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The whole "respected in the clubhouse" with regard to Willis, considering that they got rid of him, may just not be the case. His behavior may very well be one of the main reasons he ain't here anymore. Same with Cabrera. Both of them were apparently way too immature. I suspect Fredi had a lot to do with it, coming from the more staid, veteran Atlanta environment. Anyone else see the references to naked shenanigans in front of female reporters? Then there's the drunk driving thing. And little stuff like loud music. This ain't little league. In any case, as has already been pointed out, there's no way Willis is coming back here anytime soon, if ever. Imagine how Dombrowski feels. The poor guy handed out $180 million to what turns out to be two losers. Willis is a vastly overpriced minor-leaguer, which is totally pitiful. Cabrera, who has been more than replaced in ALL respects by Cantu for pocket-change, and who the Detroit papers blabbered on about showing up for spring training in tip-top, excellent shape is now being referred to by them as "out-of-shape," "over-weight" and worse. All that conditioning only took half a season to go poof after he picked up his guaranteed $153 mill. The guy's well on his way to becoming an average DH for someone, assuming he doesn't totally lose it and turn into someone who looks like Ray King. Beinfest looks like a genius at this point, even if NONE of the return from Detroit EVER works out, which ain't likely going to be the case. He dumped what turned out to be the two most overpaid players we had and saved $15+ mill in payroll.

He has some demons in his delivery to work out According to at least one Detroit paper, he is COMPLETELY changing his delivery, his current discombobulation not being repeatable. As if it ever was. Probably re-emerge as a short-armer. :lol :lol :lol It's kinda funny that the start that got him sent down to be perhaps the most expensive minor-leaguer in history was (I write from memory) an inning and 1/3 or 2/3, 5 walks and 6 runs. Almost identical to Miller's last disaster. Yeah, yeah, I know, two different situations. But, interesting, nonetheless.

The PBP writer could have been more clear. The last couple of sentences (following "In other news") were quotes from JJ, not the clod who can't get out of the 4th without giving up a half-dozen runs, and who, with any luck whatsoever will soon become part of a trade with Jacobs for an actual catcher.

Humidor, anyone? Aw, jeez, does conspiracy baloney know no bounds? :lol :lol :lol

shoe in You must have meant to say shoo-in. we have won 115 games DESPITE Fredi's leadership Quite correct. I don't disagree with that in the slightest. obligatory to call people stupid Actually, I felt it was optional. But obvious. So, I called it on the part of both of them. Take it easy, Bob. I don't know you, but I've read your posts here for a long time and, for the most part, I agree with you. They're young. They're building. They're learning. Everyone knows that, even if the posts here don't always reflect it. I was just pointing out an obvious managerial error and commenting on what may or may not be a longer-term problem in terms of general managerial philosophy. I don't think a manager is worth more than a couple-three games per year, if that. So far, Fredi has clearly failed even that minimal test. Perhaps he'll redeem himself during the balance of the season, but I doubt it. That factor may actually matter in future years.

show some fire Unfortunately, it's not likely. He's always made a big deal out of how much he admires the attitude of his mentor, Bobby Cox, whom he apparently regards as some sort of baseball god. "Always the same, win or lose by one run or 10." I paraphrase, but it's obviously a BIG part of his managerial philosophy, such as it is. "Keep running 'em out there" is another of his favorite phrases. Mr. Even Keel, who will never, ever have a grievance filed against him for grabbing a player by the jersey and speaking unkindly to him. :banghead :banghead :banghead But, that doesn't explain why, in a one-run game which had a fairly reasonable chance of going extra innings, anyone would not leave Waechter in to pitch the 9th (and maybe the 10th and 11th and 12th, too, if necessary, he is the long guy, after all,) saving the one remaining reliever for a possible extra-inning closing contingency. Than again, maybe that was part of his thought process, and he just decided that it was better to run Gregg out there right away to blow the save sooner rather than later. :lol :lol :lol Having watched and listened to Fredi for a year and a half, I have concluded that he suffers from the same basic deficiency as Jacobs. He just plain ain't very bright and/or has been hit in the head one too many times by a baseball. There's only one word for that game and how it was managed and played. Pitiful. Fortunately, it was only one game. But, unfortunately, that was about the 10th game they've lost that they should have won. How Fredi intends to avoid the next 10 blown games, which will take them totally out of contention, I don't know and I doubt Fredi does either. They're doing much better than generally expected, but keep shooting themselves in the foot. Perhaps it's that Fredi already has the word from the FO that this year doesn't really matter. And maybe I'm the Queen of England. :lol :lol :lol