CSF

IIRC, I think Donovan McNabb is also a Sox fan.

I read an article where the guy who wrote "The Prince of Tides", Pat Conroy is also a Sox fan.

Anyone know what happened with Urbina's mother? Were they able to rescue her from those kidnappers? It hasn't been mentioned in awhile.

QUOTE(KittleWalk83 @ Jan 19, 2005 -> 12:22 AM) What I remember most about this was BlackJack talking a bunch of crap while hiding behind Frank Thomas. If he had any guts he wouldn't need to hide behind Frank. After what Mark Whiten did to Black Jack, I don't think I could blame him.

Winter moves haven't altered pecking order January 17, 2005 BY CHRIS DE LUCA STAFF REPORTER So general manager Ken Williams' winter relationship with fans went from ''RipFest'' in 2004 to ''LoveFest'' in 2005 during the White Sox' annual convention. Even without Randy Johnson and Omar Vizquel, fans seem to like the Sox' slimmed-down look. The Sox certainly didn't land the big fish they were chasing this winter, but Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen developed a plan for a new look, and the Sox should get credit for at least executing their plan. Guillen's message all weekend was the rebuilt Sox should rule the American League Central in 2005. Though there will be more reshaping throughout the division, here's a look at how the Central stacks up a month shy of spring training: TWINS Record in 2004: 92-70, first place. Winter remodeling: General manager Terry Ryan lost the left side of his infield to free agency with the departures of shortstop Cristian Guzman and third baseman Corey Koskie. Outlook: Losing Guzman, who hit .274 and scored 84 runs, hurts. The Twins will let free agent Juan Castro and rookie Jason Bartlett battle for the job. Still, manager Ron Gardenhire gets the most out of his teams. If catcher Joe Mauer stays healthy, the Twins will have a potent lineup that still has Torii Hunter and Justin Morneau in the middle. The AL's best pitching staff in 2004 remains anchored by Johan Santana, Brad Radke and Carlos Silva (plus the expected return of Sox killer Joe Mays). And Gardenhire has a balanced bullpen with J.C. Romero and Juan Rincon setting up closer Joe Nathan. Bottom line: Again the Central's team to beat. WHITE SOX Record in 2004: 83-79, second place. Winter remodeling: Williams signed four key free agents: outfielder Jermaine Dye, catcher A.J. Pierzynski and pitchers Orlando Hernandez and Dustin Hermanson. In the deal that sent Carlos Lee to Milwaukee, Williams got outfielder Scott Podsednik and reliever Luis Vizcaino from the Brewers. Missing are Lee, right fielder Magglio Ordonez, shortstop Jose Valentin, catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. and left-hander Scott Schoeneweis. Outlook: The pressure is on Podsednik to return to his 2003 form, when he hit .314 and scored 100 runs. Guillen will find himself frustrated if Podsednik duplicates his 2004 numbers, when he hit .244 and struck out 105 times. The rotation is strong, and the bullpen is its deepest since 2000. The Sox must get off to a decent start until Frank Thomas (left ankle) is back to form in midseason to have a shot in this balanced division. Bottom line: Shedding so much power is risky if Thomas might be lost for half the season. INDIANS Record in 2004: 80-82, third place. Winter remodeling: General manager Mark Shapiro filled a big hole in his rotation by signing right-hander Kevin Millwood. Shapiro gambled on a minor-league deal with outfielder Juan Gonzalez and added backup infielder Jose Hernandez and reliever Arthur Rhodes. But the Indians lost shortstop Omar Vizquel. Outlook: A shaky bullpen put the Indians in a big hole last season. Manager Eric Wedge is relieved to have closer Bob Wickman healthy and ready to start the season. Millwood, if he shakes off the elbow trouble that plagued him in 2004, gives Wedge a strong No. 3 starter behind All-Stars C.C. Sabathia and Jake Westbrook. Bottom line: With a healthy Wickman back, the Indians (who converted only 32 saves in 60 chances) should finish with a winning record for the first time since a division title in 2001. TIGERS Record in 2004: 72-90, fourth place. Winter remodeling: Though GM Dave Dombrowski looked as if he would do more, the Tigers' most significant move was stealing free-agent closer Troy Percival from the Cubs. Outlook: Questions surround the Tigers' young rotation anchored by Nate Robertson, Jeremy Bonderman and Wilfredo Ledezma. Ivan Rodriguez, Dmitri Young and Carlos Guillen give the Tigers a dangerous trio in the middle of their lineup. Bottom line: Despite a decent lineup and a better bullpen, the Tigers are asking a lot of their young pitchers. ROYALS Record in 2004: 58-104, fifth place. Winter remodeling: GM Allard Baird has little to work with, but added starting pitcher Jose Lima and right fielder Terrence Long. Outlook: First baseman Mike Sweeney is the biggest threat in the lineup, but back problems held him to 106 games. David DeJesus replaced Carlos Beltran in center and gives the Royals a legit leadoff hitter. But the rotation and bullpen are thin, and there are too many holes in the lineup. Bottom line: Only the Diamondbacks (111) lost more games last season. The Tigers bounced from 119 losses in 2003 to 90 but after a much more productive winter than what the Royals have shown.

