11.   But he said his staff, including farm director Reid Nichols, felt Valdes deserved the promotion more.

12.   But needing confirmation, he said, he asked Jack Butterfield, the farm director.

13.   But then, assistant general managers and farm directors are always like that.

14.   Everyone in a position of authority, from the Kremlin leadership to the state farm directors, got special benefits.

15.   Farm director Dave Jauss managed Licey to the Dominican winter league championship a year ago.

16.   Farm director Marty Scott was there the first night when Santana was promoted from Class-A Charleston and beat Arkansas with a complete game.

17.   Farm director Benny Looper considers Kittle an expert on correcting control problems of young pitchers, pointing to Ken Hill and Todd Worrell as examples.

18.   Farm director Rick Williams, son of former Sox manager Dick Williams, and longtime scout Orrin Freeman are among the quality baseball people in limbo.

19.   He has eliminated scouts and farm directors.

20.   He served as a player-coach with Montreal as well as a minor-league farm director and big-league player personnel director with Montreal and Minnesota before the Rockies called.