DBAHO

Probably because the Yankees were offerin Dioner Navarro and 1 one of their best other prospects for a possible Garcia deal. We didn't include Olivo, there's no deal.

MEN who regularly carry a mobile phone could have their sperm count reduced by as much as 30 per cent. Those who place their phone near their groin, on a belt or in a pocket, are at greatest risk, new research has revealed. The findings, to be presented at an international conference this week, are the first to suggest male fertility could be affected by the radiation emitted by mobile phones, also long suspected of causing cancer. The study by Hungarian researchers found the sperm that did survive exposure to mobile phone radiation showed abnormal movements, further reducing fertility. But Australian experts advised men not to panic yet. Monash IVF's medical director Gab Kovacs said a man's sperm count "goes up and down quite a bit" and could vary greatly from one day to the next. "You'd expect a 30 per cent variation just among men randomly," he said. He said the test finding would need to be repeated in further research before they could be seen as conclusive. "I wouldn't throw out my mobile phone at the moment," Professor Kovacs said. David de Kretser, director of Andrology Australia and the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, said it was difficult to verify the research, as it was unclear how much radiation the men had been exposed to. The research will be presented tomorrow at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology's annual conference in Berlin. Researchers from the University of Szeged studied 221 men for 13 months and compared the sperm of those who used their mobile phones heavily with those who did not. Researcher Imre Fejes of the University's obstetrics and gynaecology department wrote: "The prolonged use of cell phones may have a negative effect on spermatogenesis (sperm production) and male fertility, that deteriorates both concentration and motility." Dr Fejes said further work was needed to confirm the finding and discover how it happens. Unlike previous studies, the researchers believe mobile phones may cause damage while in stand-by mode, when mobiles are not in use but still make regular transmission to maintain contact with radio towers. It had been assumed such transmissions were too short to cause harm.

Updated standings again, 1 DBAH0s Sox 108-47-13 .682 - 11-3-0 10 19 2 Canadian Iceburghs 88-64-16 .571 18.5 8-3-3 12 16 3 WSF's destroyers 88-67-13 .563 20 7-6-1 1 11 4 Sonix 81-71-16 .530 25.5 3-8-3 4 2 5 SS2k4s 16inchers 80-80-8 .500 30.5 8-6-0 7 21 6 Yahtzee's Sox 77-80-11 .491 32 8-5-1 2 2 7 The Bones 76-82-10 .482 33.5 6-7-1 8 11 8 Tony's Sox 72-88-8 .452 38.5 6-8-0 9 18 9 b****in Camaros 70-90-8 .440 40.5 3-11-0 5 18 10 White Sox in '04 70-91-7 .438 41 5-8-1 11 15 11 Beer---Sox1422 66-89-13 .432 42 6-6-2 3 14 12 palehose 65-92-11 .420 44 6-6-2 6 9

Anything over $35 million over 4 years is definitely too excessive for me. His agent thinks he can easily get $40 million over 4 years from at least 1 of the New York teams. We should consider ourselves very lucky if we can resign him b/w 28 and 32 mill over 4 years.

I think those who would argue for the Garcia for Konerko would probably use the fact that Paulie's making $8 million this season and $8.5 million next season, while we had a young catcher and young stud outfielder in AAA making less than $1 million.

Do we still get 2 draft picks in next year's draft if we lose Garcia to a team like the Yanks in FA. Otherwise, we better resign him I tell ya.

I see him setting up for Dotel and doin a much better job. No way he should be a closer.

Nothin too serious of a virus I hope. Missed a big day though I tell ya.

He gave up another run in 1 inning today against the D-Rays with 2 BB's and 2 K's. No-one will trade for a overworked reliever from Billy Beane again.

Billy Koch

Breaking news, THE handover of power in Iraq has been brought forward to today, the Iraqi foreign minister is reported to have said. More to come...

Here is his major news from this year, Jan. 15, 2004 - 6:59 pm et Mariners signed catcher Ben Davis to a one-year, $1.4 million contract. Davis gets a $400,000 raise after a disappointing 2003 season. Mar. 9, 2004 - 11:40 am et Mariners manager Bob Melvin hasn't been happy with catcher Ben Davis' play-calling this spring. Melvin has hinted that he'd like Davis to supplant Dan Wilson as the starting catcher, but it may not happen. Jun. 6, 2004 - 4:12 pm et Ben Davis is batting .308 during a 12-game hitting streak at Triple-A Tacoma. Davis might soon reclaim a spot as Dan Wilson's backup.

