Jim Fainter

I have seen a couple of stray comments about the fences at the Cell having been shortened. Is this true? Did they do it again? I know they did it a year ago. I think it's a bad idea.

Great article. I had not seen it. Thanks. Now, can someone fill me in on prospects Mike Spidale (CF) and Mike Morse (SS). I don't know much about them. Thanks.

Does anyone have the stats on Wunsch vs lefties?

If Glaus could face Jim Parque every day, he would hit .800.

Some of you guys sound like Cub fans in drag. I mean, do you really think it confuses major league hitters if you have Colon throwing one day and Buehrle the next? Don't you think they can adjust overnight? Or maybe change their lineup?

I need to be convinced, although, since I have been a Sox fan longer than anyone, I am pulling for him as much as anyone. I am disturbed by his constantly popping up to the right side, which tells me he doesn't hit the fast ball nearly as well as he used to. But then I found out on this network that his real problem was his former teammate, Royce Klayton, who is now history. Frank started hitting right after Klayton left. I think Frank will hit .290 or so and remain a threat; hitting ahead of Maggs and Paulie helps, although his position in the batting order certainly is not cast in stone. Frank is obsessed with stats, and that is not a criticism. I think he is determined to add to his legacy for at least one more year. I also firmly believe that if the team starts off well and wins a bunch of early games, he will have added determination to do well. He doesn't do as well when he pouts, and winning will take care of that. By the way, does anyone know if Royce is taking any of Frank's ex- women with him to Milwaukee? I hope so.

Todd Ritchie knows how to pitch, too. We don't need to clutter up our roster with guys like Finley and Ritchie.

Knoblauch????????????? Are you f***ing crazy?

Ricky could not play a major league Centerfield in his best days. Carlos Lee would be better, I'm serious.

None. How can the Sox bring up any pitcher from the minors when we we keep signing veteran pitchers who are well past their prime? (I exclude Flash Gordon from that category)

Signing Finley would be a mistake.

The correct answer was Benji Gil, who is still in the bigs. Caruso was a classic example of moving a player up to the show too fast.

I wouldn't be surprised if they bring him up in May or June after Loiaza, White, and Heredia have the s*** kicked out of them.

I still say that we have to give our young pitchers a chance to pitch, which is virtually impossible if we keep signing high ERA retreads like White, Loaiza, Heredia, and possibly Rogers. I promise I won't rant on the same subject again.

If Rowand is healthy, he will do just fine. He will also improve a bunch during the year as he gets more confidence.

I think the deal was for ten years, total of $250 Large. Boros got $10 Large up front. Don't you love it when these owners bid against themselves? Kind of like what KW did on the Ritchie trade, but on a MUCH smaller scale.

Trivia time: Someone mentioned Caruso. Who was the infielder we cut in order to keep Caruso on the roster when he made the team? He is still in the bigs. Now, Caruso was definitely a head case. Nice gene pool.

Who would take him with that kind of contract? Even Steinwhiner wouldn't, since he has Jeter for $17 million, or whatever. Plus the Texas owner, Hicks, would have to admit that he made a mistake, and multijillionairres don't like to do that. Plus he probably has a no trade clause, which means agent Boros would get involved, and he would just fleece everyone all over again.

When Frank was having his good years, he hit a lot of homers to right, and lots of hits up the middle. I think that the Sox should hire K-layton to be Franks's personal batting practice pitcher.

Griff has turned out to be an enigma, no doubt about it. Injuries, sub-par performance, big contract, high pub. I lived in Seattle for several years, and I never heard a bad word form the players; they really liked him. Since he moved to Cincy, I cannot say. But for some reason, I think he will bust out in 2003. In spite of all his homers and slugging stats, he is barely a .300 hitter. He should have had several .330-.350 years by now. Of course, I used to say that about Bonds. As much as we all like Maggs, I don't think he is appreciated enough. We have no idea how good he is or will be. Any talk of trading him, even if frivolous in nature, is heresy. Maggs' performance last year was better than anything Griff ever did, and I think Griff is great. They are both going to have gangbuster years in 2003, in my humble opinion. But Maggs will be beter.

Part of it might be the "sports writer syndrome." You know, if they hang around you long enough, you will eventually say something stupid, and it gets printed. Bring Frank Thomas into the equation was stupid.

Our first series with the Twinkies will tell a lot. I can't remember when I felt this way. Hope the Sox leaders will feel the same way in April and May.

Yes, it sounds like a cheap shot to me. What does Frank's position in the lineup have to do with Foulke's role on the Sox? Just shut up and play the game. We are capable of sorting it out.

That trade represented the worst judgement of pitching ability I have ever seen. Kenny should have been fired and castrated. I will always wonder if his boss (JR) knew about the trade in advance, signed off on it, or what. No one tells. I wish I knew. Before he hit the bigs, Wells was THE most promising pitcher in the minors. Then he came up to the Sox at the end of the year (1999) and won six, count 'em, six games. Then in 2000, he shut out the Indians at home on a three hitter and was a frigging stud. Then Nardi and Jerry did something to his brain and/or his arm. Fogg came up in 2001 when the Sox were struggling and he was fearless. He threw the ball over the plate and got guys out. Meanwhile, Biddle, Garland, and I don't remember who else were getting rocked. So we trade Wells and Fogg to the Pirates for a guy who was less than a .500 pitcher with a big salary. This is not second guessing; I was pissed from moment one. What do we need a general manager for? I don't know who will be better between Fogg and Wells. Who cares? It (the trade) represents incompetence. Those two pitchers will both be first class players for years to come. They were great for Pittsburgh from day one. And now we have Ritchie's 2002 record to live with, and let's face it, that destroyed the team in 2002. Nice legacy, Kenny. But now we have Heredia and Loaiza wearing Ritchie's number. The beat goes on. How many of our stud pitching prospects will end up elsewhere before they throw a meaningful pitch for the Sox?

I believe he is ticketed for Charlotte.