It's the baseball off season and all across the land, teams try to change or enhance their fortunes for the upcoming 2008 season.

The Chicago White Sox, who suffered through a miserable, hellish, 2007 are no different and yesterday, threw pitcher Mike Meyers and outfielder/infielder/DL specialist Darrin Erstad from the plane.  The Sox are still mulling what to do with overweight, daydreaming shortstop Juan Uribe.  Right now, sources tell us that it's a tossup between declining his option or Jenny Craig.

One person who won't be playing shortstop, third base or anywhere else for the Sox is Alex Rodriguez.  There are two major reasons for this.  One, Kenny Williams doesn't want to blow his whole budget on one player and two, A-Rod is a Scott Boras client and The Chairman like Boras as much as he does Jay Mariotti.

Meanwhile, one player that is sure to be wearing a different uniform next year will be outfielder Brian Anderson who despite not being able to hit above the Mendoza line and being injured a good part of last year, has the ca hones to cry about his lack of playing time.  The Sox will write off the former first round draft pick as a loss, send him somewhere else where he will quickly assume the identity of Jeremy Reed. 

Ozzie Guillen's closest friend on the coaching staff may also be out the door as t he Pittsburgh Pirates are having serious conversations with Sox bench coach Joey Cora.  If Joey does bolt to the Bucs, who will Ozzie Guillen replace him with.  One possibility is ex-Sox skipper Jeff Torborg.  Another is to move Harold Baines back to bench coach (where he was in the glory year of 2005) and hire somebody to coach first base.  This small and seemingly insignificant item is a huge thing for Guillen who relies on Cora a lot and will miss him greatly if he leaves.

So, two days into free agency, the boats are circling.  Or is it the wagons?

Lighting Round

• Grady Little's resignation was about as subtle as Bugsy Siegel's "resignation" from the mob.  Joe Torre will take the gig if he gets what he wants.  And in this case, if that's happens, it's because an owner is overriding his GM.  Hiring Torre in LA only weakens Ned Colletti.
• Five men have been retained for the privilege of saying "Yes, Genius."
• More bad news for Eagles coach Andy Reid as his troubled older son failed a drug test and, in the words of Arlo Guthrie, was immediately arrested.  As a parent, you feel badly for the guy.  Honestly, it's not his fault.
• Georgia Coach Mark Richt apologizes to the commissioner of the SEC for his team storming the field in celebration after they scored their first touchdown.  Hey Mark, beating Florida means never having to say you're sorry.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed run stopping nose guard Grady Jackson, who was recently cut by the Falcons.  Jacksonville area buffet restaurant owners begin to board their doors and windows.
• NBA Head Honcho David Stern finally admonishes the Knicks and their wicked ways.  Gee Dave, I think the trial was a month ago, where the hell have you been?
• ASU quarterback Rudy Carpenter is having issues with his thumb and can't throw at the moment.  He'll at least get the start against Oregon. It's not the passing that should have Sun Devil fans worried, it's the snaps and the hand offs.  If I'm Oregon, I'm going after him hard, especially since his ability to hang on the ball is in question.
• Indy car star Dario Franchitti is having some problems adjusting to NASCAR.  Dude, if you can handle having Wynona as your sister-in-law, this is a milk run.
  
• Our friends at Kissing Suzy Kolber do it again!
• There is nothing like an education in New York City.
• Chef Tell, who was one of the first big time chefs on TV has passed away.  No word yet if he will be buried, diced or pureed.
• Robert Goulet, one of the greatest singers of all time (seriously) and a man who had a tremendous sense of humor about life and about himself has died at the age of 73.  Most younger bloggers remember him for Will Farrell's impression of him or his ESPN commercials, but there was a time when he was a steady visitor to all of the talk and variety shows like Johnny Carson and Carol Burnett.  He also appeared on the Simpsons.  He was once know for botching the National Anthem before the first Clay-Liston fight.  RIP Bob.