Making the Grade

re-signing Wagner is the immediate No. 1 offseason priority. Remember, he’s the guy who in some ways became a clubhouse leader, called out the team at some point in June or July, said something like, “If anyone thinks we’re a playoff team at this point, they’re fooling themselves.”
How many closers are clubhouse leaders? How many have the standing and are willing to use that standing to call out other guys on the team?

Surprisingly, Lieber turned out to be an all-right guy, 17-13 with a Milton-esque 4.20 era. Lidle is very OK, and Myers started to emerge. Christ, if you could throw a real No. 1 in that crew — any chance Schill wants to finish his career pitching for us? -- that would be a solid pitching staff.

But yes, the nucleus with Utley and Howard and Rollins (if the late-season transformation is real) is really solid. Bobby Abreu has 3 career post-season at bats, I just looked it up. They came in ‘97 for the Astros.

Yes, I think he’s a loser, and I think his attitude is just not a positive one.
Burrell, I’m not completely sold on, one way or the other. Plus, we absolutely have to have right-handed power, so we can’t get rid of him. And Lieberthal, well, he just sucks.