Matt Breen

I think it was Cleveland's old GM, Mark Shipiro, who said the first 1/3 of the season is to see what kind of team you have. the next third is to make adjustments. I think it's clear we need to make adjustments with Yuni - that is, get a replacement. I think the Dodgers are the most realistic - Carroll or Furcal are both free agents and the team is sinking. the key is what will they cost. I like Carroll, although he is not considered to be a great fielder. He probably isn't a full time guy - but he could team pretty well with Counsel. Despite my desire to move now, I have a feeling that nothing will happen with Yuni until next month. Melvin is going to sit and wait it out, let some teams on the playoff fence (Baltimore, Dodgers, etc) fall out of the race, and be more willing to deal a guy. Plus he can see how Furcal comes back from injury. I'd be happy cutting yuni now and letting Wilson and Counsel take the job. But it probably makes sense to have the replacement ready before we cut him. Wilson looks awful swinging the bat at times (but he did drive the ball pretty good once or twice).

I'd argue that he's actually done this a few times (except with Morgan at the beginning of the year). Kotsay had that game in SF where he hit a double or two and then started like 4 games in CF in the next week. Then he had a couple hits Sunday and started again last night. He's also done it a couple of times with Counsell, including this past weekend. I don't know if 2 or 3 games in a row counts but it does seem like he thinks one good game from a bench player not named Morgan/Plush warrants a few more starts in a row.I'm not sure if this is just his Kotsay man-crush that RRR has. Kotsay could probably hit a bloop single and he'd get several starts in the OF because he's 'hot' or he's a 'veteran'. I just don't get the Kotsay love. Especially when there are other options.

Positives: He's showing patience with players. I don't like managers who go with the 'hot' player - that gives you Joe Dillon for five straight games, just because he got a couple of hits one day. Of course, this can go to the extreme (which can then lead to a negative, as you'll see below). I think the shifts are kind of interesting. I don't know if they work or not. But it's cool that he's trying to use hitting data to maximize his defense. He is consistent with the players. I think they that respond well to it. But, like sticking with a guy too long, this can be detrimental. The players seem to like him. This is important. It's a long season and strife doesn't help anyone. Negatives: Continuing to keep Nieves on the roster. I realize he might not have a say in this, but it's foolish. The guy can't hit worth anything, and his defense isn't so great either. Continuing to use Kotsay. This is huge. I can maybe see having the guy as a pinch hitter, but starting him in CF over Plush or Gomez? This is just terrible. Kotsay is a bad fielder and he's nothing more than a singles hitter. That he's had well over 100 ABs is pathetic. His refusal to move McGehee out of the 5th spot. Come on - it's almost 70 games into the season. At this point, it's time to adjust. I'm not talking about benching McGehee just yet, but moving him in the order makes too much sense. Continuing to trot out Betencourt. Again, his hands may be tied on the roster, but Yuni's shown nothing to help the team, yet he keeps heading out there. The guy can't field very good, and he isn't hitting. He saw total 5 pitches on Sunday. 8 last night. This guy is terrible. We're 40% into the season -- it's time to stop the madness and try something different. His locking in of pitching 'roles' - and his rigid following of those roles - is hurting us. He keeps sending out Kameron Loe just because 'he's our 8th inning guy'. Great. That's gotten us home runs from Joey Votto, who owns Loe. That gets Loe put out there for three straight days. I can appreciate the 'role' concept, but you can't let 'roles' dictate common sense. Plus, in the case of Loe, he's just not that good! The guys has lost six games. He's on pace to lose 15 games. I realize there's a lot of luck in wins and loses, but this borders on ridiculous. Some bizarre in game decisions. Such as last night's game versus the Cubs when he pitched Loe for the 3rd straight day. We had a left handed batter hitting sub .100 against lefties, yet Loe was kept in the game instead of bringing in Braddock. And the suicide squeeze with the pitcher? That was plain foolish. I can't even describe how bizarre the decision was. On the whole, I'm not particularly impressed. I feel like RRR has gotten into his head to 'overmanage' in certain situations. His unwillingness to look beyond 'roles' of players or make changes when a player isn't doing his job, is frustrating (to his credit, he has worked Morgan into a semi-regular role, so it's not that it isn't happening). I honestly don't think a manager is that important. So I'm not losing sleep over the guy. I think managing to keep the clubhouse positive is great. I can't explain the continued use of Kotsay. That's just pathetic. And I'm just dumbfounded at some of the choices he's made during games. It reeks of overmanaging.

Betancourt brings nothing to the team. Nothing. His bat has been terrible. Worse than any of us imagined. His defense has been bad (maybe not as bad as some said, but still bad). Cut him today. Just get rid of him. No one will trade for him. Cut him. Let Wilson and Counsel work at SS. That's a bad combo, but not worse than Yuni. Or if you don't want Wilson, make a deal for a AAA guy or back up vet like an Adam Everett or Omar Visquel. The price should be modest. But anything will be better than Yuni. Then you open up a spot for a better bat on the bench. Try Gamel or Green or whomever. Sign Russel the Muscle. Find someone who can contribute. This will make the team way better. The move will send a message to players that production is needed. If not, you're gone. The next step is just as obvious. Get rid of Kotsay. A switch hitter who can play all the OF spots would be nice to have as the 5th OF -- oh wait, we have Boggs in the minors. Give the guy some extended time with the club. See if he can help. The team would be much better off.

