Rex Hudler

Strange rule.......... one I had never heard of. They showed the explanation on TV last night, but it still seems like a strange rule to me. Seems to me it should just be a touchback, ending the play. But hey, I don't write the rules.

I think we are seeing just how good the Illini can be. Like greasy said, it doesn't have to be your team against everyone else. Why not root for the Big Ten? Personally, I like this Illinois team and think they definitely have a chance to do big things.

Jim, I'm not sure you can assume that they like Yan better than Webster. Like the Sox gambled with Wing, some teams have to make tough decisions on who to protect. Webster only played about 2/3 of a season last year in High Class A. I think (and assume they do as well) that it is a longshot for any team to keep him on their roster. He was considered somewhat raw in the first place, so keeping him on a MLB bench would be awfully risky in terms of hampering his overall development. Webster was a raw talent making him very much an unknown. That is the reason that I didn't really know what to think when he was traded (other than I thought it was dumb to trade for Carl Everett in the first place, but that is another argument). I just have a hunch that Webster will turn into a nice player. He hit .287 last year with a .363 OBP in just 99 games last year. He added 20 doubles, seven triples and eight home runs, which is not bad for a top of the order type player. He also scored 66 runs and stole 20 bases, while only being caught 4 times. To me, those numbers are pretty solid for a 20 year old, even if it were for a whole season. Considering he will still just be 21 playing in AA next season, I think he has plenty of time to continue to develop. I'm not sure a team will take him in the Rule V draft, but he is an intriguing player, nonetheless.

deserve might be a strong word........ they deserve it because of the system, not because they are one of the best teams in the country.

It is a definite long shot and based more on a gut feeling than anything. I know Meyer has struggled as a pro. But he has good speed and doesn't strike out too much and walks at a decent clip. He plays solid defense at 2B or SS and does the little things well. He also runs very well. I'll be honest with you, most of my feeling on him is based on seeing him play several times in college. I just liked the way he played the game. In my mind, he might be worth taking a flyer on as a utility guy. He only played in 59 games last year, which tells me part of his problem last year was due to injury. I am not championing him to be the next great player, but the worst case scenario if you draft him is you send him back to Texas and it costs you $25k. I don't think the Sox will do it, and I think you are right, they will probably sign another infielder at some point, but having an extra guy in camp when you have a roster spot open, couldn't hurt.

Beck, Bradley HAS had problems with his efforts on the field. That is the very reason he was run out of Cleveland. He has had problems from day one, gaining several suspensions while in the minors as well. He has anger management issues, obviously. But those problems spill over and affect others. An Indians player said that he liked Bradley, but his "problems" wear a team down. Constantly butting heads with the manager, never knowing when he was going to explode seemed to drain the team. A former teammate of his in the minors told me basically the same thing. He has talent for sure, but its a risk I personally would not take. He is the kind of guy that can bring down a team's morale singlehandedly. Some teams will look at talent first, and ignore the character issues. I think you have to consider both.

Beck, I gotta disagree with you here and it is just on basic philosophy. I would stay away from guys like Bradley. Character problems are just too big of a risk in my mind. He could be a perfect fit or he could cause a season to blow up. With the Sox having a limited payroll, I just think guys like him are too big of a risk.

Those people have no life........ If assumptions are being made about the whole offseason based on what has happened before Dec. 1, they either don't know the game very well or have too much time on their hands to overreact.

Personally, I would rather go back to the old system and abandon the BCS. I have no problem with a little controversy over who is #1 (that has existed forever), but the BCS just has too many guarantees, which causes twists and turns. Make the bowl games end on Jan 1. (or Jan. 2 at the absolute latest) and get on with it. If co-champs exist, BFD! It has happened many times over the years and everyone has survived quite nicely. PS - I expect to be in the minority on this one

You're right, I am slipping. I totally forgot about Grilli. Then again, maybe I was trying to forget about him.....

There has to be room for an infield guy. They can't go into the season with just Harris, Uribe and Crede. I'm not making any assumptions that Wilson Valdez will automatically make the club. No reason they shouldn't at least bring in someone to compete for a utility position. Hell, there is no guarantee that Texas would want Meyer back.

That's not completely true.... He was guaranteed $100,000 of the deal, so it was not strictly a minor league move. I'd call it insurance for the pen.

Anyone remember the last time the Sox took a player in the Rule V draft? I can't, off the top of my head. Jason is probably right, the Sox won't likely take anyone.

The two names that jump out at me are Drew Meyer and Anthony Webster. Meyer would be more viable, depending on what they do with their middle infield situation. If they don't acquire anyone then he could be a nice utility guy for a year. He has exellent speed and I am guessing he can still handle the bat well. I know he hasn't hit real well, but he might be able to handle it well enough off the bench as a pinch hitter or once a week starter. Webster would be a long shot and I think the Sox already took their long shot with Alex Escobar. But I'd love to get him back. He missed a lot of time last year with an injury. He actually had a pretty decent year, for a 20 year old. I still think he will turn out to be a nice player.

Bull is a guy that may get a chance at the big leagues if he is in the right place at the right time, but he doesn't really fit the prospect mold.

Let's not forget that while Orton was struggling, he was hampered by a hip problem. Apparently it was serious enough, he shouldn't have been playing at all.

Only for you Yas.....

f*** you Yas!

Steff, we're old. Give these young guys a few years and they will understand there is a bigger picture in life other than beating someone that does something to you. Time will give them the wisdom to understand things like this.

Which only reveals the larger problem the NBA has.

Can you honestly say you didn't expect them to take him off the ballot? He is suspended for the season. To me that pretty much eliminates him from eligibility immediately, so why keep him on the ballot and allow votes to be made for someone that cannot play, taking them away from someone else who can?

Why don't you just agree with us so we can move on? It would be much easier that way.

Steff, his DUI was a few years ago. So was the domestic problem. His bankruptcy was the only thing that is recent. If I work for your company for a year and you give me a promotion and then you find out I had a transgression a few years back that has nothing with how I did my job the past year while working for you, yeah, I think it is crap if you fire me at that point. It is as much or more so the company's responsibility to ask. I'm sure in Wally's mind, those things had nothing to do with his ability to manage. The most appalling thing is they went on record saying they would stand behind him. Unfortunately, later, they decided to kick him in the balls while standing behind him. No one said Backman is a saint, but he got the shaft here. He should have never been hired, or kept. He was fired, because someone didn't have a spine.

It doesn't sound like you disregard what I say because you take the time to type nice long responses to my posts. If that makes you feel smarter, then hey, type away. I won't get into my personal bio, other than to say you have no idea what you are talking about. I played Division I baseball and participated in an NCAA Regional. I have also been involved in higher level sports in ways you do not know about. I'll leave it at that, because I don't feel the need to explain things to you further. But if you want to match resumes in terms of personal involvement in higher level athletics regardless of your excellent accomplishments (note that is an legit compliment, no BS), you would lose. So call me all the names you want. Call me an old fogey. Call me out of touch with reality. Call me stupid if you want. I could not care less. Now, put down the gloves for a second and answer this. When you got hit, did you go into the stands after someone? Did any of your teammates? If so, what happened? If not, why not.

I'll add this........ there was a quote from the guy that Artest went after that said while Artest was swinging at him, he was asking him if he was the one that threw it. I think he picked the scrawniest white guy there so he could look tough. There is a difference between self-defense and retaliation. In baseball the players head immediately toward the dugout when things start flying onto the field from the stands. Getting the hell out of there is a lot more rational thought that starting a riot by jumping right in....