And it’s true, as long as we are close to the leaders, we have a chance. Webb isn’t going 32-0, all their hitters are going to stay over 850 OPS, and Andruw Jones will drag down the Dodgers because they need to play him.

A manager who goes out and publicly say, “You know, we are not that good really, some great parts, but we are just mediocre,” will either be canned immediately by the owners or, after the customers leave in droves, be canned by the owners when sales drop precipitously.

And Castillo is a solution. He doesn’t have Feliz defense, but his OPS is nearly 50 point higher and his OBP is nearly 20 points higher. Plus, Sabean said 3B has a solution. Aurilia has played 3B the past two nights, maybe it is the combo of the two that is the solution.

And again, solution. I’ll agree with you that he is not a long-term solution, not a great solution, but you must admit that he is a solution. At minimum, he is hitting better than the 3B we had the last two seasons, that solves a problem there.

And you left out the context. Here is what Sabean said next, “Between what people thought of us and how we’re actually performing, I think these guys have a lot to be proud of.”

And there is. Positives going forward is Vizquel much improved hitting over Bocock, Zito being half decent, and Lewis, Bowker, and Burriss have been nice surprises, and Ortmeier has done well in the thankless “we’ll use you when we feel like it” role that many young bench players struggle with.

Here’s a negotiating tip: you will get more in return when the other side wants something that you want to hold on to. If you publicly tell everyone that we are dumping players, you just cut the value you are going to get from anyone inquiring about your player. It is just good management practice.

You say that you are going in a new direction AFTER you did the deal, not before. You have more negotiating leverage that way.