Rex Hudler

Or maybe I just didn't want to show one that ugly! LOL

Charlotte is 60-60 overall and is four games out of the Division lead and 3.5 games back in the Wild Card race for the International League. They have 23 games remaining, including 7 against division leader Durham. Ross Gload (.320 15HR 59RBI .530SLG .353OBP) and Tim Hummel (.291 14HR 71RBI .462SLG .359OBP) are the leading candidates for offensive MVP. Jon Adkins, Jon Rauch and Brian Cooper are possibles for Most Valuable Pitcher, though none have been dominant. Full Season Stats CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS Individual Statistics Thru Games of: 8/08/03 W-L Record: 60- 60 PLAYER AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS SLG OBP E #Borchard, Joe,OF .237 90 338 45 80 14 2 12 43 20 81 1 3 .396 .287 5 Burke, Jamie,C .328 77 253 37 83 13 0 5 42 14 30 0 0 .439 .367 4 *Gload, Ross,1B .320 109 406 59 130 32 4 15 59 23 45 5 2 .530 .353 6 Hankins, Ryan,3B .316 45 152 20 48 11 0 4 24 8 23 1 3 .467 .348 2 Hummel, Tim,3B .291 113 413 65 120 23 3 14 71 42 71 8 3 .462 .359 13 #Miles, Aaron,2B .296 109 446 64 132 26 4 9 42 29 47 5 9 .433 .338 12 Morgan, Scott,OF .283 93 300 42 85 18 2 8 37 30 79 5 4 .437 .354 4 *Murphy, Nate,OF .233 27 86 16 20 3 0 3 8 6 15 2 0 .372 .287 0 Nunez, Jorge,SS .220 94 295 28 65 6 0 1 24 7 71 11 5 .251 .237 18 *Rios, Armando,OF .322 26 87 15 28 6 1 4 16 10 17 2 4 .552 .410 1 Rivera, Mike,C .319 46 160 21 51 7 0 7 31 13 37 0 0 .494 .385 2 Valenzuela, Mario,OF .254 31 114 14 29 5 0 3 10 3 25 1 0 .377 .277 0 All Others .261 847 115 221 40 6 31 105 85 178 16 10 .432 .330 25 Total-All Batters .280 3897 1092 22 512 719 43 .333 541 204 116 290 57 .433 92 OPP PITCHER W-L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR HB BB SO WP AVG Adkins, Jon 7- 7 3.91 22 19 1 1 1 115.0 110 61 50 11 7 34 55 2 .252 Cooper, Brian 12- 9 3.79 23 23 2 0 0 144.2 153 72 61 16 8 30 86 0 .271 Diaz, Felix 4- 7 4.15 24 15 1 0 0 99.2 109 54 46 11 4 30 71 5 .278 Eason, Clay 0- 0 12.23 8 0 0 0 0 17.2 30 24 24 7 2 12 14 1 .375 *Jacquez, Tom 3- 1 3.60 8 0 0 0 0 15.0 11 7 6 0 1 8 13 0 .204 Kohlmeier, Ryan 7- 4 4.45 28 12 1 0 0 89.0 98 45 44 16 3 17 53 2 .274 Majewski, Gary 4- 3 5.13 33 1 0 0 2 54.1 53 31 31 3 4 25 52 3 .257 Meyer, Jake 0- 2 3.91 18 0 0 0 0 23.0 25 11 10 2 1 7 14 2 .281 *Munoz, Arnaldo 3- 2 5.48 42 0 0 0 5 46.0 47 33 28 7 2 23 51 6 .272 Nickle, Doug 0- 1 6.23 3 0 0 0 0 4.1 6 3 3 1 0 0 4 0 .333 *Porzio, Mike 7- 5 4.63 21 17 1 0 0 105.0 102 60 54 15 6 37 95 1 .260 Rauch, Jon 5- 1 4.73 19 18 0 0 0 93.1 95 52 49 15 2 24 70 2 .268 *Sanders, Dave 1- 1 4.15 11 0 0 0 3 13.0 13 6 6 2 3 3 15 1 .250 *Stewart, Josh 0- 3 6.15 5 5 0 0 0 26.1 38 18 18 4 2 6 10 0 .345 All Others 7-14 4.98 91 10 1 0 27 161.0 171 98 89 21 11 56 122 6 .272 Total-All Pitchers 60 4.64 120 8 1007.1 575 131 312 31 60 7 38 1061 519 56 725 .271

