Reports from SoxFest, Day 2

by Jim Margalus on Jan 29, 2012 3:00 AM CST in Events

As expected, Adam Dunn made a smart move by showing up to SoxFest. A really, really smart move, because the crowd at the Palmer House Hilton was as supportive of Dunn as the crowds at U.S. Celluar Field last year weren't.

The media exam was a little more difficult, but Dunn made it through the questions with no issues. He passed the eye exam (numerous reporters said he looked fitter), he had a different offseason regimen to talk about, he made no excuses for his poor play, he refused to blame fans for jumping on him, and he answered a question about Ozzie Guillen with brief, polite praise. Finally, a 5-for-5 day.

More pragmatically, Robin Ventura was asked how he would handle a kind of slump that Dunn and Alex Rios endured. Ventura essentially said that's what the bench is for. Historically catastrophic seasons are far less complex in his world, apparently.

Among the other out-of-session stories:

I'm just a little bit pissed I didn't think of Adam '12 first.
Three bullpen spots are open, but Don Cooper says Addison Reed doesn't have to worry. Dylan Axelrod, Zach Stewart and Hector Santiago.will battle for the long-relief role.
Gordon Beckham is a little more specific with Mark Gonzales. He says he became "too mechanical," which delayed his load process.
And best of all, J.J. asked Brent Morel about what he did differently over August and September, and we were onto something:

"I was just caught up trying to put the ball in play and just kinda move guys over and do that kind of stuff," Morel said of his April-August approach. "Toward the end, I relaxed a little bit and was more selective and patient up there. That helped me out."

Below the jump, I've combed through Twitter and Facebook to fill in the rest of the day's events, including manic seminar tweeting from KenWo, our man on the scene.

Tweet Comment 49 comments | 1 recs |

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Comments

thanks for the recaps, Jim

and to KenWo for providing interesting tidbits

White Sox 2012: Helplessly rebuilding?

by greenlight on Jan 29, 2012 6:56 AM CST reply actions

It was actually "one Adam twelve",

and who wants that? Too close to his 2011 batting average to be funny.

We're all here because we're not all there.

by winningugly on Jan 29, 2012 7:26 AM CST via mobile reply actions

lets call him Rampart

Dave Martinez woulda had that.

by Nordhagen on Jan 29, 2012 12:04 PM CST up reply actions

2012

I read in yesterdays paper that Ken Williams said that if this team hits, it should contend. I agree with him. Our pitching and defense is good. If Dunn, Rios and Beckham hit this year, I see no reason why the good guys on the Southside can’t contend.

by WBWSF on Jan 29, 2012 8:57 AM CST reply actions

That 2007 lineup card is the White Sox's version of Gilbert's Nuremberg Diary.

by FlyingSpaghettiMonster on Jan 29, 2012 10:38 AM CST reply actions

erstad hitting 5th. good lord.

not sure why the caption says it’s cintron.

by obnoxious american on Jan 29, 2012 12:05 PM CST up reply actions

x

Follow @SouthSideSox

by Jim Margalus on Jan 29, 2012 1:16 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

hitting z on these

goes to the comment for a split second then bounces back up to the tweets.

that’s strange.

anyway, very thorough coverage here.

by e-gus on Jan 29, 2012 11:18 AM CST reply actions

it loads more tweets when you get to the bottom

brndnprkns: I'm pretty sure the "badass" value of your life is closer to Gigli than The Dark Knight

by whitesoxmatt on Jan 29, 2012 11:38 AM CST up reply actions

Annoying.

We're all here because we're not all there.

by winningugly on Jan 29, 2012 12:20 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

very much so

"Rhubarb, if you wouldn’t mind, ram your taint into your monitor as hard as you can." - joewho112

by BoeJouma on Jan 29, 2012 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

Great stuff guys!

Suspicions confirmed on Morel, we’ll see if he can carry it over this season.

And could they possibly have done anything worse to curse Phegley this season than call him a “bulldog”?

by polodude017 on Jan 29, 2012 11:45 AM CST reply actions

Oh and I can't help but think Ozzie is at least partially at fault...

for Morel’s early struggles and insistence on putting the ball in play. Ozzie should have never spouted off about how he wanted to hit Morel 2nd because he “was good at moving runners over”.

by polodude017 on Jan 29, 2012 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

no kenny, no one is going to miss pierre.

by obnoxious american on Jan 29, 2012 12:05 PM CST reply actions

I like Southpaw as dessert.

"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"

by U-God on Jan 29, 2012 12:17 PM CST reply actions

was just able to watch some clips from soxfest

it is SO nice to be able not only to understand what the coach is saying, but also having the ability to follow what hes saying. RV and the accompanying coaches sound like a breath of very fresh air. cant wait for the season to begin!

