winninguglyin83

Are these last seven games really necessary? I'm serious. Half-priced tickets are overpriced by about 500 percent.

only the strong survive adversity will only make an eventual victory sweeter IF any of us live that long -- I'm starting to wonder.

kw == B. He tried, but let's not forget that he did deal away Foulke for Koch, a trade that lifted Oakland and put us in a hole. Manuel == D. Too slow to dump Koch for Marte and Gordon. Too laid-back to get this team Loaiza == A-. except for last two weeks, he carried this team. everybody else gets incomplete, but nobody played a complete season.

I don't understand the point of using guys on three days rest any more. No reason to risk hurting somebody. throw adkins, Schoeneweis or Wright out there.

The problem for Borchard is that Reed has overtaken him as a prospect. Reed is more of what the Sox need -- a guy who can get on base and is not dependent upon the long ball to be productive. Plus, everything I've read suggests Reed is the better outfielder. And he's a left-handed hitter, which the Sox also need to break up the lineup. A Row is also more likely to get a shot than Borchard. So if Maggs and Lee come back, with A Row and Reed around, there's not really a spot for Borchard. Hard to envision him playing a third year at Charlotte. I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox package Borchard in a deal for a young SS or second baseman. we'll see.

Manuel in a photo finish He's been here six years. Guys are not playing hard for him. They're not going to play hard for him. And he doesn't have a clue about how to handle a pitching staff. KW has made his share of thoughtless moves (the Todd Ritchie deal; getting nothing for Ray Durham; Foulke for Koch, etc) but I really believe he burns to win -- and I give him props for picking up Marte, Olivo, Everett, Scott Sullivan, Robbie Alomar and a few more.

Garland has never quit been as dominant as the Sox hoped he would be. It's obvious he and Manuel have clashed all season about pitch counts and stuff. Factor in the comments from Rick White and others and you have to wonder if a bunch of pitchers will be happy to see Manuel go. Remember: Manuel is the guy who wanted Nardi Contreras as his pitching coach. Coop was forced on him. And now Garland is heading into arbritation. Be interesting to see how much he gets (if the Sox don't offer him a deal). And if he gets too much, I wonder if the Sox will ship him out. A week from today, we won't be able to discuss the playoffs, but a very interesting off-season should be underway.

awesome and informative list. good to see the sox have three of the top 10 that close to the big leagues. I'll be interested to see how Cotts and Reed play in the AFL. After the last 11 games, we all need something to look forward to. And it appears that the Brewers' farm system is in pretty good shape. Plus, don't they have Cecil Fielder's son, Tony Gwynn's son and Rickie Weeks. good times coming -- finally -- in Milwaukee.

if two of the six or seven players that you mentioned actually develop, we'll be fortunate. Guys in short-season A ball are miles away from the bigs. They need the guys in full-season A ball -- Rogowski, Yan, Gonzalez, Morse, Spidale. Wyatt Allen, Honel, Wing, Brice, Deininger, Stumm -- to step forward first. OR, if the team is dismantled, they need to pick up some quality prospects, the way the Royals got Berroa or the Indians replenished their system last year when they dumped Bartolo, Shuey and assorted others.

i agree that Nanita must have been voted down because he was a 14th round pick. When you are not picked in the first three or four rounds, skeptics abound until you prove yourself at several levels. Question for you, Rex: How many guys from Birmingham will make the Top 20 in the Southern League? Reed fer sure Cotts fer sure Pacheco most likely anybody else?

if there is a press conference, FoX sports Chicago acts as if it doesn't know about it

Hawk, in his own way, just ripped this team by saying that Kansas City isn't playing for second place. They're still playing for FIRST place. Didn't say a word about how the White Sox were playing. Of coure, he didn't have to. We have eyes.

