DBAHO

If there's still one query about Zambrano it's that he doesn't pitch well when he lets his emotions get the better of him. Big hometown series, it could be his undoing.

I don't know why they are still sponsoring him personally. Guess there aren't many replacements. Wasn't he sponsored by McDonalds, but they pulled the plug on him?

From the New York Post, What if Kobe should defect to the Knicks? Nike, say sources, is prepared to double his $45 million contact should he be declared not guilty and winds up playing in New York.

Yes that's been confirmed. Unless Los Angeles will accept a sign and trade deal, or Kobe signs for the mid level excpetion, he ain't goin to play for the Knicks. He's making $45 million from Nike, so this would be doubled to $90 million. I'll see if I can find a link.

Every game in June that the White Sox have struggled at the plate -- and there have been plenty during a roller-coaster offensive month -- manager Ozzie Guillen usually mentions how much his lineup misses Magglio Ordonez. He better get used to life without the four-time All-Star. Ordonez confirmed contract negotiations with the Sox have ended and he expects to file for free agency after this season. Considering his price will only soar once the right fielder hits the market, Ordonez is playing his last season for the Sox. Yes, they made him an offer early in the negotiations. No, it was nowhere near the five years, $70 million he was seeking. The message was clear: The Sox were never that interested in paying another $14 million a year for Ordonez, 30. Ordonez knew the Sox were already planning their future without their star right fielder before the first pitch was thrown this season, so the thought of him playing elsewhere beginning Opening Day 2005 shouldn't come as a surprise. The sting of the proposed Nomar Garciaparra-for-Ordonez swap in the Boston Red Sox' failed attempt to land Alex Rodriguez last winter cut Ordonez deeply. It was a slap in the face -- and a sure sign the Sox didn't see Ordonez as part of their future. He still hasn't gotten over it. But Ordonez didn't want to play anywhere else, believing in April a contract extension was still a strong possibility. When the Sox never came close to his asking price, Ordonez knew any damage control after the Garciaparra episode was only hollow talk from the Sox. As he sweats every day trying to return this week from the disabled list -- three weeks earlier than expected -- Ordonez still doesn't want to play elsewhere, hoping there is some way the Sox will change their strategy. That will never happen once he is a free agent for the first time in his rock-solid career. He will be the hottest name on the market. The New York Yankees will be willing to pay for one of the most talented and consistent outfielders in the majors. So will the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles. Ordonez is so happy playing in Chicago, you get the idea he would jump at the chance to play for the Cubs if they were interested. It will be a loss that will be lamented by Sox fans for years. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf will shrug and say the Sox made an offer, trying to make Ordonez look like the bad guy, the same way they did when they let Robin Ventura walk after the 1998 season. When he went on the disabled list May 26 -- for the first time in his 61/2-year career -- Ordonez was hitting .311 with eight homers and 34 RBI in 42 games. Including Monday's 5-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians, the Sox are 11-13 in the 24 games Ordonez has missed this season. The Sox' best in-house options to replace Ordonez next season are minor-leaguers Jeremy Reed and Joe Borchard. Reed, 22, a second-round pick in the 2002 draft and one of the team's highly touted prospects, entered Monday hitting .273 with eight homers and 35 RBI in 68 games at Class AAA Charlotte. He hit .373 splitting his time between Class A Winston-Salem (.333) and Class AA Birmingham (.409) last season. Borchard, 25, was the Sox' first-round pick in the 2000 draft. He entered Monday hitting .278 with 12 homers and 41 RBI in 60 games with Charlotte. Borchard got a record $5.3 million bonus when he was drafted, and if he doesn't find a starting spot in the big leagues soon, he will be one of the biggest busts in team history. The Sox must either start him in their outfield or trade him. With the team committed to Carlos Lee through 2005, with a team option in 2006, Borchard won't play left field. He has already proved he isn't a major-league center fielder. His only spot would be right field. Ordonez is quick to remind that the season before sticking in the majors in 1998, he won the American Association MVP award and Rookie of the Year after winning the batting title with a .329 average at Class AAA Nashville. His credentials were much more solid than the ones being displayed by Reed or Borchard. When the dust settles from the eventual Ordonez exit, the Sox will look as silly as they did in their failed pursuit to sign A-Rod on the cheap days before he landed his landmark 10-year, $252 million contract from the Texas Rangers. The spin will be Ordonez made the choice to walk away. Don't believe it.

