-> DG> True, wasn't McGriff amongst the 1997 league leaders in GIDP
-> DG> (grounding into double plays)??
-> Yes.
People who hit into too many DPs don't help.. Ugh.
-> Age, and in the case of last year, going from a hitters' park to a
-> park that is neutral at best.
On the contrary, I just don't think he's been the same at all since the 1994 
strike season.... And mind you, McGriff played in some terrible hitter's 
parks and still would put up 35 HR a season (like Jack Murphy and the first 
season in the Skydome, when it was a terrible hitter's park)
-> DG> who's playing SS in 1998?? BELLIARD?!?),
-> Walt Weiss, unfortunately.
*sigh* I think they would be better off with Belliard. At least he would cost 
them less, and I actually do LIKE Belliard.
-> Losing Steve Avery when they did was a very wise thing.  How long do
-> you want to hang on to a guy who's performing terribly, just because
-> he's still fairly young and was once good?  Avery's arm is shot, 28
-> or not. Would you rather have him than Denny Neagle?
What's to say they shouldn't have left him around as the fifth starter, 
considering that no matter how "good" the Braves have been in the 1990's, 
they have never had a fifth starter... Avery may no longer be ace material, 
but he could be a terrific #5 starter if he ever got it together.....
--- DB 1.39/003705
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