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Dear Scott -- I know we usually call you 'Scotty Pods' or 'Peter Pan' or some other cute nickname like that, but we didn't feel it was appropriate for a letter of such importance

This is gonna be hard for us to say. I mean we really like you... even if you do get on our nerves with all your poor defensive routes and frustratingly inept baserunning blunders. But, well, we just don't want you to be one of our starting outfielders next year, and we could never picture a future for the White Sox with you in the DH role. It would be terrible if we let a little thing like a few million dollars, a few hundred at-bats and starting position come between us. We knew you would understand. You always do.

You've always been there for us, and we love you for that. Remember when Bobby blew the lead in game 2 and you bitchmade Brad Lidge? or just this season when we were feeling down, and didn't have a single outfielder who could field the ball and hold his own at the plate for any extended period of time? You were there for us, and it means the world to us. Really, it does. I don't think we could ever truly express what our time together has meant to us.

But there comes a time in every relationship when you have to look in the mirror and ask yourself 'Where is this going? Is there really any future for us?' Unfortunately, we just don't think of you that way. We're sorry. At this point in our relationship, we're just looking for different things. We want a championship contender and you want playing time and a place in our starting lineup; those two objectives would seem to be mutually exclusive. 

You can still be our 4th outfielder. You really are the best 4th outfielder we've ever had, and we'd hate to lose that, especially over a silly thing like playing time. 

Your stutter step will always make us smile. You're grindy and all the girls think you're cute. You should have no trouble finding yourself another team. But please know we will always be here, willing to give you a minor league contract and a non-roster invite.

Signed,
Your Biggest Fans
SouthSideSox

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October 2005 was funner.

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Shock and awe sweep over the city, as Chicago is eliminated from the 2016 Olympic discussion in the first round of voting this morning.

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More photos » by Nam Y. Huh - AP

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Remember the rules.  You can't be someone who will be retained for the 2010 season.  So that eliminates the coaching staff and front office.  You also can't be someone who has an unmovable contract.  So Scott Linebrink will have to wait to take the fall for the 2011 season.  Essentially, you're looking at guys who are free agents to be or will be traded or are already gone.

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"I kind of saw it [his first salmon fishing experience] differently because when you think of salmon your first thought is a river or stream, so it was a very interesting [out on Puget Sound]," said Beckham, who has done a lot of deep sea fishing off the eastern and southeastern coasts before. "It was a blast and I didn't know what to expect, but it was certainly fun."

...

And what do they plan to do with all the fish they caught?

A good chunk of the fish will arrive at the White Sox clubhouse for dinner tomorrow night before their game with the Mariners.

Link.

Good to see the team will be getting their omega-3 tonight.

ALSIP -- A prominent member of one of the largest, most influential White Sox message boards demanded action in what has become a rather quiet off-season. WSChamps05, or Patrick Lemke as he is known IRL (in real life), was reported to have written a missive titled "This Off Season SUX" before it was eventually locked and deleted after the ensuing discussion devolved into a flamewar over which crappy outfielder was better suited to be the White Sox opening day center fielder, Jerry Owens or Brian Anderson.

A Google cache preserved most of WSChamps05's original entry, which began, "I'm tired of sitting here waiting for the White Sox 2 do sumthimg." The Sox have made a number of minor moves in the last month, but their last major newsmaker was the December 2nd trade of Javier Vazquez to the Braves for Brent Lillibridge, Tyler Flowers and two more low-level prospects.

"When are we gonna sign somebody? The Cubs signed Board Game. The Braves Signed Lowe, and STOLE Vazquez. even though he sux. The Yankees signed practically every1 else, but their's sitll plenty of good players left.

"We've got holes at 2B, 3B and CF. not to mention the rotation. Does any1 think Clayton Richard is better than Ben Sheets? What about Pedro Martinez? Jon Garland, remember him? Freddy Garcia too. Go get sum1 Kenny!!!"

When asked for comment, White Sox GM Kenny Williams did not return our calls.

SURPRISE, AZ -- In an unprecedented move, the Chicago White Sox acquired one-third of the Arizona Fall League Saturday.

The Arizona Fall League has been called a finishing school for top prospects. Every year since taking over as White Sox GM, Kenny Williams has made it a point to personally scout the league for his latest trade targets. But this year, while watching a nail-biting 23-18 affair between the Saguaros and Desert Dogs, Williams was struck by a lightning bolt of inspiration.

What if he acquired the entire Arizona Fall League?

"I'm always amazed by the level of play here in Arizona," said Williams, "and am always looking for a way to infuse that type of high-energy talent into our system."

Could it be done? Would it be legal?

The answer was yes, almost. With their acquisition of two of the six AFL teams, the Peoria Javelinas and Surprise Rafters, the White Sox are the proud owners of 70 new prospects who will never amount to anything.

In exchange for their sizable prospect haul the Sox have agreed to send their entire starting lineup to Arizona each fall, as well as a yearly "rights fee" paid to each of the major league clubs.

"It's a good deal for us," said Williams as he scrolled through messages on his Blackberry. "We get younger, and have established a pipeline of young talent for years to come.

"In the long run, it will save on travel and administrative costs as well. We think it's a win-win."