Roch:
I think that is honestly the opening day lineup right there...

I have to agree with what Baron says: this team hasn’t been torn down yet. Partially so, but not completely. The team is still stuck with burdensome contracts such as Jay Payton, Jay Gibbons, Aubrey Huff, and Melvin Mora, and Brian Roberts still hasn’t been dealt yet. Luis Hernandez might make the team as shortstop, but really we’re still without a shortstop. Things are still very much in transition, if the team continues to head down this path of rebuilding and there are more changes in store.

I think Trembley has quite a job on his hands. Not only will he have to cobble together a lineup and pitching rotation of relatively inexperienced players, he’ll also have to keep some sense of purpose for a team that could very well still see a lot of overhaul during the season, including its best veteran player being dealt, while also losing a bunch of games and being buried in last place.

The only comfort here is not much is expected of this team. If they lost 100 games, I don’t think anyone would be surprised and we couldn’t seriously fault Trembley for the end record given what he’ll have to work with. If this team won 70 or more games, though, it would be a major success (that’s setting a low bar, isn’t it?).

I predict 66-96, fifth place. The team will be bad but not as outright dreadful as some think. 96 losses, though, would be quite dreadful enough.

Trembley seems to be quickly becoming a manager that points out the obvious. I'm still just baffled by his willingness to just hand over the starting SS job to Hernandez. The guy played well LAST YEAR in only a hand full of games, how exactly does that earn the right to start this year after a TERRIBLE spring. As much as I hate to say it, professional sports is a "what have you done for me lately" business, and in this case I support that position. Luiz needs to go to the minors to work out some things before we can trust him in the major leagues. We are not talking about Jeter here, if he was having a terrible spring and was still the starting SS on opening day everyone would be ok with that, because he has actually proven himself at the major league level. Im exhausted of talking about Gibbons and how he also has "earned" a spot on this team after having a good season 4 or 5 years ago (shows how long ago it was, I can't even remember). Trembley wants everyone to work on the basics (running out an infield hits, etc), yet he doesn't practice the basics of coaching. The players that give you the best chance to win, play! Not sure what is going on, but this rebuilding is not what I pictured.

Hey did anyone see this:

The St. Petersburg Times reports that the Rays are interested in acquiring an outfielder and could be willing to trade Edwin Jackson or Jason Hammel in order to get one.

Let's send them Jay Payton and pick up one of these young pitchers. We'll see how happy Jay is in Tampa.

There is the starting lineup we should see almost every day. Let's see how they hit today.

I still say grab one of the 3 known available SS that have ML experience. None would block anyone's path to a position (the O's have no "phenom" waiting to play SS) , all 3 could be had for 1 year, & none are grossly expensive. Why they don't do this & let Hernandez play a full year at AAA is mystifying.... Solid SS play is a must for a young pitching staff.

It sounds like maybe Jones has been watching tape of Mora's ABs from last year....

So minus DCab this could be our opening day line-up. We will see how it goes.

It is spring training. He is probably just practicing bunting for a base hit.

Could this be the regular starting lineup, including Fahey at SS? It seems like he had the better spring than L. Hernandez did.

Either way, it could be a long, long season. There will be times of excitement, but I regret to predict, they will be few and far between. They will grow and develop and maybe, just maybe, another year or so they will bring us a competitive team.