We begin with the White Sox and we -- A special -- -- live in the city that John under the White Sox Rick -- -- thanks so much for being here with us think Trevor may appreciate it do you know these two characters to my left they look familiar but -- -- -- never called to testify. Chris -- from the score and White Sox. Beat writer for me dot com it is got off to a good start. We're off to a great start my only real. So access coming up on Friday my first question you is or even walking around town people see you. Sox fans see you what are they saying to you. To your face about this team now. Yeah a lot of free advice lot of free help which is nice who do which is always appreciated follows. There's a balance honestly there's people who are excited about things coming back and wanna know about his health of people who look at our rotation and feel good about the way we match up. And quite frankly there's obviously people ask about move and thus been perhaps little to right handed or wanted to bring AJ backer. The questions that I think you guys have probably debated here on the error on the radio and are a lot of Sox ends months of several of -- -- -- lefty that that's too -- union brought this up yourself or is it. It's a very -- wife is returning how difficult is it to acquire. This lefty bat who you might be trying to -- well. It's a matter of acquiring the right lefty bat I mean we go out and acquire a left handed hitter which is probably gonna make us look good. Like we're doing or can -- -- is perceived need in January but come April -- it's not the right fit and it's gonna be a worthless acquisition. We look at this lineup and although we are heavily right handed traditionally are right -- had hit right handed pitching fairly well. So we view going out against left handed bat. I was a nice upgrade if we can do it but it's not a necessity -- -- -- it's right he's traditionally realism -- it right out of Alexi Ramirez has hit right better than. He hadn't twelfth. So we do have guys with that capability and if the right opportunity to get better presents itself we will jump on it. But as of yet we haven't found that fit that we feel confident is truly an upgrade. Are you treating that -- situation as if he will or will not be ready to go for the start of spring. Every indication and then in Herm Schneider Don Cooper and our doctors laid out a plan with John when he came back from the surgery. Of essentially every day leading up to opening day and thus far he has hit every milestone every yard marker in terms of what he's needs to accomplish in order to be ready opening day. Now it's a player coming back from an injury it's a pitcher coming back from an injury. Which are two reasons to be cautious. However these are optimistic and don't have any reason to believe at this point that he won't be ready -- and even in this third. More than a decade that this Roman and -- with the White Sox. Has this off season than any different for you aside from answering a few more my phone calls may mean there. Hefty -- you know I feel like it's been a little bit of -- slower pace and I don't know let's see if it's because in my mind. I felt a little more responsibility for the checklist of items of what we wanted to accomplish. But it has felt like it's been a little bit slower in terms of coming together now back in 05 we acquired -- after Sox -- We acquired in the and since I've been here we've acquired Damaso Marte and and and Matt Thornton in spring training so you can't acquire. Important pieces two good clubs later than this date. At the same time it has helped me like a lot of hurry up and wait at times. The same time I try to keep some perspective and look back to where we were a year ago at this time. When we had at this point traded away Carlos Quentin and traded away Sergio Santos and traded away -- Frazier. And there were some you know prognosticators out there who were predicting some fairly dire results for us. Obviously this year was being able to keep Jacque can acquire her she essentially acquire starting date opening day pitcher back in and John Danks. As well as Jeff Keppinger and perhaps some other things are gonna be announced later in the week. We feel like we're better position and we were a year ago. In the same time we're not done and that's probably when -- feel a bit more right now things are going to be announced later in the week perhaps perhaps. Media bullpen that's arm's been widely rumored but at the same time we're and it's pretty clear the Major League rules in terms of us confirming any acquisitions -- We've made no secret of the fact that we're interested in. Finding me. -- complement to get to train wreck from the right side of the bullpen guy who. Power play good ground ball to the ballpark and there's been some. Fourth appearance video you can run of guys. I want to -- little. -- -- media members from I don't know speculation that we talk about things -- remember about Jeff Keppinger everything coming along yeah everything's cool nice and then you know we a lot of us. In game lament the extra week of spring training that comes with a WGC but does a couple probably be a beneficiary of that actually he. Should be ready to start of camp when we when we get there next month. If he's not -- takes an extra week or ten days we have the luxury of extra time with there's no reasonable ET's should be ready opening day. Paul Konerko is entering the last year of his contract -- you. How much is that on your mind I know it's it's going down the road but this is going to be a big decision for him to make -- to make. Could this be his last year with the White Sox. And if he shows interest in playing half this season would you then go and say hey let's work something out before waiting to win here. You know like they've been my experience that these things are best kept. Quiet between the player in the club in terms of any conversations about extensions or is -- the end what are your plans for the future. I will say we've obviously had Paulie here for a long long time there's been at least two occasions the last seven years with the expectation has been what this is it -- run. Appreciation video during his last at -- there was last home game in which each other well. And obviously we signed to a five year deal after all five of them. A three year deal most recently after 2010. So -- -- some -- work. Themselves out and Paul is obviously been a big part of our past and hopefully be part of our success in 2013 and perhaps beyond. No questions -- I'll keep going -- I was opening the door for you guys like him. Why does your shoulder -- I I did not only are there little to do rotating thing but I I have several questions ask your but I hope. When alignment you've got one you -- I didn't you mentioned about AJ Pierzynski to the metal and talk about the decision to. You know let him move on -- not -- bring him that morning I think and then Tyler flowers stepping in -- which which is obviously weather had a hot button issues of the Nazis right -- not. Through -- related and end. Look it is never an easy decision to part ways with an important player for this organization one that we had here for eight years and AJ's case that a lot of success -- The decision to. Move obviously came down with two things. First our belief in Tyler flowers. When we acquired this player is considered one of the best offensive catchers in the game. That sort of drifted away from him a little bit in the minors. And -- -- to refine his defensive skills and now at this point you become one of the better defensive. Catcher prospect. We do feel that we are not gonna lose anything defensively with Tyler behind the plate he catches in the game he calls a wonderful and hit a wonderful game. And our pitchers really enjoy throw until. From an offensive standpoint he is a little bit different than AJ is gonna strike out more he's not gonna hit first time average but he has power and he's gonna get on base at a decent clip. So we are you confident in his future that there isn't going to be a significant drop off in certain categories that are important to team success. The second factor is is that we had other needs that we wanted to address we felt it was important that had we not brought back Jake Peavy. We felt that our pitching staff was not in the lineup one through five against the rest the American League. That's extremely important to us we had to avoid a third base we felt and we had to address that need more so than the need at catcher. Again it wasn't an easy decision. He will be missed in a lot of ways and certainly from a saint fan's standpoint. But it was a matter prioritizing what had to be addressed this offseason Sox -- is going to be on Friday can win said today he's not coming on stage. Quoting here that somebody else's job right now good luck so good luck to you on Friday talking to the fans I think I'm sure they have some. Pointed questions for you and you're ready for them and I look forward to that can't Rick thanks so much has been absolutely conditions -- much.