Remaking the team, 2005 edition
Tomorrow’s game could be just as weird as Saturday’s. It’s interesting to look at how unsettled things are. It’s like spring training as we head into August.
What do we have so far, then?
C: Wiki and Torrealba or Ojeda take over, the other reporting to Tacoma, to be joined by Borders, who gets to hang out at home for a while yet before he has to report to Tacoma (or somewhere else, who knows).
1b: No change
2b: Betancourt’s a defensive whiz of a shorstop playing second, while the heir-apparant to the position is back in Tacoma after (again) failing to hit in the majors in another trail, however short.
SS: Morse is still offering decent defense and hitting for a shortstop, but Betancourt’s already pressing for a job, Bloomquist’s squeezing a couple of positions for playing time, and meanwhile the system’s got another batch of middle infielders coming up.
3B: No change
LF: Doyle’s the obvious choice here. He was sent down on July 26th, though, which means unless someone goes on the DL with some random ailment (which may well happen), he can’t get called up until the end of next week. This may offer the team a chance to play Bloomquist the Ignitor a lot of playing time.
CF: No change, though if Bloomquist’s in left regularly Reed would get to play in those games as well.
RF: No change.
In the meantime, no pitching changes — Foppert heads to Tacoma, replacing King Felix on his promotion. Natanael Mateo’s unlikely to join the bullpen immediately.
But if more trades are in the works, as seems likely, some of this straightens itself out: if Morse is sent somewhere, for instance, Betancourt’s a born shortstop. Catching may sort itself out differently. The bullpen seems likely to be blown up, which could bring up George Sherill, who has deserved a shot at a regular job more than some of these guys.
Going to be a wacky day tomorrow.
Comments
119 Responses to “Remaking the team, 2005 edition”
wacky may not be descriptive enough word for it!
Grover may well have to get really creative with the lineup and bullpen this afternoon…
I can’t wait to see what develops.
2. Creative doesn’t seem like Grover’s long suit. Maybe Bavasi read that comment about Grover liking to use the same lineup card all season long and planned these days to light a fire under the manager’s lazy arse.
I’m excited. Saturday’s trades both seemed like decent moves to me.
I’d like to see Jamie still here tomorrow evening (mainly, but not solely, for sentimental reasons) and Sele won’t be piquing anyone’s interest, but I’d like to see the back of two of the other three – preferably Pineiro with his ballooning 2006 contract.
I’d also like to see Eddie out of here for any return, moreso than Villone. Eddie’s been good, he’s unlikely to stay this good, his option for next year seems very high to me ($6.5M innit?) and he uses a paper doily as a rotator cuff.
Much the same could be said about Villone, but he’ll only cost half as much next year, and his arm won’t fall off.
I haven’t enjoyed being an M’s fan this much since Richie hit that homer on open
ing day.
I am stupid this time of year. Man-oh-Man, if the M’s can squeeze Lester out of the Red Sox (and get Eddie to OK it) I will be happy on many different levels.
6.5mil for Eddie is certainly not high. I’d think a lot of teams would be willing to take that on.
In The News Tribune, Sele is quoted as saying he expects to be released.
I hope “trade insanity” explains all the fiddle-farting around with second and short the last month. At some point, the M’s need to commit to two players for extended trials, as well as to Snelling in left. Just like in ’04, there’s nothing to play for the rest of this year except for the future. Let’s see what it looks like.
The promotion of Betancourt has struck me as . . . odd—unless Morse has a taker. In that case, a week or so for Yunie All-court to get his feet wet makes complete sense before he’s starting at SS for the Big Club. I really like Morse’s approach at the plate: good coverage, goes with the pitch, knows the strike zone, works the count. I’m not convinced he’ll ever hit for much power, but it seems quite certain he can _hit_. And he does handle himself well. That said, he’s still defensively toward the back of the pack of Ms MI prospects, and several other guys manifestly have higher ceilings. 3B or 2B? Other guys ahead of him there, too. I’m not exactly keen to see Mike Morse traded, but yes, he’s at top value now, and maximum value could be extracted in return, especially in a package. It would make a great deal of sense for other teams to be asking about him, too: he can help, now, yet still has some projectability.
