Thanks

I like the idea of JJ playing in the middle for us, but we had a chance to get him at the deadline and didnt….makes you wonder why!

Exactly! It is very curious that the front office wouldn’t trade valuable assets, during a season in which they weren’t going to contend, for a player that wasn’t going to get them there anyway. Fire them all dammit!

I like that idea Adam. But, lets just speculate for a minute that J.J. Hardy could be had for a decent price or low price, something reasonable.

Well he can definitely be had; For what is up to Doug Melvin and the market.
I could see something like Brandon Morrow for Hardy working out for both teams.
Whether that would work is up to teams like Boston and Toronto who are also desperate for a shortstop.

Why not use him and Wilson in the infield. Shift Lopez to first and use Tui at third.

Well for a few reasons I can think of.

First, moving Lopez to first turns an above-average second base bat into a below average first base one.

Secondly, most of Wilsons value is tied into his defense at Shortstop. Putting him at second diminishes his value while still exposing his weak bat in the starting line-up.

Finally Matt Tuiasosopo is not a bat the Mariners need to force into the line-up at this point.
He certainly has shown promise, and his offensive ceiling has some potential, but Tui is someone you settle for right now, not someone you pencil in at the beginning of the season.

I agree with you that Branyan should probably be a DH from here on out, but wasting such an easy to fill offensive slot while negating Jose’s trade value is not the way to do it.

As for J.J. Hardy, the Brewers have basically said he’s available, they have no reason to retain someone earning $4.5M a year while an excellent replacement stews in AAA and they have to start paying Prince Fielder a ransom.

As for his value, I’d be willing to bet something like Brandon Morrow that J.J’s value is a little closer to his previous three years then it is to his last year. It’s not fool-proof, but it’s the kind of gamble this team needs to take.

At least for now….

The trouble with Jason Bay isn’t his bat. It’s widely recognized that he can hit well. He’s capable of pushing the ball, also, so Safe’s effects on RHB’s would be slightly reduced.

Regardless of his offensive capabilities, however, his defense would negate most of the benefit his offense would create. Fercrissakes, he was a -20 (+/1) run LF for the Sox while playing half his games in Fenway. If that doesn’t scare away a guy that values defense as highly as GMZ values defense, then I don’t know what will.

Ok his #’s would drop a little I agree. He wouldnt fall off the map though! Thats ridiculus!! He’s had a good career so far, thats somthing you cant fake or hide, its not like he just had 1 good season in Boston! He would still contribute and produce as a Mariner… as a Padre, on any team with a pitchers park.

Im not discounting anything, to say you dont want Bay is absurd. Any team would love to have him in the lineup……its his cost that will keep him in NY (either Queens or the Bronx) or Boston most likely. Not his being right handed!

I understand the point you’re trying to make, I get it. Ya a lefty power bat is what we need, I get it…Dont get caught up in the “Bay is from Seattle” trip…I GET IT!

This is so far from the truth to be laughable. Do you think a flyball pitcher would do well in Coors Field?

You have to account for the park, or you’ll make stupid decisions. To write off the effects of Safeco on RHBs is beyond dumb.

Then I read this blog about how Bay dosnt belong on the M’s roster. This got me thinking….WHY NOT?
Ya, you guys can make the argument that right handers dont do well at the Safe…but isnt Jose a righty…Edgar a righty…ARod a righty…not to mention the righties that come to visit and tear us apart like Vlady and Cabrera

Are we hoping for 9 lefties in the lineup next season? The truth is good players will succeed anywhwere under any circumstance. And I believe Bay to be a good player.

That said, I agree Bay will be way overpriced and DO NOT WANT the M’s to throw the red carpet down for him, there are too many other options at LF. But if he came at the right price, why not ponder it? Just dont mark him for death because hes a righty…the majority of the world is, and the majority of baseball is as well!