elrockinMT

Not till it's official. It very well might be, but I just can't believe it until I actually see the headlines and hear those duds, I mean dudes on BBTN discuss it. We have been down this road once too many times

It has been widely reported and lots of ink used to write about how one of the biggest mistakes made was the Sox dumping Tony Larrusa. I also believe it was the old Hawkeroo who did that when he screwed up as GM. I think Tony would be a great choice for the Sox if they could work out a deal. The only problem is that I thought it was already announced he was staying for sure in St Louie? If his contract runs out in 2004 maybe he stays in St. Louis and Manuel stays in Chicago next season and if Manuel doesn't win he get axed and Larussa signed at the end of 2004?

Arguments can be made either way about Konerko. I am really not sure how to take him this year. I stood by him through the slump, but towards the end of the season he started to fall back again after producing with a vengance. I like Paulie, but I think he could be trade bait. If Frank doesn't play !B, who do you think might? Do we have a youngster in the minors ready for a try at it?

Good to see this. Maybe he's finally ready for the Sox rotation. This was the question I just couldn't figure out the answer to. The Sox bring in Neal Cotts, who is a great prospect, but never pitched above AA ball instead of Rausch and then at the end of the season they bring up Jose Panaigua, who showed absolutely nothing at Charlotte and then even less at the big league level. Jon did a real good job last year in his September starts and I think could have helped. Someone in the front office wasn't up on our farm team prospects.

Roberto Alomar

I really believe that Frank only did the power thing truly believing he could carry the team with homers. He did great in the power dept, but obviously the average dropped. I think Frank realized, maybe after his last meeting with Hriniak in Boston, that he could do both the power and average thing. I look for biggerthings from the Hurt in 2004 and in a Sox uniform.

Ist game at KC. I didn't get a chance to log on, but I would have if at all possible. I'll follow the Sox games all the way till the end. They have a WGN game Saturday night. Looks like tonight that Jon Adkins had a primo appearance going 4 scoreless innings. Danny Wright screwed up again big time. He might be trade bait next year.

He probably will keep his job is my guess. If the Sox want to sign free agent types they can't afford to give yp money to pay an ex-manager. Plus they can say that he needs to have the benefit of the second half acquisitions for a full season. I think we will have a different team at the start of 2004 than out of spring training 2003, but it won't be a change involving JM.

I don't think Jerry Manuel had anything to do with signing and then calling up Panaigua. He may have been told to use him at some point and see what the guy had. However, Panny never showed anything at Charlotte and whoever did call him up (decision wise that is) should be slapped silly.

It's because Danny Wright is starting in KC on Thursday. I can't see why they would start Shoney at this point anyway. He has gone 3 innngs max and if he wants to start they should prepare him over the off-season and during spring training.

The team Cy Young is Loaiza and the team MVP is Carlos Lee. Let's keep Frank also.

It won't happen. I think they will say that the Sox want to bring back the core they have, including potential free agents, and give Jerry Manuel the opportunity to go the whole year with the line up.

Carlton Fisk makes as much sense as Bucky Dent. It won't happen.

It might not happen at all. When has Jerry R and Ken done anything we thought they would do?

1) Who will win the series (CHW/KC/Split) (2 points)? The Sox 2) Will Esteban Loaiza earn his 21st victory (Y/N) (2 points)? No 3) How many errors will the Sox make (4 points)? 2 4) Name a Sox pitcher who will earn a win (4 points)? Buerhle 5) How many batters will Thursday's starter face (2 either way) (5 points)? 29 6) How many AB will Frank Thomas have in the series(5 points)? 12 7) Who will lead the Sox in hits for the series (4 points)? Lee 8) Will Maggs finish the season with 30+ HR and 100+ RBI (Y/N) (2 points)? Yes 9) Who will be in 2nd place in the AL Central (KC/CHW) (2 points)? The Sox 10) Will Angel Berroa hit a homerun (Y/N) (2 points)? No TIEBREAKER: Total bases for Sox outfielders 38

I watched the game on WGN. I didn't think Esteban won ugly he did a good job. The 2nd inning and giving up 2 homers was his only bad moment. The first homer started out looking like a flyout to left but kept carrying. I was as excited in the 6th to see the Sox get a whole bunch of hits as much as Jose's three run jack. They looked good and believe it or not Willie Harris actually swung the bat half way decently. It was great seeing Loaiza get #20.

I don't think, nor do I want, Frank Thomas to leave. One of the only reasons he is the DH is becasue we have Konerko's bat to get in the lineup and Paulie is considered to be the better fielder. Frank works hard out there in the field too. Nothing wrong with being the DH on this team. That's all Edgar Martinez can play in Seattle. All I would like to see from Frank is a return to the days when he was more patient and took the BB's and got the base hits. I think we are seeing that a bit more the last week or so from him anyway. We need Frank on this team.

Paul Konerko since I picked him Wed and he sat while Daubach hit.

Makes you wonder why the "hit and run" strategy was never used doesn't it? I don't care if the "runner" was on crutches, if you are that prone to the GIDP give the runner an extra step going to 2nd base, Maybe a lot of it was the 1st pitch swing all the time. I don't know, I am just rambling on this one because this is one problem area you just can't excuse. It killed us many a game.

He's right of course, but he should add that he had all the opportunity in the world to manage better and didn't.

Gammons ssaid that was what the people in Chicago think. It also sounded like he thought Manuel should be the manager next year although he will probably be released. Valentine did bring up Wally backman, but Bobby V doesn't have a clue what the front office is thinking. We have heard alla bout Wally since the all-star break and it seems now that ESPN is finally hearing it also. As far Valentine, he says he has a job on BBTN and I say let him stay.

I'll get in on this one early. I am going for Paul Konerko. I think the game is on WGN Wed PM so I'll be watching.

We got let down by a lot of guys during the year at one time or another. Some more than others. In the end we lost and that's plenty of reason to be critical of over all performance, but I don't agree that it's this guy or that guy who failed us. They have to win as a team and most certainly lose as a team.

But, he rediscovered, or maybe finally discovered himself as a great pitcher. Next year will tell.

Septembers have not always been good to the Sox and their fans. I hate Septembers!