The lineup looks decent, and probably would have been good enough last season for another World Series run with that great pitching staff. Unfortunately, starters #2 and #3 are gone and there is no way that Elmer Dessens is good enough as a #3 for a playoff team. As to the Brenly factor. I sincerely hope the constant tinkering stops and he allows what looks to be a pretty set group on paper (excluding RF and C) to play almost everyday and not all over the batting order. The guy I particularly fear for is Cintron, because Brenly very rarely messes with vets. Cintron should play everyday and hit in the #2 or #3 spot. My lineup would go like this:
1 - Alomar - 2B
2 - Cintron - SS
3 - Gonzalez - LF
4 - Sexton - 1B
5 - Hillenbrand (#6 vs RH)
6 - Finley ( #5 vs RH)
7 - Bautista/anyone with a pulse
8 - Hammock/Mayne
Face it Bautista has never been a power hitter. If you look at his career numbers, 2002 looks like more of a fluke than 2003. Pinning your hopes on him is as bad as counting on Dessens as your #3. (Both were given ridiculous extensions, by the way.)
In regards to the Suns debate, I'd rather have a team clean house and start from scratch then partake in a half-hearted rebuilding (as it appears to be the case with this team).
