Al Lopez Ghost (old)

From ProSportsDaily.com 4/30/04 Oakland Tribune: "Struggling Giants catcher A.J. P was called into Felipe Alou's office for a closed door meeting Thursday with the manager and the GM Brian Sabean before a 4 to 3 loss to the Marlins, and while AJP said he did not ask to be traded, several teammates said they wouldn't mind seeing him shipped off the roster." This surprised the heck out of me, cause he always seemed to do the right thing at Minnie to kill us. The Joe Nathan trade looks pretty bad for the Giants right now.

You're just tempting everybody into coming up with a punchline involving wayward priests, aren't you? I'm proud to say that I am resisting this temptation. After several minutes of trying to think of one.

Yeah, that's when your career is really in the toilet.

I don't think you can say Willie "is really good" on defense. He does range well to his right, but otherwise he can be shaky out there. He's really good at running. I'd sure keep him over Dransfeldt, but if this is all he's gonna hit, he won't be able to keep his starting job.

From the media and marketing columnist of the Tribune on Tuesday morning: Boyer said: "The marketing challenge is similar in every sport:your fans have to come first. This is a pretty good baseball team, and we're anxious to get people out here." He's aware of the perception that the organization is anything but fan friendly. "It's one of the things we're going to try and work on immediateley. You'll see, not tomorrow, but over the next few months added entertainment value into the games." Not sure what that means. Luvasoxettes? People spinning around baseball bats and falling over? Hell, I'd settle for Rob Gallas in a dunk tank, and I bet he has the free time for it.

Carlos made a huge mistake. You can't let yourself get picked off there. I know that the 1st baseman had the base blocked, but you stop that by sliding feet first. Bobby Grich used to do this all the time at second during pickoffs - you'll sometimes hear Hawk say this, and again, you slide back feet first to make the guy pay for trying to pull a fast one on you. Carlos should buy dinner for the heroes of the 9th inning - they pulled his ass out of the fire. As for trading Carlos, let's not be hasty. He hasn't had a great start, but wasn't it about late June last year that he caught fire? I'd trade anybody in the right deal, but you don't just dump the guy.

My guess is that Ozzie just wanted to meet Ligue.

I have found that it can be hard to insult a Cub fan, no matter how hard you try. In 1985 I went to the Sox Cubs game at Wrigley (my last visit there, and I do mean last), so I bought a Padres hat. Not one person noticed it. I had to explain it to a few people. You can always tell a Cub fan, but you can't tell him much.

Nobody said worse things about Gload than I did last winter, and obviously I was wrong. He's done well, he's a good guy to have on the bench as a fill in. I still don't see him as an everyday player, but then I have been wrong on this before. Kudos to Gload for what he's accomplished. Viva Ozzie!

Yeah, and it's full of crap.

It's too soon to give up on Danny Wright. THis should be the year where you find out yes or no about him as a starter. There's plenty of time to give up on him later, if it has to come to that. By the way, who says Kelly Wunsch is coming back? Sox management seems pretty down on him, and I read where he was the guy Kenny Williams was talking about in late Spring Training, that someone who thinks he is on the team has to step it up. I think they don't really like Kelly W.

I was born and raised about a mile from Wrigley Field, but my Dad was always a White Sox fan, and he raised me right. Now I live in the Southwest Suburbs, where I don't have to deal with nearly so many Cub fans. I don't think I could have survived last year on the Northwest side. (Although the ending would have worked for me.)

The guy head butted a chair! He should work for the WWE in the offseason. Did security wrestle the chair to the ground???

The Tribune's media columnist in today's business section wrote this: [Gallas's resignation] "comes after the White Sox had reached out for more marketing help this season with the hiring of pr giant Burson-Marsteller. Though team owner JR is know for his loyalty to his staffers, insiders said that low attendance the last several years may have prompted the change....The Sox didn't announce a replacement, though Reinsdorf's son Michael surfaced as a possible candidate. Michael Reinsdorf couldn't be reached Tuesday. He has been sitting in on marketing meetings in recent months but denied to the Tribune last month that he was thinking about working for the Sox. Though Gallas was credited with things such as Elvis and Sleepover Nights, the Sox have not been known as the most fan-friendly team during his tenure. Allowing tailgating only on certain days, for example, did little to win over new fans." In the Sun Times today, Telander writes that Gallas's statement that it was time for new challenges could be translated to mean "I can walk away now, or they will mail my head to me in a box." Whatever. I'm delighted he's gone. I think he was awful at his job, and a jerk. Remember that he once wrote an overly nasty letter to a fan who had asked for an autographed ball. The letter made it into the papers. Generally not the attitude you're looking for from your pr guy. And I know he was a raging jerk to at least one of the people who worked for him, and she did not deserve it. The organ may sound better tonight.

f*** Fick.

the Score this a.m. said he was day to day. (Please do not insert joke here.)

The problem with this poll is that you can truthfully say that Frank is the greatest player in Sox history, but still feel it's time for him to stop b****ing or leave. Frank's inability to keep his mouth shut, or stay clear of controversy when he opens it, leads people to the land of mixed emotions. He's our greatest player ever, and often times he comes off as a pissy whiner.

The diminished skills clause no longer exists. It was dropped when they negotiated the current deal. I'm sure it was a major reason Frank signed this deal, to get out from under that cloud.

