Pierre Today, Gone Tomorrow

In what seems to be one of the most anticipated announcements coming out of Spring Training, Dodger skipper Joe Torre officially announced that Andre Ethier will start in left field, leaving Juan Pierre without a job.

Courtesy of Rotowire.com:

Ethier has won the Dodgers' starting left field job over Juan Pierre, the LA Daily News reports.
Spin: Ethier clearly had the better spring and is a better hitter than Pierre. Just because he won the battle now, don't assume that he's completely out of the woods here. A slow start might force manager Joe Torre to play Pierre more often.

The slow start would mean Ethier would have to bat worse than .173, Pierre's contribution to the Dodgers' offense this spring. We're willing to bet that Ethier could bat .150 with a blindfold on. It's going to take a lot on Pierre's end to regain his starting role.

Torre has faced a similar situation involving young outfielders replacing veterans (Google search Melky/Damon). He was able to gracefully handle the situation, partially because Damon could still hit water if he fell out of a boat.

Pierre's throwing arm is suspect too. Initially we thought he was using his left arm to toy with base-runners. Apparently, he's not kidding when he throws the ball.

Pierre's future may lie with actions of Dodger GM, Ned Colletti. There are a handful of teams that could use a speedy leadoff hitter like Pierre, that's assuming that Pierre fulfills his end of the bargain by approaching at least the Mendoza line.

Casualty of the Mitchell Report?

ESPN.com is reporting that the Baltimore Orioles have released outfielder Jay Gibbons, noting this move has nothing to do with his impending suspension due to his involvement with receiving a shipment of HGH (Human Growth Hormone).

Yep, and the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause both exist, Barry Bonds is the rightful Home Run King, and JFK was killed by only one shooter.

According to ESPN.com:

Gibbons batted .189 with no homers and four RBIs in 16 games this spring training after playing in only 84 games last season. Baltimore owes him $11.9 million for the next two seasons as part of a $21.1 million, four-year contract he agreed to in January 2006.

You don't think that the Orioles could have gotten something for him, even if it was a low level prospect or two? The Mets are badly in need of a healthy outfielder, and the Orioles could have taken advantage of that situation.

Time and time again this spring, we've seen the same old line of "Don't worry about his spring training numbers, they don't translate into regular season success/underperformance". Why would the Orioles be so quick to pull the trigger on Gibbons?

The AP broke the initial story, with team president Andy MacPhail leading the propaganda machine:

The team didn't see him getting much time as a reserve outfielder and left-handed designated hitter, and keeping the more versatile Scott Moore as a utility player made far more sense.

"The decision was essentially down to two players, and we made a baseball decision," said club president Andy MacPhail, who delivered the news to Gibbons.

"We laid it out pretty clearly," MacPhail said. "For you to be a productive player you need to play, and that opportunity just doesn't exist here absent some horrific injury. His words were, 'I agree completely.'"

Spencer Fordin, from MLB.com, writes:

Excising Gibbons from the roster means a little more of a clear substitution pattern for Trembley. Huff and Kevin Millar will rotate at first base and designated hitter, and Moore will pick up playing time from them and from third baseman Melvin Mora. Gibbons will likely end up elsewhere within the next few weeks, but his former teammates will keep him in mind.

"When you hear something like that, its always emotional," said Millar. "It's like one of your family members, [but] you understand where it's coming from. You understand when you look around at the roster and there's a lot of left-handed hitters. ... It was going to be tough for Jay to get at-bats, and obviously, it's been a dogfight for the last couple years for him."

Nitpicking the Experts

ESPN's baseball spent the offseason tossing and turning, each lying awake at night, full knowing this day would come.

It is the eve of the start of the baseball season, and the staff at 108 Red Stitches is ready to analyze their baseball season predictions.

	World Series	American League	National League	Wild Cards
Jayson Stark, ESPN.com	Braves over Tigers	East: Red Sox Central: Tigers West: Mariners	East: Braves Central: Cubs West: Rockies	AL: Indians NL: Mets
Peter Gammons, ESPN/ESPN Insider	Indians over Braves	East: Red Sox Central: Tigers West: Angels	East: Braves Central: Cubs West: D-backs	AL: Indians NL: Mets
Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com	Tigers over Mets	East: Red Sox Central: Tigers West: Angels	East: Mets Central: Cubs West: D-backs	AL: Indians NL: Braves
Buster Olney, ESPN The Magazine	Indians over Cubs	East: Yankees Central: Indians West: Mariners	East: Braves Central: Cubs West: Rockies	AL: Red Sox NL: Mets
Tim Kurkjian, ESPN The Magazine	Red Sox over Mets	East: Red Sox Central: Indians West: Angels	East: Mets Central: Cubs West: Dodgers	AL: Red Sox NL: Phillies

Sometimes we wonder who's drinking out of the tainted water cooler over in Bristol, CT. Of the five reporters we've selected, (each of whom we hold in the utmost regard as journalists) Buster Olney is the most creative in his picks, and really is the only one of the five that puts his reputation on the line by selecting the Yankes, Indians, and Mariners to win their Divisions, while choosing the Braves, Cubs, and Rockies, to nestle in first in their divisions.

Everyone else loves the Red Sox or (gasp) the Tigers. Ray Charles could have taken a look at the Tigers' lineup and seen that they could wrap up the Central.

The Sox, Tigers, Mets, and Cubs are all safety picks. There's nothing interesting about them. And we, of course don't agree with any of them.

Here are our picks for the 2008 season, and guess what...we're going to be right.

World Series

American League

National League

Wild Cards

Cubs over Yankees

East: Yankees Central: Indians West: Mariners

East: Braves Central: Cubs West: D-Backs

AL: Blue Jays NL: Brewers

Believe it or not, the Cubs will win the World Series, because of a bullpen anchored by Kerry Wood. With the Reds out of a playoff run by early June, they'll send Ken Griffey Jr to the Cubs to give him (and them) a shot at that elusive World Series ring.

A lot of people are giving the Red Sox a lot more credit than they're worth. A cranky rotation, old age at important positions (catcher, corner outfield, third base) and a bullpen that'll be on again/off again; the Red

Sure, everyone says the Yankees biggest problem is their rotation, but they'll score enough runs to cover the five runs a game their staff will allow. They're a year away from going back to the World Series, and coming out on top.

The Mets will stumble out of the gates due to injuries that have ravished their roster. With Sox aren't the same team as last year. Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Elisbury will have their growing pains as well. only Wright and Reyes fully capable of playing everyday without the fear of shattering a hip, the Mets will patch together a lineup and rotation that will lead to "too little, too late" once everyone is fully healthy and healed.

Prince Fielder: Fantasy Nightmare?

Here's a season line that would make you jumpy if you held a good draft slot in your fantasy league draft:

50 HRs, 119 RBIs, .288 BA, 35 Doubles, 109 Runs Scored, 90 walks, .618 Slugging %, and...oh what the heck, 2 Stolen Bases.

Fielder has hit 78 home runs in his first two full big league seasons. He's hitting in the heart of a potentially dangerous Brewers lineup and faces National League Central Rotations who are more likely to be confused for their Stadium's grounds crew than they are for a major league pitching staff. So why are we concerned about Fielder this season?

Earlier in the year, Fielder announced that his diet changes included switching to an all vegan diet. This will likely increase his flexibility and give his knees a break from holding up that tummy of his. Next time you see a vegan, however, take a good look at them and figure out whether they can hit a baseball 500 feet, and repeat that action fifty times, for that matter.

We're really concerned with Fielder's latest newswire activity. No, not the flu, which has kept him out of his remaining Spring Training. Fielder's issues stem from a bigger disease; egomania.

Take a look at this statement from Fielder, courtesy of Rotowire;

Fielder expressed displeasure with the new contract he signed with the Brewers on Sunday, the Associated Press reports.

Spin: "I'm not happy about it at all," Fielder said. "The fact I've had to be renewed two years in a row, I'm not happy about it because there's a lot of guys who have the same amount of time that I do who have done a lot less and are getting paid a lot more." Fielder is up for arbitration at the end of the season.

Does this sound like a guy who is going to give his all this season? Sure he's up for arbitration, but we don't tend to fall in love with arbitration eligible player like we love players who are in their contract year. Arbitration relies too heavily on other players at Fielder's position, who all produce similar numbers. Arbitration does not fuel a player like the prospect of winning free agency lotto.

If the Brewers are out of the playoff run by Mid-July, Fielder can either phone it in for the rest of the season, or try to pad his stats by swinging for the fences. Either way, his strikeout total will increase, as will his waistline once he realizes how bad tofu really tastes.

Is That Big Brother Tapping on My Shoulder?

Barry Bonds is being targeted again by Federal Prosecutors, according to ESPN.com Newshere; ESPN details the Government's decision to file a new superseding indictment against Bonds:

Last month, a federal judge ruled the U.S. government did not properly structure its charges that the seven-time National League Most Valuable Player lied to a federal grand jury about past steroid use.

"Pursuant to the Court's written order of March 4, 2008, we write to inform the Court and counsel that the government intends to seek a superseding indictment in this case," U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello wrote in a legal filing.

In a superseding indictment, the government can add more counts to its indictment against Bonds, but he won't necessarly face additional charges that weren't listed in the original indictment.

ESPN Reports: McNamme Faints, Hits Bus

ESPN.com is reporting that Brian McNamme, Roger Clemens' famed ex-trainer, fainted while driving and crashed his car head on into a city bus:

McNamee told police he blacked out because of an ongoing medical problem, the New York Daily
McNamee's Lexus, another car and the bus were involved in the crash around 12:30 p.m. Thursday on Central Avenue in Queens' Far Rockaway neighborhood, according to the newspapers.
No one was seriously hurt, according to the newspapers.
No one was charged with any offense in the wreck, the Post said. No information was immediately available from police early Friday. News and New York Post reported Friday.

108 Red Stitches: Mailbag

Time to open up the 108 Red Stitches Mailbag. To ask us a question email 108redstitches@gmail.com. Try to keep it baseball related, spammers not welcome, we know where you live and have Italians on our staff, and we're not afraid to use them.


Dear 108 Red Stitches,

I've got a question regarding closers, or the apparent lack of late in fantasy drafts. Looking over my team, I've notice that I'm weak in the saves category, partially because I failed to draft a K-Rod or a Rivera earlier in the draft.
Looking over my waiver wire, I've got three options; Kerry Wood, BJ Ryan, or Eric Gagne. Any thoughts?

- Kris, New York

We're beginning to believe that you can win in mixed leagues (head to head) without relying too heavily on a closer. What's the big deal if you lose out on one stat category, when you can spend higher picks on guys that will produce in three or four different categories? Back to your question regarding which closer to pick. We faced a similar situation in our league, and decided to go with Ryan. In our situation, we were able to grab Bobby Jenks later in the draft, so we can afford to gamble on Ryan. Wood is tricky, because they have two other options for closer if he doesn't work out. Gagne seems to be the most stable with his role, no one threatening to replace him, as in Ryan and Wood's situations.

That being said, Gagne is fat and lazy. Without anything nipping at his heals, he might have the tendency to become complacent. He signed a one year fat contract, nothing incentive laced, and that scares the hell out of us.