FlaSoxxJim

That is an oldie but a goodie. All the better to think of how bad that boy must have been stinking and how much worse the problem was after it 'got blowed up.' Glad it's not in smell-O-rama.

Most of them are here in the States. Conan had a good line yesterday, talking about the countries that are being kept out of the rebuilding bidding. He said the 3 countries that can bod are the US, Great Britain, and Haliburtinztan.

If Pettite's and Clemens' wives are close, then maybe it could happen. It seems like Pettite's wife was the big pusher for the move home, and I think it was Clemens' wife who was ready for him to retire and be a family man.

Agreed on Frank and Konerko. Still in the (dwindling) minority of people who think Jose's more of an asset than a liability.

WHO!!? Who will not wear the ribbon!!?

Art Vandalay may have been a good importer/exporter, but he wasn't a very good architect. Certainly not Penske material.

Yeah, that's it.

Lloyd Bronson, IIRC. And Don't call Gamme anymore. Gamme's not feeling very good... I think Gamme's dying... OK Gamee's dead now, so stop calling...

I sold Casey Kasem a hot dog and a drink when I worked in a hot dog box at Buckingham Fountain back in high school. Casey Kasem was in The Gumball Rally (1976) with Colleen Camp Colleen Camp was in Trapped (2002) with Kevin Bacon. Bacon Number=3 I sold Kathleen Turner a soda at same hot dog box (making me tres important, no?). She was in Naked in New York (1993) with Colleen Camp. Colleen Camp was in Trapped (2002) with Kevin Bacon. Bacon Number=3.

Good news. We're finally taking care of MB, long overdue. Will this be his (first) 20-win season? We can hope...

The effort is largely, though not entirely, funded by the US. But Canada has already given $190 million to the rebuilding and is now told that their companies cannot bid for the rebuilding contracts. They are right to be seriously reconsidering any future monetary help, and you think they are in the wrong to feel like they are being screwed over? At the outset of the war, Bush courted the nations of the UN for approval of action by stating that even those nations choosing not to contribute troops would be allowed to play a role in the rebuilding efforts (this was before we did the end-run around the UN request for a second resolution). I guess that just meant they would be allowed to give money to tha effort but not have their corporatiuons make legitimate bids for any of the rebuilding work.

We're the schoolyard bullies of the world and we know how to hold a grudge, even while we keep asking all you other countries to do your part. France, germany, and Russia sided with the concience of their cityizens in wanting due process to occcur through proper UN channels and a vote on a second resolution. Now we’re retaliating by locking long-time ally nations out of rebuilding contracts and dressing it up as a security issue. I am continually amazed at how dumb the Administration thinks the rest of the world is, (or more likely) how little they care what the rest of the world thinks so long as they ‘do their part.’

Did YOU read that the "offer" we made to Alomar was an insult, and essentially was KW going back on an oral agreement made between the two of them before the end of the season? When KW pressed Robbie about coming back early on, Robbie initially said he could see himself coming back for 4 $million – basically a 50%+ pay cut from the 8.6 $million he made in 2003. Would you agree to a 50+ pay cut on your line of work without testing the market?). He also said he would consider a 1 year deal depending on what kind of team he was coming back to – if it was a competitive team he'd make concessions for the chance to come back. Kenny balked at $4 million as probably too much, and Robbie then agreed in principle to $3 million with the same stipulations as above. Robbie said get with his agent and get it done and that's where it was left. Then last week the sox actually offer $1 million plus $2 million deferred (over an unspecified period AND without interest), so it's probbably only a $2.5 million deal in reality. Robbie sees the nature of the 2004 team being put together (i.e., not competitive) and understandably holds out for a 2-year deal. When that doesn't happen, Robbie's the jerk?!? I want to see Willie succeed as much as anyone if he's getting the 2B job. Maybe $3 million is more than we can afford at 2B, or maybe it's time to give youth a spot at that position. But if that was the plan, KW shouldn't have made one oral offer to Robbie and then change the terms down the line and expect hem to be cool with it.

Angels, reportedly 4 years/$48 million.

