Rex Hudler

ss2k, where is the $35 million figure in Forbes? I looked everywhere on there and couldn't see anything to that effect. If it is in there, please show me a link. What I saw is the Sox had approximately $1.2 million in operating income before taxes interest and depreciation after the 2002 season.

Call me stupid, but where is this $35 million figure located? I looked all through the Forbes pages and missed it. Can anyone provide a link? All I saw were valuations from after the 2000 and 2002 seasons.

In the FWIW department....... I had a nice talk with my dentist on Monday and we talked a lot about Jeremy Reed. He is a big baseball guy who has followed both Major and Minor League ball for many years and seen many more players than I ever have come up through the ranks. In our discussion about Reed, he said that Jeremy really reminds him of Rafael Palmeiro when he first came up. If you recall, the Cubs traded him because no one thought he would ever hit for any power, yet he had a sweet swing. He said Reed has a similar swing. I'm not predicting that Reed will become a 50 HR guy (nor was he) but I found it interesting.

Sox61382, I don't say this often, but I agree with everything you said. Personally, I don't believe in "hard rules" but i completely agree with the premise behind each one of yours. The list you saw posted earlier is what I think BA will list as our Top 10. It is not far off from mine (I don't think any of our lists are a lot different), but my intention was to take a shot at what BA will do. On my own list, I would probably drop some of the younger guys a little, but not too much because I think that is where the Sox strength lies. The sheer volume of guys last year that put up great numbers gives me hope that several will break through and be good Major Leaguers. Obviously not all of them will. One reason why I think some of the younger guys will make the list is the Pioneer League was very strong this year. I am told it was deeper than it had been in the recent memory of several people. I didn't put as much stock in Rauch and Diaz as you only because I think they have somewhat spun their wheels in AAA. I was also never really sold on Rauch as a top-notch starter so there is that doubt in the back of my head, regardless of how he was affected by the injury and the Sox mishandling. Diaz has potential, but he needs to step up now. He is still young for his experience level, but you don't see many top prospects spend three years at the same level, which he will do this year unless he steps up. The easiest thing to do is to become enamored by the young guys with one good season, but that is risky in predicting he future for all of the reasons you mentioned. I'm not sure when we will agree so completely again, but hey, I'll enjoy it while it lasts. LOL

Baseball is a different issue. They can't just blow up the sport as we know it because it is too big. They also have the players union involved that wants to protect the interest of the players and doesn't want such comprehensive testing. Baseball is attempting to take care of the problem slowly and quietly. For many it is too little and not fast enough. I understand that. But if I were the higher ups in baseball and I was involved in teh players union, I might make the same choices. Hopefully over the next several years, they can get a hold on the problem and it will go away. Might not happen that way, but baseball needs to baby step this especially with the problems the union poses.

I wouldn't be so quick to make that assumption. Trump is an astute businessman, especially since he damned near went belly up about 10 years ago. I don't see him as one to throw money around. Maybe I am wrong, but that almost got him in trouble before.

First of all, without it written into the agreement that failing an USOC test would count the same as failing an MLB test, there is nothing they can do to him. If he failed an MLB test, that would be a different case. One can make a case that since MLB sponsors their players in international competition that they would honor the results of those tests, but if that is not the way the deal was written up, then MLB can't do anything. Secondly, the International drug testing policy is tight as hell. A guy can flunk a test by taking over the counter cold medicine or too much caffiene. Yes, MLB's policy is a joke, but it is brand new. They basically are trying to take care of the biggest stuff. Like it or not, their testing won't be as comprehensive as the IOC. So it is important to note why a player failed an International test, not just that he did.

Mix a little alcohol (okay a lot) and love for the Sox and I am sure all will have a good time. But the Royal Rumble thought is quite humorous. LOL

So wil the bar be the stage for a Royal Rumble between the groups from SoxTalk, WSI and World Crossing or will this just be one big love fest? I can hear it now. "And in this corner......."

I disagree..... Asking LA to give up four players including one of the top prospects in baseball and pay an additional $10 million in salary is a bit much to ask for almost anyone. I think Sox fans overvalue their own players rather than undervalue them as you suggest. I would submit some of the contracts the Sox have that everyone seems to be b****ing about as evidence (Koch, Konerko, Valentin, etc.).

HSC was in Rio not too long ago!

I'm guessing the hangup is a combo of Perez (since they got rid of Brown) and asking for Jackson or Miller (the larger issue most likely).