It's great to see the respect level the rest of the team has for Frank.

Welcome to Soxtalk. The guy you probably want to speak to on this site is Rex Hudler. He can probably tell you who's gonna be on the Barons roster this year.

He said he wants to go for another nat'l championship.

Take Leinart off of those lists. He said he is returning to USC for his 5th year.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Jan 12, 2005 -> 04:17 PM) honestly, if i was cub management i think i'd conduct business exactly the way they do. they can make few moves, ignore the community, attempt to rip off their fans on ticket sales through shady schemes, try to pass off a broken-down and dangerous ballpark as "quaint" and people will still pack that place. what's the incentive for cub management to improve the club? no good businessman is going to pour money into a product that's making huge profits. the cubs are more than a baseball team, they're an image and as long as that image is perpetuated those sheep will continue pouring into that park, slugging back old style and waiting for some has-been to sing the seventh-inning stretch. So if you were a Cub fan, you would say they need to f***ing win and stop playing like stupid bastards?

Next to the Yankees and Red Sox, the Cubs have to draw the 3rd biggest crowds in MLB. They treat their ballpark renovations like a band-aid on an open wound, and they gouge their ticket prices to ridiculous proportions........and yet the people still buy them and sell out. They could've had Beltran and kept Sosa for one more year but I honestly don't think the Tribune wanted to pony up that type of cash. The Cubs organization clearly doesn't think too highly of their fans.

Left tackle fine with Tait Move will give Colombo shot at right tackle By Terry Bannon Tribune staff reporter January 12, 2005 When coach Lovie Smith talked about the Bears' offense needing more firepower, he wasn't necessarily talking about the offensive line. But that's where Smith and new offensive coordinator Ron Turner are going to start rebuilding the unit. After spending his first season in Chicago at right tackle, the Bears are finalizing plans to move John Tait to left tackle, considered the most important position along the line. "John came in before he left and told me how he'd like to help the team," Smith said Tuesday. "We feel good about the situation." Last spring the Bears ventured into the free-agent market and gave Tait a six-year, $34 million contract. It was left-tackle money for a right tackle, a move the Bears justified because their system required, in effect, two left tackles. Coordinator Terry Shea and that system are gone, so the Bears' best tackle will be their left tackle, a move Tait always has said he would accept. "Like in most systems, the left tackle, protecting the quarterback's blind side, is a little more important," Turner said. "Then again, this whole situation is based on help. If they have an end and we're at a tremendous disadvantage, we're going to give him some help." A groin injury in training camp discouraged the Bears from moving Tait after it became clear Marc Colombo wouldn't be ready to start the season. Qasim Mitchell manned left tackle, but seemed to wear down late in games. Tait played left tackle his first three seasons in the NFL after Kansas City drafted him on the first round in 1999. In 2002 he moved to right tackle when the Chiefs signed a Pro Bowl left tackle, Willie Roaf. The move means Colombo will get a chance to compete at right tackle, often seen as the more natural position for the 6-foot-8-inch, 325-pounder. Colombo returned to the Bears' lineup late last season, but struggled at left tackle. He gave up four sacks in the season finale against Green Bay, but often wasn't getting the help Turner says his tackles will get next season. The other new look involving the offensive line will be a new coach. Tuesday the Bears announced the hiring of Harry Hiestand, who had the same job under Turner at Illinois. Hiestand replaces the fired Pete Hoener. The other offensive assistants will all be back. It will be the first NFL job for Hiestand, who coached at Missouri before Illinois. Every senior who started for Hiestand at Illinois received at least an NFL tryout. "We've been together for eight years," Turner said. "He knows what I like to do; he knows my philosophy; I know what he likes to do. We have a good understanding of the offensive scheme, and you combine that with the assistant coaches already here, and we'll take input from there." One of their first jobs will be fixing pass protection. The Bears gave up a team-record 66 sacks, but the line isn't getting all the blame. "I've looked at the tapes a little bit and it's a combination of everything," Turner said. "The quarterback holding the ball too long, receivers maybe not running where they're supposed to making the quarterback hold the ball, breakdowns in the offensive line, running backs, missing a sight adjustment or hot read … it's a lot of things we'll address." Last year the Bears started four quarterbacks and 10 offensive linemen. "No. 1, [we want to] stay healthy and try to keep the same five [linemen] on the field," Turner said. "That's one of the keys, keep that continuity. But I think there are definitely guys we can win with who we can move the ball with and score points with. "[Pro Bowl center] Olin Kreutz is as good as there is; there are things in place." The offense's problems were less acute the first three games of the season—before quarterback Rex Grossman suffered a season-ending knee injury. "I think Rex will fit in real well with what we want to do," Turner said. "His style will fit in with what we want to do. And I think he has the intangibles to be a really good player." It's clear Turner has also received word that general manager Jerry Angelo doesn't plan a free-agent spending spree to find more of that firepower. "You look at the receivers and running backs," he said. "There are people there who can make plays, whether it's David Terrell or whoever else is there. A lot of it has to do with confidence, putting them in position to make plays and let them know you count on them." Turner, the Bears' offensive coordinator under Dave Wannstedt in 1993-96, chose returning to Chicago over the same job with the Baltimore Ravens. "Ron was the first guy, and really the only guy, I talked to," Smith said. "I feel real good about what he'll be able to bring to us." Copyright © 2005, The Chicago Tribune

