Comments on: Aardsma’s Command http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/ Seattle Mariners blog and general baseball discussion Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:41:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: eponymous coward http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/comment-page-1/#comment-351522 eponymous coward Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:01:46 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=9406#comment-351522 <em>A better pen would be fine, but I like the strategy of dragging a bunch of cheap question marks to camp and seeing if one or two turn out to be pleasant surprises that can fill out the pen behind your late-inning guys. It’s a nice way to conserve salary money, and the term “fungible relievers” is almost redundant, IMHO.</em> Sure, nobody's saying "spend $20 million on the bullpen this offseason", and even Bill Bavasi figured this one out, but the M's bullpen isn't very good, and I think an investment in some talent would put it in better shape. A better pen would be fine, but I like the strategy of dragging a bunch of cheap question marks to camp and seeing if one or two turn out to be pleasant surprises that can fill out the pen behind your late-inning guys. It’s a nice way to conserve salary money, and the term “fungible relievers” is almost redundant, IMHO.

Sure, nobody’s saying “spend $20 million on the bullpen this offseason”, and even Bill Bavasi figured this one out, but the M’s bullpen isn’t very good, and I think an investment in some talent would put it in better shape.

]]> By: G-Man http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/comment-page-1/#comment-351521 G-Man Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:32:26 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=9406#comment-351521 A better pen would be fine, but I like the strategy of dragging a bunch of cheap question marks to camp and seeing if one or two turn out to be pleasant surprises that can fill out the pen behind your late-inning guys. It's a nice way to conserve salary money, and the term "fungible relievers" is almost redundant, IMHO. A better pen would be fine, but I like the strategy of dragging a bunch of cheap question marks to camp and seeing if one or two turn out to be pleasant surprises that can fill out the pen behind your late-inning guys. It’s a nice way to conserve salary money, and the term “fungible relievers” is almost redundant, IMHO.

]]> By: eponymous coward http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/comment-page-1/#comment-351520 eponymous coward Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:22:55 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=9406#comment-351520 <em>The big question with the bullpen will be if the team does invites every pitcher under the sun to camp like last year? I like to think of the bullpen as Jack Z’s side project he will always be working on. Like a guy with an old car he is always restoring in the garage.</em> God, I hope not. Our bullpen isn't all that good and could use some reasonable investments, rather than sticking it full of a ton of RHP with plus fastballs and mediocre to bad command, plus the occasional veteran washout with a boat anchor of a contract. The big question with the bullpen will be if the team does invites every pitcher under the sun to camp like last year?
I like to think of the bullpen as Jack Z’s side project he will always be working on. Like a guy with an old car he is always restoring in the garage.

God, I hope not. Our bullpen isn’t all that good and could use some reasonable investments, rather than sticking it full of a ton of RHP with plus fastballs and mediocre to bad command, plus the occasional veteran washout with a boat anchor of a contract.

]]> By: eponymous coward http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/comment-page-1/#comment-351519 eponymous coward Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:18:57 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=9406#comment-351519 <em>Trading the DA away when his replacement is ready (yes, I’m thinking of the holy trinity of Aumont, Fields and Lowe) should be anticipated.</em> Funny story- Aardsma was drafted in about the same position as Fields was, as an ace college reliever. He really worked out well for the Giants, didn't he? I mean, the Cubs. Er, the White Sox. No, rather, the Red Sox... Anyways, maybe we should see if our draft picks can do well at AA ball before we project them as relief aces. Trading the DA away when his replacement is ready (yes, I’m thinking of the holy trinity of Aumont, Fields and Lowe) should be anticipated.

Funny story- Aardsma was drafted in about the same position as Fields was, as an ace college reliever.

He really worked out well for the Giants, didn’t he? I mean, the Cubs. Er, the White Sox. No, rather, the Red Sox…

Anyways, maybe we should see if our draft picks can do well at AA ball before we project them as relief aces.