I'm sure I read in Rotoworld a few weeks ago that most experts thought Davis would break out this year, as it takes a while for catchers to hit well offensively. I'll see if I can find that.

It also said in that article that KW was 99% sure he would get Freddy signed long - term.

That's what Seattle wanted, KW decided Reed was more expandable instead of Crede though.

Crede for Willie Bloomquist would hav been ideal in my eyes.

From Phil Rogers, In about the seventh inning Sunday, Reinsdorf gave his blessing to a bold move by general manager Ken Williams, who borrowed from the future to improve the immediate outlook. The White Sox paid a high price to get Garcia, 28, whose 3.20 earned-run average ranks fifth in the American League. But Williams is 99 percent certain he can sign Garcia to a contract extension that keeps him off the free-agent market. Before the game, a White Sox executive had indicated that it was Garcia, not Atlanta's Russ Ortiz, who was the pitcher most being sought. He indicated that the Sox would ask Seattle for a 72-hour window to sign Garcia to an extension. But according to sources, Williams decided to do the deal with no assurances when Seattle expressed a willingness to take Triple-A outfielder Jeremy Reed, a career .333 hitter, instead of third baseman Joe Crede. In the early talks between the clubs, Mariners GM Bill Bavasi was asking for Miguel Olivo and Crede. As much as Williams coveted Garcia and his 76-50 career record, he wasn't going to give up two regulars. Having hit .287 with 11 homers at Double-A Birmingham before a recent suspension for violating a team rule, 22-year-old shortstop Michael Morse was throw-in. He was ranked as the Sox's 17th-best prospect coming into the season, but he and Reed both would have been in the latest top 10.

Not really a good luck charm for staying with the White Sox is it.

Garcia's career record against teams in our division. Tigers 5-3 3.51 Indians 3-3 3.51 Twins 4-1 3.69 Royals 4-6 5.84

He has to, otherwise KW will be in BIG trouble from the fans. The trade will look like Mike Morse, Jeremy Reed and Miggy Olivo for Ben Davis. Ouch. :headshake

BUMP again, found this The Braves indeed inquired about White Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez, but now that the Sox have landed Freddy Garcia, Chicago doesn't need Braves righthander Russ Ortiz. A straight-up Ordonez-for-Andruw Jones deal would not interest the Sox unless the Braves paid a portion of the $39 million that Jones is owed over the next three seasons. Jones, 27, appears in decline offensively, and the Sox can find better ways to spend $13 million per season. The Braves could move J.D. Drew to center if they acquired Ordonez. Another, perhaps more likely, option would be for them to flip Ordonez to another club. Both Ordonez and Drew will be free agents at the end of the season. . . . And 7000 posts for me!

More thoughts for Ken Rosenthal of the SportingNews this time, The heavy price that the White Sox paid for Mariners right-hander Freddy Garcia and catcher Ben Davis makes it vital that they retain Garcia, who is a free agent at the end of the season. Miguel Olivo, an established major-league catcher at 25, is a bigger prize for the Mariners than Dodgers Class AAA catcher Koyie Hill or Yankees Class AA catcher Dioner Navarro would have been. Class AAA center fielder Jeremy Reed, 23, is a career .334 hitter in the minors who draws frequent comparisons to A's center fielder Mark Kotsay. Even the third player the M's acquired — Class AA shortstop Michael Morse, 22 — was considered by some White Sox officials to be a potential impact player. The Sox have three other highly regarded outfield prospects — Joe Borchard at Class AAA and Ryan Sweeney and Brian Anderson at Class A. They recently acquired Class AAA infielder Wilson Valdez from the Marlins for reliever Billy Koch, giving them the depth to trade Morse. But suddenly, they're relying on Sandy Alomar Jr., 38, to be their primary catcher at the major-league level, with Davis and Jamie Burke as his backups. Alomar hasn't played more than 100 games in a season since 1998.

Mayb he wouldn't let Freddy marry his daughter unless he would resign for the White Sox.

Raul Ibanez is currently injured, with Jolbert Cabrera filling in. He'll go to AAA 1st.

Also found this from them on possible catchers to acquire, Davis and Jamie Burke will probably back up Sandy Alomar Jr. for now, but the White Sox figure to acquire a veteran catcher to replace Miguel Olivo. Brent Mayne and Gregg Zaun could be options. Taking a chance on Ramon Castro would be a good idea.