Rex Hudler

Maybe it is just that he has only pitched twice in a month? He stopped pitching regularly in September and has only had two appearances, a week apart from each other. More than likely, he is just rusty. It happens.

You seem to have this obsession with me and Uribe. Just because I am not ready to annoint him a future all-star, you pick apart everything I post about him. Do I not say that he should get 400-500 AB's? I happen to think that the Sox will be a better team is Uribe is in that role. You disagree. BFD. Let's just wait and see what happens. I am not going to get into another stupid argument with you here. I think in two years, Crede is a much better player than Uribe. Maybe I will be wrong, but I don't think there is THAT big of a difference now. Uribe waas better in 2004. I have no problem saying that. Quote all the numbers you want to make you sound good. I'll stick with my own judgement and we'll eventually see who is right.

You talk about supply and demand, but don't understand the concepts. If Restaurant X were the only restaurant in town, you might view it differently. However, the supply with restaurants is that there is one on every other corner, so you have many choices and not going back to Restaurant X is easy. Comparing a MLB team and a restaurant does not work. The economic factors are quite different. Nice try.

Do you just ignore everything I post??? The Sox DID make the commitment in 2001, more than doubling their payroll. Attendance went down. Until you can give good reason why that would not happen again, the precedent has been set. Your problem is that you can't freakin relax and have a good time. MOST don't go to a baseball game just because the team has a chance to win the World Series. MOST go to a game because it is fun. Because they enjoy spending a night out with friends. Like I said, some people enjoy being miserable. I have no reason to think that you do not fall into that category.

It was reported somewhere that Beltran MAY be considering switching agents. Nothing on that front will happen until after the season, but I have seen one report and one only on that subject. Not sure how serious I would take it.

Uribe can get plenty of AB's rotating between the three infield positions.

Some might say an example of insanity would be the White Sox overspending on payroll and watching attendance drop again! You have to realiiize this....... the teams you always cite that have high payrolls, have them for a reason. Not because their owner wants to win, but because they have the revenues to support them. Anaheim was able to increase payroll because of a combination of a new owner and success (i.e. increased revenues) with the World Series win. But note, they won the WS BEFORE they piled on the payroll. Baltimore has always had great fan support. It had dropped some the past couple of years, but even at its worst was a half million higher than the Sox. Plus they had attendance of over 3 million 9 out of 10 years in a row. They revenues are there. The Mets are just stupid and throw money against a wall hoping something will stick. They spend money like crazy because they share a market with the Yankess. The bottom line is that if you and others want the Sox to make a bigger commitment, then you need to go to the ballpark. You need to talk friends into going. Bring your neighbors. The more the merrier. Don't get me wrong there is a lot the Sox organization can do better and I think they shoot themselves in the foot sometimes. But until revenues begin to increase, player payroll is not going to skyrocket.

Evans has been working with Seattle as a consultant for most of the season.

I think Crede will surprise you and become a solid player for the Sox. I am not touting him as a perennial all-star, but yes, I think he will be fine.

Can he lead off? lol

Most of that money has already been spent in Garcia, raise to Buerhle, etc. I have a question for you israel..... The Sox made the playoffs in 2000. They more than doubled their payroll the following offseason. The team suffered because of injuries. But where was the fans commitment? The Sox stepped up, but the fans didn't. Attendance actually went down the following year. Why should the Sox feel like throwing an extra $20 million around would actually help increase attendance and regain those revenues, esp. if they have bad luck and don't win it all?? They would very quickly become the Mets or Orioles unless everything went perfectly. It seems to me the Sox did exactly what you wanted them to do after the 2000 season and it got them squat.

Crede stays..... I find it funny that everyone wants to dump Crede because he was so bad this year, yet he had very similar numbers than Uribe. Uribe had one more hit per week all season long than Crede. That is the only difference. Crede actually walked more and struck out less. Their power numbers were close with a slight edge to Uribe. My question is, why if Crede has nowhere to go but up, would we want to replace him with Uribe. Uribe needs to either play 2B or be a super sub again, getting 400-500 AB's filling in between 2B, SS and 3B.

The Chicago market is split between two teams, and unfortunately the split is not weighted in the Sox favor. The "3rd largest market" argument does not apply here. In fact, if you split up Chicago and gave the Sox their share, plus 25% extra as room for improvement, I would venture to guess you still only have a market in the middle of the pack.

