I didn't see many games early in the year, and don't know how/why Fred's hitting declined so much.  So let's say you, or somebody you could pick (Rod Carew?  Wade Boggs?) had time and resources to work with Fred.  Is there anything that could bring him around?
The poll is just a conversation starter.  I hope somebody comes up with a Solution. Fred is exciting when he's on--I will never forget his debut in Sept. 2006, slugging 545, and inflicting me with a major rookie-crush.

This was a great year.  I loved watching "meaningful" games in September, and my lovely wife now finds baseball entertaining, thanks to Panda and Eugenio and Timmy.  But pennant contenders?  Not for a while.

There are no quality hitters besides Pablo, and there are serious offensive deficiencies at every other position.   I will probly be more optimistic around March, but now I think that Renteria is old, slow, and coming back from surgery.  Sanchez younger but likewise, if they sign him.   Uribe was declining several consecutive years before his recent rally, and may bolt for more money.  Who's catching?--Whiteside as of now.  As for the 3 gaps in the outfield--

On MCC somebody noted that all 5 Colorado outfielders were better than any SF outfielder.  After I realized how true this was (any of Dexter Fowler, Carlos Gonzales, Spilborghs, Hawpe, and Seth Smith would become an immediate starter if we had him), I wondered about other teams.  Using just OPS, and looking at our baseline of:  Torres 876    Lewis 738  Rowand 738    Velez 708 (757 after allstar) Scheierholz 702   Winn 671  

the Brewers field  Braun 937, Cameron 795   Hart 753 plus Catalanotto 728 and young Gerut 654

Atlanta has young guys--M Diaz 878    McClouth 788  Brandon Jones 778 at age 25, Church 722, fading Garret Anderson 705

Cubbies--Sam Fuld 821, Fukudome 796, Milton Bradley 775 gone, Reed Johnson 742  plus Haufpair 727 and Soriano injured

Cards have Matt Holliday 1023   Ludwick 775 Cody Rasmus 714, Duncan dropping 687

the LA Bums--Manny 949, Ethier 869,  Kemp 842,  Xavier Paul 814 pricey Juan Pierre 757

and the Phillies send out Ibanez, Werth, and Victorino, all over 800 as is Ben Francisco.   So none of our outfielders would start for any other good team.  Those teams could send us their 4th or 5th best and he would start here and bat 3, 4, or 5.   Too many holes to fill for 2010, folks.  Let's think farther ahead, when Thomas Neal and his mates can help.   I will enjoy watching Torres and Velez run the bases meanwhile.  Sorry I can't get "the jump" to operate here on Chrome.   

from Aug. 14 to Sept. 9 there's only 1 off day, it's Monday.  But Bochy plans to just skip the 5th starter spot--Martinez has been sent to Fresno--so the Big Three starters will go 6 times in a row on their usual 4 days of rest.  Timmy is scheduled for Wednesday vs the Phils.  Last night Timm looked gassed late in the game (a decoy? maybe), he was coughing into a towel sitting on the bench.   Give em a break, Bochy, rosters expand on Tuesday, we could use Pucetas or a bunch of relievers for one of the Phila games.  Gonna need a 5th starter soon anyway.

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4 starts in a row now with no extra days off.   2 were mediocre on June 27 and July 2, then the 107-pitch near-shutout CG on July 7.

Last year Zito seemed to tire on the 5 day rotation, and perk up after breaks and the "bullpen demotion" of early May.

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Jenkins today in the Chron

Mainly he points out weaknesses in all the other teams.   If you are an optimist, reading it could make you giddy

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Weather is heating up, and even in the Eastern League, folks are hitting at normal levels.  Good time for this system to advance its good hitters.  If they flop–can always demote again and try next year.  

At the same time, you got to prune eventually.  Who to release at the minor league level (yes, Aurilia is another question)?

At Fresno–Timpner’s 659 OPS is near the bottom of the league for starting players.  It’s his 3rd year at this level, and there has never been power, just some line drives, no base stealing, decent defense.  I can’t see a future.   Horwitz is already "on reserve" and hasn’t played since May 29, could be let go or traded too.  I love the Hebrew Hammer, but he’s OPSing 784 in the PCL, which is barely above average there.

