Thank you for posting this, I meant to write this up. De Luca is the supposed baseball expert and he thought Loiza was a lefty. That paper is enough to make me sick.
I watched the first inning, I wouldn't say he really got pounded, his laziness was the only major issue. He came in with a 3.05 ERA and pitched against the Royals twice and Yankees, not necessarily lite hitting teams.
Anybody have a copy of moneyball? I did not see Koch pitch last evening, in the paper it didn't go into anything specific.
Looking at the dealings with Oakland though I am not sure we were draped in as much fleece as MR. Bean portrays.
Package Reed and Cotts for a top flight starter and run away with the division, that's my two cents. Leave Reed in AAA and let him pile of the stats.
I believe in trading guys at their peek, (i.e. Konerko right now.) Although I have never been a GM but I would have signed Vlad over Sheffield.
The hiring of somebody with good media repoire and PR skills is a must. The promotional side of the equation takes care of itself by the team winning. Getting some positive press is what is needed.
Cliff-Marte-and Jackson are solid enought to win close games
Takatsu-Cotts-Adkins appear to be enough to hold a team when the starter fails early or to give one of the above a rest
Koch -----------
I think in the long run this will be the biggest rollar coaster ride for the season.
The greater concern is the starting pitching but what the hey we are 6-3.
Last year was my 1969. Not as dramatic a collapse but to me it still lingers. I will go to my grave saying we had the best team in baseball on paper in September last year no doubt about it.
I might have to question allowing Garland to throw 119 pitches and go 8 innings? Is this true. I think 7 and pulled would have been good. Dusty killed his guys doing this
Thanks for typing this up for me, my thoughts exactly. Harris has never showed anything meriting batting leadoff for a team hoping to make the playoffs. He would look good in a Pirate or Brewer uniform as there are no expectations. Rauch for Spivey or Alomar ASAP. Willie looks horrible at the plate. Against lefties he and Valentin are completly useless.
I think some of the minor leaguers are not streatched out. I do not know the numbers but weren't Rauch and Cotts used out of the pen most of the spring. People talk about being streatched out, I do not think these guys were in the spring and they may be working this in situations. Cotts is a major issue with this as I am not sure he ever went more than 2 or 3 innings. I think he will be sent down next week and get back to starting at AAA.
At least this was the reason for not allowing Shoenweis to start for us last year and why Sean Lowe did not start in 2000 playoffs.
He admitted he was very nervous starting for the first time in a couple of years. This is a make or break year for him. Every start will be magnified. An above average year as a starter can earn $3-5M next year for him. A below average year will get him a bullpen spot or non-roster invitee invitation next spring. The longer he lasts the better everyone will be. He also has Cotts waiting for him to screw up.
There is the silver lining that the 2004 Murders Row went to Cincy and lost 2 of 3 and we lost 2 of 3 to division contenders. Monday's loss will smart until we get some easy wins. Today's game is a morale victory I guess.