. . .the manager from our view.  However we have to consider matchups, who is available to pinch hit , and who is available to play in the field.  We also must consider who is hot and not hot.  As armchair managers, we don't have the instant information or assistant coaches to help.  Just because the decision doesn't work out doesn't mean it was not the best option at the time.  

games that are nail-bitingly close and that have the potential for extra innings don't call for late substitutions when your depth is lacking.  

When Bradley/Kotsay/DJ come back, I think Geren will be more inclined to make the changes.  

Then again, if Kielty is playing instead of Stewart, I have no problem letting Kielty play the entire game.  Geren might prefer giving up one AB late in the game than having Stewart's noodle arm be involved in any decisions.  

In that situation, you had a right-handed reliever with the bases loaded, one out, winning run at 3rd, and all the batter has to do is to put the ball in play - since we had a fast runner at 3rd (Buck) going on contact, anything other than a come-backer to the mound or a liner (on the fly) to an infielder will probably win the game.  Even granted that Kielty has worse numbers batting from the left side, percentages would say that a lefty-batter "sees" the ball better out of the hand of a righty-pitcher and is less likely to strikeout.  And indeed Kielty did not strikeout, he put the ball in play, and we won the game.  Others may argue with this but it was Geren's decision and it worked, we won. :)  Now, in the other situations I think it may have been as you suggest, because Bradley was unavailable and thus our options on the bench were limited.  In an extra-innings game, for example, as the home team you have no guarantee that you are going to win the game in the bottom of the inning even if you have good opportunity to do so - thus you have to consider the possibility of the game going on indefinitely {having to continue to play defense infefinitely}.  So you have to keep a backup outfielder, infielder, catcher if you can. :)

If we stay near .500 thru May, I would settle for another 48-10 run in June thru August! :)  But that is just a dream right now, that 2005 hot streak of .800 ball through the summer may not be repeated in my lifetime ..

.. his lifetime is still at .300 - which {i think} gives Nico hope that he won't still be hitting on the interstate by the year's end? (profile)

he is not going to hit .150 for the year.  He will hit .280/.330/.330, which will lead many people on this site to say he should be extended because he's gritty, has magical defensive qualities, and is a .300 lifetime hitter that hit "almost .300" this year.  Thankfully, Beane will listen to none of them and Kendall will be gone.  

He will be better than .150 though.

Why doesn't Melhuse get the chance to play 2 or 3 times a week...I'm not sure that Kendall is that better defensively that Melhuse shouldn't be playing especially right now when the offense is struggling so badly.  He provides pop that Kendall can't and right now it is desperately needed.

The team era will rise (particularly the starters), but I feel confident because the hitters are farther below expected performance than the pitchers are above expected performance.  I am loving the fact that we are tied with the Angels at this point.

.. awesome talent but like our pitcher Rich Harden, seemingly made of glass or china .. easily broken and doesn't heal quickly when broken ..

I dont love his fastball that topped out at 85 yestereday

.. in the interleague games .. {grin}

I absolutely loved his first two starts, such typical Zito outings.

He'll have his usual season with tons of walks, something like a 13-11 record, and an ERA of over 4

$126 million HAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAH

the worst contract in the history of sport.  hopefully the giants will be begging somebody to take it off their hands (which nobody will)

because moneyball isn't defined by guys who can hit HRs and draw walks.  

a AAAA player.