Rex Hudler

Don't bet against the Diamondbacks winning more games next year than the Dodgers....... I'm not predicting it, but it wouldn't surprise me at all.

weird....... still nothing about the deal on espn.com

I'll give you off the top of my head...... At a comparatively similar point in his career Pokey Reese (turned 26 in the middle of the season - 3rd season in bigs - Uribe had actually played in 55 more MLB games) made a good jump and had a great year. Although Reese did not have the power Uribe has, he stole 38 bases vs. Uribe's 9. Reese hit .285 (16 points higher than he had ever hit, 29 points higher than he had hit in the Majors). He had 37 doubles, 10 HR and 52 RBI to go with the 38 stolen bases. All of those numbers sans possibly SB's were a big statistical jump. Yet, Mr. Reese has never approached those numbers again. I am not trying to tear down Juan Uribe here, but only taking a wait and see attitude toward him. He could continue to get better or he could become the next Pokey Reese. Either way, he will be making a very good living playing for someone. But I'd like to see a guy prove himself for more than one year before we start comparing him to MVP calibur players.

Almost never flukes? Strong words......... Care to back them up?

Juan Uribe IS NOT Miguel Tejada. Tejada was a highly regarded prospect with a proven minor league track record. Tejada's success was expected. Uribe is nearly the exact opposite. He was average at best in the minors, and has just began to develop. Uribe has shown some promise and finally had one good year. Tejada's path to success has been long and predictable. There is no guarantee Juan's level of success will continue to climb. I am not saying it won't, but there can no accurate correlations made between Juan Uribe and Miguel Tejada.

santo, where did you find Politte? The only source I could find did not separate the salary and buyout, but listed them both, making me think it was $1 million + the buyout, rather than $900k + buyout. But it wasn't clear. Help! That's weird, I swear I did the Hermanson thing as soon as the $$ were reported. Maybe they were reported incorrectly at first and then updated? Or maybe I was just on crack?

That was accounted for. nitpick away...... That one has been fixed. Timo is arbitration eligible. I didn't include him on the list because I was not convinced that the Sox will keep him. It would surprise me at all if they non-tender him by not offering arbitration. If they do, then he can be added with no problem. He may be fill the last OF spot. Not sure how much Timo would get and if that would affect competition, however. Anyone know what Timo made last year? Also not convinced Borchard will be there. If he is, it will likely be at the expense of Timo and also Alex Escobar. I would not be surprised to see another OF acquired, but they may just go into ST allowing one of the three above to win the job. Honestly, I don't believe Borchard should be anywhere near Chicago. He still has options remaining, so that should not be a problem.

The key is, IF they spend it. If they can't get Clement and they don't think any other pitcher is worth the dollars they will spend, then KW will go into the season holding back money for upgrades. It is not what we'd like to see, but if it helps make an acquisition that makes a difference in the standings, then so be it. If it just helps acquire Everett and Alomar again...... oh, wait, we already have Everett......

I am 99% sure they are all correct in the top group. My only question is Contreras. I believe he is set to make $8 million, but the Yankees are paying $2 mil of it, so I have him down at $6 mil. If someone could confirm that, that would be great. The numbers in the bottom group are for players who are not yet signed. None are free agents so they are still property of the Sox, but their contracts have not yet been renewed or negotiations/arbitration finalized. The only one I think I am potentially off on is Contreras. Other than that, it is right there, depending on what guys in the bottom group get. For instance, I only had Uribe making $1 million this year before he signed the new contract. So I was pretty far off on him. I think the others will be much closer, unless someone like Rowand gets a 3-year deal as well. Edit: So much for 99%. Keep finding my mistakes and I will get them all correct. Thanks for all the nitpicking.

Interesting...... I have a new copy of the 2k3 game, that I have never played. I just assumed they still made one.