It makes complete sense to me that Moyer turned the ‘Stros down, and personally I hope he keeps saying no. Much as I want and expect new talent to come into the organization, Jamie is _the_ team guy, for this club and this town, and I’d like to see him finish his career here, too. . . . And _somebody’s_ got to pitch for the next ten weeks. Nobody’s going to offer what he’s really worth, so swapping him out for a Grade B prospect doesn’t get me going.
Steady Eddie: it’s been good to know yah. If the Ms were contending, he would be absolutely invaluable, untouchable, and he’s an A+ dude. But the ’05 Ms just bow-wow and roll over; he can’t carry this team along with the 3-4 other guys of Major League heft here now. Eddie’s 35. He’s putting a lot of guys on base but pitching out of it; that won’t go on forever. Nobody knows how well he’ll hold up next year. Now, though, he’s a good closer pitching at the top of his form, and the ONLY, ONLY one on the market. Sell (hang ‘em) high, Bill B., there are 4-5 buyers in, several of them division rivals. This is the one that goes down to the wire.
Villone: sell, sell, sell. He’ll go to a contender so it’s good for him, and he’s pitching as well as he possibly can so it’s only downhill from here. Again, multiple takers need him, so as long as what comes back is worth more it’s Trader Joe’s Best Buy.
At this point, it seems as if Pat Borders will be released once he clears waivers. Eventually, come August 5th — which is the date when Chris Snelling can be recalled — it’ll be Wiki Gonzalez and Yorvit Torrealba catching in Seattle, while Ryan Christianson and Miguel Ojeda man the plate in Tacoma.
#8: Has that been written or said anywhere? What’s your source?
I don’t know where you get that. I wouldn’t say anything’s for certain right now. Ryan Christianson’s a bad catcher, and if Tacoma needs a backstop, and he’s willing, then he’ll go there.
Re. #8:
It is my assumption; I should’ve done more than imply it — my apology.
Yeah, this is just like last year. I enjoyed the second half more than the first. No more agonizing over losses and watching the standings. Just enoying baseball. Let the kids play. They don’t know what they can’t do yet, so let’s find out. It’s going to be fun. Sunday though, is going to be nuts.
So is Reed certain for Sunday’s game after smacking the wall?
Could it be they DL him for a while, and put WFB out there and
Doyle in left? Seems like a ready made DL candidate if they wanted
to get Doyle back up in a hurry.
Sunday had better be nuts…
The best feeling I had all year last year was the day they called up Leone and Blackley made his first start… if I recall correctly, he started the game with two strikeouts, and just then, for the first time all year, it seemed to mean something… then Blackley fell apart around the fourth inning, but at least for an instant, I was glad to be a Mariners fan…
(fell apart=gave up a home run)
From today’s Power Rankings by Larry Stone of the Times: “‘Must Love Dogs’ would be good theme for KC Royals’ 2006 season-ticket campaign” and “Rockies believe they’re just 25 players away from contending”
Classic
Could it be they DL him for a while, and put WFB out there and
Doyle in left?
The problem is you’re then out Reed for ~two weeks, which isn’t good. You’re probably better off putting Hansen back on the DL, or Thornton even — someone who won’t be missed.
That sounds meaner than I meant it.
So, What’s going on with Pokey Reese these days? He’s been out so long I nearly forgot the M’s had him.
Sheesh Derek, do you ever sleep? Or is this USSM’s commitment to round-the-clock trade deadline coverage, and when you check out in the wee hours Dave or somebody will be checking in from a more easternly timezone?
What about Gil Meche? Did I miss him getting DLed? Or is the extent of his injury not that bad?
Meche isn’t on the DL…at least not yet.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2002412198_marinotes31.html
he throws a bullpen session today, and if it’s “uneventful”, he starts on Wednesday.
With all the prospect arms each team is seemingly willing to give up to get players at this deadline, we should be in a very good position indeed. Even though we didn’t get Nieve, Guardado should net us a very good prospect arm and maybe even more than that. I’m stoked about what today will bring!
Whatever the day brings, at least we know the current GM is working the phones and trying to make things happen, as opposed to….say….in Canada moving.
I don’t necessarily like the fact they gave up on Olivo so soon, but it seems their hands were forced with so many junk catchers clogging up the roster. Regardless, if that’s my only complaint this weekend, I’ll be an extremely happy camper.
