Here’s what went down Thursday on G&A…
Short show following day baseball in St. Louis.
D-backs’ Done - With this afternoon’s loss, the Diamondbacks were officially eliminated from the playoffs. The guys know we will see a very different team in 2009. Gambo feels Eric Byrnes will be the fourth outfielder with Conor Jackson becoming the permanent starting left fielder and Doug Davis will be traded with just one-year left on his deal. Both feel several of Josh Byrnes’ moves didn’t pan out, but Bob Melvin deserves credit for keeping this team afloat until the final weekend of the year.
The guys caught up with the great Brooks Robinson. Robinson was a 16-time Gold Glove winner, 15-time All-Star, 1964 AL MVP, 1970 World Series MVP, and 1983 National Baseball Hall of Famer. He discussed his illustrious 23-year career-all with the Baltimore Orioles. The third baseman is widely considered the best defensive player at any position in the history of baseball.
Tomorrow: Ash is off, Johnny V. co-hosting with Gambo
We’ll be joined by former Ohio State star linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer, ESPN NFL analyst Mark Schlereth, and sports handicapper Brandon Lang.
Brooks Robinson - Part I [13:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (310) Brooks Robinson - Part II [14:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (356)
Guys, love hearing you everyday here in Tucson….I am from NYC and love my Yankees, but have tried to adopt the D-Backs and this season, especially the last month or so was difficult to watch, so here is my 10 commandments to get the D-Backs on track for 2009.
1. Fire Rick Shuh-hitting coach–two years of poor hitting–we were lucky in 2007. When you have 6 guys striking out over 150 times this is not good.
2. Nuke the bullpen–Lyon, Rauch, Pena, Slatten–the absolute worst I have seen in 40 years of watching this sport. Add Doug Davis to the pen as a crafty lefty for those situational 7th and 8th innings . Name Scherezer your closer for 2009.
3. Trade Chad Tracy to Royals, Pirates, marlins anybody that has good young minor league talent and start infusion back into a depleted system.
4. Trade Mark Reynolds–sorry, can’t keep a guy that strikes out over 200 times and has over 35 errors, don’t care how many home runs he hits…Again get minor league talent in return and add to the minor league system.
5. Tell Adam Dunn- adios.
6. Sign Orlando Hudson
7. Trade Chris Young to the Giants for that young hard hitting and good fielding Pablo Sandoval. This guy has great bat speed and can flat out hit, and to me looks like another David Ortiz in the making. Young is going to hit no higher than .250 in his carrer, where this Sandoval kid will hit over .300… Giants need a centerfielder. With this move you move Justin Upton to center, Jackson to Right and Byrnes in left.
8. Decided to keep either Ojeda or Eckstein–can’t keep two punch and judy hitters in among a lineup of strikeout artists.
9. Actively pursue and sign first baseman Mark Texeira.
10. Sign free agent AJ Burnett, AL strikeout leader and add him to the rotation of Webb, Haran, Burnett and Johnson. With 3 solid starters, less taxing on the bullpen.
2009 Opening day lineup
1. Justin Upton - CF(his upside is endless, power and speed)
2. Erik Byrnes -LF
3. Steven Drew -SS
4. Mark Texeira - 1B
5. Conor Jackson - RF
6. Pablo Sandoval - 3B
7. Chris Snyder - C
8. Orlando Hudson 2B (like having another lead off in the bottom of the order)
This is a helluva lineup
Rotation:
Webb–Haran–Burnett–Johnson
Bullpen:
Cruz, Petit, Davis, Scherezer (plus others that may be available thru those trades of Reynolds and Tracy for minor league talent)
The key:
Is the D-Back adminstration stepping up and spending some $$$ on Texeira and Burnett and willing to trade away Chris Young, which I don’t think is hard to do. Just a little tweeking here and there and the snakes will come back.