PrinceEatMeat

I'd agree with you on that. Those are just what I'd like to see. A more likely scenario is something like this. Weeks Hart Braun Fielder McGehee Lucroy Betancourt Morgan/Gomez Pitcher I'd like to see Lucroy get a shot at the 2 hole also if we won't use Morgan or Hart there. That way Hart could hit 6th. Then it would likely be something like this. Weeks Lucroy Braun Fielder McGehee Hart Morgan/Gomez Betancourt Pitcher

Regardless of how Melvin does it once Hart gets back, we'll need to have at least one righthanded hitter on the bench and that guy shouldn't be either of Almonte or Nieves. We can't have a situation where if say Hart is brought up and Almonte sent down, then the only righthanded stick on the bench to pinch hit is Nieves because he literally is one of the worst if not the worst hitters in all of baseball. There are going to be a fair number of times late in close games where a good lefty pitcher is on the mound and we'll have to put a pinch hitter in the game. Plush, Kotsay, and Counsell are terrible vs lefthanders. Almonte looks overmatched vs major league pitching. Nieves has spent his whole career sucking regardless of what hand a pitcher throws with. Ideally i agree with you. Hart replaces Almonte on the roster and a righthanded backup infielder with some ability to hit replaces Nieves. Also ideally, Boggs replaces Kotsay, but that won't happen because Doug for whatever reason likes Kotsay. So unless Melvin can find a righthanded backup infielder, i'd prefer Hart replacing Almonte and Boggs replacing Nieves because we don't really need Kottaras as a pinch hitter given all the other lefties on the bench. Boggs would basically have little role except to pinch hit, but he's at least a switch hitter and he can't be worse than Almonte or Nieves. Agree with everything you just said. As I said earlier in this thread, it's all about those pinch-hit ab's late in game. We need a right-handed pinch-hitter, and it shouldn't be Almonte or Nieves. That leaves Boggs as the next best candidate. Brandon Wood sucks too, so I think Boggs is the best option. Unless we can somehow trade for a right-handed infielder who can hit decently.

No doubt, totally agree with you. Almonte/Nieves bring nothing to the team. At least Boggs brings something. He can defend and switch-hit, and he won't be a worse hitter than Almonte/Nieves.

These should be the lineups, no doubt about it. You can flip Morgan and Weeks if you want, and throw Counsell in against righties occasionally, but this is it. VS. RHP Morgan Weeks Braun Fielder McGehee Hart Lucroy Betancourt Pitcher VS. LHP Weeks Hart Braun Fielder McGehee Lucroy Betancourt Pitcher Gomez

Well, this was a tough one to swallow. Mostly because we had a 3-0 lead on Cliff Lee. Can't expect Narveson to be perfect though, and he had just one bad inning again. It's really unfortunate that it turned out that way. Looking back, I really don't have a problem with how the bullpen was used. We did make too many mistakes on the bases though in that third inning. That definitely cost us. Also, being forced to have Almonte hit in the 8th really hurt. Under normal circumstances, Morgan would get that bat, and the game might've turned out differently. It's not like Kotsay would've been a great option there either, and he proved that in the 9th. I would've went with Counsell to lead off the 9th personally. I know it was a double switch, but I would've just brought in Counsell then for Betancourt. Overall, a tough loss to swallow, but still happy we took 2 of 3.

Narveson should go for the complete game shutout today. That would be a nice icing on the cake.

He got interviewed right after the game saying that he was just getting a few innings off. Counsell wanted a chance to play OF apparently.

Hart coming back or Morgan getting healthy. Both need to happen ASAP.

Pretty sure they'll keep him on a normal schedule, which puts him at May 4th, with his home debut coming on May 9th.

That seems a bit early if they want him to make at least three starts in the minors. I'm thinking around May 6th. Actually, I said that before they announced his rehab schedule. He's lined up for May 4.

Huge win Crew! Love it!

Yes it was. Hopefully that explains it.

Counsell in LF? Crap, Braun better not be hurt.

Well, Kotsay and Betancourt coming up. Rally over.

I think he should go 2 more to save the bullpen. He can go 110 or so pitches I would think. Into the 7th at least.

Update: Gomez .203, Kotsay .200, Betancourt .200

He'll probably go 50-55 pitches next start, then 65-70 the last one. That way he should be good for 80-85 pitches in his first MLB start.

Yeah, it happens. He still did well though, which is all that matters.

Yes! That must mean he felt good out there. Great sign! Roenicke seemed adamant about him getting 3 starts, but it's still nice to know he's looking and feeling good out there. I wonder how many total pitches he threw. I think RR is taking the correct approach in setting his sights on 3 starts from the get-go so Greinke doesn't feel like he has to do too much in his first two. I heard 35 pitches. 3 IP 1 H 0 BB 4 K.

Actually, according to the box score he went 3 innings 1 H 0 BB 4 K. But still good.

Yes! That must mean he felt good out there. Great sign! Roenicke seemed adamant about him getting 3 starts, but it's still nice to know he's looking and feeling good out there.

I'm assuming it was a called double steal. Get used to it, as Running Ron is going to be doping a lot of that all season. Can't wait for the home run, as Billy would say!If that was a called steal, then Roenicke is a complete moron.

Agreed. That steal attempt just makes no sense to me. For one, you never steal 3rd unless you know for sure you have it stolen easily. And two, you never steal with Prince at the plate.

Apparently it's chooch.

Gomez is such and idiot. Why do you try to steal with 2 on and Prince up?