We’re talking about the GOLD GLOVE AWARD.  What third-baseman should be held up as the example of fielding excellence.  Brooks Robinson.  Clete Boyer.

Did Gold Glove voters consider Ozzie Smith’s hitting or base stealing abilities?  To not consider Mr. Felix for a Gold Glove because of his lack of hitting, or because nobody knows him, speaks of big-city / regional media bias.  Perhaps the Gold Gloves should be divided between the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, and Red Sox!

Games played should be a factor, though it’s not as big a deal as when determining the MVP.  Perhaps it’s like having enough at-bats to qualify for the batting title.  Fielding percentage, range factor, great plays – yes, they all should be considered.  Errors are a valid statistic, certainly not antiquated.

The MLB rulebook concerning Official Scorekeeping addresses errors in section 10.12.  When it comes down to it, it says: “…in the scorer's judgment, the fielder could have handled the ball with ordinary effort, the official scorer shall charge such fielder with an error.”

While there may be minor differences in judgments of official scorers in different cities, those differences are minute.  Review each error?  I trust the scorers…they’ve attended tons of games just to qualify, many more than you or me.  You could review the errors to see how greatly they contributed to the outcome of that game.  The Mets had a losing record in games Wright committed an error.Great plays could be reviewed and tabulated as well.

Players make spectacular plays, but Zimmerman and Wright botched ordinary plays twice as often as Felix, Ramirez, and Jones.  For that reason alone the GOLD GLOVE shouldn’t be given to Zim or Wright.

We’re pulling each other’s chains here.  A bunch of words and pretty pictures aren’t convincing arguments, guys.  I’ve only been watching / studying / loving baseball over all other sports for 45 years, but I don’t know everything.  My oft-mentioned CPA friend is more of a student of the game than me.  He agrees that Wright shouldn’t have won.  Perhaps I can get him to render his opinion.  The last post gave the opinion of a veteran MLB beat-writer (who’s always respected Wright’s hitting), who was similarly perplexed. 

Upon further review, perhaps travesty is a strong word.  Between Zim, Wright, Felix, Ramirez, and Jones, there are numerous arguments and perhaps no clear favorite.  But using any quantifiable measure of fielding, what places Wright first?

I can't believe the Mets David Wright won the Gold Glove. He's known to be a hack in the field, and has often made errors that led to Mets losses. Chipper had another slick-fielding year, despite numerous injuries. Here are some comments from the AJC's David O'Brien, who thought the voters must've taken into account Wright's hitting:

"Wright had the fifth-most errors (21) among NL third baseman, and his .954 fielding percentage was fifth-lowest among NL third baseman, far behind the top three of SF’s Pedro Feliz (.973), Chicago’s Aramis Ramirez (.972) and Chipper (.971), who had nine errors in 126 games at third base.

The managers and coaches do the voting for Gold Gloves, and I told Chipper it wouldn’t be the first time their votes were swayed as much by a player’s hitting totals as his defense. Wright hit .325 with 30 homers and 107 RBIs in 160 games.

“When I find out [Wright won] I was speechless, for quite some time,” Chipper said. “Certainly the guys with the least amount of errors and best fielding percentage quite obviously didn’t win it.”

O'Brien continued: "This afternoon I was going over stats and started comparing. And it made me realize, again, just how potent Chipper’s bat has been whenever he’s been in the lineup the past two seasons.

Consider this: Wright had what was widely hailed as a terrific offensive season, batting .325 with 40 doubles, 1 triple, 30 homers, 113 runs, 107 RBIs, a .416 OBP and a .546 slugging percentage (.962 OPS).

Now consider this: Chipper played 24 fewer games than Wright, and Hoss hit .337 with 42 doubles, 4 triples, 29 homers, 108 runs, 102 RBIs, a .425 OBP and a .604 slugging percentage (1.029 OPS).

Wright killed him in steals (29 to 5), but otherwise Chipper’s numbers are all nearly equal or better than Wright’s, in 24 fewer games."

At least Jeff Francoeur won one. Andruw & Greg Maddux did too...perhaps the voters felt that was enough "Braves."

