Rex Hudler

And the comment about having kids to feed and a lifestyle to support??? Tell him to stay out of every Strip Club in America and he might actually have some money.

The media gets on Frank because he brings it on himself. He says stupid things that show he is an arrogant, selfish individual. The deal on Sportscenter was they broke down how much money he made over the last two years per hit, HR, game played, etc. The showed a chart on the screen and then cited that Frank made more than $619,000 per HR over the last 2 years. Then they said maybe Frank ought to relearn the definition of "screwed". Him saying I got screwed was one of the dumbest comments I have ever heard come out any athlete's mouth.

I repeat, Honel is making mere 200 K, which after taxes and expenses, comes down to not much. First of all, where do you come up with that Honel is making 200K? Second, if you are trying to say that making 200K isn't much then I want your life. Most of us stiffs have to work our asses off and be happy with 30-50K. The whole point of this topic was not to talk about Kris Honel. It was merely to make a point that we sometimes expect too much too soon, from young draftees. I never meant to make them seem like lesser people, just that their lives are different.

Nody is giving Honel millions. All he gets is montly after-tax checks enough to pay for a good house, car and cloth. That's it. And 18 is not 12. IN most countries, 16 is audlt age. Stop babying these guys. That comment was referring to LeBron James. You can say 18 is the adult age, but if you think that the maturity of an 18 year old is high, then you must be one.

Lebron James is a freak, anyone that know's anything about basketball know's he's gonna be a special player. You just don't find 18 year olds that can do what he does. His odds are good, but no one knows if he will end up in jail, on drugs or what? Putting millions of dollars (several million, not just one) into an 18 yr olds hands is dangerous. You never know what you are going to get. Athletically, he is great and has a man's body at this point.

Wunsch had one good year. He is nothing but an average pitcher and won't end the season in the Sox bullpen unless they have a ton of injuries.

We'll have to agree to disagree. Frank is a cancer and is completely selfish. The Sox would be better off without him. It's called addition by subtraction! Ask the Mariners if it works.

The post below was reprinted from another topic regarding Kris Honel. The discussion got me on a soapbox about our expectations of kids to perform immediately. It is long, so for that I apologize, but I feel it should make everyone think about the reality of expecations on an 18 yr old. The thing we need to keep in mind about some of these kids, and especially ones drafted right out of HS is that they are just kids. Think of taking a random group of 30 HS seniors and what the maturity levels of them would be like. You'd find a few that are pretty mature and have a good head on their shoulders, a few that are complete idiots (maybe more than a few) and a lot that are decent kids, just immature and not wise to the ways of the world. Most 18 yr olds think they know everything. Now think of that group in terms of elite athletes. Think of thirty 18 yr olds that have been the best at their sport (and often multiple sports). They have always been the best, told they were the best and more often than not treated differently than regular, less talented players. Youth and HS coaches tend to coddle these guys. These guys usually have a tendency to be full of themselves at a higher rate than the first group. Then, take one of those kids, give him more than a million dollars. He gets written up in every baseball publication imaginable and fans immediately want to know how fast he can make it to the Big Leagues. Then, put him on the road, away from home, with other like 18 yr. olds, let him travel to different cities where he is the center of attention and where he can get laid in any city he wants, without really trying and where he can get drunk just about any time he wants. Think about all of that, and try to translate that into an 18 yr old you know. I suspect you wonder how these kids ever get anything positive accomplished. These kids read their own press clippings, drive that new $40,000 SUV and live a life most 18 yr olds would never know. The bottom line is all of these factors contribute to a pretty high rate of disappointments. Some kids take longer to mature than others. Some never do. I don't know Kris Honel and this is not geared toward him, but it is to make a point that we often think these kids are emotional machines or that they have the maturity of a 25 or 30 yr old. We shouldn't be surprised if a kid doesn't improve each and every year and has a setback early on. Some kids will get it faster than others. Some will never get it. Just keep in mind that like other kids the same age, some will make it big, and some won't. Enough rambling, I hope the point has been made......

Hudler, my man, you underestimate the misinterpretation skills of the Chicago media! You're living in a dream world if you think all of this was brought on by the Chicago media. He had a press conference for any and all media. Frank is a selfish person and a crybaby. When he is hitting well, he is happy and everyone can deal with him. But when he is struggling, he is as big a cancer as anyone. He is a classic example of someone who never takes responsibility for his own actions. Too bad the Sox can't trade him for a bag of BP balls and learn to succeed without him, which they will in time.

