I'm not saying we need to have a bunch of all stars or top level prospects riding the pine, but I don't think it's asking all that much for our bench to have a composite average that is above .220 with virtually no power. As been shown, contending teams (such as the Cards, Braves, Phillies and Yankees) do have solid players on the bench, where we really have a bunch of washouts or has beens. If we needed a HR (with say 2 outs in the 9th), who would you call on? Gomez? Gallardo? And the bench DOES matter, these guys ARE getting sport starts at least once a week and they're horrible. It's a minor thing but the bench is a problem and is something that I feel needs to be addressed at some point. It's fine to have speed, and there are some useful parts on the bench, but as a whole, it leaves much to be desired.