ABC / ESPN / IBM have been counting down the Top 25 All-Time College Football players. They've listed numbers 25 through 11. Help me figure out who's in the top ten. Here's who we have so far...

No. 11 Charles Woodson
No. 12 Earl Campbell
No. 13 Glenn Davis
No. 14 Hugh Green
No. 15 John Elway
No. 16 Tom Harmon
No. 17 Bronco Nagurski
No. 18 Jim Brown
No. 19 D. Butkus
No. 20 Charley Trippi
No. 21 Archie Griffin
No. 22 George Gipp
No. 23 Johnny Rodgers
No. 24 Reggie Bush
No. 25 Ernie Nevers

This tells us they're not afraid to name defensive players or legendary figures. Here's some possibilities: Marcus Allen, Sammy Baugh, Brian Bosworth, Billy Cannon, Ron Dayne, Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Doug Flutie, Paul Hornung, Rocket Ismael, Bob Lilly, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Anthony Munoz, Joe Namath, Brian Piccolo, Jim Plunkett, Gale Sayers, Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach, Lawrence Taylor, Andre Ware, Doug Williams. Probably one or two legends from Army, Navy, Notre Dame, Nebraska, or Oklahoma.

MY top ten:
10. Archie Manning: a huge hero.
9. Jerry Rice: small school, big numbers.
8. Deion Sanders: better than Woodson.
7. John Hannah: greatest lineman ever?
6. Red Grange: didn't he help put the game on the map?
5. Jim Thorpe: revolutionalized the game.
4. O.J.: greatest of the USC tailbacks.
3. Tony Dorsett: broke the all-time NCAA rushing record.
2. Barry Sanders: just as amazing at OK State as he was in the pros.
1. Herschel. Broke the NCAA rushing record for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, finishing third all-time in rushing in only three years.

I wonder if Petrino will turn out to be like his owner…quick to make a personnel decision that later turns out to be ill-advised.

Blank inherited Vick, but extended his contract big time after the Falcons advanced to the NFC championship game.  Had he waited a year, he might not have made the same decision.  Blank also quickly signed Warrick Dunn to a monster contract, soon after a dinner meeting.  Dunn is a great citizen and has made a solid contribution, but it may not have been the biggest #### for the buck.

GM Rich McKay deserves some blame for many draft day failures, particularly receivers Jenkins and White.  Injury-prone defensive lineman like John Abraham were given large contracts.  The large payroll led to the loss of end Patrick Kearney.

At the end of training camp the Falcons cut kicker Billy Cundiff, who was more experienced than the stronger-legged Matt Prater.  Prater was to relieve punter Michael Koenen of kickoff and long field goal duties, but washed out in two games.  Ageless vet Morten Andersen was welcomed back, but now Koenen has his kicking duties back.

Now it appears Blank urged McKay to sign QB Byron Leftwich, who had lost his job in Jacksonville largely in part to not sharing his coach’s enthusiasm.  While Leftwich was perhaps the best option available, the odds seem stacked against his success.

Leftwich Plusses:

1. Great arm

2. Tireless preparation & study of film

3. Plays hurt

Leftwich Minuses:

1. Immobile…joining a team with a weak defensive line.  Joey Harrington has been sacked 13 times in two games, though in his career Harrington had one of the lowest sacks per game averages…notable considering he played for below-average teams.

2. Not the take charge type.  Sounds like the guy we had last year.

3. Slow release.  He winds up to throw.

Things you always wanted to know about James Brown, host of CBS's NFL Pregame show.  Formerly Bradshaw's buddy (still is).  Joked about his name.  Well spoken, even without a teleprompter.

This morning I attended the “Buckhead Businessman’s Prayer Breakfast” put on by Church of the Apostles, at the Cobb Galleria.  Saw pastor Michael Youssef, who’s older than I thought, and saw Eldrin Bell slip in by himself.  Sat at a table with Bob Abernathy.  There were 136 tables seating ten each, and most were full.  Matthew’s baseball coach Tim Turner had invited me.

Bob Volyes introduced the speaker, James Brown, “JB” – the host of the CBS NFL pregame show, formerly on the Fox NFL pregame.  I knew he was an Ivy Leaguer…Harvard.  He went there because he was impressed by Bill Bradley.  Drafted by the Hawks in the Maravich era but cut by Cotton Fitzsimmons, who told him he knew he’d be a success.  JB told just a few stories, but mainly stuck to a timeline of his life. 

