The Twins will open a weekend series with the White Sox tonight. Things always seem to get strange with the White Sox and it is certainly strange days in the White Sox clubhouse right now. It has been strange to hear rumors of a possible Sale trade. Strange that they would consider trading Sale in the first place and also strange to see “Sale” and “trade” back to back in a functional sentence on any topic. Things got even stranger when Sale was abruptly pulled from a start last week. Everybody immediately assumed that it meant a Sale trade was about to happen but it turns out that he didn’t like the throwback jerseys and decided to cut them up with a knife as a last resort to prevent the team from playing a game in them. According to Sale… it had nothing to do with trade rumors… nothing do to with the ugliness of the jersey. He did it because they were uncomfortable to wear and he didn’t feel like he could pitch his best in them. Before he cut the Jerseys up… he told Manager Robin Ventura and pitching coach Don Cooper that the jerseys can’t be worn because it was messing with his mechanics. Since those pleas couldn’t stop the marketing machine… he took matters into his own hands and he destroyed the jerseys with a knife. This worked perfectly because he didn’t have to wear the throwback jerseys… or any jersey for that matter for 5 days because he was sent home with a suspension. From Disco Demolition to Chris Sale… this is just how it works with the White Sox. Here are some things to think about: 1. A Knife – A pocket knife can come in handy at times. Cutting up jerseys you don’t want to wear is just one example. A pocket knife is also very handy to have around when you have to open a box or cut some rope or cut some fishing line. Knives are also handy if you need to get out of a tent and you forgot about the flap. 2. Bryan Adams – This Canadian singer songwriter was introduced to the world with the release of the single and album “Cuts like a Knife.” You all know the song and lyrics, “Na Na Nah Nana Nah Na Nah Na Nah.” Originally the lyrics were “Nahh Nahh Nah Nana Nah Nah (pause) Nana nah nah Hey Jude.” but Bryan had to change them up because he didn’t personally know anybody named “Jude.” 3.Watermelon – Typically when you eat Watermelon you have to use a knife to cut it up. Although I remember a time when I had a Watermelon and no knife. I wasn’t sure how to get it open to enjoy the wonderful fruit inside but I remembered watching Gallagher handle his watermelon with a sledgehammer and I figured that would solve the problem… and it did. My wife came out of the house shortly after with the knife and was wondering why all of our backyard guests were covered in watermelon bits. To this day… she claims that I was impatient. 4. Whittling -- There are some world class whittlers out there and if you wanted a wood carving of a giant whistle that looks like a small duck… there is a whittler who can create and sell it to you for $14.99. I myself have done a little whittling… I once took a branch and whittled it into a spear which I used to successfully hunt marshmallows. 5. Knife Throwing – There are people in this world who can take a sharpened knife and throw it with such accuracy… that they can pop a balloon being held in someone else’s teeth… Granted… someone who is obviously dismissive of the dangers inherent in the whole scenario because I would never stand there. Let me repeat this… there are people in this world who can throw a knife with such accuracy… they can pop a balloon mere inches from the neck and face of a living human being. There are probably more than 30 people in the world who can do this with a deadly weapon while under the pressure of killing someone if they made a mistake. Yet… yet… we can’t seem to find 30 people who can kick a routine FG in the NFL. ____________________ Lineups: WHITE SOX Adam Eaton (L) RF Tim Anderson [R) SS Melky Cabrera (S) LF Jose Abreu [R) 1B Justin Morneau (L) DH Todd Frazier [R) 3B J.B. Shuck (L) CF Dioner Navarro (S) C Tyler Saladino [R) 2B Jose Quintana (L) P TWINS Brian Dozier [R) 2B Robbie Grossman (S) DH Miguel Sano [R) 3B Kennys Vargas (S) 1B Max Kepler (L) RF Eduardo Escobar (S) SS Eddie Rosario (L) LF Kurt Suzuki [R) C Byron Buxton [R) CF Ricky Nolasco (R] P Game-time forecast: 76 deg F, clear and sunny... until sunset, then it will be clear and waning crescenty, winds from the NE at 7mph. Keep your helmets on and play ball! Click here to view the article