I know they say that rationalization is the second strongest human urge, but come on! Millions of us have had jobs with colleagues who drive you to improve yourself, so why should ballplayers be any different? Are you on speaking terms with JJ and he admitted this, or is it another example of opinion, presented as fact that we see so much? JJ has underperformed, and the new "Higher Fan Expectation Brewers" had to do something about it whereas the "Warm and Fuzzy, Just Happy To Finish 4th in the Division Brewers" of 2004, might have treated him differently. This whole situation has created some major dilemmas for some here. You can't have a winner's mindset and a small-market, everyone's family here, mindset without causing some conflict IMO. As a Hardy fan, I'd prefer him to think "Escobar's not getting my job, let the Brewers trade HIM", by playing like the player we know he can be. He's also the slowest non-chunky guy I think I've ever seen, which is maybe something he could work on, if, as he claims, his arms are feeling the brunt of all these extra cuts he's been taking.