[MuffinMcFluffin]

Originally Posted by Prime Time

I love the Dave Roberts pickup, as you said he gives up speed on the base paths, he is also a consistent leadoff man. I can’t get real excited until we fill other needs though. I hope Shea Hillenbrand and Ray Durham will stay… but what about right field, catcher, starting pitching, and bullpen help?

I don't see Roberts replacing Randy Winn, so Winn will more than likely be in right field.

I hear that we're releasing Durham (look at the bottom thread). If that's the case, I can't say that I'll miss him too much. I mean, he came around at times and I liked to watch him play... but he lost his speed since he left Chicago, and he's had shaky defense. I also haven't ever seen anybody either A) take as many curveballs that end up right down the middle for a strike, or B) argue a pitch, disrupting the flow of his at-bat as much as he does. I wouldn't mind us getting Loretta, though I'd hope for somebody perhaps a little more special (does Aurilia play 2B also?).

I hope Shea Hillenbrand stays too. My family didn't care for him too much (because they don't know baseball or baseball's players outside of the Giants), but I know what he's capable of. I think the biggest adjustment for him is to anticipate earlier, since he's in a fastball league. It seems like he can get around a 91 MPH fastball inside, but he looks terrible on a 95+ MPH fastball inside. Like I said, again (in the other thread)... use Feliz as trade bait, as he probably is rather valuable on the market. Somebody would love to pick him up I'm sure, and that could be aid in our bullpen for the future.


Again, the other thread... I note about the catching position. You could check that out, but I too am concerned about how to manage our catchers this year, and who to potentially get rid of.

Starting pitching is a non-issue for me. As long as they can stay in games past the sixth inning, our bullpen shouldn't be as tired this year, thus we should be able to produce a little bit better (assuming we can do that). I love Dave Righetti, but I have my doubts sometimes.