First off, how can stats be "completely bogus"? Stats are exactly that .... stats. You can't change them because they are in the books. Cowley gave 2004 stats and career stats to back up his point. Nobody in Soxtalk chooses selective stats to back up their point. If they did, that would make the stats "completely bogus". Unsubstantiated claims? ... I beg to differ. He QUOTED Lee. He put the name of a respected team leader in connection with Lee's lack of being a team player. He also used quotes from the GM, stated back in September and that didn't cause a stink back then, to back up his story. The quotes by KW raised a flag with me, at the time, that there was more to the story than we were getting. I couldn't understand it then, but it all comes into crystal clear focus now.
I'm taking the word of a Sox beat writer ... someone that is around the team all year long .... and the facts mentioned above, and saying that there is fire that is causing all this smoke. Also, in my mind I questioned the fact that the Sox would trade Konerko if it meant getting Randy Johnson, but would trade Lee if they had to settle for Vazquez. Too much smoke ... turns out there was plenty of fire.