YASNY

I have a feeling the market for cork will be sky high in the Chicago area when the Cubs visit the Cell.

Never said he was. But he was, and still is, a damn good ballplayer.

I watch Baseball tonight because it's best source of baseball information and highlights that I can get on my TV. I don't agree with a lot of what they say, but it's better than watching "I Love Lucy" reruns.

The only thing that Paulie screwed up with last year was saying to the media. When you say say he should have confronted Frank man to man, you are right. However, Paulie was man enough to admit, in the press, that he made a mistake. Someone should have gotten on Frank's ass last year, considering the way he was acting. That's been a big problem with the Cubs all these years. No one would say s*** to Sosa. I'm glad we have some guys who will stand up for the team as whole, over any individual. And yes, Paulie has to keep his mouth shut this year. He is in no position to be calling out anyone. But, I believe he knows that.

That's a good point. In fact, 4 of Garland's last 5 starts have been quality starts. Let's hope he can keep it going. Once he found his rythem last year he did a damn good job. Perhaps, he's found it earlier this year and can roll from here. If so, we can expect a quality start any time one of our top four starters takes the mound.

Ray was good player here for a lot of years. And at times, I've thought we made a mistake not bringing him back. He came into the game hitting .325. Don't you think that might have helped this team get off the schnied a little bit sooner?

Baseball Tonight, on ESPN, showed that Bonds homer 4 freaking times in a one hour show.

I couldn't get the game either, but the Tribune said he misjudged the ball, after being inserted as a defensive replacement.

It was Antonio Osuna who blew the save (6 run lead vs. Detroit) for Clemens that day. And that made Osuna, according to Retrosheet, only the second relief pitcher since the invention of the modern save rule to blow a save for a pitcher attempting to win his 300th. The other: Terry Forster, who couldn't hold a one-run lead for Don Sutton on June 14, 1986. Quoted from Jayson Stark at ESPN.

I'll pass, thank you.

Yes, the team got ripped for that pick. I hope Ring proves that they made the right choice.

Right now, Rowand is the best of the 3. He's the only one that has experienced any amount of success on the ML level.

It doesn't surprise me. But it does disgust when the sell out some of the traditions of the game. One person's "selling out" is another person's "evolution". All depends on how you look at things. Baseball "sold out" when they created the DH. Baseball "sold out" when they thought up the concept of inter-league play. Baseball "sold out" when they decided to try having the winning league of the AS game have home field for the WS. Now, baseball has "sold out" because they changed the uniforms that will be worn at the afore-mentioned AS game. At the same time, there are probably many people who love the DH, inter-league play, the new AS rule, or the new jersies. All depends on your tastes, likes, and dislikes. Well, I've stated my opinion on the jersey issue.

It doesn't surprise me. But it does disgust when the sell out some of the traditions of the game.

THe game itself is, or should be, meaningless. It's a spectacle for the fans, a reward for the guys having good years and a showcase for baseball. This HF advantage for the winner is crap. The uniform thing sucks too. But baseball looks to rake in the almighty dollar again. I hope they don't sell the first uniform from this game.

When I first read the quote, the whole quote BTW, I never had the thought cross my mind that he was whining. I mean come on, a reporter asks you how you feel about being benched and your are supposed to be enthusiastic about. He implied that id he'd been more productive that he's be playing, and whatever's best for the team is ok with him. What else could he have possibly said?

Please tell me your joking...

I can honestly say I've rooted for the AL All-Star to win every game for about 40 years or so.

I think DJ has been a relatively satisfactory performer for the team this year. As for his base running blunders, that seems to happen to any player wearing a Sox uniform. Our team baserunning was horrid in '02. Look at Olivo, trying to take 3rd on a foul pop up with two outs. I like Olivo as a ballplayer, and I am not unhappy with DJ. I'm not going to hang either one them over the mistakes they've made.

Hey! We won Saturday and Sunday. Can't fire him now.

Hey guy... welcome to the board. Hope to hear from you often

Ummm... would you believe a typo? LOL ... Sorry, but for some reason I was under the impression he was only 20.

The Clemens - Wood matchup was the type of game a true baseball fan lives for. As for Nick Johnson... I've heard the Boss has grumbled about trading him because he can't stay off the DL. So, maybe he can be had.

No way, at this point in the year, can anyone seriously consider Frank Thomas as an All-Star.

I am either way with a lefty bat in the middle. I don't think it will help as much as Sox fans think. Although if the Sox would trade for Beltran they could put him in the middle of the order and that would solve that problem while drasticly improving the D in CF. Why do you consistantly say that the Sox need a leadoff hitter? Jimenez is having a great year and is doing everything you want from a leadoff hitter. His speed is better then you give him credit for and is the only aspect that he is doing average or worse. He does have very good speed and if motivated, allowed to run by JM, and able to gain confidence has 20+ SB potential. So why do you constantly harp on the idea that the Sox need a leadoff hitter, and more importantly feel that it is a huge need that could take this team over the top? I think it can be argued that Jimenez is currently one of the top 10 leadoff hitters in the game(using this years numbers), so how much of an improvement do you really think the Sox could get. Lofton is not the answer. I am not giving up on this team, but trading a couple of propsects for an aging CF is not the answer. This is a team that will most likely rebuild in the next couple of years, so making a move like that will only hurt this team in the future. Burnitz is even a worse idea. He is the outfield version of Valentin only making 12+ million a year and a couple of years older. The only thing that he has done throughout his career is hit for power. He is a one dimension player. That type of player that the Sox have way to many of and need to get rid of and not add more of. Like Lofton it is not worth giving up a couple of prospects for a guy with no future on an organization that will be rebuilding. Jenkins is a little better idea. Still he is the left handed version of Lee. He is younger and cheaper then Burnitz, but still not a great option imo. Giles is a guy who I have always loved. He gives it his all and is one of the most underrated players in the game. I would love to add him, but his asking price is going to be extremely steep and maybe too steep. Ponson is also a guy that I really like. It appears that he is finally putting all of that potential together. He has been on the market before so he could probably be had. Baltimore would probably want Lee and a solid prospect for him. It might be an interesting trade. Edmonds is an interesting player, but if the Sox are going to go after a CF to build around why not go after Beltran? He is on the market unlike Edmonds, is 6 years younger, similar offensively, has way more speed, and is better defensively. Edmonds makes a lot of diving catches that look good to the fans, but that is because he has little range and balls that most CF catch without diving he has to dive to get. They will both make similar money when Beltran gets his no contract as well. It would also probably take a little less to get Beltran then Edmonds if he was on the market. So why not go after Beltran if you want the Sox to go after a CF to build around? "What part of "the future of this team prety much hinges on making postseason this year and the resultant increase in attendance/revenue/national exposure"-type statements don't you understand?" The majority of your posts in this thread are about the Sox adding payroll. We disgreed on the Sosa issue, but, dude, I agrre with everything you say in this post.