The better move at this point would be to send Swihart to AAA and let him work some more on his catching skills. Later in the season, Hannigan could be moved to fill a hole.
Cashing a $17 million annual check does cushion the blow of the embarrassment. I worked for a Fortune 100 Company for 30 years and there were a lot of overpaid executive knuckleheads that made atrocious business decisions. I never knew a single one who was embarrassed about being useless. And every one of them was highly proficient regarding maximizing their own compensation. I don't think we should project feelings of shame on Panda.
I don't think we need to extrapolate from one start when we have last year's body of work to look at. This first start just looks like continuation of last year -- lots of pitches up in the zone.
I don't think it is much of a stretch. He replaced the hottest hitter in our lineup and he came up 3 times with men on base and he did nothing. It wouldn't have taken much to tip the scales in a 3-0 game.
If the league took a vote from all the second basemen who played the game, I believe that the new rule would be voted down by a landslide.... and the rule was implemented to protect them. YOTN would you call this irony?