Blah, blah, blah. What a pile of horsesh!t. Yes, Kelly is hurting the team. As for the rest...nonsense.
Maybe you haven't noticed, but Stephen does this every year. He's streaky, I'll give you that. Next month he may carry the team offensively. There is NOTHING WRONG WITH CHRIS YOUNG.....GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK STUBBORN SKULL!!! I seriously challenge you to find a National league center fielder with significantly better numbers. He is a 20/20 threat every year. Hell, he might nearly be a 30/30 threat every year. He is a great baseball player.
At least not in Gibby's mind.....really? Are you sleeping with Gibby or something? I will agree with you about Bloomquist, but in case you haven't noticed, he ISN'T an everyday player.
Now, stepping away from 82 and channeling my inner Chris Sanders....anyone advocating trading away Parra.....are you just friggin' stupid?? Who is out there that can A) hit .290 IN THE 8TH SPOT, (you know, THE HARDEST SPOT IN THE LINEUP) and B) play outstanding defense and C) have a cannon of an arm and D) be a great baserunner. He lacks power...true. Who is out there to replace all of that AND is only 24 years old...has had THREE different managers, AND makes only $426 K a year??? I'll wait.....because that guy doesn't exist.
What this team lacks is #1 A legit 1st baseman, #2 A 4 and 5 pitcher (Collmenter belongs in the pen because he is a one time through the lineup guy) and Duke just sucks. Finally #3 bullpen help. We have Hernandez and that's about it. Demel is good also.
Putz has had his splitter working maybe twice all year. It is SUPPOSED to come in looking like his fastball and then have late break and drop down. Almost every appearance he has made it just comes in flat and spikes in the dirt at 86 mph. That's why early in the year he was un-hittable (coming from the A.L.) hitters hadn't seen him, and lately he is getting torched. He is a broken record...94...94...86 in the dirt...94 high....94 crushed. Watch and tell me if I'm wrong.
Your assessment is very solid. I agree wholeheartedly. I believe that we could live with Roberts at third base, if we had a solid, power hitting, player at first. I like what Roberts brings emotionally to this team, as opposed to the emotionless stiff they are playing there now. Roberts is a very good compliment to Gibby on the field. (He reminds me of Red Shoendeist), the tempermental shortstop that fired the Cardinals infield of the '40s and '50s. Another power hitter at first base to pair with Upton would be a game changer in my opinion. Meanwhile Drew is superb on defense, and I will take his streaky hitting anytime with the brand of defense he provides. He and Kelley Johnson make a great middle infield combo.
Para is the quintessential LF for this outfield in my opinion. So very much talent in such a small package. He gives us another canon in LF to match the power of the one in RF, albeit with more accuracy. Chris Young is an elite CF who covers more ground than most, and has a decent glove. While his arm is not strong, he seldom makes bad throws, or throws to the wrong place. Yes, his hitting is streaky, but his kind of quickness and speed is much needed in CF. I believe that with Baylor's help, he will become a more confident and more reliable hitter as well. He is young and learning.
As for the closer, while the announcers would have us believe that his slump was due to a bad back, I am more inclined to agree with your assessment that he was new and different, being from the AL. He is no longer new and different, and the opposing hitters are on to him IMO. Meanwhile they appear to be having some success with honing Hernandez into becoming a closer, and that could still be the direction we will take eventually. He IS much better coming into an inning clean, than he is with runners on base. So far he has shown the inclination and the makeup for that job.
As for the power-hitting first baseman, I would like to see Paul Goldschmidt get a chance at that slot well before the trade deadline comes, so that we know if he is the real deal, or if we still need to work a trade for that position. If he is the guy for us, then we would be better suited to trade for pitching or a power hitting 3B player.
Meanwhile, I am looking forward to September, to see if any of our young pitching arms in the minors are ready to come to the bigs.
