Black Sox Blog

Good news as the Sox are approaching their Cactus League Opener, Jake Peavy is readying himself with the club. After a season-ending surgery last season on his right shoulder, Peavy is back with the team. Peavy through a 40 pitch bullpen on Wednesday followed by some long toss on Saturday. Peavy told mlb.com that he believes he is past the “grueling part” of his recovery, and though he is not 100%, he feels healthy. As the actual season gets closer, the competition for starting spots get more serious. Mark Teahen and Brent Morel seem to be fighting it out for the starting position at 3rd base. Teahen, the veteran and Morel, who is said to have Joe Crede like defensive abilities are helping eachother out in the midst of this competition. Teahen is helping the youngster with defensive skills and Morel is helping Teahen get acquainted to new coaching. It is still up in the air if Peavy will be ready Opening Day and who will be starting 3rd.

With the White Sox getting ready for the start of the 2011 season, so is their veteran, almost 44 year old Omar Vizquel. After 22 major league seasons, he says to keep motivated during Spring Training, you have to set goals and “do something out of the ordinary everyday to kind of push yourself”. Whether it’s a great double play a game or try to steal two bases, you should always have a goal to acheive and to stay motivated, he says. Visquel enters the season 201 hits shy of entering the legendary 3,000 hit club. Though his body keeps getting older, Vizquel’s “youthful enthusiasm” keeps him young enough to compete with the best youth in the league. Look out for Vizquel and the rest of this Chi Sox team come April time.

With the pitchers and catchers due to report to the Chi Sox spring training in 4 days, the question Chi Sox fans are asking is “Will Peavy be ready“? White Sox manager hopes so and joked around with Peavy during their half hour phone conference regarding the status of his arm. “You better be ready for Spring Training or I’m going to get fired,” Ozzie jokingly told Peavy. The 29-year-old pitcher wants to be back to his team for Opening day against the Tribe on April 1st, but he will listen to the doctors and trainers input before making the final decision of coming back. The Sox are hoping for the speedballer to return to their starting rotation at the start of the 2011 season.

The White Sox just signed Cuba native, Alexei Ramirez, to a four-year, $32.5 million  contract. It seems as if Ramirez wants to spend his entire career on the south side of Chicago. Though Ramirez played centerfield at first, his successful transition to shortstop gives the Sox one of the best double play combinations in the Major Leagues, with second baseman Gordon Beckham. The Louiseville Slugger Silver Slugger Award was given to Ramirez in the 2010 season for being the best offensive shortstop in the American League. It was a no-brainer to extend Ramirez’s contract for both sides. Alexei loves Chicago, and both general manager Kenny Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen agree  he is a great fit both on and off the field. Look for Ramirez to be turning double plays at US Cellular Field for years to come.