My Roatation would look like this: With the team now no trades you could use triple A players.
Hammel
Chen
Tillman
Britton
Gonzalez even though DD said he wouldn't be a SP HE SHOULD GET A SHOT

My Lineup: With Markakis back this week so it was reported.
Andino 2b
Markakis RF
Davis 1b
Jones CF
Reyolnds/Thome DH even though I think it was a bad trade
Hardy SS
Wieters C
Betemit 3b: I would upgrade him make him a dh instead of Reyolds and find a 3rd baseman
Pearce LF
On bench I would have Paulino/Avery/Flaherty since we have to have him in the majors.

Well since it's up to me, I'd have Avery in CF & Jones in left. Nick in right of course. Outfield problems solved, that simple. Betemit's bat is too hot not to have in the lineup, ditto Davis. I'll put Chris at 1B where he belongs, and that should at least cut down on Betemit's (throwing) errors since he can pick em better than Reynolds. I'd continue to play BRob at 2B and hope he gets into a rhythm. If Andino were doing anything whatsoever it may make me reconsider that, but he isn't. I think I'd platoon Thome/Reynolds. Let Mark hit only lefties for awhile and see if his bat gets hot.

Lineup:

1. Roberts - 2B
2. Markakis - RF
3. Jones - LF
4. Davis - 1B
5. Betemit - 3B
6. Hardy - SS
7. Thome/Reynolds - DH
8. Wieters - C
9. Avery - CF

Rotation:

1. Hammel
2. Chen
3. Arrieta
4. Gonzales
5. Tillman/Britton/Johnson - they should all get opportunities. The most productive earns a spot. If more than 1 look good they're on Jake & Gonzo's heels too.

I don't want to see Bundy in Baltimore this year, period. I'd be stretching out his arm (slowly) instead of limiting his innings so he's available later in the season if we need him. I don't want this kid rushed to the show like Matusz was after putting up Nintendo numbers in A & AA.

And I'd have Jim Johnson in middle relief. He's our best pitcher, period, and right now being wasted because we're never in save situations. He can give you 2 good innings every few nights. That's better than 1 every (lately) blue moon. I realize he's doing great as a closer, but I'm sorry, I want my best pitchers throwing as many of my innings as possible.

I'd have brought him in in the 7'th last night after seeing Hammel obviously struggling with his command after the first 2 batters... knowing that on normal rest that's consistently been the point in games he's been losing his command. I would've been warming Johnson after the first guy got on. He would've shut the door in the 7'th, blew them away in the 8'th. Then we could've turned it over to Strop. Strop can close. Or if I see left handed bats coming to the plate in the 9'th, I may even go Patton/Strop.

"I like the win rule better"

Hey z-cool, any word on how well Brad Bergesen's been doing lately? I wasn't sure if he'd be coming back this year with us or not, you know?

No use talking about moving Jones to the 3 hole at this point. This is the lineup with a sprinkle of Flaherty/Pearce/Andino mostly for defensive purposes. This lineup will eventually smack the snuff out of the ball, question is when. In theory it should be a nightmare for RHP's, we'll see.

1. Roberts 2b
2. Hardy ss
3. Markakis rf
4. Jones cf
5. Davis lf
6. Wieters c
7. Thome dh
8. Reynolds 1b
9. Betemit 3b

The rotation good grief, here goes nothing;

1. Hammel
2. Chen
3. Arrieta
4. Britton
5. S. Johnson

Please keep Tillman in AAA, we can actually sell high on him as long as he stays down there.

To bad Tillman is starting tommorow but if he does good you can sell higher.

Ya I agree have Avery in the outfield he just doesnt have a great arm. I also like Hardy down in the lineup because it seems like we hardly have anyone in the bottom of our lineup and never score runs.

"And I'd have Jim Johnson in middle relief. He's our best pitcher, period, and right now being wasted because we're never in save situations. He can give you 2 good innings every few nights. That's better than 1 every (lately) blue moon. I realize he's doing great as a closer, but I'm sorry, I want my best pitchers throwing as many of my innings as possible."

leave Johnson alone. Red Sox - Bard. MFY - Joba. Don't try to turn a Rivera into a Clemens unless you know what you are doing. Give them a spring to adjust to the insanity, at least.

I would rather we keep Jim J closing games. He's the best in the game at it.

"Please keep Tillman in AAA, we can actually sell high on him as long as he stays down there."

Only because pitchers that need to throw over 100 pitches per start hold no value to most major league managers not named Jim Leyland. Though, Buck did let Tillman throw 125, perhaps he is bucking the trend???????

Since when does Tillman throw 97? LOL. I've never seen him anywhere close to that!

"Since when does Tillman throw 97? LOL. I've never seen him anywhere close to that!"

Well I don't know about 97 but I do know he hit 96 yesterday. I guess it's possible that he could have reached 97.

The stadium gun clocked his fastball at 97 two, maybe three, times that I saw... and this was in the 9th inning! Hopefully this is the start of great things for Tillman

I didn't see the gun reach 97 but it's not unbelievable. Like I said, I did see him hit 96 so yeah, it's possible. The Yank Hunter usually post pretty accurate info too.

I know Tillman was working out with Brady this past winter so maybe Tillman is using the same supplements that Brady used when he hit 50 homers...lol...

This is my lineup and rotation after the All Star break

1 Markakis RF
2 Headley 3B
3 Quentin LF
4 Jones CF
5 Davis 1B
6 Wieters C
7 Reynolds DH
8 Hardy SS
9 Flaherty 2B

10 Hammel
11 Chen
12 Garza
13 Britton
14 Tillman

With Headley, Quentin and Garza on board I think it's safe to say that we have absolutely no farm left...lol

yea your probably right but they would be nice to have... :) I could do without Quentin and move Jones to left and Avery to Center

1 Markakis RF
2 Headley 3B
3 Wieters C
4 Jones LF
5 Davis 1B
6 Reynolds DH
7 Hardy SS
8 Flaherty 2B
9 Avery CF