winninguglyin83

Sox could definitely survive with an outfield of Lee, Winn, Rowand, Borchard, Benard and Reed if necessary. Garcia is young enough that he could turn it around. Soriano is lights out.

Yep, almonte is the the Carmines. He seems to be a AAAA pitcher to me. Not enough mustard on the fastball to survive, even with an above average changeup

If the Mariners offer those three guys, I'd make that deal.

There will be a number of other quality free agents available after 2004: Nomar, Troy Glaus, Garret Anderson, Eric Chavez, Carlos Delgado, Richard Hidalgo, Geoff Jenkins, Jacque Jones, Corey Koskie, Derek Lowe, Pedro Martinez, Eric Milton, Matt Morris, Brad Radke, Mariano Rivera, Richie Sexson and Jason Varitek. Obviously, Maggs is better than many of these guys. But he's also just turned 30, several years older than Vlad (28 this month) was this winter. And teams can usually find corner outfielders. I hope he doesn't price his way out of chicago. You'd think a 5-year deal at about 11 or 12 per could keep a guy smiling for life.

how about the long forgotten Jason Stumm to rebound as a solid bullpen candidate? if he can stay healthy ... And I still refuse to write off Matt Ginter. It's now or never time for him.

What's your analysis of the rest of the list, Rex? surprised to see Sweeney that high? I am and I'm not. BA has loved him for a long, long time. Thought he should have been a top 15 pick last year.

Two things: in 1998 Baseball America ranked Magglio the Number 4 prospect in the Sox system who was Number One? Mike Caruso. You have been warned. Also, here are there picks for Best Tools Hitter = Jeremy Reed Power = Joe Borchard Fastest Runner == Ruddy Yan Best athlete == Chris Young Fastball -- Enemencio Pacheco Curve == Kris Honel Slider == Ryan Wing Change == Neal Cotts Control == Ryan Meaux Defensive catcher == Chris stewart defensive infielder -- Robert Valido Best infield arm == Andy Gonzalez Best defensive outfielder == Brian Anderson Best outfield arm == Brian Anderson

I guess they consider Shingo a prospect because he's never pitched in the big leagues. the article with the list isn't very upbeat. Sez the Sox stripped their system making those deals. Sez Borchard, Malone and Rauch all took major steps backwards last year. And sez there has been turmoil at the top of the farm system. They like Young because he can really run and is a solid hitter. Not as high on him as an outfielder. They project Sweeney to start the season in Low a, Anderson at Winston Salem. And they believe Honel has the stuff to be a front of the rotation starter with a US Cellular Field arrival of 2005. They actually believe Wing could get a promotion this year. That's a tiny analysis. I'll try to post more tomorrow.

Here is the list. Just arrived in my mailbox 5 seconds ago. 1. Jeremy Reed, outfield 2. Kris Honel, starting pitcher 3. Neal Cotts, starting pitcher 4. Ryan Sweeney, outfielder (wow, must be a Baseball America favorite to put a rookie league guy THIS high) 5. Joe Borchard, outfield 6. Ryan Wing, starting pitcher 7. Brian Anderson, outfield 8. Shingo Takatsu, relief pitcher 9. Chris Young, outfielder. 10. Arnie Munoz, relief pitcher. No Pacheco, no Diaz, no McCarthy, no Valido, no Gonzalez, no Nanita, no Yan, No Rauch. headline to the story says that "Failed Playoff run thins system's talent." talks about the deals that sent Rupe, Webster, Ring and others away. won't be posted on the web site until tomorrow. enjoy

i believe harris was voted the Orioles top minor league player -- different from prospect -- one season. he was a top 10 prospect in their system the year before the O's dealt him. They figured he was expendable because of Jerry Hairston.

but wouldn't JOoooSE, Jose, Jose, Jose sound good echoing through Yankee Stadium?

Hanrahan had a very solid year at Jacksonville. Then he got roughed upl in five starts at Triple A. Only 22. Ranked the 12th best starting pitching prospect in the entire minor leagues by Baseball America and 6th best prospect in Southern League (ahead of Cotts). Right hander. Sounds intriguing. What say you, Rex?

got this from Baseball America both pitched well in winter league playoffs over the weekend First Felix Diaz, who is playing the Dominican League TM PITCHERS IP H R ER BB K ERA CWS F. Diaz 4.0 3 1 1 1 3 2.25 Now Arnie Munoz, the left-handed reliever playing in the same playoffs TM PITCHERS IP H R ER BB K ERA CWS A.Munoz 2.2 2 0 0 0 4 2.25 Four Ks in 2 2/3 will WORK Look out for Arnie.

