I've never seen 5 uglier at bats than that of Michael Bourn tonight. Bourn and Swisher owe the guys that pay their salaries a ton of money back. They should feel bad enough to write a couple of large checks.

I wonder what Swisher's batting average is since his infamous O-H-I-O gesture ?!!?!? Seems like its been all downhill since.

Back under double digits in the standings. I guess that's been one caveat from tonight's win. 9.5 back looks better than 10.5 back. If we can get back on the winning track, it's going to take 4-6 weeks to catch Detroit if we can put some winning games back to back. It's a must to cut that lead to 5 games by the middle of July. Easier said than done.

I'm looking forward to watching Trevor Bauer pitch against Verlander tomorrow.

Brantley should bat leadoff, since he's the best we have at getting on base.
Brantley should bat third since that's where your best overall hitter bats.
Brantley should bat cleanup since that's where your best HR hitter bats (who would have guessed that would be him)
Brantley should bat fifth since that's where your best RBI man hits.
It I were forced to choose one spot I'd pick 3rd since the higher in the order he bats the more chances he gets but leadoff would guarantee at least one appearance with the bases empty.

Among the rest, hard to choose. Bourn should be at the bottom since he is terrible at getting on base. Santana has a much better OBP with all his walks. Do we pull an old MIke Hargrove approach and putting Santana at the top of the order? He no longer can hit with RISP.
Cabrera has an avg of about 300 with no one on base and less than half that with men on, so I'd put him at the top of the order. Murphy can hit with runners on so he can be cleanup. Gomes is not doing anything special but he hits some homers so on this team that earns him 5th or 6th. Chisenhall has very few at bats with men on base. Let's try him at 5th and see what happens. I don't care where they bury Swisher. So how about something like this:

1. Cabrera 2. Santana 3. Brantley 4. Murphy 5. Chisenhall 6. Gomes 7. Swisher 8. Aviles 9. Bourn
against lefties we move Aguillar in at 6th and Gomes I guess hits 5th.
Oh and I forgot Raburn but he's been as forgettable as anyone. His OPS is in the low 400s

Still not very impressive. When Kipnis comes back he of course reinserts toward the top and maybe he can be a spark?

Wasn't Reynolds carrying us early last year? Maybe that is the difference?

He got us through April.
Then later Kipnis took the lead.
Brantley was the power for awhile.
But we also never had quite the collective slump we're having from Bourn, Swisher, Santana, Raburn for nearly two solid months.
BTW, I took at look at Reynolds' Brewer stats and they're pretty typical. 8 homers, although not particularly productive with 15 rbi. He's hitting 200 and has struck out 50 times in 140 trips to the plate. I don't miss him.

When Bourn and Swisher were batting 1 and 2. we pretty much stunk at the start of the game. I say once Morgan is healthy let Bourn try to steal and maybe test that hamstring pretty well.

So how about something like this:

1. Cabrera 2. Santana 3. Brantley 4. Murphy 5. Chisenhall 6. Gomes 7. Swisher 8. Aviles 9. Bourn

1. Pay attention--Miggy plays for the OTHER team.

2. He's had some great success pitching, but does he really bat THAT well?

3. Dude, he's retired. I hear his son is pretty good though.

4. Awesome idea! Maybe he'll finally get that 400th homer.



Anyway, you get the picture--now back to the drawing board, try again.

I get in the car. I am Arkansas. Turn on radio to hear Hammy's "ball game!" I might gave to move here if it means they keep winning.

I was afraid to post during the game, lest I jinx them.
..............WE WIN!!!

I wish Francona would have juggled the lineup much sooner than he did. I hate it when these prima donna's get their feelings hurt when these changes are made, but sometimes adjustment are necessary for the good of the team.

Trevor Bauer is bullish. Gotta like his start against one of the best teams in baseball right now. He never caved in to the pressure. I thinks he just might be here to stay. I read where Francona is down playing this series. Long way to go says he. Sorry to disagree Terry, but in my opinion, this series is HUGE! A sweep would be perfecto.

Let's hope that the Dbacks wind up viewing the Bauer dump as one of their all-time stupid moves.

Noon baseball vs the Tigers. McAllister with a little defensive non-help from Lonnie Chisenhall surrenders 4 in the top of the 1st. Zach continues to look really bad. If Danny Salazar can right himself McAlllister could find himself out of the rotation.

Chisenhall seems to make one error every time he starts a game at 3rd. This was his 5th error already and he has not been out there often.

[Meanwhile who would have guessed that Santana would be a good-field no-hit third baseman!]