Frank is far from a team player. His way of saying "I'm a team player" is to blame everyone else for last year and toot his own horn. He is a team player if he is hitting well. Frank is the kind of guy that could go 0-4 in Game 7 of a WS victory and not be happy. It is all about him. Always has been, always will be. If you haven't seen the comments on ESPN, check out Sportscenter. Watching him say it on video eliminates the possible print bias.

The possibility is VERY large that Frank will say something, the press will misquote or misinterpret it, and Frank will throw a hissyfit. Well this time there was no misquoting or misinterpreting to it. He said it all on camera in front of the world. Frank just doesn't get it. He is never wrong and nothing is ever his fault. The guy's a damned cancer and the Sox will be much better without him. I'll be glad the day he is gone, but for now Frank, just shut up and hit!

Frank's mouth creates controversy, not the media. He said all of those things in a press conference, on camera, not to one reporter trying to stir something up. I have said it many times before and I will say it again. Frank is a damned cancer and the Sox will be much better off without him. He just doens't get it. Nothing is ever HIS fault. He is always mistreated. I'm crying for you Frank. Just keep your damned mouth shut and hit!

Jeff Abbott hit .274 in 80 games with the Sox in 2000 and if I recall, had several key hits to help win games that year. He hit .279 in 89 games in 1998. He hit .283 in 100 games in AAA last year. Obviously he never became a regular but I wouldn't call him a bust. He made it to the Majors and had some servicable time. Jeff Liefer had some good years in the Minors, but I never felt he would be a long term Big Leaguer. He hit 17 and 21 HR in 2 yrs at Birmingham and 32 in his 2nd year of AAA. Drove in close to 100 runs a couple of times. I may be wrong, but I always thought of him as a 4th OF at best.

I'm telling you right now that unless he overhauls everything, he won't hit over .240 in the Minors, AT BEST! I honestly think the Sox will try to make him pitch this year. If not, he could be a candidate to be released. With Nunez at SS in AAA and Hummel, Miles at 2B, there isn't much of a place for him.

Mcginnis, that last post wasn't directed at your comment specifically because I don't think you were trying to cut Kris down. I was just using that comment about him being a hot head and Kris to make a point that applies to many young players.

The thing we need to keep in mind about some of these kids, and especially ones drafted right out of HS. Think of taking a random group of 30 HS seniors and what the maturity levels would be like. You'd find a few that are pretty mature and have a good head on their shoulders, a few that are complete idiots (maybe more than a few) and a lot that are decent kids, just immature and not wise to the ways of the world. Most 18 yr olds think they know everything. Now think of that group in terms of elite athletes. Think of thirty 18 yr olds that have been the best at their sport (and often multiple sports). They have always been the best, told they were the best and more often than not treated differently than regular, less talented players. Youth and HS coaches tend to coddle these guys. These guys usually have a tendency to be full of themselves at a higher rate than the first group. Then, take one of those kids, give him more than a million dollars. He gets written up in every baseball publication imaginable and fans immediately want to know how fast he can make it to the Big Leagues. Then, put him on the road, away from home, with other like 18 yr. olds, let him travel to different cities where he is the center of attention and where he can get laid in any city he wants, without really trying and where he can get drunk just about any time he wants. Think about all of that, and try to translate that into an 18 yr old you know. I suspect you wonder how these kids ever get anything positive accomplished. These kids read their own press clippings, drive that new $40,000 SUV and live a life most 18 yr olds would never know. The bottom line is all of these factors contribute to a pretty high rate of disappointments. Some kids take longer to mature than others. Some never do. I don't know Kris Honel and this is not geared toward him, but it is to make a point that we often think these kids are emotional machines or that they have the maturity of a 25 or 30 yr old. We shouldn't be surprised if a kid doesn't improve each and every year and has a setback. Enough rambling, I hope the point has been made......

Just to give you an idea about Dellaero.... I am not sure if I can truly describe this play, but I'll give it a shot. He made this play in an afternoon game a few years ago. I believe Ginter was on the hill. There was a runner on 2B with 2 outs and there was a soft liner hit up the middle. The runner on 2B takes off with 2 outs. The ball hits right around second base and is headed into CF. Somehow JD runs the ball down about 8 feet deep into the OF grass right behind the 2B bag. When he stabs it, the ball is basically past him. He reaches out as far as he can just to snag the ball, does a full 360 (ok, probably only a 270) and "flips" the ball sidearm toward home, while falling down into the outfield grass. His sidearm flip is a freakin seed and it hits the catcher right in the hands, chest high to nail the runner coming from second by 3 full steps. He didn't even slide. I don't recall who the runner was, but he wasn't slow. It was one of the best plays I have ever seen, because of both his ability to get to a ball he never should have had a chance to get, and because of the sidearm throw while falling away that was an absolute strike! If Mr. Bullard visits this thread, maybe he can offer his thoughts. I am not sure how much he has played with Jason, but I know there was at least a brief time last year.

