by By Bruce Miles bmiles@dailyherald.com , Chicago Daily Herald

"I?m for it," said the White Sox ? Kenny Williams at O?Hare Monday. "I will raise my hand. How far would I go with it? A lot further than most. It?s technology. I think the game has changed with the use of technology.

"I think we should bring it up to date. Listen, I had it on the agenda for seven years in a row before a version of it was passed last year, and I was shocked.

"So I?m not kidding myself into thinking this is going to be something that?s going to be coming down the pipeline any time soon where we?re going to be doing it to a greater degree."

Cubs GM Jim Hendry was more reluctant, at first, to support any use of replay, but after several controversial missed calls in the postseason, he?s come around, too.

"I have to admit, I?m probably the one guy that?s changed quite a bit," he said. "I was one of the last of the old traditionalists. For years, I didn?t want any of it.

"And then I felt that because of the new stadiums and the toughness to judge the balls on the home runs on fair and foul, just the way the modern parks are built and advertising (signs) behind it, I really felt it was harder on the umpires.

"I remember having a conversation with some of the umpires a few years ago, and they wanted it, for the home runs, to get some help, that they felt like they were missing some calls.

"So then I gave in, voted for that. And certainly now, after a lot of the things that we saw down the stretch and in the playoffs, I could be convinced to soften a little more.

"I haven?t spent a lot of time where I would draw the line, but I?m a lot softer on it than I used to be."

High praise: The Cubs and Sox have a couple of hot prospects, respectively, in shortstop Starlin Castro and outfielder Jordan Danks, both of whom have torn it up in the Arizona Fall League.

It?s likely Castro has earned an invite to spring training with the big club, but Jim Hendry stopped short of saying he?d break with the team and push shortstop Ryan Theriot to second base.

"He?s certainly a high-level prospect that?s come a long way," Hendry said. "I wouldn?t put any time frame on it now. Eighteen months ago, the kid was in Rookie League.

"He?s doing tremendous. I?ll be anxious to get to spring training and see what people like (hitting coach) Rudy Jaramillo think.

"It?s the same old adage: I think he?ll tell us when he?s ready, the kid will. We certainly don?t have any intention of holding him back down the road.

"The outstanding players in the history of the game can come up and hold their own. To put a time frame on it, ?He?s going to be here Opening Day or he isn?t,? I think that would be foolish."

Danks, however, could make some noise for the Sox .

"I feel about the same way about him as I felt about (infielder and Rookie of the Year candidate) Gordon Beckham at this stage last year," Williams said. "That?s pretty good."

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