YASNY

Ummmm .... Yes, he did. The Ritchie trade.

A guy that doesn't make stupid mistakes in the field or on the pads, that knows how to steal a base, and puts his team first .... defines a smart ballplayer, imo. To say nothing of the fact that it takes an intelligent hitter to be a good number 2 hitter. You have to know when to swing or take a pitch, how to hit behind a runner, how to sac bunt .... it's all situational baseball and it takes a smart player to do that well.

As a salute to my old high school, Richards .... How about them Bulldogs!

Just wait. Most Dems think GWB is the AntiChrist. It could happen before you know it.

Australia has been one of our staunchest allies for a very long time. I think there would be no hesitation from the US about jumping to the aid of Australia if they were in need.

Gload has proved he can hit major league pitching. He's not a slugger but he's a good, amsrt hitter that will situationally hit to help his ball team. Uribe is not an easy out and with maturity should be able to shorten those slumps he occasionally falls into.

Did you not read the rest of it? He doesn't make mistakes defensively or on the basepaths. He can field his position adequately wherever you play him and he can steal a base you. He's a consummate number 2 hitter. He's willing to play anywhere or hit anywhere in the lineup to help his team. That sounds like a pretty damn smart ballplayer to me.

witesoxfan, there is only one thing wrong with your proposed trade ........ Everything! Ok, I'm kidding, but .... 1. Even though, in your opinion, it improves the Sox, it is a bad trade for one very simple reason. You are giving up way too much in value for what you are receiving in return. I mean PK & CL for Hudson and Byrnes is not an unreasonable trade based only on player values. I know it's not realistic because of the $ situation, but strictly on a 2 for 2 basis, it's relatively fair. 2. Adding 3 prospects and $$$$$$$$$ to a deal like that and KW would be strung up from the CF scoreboard by the media and Sox fans, to say nothing of what JR would do to him. 3. Even though the Sox are wanting to get away from the power hitter type, they are not wanting to go back to the '06 Hitless Wonders or the '59 Go Go Sox .... even though both teams did make the Series. I just can't KW moving both PK and CL during this offseason. One or the other, yes. In fact, I believe it will happen. You usually have pretty good ideas, and you even back this one up very well. But, just looking at the trade, they could get a lot more for PK, CL, 3 Prospects and $10M than just Hudson and Byrnes.

Kendall for Konerko. That's $34 million vs $9.25 Million after the trade clause kicks in for PK. I'd make Pittsburg throw in one of those good young ballplayers they have for us taking all the payroll off their books.

If he can pitch, I don't care who he used to play for.

His father taught him well. He's a chip off the ol' block.

If you all don't think New Yorkers think they are better than rest of us ... elitists ... I have one question for you. Where are the majority of the Damn Yankee fans? I rest my case.

Hey, you can get from all those states to the Atlantic via water. That's still the eastern seaboard.

Replace "heart and soul" with "mainstream America" and you'll get my drift. I didn't think those words would be taken so literally.

Happy Birthday!

Thanks to all. I appreciate all the kind words and good wishes. The people on this board are great!

I wonder if the Astros would be interested in Everett?

And a very sound opinion it is.

That's over 21 million per year! He's not THAT damn good.

Why not just keep Garland? He's healthy.

Well, I don't have a source for this, but I just heard Backman has been fired already.

For all practical intents and purposes, they do have to trade him. Hiring Backman signifies a continued youth movement and RJ is not going to be a happy camper with a bunch of youngsters after last year. Book it. RJ will be traded.

Lieber's a better pitcher than what he was this year. This year was his year to regain his form and rebuild his strength after the surgery. Next year he will just as effective as he was for the Cubs in '02.

I also think many underestimate Konerko and Lee's trade value. I just wanted to back you up on that, Beck.

JR may now have the incentive to sign Beltran. This is from jay mariotti: