Jim Fainter

TO: Southsider. I'm not talking about the 3-6-3. The play was throwing to third after getting the batter out at first. Something like 6-3-5. Todd Helton of the Rockies is another guy that makes that play.

The Sox have been starving for a big time catcher for years, years, and Paul has been given opportunities to step up. Having said sthat, I'm sure every Sox fan on this board is still pulling for him to do well.

I believe the theory is that Rocker is good for attendance.

For those of you who didn't see the key play of the Cubbies loss, Karros threw across the diamond trying to get Pokie Reese going from first to third on a groundout. I'm really surprised that this play doesn't happen more often, becuse most first basemen can't make that throw. I know Frank Thomas could NEVER EVER make that play. T.J. Snow could do it blindfolded. I saw Konerko do it once a couple of years ago -- I was surprised.

If you guys continue talking up this trade as a steal, or whatever, then KW is likely to read this s***, and it will all go his head and he will think that he is the world's greatest General Manager and he will start calling other GM's and we will all become Detroit fans.

JM has his first major pitching rotaion decision to make. (If he has already done so, I have not seen it). With three games against Detroit, Bartolo is sked for Sunday the 13th. This gives him 4 days rest. But we have KC facing us April 15-17. A crucial series. Does he pull Bartolo away from the Detroit start and save him for KC, thereby giving him six days rest and pushing Mark back from Tuesday's opener against KC to Wednesday? If he does, then someone else would have to start against Detroit on Sunday. Probably Glover. All caused by Garland's ineffectiveness. Poor JM. This is why he gets the big bucks.

My sources in Cleveland, who know their baseball, are convinced that the Sox are better than the Twinkies.

He'll win something like three games this year with an ERA in the stratosphere, and then his agent will ask for a raise next year, and he will get it because some idiot GM will say he wants Maddox to get his 300th in "his" uniform.

He always seems to get off to a good start.

Add Hampton to that list.

Turns out the Braves were crazy to give that much money to an old Maddox, or anyone else. Pitchers break down. See Brown, Driefert, et al. They would have been better off with Millwood for $10 Large. Glavine is way overpaid, too. In every sport there are a bunch of GM's trying to unload salaries, or create cap room, or whatever. They must all go to Stupid Class to fill out their resumes. Boston is taking a big chance with Pedro (for next year), although he is a cut above Glavine, and others.

No way Sirotka is as good a ptcher as Stewart.

Jerry Manuel on Carlos Lee: "I'm not overly concerned right now."

In the words of the Hawkeroo: "I love to watch Ray run."

The kid is from Canada, where several other good prospects have come from. The Rockies have a young pitcher, last name Francis, from Canada, another can't miss pitcher. I hope we are scouting up there. I'm sure those super balllayers like our money and our women.

With another lefty starting against us today (Wed.), Lee and Konerko will probably both be starting.

All that being said about Beane and his ability as a GM, why doesn't Oakland draw better?

Pete Gammons of Baseball Tonight came up with a new stat. Tuesday night Keith Foulke saved one for the A's, and Pete said that out of his last 43 one run save possibilities, Foulke was successful 37 times.

Now Jose can enjor thta burrito.

Brando, I thin a shrink would be best qualified to answer your question. A shrink who has analyzed her professionally. Is there one out there?

No word yet on Bristol's roster? I want to keep an eye on Schnurstein.

To all of you Clayton fans, did you happen to see the botched play he made about three games ago that cost the Brewers the game. I got a quick one-time glimpse of it on Baseball Tonight. Brewers' infield was in with a guy on third and less than two out in the ninth, the hitter fisted one out to where the SS normally plays, lots of spin, and Roycee dropped it. Looked like a semi-routine play, but he dropped it. Game over. Then the camera did a close up on Clayton. He looked like Frank's ex told him "no". I thought for sure one of you would have commented on it. On the other hand, he has gotten off to a good start offensively. He will probably help Milwaukee.

Now, if I had my choice of Abbott or Christiansen, I would take Abbott in a heartbeat. Furthermore, if I had a choice between Abbott and Gload, I would take Abbott. I wonder if Jeff wore out the Sox brass with some of his comments when he was sent down?

I don't think we would have won Sunday's game vs Detroit without Jiminez. Until that two out hit in the eighth, the Sox were in dire need of a clutch hit. Plus the early home run.

Jeff Abbott was released by the Mets at the end of ST. I always liked him. Regarding Parrish: We got him from the Dodgers for McKay Christiansen, and he was list as Sox prospect # 30 by Mark Jacobsen on 9-1-02.