InTheDriversSeat

Game 1 Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox (split squad) Stadium: Camelback Ranch-Glendale, Phoenix Game telecast time: 2:00 PM Central Daylight Time / 3:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time * Announcers: Steve Stone and Jason Benetti Starting pitchers: Michael Kopech (White Sox) vs. Mike Hauschild (Rangers) 5 over-the-air TV stations: Chicago WGN-TV, Channel 9 (Independent) South Bend WMYS-LD, Channel 69 (my network TV) * Indianapolis WNDY-TV Marion, IN, Channel 23 (my network TV) * Quad Cities KWQC-TV Davenport, Channel 6-3 (COZI TV) Cedar Rapids / Waterloo / Iowa City KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, Channel 9-2 (my network TV) Not airing at: Rockford, Peoria, and Springfield This game will be the first 2017 Spring Training White Sox television broadcast having Sox announcers (not including webcasts). No White Sox radio. Game 2 Chicago White Sox (split squad) at Los Angeles Dodgers (split squad) Stadium: Camelback Ranch-Glendale, Phoenix Game broadcast time: 9:00 PM Central Daylight Time Announcers: Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson Starting pitchers: Alex Wood (Dodgers) vs. Derek Holland (White Sox) Radio: Chicago AM 890 WLS / FM HD 94.7 WLS-FM-HD2 (using HD capable radios) Television re-air: National MLB Network, 1:00 AM Central, Monday, March 13th (re-air of Dodgers 'SportsNet LA' telecast) .

I don't see anywhere in the article indicating that Budweiser will be served at the park or involved with sponsorship. "The Sox team begin the 2017 season without a single official domestic beer partner". Something else to consider is that Miller products (Lite, Leinenkugel, Redd's, Smith & Forge, Henry's, etc.) were huge advertisers on Sox television and radio broadcasts. Hopefully WGN-TV and WLS Radio will find replacements. So far this season I have not heard any beverage advertisers on WLS spring training radio broadcasts. Goose Island is part of Budweiser. I don't think Goose Island will be served at the park unless other Bud products come on board. Perhaps the Sox could hand out a Modelo beer vendor bobblehead to fans over 21 entering the park in the 2017 season, LOL! .

Sorry, I did not notice that this topic was already discussed at another thread below. Please merge. .

A large photo of Jose Abreu appears on the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times today. The article indicates he chewed and swallowed the first page of a fake passport, and washed it down with a bottle of Heineken beer. I don't quite understand what this is all about, but seems like an unusual method for a highly paid athlete to enter the United States. http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/abreu-t...-on-way-to-u-s/ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/abreu-s...d-of-smuggling/ .

But the game today will be broadcast on the radio in Chiago at 2:05 PM Central. Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson calling the game: AM 890 WLS / FM HD 94.7 WLS-FM-HD2 (using HD capable radios). No streaming of Spring Training games at WLS website, app, etc. .