Chris Young still hanging at .300 for Bristol...... Valido with his 16th SB BRISTOL 2 AT KINGSPORT 5 YTD YTD BRISTOL AB R H BI AVG KINGSPORT AB R H BI AVG C.Young CF 3 1 1 1 .300 C.Coles CF 3 2 2 0 .379 F.Lebron 2B 3 1 2 1 .252 R.Solano RF 3 1 1 2 .221 R.Valido SS 3 0 1 0 .295 T.Garcia 2B 3 1 1 1 .242 M.Perez 3B 3 0 0 0 .283 T.Davidson DH 3 0 1 1 .342 M.Bohlander 1B 3 0 0 0 .222 J.Hill LF 3 0 0 0 .254 T.Collaro LF 3 0 1 0 .229 J.Camacho 1B 2 0 0 0 .262 A.Arias CAT 3 0 0 0 .239 S.Bowman 3B 2 0 0 0 .286 S.Martin DH 2 0 1 0 .192 D.Reynoso CAT 3 0 0 0 .219 J.Rivera RF 3 0 0 0 .228 M.Cabral SS 0 1 0 0 .213 S.Suarez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Gomez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.McGary PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Stefano PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Rondon PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 26 2 6 2 TOTALS 22 5 5 4 BRISTOL 1 0 1 0 0 0 0- 2 6 2 KINGSPORT 1 0 0 0 0 4 X- 5 5 2 E--M.Perez, A.Arias, R.Solano, D.Reynoso. DP--BRISTOL 1, KINGSPORT 1. LOB--BRISTOL 4, KINGSPORT 3. 3B--F.Lebron (1), R.Solano (3), T.Davidson (7). HR--C.Young (6), F.Lebron (2). SB--R.Valido (16). HBP--S.Bowman, M.Cabral. CI--J.Camacho. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BRISTOL S.Suarez (L,1-3) 5.0 4 4 4 1 7 0 3.79 G.McGary 1.0 1 1 0 0 2 0 4.00 KINGSPORT J.Gomez 5.0 5 2 2 1 5 2 5.57 F.Stefano (W,4-2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.40 C.Rondon (S,10) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.35 HB--S.Suarez, G.McGary. WP--G.McGary, J.Gomez. BALKS--S.Suarez. SO--C.Young, M.Perez, M.Bohlander 2, T.Collaro, R.Solano, T.Garcia, J.Hill 2, S.Bowman 2, D.Reynoso 3. BB--S.Martin, M.Cabral. T--2:15. A--737

Great Falls - McCarthy with a shutout........ and no errors, amazing! GREAT FALLS 4 AT MISSOULA 0 YTD YTD GREAT FALLS AB R H BI AVG MISSOULA AB R H BI AVG A.Gray 2B 3 2 1 0 .316 J.McStoots 2B 4 0 0 0 .213 M.Myers CF 3 0 0 0 .296 C.Gonzalez RF 4 0 0 0 .256 C.Lee CAT 3 0 1 1 .310 A.Murillo 3B 3 0 1 0 .312 B.Bounds 1B 2 0 0 2 .321 A.Mottram CAT 3 0 0 0 .256 M.Schnurstei 3B 4 0 0 0 .265 J.Acosta DH 3 0 1 0 .235 C.King RF 3 1 1 0 .276 J.Kaplan CF 3 0 0 0 .278 C.Lisk DH 4 0 1 1 .268 M.Guerrero LF 3 0 0 0 .200 C.Kelly LF 4 0 0 0 .244 J.Brito 1B 3 0 0 0 .182 C.Haggerty SS 3 1 0 0 .243 J.Olivares SS 3 0 0 0 .232 B.McCarthy PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Krantz PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Moat PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Perrault PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 H.Guerrero PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 29 4 4 4 TOTALS 29 0 2 0 GREAT FALLS 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0- 4 4 0 MISSOULA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 2 1 E--B.Krantz. DP--GREAT FALLS 0, MISSOULA 1. LOB--GREAT FALLS 4, MISSOULA 2. 3B--C.King (4). SB--A.Gray (3), J.Acosta (3). CS--B.Bounds. SF--B.Bounds 2. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA GREAT FALLS B.McCarthy (W,7-3) 7.0 2 0 0 0 6 0 2.44 M.Moat 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.03 MISSOULA B.Krantz (L,0-1) 4.1 3 4 2 3 2 0 4.13 J.Perrault 3.2 1 0 0 1 3 0 3.27 H.Guerrero 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.68 WP--B.Krantz. SO--M.Myers 2, M.Schnurstei 2, C.King, C.Kelly, J.McStoots, A.Murillo, J.Acosta, J.Kaplan, J.Brito, J.Olivares. BB--A.Gray, M.Myers, C.Lee, C.King. T--2:25. A--1233

