Sometimes we do have to give the managers some credit. The Dodgers' Joe Torre hasn't been popular with fantasy owners for the way he's handled his outfield, and surely Dusty Baker in Cincinnati didn't make new pals when he jettisoned hot prospect Jay Bruce to the lovely town of Louisville. Of course, these managers aren't alone in earning disdain in the fantasy world.
About two weeks ago, when White Sox speedster Jerry Owens appeared to be fully healed from his groin injury, I surmised that manager Ozzie Guillen was going to not only place one-trick pony Owens -- though the trick of stealing a base every other game is a really good one -- into his daily lineup in center field but also lead him off. Didn't matter that Owens would get on base far too infrequently to deserve it, Guillen wanted a speed guy there. You see, fantasy owners, Michael Bourn and Carlos Gomez are valuable commodities stealing bases to us, but I doubt either one gets to hit at the top of the order all year with sub-.300 on-base percentages. Owens is no different.
I wonder if Carlos Quentin saw this inevitability as well, because he's sure hitting as if his job were on the line. The former Diamondback was the one who stood to lose playing time, with Nick Swisher moving to left field and Quentin picking up splinters on the bench. You know, in little league we all got splinters, but I have a feeling guys making $10 mil a year aren't actually getting splinters. Anyway, Quentin's days in left field were clearly numbered, unless he started fulfilling the promise he had as a big-time OPS guy in the middle of a lineup. Mission accomplished!
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Eric Karabell
