Chisoxfn

Ya, if you have the package then you get all the games on Fox Sports Chicago Pretty Much. I'd assume you get something like 120 games or a bit more, give or take. Typically you don't have to worry about Saturdays blackout, excpet maybe once. I forget, the blackout may be Sunday, but its very rare for it to effect you. Also, doesn't ESPN add some games during the season as well? I have had it for the past couple years. Well worth it to get an extra 100 games, easily.

I think the only team that would take him are the Padres. They could also use a power hitter, big time.

Oh I will. I'll update that and the Birmingham one, once the rosters are announced.

Well, since ya live in California, I'd say you get almost every game minus the blackout ones. Basically you'll get every game except ones on WCIU and on Wednesdays. If its Wednesday you have to hope somehow its on WGN or another station that you get or that its on ESPN. You may get some WCIU games depending on whether they will carry it from the other teams broadcast. I'd think the schedule would be out already, but I haven't been able to find it yet.

If I recall they improved a bit late in the season, but as Rex said, they've were dissapointments. They should be much better this season, considering they are getting a lot of players from a very good Birmingham Team as well as keeping Joe Borchard, Edwin Almonte, Jon Rauch, etc. They'll like have a rotation with Rauch, Stewart, West, Diaz, and possibly Adkins or Ginter or Malone. It kind of depends on how the Sox see things, but it should be pretty good. The pen should be real good, with them getting Munoz, Sanders, Majewski to go along with Almonte who was already there and once again potentially Ginter and others. It should be a solid team. Offensively it could have some flaws, but Miles may be there, Hummell should be there, Olivo may be there, and of course Joe Borchard will be there. The big question with the Knights is whether they are going to have some of these guys very long, as many could see the 25 man roster. Oh ya, here's the preview I wrote for them way back when. Its rather outdated, but here Charlotte Knights Preview

Definately. That Baron's bullpen was impressive. Sanders, Munoz, Valentine, and Majewski should all make the big show. I always remember people saying we got nothing for JB, and I've always thought, but we got Majewski and he's got tremendous stuff. I guess it is easy to get overshadowed though, considering how good Birmingham played last year. Rex, what do you think of Clay Eason? In case some of you don't know, he was the 5th guy with an era under 2.65 out of the pen. Could the Sox pen be like that? I sure hope so

Ya, I was going to say the pen is weak. Otherwise the team looks good, you got a lot of depth starting pitching wise, which is key.

I don't know about everyone else, but I for one am glad the Sox are getting Majewski back. This guy is a pretty damn good pitcher and I'm really surprised the Blue Jays didn't hold onto him. I would of thought they could of afforded to keep him on their roster, but I guess they have other guys that they'd rather use.

SN Report: Wright Update; Wunsch's Job Safe By Jason Gage March 18, 2003

Maggs would be it. After that I'd probably say Troy Percival or Trevor Hoffman. I mean they get respect, but they are both phenomenal closers. Troy got his due this past season, and Trevor got his the one year the Padres went to the Series, but other then that, they don't get enough lovin.

He ran out of options last year. As far as I understand it options work that a player can go up and down as many times in a season. But, each year it happens it counts as a seperate option and now he has to clear waivers, if he clears them this year, then we can continue to send him up and down, I think. Can anyone verify that? Thats why I think Paul will make the team. If he fails, then thats it, they trade him or just see whether he clears waivers or not. If he doesn't clear, then they may tell that team, hey you can trade us someone and then we'll deal him to ya, otherwise were going to keep him.

Stewart, Diaz, Rauch, Heredia, Ginter, etc.

I might do regular season games. Don't know how often, but I'll do it as much as I can. I work nights, and since the Sox normally play at around 5 PM PST during the season, I can probably do most games. Frank came into today at just under .300 with 3 HR and like 8 RBI. Since he's 2-3 today, he's up over .300 (probably around .310), and he's still got 3 HR, but 9 RBI now. Not too shabby, since Frank is usually a slow starter. There are all sorts of sites who do live game updates during the regular season. You can find all the stats for spring training on MLB.com Yes, that is true. My services will really not be needed in the regular season. But, we'll see what happens. Your services are greatly appreciated any time of the year. I'll take your updates over any other then watching it on tv or going to the game. You actually get to hear whats going on and such. During the season, I'll try to post some updates for those that can't watch the games. I watch most of them since I got the MLB package, other then the stupid ass blackout dates.

