Is Anyone in Favor of......

[The Iceman Cometh]

The intangibles that Jamie brings to a team is the thing that will be hard to replace (work ethic, experience, etc.)

At this point I don't care about intangibles--We need RESULTS.

Would you prefer Batista, HoRam or Jamie at this point?

Beggars can't be choosers, although Batista and HoRam's performances weren't THAT far off from Jamie's (ignoring HoRam's low inning total).

If somehow we pull off a Zito signing right now, the rotation is clearly better. Bavasi should be looking for one impact move.

[dawgncarolina]

Originally Posted by Wiggen

I agree. We're significantly weaker in the bullpen, I don't see much improvement, if any, in the starting pitching, and offensively it seems we're about a push. So I would say we're probably about the same - maybe a shade weaker over all.

Pretty much agree.

I do think the rotation could be marginally improved, but probably not enough to offset the loss of Lowe and Soriano in the pen.

[dawgncarolina]

Originally Posted by Barnstormer7

The intangibles that Jamie brings to a team is the thing that will be hard to replace (work ethic, experience, etc.)

Would you prefer Batista, HoRam or Jamie at this point?

No offense, but Jamie's intangibles haven't done crap for us the past 3 years. Meche and Pineiro were career underachievers, the team as a whole sucked for the last 3 years, even Felix struggled some last year. I don't think you can point to anyone and say they were better pitchers with the M's than they should have been. If Jamie's work ethic and experience were really worth anything outside of his own performance, I doubt that would be the case.

I love the guy, and I wish him well, but his intangibles are WAY overrated IMO.

[The Iceman Cometh]

I do think the rotation could be marginally improved, but probably not enough to offset the loss of Lowe and Soriano in the pen.

If we can find one decent RH Setup reliever, our pen will basically be the same as it was for the majority of last year.

[dawgncarolina]

If we can find one decent RH Setup reliever, our pen will basically be the same as it was for the majority of last year.

I disagree. First of all, Sori was FAR better than "decent" - replacin him with like production is extremely unlikely.

Secondly, while Lowe wasn't there long, his production when he was was absolutely stellar. Even with his low number of innings, the total number of runs he prevented above average are not going to be replaced.

[The Iceman Cometh]

True, there is a difference between "decent" and Soriano. But replacing him with a solid arm makes the drop-off less significant, and makes this year's pen reasonably similar to last year's.

Lowe's 18 2/3 innings were great, but if we're going off those numbers, Huber is just as good a bet for '07, right? JK. Anyway don't forget that some version of Lowe may be back this year.

So yeah, I might be overstating when I say they're basically the same, but if we get a good reliever for Brussard or elsewhere I wouldn't view the overall dropoff to be enormous. Would I feel as warm and fuzzy when we go to the pen? No.

[Marinerjim11]

That the offense will be better... Our DH ratings were amoung the WORST in all of the AL and Vidro is a good line drive hitter. Guillen if healthy will blast 20+ homers and drive in 80-90 rbis.

Pitching i am worried some about it but mark my words we will be happy to get HoRam he will prove himself this year. JMHO.

[Slica]

Vidro may say he is a good line drive hitter, but 26 doubles does not impress me. 71 in the last 3 years combined. Over 40 or 50 of those were from the left side, which is apparently the better side.