Roster Finalized
Tui makes the team in place of Ichiro as a reward for his big spring. I guess Wakamatsu decided that he just wasn’t going to use the Ichiro replacement guy during the first eight games anyway, so we’ll essentially play with a 24 man roster for a week. I know there’s a place for rewarding hard work and improvement, which by all accounts Tui has done, but why play at a disadvantage if you don’t have to?
Okay, fine, Cedeno will cover the outfield in an emergency. He’s got some experience out there, and Chavez/Gutierrez/Balentien will probably get most of the playing time in the OF anyway. But from a practical standpoint, Tui doesn’t help you at all. He’s not fast enough to pinch run for anyone other than Johjima or Griffey, and defensively, he’s basically limited to third base, and the team should be hoping that Beltre plays every inning of each of the first eight games.
Why not carry Halman if you’re not going to play the last guy on the bench? At least he gives you a legitimate glove in the OF and can pinch run.
No, it probably won’t matter all that much in the grand scheme of things, but this seems to be unnecessarily making the team less flexible for… what, really? Tui has already made his big league debut. It’s not like the organization is giving him his first taste of the major leagues or anything. I guess I just don’t see the point.
I’m still totally on board the bandwagon for the direction the new guys are taking the team in, but this particular move is a head scratcher, for me.
Also, Corcoran makes the team with Delgado being outrighted to Tacoma. He cleared waivers, so that worked out nicely.
Oh, and Wakamatsu announced that Griffey will play RF on Monday, then DH the next two games, and not start against LHP Perkins on Thursday. For everyone who was afraid that we were going to get a steady dose of badly used Junior, this should be seen as a pretty big positive – even with Ichiro out, they’re only giving him a the ceremonial opening day start and acknowledging that his off days should be timed to match up with opposing pitcher handedness. So, hooray for that.
Do the Mariners think Tui is a better hitter/more deserving of ABs than Balentien? If Tui DHs while Griffey is in the field, that leaves Wlad as a viable backup at all three positions.
Of course, when Wlad plays LF/RF and Griffey DHs, we’re still hoping that no one in the outfield needs to come out for any reason, or that our pitchers feel good about taking some cuts at the plate.
I’m wondering if there is anything wrong with Beltre
Head-scratchiness aside, Dave….do you wonder if there’s more to it? Myself, I count at least four guys (Clement, Shelton, Chris Burke and Mike Wilson) that would make a better fit to rectify the 8-game situation…
If they’re gonna take a guy who needs regular ABs in AAA-Tacoma in order to be a contributor in the bigs, why not Clement? Could Tui even feasibly play left? I don’t believe he ever has before.
This just doesn’t quantify as a “cup of coffee with a lollipop” move or a “pure roster move”.
It’s only 8 games, but still I wonder if Zduriencik’s getting phone calls from St. Louis, Missouri regarding Beltre…
I don’t think there is anything wrong with Beltre, the thought behind putting Tui on the roster maybe, besides the reward thing, of putting a RH heavy lineup when there is a lefty pitcher out there, Sweeney at first, Tui at DH.
Branyah can also play the outfield, so that adds some flexibility. Plus more outfielders are a phonecall away.
I would probably rather have Tui DH than Sweeney.
Anyway, as headscratching as this is, with the Griffey decision making being good, why fret? So Wak goes nuts for 8 games. I think we’ll survive.
It’s 8 games, np let Tui have some fun………hell maybe it will give him more incentive in to do well in AAA to show he is ready for next season or even looks good for trade bait if they want to resign Beltre.
This is a tough one. Tui making the roster as a reward for hard work can set a tone for the spirit of competition in the future going forward…
But…how does one make Tui work strategically? Beltre has 3B locked up and he’s a pretty durable guy. I guess you can rest Beltre and play Tui during a blowout but that means you’re expecting a blowout for some reason.
And as far as rewards go, Wak says if there was another spot Mike Wilson would be on it as he was the hardest person to cut. But….Mike Wilson plays the outfield right? We kinda need outfield depth right now. You have reward and need covered right there.
