Why is Jay Bruce not here? Why is he still in AAA? Corey Patterson hasn't gotten a hit, in what feels like an eternity, and continues to leadoff barring exception. Freel and Hopper are basically the same player and don't add that much...
Bring Bruce up and stick him in CF every single day. He can even slide over and play RF if Griffey needs a day off...Patterson is your 4th outfielder and can spot start to give guys a rest.
Bat Keppinger leadoff too...he's not your protypical leadoff hitter, either, but at least he gets on base and gets hits...and EXTRA base hits.
While you're at it, may as well Bring Bailey up. If they're not going to trade the young guys for top notch big leaguers....then PLAY THEM. They didn't want to trade them because they're such great prospects...PLAY THEM!!!
04/20/2008 11:30 AM ET By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
TORONTO -- One day after Frank Thomas voiced his displeasure over being benched, the Blue Jays released the designated hitter.
The 39-year-old slugger was told Saturday that he would lose playing time after a slow start in which he batted .167 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 16 games.
"Basically, I've been told that I'm not going to be in that lineup," Thomas said Saturday. "[Manager John Gibbons] told me that this morning. I see it as something else is going on. We'll see how that plays out.
"You know what's going on and I know what's going on. We'll see how it plays out. I'm just a little frustrated right now. There are some things going on around here this year that I haven't been happy about."
Thomas could have been alluding to his contract situation, which has been an ongoing topic since the early stages of Spring Training. Under the terms of the two-year deal Thomas inked with Toronto prior to last season, the 39-year-old DH has a vesting option worth $10 million for the 2009 season.
Thomas could have guaranteed that salary for next year simply by notching 304 more plate appearances this year. His contract stipulated that the option would vest for Thomas, who had 624 plate appearances last season, if he accumulated 1,000 plate appearances between the 2007-08 seasons.
Thomas batted .277 with 26 homers and 95 RBIs in 2007 in his only full season with the Jays. He also became a member of the 500 home run club while wearing a Toronto uniform and has 516 homers in his career.
Up until the last few days, Yankees' GM Brian Cashman has often resisted the temptation of putting Mike Piazza in pinstripes. But with his current catching situation (and don't forget prospect Francisco Cervelli is still out with a broken wrist) and the very aggressive Reds trying to sign Piazza to a contract, Cashman and his advisors -- we're told by a team insider -- are meeting to discuss whether a Piazza move is the right way "to address the current situation."
Dusty Baker is telling friends that he's "confident" that Piazza will sign with the Reds because "Tommy (Lasorda) will want him to play for me". Though most of the people that are monitoring the Cincy backstop search say the Reds want a "throw and catch" guy, Baker is saying that he thinks "Piazza could hit 25 homers in the GAB.".
One NL scout we spoke to said that "Piazza's defense isn't what either team needs right now, but (he) does know how to call a game and both teams seem to feel that he would be a good influence on their young pitchers."
An AL scout, who followed Piazza closely last season for his club said that "any team that adds Piazza will be getting a player who is obsessed with winning a World Series. "
So, if there is all this interest, how come Piazza couldn't find a job this pat spring? We asked one NL executive why.
"Because there's a perception out there that (Piazza) is against playing first base," The exec said. " It's (bleep), but given what his agent was asking (2 years,$10-15 million) at the time, teams weren't bothering to find out the truth."
His shoulder injury has kept teams away as well, but when you look at his 2007 stats with Oakland (83 games, 8 HRs, 44 RBIs, .275 average), there's little doubt that he could fit into either team's plans for 2008..
So, do you think Piazza should be in Pinstripes, a Red, or just hang 'em up?
