JEFF SAMARDZIJA IS BURNING BRIDGES

1st question for Samardzija is why White Sox fans are better than Cubs fans. "Well, they actually pay attention to games, right?"
— Colleen Kane (@ChiTribKane) January 24, 2015

Though it could be argued that some Sox fans are only paying attention to the fact A.J. Pierzynski is no longer on the team AND THEY WANT ANSWERS, DAMN IT.

And we've got the annual AJ Pierzynski question. #SoxFest2015
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) January 24, 2015

Never change, you beautiful morons.

2005 WHITE SOX REUNION AT SOXFEST

Reunited, and it feels so good! Members of the 2005 team gather at #SoxFest2015. pic.twitter.com/cIme8iNP5n
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) January 23, 2015

I can't believe it's almost been 10 years already.

THE DISEMBODIED HEADS OF HAWK HARRELSON

If only I were at SoxFest so I could tape these to my face and walk around.

They should probably make one out of this picture too.

Photo via @MaggieHendricks

GEOVANY SOTO WILL LIKELY BE ON THE OPENING DAY ROSTER

The White Sox announced all their non-roster invites to spring training on Thursday, and while it's interesting news because it's a nice reminder that spring training will actually be here soon enough, it's not really interesting news.

Yes, sometimes a non-roster invite makes the team out of camp, but more often than not they don't. Aside from the minor leaguers the team just wants to get a nice look at, the others are usually the type of players that are washed-up but can't admit it to themselves, and the team doesn't mind using their body during camp.

Hey there, Brad Penny. No, I'm not talking about you! I'm sure you still have "it!"

But this year there's one invite that I would almost consider a lock to make the Opening Day roster. His name is Geovany Soto.

CARLOS RODON TO BE USED AS A STARTER THIS SPRING

Cooper confirmed @CarlosRodon16 will be used as a starter during Spring Training. From there, nothing has been decided

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) January 22, 2015

Though this doesn't mean he'll start the season as a starter on the White Sox, or that he'll be used as a starter when (if) he's called up this year.

WHITE SOX SIGN JESSE CRAIN TO MINOR LEAGUE DEAL

White Sox sign reliever Jesse Crain to a minor league deal. He's now a year and a half away from surgery. Coop excited for the move.

— Doug Padilla (@ESPNChiSox) January 22, 2015

We're getting the band back together!

I like this move. Crain needed surgery and there's no telling how he'll perform in the future, but when he was good with the Sox, he was very good to have around. If the Sox can get even a whiff of the old Crain in 2015 it'd be a big boost to the bullpen.

WHITE SOX SIGN GEOVANY SOTO TO MINOR LEAGUE DEAL

Former Cub catcher Geo. Soto signs minor league deal with Chicago White Sox
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) January 22, 2015

He'll get an invite to spring training, and considering the other catchers on the Sox roster, he has a pretty good chance of breaking camp with the team.

JOSE QUINTANA CAN'T BE UNDERRATED

This is silly, I know, but if you'll indulge me.

Last week I saw an article from Sports on Earth about baseball's all-underrated team. Not surprisingly, Jose Quintana was featured on the team. This is because any time somebody mentions Jose Quintana they mention how underrated he is.

And that's just idiotic.

By definition, if you keep mentioning Jose Quintana as somebody who is underrated, he cannot be underrated. You're rating him. Everybody is rating him. He is perfectly rated!

GOODBYE, MAX SCHERZER

If you missed the news last night, Max Scherzer signed a seven-year deal with the Washington Nationals, which is good news for the Nationals and for White Sox fans as well.

The Tigers got a little bit worse, and that's a good thing.

Scherzer has made 23 career starts against the White Sox, and in those 23 starts he's put up an ERA of 2.54 in 156 innings with 165 strikeouts and only 36 walks. Scherzer has pitched only one complete game in his entire career, and it was against the White Sox.

Goodbye, Max Scherzer. You will not be missed.

LOOK AT HAWK HARRELSON'S MUSTACHE

That is the mustache of a man who plans on having sex with your daughter and possibly murdering her afterward.

Via

TOM RICKETTS IS A TOOL

The Cubs Convention is going on this weekend, and SoxFest will take place next weekend. Both are sold out as both fan bases feel optimistic about the upcoming season for the first time in a while.

But when this time of year comes, and so many Chicago baseball fans fill a room together, a lot of stupid tends to come out. For example, Tom Ricketts.

Ricketts cheap shot at @WhiteSox when asked about Cell being better for kids: "There can't be that many kids having fun at US Cellular."
— Danny Ecker (@DannyEcker) January 17, 2015

I've seen a lot of Sox fans get angry about this on Twitter, which is to be expected. We are an extremely sensitive bunch, especially when it comes to the Cubs. But before you get too angry about all of this, please remember that the man taking a shot at the White Sox and their ballpark currently owns a ballpark that likely won't have bleachers when the season opens.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE JORDAN DANKS GO

Yesterday the White Sox made the signing of Emilio Bonifacio official, and also announced in the process that Jordan Danks had been designated for assignment. The news brought a smile to my face.

The smile wasn't as big as it will be the moment I find out that Dayan Viciedo is no longer on the roster, but it was a smile none the less. Not because I'm really excited about the addition of Emilio Bonifacio. As I already wrote, I like the move, and I think it made more sense to do it than trade for Ben Zobrist, but it's still just Emilio Bonifacio.

And I didn't smile because I have anything against Jordan Danks. I don't. I actually liked Jordan Danks, but the real truth is that Jordan Danks just isn't very good. He's proven repeatedly that he's never going to be much of a hitter on the Major League level, but that he has some valuable to your roster as a reserve outfield because he can play all three positions well, and he can also serve as a pinch-runner when needed.

No, the smile was about what the move meant.

EMILIO BONIFACIO WAS A BETTER OPTION THAN BEN ZOBRIST

Now don't get getting that headline confused with me saying that Emilio Bonifacio is a better player than Ben Zobrist. He's not. I just think he's a better option for what the White Sox need right now than Zobrist.

First of all, according to reports out there, Bonifacio is coming to the Sox on a one-year deal for only $4 million (apparently it's a one-year with a club option for 2016 according to Levine. He'll get $3 million in 2015 and $4 million in 2016 unless the Sox buy him out for $1 million. So $4 million for 2015 in all probability). While Zobrist only has one year left on his contract for $7 million, it's not just the money you'd have to pay for him, but at least a decent prospect as well. So by signing Bonifacio over Zobrist you're saving a lot more than just $3 million.

But none of us sign the checks, so the money shouldn't be that important. How it affects the White Sox as a team in 2015 does.