Rex Hudler

JimH, I just can't see any way they keep Robbie next year. Even if Robbie bounces back and has a good year, Harris can give you the same. Robbie won't hit .320 again, nor does he have the range to be a gold glover. Why keep an aging vet around when you have a young player that can give you the same production. I was all for trading for him last year because I felt his veteran presence would help last year's team get over the top. That was then, this is now. The Sox need to make wholesale changes and hanging onto Robbie just doesn't seem to fit the mold. You and KW may disagree with me that wholesale changes are necessary, but I say that there need to be at least 2-3 new position players in the lineup next year. Younger players need to be brought in and a new core of the team needs to be developed. They have tried tweaking the lineup with this same core the last four years and it just hasn't worked, unless you are happy finishing second, mired in mediocrity. Speaking of aging vets, I do think it would be a good idea to look into getting Omar Vizquel next year. A solid glove at SS would be welcomed as would his ability to hit in the two-hole. I also think keeping Robbie would keep us from getting Omar.

Work with me here........ the table is finally done..... LOL

How many "Moyer's" are out there? Moyer is the exception, not the rule. He also did not become an effective Major League pitcher until he was 32-33 years old, depending on which year you call his breakthrough season. Moyer's early years....... Year Team W - L ERA 1986 Cubs 7 - 4 5.05 1987 Cubs 12 - 15 5.10 1988 Cubs 9 - 15 3.48 1989 Rangers 4 - 9 4.86 1990 Rangers 2 - 6 4.66 1991 Cardinals 0 - 5 5.74 1993 Orioles 12 - 9 3.43 1994 Orioles 5 - 7 4.77 1995 Orioles 8 - 6 5.21 1996 Red Sox/Mariners 13 - 3 3.98 Note: He spent parts of several of those seasons in AAA, including all of the 1992 season. He seemed to have found a home in Seattle going 17-5, 3.86 in 1997. HE has only had one year with an ERA higher than 4.00 since then.

What does it say about the Hoover Met in Birmingham? Just curious..........

No idea.............. he has been hurt. Most likely his lower back tightened up again.....

think slow pitch softball, yet the pitch is thrown overhand....... it is just basically tossed up there, hoping that the slow speed and tantalizing look of the pitch will throw the batter off. This is a pitch best thrown once every blue moon. LOL

All three are better than Alomar is right now............... Now pick an AL team that fields a DH everyday and find a worse one..... I noticed Robbie at DH today as well, Old Socks and thought it was quite strange.

Fields and Sweeney will both start at AA next year (If not higher)..... McCarthy is a question mark......

Don't hold your breath on 92-94.........

Where the hell are the Warthogs getting all of these roster spots? Were there any corresponding moves?

FWIW, everyone has pronounced his name wrong as well...... He should just use this callup to make sure everybody can get his name right. Hell with worrying about pitching!

I thought it was an infield hit all the way....... the bottom line is that he gave up an infield hit, a chop by Ichiro over the first baseman's head, and a simple single to right. He didn't get hit terribly hard.

My point was that he was hitting out of the three hole and therefore his focus probably changed somewhat from "on base" to "driving in runs". You were complaining about his low walk total (which wasn't really that low) so I pointed out that perhaps that was not his focus. Should he move back to the leadoff spot or the two-hole, I am sure his approach would change somewhat to better fit that role. To answer your other question, he could not be a #3 hitter in the majors now, no. Could he be in 3-5 years? no one knows....... but it can happen. Don Mattingly and Rafael Palmeiro are two shining examples of very good young hitters with little power that learned to hit for power AFTER they reached the big leagues. In fact, Mattingly only had 37 minor league HR's in 4 1/2 seasons. Palmeiro hit 28 in 2 1/2 seasons (college draftee) and didn't hit more than 15 HR until he had spent 4 years in the Majors. No one is saying Reed will hit like Mattingly or Palmeiro, but his sweet swing and plate discipline remind many of those two when they were still in the minors.

dan, Brice will not be returning to Winston for the playoffs........

He was there for Friday night's game.......

Until a week ago, he was hitting 3rd in the batting order, not first or second. 20 extra base hits in only 59 games hints that perhaps his focused changed somewhat due to his spot in the order.

Don't we all............

If he's okay with it, who am I to question your convulted, kinky relationships.

You mean doting all over Cotts doesn't already???

Easing him into the bullpen in September is the perfect way to get him acclimated.

He's married, Steff. Hands off!

I think it would be smart to look at this as an opportunity for him to get his feet wet. Obviously, he wants to do well as do we, but it is not imperative that he come up and make a huge impression. He just needs to acclimate himself to the bigs and show that he belongs. The AFL and ST will take care of the rest.

Duncan is hurt and hasn't pitched since July 10.

Who are you SBC? Did you go through a name change?? They would have added him to the 40-man this offseason anyway, so this move does nothing to start the clock early. He has had a great year and deseerves to be rewarded with an opportunity. Now is exactly the right time.

no and no.......