Shapiro's biggest mistake wasn't trading Robbie Alomar, it was signing Ricky Gutierrez for three years and Matt Lawton for four years.

I fully supported Matt Lawton's signing, I thought he got a little bit too much money, about 5 million too much, but for 30 stolen bases plus his OBP and decent BA and power, I thought he was a good acquisition.

However, if Shapiro could have traded Robbie Alomar for strictly free agents, here is what I would have done from that moment on.


Sign Enrique Wilson real cheap for either second or as a utility player, keep Omar at short, put Branyan at third, Thome at first, Einar Catching.

Roberts in center, Bradley in left, Garcia in Right.

Bench would have been Travis, Johnny Mac, (interchangeable with Enrique), Jolbert Cabrera, Eddie Perez.

My other alternative was Pokey Reese, I figure a gold glover with speed can turn it around with the proper hitting coach.

Would this team have had a better season, perhaps only marginally, perhaps a .500 team.

However, look at how unrestricted we would have been in the payroll department!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 15, 2002 10:57 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>