Dick Allen

I have a question about playoff eligibility. I know players acquired after the Aug 31 deadline are ineligible, however, isn't there a way, by using the disabled list to get players on the roster? I know Rodriquez wasn't on Anaheim's roster until after Sept. 1 last year. Basically, I'm thinking the Sox could use Koch as a roster spot for someone they acquire after the deadline. Can this happen? Or does a player replacing an injured player have to be on the 40 man at the deadline?

Hawk did say it was the most underachieving team he has seen in 40 years the first half of the season. I think that is a slap at JM. He didn't have his team ready to play. I doubt Hawk hates JM, he just doesn't think he is a very good manager. He did take a few swipes at him last year, saying, that managers, like players, can have a bad year, and JM had a bad year. I don't think this year's performance from JM has impressed Hawk anymore than last year's. It was interesting that after those comments last season, JM was supposed to be on a panel with Hawk during Soxfest this year. They were supposed to be together a couple of times. Hawk was a no show both times, maybe he didn't want to answer questions pertaining to his comments. I also think JM's comments about anyone disagreeing with his decision to start Cotts in NY not knowing anything about baseball, may be swipe at Hawk and Ed Farmer, who also disagreed with the decision. I also think whatever Hawk thinks, JR is probably thinking similarly.

Where did it say he was sent down? Where was he sent to? Haven't heard anything about him coming back to Birmingham. Rex it was on Chicagosports.com. I couldnt get the link but it said he would be replaced sometime this weekend. Replaced in the starting rotation does not equal being sent to the Minors. I don't think he will be sent out because the Minor League season is over Monday. Also, there is a date after which you cannot bring down a player from a higher level. It is to keep teams from loading up for the playoffs. That date has passed. I doubt the Southern League would grant permission for Cotts to join the Barons. My guess is he is kept on the Sox roster and he will pitch when the opportunity arises, while they work with him on the side. In that case, no option is burned. They may have to assign him to the Minor Leagues, however, if they need to activate someone else before Monday so they will be eligible for the playoffs. That would be the exception. He's going to be sent down. He's out of the starting rotation, and his control isn't good enough, even for Manuel to have him come out of the bullpen. I don't know if he'll pitch for Birmingham or not. Probably not. His next appearance will probably be in the fall league. Knowing how JM waffles with every decision he ever makes, this probably means Cotts will appear in tonight's game.

You're right about Hawk and ex-big leaguers. That's why he fired Dave Dombrowski. Piersall constantly criticized LaRussa and his coaching staff. At one point LaRussa had enough, and actually went to a television studio where Piersall was at with 2 or 3 coaches, I believe one of them was Jim Leyland, and got in Piersall's face. I think they even threaten to get physical with him. Of course, that didn't stop Piersall, and he was eventually shown the door after another comment he made about player's wives.

You definitely would have to look at that, the road trip from Tampa to Detroit then to Cleveland which I believe they were 3-7, and the Texas, Anahiem debacle where they went 1-6. I just don't understand the huge descrepancy between home and road performance. You' d have to expect a few more wins coming at home, but the difference the Sox have may be one of the biggest in history.

Molto, you're fighting a losing battle. I agree with you and JM. This is just another excuse for fans to b**** about the manager. Those who know baseball and have been around the game know this was a solid decision. If there is one thing I have noticed on these boards since I've been reading, it's that many fans seem to develop personal vendettas against certain players and managers and can't seem to let it go. Taking the opportunity to give one of your horses an extra days rest late in August when the playoffs are a good possibility is a solid decision. No one is talking about the adverse affect in could have on Buehrle in late September. No one can guarantee we would have won the game if Buehrle pitched. Say they loose the game and now have Cotts and Garland going back to back in Detroit. This team could be staring a 2 or 3 game loosing streak right in the face. Instead, we have Buehrle, Garland and Loaiza going against Detroit and have a great shot at taking 2 of 3, if not sweeping, the Tigers. If you told most people on this board that we were going to go 4-2 on this road trip, most of them would be very pleased. Especially with our struggles on the road and our unexplainable troubles with the Tigers. EDIT: now all we have to do is go 4-2, but better yet 5-1. If he needed an extra day, why did JM state after the New York game that he'd probably be going to a 4 man rotation? If Buerhle needs all this extra rest, why did he move him up a game, against MB's wishes against Minnesota in May? I just wish this guy was consistent.

Who knows why he pitched bad. Maybe he was psyche to pitch against the Yankees and had a let down. Maybe he would have sucked against New York also. The move by JM suck all the wind out of the Sox sails, thats for sure.

Hawk questioned some of JM's moves in 2002. He said JM had a bad year in 2002. Is on record with that. He wants the Sox to win, and will express his disgust from time to time. Hawk may question some of JM's moves. I question some of JM's moves. I question some of my own moves. None of that is earthshaking. I have never seen one person agree 100% on another person's life. LaRussa is vilified on the card's MLB boards a lot, as LaLoser. And by the time Hawk fired him from the Sox, LaRussa was being challenged a lot in Chicago. The first time Hawk spoke of firing LaRussa, I was one of a firestorm of folks who called the Sox front office and daid fire Hawk, not LaRussa. A few months later when Hawk did the deed, it was pretty apparent that a change needed to be made for everyone's sake. In a lot of ways I wish LaRussa was still managing us but then again the constant LaRussa sucks threads herer would piss me of too. The only constant in baseball fandom is that every fan thinks they know more than every manager and if only given a chance, they could manage a team to 27 straight world series titles, which is why Veeck ahd such fun with his "fans vote on what play to call" promotion. Connie mack had some dismal seasons and some world championships. Stengal was a loser before he got to NY, won what, 10 world series in 12 years, an incredible feat, and then two years later lost 120. Which makes my point that the manager did not lsoe yesertday's games, the players did. The game would have gone to extra innings had we not given up the last two runs. Or we could have scored more and other players could have hiot like Everett did. The players lost yesterday's game, as they win or lose every game, as a team effort. That's true but its the manager's job to put them in the best postion to succeed and win.

If MB is hurt than he should not start at NY, and should not start at Det. He is not hurt, he wanted the ball. JM said there was a 99.9% chance he would start.MB won 15 in 2001, and 19 in 2002. If he was average, JM would probably be selling computers right now. He has also been on a role. JM owed him the ball yesterday if he wanted it. If the Sox face the Yankees in the playoffs and Mussina starts game 1, does JM start Cotts to get everyone else an extra day rest?By the way catching teams off guard with "surprise" starters I'm sure is not JM's motivation for his windsocking. He showed no confidence in his team yesterday.JM is quoted in the NY Daily News as saying the Sox will "probably go to a 4 man rotation" now. So Rogers' argument how this is saving the staff is now moot.

Hawk questioned some of JM's moves in 2002. He said JM had a bad year in 2002. Is on record with that. He wants the Sox to win, and will express his disgust from time to time.

I just don't see the for the good of the team argument. Your switching these guys around, Buerhle would be getting his usual rest. The object is to win, and if Buerhle and Cotts are going to be pitching the 2 games the matchups that give you the best chance to win 2 are Buerhle vs.NY Cotts vs. DET. If Buehrle would have jumped up a day and had a day fewer rest, then I would understand. It would be my understanding that everyone who agrees with JM's move would be definitely opposed to a 4 man rotation, which was another thing JM was talking about. JM is a windsock, if he makes a decision and goes with it fine. He couldn't have handled this situation more poorly. When he said Buerhle had a 99.9% chance of starting, that probably was code for no chance in hell he starts. He mentions a 4 man rotation with his 4 starters, stays with 5 and is still looking for extra days of rest.

Its a dump. If any team but the Yankees, with their history, played there, it would be right near the bottom in the rankings.

I believe he was supposed to go with Garland for Erstad before Angel management stepped in

Well, if Phil Rogers thinks conceding games when you have a one game lead is the correct thing to do, then I, for one, stand corrected.

I think you're right.

I've got nothing against your post. Its my point exactly. If people around here are frustrated with JM's tinkering, they would be suicidal with LaRussa's. My point is if the Sox never got rid of him, they would not be any better off than they are today. Just because he won a bunch of games with great teams doesn' make his firing from the White Sox a mistake.I wonder what Jimmy Piersall thinks.

Hawk rarely questions anything Manuel does. So u know Jerry f***ed up if Hawks got something to say about it. f*** Manuel :fyou No I don't KNOW Manuel f***ed because Hawk said so. Hawk has an opinion, like everyone else. He's neither right nor wrong. Hawk was once of the opinion the Tony Larussa should be fired. He's gone on to win nearly 2000 major league games. Hawk's opinion on that one has been proven to be wrong. This opinion may also. Lets not forget Hawks wonderul reign as GM............... Not forgetting. After all, not only was it his opinion LaRussa should be fired, Hawk was the one that fired him. LaRussa should have been fired. Sure he's won 2000 games, but look at the teams he managed. He won 1 World Series with an Oakland team that was head and shoulders above everyone else talent wise for at least 4 years. He's married to Dave Duncan, who was the real reason Hawk fired Tony. Hawk wanted to can Duncan, but LaRussa said if you fire him , he'd leave, so he just canned them both. If you think Manuel tinkers, he's a pure amateur next to Tony. DUde youre absolutely clueless about the sport of baseball if you think Larussa is not a good manager. I think Tony LaRussa is one of the most overated managers of all time. If you want to call me clueless about baseball, fine.

Hawk rarely questions anything Manuel does. So u know Jerry f***ed up if Hawks got something to say about it. f*** Manuel :fyou No I don't KNOW Manuel f***ed because Hawk said so. Hawk has an opinion, like everyone else. He's neither right nor wrong. Hawk was once of the opinion the Tony Larussa should be fired. He's gone on to win nearly 2000 major league games. Hawk's opinion on that one has been proven to be wrong. This opinion may also. Lets not forget Hawks wonderul reign as GM............... Not forgetting. After all, not only was it his opinion LaRussa should be fired, Hawk was the one that fired him. LaRussa should have been fired. Sure he's won 2000 games, but look at the teams he managed. He won 1 World Series with an Oakland team that was head and shoulders above everyone else talent wise for at least 4 years. He's married to Dave Duncan, who was the real reason Hawk fired Tony. Hawk wanted to can Duncan, but LaRussa said if you fire him , he'd leave, so he just canned them both. If you think Manuel tinkers, he's a pure amateur next to Tony.

Twins winning 2-1

17 walks in 13.1 innings. I think he'll be good one day, but that day is in 2005 at the earliest.

This is exactly right. The goal is to win 2 games. What JM was saying is he didn't have enough confidence in Buerhle to beat Mussina, so in essence he conceded today's game. The goal should be to win today and tomorrow, the best way to do that is Buerhle vs.NY Cotts vs. Det. This was a gutless move by JM which could backfire into something far more serious. On a positive note, Wright pitched well, and the Sox had a chance at the end.

One question though...how is he eligible since he's received money as a professional athlete. It it simply because he earned it playing another sport? a few guys have gone from playing minor league baseball to college football, because it was a different sport they are still considered amatuer.

After what he decided there never will be enough threads ripping his ass

My mistake, my screen was wrong. That's why Rivera didn't bunt.

Why didn't Rivera bunt? I like it.