their better is better than our better

That's just how it is. Now. Bowker played first without making a fool of himself. Velez only ran us out of one inning, but started a sparkling DP. Burriss was fine and got the other kid a day off. Just one more step to getting him at third in place of Castillo and we'll have all our kids in the lineup. Tell me why not. Tell me they'll do worse than any other players from this roster.

Remember the terrible, terrible '96 season? Marvin Benard, William Van Launching Pad and 94 losses? Traded Matt Williams for Jeff Kent and finished first in '97. Can't be done without a player like Bonds on the club, but the point: tell me Aurilia, Castillo, Bengie, and Winn are going to be here next year. One of the kid pitchers probably has to go, too. But what can we get and how much better will we be?

Tonight our 0-4 is up against their 4-0. Not too likely that we'll win, is it? But maybe one of the kids lucky enough to get into the lineup will do something worth noting and remembering when it comes time to make up next year's roster. I'll just read about it in the morning.