filihok: I'm surprised Glavine accepted as well. (Actually I'm shocked the NYM offered him!)
As for Grimsley, you may well be right. The game's retiring a lot of players in their mid-30s and up this year.
*******
May Update
"How are our chances?" Ed asked almost as soon as I sat down.
"Of..winning the division?" He nodded and I studied him closely Ed sat in what passed for his office, more like a study. He sat in an oversized chair with one leg dangling over the armrest, elbow on the other, chin on hand. Dark eyes, surprisingly serious, regarded me back.
The truth, between you and me, is 'not good.' At 55 games in you have a pretty fair idea how your team is going to do, and we weren't playing like a championship team. Losing Grady Sizemore, by far our best player offensively, was like a death sentence...and though I probably could trade away to try and find a replacement, realistically I should begin planning for next year.
"We're 5 and a half out," I said. "With 107 games left we have plenty of time to make it up. Teams have come back from far, far worse." Both true. The 1978 Yankees came immediately to mind. "Losing Sizemore hurts, but if we can stay close until he comes back in early August, I think we have a fair shot at this." Again, true. 'Keeping close' to three other teams for two months would be the hard part.
"Rob, I don't like to lose. I think you know that. I bought a team that nearly won the division last year, and I expect them to make the playoffs." He exhaled, apparently biting back more comments. "You won your league last year, Rob. Why is this so hard?"
"Ed, there are 29 other teams out there and they want to win as well. Nothing's guaranteed. That's why we play 162 games." It's true I think we're in trouble, but Memorial Day is too early to give in to despair. Well, unless you're the Royals.
"I expect them to make the playoffs," he repeated petulantly. "I will not take any setbacks."
"We're certainly try," I began.
"Do. Not try. If you won a championship with those rednecks in Oregon," to him anyone who didn't live in a city was a redneck regardless of skin color, "then you can d*mn well do it here."
*******
Facing something not far from an ultimatum, I sat down with Lou who received much of the same spiel by telephone. "Hey," he told me. "We do what we can, and f*** the consequences."
Code:
2006 Batting G AVG AB H 2B 3B HR BB K SB CS R RBI SLG OBP
Martinez, Victor 54 .315 200 63 12 1 8 32 32 0 0 30 30 .505 .410
Shoppach, Kelly 4 .333 12 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 .333 .333
Garko, Ryan 53 .279 208 58 12 1 7 16 43 0 0 29 27 .447 .336
Hafner, Travis 51 .305 197 60 13 1 8 18 38 1 1 29 37 .503 .367
Belliard, Ron 53 .213 188 40 7 1 2 17 30 0 0 17 18 .293 .278
Boone, Aaron 11 .308 26 8 1 0 1 1 5 0 0 3 2 .462 .333
Inglett, Joe 3 .200 10 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 .200 .200
Kouzmanoff, Kevin 53 .253 198 50 5 0 9 16 40 1 1 28 21 .414 .324
Peralta, Jhonny 52 .269 182 49 9 0 3 21 51 1 2 26 24 .368 .345
Vazquez, Ramon 13 .250 40 10 1 1 0 5 6 2 0 2 2 .325 .333
Blake, Casey 44 .227 154 35 5 0 6 16 40 1 0 22 22 .377 .308
Gutierrez, Franklin 2 .300 10 3 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 2 3 .600 .364
Hollandsworth, Todd 32 .263 99 26 6 1 2 11 19 2 1 9 12 .404 .342
Michaels, Jason 45 .241 191 46 6 1 3 23 44 1 0 28 15 .330 .322
Sizemore, Grady 53 .306 216 66 10 3 16 19 50 6 2 44 45 .602 .368
Catcher isn't really a contest. Martinez is one of the best catchers in baseball today, and while Shoppach's done well in limited showings...he's strictly backup.
Fortunately Garko and Hafner aren't really in competition, since the latter's our DH. No problem there.
Right now we'reusing Kouzmanoff at third, Peralta at short and Vazquez at second. Belliard lost his position to Ramon. Boone's proven he wants to be here through sheer flexibility - which makes him most valuable as a utility infielder.
Our current outfield consists of Gutierrez at center for the ailing Sizemore, Hollandsworth in left, Michaels in right. Blake's our only utility infielder. If Franklin's not ready for the show, Blake could find his way back in very easily.
And that is pretty much it. We have THREE people worth talking about in the farm system, none Major League ready.
Code:
2006 Pitching Team IP ERA G GS W L SV K BB R/9
Byrd, Paul CLE 23.0 8.22 10 1 1 4 1 12 8 15.65
Carmona, Fausto CLE 66.1 4.07 11 11 3 5 0 52 21 11.94
Glavine, Tom CLE 63.1 6.39 13 12 4 4 0 33 26 13.93
Lee, Cliff CLE 68.1 6.19 12 12 6 4 0 48 23 13.83
Ramirez, Horacio CLE 45.2 4.34 9 6 2 4 0 19 17 14.78
Sabathia, C.C. CLE 76.2 4.81 12 12 4 3 0 73 28 12.56
Westbrook, Jake CLE 64.0 4.36 10 10 2 2 0 34 15 12.80
Betancourt, Rafael CLE 28.0 3.54 18 1 1 3 3 20 9 11.25
Davis, Jason CLE 7.0 15.43 3 1 0 1 0 3 2 24.43
Graves, Danny CLE 25.2 1.75 20 0 1 0 8 12 6 8.42
Miller, Matt CLE 27.1 3.62 23 0 2 2 2 20 9 12.18
Perez, Rafael CLE 27.1 1.65 28 0 2 1 0 26 3 7.57
Wickman, Bob CLE 26.0 6.92 23 0 1 0 1 19 16 17.65
I'm trying hard to ignore some ugly ERAs from Lee and Glavine. Glavine hasn't been here long enough, and with 6 wins Lee's getting the job done. Byrd is waiting in the wings for someone to stumble or suffer a long term injury.
Westbrook is missing yet another week, so Ramirez starts in his place. Despite his 'average' record, CC is second in the AL in strikeouts. Carmona's still learning his position and has done fairly well so far.
As for relievers, Graves is doing well enough to keep in the closer role with Perez backing him up. Miller and Wickman continue in short relief, though Wickman's ERA is very troubling. Betancourt continues in middle relief.
Unlike with in the field we DO have some options here for replacements.
I do have an outfielder in AAA (Francisco), and if I was sure of getting him enough playing time I'd call him out. Your idea might well work if Kouzmanoff gives more trouble. His defense is rising though, and his bat is really good.
Reply With Quote
kill bonds!!
Originally Posted by bwburke94
