CanOfCorn

He has a great track record...18 years at Purdue under Keady...a great couple of years at SIU. I think he's proven that his motion offense and tough D work. I will give you the recruiting thing, but that's just as much his assistants as it is him. Wayne McClain has an in to Peoria (obviously since he was a coach there for so many years) and I think he just hired a new asst. coach who is excellent in recruiting. I'm not saying he's on the level of a Coach K, Lute Olson, John Wooden, but he's in the 2nd or 3rd tier of good coaches!

Maybe we can trade for Tim Hudson now? I just hope KW doesn't do something stupid to make up for it.

Also leapfrogged Kansas on the ESPN list. Oh, Bill Self, thanks for the recruits, now a good coach can lead us to the promised land!!!

I understand why they don't want Sammy anymore, but I don't understand why they want to go after Maggs. I'm sure they are worried about Sammy's diminishing skills, but Maggs is still coming off a pretty major injury. If they want to make a splash, with the three they mentioned, they should go after Moises. Also, injury prone, but he's put up some nice numbers the last couple of years. Personally, Hidalgo is the way to go...younger, has potential, etc. But, what do I know...... No really, what do I know?

BOO YAH!!! http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=1939789

it's his recruiting AND his defense. This hiring serves two fantastic purposes. Zook will be able to bring back the TRUE Linebacker U. to it's previous position at churning out NFL prospects. If it happens, that is....

The Sox are set at 3B, at least for the first half of 2005. If they can't find a 2B, they'll deal with Willie. RF is definitely a hole as is a RP and a SP. As for Garland, I'm not a huge fan of his, but he has posted double digit wins the last few years and has been a workhorse the last two years. He would be a welcomed number 4 pitcher on most teams and probably a 2 or 3 on many. Maybe he hasn't put it all together, but i still think he is a valuable member of the Sox and deserved the contract he got this year. As for Renteria, 4/$40 would be a lot, but this guy has played on winning teams and can maybe add a spark to the Sox. It looks as if the Cubs will be signing Nomar which would pave the way. I think Kw and jR will balk at $10 mil per, but I could be wrong. Wright and Renteria and Dye would be fine with me for an offseason. But don't EVER count out KW for the big trade.

If they have good talent scouts (I know Anthrax, KW isn't one of them) then you find the hidden gems that are on the upside (possibly Wright). The ones that everyone else has given up on (Escobar). Overpaying isn't always the way to do it. See: Florida Marlins - 2003.

i think I would offer 3/$18 with performance (30 starts/under 3.5 ERA/All-Star/ALDS/ALCS/WS MVP, etc) bonuses that could give him another $500,000 a year.

Just think of it as Joe Borchard's spot.

By the way, welcome to Soxtalk...

Could this mean...Zook to ND?

Both. When a team is a player away, Sanders is the type of guy that can push you over the top. There are lot's of players on winning teams that spell someone for a day or two (Enrique Wilson). And lot's of hard workers and good clubhouse guys that haven't won anything (Jose Valentin). Another player in Sanders mold, to me at least, is Miguel Cairo.

Not to jump in here, but I consider someone like Reggie Sanders a winner. Except for 2003, when he was on the Pirates, who won't win for a while, Reggie Sanders has been in the playoffs like 4 out of the last 5 years or something crazy like that. Granted he's moved around a lot, but each of those teams got a little better with Sanders on the team. I'm not saying the Sox should get him, but he is one of those guys that completes a team. Solid, good clubhouse guy, leads by example, works his tail off. 1991-1998 Did pretty well for Cin 1999 Best player on San Diego that year 2000 1st in NL East with Atlanta 2001 WS Champs with Arizona 2002 Won NL Pennant with SF 2003 Pirates 2004 Won NL Pennant with StL

I like it, except Uribe isn't a third baseman. He's ok. But he's more suited for a middle infielder position. and they aren't giving up on crede just yet. I wish we could move Konerko to the Brewers for SPod and Kolb. But that won't work because the Brew Crew has Prince Fielder coming in next year. Plus, Lyle Overbay and Wes Helms. Damn!

Please, for god's sake, don't punch yourself in the cookies. Joe B isn't worth it!!!

Aren't the Yankees set up like the Sox? Steinbrenner is the face of a conglomerate of investors, like JR is. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's the case.

Alright, already. We know you like Podsednik. But, what will you give up for him and do you think he's going to get back to 2003 stats? As for Willie as leadoff, hey, with an offseason of Tim Raines, maybe things will click. He's young and can still improve. Plus, he's the best defensive 2b we've had since Cora.

Once the MLBPA gets a hold of this voided contract thing, they will litigate it to death. I don't think the Yankees will be guaranteed to have that money back in time to sign Beltran.

Alright, let me just throw something out there. If we trade Konerko and Gload is at 1st...what about batting Gload leadoff? I know, he doesn't have a ton of speed, but he's above average and last year had a .375 OBP. And he's a contact hitter. Not the quintessential lead off man, but he'll get on base for the big boppers, whoever they may be.

yep, pavano to the Red Sox Beltran to the Astros.

My bad. I saw Intentional walks. That IS pretty incredible. Here are the stats: BB IBB Bonds 232 120 Drew 118 2 Amazing that Drew out-unintentional walked Bonds 116 - 112. Although the SO were 116 - 41. whew, Bonds is good.

No thanks. He's hovering in the Rickey Henderson realm for me. I don't think he's a leadoff hitter anymore. No. 9, maybe. Not for this team...better off keeping Rowand in CF and picking up Dye.

LMAO!!! I don't mean to make fun of your spelling, but this word cracked me up!!!

Also, what if you took the Crede article and replaced it with a Borchard article. Borchard found a hitch in his swing. Borchard is working with Greg Walker. Borchard put an indoor cage in his house. Would that change anyone's opinion? I think he still has the capability to be a good hitter. If, and that's a big IF, he works at it. Even if he could get to .250/25/90, I would be happy. Although, he would probably hit more homers. If he could get to a Geoff Jenkins level, I'd be happy.