Clarkdog

Radke is getting an extra 3 inches on the outside corner to the right handed hitters. No one is going to reel him unless he makes a mistake, or they adjust and move closer to the plate and hit the ball the other way.

I would like to have Beltran as much as anyone. But creating new holes on the roster to obtain him - addition by subtraction - is NOT the answer. Not now. It puzzles me that so many are willing to package Rowand/Crede in a deal to get Beltran. Don't you just end up with new or different holes? Slightly upgraded with better power numbers, but the hole becomes an abyss once Beltran signs with the Yankees in the offseason. Does anyone like the idea of the Kelly Dransfeld/Juan Uribe era at third beginning in the middle of a pennant run? Or the Timo Perez/Ross Gload/Joe Borchard experiment in right? IMO, Beltran can be had with prospects. There are alot of scenarios on this board where we deal Rowand, Crede, Borchard in some combination for Beltran. To me that is overpaying. The Astros dealt Dotel and a catching prospect. There is no reason the Sox should use the same equation as the Astros. The Astros took a risk that Beltran would get them back in the race, it failed. They will not get the same value in return, because it's near the deadline, and the Astros are not going to sign him either. The Sox are not obligated to make them whole to get Beltran. That might clinch the deal for Beltran, but then the Sox end up paying the price for the Astros risk-taking. That is not very good negotiating or decision making. But if that is what it takes, I'll pass. I'd rather have someone like Catalanatto for less.

Has anyone considered the possibility that maybe the Toronto media might only have it half right. Acquiring Delgado doesn't make any sense whatsoever. But maybe the Toronto media is assuming we are pursuing him- when in fact we're interested in someone else ..... Zaun? rolleyeyes.gif

For what it's worth, below is a helpful and reassuring post from Jurr on WSI - he apprently was on the training staff for the Tennesee Titans.... I think I'll sleep better now. But I'm interested to hear the results tomorrow.

Not sure if anyone saw this but the decision on Thomas's ankle (surgery or no) could be coming today. That will likely dictate which direction KW goes in making a move. From today's Sun-Times: My gut is they are preparing to go without him.

Agreed. I think the reason the lose there is that it is impossible to get up for a game there. The fans are soooo quiet. That place must just lull you to sleep. In know we don't set any attendance records either, but it really seems like they sit on their hands there.

Brian Schnieder is the answer.

...and he comes along in a package with Brian Schnieder, the Expos catcher.

1. Yes. They were swinging from their heels last night. But Rusch also had a very generous strike zone. Did you see how far outside the pitch that K'ed Perez was? That wasn't the only wide strike he got. Rusch's plate was 25 inches wide last night. When your trying to slug against that - you're not going to succeed very often. 2. Agreed. Terrible situational hitting. 3. To my point, Shingo should not be called on to do a second inning of work. Only the inning to close the game. He cannot be the only option when the game is close. Are you listening Kenny? 4. Release point - bah. He choked. Pure and simple. You have to have brass balls to come into a situation like that and come through on top. He had to strike out Walker. Sure a ground ball could have started a DP, but the infield was playing middle in, it would have had to have been hit right at someone. If it is hit sharply more than one step to the left or right of any infielder - game over.

I'm sure Ozzie had a reason for every decision he made last night. But when he brought in Shingo in the 8th, I knew the game was over even if the Sox managed to come back. Which they did. This was a critisicm I had of Manuel as well - NEVER BRING YOUR CLOSER INTO A NON-CLOSING SITUATION, UNLESS HE IS THE LAST PITCHER YOU HAVE AVAILABLE. Sure Shingo pitched a good 8th, but in the 9th he was gassed and missing his spots. Shingo needs to get ahead of hitters to be effective. What happens? Gives up a hit. Intentional walk, and other walk. Bang - the bases are loaded. Now, you pull him, and bring in Marte where he must strike out Walker? Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire. The odds of Marte succeeding there were long to begin with. But say he did - now what? If the Sox manage to scratch out another run to take the lead - you force the closer role on another pitcher who never or rarely performs in that capacity, because, if I'm not mistaken, Marte's spot in the order would have been due up in the top of the 10th. Ozzie may like National League style baseball, but he's not ready to manage a National League team - not with decision making like that.