Kannapolis swept in DH - Malone gets ripped in Game 1 ROME 5 AT KANNAPOLIS 3 DH GAME #1 YTD YTD ROME AB R H BI AVG KANNAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG O.Joseph CF 3 1 2 0 .295 A.Gonzalez SS 4 1 2 0 .237 J.Schuerholz 2B 3 0 0 0 .242 P.Lopez 2B 3 0 0 0 .262 J.Francoeur DH 3 0 0 1 .289 T.Brice RF 3 1 1 0 .278 Y.Peters 1B 3 1 1 0 .296 J.Acevas DH 3 1 1 1 .295 W.Timmons 3B 3 1 1 0 .280 J.Terrell 1B 3 0 2 2 .243 A.Jansen LF 3 1 1 1 .260 M.Christense 3B 3 0 1 0 .229 C.Guzman RF 3 0 1 1 .240 D.Cook CF 2 0 0 0 .136 A.Ruelas CAT 3 1 0 0 .223 D.Ciraco PH 1 0 0 0 .246 L.Hernandez SS 2 0 1 0 .211 D.Ciraco CF 0 0 0 0 .246 A.Lerew PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Molina CAT 3 0 0 0 .243 J.Rodriguez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Ivy LF 2 0 0 0 .188 S.Jung PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Malone PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Arellan PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 26 5 7 3 TOTALS 27 3 7 3 ROME 0 1 2 2 0 0 0- 5 7 0 KANNAPOLIS 2 0 0 0 0 1 0- 3 7 1 E--T.Brice. DP--ROME 0, KANNAPOLIS 1. LOB--ROME 4, KANNAPOLIS 5. 2B--Y.Peters (22), C.Guzman (13), T.Brice (19), J.Acevas (9). SB-- B.Ivy (7). SF--J.Francoeur. SH--L.Hernandez, P.Lopez. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA ROME A.Lerew (W,6-5) 5.1 6 3 3 1 3 0 2.56 J.Rodriguez 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.42 S.Jung (S,10) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.24 KANNAPOLIS C.Malone (L,0-1) 5.0 5 5 4 2 3 0 4.91 F.Arellan 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.23 WP--C.Malone 2. SO--O.Joseph, Y.Peters, C.Guzman, A.Ruelas, T.Brice, J.Acevas, D.Ciraco, B.Ivy. BB--O.Joseph, J.Schuerholz, B.Ivy. T--1:57. A--2679 Game 2- Not much to mention.... ROME 3 AT KANNAPOLIS 0 DH GAME #2 YTD YTD ROME AB R H BI AVG KANNAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG O.Joseph RF 2 0 1 1 .293 A.Gonzalez SS 2 0 0 0 .233 W.Timmons 3B 2 0 0 1 .278 P.Lopez 2B 3 0 0 0 .262 J.Francoeur CF 4 0 1 0 .291 T.Brice RF 3 0 1 0 .278 Y.Peters 1B 3 0 0 0 .291 D.Ciraco LF 2 0 0 0 .245 A.Jansen LF 3 0 1 0 .260 J.Terrell DH 3 0 1 0 .234 M.Bernard CAT 2 1 0 0 .306 J.Acevas CAT 3 0 0 0 .282 C.Guzman DH 2 0 0 0 .237 G.Molina 1B 2 0 0 0 .244 L.Hernandez SS 2 0 0 0 .207 L.Luna 3B 2 0 0 0 .158 M.Grasso 2B 3 2 3 1 .266 E.Young CF 1 0 0 0 .200 R.Ewin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Miller PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Peralta PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Fryson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Weichard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 23 3 6 3 TOTALS 21 0 2 0 ROME 0 1 0 0 1 0 1- 3 6 0 KANNAPOLIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 2 2 E--E.Young, A.Fryson. DP--ROME 0, KANNAPOLIS 0. LOB--ROME 6, KANNAPOLIS 3. 2B--A.Jansen (11), M.Grasso (2). SB--M.Grasso (6). CS--C.Guzman, E.Young. HBP--W.Timmons. SF--W.Timmons. SH--O.Joseph. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA ROME R.Ewin (W,5-2) 5.0 2 0 0 2 3 0 2.28 E.Peralta 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.65 P.Weichard (S,1) 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.14 KANNAPOLIS B.Miller (L,7-9) 6.0 4 2 2 4 6 0 5.40 A.Fryson 1.0 2 1 0 0 1 0 3.35 HB--B.Miller. SO--J.Francoeur 2, Y.Peters, A.Jansen 2, M.Bernard, C.Guzman, J.Terrell, J.Acevas, G.Molina 2. BB--O.Joseph, M.Bernard, C.Guzman, L.Hernandez, A.Gonzalez, D.Ciraco, E.Young. T--2:03.

Who the hell is this R. Purvis guy? POTOMAC 5 AT WINSTON-SALEM 0 YTD YTD POTOMAC AB R H BI AVG WINSTON-SALEM AB R H BI AVG W.Bergolla 2B 5 1 0 1 .264 R.Yan 2B 3 0 0 0 .271 J.Ruiz CF 4 1 1 2 .154 N.Martel RF 3 0 1 0 .279 R.Correll LF 3 0 0 0 .333 B.Becker DH 4 0 1 0 .266 T.Blanco DH 4 0 1 1 .250 C.Rogowski 1B 4 0 0 0 .261 M.Schramek 3B 3 0 1 0 .245 E.Storey SS 3 0 1 0 .260 B.Peterson CAT 3 1 0 0 .259 D.Holt LF 3 0 0 0 .249 C.Williamson 1B 2 1 0 0 .208 M.Spidale CF 3 0 0 0 .245 G.Patchett SS 3 1 0 0 .260 J.Lackaff 3B 3 0 0 0 .391 J.Davis RF 2 0 0 1 .145 W.Rosa CAT 3 0 0 0 .222 C.Manning PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Purvis PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Brannon PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Ulacia PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.O'Neal PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 29 5 3 5 TOTALS 29 0 3 0 POTOMAC 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0- 5 3 0 WINSTON-SALEM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 3 3 E--E.Storey 2, J.Lackaff. DP--POTOMAC 0, WINSTON-SALEM 1. LOB-- POTOMAC 5, WINSTON-SALEM 4. 2B--M.Schramek (2), B.Becker (19), E.Storey (21). 3B--J.Ruiz (1). SB--W.Bergolla (44), R.Yan (64). CS--N.Martel. SH--B.Peterson. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA POTOMAC C.Manning (W,2-0) 8.0 3 0 0 2 4 0 0.00 N.Brannon 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.76 WINSTON-SALEM R.Purvis 6.0 0 0 0 3 3 0 1.31 D.Ulacia (L,1-1) 1.0 3 5 1 3 0 0 1.93 B.O'Neal 2.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.32 WP--D.Ulacia. SO--J.Ruiz, M.Schramek, B.Peterson, G.Patchett, B.Becker 2, C.Rogowski, M.Spidale, W.Rosa. BB--R.Correll, M.Schramek, C.Williamson 2, G.Patchett, J.Davis 2, R.Yan, N.Martel. T--2:21. A--2526

