My original title for this post was “chattin’ with the queen b”. I changed it because “queen b” reminds me a bit to much of “Killer B’s”. Didn’t want any part of that, and doubt bellyscratcher would have, either. You’re stuck with an even more ridiculous entry title.

So those of you who read bellyitcher (and if you don’t: a, you’re lame, and b, I wonder how you even found this site) will have seen part 1 of our friday afternoon chat, in which we debated about Albert’s 2005 Game 5 Homer vs. Jimmy’s 2004 Game 6 Homer. Among other things. Here follows part 2, in which we expand our discussion to 2006. Among other things.


–Part 2–

bellyscratcher: Let’s talk free agents. Holes in right and left fields and second base. I’m not even going to think about the ‘pen.
birdbrain: Everyone seems to be very excited about Brian Giles.
birdbrain: You?
bellyscratcher: I’m iffy. Yes, his numbers look nice, but he’s, you know…old. He doesn’t have a history of being fragile, so that negates the age somewhat. He’s certainly one the best of the free agent outfielders, but if the Yanks are really interested in him, the price will be too much. I’m going along with the pack and setting a cap of 3/$30 for Giles.
birdbrain: I know. I’m getting tired of geriatric outfielders too. Am I the only one who wants to throw something when the name “Daric Barton” comes up? Not that he’d necessarily be ready for next year (and I think he’s going to be a first baseman anyway), but geez.
birdbrain: I’ll miss Matty. I can’t see him staying.
bellyscratcher: The only reason I want to throw things when people talk about Barton is that he had no place to play in St. Louis. We have a catcher and a first baseman. From what I’ve heard, he’s no great shakes in the field. You can find a place to hide guys that hit like that, but I don’t get the fawning over him.
bellyscratcher: I’ll miss Matty too, but it’s best if he moves on. His total backsliding after the All Star break worries me. If his surgery only fixed him for half a year…. Plus, I’m more than ready for Younger Reyes.
birdbrain: I don’t know much about his fielding ability – but I thought they were going to switch him to the outfield? Oh well, not an issue at this point. Yeah, I agree about Morris, though. It’s a shame to see someone who’s been on the team for so long take off – but he’s not worth the price he’ll get.
bellyscratcher: But I would keep Grudz. Even though he’s a whore.
birdbrain: What about G-man? Oh, great minds!
bellyscratcher: Awesome
birdbrain: Dan Up said to call him that, and I seem to be the only one who’s stuck with it.
bellyscratcher: Seriously though, he’s a slut.
birdbrain: With gorgeous eyes.
bellyscratcher: Yeah…sigh.
birdbrain: He does seem to have cooties, though. Remind me not to hit on him next time I’m at Paddy O’s.
bellyscratcher: Him and Jimmy.
birdbrain: Jimmy too? I didn’t know that, I always heard the other rumors about Jimmy
birdbrain: So who’s the third outfielder, anyway?
birdbrain: Likely not Reggie.
bellyscratcher: I really wouldn’t mind keeping Reggie. He wants two years, though. I’d do one year with some sort of option, but I’m not sure he’d go for that. So that means a trade. Cause I’m not sold on Jones from the Twins.
birdbrain: I would like to keep him, but I would also like to have an outfielder who is slightly younger. Not Rodriguez, though, I’m not sure about him for daily use
bellyscratcher: I’d adore Matsui, but that’ll never happen. I told some guys I met at a sports bar that I wanted Matsui back in July. It’s amazing how much free beer a girl can get simply by knowing what WHIP is.
birdbrain: Jacque Jones, is that him? I get mixed up with AL-ers.
bellyscratcher: Yep.
bellyscratcher: Johnny Rocket scares me every time he gets on base, though he did get a little better.
birdbrain: Oh, this is true. Guys do like a girl who knows her baseball. Although I meet a lot of Yankees fans, so I spend more time making fun of them than astounding them with my knowledge.
bellyscratcher: I’ve got Mariner fans, about whom I couldn’t care less. Giants fans, and I HATE Barry Bonds, then A’s fans who have too much love for Beane.
birdbrain: I’ve got it better when it comes to making fun of people, in that case. If you’re not a Yankees fan in NY, you’re probably a Mets fan or a Red Sox fan. Easy peasy.
birdbrain: What do Mariner fans have to say for themselves? It can’t be very fun to be one of them.
bellyscratcher: About all they say is ICHIRO!! Last time I was in NY I was wearing my Cards hat outside a bar, my friend and I were suddenly surrounded by a group of Yankees and Boston fans. This was a year ago, so the Yankees fans were pissed at the Cards.
birdbrain: Heh heh. Yeah, well, this is my continuing debate with Yankees fans. Who choked more? I say they can’t talk.
bellyscratcher: Yanks definitely choked more. They had it in the bag. The Cards…they just never really showed up.
birdbrain: I agree, I mean, at least we made it to the World Series.
bellyscratcher: Ok, so let’s say Morris signs elsewhere. That leaves Carp, Mulder, Marquis, Suppan, Reyes. But still need another OF. Would you trade Jason and try to sign a FA pitcher?
birdbrain: I’d trade Jason and toss in Ray King (although I don’t know who would replace him), for sure.
bellyscratcher: Yeah, I’m not convinced Cali is ready for prime time.
birdbrain: And what FA pitcher?
bellyscratcher: Exactly.
bellyscratcher: I think that’s the rotation next year, though Jason is probably our best trading chip.