That deal makes a ton of sense for all involved. Except who would close for Houston? Lidge?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Cotts - 9G, 10.2IP, 8H, 2ER, 5BB, 9SO, 1.69ERA, 1.22WHIP

Pretty cool. Sox tattooing Prior. E-Lo just being E-Lo. One problem though - Uribe could never wear #4. Ol' Aches and Pains retired that long before I was born.

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The pieces between the Sox and Dodgers are falling into place... It was reported in USA TODAY in "The Buzz" that a channels between the Dodgers and Sox have opened up and the teams are talking about a Frank Thomas/Odalis Perez deal. I went to find a link on the internet, but I think "The Buzz" is in print only. Other players were not mentioned. If the above is accurate, then the Dodgers would have to be interested in Maddux. A new owner looking to make a splash brings in two future HOF players, to strengthen the lineup and rotation. Getting Maddux would make Perez absolutely expendable to obtain Thomas; and may save Dan Evans job - if he is really behind it. I also don't think the Sox/Dodger deal would be a one for one swap. A player like Mota and/or Miller would need to be added. I could be wrong but Thomas' contract seems to have more flexibility for the Dodgers than Konerko's - and combined with Thomas's name and stature in the league provides greater value in trade.

Ah the memories.... Eric Soderholm Greg Pryor Mike Squires Wayne Nordhagen Bill Nahorodny Wayne Tolleson Dick Tidrow Rich Wortham Craig Grebeck Paco Martin Greg Hibbard Scott Fletcher Kevin Hickey Vance Law Warren Newsome Mike Lavalliere

Just to add.... If Jerry Reinsdorf and his partners weren't making a profit on the White Sox, why would they still want to own the franchise after 20+ years just to lose money? This ownership group has one of the longer tenures in the MLB. If you believe that JR and his partners aren't bringing home something after each season closes, then I have an oceanfront estate in Iowa I'd like to sell you.

No. Sorry. Meant to say that Gaston just returned home form Barbados. He is not in Chicago.

Prediction: It's Guillen. He is in town right now. Cito just got back from Barbados.

Totally agree here. I think Colon's decision to turn down the Sox offer may end up working in the Sox favor. Colon's agent is looking for the Sox to bid on Colon against the Yankees and Red Sox. But (according to Gammons) the Red Sox are already committed to $110M in '04, unless they can unload Nomar (which would be a PR nightmare) they likely won't dabble in the Tier I FA market. So that leaves the Yankees. Colon has said he doesn't want to play there. But that is the only team that can afford the $ his agent is looking for. Who's to say that King George won't go after Milwood, Escobar, or resigning Pettitte? In the end the Sox deal may have been the best one out there for him. Colon wanted $12M, and he liked playing here. I think he got talked out of it by his agent. The Sox gave him the best deal - it works out for everyone. I do not fault the Sox organization - this is simply the case of an agent's greed. But if your the agent - this is your client's one shot at the BIG payday. It's hard to pass up.

I agree. I would love to get Ozzie back as 3B coach to be groomed as a successor to Gaston - if in fact his deal is only 2 years. If this is true then the Sox are looking to play for October in 2004 and 2005. Gaston has alluded to the fact that he would not like to manage a rebuilding process. Perhaps that is where Guillen comes in 2006. But IIRC, doesn't Gaston have a desire to bring in his own staff? Or was he flexible on this?

Starting Pitching Colon Buehrle Garland Loaiza Schoenweis/Rauch/Cotts Lineup SS Matsui 2B Harris LF Lee RF Ordonez DH Thomas 1B Konerko 3B Crede CF Rowand C Olivo Bullpen Koch Marte Schoenweis/Rauch/Cotts Wright Wunsch Ginter Bench Graffanino S. Alomar Hollandsworth Burke Wishful yet realistic.

That is the one of the most ass backwards things I've ever heard. These players are going to mutiny if Backman is hired? Last time I looked on the world championship scoreboard it was: Backman - 1 Entire Sox Roster (sans R. Alomar) - 0 Backman should put down the mutiny by thumping every ballplayer on the skull with his ring.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't screaming at my television while Paniagua was grooving pitches - he was getting squeezed a bit - I head he got ejected. But Manuel has play the hand he is dealt and he needs to get guys like Schoenwies, Paniagua, and Koch work if we are serious about this drive. We will need them to throw some innings for mop up or set up duty. I would have liked to see Koch. Ending that game would have been good for his confidence.

4 - 0 Angels. Top 3. Didn't take long for Gardenhire to give Balfour the hook. Hope the Angels can keep the bats going.