Rex Hudler

That would be very nice.

My guess is that Rauch was simply pulled because he got into trouble and the leash was short. They had to sweep to make the playoffs, so the manager isn't going to be real patient with a guy if he gets into trouble. He'll yank him quicker than normal. KW did say that they wouldn't promote anyone until after Charlotte was out of playoff contention, so I doubt he was pulled due to promotion. If that would have happened, he either wouldn't have started the game or he would have been pulled after an inning and not during one. Just a guess....

He was not on the 40-man at the beginning of the season.

Where did it say he was sent down? Where was he sent to? Haven't heard anything about him coming back to Birmingham. Rex it was on Chicagosports.com. I couldnt get the link but it said he would be replaced sometime this weekend. Replaced in the starting rotation does not equal being sent to the Minors. I don't think he will be sent out because the Minor League season is over Monday. Also, there is a date after which you cannot bring down a player from a higher level. It is to keep teams from loading up for the playoffs. That date has passed. I doubt the Southern League would grant permission for Cotts to join the Barons. My guess is he is kept on the Sox roster and he will pitch when the opportunity arises, while they work with him on the side. In that case, no option is burned. They may have to assign him to the Minor Leagues, however, if they need to activate someone else before Monday so they will be eligible for the playoffs. That would be the exception.

I agree that he should have been there, but then again, so should have Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera's 1st half numbers were even sicker than Reed's if you can believe that. I guess the coaches that vote, vote based on guys there the whole year?

Where did it say he was sent down? Where was he sent to? Haven't heard anything about him coming back to Birmingham.

Bmr, thanks for the compliment.

Isn't he like 13-5 Yes, but they have come out and said they aren't happy with him right now. He hasn't pitched well lately. His pitching coach bashed him saying he isn't doing the work necessary. Players can do or not do lots of things in practice or in between starts or off the field that affect their performance on the field. If the Yankees feel Wells is taking the lazy/easy road, and starts pitching like it, why not send him to the bullpen? I think this is much more a move based on sending him and the rest of the team a message than money. What does it tell the rest of the team if you keep running a guy out there that isn't doing what the club asks of him? The players know it. The coaches know it. A manager sometimes has to send a message to his team by making an example out of someone. I think that is the case here. Excuse us, we are just used to having a manager without balls. Bmr, what the hell is wrong with you lately? Maybe I am just misinterpreting everything you type, but you seem to be making a lot of sense lately. Ive been reading your posts, to learn all that i can from the great one. Just don't expect all the wisdom to come overnight. Be patient my friend, be patient.....

Nope, not yet........ Monday should be the last game for all teams except Great Falls, which ends Friday. Playoffs in the SL start Wednesday. Not sure about the others.

I'm not sure what kind of guy you think I am, Bmr, but I don't plan to hold anything against you. LOL

Isn't he like 13-5 Yes, but they have come out and said they aren't happy with him right now. He hasn't pitched well lately. His pitching coach bashed him saying he isn't doing the work necessary. Players can do or not do lots of things in practice or in between starts or off the field that affect their performance on the field. If the Yankees feel Wells is taking the lazy/easy road, and starts pitching like it, why not send him to the bullpen? I think this is much more a move based on sending him and the rest of the team a message than money. What does it tell the rest of the team if you keep running a guy out there that isn't doing what the club asks of him? The players know it. The coaches know it. A manager sometimes has to send a message to his team by making an example out of someone. I think that is the case here. Excuse us, we are just used to having a manager without balls. Bmr, what the hell is wrong with you lately? Maybe I am just misinterpreting everything you type, but you seem to be making a lot of sense lately.

