Jerry Mumphrey

Personally, I'm not a big fan of Jones. His career stats don't impress me, he looks atrocious in the field, doesn't run the bases, falters against lefties, often looks overmatched at the plate... That being said...the man did seem to get some seriously clutch hits for the team last year, like several go-ahead bombs in close&late situations. I don't believe in the notion of "clutch players" but I don't think I imagined that trend. I guess it could have been luck, or not. Further complicating matters is what I've been hearing about Right field being tougher to play in Wrigley than Center. Any truth to that? If it were up to me I guess I'd dump him simply because watching him throw was too much to stomach, and he's already too much like Floyd and some of our other guys who don't walk. Heck he might even be worth something in return after a decent spring.

Yeah, I'm sorry but Soriano's bat is worth more as a bad 2nd baseman than as a really bad CF.

If Pie split time with Jones, who would start against lefties? Pie is about as bad against lefties as Jones is. Pie's OPS was exactly 200 points higher against righties in Iowa last year. I'd rather have just about anybody than Pagan, though. Ok, Pie starts in Center, with Soriano at 2nd and Izturis tentatively at starting SS. That's how I'd play it.

Not what you want to see out of a closer.

I would just prefer to see Pie split time with Jones while Floyd or Ward act as 1st PH out of the dugout. And with Pagan in the mix someone is going to rot on the bench anyway. Since Ward plays 1b, I think he actually fits better than Pagan or Floyd.

Yeah, and Neifi hit .371/.400/.548 in 62 ABs for us in 2004. Isn't he considered the worst hitter in the majors now? ...... and speaking of non sequetors......... I'm just saying small-sample stats like that don't prove anything, least of all a propensity for "clutchiness". Did Ward just decide to suck on the games he started?

Yeah, and Neifi hit .371/.400/.548 in 62 ABs for us in 2004. Isn't he considered the worst hitter in the majors now?

Sounds like he could be the next Lenny Harris.

Except they offer no speed or defense and combine to block two of our best prospects. How exactly is Ward blocking anyone? Care to respond to my statements about what they actually CAN do? You know, something that has been definitively proven rather than merely hoped for? Well, Ward is blocking Cliff Floyd's spot on the bench for one...and looking at these guys' recent history I don't see them as any more proven than top AAA talent. They wouldn't be hanging on if it weren't for experience.

Except they offer no speed or defense and combine to block two of our best prospects.

I was really hoping either he or Cliff Floyd would do for us what Grissom did last year.

Can Theriot handle short?

I think you can combine these two views to determine that management continues to suck because of the lack of incentive to succeed in the face of unwavering fan support, thereby enabling a good ol' boy mentality among the decisionmakers at the top.

Wood tells a funny story about Grace sharting his pants at 1B and then having to lead off the next inning. Wood then talks about having no interest in starting any time soon because his sore arm troubles were hurting the team. Adds that his weight loss has improved stamina. Couldn't get the rest.

Game predictions: Marquis lacks control, gets pulled in the second inning. E-patt goes 1-1 with a walk and 2 steals. Samardjiza goes another inning of shutout ball. Jaques is taken down for a pinch-runner during the 7th inning and notified of a trade to the Reds.