Rex Hudler

Thanks cwsox. We'll see if you still think that way one of these days when I pull out an opinion from LF that is different from everyone else's.

Agreed that Miles did everything he could to make the team. If JP is out of the equation, Miles still may not make it. JM wanted Miles, KW wanted Harris. With Willie already on the 40-man, I think he would have won out anyway.

MJ was never better than a backup catcher and never will be. The combination of Alomar and Olivo is not only better this year, but is better for the Sox in the long run as well.

Here's the skinny (no pun intended) on Ulacia... He had a horrible year in Burlington in 2000 at 4-14. Then dominated at 4 levels in 2001 (one start in Charlotte and four in Birmingham plus stints in Kannapolis and W-S). Last year he came back soft. He had gained weight and didn't look nearly as in shape as the year before and again struggled all year. Basically by the end of the year, he was a non-factor and was out of the bullpen. This year he has lost a lot of weight and looks much better. Doesn't have that soft look like last year. I immediately saw the difference in his face and neck. Apparently, he had a really good spring. He is getting another shot at the rotation. He pitched well against the Sox today.

Eason was great for Birmingham last year. He was 5-2 with 4 saves and a 2.00 ERA. He made 3 or 4 spot starts, including one in the playoffs and excelled every time. He is a very good AA pitcher, but may be a marginal guy at AAA. He earned a spot in Charotte, but again, there are only so many spots on a roster.

Sometimes a guy is not promoted strictly because there is not room for him. They say the largest jump for a Minor Leaguer is from Class A to AA, so the jump from Low A would be even bigger. Nothing wrong with making a guy earn it. Rushing him does him no good because it just creates a logjam at the top and then he slows down when he gets to AAA if there is no room in Chicago. In reality, Chad Durham should probably be in AAA right now, but there is no place to put him on that roster.

I agree that 3 catchers is not necessary. JP is just being kept as insurance at this point and I don't think he will be there for long unless Olivo fails. Wouldn't shock me to see JP traded. I agree Miles earned a shot and apparently JM wanted to keep him, but that got nixed in favor of being cautious due to the possibility of losing JP to waivers. If JP had another option left, he would be in Charlotte right now.

Rumor has it Lubisich quit after refusing to pitch out of the bullpen.

I don't have all of the pitchers off the top of my head, but I will give it a shot. Sox: Stewart (3 IP), Diaz, 4 (IP), Jake Meyer and Matt Smith. The Sox borrowed those guys, plus Battersby for the game. Barons: Cotts, Ulacia, Bullard, Malone, and Ring. Ring took the loss giving up a run in the 9th.

Bham has a damn good looking staff this year. Bullpen is the ?? If the bullpen holds up, things could be good.

Baggs, Johnson and Olivo would not have flown. That is a worse combo than Alomar and Olivo. The decision to keep 3 catchers was KW's not JM's. They kept JP (can I get any more initials) as insurance in case Olivo falters in the first month of the season. They were afraid to take a chance on losing him on waivers. Once Olivo establishes himself, JP will be shipped out. If the Koch trade didn't happen, then we keep Johnson, Olivo and Paul or trade for a different catcher, because they still would be afraid to lose Paul since Olivo didn't hit this spring.

West is on Birmingham's roster. Rotation is Malone, Cotts, West, Ulacia and Bullard

I belive Bullard posted about Phillips. Had soreness (not sure if shoulder or elbow) and had not been throwing in ST. Started late so will go to W-S or stay in extended ST. Birmingham's rotation is Malone, Cotts, West, Ulacia and Bullard (not necessarily in that order). Apparently Ulacia threw very well in the spring (and looked very good last night - dropped a lot of weight) so they are giving him another shot. Diaz was rumored to be headed for Birmingham until Stewart made the Big Club this week. Put all those possibilities together and there is no room for Phillips, healthy or not.

No Reed....... He was in Kanny last year, so I would guess he'll be in W-S.

Actually, a friend told me last week that Eason refused assignment to Birmingham, but later reconsidered. I heard something to that effect on a news report as well.

No, that is Birmingham's roster. It has been set, unless changes are made tomorrow after the exhibition game, but none are expected.

i was trying to remember if it was you. if i remember correctly you are very knowledgeable on the team down there. bottom line is will you be able to write something up during the season? Sure, I will post things from time to time... I will offer opinions that may or may not be the same as what is read in the typical publications. I watch a lot of games, talk to the players some, talk to scouts at games occasionally, have a couple friends in the Barons office, and know other knowledgeable fans that go a lot. All that and 50-cents will buy you a coke if you are lucky, but hopefully it gives you insight as to how I come about said opinions. If you ever want to know about a specific player, ask and I will tell you what I see/think.

Birmingham Roster (if I can recall 100%..... I may be off a guy or two) Pitchers Bajenaru Bullard Cotts Eason Malone Meyer Pacheco Ring Smith Ulacia West Yofu Catchers Aceves Maldonado Infielders Alvarez (Gabe) Battersby Hankins Reyes Sandoval Shaffer Saunders Outfielders Bikowski Durham Holt Piniella

No he did not.

Yes, I live in Birmingham...

So why would he be cluless by picking the Twins to win the AL Central? I read his article and didn't see a thing wrong with it? Why would basically call the guy clueless without reason??? I don't see anything that makes me think he is a jackass either...

If they keep JP it is merely a precaution until they are sure that Miguel is ready. They want Miguel on the Major League roster, but aren't sold on just him and Sandy while fearing they could lose JP to waivers. Just buying time. Still, not the best decision in my mind, unless they have something else cooking.

I think keeping Stewart is a combination of rewarding him for performing and being cautious with Danny.

Sox 40-Man Roster Of these guys, Adkins, Almonte, Ginter, Munoz, Porzio(?), Rauch, Sanders, Stewart(?), Hummel, Borchard, and possibly Paul, Olivo or Harris (depending on what the big club does) will be at AAA. West, Diaz and Malone will likely be at AA. They have 37 spots filled with 3 open. Obviously, Daubach and Loaiza will be added with one spot to fill. It could go to Miles or to someone else if any kind of deal is made. They may keep an open spot in case a deal is made later. If Miles is sent to AAA he does not need to be added until they call him up, unless they just do it as a reward. However, they would likely hold onto that flexibility rather than put him on before they need to. Jim was correct in that if a player is removed from the 40-man they must pass through waivers before they can be sent down to AAA. The one exception to that is an injured player can be placed on the 60-day DL (for serious injuries only). At that point, they would not be counted as on the 40-man roster. All of this changes in the off-season with free agents, but we won't go into all of that right now.

I don't know about that. The Sox have had some pretty no-BS players and managers who I don't think would allow Sammy to pull some of his tactics. People like Terry Bevington, Albert Belle, Bo Jackson, Robin Ventura, Jim Parque, Jose Valentin, and even Frank Thomas would have, I believe, led by example and showed Sammy that he either shapes up or ships out. The Cubs seem to have just thrown their arms in the air and said "OK, Sammy can do what he wants", but I don't think the Sox would have ever let it approach that point. I could be wrong, though. The Sox have done that with Frank, so what's the difference. There have been different rules and treatment for FT for 10 years.