Interesting night at Great Falls..... McCarthy with a hell of an outing..... 0BB and 13K??...... Great Falls shut out..... Now a three-way tie for first in their division... BILLINGS 2 AT GREAT FALLS 0 YTD YTD BILLINGS AB R H BI AVG GREAT FALLS AB R H BI AVG C.Dickerson CF 3 0 0 0 .250 A.Gray 2B 4 0 1 0 .294 T.Cairns 3B 4 1 2 0 .306 M.Myers SS 3 0 0 0 .284 L.Bolivar 2B 4 1 2 1 .353 M.Valenzuela DH 4 0 0 0 .417 J.Votto 1B 4 0 1 0 .311 S.Morris RF 3 0 0 0 .262 W.Olmstead LF 3 0 0 0 .271 B.Bounds 1B 3 0 2 0 .311 B.Himes RF 4 0 0 0 .297 M.Schnurstei 3B 2 0 0 0 .265 J.Urgelles CAT 3 0 0 0 .143 R.Sweeney LF 3 0 0 0 .375 P.Gentry DH 4 0 0 0 .221 C.Young CF 3 0 2 0 .182 W.Hudson SS 3 0 0 0 .147 M.Deuchler CAT 3 0 0 0 .300 O.Escorcha PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.McCarthy PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Talamantez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Thompson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Shafer PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 32 2 5 1 TOTALS 28 0 5 0 BILLINGS 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0- 2 5 1 GREAT FALLS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 5 0 E--J.Urgelles. DP--BILLINGS 4, GREAT FALLS 0. LOB--BILLINGS 6, GREAT FALLS 3. 2B--B.Bounds (19). SB--T.Cairns (2), L.Bolivar (10). CS--M.Myers. HBP--W.Olmstead, J.Urgelles. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BILLINGS O.Escorcha (W,5-1) 5.0 2 0 0 2 7 0 1.93 D.Talamantez 3.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 5.97 D.Shafer (S,11) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.00 GREAT FALLS B.McCarthy (L,9-4) 7.0 4 2 2 0 13 0 3.73 S.Thompson 2.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 7.13 HB--B.McCarthy, S.Thompson. PB--M.Deuchler. SO--C.Dickerson, T.Cairns, J.Votto 2, W.Olmstead 3, B.Himes 2, J.Urgelles 2, P.Gentry 3, W.Hudson, A.Gray, M.Myers, M.Valenzuela 3, S.Morris 2, B.Bounds, C.Young, M.Deuchler. BB--C.Dickerson, M.Myers, M.Schnurstei. T--2:18. A--2785

Kanny loses....... again KANNAPOLIS 2 AT LAKEWOOD 4 YTD YTD KANNAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG LAKEWOOD AB R H BI AVG A.Gonzalez SS 3 0 1 0 .233 C.Roberson CF 3 0 1 0 .237 L.Luna PH 1 0 0 0 .118 C.Rodriguez SS 3 0 0 0 .188 F.Lebron 2B 3 0 1 0 .238 T.Jones 3B 3 0 0 0 .235 T.Brice RF 4 0 0 0 .279 G.Sato DH 3 1 1 0 .245 M.Christense 3B 3 0 0 0 .238 A.Jarvis 1B 3 1 1 2 .286 D.Ciraco CF 2 0 0 0 .229 A.Borgo LF 2 0 0 0 .209 J.Reyes 1B 3 0 0 0 .255 M.McRoberts CAT 2 1 0 0 .180 G.Molina CAT 3 1 1 0 .232 M.Tugwell 2B 2 1 0 0 .178 D.Cook LF 3 1 1 1 .155 A.Marshall RF 3 0 0 0 .179 E.Young DH 3 0 1 1 .245 L.Gwaltney PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Perez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Richardson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Fryson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Lawson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Larson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Hodges PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 28 2 5 2 TOTALS 24 4 3 2 KANNAPOLIS 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0- 2 5 4 LAKEWOOD 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 X- 4 3 0 E--A.Gonzalez, F.Lebron, G.Molina, A.Fryson. DP--KANNAPOLIS 1, LAKEWOOD 1. LOB--KANNAPOLIS 1, LAKEWOOD 4. 2B--D.Cook (5). 3B-- G.Sato (2). HR--A.Jarvis (3). CS--D.Ciraco, C.Roberson 2. SH--F.Lebron, C.Rodriguez, M.Tugwell. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA KANNAPOLIS A.Perez 2.0 0 0 0 2 1 0 4.16 A.Fryson 4.0 3 2 2 3 4 1 3.24 A.Larson (L,2-4) 2.0 0 2 0 1 4 0 3.67 LAKEWOOD L.Gwaltney 3.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.06 B.Richardson 2.0 4 2 2 1 1 0 2.66 J.Lawson (W,1-0) 3.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.60 D.Hodges (S,2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 SO--L.Luna, F.Lebron, M.Christense, J.Reyes, G.Molina, D.Cook, E.Young, C.Rodriguez, G.Sato, A.Jarvis, A.Borgo 2, M.McRoberts 2, A.Marshall 2. BB--D.Ciraco, C.Roberson, T.Jones, G.Sato, A.Jarvis, A.Borgo, M.McRoberts. T--2:15. A--7626

