dasox24

I like the Tait signing even if he does play RT. Although RT may not have been a serious need, Tait is definitely an upgrade at that position. The right side of our line will be awesome with Kreutz, Tucker, and Tait.

There's no way that Mike Williams will be around when the Bears pick. Maybe either Roy or Reggie Williams will be around at 14, but definitely not Mike. Though if for some weird reason Mike fell (i.e. he runs a bad 40 time), that would be freakin awesome to have him on our team. Also, I like the idea of signing Sapp as long as it's not for too much money. I wouldn't get into a bidding war for him. If somehow we got Sapp, I would draft Wilfork (if he's still there) and let him learn from Sapp. Supposedly Sapp and Wilfork have a good relationship and they're both from Miami, so Sapp might like having Wilfork to tutor.

I love the Tait signing. I know we need a LT more than a RT, but Tait is pretty damn good. I know Gibson was good for us this year, but Tait is much better and better fits the offensive scheme we're gonna use. Also, I really hope that the Bears sign Ephraim Salaam so that way our OL (at least both OT's and C) is set for many years to come. Lastly, if we have any money left over, although I don't think we will have much if we do, we should try to sign John Lynch or Warren Sapp if no one else gives them big $$$.

It's good to see Anderson continuing to hit the ball well! I hope he continues to play like this when Winston-Salem's(I assume he'll go to W-S) season starts and he gets promoted to AA like Reed was. I can't wait to see the game tomorrow and Sunday. I'm excited to see our guys play!

Great article Jason! I know that I, as well as everyone else on the board, appreciates you and the others that write articles for Future Sox. It's y'all that allow us on the board that are busy with school, sports, work, or whatever else to keep up with spring training, minor leagues, etc.

I too am really pleased with the way Rowand's playing, and I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but remember it's just spring training. There have been many times before when guys have had great spring trainings and sucked in the regular season. However, I don't think Rowand will be one of these guys. I think he's gonna have a really good year this year.

It doesn't sound like Ozzie is too happy with our players... Let's hope we start playing how he wants us to. Sox's play angers Guillen 'Dead' dugout among his gripes By Bob Foltman Tribune staff reporter March 11, 2004, 11:01 PM CST TUCSON, Ariz. -- The honeymoon lasted 21 days. Now Ozzie Guillen knows what it's really like to be a major-league manager. After spending three weeks laughing and joking with his players, whom he termed his "friends," the rookie manager threw down the gauntlet after his White Sox lost 5-4 Thursday to the San Diego Padres. After winning their first three exhibition games, the Sox have lost four out of five and three in a row. "I hate to lose," Guillen said. "Even if I play Ping-Pong I want to win. I don't think we're playing good baseball, and I don't want this to get out of my hands. Not because we lost three in a row. [because] we're not playing the way we should be playing and I'm not happy." There was much displeasing to Guillen—from starting pitcher Esteban Loaiza to what he termed a "dead" dugout in the eighth and ninth innings. With the Sox trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Pedro Lopez led off with a walk. But Brian Anderson, Michael Morse and Mario Valenzuela all struck out on three pitches to end the game. None of those players will be on the 25-man roster, but that doesn't matter to Guillen. "I come here and give all my energy, I wake up at 5 o'clock in the morning ready to go," Guillen said. "My coaches are ready to go. I expect the players to come the same way. Whether you're playing three innings or nine innings, you better show up and play the game and have enthusiasm and thank the Lord for what kind of job you have." Loaiza worked four innings in his second start of the spring. In all, he threw 80 pitches, only 48 for strikes. "I think he threw too many pitches," Guillen said. "I'm not saying I'm mad at him, but I didn't like the way he threw. If you throw 80 pitches in four innings, that's not a good sign." Loaiza said he felt fine and actually asked to pitch another inning. Guillen almost lifted him in the fourth, but only Billy Koch was throwing and Guillen didn't want to bring him into a non-save situation. "He's a better pitcher than that," Guillen said of Loaiza. "His next start I want him to be more focused and pitch the way he should." Though it's still relatively early, there comes a point in every spring training when players hit a wall. Guillen may see Thursday as a way to put out any potential fires before they rage out of control. "I know spring training gets old sometimes, but that's what you're paid for," Guillen said. "I expect them to show up [Friday] and play a better game. I hope they read the papers." Guillen is a constant presence in the Sox clubhouse in the hours before a game, making the rounds and talking to nearly everybody in Spanish and English. He said he'll make a point to get his message across Friday. "They're not ready to play, and I don't like it," he said. "I could care less what [the players] think. They know they have a friend here, but I don't want this to go the wrong way. I want them to show up tomorrow and it should be the biggest game we're going to play." Guillen said he can accept losing games, but he can't accept a lack of enthusiasm or intensity. "I expect them to come with intensity every day," he said. "If it's spring training, the first day of the playoffs, the last game of the season, I don't want them to lay down and relax." Friday's game, against the Anaheim Angels, will be the 10th of the exhibition season, but it may be among the most important ones the Sox play this spring. Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune

We really do have some darn good OF prospects in the minors now. Here's just a few guys I can think of off the top of my head: Jeremy Reed Brian Anderson Ryan Sweeney Ricardo Nanita Joe Borchard Chris Young Clint King

Nevermind, I see that it was 7 runs in the last 3 innings.

Did K.C. really score 7 runs in the last 3 at bats b/c that's what I heard, but I kinda find it hard to believe.

Maybe relief isn't a huge problem, but it's not like we have an all-star bullpen. It's not even one of the top 10 in the league. Any team can always use a really good reliever, and we're no different. I'd love it if we signed Urbina.

Deininger was one of a few players who was left out of Baseball America's Prospect Handbook. Here's his scouting report: (sorry if this was already posted, but I looked and it doesn't seem like it has been) Todd Deininger, rhp, White Sox Born: Sept. 4, 1981. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 200. Bats: R. Throws: R. School: Texas A&M. Career Transactions: Selected by White Sox in ninth round of 2002 draft; signed June 9, 2002. There's nothing White Sox fans like better than sticking it to the Cubs. They've got a chance with Deininger, a native of nearby Joliet who opted to attend Texas A&M after the Cubs picked him in 1999's fifth round. He showed a lightning-quick arm and a 94-95 mph fastball in the Cape Cod League in 2001 but didn't look as good with the Aggies. Deininger has pitched well as a pro and was turned into a starter last June. His fastball sits more in the low 90s these days, but it's tough to hit because it has so much life. Its movement also makes it difficult for Deininger to command at times. He also throws a hard slider. He'll have to refine his command and his changeup to stay in the rotation. The Sox hope Brian Miller and Deininger can do for high Class A Winston-Salem this year what Kris Honel and Ryan Wing did in 2003. Here's the link to the whole article if anyone wants to read it: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/featu...0931stteam.html

Great win for the Sox! It's good to see out pitchers do as well as they did. I can't believe it's baseball season again! This is so awesome!

If Garland's record is mediocre this year but has a good ERA and a lot of quality starts, then I'll be very happy. To me, those two things are more important than his W-L record. Now, if Garland has a mediocre W-L record, but a good ERA and a lot of quality starts, then I guess that would suck because that means that either our team would be really bad or Garland just had a lot of tough breaks b/c our offense couldn't score him runs.

I was kinda suprised that Clint King was not on the Top 30 list. I think that he's a better prospect than some of the other guys on the list, but I guess that some guys have to be left off the list and he was one of them. Anyway, I think that he has a good chance to be a very good player, and just thought that his name should be mentioned. Oh, and does anyone know where he's gonna play this year? I would think that he'd go to Kannapolis, but I guess he could go to Winston-Salem.

I would love to pick up Moss or Armas Jr. Getting Johnson would be pretty nice too. Think of what our 5 man rotation could be with 2 of those 3 guys. It'd be a lot better than what we have now, that's for sure.

I doubt that we'll get Rhodes, but if we did that would be great!

To me, it seems like the White Sox being a totally different team depends on the A-Rod/Manny trade. I can't believe that one trade is having this big of an impact on the rest of our trades. I really hope the trade goes down so we can then trade Jose to SEA(if they're still interested) for Guillen or Garcia, and make the Nomar to Anaheim or L.A. trade. Our team would be greatly improved, and if we could sign Juan Gonzalez, our offense would still be pretty darn good b/c we'd still have Carlos, Frank, Crede, and hopefully Paulie would come back to his old form.

In 13 starts, Heilman had a 2-7 record, a 6.75 ERA with 51 k's and 41 BB's for New York this year. The #'s aren't great, but he's still young, so I'm not worried. I mean, Cotts didn't pitch very well at all for us, but I (and most everyone else) think that he's still gonna be a very good pitcher.

Is there really a deadline for this trade? If so, why can't a trade be made after Thursday? thanx

Steff, how do you know Ponson? If you please wouldn't mind telling me that would be great, but if you don't want to, that's ok too. Anyway, I'm just curious so it's not that big of a deal, but I'd just thought I'd ask.

It will be good that we will have 6 picks in the first 2 rounds, but didn't Fontaine run our drafts the last couple of years. If that's the case, our draft might not be as good as last years considering we don't know how well our draft will be run this year. I do love last years draft, and I know that quality guys can be gotten in the 2nd round (i.e. Ryan Sweeney), but wouldn't you rather have the 12th pick in the 1st round than the 12th pick in the 2nd round. O, and I know that having too many high picks might mean that you can't sign them all, but that would be a terrible excuse if we don't end up using the money that we would have spent on Colon on someone else.

What picks will we recieve from the Angels for the Colon signing? We don't get their 1st round pick b/c they were one of the worst 15 teams in the league. I think getting their 2nd round pick and a sandwhich pick would be bull b/c we just lost one of the best pitchers in baseball, and I think that a little more is needed in return for losing him. So, do we receive two sandwich picks b/t the 1st and 2nd round or what?

I have a feeling that our reported 3 year, $15 million offer to Guardado was bull. There's no way that Guardado would sign with the Mariners for only 1 guaranteed year and 2 option years instead of a 3 year guaranteed deal with us. Then again, if he wants the chance to win more than the chance to make a lot of money, he probably should go to Seattle since we're not gonna win anytime soon.

I think people are just really pissed off right now b/c it doesn't look like we're gonna upgrade our pitching staff. We just lost Colon and Sully, and Sully went to the worst possible team for us that he could have gone to, the Royals. Plus, to worsen the fact that we lost Colon and Sully, we haven't made one addition to our pitching staff. So, while the Twins and Royals (especially) have kept some of their unrestricted free agents, we haven't kept any of ours. I still hope that we sign or make a trade for a big name starter and reliever.