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Well, the 2019 baseball season is officially-unofficially underway, as Chicago White Sox pitchers and catchers are reporting to Camelback Ranch as you read. Turn and cough, Dane Dunning. Drop and give me 20, José Nin. To the bunting diamond for you, James McCann ...
With players trickling into camp early, we had a bit of random news and notes on Tuesday. Let’s take a look.
Of primary import
Tomorrow. 10:00 a.m.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 13, 2019
: https://t.co/55ArzXsN5T pic.twitter.com/I6rt3VEv1I
Nonsense department
This freaking gem kicked off our day:
Have heard reported offer of 250M for 8 yrs for Machado by White Sox isn’t right. May or may not be close, but guess would be that at least today it’s a bit lower. Higher than 175 but lower than 250. At least at moment. (So yes, we still don’t have facts, just educated guesses.)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 12, 2019
And, as trash and taunts hailed down upon Heyman for such an insipid piece of “reporting,” Rawlings gave us more to chew on:
Check out Manny Machado's gloves for this season! Where do you think he is going to play this season? Is the black and white a sign?? #TeamRawlings pic.twitter.com/GO1CNs57UT
— Rawlings Sports (@RawlingsSports) February 12, 2019
Harold Baines gets his due
The White Sox announced some special honoring for HOF inductee Baines on August 11. Dude’s already got a statue and a retired number, so what do you get a guy with everything? Give away replica HOF plaques, that’s what you do.
Harold Baines' induction into the Hall of Fame will be recognized with a pregame ceremony on August 11. The first 20,000 fans to enter the ballpark that day will receive a Harold Baines Hall of Fame Replica Plaque.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 13, 2019
MORE:
Merkin in motion
MLB.com’s Scott Merkin was active with notes and quotes from this T-1 day of spring training.
From Nate Jones:
Jones on option being picked up by White Sox: "This is no longer just a team or an organization. I know everybody from top to bottom. It’s like a family. I was fortunate and blessed again to be able to keep playing baseball here and keep representing the White Sox."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 12, 2019
Nicky Delmonico:
Delmonico on White Sox '19 optimism: "We are hungry. When you come off a 100 loss season, it kind of pisses you off. I think we are all in the same group and same schedule of what we want to do this year and how we want to go about our business."
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 12, 2019
And some hitting snaps:
Engel taking his swings pic.twitter.com/Ef3eOqIPpE
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 12, 2019
Engel is hitting more from a crouched stance with his bat resting on his shoulders. Felt like he made improvements last year with his upper body so he's trying to improve on the lower half.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 12, 2019
Jake Burger in the cages pic.twitter.com/u5xRbKinDa
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 12, 2019
3) @Burgatron13 looked great hitting in the cages. People have talked about the special sound of the ball coming off of his bat and it was evident yet again today.
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 13, 2019
Tyler Johnson, dharma bum
And in case you missed it on Monday, White Sox blue-chip reliever was miked up, and by the sampler here, the team may want to keep a mic on this dude.
"Relievers are people, too!" You heard it here first. pic.twitter.com/zD6Xw1KpKF
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 11, 2019