True, but in addition to asking for all those players, they are also asking the Dodgers to take on approx. an additional $10 million in payroll.

A couple of guys that I left off are Brandon McCarthy, Todd Deininger and Micah Schnurstein. Daniel Haigwood and Ryan Rodriguez would have also been considered had they not been injured last year. Part of the reason I left those guys off, are that BA usually doesn't dip too far into the rookie leagues unless a guy was a 1st or 2nd round pick. Nanita may be a stretch for the list, but he did so well, that I took a shot. There obviously is some strength in the lower levels for the Sox. Let's hope it holds together.

Yas I agree with you completely on Miles. He certainly could hve provided a spark, he is just that type of player. I think KW needed to make a choice out of respect to both Harris and Miles. I don't think it would be fair to either of them to put one in a position that they could go back to AAA if they had other options. Clearing one of them also let's the other one know they are in the "driver's seat" so to speak and would allow them to work toward getting ready without having to worry about being "perfect" in ST. In essence, it eases the pressure a player may put on himself. With certain players, that is the key to them performing at a higher level. Lastly, I think Uribe is a Plan B type player. He can and most likely will be a utility guy this year and he gives you more flexibility than Miles would in that role. He also could become the starting SS next year if all goes well. He would at least give the Sox an option there next year when deciding to re-sign Jose or find someone else, whereas this year, the Sox had no Plan B for SS at all. All that said, it is up to Willie to prove himself and until then, I would have rather seen Miles get the shot, because he is indeed the perfect grinder.

There's your new team, Tex!

Steff, Milo Hamilton, the Astros broadcaster did an interview Monday afternoon on a local station down here and he was asked that question. He said that would not be the case and Clemens himself nixed the idea. He felt it wouldn't be fair to his teammates or coaching staff and that if he was going to come back, he was going to do it the right way. Hamilton also said that the Astros ticket office was having trouble handling all the calls after the announcement. He said they were ringing so heavily, many people couldn't get through. FWTW

Dbaho, I agree Pacheco should be in the Top 10. I just don't think he will get the respect he deserves since he wasn't a bonus baby, a high draft choice, one of BA's chosen ones and this was the first year he pitched real well. In my mind, Pacheco would be somewhere in the 5-7 range, I just don't think BA will give him those props. I didn't include Diaz due to a combination of age and unfulfilled potential to this point. The same could be said for Rauch and even Borchard, but I chose to include them because of their former status as BA's favorite sons. Kind of like a high draft pick will get more changes with a club than a guy who signed as a free agent, I think BA will hang on to Rauch and Borchard one more year. I certainly would not be surprised if Diaz makes the list.

Their Minor League contracts, so not big news........

I'll take a stab at it with the disclaimer that this is off the top of my head and I may miss someone........ 1. Jeremy Reed 2. Kris Honel 3. Brian Anderson 4. Neal Cotts 5. Ryan Wing 6. Joe Borchard 7. Arnie Munoz 8. Ryan Sweeney 9. Jon Rauch 10. Ricardo Nanita Let's keep going..... 11. Ruddy Yan 12. Enemencio Pacheco 13. Robert Valido 14. Orionny Lopez 15. Chris Young Others considered (in no particular order): Felix Diaz Fabio Castro Rick Hummel Ryan Meaux Josh Fields Byeong An Jeff Bajenaru Jason Stumm Scott Bikowski Andy Gonzalez Did I miss anyone?

Most of these if not all have already been mentioned, but I thought it might be worth it to show all of the Minor League transactions at once...... White Sox December Minor League Transactions

I don't think Pacheco will be in the Top 10. I just don't see him getting the respect he deserves.

Baggs, I would have liked to have kept Miles too. But KW needed to make a choice and he did, choosing Harris over Miles. Counsell has been solid, but not a great starter. He has only been a true full-time player one year and only played over 100 games three times. He has developed into a nice role player who can step into the lineup sometimes, but that's about it. Eckstein has been a starter for three years and his production declined last year big time and was so-so his first year. Some guys hang on a little longer than others if they are in the right situation. I hope Aaron can be one of them.

Miles could hit 35 doubles and 10 triples in Coors Field with its spacious outfield. I tend to think Aaron will play reasonably well for a couple of years, but that is it. I don't see him as a long time big leaguer. I hope I am wrong, because I like Aaron, but that is my best guess. Two to three years in the Majors tops.

Or more likely, nothing is imminent......