We’ll see what happens. I’m itching to see Wakamatsu in action.
Of course they want to re-sign Beltre. Geez. OK, so the bench is Sweeney, Johnson, Cedeno, Tui?
That leaves Branyan, Lopez, Yuni, Beltre, Guiterrez Chavez, Wlad, Johjima, Griffey.
That’s 13 position players, although we should be carrying 14. How did I do? I’ve hiking all day and the battery on the cellphone that gets my Mariners text messages just died.
Matt Tuiasosopo is on the team because Beltre may be traded any minute
It’s a head scratcher, yes, but not that big of a deal to me. We know Wak is high on Tui, and I’m sure they just want to continue to look at him in the event Beltre departs. (may it never be so) Plus, you’ve got to think that these guys have been interacting all spring long, and I’m sure there’s probably a personal level to it. If it were more of a consequential move, I’d be more vocal in my complaint, but for 8 games in a re-building season… whatever.
FWIW, here’s what Wak had to say about Tui when they first reassigned him to minor league camp
I think you’re right about why Wak gave the cup to Tui (most improved, set the spirit of competition, because they are going to trade Beltre before July (ouch)), and those are legitimate reasons, but this doesn’t make the most sense, in fact, it makes almost no sense. I hope this is only a temporary “brain freeze” on Wak’s part.
what happened to Tyson Gillies? I don’t see him on any rosters or lists.
The kid hustles and makes things happen. I hope he at least makes the Rainiers. He’s worked hard this spring.
I like Tui and hope he has a great career, but I agree that Halman would be a better choice. Eight games on the bench, won’t impede his development any. While the possibility that Tui will do something dramatic as a pinch-hitter exists, the scenario where the team could use some wheels in the pinch-running role or a real outfielder out there late in the game, is far more likely. And if your a longshot to contend and have your work cut out for you to be a winning ballclub, April does matter.
If you’re going to speculate, why limit yourself to Missouri? Maybe they’re getting calls from the Bronx, where perhaps the health of their shiny new ballpark isn’t quite being matched by the recovery of their “Details” cover boy? Sign Beltre to cover the hole for a couple of months, flip him at the deadline…
Heck, in the first 8 games there could be 5 or 6 blow outs. I mean, have you seen the bullpen? And Silva and Washburn? (Oh, I guess you were thinking blow-outs in favor of the M’s).
Yeah, this is pretty much a crap post — it’s Saturday night and I’ve been drinking.
and, for what its worth, he’s aying the right things:
“I’m probably not going to be there that long, who knows, but it’s pretty cool to make it out of camp.”
It’s the 25th man on the roster for the first week of the season. It’s not the end of the world. I would give any manager a pass on the choice. And I wouldn’t read anything into it about Beltre. Uber-speculation with this crew doesn’t make sense, unless someone saw the details of the Putz trade and the Heilmann trade in advance. Zduriencik isn’t going to fit into anyone’s pattern.
Fun fact: when you Google “Zdu” you get the spelling of his name, first item!
Another puzzler unless Tui starts he will most likely only face a righty reliever if he pinch hits as the active roster for Minnesota has four lefties and three of them are starters. Maybe we are going to see him as a DH and Sweeney at 1st with so many lefties. Oh no that isnt happening Junior is DHing….Guess you guys are right he is just going to sit and enjoy being in the Majors for a short time!!
Since we’re talking about the 25 man roster, Aardsma, Kelley, and Jakubauskas are mysteries to me. Would you mind a quick scouting report on them, Dave?
What happened to Tyson Gillies? I don’t see him on any rosters or lists.
The kid hustles and makes things happen. I hope he at least makes the Rainiers. He’s worked hard this spring.
He mostly played for Everett last season. There’s virtually no way he sees time in AA this year, let alone Tacoma.
LET’S START THIS DARN THING!
WE’RE FINALLY 0-0 AGAIN!
rob:
Jakubauskas- http://ussmariner.com/2009/03/16/ryan-franklin-20/