Ceetar wrote: I get wanting to wish him out of town. I'd still play him but I'd be willing to give those other guys (not Valdespin, Turner) chances too. I'd go with whatever the best chance to win is, as always. But the real important question is why. Even if you don't have a fix, why clears up so much. You'd at least be able to guess if you can fix it or not, if he'll bounce back or not. It allows you to plan. But I'd be as little surprised if he goes 0 for the next 30 as if he goes 15 for the next 30 with 6HR. It's one thing to wish him away to 'work on his swing' but you actually need to know what to work on. (i.e. try to make moves that inflect positive change more than eliminating negative. Release a guy to give someone else a chance. Platoon a guy to try out his partner, not to cut AB for one guy) Does anyone remember something specific that happened last year? Was there any real point we can say "oh, that's what worked?" report of a swing change, energy level, new girlfriend? If I recall he got very feast or famine for a while in June where he was productive but striking out a bazillion times, and then he cut down the strikeouts as well and kept getting on base and mashing. Keith talks about how Ike gets into a wide stance when going bad, like now.....the hitting coach agrees, if I remember correctly in one in game conversation the hitting coach said something to the effect that Ike can be stubborn(didn't use that word I think) and knows he shouldn't go wide but still does........