Since we (and by "we, I mean "me") just talked about missing Beckett and Burnett, etc. It got me thinking - how ARE the old guys doing?
I mean - I AM actually pretty happy with the team we have now and excited for the future (although - what is this deal with the Willis/Wright trade talk rumor? I mean, c'mon? Don't get me started... not that David Wright isn't an amazing talent... sorry, sorry...)
Okay - anyway. Back on topic. How are the old boys doing that we were supposed to miss so much?
I think I'll focus mainly on guys that left just in this last fire-sale and had been with the team for a while - preferrably contributing to the 2003 squad.
Positional players -
Mike Lowell - has started to hit a bit again this year - he isn't what he used to be, but then he isn't what he was last year, either. He's batting .277 for the Sox with one bomb and 8 RBI in 65 AB. Obviously, I'd rather have Miggy at third.
Seabass - is stinking up the joint, at least with his bat. .211 with no power (.263 slugging) and 4 RBI in 57 AB. I'll take Hanley, thanks. Although - I wouldn't mind having Alex's glove...
Luis Castillo - he's hitting very well and really helping the Twins. His OBP is a sick .481, and he is even stealing some bags. From what I hear, he's also playing some good D (as we had come to expect). I'm sad. Of course - he's also hurt... and Uggla's been popping them out of the park of late...
Juan Pierre - he isn't getting on base too much (.301 is not that great an OBP), but he is stealing some bags and scoring runs. I imagine the Cubs are happy with him (as they can only compare him to Corey Patterson of late - they have to be!) With our current center-field situation - I do miss him very much...
(Delgado's killing the ball (I miss him) - Lo Duca is hitting right about where you'd expect (I can live without him) and Encarnacion is stinking up the place in STL)
Pitchers -
Burnett - just went on his annual DL trip. After just coming off the DL. Oops. I'm sure he'll be fine.
Beckett - is pitching like a god. Jerk. Somehow this actually doesn't make me miss him - it pisses me off. I almost can't wait for that first blister to appear... but I'm not bitter.
Overall - I'd have to say that this quick and dirty little excercise made me feel a lot better. I realize that this is a very small sample size and all, but still...
The team we have will lose a lot of game, but, quite possibly, the team we had was not going anywhere, either. Maybe the whole fire-sale thing wasn't such a bad thing.
No, damnit. I still want to be pissed.