I have an hour and a half drive I have to make every Sunday and I was really looking forward to hearing a White Sox spring training game on the Score.  I started out a little after three and within two minutes of tuning in, I was informed that this was "an interactive broadcast."

In case you are unfamiliar with this concept, Chris Ronge is in the studio talking with Ed Farmer and Darrin Jackson who are at the game.  The format is to take phone calls and totally ignore what's going on in the game.  So, I did not hear Gordon Beckham's home run and it was treated as an afterthought when the Sox went up 3-2 after trailing the entire game.

I don't understand why the Score does this (well, actually I do, they have sponsor.)

While the conversation was interesting (DJ was terrific and really ads a lot to the radio broadcasts) it still wasn't the game.  I was very, very disappointed as a listener and as a Sox fan.  One of the golden rules in programming a radio station is to meet your listeners expectations.  I expected a baseball game and got a talk show. 

I don't know if this concept originated with the Score or the geniuses in the White Sox marketing department thought it up, but I want to go on record as saying I didn't like it.  I was interested in the game, who was playing, some backstory on some of the young guys and to see how Ed and DJ were developing as partners.  Needless to say, I got very little of that yesterday.

Some highlights form the big comeback:

• A couple more hits and a throw out for Corky Miller yesterday.  I have to think that he's the leader in the clubhouse right now for the backup catcher job.  What I haven't heard is how Cole Armstrong is doing.
  
• Jayson Nix continues to make a case for making the team and totally blowing up the Lillibridge-Getz scenario at second base.  He went two for three with a double yesterday. Lillibridge, not so good.
  
• Grodon Beckham tied the game with a home run in the top of the ninth.  Of course, you didn't know it if you listened on the radio.
  
• Wilson Betemit is proving he's no Juan Uribe, committing two errors at shortstop yesterday. 
  
• The most talked about player during the broadcast was the Cuban Sandwich.  Neither Ed, DJ or Ranger thinks he will break camp with the big boys. Some listeners immediately wanted to move him to the outfield or first base.  Ed and DJ think he needs to fail at third before they move him elsewhere.
  
• The talk of a fourth and fifth starter was also a hot topic.  All of the participants cautioned against being overly optimistic on speedy recoveries from both Bartolo Colon and Jose Contreras.  Although they differed on who might make the cut in those roles, the consensus picks are Clayton Richard and Jeff Marquez.  I would have liked to have heard more about Jack Egbert, who Ed apparently has taken a liking to. The Cheat at Sox Side Sox has done an outstanding job of handicapping the competition.
  
• Another guy who got some cautious props was Aaron Poreda.
• There's also competition for the two or three open slots in the bullpen.  D.J. Corrasco gave up more runs yesterday, so he may be pitching himself out of a gig.  Adam Russell has struggled as has Ehren Wasserman (PI).  So far, if Richard and Marquez open the year as starters, Egbert and Poreda have a pretty decent chance right now, unless the Sox want them to get innings down in Charlotte.  If Colon and Contreras open the season as starters, Richard and Marquez will most likely be your long inning guys.
• Jerry Owens continues to get on base while Brian Anderson continues to struggle.  The wild card in all of this is DeWayne Wise, who, with an impressive spring, might default to the starting center field job, at least against righties. 
  
• DJ seems to have a warm spot for Owens, even though he is clearly not a fan favorite.  You may recall when Chris Singleton came to the Sox and DJ was still an active player, he took Singleton under his wing and really helped improve his game.
• Dumbest listener question of the day: Should the hall of fame reserve places for coaches?  I find that concept silly, especially since the metrics of judging coaches (with the exception of maybe pitching coaches) are not really measurable.  Does a third base coach get in because he always knew when to wave someone in? Does a club that hits over a sustained period of time get it's hitting coach in?  And, what exactly is the criteria you use for a bench coach?  DJ correctly pointed out that since the manager is ultimately responsible and gets all the heat, he should be the only one eligible.