Chisoxfn

Well, I need to see Loiaza and Stewart/or/Wright prove ready before I am pleased with the starting rotation now. I like our chances, but I wish Wright was healthy. I'd like another starter in case (Finley/Reynolds)

Lol, witesoxfan, like your quote this week.

When you were a kid you never had a cap gun or acted like you were GI Joe or anything like that? My buddies and I would always have water fights with squirt guns and act like we were commandos. That was the s***

Cool, I can listen for like the first 15 minutes.

I'm not going to put a penny down. Before the football season my friend said the Bucs would win it all and he said he wouldn't put a dime on it because it would jinx him. Well he didn't and they won it all. I'm following his approach, and the Sox are going to win it all.

Yes they did. I like Herges. Real good a few years ago with the Dodgers, BUT, I'd only sign him to a minor league deal. He's had injury problems and the bullpen is set. That being said, Herges has handled a closers role, can pitch quite a few innings and is a hard thrower. He's pretty damn good when healthy.

Rob, I really enjoyed this awesome. Very entertaining and full of good tidbits. Loved the Vitalisms. Looking back it definately has been an interesting spring.

Commentary: The Real March Madness By Rob Knowles March 27, 2003 SoxNet.net When people use the phrase “March Madness” the first things that come to mind are basketball, brackets and Cinderella teams. This March though, White Sox Spring Training has been as muddled as anything in sports. Madness is the only way to sum up the string of events that have taken place in Tucson. White Sox spring training has had its share of Cinderella’s, upsets, and crazy events. If Dick Vitale was broadcasting the Sox games this spring he would have come up with more catch phrases then he has in the previous ten years. Need some Cinderella’s this spring? Look no further than Tucson where underdogs have been fighting boldly for roster spots. Who could foresee Aaron Miles holding a .300 batting average for the majority of the spring and a rather high 61 at-bats? Miles, an undersized 26-year-old second baseman, may have only been in Double-A last year, but this spring manager Jerry Manuel is likening Miles to David Eckstein. The Cinderella slipper fits and Miles is wearing it. It doesn’t end there either. Josh Stewart, a 24-year-old lefty starter, was dominating in Birmingham last year, but a shot at the big league roster looked slim in 2003. Stewart apparently didn’t know this, because he has been blazing through spring training lineups. Stewart has posted a 2.05 ERA in 6 games, which has given him attention and a spot. Incumbent 5th starter Jon Rauch was sent down after he lost his control, and Dan Wright, a 14 game winner, went down with a swollen elbow, these events have opened the doors for Stewart--Its upset city, baby! Kelly Wunsch has provided more madness than Bryce Drew did in 1998. When camp opened Wunsch was being looked at as the odd man out in the Sox pen. Jerry Manuel, even openly questioned Wunsch’s chances of securing a spot in the bullpen. Wunsch was un-phased. Wunsch has in fact been the best reliever this spring, holding opponents to zero runs in 10.2 innings. Wunsch has also created a stir off the field. Wunsch organized a movement in the Sox clubhouse to refuse steroid testing. Had the 16 White Sox players gone through with the plan, there would have been an increased likelihood of mandatory testing in the future. Wunsch’s move created a rift throughout the league. The latest quote from Manuel on Wunsch, “It would be very difficult to leave him off the staff with the experience he has and the way he’s been pitching”—it’s March madness, baby! There was plenty more madness in Spring Training. Frank Thomas sent Tucson ablaze with his rants of the White Sox. Thomas also said he was going to surprise some people this year. So far, Thomas is on the right track, posting a .400+ average. It seems as if Mark Buehrle and the White Sox went through a couple hundred rounds of contract negotiations only to come up empty. Aaron Rowand started playing baseball again after his dirt bike injury. Free agent pick up Esteban Loaiza, has proved himself to be valuable by posting a 3-2 record and a 2.80 ERA. And the most maddening thing of all this spring, more maddening than the injuries, rifts and Cinderella’s, the hitless wonder Jason Dellaero is batting .500 (granted, in two at bats). The odds of his inconceivable start can only be compared to a 16-seed knocking off a one-seed--Unbelievable, baby! How will this incredible madness come to an end? Will Aaron Miles be playing second sometime this season? Will Josh Stewart be a rookie of the year contender? Will Jason Dellaero tear apart big league pitching? All of the above may seem like unattainable endings but, with the way March has gone so far for the Sox, nothing is impossible.

