Chisoxfn

Big West baseball is what its about. Fullerton and Long Beach State. Give it up! You might have an argument if you wanna bring up Big 12 baseball. I'm just saying its one of the best baseball conferences out their and it gets no credit. UC RIverside is building a pretty good program too. And Mark my words, UC Irvine will become a powerhouse baseball program. Either way Fullerton and Beach have two of the best programs in the country. Your right though, SEC is the best. I'd take the Big West over the Pac10 though.

First two guys on the Sox get out. Olivo got out popping up to first base, not sure how Jose got out. Graffy rips a double down the 3rd base line, just out of reach of the diving Eric Munson. Come on Rowand, two out basehit!!!!!

Hoffman doesn't throw 99, but you have a very valid point. Foulke is basically a Hoffman clone. In his hay day Hoffman could hit 94, but for the past 4 years or so he's been around 89-90. What I've noticed with Foulke this year, is he greatly improved his other pitches. He doesn't throw the changeup near as much. He's been throwing more curves and more sliders. I'm thinking he'll walk and try to start somewhere. He has enough money and I think he wants to see if he can do it.

I wouldn't of minded picking up Williams and trying to turn him around. He is a good reliever or at least he always has been. I haven't watched enough Pirate games to say what is wrong with him though.

Big West baseball is what its about. Fullerton and Long Beach State.

Monroe Thats IT.

No No, I'm more then happy with you stealing my job

How about the 2000 Chicago White Sox for a comparison??? Everyone kept expecting the White Sox to find reality, but they never did (until the playoffs, of course). Agreed. I remember always hearing how the Sox were going to fold etc from the rest of the media, but if you actually watched the Sox play, you know their was absolutely know chance of that happening. With the Royals they had a huge slide and everyone thought they were done and then they went back on a hot streak and won like 16 out of 20. They've proven they are the team to beat right now. I don't have a clue whether they will fall, but the Sox are gonna have to win. They need at least 87 wins in my opinion and as sad as that sounds, I think that gets ya the division. Sox need to worry about themselves and take care of business. I do think the Royals are a good team, you don't go this far with their record. They definately have holes, but they are well managed and never give up.

Top of the 2nd -Loiaza strikes out Carlos Pena -Someone grounds out to second (I have no clue who it was, can't see a name; And I know this guy was a recent callup, I just don't remember what the heck his name was, lol) -Eric Munson strikes out on 3 pitches To the bottom of the 2nd 2-0 Sox.

Konerko had a single with two outs and Maggs on first, but the next person must of got out. I zoned out. Either way a great start. If Loaiza is gonna lose this time, at least it won't be 1-0. Entering the Top of the 2nd 2-0 Sox

I didn't see the BBTN broadcast, but Brantley never has impressed me in the past shows. Koch has never been effective this year that I can remember can anyone else? I don't think he has ever shown the 100 MPH fastball he is so famous for. Plain and simple the trade for Foulke was bad. The trade was for economics, plain and simple....if KW doesn't make that trade, Foulke is here for 2003...then he walks...doesnt matter how much money you show him(which with JR, wouldn't have happened anyway). So then we have no closer, and nothing to show for Foulkes time here. So we trade him, get what looks on paper like a workhorse closer with serious heat, AND a pretty good lefty pitcher too. We sign Koch now, avoid the arbitration that would have come wth Foulke (and he wouldnt have accepted), and all looks well. Now, the problem is, obviously Koch has been severly overworked my Oakland and Toronto in his past. This I DO blame KW for. Closers don't pitch the amount that Koch has in his MLB career so far. Everyone forgets that there is NO WAY IN HELL that Foulke was gonna stay here any longer than he had to. Remember, Foulke too, had thrown a ton of innings over the past few years. I think he was amongst the top few in the majors.

Brantley is such a goon. Everytime he opens his mouth you can tell he doesn't watch enough games to comment.

I don't think Brantley even watched because there was that game where Koch was taken out and he got pissed. The guy is a closer and he has that mentality and he knows if he blows games he'll go right back out the next one and save it. I do think he's really pissed right now about it, but I think he respects Manuel because he kept letting him go out and try to get the job done. I think since that didn't work, Jerry told Billy, were gonna let you work in the middle innings so you can comfortably get yourself back (Ala Foulke last year) and then when you feel right, come talk to me, and we'll see what happens.

I hate hearing about wrist injuries. I know that Hep Sep Choi was effected for like two years with one (Although he still ripped the crap out of the ball) and Nick Johnson has always been hampered with wrist injuries. I think it really depends on the guy and the severity of it. It is worrisome though. The good sign is that he played all of last season with it. So I'm guessing it wasn't effecting him then. I just hope he gets healthy and starts crushing the ball again.

Graffy starts things off with a triple. Rowand hits a sacrifice fly making it 1-0 Thomas rips a homer to left field making it 2-0. Magglio rips a single to center. 2-0 with one out in the Bottom of the 1st.

While I ripped the move, I do like Pippen and think he'll be a good addition. I just think they are fools if they think he's worth signing to a two year deal. Should of just been a one year deal.

Why the hell did the Sox move Rupe to the starting rotation right around the same time they make the Carl Everett trade. I would of kept him in the pen and acted like that was all he could do. Instead we showcase him as a starter (Something I like in terms of him) but now the Sox will lose him and Pacecho, two guys with very good arms.

Wunsch is in the same position as Carlos Lee. The Sox have rights to them, but they could opt not to sign them. Both are arbitration eligible or I think they are.

LOL

Cerb and I just did one this morning. Were going to get to work on new writeups this week. The list is going to look a whole lot different. We took everyones advice from last time and I think have put together a pretty accurate list. I also think it helps that we continue to learn more and more about the players. I also have a new favorite prospect, but I'll save that name till the list comes out; He'll be on the first writeup anyhow.

I agree with Rex. By 24 more of the better prospects are in the majors at one point or another, but most aren't stars at that point and it usually takes a few years for them to adjust. Joe Crede was top prospect last year and is going to be a very good player, but he was on the older side.

Definately agree with you on that. There are plenty of other important things, although its nice to have a player that can do all the other things and get on base.

Well, he probably feels if Kariya is the only one to go, then the Ducks will still be a good team. Dont know if he could say that about the Hawks, although I think they would of been pretty good if they added Ruutu and Federov.

Lol...YAY

That book was great. It was the fastest I've read a book in a long long time. Heck, its rare for me to finish a book (Damn school reading so freaking boring). I saw Beane about the same way Rex did. He's done some really good things and i like how he is more radical and doesn't just do things based on the baseball standpoint. Still, I agree with Rex, they put him on a Pedestal. Their is a bit of luck in every GM when it comes to getting players. No one can really predict the future, they can only say who has the best shot of being really good in it. In Beane's case he lucked out on a few guys in a sense (His Trio). Now I'll give him credit and all, but I can't think of too many times where three guys just came in and dominated that way. It will be interesting to see what he does this offseason. They lose Tejada and Foulke so they'll have to find a way to get a closer, unless they plan on using Valentine as their closer next year. I also don't think Beane understands what a loss Tejada will be. Its damn hard finding a shortstop like that. I do think Beane may have his eye on Jose this offseason if he could get him cheap. Not that Jose is an OBP guy. The thing I agreed most with Beane is his stance on OBP (Well mainly Deposdesta's).