The result will be more up-to-date commentary that fits better together.

Here's the schedule:

Sunday: Cynthia Tucker and Jonah Goldberg.

Tucker, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, throws from the left. Goldberg, of the National Review Online, hurls from the right.

The two differ politically but both consistently offer powerful and provocative arguments. They're gutsy and honest.

For example, Goldberg admits this week that "the simple, tragic fact is that conservatism isn't popular." Yet the majority is still "center-right," he contends.

Tucker this week emphatically argues the Iraq war has always been about oil -- an energy source both Democrats and Republicans have worshiped. Tucker is a fierce closer: "Stop using raw power to guarantee cheap oil."

Sunday publication allows us to present both of their columns sooner after they are written.

Monday: Leonard Pitts Jr.

Pitts, of the Miami Herald, considers himself an independent. As his pitching coach at the State Journal, I consider him a southpaw with a surprising change-up and clever curve ball. Pitts is a reporter who knows how to get the goods. He can dazzle and delight.

Tuesday: John Leo.

This old-timer isn't going to fan you with his fastball. But if there's any columnist Madison lefties love to hate, it's Leo. What better reason could there be for keeping him in the weekly rotation?

This right-hander often whiffs the university intellectuals with his plain-spoken defense of free speech, common sense and tradition. And he's pitching a shutout against political correctness.

Wednesday: Garrison Keillor.

This lefty sometimes throws softballs, waxing on coffee and fine food. Yet the public radio host from Minnesota beaned President Bush earlier this month by aggressively calling for impeachment. And his keen insight into social politics and naked humanity is laugh-out-loud funny.

We get Keillor's column Tuesday afternoons, and now you'll get to read it the next morning.

Thursday: James Lileks.

Lileks' sarcastic columns can offend and delight -- often in the same paragraph. A right-handed flamethrower from Minneapolis, Lileks is our gonzo conservative. Who else could reference classic literature and sugary breakfast cereal in the same rant favoring a Supreme Court nominee?

Lileks' column arrives late Tuesdays. You'll get to read it Thursdays instead of waiting until the weekend.

Friday: Trudy Rubin

The Philadelphia columnist travels and reports from around the world. I'm not sure which arm she's throwing with, but she fires plenty of strikes.

The Forum section on Sundays also is getting bigger. As space permits, we plan to run Washington Post stalwarts George Will, a pure righty, and David Broder, a left-leaner who throws down the middle.

Milwaukee political humorist Rick Horowitz is our unconventional and folksy left-handed relief pitcher. Also in the bullpen is columnist Eric Frydenlund, our deep-thinking essayist from Prairie du Chien.

The State Journal no longer carries the New York Times wire. That's because the wire is increasingly expensive and often moves its top stories too late to get into all editions of our newspaper.

Editor Ellen Foley announced last December we were dropping the Times wire Jan 1. That means we can no longer run any Times columnists because -- unlike virtually every other news service in the country -- the Times refuses to sell their columns separately.

Regardless, we've built a balanced, winning team of nationally-acclaimed opinion writers. You'll get to read them sooner than you used to. And as the political season progresses, feel free to let us know which are all-stars and which deserve a trade.

Scott Milfred is editorial page editor for the State Journal; smilfred@madison.com or 252-6110.