in no particular order, I like Rowand – it’s nice to have someone up there who has the facade of being an actual “good hitter”. On the other hand, the idiocy of signing a free agent outfielder when that’s what they have 20 extra of is worth the split inifitive. I would bet a gazillion dollars that when Roberts comes back, Lewis is in a platoon (well, you know what I mean). Maybe Durham’s the same deal, veteran blindness, I just keep hoping that he’s out there so he can hit .400 in May and be instantly traded. Aurilia’s just done, sad as it is.

They ARE better than I would have thought. I don’t care if he hits .199, Velez is fun to watch. Lewis is fun to watch. Bengie Molina, slowest runner in the world, is cool. And the pitching – yes, Zito is worse than awful, but by god, there’s actually someone to trot out there that’s better! This is all good.

Poor Bocock though – I guess maybe a couple months in the bigs will seem worth it when he’s old and gray, but he just isn’t ready. He’ll probably go to AAA for his troubles, but he won’t hit there either, and so it goes. It astounds that a seeming journeyman AA guy is the best shortstop they could find. Same with Castillo – he’s not any worse or better than you might have expected from the waiver wire, but geez. There’s the glowing farm system in those two guys – the best options.

When Bochy benches Lewis, I will personally rend my garments and gnash my teeth. Isn’t there something like a coup, eminent domain or somesuch? Really should be looked into…

I’m not enamored of the Rowand deal for a variety of reasons. Not in any neccessary order.

1. It really does remind me of Stoneham’s signing of Bobby Murcer to replace the another controversial
Bonds 33 years earlier, who was a “disappointment” at the time.

2. Its not the money per se. As a matter of fact I advocate spending lavishly and foolishly, its not my money so to speak. Its the “commitment” to a rather pedestrian type of player. Rowand to my minds eye, is another Ray Durham, when first signed here. A little above average, and useful to a team trying to contend. But making a guy like Rowand the centerpiece of your lineup makes little sense. If they had made a 5 year commitment to a Miguel Cabrera or genuine impact player, I would be supportive or at least understand the move. Rowand to me, is just another Bobby Murcer, and I would have been just as happy to see a Nate Shierholtz, Dan Ortmeir or any other number of potential prospects running around in the outfield in this season of the “Open Tryouts”.

3. His batting stance is so fucking typical of kids who came up in the 90s with the affectated squat to overcompensate for hunching. Its indicative of somebody who is not a natural hitter but a carefully schooled and over-practiced swinger. Don’t believe me? Just compare his swing with Bonds or even Fred Lewis. A minor thing, but irritating nonetheless. I see him as kind of guy who will fade relatively quickly over the next couple of years. Also, he needs to lose the necklace. If I want chip n dales in the outfield, I’ll be sure to ask for them in advance.

What is also puzzling, is not just the signing of Cal State Pizza Alumnus, Aaron Rowand, the 21st century version of Bobby Murcer, but to sign him to a five-year contract on the heels of the Zito contract. Not as egregious, but still overpaying, and over committing exorbitant resources to ordinary people.

The propensity of this franchise to emulate the White House-Department of Defense/State, in its decision making is astounding. Peter Magowan and Brian Sabean are LBJ and Robert McNamara, Richard Nixon-Henry Kissinger, George Bush-Donald Rumsfeld. Stupidty, arrogance, waste, ignorance, and contrariness, manage to find their way down to America’s pastime as well. The consequences are just not as severe or widespread.