Actually none of this. That veteran presence shit is so overrated, and is his value to the team. HE'S GOT TO GO!

We basically agree on everything, but this we simply do not. His LH bat as a PH is what we need at times off the bench or against some pitchers he has a solid history against. His presence in the locker room with younger players who have never been in a playoff chase is very valuable. His call of a players only meeting after only being here for a week caught the attention of the younger players where as it was delivered by a guy that has taken on the role of team leader in the dugout, somebody that who is a player, not a coach, that has been in playoff games and chase's before.

It's called, leadership. Shields has provided it to the younger pitchers. Gordon to the younger players on defense, plus his bat along with Butler. Ibanez has provided it to the role bench & players as well as dugout / locker room.

It is what it is, anybody should be able to see this. Coaches in any sport likes the right mix of veterans & younger players, as well as guys that do the dirty work, guys who lead by example with everything they do.

Let Willingham play more RF.

No doubt about it, but Willingham needs more plate appearances, no freaking way he should be any lower that 3rd or 4th in the line up.

Finally a lineup I agree with

Alternate theory: Young players naturally improve. I do not believe the rest of our starting pitchers would have done worse if Shields was not here. Same with outfield and Gordon.

These guys are just really good players. They are not coaches or mentors who teach others how to play baseball. Cain, Dyson, Duffy, etc are all grown-ass men who have been playing baseball their whole lives.

How can I see this game besides actually going to the K? Is there a stream?

Never mind, found it on FS1

Tonight is a must win, especially with Ventura out tomorrow night.

tomorrow's GDT needs to have an oasis flavor to it

Improve, hell yeah, they have to or get shipped out. They have to learn how to not only perform, but to train daily, prepare themselves daily mentally as well. How to take care of themselves, go about the daily non-baseball stuff so that it doesn't interfere with with their performance on the field.

Puppies are wild and radical until they hang out with older dogs!

Am I the only one who thinks Willingham should be batting 3rd on the lineup? That batting 6th or 7th is a perfect fit ?

Nuts! Nuts I say, just plain nutty!

Actually, puppies don't learn how to mellow themselves by hanging out with older dogs, they learn that from their Master's.

Master Ned ?

Come on now, everybody knows you can teach a new dog a new trick, not so much old dogs, they already know them.;)