The universe works on a math equation
that never even ever really even ends in the end.
Baker @ the Times: “Ordonez on verge of making Mariners”
“Saint” Rey Ordonez, age 36
2002: 460 AB, .254/.292/.324
2003: 117 AB, .316/.328/.487
2004: 61 AB, .164/.190/.262
2005: n/a
2006: n/a
Career: .246/.289/310
Willie Bloomquist, age 29
Career: /257/.312/.329
PI: “Burke appears set as M’s backup catcher”
Jamie Burke, 2006 in Oklahoma: 370 AB, .278/.323/.422
Rene Rivera, 2006 in Seattle: 99 AB, .152/.184/.253
PI notebook on cuts.
Cut: C Rivera, RHP Green, LHP O’Flaherty, RHP Small, OF Reed
Players left in camp: 33
Cuts remaining: 8
Felix: 100% ready
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55 Responses to “The universe works on a math equation”
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Does Ordonez even bring anything to the table defensively?
I remember him making some amazing plays, but perhaps struggled with consistency on routine plays.
Gawd we have an ugly looking bench. I’d rant on but it’s not as if Hargrove would know how to utilize talent anyhow.
Does Ordonez even bring anything to the table defensively?
He was slightly above average, but that was before taking 3 years off baseball and being 3 years older.
So probably not anymore, no.
The 25 man and 40 man rosters are going to look a mess…
Who’d go off the 40 man roster to make room for Ordonez?
Jiminez and Lowe will be put on the 60 man for Rhodes and Morrow. Rivera will probably be dropped for Burke. I’m guessing the odd man out for Ordonez is either Mike Morse or someone traded off the 40 man and replaced with someone who don’t need to be there anymore…
The math equation sprung from nothing?
Well, congratulations to Ordonez, I guess.
Hopefully there’s still a chance Morse makes the team over Ordonez. He’d be a far more valuable bat off the bench, and WFB can cover MI backup duties.
Modest Mouse,eh?
Rumor has it that there’s a mystery team interested in the best utility man in the game today that the Mariners are working a trade with! That would explain why the M’s need another no-hit infielder. This might be good news all around!!!
Or was that my dream last night?
How is Ordonez going help the bench? Light hitter, with zero power. You want this guy pinch hitting in a clutch situation? Even as a defensive replacement, he’s shaky. And you know how well these veterans has been that Hargrove’s kept because of their “leadership.” Thirteen pitchers, and a bench that hinders the M’s late in the game/extra innings. These roster decisions reek.
Honoring the band with #1 album in the country? Nice.
Of course, I had to refresh a few times because I didn’t understand why there was discussion about a bad (really bad) player who hasn’t been in the league in 3 years. Are you sure he’s not making the team as maybe a fielding coach? Not a player, right?
Perhaps Rey Ordonez will be a playa rather than a player.
#9 If this dream of your were true, how would you replace Willie on the 3 man bench?
Burke and Ordonez are so obscure, that neither has a PECOTA projection.
Burke is an obvious upgrade at C even if he’s lousy. Side note, in 1999, Burke pitched 3 innings in relief, allowing only one hit and striking out 3 to earn a win.
I’m not crazy about Ordonez, who I doubt has any major league skills left; even good players tend to be done at 36. But at this stage, what would you rather the M’s do? Having Reed rot on the bench — and with Hargrove, he’d be lucky to get 4 AB/week — isn’t going to jump start his career; he seems better off playing everyday at AAA. So the bench is Bloomquist, Broussard (who I suspect will get an occassional start at DH, 1B, and RF), and ???.
Ideally you’d want someone who can play middle IF or all three OF positions (making WFB the backup IF) and hit a bit from the right side. Morse can do the latter (maybe), not the former. Ordonez the former, not the latter. OK, they should have had better options in camp. It sounds like the team is still watching the waiver wire for an IF and a catcher before making a final decision but Ordonez is the default because he could play 2B which they need if Lopez isn’t 100%.
Wilson Valdez redux.
Rumor on the radio here in Phoenix is that there are reports that the M’s and BoSox are considering a trade of Ichiro for Manny. Anyone heard anything?
Lies. Damn Lies.
#16– um, did someone misread Joel Sherman’s Post column yesterday which mentioned that both Manny & Ichiro will become trade bait as the year goes on?
Also– Nat’s manager Manny Acta, quoted today:
sadly, Manny is raving about potential outfielder Kory Casto, and his vast AA experience.
It’s obvious that Bavasi and Hargrove’s plan to combat the hot seat this year was to bring in a bunch of guys just like them – maligned, over the hill, down to their last shot and desperate to hang on. They must figure if everyone has that mindset they will play with an attitude of total “us against the world” desperation.
The problem is, the M’s are like the wildebeast pinned up against a rock by a hungry lion. It may go into a fierce survival mode for a moment but it won’t be long before it’s eyes glaze over with resignation.
Rumor on the radio here in Phoenix is that there are reports that the M’s and BoSox are considering a trade of Ichiro for Manny. Anyone heard anything?
The possibility’s been floated a few places, but in the context of a trade deadline deal in July, not now.
If Sherrill is healthy, can they please cut Arthur Rhodes?
I want to remember him as being able to pitch.
Neverending Math Equation is such a great song.
Now, please tell us that Ordonez is only in Seattle for as long as it takes Jose Lopez’ ankle to heal completely?