Here is a worksheet I have been keeping regarding the Sox payroll for 2005. I have the roster currently at 22, with Adkins, Grilli or Cotts getting one spot. If no other starting pitcher is acquired two could make the club. If they decide to go with 12 pitchers early and use Willie as their 5th OF, then two or even all three could make it depending on whether they acquire a starter. Regardless of which one makes it, the money should be very close to the same. The salaries for the bottom group are estimates based on their service time or other information I have obtained from various sources. The list or salaries may need a tweak here ore there, but for the most part, I believe it is a pretty accurate portrayal of the Sox current situation. If I missed someone or am off on a number somewhere, please let me know. Konerko $8,750,000 1B Thomas $8,000,000 1B/DH Marte $1,250,000 RP Everett $4,000,000 OF/DH Garcia $8,000,000 SP Garland $3,400,000 SP Buehrle $5,750,000 SP Politte $1,000,000 RP Takatsu $2,500,000 RP Contreras $6,000,000 SP Dye $4,000,000 OF Hermanso $2,000,000 RP Uribe $2,150,000 SS/2B Perez $1,000,000 OF $57,800,000 Rowand $1,000,000 OF Davis $1,500,000 C Vizcaino $1,500,000 RP Podsednik $550,000 OF Harris $500,000 2B Gload $325,000 1B Burke $350,000 C Crede $500,000 3B NC/JA/JG $350,000 RP $64,375,000 Composition Starting Pitchers 4 Relief Pitchers 6 Catchers 2 Infielders 6 Outfielders 5 23 Needs MI SP Updated December 18

Steff, what questions did you bring up last year?

Why the hell do you have to bring me into this?

Deadline for players to accept arbitration is December 19, I believe.

And Jeremy Reed

I'll apologize ahead of time for being on a "salary kick" today...... The way things are done in baseball are ass backward. A players SHOULD get less money per year for signing a long term deal and more for a one year deal. Multi-year deals give the player security, yet that security often results in lesser results. In baseball, players get it both ways. The system forces teams to reward players for staying with them, in hopes that they will become great and outperform the long-term deal. But what happens when that player regresses? Nothing. The player continues to cash his fat check while his team labors in 5th place! It just makes no economic sense whatsoever.

I gotta side with UNS here........ I'd like to see another year from Mr. Uribe before locking him up. I see this signing as an example of the bigger problem with baseball. As soon as a guy has one good year, he is immediately rewarded with guaranteed contract for multiple years for millions of dollars. Baseball (and most sports in general) pay players for potential more so than performance. It is the biggest reason salaries escalate so damned much. Granted, Uribe performed, but it was his first good season. Will this contract be looked upon as a good signing if Uribe turns out to be Pokey Reese? Desi Relaford? Neifi Perez? Jose Valentin (2nd half of 2004 Jose)? I just hate the system that is in place. Any system that allows an "up and coming young GM" be an idiot and guarantee Pedro Martinez 4 years at that kind of price tag should be blown up. I'm sorry I am getting into bigger picture issues here, but I can see why hockey wants to blow things up and start over.

How was ESPN's college football game?

I can't always assume everyone thinks like I do, now can I Yas? Might have been a serious post........ no really, it could have been. LOL

Shouldn't that be in green?? as in sarcasm?

Spend it on one big staff Christmas party?

With the bullpen they have put together, unless Politte becomes the long man, it will be difficult for Cotts to make the club. There won't be much room for a lefty specialist on an 11-man staff, the way it is set up right now. Cotts will likely have to beat out Adkins for the long relief role. No matter how good your starters are, a bullpen has to have a guy that can come in once or twice a week and give you 3+ innings.

I find it hard to believe Rowand, with his arm, would be moved to LF. Is Dye that good and OF? What about Posednick? I can honestly say I haven't watched either enough to form any judgement.

Vegas is definitely a hitter's paradise.

I hope you are right and they do get things turned around. What scares me is that they do well enough on guts and defense alone and finish 10-6 in the Big Ten, squeeze into the tourney, lose in the first round and that be considered improvement.