Yes, I guess Rey Ordonez is fair.... JD was different though. He was tall and lanky. Doesn't look quick at all. Doesn't look very athletic. Doesn't show the "gun" unless it is needed, so you don't really see it too often. But he has unbelievable range. He gets to balls you wonder how the hell he gets there. He can throw someone out from anywhere. I have seen him throw fast guys out by 3 steps from 10 feet in the OF grass in the hole between 3B and SS. He is a guy that if you see one game here or one game there, you don't see what he can do. You wouldn't be overly impressed. How good he is, is really hard to describe. But ask any player or coach or scout that has seen him play and they will rave about his D and shake their head about his hitting. He tries to jack everything and pulls off the ball. Refuses to go the other way. Never walks, strikes out at an ungodly rate. But as bad as he hits, when he came to play SS for the Barons last year, that is about when they really started to hit their stride.

JD definitely has to be on that list. Although he could get himself off it if he decides to pitch full-time. If only that guy could hit...... For those of you who never saw him play SS or only saw him in his brief callup, you missed a beautiful thing. That guy was the real deal and more. He made plays that made you shake your head and wonder how the hell he did it. What might have been......

Scott Christman belons in that group as well.

Jim, no sweat on stealing my thunder. If you have info, please share it. Secondly, on Welsh. I know nothing about him as a player, but one things jumps out at me immediately based on what you said and on his numbers from last year. Considering that the Hoover Met is definitely a pitcher's park and not many guys hit 20 Hr's for the Barons, how well do you think he might do in Birmingham? Could he struggle like Adam Johnson did a few years ago, with his HR stroke creating a lot of long flyouts in the gaps? Off the top of my head, the only guys I can think of that hit more than 20HR for the Barons recently are: Borchard Darron Ingram Crede (only 3 at the Met) Rowand Carlos Lee Jeff Liefer Luis Raven Mike Cameron There may have been a few others, but that is not a shabby list of hitters...

Hey Jim, have you heard anything about Jason Dellaero? I heard somewhere that he is going to pitch exclusively this year, but I am not sure how reliable that info was.

Well Mr. Bullard stole some of my thunder, but that's good because it validates a few things I have heard, such as Ring being used as a starter. Other things... 1. Keep in mind that last year (actually the last 3 years) the outlook for the Barons the last couple years has not been good either. As far back as 2000 we weren't expecting Buehrle or Ginter at this point. Nor did anyone have any idea Buehrle would have the year he did. The past couple of years the outlook hasn't been great as far as position players. No one expected Miles to break out, Olivo to be back in AA, or the Barons to score so many runs by playing small ball. Valentine was in ST with the Tigers, Monuz was 19 and skipping high A, Sanders and Stewart were thought of as roster fill, etc. etc. It is easy to say that the team doesn't look as good as they did last year, but that was at the end of the season, not what the team looked like before ST started. 2. Valentine did not break Almonte's team and SL save record..... He tied it. 3. Ulacia's problem last year was control. It may not have showed in walks, but I saw more 2-0 and 3-1 counts with him pitching than I can remember in a long time. He didn't walk a lot because he got hit hard when he got in those counts. Dennis will get a shot to right the ship this year, but likely it will be in the bullpen in AA. 4. I don't think West or Malone are definites for AAA. Either or both could be back in AA. 5. Lastly, and this is just something that bugs me, but Barons is not singular so using the word in the possesive form of Baron's in incorrect. If using the apostrophe, it should be Barons'.

I agree. It is the future against the present. I would guess a million to one that the White Sox will come out victorious, but it will be cool to see what Birmingham has to bring. Can't wait to see it! Better be careful where you put your million to one...... The last time they played the Barons won. The game is not about winning and losing, it is about the Big League blub throwing a bone to their affiliate. Giving the fans of Birmingham or Charlotte a chance to see the Sox. From what a friend that used to work for the Barons told me a second Major League team was considered, but it was too late to bring one in once the date was finalized with the Sox. To bring in another MLB team, the Barons would have to pay them and find a team that has an open date that can fit the stop into their travel plans. in 1999, the Barons hosted the Phillies and Orioles so it can be done, just takes advanced planning and lots of $$.

Not a bad report, except for the inaccuracies.