Apparently it will be Jamal Strong joining the M’s today. At least according to the News Tribune. Perhaps he will play center while Reed shakes the cobwebs out? Whatever, it’s long overdue.
A question for Dave on Foppert, posted here so it doesn’t get lost in the thread below–or rather, two questions. First, worst-case scenario: Foppert’s arm doesn’t come back any further than it has, and he has to learn to pitch with the arsenal he has now. What are we looking at, and how much is he likely to contribute (especially compared to Sean Henn, as the name bandied about for Winn)?
Second, what are the odds that he does come most or all of the way back, back to throwing in the mid-to-high 90s with the devastating splitter and slider? I looked him up in my copy of BA’s 2003 Prospect Handbook and it wasn’t hard to see why he was a top-five prospect in all of baseball, hitting 99 on the gun with two plus breaking balls, a promising change and a promising curve, striking out 11.7/9 innings in the PCL, and so on. I know Bavasi et al. are being cautious (“We project him as a #3 starter”), but he clearly had the pitches and the ability to miss bats to be a true #1, and his command seemed to be heading that direction as well. What are the odds that he returns to that kind of form?
If Foppert continues to throw 88-91, he’s probably looking at a career as a Ryan Franklin type swing man. His command will improve, and he’ll have to learn how to pitch without the velocity he once had, and I’d imagine you’ll have a guy with average stuff who pitches to contact and relies on his defense.
I’m not medically qualified to put odds on what his return to previous stuff is, but it seems like most TJ survivors come back near full strength. So, as a WAG, I’d say 75 percent. And if he’s throwing 95 with his slider moving the way it can (his change was pretty rudimentary), I could see him as a Brenden Donnelly type setup guy, a terrific late inning reliever capable of going several innings at a time.
I’m not sure I see Foppert as a starter, unless he’s hitting 98 with regularity, which he wasn’t even before the injuries. I think they’ll leave him in the rotation, but I’d bet that his major league success will come in relief.
Fastball-slider guys can certainly have success in relief; Two pitches is all you need to get through the batting order once.
jason
I am most impressed how Eric Bedard of the Orioles has come back from Tommy John surgery. Last year his velocity returned but his command regressed. But this year he has back his velocity and command. If Foppert could follow anything like the return of Bedard it would be a good thing for the Mariners.
I know… probably wishful thinking.
I remember we used to have a fastball-slider guy who was a pretty successful starter too.
Dave,
I thought Foppert had a nice split finger as well. That would seem to add the necessary third pitch for him to be a starter. Am I wrong?
Not really. The slider and split finger aren’t very complementary pitches. They’re similar in velocity and the plane isn’t drastically different. Despite having entirely different grips, they’re similar pitches, and he’d essentially still only have two effective pitches, even if he had three grips that he held the ball with.
The organization also deplores the split finger, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they told him to scrap it.
Hargrove looks like a guy who could just wile out and get violent like Lou but it seems like his temperment is more along the lines of Bob Melvin. Not that Bob Melvin is a bad person or anything. Seems to me the Mariners still owe the Indians for plunking Ichiro, maybe they are just waiting for the right moment.
Well then the big question is why he was rated as on of Baseball America’s top 3 prospects in baseball two years ago? If he doesn’t have the pitches, why would they rank him so highly (especially as he was so close to the majors at that point and should have consequently been displaying major league-like stuff)? Not trying to be argumentative — just curious.
Also, why do the M’s dislike the split? Seems like an easy enough pitch on the arm.
#31 Why do the Mariners have an organizational bias against the split finger? Does it wear out pitchers arms or something?
The organization also deplores the split finger, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they told him to scrap it.
10-15 years ago there was a lot of discussion about whether the split-finger was causing arm trouble in young pitchers. The Giants rejected that idea and continued to teach the splitfinger, while other organizations either moved towards a forkball or stopped teaching the splitter for “seam” fastballs and sinker/slider combinations.
The split in philosophy remains, which is why the splitter is still taught by some pitching coaches while the screwball, universally reviled as an elbow-shredder, is about as popular than the knuckleball.
Morse has “decent defense”? I thought it was just this side of awful.
Just to be clear, so this doesn’t get taken the wrong way, I like Foppert, think this is a great trade, and am glad we got him.
