hold2dibber

I would trade Joe Borchard for Sullivan, if Sullivan A) Wasn't coming off arm surgery, and B) had a longer-term contract. Borchard is a right-handed Dan Pasqua. Borchard is a switch hitter. And while I am not too confident in Borchard's future, I can guarantee that he would bring more in trade than 35 games of Scott Sullivan. Borchard is NOT the PTBNL.

I saw the article and sent Rosenthal an e-mail calling him on the carpet; my gist basically was that Frank is having a vastly superior year to Sosa and, if anybody should get extra consideration for the game being played at the Cell, it should be Thomas, and not Sosa (who had to wear earplugs last time he was there to protect his wussy ears from all the jeering he received). Rosenthal, to his credit, promptly responded to my e-mail, but only said that he made the choices a week ago, had to chose between Maggs and Frank, picked Maggs but now thinks Frank should go instead of Maggs. He completely ignored his b.s. rationale for including Sosa.

I'd do that trade in a heart beat. Wilson, despite playing in Coors, is still playing over his head a bit. Sell high! Beltran is the better player; he'll steal more bases, strike out less and be about even (maybe a little less) in HRs.

With Borchard ready to pounce on the first open spot in the outfield, Rowand really needs to step up this year. If his injury is really bugging him this year, Borchard will take his spot in no time. Rowand needs to get the AB's in and really prove himself as a great asset to the White Sox, or Borchard will. I think Rowand will be adequate in CF this year; a .265 avg, 12 to 15 HRs and a .320 OBP. I also like the intensity and passion he brings to the park every day. One of the reasons I hope he does the job out there is because I really think Borchard needs another year of AAA. If Rowand falls on his face, the Sox are more likely to rush Borchard to Chicago, and I don't think he's ready. That could affect his confidence and his success in the upcoming years.

There aren't any trade rumors swirling around concerning the Sox. I think KW is content to go with what they have right now; if any deficiencies appear once the season gets underway, I would expect them to address trades at that time. Nothing is going to happen in the short term, however.

I totally disagree. White and Glover have proven they can be effective major league relievers (White over the course of several years). Stewart has been great this spring, but the fact is, he has never thrown a pitch above AA ball. So I think it would be quite reasonable for White and Glover to make the team and send Stewart to Charlotte to see if he can keep getting people out at that level. It probably makes more sense to do that than to have him seeing only occasional action in the pen. And although you're right that Buehrle's first MLB action was out of the pen, he spent the first half of that season (2000) getting regular starts in the minors. Plus, as good as Stewart was last year, he is not nearly as accomplished at the minor league level as Buehrle was. Buehrle was absolutely lights out in AA; Stewart was good but not great. Start Stewart in AAA (unless Wright isn't ready), have him spend the first few months there and if he's doing well, he'll get a ticket to Chicago when a major leaguer gets hurt or can't get anyone out.

Of course the problem was that even if they decided to keep Crede and bench or release Clayton, they STILL would have had to pay him his $4.5 mm.

Finley is going back to St. Louis? Where'd you hear that?

IIRC, Hrniak and Sosa never exactly saw eye to eye. My problem with Hrniak was his "one size fits all" philosophy. I think his appraoch obviously works for some (e.g., Frank and Robin) but not for others. He didn't seem able to adjust his philosophy for those who were unsuccessful using the Lau approach.

I think he'll re-sign with the Rangers on May 1. Remember, last year he vetoed a trade from the Rangers to the Reds because he didn't want to leave Texas. He now realizes that Texas' offer of 2 years, $10 mm was a good offer he should have accepted. Texas still desparately needs pitching. He'll go back there, they'll pay him maybe $2 or $2.5 mm per year for two years, but he'll have to sit out the first month.

I think Mike Mussina also throws a knuckle curve. I've heard it's somewhat less stressful on the elbow than a traditional curveball.

Those are some mighty big "if's" about Harris. From what I've seen of him, I don't think he could hit .230 and he doesn't walk at all. Of course, he's young and doesn't have much experience so he might improve, but I'd be shocked if he ever became as good of a hitter as D'Angelo will be. Nonetheless, unless Hummell gets back on track this year, we'll likely see D'Angelo at SS and Harris at 2B in '04.

