Rex Hudler

I hate to say something like I told you so, but I have several times mentioned that Rauch is selfish and there was more to him not pitching for the Sox than him just not being a nice guy. Sometimes it is hard to explain, but you know when a guy just doesn't belong. Rauch had more problems upstairs than just being a little rude to aboz and other fans on occasion.

Draft and follows from last year's draft. Don't know too much about them other than one was from Olney JC and I think and the other from a Missouri JC. Not 100% sure.

When a team sets its players up to fail, should it be any surprise when they do??

Yep, and carrying too many pitchers limits your bench flexibility. I'd rather have a pitcher who can go more than a hitter or two and have an extra guy on the bench. Wunsch was definitely better last year than I thought he would be, but how often was Kelly Wunsch used in key situations when the game was on the line last year? His 25 walks in 36 innings wasn't too impressive either. I'd also like to see how he did with inherited runners as well. That can tell you more about a reliever than his ERA sometimes. I just don't see Wunsch as that great a pitcher.

thanks for the heads up

I am not sure there is a spot for him in the bullpen, even at his best. Wunsch is very one-dimensional. Keeping a lefty specialist like Kelly almost necessitates keeping an extra pitcher and that is not always in a team's best interests. If Cotts ever pitches again (of course he'll have to shake the rust off) and continues to do well, there is no need for Wunsch. Cotts can get both lefties and righties out.

They have been trying to trade him since spring training..... this has been coming for a long time now, it is not new.

Rauch hasn't even averaged 6 innings per start in AAA. Don't expect anythying close to "deep into the game".

I think it is a bit much and also premature to call Nanita and/or Sweeney a disappointment so far. Keep in mind they both skipped a level.

Jason, I think Arnie would hold his own....... but what I really think is that the Sox are stupid for how they handle these situations. Rauch will start tomorrow after pitching one inning in the last 9 days. How in the hell can a guy be sharp like that? They brought in Cotts who's longest outing to date was 2.1 IP on the year and had not pitched AT ALL in 9 days before his start.... They brought up Diaz who had pitched .2 innings in 12 days before his debut. Then they brought him back for start #2 on THREE days rest. Then, they have these guys looking over their shoulder knowing they are going to lose the job if they don't pitch well. There is nothing like setting up your pitchers to fail and that is exactly what the Sox are doing. It has to be the dumbest way possible. One of three things will happen tomorrow night....... 1. Rauch will bomb and be considered a failure, even though he was set up to fail. 2. Rauch will pitch pretty well and everyone will think he is the chosen one. Of course, it won't take lone for him to have a few bad outings and get the hook again. 3. He will overcome all this BS and take advantage of possibly his final opportunity with the Sox despite the fact the Sox seem to want their Minor League pitchers to fail. We all hope for #3, but I am not holding my breath or betting my house on it.

You're best three bullpen options are definitely Majewski, Santiago and Bajenaru, not necessarily in that order. Majewski is the only one currently on the 40-man roster (according to the whitesox.com), but the Sox have only 39 players on that roster so there is one open spot.

Oh, I almost forgot the info you wanted on the player.... lol he's a solid lefty who had a good season in rookie ball in 2002. He lost last year to an injury. I believe his was shoulder related, while Haigwood's was a torn ACL. He is doing a decent job in Kannapolis right now. He's had two rough outings and the others have been pretty good. Here are his numbers: W- L- S ERA GP IP H AB AVG TBF R ER HR BB SO TOTALS 4- 2- 0 4.41 9 51.0 52 191 .272 219 34 25 5 22 34

I wanna shot at the title! If anyone is up for any late night games of MVP Baseball, I am in. I play with manual fielding. Also I turn off the cursor, the strike zone and the hot zones for more realistic play.

I never understood why so many guys get their panties in a wad when someone starts a thread no one likes. The original thread was started by C. Rector who overdramatized things. The fact is, Mark's numbers had declined each of the past two seasons and that was a legitimate concern. How that is translated into "MB Haters" is beyond the scope of my imagination. If keeping the old thread going or keep starting new ones every time he has a good start makes you feel better, well by all means for your own mental health feel free to do so. But I find it comical that this grudge has to be carried about a thread that while overdramatized by one person in the beginning, had a valid basis.