I like Miles, but he had some major set backs. I think I'd be interested if we could do a Miles/Ricky Davis for Erob/Jay Will swap. Not sure if it would work salary wise and I do think we'd be robbing them blindly.

Breaking them up could turn into a very good thing. Man I hope Stewart does good and I hope Wright gets healthy.

Well Bulls could desperately use a good shooting guard that has a good size body and can play defense. Who is potentially out there that could fit that bill?

Actually even before this war, many Arab companies have come out with their own fast food chicken enterprises and their own soda companies to lower their dependence on western influence. Yeah gimme a crab juice over Mountain Dew any day. (Hypocritically I drink a Dew as I type this.) How bout some Kokolash?

I agree with you Chris. Had Wright been 100% I wouldn't worry, but right now I am going to look at it as we have Loazia and Stewart. Loiaza pitched great, but isn't really anything special although we can all hope and there is a good shot that he pitches much better now that he's matured. Then Stewart, who knows. That leaves two big ?, why not sign Reynolds as a backup plan, cause when he's healthy, look out, he'd be tremendous. Not saying he needs to be with the team right away, but give him a contract where if in 3 weeks he isn't on the roster, he can go elsewhere if he wants.

I was just going to post this Chris. Nice find. I'm all in favor of Reynolds. Really good veteran. He's coming off an injury, so he may take a little time, but the Astros expected him to be their 3rd starter. I like Shane a lot, and as a veteran he should be able to get back. Very good signing, imo, if we got him.

I dunno, but I've wanted a player for a long time, wanted to draft him but he wasn't there and want to get him right when he becomes available

Wirtz is right on this issue though. The owners will lock the players out and there is no point to sign anyone, because hockey is in shambles.

Wow, I never knew we could of had Bonds. Damn how sweet that would of been.

Right now it appears Stewart is the starter, nothing 100% yet though. I'm hoping the best for Josh. I hope he gets in and never gives up his spot because he pitches so damn well.

The what off topic?

I truly believe we will see him come back either right before or right after the all star break. I think they will shuthim down, clean the bone chips and give him about 3 weeks in the minors before he comes up.

Thanks for that info Rex.

I'm not sure how he's working the rotation. It will be interesting to see how he breaks it up in order to get Colon to go against the Tribe. All I know is Manuel is saying that the 5th will be used on the 6th.

CSNY is pretty good.

Thats fine with me. I've been an adamant supporter of Crawford for a while now. I still think Williams has good trade value and could bring the bulls a starting shooting guard. Then keep Brunson and sign a veteran point guard (maybe bring Travis Best back) to bring off the bench.

SN Report: Wright in Question, Stewart Gets Nod - For Now By Mario Scalise March 27, 2003 SoxNet.net Danny Wright experienced pain in his pitching elbow on Wednesday, just two days after throwing two innings and about 30 pitches in a spring game. With his health in question, Jerry Manuel has reportedly informed 24-year-old lefty Josh Stewart that as of now he will start on Sunday, April 6 against the Tigers at USC Field. Wright, 25, was shutdown earlier in the spring for elbow inflammation before returning last week. In 5 1/3 innings, not including the two innings pitched in a minor league game, Wright has compiled a 16.89 ERA. Stewart, whose impressive fall league numbers brought him into spring training with a chance at making the rotation, is 2-0 this spring with a 2.04 ERA. In his start Wednesday, Stewart gave up one run in five innings. Danny Wright will now likely go on the 15-day disabled list or stay in Arizona for extended training when the Sox fly to Kansas City. No word yet if surgery will be needed.