Jon Miller is one of the most highly regarded announcers in the game. He has broadcast for the Orioles and now the Giants (I believe) for many, many years. I have grown to like Morgan and Miller together less than I used to. They used to be one of the best pairs in the business.

Hell with the player shots, who is the hot dancer???

There is a subtle difference between lying and allowing a team to think there are other offers on the table. It is called negotiating. Those that do it well, and Boras does, win most of the time. Similar to a bluff in poker.

It's not reasonable to give him any kind of timetable until he can show he can come back from this season. He dropped so far off the radar this year, that you can't "expect" him to make the big leagues at all. That's not to say he won't, but the burden of proof is on him right now.

I agree there were some strange ones mentioned. It doesn't say who specifically or how many. My guess is it was a survey sent to all coaches. Which ones responded nobody knows, but since there were four Big Ten teams mentioned, I don't see how Illinois was shortchanged. As far as winning goes, basically all Big Ten teams are great at home. Other than in a down year, Indiana is tough as hell at home, but that doesn't make Assembly Hall one of the toughest Arenas to venture into. It just means IU has good teams and plays well in their own friendly confines. FWIW, I have never heard of Illinois as a terribly difficult environment. I am not saying that it isn't, but just that I have been a Big Ten fan all my life and never heard that. I am not taking anything away from the Illini or their atmosphere which I am sure is a very good one. But it doesn't surprise me they weren't on this list.

Maybe players and coaches know more than you?? Just maybe?

This isn't exactly a Top 10, but the following arenas were listed as the toughest in America by coaches, players and writers in the new CBS Sportsline college preveiew magazine...... Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas Rupp Arena, Kentucky Cameron Indoor, Duke Breslin Center, Michigan St. McArthur Court, Orgon O'Connell Center, Florida Shoemaker Center, Cincinnati McKale Center, Arizona Williams Arena, Minnesota Louis Brown Athletic Center, Rutgers Others mentioned.... Gallagher-Iba Arena, Oklahoma St Gampel Pavilion, Connecticut Maples Pavilion, Stanford Kohl Center, Wisconsin UD Arena, Dayton Huntsman Center, Utah Kresse Arena, College of Charleston Reilly Center, St. Bonaventure Selland Arena, Fresno St. Carrier Dome, Syracuse Comcast Center, Maryland Mackey Arena, Purdue Bradley Center, Marquette Sorry, no Assembly Hall from either state.

Only because of his burning desire to bring a World Series Champion to Chicago. Can't stop going for the big prize, can we? lol

Actually Cheat, I think it is quite the opposite and there is precedent for it. Greg Maddux is a Boras client who accepted arbitration and went back to the Braves after the 2002 season. The Braves thought the very same thing and got burned, later having to trade Kevin Millwood to free up payroll, never thinking they would be paying Maddux another year. As you mentioned, a player in arbitration cannot be offered less than a sum equalling 80% of his previous year's salary, which in this case is $11.2 million. Unless there is precedent I am not aware of, players generally are not penalized in arbitration cases where their production was down due to injury. I don't even think the Sox would submit an offer of $11.2, more likely submitting a figure somewhere in the $12.5-$13.5 million range, in hopes they could win their case. My guess is that Boras would advise Maggs to accept arbitration in a heartbeat, get what he can and hope to come back strong next year so they can do free agency all over again. Even at worst case scenario, would you offer Maggs $11.2 million with him coming off a down year and a knee injury that may keep him from being ready on Opening Day? I wouldn't unless I was ready to pay it.

Actually Vizquel and Robby Alomar don't get along at all. Vizquel is not the kind of player to get lazy. He'll have another solid year at SS for some team this year. Book it.

I agree. I would be surprised if the Sox offer him arbitration. I think he would take it in a heartbeat.

Jim, Steff, there are some people in the world that aren't happy unless they are b****ing. They are the miserable type that if you tell them the grass is green, show them many other things that are green and even hold a color chart next to the green grass, they will tell you it is blue. You can't reason with them, can't talk logic with them. Not matter what evidence you offer, they can't see it because they refuse to do so. Unfortunately the world is full of narrow minded people that are just along for the ride and have no desire to accept reality. Everyone knows you are right, so why beat the dead horse? Chalk it up to the source and move on. FWIW, you have done a helluva a job arguing your point. Jim, you even almost had me convinced that acquiring Everett a 2nd time was a good move. ;-)