Mike Sweeney returns to hug it out one more season
DMZ · February 12, 2010 at 11:33 am · Filed Under Mariners
The right-handed hugger has signed to a minor league deal with spring training invite.
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43 Responses to “Mike Sweeney returns to hug it out one more season”
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If he picks up where he left off last season he night just surprise a few people.
Hopefully he hugs it out in Spring Training ONLY and not the regular season. Unless he wants to hug it out in Tacoma with the young guys.
And the hits just keep on coming. I’m sure that’s what Sweeney is hoping for at least.
To mentor Carp?
Can he make the roster as a coach? I’d be for that.
Even though I have no rational basis for feeling this way, this is totally awesome.
Hoping this is a “thanks for last year” courtesy move from the M’s. If he makes the team out of ST, it can only be as a result of a series of unfortunate events.
A huggable, celebratory-punch-throwing coach.
Yeah, what about Sweeney taking on a Pat Borders/Kevin Costner type of role in the minors? You know, the kind we always hoped Edgar, Jamie, Dan Wilson, etc. would do?
This is good news, as it makes it less likely an important player will get injured attempting a pie-in-the-face.
andrewjsnider, according to the conference call, the Mariners approached Sweeney about a coaching role, but he said he wanted to try and play one more year. I don’t see many scenarios that would allow Sweeney to make this or any other team out of spring training, so we may see Coach Sweeney sooner rather than later.
a-oh-riiiiiiight!
Is there a limit to the number of coaches we can have? Would it be possible to have Sweeney and Griffey (along with the other coaches) in the dugout and not on the 25 man roster?
I don’t think this is a bad move. I mean if he earns his spot I’m more than fine with it. If he beats out the other guys why should he not be able to play if he can still bring it? I would rather other guys. But again, if he hits like he did in June, August and Sept/Oct I wouldn’t mind him on the roster. He finished strong.
June: .323/.371/.452/.823
August: .333/.390/.549/.939
Sept/Oct: .340/.386/.528/.914
So, IMO if he can provide that out of spring training it wouldn’t be a horrible deal. If he can avoid the slip ups he had in May and August he really didn’t have a horrible season if he was a spot starter and what not.
And plus, the hugs are just the icing on cake if you ask me!!!
If you look at the history of the people Jack surrounds himself with, there is a huge emphasis on loyalty, professionalism and hard work. Last year, Sweeney proved himself to be apart of Jack’s fold with those traits.
I bet there is also an understanding though. Just because there is loyalty, it does not mean that Jack won’t make the tough decisions that will make best possible club. I’d be curious to hear the private comments of Byrnes, Garko, Kotchman, and Bradley on this move though…
yeah, but it still remains the case that we only have room for one DH, and presumably he won’t take Junior’s spot.
As Larry Stone tweeted, this gives him a chance to be seen this spring by other teams. If he hits well, someone might pick him up. If not, I would expect him to retire.
The only way he makes the M’s is if a couple of the DH/1B players get hurt or are so horrible they get released, AND he stays healthy and shows he can still hit and play a little first.
I don’t mind at all having a major league level player (a 5-time all-star, .298 lifetime avg. player) as our backup to the inescapable Bradley/Griffey/Byrnes LF/DH platoon of frailty.
This is the second time I’ve noticed, and get to mention, Z actually is so astute at his job he’s building into the club some player depth with actual major league experience– not just minor leaguers we can “give a chance” with fingers crossed if something goes wrong with the real players.
And in Sweeney’s case, the time he spends in the minors also benefits us with a great role model/tutor for the young guys. Nice.
Every move Z makes really is to make the team better, not just for today but for the future too– it’s such a change from recent years. And a relief.
(Saw a funny post on another blog where someone suggested we change the nickname to the “M’z”.)
Scouts have reported he is an ambidextrous hugger. In Sweeney’s college days they noted: “while lacking in power from the other side of the plate, he had an amazing ability to hug for contact with his left hand.”
Speaking of hugs, here is the “Happy Valentine’s Day Jack Zduriencik” burger from Seattle’s Lunchbox Laboratory. Tomorrow they will have the “Mighty Mike Sweeney” burger… heheh. The owner is a huge Mariners fan. He was pretty happy to hear they re-signed Sweeney.
Let’s get this season started already!
The Mighty Mike Sweeney burger costs $350,000, contains no meat, no toppings or condiments, or bun, but people feel happy about it because it there once used to be a decent burger with the same name.
Lunchbox Laboratory is some serious deliciousness. I miss their key lime pie milkshakes and tots with whatever salt you want (I take the Cajun). Damn. I just ate and I’m already hungry again.
I’d rather have the Bloomquist burger — no meat, unripe veggies, served on Wonder bread, but so much delicious, delicious grit.