If the other team starts a lefty, I think Jose will be on the bench usually. He just doesn't hit well right handed. I would imagine Graffinino would take his spot (or they might move Jiminez over to SS and put Graffy at 2B).

If Rowand hits .280/15/70, I'll piss myself with joy. But I don't see it happening. Hell, I'd be happy with .250/15/50. My fear is he'll hit .235 with an OBP of .292, or something horrid like that. It was bad enough when Singleton was putting up those kind of numbers (albeit with less power) but he was much better defensively than Rowand. Then again, I don't think the numbers you suggested are entirely out of reach. I just doubt he'll be that good. I don't think there are more than a handful of CFs in the AL that put up numbers that good last year.

If that's true, Frank sure fire his agent on the spot. He had a four year deal for $40 million (although a lot was deferred). I for one don't understand why he didn't just stick with that. But even under the new deal he signed in December, he's guaranteed at least $22 million with the possibility of making much more. Why would he now agree to tear that up and sign for $22 or $25 million? He would essentially have negotiated himself from a $40 million guaranteed contract to a $22 to $25 million guaranteed contract over the course of a few months. That would be nuts.

Two points: (1) I didn't give KW the 4 stars - I'd give him 2.5, maybe a 3, for this offseason. (2) IIRC, Rios was given a major league deal whereas Daubach only got a minor league deal (go figure). What I think that means (and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) is that the Sox have to pay Rios even if he doesn't make the team. Suggests to me that he will be heading North with the big club.

With the recent flurry of activity recently, I think it's interesting and helpful to post these types of lists to take a big picture look at where the team stands. As to the list itself, you've left Flash Gordon out of the bullpen. What makes you think Rowand will start the year on the DL? Every report I've heard says he'll be ready for spring training (though he may be rustier than most because he's been able to hit over the off season). You also have Borchard on the roster, which I think is unlikely and not a good idea anyway (he'd be MUCH better served getting ABs in Charlotte than sitting on the bench in Chicago). So here's my version: Rotation: Buehrle, Colon, Garland, Wright, Rauch Bullpen: Koch, Marte, Gordon, White, Glover, and either Munoz, Wunsch or Loaiza Regulars: Olivo, Konerko, Jimenez, Valentin, Crede, Lee, Rowand, Ordonez, Thomas Bench: Alomar Jr., Rios, Graffinino, Daubach and Harris Heredia won't make the team, Ginter's going back to Charlotte, and Josh Paul will be released.

Maybe I'm just dense, but I don't understand what story you want Rogers to break - just that Buehrle was at a charity event sponsored by the Cardinals signing autographs? Is that what the Buehrle family, Gammons, the Get Up Guy and Levine have all confirmed? If so, what's the big deal? (And if Levine already reported this, Rodgers wouldn't be breaking the story anyway). Am I missing something?

Beltran would cost an arm (either Rauch or Honel) and a leg (either Rowand or Webster).

Sandy Alomar, Jr. Trade-Neutral>>>>>>>. we got him back and got a prospect to boot. however signing him as a fa cost us a 1 rounder and that i can't say that was a positive. this should be a dual statement. The Rockies didn't offer him arbitration, so the Sox will not have to give up a draft choice based upon signing him.

