The lapses in concentration he has is what kills me...he gets a big strike out and then promptly gives up a single. Now he gets Juan to pop up and will probably allow a two-out bomb to Miles. He is really frustrating.
Two outs and Aaron Miles ... SH*T! And they finally get that pipsqueak out. Amazing. Just couldnt in the 12th inning prior to the all star break.
Either Brad found another source of greenies.... or his arm has responded to a little bit more time off between appearences than usual (and after 4 straight years of heavy workloads... this shouldn't be surprising).
At least they minimized the damage. Garner makes me nervous...putting Wandy in at the top of the order and then going to Lidge vs. Pujols is the kind of thing a manager who wants to be fired does. Worked out ok. Another good piece of news is that Eckstein is out of the ballgame with an injury...he drives me crazy.
btw... thanks again, garner, for further proving that Wandy is the most useless pitcher alive. He's not a reliable starter... and in case he had thoughts of keeping him around next year to fill Gallo's role, please re-consider based on his sporadic control, and paucity of above average stuff. Also, Huff deserves to be re-signed... he's not an all-star, but he's not another Everett/Ausmus (and he's not terribly inconsistent like Ensberg or Lane). He's right in the meaty part of the curve... and at the end of the year, he'll hit 20 HR's and drive in around 80 (albeit, the batting average could be higher). You need guys like that... just like you had Paul O'Neil in NY.
So what to do with Ensberg? Does he become a bench player cause I don't think the club could get much for him plus he'd be an affordable option off the bench or spot start at 3rd when needed.
This is why I think you play Ensberg in EVERY game down the stretch, let's find out if he is gonna pull out of it. I don't agree about Huff....I think he is an average player......and would be an OK addition, but he has not show all that much more than Lamb does as a utility player. DD
This is going out and making the assumption that Aubrey Huff is much easier to re-sign than it is to sign Carlos Lee. The problem is, you'll have a much better chance on re-signing Huff if you do it early (ie - before you find out about Lee). If you decide to let Huff go... and you don't get Lee... then the club will be in big trouble offensively. Ensberg isn't a FA, and isn't going anywhere... he'll have to earn his job back, just like he was given the benefit of the doubt before he lost it... but I don't think the club should be making off-season decisions based on his future roll next year.
I think they have to trade Ensberg and hope somebody falls in love with his 2005 numbers. I would try and find another 3rd base option altogether. You can platoon Lamb and Huff, but I think their production has peaked and will only come down. They are just awful in the field.
Name one team out there that is both begging for a 3B and willing to give up MLB ready prospects/quality pitching for a guy like Ensberg? He's still hitting 20+ HR's, and the walks have improved... but he's not that young of a guy, and probably has reached a ceiling in terms of blossimng into a 40HR, 100 RBI guy for years to come. I don't think he'll be a .230 hitter next year, but it would still be a hard sell. Most average teams have better options up in the majors (there are a ton of quality 3B in the National league alone), and the bad teams are likely to give their minor league guys a shot.
You're probably right, Nick, but people have only recently stopped knocking on Vinny Castilla's door. Ensberg would ideally be a part of a package that bring something of value..like a rosin bag, or something ; ).
Any pitcher that goes only 5 innings, and leaves wiht a marginal lead... even if its Roger Clemens... can't be immune.
