Big Board Update

JMB · January 26, 2005 at 3:55 pm · Filed Under Mariners 

I just updated the Big Board, including the signing of Yuniesky Betancourt.

Please remember not to put any stock in player placement below the major league level. In some ways, this update is less valuable than the one I did a month ago; since that time, I moved some minor leaguers around, didn’t move others, made a few guesses, etc. In other words, some guys are where we think they’ll be in 2005, and some are still where they ended 2004.

Anyway, the Big Board right now is valuable in that you can see who’s in the organization, who’s on the 40-man roster, and (new! new!) who’s not on the 40-man but getting an invite to spring training. Those players — Felix Hernandez, Benji Gil, Adam Jones, etc. — are shaded yellow for your convenience.

As always, leave a comment if you see something amiss.

Update: Added RHP Aaron Sele and his NRI, made P Nate Bland a lefty, made 1B Daniel Schwab a lefty, moved IF Jose Lopez from Seattle to Tacoma and replaced him with IF Justin Leone.

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Comments

19 Responses to “Big Board Update”

  1. David J Corcoran on January 26th, 2005 4:16 pm

    Do you think Reichert is going to be as low as AA? Wouldn’t they put Evert, who has struggled tremendously v. AAA down in AA?

  2. JMB on January 26th, 2005 4:19 pm

    (Geez, gotta remember I’m not a comment spammer)

    DJC,

    I should also have added that some players are where they are because that’s where they fit on the page. 🙂

    jason

  3. David J Corcoran on January 26th, 2005 4:24 pm

    Got it. I would, however, swap Leone and Lopez on the big league bench.

  4. ray on January 26th, 2005 4:28 pm

    Guttermon (spelling?)? How could forget Guttermon? He only dazzaled them down in Venezuela or wherever he was. An there has been a couple of articles on him. I believe he was invited to spring training too.

  5. GTB on January 26th, 2005 4:47 pm

    Aren’t you forgetting Sele?

    Or maybe that’s on purpose…

  6. Evan on January 26th, 2005 4:59 pm

    Good point. The only reason we have Reese is to stop us burning Lopez’s service time, and time passes just as quickly on the bench as it does for starters.

  7. J on January 26th, 2005 5:14 pm

    Guttormson actually wasn’t invited to ST. Not too happy about that personally.

    The only other thing that seems off is that Daniel Schwab (1B, bench, SA) is a left-handed batter. Also, Nate Bland (SP, IE) is a left-handed pitcher. Everything else appears to be in order.

    Good stuff.

  8. jackson argo on January 26th, 2005 6:00 pm

    Where’s Snr. Aaron Sele (aka Mr. Silly according to my 4 year old niece)?

  9. paul mocker on January 26th, 2005 6:14 pm

    What is the importance of a spring training invitation? Does it impact the 40-man roster somehow? Thanks in advacne for answering my questions.

  10. JMB on January 26th, 2005 9:39 pm

    OK guys, I think I got everything. I even swapped Leone and Lopez as DJC suggested, though I wonder if it’ll be an outfielder like Strong instead.

    jason

  11. David J Corcoran on January 27th, 2005 6:22 am

    I would like to think Leone, but Strong usually does really well in ST, so who knows.

  12. David J Corcoran on January 27th, 2005 6:41 am

    Re 9:

    No. It merely invites a player to spring training. You can have as many or as few invites as you want.

  13. Adam S on January 27th, 2005 9:10 am

    I’m not sure it will be either. With Spiezio and Bloomquist*, it seems Leone would spend a lot of time on the bench. Likewise Strong seems wasted as a 5th OF. Seems both would benefit from playing everyday at Tacoma. I think they’re looking for late cut or unsigned FA who can PH and play OF.

    * Not that Bloomquist is a lock, but there’s utility IF slot between Bloomquist, Guttierez, Santiago, M Lopez, and the two other “veterans” they invited to camp.

  14. Evan on January 27th, 2005 9:44 am

    Tampa Bay, not too long ago, invited like 54 players to spring training.

  15. David J Corcoran on January 27th, 2005 10:39 am

    Assuming an 11-man staff, one spot would go to Wilson, one to Willie, one to Spiezio, one to Bucky, and one to some scrub. That scrub should probably be able to play the outfield and middle infield. Leone is t he only guy we got that can do that. Actually, a recently released fellow in the Kansas City organization whose bat was starting to come around named Luis Ugueto would have been a perfect fit. Strong’s career is likely as a reserve outfielder, Quinton McCracken II with more speed.

  16. ajp on January 27th, 2005 12:49 pm

    I was under the impression that Strong is a pretty good defensive CF. If so, I think he would be my choice for end-o-the-bench.

    Defensive sub, pinch runner, and, who knows, maybe he will hit & walk enough to play as a 4th OF. He certainly can’t hit any worse than wee-Willie.

  17. JMB on January 27th, 2005 1:37 pm

    My take on Strong is that he has good enough range for center, given his tremendous speed, but his arm… if you’re down on Randy Winn’s arm, you won’t like Strong’s much, either.

    jason

  18. David J Corcoran on January 27th, 2005 2:36 pm

    And maybe, if Strong can win the Designated “Clutch” Runner job, they will realize Willie has no value and bring up Leone as well!

  19. David J Corcoran on January 27th, 2005 4:31 pm

    By the way, Bloomquist still has an option year left, right?