When Gilkey was a Met, I said "throw out 1997 and Gilkey's career numbers are pretty much identical to that Williams guy from the team across town". Then he was traded from a team with a pitcher's park to a team with a hitter's park and now I'm still saying "throw out 1997 and 1998 and his numbers are pretty much identical to the other Bernie".

Fortunately, Gilkey's lackluster performance in Arizona last season allowed me to leave him unprotected for the draft this year and still pick him back up in the late rounds (after filling in a few holes).

NOTE: This strategy does not always work. See: Jason Christiansen and Wil Cordero.

At any rate, in the offseason Gilkey had laser eye surgery that has rejuvenated many other careers and I was willing to take a chance. The first couple of weeks of the season were proving me right, and then Tony "my OBP is less than Gilkey's BA" Womak came off the DL and took his job. Buck, what are you thinking, man???

Update 6/7/1999:Gilkey was released this week. My opinion of him has not changed, but unfortunately, my opinion has no effect whatsover on Buck's lineup card. Gilkey's salary is way too high for a bench warmer (at least for me, obviously not for Buck).