION
-The Mariners have reached an agreement on a 5-year extension with Kenji Johjima. Terms were not disclosed.

Spring Training Game #11 – Chicago (A) [5-5] (J. Vazquez 0-1, 4.50 ERA) at Kansas City [4-6] (Z. Greinke 0-0, 2.25 ERA)
Chicago (A) 6
Kansas City 7 (10)
W: R. Colon (1-0) L: O. Dotel (1-1)
HR – CHA: J. Dye (4), P. Konerko (5)

[Dauis]

3/18/2008
Spring Training Game #12 – Los Angeles (A) [5-6] (J. Lackey 2-0, 0.00 ERA) at Chicago (A) [5-6] (M. Buehrle 0-2, 4.50 ERA)
Los Angeles (A) 3
Chicago (A) 8
W: M. Buehrle (1-2) L: J. Lackey (2-1)
HR – CHA: J. Dye (5), J. Thome (3)

INJURY NEWS
-Will this be the week of the off-field injuries? Mets starting pitcher Johan Santana will be out 1-2 weeks after straining his hamstring falling down the stairs at his house.
-Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome will miss 4 days with a fractured finger.

[Dauis]

3/20/2008
CONTRACT EXTENSION
-The Padres have signed Trevor Hoffman to a 2 year, $15 million extension.

Spring Training Game #13 – Chicago (A) [6-6] (J. Contreras 0-0, 3.38 ERA) at Boston [3-9] (C. Schilling 0-1, 5.63 ERA)
Chicago (A) 4
Boston 7
W: J. Switzer (1-1) L: B. Logan (1-1) S: J. Papelbon (2)
HR – BOS: D. Pedroia (1), C. Koskie (1)

[Dauis]

3/21/2008
Spring Training Game #14 – Toronto [7-6] (S. Marcum 2-0, 1.13 ERA) at Chicago (A) [6-7] (O. Perez 1-0, 3.38 ERA)
Toronto 16
Chicago (A) 2
W: S. Marcum (3-0) L: O. Perez (1-1)
HR – TOR: M. Stairs (2)

It was actually a close game if you take out Toronto's 14-run sixth inning.

INJURY NEWS
-Red Sox DH David Ortiz will be out at least 2 months after fracturing his foot.

[Dauis]

3/22/2008
Spring Training Game #15 – Chicago (A) [6-8] (J. Vazquez 0-1, 3.75 ERA) at Minnesota [10-4] (F. Liriano 1-1, 1.50 ERA)
Chicago (A) 7
Minnesota 8 (11)
W: J. Nathan (2-0) L: M. Thornton (1-1)
HR – CHA: J. Crede (1) MIN: M. Lamb (3)

[Dauis]

3/23/2008
Spring Training Game #16 – New York (A) [9-6] (C. Wang 1-1, 4.50 ERA) at Chicago (A) [6-9] (M. Buehrle 1-2, 3.00 ERA)
New York (A) 4
Chicago (A) 12
W: M. Buehrle (2-2) L: C. Wang (1-2) S: A. Sisco (1)
HR – CHA: P. Konerko (6), J. Thome (4)

[Dauis]

3/24/2008
We made a small move to the 40-man roster, removing Daniel Cortes and adding Kyle Davies.

Spring Training Game #17 – Chicago (A) [7-9] (L. Nunez 0-0, 0.00 ERA) at Detroit [5-11] (N. Robertson 0-0, 5.25 ERA)
Chicago (A) 2
Detroit 3
W: N. Robertson (1-0) L: O. Perez (0-1) S: F. Rodney (2)
HR – CHA: P. Konerko (7)

[Dauis]

3/25/2008
Spring Training Game #18 – Chicago (A) [7-10] (J. Contreras 0-0, 3.75 ERA) at Baltimore [9-8] (A. Loewen 1-1, 4.50 ERA)
Chicago (A) 9
Baltimore 13
W: D. Sarfate (1-1) L: S. Linebrink (0-1)
HR – CHA: P. Konerko (8), A. Pierzynski (2), J. Thome (5) BAL: N. Markakis (2)

Jim Thome will be out for 2 weeks with a dislocated finger after being hit by a pitch.

[Dauis]

3/26/2008
Spring Training Game #19 – Cleveland [9-9] (J. Sowers 1-1, 6.75 ERA) at Chicago (A) [7-11] (O. Perez 1-1, 3.75 ERA)
Cleveland 9
Chicago (A) 6
W: T. Mastny (2-0) L: B. Logan (1-2) S: R. Perez (1)
HR – CLE: C. Blake (1), D. Dellucci (1), G. Sizemore (5), F. Gutierrez (2), E. Encarnacion (2) CHA: C. Quentin (2)

[Dauis]

3/27/2008
Spring Training Game #20 – Chicago (A) [7-12] (J. Vazquez 0-1, 6.32 ERA) at Texas [10-9] (K. Millwood 0-0, 2.81 ERA)
Chicago (A) 3
Texas 11
W: K. Fukumori (1-1) L: M. MacDougal (0-1)
HR – TEX: F. Catalanotto (5), M. Byrd (2), J. Botts (1)

[Dauis]

3/28/2008
Spring Training Game #21 – Oakland [10-10] (R. Harden 1-2, 2.81 ERA) at Chicago (A) [7-13] (M. Buehrle 2-2, 2.25 ERA)
Oakland 11
Chicago (A) 8
W: R. Harden (2-2) L: M. Buehrle (2-3) S: A. Embree (2)
HR – OAK: B. Crosby (2), K. Suzuki 2 (3) CHA: P. Konerko (9)

INJURY NEWS
-Cleveland shorstop Asdrubal Cabrera will be out a week with what the team calling dead arm syndrome. From a shortstop? Really?
-A major blow for the Tigers today, as starter Jeremy Bonderman will miss 8 months with a herniated disc.

