Is it really newsworthy when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen goes on yet another of his profanity-laced tirades? His latest one, before Wednesday night's game against the Twins, began after he was asked about Jim Thome. The former Sox slugger beat the team with a dramatic 10th inning walk-off homer the night before. Guillen obviously felt the need to defend the organization's decision to let Thome move on. more ›

As we mentioned yesterday, the key storyline at this weekend's SoxFest was whether DH Jim Thome would return to the White Sox or not in 2010. GM Kenny Williams wanted him back, while manager Ozzie Guillen felt his roster had the bats it needed. Guillen and Thome met Sunday evening, and the Sox manager told the slugger as much. And so Thome won't be returning to the Sox. With the Twins rumored to be interested, we can only imagine the ways Thome will make Guillen regret the decision in 2010. more ›

Williams and Guillen are often the main attraction at SoxFest thanks to their outspoken natures, and once again it was those two who made headlines over the weekend for their public disagreement over whether the team should bring back Jim Thome. Thome, an Illinois native and popular player who played DH for 3 1/2 years, was traded mid-season to the L.A. Dodgers. Now a free agent, many want to see him return -- including Williams apparently. While early in the weekend he seemed to back Guillen's vision for a roster that offered maximum versatility, Williams also suggested the team needed Thome's left handed power. Guillen plans to employ a DH-by-committee in 2010, saying, "I don't want a DH just to be a DH. I want a guy to help me different ways." Guillen also expressed concerns that a reduced roll may not suit Thome. Williams appears ready to defer to his manager on the decision, we may know as soon as today. If the Sox do want to bring back Thome, they may need to act quickly -- before the Twins sign him. more ›

Having lost eight of their last nine games, and currently sitting six games back of the Detroit Tigers entering September, the White Sox have waved the white flag. Ahead of Monday night's deadline for players to be traded and eligible for the postseason with their new teams, White Sox GM Kenny Williams sent a memo to other teams that a number of veterans were available. As the deadline approached, the Sox announced that they had traded DH Jim Thome and pitcher Jose Contreras. more ›

This afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field, Jim Thome powered the White Sox past the Royals 4-2 in the opening game of the season for both teams. The Royals - who the NY Times predicted could be this year's sleeper - had plenty of chances to win, stranding 11 men on base but it was Thome, who stroked his 542nd career home run with two men on in the eight, that gave the Sox the edge. The Royals' Alex Gordon started the scoring with a solo home run off of starter Mark Buehrle in the second inning, but the Sox drew even in the bottom of the inning when Josh Fields singled in Thome. The Royals' Gordon drove in another run in the fifth to give KC the 2-1 lead, but ultimately the game belonged to Thome. Buehrle looked somewhat shaky, giving up six hits, walking three, and giving up two runs in five innings of work, but the Sox bullpen held the lead over four strong innings with Bobby Jenks earning the save. more ›

While there was no mention of Bobby Abreu at this past weekend's SoxFest -- and in fact a player of his caliber would seem to be the antithesis of what GM Kenny Williams claimed he was trying to do -- rumors persist that the White Sox are negotiating with the free agent Abreu on a one year, eight million dollar deal. Neither side is denying the talks. more ›

After a dramatic 1-0 victory on Tuesday night, the White Sox are AL Central Champs.They sure didn't make it easy, though, did they? Had the White Sox not lost five games in a row last week, they probably could have locked up the division over the weekend and had a couple days of rest like all other playoff teams. Instead, in order to win the AL Central title they had to beat Detroit in a make-up game on Monday, and then play the Twins in a one-game playoff. more ›

It's only one day into the season, and already we've ridden a rollercoaster of emotions -- no matter which of Chicago's baseball teams we pledge our allegiance to. The Cubs and White Sox both opened up their 2008 seasons on Monday, and both teams rallied late before coming up short. more ›

For the most part, it has not been a good season for Chicagoist's beloved South Side baseball team. Other than Mark Buehrle's no-hitter back in April, it's mostly been a season of disappointment. At least this past Sunday, we got to experience another bright moment for this team, as Jim Thome became just the 23rd major leaguer to hit 500 home runs. His ninth-inning shot also turned a 7-7 tie into a 9-7 White Sox... more ›

In theater, "breaking a leg" is good luck. In baseball, not so much. No, it's definitely bad news for the White Sox that versatile utility player Pablo Ozuna will miss three months with a broken leg, which he broke during Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. more ›

Two weeks into the season, the White Sox had looked mediocre at best. Wednesday night was an entirely different story. On any other night, two Jim Thome homers and a Jermaine Dye grand slam would be the big news. But not Wednesday. more ›

Here's something else for you folks enjoying snow days. It's a clip from yesterday's "Oprah" (via Deadspin), with the big O talking to Dr. Mehmet Öz. Answering an e-mail about, um, feminine hygiene, Oprah calls out White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome, who's brought his wife to the taping. more ›

Chicago resident David Dright, was charged by the Lake County state's attorney with identity theft after finding financial records in his west side home. Included in the stacks of stolen info were financial records for 80 major league baseball players, including the White Sox's Jim Thome and former Cub Juan Pierre. more ›

Both of our baseball teams made some noise involving pitching on Wednesday at MLB's Winter Meetings, with the Cubs signing a high-priced free agent, while the White Sox traded away one of their starters. The Cubs signed Ted Lilly to a 4-year, $40 million deal — with Jim Hendry in the hospital, no less! "Jim was hooked up to an EKG machine, and we got it done," Lilly's agent explained. Hendry had been admitted to... more ›

With baseball's Winter Meetings now underway in Orlando, baseball's hot stove is heating up. Both Chicago clubs are at the center of many rumors, as pitching has been the clear focus of this offseason for most teams. The Cubs have been mentioned as suitors of nearly all big-name free agent pitchers, from Daisuke Matsuzaka to Jason Schmidt. With the Red Sox winning the rights to negotiate with Matsuzaka and Schmidt likely out of the Cubs'... more ›

