The Padres have at least temporarily tabled a trade
offer from Philadelphia that would have brought
outfielder Aaron Rowand to the Padres for relief
pitcher Scott Linebrink.
-- San Diego Union-Tribune

Carl Pavano's spot as the Yankees No. 5 starter is
hardly guaranteed either, given his long layoff.
Should Pavano flop, top pitching prospect Phil Hughes
is waiting in the wings to take his place. Hughes
could be make the big-league team's roster as soon as
Opening Day, senior vice president for baseball
operations Mark Newman said.
-- Newark Star-Ledger

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein threw a shutout
at the paparazzi, gossip columnists, nosy
sportswriters, celebrity bloggers, and any other
potential wedding crashers by sneaking off earlier
this month to marry Marie Whitney, and also managed to
keep their honeymoon a secret.
-- Boston Globe

If Barry Bonds is indicted during the 2007 season, the
Giants could be in the market for a cleanup hitter.
-- San Francisco Chronicle

Barry Bonds spent more than an hour at the Giants'
ballpark Tuesday, mingling with about 200 full-time
Giants employees. He has been a Giant for 14 years,
but this was his first meet-and-greet.
-- San Francisco Chronicle

Well aware of criticism directed at his client for
failing to return to the Cardinals, agent Scott Boras
redirected blame at the Cards for failing to make a
"competitive" bid for Jeff Weaver.
-- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Red Sox and Colorado apparently weren't fooling
around when they agreed that trade talks for Rockies
All-Star first baseman Todd Helton were dead.
According to sources, the sides did not speak
yesterday and the Sox have no intention of restarting
negotiations.
-- Boston Herald

The Red Sox still aren't close to reaching a deal with
Wily Mo Pena on a new contract, which could lead to
the first arbitration case to go to a hearing since
Theo Epstein took over as general manager after the
2002 season.
-- Boston Herald

What's Jonathan Papelbon doing hanging around with Red
Sox-hater Spike Lee? The stud pitcher is working with
the director on a commercial for New Era baseball
caps.
-- Boston Globe

Mike Mussina acknowledged what everyone presumed: Carl
Pavano needs to earn back a ton of respect in the
Yankees clubhouse, and quick.
-- New York Post

If Sammy Sosa makes the Rangers, he would receive a
base salary of $500,000 and be primarily a designated
hitter, but he could see some time in the outfield. He
can earn up to $2.2 million in bonuses based on plate
appearances.
-- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

http://www.sportsillustrated.com

For more rumors, taken with a grain of salt:
http://www.baseballnewscentral.com/
http://www.benmaller.com/#mlb_rumors_notes
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
http://www.prosportsdaily.com/mlb/mlbrumors.html
http://www.mlb-trade-rumors.com/

Grinder Rule #95. Be more than a one hit wonder.

"For who? My teammates. For what? To win."

Win. Or die trying.
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=cws

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar
http://www.nascar.com/


http://www.myida.org/ida.htm
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ida/



________________________________________________________________________________\
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What is wrong with Mark wearing a St. Louis Cardinals jersey? That's his hometown team. He grew up a fan and remains a fan of that team. Aaron Rowand was always wearing Bears clothing and it was well known that he is a HUGE Bears fan. Ozzie said at Soxfest that Aaron called him to ask him if he could use his place in Florida for the Super Bowl. Should the Phillies have a problem with that? I'm sure Aaron will be decked out in Bears clothing. Rob Mackowiak born in Oak Lawn, IL grew up a White Sox fan and played for the Pirates.  

Mark has said over and over that he likes playing in Chicago and would do what it takes to stay here.

 

Marilyn

GO SOX

 

On 1/30/07, John Kivlin <jkivlin@...> wrote:

From: Mark Phillips [mailto:markp8867@...]

The White Sox are not the Devil Rays or Royals. They can afford Mark so
don't go cry poor now Mr. Kenny Williams. Why must he add all this
negativity to the clubhouse right before spring training? It lowers the
morale of the team and will not help the White Sox reach their ultimate
goal which is winning another ring. Not only that but by Kenny saying
he doesn't want Mark back, it will greatly dilute the talent pool with
which Kenny has to work with in order to trade Mark, should that be his
intention. No team will want to give up too much knowing that Mark is
going to be a free agent and that Kenny must trade him just to get
something to save face.

I don't feel sorry for Mark at all. The guy has never shied away from
questions regarding his love for the Cardinals. He's always said he's
wanted to play there. Hell, he was wearing a Cardinals jersey at the
World Series last year for crissake. Mark acting hurt is incredibly
surprising to me given his lack of enthusiasm for being with the Sox.

JK

-------------- Original message from "Marilyn Adams" <madams1954@...>: --------------

Something I almost forgot is that Ozzie came into Soxfest with a Bears jersey on.

On 1/30/07, Marilyn Adams <madams1954@...> wrote:

What is wrong with Mark wearing a St. Louis Cardinals jersey? That's his hometown team. He grew up a fan and remains a fan of that team. Aaron Rowand was always wearing Bears clothing and it was well known that he is a HUGE Bears fan. Ozzie said at Soxfest that Aaron called him to ask him if he could use his place in Florida for the Super Bowl. Should the Phillies have a problem with that? I'm sure Aaron will be decked out in Bears clothing. Rob Mackowiak born in Oak Lawn, IL grew up a White Sox fan and played for the Pirates.  

Mark has said over and over that he likes playing in Chicago and would do what it takes to stay here.

 

Marilyn

GO SOX

 

On 1/30/07, John Kivlin <jkivlin@... > wrote:

From: Mark Phillips [mailto:markp8867@...]

The White Sox are not the Devil Rays or Royals. They can afford Mark so
don't go cry poor now Mr. Kenny Williams. Why must he add all this
negativity to the clubhouse right before spring training? It lowers the
morale of the team and will not help the White Sox reach their ultimate
goal which is winning another ring. Not only that but by Kenny saying
he doesn't want Mark back, it will greatly dilute the talent pool with
which Kenny has to work with in order to trade Mark, should that be his
intention. No team will want to give up too much knowing that Mark is
going to be a free agent and that Kenny must trade him just to get
something to save face.

I don't feel sorry for Mark at all. The guy has never shied away from
questions regarding his love for the Cardi nals. He's always said he's
wanted to play there. Hell, he was wearing a Cardinals jersey at the
World Series last year for crissake. Mark acting hurt is incredibly
surprising to me given his lack of enthusiasm for being with the Sox.

JK

-------------- Original message from "Mark Phillips" <markp8867@...>: --------------

Yes, that is what Kenny said.  I'm thinking he's not a very popular guy in the Buehrle household right now lol.  Kenny Williams has had his ups and downs as GM but this has to be one of his biggest downs in my opinion.  Why on earth would you say that about your ace pitcher?  It not only upsets Mark (and he really looked like he didn't want to be at Soxfest) but it also makes the other players think if he can do this to their ace pitcher over the last several years then he can easily do it to anyone. 

 

The White Sox are not the Devil Rays or Royals.  They can afford Mark so don't go cry poor now Mr. Kenny Williams.  Why must he add all this negativity to the clubhouse right before spring training?  It lowers the morale of the team and will not help the White Sox reach their ultimate goal which is winning another ring.  Not only that but by Kenny saying he doesn't want Mark back, it will greatly dilute the talent pool with which Kenny has to work with in order to trade Mark, should that be his intention.  No team will want to give up too much knowing that Mark is going to be a free agent and that Kenny must trade him just to get something to save face.

 

Let's get one thing straight, whether you think Mark's second half struggles of last season is a preview of the rest of his career or as I do which is that his second half was a fluke due to pitching so many innings the past couple of seasons, Mark definitely deserves better than this!  Kenny should be ashamed and his "apology" on Saturday at Soxfest during the seminar was lame at best.  I find it funny how Kenny got so pissy with Frank Thomas the way he brought the team morale down and now Kenny is doing the same exact thing.

 

On 1/30/07, writerly@... <writerly@...> wrote:

Wait... they talked to Mark and his parents?

