Afternoon Baseball

ESPN.com - Giles & Konerko
Two extremely talented, yet limited baseball players stuck with the team that rejuvenated their respective careers and stuck with them through difficulties, and both of them and the game itself are better off for it.
One part cash, one part loyalty
Brian Giles would have made a sweet fit for the New York Yankees. Though getting on in years, he's maintained his fielding quickness and hitting stroke like a more powerful, more selective Steve Finley. However, he's always hit well in places with quieter fan bases that form a coccoon around him. The Padres, despite the handicap of a pitcher's park, offer a hometown atmosphere without the hometown pressure, and they brought him to a consistent playoff contender from the abyss that is Pittsburgh.
San Diego is where he belongs, and assuming the deal doesn't fall through at the last second, the Yankees can't feel bad because they never really had a shot at him.

Paul Konerko is a big slugger who has endured seasons of disaster when his confidence, batting eye or whatever has deserted him. However, he's hit 81 HR in the last two years, was a postseason force and has begun gaining more respect from pitchers, posting a career-high .375 OBP in 2005. He's the hero of Chicago, a man who could never hit again and not lose anything in the eyes of the seven or eight die-hard White Sox fans. That alone is reason to cash in and ride the championship wave for as long as possible.

But this quote is just as true: "It the end it was not because we won the World Series last year, but because we can win one this year."
The Orioles can't offer that. The Angels, in theory, can, but they are in many ways an aging team lacking depth in key areas. The White Sox are in as good a position as anyone to win it again.

Two men, making their wise decisions largely on money, fame, contract length and job security for sure, but also two men choosing the teams that have gotten them to this point and the fans that never wanted them to leave. It's good to see.