Kevin Baxter sums it up pretty well this morning in The Herald.
This is totally unrelated, but in today's Herald notes (which I'm unable to find online), Alois is quoted as saying:
"After 357 consecutive starts, I'm still trying out," he cracked. "I had fifteen wins two years ago and the [10th best] ERA in the [majors] last year, and I'm trying out. That's OK. I'll try out."
But who's counting, right Al? Apparently Alois didn't get the memo about the bigs being a meritocracy. Since he missed it, I'll sum it up: if you aren't any good, you don't play. Track record and whatever your salary might be don't count. You have to prove it. You have to prove you still have it everyday.