YASNY

Neal Cotts, LHP (Oakland to White Sox in Billy Koch trade) Second-round pick in 2001 by the Athletics, out of Illinois State. Went 12-6, 4.12 in 28 starts for Class A Modesto in the California League, with 178 strikeouts in 138 innings, an excellent ratio. On the other hand, he walked 87. Toning down on the free passes will be necessary as he moves up. Works at 87-89 mph, with a good curveball and changeup. Daylan Holt, OF (Oakland to White Sox in Koch trade) Third-round pick in 2000, out of Texas A&M. Big disappointment in '01, when he hit just .179 in the California League, but he turned it around in '02 by hitting 20 homers and combining for a .286 average between more Cal League action and Double-A. Owns solid raw power, but doesn't always control the strike zone or keep his swing consistent.

I hadn't noticed that. Thanks for pointing it out.

I'm looking at this deal like so ... Foulke/Valentine for Koch .... Foulke was good, not great, for 2 seasons, and somewhat less than that last season. Still, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt as a proven closer. However, he is only signed for 2003. Valentine is a prospect, but unproven. And wasn't he picked up in as a minor league rule 5 draftee? If so, that's not much of an investment. Now, looking at Koch ... consistant proven closer, younger than Foulke, obligated to the Sox for 3 years as compared to Foulke's 1 year. I think this was an excellent deal by KW... before taking the 2 minor leaguers that came with Koch into consideration. I hope all of KW's trades "wash" out this way.

I've to start proof reading these posts. .... at LEAST got a mid-levelprospect .....

I wonder why the Jays couldn't have at got a mid-level prospect for him, rather than release a good defensive CF that has hit 80+ homers in the past 3 seasons. This doesn't quite make sense.

I like to see this type of thing. I was also glad when the hired Greg Walker as a minor league hitting coach.

I think Konerko is a definite asset to our club. I like the fact that he called Frank to task last season. Someone needed to do it. Now, would I trade PK for Millwood? Yes. Reluctantly, but yes I would.

This would be a good move. Cruz realistically could have a career year if he was inserted into our lineup, just due to the overall strength of the hitters around him.

Does the fact that they picked this particular time to make this move, and open up another roster slot, point to the possibly that KW has something in the works and is making room for new acquisitions?

Contrary to your Contreras quandry, I'd still like to pick this guy up.

I agree wholeheartedly.

If Atlanta put Ortiz or Millwood on the block, I'm sure they'd want PK. They've been needing a 1B forever. Something including Leifer might get it done, however.

I wish someone would have posed that question to KW when he was on the Score.

Regarding that picture posted by HSC... with all those bricks they remind more of the Bulls.

I hope he proves me wrong, because I like the way the guy plays the game, but Biggio is, I'm afraid, washed up.

I understand your frustration HSC, but hey... this is the off season. You're supposed to be optimistic. We'll be miserable when we face reality during the season.

They'd probably want to give us Hundley.

Didn't I read somewhere that the Dodgers approached KW about Leifer? They were looking for someone to play 1B after trading Karros.

Generally, I like this team as is. I believe the kids on the mound are ready and will do a more than adequate job. Let's add a catcher, Barrett maybe, and some LH pop. I'd still like to see us go after Brian Giles with a package built around Lee. Just don't include Garland in any deals.

Historically, Ritchie has been a better pitcher than he showed us last season. Guys have career, or abnormally great, years and in some cases guys have abmormally terrible years. I believe that this is the case with Ritchie. If he can bounce back have the performance level of even a #4 starter, we should be fine with our current rotation. I personally think our biggest need is some left handed thunder in the lineup. We are too heavily right handed. I know we hit righties pretty well, but we had trouble with the TOUGH righties... You know, the type we'd have to beat in the post season, if we ever get there.

PhilRogers wrote this in his latest column (which is speculating on the possiblity of the Rocket pitching in Chicago, BTW): "White Sox general manager Ken Williams similarly returned empty handed. He was having discussions with San Francisco up until Monday afternoon about Russ Ortiz for a package of young players—the likes of Willie Harris, Jeff Liefer and a pitching prospect like Corwin Malone or Josh Stewart—but didn't make a deal." I didn't recall seeing this mentioned on this site, so I thought I'd pass it along.

Can someone bring me up to speed on Diaz? Who is he and how did we get him?

he started his career as gm by trading for royce clayton against some very good advice. The Clayton trade cost us nothing. And as for Clayton's performance when he was here, he did exactly what was expected of him. He started terribly both years, but brought his numbers up to respectability by the end of the year. His defense was very good. That's why KW got him. However, I do feel that it was mistake in the fact that Clayton wasn't needed. Valentin was a leader on that infield, despite his 36 errors in 2000. the one equation you are forgetting is his clubhouse presence as a punk. what did that cost us? I can't argue that point.

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he started his career as gm by trading for royce clayton against some very good advice. The Clayton trade cost us nothing. And as for Clayton's performance when he was here, he did exactly what was expected of him. He started terribly both years, but brought his numbers up to respectability by the end of the year. His defense was very good. That's why KW got him. However, I do feel that it was mistake in the fact that Clayton wasn't needed. Valentin was a leader on that infield, despite his 36 errors in 2000.