Lovie Smith just announced it at Turner's press conference.

QUOTE(LDF @ Jan 10, 2005 -> 12:27 AM) who is the girl??? If you're referring to frahungski's avatar, that's Britney Spears. BTW, when is Rollins contract up with the Phils?

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 03:32 AM) Can you imagine Kotex Boy writing for a team like the Tampa Bay Devil Rays or Pitssburgh Pirates. Well, he is from Pittsburgh. Come on Steel City! Take your native son home. HOMETOWN DISCOUNT! HOMETOWN DISCOUNT!

Sun-Times article I won't bore you with his "rant" against the Cubs for not getting Beltran, but this little quote I found rather humorous: So let me get this straight. When the Sox parted ways with Magglio, Mariotti basically skewered the Sox, saying they were giving up a franchise player and one of the most coveted players in baseball, but when it's the Cubs, he's second rate to Beltran, even when healthy? Gotta love it. Somebody please give this nitwit a nickel so he can buy himself a clue. :headshake

He said he is looking forward to moving from a pitcher's park to a hitter's park.

A.J. said Konerko could outrace him.

He also said El Duque when he's on, is a money pitcher.

QUOTE(Ishmookie @ Jan 7, 2005 -> 02:54 PM) if they could do a deal like sweeney contreras and everett or a combination of those they would b great. but az probably wouldnt do it Any deal involving either Sweeney, Anderson, or McCarthy, I'm definitely not for. Unless it is strictly a trade deadline deal for a MAJOR impact player.

QUOTE(chi-guy2 @ Jan 7, 2005 -> 10:41 AM) thats just dumb hiring a coach who had troubles running his own offense which sorry to say was horrible, yeah this wont help the bears, not like anything would Turner didn't seem to have a problem with the offense when the Illini were Big 10 champions in 2001. He had Kittner throwing to Brandon Lloyd, Greg Lewis, Aaron Moorehead (all 3 playing in the NFL today). The man is known for his pro-style offense. If he takes the Bears job, it's fine by me.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 7, 2005 -> 02:49 AM) Whaddya mean? Raymont Harris was "Ultraback"!!!! Raymont was awesome when he got the chance to play. For some reason though, Wanny had a man-crush on Edgar Bennett & Lewis Tillman. :headshake

Another game I just thought of was during the 2000 pennant run when the Sox played Toronto at home on a Saturday night. The park was sold out and Sirotka was starting. Toronto held a 3-1 lead (the 1 run courtesy of a Mags HR) in the bottom of the 7th when Konerko came up as a PH with the bases loaded and cleared them with a double, & the Sox ultimately won 6-3 with Foulke closing it out. The cheering was so loud my ears were ringing the rest of the evening. Unfortunately, at the time they were playing that stupid song "Who let the dogs out", and that's all the crowd was singing. Still, that was a great time to be a fan of this team.

I gave them an A. KW pretty much said this team was going to be overhauled, and he managed to do so without giving up too much talent (C. Lee). Plus it looks like he got good character guys who will give this team an identity. This should be a fun year.

The last time the White Sox opened at home. 1990 against the Brewers (still in the AL at the time) at Old Comiskey Park. Sox won 2-1. B)