“Does it seem like the snow, slush and dark skies will never give way to decent weather? Is baseball a season you just can’t imagine right now? Well, here’s a tidbit to help warm your cockles.

The Mariners’ pitchers and catchers will report to the team’s spring training facility in Peoria, Ariz., on Feb. 13 and their first on-field workout will be the next day. Position players must report by Feb. 16 and the first full-squad workout will be Feb. 17.”

There’s no way Zdurenciek is going into 2009 with his current DHsituation. He knows he needs a lefty bat there.

DH does not have to be a full time position. There’s not necessarily a “there” there. We got used to the idea of a full-time DH with Edgar, but a lot of smart teams use the DH as a way to get one more bat into the lineup from a player who has other value. Maybe you’re half-resting somebody who has an injury that might limit his fielding; maybe you’ve got one or more guys on your bench that deserve more ABs than they’d otherwise get. In the M’s case, they need to find more ABs for Clement, especially if his surgery recovery limits in how many games he can catch; and there are other players that could rotate through that spot as well.

It’s one thing to pull a Frank Thomas off the scrap heap on a cheap one-year incentive-laden deal to see if he surprises with some upside (was he hurt/unlucky, or has he fallen off a cliff?) But going out and spending real money on a bat-only DH is not a particularly efficient way to use your salary. And if you are going to do that, there are better options than Griffey.

That said, I could live with the M’s giving him a one-year deal for 2009 if for no other reason than to get the nostalgiaholics to STFU.

“I don’t either”

Sorry for the lack of clarity in my post. I was just trying to communicate how hard it can be to decide to shut a player down or not. And who’s decision it is. But yeah, as far as blatantly hiding an injury as Griffs agent suggest. Thats totally stupid.

What’s pure crap then? Vidro?

Cairo.

There’s no way Zdurenciek is going into 2009 with his current DHsituation. He knows he needs a lefty bat there. He’s kicked the tires on Adam Dunn and Dunn’s price tag could fall into his budget. While that’s still an option, I don’t think Z’s going to look anywhere else. Once Dunn is gone though, he’s going to look for the next best thing.

Griffey may be Plan B or he may be Plan C or D behind Abreu and Giambi. Who knows. But the team is going to land that DH stick, and if it ends up being Griffey, it’ll be because Griffey was the best option available to Zdurienciek that didn’t require him doing something stupid.

Griffey’s not pure crap yet. He would make this lineup better if we added him to it today. He’s not the ideal candidate, but he is an improvement.