More on the prospective ' 05 line-up from the Strib:

Here's the lineup Gardenhire has in mind: 1. Stewart, 2. Mauer, 3. Hunter, 4. Morneau, 5. Lew Ford, 6. Jacque Jones, 7. Michael Cuddyer, 8. a shortstop, 9. Luis Rivas.

"If we have all these guys in the lineup -- Morneau, Mauer, Hunter, Jones, Cuddyer, Lew Ford and Shannon -- we can have some fun," Gardenhire said.

Two things stand out about this batting order. One, Gardenhire prefers left-right balance. Two. Mauer and Hunter aren't prototypical hitters for the spots they're in.

Many guessed that Mauer would bat third and Morneau fourth, but Gardenhire wants to guard against opposing managers being able to use left-handed specialists late in games.

"The lineup sets up easy like that with some good hitters and some pretty good balance all the way through," Gardenhire said. "Any other way it looks like I'm bunching lefties up. I give the opposing manager an opportunity to bring someone in like [Chicago's] Damaso Marte and eat you up for an inning and a half. Innings are big toward the end. You don't want to give away an inning. And if you put the pressure on the other manager like they do on us to bring in one guy left-right-left out or right-left-right out, it makes a little difference. Make them make moves."

And, in the GET OVER IT department, Batgirl's intern sends this choice bit from the Chicago Tribune:

Many observers feel the Sox lost their swagger last season when Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter bowled over catcher Jamie Burke at home plate in a crucial series and the Sox failed to respond.

"In the Torii Hunter situation, if someone comes and does something like that, it can actually pump your team up," said Burke, who again is fighting for a roster spot. "We kind of went into a slide after that and they went on a roll. Maybe we should show guys after something like that that we are not backing down and come right at 'em.

"Being tougher means not backing down from anyone, to go out after things as hard as you can. When you need to break up a double play or something, go in there and do your job. It's not going out there and trying to cause fights."

...The White Sox acquired catcher A. J. Pierzynski at least in part to accentuate the toughness factor.

"I just think [Guillen] wants us to do the little things better and he wants us to play the game right," said Pierzynski, the former Giant and Twin. "We should take pride in what we do and play as hard as we can. … Be accountable and stand up and defend each other in this room. The winning from there takes over."

Sox catchers are expected to reflect the overall attitude of the team.

Batgirl thinks that instead of focusing so much energy on that one moment, the Bitch Sox should instead try to figure out why they're blaming their whole collapse on one single damned play. As Dr. Phil says, maybe, instead, they should look in the mirror.