What will the White Sox do?

How many questions can a team in the running still have? Carlos Quentin was activated from the DL yesterday, and Brian Anderson was optioned to Triple-A. But that was just the beginning for a team that currently sits one game out of the first in the AL Central. Optioning Anderson was a no-doubt: Scott Podsednik has been the boost the team needed in the outfield, and with Dye in right, there was only need for one additional outfielder, Wise (who is out of options). Anderson didn't perform poorly, given that three other youngsters on the team were playing at the same level, but he also has not taken advantage of the opportunities given to him. More on him later.

Bartolo Colon made his Triple-A rehab assignment and pitched horribly. Being lit up in the MLB is one thing, being lit up in AAA is another. I cannot envision his returning to the major leagues with the Sox. He was a cheap experiment, but one that has not panned out. Richard is pitching just as well (or poorly), and I would just as soon let him gain experience as a starter (if that is where he will ultimately end up), than bring back Colon. There was also the report that Freddy Garcia was working out in the minors, which certainly was news, in hopes of a late season call-up. There's the better option: let Colon go, start Richard, and if he falters, bring in Garcia. Worst case is they all pitch the same.

The Roy Halladay sweepstakes are interesting, and I'll mention that later.

In the in-field... too many young players, playing all the same positions. How many thirdbasemen do we now have? Fields (MLB bench), Beckham (MLB starter) and Viciedo (Minor League phenom). At second there is Getz and Nix, who are seemingly fighting for playing time. Someone has to go. Fields has great potential, and I think they were too quick to pull him (but things happen behind the scenes... maybe he was causing problems). Fields is a good replacement for Konerko on a day off, and his bat is dangerous, but we're still a couple years from Konerko going DH full-time. Beckham appears to be the long-term starter at 3rd, and Getz is the future at 2nd. Nix can play anywhere, so he isn't moving. Ramirez at SS... well, my opinion is use him as trade bait. He could be the start of a package for Halladay, though I'm fairly certain Ramirez is untouchable at this point. But think... Ramirez and Danks for Halladay. Beckham moves back to his comfortable SS position, and Fields and Viciendo fight out for 3rd. Or send Anderson in the package for Halladay. It can be done.

But what about next year? Dye is free agent, are they keeping Anderson around to move in when he leaves? Quentin to right field, Pods to left, and Wise and Anderson in CF? Or do they bring up their 1st round draft pick to play center? And what about Thome who will be a FA after the season? They won't resign him at the current contract, but with his production this year, they do not have a better option, other than using Fields, which would be a waste of a good talent.

It would be ridiculous to not sign AJ to a long contract at this point, even with two good prospects in the wings. AJ brings more to this team than most people want to admit.

This has gotten long, so I'll cut short now. Only time will tell what happens with my 312 Sox.

USA Soccer in Confederation Cup 2009

Sometimes you would rather be lucky than good. USA Soccer was thoroughly displaced by two juggernauts of football this past week in their draw at the Confed Cup, by losing to Italy and Brazil. The only possible way for them to advance to the next round was to beat a poor Egyptian team by three goals, and hope that Brazil would beat Italy by three goals. Miraculously, beyond description and among the most odd and weird things, it happened exactly that way, with 3-0 games in each, and America advancing.

And earlier this week, I predicted Egypt would win, 2-1. Now that I've eaten my words (not really, it was a good bet that USA would lose), I have to post (and laugh at) this quote from an American player and veteran:

"All of the critics in America who said we were no good after losing to Italy and Brazil, let's see what they say now," Michael Bradley said.

Here's what I say: "you're no good."

Come on. It's great that you have a little spirit, but simply because you (#14) beat a bad Egyptian (#40) team, and Italy (#4) played a horrible game against Brazil (#5), you advanced in a tournament to play the #1 team in the world, Spain. Do you really think you deserve to advance instead of Italy to whom you lost? Doesn't make sense, but tie-breakers rarely do. But this is exactly why you are fighting to earn a spot in the next World Cup 2010. It's not a guarantee that you will qualify. Michael Bradley, there won't be a Brazil to help you make it to the next round. And like so many Cups past, we'll see that once again, USA is no good at football.

Tom runs on Dunkin Donuts

To conclude a rather all-around frustrating week, I decided to go for comfort food for breakfast, and grab Dunkin Donuts at the only DD in Kansas (or west of the Mississippi River I think). Now anyone who knows me, knows that my weakness is pastries, specifically a good donut. Being raised in Chicago, DD's was a staple of every day life, continuing on into High School, where we would sit before track practice and devour a dozen. So Tom really does run on Dunkin.

But this morning was the best thing I had seen in a while, and might have just made up for the crappy week I've had. Imagine this: a very attractive mid-to-late 20's woman, blonde curly hair... not gorgeous, but very attractive. I'll refrain from going into great detail. Anyway, she's walking through the parking lot, and I'm walking about 15 feet behind her. Oh yeah, the funny part: she's wearing a very nice black dress, sleeveless, tight, and short, with black heels. It looks like she had gone out to the bars last night, and I immediately thought, "Has to be the walk of shame." The nightclub outfit, she's attractive, going to DD's for a hearty breakfast after either a great night, or disappointing night. However when I catch up to her at the door, I notice that her hair is wet, like she just got out of the shower. Then I hear her order FOUR DOZEN DONUTS, a two coffees! And I'm thinking, "Wow, this isn't the walk of shame... she either really likes this guy, and going to return to him and shower him with donuts, or she had a really, REALLY bad night and was going home." Either way... she gets an A+ in my book.

Of course, I'm not that simple. She's probably going to work and picked up donuts for the office on the way in. You can't judge a book by its cover.But it was a good way to start the day.