Wedge

Well, that's optimistic. I'll be glad when at least Frank is back. And it sounds like there's a 50% or so of having Maggs back for those vitally important last two weeks and the (knock on wood) play-offs.

I still can't believe we got Contreras for basically nothing... Seriously, this is the fleecing of the year, I think.

Yeah, if they do it, they're 11 games over, which is great. Does anybody remember when Frank and Maggs were potentially coming back?

I'm up for it, just let me know when and where. Leave PMs for the interested parties?

which is why giving up Francis Beltran may kill them. They need somebody for the 9th inning. It ain't Hawkins. It ain't Farnsworth. Who is it?

sometimes it's the darkest right before the dawn...

I heard a great quote on Saturday from an interview on the Score with Hawk, "A manager isn't in full control of his team unless he can get every single man in his line-up to bunt." I'm sure if he asked nicely he could get them all to bunt, but seriously, if Alomar, Konerko, or Thomas bunt, there's a serious double play liability.

You are correct.

that's the thing. This division is going to be won or lost in the last two weeks of the season... just look at that schedule. If Thomas and Maggs can return for just the last two weeks of the season... there's still a chance. Ideally we'll only be at worst 1 or 2 games out going into that period...

all those names lost a lot of games to the Cardinals this year. What's with the belief that the Cubs can just "switch it on" and beat the Cardinals at will? They sure didn't demonstrate that this season...

maybe he took some lessons from Alou?

everytime he goes up there, I am amazed. I've never seen a man before even try to swing a bat with his head up his ass, but there he goes. He even still does his little Tazmanian Devil swing and the angry bat pound into the ground when he pops out. Having his head up his ass might be affecting his base running, but strangely has little to no effect on his fielding. Maybe Valentin should try this?

He doesn't speak English for one thing. Also, I remember reading an article describing how pissed he was at being traded. I'm too lazy to look for the link, but I think it was in Sunday's Tribune.

I remember some mention that a runner on first with no outs scores 49% of the time. A runner on second with one out scores 51% of the time. Does the bunt to move over a runner from first to second with no outs really help?

Miguel who?

Willie should talk to Rowand about stealing bases. Rowand seems to have a lot of guile at reading the pitchers, something that Harris totally lacks. Maybe part of it is that everybody expects Willie to steal, but they aren't looking for it as much from Rowand. Still, I think if Willie can just develop the knack for it, he's going to be really good at stealing the bases and will put a lot of pressure on the defense when he's on base. On the plus side, Willie seems to be getting on base a lot more lately.

Yankee announcer: "Following his break-out, Esteban Loaiza joined the Yankee rotation in a deal that sent embattled starter Jose Contreras to the White Sox. From the stretch, Loaiza delivers... **crack** wow, he got all of it. Loaiza tried to nibble the outside of the plate and just got crushed out of the park..." ::meanwhile in the dark recesses of the capital of the Evil Empire:: Cashman: Lord Steinbrenner, I swear he was an All-Star... how was I to know?

you can't lose a game where you give up no runs.

I'm interested to see what happens with the 5th spot. Also, I think this Nomar deal is overrated for the Cubs. They got Jose Valentin who hits for a bit better average. They gave up a junk SS, so no loss there. They also gave up a stud AAA infielder in Harris (who might have filled the SS spot). They also gave up one of their best relief pitching prospects in Beltran. Beltran could have been their closer someday, which is what they really need more than anything. I don't think Nomar will be the savior.

At this point, KW has given us a real chance to win the division this season. It really boils down to the players on the field, and frankly they have shown no heart this past week. Regardless of getting Contreras back, the Loaiza trade was a message trade: "buy into Ozzie, or you're gone." It also gave us a pitcher with a lot of upside. This guy could seriously be what we all wanted Colon to be. No matter what happens this season... 2005 is shaping up to be a dandy. With some improvements to the bullpen and with an upgrade at SS and 3B (either Crede steps up or is gone), we should be in pretty decent shape.

I could sort of see this trade happening, actually. The Sox were close to getting Contreras earlier in the season.

This the most incredibly horrible string of baseball I can remember. We find new and exciting ways to lose games every night! It's like the f***ing Notre Dame football season or something. This blows ass. We're so bad right now.

Crede is on the bubble, I'd put him more in the "unknown" category, but that list looks about right.

basically, they are datafiles written to your computer by your browser to store and track information. some of it is useful (have you logged into a site before?) and some of it is a pain (spyware, etc).

This team's problem isn't Konerko or Lee. This team's problem is that it basically has an automatic out at SS, whether it is Valentin or Uribe. And it isn't the productive out, or at least an out that takes a pitcher deep in the count. It's the really bad, strikey-outy, first pitch pop-uppy, terrible approach that just kills ya. At least Uribe gives you solid defense. The other spot that really kills us right now is 3rd base: Crede. I'll tell you what, this guy's defense might be pretty good and he might have a big hit every now and then, but that corner of the infield is a place to have another good hitter. I think they need to look long and hard at Crede and his production this year. Willie Harris struggles, but I think he's sort of Ozzie's project. His defense is pretty good (great range), and he seems to find a way to get on base. We'll probably lose Alomar this off-season. Who knows about Burke or Davis, but I bet we try to get a veteran at that position. Our rotation probably looks like Garcia, Buehrle, Garland, Diaz, Cotts. Maybe we can make a play for a big starter (i.e. Pavano). Our set-up and closer should be set for next year. We need another set-up guy. Losing Cotts to being a starter means we have NO middle relief (although we really have none this year). I think the areas we can really shore up are SS, 3B, catcher, and middle relief.