Jim Fainter

"Sox" and "Gold Glove" just don't go well together.

They should give Olivo the take sign even with two strikes on him. All three strikes were out of the strike zone. I think Sandy is going to get more starts. No excuse for that s***.

Frank is taking a lot of s***ty swings tonight.

There were threats made years ago about moving the Sox before the new park was built. Then Seattle almost moved there. Finally it got the expansion team. Now there are threats to contract the franchise, but it will never happen.

CLee need a double expresso or something to get his heart staarted.

Guys, I don't think we could GIVE Koch away. Remember, he is due another $6 MM in 2004. We could not give him away any more than the Cubs can give away Alfonseca or the Rockies can give away Jiminez, their former closer.

For several weeks I had been advocating calling up Gload and releasing Rios. The Everett deal kind of took the wind out of those sails, because we made room for Ev by cutting Rios. I'm just not convinced that Gload would not have been a more productive hitter than Everitt, and we wouldn't have to part with two prime prospects. Everett needs some time to prove himself, though.

I would lean toward Rupe and Webster, too. Man, that's a heavy price to pay for Everett.

PW, there is only one way to find out.

Foulke and Koch each have several years in the league, and after watching both for so many times, it just seems odd that Foulke now throws harder.

Rex, I noticed that our favorite guy at Charlotte, Gload, played center field. I didn't know he had the speed to play center, but I'm not surprised.

I have trouble understanding why managers are so reluctant to move an ineffective closer to a set up guy. There are several cases every year. One exception was Foulke last year -- he was moved to set up pretty early in the season. In Koch's case he has been ineffective from the first series of the year. How many more times do we go through this s*** before JM realizes that someone else is going to have to assume the closer's role, or else we are a third place team. Anyone can second guess pitching decisions, but when Koch comes into a save situation, JM has to have somebody else ready. Two guys got on base, and the game was still savable. I think Flash needs to be promoted.

It ain't Koch.

Didn't they try to get the Sox to move there 10-15 years ago?

I have a question about the Cubs that only a Chicago citizen can answer. Whenever I tune them in on WGN, they always show some bozo on Waveland Avenue in some sort of peacock costume, or something. Even when it's hotter than hell. Now, no sane person would do that, only an employee, right? Is this some new way of attracting fans? And why does that idiot(s) get so much attention? It is a new level of stupidity on the part of Cub fans. If some White Sox fan/employee ever resorts to that level for attention, I hope one of you local guys will straighten him/her out.

Before Mariotti landed in Chitown, he wrote for one of the Denver papers. He was worse then than he is now. Kind of a self styled muckraker with a press pass. I don't know if he was run out of town (Denver) or not. Maybe one of you guys knows.

I noticed on the Great Falls box that Anderson moved to center and Nanita to right.

Paul Sullivan does those Q and A columns for Cub fans. Internet only, I believe. He really took a cheap shot at Sox fans yesterday. "If Sox fans are so pure, why do they cheer when other Sox fans go on the field and beat up coaches and umpires?"

The feeling of sorrow for the Cubs has passed. I'm back to normal now.

Valentin is playing his best baseball of the year.

I must be really getting old. The Cubs' relievers struggled mightily tonight -- Remlinger, Alfonseca, Cruz -- and I was feeling sorry for them. Down 12-2 going into the 9th.

Has anybody else noticed that Sosa makes those stupid little baby steps in the outfield, just like he does at second base when he hits one out? Twice tonight I have seen him do just that, both times on plays that he could have made but didn't.

A month or so ago White was probably a bad outing or two from being cut. Now he's getting quality innings.

The ESPN guys said The White Sox players feel better about themselves than any team in baseball.

Reed went 2 for 4 with a homer in Wednesday's loss.