winninguglyin83

Braves 1 Team the Sox Beat Four of Six 0 Kerry throws hard, but he's no Esteban Marcus laid the wood to wood

braves Robert Fick Cubs Leon "The Ball Went Through My Legs" Durham

because the next best thing to a White Sox winner is a Cuberino loser Grab some bench Sammy

I trust your judgment Rex. I know how BA likes to reward the guys it ranked highly prior to the season as well as guys who they projected to go high in the draft. They were very slow to recognize Jeremy Reed this season -- and really didn't do it until his numbers were too remarkable to ignore. Haven't seen Pacheco, but his numbers look solid. My guess is they didn't say much about him before the season and he probably doesn't blow up the radar guy. Any ideas why they wouldn't rank Ring in the Top 20 prospects in either league he played in? That surprised me. Might be more prospect bias against relief pitchers. I fear the Sox will go little or no respect in the International League rankings. Miles is old for a prospect. Borchard struggled. Hummel might get a call toward the bottom of the Top 20. Rauch and Adkins are unlikely to make the list either.

The official BA list was not as kind to the White Sox -- only Reed and Cotts made it. And they were ranked third and eighth. No mention of Pacheco. More unsettling news: The Twins dominated the Eastern League stars. They had four of the top 11 prospects. Another interesting note: Royce Ring didn't make the list in either the Eastern league or the Southern League. by John Manuel September 30, 2003 No minor league made as much of an impact on this year's major league pennant races as the Double-A Southern League. The Marlins wouldn't have been in the wild-card race if not for lefthander Dontrelle Willis and third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who began their seasons with Carolina. Cabrera ranks No. 1 on this Top 20 Prospects list, while Willis would have given him a run for that honor if he had pitched enough innings to qualify. The Mudcats won the SL championship despite losing both players and strong-armed righthander Denny Bautista, the key player in the Jeff Conine trade with the Orioles. The Cardinals (Tennessee's Dan Haren), Dodgers (Jacksonville's Edwin Jackson) and White Sox (Birmingham's Neal Cotts) all called up pitchers who rated among the SL's 10 best prospects, with varying degrees of success. The Cubs likely would have promoted another, West Tenn's Angel Guzman, had he not injured his shoulder. Managers and scouts agreed that the SL had better talent than usual. Several players who didn't make the Top 10--such as Huntsville third baseman/league MVP Corey Hart, Bautista and Jacksonville outfielder Reggie Abercrombie--have the talent to be future all-stars. "What impressed me the most is the top prospects are young," Chattanooga manager Phillip Wellman said. "Usually, the top guys are 22 or 24, but this year the league had 19- and 20-year-olds who had talent and performed. That is exciting." 3. Jeremy Reed, of, Birmingham Barons (White Sox) Reed had more success in Double-A than he had in the high Class A Carolina League in every category except basestealing. He hit safely in 19 of his first 20 games with Birmingham, and though some managers thought he tired late in the season, it didn't show. He hit .431 in August and September, though he struggled in the playoffs. Reed earned some Mark Kotsay comparisons in college, especially after hitting .368 with wood bats for Team USA in 2001, but the White Sox likened him more to journeyman Dave Martinez entering 2003. Needless to say, he has raised expectations. "The guy can just hit. He can do it all offensively," a National League scout said. "He hits lefthanders real well, which is really impressive. But he hits everybody. He's more of a gap-power guy for now, but you can project more power down the line, maybe 15-20 home runs." Just as impressive, Reed runs well enough to play center field, and his arm is strong and accurate enough for right. Managers praised his savvy in all aspects of the game. TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB AVG OBP SLG Birmingham 66 242 51 99 17 3 7 43 29 19 18 .409 .474 .591 8. Neal Cotts, lhp, Birmingham Barons (White Sox) Cotts' big league callup didn't go as well as those of Jackson and Haren, but that didn't diminish his breakthrough season. The best part of the offseason Keith Foulke-Billy Koch trade for the White Sox, Cotts led the SL in opponent average (.173). Cotts didn't do it with Jackson's velocity or Haren's nastiness. Instead, he fooled hitters with the excellent deception on his high-80s fastball—the same formula that worked in college but didn't work in the big leagues. He alters speeds on his fastball and changeup, and also showed an improved curveball. "He's going to have to command all his pitches as he goes up the ladder, because he won't get away with mistakes," Wellman said. "But make no mistake, the ball jumps on you quick. The radar gun doesn't match your eyes." Team W-L ERA G IP H R ER BB SO Birmingham 9-7 2.16 21 108.1 67 32 26 56 133 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I notice that in the post-press conference interview, KW mentioned more 'GRINDERS," expanding the list from Everett and Lee to include Maggs, Graff and Crede. That means he did NOT include Frank, Paulie, Jose and Robbie. That certainly seems like a clue about what he plans to do. I'm sure he'd like Frank to leave. If he doesn't, Paulie has to be a goner. And Jose is also on the way out.