Told why he switched back to CBS from Fox…partly because LA-based Fox dragged their feet, but at the same time got a nice offer from NYC-based CBS.  Lives in DC…his mother was sick at the time.  JB has recently lost 30 pounds, and looked good.

Voyles was reading a list of JB’s accomplishments, and stopped after noting that JB was a part-owner of the Washington Nationals…and Volyes asked how they were doing.  Kind of a cheap shot.  Later JB said the Nats were on the right track, and noted that he was a minority owner in more ways than one. 

JB also mentioned Tony Dungy’s book, which Ceil read while sitting around the hospital when her dad had surgery.  She loved it.  I saw Dungy on Letterman.  People had wanted Dungy to write a book for year, but he never took the time until the Colts won the Super Bowl.  The book people told him it would take 6 months to write and 3 to publicize.  Dungy didn’t have that time, so he prayed.  God told Tony to write the book and not worry about the rest.  He wrote it (with help) in 2 weeks and traveled for 10 days in July to publicize it, including hitting all the Letterman & Leno type shows.  The book people expected to sell 100,000 during the book’s life…instead it sold 400,000 copies in a month.

Most college football teams want to look like Miami or Oregon, who seems to get a Nike makeover every year.  This is not a good thing.  Stripes on pants now change direction and shape…as they do on jerseys, wandering across the back and front.  Great traditions have been thrown out the window.  Kids can like the look, but it’s hilarious to hear Coaches and AD’s loving the looks…sounds like the emperor has new clothes!

1. LSU: great stripes.

2. USC: simple & classic top to bottom.

3. Syracuse: they pull off the orange & navy.

4. Auburn: consistent, traditional stripe pattern.  Too bad the team is so bad.

5. Alabama: Great, all the way down to the white shoestrings they wore last year.

6. Tennessee: They get it.  Loved the throwbacks with the orange shoulders.

7. Texas: simple, but the pants need stripes.

8. FSU: Love the white pants with 2 stripes.

9. Ohio State: Nike’s messing with a classic.

10. UCLA: but I hate the current numbers: busy!

11. Georgia: Nike hasn’t messed it up completely.

Honorable Mention: Hawaii, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State (need grey facemasks!), Stanford.

Nike Ugly: Boise State, Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Maryland, Miami, Oregon, Oregon State, Pitt, Portland State, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Georgia Tech’s Unis are outdated and way too busy.  The stripes on the collar and pants don’t match the traditional stripes on the sleeves, and were trendy in the early 80’s.  The jerseys have enough patches to make a NASCAR driver proud.  The black facemasks are ugly.  Suggestion: return to the mustard jerseys and white helmets worn in the throwback game last year.

Helmets look best when they’re uncluttered, and a classic look is tops.  Extra points for a grey facemask, but white is OK…especially with a white helmet.

1. Michigan: Classic

2. Texas: Clean

3. Ohio State: Unique

4. Miami

5. UCLA

6. Southern Cal

7. FSU: Points off for the burgundy mask.

8. Notre Dame: Simple in an era of clutter.

9. Georgia: Still too many stickers on the back.

10. Tennessee: Nice wide stripe.

Honorable Mention: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Cal, Clemson, Colorado, Iowa, LSU, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Syracuse.

Note: Georgia Tech’s black facemasks don’t cut it…go back to grey.  The white throwback helmets from last year were sweet!

I like most baseball unis these days, though some are still better than others...

1. Giants…classic off-white unis.

2. Cardinals…timeless, great stirrups.

3. Red Sox…whatever happened to the striped stirrups?

4. Tigers…love the huge names on the back.

5. Yankees…timeless.

6. Braves…could be better with a few traditional tweaks: striped stirrups, off-white uni, number on front, big red names, dark tomahawk.

