Borders out, Wiki in
Dave · July 29, 2005 at 3:41 pm · Filed Under Mariners
The M’s have designated Pat Borders for assignment and recalled Wiki Gonzalez from Tacoma.
Expect it to be the first of several moves in the next 30 hours.
Comments
81 Responses to “Borders out, Wiki in”
This is kind of a surprise. Though, I guess it makes sense.Borders did the job he was expected to do. I have nothing but respect for the guy. I hope he does end up in the org. somewhere. I hope at the very least that Borders had an idea this was coming.
I guess the Twins may be shedding a veteran second baseman. Maybe we should pick him up…We could probably get him cheap. hehehe
Re 18: it would be especially awesome if his middle name was “Pedia.” if only.
50 – Oh, my god, you are such a nerd.
I laughed.
Chan Ho PArk traded to the PAdres for Phil Nevin. This time Nevin has no say in it (since Texas wasn’t on his list), but interestingly, Park has to waive HIS no trade clause.
Did we ever get PTBNL for Boone?
I just sacrificed several small animals, some hummus and a six-pack of Alaskan Amber to the baseball gods for a Manny Ramirez deal. I know it won’t happen but the thought of having a player of his caliber in our lineup is pleasing.
Truthfully, at this point I’ll take just about any starting pitcher we can get. Things look bleak for the next 60 games, the off-season and 2006 unless something gets done.
Texas finally gets out from under The Worst Contract of All Time! The Contract That Destroyed a Franchise! Nevin must really have sunk low to only be worth Chan Ho Park. Ugh.
Not that we need a Phil Nevin, but if that’s what Park can bring, Meche ought to be worth something. He’s ten times the pitcher Park is (which isn’t saying much).
RE: #54 – you must have sacrificed the wrong animals??
ESPN The Magazine senior writer Buster Olney has confirmed there are ongoing talks for a possible three-way trade that would send Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez to the Mets, who would also acquire closer Danys Baez from the Devil Rays.
The other components of the deal would see the Red Sox acquiring outfielder/designated hitter Aubrey Huff and outfielder Mike Cameron, and the Devil Rays getting two prospects apiece from the Mets and Red Sox.
The prospects include right-hander Yusmeiro Petit and outfielder Lastings Milledge from the Mets and catcher Kelly Shoppach and right-hander Anibal Sanchez from the Red Sox.
I don’t see the Sox giving up Manny and two top prospects to get Cameron and Huff. Sounds bogus.
Catcher has now joined the list of positions the Mariners can no longer fill with average or above average major league talent. For years it was left field. In fact, the last left fielder to start two consecutive opening days… Darren Bragg. Ibanez and Winn have seemingly stopped the bleeding in left, but now we have major wounds at short, second and catcher. Third base has been awful, eventhough I loved the Beltre signing. I think he will still be average or better, but maybe not as good as his contract.
I remember thinking that if we could just have a league average LF, we would be a dynasty. This roster has more gaps than solid spots.
Pat Borders is a great guy, and he will land on his feet. He’s been grooming himself to manage a team (that’s one reason he doesn’t mind being in the minors), and it’s likely we’ll see him working his way up the minors in that capacity if he can’t land another job as a player.
My only concern is overpopulation. Every time he’s away from baseball, it seems like he has another kid.
Wiki’s in the lineup tonight hitting 9th, Betancourt at 2B 8th, and the rest as usual. No WFB, yay.
Who would block a trade from Arlington Texas to San Diego? If I was Chan Ho, I would be hard pressed to take the time to clean out my locker. I would just run to the nearest cross street, grab a cab to the airport, buy some clothes when I got to SD. Especially as it gets close to August.
In other news, the Texas Rangers traded Chan Ho Park to the San Diego Padres for Phil Nevin . . . http://sportsline.com/mlb/story/8687697
Question: The story states that the Padres plan on moving Xavier Nady over to first base. Why? If anyone should be moved from the outfield to first base over in San Diego, it’s ought to be either Mark Sweeney or Ryan Klesko. Of course, if nothing else, the Padres got rid of an oft-injured cancer in Nevin while receiving a decent #5 starter and some cash, so the deal was fairly solid.