Winston loses..... Honel gets racked around a bit.... WINSTON-SALEM 4 AT FREDERICK 7 YTD YTD WINSTON-SALEM AB R H BI AVG FREDERICK AB R H BI AVG M.Spidale CF 4 0 2 1 .261 G.Cates LF 4 1 1 0 .321 M.Morse SS 5 0 0 0 .245 O.Rogers 2B 4 1 1 0 .298 B.Becker DH 4 0 0 0 .262 V.Majewski CF 4 1 3 2 .282 E.Storey 3B 2 0 0 0 .265 M.Huggins 1B 4 1 1 1 .295 J.Lackaff 3B 2 1 1 1 .274 W.Cliffords RF 4 1 2 0 .286 E.Welsh LF 3 1 1 1 .243 T.Johnson 3B 4 1 1 1 .275 D.Holt RF 4 1 1 1 .257 A.Manley DH 4 0 0 0 .199 C.Rogowski 1B 4 1 2 0 .251 T.Arko CAT 3 0 0 0 .187 C.Stewart CAT 3 0 0 0 .209 B.Fahey SS 4 1 3 0 .234 P.Lopez 2B 2 0 0 0 .111 R.Hannaman PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Martel PH 1 0 0 0 .276 N.McCurdy PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 K.Honel PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Mitchell PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Lubisich PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Sequea PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Allen PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 34 4 7 4 TOTALS 35 7 12 4 WINSTON-SALEM 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1- 4 7 2 FREDERICK 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 X- 7 12 0 E--E.Welsh, C.Stewart. DP--WINSTON-SALEM 0, FREDERICK 0. LOB--WINSTON-SALEM 7, FREDERICK 6. 2B--O.Rogers (24), V.Majewski (17), W.Cliffords (29), T.Johnson (25). HR--J.Lackaff (1), E.Welsh (15), D.Holt (11), V.Majewski (4), M.Huggins (13). SB--C.Rogowski (18), G.Cates (11), B.Fahey (4). HBP--E.Welsh. SH--G.Cates. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA WINSTON-SALEM K.Honel (L,9-7) 4.1 8 4 4 1 5 1 3.11 N.Lubisich 2.2 3 3 2 0 1 1 3.86 W.Allen 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.39 FREDERICK R.Hannaman (W,1-3) 5.0 2 0 0 2 5 0 3.79 N.McCurdy 3.1 4 4 4 1 5 3 4.89 A.Mitchell 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.50 J.Sequea (S,18) 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.07 HB--R.Hannaman. PB--C.Stewart, T.Arko 2. SO--M.Morse 2, B.Becker 3, E.Welsh, D.Holt 3, C.Rogowski, C.Stewart, G.Cates, O.Rogers, M.Huggins, T.Johnson, A.Manley 2, B.Fahey. BB--M.Spidale, C.Stewart, P.Lopez, T.Arko. T--2:40. A--8802

