I'm in Madison, WI, again for more training. Lovely, Madison, WI and it's -5 degree weather (with wind chill). Honestly, I'm thinking of wearing shorts tomorrow just to get people to refrain from weather discussions.

QUESTION:
Why no updates in a week?

ANSWER:
I have been concentrating on email and a few other A's related irons I have in the fire. Spring Training reserevations are looking good and of course, I'm sick of combatting moronic sportswriters and their 'inside sources', 'sources inside the organization' and 'rumors continue to swirl abbout...'.

How many rumors have you read in the past three months and how many ring true?

Tim Hudson was traded last week to St. Louis.

But he wasn't.

Tim Hudson was traded this weekend to Los Angeles.

But he wasn't.

Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns and Willy Mo Pena became A's.
.
But they didn't.

You really have to wonder why people assume Billy Beane will make a move when he holds all the cards. He has Tim Hudson's value so high right now that no team can really put together a solid package to negotiate in 'real time' with the A's GM.

Some of the prospects being discussed all have huge question marks around them (a 26 year old second baseman who strikes out three time more than he walks...please) or a history of injury.

A larger factor is that Billy Beane does not have Rick Peterson to salvage pitchers. He has Curt Young. And Curt Young is no Rick Peterson.

More to come.