7. Pirates…classic look, except for the red vests.

8. Athletics…simple & traditional, but the team looks sloppy.

9. Phillies…simple and sweet.

10. Dodgers…several tweaks have downgraded a classic look. “LA” patch, etc.

11. Cubs…good, but see the Dodgers. Bring back the cubbie bear.

12. Orioles…great look, but it could be better.  “Baltimore” for starters.

13. Royals…simple.  Great to get rid of the black trim.

14. Mets…need to ditch all the black.

15. Astros…nice shade of red.

16. Mariners…they’ve kept a consistent look over the years.

17. Rangers…simple and clean.  I like the flag patch on the sleeve.

18. Reds…hate the new number font.  They did get rid of most of the black trim.

19. Padres…I like those sand road unis, and the blue is sweet.

20. White Sox…time for a change!  Bring back a past classic: blue or red.

21. Angels…simple but bland.  Red numbers on red jersey doesn’t work.

22. Indians…doesn’t stand out.  Nice caps don’t match the navy jerseys.

23. Blue Jays…nice colors.  Unis keep changing, but none stand out.

24. Devil Rays…I like the colors and logos, but the dark sleeves are weird.

25. Brewers…simple but bland.  Great throwbacks should be worn all the time.

26. Marlins…Ok uni, but leave the pinstripes to the Yanks.

27. Twins…same ugly unis for 20 years!

28. Rockies…too much black, weird “vests.”

29. Diamondbacks…nice shade of red, but the team name in front doesn’t look good.

30. Nationals…nice caps, ugly logo and numbers.

Busy is bad, simple and traditional good.  Hate the black trim.  Here goes...

1. Colts…simple, traditional.

2. Giants…great stripes on pants.

3. Steelers…hard to pull off a weird number font, but Pittsburgh does.  Nice throwbacks this year.

4. Chiefs…classic look designed by owner Lamar Hunt.

5. Browns…returned to their classic simplicity.

6. Raiders…team has gone downhill, but the great unis remain.

7. Cowboys…great when they mix in the white helmet throwbacks.

8. Bears…love the stripes.

9. Jets…traditional uni gets points off for green facemasks.

10. Saints…the striped throwbacks are great.

11. Packers…get rid of those collar stripes!

12. Rams…great helmets.

13. Patriots…love the striped throwbacks best.

14. Bucs…unique color combos.

15. Bengals…great helmets.  The unis grow on you.

16. Seahawks…love the blue, but the pants are ugly.

17. Dolphins…black trim wrecks the uni.

18. Cardinals…great helmets, and the new unis aren’t bad.

19. Lions…great logo and blue/grey colors…wrecked by black trim.

20. Chargers…love the white helmets and powder blue jerseys, but number font and ugly new bolts wreck the uni makeover.

21. Titans…nice colors go well with the white helmet.

22. Panthers…weird stripes on pants and helmet.

23. 49ers…great throwbacks, but the new unis have too much trim.

24. Ravens…like the colors and logos.

25. Eagles…kinda plain…the black trim isn’t needed.  Interesting throwbacks!

26. Broncos…busy stripes, but the look is worse on college teams.  OK helmets.

27. Redskins…wonderful throwbacks.  They started the return of the white on white look.

28. Jaguars…hate it when they wear black jerseys, pants, socks, and shoes together.  Need stripes!

29. Bills…great throwbacks, and nice blue shoulders on the white jersey.  Too many stripes!

30. Texans…dull uni for a new team.  OK helmets.

31. Vikings…uni redo disaster.

32. Falcons…way too busy.  Ugly numbers.  But nice helmets.  Need a redo to escape the Vick era!

CPA:  Great moment when Tex came into the dugout…from everything you see and hear, it seems like the trades have had a larger impact on the players than it has the fans…with everyone in there, few teams in the league should have a better offensive team 2-8…

They sent Pronto down last night – it looks  like for tonights game, with Dotel and Mahay activated, they will probably send Ascaino back down, along with getting rid of Thorman – I can’t imagine they would get rid of Franco, since they gave him so many AB’s during the last few weeks when they knew this trade was inevitable…I would also expect them to send Corky Miller back down and recall Brayan Pena – I hope the Corky call-up is not permanent (he was batting .210 at Richmond)…

There are plenty of pros and cons…the Braves will control Salty for 6 seasons and 2 months – Tex for 1 full season and 2 months…. Though, for the next season and 2 months Tex will be able to help you more than Salty will…

Last Wednesday night I would of liked to have seen Tex (or Frenchy) in the 4th spot instead of Andruw… I tried to defend Andruw when he went through his slump, but even though he has come out of that now, I think he gives you too many wasted AB’s…

I was not opposed to the Garland for Renteria trade… Renteria has probably been the teams offensive MVP this year, but I think Escobar is ready to play SS everyday… that also would get Johnson back in the lineup everyday… I have not really studied Garland closely, though I was concerned when I heard a comparison to Russ Ortiz…

Escobar may be older - 26,27 - but even if he is, he will still be in his prime for the next 6 seasons that ATL has control of him... at times, they have made Elvis Andruss sound like the next Ozzie Smith, but it seems like he has a great glove but not stick... in this era of baseball, I don't think you can afford a SS who cannot hit...

Last week on ESPN classic, I caught a good documentary on Hank Aaron – Tom Brokaw hosted it in 1973 – titled “The Long Winter of Henry Aaron” – a lot of interviews with Aaron and good film footage from the early 70’s…  

DM: Tex’s wife is from Atlanta, I hear, and budget-wise he’d fill the Andruw void.  Just making the move would signal the team that management wants to win now, which helps team chemistry.  JS thinks Salty is more valuable as a catcher-to-be-traded than as a catcher-turned-first-baseman…hence the Julio pickup and Tex talk.  Hear the Dallas writer on 680, saying Tex was great in the second half, but a slow starter?  Somebody with the Braves really likes switch-hitters.  

Will be interesting to see Andruw get dropped in the order when Tex comes on board.  Guess Cox wouldn’t drop him below Frenchy and/or McCann at the same time…Andruw’s feelings would be hurt enough just to go to the 5 spot.  Like the CPA said…in Boston Andruw would bat way down in the order…same thing for either NY team, the Angels or White Sox.  The big spenders in Houston don’t need a centerfielder…they love that kid the way Braves fans love Francoeur.

I actually found out about the trade while reading Rowland's Office 30 minutes after his 11:29 post.  Didn't have to give up Reyes...seems like everyone's happy.  JS is good about getting the better end of the deal more times than not, so if the trades don't go through, it very well could be because the other team was asking for too much.

DOB had it right about the lineup...to bad Cox won't drop Andruw behind McCann and/or JF.  But maybe he's heating up more as well.  These moves will hopefully lift spirits in the clubhouse, and darken moods at Shea and in Philly.  That starts the Phils got wasn’t anything special, was he?  Of course, Dotel has blown 3 of 14 saves…but he’ll be in a setup role this year.

Hear Kincaid not like the trade Monday?  He thought the Braves needed pitching instead…but there were few pitchers being offered worthy of giving up Salty or Elvis for.  Interesting to have Bill Shanks on there…  Dave O’Brien has been on 680 at 8:30.  Too late for me.

Great SB by Escobar Friday night...then later in the same inning a not bad try by Harris.  Hope Lang's dad saw it...he's one of those who thinks Cox isn't aggressive enough.  I did go to bed while the game was still tied...after Bond's last AB on ESPN. 

You don't think Escobar is older than his stated age, do you?  Kinda like Furcal. Last Wednesday's was the type game Cox would say James only made two bad pitches, though I didn’t pay that close attention.

Bonds was wrong about one thing...Costas knows more about baseball than most people...that has always been his love and specialty.  Earlier in Costas' career the network he signed with was determined by what network had the baseball package.  He keeps a Mickey Mantle baseball card in his wallet, and named his son Kirby after the Twins outfielder...and he had lots of analysis in Ken Burns' PBS Baseball series.  I think Costas was on the mic when Marquis Grissom caught the last out in the 95 World Series.

I've always liked Costas, particularly for his love of baseball, as well as references like that Morrison one...he slips them in without being overbearing and obvious like Chris Berman.  That late night show of his was just too late for me.

Since the Giants play two series on the road (LA & SD)...six straight before three more home night games...perhaps Barry will sit in two of those six road games.  That would mean he'd only play nine games before my game.  Sounds like they have the Pac Bell Park all rigged to go off whenever he hits 755 and 756.  It would be too much to ask for Bonds to not break the record until we see him?  Wednesday is a night game and Thursday is a day game, so he should play the Friday game we have tickets to.  Maybe the pressure will keep him from hitting his second HR until then.  That would be one HR per series.

