My Christmas Wish

Last year, I wrote two Christmas blogs.  One was what I wanted for Christmas from the White Sox, and one was about who I'd like to have as Christmas guests.  I've made a decision to combine them into one entry and rewrite them every year.  And since Christmas Eve is in three days, now is as good a time as any to write this year's Christmas blog.

What I Want For Christmas
Last year I asked Kenny Williams for a team that's capable of winning the World Series.  We didn't make it to .500, but Kenny got many of the pieces needed.  He traded Nick Swisher and Javier Vazquez.  The return from the Swisher trade was kinda...not good, and the return from the Vazquez trade was so-so, being that Brent Lillibridge is not really on the good side, and Tyler Flowers is still developing.  Mid-season he got us Jake Peavy and Alex Rios.  In the offseason, he traded Chris Getz and Josh Fields for Mark Teahen, got us Juan Pierre as our leadoff hitter, strengthened our bench by re-signing Mark Kotsay and acquiring Omar Vizquel and Andruw Jones, and signed JJ Putz for relief pitching.  Gordon Beckham was called up in June and exploded into a Rookie of the Year candidate.  I think Kenny can make this year's wish come true.

Last year I had several wishes for several players.
AJ Pierzynski
Last year I asked him not to bring back the bleach blonde hair.  He brought it back.  I've learned to deal with it, even though I hate it.  I'm still asking for his natural color back, however.

I also asked that he make the All-Star Game roster again.  Didn't happen.  However, I also asked him to have an amazing season.  That he did do.  He became the first White Sox catcher to hit .300 in a season.  He hit his 100th home run, which was also his 500th RBI, in April.

I have a couple wishes for AJ this season.  First, I'd like him to have a photo booth at SoxFest in January so I can get a picture with him so I can die happy.  That has nothing to do with the season, but I want it, so I'm requesting it.  Please and thank you.  For the season, I want him to have another amazing season.  AJ's contract is up at the end of this season, so if he has another awesome season, the Sox will give him a new contract, right?  Right.  Because I'll need a blog support group if AJ leaves.  Losing Joe Crede to the Twins last season was hard enough on me.  But if I have to lose AJ, OMG it won't be pretty.

Carlos Quentin
I wanted him to have an amazing season last year.  Unfortunately Carlos was plagued with plantar fasciitis, so he was on the DL for a while.  My wish for Carlos is to get back to his 2008 self.  Pre-broken wrist, of course.  :)

Bobby Jenks
I wanted Bobby to get the consecutive batters retired streak last year.  Bobby didn't get it, but Mark Buehrle did.  I also wanted Bobby to recreate the World Series celebration picture with AJ.  Also didn't happen.  My wish for Bobby this season is to perform how we all know he can.  Bobby had a little bit of an off season.  People have been criticizing him about his weight.  Bobby doesn't think it's an issue, other people do.  What I want for you, Bobby, is to perform better.  You can weigh 100 pounds, you can weigh 500 pounds.  As long as you pitch well, I don't care how much you weigh.  If losing some weight means you'll pitch better, I'd prefer it.  I just want you to be Big Bad Bobby Jenks again.  You were missing that last season.

Alexei Ramirez
I wanted Alexei to duplicate his rookie season.  He was second in Rookie of the Year voting, and I wanted that awesomeness again.  Alexei hit decently, but his fielding was horrible.  Moving from second base to shortstop seemed to be a bad idea.  My wish for Alexei is to improve his defense at short.  Hopefully having Omar Vizquel around will help him out.

Josh Fields
Awwwww Joshy my Joshy.  Josh is now a KC Royal, as we traded him with Chris Getz for Mark Teahen.  I wish you nothing but the best, Josh.  I still know you can play.

Gavin Floyd and John Danks
In 2008, Gavin flirted with two no-hitters, and John pitched the most amazing Blackout game against the Twins to put us in the playoffs.  That season, they both pitched brilliantly.  I asked that they have another epic season.  They both listened.  Gavin signed a four-year deal in spring training and pitched beautifully in 2009.  John rejected a deal in spring training but is looking to stay in Chicago for a long time.  He pitched 200 innings for the first time and won 13 games.  They're both still All-Star caliber pitchers, and sooner or later, they'll both be All-Stars, and they both have the talent to win a Cy Young award.

