CSF

I wouldn't take any of them over Paulie. Giambi plays in a stadium with a short porch so he'll obtain plenty of cheapies over the course of his career with the Yankees. Delgado is on the decline, Helton's numbers (like every other player to play there) are inflated in air thin Coors Field. Thome hits for monster power, but the average isn't there. Plus Cleveland has a short porch too, but that doesn't count because alot of Thome's shots went to CF which is much deeper. Still, wouldn't take him over Konerko. And I'd take Brian Daubach over that piece of s*** Mientkiewicz, (he's going to wind up eating his words over those stupid comments). But overall, Konerko is emerging as the best 1B in the AL (and yes, that includes Giambi).

Agreed. Remember, he was down in '99 too, & look what happened the following year. I think Frank's going to have a monster year.

Here's the article from CBS Sportsline: AL Central progress report Feb. 5, 2003 By Scott Miller SportsLine.com Senior Writer Tell Scott your opinion! There is separation in the AL Central like in no other division. If it were a subdivision, two of the houses would be in a gated community and the others would be shacks down in the poor end of town. Unless somebody comes through with one of the greatest, most unexpected stories in baseball history, this is a two-team race: Minnesota and Chicago. The other three clubs will be sentenced to a summer of evaluating young players ... and saying their prayers. Winter Power Rankings Disclaimer: These rankings are solely based on what clubs have done from Nov. 1 through now. So don't be sending nasty e-mail notes demanding to know how I could pick, say, the Milwaukee Brewers to win the NL Central. These aren't predictions for 2003, just impressions of winter activity. So as our friend David Letterman might say, please, no wagering. 1. Chicago White Sox: Yeah, Sox have had a good winter ... but will Frank Thomas trash all of this good karma by the second day of spring camp? 2. Minnesota: Quick, make sure owner Carl Pohlad's checks don't bounce on Torii Hunter's new deal. 3. Vacant: None of the other three clubs should rightfully finish as high as third. 4. (tie) Kansas City and Detroit: Ugh. 6. Cleveland: They won't win, but at least the Indians have a plan. Breaking it down Best move: White Sox acquiring Bartolo Colon. When Chicago acquired closer Billy Koch from Oakland, it was eyebrow-raising. When they reeled in Colon from Montreal, it was a statement. It might be difficult to pick against Minnesota's talented team to win the division, but the White Sox sure appear to have closed the gap over the past few weeks. Colon was one of only six 20-game winners in the majors last season, and he well could win 20 again given his overpowering stuff. With Colon and Mark Buehrle at the top of the rotation, this could be the White Sox's most exciting season since the heady day of Black Jack McDowell, Wilson Alvarez and Alex Fernandez. Re-signed Torii Hunter is back as the Twins' leading man. (Getty Images) Worst move: Cleveland losing Jim Thome. OK, so this one is pretty obvious. The Indians have been shrinking over the past few seasons -- both in payroll and talent -- and Thome's departure for Philadelphia takes away the organization's soul. Shortstop Omar Vizquel is about all that is left from the glory days. Honorable mention worst move: Kansas City failing to trade starter Paul Byrd and closer Roberto Hernandez at the deadline last July 31. Then they could have gotten something, anything, in return. Now, forget it. The reeling Royals wound up losing both pitchers to free agency this winter without getting anything in return. And given the tight payroll, the Royals couldn't go out and replace Byrd's 17 victories in 2002. What's left? A wing and a prayer, basically. Of what's left to fill out Kansas City's rotation this summer, nobody who will be in camp won more than four games in the majors last season. The Royals' likely opening day starter is Runelvys Hernandez, who has a career mark of 4-4 with a 4.36 ERA in 12 big-league starts. Most off the wall move: Detroit trading left-hander Mark Redman to Florida. We know the Tigers are watching their payroll and were likely going to deal Redman by July 31, anyway, given the large raise he was expected to receive via salary arbitration. But get this: Since last season, Detroit has rid itself of its only All-Star (Robert Fick, who signed with Atlanta as a free agent), its best starter (Redman), its