The Chicago White Sox announced themselves as players yesterday by picking up Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett. The move can help them very much not only on offense but on defense. One of the big questions the White Sox had for contending was their team defense. Alomar is obviously one of the best ever and Everett, though he's now too slow for centerfield, can still be a good defender in left or right.

Everett has been a good citizen in Texas unlike the rest of his career and it will be interesting to see if the same holds true in Chicago. Manager Jerry Manual seems like the kind of manager that would be easy to play for, so we'll see.

Alomar's fall from superstardom while with the Mets is still puzzling. Alomar had been consistently great in his career until two years ago. I suspect Shea Stadium had something to do with it. I still remember Bobby Murcer going from superstar to warning track slugger when the Yankees moved to Shea during Yankee Stadium's remodeling in the 70's. Roberto's defense suffered as well with the horrible Shea infield surface and the lack of a good first baseman. I suspect that with the chance to play with his brother, Sandy, and having a fresh start, Roberto will be a force in the AL Central race.


The Fan missed last night's post as my wife and I met a friend for dinner and drinks. The Fan isn't a big drinker, but four beers later and there was no way a post was going to get written. Oh well. My apologies to those of you who checked.


Dontrelle Willis hooked up with a young Braves pitcher for a great pitching duel as the Marlins and Braves are tied going into the seventh inning 1 to 1. Willis is probably wishing the Marlins saved some of those 20 runs for him today.

Speaking of the Marlins, their front office announced that Mike Lowell was not going to be traded. That's wonderful news and a good reward for those Marlins fans who have stayed loyal to the team. Lowell was greatly relieved himself. Tonight, he's accounted for the Marlins only run with his 26th homer and 72nd RBI. Amazing.


I was reading Ken Kaiser's book, comically titled, "Planet of the Umps" and although the book is mildly entertaining, I find his statements and attitude appalling. An MLB umpire for more than twenty years before he got caught up in the umpire strike that broke the umpire union and lost his job. He admits, without any apology, to "palming" the real Gaylord Perry ball from Perry's 300th win. Kaiser gave Perry the wrong ball. How atrocious is that? What he doesn't say is what he did with the ball. Did he sell it? If so, that criminal.

Kaiser also mentions that he bluffed when he didn't know the call and that he knew he made mistakes but never lost sleep on it. His beliefs about the umpire's role in baseball and in baseball games only proves that there is something wrong with the way umpires function in MLB. They look for confrontation and they do not have the correct attitude towards the game. I'm appalled with what I'm reading and I'm glad he's out of baseball.


In one last postscript (pun intended), Dontrelle Willis will not get a decision tonight as the Braves and Marlins are still tied in the ninth inning. Willis pitched eight full innings giving up only one run allowing only seven baserunners and brought his season ERA down to 2.13. What a great story!