55 Responses to “The universe works on a math equation”

1. adamt on March 29th, 2007 1:22 am

   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.

2. Graham on March 29th, 2007 1:58 am

   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.

3. Typical Idiot Fan on March 29th, 2007 2:13 am

   The 25 man and 40 man rosters are going to look a mess…

4. vj on March 29th, 2007 2:38 am

   Who’d go off the 40 man roster to make room for Ordonez?

5. Typical Idiot Fan on March 29th, 2007 3:07 am

   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…

6. Josh on March 29th, 2007 3:35 am

   The math equation sprung from nothing?

   Well, congratulations to Ordonez, I guess.

7. Salty Dog on March 29th, 2007 3:47 am

   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.

8. Barking Pumpkin on March 29th, 2007 4:19 am

   Modest Mouse,eh?

9. Spanky on March 29th, 2007 5:47 am

   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?

10. louder on March 29th, 2007 5:58 am

    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.

11. bill1410 on March 29th, 2007 6:01 am

    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?

12. Boss! Boss! LaHair! LaHair! on March 29th, 2007 6:33 am

    Perhaps Rey Ordonez will be a playa rather than a player.

13. SCL on March 29th, 2007 6:58 am

    #9 If this dream of your were true, how would you replace Willie on the 3 man bench?

14. Adam S on March 29th, 2007 7:03 am

    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%.

15. Dave in Palo Alto on March 29th, 2007 8:06 am

    Wilson Valdez redux.

16. Jason Maxwell on March 29th, 2007 8:31 am

    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?

17. em on March 29th, 2007 8:46 am

    Lies. Damn Lies.

18. msb on March 29th, 2007 8:48 am

    #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:

    “He’s got such a great work ethic, and [is] such a hard-nosed type of player,” Acta said. “He’s my type of player. He’s like a manager’s dream. I walk in here at 6:30 in the morning sometimes, and 15 minutes later he’s heading down to the cages. You ask him to go here, you ask him to go there, and he works his butt off. The way he’s handled himself here in spring training,” Acta said. “He’s also 25 years old. If we could find a way where we could play him enough a week, maybe we could make an exception. We’d love to see him play every single day, but he’s not 19 or 20, either.”

    sadly, Manny is raving about potential outfielder Kory Casto, and his vast AA experience.

19. leetinsleyfanclub on March 29th, 2007 9:04 am

    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.

20. Mike Snow on March 29th, 2007 9:04 am

    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.

21. Paul B on March 29th, 2007 9:04 am

    If Sherrill is healthy, can they please cut Arthur Rhodes?

    I want to remember him as being able to pitch.

22. marc w on March 29th, 2007 9:08 am

    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.

23. Gomez on March 29th, 2007 9:08 am

    Perhaps Rey Ordonez will be a playa rather than a player.

    Well then, call me a playa hater.

24. AQ on March 29th, 2007 9:15 am

    Well then, call me a playa hater.

    As they say: Don’t hate the playa, hate the game.

25. Jason Maxwell on March 29th, 2007 9:20 am

    #18, I wouldn’t put it past the local sports-talk morons to misread the article that way

26. Grizz on March 29th, 2007 9:55 am

    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.

27. msb on March 29th, 2007 9:59 am

    Mark Lowe has been cleared to begin throwing

28. Tek Jansen on March 29th, 2007 10:30 am

    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.

29. Spanky on March 29th, 2007 10:35 am

    #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!!)

30. marbledog on March 29th, 2007 10:42 am

    I miss Charles Gipson.

31. PositivePaul on March 29th, 2007 10:50 am

    I miss Rich Amaral.

32. Replacement level poster on March 29th, 2007 10:54 am

    The Mark Lowe news is the best thing I have heard in at least the last month.

33. kentroyals5 on March 29th, 2007 10:57 am

    I miss Luis Ugueto

34. frenchonion on March 29th, 2007 11:00 am

    I miss Mark McLemore.

35. David J. Corcoran I on March 29th, 2007 11:04 am

    I miss Jolbert Cabrera.

36. kentroyals5 on March 29th, 2007 11:06 am

    I miss Ed Sprague…bald and beautiful….swing

37. vj on March 29th, 2007 11:12 am

    Hiram Bocachica (spelling?) anyone?

38. Steve T on March 29th, 2007 11:16 am

    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?

39. David J. Corcoran I on March 29th, 2007 11:17 am

    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.

40. Benno on March 29th, 2007 11:17 am

    I miss John Moses. I don’t miss Jim Pressley.

41. vj on March 29th, 2007 11:18 am

    re 38: Spiezio might have challenged that record in ‘05

42. Slippery Elmer on March 29th, 2007 11:20 am

    I miss Bret Boone.

43. Xteve X on March 29th, 2007 11:24 am

    I miss Stan Javier.

44. dw on March 29th, 2007 11:28 am

    I miss Rey Sanchez. .294/.330/.335 in 180 PA with the M’s.

    Bloomquist 2006: .247/.320/.299 in 279 PA.

    Huh.

45. Steve Nelson on March 29th, 2007 11:31 am

    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.

46. dw on March 29th, 2007 11:32 am

    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.

47. Grizz on March 29th, 2007 11:33 am

    Larry Milbourne and his grapefruit-sized wad of chew.

48. MickeyZ on March 29th, 2007 11:44 am

    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!

49. Ralph Malph on March 29th, 2007 11:55 am

    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.

50. Gomez on March 29th, 2007 1:12 pm

    I miss Willie Bloo- oh wait.

51. Slippery Elmer on March 29th, 2007 2:16 pm

    I miss a lot of pitches.

    – Mike Cameron

52. firova on March 29th, 2007 2:56 pm

    Rey Ordonez? Give me Jaun “Mancho” Bernhardt.

53. A Series of Tubes on March 29th, 2007 2:57 pm

    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.

54. JMHawkins on March 29th, 2007 5:24 pm

    I miss sanity.

55. LB on March 29th, 2007 9:31 pm

    The Manny-Ichiro story is the creation of a lazy Boston sportswriter …

    The New York Post employs lazy Boston sportwriters now?

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