Chicagoist long ago stopped fantasizing about our beloved teams landing each disgruntled superstar, whether via free agency or trade. We've been teased by Kobe and Garnett, Deion Branch and Carlos Beltran, too many times. And sure, sometimes we've landed the big names, but for every Ben Wallace or Jim Thome there have also been Albert Belle and Nomar Garciaparra. more ›

It's always hard to watch the playoffs when your team is out, but watching one of your erstwhile stars win games for a new team makes it sting a little bit more. Now, any time the Twins lose is a good thing, but White Sox fans had to feel a little twinge of regret yesterday when a rejuvenated Frank Thomas hit two home runs in Oakland's 3-2 win over Minnesota, including the eventual game-winner in the ninth. more ›

Remember back in the off-season, when the White Sox traded a gritty outfielder with a decent bat for a guy who, before injuries, had been one of the most feared sluggers in baseball? And then the White Sox cast away one of their own who, before injuries, had also been one of the great hitters in the game? The White Sox head into Oakland for a 3-game set with the A's this weekend, and both... more ›

In less than 20 hours, the White Sox salvaged what was looking like an ugly series, and one that could have ended all hope for winning the AL Central title. more ›

In a lot of ways, the Ballpark Formerly Known as Comiskey has it over Wrigley Field hands down. There are urinals, instead of troughs, in the men's rooms, so you can pee in relative privacy (not that Chicagoist has anything to be ashamed of); the sight lines are wonderful from the concourse; walkways and aisles are wide to facilitate easy entry to, and exit from, the ball park, and to your seat; and the ballpark actually fields a major league baseball team. more ›

Major League Baseball announced the rosters for next week's All Star Game yesterday, and 6 members of the White Sox were selected, along with one Cub -- Carlos Zambrano. more ›

It certainly pains Chicagoist to see the White Sox suffer 4 losses in their last 5 games, but we tend to agree with Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen on his decision to keep slugger Jim Thome out of the lineup through the weekend. After being scratched from Friday's lineup for a pulled groin, Guillen initially said that Thome would return to the lineup on Saturday. But he sat Saturday and Sunday, as Guillen chose to rest the AL's leading home run hitter. more ›

Thome did it again! In today's 13-9 White Sox victory over the Detroit Tigers, newly acquired DH Jim Thome homered for the 4th game in a row. more ›

The Cubs and White Sox each won their season openers Monday. Of course, the Sox actually began their opener on Sunday. A 3-hour rain delay pushed the game into Monday morning, when the game ended around 1:00am. more ›

What a difference a year makes! Last year, as we embarked on a new baseball season, we discussed the eternal optimism of Chicago baseball fans in light of decades of futility. But in 2005 something most unexpected and most wonderful happened. Chicago won a World Series! And it wasn't even the Chicago team that many thought had a shot at the title. While the Cubs entered the season picked by many to reach the postseason,... more ›

In an interview that ran in Sunday's Southtown, Frank continued to criticize the organization. He contended that he'd have re-signed with the Sox for $1 million and felt the team owed him that opportunity for all he'd accomplished over the course of 16 years. Considering they just paid him a $3.5 million buyout, why not offer to play for the league minimum if he wanted to stay with the Sox? While Chicagoist was sad to see him go, the reality of the situation is that the Sox are trying to repeat as World Champs and Jim Thome is a much more dependable option at DH. We'd have liked to see Big Frank remain with the team to finish his career, but they just didn't have the roster spot to accomodate him while trying to maintain a Championship-caliber team. He seemed to be in absolute denial of the fact that, at 37 and with his history of injuries in recent years, his playing days are coming to a close. He also blasted the lack of communication between him and management during the off season. Yet it sounds, by his own admission, like they did call him, and he simply refused to return their calls. more ›

"To the victor goes the spoils", indeed. Jon Garland avoided arbitration this offseason, signing a three-year, $29 million dollar contract with the White Sox yesterday. This year Garland had the breakout season that everyone expected of him when he was drafted by the Cubs then later traded to the Sox. Even though he had a subpar second half, Garland still finished with a record of 18-10 with a 3.50 ERA and a league-leading three... more ›

Kenny Williams sure has been busy since the White Sox won the World Series. Had he simply brought back most of last year's roster, the Sox would have been a favorite to repeat. However, the taste of victory seems to have fueled an organizational urge to do everything possible ensure another trophy. Are the White Sox positioning themselves to do what the Bulls did in the 90's? more ›

Chicagoist still remembers hearing of a hot prospect getting called up to the White Sox in 1990 and rememebrs being in the right field stands at the old Comiskey Park about 20 feet away from a ball that was THIS CLOSE to going out for his first major league homer. He'd end up hitting 7 during that late-season call-upon his way to 448 in a Sox uniform. So it's really hard to believe that following a 16 year run on with the White Sox, Frank Thomas is gone. The team cut ties with the future Hall of Famer on Wednesday by not offering him salary arbitration, making him a free agent. Thomas had spent his entire career on the South Side -- one of the rare players who had remained with their original team for more than 10 years. more ›

The biggest off-season question on all White Sox fans' minds was whether Paul Konerko would return or not. With his MVP performance through the playoffs, Konerko expected to receive a number of huge contract offers. While there were a couple offers from other teams, Paulie chose to stay with the White Sox, signing a 5-year, $60 million deal. Initially wanting to sign Konerko to a 4 year deal, Sox GM Kenny Williams matched the contract length other teams offered. Konerko said right after the World Series that all things being equal, he'd choose the Sox over another team -- which is exactly what he did. more ›