man hands

NOOOOOO!!! Bull, you are the last of my amigos with the Sox! You, Smitty and Biko...wow, this sucks!! Gonna miss you man and your interesting outbursts. Keep throwing that slide piece! Call you soon. Later, Baj

Bull, You're an idiot! What do you want me to do, come up to you and ask for my birthday present! You're a dork. I'm like 36, it's no big thing anymore! See you tomorrow. Baj QUOTE(Bullard @ Mar 21, 2005 -> 09:35 PM) Happy Birthday asshole, thanks for not telling me. Its not like our lockers are next to each other!!!!!!

Honel--> they are taking it very slow with him. his elbow and shoulder are ok. they are just being very cautious with him and slowly getting him into a throwing program. he'll be down for a while still...at least that's what it looks like Wing--> he is seeing Dr. Yocum in L.A. and I think he will be having shoulder surgery on his labrum! Not 100% positive on that, but that's the rumor. Sorry for the dissapointing news! Baj

Bull, You don't have to answer every question. Always giving me up! Also, you ever hear of April 1st...some people have fun on that day and mess around and play jokes on FOOLS like you! Just having some fun with you. Sorry to everyone if I messed up your chat with Bull. I know that he actually enjoyed it (he told me). BULL ---->

Come on guys, just come on out and ask what you think of US?

Ya, you beat us...oh well. I was kind of rooting for Westy anyway!

I totally agree with you! I guess as fans we expect a lot at the major league level and when we don't see instant results, we get frustrated.

You know what, you don't have to apologize for posting what you feel. I know how frustrating it is when a pitcher is walking everyone. that is the worst! I just take it personally I guess when you write off a guy that has so much talent, that is the hardest working dude in the organization and is so freakin young. Because like I said earlier, I may still play, but I will always be a baseball fan first and foremost, and as a fan, I will give a guy more than 4 starts before I send him back to Dawson's Creek, as you mentioned earlier By the way, not comparing the two at all but...did you ever watch Nolan Ryan? Not the best control in the game! c ya Baj

Well, that's great. I need all the fans I can get! You never know where the organization sees you fitting in. The higher up you get, the more of a log jam it is. I honestly feel that I belong in AAA this year, but they may put me back in AA. We'll just have to see. I also need to stay healthy for another full season before they even give me an honest look! And I wouldn't expect anything else.

By no way was I suggesting all you do is bash players. I have actually never really heard any bashing going on. I was just upset that that post was so anti-Cotts. I mean that is fine if that person really believes he doesn't belong, but I can't believe that you feel that was an objective post. the other thing is, most likely, whether it be this year or the next, Cotts will be in the major leagues, most likely for the Sox and I just feel if people are true fans of the game and of the team, they will support 23 year old kids trying to get their feet wet. anyways, enough of that.

That is the most ridiculous post I have ever heard! Granted, I am a little biased as I am friends and teammates with Cotts, but I am still a baseball fan, first and foremost. You are correct is saying that Neal and Foulke should not be compared. they are totally different pitchers and to compare them is just silly. But still, as Rex has posted, his #'s are ridiculous (opponents Batting Average, K's per 9 inn.), he is only 23 years old and he only made 4 starts. Give the kid a chance before you bash him. I guess this is the place to bash players, which is your right, but I can't wait till that kid shoves and you jump on his bandwagon!! Baj

thanks!! My strongest asset is my heart and work ethic. Weakest would have to be the fact I have had 3 arm surgeries (2 elbow, 1 shoulder) Although 2 of those were before I was even 18! Also the fact that RH relievers that throw low to mid 90's are a dime a dozen. Can't wait to get to Tucson! Been working hard. Later , Baj

Thanks Rex! Always appreciate the kind words. Ya, that 8 run debacle killed me, but oh well, it's part of the game Go OU!!! I can't believe Westy got a ring already!!