Please? If his exit does not exist – and soon – then despite all the moves this off-season, we may once again have a competitor in the ‘worst bench of all time’ competition.
Well then, call me a playa hater.
As they say: Don’t hate the playa, hate the game.
#18, I wouldn’t put it past the local sports-talk morons to misread the article that way
The Manny-Ichiro story is the creation of a lazy Boston sportswriter with a deadline and nothing to write about. With Boston’s roster essentially set, every angle on Matsuzaka already covered, and the start of the season still a week away, a “trade Manny” piece is an easy fallback topic (sort of like the old “return of Griffey” articles in Seattle, which have now been replaced with “trade Ichiro” articles). The sportswriter simply looks at the list of pending free agents, picks the most interesting name, and then writes the article in hypothetical terms (“If the Red Sox finally decide to rid themselves of the Manny sideshow, a deal that might make sense is Ichiro Suzuki . . . .”). Everybody wins — the sportswriter gets a column, the newspaper gets free publicity when the article gets picked up by other media outlets, and the Boston fans get something to talk about for a few days until Curt Schilling says something stupid.
Mark Lowe has been cleared to begin throwing
Does Ordonez do one single thing that Oswaldo Navarro could not do? I would assume that Navarro, given his youth, is probably a better defensive player at this moment in time, and just as crappy at hitting major league pitching. And, if memory serves right, Navarro is already on the 40-man.
#13 Yes, I know…it is difficult to replace the best utility player in the game…especially one that has the hustle and grit that WFB has. Plus you lose the local interest draw. But, I’m sure Grover has envisioned Ordonez as a potential replacement for Willie. Suitable middle infield backup that is an athlete…so he can learn to play outfield. And Ordonez has the ability to be every bit as good as Willie at the plate!
I can see it now!
What is the industry trade value for a utility player with Willie’s accomplished skill set? Who can they get for him?
(Sarcasm intended!!)
I miss Charles Gipson.
I miss Rich Amaral.
The Mark Lowe news is the best thing I have heard in at least the last month.
I miss Luis Ugueto
I miss Mark McLemore.
I miss Jolbert Cabrera.
I miss Ed Sprague…bald and beautiful….swing
Hiram Bocachica (spelling?) anyone?
Jesus, I miss Manny Castillo if we’re talking about Rey Friggin’ Ordonez. Remember when he was first up with the Mets and he made one spectacular stop and from that point on you couldn’t shut Mets fans UP about the guy? They — I am dead serious here — thought he was an MVP candidate, the best shortstop in history, Ozzie Smith couldn’t carry his jock, take down Honus Wagner’s HOF plaque and make room for Saint Rey, yadda yadda. Christ. He was the worst hitter in baseball and a decent fielder, nothing to write home about, and didn’t belong in the big leagues AT ANY TIME.
Now? 36? If he gets 200 AB he could be the worst player of all time.
Christ almighty. Is there something wrong with their brain chemistry, that makes guys like this jump out in their field of view? They found the only guy worse than Willie. Ugh, ugh, ugh.
Hopefully he gets closer to 20 AB than 200. What’s the all-time record for number of PA in a season without reaching base, non-pitcher?
Actually, seriously. I doubt Jolbert Cabrera is going to make the Cards. Lets bring him back on board. He’s sort of a fan favorite, he can play all the positions, and he’s better than Rey Ordonez.
I miss John Moses. I don’t miss Jim Pressley.
re 38: Spiezio might have challenged that record in ’05
I miss Bret Boone.
I miss Stan Javier.
I miss Rey Sanchez. .294/.330/.335 in 180 PA with the M’s.
Bloomquist 2006: .247/.320/.299 in 279 PA.
Huh.
I miss Torey Lovullo. That’s a name made for an Aaron Spelling TV show, not a MLB roster. And Lovullo’s career stats agree.
I’d do an Ichiro-Manny deal if the Bosox pay Manny’s 2007 salary, take Vidro and his albatross of a contract, and throw in some high OBP spare part who could DH (Kevin Youkilis, come on down).
And, you know, I think that’d be a pretty balanced deal, assuming Boston fleeces the Rockies for Todd Helton later this year.
Larry Milbourne and his grapefruit-sized wad of chew.
Sorry for the plaintive cry of woe, but HOW CAN THE M’S WANT REY ORDONEZ!? Even stupidity is usually based on some crunch core of distorted reality!
Rey Ordonez..Carl Everett..Jose Vidro..Miguel Batista..Arthur Rhodes..Jeff Nelson..Jeff Nelson..Jeff Weaver
They are like the not-very-well informed guy at your fantasy draft who picks guys who used to be OK but aren’t anymore because they are the only ones they’ve heard of. There’s one in every fantasy league.
Actually, that description could fit me, given how my last few years of fantasy drafts have gone.
I miss Willie Bloo- oh wait.
I miss a lot of pitches.
– Mike Cameron
Rey Ordonez? Give me Jaun “Mancho” Bernhardt.
I miss Aquimidez Pozo.
1 mariner at-bat. but it was in 1995, so he’s permanently burned in my mind.
scrappy as hell. uh…I assume.
I miss sanity.
The Manny-Ichiro story is the creation of a lazy Boston sportswriter …
The New York Post employs lazy Boston sportwriters now?