And the Bromance continues.
You know, Sweeney might just be using this as a springboard into daytime TV.
What would you rather watch, Dr. Phil, or the Mike Sweeney emotional encounter hour.
Tough call.
I was going to comment about what Stone tweeted, too – this is about loyalty to Sweeney, allowing him to maybe perform well enough to catch the attention of another team, while spending time in ST with a squad full of people he likes. I can’t imagine that he can make our club unless one or both of Garko and Bradley (and maybe Griffey, too) sustains some longer-term injury. Also, last year Sweeney said he would retire if he didn’t make the 25-man roster, so I see little chance he would accept the Crash Davis / Pat Borders role in Tacoma. Coach? He’d be nuts to turn that down, if he isn’t playing and he’s interested in coaching. And that could really help the team….
…because then he wouldn’t take up a roster spot all year that could be used on a valuable player.
I’d rather have the Bloomquist burger — no meat, unripe veggies, served on Wonder bread, but so much delicious, delicious grit.
There is no Bloomquist burger. The dish you’re thinking of is Willie’s Supersized Clam Chowder, with real beach sand for extra grittiness.
Sweeney will make a great bench coach someday, maybe even a great manager. He absolutely brings out the best in people.
But, Derek. The Mariners “owe him big-time.”
The half million he got paid wasn’t enough.
Yeah, look at all the chemistry he brings. That’s gotta be worth something.
I’m afraid this will cut down on my spring training broadcast listening, because I’m sure we’ll be hearing Rick and Dave S. gushing about how much the M’s need Sweeney on the bench. Apparently, they don’t know how to count to 25 or something.
Do we have to pay for the “Mighty Mike Sweeney burger” if its not on the plate at the end of spring?
It looks like a favor to a guy that was brought it as a stopgap for the rebuilding process. So what? If Sweeney tries out and doesn’t make the cut how does that hurt the Mariners?
Maybe he stays on in some other non-playing capacity. Maybe another club has an injury and he catches on there instead. Maybe some young player sees how Zduriencik treats his old players and decides to give Seattle a closer look than he would have.
This doesn’t cost the Mariners anything.
This is great news! Sweeney was absolutely key in turning the franchise around last season. His leadership and personality kept the guys loose and played a huge role in the clubhouse. IMO, and I think a lot of you will agree, this is as big a signing as Cliff Lee. I’m really surprised that no other club wanted him after what he did last season.
Definitely not a comment one should read while one’s mouth is full. ROFL funny.
Woohoo!!! The Designated Hugger is back! My offseason wishlist is now complete!
Ok, I get it. I think Jack gets it. Production wise, Sweeney isn’t something to be extremely excited about. If he was better, he would have been signed sooner or had other lucrative offers. In fact, as been discussed before, he probably won’t even make the team.
Still, do we need to mock the role that is very clear from him?
I don’t think so. He did a lot of good last year and deserves the opportunity to prove himself or respectfully end his career as a player. Period. No mocking.
I hope he makes the team 🙂
“Let’s hug it out b!tches…”
Obvious injury insurance, Jack is always thinking ahead.
Meh. Not very concerned or worried. A move that’s full of heart with no cost, either to the pocketbook or roster space. Could pay minor dividends down the line so it’s an over all plus, but nothing to exercise yourself over.
Still, do we need to mock the role that is very clear from him?
I don’t think anyone is actually mocking him, or at least very few are. Notice that people aren’t really pissed off, like they would be with a Bloomquist signing (who would be the more useful player at this point).
The tickling thing is just due to the fact that all he really offers is a good clubhouse presence. We knew that last year, and it’s even more true this year. Hell, people want to give him a coaching job after one year with the team where he did pretty much nothing.
It’s a bit of friendly teasing, but certainly not mocking. It’s a bunch of statheads accepting a player who is below replacement level and has no purpose on the team, yes it’s a little ribbing but no more than I’m sure he’ll get from the players themselves.
I’d agree, most of the comments are not meant to mock, but there is fine line. Saying that after Sweeney is signed, the off season is complete is kind of mocking because most of the readers on this site are knowledgeable (ie stat heads), and they know enough to realize the role Sweeney might or might not be playing. I liked what one commenter’s said, this is move with heart. I think inviting Sweeney to camp is a great low risk exception in the baseball stat world, cause ultimately, we love the game because it has heart and soul.
I am really happy Sweeney is back. As the roster stands right now, he will have a hard time making the club. But if he does, he will have the same kind of impact he had last year when him and Griffey gave the clubhouse veteran leadership. It says a lot about Sweeney’s experience in Seattle in 2009 when he will accept a minimum offer to stay with the M’s.