player of the year (Randall Simon, traded to Pittsburgh) and its closer (Juan Acevedo). Sheesh, do Alan Trammell, Kirk Gibson and Lance Parrish have any eligibility left? Most underrated move: Minnesota re-signing Torii Hunter for $32 million over four years. We're calling this underrated because everything Minnesota does is underrated, given their small market-ness. But this was a significant signing, given the Twins' status as defending champions and Hunter's popularity both in Minnesota and nationally. For penurious owner Carl Pohlad to actually crack open that bank vault -- we're pretty sure he needed a crowbar -- well, it truly was a momentous occasion. Congratulations to both the Twins and Hunter. Another underrated move came in Cleveland, where, after Thome left for Philadelphia, the Indians acquired first-base prospect Travis Hafner from Texas. Keep an eye on his development. Noticeable move that isn't as shocking at second glance: Minnesota allowing designated hitter David Ortiz to walk. Ortiz, who batted .272 with 20 homers and 75 RBIs last season, was a force at DH for the Twins in 2002. But with Hunter, Jacque Jones, switch-hitter Cristian Guzman and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, the Twins have been lefty-heavy. So the decision was made to cut loose Ortiz for two reasons: He was going to get a big raise via salary arbitration, and the Twins have right-handed candidates such as Matt LeCroy who can step into the DH role and give manager Ron Gardenhire a better-balanced lineup. On the rise: Chicago White Sox. Not much question that the Sox are on the way up, given the acquisitions of Colon and Koch this winter. In outfielder Magglio Ordonez, Chicago has one of the best secrets in the AL offensively, and with Paul Konerko also in the middle of the lineup, Jerry Manuel's team can score. The fact that they couldn't get rid of Frank Thomas over the winter gives this year's team some uncertainty, because with Thomas, the Sox have had one of the weirdest clubhouse mixes in the game for several years now. If the Sox can overcome the bad juju, they can make a run. One sobering recent reminder, though, is David Wells: The Sox thought they were over the hump when they acquired him two years ago, too, and it was only a mirage. The last thing they need is to have Colon follow Wells' injury-marred season in Chicago. On the decline: Cleveland Indians. The Jim Thome negotiations this winter were a big fork in the road for the organization. Had he stayed, their current rebuilding program could have been expedited to a degree because the Indians at least would have had a big bat in the lineup, as well as slick-fielding Omar Vizquel. But when Thome departed ... well, you just don't replace his offensive numbers, and give GM Mark Shapiro credit for not throwing good money after bad and bringing in some broken-down stiff for a season or two in hopes of erasing the memory of Thome. Cleveland's fans, some of the most supportive in all of sports, are getting a completely raw deal from Indians ownership, which owes them much more than they're getting in return for all of those Jacobs Field sellouts since 1994. Having said that, if there is no other option than to rebuild, Shapiro is to be commended for developing what appears to be a pretty good blueprint and then sticking with it. Keep an eye on: New Detroit Tigers manager Alan Trammell. The road is littered with carcasses of managers such as Davey Lopes, who was brought in to re-build Milwaukee only to be canned less than three years into his tenure because of a lack of patience. It is going to take years to rebuild this once-proud Tigers franchise, and the hope here is that the organization doesn't do anything to smudge Trammell's gleaming years in Detroit. We don't know yet what kind of a manager he will be, but we do know this: When the Tigers open the season, many baseball fans might not be able to name even one of their starting players. The cupboards have never been more bare in Detroit. The only way Trammell will succeed is if the organization backs him, helps him and is loyal enough to grant him as much patience as he needs. Miller's previous progress reports: AL West | NL West | AL East | NL East

I read CBS Sportsline.com earlier and they said the Sox are a team on the rise, while the Indians are on the decline! Come on, let's get started. I need to see my team on their eventual march to the World Series. I don't know how much more suspense I can take!!!

