The Hard Line According To Smizik

[3-2 Changeup]

Can you say hopeless?

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/columnists/20020519smizik3.asp

[GiveHyzduashot]

That basically was a good article. But I disagreed with a couple of Smizik's points.

Although the early signs in center field from Chad Hermansen have been encouraging, his minor-league record indicates he is not up to the job offensively. His brief trials with the Pirates suggest he's not up to it defensively

What minor league numbers? The minor league numbers where he hit 60 homers in two seasons at AAA? Or the minor league numbers where he hit for both average AND power during the last week of his rehab assignment?

In any case, how can Smizik say Hermansen won't continue this pace based on his minor league numbers? That's pretty assinine.

As far as defense. What? Hermansen has been just about perfect in centerfield. Has he committed one error yet? I don't think he has. If he did, I don't remember it.

Dave Williams and Jimmy Anderson, with lifetime losing records, probably are(available for trade), but they wouldn't bring much in return.

That sentence makes it sound like Williams has been up in the big leagues for five seasons and hasn't had one good season yet. He was a rookie last year for goodness sakes. A majority of the rookies don't put up a winning record.

Besides that, Williams had a 3.71 ERA. That is very good for a rookie, especially one who never pitched in AAA and only had a month's worth of experience at AA.

I'd say Williams could get a decent return, especially since he is a lefty.