Meanwhile Eddy Martinez-Estevez has led Conn. in hitting most of the year until Pill’s recent surge, and if we are paying Eddy a minor league salary, why not advance him and see what he does in the PCL?   And Neal is dominating the Cal League, OPS is 1008.

So for outfield–Fresno should have Bowker and EME starting with Copeland, Velez, and Borchard in the mix and Dhing.   Conn. would get Neal, Felmy, and McBryde starting, backed up by Mooney and my man Antoan R., both getting their last look.   Roger Kliesh doesn’t get promoted yet–he’s recently 6 for 41.

San Jose will still be OK with Graham, Kliesh, plus Darren Ford and Jordan, they could also bring up Mazzola or Woodbury from Augusta.

Infield and Posey promotions are less clear--but I won't complain if Buster rejoins MadBum and Tim A in Conn.

Steve and Baroness, life is dull without you and the minor leagues

Fresno comes from behind at Colo Springs to win 8-6 with Wald, pinch hitting, and Frandsen getting the key hits.  Got runs in 5th thru 8th.

Copeland HR, 2B, 4H

Frandsen 2H, 2RBI

Velez H, BB

Holm 2H

Bowker 2H, RBI

Ray pitches 2 innings, just 1 BB, Hinshaw goes 1 with 1H, 1BB, 1K

Velez plays some second and CF, Ciriaco is brought up for infield depth.  6 outfielders seems too many.

Conn. loses 2-1 second day in a row, trying too hard to play like the big club.  Alderson goes 8, maybe a career high, giving up a HR in the 7th and also cheap run aided by a Brad Boyer throwing error.  6H, 0 BB, 3K.

Boyer 3H, 1 R, average has soared to 270 after horrific start, batting third.

Pill 2 doubles (18 for the year) and the RBI

They bat McBryde 8th, pretty low for a prospect.  He, Crawford, EME and Felmy all hitless against New Britain’s Matthew Fox, Julio Lugo, and Anthony Slama, terrible name for a pitcher.

San Jose hosts arch rival Stockton Ports and gets battered 16-7.  Odle, Whitaker, Quirarte, Mixon and Lively all bad, giving up 24 hits.  Whitaker has had 7 excellent outings, 3 bad ones this year.

Posey throws out both stealers who try, Klieshnik an outfield assist, Villalona and Bocock make errors, Angel’s on a throw.

The hitters make a push to come back–

Villalona a 3-run bomb and another H and RBI, hitting 313

Posey a H and RBI, then walked twice 

Klieshnik a H, BB, RBI, hitting 3211

Bocock a 2B and RBI

Lormand Dhs, gets a triple and single

Ziegler is backing up first base, Graham has dropped to appropriate level and Ks twice.  Noonan’s average down to 242 8/41 with 7Ks last 10 games, still terrible vs lefties.

And those Greenjackets are shut out with 4 hits by Tom Glavine and James Hoover, neither of which sucks.  Oseguera in 7 innings gives up 5 hits, 2BB, 7K, 3 runs.

Sunday I am going with 3 folks to The City...for ballet, near Civic Center, not for baseball.

I have not been around North Beach for years, and we will need a walking break both before and after the show.  And eating too. 

Any suggestions for a fairly fast meal around 1130 or 12?  Or dinner around 5 or 6?  

One of the friends is Italian ancestry but never visited North beach. Authentic food would be fun.  Chinatown would be a possibility, or someplace else close in.  

I figure we will pay for parking all day, then take Muni or a cab or something out to Civic Center.   We're coming from Sacramento area, could drive over either bridge, or even take the tube from Berkeley.  thanks, mccovers

Reno Aces are new AAA team in Reno--Dback affiliate, new stadium too.  Their opening day is April 17.

Fresno plays there Friday May 8 6pm, May 9 and 10 1 pm, and Monday the 11th, 6 pm.  Will Jose Guzman hit a memorable dinger?  Will players lose their shirts gambling?  Will prospecthound be on hand to show youngsters the seamy side of Reno?

Fresno closes out both teams' regular season September 4 thru 7.

I like the Rivercats' stadium, but Reno, especially for a day game, sounds fun.