Hawk Harrelson has his experience (inventing batting glove on his resume, for instance), his exciting play-by-play calls, and biased views during games that only a fan of the Good Guys would endure game after game.

Steve Stone has solid pitching knowledge (1980 Cy Young winner), a Chicago background, and a consistent tone that makes me happy the Cubs let him go to now join the South side, or the real side of baseball in Chicago, as I call it.

Together they have more knowledge than any team’s announcers in the MLB and are just as entertaining. (You’re what hurts, Hawk?)

All of that said? I am extremely excited to hear “Stone Pony” leave the booth for the weekend (a planned leave) and give the color analyst duties to retired White Sox great Frank Thomas.

It will be different but still interesting to hear the Big Hurt do the three game series this weekend in Kansas City with Hawk, the man who gave him his notorious nickname and announced every game he played in a White Sox uniform.

I also heard this announcement while I was watching Sunday’s game against Toronto live on CSN and am glad to confirm it here on MSF.

Will Frank Thomas solidify his spot as the future of color commentary on some team’s TV network after this weekend?

Maybe not.

CSN’s first web video of “Big Hurt TV” includes Frank cussing and making fun of Vernon Wells’ nose with a goofy image while he interviews former Blue Jay Alex Rios. But you know this weekend will include an inside look into Frank’s views while he was in Chicago and other things like what a good hitter is thinking inside the batter’s box.

If you are frustrated with the 2010 White Sox play so far this year, but would like to hear some sure-to-be-interesting exchanges between Hawk Harrelson and Frank Thomas here is the TV schedule that will include the Big Hurt in the booth:

• CSN Friday May 14th – Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City Royals 7:10pm Central
• WGN Saturday May 15th – Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City Royals 6:10pm Central
• CSN Sunday May 16th – Chicago White Sox @ Kansas City Royals 1:10pm Central

So sit back, relax and strap it down this weekend. I sure will be.

Oh and bear with Hawk Harrelson’s gushing over Frank on air as he probably thinks the Big Hurt was the greatest hitter ever…behind Ted Williams, George Brett, and Rusty Greer that is. A Hawk Harrelson hater or lover, you probably know this already.

**********

* – Frank Thomas photo credit: AJ Rox My White Sox

And since the information was only click away, I also recorded the WGN and WCIU TV schedule for the Cubs too. But as you will see, the Cubs table is right where it should be (unlike the picture to the right): below the White Sox.

Here are some other schedule information posts we’ve done about the White Sox and MLB TV schedules:

• Chicago White Sox 2009 Schedule
• Chicago White Sox 2009 National TV Schedule
• Minnesota Twins 2009 National TV Schedule
• MLB National TV Schedule (ESPN, TBS, MLB Network, Fox)

And if you are going to catch any White Sox or Cubs games live, here are a few helpful links for great deals on White Sox tickets and Cubs tickets:

• StubHub: Great deals on Chicago White Sox tickets
• StubHub: Great deals on Chicago Cubs tickets
• StubHub: Great deals on MLB Baseball Tickets (including All-Star game in St. Louis)

Or, if you don’t like StubHub for some reason, give our newest ticket advertising partner a try for White Sox tickets or Cubs tickets:

And now, what you most likely came here for: the WGN and WCIU TV schedules for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs:

————————-

Because of this incredible hardship that I must endure, the first time I look through the White Sox schedule I am always on the lookout for three very important acronyms: WGN, ESPN, and FOX. These are my precious National TV opportunities to watch the White Sox play, and I do everything in my power never to miss one of them.

I just took inventory of the White Sox 2009 National TV Schedule and decided that I’d throw a quick post together for any other White Sox fans out there for whom this is necessary information. A few key things to remember:

• All times are Central
• This is as of February 24, so is always subject to change
• A lot of the FOX games are subject to regional coverage (those bastards)
• The current dearth of games over the final two weeks of the season leads me to believe that FOX and ESPN hold out to schedule these games to see what races are hot. I assume that the AL Central will be hotly contested this year, and that the White Sox will be in the thick of it, so I anticipate some of these late-season games being moved to national TV.
• Chicago White Sox Complete 2009 Schedule

For those of you lucky enough to live in Chicago, or to live in a town where the White Sox are visiting this season (May 1-3! White Sox at Rangers! I’ll be there…) here is a quick resource where you can buy tickets if you want to take in an afternoon at the ballpark:

Chicago White Sox Tickets at StubHub

And now, onto the 2009 National TV schedule for your defending AL Central champion Chicago White Sox: