Piniella

Just had to vent as there are those who think Lou is a great manager.

Much as it pains me to admit, Derrek Lee is done.  This is hard to believe for a guy who was a superstar last year but 35-year-old first baseman often fall off a cliff.  Lee's OPS by month are 679, 733, 706, and 638 so far in July.  Anyone can have a bad month simply by not being "on" and getting unlucky.  Lee has had one bad month and two terrible months.  Digging deeper, Lee can't hit a fastball anymore.  It's possible he's hurt and not admitting it but either way he's totally unproductive.  Yet Piniella has run Lee out there every day hitting 3rd or 4th in the lineup.  And here's the thing, if I can figure out Lee is done, why can't Piniella.  Meanwhile he can't figure out how to get playing time for his four outfielders. 

Here's an idea -- have one of them take fielding practice at first base.  I suspect none of them have played first on a regular basis since high school if ever, but for a player with center fielder skills, first base should be easy to learn.  Might not make Fukudome the every day 1B, but with a fly ball pitcher on the mound and facing a right-hander that's the type of thing winning teams do.  And if you're going to play Lee, hit hit 6th or 7th.

Thankfully it sounds more and more like Lou is done after this year.