(1) So you're suggesting that all MLB players should basically take whatever the team offers? I mean, the MLB minimum salary is $300,000 per year - who couldn't live off of that? I'm sure you'd be glad to play baseball for $300,000 per year, and so would I. Under your logic, if the Sox had offered Buehrle $500,000 per year, he should have taken that - because, after all, "what kind of person can't live off of that" and just getting the opportunity to pitch in Yankee Stadium should be enough reward for him. You're living in la la land. Why should Buehrle accept $7 million over three years, when players in similar circumstances (i.e., Sabathia, Hudson, Mulder and Zito) have ALL received MORE than that? Buehrle will almost certainly earn more than $7 million between now and '06 (his last year before free agency). He's taking the chance that he'll remain healthy and effective in the interim. But you can't blame him for not signing a deal that is worth less than what C.C. Sabathia is getting, particularly when he'll be able to earn more through arbitration. (2) As to Ventura (and others) who have left because of money, there are a few things you're failing to take into account. First, you don't know why Ventura left. The fact is, the Mets were wining and dining him, telling him how much they wanted him, how they were committed to winning, how they viewed him as a cornerstone for the future, etc., etc. The Sox, on the other hand, basically made it known that they didn't really want him back; they made a last minute, low-ball offer for PR purposes only. So gee, which would you take, the offer from a team that truly wants you and offers more money, or the team that doesn't really want you and low-balled you? Kind of hard to blame Ventura for that choice. (3) So, do you think Colon will agree to extend his stay with the Sox for 2 years and $7 million? After all, that's more money than you or I will earn in a lifetime. Surely Colon (unlike the evil Mark Buehrle) will see that, and sign for whatever we offer. Sheesh - give me a break. You can detest any player who leaves for more money, but you're kidding yourself if don't think that virtually every player on the roster (and every player on every team in the majors) wouldn't do the same thing. (4) Apparently, you would be of a completely different opinion if Buehrle had won 20 games instead of 19? How does that make any sense? That one win would someone entitle him to riches and spoils, but 19 wins and 239 IP doesn't? The difference between 19 and 20 wins is immaterial - if the bullpen had protected one more lead for him he would have won 20. Who cares? (5) I agree with you about the Cardinals' meeting he is attending. That is bush league, in my opinion. But it may be a bargaining/PR ploy more than anything else. Putting the pressure on KW. But it doesn't really have any effect on the current situation; even the offer KW made to Buehrle would have only gone through '05, so its not like it would have extended his stay or put off his free agency if he had accepted. (6) Colon and Buehrle are pretty comparable, if you ask me. You are clearly basing your opinion that Colon is better based strictly upon your personal feelings about Buehrle. Hopefully, KW doesn't follow your lead, and makes his decisions based upon facts and reasonable analysis, and not knee-jerk, emotional bias. (7) Why would Buehrle struggle because he's thinking about $ this year? The Sox screwed him over last year with respect to $, and he was awesome again in '02. No reason to think '03 will be any different. (8) Buehrle has won 35 games over the last two years, posted sub- 3.60 ERAs in each of those years, hasn't missed a start, has pitched tons of innings, and has come up big in big games. In short, he has done everything we could have hoped for. And he's only 23 years old. To suggest that he "is not as good as we all think" is absurd; he's one of the top 2 or 3 lefthanded starters in the AL and has many great years in front of him. For you to claim otherwise is absurd and, again, based upon nothing but your personal dislike of him. You're ruining your credibility with statements like that.

I don't mind the optimism, but let's keep it in check. I mean, going into last season, I thought, "Well, they won 80 games in '01 despite the fact that Thomas was hurt all year, D. Wells was horrible, Parque and Biddle went down with injuries and C. Lee had a crappy year. So, in '02, with Ritchie on the team, Biddle, Parque and Thomas healthy, we've got to be at least 10 games better, right?" Thing is, it doesn't always work out the way it seems it will. That's why they play the games. The Sox will be better than the Tigers, Indians and Royals, I'm confident of that. But the Twins are no flash in the pan - they've got depth, great defense, great chemistry, a solid lineup, a solid (if healthy) rotation, a good bullpen, and lots of good players coming in from the minors. I think they'll win between 90 and 95 games next year. The Sox need all their position players to play to potential, and need at least one of Garland, Rauch or Wright to take a big step up this year (and the other two at least have to be decent).

Adkins got absolutely SHELLED in the Arizona fall league, though.

As long as the minor leaguers don't include Honel or Rauch, I'd say it would be a damn good trade.

This deal makes much more sense than the one reported in the Chicago Tribune, because the Yankees get a few decent prospects and the Sox (not the Yankees) pay El Duque's salary for the Expos.