birdbrain: So I’d say “yes” because Marquis had a nice finish to cover up a bad summer, and could be very tradable.
bellyscratcher: Looks like we’re going to have to sign two free agents no matter what, it’s just a question of if it’s two outfielders or an outfielder and a starter (again, not getting into the bullpen).
birdbrain: And G-man or Nunez.
bellyscratcher: Oh, yeah. Crap. I forgot about second. And Luna is not the answer there. Can’t go with shaky defense with the pitchers we have.
birdbrain: Well, I feel as though that’s not going to be a big drama, though. One of ‘em will sign (although I’m not sure about getting another 2005 from either of ‘em).
bellyscratcher: I think Grudz has a better chance of repeating than Abe. Nunez tailed off badly at the end of the year. Grudz may not hit as close to .300, but with Rolen back they may not need that.
birdbrain: I wonder HOW insane it’s going to be for pitchers this off-season? I mean, will it be as expensive as outfielders?
bellyscratcher: Pitching is always insane. More so than position players.
birdbrain: But Konerko’s 4 X 52 mill. is not a good sign, either.
bellyscratcher: Nope, but they really want to keep him.
bellyscratcher: Giles won’t get that much (unless it’s the Yankees).
birdbrain: Well, at least we won’t have to deal with Johnny Damon as a cardinal. Ew.
bellyscratcher: Thank goodness. And we would never trade for Manny, either.
birdbrain: I think the Yankees will sign Matsui, though. Why not? They can afford him, they’re giving him a great deal.
bellyscratcher: It’d be nice if they didn’t, but I’m sure they will.
birdbrain: Could we trade for Vazquez? He’s owed 11.5 million next year, though
bellyscratcher: That’s the big thing floating around right now. They’d want pitching back, though maybe ARZ has some guys ready.
bellyscratcher: I just don’t know enough about other teams to really say what is going on.
birdbrain: Marquis! King!
bellyscratcher: Wainwright! Undo the JD Drew trade!
birdbrain: Really? You’d want Drew back? Although he was extremely entertaining.
bellyscratcher: No way I’d want JD back.
birdbrain: Yeah – the way you said it made me think you thought it was a mistake.
bellyscratcher: Drew’s only good when he has a personal ass-kicker.
bellyscratcher: Speaking of the Dodgers (sorta), what do you think about them possibly hiring Ng as their GM?
birdbrain: Well, I think it’s awesome – EXCEPT that I doubt they’d let her do her job.
bellyscratcher: There would be babysitters all over the place. It would be fantastic, though.
birdbrain: Yeah, she’d definitely have a hard time of it. So I’d be rooting for the Dodgers to do well just for her sake.
birdbrain: Are you afraid of the division next year? I suppose it’s too early to say.
bellyscratcher: I’m scared of the Brewers.
birdbrain: But I’m getting used to this “Win by double digits” thing.
bellyscratcher: Yeah, me too. Though it seems that it doesn’t help much.
birdbrain: Me, too. I’m less worried about the Astros (if Clemens retires, bet he will) than the Brewers. And the Reds will have new owners (sadly, not my ex-boss), too – maybe they’ll turn around.
birdbrain: I’m not worried about the Pirates, though!
bellyscratcher: Let me clarify, I don’t think the Brewers are a threat to take the division, yet, but they’re going to be very exciting. We’ll have to see what the Astros do. They’ll still have Pettitte and Oswalt and Backe who turns into some sort of crazy playoffs pitcher. Cubs, eh. Reds still need pitching. Pirates? Ha.
birdbrain: Let’s not sign Bret Boone. That’s exactly what I don’t want.
bellyscratcher: The very most I would offer Boone is an invite to spring training.
birdbrain: Hmm, for some reason I’d had it in my head that the Reds were near .500 this year. Not even close. But it will be interesting to see whether the new ownership makes any big moves.
bellyscratcher: Are they buying the whole team or just a part? I haven’t followed really, but I know that they have to sell their part of the Cardinals.
birdbrain: From what I understand, it’s most of the team. The controlling interest, anyway. My ex-boss was going to buy the whole thing, but I think the sellers they’ve picked have agreed to share a bit.
bellyscratcher: Ah, well, if they can increase payroll, they might start to get better.
birdbrain: Would take a little fun out of the smack talk with RHM, though. Her brilliance in the face of mediocrity makes things all the more fun when you two get together.
bellyscratcher: It’s very, very hard to talk smack when the Cards are losing. I don’t know how she does it.
birdbrain: Practice!
bellyscratcher: Ha ha.
birdbrain: Anyway, Albert’s homer was definitely better than Jimmy’s.
bellyscratcher: No way. Jimmy’s was better. Besides, he could show his emotion since he was at home.
birdbrain: It was extremely cute to see them jumping up and down like that
bellyscratcher: Yeah. You know, even though it wasn’t a playoff game, I’d throw Eck’s grand slam into the mix, too.
birdbrain: And Albert’s 13th inning walk-off. The night Harry Potter came out.
bellyscratcher: That was a good one. That was the day before I left for STL.
birdbrain: And then there was the Jimmy/Mabry homers in Cincinnati to come back from a 7-run deficit
bellyscratcher: And Eckstein’s squeeze off against the Cubs that I was there for.
birdbrain: I did see the Cards/Cubs game on Labor Day, where Derrek Lee grounded into a DP.
bellyscratcher: If Lee wins the MVP, ok. If Jones wins, hell hath no fury.
birdbrain: Yep, feel the same way.