Birmingham keeps winning with smoke, mirrors and starting pitching...... Pacheco with another good outing.... BIRMINGHAM (5) AT CHATTANOOGA (1) BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI CHATTANOOGA AB R H BI C Durham CF 5 1 2 1 W Caceres CF 4 0 0 0 J Piniella DH 5 0 0 0 E Encarnacion 3B 3 0 0 0 J Reed RF 4 1 2 1 G Senjem RF 4 1 1 1 G Alvarez 1B 5 0 2 2 S Smitherman LF 4 0 0 0 S Bikowski LF 4 0 0 0 J Gutierrez 1B 4 0 1 0 C Maldonado C 3 1 2 0 J Hill DH 3 0 0 0 G Reyes SS 4 0 1 0 A Beattie 2B 4 0 0 0 T Nicholson 3B 4 1 2 1 D Sardinha C 3 0 0 0 D Sandoval 2B 4 1 1 0 B Anderson SS 3 0 1 0 TOTALS 38 5 12 5 TOTALS 32 1 3 1 BIRMINGHAM 001 000 211 -- 5 CHATTANOOGA 000 100 000 -- 1 E--T Nicholson 2, B Anderson, E Encarnacion. DP--CHATTANOOGA 1. LOB--BIRMINGHAM 9, CHATTANOOGA 6. 2B--T Nicholson, C Maldonado, C Durham, J Reed, B Anderson, J Gutierrez. HR--C Durham 1 (1) (off J Koronka), J Reed 1 (7) (off B Bevel), G Senjem 1 (11) (off E Pacheco). IP H R ER BB SO HR BIRMINGHAM E Pacheco (W,10-2) 7 1-3 3 1 1 1 5 1 J Bullard 1-3 0 0 0 0 1 0 J Bajenaru (S,9) 1 1-3 0 0 0 0 1 0 CHATTANOOGA J Koronka (L,7-12) 7 1-3 11 4 4 2 4 1 B Gray 2-3 0 0 0 0 0 0 B Bevel 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 WP--J Koronka. HBP--S Bikowski by J Koronka, E Encarnacion by E Pacheco. SO--BIR: J Piniella 2, G Alvarez, C Durham. CAT: S Smitherman 2, W Caceres, A Beattie, G Senjem, D Sardinha, J Gutierrez. BB--BIR: C Maldonado, J Reed. CAT: J Hill. T--2:36. A--6,301.

Adkins with a great start...... Will he get s Sept. callup? CHARLOTTE (0) AT INDIANAPOLIS (1) CHARLOTTE AB R H BI INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI A Miles 2B 4 0 0 0 J Conti CF 5 0 1 0 T Hummel 3B 5 0 0 0 R Paz 2B 5 0 1 0 R Gload LF 4 0 1 0 J Rushford 1B 3 0 1 1 J Borchard CF 4 0 1 0 P Zoccolillo RF 4 0 1 0 M Rivera C 3 0 1 0 K Luuloa 3B 4 0 0 0 A Rios DH 3 0 1 0 C McKay 1B 4 0 3 0 R Hankins 1B 3 0 0 0 R Knox PR 0 0 0 0 S Morgan RF 3 0 0 0 D Jennings DH 3 0 0 0 J Nunez SS 3 0 1 0 S Scarborough SS 4 0 0 0 A Delgado C 4 1 1 0 TOTALS 32 0 5 0 TOTALS 36 1 8 1 CHARLOTTE 000 000 000 0-- 0 INDIANAPOLIS 000 000 000 1-- 1 2 OUTS WHEN WINNING RUN SCORED. E--J Nunez. DP--CHARLOTTE 2, INDIANAPOLIS 2. LOB--CHARLOTTE 8, INDIANAPOLIS 9. 2B--R Paz, C McKay, P Zoccolillo, A Delgado. 3B--C McKay. SB--J Conti 1 (13). CS--J Nunez, A Rios. IP H R ER BB SO HR CHARLOTTE J Adkins 8 5 0 0 2 2 0 A Munoz 1-3 1 0 0 0 0 0 D Nickle (L,0-1) 1 1-3 1 1 1 0 0 0 D Sanders 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 INDIANAPOLIS L Martinez 6 3 0 0 4 5 0 S Nance 2 2-3 2 0 0 1 1 0 J Childers (W,3-4) 1 1-3 0 0 0 1 1 0 HBP--D Jennings by A Munoz. SO--CHA: A Rios 2, M Rivera, T Hummel, R Hankins, R Gload, J Nunez. IND: R Paz, K Luuloa. BB--CHA: M Rivera, S Morgan, A Miles, J Nunez, A Rios, R Hankins. IND: J Rushford 2. T--2:57. A--14,385.

