CSF

Great news to hear, but take your time #35. It could very well be your bat that carries this team down the stretch.

Per ESPN News: Derrick Mason signs 5 yr deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Dexter Coakley signs 5 yr deal with the St. Louis Rams. Jeremiah Trotter visiting with the KC Chiefs. Moss trade to Oakland finalized today. More to come.

QUOTE(Molto @ Mar 2, 2005 -> 03:23 PM) next time he'll be eligible is 2007, right? Yup. At least it is for the veteran's commitee.

The Score reported he and Gil Hodges were close, but no dice. OH NO!

Per ESPN News.

Jeez, Gonzales this year, Bob Foltman last year, Teddy Greenstein in 2003, & Paul Sullivan in 2002. Does the Trib plan on changing the Sox beat writer every year? Anyway, welcome to Chicago, Mark.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Feb 28, 2005 -> 01:30 AM) I think we should just get WHarris1 and soxfun1 and put them on TV and see if they can do better. See if anybody nationwide would watch their asses talk about the Sox and whine about the coverage the Red Sox and Yankees get? I mean, they HAVE to know more than those dumbasses on Baseball Tonight, right? But just how much more info on the Yankees and Red Sox does a baseball fan need? And if that's the case, then just change the name to Baseball Tonight: Yankees/Red Sox special. The real challenge would be to air an episode of BBTN without coverage of those 2 teams. Not gonna happen, but it would be intriguing.

Quite frankly, with Comcast Sportsnet Chicago & the NFL Network now in place, I'm finding less and less of a reason to even watch ESPN. Screw 'em.

Sox hope Cotts learned from taking lumps By Bob Foltman Tribune staff reporter February 23, 2005, 7:53 PM CST TUCSON, Ariz. -- One look at the numbers produces a ho-hum shrug. But numbers don't tell the whole story so, in the case of Neal Cotts, the White Sox hope last season was a prelude to bigger and better things. "I think he had a good year, although the ERA numbers may not indicate it," Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said of the 25-year-old left-hander, who went 4-4 with a 5.65 ERA. Last season was Cotts' first full one in the big leagues, and he rode the rookie roller coaster. "There were a lot of things I hadn't experienced in the minors," Cotts acknowledged. "I was a little inconsistent. But you learn from going out and not having your best stuff." Cotts was used in a variety of roles, including an emergency start in Minnesota when the Sox were close to holding open tryouts for the fifth starter's spot. There was a stretch midway through the season when Cliff Politte and Damaso Marte weren't available, so Cotts and fellow rookie Jon Adkins were thrown into the fire. "There was no doubt he was challenged," Sox general manager Ken Williams said. "We accelerated his progress at least a couple of years by throwing him in some difficult situations." The Sox believe they will reap the benefits this year. Williams says Cotts looks more comfortable in camp, more like he feels he belongs on a big-league team. "Until a guy starts to feel that this is where he's supposed to be, you're not going to see leaps in his development," Williams said. "Now he's a solid member of the bullpen." Last season Cotts wasn't sure he was going to make the team. If he did, he didn't know if he would be a starter or a reliever. There is comfort in knowing what his role is. "I like having an idea of what's going on," he said. "It makes it a lot easier. At this time last year I wouldn't even be mentioned as a guy who was going to be on the team." Cooper said Cotts has "grown on him" with his professionalism and his work ethic. In the off-season, Cooper had Cotts work on watching the catcher's glove longer. It might seem basic—a pitcher looking at his catcher—but is an important task for someone like Cotts. "To hit the glove, you have to see it, and the longer you see it the better," Cooper said. "When he doesn't see the glove, he closes himself off and it makes his location iffy." Cooper is hoping Cotts can develop a role in the bullpen. Williams said he envisions scenarios where Cotts enters in the sixth and pitches two or three innings. Or if Marte has pitched a couple of days in a row, Cotts can work the eighth to get to Shingo Takatsu. "We have a lot of confidence in him," Williams said. "He just needs to throw strikes." Williams and Cooper envision Cotts making a move into the starting rotation at some point. The current Sox rotation is signed for at least two more years, so there's no rush. Cotts isn't worrying about when he will be a starter—or if. "I would love to be a starter, but I enjoy the bullpen," he said. "If being a starter is where they want me eventually, that would be fine." Cooper believes the course the Sox have charted for Cotts will pay off this season. "I'm interested to watch the growth—it's going to happen," Cooper said. "I want him to take a step forward and to take as big a step as he [can]." Copyright © 2005, The Chicago Tribune

