For one, I think Hargrove and the coaches messed him up too much by urging him to be a “move him over” hitter. Two, I really don’t see much to indicate they are working to get Jose back to driving the ball to the alleys. As long as Grover is here, he isn’t going to hurry to change Jose back.

Which is really, really stupid.

From even a fan’s perspective, going the other way is a tool to ADD to your repertoire, not replace it. The only reason to preach going the other way is if you’re not a good enough hitter to pull the ball and be productive.

Um, hello? For half a season, Lopez showed he COULD pull the ball and be productive. And he’d only get better with age.

The current strategy is a dull, unimaginative one where players are coached to be what they should be doing, and totally ignores what a player DOES.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…if Hargrove was managing Ichiro when he first came over, he would totally tried to change Ichiro’s style….

I’d probably want the M’s to work out a deal that covers arbitration years and gives them a team option for the first year of free agency.

I’d like to think the M’s would offer a slightly higher than normal offer, so that if Felix’s ace ways continue, he is predisposed to return to the team. But, reality tells me that things don’t work that way, in part because 1) the potential injury factor with young pitchers and 2) reliance on Felix seeing the ‘goodwill’ gesture, which relies on him recognizing that the M’s could probably get him for much less than he is worth over the next several years. They’d probably be better off to sign Felix for the lowest amount possible, and then squirrel extra money away (the amount they ‘would’ have paid) to offer as a nice big signing bonus if he returns in free-agency (and is still the ace pitcher). Of course, I don’t think the M’s will work this way either. I can only hope that they offer a reasonable salary, not for too long.

Given the potential ace status, I’d also go slightly higher and try to get one or two team option years.

Are you saying Lopez lacks grit?

Jose has the potential to be a plus bat at 2B, but that’s contingent on getter Grover out of here.

Consider also that Williams belonged to a different era, when the slider was emerging as a force in the pitcher’s arsenal. Williams acknowledged that the slider was the most difficult pitch to hit because it messed with his timing and pitch recognition. Imagine Williams having to hit a Clemens split-finger or a Felix two-seamer?? Get out in front of a pitch just a little and you are tearing up the infield grass (splitters). Miss-time the cutter because you are swinging for the middle of the plate but it bears to the inside corner, and you are hitting off the handle (getting “jammed”).