Mariners pitched a fit during their last trip to Fenway. basically charged BoSox with stealing signs from the bullpen.

From the comments KW made at the press conference, it was obvious he intends to talk to some folks involved in the playoffs. Looking over the rosters of the coaching staffs, these are the names that I believe COULD come off that list: Ozzie Guillen, Marlins third base coach Willie Randolph, Yankees' third base coach Terry Pendleton, Braves hitting coach Terry Francona, As bench coach and former manager in the Sox farm system when KW was in charge of player development. Flopped with Phillies, but talent wasn't great. Dave Righetti, Giants pitching coach. Highly touted by everybody. I'm sure there are other names, but I believe at least two or three of these guys will be interviewed.

My prediction is that Bartolo will be outta here. He's not going to sign now. So he waits until after the world series when he FINALLY becomes a free agent and gets a monster deal from the Yankees, Red Sox, Padres or Dodgers. Hell, Texas might get involved. The Sox will shrug and say that they tried. The comment at the press conference today was a PR move. There was no other reason to drop it into the conversation. It was meant to appease Sox fans who are pissed this team underachieved, pissed they folded against the Twins and pissed the Cubs have a great young pitching staff that carried them into October. So the Sox will take the savings from Bartolo and try to troll their way into finding another Loaiza. Not likely to happen again. Most likely to land another Todd Ritchie. Our best hope is the rest of the division has problems, too. Twins are going to lose as many players as the Sox -- and if Guardado and Hawkins bolt, they're done. Kansas City has seen the last of Beltran. The Sox can compete next year. But I don't expect Bartolo to be part of the equation.

I also like Greene. doubt they would also give up Peavy

That's good news because otherwise some quality managerial candidates were going to thumb their noses at the job. Even Jerry got to bring us Wavin' Wally and in time Nardi Contreras

If we can get a solid young shortstop and either a CF or pitcher for Maggs, then do the deal.

I've got to admit this: Always been a big Maggs fan, but I saw a number of things I didn't like this season. Lots of hot-dogging on the homers. Lots of swinging for homers instead of situational hitting. (He was awful in the big series in Minnesota.) Lots of 3/4 effort running to first base. And some sloppy fielding and throwing from right field. Not a reason to dump him because he's a stud player. But somebody needs to make sure that trend gets better, not worse.

No veteran manager is going to take a job and only be able to name one coach. There's no doubt in my mind this is a clue that the new guy is going to be somebody who has never managed in the big leagues -- Guillen, Randolph, Backman. Somebody who will simply be elated to have the job. Just can't see a guy with much presence swallowing KW's pitching and hitting coaches.

listening to Kenny talk about guys involved in the playoffs are on his list makes me believe Ozzie Guillen and Willie Randolph are possibilities for sure

I thought it was interesting that he menioned Everett and Lee as grinders -- but not Maggs, Jose, Frank or Konerko. I'm guessin' Jose is a goner and Maggs is a good bet to be dealt.

They are voted on today and tomorrow. all ballots -- two from each AL city for the AL awards -- must be in before the playoffs begin. but they are not announced until after the World series -- in November. first is usually Rookie of the Year. Then Cy Young, then MVP

that is according to the White Sox web site. It's buried in the bottom of some notes about the end of the season. Sez Buehrle and Ordonez walked into Manuel's final press conference to give him hugs. Sounds as if the deed will be done on Monday.

take a bit more time to let it go, knowing how this team had a real chance to do some damage in the post-season with this rotation. the division was lost in the last five games with Minny, but it was also lost with that dreadful and unacceptable offense of the first 10 weeks.

Here's to all those things -- as well as a return to form by Paul Konerko.

Coop is a keeper Walker also had a positive impact and Raffy Nossek is a big plus on the bench as a sign stealer and long-time veteran. I think Ozzie could work with those guys

I agree with you Rex Everett is a goner. too pricey only reason sox got him this year is because Texas paid the tab. If we are going to open the pocketbook, open it for a starting pitcher. Maybe Colon. Maybe somebody else. Too bad we didn't see enough of Miles to be certain what he can do. But I believe he needs to be on the club next year at least as a utility infielder and pinch hitter. I like what I saw. Scrappy. Hustler. Good stick. Just didn't see enough of him in the field. I will say this: Sox would be making a big mistake OVERPAYING for Robbie. His offensive numbers have declined for two straight years. He's lost a step in the field. His All-Star days are behind him.

i can pull for Foulke, Ray Durham and other former White Sox but not the Cubs no way

let's get to 2004

But until then ... let's go Braves