I don’t even know that we need to read between the lines.

I didn’t bite my tongue (when the doctor scratched me last night). I got my point across. I wasn’t very happy about it. There’s probably more stuff going on here than anyone understands. It is what it is, brother. We’ve got good chemistry on this team, so I’m not going to sit here and bring this clubhouse down or this organization down. But I am not very happy at all.

I don’t dislike Ryan Freel, I just think he had no place on this team with Wiggy and Andino here.

As I was formatting mine.

Please delete the Fan Shot, SC.

Since it’s so good.

I think change is good for people. I think the expectations were for me to come here and perform in a different way than I did. I don’t think I met the expectations the way I did in spring training. There is nothing wrong with change. I don’t think I fit here. I can’t control what they do with me. It’s putting a damper on my career.

I hope Ryan Freel gets what he wants.
he gets hurt all the time
I think there’s a role for him on most teams, but now that Andino is around I don’t see what he adds for us.
he’s getting pretty old
I’ve defended his being on the team, but clearly it’s not working out.
we’ll get back a PTBNL
Someone will want a speedy, versatile dude that can get on base.
he’s like Jay Payton but with a crappier ’tude

I think it’s time for you to take your cash to the bank and quit complaining about your role on the team.

That said, he did kind of get the shaft with the acquisition of Pie and then Andino.

But seriously… four million bucks to be a utility guy. How did that happen in the first place?

for a chance to find a “better situation”

No, didn’t think so.

He wants more playing time but so does every other bench player in the league. The hard part as a manager is making everybody happy, but in this case Freel doesn’t have anything to complain about. Like others have said, hes not that productive at this point in his career. Its sad because most players can’t understand that their skills diminish as they get older and young players are always going to be given the edge over old players.

… if he didn’t want to play more. Athletes don’t push themselves to that level by accepting a bench role. It can’t be easy to go to the park every night knowing that you have almost no chance of playing. At least in the NL they might run out of players at some point in a battle of attrition.

Having said that, it is a tough situation for him here, with so many others on the depth chart. Really, there’s no good solution.

Unfortunately he is more suited for the National league. Those bench guys usually enter the game every night in some capacity. With the pitcher hitting he gets to pinch hit in later innings or run for someone. I was not sold on him because of his poor performance at spring training . I never doubted his dedication and effort. I wish him well in the National league when they do make a trade.

this is a big reason why shit like batting average has stuck around so long as a go to stat. You get not particularly valuable players – and their agents – like Freel, who use a .270 batting average to buttress both their egos and their arguments that they’re real deal Big League players. It’s sad.