EVIL~! alkeiper

Depends on who he's replacing. Mench is probably easily replaceable if something goes wrong, so I'd make the move.

The Giants won 103 games! They went 15-11 in August, 16-12 in September and 2-1 in October, so it is not like they fell flat. Usually when a team loses a big league, it is because their opponent made an incredible stretch run. If there's a fault, it is that Dusty pitched a rookie (!) starter who lost five games after September 1st. The other stuff is somewhat silly. Every manager has bad losses on his resume.

That game was like crack. Every time I turned off the tv, the Mets had taken a good sized lead. Then I would check back and see the Brewers had made it a game again.

Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders. It's easily his best work. Besides the Cubs' hiring Baker, Neyer tackles everything from the White Sox trading for Chick Gandil to Joe Torre failing to use Mariano Rivera in game four of the 2003 World Series. Great, great read.

I get the same feeling watching this that I used to get fighting Super Macho Man on Mike Tyson's Punch Out. I know he can be beaten, but god help me if he gets ahold of one.

I probably come off as a Dusty apologist here. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want him managing my team. It's just important to me to give credit where it is due, so that the real criticisms are more valid. His insistance on veterans is quite maddening. Rob Neyer has a couple real good essays on Baker's managerial job in his new book.

Just Dusty hate. Ortiz had one great season ERA wise and then he was consistant for three years, leaving San Francisco after the first season. He was unsustainably wild from day one.

The only guy I can think of that he might've ruined is Mark Prior, and even that's iffy. The damage of Kerry Wood was done well before Baker arrived. Is there anyone in San Francisco he wrecked?

Funny thing is, Comcast's trivia question, poised in the third inning, asked what Reds' pitcher threw a perfect game.

The fact that Dunn was 8 for 17 against Lieber might've had something to do with it. I agree though, that perfect games/no hitters are non events until the 9th. The odds are ridiculously long against it even in the 7th.

I thought about going on the bus trip monday for the game.. I'm driving down. It's actually closer for me to go to Philly than go to Lakewood's home park. My goal this year is to see five different Phillies teams. I can accomplish Batavia by catching a road game at Williamsport.

Looking ahead at Monday's Lakewood/Delmarva game, the Shorebirds have a pitching prospect named Brandon Erbe whose turn comes up that day. Erbe's just 18 but he's dominating the Midwest League, after dominating the Appalachian League last year. He could be a MAJOR pitching prospect in the near future.

Earl Weaver did the same thing. There is a lot to suggest it's a good idea. Still, Gardenhire stubbornly sticks by smallball even after his team finished dead last in runs scored last season. Dusty Baker I think gets unduly criticized at times. He's an average manager, but is often the scapegoat for Cub misery. One that never gets mentioned, Frank Robinson. Robinson has managed parts of 15 seasons in MLB, and has yet to guide his team to the postseason.

Tom Gordon comes in now that it's a save situation. Yet another managerial strategy designed to tick me off!

Victorino's red hot right now. 4 for 4 including a home run. Double and a triple yesterday as well. He's gotten hits in his last six at bats.

Tick. Tock. Hear that? It sounds like the end is near for the division lead. Go Phils!

More stupidity. We use our best pinch-hitter and bring him back when the Reds bring in their 12th man out of the bullpen, who happens to be left handed. Of course Alex Gonzalez managed a hit.

Anyone notice that the only run in the A's/Yankees game so far was A-Rod's home run?

Dellucci, although the Reds' might've gone to a lefty.

And with the best chance to get runs, Jolly Cholly sends up Abraham Nunez. Gotta save those good hitters for the ninth!

Hamels vs. Mike Pelfrey is one of the under the radar storylines coming up this season.

The Yankees' All-Star coaching staff amuses me more than anything this year. Ron Guidry, Larry Bowa, Tony Pena, etc.

Just let it go. Abreu's poor second half was due to nagging injuries that he never once sat out for in the heat of the pennant race. I wouldn't make a trade if I were the Yankees either though, because it doesn't really improve their team. Besides, what the hell do they do when it's July and they have an outfield of Abreu/Damon/Sheffield/Matsui/Williams? Talk about overkill. Bring up Kevin Thompson and platoon him with Bubba Crosby. Even replacement level production in left should only cost the Yankees two wins or so until Matsui gets back. Of course, Tony Womack is available.

The one silver lining in the Rowand injury is that Shane Victorino gets to play every day.

The Yankees have two prospects? The Abreu deal isn't happening. This is the case of a sportswriter thinking for a half hour, coming up with an idea and calling it a "trade possibility." The Phillies shopped Abreu to see if they could land a top pitcher. There's no way in hell they're going to deal him in May for prospects when they are very much in the pennant race. If the Phillies were to deal Abreu, I'd accept no less than A-Rod. I doubt the Yanks are making that trade.