Winn’s VORP is only .08 better than Beltre’s. We’re currently lousy or worse than lousy at every spot except 1B, DH, and RF — the three easiest spots to fill, coincidentally. We have PROMISE at other positions, like CF, SS, and 3B, but no results yet.
Oh, and our entire rotation. Hmm, yes, we have a few holes.
In what sense of the word “decent” does Chan Ho Park fit the bill? He’s not just below average, he’s below replacement. He’s worse this year than any of our starters except Pineiro, with a VORP equal to — ta da! — Matt Thornton. And this is a GOOD year for him.
But he gets paid like a superstar. I wonder if San Diego’s going to carry the salary too.
#4: Or do they need a catcher at AAA and were not happy with Rivera?
Wiki’s line at San Antonio since he returned to the Missions:
AB …. 78
AVG … 0.205
OBP … 0.222
SLG … 0.269
OPS … 0.491
Re #28, #32, et al
I agree completely. For me, watching this bad, boring baseball team, well, Pat Borders was a highlight. I love the whole ‘Crash Davis’ aura he’s got about him, and the fact that he can still catch, at age 42, after being in baseball for about a million years. My knees ache just thinking about it. The HR was cool, and to be completely honest, his ABs are ‘not-to-be-missed’events, much like Ichiro’s, Doyle’s, and (now), Betancourt’s. Even if he struck out, it was just cool seeing a guy that old taking his hacks.
What I was REALLY waiting for was for him to get in an argument with the home-plate umpire. ‘That was a c!@$ucking call.’ ‘Did you call me a c@#$ucker?’ ‘No, I said it was a c@#$ucking call.’ ‘Go ahead, call me a c@#$ucker.’ ‘You’re a c@#$ucker.’ ‘You’re outta here!’
Best of luck in Tacoma, Pat, and I can’t wait to see you managing someday (or coaching pitchers).
Oh, man, those ‘mailto’ links were totally unintentional, and quite funny.
Park will look better just by getting out of the AL and in particular away from the launch pad in Arlignton.
Wiki’s line at San Antonio since he returned to the Missions:
You mean Rivera, right?
#69: duhh…. Yeah, #65 should be Rivera.
Anyway, much more in line with the rest of Rivera’s career.
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Ugh, they sent down the wrong catcher.
Borders was always one of my favorites. Does this mean he’s pretty much done now?
Too bad.
Interestingly, Hargrove was quite candid in the pre-game. Instead of saying that the team wanted to give Miguel Olivo a shot to play more or that they needed to get a look at Wiki, Hargrove flat out said that Borders was getting tired cause he’s 42 years old — “he’s an anomanly in our game”. After Hargrove said that, Matt Morrison came back and said “And Wiki’s been tearing it up at Triple-A” — Hargrove didn’t add a word…
I was impressed by that as well, 73. One of the best times I have heard Hargrove talk. Normally I don’t bother to listen because he doesn’t say anything.
Borders did exactly what he was brought in to do. Be a serviceable catcher. Not light up the scoreboard but give the pitchers someone they could throw to with confidence.
He was also good for a soundbite. I remember when the M’s called him up last year he said of his wife and kids “I don’t even tell them when I get called up anymore. I just let them read it in the box score and than call me all pissed off that I didn’t tell them.”
Yeah I remember weird things. Leave me alone.
I thought that was exactly the case with Olivo: that they were ready to dump him in Chicago because they didn’t like his attitude.
Wrong, Scraps. Olivio has earned rave reviews from the M’s organization on his work ethic. And the improvement in his defense from ’04 to ’05 shows it.
I have hear the front office blamed for everything, but the grand prize winner is blaming them for ruining Ben Davis. Ben Davis is ruining Ben Davis.
You people in Seattle & Tacoma are very lucky to have been able to watch Pat Borders play. He is nothing but a class act, giving 200% every time out for next to nothing. It would be great if all the young players making the big bucks enjoyed the game as much as he did. I have enjoyed watching Pat playing since he joined the Blue Jays organization and will miss him terribly if this is the end of the line. Any organization would be very grateful to have his experience and expertise to look to. I look forward to watching him coach, I know he’ll make a great one.