Foppert was the best pitching prospect in baseball in 2003 by default. He had good numbers, succeeeded in Triple-A, and had good velocity. But, he wasn’t Felix, Beckett, Prior, Anderson, or Ankiel. He’s not even Edwin Jackson or Zach Greinke. He was a Jon Rauch/Juan Cruz type of prospect, and in a bad year for pitching prospects, that made Foppert #1 among the arms in the minors.
Or, to put it into Future Forty perspective (updated tomorrow, most likely), Foppert, at his peak as a prospect, would have been an 8/7, most likely. He had the upside of a good pitcher, a middle of the rotation guy or a dominant reliever, but without a change-up, he didn’t profile as an all-star. His slider is good, but its not as good as Soriano’s was, and his velocity wasn’t as consistently in the 96+ range.
Foppert was what we thought Nageotte could be before injuries took away some of his stuff last year. A good pitcher, a guy we like to have in the system, but not someone we’re going to count on for multiple all-star games.
Ok….I wan’t some action. Who’s got the inside on whats gonna go down today…if anything?
Rotoworld is reporting Villone for Yorman Bazardo is in the works.
Villone’s going to be dealt. Guardado most likely will be. And that will probably be it for the M’s.
What about Sele? Is it likely he is released sometime soon?
Depends on if Guardado goes or not. If he does, they’re probably getting a guy like Brandon McCarthy, Anibal Sanchez, or Anthony Lerew, who they could plug into the rotation if they so desired. If Guardado stays, they probably don’t have anyone who is ready to come up and start regularly in the show. Campillo’s only made one start for Tacoma since coming back, they won’t rush Livingston, and they don’t want Felix starting in the bigs for two months. Foppert shouldn’t get rushed either.
So, if the M’s swap Guardado for McCarthy or Lerew, yes, I think Sele is DFA’d and the incoming prospect takes his spot in the rotation. If the M’s send him to Boston for Sanchez or hang onto him, then I think Sele stays, at least until they’re convinced Campillo’s ready.
Dave,
Is there any sense that Moyer might be willing to accept a trade to anyone at all? It seems odd that the M’s would’ve even pursued deals with the Astros and Braves if there didn’t seem to be any chance at all. Is it possible that there are 2-3 teams he’d be willing to go to?
It sounds like Moyer just wants to stay close to his family. Baseball is not the number one thing in his life, and I think he should be commended for that.
Fair enough
Sorry, but i’m not positive: is Sanchez not as close to the majors as McCarthy or Lerew, and therefore wouldn’t immediatley be with the team?
I guess that means we’ll see a lot of Felix mopping up for Sele in 7-2 ballgames in August, then.
I’d just as soon see Andrew Lorraine in the M’s rotation, to be blunt. If going 0-7 with an ERA in the 10′s over 7 starts isn’t enough to get you to lose your job, you’ve basically sent the message to your team you don’t give a crap about performance, and it’s not like Sele’s some star prospect who stands a chance of turning into a good pitcher.
I have to imagine that the M’s aren’t making calls to get rid of Moyer, but are fielding offers that are good for the team and asking Jamie if he’s willing. I have no way to know that for sure, but I hope that Bavasi wouldn’t be wasting time TRYING to deal Moyer.
#34, they must not have quite the same bias anymore as Clint Nageotte says he’s been throwing a split finger down in Tacoma this season.
Actually, Clint’s using a slight split-grip on his sinker. It’s a different pitch than a split-finger fastball.
And yes, Sanchez isn’t quite major league ready, while McCarthy and Lerew could be. Sanchez started the year in High-A, and now has amassed 20 innings in Double-A. He’s been untouchable in both places. He could be pressed into duty at the major league level if we needed him to, but there’s no reason to rush him.
Dave, I don’t have an issue with that (I’d probably have a better career if I was willing to ditch my family)…but Moyer’s comments about a World Series don’t exactly come off as realistic, then, if he plans on staying a Mariner until he retires. It’s hard for me to see the M’s as the favorite in the Wild Card or AL West in 2006 unless we have a Jupiter aligns with Mars in the seventh house kind of offseason. I think we can do things that give us a shot, even a decent one, but Oakland, Texas and the Angels of Anahim won’t be sitting around letting us do what we need to undisturbed, and we could easily have a year like 2002-2003 where we get close but don’t get over the hump- in fact, I think that’s MORE likely (sort of like Texas in 2004).