I don't know about knee-jerk entitlement or one-sided whining. I do know that Reinsdorf's inability/refusal to spend is making it hard to put together anything resembling a competitive team. Credit where it is due, and I'm thankful for 20 more years of the Sox in Chicago and Reisdorf's role in it. I just don't want it to be 20 years of this. I'm thankful Reinsdorf made at least an apparent effort to open the wallet to resign Colon (incentive-based and/or deferred $ inflating the figure notwithstanding), but very angry at his reluctance to invest that same $12 million we would have spent on him this year into payroll that's sorely needed elsewhere. I WAS thankful that Reinsdorf indicated a desire (through KW) at the end of last season to do what he reasonably could to keep as many pending FA's on the team. But I'm not thankful for what was apparently just simple lip service, as we are 0 for 6 in that regard. Gordon, Robbie, Carl, Sullivan, Colon, and (soon), Tony are gone. We all knew some of them would have to go, but this is nuts for a franchise with the stated objective of keeping the roster as intact as possible. When you add in the continued uncertainty of possibly having to move Lee or Magglio, having to maybe live with Koch and Pauly, the need for at least 1 proven starter and the need to restock the pen, there is actually very little of the puzzle that is in place. Yes, it will start happening this weekend in New Orleans and in the weeks to follow. But even the most optimistic of us are hard pressed at this stage to imagine this year's model being as strong (at least on paper) as last year's. It doesn't mean we won't faithfully live and die with the team as always. We're just looking for something to get us through the winter doldrums.

Reinsdorf's not paying for any of this, the USCF naming deal is. That's why it's happening while the on-field improvements that would have to come out of Reinsdorf's pockets are not.

Good post, Jason, but I disagree about the half-price nights. First, one of the two weekeday half-price nights they have had the last two years IS what you suggested - bring in a Pepsi product and get two tix for the price of 1 (or half-price each). But in general, I don't think it is a disincentive to most Wed-Saturday game-goers. If you're getting a group together to take in a Friday night game, you're going to do it rather than going to a Monday or Tuesday night game knowing you're not going to cut loose as much if you have to work the next day, etc. On the other hand, working class families that really are prohibited from taking 4 or 5 people out for full price tix more than a couple times a year are going to come out on those nights. Also, there will be more casual fans who just might see a great game, have a great time, start looking over a schedule and picking out a few more games to go to, some on cheap nights and some not. The idea is to turn casual fans into more serious fans and you do that by getting them in the park and making it something the need to keep doing. My Bro used to go to a bunch og games a year - a holdover from growing up doing it with my family. A couple years ago he basically got too busy with work and stopped going out to many games other than the opener and Sox/Cubs. In 2002 with the half-price nights he ended up going to maybe 6 additional games that he would not have. Last year he was hardcore and made 30+ games. All because the half-price nights got him back to the park.

Ouch Sounds like he's be in a lot of pain even if he was taking 42 pills a day.

I'd say I don't noh either, but I don't know if this crowd is one for classical Japaneese dance-drama theater. Then again, you never no.

Yes you do. You know how to spell, a vanishing skill.

Where's the pissed off, angry drinking smiley anyway? We sure need one. Maybe a kicking the dog smiley too...

You're right, it makes no sense to say we'll open up the wallet for this one guy but don't expect the money to be available to try to improve the team in other sorely needed ways.

I agree. 9 CGs, top 10 in strikeouts and 2nd in innings pitched. An impressive enough year despite the W/L's. Big blow to not be able to bring him back.

I don't think the 'Colon money' will go anywhere but back in Reinsdorf's pockets. Not signing him (which really sucks) does not translate to $12 million freed up to spend elsewhere. It would in another organization, but not in the Bizzaro Sox Universe. For a fraction of a second last week I was actually excited and optimistic about '04. Buzz that the Konerko/Perez deal was close, and only us and the Angels pursuing Bart had me jazzed. Now Colon's gone, the Dogers deal looks to have stalled, we let Sullivan and Robbie walk on top of losing Gordon (we have no bullpen)... I know, I know, wait until after the winter meetings to get angry... But it sure looks like all we'll be doing is patching holes using whoever comes with the right price tag. Time to start drinking heavily I guess.

That pretty much sums up 12 childhood summers on the southside growing up for me in the 70s and early 80s. I'd give just about anything to be able to let my kids have the same experience. It really is such a different world though, and not necessarily one frought with danger around every corner. It's more that the neighborhood used to know you and look out for you. The old guy who would keep your baseball if it landed in his flower bed was still looking out for you and still had a personal connection with you. Just as there are less and less 'traditional extended families,' there is also often no sense of belonging in many communities community and you don't expect your stranger/neighbors to watch out for the neighborhood kids they way neighbors used to.