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Fix Our Bench

Gwreck May 24 2007 10:46 PM

Three Facts, Three Questions: 1. We have a good backup catcher and his spot is locked in. 2. Our best bench player is also our best defensive replacement. 3. There are three remaining bench spots, and two of the players occupying them, Julio Franco and David Newhan, have 39 and 17 defensive innings, 1. Does the bench need to be changed? 2. Are there any viable internal alternatives (Ben Johnson?) 3. Who can we add?

attgig May 24 2007 11:41 PM

Julio Franco is in the second year of what should've been a 1 year deal. Should he be gone? i think so. will he? never in a million years (or 5 months). He won't suck as bad as he sucked the entire year. BA should go up to 250-260ish... but, he's dead weight right now. Newhan? he's versatile, and a lefty. even with the weak hitting, that's valuable. Ben Johnson can't replace that. I don't think there's anyone out there that can replace that at this point....

Nymr83 May 25 2007 06:12 AM

I think Johnson is hurt, he's way better than Newhan, screw being a lefty.

Edgy DC May 25 2007 06:35 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 25 2007 07:22 AM

Well, the key to Newhan, and his ilk, isn't being a lefty, but simultaneously being on the infield and outfield depth charts. If you can get our starters hitting like they're supposed to, I don't care if our bench includes both Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. If you can't, Dusty Rhodes won't be enough to help us. All youse who were talking about Jose Reyes and thirty homers during the off-season, shut up next year.

Nymr83 May 25 2007 06:51 AM

i always hated when he looked like he was swinging for the fences, he hasa .392 OBP right now, thats the number i want to see him keep up.

metirish May 25 2007 07:12 AM

Johnson is active,hitting .288 with 1 HR nad 5 RBI in 19 games,73 AB's.

Frayed Knot May 25 2007 12:36 PM

One of the problems with the bench is that when regulars are hurt (Alou, Valentin) your better bench players become temp starters (Chavez, Easley) and your bench is automatically weakened as minor leaguers are called up to replace them. The main - and more permanent - problems are that the backup corner IFer has little pop and that Newhan isn't hitting at all.

Edgy DC May 27 2007 01:41 PM

Pinch-hits today from Newhan and Franco. Who fixed our bench?

Elster88 May 27 2007 02:33 PM

I started the Julio Franco thread to rip him. I think he's 5 for 15 pinch hitting now, including a game tying single in the ninth at Washington. Again, just sayin.