winninguglyin83

didn't Herr have one big league hitting behind Willie McGee and Vince Coleman? We don't have those two road runners in our lineup last time I checked.

Fox should do a Sox Winter/Hot Stove Show once a week or once every week throughout the off-season. real fans are always ready to talk baseball.

just started 15 minutes ago. seems like a wrap up of last season.

I guess the players think spending $200 to take four people to the park ain't enough money.

BoSox love to play head games with Georgie Porgie. They saw the Yankees' offense grind to a halt in the World Series. They think George will impulse buy Manny -- as he did with Weaver, Boone, Contreras and others. If Manny goes to NY, then Boston takes the savings and spends the money reasonably on players that other teams are dumping in a decliining market. (Perhaps from the Astros, Cardinals, Twins, As, Royals and others) I think it's a shrewd move -- but it won't work unless Georgie Porgie bites.

now let's get on with the task of putting the rest of the lineup and the pitching staff together and name a manager.

For $6 million, things could be worse. Could be better, but it could be worse. make the best of it, folks

aren't we all lucky!!!!!!!!!!!! so who gets shipped now -- Konerko, Maggs or El Caballo?

how many Sox players are represented by Boras? just wondering. somebody told me Crede is the only one., Does anybody have any insight?

put me in the Fork-It camp, The players have skillfully painted the owners into the role of bogeyman for 20-plus years. That's why we're paying $13 to park, $36 for box seats, $4.75 for a watered down Sprite, yada, yada, yada. the players association drills these guys to say they want to stay with the hometown team for a 'reasonable' offer, but you never hear what their idea of reasonable is. What gets leaked is the team offer. We have NO IDEA what Colon thinks is reasonable. All they're saying is they like Chicago, the message every player gives. If the Sox truly did offer Colon even $36 million, three-years guaranteed, that is certainly fair. If that won't work, let him walk because it is just another reminder that the players association pulls the puppeteer strings and essentially orders these guys to shop themselves and drive up salaries. If a player takes less to stay with his current team, the players blast him. Bottom line: If Bartolo leaves, all the blame does not go to the White Sox. Bartolo and his agent deserve an ample serving, too. Let's not forget one thing: JR let Black Jack, Alex Fernandez and Wilson Alvarez walk. All three got ridiculous deals. All three got injured early in the contracts. And it was the Yankees, Marlins and Devil Rays who got stuck with the tab, not the Sox. Reinsdorf is a sharp businessman. Would I like to see a higher payroll? Sure. But I'm glad he doesn't spend as foolishly as the Dodgers, Orioles, Mets and others.

the new third base coach will be Chuck Tanner and the new manager will be Al Lopez. We'll try to out-experience the Marlins.

Corg: Today's question is pretty basic: If KW is not in charge -- or in a figurehead role -- why does he continue to be the guy to interview managerial candidates? According to the Trib, KW met with Guillen for two hours yesterday. If he's out, wouldn't the Sox announce it, pick a new GM and let that person hire the new manager? That's how it works in every other organization. Are the Sox truly that dysfunctional? Or, is your stance that Williams will continue to be the public and obviously neutered face of the GM job, but that the strings will be pulled by KW's puppeteer -- either Reinsdorf, Einhorn or Rick Hahn? Just curious. If Gaston, not Guillen or Bell or Little or Francona, is the choice it would certainly convey the message that KW is indeed still in charge because his admiration for Cito is well known. Please advise.

Gammons floated that one on sports center earlier in the week. No doubt KC wants to move Beltran. He's a year away from his walk year, Boras is his agent and he's getin outta town. Yankees need a center fielder badly. KC could use a second baseman to team with Berroa, too. I believe, however, that Soriano is arbitration eligible. Not sure KC would want to pay 4 or 5 million for second baseman.

we should have an answer on Thursday. Go West, young man, go west.

handling it is one thing. Playing it well enough to help a team win is another. Steve Garvey wanted to be out there and was a grinder. Frank hasn't acted as if he wanted to play first for several years. He's bigger, slower and nowhere near the fielder Garvey was. (Garvey was a converted third baseman who could pick it. Not so with Frank. No Sox fan can forget the sight of Frank panicking on Carlos Guillen's bunt on the final play of the 2000 ALDS in Seattle. Lou Piniella still gets a good laugh outta that one.) Hell, I hope the Dodgers give Frankie a five-year deal so the Sox can turn the page and change the dynamics in the clubhouse. But my hopes aren't up.

i just hope Plan B isn't Jimmy Haynes, Rick Helling or Scott Erickson. But that's what I fear, somebody outta the Todd Ritchie mold. Can't see Millwood coming here. I believe he'll return to Atlanta, where he has a house. Braves are going to use Maddux's money to bring him back. Ponson is a possibility, but there is no guarantee Sir Sidney will be a stud. Time for KW to shake a whole lotta trees.

One problem with going after Ponson: If we give him more money than Buehrle or Loaiza, won't that ruffle feathers in the clubhouse. Buehrle has been a better pitcher than Ponson over the last three years. He deserves more. And Loaiza was a better pitcher in 2003. He'll believe that he deserves more. I fear that a big-money offer to Ponson is a big risk.

The thought of Frank Thomas playing first base for 150 games is pretty funny. Any time a good baserunner got on first base, he'd take just enough of a lead to draw a throw and then walk to second as Frank tried to make a throw to second. Good bunters could write it down -- automatic single by pushing the ball toward first base. The idea of the Dodgers making an offer smells like spin from Arn Tellem to make Frank think somebody out there really thinks he can play every day. I think not. He'll be back at The Cell in 2004.

hot, cold, lukewarm or in between, I hope Mr. Cotts comes out throwing strikes next year. We need him to give us the kind of lift Dontrelle gave the fish.

Wells is a goner in New York after he pulled himself outta Game Five in the Series. Book it, Dan-No

No National League team will EVER offer Frank as much money as he is owed by the White Sox.

You're right. The Dodgers begged, pleaded and cried for frank to come to El Lay. They whined him, dined him and promised him that he would be the next Steve Garvey. They said they had never seen a first baseman as graceful as ol Number 35, with that bullet throwing arm that intimidates base stealers who get caught leaning too far. And then .... oops, he came back to the White Sox. And you're also right that the free agency market hasn't opened yet. For the last three-plus weeks, Arn Tellem has been sitting quietly in California, talking to nobody, tuning out the market, waiting for his phone to ring during the short period that he and Frank have to decide if they are going to take the guaranteed $6 million from the Sox or risk having the team pay him $8 million or truly plunging into the free agent market. You've been outted JeffHanneman. You're really Steve Bartman. Don't throw fire at me, scarecrow

If Frank is such a bargain, how come he hasn't been able to land an offer from a single other team? The Sox need to reshape their batting order. too many plodders in the middle of the order. With Frank unable to play the field and unwilling to be flexible about where he hits, he's a top candidate to leave. But he'll be back. He always is.

yes, we will have him back. let it serve as a reminder of the danger and downside of giving somebody one of those long, long contracts.

Vandy started classes in late August. With Jeremy Sowers (a top 10 pick in 2004), another pitcher and this kid, the Commodores have high hopes to go to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in many years. Bottom line: Moviel, he GAWN!!!!!!!!!!!!