SI1020

I believe in the version where he admitted in an interview that he didn't try his best to make some plays in the Series because it would help them win. Jackson was not dumb (he was a successful businessman after baseball), but he was country and he was illiterate and very self conscious about both. He said different things to different people at different times. He was greatly intimidated by Swede Risberg, who along with Chick Gandil were the main ringleaders of the fix. Jackson hit .375, hit the only home run of the series and led the Sox with 6 rbis. He made no errors in the field. The situation was very complicated with more twists and turns than a daylight soap opera. I feel very badly for Jackson and to an even greater extent Buck Weaver. Whatever his sins, Shoeless was the greatest Sox player ever IMO. His generations Ted Williams.

You often hear the words "He should be in the Hall of Fame." In Minoso's case it's true. I still say he is the most popular White Sox player ever.

McDowell was very overrated and not too clutch against Toronto in 93. Joel Horlen and Gary Peters were both much better. No way Ted Lyons should not be on the list. He pitched on some wretched teams and still managed to win 260 games.

Creatine is not without its dangers. It can put a strain on the kidneys and liver. The "accomplishments" of McGwire, Sosa and Bonds are greatly suspect from my vantage point.

Boston???

RHP - Ed Walsh LHP - Billy Pierce Why can't todays bigger, stronger, handsomer and more talented pitchers pitch 464 innings?

It looks like the strike and the "white flag" cost the Sox a lot of fans. It's a myth that Chicago has always been a cub town. I grew up way north of Madison street and had lots of Sox fan pals when I was a kid.

Why is it when other closers blow a game or go through a bad spell they are given a chance to redeem themselves? Foulke was not given that chance. Foulke has been one of the most dependable closers in MLB the past 3-4 seasons. Koch, OTOH is pitching with Ritchie like efficiency. Unless Koch can suddenly find his lost velocity this may turn out to be KW's worst trade ever and that's really saying something.

WSI is a web site with many great features. The cliqueshness know it all attitude of some and the wolf pack gang up on people mentality of others have driven me off, at least for the time being. I think I'm not the only one who feels that way. As far as their mods go, that was never a problem for me.

If the Cubs get Aramis Ramirez they get nothing but trouble. He's potentially a great hitter but he has many "downsides." He has a surly personality and tends to sulk like a litte kid when things don't go his way. He is a statue at third base, it often appears that he is refusing to bend all the way down to pick up a ground ball. He can't go to his right very well at all, he is nearly useless fielding the hard smash down the line. Last year he got hurt in a brawl against the Brewers, badly twisting an ankle. He was no good for the rest of the year. The Pirates have a history of royally kissing the ass of a potentially good young player. They did it with Barry Bonds, who made Jim Leyland of all people nearly snap out. This guy is no Bonds.

Do you have a link that would provide info on players salaries? I'd like to go as far back as possible. In the meantime I'll try to find one myself and by the way, that was a real interesting post.

I bent over backwards to give KW the benefit of the doubt on this trade. At this point I think it is worse than the Ritchie deal.. I'll say it again. If there's been a GM worse than KW I can remember who that might have been.

I never liked Chris Berman or any of the blow dried cliche driven modern sports casters. You're right IMO when you state that Harry stayed too long. In his heyday I put him up there with Mel Allen and Bob Prince as the best play by play announcers in my lifetime.

Chris Berman in the same breath as Harry Caray? What people consider "good" these days never ceases to amaze me.

Real good thorough analysis of the situation. Great description of KW and his blockbuster deals. Wasn't it King Midas who made everything he touch turn to gold? Everything KW touches turns to s***.

They played until August 11 or 12. Then came the strike. No World Series. It figures. We might have been in it.

He hit one over 500 feet into the upper deck at Three Rivers either in batting practice or the home run derby, can't remember which. That place of course is now history. PNC is a great park in a lousy baseball city.

So Manuel might be the sacrificial lamb, but we're still stuck with KW.

One more thing. Do folks on the left laugh as hard when one of their oxen is being gored? ( no pun intended)

Very true, but it hasn't sunk in to a lot of people.

I agree. I have political opinions but I also have a sense of humor and that is funny as hell.

It was the 1970 All Star game. IIRC Jim Hickman of the Cubs got the game winning hit. If you ever saw the slow motion replay, Rose was actually going to slide but changed gears abruptly when he saw Fosse had the plate blocked. Fosse was an outstanding defensive catcher, but Rose annihilated him at the plate. The collision wrecked Fosses shoulder and he was never quite the same again. Yes, the All Star game used to mean something.

I think that's what is called "thinking outside the box" in todays language. I also think its a good idea. Especially if they expand playoffs. I think the season should end just a little before you say, maybe by Sept 24 or so. I'm telling you one of these days the WS is going to be played in some real bad weather. They should bring back doubleheaders too. I'm not holding my breath waiting for any of these things to happen.

Bonds like Sosa and McGwire has used "performance enhancers" to get to that "next level." I love modern day sports cliches.

It tastes like it was brewed through a horse. Gives a real nasty day after headache too.