EXAMPLE A: WHY ROB DIBBLE IS A MORON

ESPN.com Mon., July 28-
"Jim Bowden always got the better end of the deals he made. He knew how to get other GMs to give up their talent in return for whatever he was offering. He did a great job with the Reds on what was mainly a shoestring budget. His firing was a direct result of an ownership that has no clue how to run a baseball team.

Bowden is also not solely responsible for the Ken Griffey Jr. trade. A few years ago, Griffey was on his way to the Hall of Fame. Now, he'll be lucky to hit 500 home runs in his career. Heck, the Reds built the Great American Ballpark mostly to help Griffey break Hank Aaron's home run record. It's not Bowden's fault the Reds ended up with one of the most fragile players in recent memory."

This is some of the worst 'writing' by an analyst since cavemen were allowed to begin serving on ESPN.

Bowden is to blame for putting a bad product on the field and picking a horrible manager to lead the team. There's not even a lot that can be said that's positive of Bowden.

Bowden can't even be given a lot of kudos for prospects like Austin Kearns and Adam Dunn since everybody has basically the same information prior to the draft in this era. It's not like everybody didn't know these guys were good.

It certainly is Bowden's falult for trading for Ken Griffey, Jr and signing him to a ridiculous deal. It certianly is Bowden's fault for not looking at Griffey's injury history and growing surliness. It's Bowden's fault Barry Larkin didn't find his way out via trade sometime in the mid-1990's. It is Bowden's fault they had to convert Danny Graves from closer to starter to hide Bowden's inability to get a decent pitcher. The list is too long to keep going. Like, why would anyoen want Ken Griffey, Jr when José Guillén is Albert Pujols' twin?

Rob Dibble is a moron and doesn't know how to dress, either.
Oh, speaking of which, the Reds fired Bob Boone.

Which is a shame, since now a few other managers can't point to the Reds and say, "hey, if Bob Boone still has a job, I should keep my job."

Paul DePodesta, pretty please, get a cold, allergic reaction to something. Just don't get on a plane or talk to anyone with the Reds.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the trade market, now. Will the Reds be willing to trade Adam Dunn, finally? Is Scott Williamson or Danny Graves available?

The Reds also fired their hitting coach and third base coach whom Boone had brought in.

It ain't exactly classy, but it sends the message home loud and clear. Plus, it's better than what they deserve. The whole lot should be forced to go out before a packed home crowd in Cincinatti and apologize...and mean it

Boone might end up in Florida next year to kill any hope Marlins fans have developed. Jack McKeon is getting crankier by the minute and wants to ruin more young arms.

McKeon: "I don't know. Ask him, he's the one that says this tingles, that tingles. He's already missed, what, a month?"

Tim Spooneybarger: "The only thing he has to say is in the papers. He's a GM now. He's an orthopedic surgeon. He knows it all. I'm pretty ticked off, actually. The guy's going to tell me I'm not hurt?"

McKeon: "All I know is the one MRI he had here, they said it was fine. It's out of my hands. Why should he be ticked off at me? I'm not putting him where he is. I have nothing to do with him being laid out now."

Spooneybarger: "He said the MRI was fine. He learned to read MRIs? I didn't know that. I thought he was the manager. I didn't know he was a doctor. I got the best orthopedic surgeon in the country telling me I'm hurt and take time. If I have surgery, there's a 15-percent chance I'll never throw again. Do I listen to (the doctor) or do I listen to (McKeon), who probably has two months left in his career?"

Yah, that Florida franchise knows what it's doing alright. Maybe they should trade for another closer and have him set up Uggi Urbina who sets up for the dominant Bradan Looper.