1. Rowand -- this is the guy's last chance to prove he can be an everyday player in the big leagues -- and make bigger money. No Chris Singleton, Kenny Lofton, Julio Ramirez or Carl Everett blocking his path. He's hard-nosed, a team player and hungry. He can field, throw and hit for some power. He runs OK. The only questions are how well he hits and gets on base. He's aware of all that. I think he's going to bust out. Go A. Row! 2. Konerko. Got to trust 2000-01-02 and throw out last year, Needs to stop hanging his head after the bad at bats and quit beating himself up so much. 3. Crede -- Luv the glove. Just wish he would be more conistent. expect him to hit around .280. Only thing I don't like is when he takes those soft swings at balls on the outside corner. Has too many of those lame swings. 4. Harris -- Another put-up or shut-up player. He can be very valuable if he can hit .270, draw some walks and steal some bases. Needs to forget the fences and try to but the ball in play. Not sold on his glove yet either. Production from Willie would be a major, major bonus. 5. Olivo -- Sorry, but his bat was a dead zone the last two months. Word got around that you don't have to throw him strikes and that he can't hit a good breaking ball. Until he proves that he can A) manage the strike zone and B) hit the tough breaking ball, he's going to struggle with the stick.

wasn't this basically the same story that was on the Sox web site last week. Trib needs to freshen up its material.

'tis doubtful. can't imagine why the Expos would want Bernie Williams. An aging outfielder with bad knees is not somebody you put on turf. Plus, he's GOT to be close to a 10 and 5 guy. If he is, he could stop that trade. Worth checking.

Amen. The Sox spend too much time talking about what they CAN'T do and what ISN'T possible and what WON'T work that the subliminal message they send to their fans is negative, negative, negative. It's supposed to be FUN at the ol' ball park, not hopelessness. Three things: 1. The Central Division is horses*** with several other teams that love to cry poor. The franchise in the largest city in the Division should be the big dog, not one is that is always crying about fan support. Hell 1.9 million last year was damn good considering the way the team played the first two months. 2. The Cubs ain't going away. Deal with it, KW and JR. If anything, their team should even be stronger the next couple of years. So hire some people who have a different spin on marketing and carve out your own niche. Ten to 12 years ago the Sox were more popular. What's changed? Figure it out and fix it. 3. Cut prices. In the summer, the crowds jump on half-price Mondays and Tuesdays. That tells me people think tickets are too expensive. Wouldn't it be better to price your way to larger crowds, broaden your fan base, build loyalty and try to make some of the money back on concessions and souvenirs? Sometimes this franchise just pisses the hell out of me.

it sez Billy Beane was correct when he laughed at the Sox for leaving Joe Blanton on the board and taking Ring. Blanton will be the next great young pitcher for Oakland -- and the Sox passed on him in 2002. remember that name -- Joe Blanton.

Ventura went out blasting, in his low key, diplomatic way, Bevington and Schueler.

reading between the lines, it sure looks like the Sox are trying to make Frank so miserable that he will ask for a trade. It's been very obvious the last two years that they hoped he would opt out of his contract. He hasn't. So their only alternative seems to be to take shots at him publicly at every occasion, hoping he'll tell Arn Tellem to get him outta Chicago. We'll see. If you're looking for a bright side, remember this: In 2000, Frank was in another b****y mood, had the major blowup with Manuel in spring training and spilled all the dirty laundry in a Sports Illustrated cover story. That season showed clubhouse B.S. can be overcome.

don't forget Paniagua. He wasn't too happy when he left. Rick White, Bobby Howry, Robbie Alomar, Armando Rios

good stuff following the debate between you guys about Diaz and Rauch. It's what makes this board interesting. Sox are lucky to have fans as passionate as you two. My take, having seen Rauch, but not Diaz, pitch is this: Diaz appears to be a middle relief prospect at best. His hits per innings pitched are only average, his strikeouts about the same. Plus, the Sox moved him in and out of the rotation. He appeared in 27 games, starting 18. That indicates some uncertainty about whether he projects as a starting pitcher in the big leagues. At 23, he's still got time to make it, but I don't see him starting for the White Sox this season. Rauch is harder to figure. It's impossible for him to be anything other than a disappointment considering all the hype he drew in 2000. When you are the Minor League Player of the Year there is nowhere to go but down, down, down. A minor league player of the year is supposed to be a Josh Beckett or Mark Prior, not a fourth or fifth starter. Tough for Rauch to live up to that now after his injury. Then, when you don't get a call to the big leagues all season for a team that had garbage for a fifth starting pitcher, you have to wonder if the Sox have lost faith in him. His hits/innings pitched ratio is better than Diaz, but his strikeout ratio is about the same. Anybody who has watched Rauch pitch understands that his strength is command, not stuff. He's not overpowering. But he does throw strikes. He's 25 and has spent TWO years at AAA. It's now or never for Rauch with the White Sox, in my opinion. I think he'll make the club, perhaps as the fifth starter.

indeed Ring did NOT make the Mets' list -- and the Mets have a below average farm system.

one other thing: It will be interesting to see how Webster and Rupe fare on the Rangers' list. And Bittner with Anaheim. That one could really bite us in the ass because that kid pitched his ass off in High A ball for the Halos.

a great reminder for all that Borchard will take the elevator down from Number One to ??? And Reed was nowhere to be found on the list last season -- even though he was a second-round pick. The problem? No 'tools,' the favorite word of Baseball America. In other words, buyer beware