Here’s hoping that by 1 o’clock today Bobby Livingston is suddenly the organization’s fourth best picthing prospect. And if he’s our fifth best…I’ll give Bavasi my first born.
This is all assuming he’s currently our #2 of course
I wonder if the proposed Nieve for Moyer trade has set the market for his services. I wasn’t expecting much for Moyer if we traded him, but with this proposed trade, could we potentially be looking at more in return for him, granted of course he agrees to it?
39, Bavasi making that deal just to have a Yuniesky, a Yorbit and a Yorman on the squad. lol
Dave, any reason why Torrealba isn’t on the active roster? Seems he’s the best catcher we have now, and according to the Mariners official site he’s not active.
55: He won’t be reporting until Tuesday, so we don’t need to activate him.
Oh ok, thanks. I hadn’t heard that.
Interesting perspective on Foppert. I don’t see how Bavasi would have made that trade for a guy who would end up in the bullpen though. They’ve got designs of starting him IMO.
If we do end up trading Guardado to the Braves, I’d rather have Davies. Just a personal preference, but he’s major league ready, and seemingly with every bit as much talent as Lerew.
# 54, That’s hilarious. Then they can feature them on the cover of the Mariner Magazine as “The Killer Ys.”
All these Yorbits and Yormans. Sounds like we picked up a bunch of Siberians rather than South Americans.
Re: #37
Thanks Dave for the insightful answers.
I admit I have not heard much about Felix Hernandez. I dont follow international players as much as I follow college baseball, but he has created such a buzz in the past year or so. Everywhere I read says Felix has two good pitches that he is allowed to throw, the slider being the other good pitch that he is not throwing. Why is Nageotte projected as a reliever while Hernandez isnt? How is that different from Nageotte’s current arsenal?
Well our starting rotation deserves to be sent to Siberia.
Well technically Felix is allowed to throw three good pitches. I’m not sure that he’s got a great reputation on his changeup. But that’s the difference. Nageotte doesn’t really have a changeup that the throws. Felix does.
Oral Hershiser says you can win with 2 good pitches if you can locate them.
Plus Felix has better velocity and better command.
Don’t forget to mention that Felix is 19, while Nageotte is 24.
Last nites post regarding Winn trade pointed out that one of the benefits was clearing salary in 2005 to make a bold run at free agent or agents. Looking at the potential free agents did not see a big impact player or pitcher. AJ Burnett? Is his arm worth the risk? Matt Morris? Washburn? Billy Wagner as closer? Free Agent crop appears lean with an abundance of buyers. Freeing up salary now helps Mariners how? As we know Front Office does not hold savings over to next season.
Good point 68. One reason to clear salary would be to create the ability to take on a larger contract in a trade.
Re 68
don’t forget, salary can be taken on in the form of a trade too. I don’t expect Manny to be dealt at the deadline, but it might be a possibility in the offseason. Money is something you can almost always use
An intriguing rumor I heard from Will Carroll last night had Jason Marquis going to the Padres for Brian Giles.
#42 I didn’t think they’d bring Felix up so soon and have him start since he’s not stretched out but what I was told by a good source early yesterday was that as long as last night’s start at Tacoma went well that Felix would be coming up to start Thursday’s game in Detroit (taking Sele’s spot). They were figuring him for 65 pitches last night, 80 or so on Thursday…
Of the names that are being discussed, who would be the best “get” out of Sanchez, Lerew, Olsen, McCarthy etc.?
If we could get Olsen for Villone?
Bavasi would deserve every bit of praise he gets.
Just looking at the numbers, i think McCarthy’s the best out of that group.
#52 Livingston is about the 7-10th best pitching prospect now not even close to top 3 are 4.He is your typical lefthanded shitballer who throwsw strikes and gets out He will either be really succesfull are really bad.That is what happens to about 85% OF GUYS LIKE THIS MOYER WENT THE GOOD WAY ALOT OF OTHERS WENT THE OTHER WAY.
I should’ve thrown Yusmiero Petit’s and Aaron Heilman’s names in there as well.
It’s too bad the Cardinals aren’t interested in Guardado or we could be fantasizing about Anthony Reyes too.
Why do all the teams that wants Eddie have to be east coast teams?
I get the feeling that many M’s fans are going to not be terribly pleased with Eddie in a few hours.
Two hours until deadline, and no trades since Cruz Jr. at about midnight.
Oh, Joseph, you’re in luck…
BLOCKBUSTER!
Geoff Blum from the Padres to the White Sox for Ryan Meaux.
69 & 70- Thanks actually had not considered Mariners trying to get current ML player of high regard but that does make sense. No reason they can’t pickup a player a team tries to get through waivers once even more teams are out of playoff race.
So Dave.. hearin anything new? Goin crazy here waitin
2 hours before the deadline and it’s quiet…
too quiet.
heh, heh, heh…
Looking at next year, it seesm the M’s first need is a front-of-the-rotation starter. There simply isn’t one available in free agency. So, who’s available in trade?
The only one I can think of who might be is Sheets. He’ll be in the $10M range next year which would eat up 1/4 of Milwaukie’s payroll. But, they seem to think they’re competitive now. So is even he available? Is there anyone else?
eponymous coward said:”Dave, I don’t have an issue with that (I’d probably have a better career if I was willing to ditch my family)…but Moyer’s comments about a World Series don’t exactly come off as realistic, then, if he plans on staying a Mariner until he retires.”
just a reminder, Moyer’s quote was: ” “I would love to play in a World Series,” he said. “But (a trade)doesn’t guarantee it. I enjoy playing here, too. “We’ll see where it plays out, if anything plays out.”
83 – In April, the Brewers extended Sheets’ contract through 2008. I think he’s the guy they’re building around.
83, the M’s need 4 starting pitchers plus Felix. This will be a big ask for this off-season.
I’m going to be really mad if we don’t get a quality starter and reliver in the next two hours!
Scott Olsen isn’t available. If Bavasi really did ask for Olsen and Vargas in exchange for Guardado, as the P-I postulated, Bavasi has some serious cajones. I’m not sure how he ask for that with a straight face.
It’ll be interesting to see how the M’s handle the Guardado and Villone deals. Sanchez and Bazarado have similar repertoires, and neither is a lock to stay in the rotation, so the M’s may prefer to get a Lerew or McCarthy for Eddie if they’re getting Bazardo for Villone.
BA take on trades:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/050730winn.html
An hour and a half left and hardly any moves yet…
On Foppert, granted it wasn’t a strong year for pitching prospects, but he was ranked right around or above guys like Mark Teixeira, Joe Mauer, and Miguel Cabrera, and there were guys like Gavin Floyd, K-Rod and Scott Kazmir behind him. No doubt he needs the heat back to start, and to develop a changeup to be a top starter–and as Kevin Goldstein pointed out, “Pitchers finding a changeup is ALWAYS a huge if. Every system has about 20 guys where you could begin a sentence with, ‘If he could get a changeup. . .’”–but it still seems to me that BA would have put him a little higher than you would have. (And yes, I realize you aren’t down on him by any means.)
re: 44, 48.
Exactly. I also hope Bavasi isn’t wasting his time trying to trade Moyer, but is simply being respectful and going to Moyer if/when other teams make offers that Bavasi would consider if Moyer would also consider them. We couldn’t ask for a more professional ballplayer than Moyer, or a better role-model for those odd parents who seem to think pro athletes are role model material in the first place, and his winning percentage as a Mariner is pretty outstanding given his long tenure here (I’m going with the theory that the more starts you have, the harder to maintain a solid winning percentage similar to the more ABs you have, the harder to hit .400). Truly, Moyer is among the least of our problems – especially for those who are hollering about BP, Moyer is the 2nd pitching coach on staff – he just happens to also hold down a job in the starting rotation. He’s earned the right to veto as many trades as he wants to, and I hope the Ms sign him to a 1 year deal next year so he can close out his career the way he wants, where he wants.
BTW – There were a lot of Ms brass at the Rainiers game last night, and they stayed the entire game, not just the first 4 (Felix) innings (which was good, cuz they got to see Nageotte looking pretty damn fine). Gillick and his wife, Frank Mattox, and 4 other pros sitting in with them who I couldn’t place from my media guide. I knew Bavasi wouldn’t be there, because I was hoping he’d be busy doing something else, but it was the first time I saw the Gillick/Mattox combo there instead of the Bavasi/Hunter combo this year.
