YASNY

The people that run and maintain Soxtalk continue to amaze me. Good job guys. This is really a first class group and organization.

Full recovery expected.

I hope you thoroughly enjoy the holiday season at home. You deserve it.

Sometimes. And sometimes they are taken out of context and players have undeserved labels put on them.

If Bonds and that other shrinking Violet, Sosa, eventually are forced to admit to taking steroids, what does that do to their HOF eligibilty? If they aren't banned, will anybody vote for them? Will Bonds 72 homers be honored? What about if he hits number 756? This is a nightmare scenario for MLB.

This is a good example of how some things that are said could be taken out of context. They said that they couldn't get through to Crede and he was then considered a stubborn, uncoachable head case by some Sox fans. It was just a matter of the light bulb going on and the maturity it takes to realize that what you have always done is not quite good enough. I suspect that the Jon Garland case is a similar scenario.

You make a good case here. I have to admit this grudgingly, because I've always wanted Drew on the Sox.

Yankees and Phillies are talking seriously about a deal that would send Kenny Lofton to Philadelphia and $1.5 million for reliever Felix Rodriguez.

Just a little note from the Atlanta Constitution Journal: And the from the NY Post:

On another topic, has anyone heard anything lately on J. D. Drew? He seems to flying under the radar these days with all the rumors flying around. And we all know who is lurking around "under the radar".

Call it a hunch, but I think he will also.

Mike Leiberthal might be available. I don't see him as a fit for the Sox (too much money at $7.1Mil) but it's possible he could accept a trade. From the Philly Daily News: Also, the Phillies will not sign any free agents that receive arbitration offers:

You've got to keep tabs on your kids to a certain extent. And it's not because of a lack of trust, but due to the fact that you are more aware of the dangers and downfalls that are out there. I mean in both the real world and on the net. There are too many temptations out there that a hormonally active 15 year old kid can get sucked in by.

Update on the defensive backfield: By David Haugh Tribune staff reporter December 2, 2004 From the day he took the job, Bears coach Lovie Smith has maintained his desire to get the 11 best players on the field at the same time. Starting cornerback Charles Tillman's return Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings challenged Smith to devise a way to do that defensively, and he found a creative way. Expect veteran cornerback R.W. McQuarters to start at free safety against the Vikings to make room for Tillman, who will start opposite Jerry Azumah. Rookie cornerback Nathan Vasher, the team's interceptions leader with four, will be in the mix on nickel downs. Todd Johnson, who has not made enough big plays for the coaching staff's liking subbing for the injured Mike Brown, will take a seat.

Congrats to the Illini and all of you Illini fans. Very very impressive performance.

You're description of Tracy being able to bounce back and pitch the next day and the following from that article ..... ..... sounds like he has "closer" written all over him.

Burroughs lack of power concerns me, but I think I'd make the trade.

Kinda similar to Posednik in that regard.

Bowdon knows he probably only has one year to make an impression before the team is under new ownership. He's wanting to come in and improve the position in the standings for the sake of his resume. In fact, he probably doesn't care what the long term effects of these signings will have on the team.

Ok, if that's the case, then I stand corrected. I know they were on the verge of releasing him cause the cub fan tools were excited about him playing for Dusty again and they'd get him for nothing. Someone (SD?) must have jumped in at the last minute to save him the indignity of getting released, and probably gave up very little for him. EDIT: That'll teach me not to rely on memory again. Getting old is hell, but better than the alternative.

I just know that while reading that interview from the LA Times, it seemed that part of those quotes came from Bradley, another part was from Milton. I don't know who was speaking for the last third of them. This young man does have his share of problems and his emotional/mental make up is all out of whack.

Regardless. Your bragging about wanting to get Aurelia is not anything worth bragging about, since he was RELEASED BY A LAST PLACE TEAM.

What we need is "Mark Cuban" or "Donald Trump" factor.

If it reaches the courts, and they find Giambi fraudulent or something, the MLBPA wouldn't have a whole lot that they could say about it.

Posednik would supply the Sox with what they need at the top of the order, IF he can be close to the player he was in 2003. However, I feel that it's too much of a gamble to take if it's going to cost the team Anderson.