I'd say Nanita is doing every bit as good as Sweeney right now. His average is less, but his OBP is higher as are his RBI, 2B, BB and SB. Their HR's are even.

I agree... the thread is old so dump it. If a hot chick thread is needed in the future, it can be revived. And the number of pages can be limited if need be.

Actually the Barons are down a pitcher right now. Their starters are Munoz, Meaux, Phillips, Ulacia and Bullard. Bullard needs to be back in the pen. The Barons also have back-to-back doubleheaders June 1 and 2, so they are really short handed.

He wasn't out of options.... he must have been added to the 40-man roster for one start and then taken back off when sent back to the minors, causing him to have to clear waivers. Here are his career stats: CAREER PITCHING RECORD YR CLUB LG Class W-L .PCT ERA G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H AB TBF R ER HR SH SF HB BB IB SO WP BK AVG AGAINST 98 Montalban VSL R 5-0 1.000 2.57 18 4 0 0 0 0 49.0 41 181 0 24 14 1 0 0 2 12 0 41 3 2 .227 99 Universidad VSL R 3-2 .600 2.50 13 11 0 0 0 0 68.1 45 225 0 24 19 1 3 2 13 22 0 67 4 3 .200 00 Portland NWST A 0-0 .000 0.00 5 0 0 0 2 1 4.1 4 17 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 4 0 0 .235 Rockies ARIZ R 4-2 .667 1.86 13 9 0 0 1 1 48.1 39 176 202 17 10 0 3 2 2 19 1 37 3 1 .222 01 Tri-City NWST A 4-1 .800 4.26 11 0 0 0 6 0 19.0 14 70 81 9 9 2 1 1 1 8 1 20 1 0 .200 Casper PIO R 1-0 1.000 0.00 1 1 0 0 0 0 6.0 5 23 25 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 .217 02 Asheville SAL A 1-0 1.000 1.89 11 1 0 0 5 0 19.0 12 69 72 4 4 2 0 0 1 2 0 8 1 0 .174 Wilmington CARO A 2-1 .667 2.25 17 0 0 0 5 1 28.0 19 100 113 8 7 2 3 0 0 10 1 15 3 0 .190 03 Wilmington CARO A 6-2 .750 2.82 42 4 0 0 12 2 92.2 78 344 379 36 29 4 1 4 2 28 3 64 6 0 .227 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MINOR LEAGUE TOTALS 26 .765 2.47 30 0 5 257 892 92 11 21 7 21 8 131 0 31 334.2 1205 124 12 9 106 259 6

I may have said this before, but count me in the group that thinks it is stupid as hell to bring a guy up after skipping a start. How sharp is a pitcher going to be after throwing only 1 inning in 9 days? More rest is generally not a good thing for a pitcher. They bring up Diaz off his normal rotation and then in his second start they throw him on three days rest. The thrust Cotts into a role he wasn't ready for after pitching short outings in the bullpen all year. It's no f***ing wonder they can't find a 5th starter. Their methods have to be the dumbest imaginable.

Reyes has had an eye problem and has had trouble seeing. He just recently got glasses and is now wearing them while playing. Keep an eye (pun intended) on his progress in the coming weeks to see if that makes a difference.

Garland is quiet and can come across as a bit aloof, but I just think that is the way he is.

I just watched Sowers dominate SEC East Champion Georgia, 7-0. About 50-75 scouts were on hand with radar guns out watching this lefty. His line was: ip h r er bb so Jeremy Sowers 9.0 3 0 0 0 10 He threw an 88-89 mph fastball with real good movement that he can throw on both sides of the plate. He also has a sharp breaking curveball that registered around 880-81. He threw several nice changeups, but I never saw a gun reading on those. I know the Sox have little chance of getting this kid because it is doubtful he will fall that far, but I thought some of you might like a report, esp. aboz since he is from Louisville.

He was a starter at the beginning of the year, was he not?

I noticed they had Wasserman trying to close the game in his 3rd inning, and after a rough 8th inning. No wonder they couldn't hold the lead.

dan, just trust me on this one..... it is more than that.