Jim Fainter

No one should even have to ask.

Is there any doubt that Aaron Miles has passed Tim Hummel on the Big Chart? Tim should really try to get it together this year in AAA, or else he might get buried. Hate to sound cruel or insensitive, but he shuld have plenty of incentive this year.

If we waived Josh Paul, I bet the Cubbies would pick him up.

Fernando Pena, the fine second sacker for the Cards, was a rule V draftee about ten years ago for the Mariners.

Send Anthony Webster to Charlotte. (just kidding)

Now that Majewski has been returned to us, does he count against our 40 man roster? I must be clairvoyant. Just yesterday I was thinking about Majewski, and looked up his performance. Now he is back.

The Cubs traded Raffy for Mitch Williams. They didn't think Raffy had enough power for left field. What a combo Raffy and Grace would have made. Lou Brock, Raffy, Garland.................

Truthfully, Garland was probably rushed to the bigs. I wouldn't be surprised to see him win 18 this year. He'll get the starts to do it.

New manager Lou Piniella has to keep Butter away from Cameron and Glauss to give him a chance. I'm kind of looking forward to Frank hitting against Butter.

We don'at need Kenny Rogers. We have lots of good young pitchers who can do the job.

What do teachers' salaries have to do with A-Rod's pay? Nothing.

Is that why he was pissed off at the Sox? Right after we traded him to Toronto, he was making statements about coming back to Chicago --------- as a Cub, when his contract expired. This was before his shulder was diagnosed.

I still don't like getting into a bidding war for Tejada. We've got a couple of very promising shortstops in the minors, most notably Andy Gonzalez. If we sign Tejada, Andy gets buried. I know he won't be ready next year, but we can squeeze another year or two out of Valentine at reasonable salaries. And then all those future studs from Bristol and Kannapolis will be ready. By the end of this season we can properly evaluate Gonzalez. Meanwhile, Konerko will become a fixture at first. He is liable to hit a ton this year.

I just got my first look at Miles today. That little guy has some arms on him. No wonder he has some power.

The 40 man roster must be considered. I don't think there's any doubt that Miles is a better hittter. I say this because of their performances this spring and there is no way that Harris could have duplicated Miles' numbers at AA last year. I don't think centerfield will come into the equation if Rowand is totally healthy, which appears to be the case. I believe we have two or three open spots on our 40 man roster, which does not include either Loaiza or Miles. It looks as if Loaiza has made the team. So we have room without cutting anybody. But then there is Daubach, who is not yet on the 40 man roster, and if he makes the team, which he probably will, then someone might have to be cut and exposed to waivers, which means lost. If Josh Paul is cut, then that space is available for Daubach. Now, Rick White is on the 40 man roster, but he has not yet made the team. If he does not make the team, will he be kept on the 40 man roster? Harris' speed is nice, but if he is sitting on the bench, who cares? He is young and needs to play. I say, promote Miles. Plus it will improve attendance, because all the little people in Chitown will adopt him as one of their own.

Trade Konerko?????? Surely you jest.

uh, I think hitting home runs qualifies as driving in runs and getting on base. Still think he should start out in Charlotte, however.

What's the latest on Nash? I know he got released again for some sort of scrape, but don't know the details. I wonder if we have any interest in him.

I was not exactly thrilled with the signings of White and Loaiza, thinking that we should stick with our own youngsters, and I did not want Kenny Rogers. I have changed my mind on Loaiza. I always wanted Flash, however. Loaiza could be the Cal Eldrid of 2000.

Great article by Mike Doyle. Thanks. I though Schnurstein would have been ticketed for K-Town. Where is he headed?

I was going to ask the same question as Rex. How is Anthony Webster looking?

Wonder how Joe Valentine is doing with the A's? Compared to Cott?

I would like to hear from somebody who really knows, not from just a non-jock like myself, but from somebody who really knows what they are talking about concerning pitching coaches. That is, I think I know some of the things they can do FOR a pitcher to help him succeed, such as teaching a new pitch, certain fundamentals, conditioning, etc. but I woulod really like to know what a pitching coach can do to HURT a pitcher. For example, Marti Contrerus (spelling?) has taken a lot of heat in both Chicago and Seattle for his activities as pitching coach, but I never heard what specifically he did to be detrimental to the development of pitchers. Is there anyone who is knowledgable out there who can address this subject? Maybe Jim Bullard?

Hey Guys, if Rick White, who is not related to Todd Ritchie, makes the team, we see a lot of innings like the one he had today.

Another aside on Omar. He was the subject of one of the absolute worst trades ever. He broke in with Seattle and had about 4 good years there-really a tremendous fielder, and the team was not drawing very well, so they had a perceived budget problem, and Omar was due to earn about $2-3 million via arbitration, so they gave him, yes, gave him to the Indians. All they got in return was some broken down SS at the end of his career who lasted less than one full season before he was released, and he was awful. His name escapes me. One of the worst trades ever, as Omar had many great years with the Tribe and was the cornerstone of their infield, plus a pretty decent hitter, too. The Seattle GM, who I believe was Jim Beatty, should have been shot for such poor judgement. How can you justify giving up a young player like Omar for nothing, just to get rid of a medium range salary. Cleveland went on to have several pretty good years, if I recall.