Birmingham with a tough loss in 11.... Reed with 2 knocks and a walk.... GREENVILLE (3) AT BIRMINGHAM (2) GREENVILLE AB R H BI BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI C Thomas CF 5 0 2 0 D Sandoval 2B 5 1 2 0 R Castro 3B 4 1 1 0 J Piniella LF 4 0 1 0 K Johnson DH 4 1 0 0 J Reed CF 4 1 2 0 J Jurries 1B 5 0 1 1 G Alvarez 1B 4 0 2 1 R Lewis 2B 5 1 1 0 S Bikowski DH 2 0 0 0 C Aldridge RF 5 0 2 1 C Durham PR 1 0 0 0 G Miller LF 4 0 2 1 S Morales C 3 0 1 1 J Fitzgerald PH 1 0 0 0 J Hamilton RF 4 0 0 0 P Orr SS 5 0 0 0 G Reyes SS 4 0 0 0 J Boscan C 4 0 0 0 C Maldonado PH 1 0 1 0 T Nicholson 3B 5 0 1 0 TOTALS 42 3 9 3 TOTALS 37 2 10 2 GREENVILLE 000 002 000 01-- 3 BIRMINGHAM 000 110 000 00-- 2 E--S Morales. DP--GREENVILLE 1. LOB--GREENVILLE 8, BIRMINGHAM 10. 2B--D Sandoval. SB--J Hamilton 1 (21), C Thomas 1 (4). CS--J Hamilton, D Sandoval. S--S Morales 2. IP H R ER BB SO HR GREENVILLE D Lewis 5 7 2 2 2 3 0 K Barry 1 2-3 1 0 0 1 2 0 R Colon 1 2-3 0 0 0 2 0 0 W Collazo (W,7-2) 1 2-3 1 0 0 1 0 0 B Sylvester (S,19) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 BIRMINGHAM B An 6 7 2 2 1 3 0 J Bullard 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 M Wylie 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 R Meaux (L,1-3) 1 1-3 1 1 1 0 1 0 J Bajenaru 2-3 1 0 0 0 0 0 BALK--R Meaux. SO--GRE: C Aldridge, K Johnson, P Orr, J Boscan, R Lewis, J Jurries. BIR: T Nicholson 3, J Hamilton, G Reyes, D Sandoval. BB--GRE: K Johnson, R Castro. BIR: S Bikowski 2, J Hamilton, G Alvarez, J Reed, J Piniella. T--3:13. A--4,545.

Charlotte now two games out with three to play against the leader, Durham.... Rios with a walk-off HR.... NORFOLK (3) AT CHARLOTTE (5) NORFOLK AB R H BI CHARLOTTE AB R H BI E Snead CF 3 2 1 0 A Miles 2B 3 1 1 1 D Garcia 2B 4 1 3 1 J Burke C 4 0 1 0 P Redman LF 2 0 0 1 R Gload RF 4 0 1 0 R Johnson 3B 3 0 0 1 J Borchard CF 4 1 2 0 C Brazell 1B 4 0 0 0 M Rivera 1B 3 1 0 0 K Kelly RF 4 0 2 0 A Rios DH 4 1 1 3 M Glavine DH 4 0 0 0 R Hankins 3B 3 0 0 0 J Velandia SS 3 0 0 0 N Murphy LF 2 1 1 1 J Wilson C 4 0 0 0 J Nunez SS 2 0 1 0 TOTALS 31 3 6 3 TOTALS 29 5 8 5 NORFOLK 101 000 010 -- 3 CHARLOTTE 100 010 003 -- 5 0 OUT WHEN WINNING RUN SCORED. E--J Wilson. DP--NORFOLK 1. LOB--NORFOLK 6, CHARLOTTE 4. 2B--R Gload, E Snead, K Kelly, D Garcia. HR--N Murphy 1 (8) (off P Strange), A Miles 1 (10) (off P Strange), A Rios 1 (6) (off O Moreno). SB--J Nunez 1 (14), D Garcia 3 (11), E Snead 1 (59), P Redman 1 (23). CS--J Nunez, P Redman. SF--R Johnson. IP H R ER BB SO HR NORFOLK P Strange 5 4 2 2 2 3 2 J Cerda 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 O Moreno (L,5-1) 1 3 3 3 1 0 1 CHARLOTTE R Kohlmeier 7 4 2 2 1 5 0 D Nickle (W,1-1) 2 2 1 1 2 2 0 HBP--P Redman by R Kohlmeier. SO--NOR: M Glavine 2, E Snead, C Brazell, K Kelly, P Redman, J Wilson. CHA: R Hankins 2, N Murphy, J Burke, J Borchard, R Gload. BB--NOR: E Snead, J Velandia, P Redman. CHA: M Rivera, N Murphy, A Miles, J Nunez. T--2:54. A--5,284.

Man, had me blanking for a sec...... Doubt you will see him.

JM Basher!

Isn't he like 13-5 Yes, but they have come out and said they aren't happy with him right now. He hasn't pitched well lately. His pitching coach bashed him saying he isn't doing the work necessary. Players can do or not do lots of things in practice or in between starts or off the field that affect their performance on the field. If the Yankees feel Wells is taking the lazy/easy road, and starts pitching like it, why not send him to the bullpen? I think this is much more a move based on sending him and the rest of the team a message than money. What does it tell the rest of the team if you keep running a guy out there that isn't doing what the club asks of him? The players know it. The coaches know it. A manager sometimes has to send a message to his team by making an example out of someone. I think that is the case here.

No biggie MSF, I was just having a little fun with you. In regards to our friend, I agree he is not himself lately. His tirades are usually targeted at just one or two people, not everyone. We exchanged emails and I hope is okay. I haven't heard back from him, but he was probably already gone. My guess is the job situation isn't helping either, ya know?

I know we got a guy in either triple a or double a that's 12-2...I forgot his name...Surprised he didn't make it... You are talking about Pacheco in Birmingham. The thing the Southern League does and I think it sucks is only names two pitchers, a RH and LH Pitcher of the year. It's not like you normally think where they would name 5 starters and a relief pitcher or two. Pacheco very well could have been the RH pitcher of the year, but Hanrahan was very good as well. Scheduling didn't help Pacheco either. The Barons opened the season at Greenville when he was just a mop up guy in the pen. He made one appearance against them out of the pen. The Barons have not played Greenville again the entire season until the current series, when the voting has already been done. He pitched a total of 6 innings against Carolina, including one spot start when he was still working out of the bullpen. So in reality, there are two of the 10 teams that he wouldn't likely get votes from. It is not the best process, but it is what it is. Scheduling can work against you.

No, not at all. I was applauding your work, not being a smartass. Damn, can't a guy be sincere once every month or so?

Doing your homework lately, huh MSF? Got some catch up to do after that fishing trip. Good work.

To expand on that...... Teams can't afford to claim every player they think will get traded, beceause they could end up getting stuck with a guy (and contract) they don't want. Basically almost every player is placed on waivers at some point which helps keep teams from knowing which players the team may really deal or or which are susceptible of being let go. Since teams often claim a guy just to make sure that someone else doesn't get him in a trade, putting everybody on waivers makes the guessing game of which players may actually be trade bait and which ones teams wouldn't mind dumping much, much harder. I know I am rambling, but the long and short of it is, that by placing Esteban Loaiza or Frank Thomas on waivers, it may someone else clear waivers that the Sox would like to trade or at least consider trading.

If it is the difference between losing Backman and keeping him, then keep him on as a coach somewhere in the major's to hide him as long as possible. But I just think he is priceless to our minor league system. Problem is he wants to be a Big League manager and will do what it takes to further that goal. He holds the cards after this season, not the Sox.