Chicago's Inside Pitch

Some White Sox news and notes as spring training draws near:
*Individual game tickets for the upcoming season got on sale tomorrow (Friday) at 10 a.m.
You can get tickets by calling (866) SOX-GAME or visiting whitesox.com. Tickets are also available at Bacardi at the Park, located near Gate 5 at U.S. Cellular Field, and at Ticketmaster locations.
The Sox are using “dynamic” ticket pricing throughout the entire ballpark for all home games.
Fans can save up to 30 percent off regular prices on select seats if purchasing prior to Feb.11.
*The White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers will play a spring training charity game in Tucson, Ariz. on March 23.
All proceeds from the game will benefit the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation.

Adam Dunn met with the media at SoxFest Saturday.
Let's just say he prefers to do most of his talking on the field after a disastrous 2011 debut with the White Sox.
Dunn looked like he was in pretty good shape, but who can really tell in late January?
As for working out and hitting this winter, Dunn did not offer many details.
"I don't want to get into it," Dunn said after doing an autograph session. "I really don't want to, to be honest with you. We're doing some good things. I'm ready now, and we've got a month to go. I feel really ready for spring training when it comes."
I think Dunn is going to have a much better season, which isn't saying much considering he batted .159 with just 11 home runs, 42 RBI and a franchise-record 177 strikeouts.
What do you think?

Busy day at the Palmer House Hilton, where SoxFest is officially up and running.
You can say what you want about last season, and the "rebuilding" job GM Kenny Williams did this winter.
I thought the crowd was better than expected, and Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzynski, new manager Robin Ventura and 2005 World Series hero Joe Crede received big applause from White Sox fans when they were introduced in the opening ceremony.
Williams?
He got some applause, mixed in with some boos.
KW has had a rough week - his son Kyle made 2 costly mistakes for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game against the New York Giants last Sunday - and now he is facing some serious pressure with the Sox.
Williams said his son Kyle is doing just fine and has had plenty of support.

When the Tigers' Victor Martinez went down with a season-ending knee injury a few weeks back, the White Sox appeared to have a sliver of hope in the AL Central this season.
Following Tuesday's bombshell announcement – free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder signed a nine-year, $214 million contract with Detroit – the Sox, Indians, Twins and Royals instantly became division also-rans.
Fielder, Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander are three of the Top 10 players in the game, and the Tigers are now set up for a World Series run.
Over time, Detroit is probably going to regret giving Fielder such a long contract.
For now, the Fielder addition makes Detroit a powerhouse team.

Busy day for the White Sox on Monday in advance of this weekend’s SoxFest at the Palmer House.
Let’s get to it:
-There is only one person who knows where Ozzie Guillen keeps the mute button – Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.
Obviously sensing more storms following some of Ozzie’s Twitter comments last Friday regarding his abrupt departure, Reinsdorf issued a statement late Monday afternoon:

SoxFest is a week away, and the annual fan gathering runs next Friday-Sunday at the Palmer House Hilton.
Here are some highlights of SoxFest:
General manager Kenny Williams usually makes two appearances to take fans' questions, along with the manager.
This year, Williams and new manager Robin Ventura are only scheduled to do one Q&A session - on Friday.
Also Friday, commissioner Bud Selig and broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson will host a seminar titled "State of the Game."
Gordon Beckham, Joe Crede, John Danks, Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzysnki and Dayan Viciedo are the featured players signing autographs.
On Saturday, you can get to know new coaches Mark Parent (bench), Jeff Manto (hitting) and Joe McEwing (third base) when they join Ventura in a seminar titled "Your 2012 White Sox."

Matt Garza and the Cubs may be headed for an arbitration hearing. The salary figure Garza is seeking for this year originally was incorrectly reported nationwide as $10.225 million. It turns out Garza is asking for $12.5 million in arbitration while the Cubs are offering $7.95 million. Last year, Garza made $5.95 million as he went 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA.

The Cubs may find it difficult to make a deal for Garza with that kind of a salary demand. Theo Epstein and his Cubs crew aren't looking to move Garza, but if they get the right offer, they'll consider it seriously.

Former White Sox great Frank Thomas is launching Big Hurt beer on Friday, Jan. 27 at the Public House in Chicago.
The first 200 patrons to purchase a $6 pint receive a souvenir glass signed by Thomas.
The Public House is on 400 N. State St. and the event starts at 8:30 p.m.
Earlier Friday, Thomas is scheduled to appear at SoxFest at the Palmer House Hilton.
Don’t be surprised if several of Thomas’ former teammates and current White Sox players head over to the Public House for the beer bash.

The White Sox have caught an unfortunate break.
So have the Twins, Indians and Royals.
The Tigers ran away with the AL Central last season, finishing 15 games ahead of the second-place Indians and 16 ahead of the Sox.
Detroit is the big favorite to repeat as division champs, but the Tigers will have to forge ahead without designated hitter Victor Martinez.
According to multiple reports out of Detroit, Martinez tore the ACL in his left knee while working out last week and will miss the upcoming season.
In his first season with the Tigers, Martinez batted .330 with 12 home runs and 103 RBI.
Martinez was particularly tough on the White Sox, batting .345 with 1 home run and 11 RBI. He had a .345/.422/.473 hitting line.

The White Sox have been slashing payroll since July.
Is it time to do a little spending?
Yoenis Cespedes might be worth the investment, and the 26-year-old Cuban outfielder told a reporter On Thursday the Sox are interested in his services.
Cespedes played his first game for the Dominican Republic Thursday in the Winter League Thursday. He defected to the country late last summer after hitting 33 home runs for his team in Cuba.
A five-tool player, Cespedes is still dealing with legal issues and has not been cleared to sign with a major-league team.
When he does clear, the bidding could rise to $50 million, and it is hard to imagine the White Sox coming up with that kind of money.