Rex Hudler

My father bought a Corvette a year or so agin, full well knowing he was going to have to sell his old one to be able to afford it. He wasn't looking for just any Corvette, but found one he really liked. If he chose not to buy that Corvette and hung onto his old one, that wouldn't mean it was a lie that he considered or tried to buy the newer one.

Because based on his history, I think that is a ludicrous comment to make. Sure he may pan out and do a decent job for the Sox but to say you have wanted this guy for the last 3 years does nothing but build up expectations, that his history states aren't likely to be met. My problem is more with the comment and the expectations it creates than Schoenweis himself.

Schoenweis will be great. Kenny has coveted him for three years, remember?

If the Sox signed Colon, they would have had to move someone else to stay within budget. Right now they are a few million over the projected budget as it is. The idea that Colon could have been signed to that big contract and everybody else would have been kept is a fallacy. Wasn't gonna happen.

If he comes out throwing well, I guarantee you he will get a strong look. Although I think Schoenweis has an edge on the 4th spot, I think both spots are wide open and will go to the best two. All things equal, I believe Schoenweis gets the nod, however. If two pitchers don't step up, I would not be shocked to see a trade made in ST.

I am just bringing up names...... i didn't notice your no current players or mention of dimaggio before i made my post, but for discussions sake, I decided not to go back and edit it. the lists are tough...... i'd probably rate Greenberg over Sisler and McCovey. Probably Brooks over Brett. Possibly even Pete Rose over Carew. But the cool thing about it is, unless you just forgot someone, there are no wrong answers. I always picked 3 OF's and didn't worry about position, though. Either way you look at it, these discussions are what makes baseball great. No other sport has the history baseball does.

Ummm....... Frank's OBP is much better than Konerko's.

If the Sox want to send him to AAA, the following will happen. 1. He will be placed on waivers and any club can claim him, but he would have to be kept on that club's active MLB roster. 2. If he is not claimed, he either has to be offered back to his original club (Marlins) for $25,0000, half the original price the Sox paid to get him. They can also try and work out a trade with the Marlins, sending them someone in order to keep his rights and send him to AAA.

And of course, that has NOTHING to do with the discussion.

Depends on how Frank handles himself this week. He could turn this into a positive and everyone could have a big laugh about it. My hunch is, that won't happen however. That's not what is meant by "the way" he plays. Ozzie was more referring to hustle, being team first, running out ground balls, hitting the ball the other way to move a runner, showing up to practice on time, being a good teammate, etc. Those are some of the areas Frank has taken criticism (right or wrong) for in the past. His hitting skills have never been questioned (well, almost never).

It's not the reporters problem to worry about their relationship getting better. If it does, they will report it. If not, they will be their to report that it is not. Secondly, how you play the game has nothing to do with statistics. The career numbers of Frank and Ozzie have nothing to do with the manager/player relationship.

I think he is just reporting on the potential fire everyone knows is there. Nothing wrong with bringing up FT's past history. It fits, in my mind.

No Brooks Robinson? Satchel Paige? Hank Greenberg? Whitey Ford? Joe Dimaggio? Barry Bonds? Duke Snider? Roy Campenella? Bob Gibson? Joe Jackson? Josh Gibson?

No, because Ozzie said the things he did. And because KW follows that up with saying he is mad because Frank didn't return his phone calls. With Frank's history and Ozzie and KW's mouths, this article makes sense. I don't get why people are offended at the truth. Everyone here is wondering if there will be fireworks between Frank and Ozzie on Wednesday.

Rauch's contract was purchased by the Sox on 11/20/2001 meaning the Sox used options on him in 2002 and 2003, leaving him with one option currently.

They do.... they are called Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Kevin Brown, Roger Clemens, Josh Beckett, Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, etc.

I think it set the tone for what may be to come on Wednesday... Columns are more opinion than anything else. Adding something new or positive is not always the point, nor does it have to be.

I don't know about you guys, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to be one of those guys working that high up in Chicago in the winter!

Let's not completely ignore the fact the Twins walked the fewest hitters, committed the fewest errors, allowed the fewest unearned runs and had the best on-base percentage in the division. They had a hand in winning the division too.

Because Ozzie and KW weren't making a big deal out of Ordonez or Konerko and those two don't have the history Frank does. C'mon, you really think people are wondering if there is going to be a blowup between Maggs and Ozzie on Wednesday??

I disagree.... Every reporter, Sox player and coach and fan are all wondering what will happen when Frank reports Wednesday and faces Ozzie and the media. He is writing what many of us are thinking and giving historical references why it is newsworthy.

I'll give you that...... yes, pitching and defense goes together. My point is that a good defense makes a pitcher better. Great pitchers may overcome bad defense, but you can't tell me they wouldn't be even better if the defense behind them was great.

With all due respect, Mark Prior is out there and not me because Mark Prior is not a 5'9" righthander who tops out at 86 and routinely throws (should I say threw) 82-83. Bill James, Billy Beane, or whoever you want to name is fine.... But many of the Moneyballers today do think defense is not very important. This is not an all or nothing argument, but I definitely disagree with the theory that defense is less important than offense. I am not saying you should have a team full of .220 hitters that are Gold Glovers, just that a good defensive team will contribute to winning more games than statistical analysis of defensive stats will give it credit for.

I guarantee you if I was a sports writer I would be asking him: 1. "What do you think of what Ozzie said about you?" 2. "Do you think Ozzie singled you out in his press conference?" 3. "Do you think the fact that you and Ozzie didn't really get along as teammates will cause a problem in how y ou get along now?" 4. "Why didn't you return Ozzie or Kenny's phone calls this winter?" 5. "Would you accept a trade if they came to you and said they wanted to move you?" 6. "Is there any truth to the rumor that says you would be willing to go to Los Angeles if the Sox could make a deal?" I'm sure there are a ton more I am not thinking of off the top of my head, but I guarantee you Frank will and should be asked every one of those questions or something similar in the first few days of Spring Training. IF Frank talks to reporters, that is......

I don't see a problem with that article at all. The fact is it is all true. Frank seems to create controversy each spring. It is no wonder writers will asking him questions that may cause another blowup this year. How Frank handles those questions will determine if this story can be written again next year.