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Bill · 03-11-2003, 10:41 PM

I considered starting a thread with a BB update yesterday but figured I'd wait another week to see if he keeps it up. I've been following the Hafner-BB race closely. BB did not play winter ball as he usually does but stayed home and worked out as Cleveland suggested. He lost some fat and added some muscle. Reports are that both his bat and footspeed have improved this spring.

Shapiro has stated that he wants both of them to play everyday which suggests one may end up in Buffalo which seems a waste. I do think that BB is in their long-term plans though and they see Hafner taking over the DH role once Burks is moved. Hafner is having a good ST too with the bat but he has not been as impressive at 1B.

If a trade could be worked out with Cleveland, it should not be for BB but rather one of their LHP- Lee, Tallet, Traber or even Stanford. Yet I don't see Shapiro having much interest in what the Reds have to offer. At 3B, it appears Shapiro is pleased with Casey Blake (who is killing the ball) until Smith, Whitney or Peralta are ready (afterall he did let Chapman and MacDougall go). They are also pretty well stocked with OFs whom are impressing this spring too.

03-11-2003, 10:41 PM	#9
Bill Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,267	I considered starting a thread with a BB update yesterday but figured I'd wait another week to see if he keeps it up. I've been following the Hafner-BB race closely. BB did not play winter ball as he usually does but stayed home and worked out as Cleveland suggested. He lost some fat and added some muscle. Reports are that both his bat and footspeed have improved this spring. Shapiro has stated that he wants both of them to play everyday which suggests one may end up in Buffalo which seems a waste. I do think that BB is in their long-term plans though and they see Hafner taking over the DH role once Burks is moved. Hafner is having a good ST too with the bat but he has not been as impressive at 1B. If a trade could be worked out with Cleveland, it should not be for BB but rather one of their LHP- Lee, Tallet, Traber or even Stanford. Yet I don't see Shapiro having much interest in what the Reds have to offer. At 3B, it appears Shapiro is pleased with Casey Blake (who is killing the ball) until Smith, Whitney or Peralta are ready (afterall he did let Chapman and MacDougall go). They are also pretty well stocked with OFs whom are impressing this spring too. Last edited by Bill; 03-12-2003 at 02:12 AM.