29andPoplar

The injury notwithstanding, he did not have a great year. This is probably the first year he didn't make good progress. Hopefully it's an aberration but re-signing Jermaine Dye tells us a lot about how ready they think Sweeney is to being a productive every day major leaguer.

Actually tonight is not the first playoff game, the playoffs open this coming Sat. night in Great Falls vs. the Helena Brewers. The GF White Sox have three games remaining in their reg. season schedule.

Article on Great Falls victory last nite, http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs...PORTS/709040319 Juan Moreno, a product of the White Sox Dominican Academy, looks to be one to watch. One hit in six innings, only 71 pitches thrown, and was named Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year last week. Great Falls finishes up this week with three games on the road, then starts the playoffs (best of three) with a home game Saturday night. They are a good young team with chemistry and are clearly the bright spot of the farm system this year.

Very insightful post. I agree on Ryan Wing too, they need to make a decision on him this winter. Sweeney isn't up because he's not 100% and they want to get him healthy.

Well Jim Callis doesn't scout the Sox farm system either. He knows a whole bunch more about the Cubs system because he's a huge Cub fan. Doesn't mean his opinion/insight don't have merit. But it also doesn't mean just because he says the Sox have the worst farm system that it's gospel.

These two guys will work long relief and try to eat innings as necessary. They have to fish or cut bait with Phillips anyways, might as well let other teams see him pitch in the big leagues. By the way Sweeney has been playing but isn't 100% which is a big factor in him not being called up, it's not a conspiracy theory or anything. His health was a problem this year and he needs a break to get healthy.

I have first hand experience with Foley, several friends and business acquaintences have had first hand experience with Foley that I've personally witnessed, and as you mentioned above I have first hand experience with the people who have had first hand experience with him. Not all bad experiences, but most of them were. Lots of less than flattering stories about him but we'll leave it at that as there are always two sides to any experience and anyone can have a bad day, even if it seems like they consistently have bad days. I thought he was very good as an announcer but I also think it's quite telling that no NHL team has been beating down his door offering him a lucrative gig as their team's play by play guy.

Sorry for the typo, lol. The story is still true despite the mis-type. Glad you like Pat as a person. Too bad you have the wrong story about his departure though.

That is correct. I have not seen the official release indicating Broadway was promoted but yes, his addition to the 40 man would mean it's now full.

CWS I share your sentiments but as a point of clarification, Getz is almost exclusively a 2B.

I haven't seen anything official on call ups, just speculation. I will be surprised if Bourgeois isn't added to the 40 man and called up, in my opinion they should give him a good long look. I would bet he is better than Andy Gonzalez at just about any aspect of the game.

No. I posted my 411 above. I have met Mr. Reinsdorf but only in passing a few times, I do not know him per se and he certainly doesn't know me.

I promise I will do my best. I will craft a letter to Alan Regier for starters and perhaps Dave Wilder and possibly they can refer me to Mr. Amaro who runs things in the Dominican. Yes I think it would be great info for the people who post here.

Not sure what this means but for the record my name is Steven and I own a couple of three flats in Bridgeport in the 28th/29th street area and live in the west suburbs. My "connections" as it were are probably no better than anyone else on this board, I know a few people who work in administration for the White Sox, as do many who either live in Bridgeport or have business there. Because I'm involved in property management but mostly farm it out these days I have flexibility in terms of time and I do some other free lance things. I tend to listen more than I talk, especially around people whom I know are aware of what's going on. Plus I have been a student of baseball for many years like many on this site. I started reading this board and WSI when they were referred to me by a fellow fan at the ballpark, don't remember his name or handle. Again I prefer to read and listen but I felt I could contribute to this board because frankly I felt there were quite a number of what I felt were misconceptions here about the way things are run with the White Sox. Also I do everything I can to arrange my schedule to go to spring training because I prefer Arizona in March vs. Chicago, probably like most here. There is not a whole lot to do in Tucson so I do spend a lot of time on the back fields and have gotten to know some White Sox types. They are not friends or anything but if I remind them who I am they remember me. Last year I was lucky enough to spend 5 weeks roughly in Tucson and Phoenix, renting a condo in Tucson and bunking with my cousin who lives near Glendale for a few nights here and there. One thing I will say is White Sox admin and management types are very forthcoming, within reason, if you are polite and catch them at the right time. Hope this clarifies. I think it's important to share information and also to say how you obtained said information, I am not a fan of cloak and dagger stuff. If people ask you to keep something in confidence you do it but most of the time the White Sox types want the truth to get out there. It is ok if people are skeptical of what I may say, that is fine by me. I understand people will have different takes and different opinions. You will forgive me for not divulging my last name as I don't think that is wise, after all this is the internet. Thanks for having me and letting me contribute to your board.

The 3-4 I've talked to indicate he is tough but he made them better players and they respect him for it and would go through a wall for him. I suppose it all depends on who is talked to and when and under what circumstances.

Kalapse please be careful, the harsh patrol is lurking.

Couldn't agree more, they really are a fun team to watch and I love the passion of the Philly fans, borderline psychotic though they may be.

Nope. A lot less harsh than lots of what's posted here. No bad language or telling people to kiss my rear end or anything.

Hah, good one!

Really, thanks so much for the insight. I understand about opinions. Especially when the same one is posted day after day after day after day after day after day. My fun comes from getting answers to questions that people want to know about, not from complaining on a message board. I plan to try and get answers, stay tuned if you're interested.

Don't know, maybe. All I know is the Appy League is iffy, Toronto pulled out last yr. and they're down to a bare minimum of teams. Sox might be considering their options. Attendance at Bristol has been extremely low.

Great, glad you feel better. Go out and buy his jersey and maybe check Ebay for his baseball cards and send him a self addressed envelope for his autograph then light some candles and light the fireplace and have a glass of wine, maybe you'll feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Seemed like the proper thread to do this in, copied below is Flash Tizzle's response to my specific query about whether he'd be willing to compose a letter to White Sox personnel and ask for responses to the topic he brings up just about every day. That is, the amateur draft issues, dealing with Boras, finding players in Latin America, acquiring prospects etc. I think everyone knows the song by now. Here is the response - (note: the other thread was a game thread and was closed and moved). "Several times? I recall once, and that's several posts above. I'm interested in improving our minor league system, don't get me wrong, but not to the extent where I'd physically take time composing an email/letter and address it to Hahn, Williams, Reinsdorf, Wilder, whomever else. I'm not interested in simple answers. It just doesn't seem worth the time. The real questions I'd ask, such as what exactly are our scouts in Latin American doing, or pleaing for them to quit the ridiculous opposition to Boras, probably wouldn't get true responses. I'm interested in results. What we can see on the field. They can bulls*** me all they want about taking steps to improve international scouting and their philosophical approach to drafting, but until these changes are evident on the diamond, what does it matter? I also understand it may take time for changes to be seen. However, if we're looking to contend for any division titles, these changes need to occur sooner rather than later. We can't have every prospect promoted struggling; which seems to happen nearly every time." Ok Flash I get it, you're not interested in physically taking time composing an email/letter and address it to whomever, it isn't worth the time to you. But it is worth the time to you to post the same stuff over and over on a message board, hoping against hope that White Sox personnel will see your posts, scratch their heads, and say hey, we should change things, this guy on the message board is a genius. Basically, it is easier to complain on a message board vs. getting specific answers to questions, because, well, it feels good to complain. I tell you what, I will compose the letter(s), I will ask the tough questions, I will do my best to arrange an interview(s) with the appropriate White Sox personnel to get some answers. And I suspect some of the answers will surprise you, but those answers likely won't resonate with you because you have a propensity to think that whatever they say will be "BS". From my view, I will take the steps necessary to get answers. Don't mention it, it's my pleasure. And by the way, this is nothing personal. I just thought since you spent so much time addressing these issues every day on this board, you might be interested in stepping up to the plate so others on this site can hear some answers from those who actually have influence. And my apologes if you hadn't seen my 3 previous requests about this, they have always been in threads responding to your posts on this very topic but I do know threads get closed/moved etc. so I do understand if you didn't see my posts.

I never talked to the veteran guys about him but the younger guys love Razor Shines. Probably because they played for him and took to his aggressive style.

The reason they have all the teams close to one another is to make it easier for the instructional people to get from team to team and also to move players from team to team in emergency situations. Adam Ricks played two games in one day for two different farm teams. The Great Falls team out in Montana is there because the White Sox for whatever reason like the competitiveness of the Pioneer League. I would not be surprised though to see the Sox move the rookie league team (Bristol) into the Gulf Coast League but we'll see.