elrockinMT

After 16 years of wedded bliss "The Old Hammer" knows to leave me alone when the Sox are on TV. They will be on WGN both today and Sunday. I'll send my bride out to do spring yardwork even though it's blowing 45-60 MPH out there today.

Thanks for the information. It must be just loads of fun to be there in Arizona seeing the Sox compete. I envy you. I'll be watching the Sox-Scrub game today on WGN and then again tomorrow when they play the Giants.

Good news. If any of you are out of the Chitown area, like me, WGN will broadcast the Cubs/Sox on Sat and Sox/Giants on Sunday.

It think it's happened about every game hasn't it? Sorry state of affairs...

Just signed on to check things out. Do we still have a game going?

I used to buy all the baseball magazines in the late Winter/Early Spring and read them religiously. Played Fantasy Baseball and tried to get a leg up on everybody else by following the analysis of these folks, but I soon learned that predictions and analysis done in the Winter and real early in ST don't usually tell you that much. I prefer to hear what Billy Koch feels, how Cooper, Williams and Guillen comment and how the playuers see their team mates. It certainly appears right now that Koch is healthy and is purposely keeping his speed down so as to concentrate on other things such as hitting his spots and being consistent, etc. I think the spped will be back and if it reached the 95-98 MPH area then we have a success.

Thanks for the game report! I plan on watching WGN-TV this weekend. Saturday versus the Cubs is play-by-play with the prejudiced Cubs broadcasters, but it's a Sox game. Sunday is our broadcasters.

You know something. Carlos Lee is right on the verge of major stardom. He just might be the man this year. Last year he made great strides.

Sounds exciting right to the end.

I think I would risk a dollar or two on that one. I think on nay given day that Buerhle and Loaiza can match up against anyone.

No brainer for a Sox fan. MB all the way and probably a shut out

Valenzual is getting some real playing time. I am trying to remember if it was Mario that played on rehab with the Gt Falls team last season?

Coors field is exactly why I think Miles will be awesome for the Rockies. Of course he might not field for squat.

Your OK Willie. It was a joke and if you like Willie Harris I can see you woulkd be frustrated.

I am wondering about that possibility. I liked that Roberto Alomar, but I think he shot himself in the foot when he refused the team offer. I also liked Miles, but we have Uribe so hopefully either him or Willie will step up.

QUOTE (WHarris1 @ Mar 11 2004, 04:42 PM) Thanks. Any updates on score and inning. Steff: That was totally unf***ing called for. Heh, that's right. Steff is just giving you an opinion. I can't hear the game so I am glad to get this kind of feedback. I also asked the qiestion about Willie...

Steff, do you think we should be worried? The manageemnt is putting their faith in Willie, who doesn't seem to be able to cut the mustard yet. Hopefully it's just too early to tell and he'll come around, but he should be doing better...

I know what you mean. I love the Sox and I even watch the ESPN Classoc stuff and/or my own tapes from tiem to time, but ST and a bunch of Class A rookies sometimes leaves me cold.

I think that is the way to look at it> It is the rookies (pitchers and fielders) blowing it late and they most likely are not going to be with the team this year. Poor way to make an impression, but what else can you do or think about it?

It does appear that the NY Yankmees and the press may have been to quick with saying Sheffield would be out for 3 months with a thumb injury. He claims it is not a big problem and he will be playing. Once again, the Yankers have nothing we need and that which we might want is probably in short supply for them.

Some random thoughts here: There is no way that 25 cents is enough to charge for using the bahtroom if you are a big league club. Come on people! 25 cents is minor league. At least a dollar and maybe another dollar to wash your hands. No we are talking some serious change here and finally have a way to increase the team payroll. I was at a Sox game in 1987 at old Comiskey and they charged $2.50 for a beer and I thought that was unreasonable then. Here in Billings when you attend a Pioneer League game (Reds farm club) you buy your beer or wine coolers from a Team Supporter group. Beer is $3.50 a cup (draft). The money goes back to buying things the team or org. needs to function. I think they may also support some Youth baseball. The community is looking at voting on financing a new baseball park (very state of the art) at the tune of $9M+ with seating for around 6000. However, at the same time the School District is first in line and asking voter permission to raise $100M for new schools and improvements. Can't these people get their priorities straight? Wonder how much beer and other concessions will go up then?

Anderson and Sweeney and Reed absolutely give this organization a good future when you think of a potential starting OF, but they are still developing. It must be difficult to send a youngster down to the minors when you see them doing so well in ST and know their potential, but development is the name of the game and key to the decision making process. Don't forget that Anderson got in only a few AB's in the rookie league last year before going down with the aggravation of an old injury. He and the other two need consistent playing time.

Borchard and Gload deserve to make the team this time. Burke is a good back up, but I think Borchard, who is a switch hitter, and Gload, who bats lefty are more in line with what the team needs going into the season. When people talk versatality and bring up Burke as being able to play 3B and the OF don't forget that Jose played there and did fairly well and he can switch over to 3 B, if a move was made in the game with Joe Crede. Uribe can play there also and is the utility man.

I don't like how our infield at 2B is haping up or the back ups on the bench either. ST is still early though so I don't think we should panic. I would like to see Willie do the job, but hitting at the major league level has been tough for him so far. No doubt the guy has talent, but putting it into action on the field has been tough for him. Rex mentions Smith as a potential back up, but so far he hasn't shown me anything in the field particularly. Where or where are Miles and Hummell when you need them?

Did you get a chance to see Ozzie Guillen in action? Appreciate the update and your observations. It sounds like Rausch is sharp, but Schoeneweis is a bit shaky. I am thinking that from early results that Rausch and Wright are early stars for that 5th position. I wonder if one of them bounces Scott?