A shade early but why not...

The biggest upside over Ricky was the perceived ability to handle a pitching staff. He’s...not exactly delivered. Even he acknowledged today that he’s handling the bullpen like it’s a Lexus SUV.

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He's made a couple of questionable pitching rules for sure, but plenty of guys out in that Bullpen have struggled. Every manager is going to look bad when the bullpen constantly blows a lead in the sixth, seventh, and eighth inning.

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They won't give up a lead all season.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

He hasn't been an upgrade from Rick Renteria.

That's a huge indictment.

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In what world does the guy that gets replaced by the defensive replacement, replace the defensive replacement?

Yeah, I never said that and most smart fans here laughed at that notion so...

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Hamilton had a hamstring issue

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There is another guy that can play LF.

Leury is banged up as well, and he is also a guy you'd replace for defense.

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I can’t watch as close as you guys but is he in some post spring have to pass the relief workload around still? Not to over pitch guys too early in the season?

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Batting Nick Williams fucking 5th. This is Ricky Renteria type shit

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

For real. And Jake Lamb as the DH.

What the hell is he thinking?

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Look at that fucking lineup. That's why you don't tank 5 seasons. You may come out the other end with Jake Lamb batting cleanup.

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.

That's what happens when you hire an old ass manager.

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Watch them score 9 runs tonight because baseball.

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Why does it seem like every manager has his pet veteran scrub that he insists on shoehorning into the lineup?

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Because its true of 90% of them

TLR will get em going right though

Who is Larussa's scrub?

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I got a question for Tony. What's it feel like to manage without Dave Duncan? Do you feel like a rookie? Are you a rookie? Have you made any rookie mistakes? Other than the one you admitted publicly.

Only 5 or 6 easy outs in that lineup.

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Nick Williams at the moment but I could see Lamb taking on the role as the season progresses

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Where is it written bum bench warmers have to get ABs? .500 hitter needs a day off after an exhausting first 10 games. TLR will be a huge problem. But, all mlb managers are problems. Some more than others. Hopefully TLR isn't at the crazy Joe level.

The MLB Radio guys were on TLR this morning for not playing Vaughn. Their point was either play him, or send him to Charlotte to play LF every day for a month and reassess his defense then. But letting him sit on the bench over Nick Williams and Jake Lamb helps nobody.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

There is no Charlotte until May.

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True, so the alternate site for another two weeks, then Charlotte.

We will see where Vaughn is when the minor league season starts on May 4. If LaRussa isn't going to start him 2 days out of 3, then Hahn needs to take Vaughn back and send him to AAA.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Tony submitted a good line-up today. I wouldn't have Moncada 4th, but other than that it's the best line-up you can make with the available players

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

I like it. Same thought as you re: Moncada, but he seems to love the lefty-righty thing, so whatever.

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Agreed. If that is the case, then flip Grandal and Moncada.

This is kind of a big game. Would be really nice to take 3 of 4 from Cleveland.

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