pretty strange. Nobody in the top 10. Two of the top 20. Nanita 19th and McCarthy 16th. Anderson was not included because of a lack of at bats. Same problem -- in both leagues -- for Sweeney. But I would have thought Nanita would have ranked higher, considering his long hitting streak. 2003 League Top 20s: Pioneer League by Bill Ballew September 21, 2003 2003 League Top 20s Sept. 18 Gulf Coast League Sept. 19 Arizona League Sept. 20 Appalachian League Sept. 21 Pioneer League Sept. 22 New York-Penn League Sept. 23 Northwest League Sept. 24 Midwest League Sept. 25 South Atlantic League Sept. 26 California League Sept. 27 Carolina League Sept. 28 Florida State League Sept. 29 Eastern League Sept. 30 Southern League Oct. 1 Texas League Oct. 2 International League Oct. 3 Pacific Coast League -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For complete scouting reports on the Top 20 Prospects in the Pioneer League, subscribers can access our expanded coverage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Talk in the Rookie-level Pioneer League this year centered on the Provo Angels. After putting college-oriented clubs on the Brigham Young campus for the past several seasons, Anaheim fielded one of the league's younger teams and the results were impressive, with the Angels going 54-22 and reaching the finals of the playoffs. Provo manager Tom Kotchman, who scouts for the Angels when he's not managing, said talent in the league this season mirrored the 2003 draft. The league featured more pitching prospects than position players, though several hitters could develop into impact players. Heading the list is Casper third baseman Ian Stewart, a clear pick among the managers as the league's top prospect. Veterans of the league, including Kotchman, Casper's P.J. Carey and Helena's Ed Sedar, said they noticed more depth than in recent seasons. More than 40 players received serious consideration for the list, and several others made significant impressions but didn't qualify for the top 20, including Great Falls outfielders Brian Anderson and Ryan Sweeney, the White Sox' first two picks in the 2003 draft. "Down the road, I wouldn't be surprised if many of the guys in the second 10 wind up having as much success or more than those guys in the first 10," Kotchman said. "That's how deep the league was this year." 16. Brandon McCarthy, rhp, Great Falls White Sox Managers agreed that McCarthy was the most aggressive pitcher in the league. He led the league in strikeouts and innings and finished one win behind Moreno in wins. With his lean 6-foot-6 frame, McCarthy attracted comparisons to former White Sox hurler Jack McDowell. Though he does not throw as hard as McDowell, topping out at 91 mph with his fastball, McCarthy commands three pitches well. He also drew compliments because he doesn't give in to hitters. "His changeup came a long way this year and that's what really made him a better pitcher," Cron said. "He's got a nice curveball and his fastball will improve as he adds strength. And he's as good a battler as you'll see. He's got a huge heart on the mound." Team W-L ERA G IP H R ER BB SO Great Falls 9-4 3.65 16 101.0 105 49 41 15 125 19. Ricardo Nanita, of, Great Falls White Sox Nanita made a name for himself early in the season when he put together a 30-game hitting streak. Born in the Dominican Republic and a product of Florida International University, he made impressive strides for a 14th-round draft pick. A pesky hitter who finds a way to get on base, Nanita has good instincts and takes advantage of what opponents give him. "He does the little things, like beating out a bunt or slapping the ball through an opening in the infield," Cron said. "His instincts are impressive for a guy in his first professional season." The early departures of Anderson (wrist injury) and Sweeney (promotion) gave Nanita playing time at all three outfield spots. Because he's not a burner, he uses his instincts to get in proper defensive position. He also has a strong arm, but the accuracy of his throws needs improvement. TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB AVG OBP SLG Great Falls 47 175 38 71 7 4 5 37 17 28 11 .384 .445 .546 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lemme check. If so I'll make a separate post.

bring on this press conference. I fear it is nothing. And I'd love to be wrong.