]]> By: mark s http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/comment-page-1/#comment-351518 mark s Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:35:44 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=9406#comment-351518 The winter meetings could be really exciting. I don't think the front office will just give anyone away. If Aardsma goes in a trade it will be for a reasonable upgrade somewhere else. The big question with the bullpen will be if the team does invites every pitcher under the sun to camp like last year? I like to think of the bullpen as Jack Z's side project he will always be working on. Like a guy with an old car he is always restoring in the garage. The winter meetings could be really exciting. I don’t think the front office will just give anyone away. If Aardsma goes in a trade it will be for a reasonable upgrade somewhere else.

The big question with the bullpen will be if the team does invites every pitcher under the sun to camp like last year?
I like to think of the bullpen as Jack Z’s side project he will always be working on. Like a guy with an old car he is always restoring in the garage.

]]> By: G-Man http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/comment-page-1/#comment-351516 G-Man Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:14:50 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=9406#comment-351516 <blockquote>I’d even welcome the idea of offering him 2y/6m, which keeps him attractive to other teams in the winter of 2010, allows us to hang on to him for 2011 if need be, and if he’s a complete stud, we win either way. Would he be a fool to accept?</blockquote> I don't think he'd be a fool, but I may be in the minority. From a financial standpoint, $6 million could set him up for life, while, say, 2.5 million for 2010 and a blown-out arm or a big dropoff* would leave him hanging for 2011. If he keeps up his performance next year and in 2011, he'll get a huge payday at that point. *I guess I should ask what a mediocre 2010 would mean in arbitration in 2011, but let's make it 7 mil instead of 6 if necessary.

I’d even welcome the idea of offering him 2y/6m, which keeps him attractive to other teams in the winter of 2010, allows us to hang on to him for 2011 if need be, and if he’s a complete stud, we win either way. Would he be a fool to accept?

I don’t think he’d be a fool, but I may be in the minority. From a financial standpoint, $6 million could set him up for life, while, say, 2.5 million for 2010 and a blown-out arm or a big dropoff* would leave him hanging for 2011. If he keeps up his performance next year and in 2011, he’ll get a huge payday at that point.

*I guess I should ask what a mediocre 2010 would mean in arbitration in 2011, but let’s make it 7 mil instead of 6 if necessary.

]]> By: ayoon http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/comment-page-1/#comment-351514 ayoon Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:24:32 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=9406#comment-351514 That being said, Dave, what would you think it would cost to keep Aardsma around for the next few seasons? That being said, Dave, what would you think it would cost to keep Aardsma around for the next few seasons?

]]> By: fiftyone http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/comment-page-1/#comment-351512 fiftyone Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:09:45 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=9406#comment-351512 Trading the DA away when his replacement is ready (yes, I'm thinking of the holy trinity of Aumont, Fields and Lowe) should be anticipated. I'd even welcome the idea of offering him 2y/6m, which keeps him attractive to other teams in the winter of 2010, allows us to hang on to him for 2011 if need be, and if he's a complete stud, we win either way. Would he be a fool to accept? Trading the DA away when his replacement is ready (yes, I’m thinking of the holy trinity of Aumont, Fields and Lowe) should be anticipated. I’d even welcome the idea of offering him 2y/6m, which keeps him attractive to other teams in the winter of 2010, allows us to hang on to him for 2011 if need be, and if he’s a complete stud, we win either way. Would he be a fool to accept?

]]> By: Liam http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/comment-page-1/#comment-351511 Liam Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:34:11 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=9406#comment-351511 He's projected as being Type A, if that makes a difference. He’s projected as being Type A, if that makes a difference.

]]> By: Mekias http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/09/21/aardsmas-command/comment-page-1/#comment-351509 Mekias Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:20:25 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=9406#comment-351509 Jonathan Papelbon got $6.25 million in his first year of arbitration (this year). But Papelbon was their closer for 3 years prior to that and dominated every year. I'd think Aardsma could get 2 million with his great year being somewhat offset by his previous years' inconsistencies. That being said, I'm not real familiar with the arbitration process. Jonathan Papelbon got $6.25 million in his first year of arbitration (this year). But Papelbon was their closer for 3 years prior to that and dominated every year. I’d think Aardsma could get 2 million with his great year being somewhat offset by his previous years’ inconsistencies. That being said, I’m not real familiar with the arbitration process.

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