Ya, I just heard that. Wunsch was plain nasty this spring.

I swore he was a college closer or something and was a closer for most of his time in the Blue Jays minor league system. For some reason I remember a game he pitched against us when he first came up and they said he was one of the rare guys groomed to be a closer straight out of college, but maybe they were wrong.

Tim Raines was in the booth. I caught something with that he's going to be doing some stuff with ESPN this year. Is he going to be doing baseball tonight or broadcasting some of the games. I always was a huge Raines fan. This guy was a heck of a baseball player. He was there during the first couple years I started watching the Sox.

I didn't catch much of Garlands innings, other then the first, but in that inning he was mainly working the curve and fastball (Not his sinker), which made me believe he was just using this game to sharpen up his secondary pitches that he's added to his arsenal. When he first came up he was pretty much a hard thrower that overthrew, now he's developed a lot of pitches and it seems like this is the year he is going to start using them. Typically pitchers work on developing there pitches over a year or two or even three and finally when they get comfortable with it do they actually start throwing it during games. Thats because you can't afford to be working on a pitch during the regular season, it has to be done during the offseason and spring training is about the only time you can test it where it doesn't really matter. I'm assuming he continued going with the secondary pitches the rest of the game, but maybe one of you guys can fill me in on that. Plus, wind was flying out and from what the announcers said he pitched solid.

Isn't Flash due to get 1.5 million?

I think ND gets things together and gets through their first round game and beats Illinois and then goes down. I'll have to look my bracket over and check all my upset picks, but I had quite a few. My final four was Oklohoma, Pitt, Arizona, and Maryland with Arizona winning it all. I have Uconn going pretty deep.

I'd love one of those guys. They are probably my two favorite 2nd baseman in the majors. Soriano is very impressive, but he has such high k's numbers, and plays such crappy defense. Castillo would be sweet. But I think he'd cost a ton. The thing is, we could dangle Willie Harris and someone else to land one, but, then you have to decide what to do with Jimenez/Manos. I really liked Jimenez at the top of the lineup, my only worry is he hasn't proved it.

Matt, those were some good stats. I never knew that about Osuna. I watched him a lot down here when he was with the Dodgers and when healthy he's pretty filthy, but so is Flash. Watched him a lot that year with the Cubs when he was healthy and wow was he impressive. Tons of k's, few hits, and most every game was routine for him. I'd say when healthy both of them are damn good, BUT, I'd almost say Osuna is more prone to injury then Flash, although you can't be counting on either of them.

I wonder what happens if Stewart ends up being the 5th to start the season as the Sox give Wright more time to get healthy. If Stewart all of a sudden pitched well, would they just shut him down and give him the operation? Stewart wasn't super impressive the one time I saw him pitch (stuff wise), but its tough to get guys out in Arizona and he throws strikes and is the type of guy that could make a quick adjustment to the majors.

Rauch is now in the ballgame.

I got rid of the others.

Alright, just got it on. I will be back home around the 3rd inning and will do updates from then. They are mentioning something about a little rain, but don't think its going to effect anyone. Top of the 1st Garland is on the mound Carlos Febles - Strikes out on a curveball The curveball is a new pitch Jon is featuring this season, or at least thats what they are talking about. He seems to be gaining confidence. Joe Randa - off the top of the wall for a double. Wind carried it. It was a curveball. Typically it was a fly ball. Wind is blowing way over 25 mph - straight out. Mike Sweeney - Grounds it to the second baseman and Miles throws him out. Two outs now. Randa advances to 3rd. Raul Ibanez - Grounds it out to 2nd and Miles takes it on a high hop and throws him out. One hit, no runs. 0-0 entering the Bottom of the 1st with the Sox due up. I'm heading out, be back in like 45 minutes and will get back to doing the updates.