Thanks to Ronnie for the link to the excerpt from Chris Coste’s new book - I’d read an article/interview in the Philadelphia Inquirer, touting its release this week.  I’ve said this before, but after seeing how Coste conducted himself after being sent down to the minors at the beginning of 2007, I lost a lot of respect for him.  I get it - he had a great season with the Phils in 2006.  But with no disrespect intended, at the start of last year he had a whopping 198 plate appearances in the bigs.  198.  I’m sorry, but it wasn’t like they were sending down A-Rod.  Unfortunately, (from my perspective) that’s how he chose to conduct himself; as if he was above all of this. 

At one point last season, Kyle mentioned to me that it has been said that AAA is the “angriest level of baseball - because none of them think they should be playing here.  They all think they should be in the Majors”.  Thankfully, most of the guys don’t let that anger bleed through, and instead conduct themselves with a great deal of class - think Pedro Swann, Ron Calloway, Lou Collier.

Filed under “better late than never”:

Classy guy, Jim Rushford (pictured right) has been signed to a minor league contract by the Chicago White Sox.  Tough deal for Fabio Castro - he was sent down to Reading to start the 08 season.