Casey was never a real athletic guy, and those types tend to age quicker than most players. I hope it's not that - I hope it's just mechanics that he can correct. I was hoping he'd show up a bit lighter this year - make him a little more agile at 3B, a little quicker. If anything, he looks slower. Endaround, you mention 'his injury' - what is that referring to? I remember he had some issues before 2010, had a minor operation on his knee or something. Was it that, or is something else bothering him?

I was wondering if people had any clues as to Casey McGehee's struggles this year. I don't watch a ton of games, but from what I've seen he looks pretty much like last year. I might just be missing something. I don't want this to be a debate about replacing McGehee or who should be playing instead, but opinions of people as to what's causing Casey's problems. Has his bat speed slowed? Is he swinging at bad pitches? Has he been unlucky? Have pitchers simply 'figured him out'? I'm curious as to what others think. I know he's hit lefties really bad this year. Not sure why. But he usually crushes them pretty good. Last year he had a sub .700 OPS for June/July (about 200 ABs). Is he just going through a similar spell (albeit, a little longer). Again, wondering what others are seeing in Casey that might explain his poor batting. Thanks.

How would you have liked these numbers from one player on our bench this year: 114 ABs, 6 HR, 15 RBI, .298 BA, .325 OBP, .816 OPS. Thats Eric Hinkse, who we tried to sign, but wouldn't offer a two-year deal. Hinkse could have been playing instead of Kotsay in RF. He could be playing some for McGehee. And the power hitting left handed hitter off the bench would have been nice to have. Oh well, he's 33, so I can see why we wouldn't offer a 2-year deal. And I don't know what his defense is like. Perhaps he can't play 3B anymore. Still, it's frustrating that we fill out our roster with such bad players. A 2-year, $3 million deal wouldn't have been a bad investment. He's a solid lefthanded stick. Plays multiple positions. Instead we have Kotsay. Doah!

I would love to have seen Harper do this to Bob Gibson. Gibson would have taken his head off the next time he was up. No hesitation. And I would have loved it.

For what it's worth, this was an interesting approach to drafting at the top by Jim Bowden. http://espn.go.com/blog/t...he-gms-role-in-the-draft He argues that top 5 pitchers are less likely to succeed than top 5 hitters.

No doubt on this question - I hate the Cards way more than any team in baseball. Their holier-than-thou attitude and arrogance makes them just a pack of jerks. And that extends from LaRussa. I respect him for the work he does, but he's an arrogant whiner. And that whining from the top seems to give license to the rest of the team to whine as well. No team is as annoying as these guys. I don't mind the Reds. I loved it when Phillips went after them last year. He was only saying the truth. I would rather any team beat the Cardinals. Even the Cubs - who I dislike quite a bit.

I was all over Ryan Zimmerman this year. I remember the initial reports had him lower in the 1st round, but he hit so well that year that he kept going higher and higher in the prospect rankings. I am a bit enamored with great fielding players who can hit. He's been a great fielder. I thought he'd hit for a higher avearge - but less power than he's shown. Still a super player (when healthy).

I can't believe we still have Kotsay on the roster. 100+ ABs already. Good grief. It would be one thing if he were a slick fielding infielder, but he's a bad outfielder with no power and a weak average. The only thing he can do is draw some walks. Not a bad skill, but when it's the only thing you can do, that sucks. Looking at Fangraphs, out of 111 outfielders with 100+ plate appearances, he's ranked 104. Five out of the last six years he's had a negative WAR. Yet RR keeps trotting him out there. I'm not saying Boggs is going to be anything special, but at least he doesn't have a proven track record of being really bad. Someone said it right - with Nieves, Kotsay, Counsell, Wilson - we have an absolutely terrible bench. Only the plushman saves us.

didn't see this anywhere, so if I missed it, sorry for the repost. Looks like brett lawrie will be called up this weekend. http://www.sportsnet.ca/b.../2011/05/31/lawrie_jays/ lawrie got hit in the hand with a pitch yesterday, but just a bruise. still, that might affect the call up if there are any lingering problems.

Betancourt has been awful this year. That he has played so much only makes it worse. He has a -0.3 WAR this year - on pace for a -0.9 WAR for the year. Out of 25 shortstops on Fangraphs, he's the 2nd worse - only Miquel Tejada is behind Yuni. The results are right in line with what you'd expect. He had a 0.8 WAR in 2010 and a -2.2 in 2009. Out of the 25 qualifying shortstops, he's got the 4th worse batting average. 2nd worse OBP. 5th worse slugging percentage. 3rd worse OPS. His fielding has been below average - not terrible - but not even average - at according to fangraphs. I can handle playing Gomez because he at least brings something to the game - his excellent defense. Yuni does nothing. Perhaps other defensive metrics show him to better, but I doubt it. Betancourt is 29 - he's not going to get better in his 30s. He'll only get slower and less athletic. Oh well, rant done. We can save the rest for why is Kotsay playing.

