You knew Ken Williams couldn’t make it through the week without making a trade. He saw all the wheelin’ and dealin’ by his fellow GMs and had to get in on some of that action. So mere days after proclaiming his chances of trading a reliever as “very, very, very slim,” K-Dub shipped beleaguered relief pitcher Damaso Marte to the Pirates for super utility man and Oak Lawn native Rob Mackowiak. Ken Williams, you sly dog.

In addition to giving the Sox another hometown boy—-he was a Sox fan as a kid-—Mackowiak fortifies the Sox infield...more

That’s pretty much the way Ken Williams looks at the World Baseball Classic, a two-week international tournament debuting this coming March featuring Major League players. And I wholeheartedly agree.

Back when the plans for the World Baseball Classic were introduced last year I thought the whole idea was bogus- nothing more than a way for Major League Baseball and Commissioner Bud Selig to make a few extra bucks and cut into teams’ valuable spring training time. A time teams need to develop team chemistry and evaluate players. This tournament is as much of a scam...more

Well, today is Day One of the Famous Baseball Winter Meetings, the time baseball’s general managers gather to talk about fantasy trades and take their stupid pills and offer ridiculous contracts to mediocre players. Getting rush delivery on their pills instead of waiting 5-10 business days, the Blue Jays kicked things off in fine fashion last week by signing BJ Ryan to an absurd 5-year, $47 million contract-- the most money ever awarded to a relief pitcher. Not to be outdone, the Mets, who have always thought the concepts of “value” and “fiscal responsibility” were overrated anyway, guaranteed 34-year-old closer...more

Various published reports have the Sox pursuing former Red Sox infielder and current free agent Bill Mueller. On the surface that seems curious, considering the Sox already have all their starting infield spots filled. Paul Konerko just signed on for five years at first base, and Tadahito Iguchi, Juan Uribe and Joe Crede round out one of the best defensive infields in the majors. So why would the Sox look into Mueller, who will be 35 years old by Opening Day 2006?

Apparently, Joe Crede’s chronic lower back problems have the Sox somewhat concerned about his ability to play...more

Can someone tell me why the Chicago Tribune feels the need to bash Frank Thomas, possibly the greatest hitter this town has ever seen, at every turn? The day after his ankle injury prematurely ended his 2005 season, and possibly his Hall of Fame career, the Trib ran a retrospective article detailing Frank’s career lowlights, miscommunications and perceived petulance. How inappropriate; isn’t that the definition of “adding insult to injury”? Now, desperate for some negative Sox spin after a World Series and triumphant start to the off-season, the paper decided to play that same card again in an ...more