[Dauis]

3/29/2008
TRADE
Hmmm. A day after losing Jeremy Bonderman for essentially the season, the Tigers traded away another starting pitcher—30-year old Nate Robertson—and 24-year old minor league second baseman William Rhymes to the Texas Rangers for 33-year old left fielder Frank Catalanotto.

Spring Training Game #22 – Chicago (A) [7-14] (L. Nunez 0-0, 0.90 ERA) at Seattle [7-14] (C. Baek 0-0, 4.50 ERA)
Chicago (A) 4
Seattle 2
W: L. Nunez (1-0) L: C. Baek (0-1) S: B. Jenks (5)
HR – CHA: P. Konerko (10) SEA: W. Balentien (1)

INJURY NEWS
-Boston left fielder Manny Ramirez will be out for a week with a fractured finger.

[Dauis]

3/30/2008
Spring Training Game #23 – Tampa Bay [12-10] (J. Shields 1-2, 6.59 ERA) at Chicago (A) [8-14] (J. Contreras 0-0, 3.94 ERA)
Tampa Bay 3
Chicago (A) 0
W: J. Shields (2-2) L: J. Contreras (0-1) S: T. Percival (8)
HR – TBA: F. Perez (1)

[Dauis]

3/31/2008
Spring Training Game #24 – Kansas City [10-13] (L. Hudson 0-1, 6.19 ERA) at Chicago (A) [8-15] (K. Davies 0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Kansas City 3
Chicago (A) 2
W: J. Bale (2-1) L: J. Egbert (0-1) S: J. Soria (7)
HR – CHA: J. Martinez (2)

[Dauis]

4/1/2008
CONTRACT EXTENSION
1B Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed on a 3 year, $33.9 million contract extension.


4/3/2008
CONTRACT EXTENSION
Andy Pettitte has signed a 2 year, $32 million extension with the Yankees.


4/5/2008
CONTRACT EXTENSION
Todd Jones has reached an agreement with the Tigers on a 1 year, $1.39 million extension.

[Dauis]

WHITE SOX OPENING DAY ROSTER
Starting Rotation
R Javier Vazquez (5.49 ERA in 19.2 innings)
L Mark Buehrle (4.58 ERA in 19.2 innings)
R Jose Contreras (3.60 ERA in 20.0 innings)
R Leo Nunez (0.71 ERA in 12.2 innings)
L John Danks (0.00 ERA in 2.2 innings)

Spot Starter
L Oliver Perez (2.81 ERA in 16.0 innings)

Middle Relievers
L Andrew Sisco (5.12 ERA in 19.1 innings)
R Scott Linebrink (8.10 ERA in 16.2 innings)
L Boone Logan (11.08 ERA in 13.0 innings)
L Oliver Perez

Mop-Up Reliever
R Oneli Perez (11.57 ERA in 11.2 innings)

Setup Relievers
L Matt Thornton (10.24 ERA in 9.2 innings)
R Octavio Dotel (13.50 ERA in 2.2 innings)

Closer
R Bobby Jenks (2.57 ERA in 7.0 innings)

As you can see, it was an ugly spring for the bullpen. Hopefully working in a more regular environment will help them.

Lineup vs RHP
L – CF Jerry Owens (.304)
R – SS Orlando Cabrera (.197)
L – DH Jim Thome (.299)
S – LF Nick Swisher (.254)
R – 1B Paul Konerko (.308)
R – RF Jermaine Dye (.261)
R – 3B Josh Fields (.194)
L – 2B Danny Richar (.214)
L – C A.J. Pierzynski (.207)

Bench:
R – 2B Alexei Ramirez (.200)
R – 3B Joe Crede (.289)
R – RF Carlos Quentin (.269)

Lineup vs. LHP
R – 2B Alexei Ramirez
R – SS Orlando Cabrera
L – DH Jim Thome
R – 1B Paul Konerko
R – RF Jermaine Dye
S – CF Nick Swisher
R – 3B Josh Fields
R – LF Carlos Quentin
L – C A.J. Pierzynski


SEASON PREVIEW
Jerry Reinsdorf wants us to finish with a winning record. I'm not sure he saw our bullpen, so that could explain his optimism. I was real pleased with how much better Danks looked at the end of camp. He looked like a pitcher that was ready to take his spot in the rotation. I'll be looking to trade Crede sometime soon, hopefully for at least a backup catcher and a prospect, but I'm not going to force anything. I guess that's my way of saying who knows how long he'll be here. Other than that, I'm ready for the season to start.