Brantley would look nice in a Brewer uniform, but as people point out, he is a bad CF. He was more of a LF, if I recall. A good left fielder, at least. I heard is arm is pretty weak - not well suited for RF. Just going by what I recall. I have to say that I can handle Gomez - even with his crappy bat - because he's so good in CF. I just wish we could improve SS. Yuni isn't hitting, and while his fielding hasn't been terrible, it's not good - probably not even average. Props to Brantley - I always liked him. If he could have played CF half-way decent, I would have really been bummed to have lost him. Glad the trade is working out for the Indians. The best trades work out for both teams.

What really annoys me was McDowell in his 'apology' said, "I am deeply sorry that I responded to the heckling fans in San Francisco." As if it's the 'hecklers' fault that he made homophobic slurs in front of kids. As if it's the 'hecklers' fault he threatened to bash a fan with a bat. This guy isn't contrite. His apology forces the blame back on to someone else. Other witnesses have confirmed that McDowell said these things too. Perhaps someone said something that set McDowell off - we don't know that - although the witnesses that have come forward said there wasn't any 'heckling' going on. Finally, if I went to a customer of mine and said the things McDowell said - including threatening to bash someone's teeth in - I'd be out of work in a second. But most of all, it's this evasion of responsibility that pisses me off. Blaming others for things. Athletes saying, "I made a mistake". A mistake is saying 2+2=5. A mistake is going left instead of right at a corner. These guys are voluntarily making WRONG decisions. Not 'mistakes'. No one wants to take responsibility any more. They want to blame it on someone else. McDowell should have come out, apologized without blaming others, and acknowledged what he did was wrong (which he didn't do). Instead, he's just 'sorry'. Sorry for what? Probably getting caught. Probably for being an idiot in front of others that could report him. The guy is a tool. MLB's 14 day suspension is a joke.

You said it perfectly. Of course, a lot of guys make more sense than Almonte.

A sleep disorder is odd, but not unheard of. If he is having issues sleeping, it certainly could cause fatigue - which might explain the loss of velocity. I'm old enough to have seen others with things like this - even experienced it a bit - so I'm not going to dismiss it was bs. Let's just get him healthy. Our bullpen has been spotty, and getting him back to full strength would be great.

I assume the Mets want prospects for Reyes - which doesn't bode well for us. If Rogers was pitching well - maybe he would be considered elite. But not now. Instead we have a bunch of B- type guys - nothing that would thrill a GM as guys to build a future playoff team around. I will say getting Reyes would be awesome. I'd give the Mets a truckload of our guys. The beauty is that Reyes would walk after the season, and we'd be able to get a couple of high picks for him. It could help replenish the system - along with our two #1s this year, and a couple mor top picks next year when we (presumedly) lose Prince. I think the Mets will want - and get - at least one great prospect. Something we do not have. Otherwise, they are probably better off just holding on to him and taking the picks. Of course, finances might dictate that they trade him (save on his salary this year, and no need to pay signing bonuses to the picks). Still, I think someone would give a prize prospect for Reyes. Perhaps not, but I think he's too good of a player not to attract some serious bidders with something very good to trade.

Nice move for the pirates. Give Wood the SS job, tell him to relax, play his game. The team is not going to win this year - no matter how good or bad he plays. He's replacing Ronnie Cedeno - it's not like he's taking the spot of a really productive player, or a guy with upside. If Wood flames out, no great loss. If he steps up and improves in the new environment, the team (and Wood) win big time. Personally, I'm skeptical Wood pans out, but it's not a huge risk to give him a shot.

I still wish we would have gone with a guy like Adam Everett - a super slick glove guy that could help cover the defensive weaknesses of guys like Fielder and McGehee.

That's awesome. Congratulations.

I have to agree. Morgan is far better defensively, and with the bat he's been swinging, it's foolish to start Kotsay.

I thought this was fun. One of my favorite writers, Joe Posnanski, has picked Braun to be MVP of the NL this year. Here's his take (it's part of 'best 32 players in baseball' - he has Braun 10th). 10. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers OK, I’ll admit it … this ranking is based a little bit on a hunch. Braun is a Top 15 or 20 player anyway, but I’m putting him this high because I just have this feeling that he’s about to have a ridiculous season. He is my MVP choice for the National League. http://joeposnanski.si.co...ball-for-2011/?eref=sihp

I'm excited. We lock down a position for several years. And most importantly, with a superior player who is still young. Nothing is without risks, and Rickie's history is checkered - at best. I'd much rather have them spend $10 million/year on a guy like this than a Suppan or Wolf. After all, at least Rickie plays decent, even if he does miss some playing time. If Rickie had taken a one year deal, and repeated last year's performance, he's probably looking at $14-15/year as a FA. Like I said, he's a risk. But I like the high upside. Nice news to kick off camp.