For this season, Gavin and John, I wish you the same thing as last year.  Keep doing what you're doing, and I'll have no complaints whatsoever.  You're both an integral part of what is probably the best starting rotation in the AL Central, and I know you can dominate for years to come.

Gordon Beckham
I obviously didn't have Gordon on here last year.  But I have a Christmas wish for him.  Well, I have two.  Photo booth at SoxFest, please.  And for the actual season, keep getting better.  Gordon was called up to play third base.  Prior to his, like, week at Charlotte, he had never played third.  For someone with so little experience at that position, he played very very well.  With the acquisition of Mark Teahen, Kenny said Gordon will be playing second next season.  Another position he hasn't played really.  So Gordon, keep getting better.  You'll be an All-Star soon.

Jake Peavy
Jake, my dear, I have one request: repeat your 2007 season with us.  All-Star starter, Triple Crown winner, and Cy Young winner in the same season?  Yes please!  The few starts you had as a White Sox last season made me so hopeful for 2010, especially since I lived in San Diego at the beginning of the 2009 season and was able to watch you pitch when you were still a Padre.  I know you're amazing, and I can't wait until you have a full season as a White Sox.

Christmas Guests
My second Christmas blog last year was who my Christmas guest would be.  I had a few.  Everyone expected AJ would be one because I adore him.  He'll always be on my list because of my adoration.

But who else would I invite into my house for Christmas?  Other than the obvious answer of "everyone because I'd have all the White Sox in my house."  My guests would be people I wanted to talk to about baseball and their careers and whatever else comes to mind.  Last year, in addition to AJ, I invited Josh Fields and Jim Thome.  This year, I'd like to spend Christmas with John Danks, Gordon Beckham, and Mark Buehrle.

Now you all know of my growing love and adoration for John Danks, so he'll be a regular Christmas guest with AJ in future Christmas blogs.  But this Christmas I'd love to know about the Blackout game.  What was that like since he pitched so dominantly and since that was such a huge game for the Sox in 2008.  Also how it felt to reach 200 innings pitched last season.  And I wanna hear his thoughts about his Texas Longhorns in the BCS Championship game and Colt McCoy not getting the Heisman.  (See, it's not strictly baseball.  I'd discuss my Florida Gators with AJ.)

With Gordon, I'd wanna know about how his first year in the Majors felt.  Especially coming in playing a position he'd never played before and being pretty good at it.  I also would wanna know how he feels about moving to second base for this season.  And of course I'd wanna hear his uncensored feelings on placing fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting.  Not the pretty much obligatory "the other guy is a great player blah blah blah" stuff he tells the media so as not to seem like a jerk.  I wanna hear what would make him seem like a jerk.  :)  And I'd be nice and not tell you guys since blogs can get leaked to the media, and I wouldn't wanna make Gordon hate me.

And then there's Mark.  I'm sure he's talked the perfecto to death, but I wanna hear about how he felt since I didn't get to see it live.  But I did eventually see it, as it's still on my DVR waiting to be recorded to a DVD so I can have it forever.  :)  I also wanna know if he likes the chopper his wife got for him after the perfecto.  And I'd love to see his kids.  I love kids, and I'm sure his are adorable.


Well, Blogosphere, I hope you all have a great holiday season.  I know Chanukah just ended, so I hope all my Jewish bloggers had a great Chanukah.  Merry early Christmas and happy early Kwanzaa to those who celebrate that.  And happy early Festivus for the rest of us.  :)  I won't blog again until after the new year since I'll be in San Antonio for my aunt's wedding at new year's, so celebrate that safely.

And since I won't blog again until 2010, happy early birthday to my favorite baseball player ever.  :)  AJ's 33rd birthday is on the 30th, and I like wishing my favorites a happy birthday, even though they probably never read my blogs.  So happy early birthday, AJ!
Photo credits: unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, AP, Getty images, unknown