LA2

Should Holliday keep whiffing over the next 15-20 at-bats, Elias et al will certainly win my respect if they send him back down. I'm fine with Mateo and Urias. They both had great spring trainings and are fine defensive players who can man several different positions. Mateo adds speed and it's possible that we've been missing out on another torrid April from him (SSS but his 143 OPS+ with 3 doubles in 19 ABs implies we have been). I would love it if Urias regains the batting prowess and power he showed in 2021-2022 and the '22 glove.

Hicks was a big blessing to the team--we're very lucky we got him when we did. There's no way the Cowser we saw last year could have matched what Hicks provided, even on defense and on the basepaths. You cite BABIP, but drawing 35 walks in 236 plate appearances was a huge self-earned positive.

You said that with your arms folded mightily across your chest right?

Waaahhhhh! ADLEY w the SLAM!

how did he look defensively? (Just came in.)

Darn it, thought Ramon was going to deliver. OK, top of the lineup. Let's go Os!

Inability to "rake from the get-go"--that would seem to be a good inefficiency for the Moneyballers to figure out.

Maybe not when he's not looking good yet against righties even.

I see that. Reality is cruel.

I concur--once the great Yaz years were done, Rice was the hitter in the Boston lineup I dreaded the most.

They probably find them sour

Je me souviens!

And Cowser looked clueless last year

Nice observation

Yes, I was going to say--except that Trumbo wd not have even gone back that far and then flubbed the carom off the wall.