Wanne

Peoria is where I always go to...seeing how I live about 5 minutes away...plus, our league plays out there during the summer and fall. There's honestly not a bad stadium out here...the new Surprise stadium is kinda goofy lookin...not to mention a complete cluster f*** if you go down Bell Road to get to it on game day (take it from the south and drive up...driving an extra 10 miles saves you 45 minutes if you can believe that). It's not that Tucson Electric is a bad park or anything...I just don't really like going to Tucson unless I have to. It's be nice if the Sox did end up in the metro Phoenix area at some point. Hell....why not Glendale...they're building everything else out here.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1108tempe080.html Damn...I was really hoping the Sox would move up here at some point...I HATE driving down to friggin Tucson! Maybe they could be lured to a new stadium in Goodyear though.

Anderson went to UofA...not ASU. I could see the DBacks making a deal as long as the get hometown boy Konerko back purely for a PR move...as well as trying to get Anderson. I wouldn't give up Anderson though.

Way to get off on the right foot Wally! Some people out here in Phoenix are already b****in'! New owners and the first major move they make on their own turns out to be a PR nightmare for them already. Personally...I couldn't give a s*** less about his past...as long as he's a good manager. But I'm surprised none of this didn't come up when he was being considered for the Sox...but then again...maybe it was and was left alone. PHOENIX -- Arizona Diamondbacks manager Wally Backman will keep his new job despite revelations of two arrests and financial problems in his past. "I've made a few mistakes in my life, and I think everybody has," Backman told The Associated Press on Tuesday night. "It's a matter of whether you learn from your mistakes and move on. That's what I'm doing." On his past transgressions, Backman said, "They probably should have asked me about it, and I probably should have brought it up." The Diamondbacks were unaware of his problems until they surfaced in a New York Times story on Tuesday. Backman met with Diamondbacks owners and other management personnel about the issues and was told he still had the job, he said. "It was part of the past that I thought was the past, to tell you the honest truth," Backman said. "They probably should have asked me about it, and I probably should have brought it up." General manager Joe Garagiola Jr. referred questions to managing partner Ken Kendrick, who did not return a telephone message. Kendrick told The Arizona Republic that the Diamondbacks had asked former employers about Backman but did not do a financial or criminal background check. Backman, The Sporting News minor league manager of the year last season, was given a two-year contract to manage the Diamondbacks on Monday. The Arizona Republic reported that the deal has two, one-year club options and that Backman will be paid $500,000 in the first year of the contract. Kendrick cited Backman's fiery attitude as one of the attributes that led to the hiring. Backman acknowledged that he was arrested in 2001 after an altercation with a female family friend at his home in Prineville, Ore. He said he agreed to plead guilty to fourth-degree assault. He was placed on 12 months' probation, ordered to undergo an anger management evaluation and donated $1,000 to the local Boys and Girls Club. Backman was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence in Kennewick, Wash., in 1999, when he was manager of the Tri-City franchise of the independent Western League. He said he fought the charge for two years before pleading guilty. He also has had financial problems, and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last year, The Republic reported. Backman said many of the financial problems, including several tax liens he said he has paid, were caused by dealings of his then-wife that he was unaware of.

A couple of things in regards to some of the posts. Although Johnson is their number 1 draw...they need to cut some payroll under new ownership. Another thing to consider is if they get Sexson back or not. Word is is that he may head to Seattle...thus leaving the door open for Phoenix native Paul Konerko and some pitching. Someone said that why would they want Lee when they have Gonzalez....well.....Gonzalez is coming off elbow surgery and is absolutely abissmal in left. He's better suited with an American League team at this point in his career. I find it hard to believe that the Sox are one of the teams that Johnson would agree to come to...I'd like to see some link or something that states it...but...I think the Sox have some young talent that the DBacks would be interested in...as long as Johnson extend for a couple more years. Geez...look how they got raped in the Schilling deal...that was pathetic. I'd say the chances of him being on the Sox next year or slim to none...

Then trade Konerko, Garland, Crede and a couple of beer vendors to the DBacks for Randy Johnson. BWAWWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAH....just wishful thinking on my part.

Wouldn't ya just love it if once...JUST ONCE...JR would open up his wallet widely for one year and just say, "f*** it....let's go for it this year"! Yer one last hurrah Jerry!!! Sign Beltran...sign Pavano...sign another starter...trade for Mike Lowell...whatever...stack the deck and just say f*** it and go for it this next year. Why not...while the division is somewhat weak. Hell Jerry...do it...get your friggin ring...and sell the team and walk away from the huge contracts. But I tell ya what...he shows that type of commitment...don't be surprised at the turnout at the gates. Build it and they will come Jerry!!!!

Let alone in professional sports period! And with that...I still have to refer to a lost great man...Pat Tillman. Dude turned down a $8 or 9M deal with the Rams to stay with the team he felt loyalty to for giving him a chance...the Cardinals for around $3-4M. It wasn't about the money with him at all. You Da Man Pat!

Yeah...all those AL flags that he carried his team too...put the Sox on his back and carried them all the way. Is Maggs a good ball player...sure...he's no Vlad though.

Hey Dude...love the sig! I'm pretty excited about Josh Fields as well as Lucy. I think Lucy will be a damn good catcher down the road for the Sox.

I like the rotation except for one thing...Loaiza. Add Contreras and minus Loaiza and OK.

I say buh-bye Paulie. Not to discredit his contributions and the fact he's having a very nice year, I think he'd obviously bring more in a trade (hopefully). Although I like Paulie Walnuts...I just can't see that spark in him. Am I missing something here? Personally...thinking about the type of players I'd like to see here next year...guys like Craig Counsell...not spectalure...yet very solid.

Finally....it took me 3 pages to get to someone with this point. My personal preference is Pavano...but I don't think there's any way in hell he'd come here unless Ozzie can pull a major PR move with the Latino card. My order of want is: Pavano Radke O. Perez