tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post8021767199096969914..comments2023-12-15T07:22:02.492-05:00Comments on The Tao of Stieb: Not to be a killjoy at the Johnny Mac love-in, but...Tao of Stiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12459135109404905466noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-33932839994654777202007-08-27T18:51:00.000-04:002007-08-27T18:51:00.000-04:00To clarify, I was referring to Glaus and Thomas' f...To clarify, I was referring to Glaus and Thomas' first-half performanceJim Briggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06073006507514290075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-8028855527107031672007-08-27T18:50:00.000-04:002007-08-27T18:50:00.000-04:00This isn't really the comment of a devil's advocat...This isn't really the comment of a devil's advocate, because I do see the need for an upgrade at SS, but Johnny Mac's struggles in the second half are no poorer than were Glaus' or Thomas'. This is to say nothing of those numbers being more expected given Mac's track record and the average for a player at his position, as compared to a 3B or DH.<BR/><BR/>Obviously Glaus and Thomas get the benefit of the doubt given their honorable pasts, but age and bodily decline are catching up to both of them and I'm not sure either were prudent investments for a growing team. <BR/><BR/>At least you can say we are pretty much getting our money's worth out of the Mac. The defense alone is good and the Red Sox are getting by with a similarly atrocious year at the plate from a defensive cripple in Julio Lugo (a guy many of us, maybe myself included, wanted signed in TO). And Mac is costing about $8MM (US) less.<BR/><BR/>Many want to set up a straw man to defuse critics of this team but the barometer is really this: does Player X move you closer to the division title or not? Glaus is 19th in BA among qualifying third basemen, 11th in homers - his specialty - and lagging behind a lot of cheaper alternatives in many categories.<BR/><BR/>I don't mind having one Glaus or Thomas, but two big, slow and old guys will kill you if they are underachieving, and that's precisely what's happened this season.<BR/><BR/>I sure hope they're better next year. If they are, plugging in upgrades at SS and C, though not easily done, would make this team what Ricciardi wants it to be. If not, it's a lot of money and time wasted figuring that out.Jim Briggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06073006507514290075noreply@blogger.com