[Scott Merkin]:

Nick Masset didn't know he made the White Sox active roster as their seventh reliever until he was informed by a couple of reporters following Saturday's Civil Rights Game with the Mets.

The manner in which the news was delivered didn't lessen the excitement for the right-hander.

"All right," said Masset with a smile. "Yes, I'm pumped. I had no idea."

Ozzie Guillen had announced the team's final move after the Mets' 3-2 victory, with Masset getting the nod over Ehren Wassermann for the honor of 25th man. Masset had a 7.06 ERA over 21 2/3 innings this spring, compared to Wassermann's 3.09 ERA in 11 2/3 innings.

Wasserman was the second-most effective reliever for the White Sox in 2007 behind closer Bobby Jenks, while Masset did not even earn a September callup. But Masset can serve as the team's long reliever, or as a sixth starter if necessary, and he also is out of options.

If the White Sox selected Wasserman, there was a good chance they would lose Masset.

"We couldn't take the chance and gamble that way," Guillen said. "We have to look at the long shot, 162 games, even though Wassermann outperformed him. We know what [Masset] has, just in case something happens.

"I'm not afraid to bring Wassermann back. I know what we can get. He performed well, and that's a tough one for me. He did so great, but he was caught up in the same situation like [Josh] Fields.

"It is what it is," Guillen added. "He did everything in his power to be here, and it was another tough decision."

[Scott Merkin]:

The White Sox hope Ramirez carries over his strong spring effort into the start of the 2008 campaign and beyond. He won't just start against pitchers who rely on their fastballs such as Sabathia, he's the everyday center fielder over Brian Anderson and Carlos Quentin.

That job could belong to Ramirez, even when Owens returns, although Guillen is not one to take away a position because of injury.

"This year, the players always have somebody behind them to perform," said Guillen, who added Owens played well during Spring Training, even with his groin injury. "If you don't perform, we have somebody else to do it.

"But [Ramirez] earned the job. We didn't hand it to him -- he earned it. The Cuban Missile got it. I think this kid has a great chance to be special. I think he did everything he was supposed to do to be on the ballclub and in the lineup. This kid has cold blood."

We are going to start Thome who is 0-11 with 7ks. Not start the guy who hits him well, because we want profundo in the lineup.

Tis a head scratcher I tell you.

Give us your injured, your weak,
Your chubby backups yearning to be set free,
The wretched refuse of your minor league.
Send these, the worthless, option-less, to us:
We open our roster and our bullpen door.

Masset over Wassermann?
Uribe still starting?

Either Quentin or Anderson should be starting with Ramirez at 2B over Uribe, just like SSI71 is saying. And Kenny gets to keep his scrub Masset over the better pitcher. This is retarded.

optimism has certainly worn itself out for me.

Brutal. Absolutely brutal.

[CDL]:

''Jerry played real good in spring training. Unfortunately, he couldn't play the way he should be playing. This year, the players always have somebody behind their butt to perform. If you don't perform, we have somebody else to do it.''

did jerry start hanging out with brian?

not religion.

It's blatantly obvious that the only reason Masset is on the team because Kenny's enormous ego won't allow him to accept the fact that he made a mistake.

There is no way to justify having him on the major league roster.