No he wasn't on the 40man roster before this. I wonder who was taken off of the 40man. Even though I don't think it really matters. Rick White? Rick W hite is already off.. Hence the process of designating h im for assignment. According to the Sox web site, the Sox 40-man roster was not full.

Nah, I just repeat them.

The book, Moneyball, begins with the whole story. Much of what he does is based on his own failed experiences.

Ignore him Heather, he is an idiot just trying to get me riled up. From this point on, I'll allow his posts to show his idiocy. They do the job quite well.

Define way many........ And how many has he been walking lately? What is too many? Enlighten us, oh wise one.

Do you people not read every post? What part of the fact that Cotts walk rate is already way down do you not understand? I even posted numbers showing how his walks aren't the same as earlier in the year. What does it take, four years of fewer walks to make you guys look past what he did in the first half of the year??

As long as the ball is on its way he is okay blocking the plate. If no play was being made, then he would simply be guilty of obstruction. The only penalty there is that the umire places the runner he felt they would have been without the obstruction. The reason it doesn't happen more often is because if he is blocking the plate, tehn Miguel is well within his rights to plow over him.

It's also fantasy to think that the numbers you just posted will translate the same way in the ML's as they do in AA. Who the f*** cares if his numbers don't translate as well in the Majors? No one is claiming he is the next coming. We're looking for a 5th starter, not Bob Gibson! Just someone to give us a chance to win. Since you and Bmr know so much, who is a better alternative?? You want Porzio back? Rauch who just came off the DL? Adkins? I have no problem if they stick with Danny Wright. But if they don't, the Sox don't have a better option right now.

What power hitting CF's did you grow up watching?? Since when has CF been a power spot? Carl has averaged 16 HR and 67 RBI over the course of his career, hardly someone who "has power and driven in runs his whole career". Borchard is not likely our CF of the future, Jeremy Reed is. I know many don't agree with me, but I do believe that given the chance to play everyday Rowand will show power. But that is in the future. I am not trying to say Rowand should be our starting CF right now and start that argument because Everett is here and we have to live with what we have got. And there is value to having Everett hit from the left side of the plate.

I am surprised he isn't as well.

ummm can you read? HE explained there is a huge difference in walking players once u get to the majors. umm, Bmr can you read? Cotts walk rate has fallen considerably. He is not the same pitcher he was in the first half of the season. Well then nevermind, bring up the next Sandy Koufax immediately!!! You are an idiot Bmr........ There is no question about it.....

That ain't bad at all Certainly the numbers you'd like to see if you want to make him your closer However the question remains, why in the hell can't he keep his 1st inning pace (or near it) over 5, 6 innings? Ask Eric Gagne.

ummm can you read? HE explained there is a huge difference in walking players once u get to the majors. umm, Bmr can you read? Cotts walk rate has fallen considerably. He is not the same pitcher he was in the first half of the season.

