If Ifs and Buts Were Candy & Nuts, We'd All Win Another World Series
I love how sports talk radio hosts can stir it up just by saying silly, outrageous things. One of the best at this 
is Mike North, the morning show personality on WSCR in Chicago.
In lamenting the plight of the 2007 White Sox yesterday morning, North made it a point to demonstrate how, in his opinion, the Sox have unloaded an all-star team and if they had those parts back, they might still be winning. Boy, is he off his meds.
Think about it. If the Sox hadn't made the moves that they did, there would be no 2005 championship. For instance, trading Carlos Lee to the Brewers scored the White Sox both Scott Podsednik and
Luis Vizcaino, two huge parts of the 2005 championship team. In fact, I would argue that without those two, there would be no 2005 championship. And Carlos, to this day, has not played on a team with a winning record outside of Chicago.
The big one is always Mags Ordóñez. But from Kenny's standpoint there were valid concerns. Mags was coming off knee surgery in a contract year. No one knew what would happen, and to be truthful, Ordóñez struggled in 2005, was solid in 2006 and is back to star status in 2007. But because of the injury, Kenny Williams had to weigh a multi-million dollar contract for a guy whose health at the time was questionable vs. letting him go in
free agency. In letting Mags go, the Sox signed Jermaine Dye who was the MVP of the 2005 world series. He has a ring. Ordóñez does not.
The most controversial trade Kenny Williams has made came after the world series and was, at the time, hailed for it's genius. With Frank Thomas cutting his ties to the Sox, a DH was needed. Going out and acquiring Jim Thome for Aaron Rowand seemed brilliant at the time, and really, still does. As beloved as Rowand was in Chicago, the idea of a lineup with Thome, Konerko and Dye seemed better at the time. And if the Sox had not traded prospect Chris Young for Javy Vazquez, Young would
be in center for the Sox and we most likely would not be having this conversation.
But this year, with everybody struggling, there are some that want to relive the past, thinking only ifs and buts. If you think like that, then you would not be enjoying any of the 2005 World Series Champion merchandise that you proudly wear today.
Lightning Round
is Mike North, the morning show personality on WSCR in Chicago.In lamenting the plight of the 2007 White Sox yesterday morning, North made it a point to demonstrate how, in his opinion, the Sox have unloaded an all-star team and if they had those parts back, they might still be winning. Boy, is he off his meds.
Think about it. If the Sox hadn't made the moves that they did, there would be no 2005 championship. For instance, trading Carlos Lee to the Brewers scored the White Sox both Scott Podsednik and
The big one is always Mags Ordóñez. But from Kenny's standpoint there were valid concerns. Mags was coming off knee surgery in a contract year. No one knew what would happen, and to be truthful, Ordóñez struggled in 2005, was solid in 2006 and is back to star status in 2007. But because of the injury, Kenny Williams had to weigh a multi-million dollar contract for a guy whose health at the time was questionable vs. letting him go in
The most controversial trade Kenny Williams has made came after the world series and was, at the time, hailed for it's genius. With Frank Thomas cutting his ties to the Sox, a DH was needed. Going out and acquiring Jim Thome for Aaron Rowand seemed brilliant at the time, and really, still does. As beloved as Rowand was in Chicago, the idea of a lineup with Thome, Konerko and Dye seemed better at the time. And if the Sox had not traded prospect Chris Young for Javy Vazquez, Young would
But this year, with everybody struggling, there are some that want to relive the past, thinking only ifs and buts. If you think like that, then you would not be enjoying any of the 2005 World Series Champion merchandise that you proudly wear today.
Lightning Round
- Danny Richar gets his first major league home run and it's a grand slam, but the Sox can't generate enough offense to beat Migual Batista (again.) Tonight, you can catch the Sox on WGN.
- The Sox will be playing this weekend without Paul Konerko who is at home in Rhode Island following the death of his grandmother.
- Those pesky Royals are back. Or, rather, the Sox are back with them.
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Ozzie Guillen gets a vote of confidence from the chairman. I think Ozzie bashers are way too early. Let's see how 2008 works out first before we put him on a raft and cast him adrift. And if you can't do that, just say over and over again "He's not Terry Bevington, he's not Terry Bevington."
- Some outstanding White Sox comments this morning from The Cheat at South Side Sox. Nicely played, sir.
- The fumbling, stumbling Milwaukee Brewers now find themselves in second placeafter the Cubs beat the Cardinals yesterday. I'd like to think the Brewers can right the ship, but with the poor starting pitching they have been getting lately, I just don't think that's possible. Besides, the Packers are playing pre-season games now so no one in Wisconsin cares anyway.
- The Cubs think they got a bargain. I think they got a land mine.
- I wouldn't mind the Sox taking a look at Craig Monroe.
- Michael Vick's buddies set him up and threw him to the dogs. Now Vick and his lawyers have to understand that he's not going to get a deal from the feds that will preclude him going to jail and that if they take their chances in court, the feds will crush them and probably score Vick a longer jail term. The feds have all of the leverage in this case and even the ghost of Johnny Cochran can't save him from Bubba rushing his backfield now. I wonder how inmates feel about animal abusers.
- Doug Mirabelli is going on the DL for the Red Sox. This is devastating to Boston as he is the only guy on the planet that can catch Tim Wakefield.
- I know it was only a pre-season game, but if you didn't come away impressed with the Vikings and Adrian Peterson, then you really have no clue about football. If they keep him healthy, he could rival LT.
- The Green Bay Packers cast off long time receiver Robert Ferguson. The fans are outraged because they love sentiment around here, but sentiment never won a trophy. Sentiment is the reason these fans let a certain hillbilly jerk them around every off season.
- The NBA officials union is spinning that the gambling charges and plea bargain of Tim Donhaghy w as the action of one rouge officialand not representitive of NBA officials as a whole. Tell that to Tim Duncan.
- Kevin Harvick is still upset with Juan Pablo Montoyaeven though Montoya clearly did not intend to spin him out of last Sunday's race. In fact, the crash was the result of Montoya getting loose when he was bumped from behind by Martin Truex Jr. in the #1 car.
- Now that crew chief Steve Latarte is back from his six week suspension, Jeff Gordon resumes his normal dominance. Jimmy Johnson is probably happy to see his pit boss, Chad Knaus as well.
- Uncle Kracker tried to get some groupie to drift awaywhen she didn't want to.
- Today's list: Hottest wild thang scenes in vehicles (Maxim).
Don't forget, the Sox saved a lot of money by trading Lee (and Mags) which allowed them to add the likes of El Duque and Tadahito. I love when people say the Sox would be amazing with Lee, Mags, and Rowand all patroling the outfield at the Cell, while ignoring the fact that Lee and Mags alone would cost $27 mil next year.
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