Interesting chatter out there on Glavine.  The HOF now decides what cap the Honoree wears…it’s not like if the fans boo that he’d go in as a Met.  Boggs tried that in Tampa and it didn’t fly.  Interesting point by Rowland, that the fans love Julio…who did the same thing Glavine did.

CPA: The Bonds/Costas thing is so ridiculous because Costas was not even the one saying anything about Bonds... Costas used to have a late night (1:30) talk show on NBC I used to watch as I was getting home from work (late 80's)...whenever he talked to a guest and mentioned singer Jim Morrison, he always said "the singer Jim Morrison, not the Atlanta Braves infielder"... 

CPA: How many top starters did we see get traded anywhere today?  Starters are so scarce that they are overvalued, if that is possible… I think they got the most value for the pieces they gave up… Arroyo would have been nice, but not worth Salty/Tex…

After Ledezma gave up the HR to end the game on Friday, they showed Cox as he was throwing the lineup card against the dugout wall… I knew then Ledezma would not last the weekend… I believe Dotel has an option – either player or club – for next year – maybe at $8MM… it sounds like Dotel  is best in a set-up role… last night on BBTN, Gammons offered up the opinion that Wickman can still have a high save % if he comes in at the beginning of an inning; but since he is not a strikeout guy, and his stuff has diminished, he has trouble if he has to come in with runners on…they can send Dotel in with runners on and since he is a strikeout pitcher, he may have some success – that is a good theory, I thought…

DM:  These moves will hopefully lift spirits in the clubhouse, and darken moods at Shea and in Philly.  That starts the Phils got wasn’t anything special, was he?  Of course, Dotel has blown 3 of 14 saves…but he’ll be in a setup role this year.

Hear Kincaid not like the trade yesterday?  He thought the Braves needed pitching instead…but there were few pitchers being offered worthy of giving up Salty or Elvis for.  Interesting to have Bill Shanks on there…do you ever hear Dave O’Brien on 680…he’s been on at , like this morning.  Too late for me.8:30

Good interesting stat on the quality starts…yesterday the CPA was saying how only 3 starters were needed in the postseason.

Interesting chatter out there on Glavine.  The HOF now decides what cap the Honoree wears…it’s not like if the fans boo that he’d go in as a Met.  Boggs tried that in Tampa and it didn’t fly.  Interesting point by Rowland, that the fans love Julio…who did the same thing Glavine did.

I actually found out about the Tex trade while reading Rowland's Office...30 minutes after his
11:29 post.  Didn't have to give up Reyes...seems like everyone's happy.  I was wondering what would become of Thorman.

Great SB by Escobar Friday night...then later in the same inning a not bad try by Harris.  Hope Lang's dad saw it...he's one of those who thinks Cox isn't aggressive enough.  I did go to bed while the game was still tied...after Bond's last AB on ESPN.

DOB had it right about the lineup...to bad Cox won't drop Andruw behind McCann and/or JF.  But maybe he's heating up more as well.

More later, but the CPA ran down an amazing stat...

Both of you know how much I love the Quality Start – right now in the NL as a whole; there is a perfect 1:1 correlation between QS and Wins:

Team     ERA    W       L       QS     QS/W
NYM      3.88     59      46      62      1.05
ARZ       4.00     58      49      57      0.98
LAD       4.02     57      48      51      0.89
MIL        4.20     57      49      49      0.86 
SD         3.49     56      48      62     1.11
PHIL      4.74     56      49      53      0.95
ATL       4.11     55      51      56      1.02
CHC      3.83     55      49      56      1.02
COL      4.54     53      51      54      1.02
STL      4.80     49      53      41       0.84
FLA      4.64     49      57      38       0.78
HOU     4.71     46      59      55       1.20
SF        4.11     45      58      57       1.27
CIN       4.76     45      61      51       1.13
WASH  4.60     45      60      39       0.87
PITT      4.67     42      61      48      1.14
                      827    849     829      1.00

CPA:  I have decided I am FOR Salty for Texiera:

1)       Since the race is almost even, you are essentially getting Tex for 2 seasons

2)       Everyone (fans) seem gun shy about trading prospects for vets nearing the walk year after the Drew/Wainright trade, but even though Boros is his agent, Tex is not the flake that Drew is.  With more money from Liberty and Andruw’s salary coming off the books after this year, I think they would have a chance to be competitive for him in ’09.  If he likes it here, he might take a few MM less to play here than in NY. 