Here is the information that is known so far, most of this just became available yesterday, on Friday, February 24th: Chicago 55 games + 1 pre-season: WGN-TV, Channel 9 (Independent) http://wgntvsales.com/Sports/White_Sox_Schedule.pdf Cedar Rapids / Waterloo / Iowa City 18 games + 1 pre-season: KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, Channel 9-2 (my network TV) 7 games: Channel 9-3 (Antenna TV) 1 game: Channel 9-1 (ABC) 29 games: To Be Determined: Channels 9-2, 9-3, or 9-1 http://www.kcrg.com/content/sports/Chicago...-414271483.html Quad Cities 1 pre-season game: KWQC-TV Davenport, Channel 6-3 (COZI TV) https://www.facebook.com/KWQCTV6Promotions/ (scroll down to video with the grass) 53 games: WQAD-TV Moline, Channel 8-3 (my network TV) 2 games: Channel 8-1 (ABC) http://wqad.com/2017/02/24/when-you-can-wa...s-on-my-tv-8-3/ Rockford 55 games: WIFR Freeport, Channel 23-3 (Justice Network) http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/White...e+2017_REV2.pdf http://www.wifr.com/ (box at the right) Peoria / Bloomington, IL 55 games: WAOE Peoria, Channel 59 (my network TV) http://my59.tv/programs/chicago-white-sox-on-my59/ Springfield / Decatur / Champaign 30 games: WBUI Decatur, Channel 23-2 (this TV) 25 games: Channel 23-1 (The CW) http://cw23tv.com/sports/mlb/mlb-on-cw23 South Bend 1 pre-season game: WMYS-LD, Channel 69 (my network TV) http://www.abc57.com/story/34466248/chicag...g-games-on-wmys Indianapolis 1 pre-season game: WNDY-TV Marion, IN, Channel 23-1 (my network TV) 55 games: To Be Determined: WISH-TV Indianapolis, Channel 8 (The CW) (simulcast on WNDY-TV, Channel 23-3) or WNDY-TV, Channel 23-1 (my network TV) http://wishtv.com/2017/02/24/wish-tv-and-m...n-chicago-cubs/ The biggest change I see so far is that in Central Illinois, WBUI Decatur has decided to pick-up all 55 regular season games, up from just 10 Sox games which aired in 2016. Also, in Chicago WPWR-TV Gary is no longer airing any Sox games. Those 20 telecasts have moved to WGN-TV, therefore all 56 WGN produced Sox games will air on 1 TV station. This change actually went into effect on September 1st last year when WGN-TV dropped affiliation with The CW network and became Independent. Nice to see that the single pre-season telecast from WGN Sports takes place at Camelback Ranch instead of the Cubs facility! If anyone knows about any other TV stations airing games in 2017, please let me know. .

That's because the Sox did not have the latest episode of The Cycle at the Sox website until today (February 2nd, 2017). Therefore, the show is now available on the TuneIn app. The search feature seems to omit podcasts which actually exist, but if you type "Ep. 24 Soxfest", you will find the latest show with guest Jim Thome (actually recorded on January 28th at Soxfest). .

Here is broadcast information for Saturday and Sunday at Soxfest: Saturday, January 28th 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon 'Home Sweet Home Chicago' Sox Edition - AM 890 WLS / HD FM 94.7 WLS-FM-HD2 Hosted by David Hochberg and Conner McKnight. 12:00 Noon - 3:00 PM 'White Sox Weekly' - AM 890 WLS / HD FM 94.7 WLS-FM-HD2 Hosted by Conner McKnight. Joined by Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano, Noon - 1:30 PM. Joined by Steve Dahl, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM. 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM 'The Cycle' Live podcast recording at the hotel's Waldorf Room. Hosted by comedian Pat McGann with guest Jim Thome. Sunday, January 29th 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Live Broadcast - AM 890 WLS / HD FM 94.7 WLS-FM-HD2 Hosted by Conner McKnight. Joined by John Howell and Ray Stevens, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM. WLS live streaming at this link: http://www.wlsam.com and apps (WLS, iHeartRadio) 'The Cycle' podcast available at this link: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/fan_forum/...dcast=the_cycle and TuneIn Radio app 'White Sox Weekly' podcast available at these links: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/cws/fan_forum/hot_stove.jsp http://www.wlsam.com/category/white-sox-weekly and TuneIn Radio app .

. As far as I know, CSN Chicago is available in your area on both Direct TV or Dish Network, but not on your local cable company. Therefore, when you pay for the package (on one of the 2 dish services) that includes CSN Chicago, you should be able to get the streaming. Brian, "buffet style" or a-la-carte is not going to happen. Where do you think Jerry gets a large portion of money to pay for free agents? From every cable / satellite customer that receives CSN Chicago no matter if they watch any sports, or like the Sox, or not. Slightly related, I recently learned of a new provider that that offers CSN Chicago and CSN Chicago+ to customers in some areas. The name is Playstation Vue. I am not an expert, but apparently internet service and a streaming player (Roku, Apple TV, etc.) is required to connect to your television. Also, local free over-the-air broadcast channels are not included, so an antenna is needed to receive the stations. However, the cost for Playstation Vue seems to be cheaper than cable or satellite. I noticed that CSN Chicago / CSN+ is offered on Playstation Vue outside of Chicago in areas that are considered White Sox & Cubs territory: Iowa, downstate Illinois, Indiana. Enter a zip code at this link to determine cost and availability: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/network/vue/channels/ .

I heard that Jenny McCarthy is a huge White Sox fan. Also actor George Wendt, and former governors Jim Thompson and Pat Quinn. .