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 23, 2005 -> 08:51 AM) Right now I'd probably say Ray Allen, minus the cancer.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Feb 19, 2005 -> 07:24 PM) I liked Horn when it first started...Kellerman vs. Woody was fun to watch... I also liked it better without the eliminations. But then it started to become too much mariotti...He definitely gets on my nerves... I think the best way to go about it is a better rotation of participating writers. I don't want mariotti to be the ONLY voice for Chicago and midwest sports... I know Telander couldn't do it because he has a gig on FSN Across America, but how about someone different like Carol Slezak or even Greg Couch (even though he's a Mariotti clone). I get tired of seeing Mariotti's mug on there all the time.

Pootie Tang, is that you?

QUOTE(AnthraxFan93 @ Feb 19, 2005 -> 06:24 PM) Since 2000 what has Frank done to help this team? Wow. I guess 42 homers in a steroid-free body for a year doesn't get you much nowadays.

I didn't hear the interview, but that was probably Dibble saying that more tongue-in-cheek. He was one of the few guys that really gave the Sox props on Baseball Tonight telecasts, plus I've heard him mention how he enjoyed playing for the Sox when he was here. He wasn't like that pud Mike Greenberg who made that idiotic statement that the White Sox don't matter in Chicago.

As of 1:28am: White Sox: 30% Bears: 24% Illini: 21% Bulls: 16% Cubs: 9%

Anyone forgetting Buerhle? In 2003, after Mientkiewicz made those comments about the Sox not deserving the ASG, promptly got knocked down by MB in their 1st meeting. Or how about Garland getting ejected for throwing at a Twins player in retaliation for one of them hitting Frank? Except for Mike Jackson, I think the pitchers will back their guys up.

Nice article, but the following sentence should never be repeated:

QUOTE(SuperSteve @ Feb 10, 2005 -> 10:42 AM) How is he suppose to feed his family on that tiny salary, geez...sometimes you guys are so mean to the poor working class. :rolly You damn right! How can his family eat on that pitiful amount? That's right Maggs. You hold out for the big payday. Show 'em who's boss. Damn the consequences. It's all about you, baby! Signed, Latrell Sprewell B)

Arow would be perfect batting 3rd. This way, you continue your emphasis on speed at the top of the order.

If you paid me $14 million for less than 50 games in a year, I'd be happy to be "buried" like that. On a side note, I'm still waiting for the Trib to print KW's response. Surely they can obtain the feed from Whitesox.com. :rolly

I'm just happy that he wrote an article about the AL Central, period. Whaddya know, baseball does exist outside of NYC and Boston, Mass. That said; the article still sucks.

1) Jon Garland. The pressure is truly off now. He's not being asked to win 20, 18 or even 15 wins. Just stay at .500 and eat up innings. Anything else should be considered a bonus. 2) Joe Crede. I have a good feeling he's gonna put up some nice numbers. I think 2004 humbled him and he was learning to ask for help and it should make him an improved player. 3) Neal Cotts. I think a full year under his belt should make him better adapted to situations. If he could be used in the way Sean Lowe was in 2000, I'll be happy.

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Feb 6, 2005 -> 11:18 PM) Mariotti school of journalism. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story. I stopped reading his columns altogether. That assclown is another Mariotti clone. I remember his rip job on Frank last year for no reason but to stir up the pot.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Feb 5, 2005 -> 09:07 PM) not anymore, I'm pretty sure Boras got the left one in the I-Rod deal and the right one in the Maggs contract ROTFLMFAO!!!