SkokieSox

With Bernard as our fourth outfielder, Uribe as our utility second and shortstop, and having twelve pitchers on the roster, Gload would fit in nicely as a back up first baseman in addition to Frank as well as a 5th outfielder/pinch hitter. I also like Hankins to make the final bench spot as a guy who can give Crede a few days off at third, a few other infield spots, and also has recently added to his versatility- catching skills. We need a guy who can cover third, but if that guy can have a solid bat and back up as a third catcher as well, that would be great. That's the way I see it now, but if someone else steps up and makes things interesting, all the better.

Regarding Konerko's hip: Shooting from the hip First baseman Paul Konerko has heard speculation that a degenerating hip problem caused his subpar performance in 2003. He put those concerns to rest over the weekend. "If you took an X-ray of my hips, they would look different than yours," Konerko said. "But there's nothing wrong with them. They're not going to get any worse or any better. It's a structure thing. They're different now than they were when I was 18 or 19 years old, but the same as they were when I was 22. "I basically don't have the range of motion because of the ball and socket. The ball hits the socket more than it does for the average person. It bothers me sometimes if we've been traveling a lot and I don't sleep well, but that's been going on since Triple-A. "I know when my name comes up in trades, or when I got traded here, they wanted the X-rays to check it out. I'm 100 percent fine. Put it this way, I won't be going back to catching anytime soon."

He may very well, and I'm not going to say he can't do the job, especially when healthy. However, I believe he can be a real asset in the pen. Short innings and throwing real hard, he could develop into a dominant setup man/closer sometime in the near future. With that said, as of now, I like Grilli for the fifth spot. I won't be upset though if Danny convinces them that he is better to fill the starter role, this is just how I see it as of now. Oh ya, I'm excited as can be as well. Going to Phoenix on the 10th of March through the 22nd to visit my friends still going to ASU. However, there are plenty of games in Phoenix (Sox away games and some others as well) to watch, and in addition I'm going to make my way to Tuscon once or twice. Hopefully to the Cubs/Sox game in Tuscon.

Scottie pitching in NY makes sense, mostly because it is a left handed pitchers park. He is working on fine tuning his change up, in which Coop feels will make him far more effective against the righties. He doesn't have a problem with the lefties. I don't have a problem with leading off with him, especially since it would go R-L-R-L, assuming our fifth guy is a righty. I don't think Cotts is going to win the spot.

Now it's free to settle in Wrigley Field instead of that cramped ball.

You crack me up Steff.

Lol.

I didn't lie about anything. Steff, I just have one question for you. Is 11/50=.494 or no? Aren't you a financial analyst?

Fine, Steff, you need to cut out this obsession of trying to prove me wrong. I say I think Frank needs to be a leader, and all of a sudden you can't post enough things to try to get everyone to dislike me or something. It's getting kind of ridiculous.

He's out for the season.

There were similar deals offered by teams. The Padres and Yankees were among the teams interested in Takatsu, but he chose the White Sox partly because of our Japanese culture here and his wife attended graduate school in Chicago and liked it.

Oh ya, it's go time. Lol.

Joe will, he showed some real good leather last year, and played 3b overall real well. He will be given days off here and there, but the Jose and Uribe scenerio would work just fine for the amount of rest Joe will require.

You don't consider Ozzie a manager? Why should it matter whether he has managed a game yet or not, he knows baseball well. The team, the entire team, will have to treat him with respect and as the manager, otherwise they have no place on this team. He's going to do a fine job, and finally give some energy to this club.

Besides we know what Maggs is doing. We have had contact with him, and know the reason he wasn't at Sox Fest was because of winter ball. Even though he doesn't want to discuss a contract until after the season, he at least commented that he would like to remain with the Sox. Konerko got married, and KW was well aware what his situation is. Frank, we're not so sure of that just yet. I think he will go into ST and everything will play out okay, but I certainly understand a concern that it won't.

Good one Steff. Lol.

Another low key guy with potential to be a big help this season. This article is a good read. http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...4news&fext=.jsp

He was going for a spot on ther rotation, but after injury his shoulder, that's no longer a feasible possibility. http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpag...ort=MLB&id=9534

Totally, but he'll be there. "Hey Paulie"

Lol, what do I know? No, he has the reputation of being a hard worker on the team. You would certainly expect this, but he was putting in a lot of extra time when his swing was off last year, despite his hip supposedly bothering him. I have confidence in him being ready.

I agree, one more solid year down there, and he should be ready for at least the fifth spot next year. If the organiztion feels he's ready of course. If they feel it's too early because of something they know, then another year by all means, but I expect we will see him next year.

He may not be on honeymoon anymore, but I don't think it's unreasonable to allow him to just show up when he's supposed to in order to spend some time with his new wife. He's going to be gone long enough where he's going to want to spend as much time as he can with her before it's time to report. It would probably be more of a distraction for him if he left for ST early. He'll be just fine, he's a solid worker.

He's Mike Mussina with a little less zip on his fastball, and according to the article, he may even increase the speed to get to his level. Wow. Even if his speed stays the same, it really won't matter. If he maintains control, a 90 fastball followed by a knuckle curve. That will buckle the best of them.

I'm putting a bill on the Sox winning the Central. 10-1 odds.

If I could would I be a Sox fan, lol.