On Tuesday, Daily Southtown White Sox beat writer Nathanial Whalen presented his upgrade plan for the 2008 Chicago White Sox.  His plan is pretty good, but there are parts of it I disagree with.

The first disagreement I have is Whalen's proposed trade of Jon Garland to the Padres for shortstop Khalil Greene. I think Greene is a good player and I think he'd fit in well with the Sox.  I just don't know if trading Garland is the answer.  Whalen's plan calls for a starting rotation of Mark Buehrle, Javy Vazquez, Jose Contreras, John Danks and Nick Masset.  I, for one, would like to see Contreras in a different uniform next spring.  I also think that a team which has been so dependent on starting pitching over the last three seasons not trade a young, proven starter in the peak of his career.  There are several questions about Garland.  Is his shoulder really okay?  Would he sign an extension beyond 2008?  Is he one of your starters moving forward?  Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know and I think that Garland is a valuable piece of the puzzle if the Sox want to contend in 2008.

Second, Whalen's plan calls for moving Jerry Owens to left.  I've seen Jerry Owens play left and he is not a corner outfielder, he is a natural center fielder.  He's pretty good defensively except he throws like his arm is made of pasta.  That said, if you are going to keep Owens, you need to keep him in center.

I agree with Whalen on re-acquiring Aaron Rowand, who I would put in right.  Good defensively, decent speed to cut balls off in the gaps and down the line and an above average throwing arm.  Plus, offensively, he won't put up Jermaine Dye numbers, but potentially makes contact more and strikes out less. 

What I would do in left field is split it between Darin Erstad and Ryan Sweeney.  Pablo Ozuna can help here too.  Ditto Andy Gonzalez.

I do not agree that keeping Joe Crede is a good thing.  Josh Fields, defensive issues and all is the real deal.  Let Crede go or sign him and trade him to upgrade the pen, the pitching and the bench.

I'm okay with the bullpen for right now as this group is a little stronger.  I still would like to see the Sox trade MacDougal, Sysco and Aardsma for whatever they can get.  I would also dump Alex Cintron.

Isn't it sad that we're talking about 2008 instead of 2007?

Lighting Round

• Part of the reason we are talking about 2008 is the White Sox keep losing games like this.  The same two teams wrap up their series in an afternoon game in Oakland.
  
• How about the wacky NL central?  Given up for dead three weeks ago, the St. Louis Cardinals are within 3½ games of the Brewersand 2 games of the Cubs, who they play this weekend at Wrigley.  The Cubs lost an ugly one last night.
• To add to the Brewers misery, first baseman Prince Fielder has been suspended three games (pending appeal) for his aggressive behavior towards umpire Wally Bell.  Bell gets no suspension for continuing to argue with Fielder after he was heading back to the dugout and for having rabbit ears.  Look, if MLB is going to fine and suspend players everytime they get run, then they need to put these umpires on a short leash. Umps like Bell and Phil Cuzzi get away with way too much.
  
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  Bears stars Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris get a day off from practice yesterday, but let's not read anything into it.  Both may or may not play Monday night against the Dolts, but who cares?  It's pre-season.  I'd much rather have them fresh and available in January and February when it actually matters.
• Baroid Bonds adds to his legend.  Bobby Cox adds to his.
• Two words of advice for disgraced NBA ref Tim Donaghy: Witness protection.  No matter what the courts and the NBA can do to him pales in comparison to what Tony Soprano will do when he gets the opportunity.  Jimmy Hoffa may be getting a roomate.
• This could be the tip of a very interesting iceberg.
  
• Note to those trying to get back on the horse: Your comeback attempt will end quickly if you attempt to bludgeon others.
  
• As expected, Dale Earnhardt Junior will have a new number next year.  DEI obviously asked for more than HMS was willing to give in order to keep the number away from Lil' E.  In doing so, Bud can still have title to the #8 with Kyle Bush driving it.
• The man who assembled some of the greatest hockey teams everpasses on to the great ice rink in the sky.  Speaking of hockey, our friends at Sports Media Watch have the 2008 NBC hockey TV schedule.
• A man, who ran onto Wrigley Field, pleads not guilty to charges he ran onto Wrigley Field. Wait. Huh?
• Zzzzzzzzzzz
• A former Mets trainer is in hot water for using his business as a front for sex parties.  And you thought all baseball trainers did were hand out steroids.
• Memo to radical feminists: Why don't you let other women and the marketplace decideand you STFU?
• 30 years ago today, Elvis left the building for the final time.  True to his reputation, the King left us while sitting on his throne.  If he hadn't died then, this would have killed him.   Our salute to the "King" and I don't mean Richard Petty.