YASNY

SIU is ranked #4 in division IIA

I remember now ... Someone posted in here about a conversation with JM while working on his garage door. That was the source of the Maggs almost traded remark.

I still look at the '75 series between Cincy and Boston as the best ever. Simply because I thought game 6 (Fisk's homer) was best World Series game I ever watched.

I think you underestimate Konerko's trade value. I do. Look at it this way. If I was a GM of some team, and looking to trade a starting pitcher of mine, who is decent, and the White Sox offered me Paul Konerko for him, I'd say no. Unless the GM is a complete moron and doesn't look at speed, defense, etc, I wouldn't accept. Granted, there's no way of not knowing that PK won't have a great slump again this year. He probably won't. I just don't want that slowness of his on our team. Possibly a team looking for a DH or a 1B that hits for power, and don't mind about speed, then we might be able to get something useful out of them. In a perfect world, I'd get rid of Frank, move Lee to first, DH Konerko and put the LF and CF spots up for grabs. While Carlos isn't a bad left fielder anymore, we could definitely use more speed in the lineup and moving him to the infield wouldn't be a bad move in my opinion. Then you put the CF/LF spots up for grabs in ST and let Rowand, Harris, Borchard and Reed fight for them. Of course this will never happen, but it's just what I think would be best for the Sox. I think if the Sox keep Carlos long-term, you'll see him switched to either DH or 1B. I like the way you're thinking here.

Regarding #1, and I'm just guessing here, I'd have to say it was the *gulp* Cubs.

Since making this post, I got into a conversation about the possible deal between NY and KC. Well, it got my mind churning ..... what about the possibility of building a Soriano for Ordonez trade? This is taking into consideration Magglio's $14Mil 2004 salary and the fact that it would free up some cash for other areas of need. Soriano would fit real nice at second base in Chicago, too.

If you think back, the one thing that made the difference in the long run of the season was that Minnesota signed Kenny Rogers for $2Mil and we wouldn't pay him more than $1Mil. Kenny Rogers in that #5 slot for us, and him not being available to the Twins when all their starters were injured or ineffective, would have made all the difference. We lost the division because of the unwillingness to pay $1 Mil more in payroll.

In fact, I read an article, just yesterday, at one of the NY newspapers sites that said the Yankee "brain trust" was considering trading Soriano to KC for Beltran.

Hasn't Borchard been playing non-stop since he was signed? The dude probably needs a break. That will wear you down physically and mentally.

One thing that people don't consider when they call Garland a bust is the fact that his first couple of years in the bigs he had Nardi Contreras as a pitching coach. That will retard almost anyone's developement. Garland has finished each of the last two season relatively strong. I think his consistency is developing as he is learning how to pitch. I still expect much better things from him in the very near future and do not consider him a bust. Danny Wright will be back next season after having time off to recover from that arm injury he had this past spring. Cotts will probably need half a season in AAA to master his command. but, that is something that could be happening as we speak (type?) down in the AFL. This is a big year for Rauch. It's make or break time for him. Honel "coming up" as a #3 is highly unlikely. He'll come up, probably as a spot starter or #5 at best. I'm sure he'll have to pitch his way up the rotation.

If he can pitch 220 innings and win 18+ games, I don't care if he's Ted Bundy.

Do you remember old Tiger Stadium? It had an upper deck in right field that extended out over the field. Some balls that landed in the upper deck for homers would have playable if not for that overhang. It was called a porch.

I would consider Torre become the White Sox manager an extreme longshot at best. Too many things would have to fall perfectly in place. But, then again, that's exactly what happened with Baker and the Scrubs last off season.

Just because someone is "laid back" does not mean he wouldn't have a firm, no nonsense approach. JM couldn't seem to get his players to do what was necessary to win, couldn't get them to play team first baseball. Cito has already proven that he can do just that.

That's a very distinct possibility. But the game goes through cycles. We may get back to four man rotations some day. You never know.

I think the 5th starter spot would not be a problem.... there's that Loaiza guy.

I'd get fired the first week of spring training. Especially if we resigned Thomas, because I wouldn't coddle his superstar ass. If I wanted him batting 7th he'd bat 7th and like it. No way could I last long with a bunch egotistical athletes.

Shiyit.........why not YAS? Why not what?

I could see Ozzie being successful with Nossek as his bench coach, Cooper as the pitching coach and Ozzie listening to them when they have input.

After Greg Maddux, the next pitcher to win 300 games may be Mark Prior. He's that good. Of course, if his Dustiness doesn't blow his arm out first.

Wasn't it mentioned somewhere in the past two weeks that Maggs was almost traded at the deadline? That would have had to have been the infamous "knock your sox off" trade.

I don't know why we even try to put together a roster for next year before this years World Series is still going on. Besides the fact that we don't have a manager yet.

I can't figure out the fascination with Alomar. Jimenez had superior stats in every offensive category from what I can figure out. I dno't care how stupid he was on the basepaths, he is a better player then Alomar at this stage of the game. I don't want Robbie back. It would be the same as bringing Jose back. Your paying for guys that are over the hill and their best days are well past them. Jose and Alomar should be gone. The Sox will have a new cf, ss, and 2nd baseman next year. That would make me happy at least. Rowand, Reed, Borchard all count as new CF for me. The key is 2nd and ss, I am not concerned with cf. I want an influx of speed up the middle. I agree with the fact that you don't understand all the fascination with Alomar back. He's washed up, imho. But to say Jiminez was a better player than Alomar is, again imho, ludicrous. Jiminez could hit a little bit, but that's all he could do. He has the baseball instincts of a box of rocks. I'll take a washed up Robbie Alomar over Jiminez.

I can't quote it exactly but my favorite quote was by KW ... "Jerry Manuel will not return as manager of the White Sox" or something to that effect.