If it brings a world championship to "The Cell", I'm for it.

Clearly Unraveled By Spring!!!

This wouldn't bug me too much (okay, that's bulls***, it would've bug me) had this come out of the mouth of Hunter, Jones, or Guardado. Because at least they would've been able to back up their trash talk. But this simple f*** Mientkiewicz hit 10 measley homers & 60 piss poor runs batted in. At least when Ray Ray made his comments, he was coming off a 20 homer season. That f***head Mientkiewicz was one of the least productive hitters on his team. He better be glad he can play a little D around the bag, 'cause that's all he can do. Forgive the language, but comments like that piss me off!

For me, also the real question is this: Should the Sox bring the championship home (which I'm desperately hoping for!), what piss poor excuse will Cubs fans make? Because we all know they're full of them!

I'll pretend I didn't read this... Hopefully, he won't, & we'll see the return of "El Caballo"!

How could I forget. Between the 3 of them, you have your 5 tool players out there. Wish we could swing that trade. That would really make the boys in New York pissed!

He's the tallest guy in the game, & pitches right here in sweet home Chicago. Sounds appropriate. Hope the human Sears Tower makes it to Comiskey this year to help the cause.

Last year, everybody had this guy as the next big guy to be appearing at Comiskey (along with Rauch). This year, with the talk being Munoz, Almonte, & Diaz, I haven't heard a thing about him. Has he fallen off the radar, or is he still a key piece to the puzzle?

Mags in left, Preston in center, Borchard in right. Quite possibly could be the most dominant OF in baseball. If that could happen, we could run the table. And yes, I'll be more than happy to take Preston's happy K swing to go with that power & defense.

If only the Sox could get that type of love on the Bears board too, it would be magical. We got Sox fans on it, but there are way too many Cubs fans on there. It can be unbearable. It's okay, I guess, since the common thing we all have is being Bears fans. Getting back to Mientkiewicz, I guess he forgot that Durham made a similar comment last year, & we all know what happened. Let's see the Twins get a taste of their own medicine.

I'm torn between using Glover or White as the long reliever. In 2000, Sean Lowe really did a great job in that slot. White is similar in that notion to Lowe, but Glover has a better upside. For the meantime, I'd use Flash like we use Wunsch, as a situational type pitcher to get him in the swing of things, & if he's impressive, increase his role in the 'pen. Marte is my setup guy in the 8th, & Koch closes it in the 9th.

I can't find the damn article from the Sun Times, so I just pulled it off a post I have on the Chicago Bears message board where I also post: ChiSoxFan Senior Member Posts: 1143 Joined: Nov 2002 Monday February 03, 2003 11:15 PM He said the following: > You're right, Dougie. We only added: A 20 game winner (Colon), a deep and quite possibly dominant bullpen (White, Gordon, Koch) extra depth in the rotation with the addition of 2 extra arms (Loiaza, Heredia), LH power on the bench (Daubach) & insurance in the OF (Rios), all courtesy of this offseason. Don't forget what was already here: A 19 game winner, 2 promising arms in the rotation, great setup men in the 'pen, & probably the most dominant offense in the game. That's what we did during our offseason. And you: Signed Chris Gomez (backup IF), released David Ortiz (probably the biggest Sox killer on the team, next to Corey Koskie) & Mike Jackson (key to the 'pen, putting more pressure on Fiore & Hawkins, & for that matter, Guardado). Yep, Dougie, you're absolutely right. We don't have what you have. We simply plugged our gaps, & it's all systems go, while you are praying that the Metrodome bails you out of some more jams. Luck can be many a thing, but it also tends to do something nobody likes. It tends to run out. So to you, Dougie, or should I say, Cinderella: The clock has struck midnight, the fantasy is over, & it's time for you to wake up to reality. Enjoy October from the private comforts of home, 'cause that's where the Twins will be come October while the Sox march on to the World Series. I'm outta here! Ciao! ------------------------- The Soldiers: Member #27 of 30 Pale Hose Member # 1 The Chicago White Sox-2003 is the Year.

Sox fans are way more passionate and dedicated than those nimrods on the North Side. We go for the team and players. They go for the ambiance and atmosphere. I don't need some damn camera flashing at me as I'm singing the damn 7th inning stretch! Give me Mags & Paulie with back to back shots over the fence and I get my money's worth. I go to see, not be seen.

If Borchard tears up in Triple A, & Rowand struggles, you're probably right. But if Rowand is doing a decent job, don't rock the boat. I agree that eventually Borchard will be the guy in CF, (or LF if CLee struggles), but give Rowand a legitimate shot first.

Is it better during the daytime, or at night. Since the sad sack Cubbies show all the games vs the Sox in the daytime, I gotta go with nighttime. That game in 2000 when the Sox had the Cubs beat 5-3 until Foulke gave up the two run shot to Sammy and his damn little hop, just to watch the Sox win it 5 innings later. Or the following year when they went up again only to have the Sox tie it, & send the Comiskey faithful home happy when Lee hit a grand slam to win 7-3. I hope this year the Sox go back to at least showing the Friday game at night. Just because the Cubs are scared of what they're fans might do at night shoudn't penalize us Sox fans who can show decency and respect. Just my opinion, that's all.

I wish WGN/FSN would carry more Sox games during spring training. They only do like 2 or 3. Yet those sad sack Cubs get like 7 or 8 games. Why are they so biased to the Pale Hose?

For the most part, I agree with the changes, but I have to agree with everyone else on Saturday night games. I went to a Sox game in 2000 on a Saturday night when they played the Blue Jays. Sox were down 3-0 in the 7th when Mags put one over the RF fence to cut the lead to 2. Then, in the bottom of the 8th, they put a 5 spot on the Jays, capped by a bases clearing double by Paulie. Foulke managed to load the bases with one out, but promptly forced Stewart to ground into a game ending DP. That place was rocking, & then they turned off the stadium lights, & did the fireworks, & what a sight that was! It was almost like being at Venetian night at Navy Pier! So, I'm definitely in favor of keeping Saturday night games.

Forgive my little rant, but.............. Here it is, a few days removed from the NFL officially calling it a season (and if you want to call that s*** they had on Sunday night a game, that's up to you) but now I gotta wait 53 f***ing days until they say PLAY BALL in KC! I hate this time of the year. NBA sucks, NHL not that much better, Golf, not a real sport, Tennis, see golf, Arena Football, can't quite get into it yet, & college basketball, not exciting until next month! This is when I need baseball, and soon!!! Considering all the trades and deals the Sox made, I have such a high feeling of optimism. Something tells me this year, the World Series is coming to this city, & I don't mean that s***hole Wrigley! I mean, it could happen, right? Tell me I'm not getting my hopes up!

If the Sox can pull this deal off, KW definitely deserves some DAP (sorry, too much PTI). The Sox would have youth (Buerhle, Garland, Wright), experience (Colon, Rogers, Buerhle), power (Colon, Wright), finesse (Rogers, Buerhle, Garland), and pinpoint control (Buerhle, Rogers, Garland when he's on). If they did that, then, I'd support Colon as the #1 only because you go, power righty, finesse lefty, finesse/power righty (Garland, by the way), finesse lefty, & power righty again. The only two words that scare me about this deal that can easily kill it: Scott Boras. Still pissed at Boras for luring Alex Fernandez to the f***ing Marlins! Of course, Alex's career was never the same after leaving the South Side of Chicago. Also, because this article just ran today, & Phil Rogers was the author (a great source for baseball, imo), I think it might just happen. If so, just another dagger into the heart that would be the Minnesota Twins. Come on KW, MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

Sweet Jesus! That's what you call, a dedicated FAN! I couldn't go to any last year courtesy of my scumbag job. And I live in Illinois. But I have since changed jobs, & plan on making at least 5-10 trips to "The Cell". See ya there!

Get your rule changes! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jayson Stark ESPN.com Over in the world of helmets and clipping penalties, the NFL changes some kind of rule -- or two -- every single offseason. Baseball, on the other hand, continues to operate under essentially the same rules it used in 1926, give or take a DH. Well, we're all for stability -- but Babe Ruth is dead. So we've spent the last week polling two dozen players, general managers, scouts, agents and broadcasters to see if there are any baseball rules they would like to see changed, updated or amended with three sticks of dynamite. We now present the best of what they proposed. But the good news is, you also get to vote in our SportsNation poll. JAYSON STARK'S TOP 20 1 Use instant replay White Sox GM Kenny Williams says he would love to "give our manager one of those little challenge flags." OK, baseball can't use replay for everything. Nobody wants to wait 10 minutes to confirm a foul tip. But replay would work great to decide whether balls are fair or foul, out of the park or off the wall. And why not? Nobody uses long division if they have a calculator handy. Technology marches on. Use it. 2 Stay in the box Why have a batter's box if we're going to let hitters march around between pitches as if they're in the Rose Bowl Parade? We'd allow a hitter to step out once per at-bat to regroup -- but that's it. Other than that, the hitter has to keep one foot in the box for the entire at-bat, or it's an automatic strike. And if both feet are in, the pitcher had better be ready to pitch, or it's an automatic ball. 3 Establish visiting hours Some managers and pitching coaches spend more time on the mound every night than their starting pitcher. Enough already! Padres GM Kevin Towers proposes a limit of five visits per game by managers and coaches (not counting injury visits when accompanied by a trainer). If a game goes extra innings, everybody gets two extra visits. And there should be a one-minute limit to any visit. Are we the only ones who watch some of these interminable mound conventions and think about the wedding-gift mound scene from Bull Durham? 4 Toughen up the save rule All saves are not created equal. So naturally, we got a bunch of suggestions aimed at pampered closers. Our favorites: Relievers shouldn't get a save unless they face the tying run. And relievers shouldn't get a win if they blow a save. But nobody should ever again be allowed to earn a "save" in a 26-7 game. 5 Ban the fake-to-third, throw-to-first move If it were up to us, we'd wipe out the balk rule entirely, since 50 percent of all balks are essentially examples of umpires trying to demonstrate how smart and attentive they are. But if we're going to keep it, then please make that horrendous fake-to-third, throw-to-first pickoff move a balk. We don't care if the pitcher is on the rubber, off the rubber or lying in a deck chair. That move deceives runners more than all but about six balk calls we've ever seen. 6 Three pickoffs and you're done Speaking of pickoffs, two of our poll-ees suggested that pickoff throws be limited to three per runner, per base. Think of the dramatic possibilities after a pitcher had used up his second move. Would he dare use up that (gasp) third throw, knowing it would be an invitation to the runner to take a 40-foot lead on the next pitch? Or were those first two throws a set-up, daring that runner to guess there's no way he'd make that third move -- and get picked off? Sounds like fun to us. 7 Five for fighting Hockey and football teams are allowed to deactivate players for a specific game. So here's a baseball variation suggested by one club official who prefers to remain nameless: Limit a team to five relief pitchers per nine-inning game. Obviously, all limits are off in extra innings, but this could be a change that works for everybody: It would be a guaranteed night off for that tireless right-hander who had already pitched three straight days. And it would spare us the thrill of the in-and-out bullpen parade -- left, right, left, right ... oops, we're out of pitchers. 8 It takes two In the same vein, Brewers GM Doug Melvin suggests that when no one is on base, a relief pitcher should have to face a minimum of two hitters instead of just one. Nothing worse than a 1-2-3 seventh inning featuring three different relievers. 9 Let's not see you in September Our buddy Peter Gammons rants about this every year, and he's right: Why do teams play with a 25-man roster all year and then, in the most important month -- September -- get to expand the roster to 40? If September provides a club with the opportunity to check out a Francisco Rodriguez or a Brandon Phillips, fine. If it allows a team to add a backup catcher or extra bullpen arm, no problem. But when it's hard to tell the Tigers' active roster from the Lions' active roster, that's going too far. Shrink that September roster to 30 -- tops. 10 Unify the numbers Once upon a time, baseball had two separate and distinct leagues. They had their own offices. They never played each other. For a while, they even had their own rules. But now -- in an age of interleague play, one umpiring workforce and no league offices -- it's time to consolidate the stats. Was there anything more ridiculous last September than those scoreboards, newspapers and official stat sheets showing Bartolo Colon's record as 10-4 (his record just as an Expo), when everybody knew he was 20-8? If a player gets traded from one league to the other in midseason, count all his stats -- not just the stats in the new league. While we're at it, can we retroactively give Mark McGwire that 1997 home run title he should have won (when he led the major leagues with 58, but made the mistake of hitting 34 of them in Oakland before getting traded to the Cardinals in July)? 11 Waive the waiver system As long as we're on this subject, another constructive proposal by Doug Melvin would make the waiver system more like the draft. Now, if a player gets placed on waivers by an AL team, all the other AL teams have to pass on claiming him before even the worst team in the NL gets a shot at him. If we're striving for competitive balance in an interleague age, shouldn't that system be trashed? Give teams an opportunity to claim a player according to their record -- worst teams first, regardless of league. Or alternate leagues like the draft. But to give the Yankees first shot at a player who could legitimately help the Pirates is absurd. 12 Erase the runner's box A bunch of players grumbled about the continued existence of that "runner's box" along the last 45 feet of the first-base line. In theory, the runner is supposed to stay within the lane of those two lines. In reality, said Astros catcher Brad Ausmus, "if the runner stays in the runner's box, he can't actually ever legally touch first base." Plus, said Texas' Doug Glanville, that lane "is in foul territory. So as a right-handed batter, you have to run across the field to get foul, then loop back to touch the base, which is in fair territory." If it's interference, it's interference. Do we really need that line to establish whether it is or isn't? And let those right-handed hitters cut across the grass to get to the line while we're at it. 13 Define the true meaning of sacrifice Marlins utility dynamo Andy Fox wonders why hitters don't get a sacrifice when they hit a ground ball to the right side to move a runner -- or when they hit a ground ball with the infield back to score a run. Good question. We've seen scorers give sacs to guys who clearly were bunting for a hit. So why wouldn't they have the discretion to give "sacs" to guys who obviously are hitting a ball to the right side to advance a runner? 14 Dump the designated pinch-runner If we're trying to speed up the game and make it more athletic, why defeat both purposes by allowing some half-crippled pinch-hitter to pinch-hit in a blowout, then have to pinch-run for him? Another cool Doug Melvin idea would ban pinch-running for a pinch-hitter -- unless he represents the tying or go-ahead run. Besides moving the game along, it would force managers to save certain hitters for certain situations, knowing they couldn't get them out of the game if they reached base. Strategy: good. One-dimensional hitters: bad. That's our motto. 15 But add the designated fielder Doug Melvin (who obviously needs his own column) also proposes adding a minimum-salaried 26th roster spot for a "designated fielder." This guy would make the minimum -- but would never be allowed to bat (all season). Unlike the DH, the DF wouldn't play the whole game in the field. He would be a defensive specialist who would go into a game late and occupy a lineup spot -- except that when his turn came up, you'd have to pinch-hit for him. So he'd be the defensive equivalent of the closer. He'd just move around a lot more. 16 Ban all body armor Baseball did a great job last year of cracking down on all those hitters heading for the plate in football pads. But it's time to go further. Unless a guy has had a broken bone in his hand or arm within the past five years, or a deep bruise (authenticated by the surgeon general) within the past 30 days, no armor whatsoever should be permitted for any hitter. Sorry, Barry. Even you. 17 Invent the "team" error When a 40-foot pop-up lands in the infield between four different men wearing the finest gloves money can buy, don't you just hate it when that's scored a (chuckle) "hit?" When a routine fly ball in the alley drops between two outfielders who forgot to call it, doesn't it curdle your blood when the hitter gets a (gasp) "double?" Absurd! If a ball should be caught, it should be caught. And if it isn't, it's an error -- even if it's a "team" error. Case closed. 18 Enforce the batter's box This, technically, isn't a rule "change." But explain to us again why some hitters are allowed to rub out the back line of the batter's box and camp out practically in the catcher's lap. We don't get it. If we're not going to enforce that batter's box, why waste the chalk? And on a similar note, if a hitter wants to stand so close to the plate that his elbows are actually in the strike zone, he forfeits the right to take his base if he gets drilled. And the umpire would announce that before the pitch. 19 The phantom must go There's nothing more "phantom" these days than the "phantom" tag of second base on a double play. Two different club executives grumbled that middle infielders are now allowed to roam farther and farther off the bag while "turning" two. So we risk hearing from the heavily funded Shortstop Lobby by proposing: No more phantom tags. If you don't touch the base, you don't get the out. 20 No more Saturday night games A prominent GM who prefers not to get fined says it's time for all weekend games to be played in the afternoon, to make this sport as kid-friendly as possible. Since we work for a network that seems to enjoy Sunday nights, we'll make an allowance for one national TV game every week. But that's it. The same GM wants no night games starting after 7 p.m., and no postseason games starting later than 8 p.m. sharp -- all in the name of re-infusing kids with the love of baseball. Yeah, there would be short-term money lost. But we would make it back when the next generation pours through the turnstiles. We promise, Bud. FIVE MORE FOR FUN 1 No more out-of-the-baseline rule Retired first-base magician Rico Brogna proposes there should be no such thing as a runner going out of the baseline. Let him run anywhere on the field if he wants. Imagine that crowd roaring as the runner on first runs around the outfield while the runner who was on second attempts to score. Imagine the drama as the team in the field tries to decide whether it's worth chasing the runner and conceding the run or getting the out. It could be baseball's version of the Stanford Band Play. 2 Farm out the Brewers The last labor deal should have had a minimum payroll to force lousy teams to try to get better. But since it didn't, one GM had an idea that's guaranteed to work: The team with the worst record in baseball every year gets sent to Triple-A. We're assuming some team from Triple-A -- or at least the Northern League -- would have to be promoted to the big leagues to fill out the divisions, but we're willing to negotiate. Now that would get their attention at Miller Park, huh? 3 No win, no welfare Or here's a variation on that same theme, from an anonymous agent: If a team has three consecutive losing seasons, it loses 50 percent of its revenue-sharing payout and all of its welfare check from the luxury-tax pool until it gets above .500 again. That might force the Pirates, Brewers and Tigers into Chapter 11. But if it didn't, we bet it would sure speed up their rebuilding programs. 4 Get the fans in the game -- literally One final Rico Brogna proposal: Make fan interference legal. Fans couldn't actually leave the stands, of course. And any nets, traps or other contraptions not fitting the definition of "baseball glove" would be prohibited. But otherwise, make fans feel like more a part of the action than ever before (and boost sales of those front-row seats) by giving them the right to field any ball, fair or foul, that shows up near their seat. What sport has ever been fan-friendlier than that? 5 Ban Thunder Stix One club executive pleaded with us to get baseball to outlaw the pre-game dispensing of any giveaway item which, if waved, banged or pounded, could cause significant permanent hearing loss. And after living through last October in Anaheim, our only possible response to that is: Huh? What's that? Say again? Jayson Stark is a senior writer for ESPN.com. You know it has to be a really good article for me to agree with the clods at ESPN.com.