Which was an unfair judgement considering his injuries now.

Any restricted free agents they draft e.g Ronald Dupree, automatically become unrestricted free agents, except they can't sign with their original team.

Good to see our minor league staff doin a good job all across the board. Duane Shaffer and Dave Wilder seem like uality personal guys, and they know what they are doing. We've just had a very good draft too, with all of our main picks signed and now playing in our minor league system. Let's hope Honel can bring back the velocity, and make his way to Charlotte. Most ppl thought he'd be with the White Sox in 2005, I'd say 2006 is a more likely outlook unless he really gets back into a groove. But we've seen Munoz promoted from B-Ham as well, so keep that in mind.

Goin all 2003 BEGOOD on him are you Flash?

LOL, good point there qwerty.

They were only goin to do that if they could take Dwight Howard.

Jennings is a sinkerballer, who's very unpredictable. No giving up Reed for either of them, and let's see how Rauch does 1st.

He peepeed u.

U know how J. Riccardi loves his pitching.

How's that Bellhorn and Moyer trade for Giles and Santana shaping up now witesoxfan?

Nachreiner still pitchin in relief gave up 2 ER's in 1 inning of relief. Grant Hansen one of our top 10 picks went 3 innings with 5 ER's and 6 BB's. Some control issues early for these 2 pitchers. No Donny Lucy tonight, much to Steve's disappointment.

The effects of no make up. U've seen em bf with Britney, now Lindsey.

Once again from BA, apologies if posted already, Three Barons players--shortstop Mike Morse, and lefthanders Brian McNichol and Dennis Ulacia were suspended for 15 days for an unspecified violation of team rules. Morse, arguably the best shortstop in Chicago's system, was hitting .287-11-38 in 209 at-bats this season.

Double-A Birmingham righthander Kris Honel threw for the first time since going on the DL with a sore elbow on Opening Day. Although he threw just 12 pitches over one inning, it is an encouraging sign for the White Sox's first round pick in 2001. Barons manager Razor Shines called it a "clean inning," and farm director David Wilder was happy to see Honel back on a mound facing live hitting for the first time in nearly three months. "He felt the discomfort and told us about it," Wilder said. "It was never anything serious, we were just being cautious with him. But it's a great sign--great to have him back and throwing without any discomfort."

That's why we need more scouts in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, hell, why not send some down here as well.

Can we play Spot the Difference?

Hurry up with that siggy there J.Reed.

Found this on Hoopsworld, Houston sends Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Bostjan Nachbar, and Kelvin Cato to the Orlando Magic. Orlando sends Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, and Tyronn Lue to the Rockets. If we get Nachbar as well, I'm very happy with this trade.

Miami are favs, but Orlando are pretty hot on him too. Good odds of him goin to one of our teams. I think Dampier's goin to be in a Grizzly jersey though, Jerry West is afta him big time.

I'm glad we got rid of Juwan Howard. Wasn't worth a 6 year mid level exception deal. Steve Francis said he didn't want to get traded to Orlando, so we could hav another problem on our hands there. I don't think we're done, I see us trading Drew Gooden maybe for Atlanta's 6th pick, so we can make room for Dwight Howard or Emeka Okafor. I think Stevie Franchise will appreciate playing in the East next season though. We've been very hot on Derek Fisher, but I doubt we really need him now since we hav Francis. Expect us to go afta Mark Blount big time now, or even Erick Dampier.