Barack Obama thinks the name of the stadium the Chicago White Sox play in is: Kaminsky Park, LOL! .

Because revenue goes to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. The NIU game was scheduled after the final game of the World Series, so this game had no impact on baseball. The other MLB baseball stadium in Chicago has numerous events other than baseball, and the ISFA wants to compete more with that facility. Plus, the football game was an experiment to determine if they could pull it off or not. I attended the football game and was impressed with everything except the size of the crowd. Hats off to Roger Bossard and Terry Savarise for making the night happen. According to Herb Gould's column in the Sun-Times on Thursday, there may be more football games at Guaranteed Rate Field. NIU "Athletic Director Sean Frazier wants to take a long look at having the Huskies bring a football game to the Sox' ballpark annually basis". I agree next year the game should be held on a weekend to boost attendance. Also, I would schedule the game during the daytime when the temperatures are warmer this time of year. Northwestern should definitely get out of Wrigley and have a game at Guaranteed Rate Field due to the dangerous layout at Wrigley, but according to this article Northwestern University Athletic Director Jim Phillips is a Cubs fan, and wants his football team to return to Wrigley in 2017: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/colle...0519-story.html The official announced attendance was 10,180 (according to Herb Gould of the Sun-Times, "NIU officials were anticipating a crowd of 13,000 to 18,000, comparable to their home attendance in DeKalb). Here are some of my thoughts: The best seats in the house were definitely at the upper deck along the 1st base line, although the football field was in clearly sight from every seat at the park. Was surprised that the cost for an upper deck ticket was $45 in advance, but I paid just $24 for an upper deck seat at the window 1 hour before the game. NIU should consider lower ticket prices next year to get more people to come out. I was happy to see that fireworks were shot off when the home team scored touchdowns. Souvenir event program magazines were available, but no event t-shirts were produced although regular NIU shirts were sold at the gift shop inside the park. I noticed that the Mid-American Conference has a female official that worked the game. I'm not a fan of Gene Honda, so I was glad to hear NIU's own P.A. announcer instead. As the case with baseball games, great visuals all night on the Sox new HD scoreboard. And of course I enjoyed the ballpark food one last time until April next year. Did anyone else attend the football game? What were your observations? .

A reminder, taking place tomorrow night, November 9th, 2016, will be the Northern Illinois Huskies - Toledo Rockets college football game at Guaranteed Rate Field. The game will be the first event at the stadium since the name was officially changed on November 1st. Plenty of tickets remain, however estimated attendance at the time this special event was announced was 15,000 - 25,000 fans. The contest tomorrow will not resemble the Northwestern - Illinois debacle at Wrigley Field in 2010 where both sides played in the same direction using one end zone because of the cramped, potentially dangerous layout. Perhaps Northwestern University should consider having future games at Guaranteed Rate Field instead. As expected, looks like Roger Bossard has done a wonderful job transforming the field: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/11/08/whi...-toledo-vs-niu/ For anyone unable to attend in person, here is the broadcast information: Television ESPN2 - Wednesday, November 9th, 7:00 PM Central (Live) Re-airs: ESPN3 (online streaming service) - Wednesday, November 9th, 10:00 PM Central ESPNU - Saturday, November 19th, 12:30 AM Central Radio 'Huskies Sports Network' Chicago AM 560 WIND 'The Answer' DeKalb AM 1360 WLBK / FM 98.9 W255BN (WLBK translator) Rockford AM 1330 WNTA "Sportsfan Radio 1330' Worldwide internet streaming audio TuneIn App (Northern Illinois Huskies Sports Network) http://niuhuskies.com/sports/2016/6/28/niu...io-network.aspx 'Rocket Sports Radio Network' Radio station affiliates and streaming audio at this link: http://sportsaffiliates.learfieldsports.co...iliates/toledo1 .

Here's a quote from Victor Ciardelli, CEO of Guaranteed Rate, appearing in the Chicago Tribune website today: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-...1031-story.html .

So apparently the Michael Sneed Chicago Sun-Times column last month regarding the possibility of changing the logo wasn't true: http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/sneed...row-adjustment/ The Curbed Chicago website today has a quote from Linda Marsicano, Guaranteed Rate's VP of Public Relations: http://chicago.curbed.com/2016/10/31/13477...-cellular-field .

