Comments on: Tealeaf-reading: first base

By: Tek Jansen

Tek Jansen — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:06:27 +0000

Can Shelton reject a minor league assignment and become an FA in the hopes that another team will put him on a big league roster? And if he can, would he, or would he go to Tacoma knowing that he probably would not spend the entire year there?

By: Paul B

Paul B — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:05:50 +0000

veteran leadership

noooooo!

Not sure whether you are saying Sweeney or Shelton would be better, though.

You do raise the age issue. I’m of the thought that the M’s should do everything they can right now to give themselves the best possible team in 2010. Players like Sweeney and Griffey and Batista are not going to be around in 2010 (most likely), so you punt them in 2009 if you have a good reason. But if Shelton can be parked in AAA, then there is no need to punt Sweeney right now.

By: Spanky

Spanky — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:27:51 +0000

I haven’t seen anybody mention age here. All else being relatively even skillwise, would I rather take veteran leadership over the same skill set with a younger player that I could have around a while? Yes, especially when you factor in that Sweeney has had trouble staying healthy the past few years. That doesn’t get better with age. Given that, Sweeney may not be available as much as Shelton so that’s another advantage I’d give to him.

By: jjracoon

jjracoon — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:23:14 +0000

To have Shelton in AAA is a warm fuzzy with the oft hurt back of Branyan, oft hurt knees of Sweeney, and oft hurt body of Griffey!! He will be an insurance policy to come up for who ever blows out their body part first!!!! Or does everyone believe they will all make it through the season!!!

By: ThundaPC

ThundaPC — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:42:28 +0000

Hmm…..Shelton or Sweeney? Kinda nice to have a decision that’s not cut and dry.

If it wasn’t for the chemistry mess from last season it probably wouldn’t be as much of a factor; Particularly when some vocal members (Silva, Batista) and the target (Ichiro) are still around.

By: Gomez

Gomez — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:08:10 +0000

An idea: Could there be potential issues with sending Sweeney to Tacoma that may not exist with sending Shelton to Tacoma?

By: CMC_Stags

CMC_Stags — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:30:34 +0000

Without Shelton, weâ€™re letting Branyan play 1st against left handers and without Sweeney, weâ€™re letting Junior DH against lefties

Why won’t Sweeney be starting at 1B against left handers?
Why won’t Wlad/Morse/Clement be starting in the OF or DH against lefties?

There will be a reasonable hitting RH on the bench to DH against lefties instead of Griffey. I would assume whoever stays on the roster from Shelton/Sweeney will be platooning with Branyan.

By: JI

JI — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:29:08 +0000

My feeling is that not only is Shelton better, but in a crunch he’s going to be able to play every day. I don’t think you could say that about Sweeney.

By: MI5

MI5 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:48:21 +0000

My problem is I don’t want to have to decide between one or the other. I want both. Without Shelton, we’re letting Branyan play 1st against left handers and without Sweeney, we’re letting Junior DH against lefties. I don’t like either of those options. We’ve gotta go north with 11 pitchers.

By: gintzdog

gintzdog — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:33:16 +0000

A good friend of mine went to spring training earlier this week. He watched the guys hit before the games in the cages.

On the top field were Griffey, Beltre, Branyon (Griffey’s teammate in Cincinnati), and Sweeney in a hitting rotation. Shelton was hitting on another field with guys that are in or heading towards the minors.

You never want to read into things like that, but it seems to give a sense of the hierarchy in camp. Sweeney is part of the popular crowd.