"Rhubarb, if you wouldn’t mind, ram your taint into your monitor as hard as you can." - joewho112

by BoeJouma on Jan 29, 2012 12:39 PM CST reply actions

Mark Parent

I think I am going to get a kick out of Parent.Seems like he could have Cooper like irascible qualities.Only Jumbosized.

by Lil Jimmy on Jan 29, 2012 4:40 PM CST up reply actions

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2012/1/29/2756448/nationals-drew-storen-adam-dunn-mlb-2012

RUMOR: The Washington Nationals are offering Drew Storen to the Chicago White Sox in an effort to bring back Adam Dunn, MLBDD has learned. We are still attempting to confirm with a second source.

Football recruiting guy for Hammer and Rails
Lead blogger for 5 other sites.
Follow the Twitter for all the details

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Riles23
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Big10RantPurdue

by HawkeyeBoiler on Jan 29, 2012 1:37 PM CST reply actions

Very weird.

by U-God on Jan 29, 2012 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

Ha.

by Craig Grebeck on Jan 29, 2012 1:57 PM CST up reply actions

This sounds real and plausible.

I expect Kenny to mull this over for a while. There’s just so much to think about.

The enhanced interrogation of metaphors.

by mechanical turk on Jan 29, 2012 2:05 PM CST up reply actions

is that initial source soxnet.net?

by larry on Jan 29, 2012 2:20 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe he meant "drei Stollen."

And I’d still take it.

Follow @SouthSideSox

by Jim Margalus on Jan 29, 2012 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

(via MLB Tausch Gerüchte)

Follow @SouthSideSox

by Jim Margalus on Jan 29, 2012 2:28 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

The only way this makes any sense to me...

is if they are basically eating almost ALL of Dunn’s contract. Dumping this horrible contract AND picking up a very good young closer? Sounds way too good to be true.

by polodude017 on Jan 29, 2012 2:31 PM CST up reply actions

It still doesn't make sense.

by Craig Grebeck on Jan 29, 2012 2:54 PM CST up reply actions

http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/24/check-your-sources/

by larry on Jan 29, 2012 3:27 PM CST up reply actions

that was an interesting article

and risky… but proved a good point.

Maybe you guys have some knowledge about this. Here is what I don’t understand. What is there to gain by a source for leaking information? Let’s say I work for the White Sox, why in the world would I leak any secret/private info about my team’s dealings? What is there to gain? I understand leaking false information to deceive people, but leaking correct info? Do you think some of these guys like Tim Brown or Heyman who first reported about Fielder to Detroit pay people to get that info? The whole thing just baffles me…

Taking a walk in a donkey park listening to the wind of change

by LT_sox_fan on Jan 29, 2012 6:29 PM CST up reply actions

Heyman and Boras are a good example of how it works

They have a very tight relationship, and some people think it’s too tight. It often seems like Heyman gives Boras clients free advertising when they’re looking to set a market, and Boras gives Heyman scoops when a client signs. They’re basically the most extreme example.

Agents are a chief source of leaks in free agency, because it’s not so much leaking information as planting information. They want Team X to know that their rival has made a credible offer, in order to drum up some competition. Teams also play this game, although they’re more interested in setting a hard line — “we are limited in what we can do,” etc.

Otherwise, a few other reasons for leaks outside of free agency, but the big one is putting public pressure against a certain party (think Cowley and the Guillens vs. Kenny Williams, or the Red Sox and Francona). Sometimes it can ease tension, and a way to blame a set of circumstances without painting a certain person in an unfavorable light, like they’re whining or soft.

And then sometimes, the information makes its way to a party in the organization who doesn’t normally know things, and he/she is excited to talk about it.

Follow @SouthSideSox

by Jim Margalus on Jan 29, 2012 6:53 PM CST up reply actions

my understanding is that the (legitimate) information doesn't usually come from the team involved.

agents or other teams tend to be the sources. if something does come from a team, it’s usually “we heard from the white sox and they’re shopping player x” or “we were talking to agent y and he said that four teams are interested in player y”. the front office guys are always trading information, whether with other front office guys, journalists, whoever.

an agent’s interest in leaking information is probably self-explanatory.

as for heyman in particular, he’s long been one of the guys boras gives information to. (and when i say “boras” i’m speaking broadly about his company, not necessarily the individual).

by larry on Jan 29, 2012 6:53 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks a lot for the answers guys, appreciate it

Clears it up for sure.

Taking a walk in a donkey park listening to the wind of change

by LT_sox_fan on Jan 29, 2012 8:04 PM CST up reply actions

Adam Laroche

In the fall I felt there was a possibility here.Laroche has one year left with 1 million dollar buyout.
I would assume he would be part of this.Another player they might want to include is Yunesky Maya.We had interest at one time and they over paid.That is 12 mil. this year.

by Lil Jimmy on Jan 29, 2012 5:00 PM CST up reply actions