Chi-Town Welcomes Manny

On Monday August 30, 2010 the Chicago White Sox made it official, Manny Ramirez, they want you on the south side. It was probably the most unorthodox way to be introduced to a new team, seeing as how Manny has been in the league for 17 years, you would think he wouldn't need a translator because he's never used one before. So what does this say about his time that will be spent in Chicago? Is this Manny being Manny already, on the first day of being a member of the Sox ball club this is what you get. The White Sox trying not to think about the off the field issues with Manny, but are focusing on how to catch up to the Minnesota Twins. Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said in an interview that Manny was willing to play on Tuesday night if needed, but didn't necessarily like his answer to the point where he felt the Sox are not desperate for a bat, and they'll use him only if needed. Well it turns out that they ended up needing Ramirez, or at least his presence was needed. In the top of the ninth the ChiSox were down 3-1, and with 2 men on base and A.J. Pierzynski was up to bat with Manny Ramirez in the on deck circle. All of a sudden Pierzynski gets a good pitch and bye bye ball. Did he get that pitch because he saw the person that he may face next, that is a major possibility. This is how Manny will help this club, because opposing pitchers will see this and begin to throw better pitches to the man in front of him. In his debut, Ramirez went 1-3 with a base hit after being hit by a pitch from his former team. Even Manny believes he is rusty, but that isn't going to stop him from being Manny. We'll have to wait and see how this new found Chi-Town love for Manny Ramirez will last.

The Big Hurt's Even Bigger Move....

August 29, 2010, the Chicago White Sox retired the jersey of Frank Thomas #35. After 19 years in baseball, Thomas has reached a point where he calls it the proudest day of his life. A career batting average of .301, 521 HR's, and 1,704 RBI's, the two time AL MVP was accompanied by Carlton Fisk, Jermaine Dye, Billy Pierce, Minnie Minoso and former Manager, who definitely got booed, Terry Bevington. Frank Thomas was a vital part of this franchise for many years, and the Sox made it a point to have an image of Thomas with his number 35 put up on the wall in left center field. After 16 years with the organization, there was a bitter taste left over in 2006 when Thomas spoke against the organization for making him look like a "damaged player". In a separate interview, Sox GM Kenny Williams responded to it by calling him "an idiot", and things went south from there. But, in the last month the Chicago White Sox made things right by hiring him as an Ambassador. In his 16 year stint, the Big Hurt made his mark on the franchise with 448 HR's, and 1,465 RBI's. With a great career now behind him, the next question is how long will it take Frank Thomas to reach the Hall Of Fame?