 

"Kenny said he sat down today with Mark and his parents and talked about it to smooth things over. "

 

--
Kathy Strelow
www.kathleenstrelow.net
www.whiplashfiles.blogspot.com
Author of the Head Case rock series
 

 

.

From: Mark Phillips [mailto:markp8867@...]


The White Sox are not the Devil Rays or Royals.  They can afford Mark so
don't go cry poor now Mr. Kenny Williams.  Why must he add all this
negativity to the clubhouse right before spring training?  It lowers the
morale of the team and will not help the White Sox reach their ultimate
goal which is winning another ring.  Not only that but by Kenny saying
he doesn't want Mark back, it will greatly dilute the talent pool with
which Kenny has to work with in order to trade Mark, should that be his
intention.  No team will want to give up too much knowing that Mark is
going to be a free agent and that Kenny must trade him just to get
something to save face.

I don't feel sorry for Mark at all.  The guy has never shied away from
questions regarding his love for the Cardinals.  He's always said he's
wanted to play there.  Hell, he was wearing a Cardinals jersey at the
World Series last year for crissake.  Mark acting hurt is incredibly
surprising to me given his lack of enthusiasm for being with the Sox.

JK

-------------- Original message from "Mark Phillips" <markp8867@...>: --------------

I hope you were able to sell your passes and thanks for posting that on the group.  I was at Soxfest today and it's really a lot lamer than it was before when it was at the Hyatt.  The Palmer House Hilton sucks!!  I still can't believe they moved Soxfest here from the Hyatt.  I am talking to the White Sox to move Soxfest 2008 to my place since it's as proportionally smaller to the Palmer House as the Palmer House was to the Hyatt.  Waiting in line before Soxfest starts really stinks too because many people have to wait outside for several hours now instead of inside like at the Hyatt.  

 

Anyway I was at the seminar today about the 2007 White Sox with Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen.  Kenny was asked about recent comments by Mark Buehrle about wanting an extension and not asking for Barry Zito type money and Kenny's prior comments about Mark not being a White Sox in 2008.  Kenny said he sat down today with Mark and his parents and talked about it to smooth things over.  Kenny said he regrets the media was used in this way and should have seen it coming.  Duh.  Kenny however never waivered on saying that Mark wouldn't be back.  Kenny said there are a lot of things to consider regarding salaries and how players fit and it's not an easy decision blah blah blah. 

 

I have to tell you Kenny is such a bore at these seminars, he puts the room to sleep.  Thankfully Ozzie was there who is of course is instant comic relief.  He made light of the fact the guy on stage doing sign language translation for the deaf could never understand (at the seminar Ozzie was in on Friday) what Ozzie was saying and would put his hands palms up in the air like he didn't know what Ozzie was saying lol.  That was hilarious and believe me a lot more so then my lame explanation.  Unfortunately I'm sure Mariotti will accuse Ozzie of deaf slurs in a future article once Jay follows the yellow brick road and gets his heart back.

 

Let's see other things here at Soxfest...they are having the family party tonight but I am not going.  So if anyone here did go then please tell us how it was.  As far a waiting in line goes to get into Soxfest, I would get there no later than 4am if you don't want to wait outside.  All the people who waited several hours outside today will of course be their early for Sunday so they don't have to go through that hell again.  There are no chairs to sit on either like at the Hyatt so bring your own or sit on the floor (or cold cement if you are outside).  They will also open Soxfest early since the line gets to a point where the line can't go any further (the block around the hotel is only so big lol).  Today they opened Soxfest at 8:30am, an hour and a half early.  Getting autographs isn't really that bad as long as you are in the right place at the right time for the wristbands which are given out on the level the players /coaches will be signing on.  So if you are going tomorrow, have fun and learn how to take the steps and escalators instead of the elevators to the several floors that Soxfest is on. 

 

 

On 1/26/07, Jamie McElligott <jme2323@...> wrote:

Hi all,

 

I know it is very last minute but it turns out that I have 4 extra passes for Saturday's Soxfest. If anyone is interested, let me know. I am not looking to make any money off of them. I paid $45 for each (after the service charges and such) and that is all I am asking for.

 

Thanks,

Jamie

-Who cares what Texass does?  That's one less team that we have to
worry about in the playoffs and will make it easier to kick their
Tex"ass" when we play them.  If I were Otsuka though, I'd definitely
be okorimasu.


-- In YouCanPutItOnTheBoard@yahoogroups.com, saul pulido
<temohead@...> wrote:
>
> It's stupid moves like this that have kept Texas chasing the A's
and Angels in the West div.
>   What a bonehead move by the GM.
>   Texas is finally getting their hitting and pitching in sinc and
then they go and upset the apple cart.
>   Wouldn't it be funny if Texas gets knocked out of contention
because of Gagne getting hammered in relief.
>
> John Kivlin <jkivlin@...> wrote:
>           From: Joan [mailto:joan710@...]
>
> Akinori Otsuka, who was 32-for-36 in saves last year, isn't happy
about
> the Rangers handing his job to Eric Gagne, who worked only two
innings
> last year. If Gagne has a good spring, Texas may deal Otsuka.
>
> -- Chicago Tribune
>
> I read that and if I were Otsuka I'd be pissed. Am I the only one
that
> thinks Gagne is the classic 'body broken by getting of roids'
case? His
> velocity increased materially when he switched to the closing role.
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Need Mail bonding?
> Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users.
>

From: Joan [mailto:joan710@yahoo.com]

Akinori Otsuka, who was 32-for-36 in saves last year, isn't happy about
the Rangers handing his job to Eric Gagne, who worked only two innings
last year. If Gagne has a good spring, Texas may deal Otsuka.

-- Chicago Tribune

I read that and if I were Otsuka I'd be pissed. Am I the only one that
thinks Gagne is the classic 'body broken by getting of roids' case? His
velocity increased materially when he switched to the closing role.

Remember, this is MLB writing this so it is not exactly "unbiased".  I was at the same "town hall meeting" and what I got from it is that Mark is as good as gone from the White Sox.  It's very unfortunate but Kenny has to stop backtracking like he didn't say the things he has about Mark.  To me, guys like Mark Buehrle and Joe Crede are different then the usual mercenary players who will play anywhere just as long as they get the most money possible.  These two guys have acheived a lot in their careers already and do make some pretty good money as well.  However, they both still live in the town they grew up in so somehow I think change isn't something they are really looking for if everything is going great the way it is like with their careers on the White Sox.  Maybe for Crede that might not be as true since he has Boras as his agent but for Mark, I think he would be happy to stay on the White Sox for the rest of his career.

 

---

 

GM Williams clarifies Buehrle situation Talk of southpaw's departure from White Sox premature By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

 

CHICAGO -- It took three questions into the Town Hall Meeting during Saturday's second day of SoxFest for the topic of the Mark Buehrle-Ken Williams contract extension discussion to be revisited.

A woman stepped to the crowd microphone with a newspaper in hand, and a slight bit of scolding for Williams followed by a minor critique for Buehrle. In particular, she reiterated a point made by Buehrle on Friday of how he's not looking for Barry Zito sort of money, after Zito signed a seven-year, $126 million offseason deal with the Giants. This same woman added somewhat tersely that it was good Buehrle wasn't looking for that particular deal, not after his 4.99 ERA during the 2006 season.

Williams immediately went to Buehrle's defense. It was a conciliatory move made by Williams that wasn't the first in this quick healing process, following Friday's indirect exchange with Buehrle believing his days were numbered in Chicago.

In fact, Williams sat down with Buehrle and his parents Saturday morning at the Palmer House Hilton and apologized for the misunderstanding brought about by Friday's comments to the media, which led to an embarrassing situation for Buehrle. Williams added that he felt sad after reading a newspaper column Saturday painting this baseball couple's impending break-up in a less than amicable light, with the GM describing a strong bond, dating back to Buehrle's days pitching for Double-A Birmingham in 2000 while Williams served as vice president of player development.

"I walked into [chairman] Jerry Reinsdorf and [then-GM] Ron Schueler's office, saying I would put my scouting reputation on the line by telling them to bring him up now, because he will contribute," said Williams of Buehrle, when addressing the overflow crowd at Saturday's meeting, referencing a moment during the 2000 season leading to Buehrle's callup and 4-1 record for the AL Central champions. "Mark Buehrle is a first-class person and a great teammate in the clubhouse, on the plane, on the bus or wherever.

"Mark and I can sit down and talk about the exploding market -- and, going forward, the possibilities out there for him -- in no adversarial or confrontational conversation at all," added Williams, during a 12-minute discussion with White Sox reporters after the question-and-answer session with the fans. "Then, when you see it in print or when you hear about it debated on radio, it's turned into something it isn't."

Saturday morning's conversation, lasting 30 minutes by Williams' estimation, was precipitated by Buehrle's remarks to the media Friday that it didn't really matter what sort of discount he took because Williams had gone on record saying he wouldn't be back with the White Sox. After being asked to comment on Buehrle's thoughts three or four different times in a 30-minute time span, a direct and somewhat terse Williams made it clear that he was talking more about the overall state of the exploding market and how Buehrle's ability might price him out of range for the White Sox, who rarely offer more than three-year deals to pitchers.

That point was made by Williams once again Saturday, both in private and in public. According to Williams, Buehrle was actually bothered more by Williams' quote at the Winter Meetings in Orlando about not overpaying for mediocre pitching. Once again, that statement had nothing to do with Buehrle, whose 97-66 record and 3.83 ERA are career numbers comparable to Zito's 102-63 mark and 3.53 ERA, but instead focused on the market's recent turns in general.

"Mark Buehrle is a first-class person and a great teammate in the clubhouse, on the plane, on the bus or wherever."

-- White Sox GM Ken Williams

Basically, the White Sox wouldn't have World Series rings or a championship trophy without Buehrle's immense contributions. It's another point made clear by Williams to the throng of fans, and a point he understands might make Buehrle too expensive to keep after this final year of his contract.

Regardless of the direction these negotiations eventually go, Williams has vowed to go against his natural character the rest of the way. Williams' first instinct is to answer a direct question with a direct and honest response, instead of giving false hope where none might exist.

But where contract extensions involving valuable and respected commodities such as Buehrle, Jermaine Dye, Joe Crede or Tadahito Iguchi are concerned, a no comment might be the most prudent avenue to travel. The White Sox general manger does not want to paint his leaders in a bad light, even if they could be on their way out after 2007, another point he made to Buehrle and his family Saturday.

"If you ever find a comment from me that has said anything other than positive things about Mark Buehrle, please show it to me," said Williams, who talked about Saturday's informal meeting on his own accord to set the record straight. "It'll be the first. So when I pick up the paper and turn on the radio and I hear all this stuff, this isn't me and this isn't him.

"When I saw his parents first -- I didn't see him first -- I said, 'Let me tell you something first about your son and what a quality person he is. Now, let me tell you about me and what my position is.'

"I explained to them that I have no interest in making who I consider a quality, quality person, I don't have any interest in tarnishing what he has done for the organization or turning him into something to protect the organization. Sometimes, the venom that goes back and forth [on contract negotiations] gets out. I don't think that's right, because [the fans' perception] of the players can be distorted.

"Maybe something will happen," added Williams of future negotiations with Buehrle, pointing out he didn't believe at one point long-term deals could be reached with Jon Garland, Jose Contreras or Paul Konerko, and they all were accomplished. "I was just asked a question what I felt at that time, and what I feel at this time. If this has shown me anything, it's shown me I've got to change the way I conduct business."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

From: Joan [mailto:joan710@...]

Akinori Otsuka, who was 32-for-36 in saves last year, isn't happy about
the Rangers handing his job to Eric Gagne, who worked only two innings
last year. If Gagne has a good spring, Texas may deal Otsuka.

-- Chicago Tribune

I read that and if I were Otsuka I'd be pissed.  Am I the only one that
thinks Gagne is the classic 'body broken by getting of roids' case?  His
velocity increased materially when he switched to the closing role.