mletto157

There we go Kapler... that's better.

"I just think people have ridiculous expectations of Cameron and look for every excuse possible to bag on Gross and Kapler." Gross more than Kapler... Gross is not good in CF... I still don't see why they don't throw Hart in CF and Gross in RF.

Fielder hits a HR... Braun's approach has been terrible lately. Watch a perfect meatball, strike 1... then swing at a garbage pitch, strike 2... not going to walk too much doing that.

Good Ned... keep the lineup, there's nothing wrong with it. The players just need to start hitting. Get Prince a damn steak already.

Nice play Kendall... Estrada doesn't even get to that ball before Sheets....

I don't think that's a normal fastball for Johan.

NICE COREY

Man I can't wait for Cameron to come back!

Does anyone else think the radar gun at Shea Stadium has to be off? Parra topping out at 90 MPH, Sheets & Santana so far topping out at 91 MPH. What's up with that?

True...

"I am quite certain that if you had 3 Derrick Turnbow 2007 clones working in the BP, 7th 8th and 9th -- that ERA would be over 5" I'm pretty sure it would be 4.63 since that was Turnbow's ERA last year... so if you had 3 clones of him from last year, all of them would have a 4.63 ERA, which when averaged would be again 4.63.

I thought Fox Sports said they were going to have at least all of the home games in HD. Why is it showing that only yesterdays game vs. the Giants is in HD and the next HD game isn't until April 9th?

Why would that make anyone throw up in their mouth at all... Reality show or no reality show, the chick is hot. Props to Ryan.

Truffle Shuffle!

I think the major discrepency here is what people consider being skilled or not. I think most people that are advocating for Parra and Villy in the rotation opening day are refering to their skill level more as their potential. And I think we can all agree that the potential of Manny and Villy is definitely greater than that of Vargas, Cappy, Bush most likely. Arguements can be made for Cappy and Bush, but we've seen what they can do... so potential wouldn't be the correct word. In the case of Manny and Villy... neither of them have proven in the major league level that they can handle a full season of innings and perform. We know they can perform at a high level... we've seen that... but no one knows about a full season. So - that being said... I can definitely see a push to have each of them start the season in the minors, get in a regulator rotation and limit their innings. That way when they're needed, they'll be ready immediately when the call is placed. I mean, we haven't even seen if Parra can handle a full season of innings in the minors... so why would we try and test that right away in the majors? The smart thing to do would be to start him in the minors, let him get some starts and get on a good rotation, and bring him up when the need is there later in the season. I just don't see how you can argue against that... proven starters on opening day is the way to go because we know they can handle the grind of a full season. If Ned started both of them on opening day all you would be happy... but then come august when they're both warn out or hurt... you'd be calling for Ned's head saying "you should have had them on an inngs count, you should have started them in AAA, you should have, you should have, you should have..."

"1. At least make the offer to Prince. Would a six-year, $70 million deal have been that easy for Prince to turn down, Boras or no Boras? 2. Very simple: Shifting Hall to left still gets you a decent LF bat if he rebounds from 2007 to 2005/2006 numbers. It's also less complicated than shifting both Hall and Braun, which they did. Braun may be one of the worst defensive 3B, but he's an elite offensive 3B. Braun would have improved to a tolerable defensive 3B. " 1. Yes Boras would have easily declined that. He simply doesn't buy out arbi years, periord. And since he's handling Fielders money situation, he would have rejected it. 2. So you want to have Hall in Left, and keep Braun at 3rd because of their offensive numbers... I may not be a genious manager or anything... but since Braun will definitely not be as bad in left as 3rd (so upgrade) and Bill Hall is more natural in the infield than outfield (upgrade) wouldn't that make more sense to you? I mean, their offensive bats are still in the lineup either way, so how does what you said make sense at all in terms of defense?

No! You come 90 and then I come 10... you don't go the whole 100!

