a disasterous spring to lose that job, IMO. In general I believe that all positions should be relatively open to competition (except in Helton/Tulo type situations, which don’t apply to Stewart) but I don’t see the team really even considering Mora as a starter unless Stewart falls on his face. And even then, unlikely. But we’ll see.

I am still not sold on Ian Stewart offensivily or defensivly. Last season RoxGirl and I went back an forth on this. My concerns with Stewart are still the same, inability to adjust when pitchers adjust to him, (This game is all about constant adjustments) and lack of concentration on defense. He makes an amazing play and then boots an easy one. I realize everyone does that and especially young guys. I also realize he is tagged with more errors because he can get to more balls and therefore has more (and harder) chances to make an error. Then again what is the use of getting to it if you throw it into the seats. His minor league number usually put him right at the top of the team in errors. In fact, in 2008 he lead both the Rockies and the Sky Sox in errors.

    OK, now for the upside, a ton of power, great range and a rocket arm. He only had 7 error last year. While that looks like an improvement, it is tempered by the fact he took only about 55% of the chances at 3rd base. (226 TC for Stewart and 182 for Atkins.) Given that would you project that number to be higher maybe 12, 13 or 14?

   So, in a nutshell, I think he will have the job out of ST, and be given a fairly long rope. However, if he is not getting the job done (and I do not think he got the job done last year) then they will have to give Mora a shot and may have to rethink if he will be the 3rd baseman of the future.

 Look; I agree that Stewart is the starter; but he has only shown flashes of brilliance at the plate. I haven’t seen any consistancy in his plate discipline or his swing. He is still a guess hitter. Mora had a lot of the same problems to overcome as he came up. Eventually the light went on in the closet. I think he has the perspective now to help Stewie and Barmy overcome that. My fear is that his passion to play will make Mel pull happy at Coors. I have never heard anyone say anything about him being a bad team mate. I think he understands his role as spelled out to him by O’Dowd. He is a proud man who has had a solid if not spectacular career. Most of us only dream of accomplishing what he has. Show some respect!

 Baseball history is full of guys who have been written off thriving with a change of scene and a change of role. A hitting coach with a different perspective can change things for good or ill too. Melvin has been written off before more than once. He has bounced back more than once before too. He is not so old that another two or three seasons of good production aren’t possible. For the Rox; I think he has more upside to the alternatives of the veteran backups they considered. In my perfect world they would have brought back Jamie Carroll. They decided they couldn’t afford him. Mel is no Brooks Robinson; but he’s a better glove than Tatis or Quinlan would have been. I agree Stewart is the future; I would not be surpised if he spends some time on the pine from a protracted slump. Hot stove baseball is always a stat thing. I’m more like Joe Torre in respecting what you do and how and when you do it as opposed to what the numbers look like. I am not against exploring the numbers; it can be fun! You guys seem to love JG. He did a good job in a role he never performed well in before. Considering the season he was having before he got here; did he project to do as well as he did? I am for giving Mel a clean slate to work with. Wouldn’t you if you had to start a new job? It just seemed to me your expectations were too low for him.

 Playing strictly part time and no bump in playing time from a Stewart slump. 300ab’s 2.60 avg. 12dings 18dubs 55rbi. With a protracted Stewart slump; 425ab’s .245avg 18dings 24dubs 65rbi. The only reson I give so many ab’s is he is supposed to back up three infield positions and fight Spilly for right handed ph’s. That number may be high; but Barmes is in a make or break year too. Mel has always been brittle. So EY jr may get some of these ab’s. EY jr still has to prove he can hit too. Either way; even if you think I’m howling at the moon, Mel is a major offensive upgrade from Q. He will consequently get more opportunity. The rest is clubhouse mix and how he perfoms in the clutch.