scenario

QUOTE(Reddy @ Apr 3, 2008 -> 09:17 AM) no more dumb titles please? I like the dumb titles. Sort of like the clever sayings on the Heinz Ketchup bottles.

QUOTE(Felix @ Apr 3, 2008 -> 09:02 AM) I don't disagree, but the Ozuna hype on these boards gets ridiculous at times. There's a reason he's a backup.. he's not a good player. Don't get me wrong, neither is Uribe, but given his power when he does make contact with the ball, there isn't going to be a huge difference between the two starting. The difference is that Uribe is one of the easiest outs in MLB. (He's been in or around the bottom 5 in OBP of all starting position players in MLB the last two years.) So he slaps homeruns occassionally to pump up his numbers and lull Sox management into playing him. That doesn't negate all the offensive opportunities for the team that he snuffs out. So you think Ozuna sucks too. Fine. But when it comes to making outs and putting the offense into a stall, he sucks much less. Play him.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/st...ilb&cid=580 Pitchers Richard Brooks Israel Chirino Matt Davis Michael Dubee Justin Edwards John Ely Matthew Long Aaron Poreda Jacob Rasner Noe Rodriguez Ryan Rote Steven Spurgeon Kanekoa Texeira Catchers Francisco Hernandez Billy Killian Adam Ricks Infielders Brandon Allen, 1B Javier Colina, 2B C.J. Lang, SS Sergio Miranda, SS C.J. Retherford, 3B John Shelby, 2B Outfielders Lee Cruz Anderson Gomes Paulo Orlando Salvador Sanchez

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 10:29 PM) Unfortunately, Richar is out for at least the next month. Oh... that's right. What was I thinking? On a related note... is Bourgeois expected to be the CF in Charlotte? Or is it possible they'll use the Richar situation to give him time at second and prep him for a Ozuna-like utility role?

I wouldn't be surprised if he's back in Birmingham instead of Charlotte. They need to give both he and Richar full time at-bats. Tough to do if they're both playing second base at Charlotte. That wouldn't be a bad thing for Getz. If he's tearing it up, move him up midseason. We should have a good read on our second base situation by then and where Richar fits in the picture.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 09:28 AM) ... the University of Illinois is a world class institution while Marquette is a fine, Catholic school in the greater Milwaukee area. You can stop beating your chest any time now Illinois boy. Marquette is an outstanding university, not just a "fine Catholic school in the greater Milwaukee area". If that is what you think, you're only displaying your arrogance, ignorance, or more likely - both.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 12:39 AM) Scenario, as far as Miller... I don't see that happening for a couple of reasons. It's been said that he's got his eye on the Pitt job for a while. He's also got a ridiculous buy-out, and finally, I don't see Marquette as enough of an upgrade to leave Xavier. I think the best thing you and I can hope for is Marquette's (and the boosters') willingness to continue to pay the next MU coach like a top ten coach in the country. I don't see Miller going to Pitt unless Jamie Dixon leaves. And going to Marquette in the Big East is a huge upgrade over Xavier in the Atlantic 10 conference. Huge. Miller's salary is only $800k right now. So MU could offer him a nice pay increase. But I just saw that Xavier has a $2M buyout in Miller's contract?? Ackkkk. Well... that might put on damper on interest in him. LOL. On the other hand, Crean's contract probably has a similar buyout. The money we get from that could be used to pay off some other coach's buyout to come to MU. I'd still make the call.

Who's the coach at Xavier? They've had a nice track record of promoting successful coaches to major programs. And it's a Jesuit university... just like Marquette. Seems like a natural fit. Edit... Sean Miller http://goxavier.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/m...ler_sean00.html 38 years old... played at Pittsburg... was a star point guard there so he has Big East experience. 4 years at Xavier... great winning percentage. Probably ripe to be picked. Yep. I'd make that phone call if I were MU. He deserves a look.

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 2, 2008 -> 12:11 AM) I think Weber would be a very bad hire for Marquette. They'd be better off with a younger guy who recruits across the country better than Weber does. I agree. I love Marquette, but convincing star high school players with other offers to come to beautiful downtown Milwaukee is NOT an easy sell. And to compete in the Big East and on a national scale that is exactly what's necessary. It would expose Weber's weaknesses worse than the Illinois job... Which is why I don't like the idea.