"Melvin's earned a C+, the big down-check being the failure to lock up Prince Fielder long-term. Now, it's almost even money that Prince will leave, barring a major breakthough in the offseason after 2008. The rest, I have no problems with (although I would have just moved Hall to left and kept Braun at third). " I pretty much disagree with everything you just said. 1. I relly don't think there was much of a chance to "lock up" Prince long-term - especially with Boras as his agent. and 2. Why in the world would you leave the statistically worst defensive player in the last century at that position? Even if he is just as bad in left as 3rd, the fact is... he will see less action there and that alone is a good reason for the move. Also, to be honest, I love Hall at 3rd. He has a cannon for an infield arm, and was always a naturally great infielder.

They should have saved Suppon for this game... 1.000 AVG vs Dempster - Maybe throw him in at SS since JJ is 0-6 vs him. Also, do we have anyone who fields his position as well as Aquino this year to throw in during clutch situations?

I like... Weeks Braun Hardy / Cameron Prince Hart Billy Cameron / Hardy Pitcher / Kendall Kendall / Pitcher Where my preference is to the 1st name, but I wouldn't be opposed to the 2nd name hitting there either.

I guess after reading all of the posts on this thread the only question I have is: All of the statistical evidence that supports these ideas of batting the pitcher 8th, batting someone like Braun 2nd, etc... are all taken with current lineups. Like saying you should have your 2nd and 4th hitters be better than your 3rd... taken with current lineups. If we moved the pitcher to 8th, wouldn't it affect all of these statistics. Like most likely your 3rd batter wouldn't be the coming up statistically with no one on and 2 outs more than everyone else anymore I'm guessing - making all of the other statistics involved skewed now. Or is there some tool that shows where your maximum number of runs per game would be given the statistics of the players in that lineup? I don't know... I'm just thinking that when people say "The third hitter in a lineup comes up with the bases empty almost as often as the #1 hitter. The #3 hitter comes up with 2 outs more often than either the #4 or #5 hitters," that's based on current lineups - so if you moved your pitcher to 8th, wouldn't that completely change that statistic?

Brew... you're missing the point. It's not based on those 76 AB - it's based on his success over the past couple years. He did great in the minors ALL YEAR last year, and he did good for the Crew off the bench. You want to give the spot to someone who hasn't even done that much? Stop hating on him... I'm sure he'll do fine in Spring Training and make the team over at least one of those terrible hitters.

I agree with the all-star game / mid-summer classic - that's completely ridiculous. It's like having the Pro-Bowl decide where the Super Bowl next year should be played (or something along those lines). I think football does it right - the Pro-Bowl is a fun game where you get to see all the favorite all-star players on one field. And it's not like they all play light or anything because nothing's on the line... they're still professional football players and are still extremely competitive and want to win.

Brewguru: Are you just hating on him because he's older or what? All he did last year was prove himself. He played good on every level, including the majors - in a pennant race. Therefore the real question is would you rather have a younger player who isn't ready to hit in the majors, or a middle-aged player who has proven he is ready? I'd take the Joe Dillon's every day. I agree with this statement from Dmiles "but what he has proven is that he has a little pop in his bat. And quite frankly, he looks like Babe Ruth next to Nunez, Counsell, Munson, and Gwynn. But our bench is just weak." I'd take Joe Dillon as a pinch hitter in a clutch situation over any of those names every day of the week. And if you wouldn't because you think he's "a 32-year old career minor leaguer" than I'm sure as hell glad you're not in a position to make decisions at any level.

ozzy - the difference between the DH and the evolution of the "closer" is that one is a MAJOR RULE CHANGE, and the other is just evolution of the game utilizing the already written rules. Adopt the DH in both leagues, or rid us of the ridiculousness of someone making $8+M/yr and only stepping on the field 4 times a game altogether. To be honest the thing I hate most is that the different leagues have different rules. I admit I really loathe the DH, and really hope there was a way to get rid of it completely - but I still think it would be better than it is now if both leagues had it. There isn't another sport out there with different conferences that have different rules - and to be honest, it's completely ridiculous. It makes the biggest game in baseball (the World Series) horrible because one team is used to the rules of that game, and the other isn't. You don't see the AFC being allowed to use the forward pass and the NFC only being allowed to run & lateral. Granted that is a little more of a difference, but my point is the same. MAKE THE RULES THE SAME IN BOTH LEAGUES. And I am under 35 btw.