Plan for next year
1B) Eric Hinske: We need a power lefty bat, and somebody who know’s the value of working the count and getting on base. I’d like to say there’s somebody within the system we could promote to first, but there’s just not. Hinske’s had a resurgent year in Tampa Bay, and I think he’d be a better pick up than a lot of people think.
2B) Lopez: He may not be that good with the glove, and he doesn’t walk much, but he is a good hitter, and there’s really not much out there that’s better than him anyways.
3B) Beltre: I’m a fan, I don’t care what anybody says about him. The guy can pick it, and when he makes contact he usually hits the crap out of the ball.
SS) Rafael Furcal: He’s very good defensively, which we need, he knows how to take a pitch, and he’d be much better than Yuniesky. I’m just sick of that guy, Betancourt is not a good SS and he’s more of a detriment to this team than a compliment. I doubt Furcal will come cheap, but there’s a chance he will because of the injuries he’s had the past few years.
C) Jeff Clement: He deserves a full year as the starter, and after seeing Johjima fall off the face of the earth, he’s pretty much the only option we’ve got.
LF) Pat Burrell: He’s really good, and his power is so good it doesn’t matter how big our park is. I doubt he’d want to come here, and he’d cost a ton, but he’s the type of hitter we need in the middle of this lineup.
CF) Reed/Bloomquist: Might as well, they’re both good out there defensively, have a little speed and know how to get on base, and if they suck there’s always a guy like Endy Chavez we could sign for insurance.
RF) Ichiro: ‘Nuff said.
DH) Ibanez: Cuz he’s awful in the outfield, but he can still hit. Plus I’m sure we can resign him for pretty cheap.
That would give us a lineup of
1) Ichiro
2) Furcal
3) Burrell
4) Ibanez
5) Beltre
6) Hinske
7) Lopez
8) Clement
9) Reed/Bloomquist
As for the rotation
1) Felix
2) Bedard
3) Silva
4) Rowland-Smith
5) Dickey
A lot of people may think that we need to have Morrow in the rotation, but I’d rather have him in the bullpen, because that will allow us to make it a seven inning game. (That is if JJ gets his **** together)
Bullpen
Long Man: Miguel Batista
Cesar Jimenez
Mark Lowe
Josh Fields
Sean Green
Brandon Morrow
JJ Putz