Marquette, before Crean, was not an upper tier salary job. Here's a very cool tool to help compare and look at college coaching salaries http://www.usatoday.com/sports/graphics/ba...racts/flash.htm And here's a good USA Today article from 2006 that talks about salaries, including Crean's. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/men...ary-cover_N.htm

QUOTE(fathom @ Apr 1, 2008 -> 10:31 PM) Marquette's not a step up from Illinois. I'm a Marquette alum and I agree. It's not a status thing. It's a budget thing. Marquette does not have the athletic dollars Illinois does. And Marquette has tougher academic standards for athletes... both issues making recruiting tougher than it is at Big 10 schools. So... what's in it for Weber to make a move like that?

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Apr 1, 2008 -> 06:58 PM) Lateral move for Crean at best. He's stepping into a program that's in shambles. And a nice big serving of humble pie for the Cream and Crimson idiots. Way to make a splash. Fine coach. Nothing to write home about. So much for having the most coveted vacancy in all of sports, huh? First thought when I read your post... "What the HELL is he talking about?" Then I realized you are an Illini fan simply trashing a great hire because it's Indiana. I'm a Marquette alum and I'm sorry to see Crean go. Great coach, great recruiter... and squeaky clean. I'm not a fan of Indiana. In fact, I was happy Sampson was there. It made it easier for me to dislike them. But this is a great move for them.

What about Daron Roberts, CJ Lang, and Paulo Orlando? They were starting players at Winston-Salem last year. Where did they go?

Weather may turn out OK. I visited one of the Cleveland boards to get their input. It looks like the rain is forecast for the morning, but it's likely to clear up early afternoon. Temperature at game time is projected to be around 54 degrees.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Ozuna as a game time decision at 3B... giving Crede another day of rest for his ankle.

QUOTE(flavum @ Mar 28, 2008 -> 08:34 PM) John hitting the wall in the 5th. 2 walks. And ends up striking out the side.

The Rangers released Chris Stewart today. Thought it was interesting after watching John Lujan's nice 2 inning stint in relief the other day. Lujan had a pretty decent season at Winston-Salem in 2007. It will be interesting to watch how he does at Birmingham this year.

BTW - Both the Trib and whitesox.com are listing the start time as 2:05pm central (3:05 eastern)

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 27, 2008 -> 01:02 PM) Other than Uribe v Ozuna, and the exact oder they are in... I think that's the Opening Day lineup. I like that lineup. I'll like it even better on the days Ramirez is playing second.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 11:06 PM) I wonder if both Quentin and BA come out and play well in the first few weeks, if Kenny would look to deal Pauly before his 10/5 rights kick in....I know there probably isn't much of a market, but one would think the Yankees would at least be willing to discuss the matter... There was a recent article in Sports Illustrated saying Giambi was the surprise of the Yankees camp this year... that he lost weight and is looking much better defensively at 1B. So, not sure the 'need' is as high there as it may have been in the offseason. But if our young outfielders all look good, it does open up some interesting possibilities.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 10:58 PM) I know, I know....and one would think that BA is my brother for how much I fight for him around here... But I guess you're right. We can't trust what BA has done in the Spring until we see him do it for at least 100 mlb at bats this year... And ditto for Quentin, who has nothing left to prove hitting in the minors, but plenty left to prove in the majors... after his sub-Uribian 2007.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 10:51 PM) That may be, but that's taking a major strength away from BA in the competition. Almost like having a competition between a switch hitter and a non-switch hitter and telling the switch hitter he can only hit from his weaker side.... They already know both guys, Brian and Quentin, can field. They just want to see how they look hitting major league pitching, outside of spring training that is... And try to avoid moving Swisher around too much while he adjusts to playing outfield in the Cell.

I think what they're doing is creating a competition between Quentin and Anderson for the next two weeks for one roster spot. And rather than move Swisher back and forth between left and center, they decided to let him get used to one position... CF... while the other two split time in left. That's my guess.

Do you know what strikes me as funny? A month ago nobody would have been surprised if Ozzie chose Swisher to play CF. In fact, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion. KW and Ozzie have been saying it since they acquired him. And a month ago, 99% of posters would have volunteered to drive Brian to the airport to ship his *** out of town. But Brian had a good month in spring training and all of a sudden, Swisher in CF is a horrible idea; and Brian not being handed CF is a travesty. Interesting.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 26, 2008 -> 09:12 AM) whitesox.com reporting that Floyd is starting today. Yeah, yesterday they were saying Masset. Masset will probably start tomorrow instead.