In fact… Shelton’s career wOBA and projected wOBA isn’t much different than Branyan’s. Yes, I know, Safeco screws RHB. He’s still the obvious player you want to keep around on the roster to a) give some RH 1B/DH ab’s to and b) replace Branyan or Griffey in the lineup if they are injured.

It’s not particularly hard or unusual for the left handed half of a platoon to get 90% of his at bats against RHP. (Like…Russ Branyan, 2008!). It’s not as hard as you suggest.

As far as the cost in wins from less roster flexibility…a lot of those late game moves you might make if you hadn’t burned one sub already are percentage plays of a very minor variety. Color me skeptical about significant lost victories until evidence is produced that suggests otherwise.

It seems rather clear that platoons are underutilized in todays game, not overutilized. Probably that’s related to the 12-man pitching staffs.

The Mariners could very realistically end up with an OPS of .900 for their staring 1B position…

If this happens, I will eat my own shoe.

Just because you platoon guys against opposing handed starting pitchers means that they are going to get to face that the whole game. The reality of the game is that about 40+% of the game is pitched by the bullpen.

And if you’ve got a LH 1B that can’t hit LHP worth a damned, you have to pinch hit for him a lot. And now you come to the closer, and you have a bad RH vs RHP, and you have nothing remaining. Now factor in that one of them is going to be a superior defensive player, are you going to want to take them out late in the game?

Platooning is nice and all, but eventually you’re going to lose some close games because you are so limited. Especially if you are going to carry 12 pitchers.

And this team isn’t going to blow a lot of people out, right? So more often that not, games they win will be decided by an at bat or two… And to end up in the bottom of the 8th with Branyan facing a left handed reliever because we pinch hit him earlier in the game is a disaster.

Not that I’m not saying platooning a few positions isn’t a good idea for this team, but lets not go nuts. Especially if we go into opening day with 12 pitchers and only 4 bench players.

I’m going to agree with joser on this one, and look to the 1000+ AAA at bats as the basis for projecting Morse. He’s had a shot of sorts.

Also, I wonder how many people fit into this category “He has done whatever the M’s Have asked of him and has never complained” ?

That being the case, to me, our catching would be better off with Clement and Burke then Clement and Johjima. If there was a way to get rid of Johjima I would be all for it.

Also I believe Morse deserves a shot. He has done whatever the M’s have asked of him and has never complained. He could still back up at 1B, 3B, and the outfield. I also think Sweney needs to be on this team. I think he can hit .290 15hrs and 70-75 RBI’s as a DH part-time 1B. He can RH/LH DH with Griffey and do the same with Branyan at first. This young team needs the leadership qualities of both Griffey and Sweeney. Those are intangibles that could win them 5-10 more games a year.

I think the M’s could get by with a 11 man pitching staff. Which would allow for another position player, be it, Balentein, Corona, Morse or Sweeney. Carp will go to AAA with Tui and Mike Wilson and they will tear the place up.