Mike Fornieles would like to discuss this further! (He, I see, began his career as a starter, but in the last six or seven years, late 50s--that's when I followed him--he pitched exclusively in relief.). And yes Ryne Duran was a hoot!
If you're rebuilding, build around your best players, not around your worst. As even the Texas announcers say,
what's the point of finding, developing, and bringing up players if, when they turn into stars, you don't try to retain them.
I'm not sure what "defensive indifference" to a batter getting to first would refer to and how it's different from a FC. Maybe: runner on third with winning run, batter hits weak ground ball to pitcher, who just runs the guy back to third? thus 'indifferent' to the guy getting to first? Seems to me like a classic FC--the defense COULD have gotten the hitter out at first, but CHOSE to focus on something else. I can't think of a case where a fielder would be indifferent to hitter getting to first, which is the same as being 'indifferent' to an out: and that is never really the case, is it?
How about adding: striking out to end the ninth in a tie game, and ending up at second to start the tenth? (Change question to 'reach base'). And sure: coming in as a pinch runner at first AB (reg. player gets beaned), is probably no rarer than catcher interference.
Yeah, and why do we have laws against murder, since they don't prevent murder? Also why have any traffic laws, since they don't prevent speeding or running stop signs?
And once you fire the umps, exactly who are you going to replace them with? No matter who you put there, in every game, 50% of the fans will feel they were screwed.
I always turn the sound off when music comes on: S.C. is one of the worst. Close behind the SSpBanner. But the absolute worst, particularly when you're at the park and everyone expects you to stand and get all weepy chauvinistic is God Bl A.
Let's just call these guys what they are (or will be, once Bloom gets rid of Bogey, Devers and JD): our "core." Just think how formidable they will be when joined by the boat-load of untested prospects we are so excited about getting.