We've hit bottom.

by zagreusmd on May 5, 2006 7:50 AM PDT

Last place in the division.

Already six games below .500, and it's only May 4th.

An experienced closer who just got demoted.

An up-and-coming centerfielder who's forgotten how to hit.

A big bopper hitting cleanup who hasn't hit anything in I can't remember how long.

A superstar-in-the-making starter who's now 1-4, could easily be 0-5, and has mysteriously lost 5 mph off his fastball.

A crop of minor leaguers so uninspiring that we won't see a good, young player until late 2007, at the earliest.

A megamillionaire third baseman who's been so bad lately that by comparison it seems really great that he's hit .250 over the last couple of weeks.

A star rightfielder who's looking more and more like he's reached the tail end of his career.

What is there about this team to feel good about?

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VENEZUELA!!!

Don't bother me, I'm hustling.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on May 5, 2006 8:11 AM PDT reply actions

VE NE ZU E LA!!!!!!

by MT on May 5, 2006 8:33 AM PDT reply actions

have quality front office folks like the legendary Chuck Armstrong and the affable Howard Lincoln. Wit these two visionaries we're bound to be competitive by at least the year 2050 (they'll be deceased by then).

"I cussed him out in Spanish, and he threw me out in English." Lou Piniella

by Mike Schooler on May 5, 2006 8:34 AM PDT reply actions

Um

At least we're not the Royals (no talent, overpaid underacheiving veterans, no prayer) or the Marlins (no talent, AA players in the lineup everyday, ownership would rather the team f**k off and die)?

by Gomez on May 5, 2006 8:52 AM PDT reply actions

Felix....

His velocity was down in one start. I'd hardly call that "lost."

You want "lost" velocity? See: Gil Meche and Joel Pineiro.

by PLU Tim on May 5, 2006 8:54 AM PDT reply actions

Plus how cold was it

in Chicago during Felix's start. I watch Halladay against the Red Sox only throw 90 most of the game because he couldn't get loose because of the weather

by Scruffy Lefty on May 5, 2006 9:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Lost Velocity?!?!?!

you lose velocity when you are trying to gain control. and most of the pitches he was throwing yesterday were two seamers.

What would Spiez do?

by Kirby on May 5, 2006 9:15 AM PDT reply actions

12-18

Replace Eddie with a reliable closer and this team is 15-15, 2.5 games out of first place.

The season ain't over yet.

by helfgott on May 5, 2006 1:26 PM PDT reply actions

Ichiro is coming around

Beltre's been hitting the ball hard, Sexson is streaky. Lopez and Johjima have been good. With Eddie out the team is better.

As a fan, I'm torn. I want the team to do well, but at the same time, bad play which leads to the firing of Hargrove and Bavasi might be better for the team in the long run.

by Rollo Tomasi on May 5, 2006 1:37 PM PDT reply actions

Hargrove, yeah...

....I dunno about Bavasi. Yet.

He clearly over-relies on Conventional Wisdom in player evaluation, picking names over performance. His free agent signings have been, at best, mixed. And he hired Hargrove.

But he's been able to recognize decent low-cost, low risk, moderater return players. And he's done far better than previous regimes in taking care of the farm system. Firing Bavasi now would lose you Fontaine, who I'd be loathe to lose right now, unless you got someone just as good.

Given that 80-90% of the GM and GM candidates are no better than Bavasi, I'd want someone in there who was clearly better. I don't think Epstein would come out here, so I wonder who would that be?

by rtang on May 5, 2006 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions

What's DePo doing these days?

Don't bother me, I'm hustling.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on May 5, 2006 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions

He'd be fine...

....if he's picked up some people skills (which is what his problem was in LA, from my reading).

by rtang on May 5, 2006 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions

His problem was also...

injuries to his signings.

Don't bother me, I'm hustling.

by Phil Hatzenbuehler on May 5, 2006 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Hargrove's managing

helped cost us the game that Eddie blew the save in. He exhausted every good pitcher in the pen before handing the ball to Eddie, thus making sure we didn't have a reliable arm to turn to if it went to extras. Then in the next game he not just pinch hits WFB for Petagine, but does the platoon shift to take average Neal Cotts out and bring in unhittable closer Bobby Jenks.

Those are unforgivably stupid decisions and IMO grounds for termination, even excluding every previous poor decision Grover has ever made.

by Gomez on May 5, 2006 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions