The thing that drives me nuts about Ned is his tendency to argue for certain matchups with statistics ONLY when those statistics back up what he wants to do. For example...the right thing to do tonight, based on matchups, would be to sit Branyan against the lefty and play Dillon at 2B, Hall at 3B (as much as I don't want that). This is especially true if Hardy's out again, because that will put Counsell in the lineup. Branyan has never ever ever ever ever hit lefties with any consistency and should never be counted on to do so. But nothing Ned does would surprise me. The only way, however, that he backs up his decision with any statistical evidence is if he does what I described above. Otherwise, he's just playing a hunch with Branyan out there.