Sox have 2 of the top 3 and 4 of the top 20 prospects in the Appalachian League ... if you trust Baseball America. They're a long way from the bigs -- but after the last week, we need something to look forward to. 2003 League Top 20s: Appalachian League -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baseball America's League Top 20 lists are generated from consultations with scouts and league managers. To qualify for consideration, a player must have spent at least one-third of the season in a league. Position players must have one plate appearance for every league game. Pitchers must pitch 1/3 inning for every league game, and relievers have to have made at least 20 appearances in full-season leagues and 10 in short-season ones. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- by Bill Ballew September 20, 2003 2003 League Top 20s Sept. 18 Gulf Coast League Sept. 19 Arizona League Sept. 20 Appalachian League Sept. 21 Pioneer League Sept. 22 New York-Penn League Sept. 23 Northwest League Sept. 24 Midwest League Sept. 25 South Atlantic League Sept. 26 California League Sept. 27 Carolina League Sept. 28 Florida State League Sept. 29 Eastern League Sept. 30 Southern League Oct. 1 Texas League Oct. 2 International League Oct. 3 Pacific Coast League The 2003 season marked the 16th season Ray Smith has been in the Elizabethton dugout; his eighth as the manager. Smith, who spent parts of the 1981-83 playing for the parent Twins, has a better perspective than anyone when it comes to the Rookie-level Appalachian League. So what's his assessment of the league this year? "Overall, I think the talent was down a little bit," said Smith, who led Elizabethton to its second straight Appy championship. "There weren't the number of big bats that we've seen recently. But there were several arms that have an excellent chance of becoming impact guys." Burlington manager Rouglas Odor had the best pitching prospect, Adam Miller, as well as others such as Aaron Laffey, who just missed the top 20 list. "This was probably the best all-around pitching the league has had in the three years I've been here," Odor said. "Every team had a couple of guys that could develop into prospects." Two of the best position players in the league didn't log enough playing time to qualify for the list. Lastings Milledge (first round, Mets) and Ryan Sweeney (second, White Sox) are both multitalented outfielders who figure to be mainstays on prospect lists in years to come. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Chris Young, of, Bristol White Sox Young's speed played better than anyone else's in the league. The White Sox clocked him at 4.0 seconds from the right side to first base, and he stole third base on numerous occasions with ease. His legs also make him a solid defensive center fielder, where he played errorless baseball for 50 straight games. The White Sox are most excited about Young's development as a hitter. A student of the game, Young made progress in using the entire field and was second in the league with 28 extra-base hits. He surprised many opponents with the pop in his bat, and Bristol manager Jerry Hairston said there's more power to come from Young's 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame. "He's an excellent runner with budding power," Hairston said. "He's picking up breaking balls as soon as they leave the pitcher's hand and making the necessary adjustments in all phases of his game." TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB AVG OBP SLG Bristol 64 238 47 69 18 3 7 28 23 40 21 .290 .357 .479 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Robert Valido, ss, Bristol White Sox No first-year position player out of high school made a better impression than Valido. A product of Miami's Coral Park High, which also produced the No. 3 overall pick in the 2000 draft (Cubs shortstop Luis Montanez), Valido's instincts and maturity stood out. "He has a knack for being in the right spot all the time," Hairston said. "He knows the nuances of the game and wants to learn. He will do anything it takes to play in the big leagues. The way he goes about his business, there is no doubt that his goal is to get to the major leagues." Valido makes plays in the hole and displays the athleticism that made him an outstanding high school basketball player. He also answered predraft questions about his bat by finishing ninth in the Appy batting race and showing surprising power. TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB AVG OBP SLG Bristol 58 215 39 66 15 2 6 31 17 28 17 .307 .364 .479 13. Tim Tisch, lhp, Bristol White Sox The 6-foot-7 Tisch has developed as much as anyone in the White Sox organization. With a year of strength training and instruction under his belt, he refined his mechanics while improving the velocity of his fastball from 84-85 mph last season to 91-92. "If you had told me last year that Tim would be sitting in the low 90s now, I wouldn't have believed you," Hairston said. "But this kid has taken advantage of everything the organization has given him and developed into a solid major league prospect." Tisch overpowered Appy hitters at times. He throws over the top, and the ball explodes out of his hand. His slider and changeup are decent and have shown improvement. He has fine control of all his pitches, which was evident in a seven-inning no-hitter against Johnson City, one of just two complete games in the league this year. Team W-L ERA G IP H R ER BB SO Bristol 3-5 3.13 11 60.1 52 21 21 21 44 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17. Orionny Lopez, rhp, Bristol White Sox Lopez was one of the league's more effective pitchers before tiring down the stretch. He doesn't throw hard, working consistently at 87-89 mph, but succeeds with a deceptive delivery and ability to command all of his pitches. He throws his fastball, plus curveball and an above-average changeup with a similar arm action. For such a young pitcher, he does a remarkable job of keeping hitters off balance. "He did a fantastic job this year," Hairston said. "He throws strikes, and he's as cool as a cucumber on the mound. He's around 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds. When he adds another 20 pounds, he could be a dominating pitcher." Team W-L ERA G IP H R ER BB SO Bristol 5-3 2.37 17 49.1 38 18 13 18 53 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

maybe they're announcing Jose Paniagua will be back for the last seven games

Is this post-game press conference something big -- or just the usual comments from the managers they've been doing lately? Can't imagine why anyone outside of the Manuel Family would care what JM has to say.

I hope the Cubs fall short by four games or less -- so the Sox can take credit for their failure by winning the season series, 4-2. No Cubs. No way. No time. No how.

he'd better get a chance to play every day next year good outfielder good runner good arm. good attitude. And I think he'll hit. Left, center or right, put A Row in the lineup!!!!!!!

That's it., can't watch any more of this maybe tomorrow out

A walk a dropped throw a stolen base it might be time to channel surf I'll go out on a limb and predict Jerry Manuel's crew finishes this season in THIRD PLACE which would be a fitting farewell for Jerry Ball.

you forgot that Miles violated another rule: He got a double off a pitcher he had never seen before. That's a $500 fine. Garland off to a strong start. Had a walk an inning in the Metrodome, too.

Burke might have played an inning. Don't remember him getting an AB. What would it hurt? Miles, too. Hell, throw Adkins out there and see what he does. Even Willie Harris deserves a few at bats. Does Manuel really think he can save his job by finishing second, not third?

Bull: Thanks for the info. Sox fans appreciate your candor -- and await your arrival at 35th and Dan Ryan. There's ALWAYS room in the pen for a quality lefty to help Marte, Wunsch, Sanders, Schoeneweis. Not worried about Borchard going football. But I read something in Baseball America that asked whether he would be tempted, considering his struggles this season. He DOES have to cut back on his strikeouts. As for Rauch, he remains a mystery, considering how highly touted he was a few years ago. Good luck in school