From today's paper: "The stumbling block in the [new Magglio] deal was reportedly the number of years, with Ordonez wanting 5 years and the Sox offering 4. A source close to the negotiations said the hurdle is close to being cleared, and a deal could be announced soon."

Apparently waiting for his first homer of the season, Frank is quoted in Friday's Southtown talking about one of his favorite subjects - the lack of "respect" his contract shows him. "For now, Frank Thomas has no problem keeping a happy face. Make no mistake about it though. The 35 year old veteran would like the organization to tear up his contract as soon as the season is over and give him one that he says would show him the 'respect' he believes he has earned as a long-time, productive member of the team. Thomas told the Southtown on Thursday that his agent Arn Tellem has approached the team within the last few weeks and relayed that message. Thomas is seeking a 4 year contract to replace his current deal, which runs through 2006, with options each year. Thomas said he'd like to end his career with the White Sox. THomas was told the club would discuss his contract with him as soon as the season is over. "I've already discussed it with Arn and the club" Thomas said. "They both know how I feel. I've earned my way here, they're not giving me nothing. After the year I had last year, it's a little disappointing come the 1st and the 15th, but I'm going to keep on ticking. It's not a challenge to me, because I'm used to proving myself." The article goes on to say "I look at it a little different from everybody else" said Thomas. "I think a lot of guys got their job to do, but I've earned my way here. It's one of those things that I really hope management will take a long look at what I've done over such a long period of time and try and keep me here. I don't want to go anywhere else. "On the other hand, I don't want to sit here and outperform 80% of the league and be paid like the bottom 1/3 of the league, either. It's one of those things where money isn't everything, but I would like to be treated fairly and be here for the rest of my career." Thomas also said "I remember what I've done. It's easy to forget because I think people just really go year to year but it's been a long grind for me and I take it serious. Money is not an issue right now, but I think I've made the organization a lot of money over the years. So show the respect that I've shown them. I've always been a company guy and stuck up for them. I'm going to continue to bust my ass and do things so that I can find a way to stay here." Thomas was adamant in pointing out that winning the World Series this year is atop his priority list, with the hope that the club will talk to him at the end of the year about a new deal as they said they would. "Right now that's what they're saying. That's fine with me, because I'm going to go out and have a good year anyway, and then hopefully we'll talk again. My job is to pull these guys together, keep a happy face and keep this thing going for us because I have a feeling it's going to be a special year. All I'mlooking of now is a ring. All the individual stuff, I could care less about, and for the 1st time it comes from my heart when I say that. I could care less when it comes to my numbers." SO, you think Frank will be ok with Maggs gettting Vlad money if Frank stays at $8 million a year? You think maybe Frank could keep this s*** out of the papers when the team is going well? You think Ozzie will let Frank pout? The answer is no, no, and no. Vive Ozzie!

From Ron Rappaport's column in the Thursday Sun Times: "When the All Star game came to Chicago last year, the Sox made way for the accompanying pageantry by temporarily dispensing with an indispensable part of their past. The baseball replicas featuring the numbers the team has retired through the years, which were displayed on the facing of the club level at U.S. Cellular Field, were removed to accommodate All Star game bunting and signage. That left the Sox with a problem they have turned into an opportunity as they restore the tributes to the great Sox players who have received the ultimate honor. On Tuesday, in ceremonies before a game with the Yankees, Sox fans who have been asking when the numbers will be restored will get their answer. The numbers, along with sepiatoned likenesses of the players, will be unveiled in a spot where they now are hidden by green vinyl - on the left field fence. The Sox will have a representative for each of the players on hand. Billy Pierce, Harold Baines and Minnie Minoso will be there in person. Ozzie Guillen will represent Luis Aparicio, who was not able to stay in town after appearing at the home opener. Carlton Fisk's daughter will represent the Hall of Fame catcher, who has an out of town commitment. Nellie Fox's widow, Joanne, and daughters will be there. Chico Carrasquel will represent Luke Appling. A representative is being sought from Ted Lyons' family. And in honor of Jackie Robinson, whose number has been retired by every team, the Sox are working to bring in Rachel, his widow, or Sharon, his daughter. Sox fans who love their history won't want to miss this historic moment." It sounds like what the Dodgers have on their fences, and those look really cool. So this could be an outstanding addition to U.S. Cellular field.

You always hear more of the truth about the ball club after the manager is gone, and it seems to me that Jerry Manuel was the kind of guy who walked into a room and sucked all the fun out of the place. There's not necessarily anything he could do about that, it was just his personality, the way he was (memories...). Rowand said on the radio a couple of weeks ago that if you got thrown out trying to steal a base, you didn't want to go back into the dugout because of what would be said to you. Stuff like that comes out now. It was a combination of things...one dimensional baseball, an uptight manager and clubhouse, and they couldn't/didn't perform up to their capabilities. Viva Ozzie!

Don't worry, the Yankees probably will spend another $10 mil before the season ends. Hell, they'll probably be the team that trades for the Big Unit.

That's the whole key right there. They are playing hard, bearing down, whatever you like to call it. One guy gets credit for that. Viva Ozzie!

You have to give Danny Wright a legitimate shot at proving himself as a starter, and I think Ozzie will do that. All indications are that Ozzie will stick with his guys - the age of the tinkerer seems to be over.Wright is why we lost yesterday, but I wouldn't yank him out of the rotation until he's had the chance to get his feet on the ground. Viva Ozzie!