winninguglyin83

One thing the Sox are going to need next season: Contributions from several of these players -- Rowand, Harris, Olivo (who is sick and has dropped out of winter ball because of pneumonia), Rauch, Ginter, Wright, Borchard, Reed, Munox, Sanders and Stewart. Got to have some of the young guys deliver, especially the pitchers.

Think positive. we can still sign Paniagua, Alfonseca and Parque

My point is that we have NOTHING to show for any of these guys, except -- laugh -- more payroll flexibililty for an owner who won't remove his wallet at gunpoint. We'll get the draft picks -- so we can draft more guys who will leave at the first opportunity. Or, like Ring and Hummel, will be traded. Tough to be too pumped these days

Bartolo Colon Rocky Biddle Antonio Osuna Jeff Liefer Scott Sullivan Tim Hummel Robbie Alomar Royce Ring Edwin Almonte Carl Everett Anthony Webster Josh Rupe Tony Graffanino Tom Gordon Humberto Quintero D'Angelo Jimenez Just askin?

The Twins' management is our Number One ally. And our management is their Number One ally. It's a wonderful system in baseball. Two teams -- Red Sox and Yankees -- sit at the head table. Dozens of other fight over scraps.

don't get me wrong. I agree with the decision not to give Bart four years and 48 mill. He's thrown a ton of innings, he keeps himself in terrible shape and all pitchers routinely break down. And I know the Sox were proven correct by not giving long-term deals to Black Jack, Alex Fernandez and Alvarez. They let the Yankees, Marlins and D-Rays suffer with those deals. Jaime Navarro set the standard for our long-term pitching contracts. 'Nuff said. BUT ... what concerns me is that so many guys can't wait to leave the South Side and they usually have some snippy comments to make on the way out the door. From the outside, the impression created it that the Sox are NOT a team guys want to play for. Whether it's management, fan support, weather, clubhouse atmosphere or the new manager, too many guys can't wait to depart. I've learned not to expect the Sox to retain guys like Bartolo. It's the departures of the Tony Gs and Scott Sullivans that really ring the alarm. I fear it's going to be a long summer at 35th and Dan Ryan. Anybody else this glum?

FYI: The AP story on the Tribune web site sez that if the Angels get Colon and the A. Rod to Boston deal goes through, the Angels are then primed to deal Washburn and Kennedy to the BoSox for Nomar. That would put the Angels back in business. Nomar Anderson. Glaus Salmon Erstad. Eckstein (moved to Second) Molina. Need a first baseman and DH

By my count, Angels had the 20th best record in the big leagues last season. That spells second round draft pick to me. another downer.

One question: I don't believe the Angels were one of the Top 15 teams in baseball last year. So do we still get their first round pick? I fear not.

First question: Oz, is this the team you thought you were going to have? Second question: Are you still glad you took this job for essentially peanuts?

no doubt Danny Wright has a big-time arm. He just needs to find a role he can handle and embrace it.

Just kiddin. Alvarez finished well for the Dodgers. Alex and Black Jack are El Finito

Get ready: The Kids Can Play, Part VII. Who gets to play the role of Mike Caruso this time? Hawk will fall in line and talk about how strong this team is going to be in 2007.

There's a rumor Alex Fernandez could make a comeback!

LOts of people in the Sox organization think he can be a solid closer (like Rocky Freakin Biddle, maybe). The challenge will be to get Wright to buy into it. Word is that he wants to remain a starter. Who knows, why? Maybe because starters generally make more jack. But they need to convince him this team needs him in the pen.

I guess nobody from the Los Angeles Clippers was available. That's pitiful.

Agreed. But I worry that just because the White Sox struck gold with Loaiza last season, they're going to shop strictly for bargains again. It could work, but when it comes to starting pitcher, I'd rather have a more proven performers.

Be interestting to watch them try to sell tickets if they don't do SOMETHING to improve this team. Maybe part of Ozzie's deal is he has to go door to door.

maybe Daddy Rabbit will pull something out of his hat at the Winter Meetings. Like a trade of one of our speedball sluggers for a legitimate starting pitcher. either that or they're dreamin that Rauch (who didn't get a September call-up), Cotts (roll video from yankee stadium) or Diaz is going to come through. Hey, James Baldwin is available. So is Parque.

Yep so we can draft Kip Wells II, Josh Fogg II and Jason Stumm

no on Eddie he's thrown a lot of innings. we already have a left-handed reliever. and we have other needs -- like a starting pitcher.

relax we've got Josh Stewart, Corwin Malone and Ryan Wing.

Ventura ain't coming back -- and I doubt he'd want to. He, too, left under less than ideal terms. KW needs to find a starting pitcher. And a damn good one 'cause we're going to miss Bartolo's innings and ability to pitch complete games with our broken down bullpen

updated stax I found on three Sox prospects Dominican League G W L SV ERA IP H W K CWS Diaz,F. 4 1 0 0 1.21 22.1 14 3 14 CWS Munoz,A. 5 2 0 2 0.00 8.1 4 5 11 Mexican Pacific League TM PLAYERS AB R H BI AVG CWS R.Gload LF 4 2 2 1 .323 - HR (12) )

Where does the idea come from that the Sox could get Guardado? I thought the Twins offered him arbitration to give them more time to sign him. And considering that Marte is the bullpen guy we're banking on, why would we want TWO left-handed closers. Wouldn't we be better off with a stud right hander? With Sully walking, I'd guess the rumors about Roberto Hernandez returning as a right-handed set-up man are true. I'd also guess that Danny Wright is headed for the pen. So the bullpen shapes up this way RPP: Koch, Hernandez, Ginter, Wright. LRP: Marte, Wunsch, Sanders, Munoz.