I'm glad you like Paul and I think he's a great addition to the group. Let me just address a couple of things...
Maybe because I'm inside of it, I have trouble seeing it from outside, however, I often wonder how people come to certain conclusions, or maybe I should say that I get confused as to how many people don't come to the right conclusion. While I haven't discussed it, last Summer's Saratoga shows had these groupings....
Greg and Mig on the roof, Maggie in the paddock/Winner's Circle, Gabby and/or Tom and I in the paddock set. Given that Paul is filling Mig's spot, why would people expect he and I to be on the set together in Saratoga? Given that we perform very similar functions, doesn't it make even more sense that we would be separate? Don't get me wrong, I would be happy to share a desk with Paul, and imagine I will at some point in the future, but based on last year, if there was a betting line, I would say we are 1:9 to be on separate studio desks in Saratoga.
Now that we have that out of the way
let's move on to the group of substitutes you mentioned...let me be clear, I like all of them, and enjoy working with all of them, however, they have only filled in during shows where someone was absent ( which happens fairly rarely ). The only reason you have seen more of them lately is because Mig left. The only reason you saw some of them during the last week of Belmont last year, and will again this week, is because I take this week off. None of them were on a single Saratoga Live episode last year. We are fortunate to have talented people like them to fill in on short notice, but they aren't being "left out of the equation" as their roles were to fill-in if needed.
OK...I feel better. See everyone in Saratoga.