Thoughts for a Wednesday

It's really interesting on how the mind can flash back to forgotten patterns of behavior.  I remember in the .70s and '80s watching isolated performances by sub=par performing players hoping that the isolated became the normal.   With age I can see that a 5-game Jake Bauers hitting streak is the exception, not the rule.

Still, when you see young pitchers have a good game or two, if you have that pre-millenium thinking formed during years of bad play, your mind goes back to those same hopes.    Ditto for hitters.

That being said, here are some thoughts:

1. Either send Mejia down for needed experience or, if he makes it through 4 innings relatively unscathed, pull him and consider him an opener.   Likely he will be a reliever in the future with his two-pitch mix.   The best way to ease him into that role is as an opener.

2. Send down Mercado.   He has had plenty of chances and this is starting to look like Bauers Part Deux.

3. We need to decide if we are going to roster Oscar Gonzalez this fall and, if so, bring him up.   

4. Bring up Gabriel Arias and send down Clement.   I love guys like Ernie Clement.   They are so retro (think the steady stream of guys like him the 80s who came and went).   

5. I really hope Owen Miller figures it out.   I was really hoping for a Jason Kipnis-like player out of him, with a little more defensive versatility.   Is that too much to ask for?

Ah, back to the game.   JC just gave up 4 in the first.   My guess is if he knew he was pitching only one linning that wouldn't have happened.