Now that we have passed the first full month mark of the 2006 MLB season, it is time to start applying some tough love to the hometown boys of summer; following the good example of Jim Leyland, manager of the Tigers, with his team a few weeks ago. For those who don't remember, Leyland told members of the fourth estate that his team was not producing, neither the players nor the coaching staff. And he said it in terms that did not mince a single word. And look what happened to the Tigers after that---they are within striking distance of first place in the American League Central Division.

Manager Mike Hargrove has already taken the team to task for poor play about a week ago, and they came back and won three games in a row, and have been pretty much in every game since then. But......they are still far from as good as they could or should be. So, who are this writer's candidates for the tough love treatment?

The player formerly known as "Every Day" Eddie Guardado. Eddie has a torn labrum in his pitching arm, with which he has been pitching since at least the end of the 2004 season. He keeps telling everyone that he "feels fine" and the pain that he is pitching through is not the same pain that he feels with the labrum. But, his velocity is down; his location is far from his usual precision; and he keeps giving up walks and home runs. Tough love solution:  If the Rangers can sit Coco Cordero in favor of Akinori Otsuka, then the Mariners need to tell Eddie that he won't be closing again until he has an MRI and an orthopaedic examination that clearly show that the labrum is not the problem. If it IS the problem, then he gets it fixed NOW. If it is not the problem, then he just sits out the ninth inning for the foreseeable future and spends a lot of intensive time with the pitching coach until he shakes the rust off and gets his act together.  Who replaces him:  J J Putz, until he proves otherwise.

The Bobbsey Twins, otherwise known as Joel Pineiro and Gil Meche. These guys have shown over the past three nights that they are capable of excellent pitching. Joel pitched a superb complete game on Monday in Minnesota, and Gil did a great job (right up to walking the bases loaded before Raffy Soriano gave up a granny to the White Sox tonight) tonight in Chicago. The problem is that both of them have "evil twins" who come out just about as often as the  good pitchers do. The tough love solution:  Gil goes to the bullpen for a while. He actually might thrive as a middle reliever, since he seems to do really well for about 3 innings or so in most games, before his implosions commence.  I know, who replaces him as a starter? Look, I never said I had ALL the answers, now did I? Joel just needs Raffy Chaves (the pitching coach) to keep after him about keeping the ball down, because he seems to excel when he is able to do that consistently.

"King" Felix Hernandez RHP.  Yes, I know he's only 20 years and 3 weeks of age. Yes, I know he has tremendous potential.  I also know that maybe he is not focusing quite as much as he should be.  He spent a lot of the offseason as a media darling--appearing on the cover of such publications as ESPN the magazine, and a regional issue of SI; and fielding lots of interviews and air time.  Young men are awfully impressionable at his age, and he's a long way from home and family.  Tough love solution:  He needs a strong Latin male role model, one who will help him keep his head from enlarging in size and/or floating above his shoulders from all the attention; and strongly encourage him to be focused and level headed when on the field; to get that "mean" gleam back in his eye when he is on the mound. (Yes, he should still be a 20 year old kid off the field; unless that includes self destructive behavior).  The Mariners don't have a pitcher that fits the Latin portion of the bill. Pitching coach Raffy Chaves should certainly be involved.  (Felix is known to idolize Freddy Garcia, but self same Mr. Garcia had a few character issues arise during his tenure in Seattle and, if some sources can be believed, they may be resurfacing again now, so he might not be a good role model). Suggestions, gentle readers?

The whole team.  Up and down the order, there is a whole lot of slumping and inconsistency going on, and there has been for the past two seasons plus one month. Mr. Hargrove needs to stop being quite so mild mannered and start showing some Piniella-esque fire. Sweet Lou (AKA Mt. St. Lou when he erupted with hat kicking, base throwing ferocity) would never have let them get away with this for this long, and neither should "Grover." They are showing signs that there is improvement there, and it needs to be encouraged (of course, that is a little difficult at times, what with record low attendance so far this season (but that's another story--it's a combination of fair weather fans staying away and others trying to catch the front office's attention and let them know that it is time they started to realize that it usually takes money to make money (i.e. timely trades and acquisitions that will propel you in the direction of the post season)).  Tough love solution:  The occasional well placed Bronx cheer (not on the Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park scale, that is just downright rude and obnoxious) could well be seen to be an appropriate motivator.

Time to get going. Show some tough love to those that need it--early and often.