As far as comparisons to Buehrle, they are different yet similar. Cotts walks more, but also strikes out a helluva lot more. Yes, I saw Mark and was very impressed when he was here in Birmingham. He came from nowhere to being one of the most highly regarded prospects in the Minors all in one year. He started the Southern League All-Star Game, the Joint-AA All-Star Game and pitched in the Future's Game. he was the Southern League's Most Valuable Pitcher despite not being in the league the whole season. All of those are similarities with Cotts. I also see some similarities in demeanor on the mound. Both seemed very cool and didn't let a bases loaded situation change what they tried to do. That focus allowed both of them to avoid big innings. Neither gave up many HR's. I am not saying that Cotts will have the same success Buehrle had over his first two full seasons. I am saying that in a similar way, I believe Cotts is as ready as Buehrle was to make his Big League debut. Lots of things, both good and bad can happen next year and the year after that.

Rex, in the short time I've been on this board, you have stood out as the most knowledgable about Cotts because you have seen him the most. Can you follow up with some additional information on the point you were making with walks? Namely that many have come late? Do you have the box scores for Cott's starts this year? I'd be really interested if anyone ever got to him early, since lately he has been throwing goose eggs through 6 or 7 innings. You were also the one, I believe, to post the stat showing Cotts had precisely the same stats as Mark Buehrle (8-4, etc.) when Mark was called up from AA. Did you see Mark then? How would you compare the two of them? As I noted above, Buehrle helped in 2000 and it seems to me Cotts could do the same. Especially when the alternative is not working. Early on in the year, Cotts would get himself into trouble early but would generally pitch his way out of it. Lately, he has just been lights out. I really don't think we need to overanalyze him. His walk rate has come down and that is what everyone is concerned about. He has had success in every aspect except for the walk rate and that has improved immensely. Could he have a bad game here and there? Sure...... But I think sometimes we tend to think too much. You know somewhere on some board, earlier this season some guy was posting something to this effect..... There is no need to call up Willis from AA. Dontrelle needs more time and experience and it is too soon to expose him to Major League hitters. He was just in Single-A last year. Don't rush him! If there was a better option, this discussion wouldn't be happening. Hell, be glad the Sox didn't trade for Kevin Jarvis. The Cubs lit his ass up yesterday.

My whole thing with Cotts is that right now, I think he is as good of an option that we have for the 5th starter. I think he will have initial success in Majors. He will have to continue to work to keep his walks down and being efficient so his pitch counts don't get too high. Could he need to start in AAA next year? Sure...... But in my mind, that would not preclude him from having success right now. Look at all of the other young guys that have come up and made contributions.

Let me clear up a few issues about Cotts here........ 1st of all (this one is for you Bmr), I am not professing Cotts will turn into Sandy Koufax or Randy Johnson, nor am I nominating Cotts for the Hall of Fame ballot... 2nd, I have said all year long that Neal's control (walks, pitch count) were holding him back and that was his major issue that would hurt him in the big leagues......... I do encourage all of you be open-minded and look past his overall stats in terms of walks and here is why... In Cotts first 10 starts he pitched 51.1 innings and walked 32 batters. In his last 10 starts, he has pitched 55 innings and has walked 24, an improved ratio. Looking into the last 10 starts, he has had starts with 4 walks or more. The first one was 6 walks and there is no sugarcoating it, he wasn't good that day. The second was recently when he had a no-hitter through 7, he walked 5. Two of those five came when the wheels fell off in the 8th inning, so he only had 3 walks in 7 innings, which is fine. Last night was the other outing where he walked four and one of those was intentional. He didn't have his best command, but his results were still outstanding. In his last four outings, two have had no walks with 7 IP each time. As CubKila said, Neal certainly could get bombed just as any Major League starter could on any given start. No one knows how a guy will handle his first start in the Majors, so the results in one start may not reflect his "readiness" at all. However, after seeing approximately 8 or 9 of Neal's starts this year and watching his progress, I am very comfortable stating that he is ready for the role of 5th starter for the rest of the year. I think he would more than hold his own. Lastly, on this issue of speed. I am not huge on radar gun readings, but Cotts has surprised me lately. In the first half of the season he was throwing consistenly at 87-89. In the second half he has been in the 88-91 range. A couple of scouts have told me that they have even got him at 94 a couple of times, although he is more consistently around 89-90. I know not everyone will be convinced and some won't be able to look past his overall walk total, but I hope this helps some see past that.