3)       I just drew up a lineup with him in it, and I am willing to take the chance that you are trading the next Piazza for a 14-month (and 2 postseason) rental.

4)       I don’t want them to leave the cupboards bare for the next era (starting in 2009), but JS, BC and Smoltz have only a few more shots at a WS… I think for everything they have done for the organization, it is worth the risk…even with no Salty, you will still have plenty of good young talent in 2009… 

Willie Harris is turning into an anchor in that lineup… he had the big game Saturday, but I would love to see KJ back in the leadoff spot and Diaz playing everyday…it does not look like Julio has much left in the tank, but I think he will make an excellent coach next year…maybe even Cox’s successor…I stayed up late last night to watch the 9th inning meltdown… after Villareal K’d Bonds in the 10th, I gave up and went to bed…

DM:  I could be wrong, but I think all those Teixeira rumors are way off base…even if Andruw leaves and Liberty expands payroll.  JS knew when he traded LaRoche that Andruw would be leaving, but he also knew what he had in the minor leagues.  Teixeira has Scott Boras for an agent (as does Andruw)…JS has always been patient enough to turn better, less expensive, less obvious deals than most obvious high-priced rumors.  Reports from Texas say Teixeira is backing off his trade demands.  He is a free agent after 2008…so JS wouldn’t trade what Texas would want for offense for one year, when the pitching is in such dire straits.  Boras won’t want to sign without testing the market.

I guess Wickman won’t be back next year…his was a one year contract, right?  Hopefully JS will keep his sanity and not overpay for a mediocre starter…his track record has been pretty good so far on that.  Seems like you can get just as much production from a Buddy Carlyle or Jaret Wright than signing a mediocre 4th or 5th starter for 15 million.  For every flop…we had a few last year, at least you’re saving millions.  Seems like for what you get, it’s not worth it to overpay for pitching.  This may change a little if payroll is increased.

Andruw’s lack of plate discipline is all the more reason to let him walk (he did line out to RF last night…the at bat after he looked at six straight pitches to strike out with runners in scoring position).  Better to have Tori Hunter or Mike Cameron than Andruw or Teixeira.

Seems like this would be potent enough lineup next year…allowing money to buy more pitching...

Escobar            2B

Renteria            SS

Chipper             3B

McCann            C

Francoeur          CF/RF

Salty                 1B

K. Johnson        RF/LF

Diaz/Harris        LF/CF

Last night I watched episode 3 of The Bronx is Burning…I missed episode 2.  They do a good job of recreating actual events…last night was when Martin pulled Reggie from the middle of the game.  At the end of the show they air comments from players, and I haven’t believed any of Reggie’s retorts yet.

At 11 pm I switched to the Braves and watched until Hudson was pulled for Wickman…glad I went to bed at that point.  Leno was supposed to have on Lindsey Lohan, fresh from her DUI the night before.  Since she didn’t make it, Leno had Rob Schneider come out dressed as Lohan.  Schneider’s first comment was ‘I sure am tired…I was out late last night.’  Letterman had on Colts coach Tony Dungy.  I’d been sick Monday and yesterday…feeling so bad on the drive in yesterday I considered turning around, so last night I took it easy…though I stayed up too late.

Fell asleep during the game Monday night a couple of times, though I knew we had the lead.  Saw Smoltz walk Bonds to load the bases, then bounce the wild pitch to the inside, though McCann was set up outside.  Interesting rumor regarding Renteria to the ChiSox, though I didn’t think it as outrageous as Rowland’s Office did.  I’d hate to see Edgar go, though I know he’s not a long term solution…particularly the way he’s been playing.  Even if he is traded, it’ll be interesting to see where he signs his next free agent contract with…the NL, I’d guess.