I heard about this story on the national news on the radio today. The bat which sold for over a half million dollars (named "Black Betsy"), is one of two that are known to survive from Shoeless Joe's career. Manufacturer labeling on the bat was used from 1917-1921. Shoeless Joe Jackson was a member of the White Sox from 1915-1920. http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/memorab...21447&lid=1 http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/spor...again/92417350/ .

I'm at the game right now. Perfect weather for night baseball in October. Nice temperature. Not too hot or too cold. Decent size crowd for Rock 'n' Roll Night! .

Hawk already said on September 25th at Cleveland at the end of his last broadcast of the season: "We'll do it again next year." .

James Shields (6-18, 5.82) vs. Hector Santiago (12-10, 4.87) Tonite is Rock ‘n’ Roll Night at the U.S. Cellular Field! Fireworks and cap giveaway to the first 5,000 fans entering the ballpark, presented by guaranteed V Rate. October 1, 2016 Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins Stadium: U.S. Cellular Field Announcers: Steve Stone and Jason Benetti (television), Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson (radio), Hector Molina and Billy Russo (Spanish radio) Game telecast time: 6:00 PM Central / 7:00 PM Eastern * 8 over-the-air TV stations: Chicago WGN-TV, Channel 9 (Independent) South Bend WMYS-LD, Channel 69 (my network TV) * Marion, IN WNDY-TV, Channel 23-3 (The CW) (WISH-TV simulcast) * Indianapolis WISH-TV, Channel 8 (The CW) * Peoria / Bloomington, IL WAOE Peoria, Channel 59 (my network TV) Rockford WIFR Freeport, Channel 23-3 (Justice Network) Quad Cities WQAD-TV Moline, Channel 8-3 (my network TV) Cedar Rapids / Waterloo / Iowa City KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, Channel 9-3 (Antenna TV) Radio: Chicago AM 890 WLS / FM 94.7 WLS-FM-HD2 (using HD capable radios) And the 'WLS White Sox Radio Network' http://mlb.mlb.com/cws/schedule/radio_affiliates.jsp Spanish: Chicago AM 1200 WRTO / FM 105.1 WOJO-HD3 Evanston (using HD capable radios) / Channel 9 WGN-TV ‘Second Audio Program’ (by pressing ‘SAP’ button) Hats off to all of the TV and radio affiliates who aired White Sox games in 2016. Hopefully Ft. Wayne and Des Moines (2 TV markets that aired Sox games in 2015) can be added in 2017. The affiliate at Decatur, IL (Channel 23 WBUI) really needs to get it’s act together next season, or WGN Sports needs to find a better station in Central Illinois. Only 10 Sox games were aired on WBUI, but the same channel aired the complete package of 45 Cubs games. Apparently the decision maker down there is a Cubs fan who does not like the White Sox! .

Miguel Gonzalez (4-8, 3.98) vs. Blake Snell (6-8, 3.65) Let's keep the streak goin'! September 28, 2016 Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Stadium: U.S. Cellular Field Announcers: Steve Stone and Jason Benetti (television), Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson (radio), Hector Molina and Billy Russo (Spanish radio) Game telecast time: 7:00 PM Central / 8:00 PM Eastern * 7 over-the-air TV stations: Chicago WGN-TV, Channel 9 (Independent) South Bend WMYS-LD, Channel 69 (my network TV) * Indianapolis WNDY-TV Marion, IN, Channel 23 (my network TV) * Peoria / Bloomington, IL WAOE Peoria, Channel 59 (my network TV) Rockford WIFR Freeport, Channel 23-3 (Justice Network) Quad Cities WQAD-TV Moline, Channel 8-3 (my network TV) Cedar Rapids / Waterloo / Iowa City KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, Channel 9-2 (my network TV) Radio: Chicago AM 890 WLS / FM 94.7 WLS-FM-HD2 (using HD capable radios) And the 'WLS White Sox Radio Network' http://mlb.mlb.com/cws/schedule/radio_affiliates.jsp Spanish: Chicago AM 1200 WRTO / FM 105.1 WOJO-HD3 Evanston (using HD capable radios) / Channel 9 WGN-TV ‘Second Audio Program’ (by pressing ‘SAP’ button) .

Money for rental of the stadium definitely goes to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (IFSA). Not sure if that revenue gets used for stadium improvements (which indirectly helps the White Sox). Also, not sure who gets the parking and food / drinks / souvenir revenue. I suspect the Sox might get that because the Sox handle concessions the rest of the year. Here are a bunch of photos and a review courtesy of the Illinois Entertainer music paper: http://illinoisentertainer.com/2016/09/pho...cellular-field/ http://illinoisentertainer.com/2016/09/liv...cellular-field/ .

Me too. The idea of having no White Sox baseball to watch until March, motivates me to watch more baseball in September, even if the team is bad. I'm even planning to go to games this week on Thursday and Saturday. My idea is to buy cheap tickets, and to sit wherever I want in the lower deck. Also, the end of the season is a chance to watch some prospects who get called up, to find out what they are capable of doing. .

Carlos Rodon (7-10, 4.29) vs. Josh Tomlin (12-8, 4.61) Today is the final broadcast of the 2016 season for Ken 'Hawk' Harrelson. Hopefully Hawk returns to the broadcast booth in 2017. September 25, 2016 Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians Stadium: Progressive Field Announcers: Ken Harrelson and Steve Stone (television), Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson (radio) Game telecast time: 12:00 Noon Central / 1:00 PM Eastern * 8 over-the-air TV stations: Chicago WGN-TV, Channel 9 (Independent) South Bend WMYS-LD, Channel 69 (my network TV) * Marion, IN WNDY-TV, Channel 23-3 (The CW) (WISH-TV simulcast) * Indianapolis WISH-TV, Channel 8 (The CW) * Peoria / Bloomington, IL WAOE Peoria, Channel 59 (my network TV) Rockford WIFR Freeport, Channel 23-3 (Justice Network) Quad Cities WQAD-TV Moline, Channel 8-3 (my network TV) Cedar Rapids / Waterloo / Iowa City KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids, Channel 9-2 (my network TV) Radio: Chicago AM 890 WLS / FM 94.7 WLS-FM-HD2 (using HD capable radios) And the 'WLS White Sox Radio Network' http://mlb.mlb.com/cws/schedule/radio_affiliates.jsp My thoughts and prayers go out to residents of Cedar Rapids and other towns along the Cedar River in Iowa who are expecting or have already gone through severe flooding in recent days. .

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/great...otogallery.html To anyone who may be interested, the Chicago Tribune on Sunday, September 25th, 2016 includes a sheet of 12 baseball cards (1 cover card + 11 player cards). The promotion is titled 'Chicago Tribune Greatest Baseball Team Of all Time', sponsored by Wintrust. Usually these type of promotions are only available when the newspaper is purchased at retail outlets or newsstands. Home delivery customers normally don't receive the promotional items (example: Chicago Bears Fathead decals), but I don't know how this one is handled. The retail cost for the Sunday Chicago Tribune is $3.99. Out of the 11 player cards, 10 are identified as Chicago White Sox players: Frank Thomas Nellie Fox Luke Appling Ron Kittle Jim Landis Harold Baines Carlton Fisk Ted Lyons Hoyt Wilhelm Al Lopez Only 1 card is represented by the Chicago Cubs (a player who also was member of the White Sox for 1 season): Ron Santo Images of the cards are shown at the above link. Here is what is printed on the back side of the cover card: "Over the last several weeks, fans of our North Side and South Side teams voted for the Chicago Tribune Readers' Greatest Baseball Team of All Time. The results are now in and thus we present the 11 members of this august group. Thanks for helping us make history." So apparently White Sox fans voted much more than Cubs fans, which is great because I'm a Sox fan but I find it hard to believe that hall of famers such as Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins, and Ryne Sandberg were left out. .

Here's Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot review and photos: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainmen...924-column.html And redeye's review. Don't know why they are using a photo taken at a different Chance The Rapper concert: http://www.redeyechicago.com/music/redeye-...0924-story.html Here's a video when Kanye West joined Chance The Rapper on stage. Weather seems perfect. The stage looks huge, totally obstructing the view for anyone sitting in the outfield. I like the White Sox logos on the video screens at both sides of the stage: http://www.stereogum.com/1901086/watch-kan...festival/video/ .