“Gillick and his wife, Frank Mattox…”
Heh.
Trent at LoL says that Bazardo was just pulled from his start after 1.1ip. He wasn’t pitching well, but read into it whatever you want.
Only 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits, 0 BBs, and a K. You don’t pull a guy after 1.1 with that line.
Good riddance, Mr. Villone.
And Bavasi. Wow. Just, wow. Nice work.
PLU tim, you have a link? whats LoL?
LoL = lookoutlanding.com
The fact that Bavasi was able to get more than a sack of baseballs for Olivo deserves a “wow”, also.
Anyone watching Gammons speech on ESPN? I just love when you suddenly get to see brothers of guys who you’ve been seeing on TV for years and years. I remember when Oprah had Michael’s brother Larry Jordan on her show years ago. It just cracks me up.
By the way, no one will ever be as cool as Frank Stallone or Clint Howard.
Eyewitness reports from Tacoma are that George Sherrill just carried all his stuff out of the clubhouse in boxes, hopped in his car and drove off. This as the gates were opening for the game today.
No, I have no link, just a cell phone call from friends.
I’m not getting my hopes up for who he could be kicking out of their locker at Safeco..
Much like an elementary school field trip, take roll and see who is missing (villone? eddie? nellie?)
101: Probably Villone.
101: Woohoo!
Griffey out of the lineup today. Hmm
Griffey probably pulled his hammy getting into his car today.
on a former mariner note, rotoworld is reporting that Ken Griffey is being held out of the lineup today by the Reds
Ned, I thought that was a curious development as well.. I seem to remember him having very good stats against Woody Williams hmmm is correct
105: Peter… is that you?
Ned, I thought that was a curious development as well.. I seem to remember him having very good stats against Woody Williams hmmm is correct
13-31 w/ 5 HRs lifetime against Woody…suspicious indeed
#109…see #100
I’ve got a good trade proposal — Guardado and Moyer to the Yankees for Wang and Philip Hughes? You like?
new thread open now…
FELIX – This from Kevin Goldstein’s PROSPECT REPORT:
Notes from 7/30
Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez returns to the rotation (and possibly says goodbye to the minors) with four no-hit innings (Pacific Coast)
TM PITCHER IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
SEA Hernandez, F 4.0 0 0 0 2 7 0 2.25
_____________________________________________________________________
[Bonus Stats]
SEA C.Nageotte 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.95
So essentially we have competing for a spot in the rotation next year:
Felix Hernandez
Joel Pineiro
Gil Meche
Ryan Franklin
Jesse Foppert
Clint Nageotte
Bobby Madritsch
Yorman Bazardo
Rafeal Soriano
Jorge Campillo
Travis Blackley
Bobby Livingston
Wouldn’t Freddy Garcia look good at the top of the list right now?
Livingston gets the start in Tacoma tomorrow (Monday) night, if you want to see him in person.
If you listened to the Bavasi interview on the Ms postgame today, one thing that came through over and over and over again in all his answers was that nobody gets a free ride basically, and how much he believes in the power of competition – that having multiple players know that there are others in the organization really competing for the few available major league spots is definitely something he wants to strive for in the organization. This seemed the case especially with catcher, when he was asked about Rivera and how he might feel given the signing of three (with draft pick) more catchers….
That’s commendable, but the flip side of this is you can’t play multiple catchers or shortstops at thee same time- but you HAVE to have 5 starting pitchers, and the Mariners can’t afford the luxury of immense depth at SS if it means they are dumpster diving for the Aaron Seles of the world come spring training.
I think there are additional moves coming in the offseason, simply because the rotation is so gutted there’s very little chance we can fix it to the extent it needs to be fixed through free agency and promotion from within in just one year. We’ll be doing pretty well to get ONE guy like Matt Morris or Jarrod Washburn this offseason, and realistically we need two, plus Moyer resigned, plus some luck (guys like Felix, Foppert, Livingston, Bazardo pan out well in 2006, one of Franklin or Meche doesn’t continue their crater).
It would help a lot if we could make a deal to reduce the dependency on needing to run the table during free agency- and now with additional arms and young position players, plus lots of room for salary we can do that. I expect to see some action come the winter meetings.