First of all, thanks for the support. Second of all, a lot of times you read about a guy in college or high school or even the minors throwing 97 MPH, for example and then he gets into the minors or majors and then his velocity drops. This isn't always the way it is though. Many times that 97 MPH you hear about happened once or twice and the kid usually throws anywhere from 91-95! It's a wierd situation because now everyone expects that 97 when he averages 92-93 (which is still hard) In the minors they are trying to put the whole package together: mechanics, location and speed. And they always say velocity doesn't matter, but you and I both know that if you're throwing 99 as opposed to 89 then you'll get to the show a lot faster!! Baj

Honestly, I would not be playing this game still if I didn't believe I could make the big leagues. I see myself as a reliever with some major league team (hopefully the Sox). Most likely a set up type guy. I just need to stay healthy and put up solid and consistent numbers. As for this year, I feel I should start in AAA, but of course I can't rule anything out. I'll just work my ass off in spring training and see what happens. Oh yeah, and a guy that will surprise you...I'm not trying to stroke his ego when I say this, but Bullard. I think he will definitely surprise some people, maybe not on this site, but at least the higher ups in the organization will be surprised at how nasty he is. Later. JBaj

My top 10 is pretty redundant with all of the previous posts. Honestly though, I feel that I can only report on the players that I have actually seen play. You would think that being in the White Sox organization you would have a chance to see everyone, but it doesn't always happen like that. Many of these young guys that were just drafted this past June or even the year before, I have never even seen! I will at least give a top 5 which will probably be of no surprise to anyone: 1.) Jeremy Reed --->Bigs in 2004 (He is for real, big time grinder) 2.) Neal Cotts ---> Bigs in 2004 (Hardest worker I've ever seen) 3.) Kris Honel ---> Bigs in 2005 (Great stuff, nasty knuckle-curve) 4.) Ryan Wing ---> Bigs in 2005-06 (3 Excellent pitches, amazing for a guy who's only been pitching for a few years!) 5.) Joe Borchard ---> Bigs in 2004 (Don't count him out yet, guy is still a stud) ** I also believe that Pacheco is right up there with these 5. Sorry I didn't give a list for some of the other prospects, give me some time until I actually get to see them in action! *Keep up the good work with the site!! Always fun reading your stuff!!

Darin Erstad Jeremy Reed David Eckstein Todd Walker Kevin Byrnes Todd Helton I'm not sure if pitchers can be considered grinders, but these 2 definitely "got after it!" : Sandy Koufax Bob Gibson Cal Ripken & Lou Gehrig--Biggest grinders of all time! To name a few!

John Kazanas is an amazing man. I have known him for 4 years now when he first scouted me at the University of Oklahoma. He has always been a very honest man who always told me like it was. He also is one of the most generous people I have ever met. He is always sending me encouraging and uplifting letters telling me to "keep me nose clean". I am one of those players that organizations consider "long shots" because of my age and injuries, but John has always believed in me when others haven't and for that I have always been grateful. I mean seriously, what other scout keeps in contact with former players that they have drafted. I can't think of one! Their are just too many players to keep track of. But he always has...just amazing! It just blows my mind to think that this individual has had to deal with the death of his wife, while at the same time continuing his job as a scout for the Sox. I have the utmost respect for John and I just wanted to share with all of the White Sox fans out there that this organization does have a lot of quality individuals working for them, that actually are "real people" and the majority of the time they don't get any credit for the things that they do. John is one of those men. Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless the Kazanas family. Keep up the good work on the site!!! J.B.

Honestly, I have no idea. A lot of things can still happen during the offseason with the Rule 5 draft and all that. You never can tell what an org. is thinking about a guy, especially a guy coming off Tommy John who is 25 years old. I just have to wait and see what they have in store for me this offseason. I guess my best pitch would be a fastball. This was my first year ever throwing a knuckle-curve and change (they had me stop throwing the slider) so I feel I need to command those 2 pitches before anything else. Out. Baj

thanks man! Enjoy reading the posts. Keep up the good work.

Thanks dude. I appreciate it.

Thanks for calling me out Bull, I guess I just have to post for myself now . I registered 2 days ago and was trying to trick your ass with a little question and you already got me. Oh well. Late. Baj Ps: Tell Cottsy to take it easy on those 4 hour workouts

You have nasty stuff and pretty much dominated the last part of the season...why are they dropping you down? Also, ask Cotts how long they are planning on keeping him in AZ fall league? I didn't know if he would be staying the whole time or if they would be limiting his innings. Thanks :begood

favorite episode has got to be "the jimmy". thats the one where the guy keeps referring to himself as "jimmy" and kramer goes to the dentist and is drooling everywhere. the end is the best when Mel Torme thinks Kramer is special. "Fusilli Jerry " is a classic too. Kramer gets his liscence plates mixed up with someone named the "ass man"....you got that right!!

appreciate it! Been reading for a while. Tried joining a while back, wouldn't let me do it. Finally got it. Thanks