I'm ready to put forth some ideas on how to fix the White Sox.  If what I've read is any indication, then you can write off 2008, 2009 and perhaps 2010 and enjoy a return to the early seventies or mid-eighties.  Yes, I'm concerned that whatever Ozzie is smoking he's sharing with Kenny Williams.

Let's look at who the Sox are rumored to be interested in and why it may not be such a good idea:

• Miguel Cabrera---Rumored on his way out of Florida due to increasing belt size and lack of work ethic, the Marlins third baseman is said to be a favorite of Ozzie.  Here's the problem: You already have two third basemen and an overweight lazy shortstop who Ozzie has screamed at for three years with little success.  Projects we don't need.  Besides, he's not worth trading Fields for.
• Johnny Damon---So, you want to trade your broken down third baseman for a center fielder that was mostly a DH last year and is on the downward slope of his career?  Please, get real.  Crede is worth more if he stays with the team.
• Lastings Millage---He's a talented young player with some off the field issues.  He won't come cheap either, but if it will send Old Man Cuba to the Mets, it might be a consideration.  I'd much rather entertain the purchase of Torrie Hunter or Aaron Rowand instead.
• Carl Crawford---My heart almost stopped this morning and I did a spit take with my coffee when I read the Cubs are interested in Crawford.  WRONG TEAM.  Read this: Carl Crawford would have the same effect on the Sox Scotty Pods did in 2005 and that Tim Raines did when they acquired him from Montreal in the early nineties.  I can't stress this enough: TRADE FOR HIM NOW!
• I don't have a problem with Japanese relief pitchers, but let's remember, the world catches up to them after a year.  I think Shingo Takatsu is now running a sushi bar.
• I would consider A.J. Burnett if the price were right.  It would make moving Garland easier.  I wonder what the Jays are looking for.  Joe Crede would look good in a Jays uniform.
  
• Of the top 50 free agents as posted by MLB Trade Rumors.com, I'd like to see the Sox take a run at Kenshin Kawakami and Masahide Kobayashi to help shore up the back end of the pen. That also makes guys like Mike MacUseless, Andrew Sisco and possibly David Aardsma trade bait. Yes, I've given up on them, last may as a matter of fact.

The key is this: Left field, center field, shortstop and bullpen.  Jerry Owens is a nice role player but not good enough to start in the majors.  Josh Fields will get PT once Crede gets unloaded before the trading deadline or if (most likley) Crede's back goes out again. Juan Uribe should be sent packing but may not in order to acquire an "A" list free agent.  So, as you can clearly see, the waters are very murky regarding the future.  And, from what I've read, it looks like the Sox will make acquisitions based on salary swaps rather than just going out and doing what's right.

One more important factor about the 2008 team that no one else is talking about.  The Sox were able to add payroll in 2006 and 2007 because of anticipated attendance.  With the Cubs back to being the local darlings, 2008 attendance, especially in the spring will be off from those levels seen in 2006 and 2007.  Therefore, the percentage of increase in payroll will not be nearly as much as it was in those two years.  That may cause Kenny to either shy away from some players or really have to hone in on what he wants.  Kenny is pretty good with a sharp ax.

Lightning Round

• Bill Callahan and Dennis Franchione refuse to discuss their futures at their respective schools.  Why?  Because they don't have one.
• Tommy Tuberville won't discuss the rumors that he's going to bolt to Texas A&M the same way he refused to discuss the rumors that he was bolting to Auburn from Ole Miss.  While they are snickering in Oxford, spinkters around Auburn are getting very tight indeed.  And, don't think Tubs doesn't remember that stunt they pulled a couple of years ago when they tried to woo Bobby Petrino to Auburn.
• ESPN makes Barry Melrose apologize to the city of Newark.  Personally, I think the city of Newark should apologize to America.  And yes, I've been there.  More than once.
• Findlay pulls an Appy State.  Fortunately for Thad Motta, it doesn't matter in basketball.
• It sounds like Don Shula's whine is made of sour grapes.
• Eric Lindros announces his retirement, ending one of the most disappointing careers of any athlete in any sport based on the hype he got before he entered the league. In an era where the NHL really needed a hero, Lindros and his continuing health issues fell well short of the mark.
  
• Koy Detmer has been hired by the Vikings as a backup quarterback.  Gee, it must be a tough gig handing off to Purple Jesus fifty times a game.
• Jerry Jones is either drunk with power or drunk with moonshine.  The assertion that the big cable companies should bend over and grease up for the NFL is the same arrogant stupidity that's damning the Big Ten network to non-existence. (Sports Media Watch)
  
• Some great insight from our friends at "Signal to Noise" on the state of some hot seat college football coaches.
• If you watched NCIS last night, you saw a really cool underwater stunt.  Here's how they did it.