Comments on: Saunders Sent Down http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/ Seattle Mariners blog and general baseball discussion Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:41:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Liam http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/comment-page-1/#comment-365742 Liam Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:39:21 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10361#comment-365742 Dr. Marcus Elliott showing the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsd_9zW3MyE#t=2m58s" rel="nofollow">force time curve</a> of Dustin Ackley (good) compared to Michael Saunders (bad). Dr. Marcus Elliott showing the force time curve of Dustin Ackley (good) compared to Michael Saunders (bad).

]]> By: auldguy http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/comment-page-1/#comment-365740 auldguy Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:09:44 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10361#comment-365740 Also, I neglected to mention that Rob Neyer's blog on ESPN (Thursday, IIRC)had some interesting comments about the connection between this move and the M's new training system; conversion of horizontal to vertical power, etc. Also, I neglected to mention that Rob Neyer’s blog on ESPN (Thursday, IIRC)had some interesting comments about the connection between this move and the M’s new training system; conversion of horizontal to vertical power, etc.

]]> By: Jeff Nye http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/comment-page-1/#comment-365739 Jeff Nye Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:57:06 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10361#comment-365739 Saunders' development is on its own timeline. He's blocked more by Byrnes and Bradley than He Who Shall Not Be Named. Saunders’ development is on its own timeline. He’s blocked more by Byrnes and Bradley than He Who Shall Not Be Named.

]]> By: auldguy http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/comment-page-1/#comment-365738 auldguy Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:45:36 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10361#comment-365738 I love Saunders' potential, but last year as soon as the opposition started throwing to the inner half of the plate, it exposed a huge hole in his swing. Like a lot of long-armed hitters, it'll take him a while to overcome this weakness. A couple of dozen games in AAA isn't likely to be enough. He needs to develop an effective technique to deal with them. His chances of being called up as an injury replacement might depend on the "handedness" of the injured player. The M's are very left-handed right now, which is great for Safeco, but half their games are on the road and if it's Byrnes or Sweeney that gets hurt, the choice might be a right-handed hitter. I love Saunders’ potential, but last year as soon as the opposition started throwing to the inner half of the plate, it exposed a huge hole in his swing. Like a lot of long-armed hitters, it’ll take him a while to overcome this weakness. A couple of dozen games in AAA isn’t likely to be enough. He needs to develop an effective technique to deal with them. His chances of being called up as an injury replacement might depend on the “handedness” of the injured player. The M’s are very left-handed right now, which is great for Safeco, but half their games are on the road and if it’s Byrnes or Sweeney that gets hurt, the choice might be a right-handed hitter.

]]> By: heyoka http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/comment-page-1/#comment-365737 heyoka Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:21:34 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10361#comment-365737 Not yet sold on Saunders. Been around long enough to see this level of potential sink or swim. But at some point you got to run the kids out there and see what they can do. Speaking of <em>kid</em>s... Hate to reGrif, but this really does seem a relevant question to the topic: what do you think the chances are Saunders stays up if Griffey had not been resigned? Not yet sold on Saunders.
Been around long enough to see this level of potential sink or swim. But at some point you got to run the kids out there and see what they can do. Speaking of kids…

Hate to reGrif, but this really does seem a relevant question to the topic: what do you think the chances are Saunders stays up if Griffey had not been resigned?

]]> By: joser http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/comment-page-1/#comment-365731 joser Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:55:36 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10361#comment-365731 <blockquote> What does he have to do in Tacoma to force his way onto this team? </blockquote> In Tacoma? Make a phonecall to put a hit out on Bradley and/or Byrnes? <blockquote> If he comes out and hits 300/400/500 over the first 4-6 weeks in Tacoma, do they call him up? </blockquote> Saunders went .364 / .438 / .586 <a href="http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?pl=459431" rel="nofollow">over 99 AB in May</a> last year, and it didn't get him called up. And when they did finally call him up, they had him spend most of his time in the cages working on hitting to all fields. In 2009 with the Rainiers he went .310 / .378 / .544, which <a href="http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/mlecalc.html" rel="nofollow">this MLE calculator</a> suggests would translate to .270 / .325 / .448 with the M's. I'm sure his long-term ceiling is that good (or better), but it's a lot to ask of a rookie, and the guys in LF would have to be looking like they were going to suck over the course of the entire season for the team to take that gamble -- and Zduriencik isn't going to decide that based on April. Which for Saunders means the only quick route to the majors is an injury.

What does he have to do in Tacoma to force his way onto this team?

In Tacoma? Make a phonecall to put a hit out on Bradley and/or Byrnes?

If he comes out and hits 300/400/500 over the first 4-6 weeks in Tacoma, do they call him up?

Saunders went .364 / .438 / .586 over 99 AB in May last year, and it didn’t get him called up. And when they did finally call him up, they had him spend most of his time in the cages working on hitting to all fields.

In 2009 with the Rainiers he went .310 / .378 / .544, which this MLE calculator suggests would translate to .270 / .325 / .448 with the M’s. I’m sure his long-term ceiling is that good (or better), but it’s a lot to ask of a rookie, and the guys in LF would have to be looking like they were going to suck over the course of the entire season for the team to take that gamble — and Zduriencik isn’t going to decide that based on April. Which for Saunders means the only quick route to the majors is an injury.

]]> By: jdrio http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/comment-page-1/#comment-365702 jdrio Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:07:39 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10361#comment-365702 What is Saunders' realistic upside? Because when I see him, last year notwithstanding, I still imagine Dwight Evans - awesome D, a developing batting eye, 20hr power and a few possible all-star appearances. Too optimistic? What is Saunders’ realistic upside? Because when I see him, last year notwithstanding, I still imagine Dwight Evans – awesome D, a developing batting eye, 20hr power and a few possible all-star appearances. Too optimistic?

]]> By: robbbbbb http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/comment-page-1/#comment-365700 robbbbbb Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:51:48 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10361#comment-365700 Probably, but I'm a bit of a Michael Saunders fanboy, so I can get right back on that track. CHONE <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9981&position=OF" rel="nofollow">thinks</a> he's a 1 WAR player this season, with a 251/318/389 line and a break-even SB rate. I can't help but think he's a better player than that. If he can stay on the ball and whack a bunch of doubles, plus keep his OBP up with an occasional bunt and a few walks, I think he can be a league average hitter. He already plays plus defense. What does he have to do in Tacoma to force his way onto this team? If he comes out and hits 300/400/500 over the first 4-6 weeks in Tacoma, do they call him up? Or would we have to see an injury to put Saunders in the lineup regularly? Probably, but I’m a bit of a Michael Saunders fanboy, so I can get right back on that track. CHONE thinks he’s a 1 WAR player this season, with a 251/318/389 line and a break-even SB rate.

I can’t help but think he’s a better player than that. If he can stay on the ball and whack a bunch of doubles, plus keep his OBP up with an occasional bunt and a few walks, I think he can be a league average hitter. He already plays plus defense.

What does he have to do in Tacoma to force his way onto this team? If he comes out and hits 300/400/500 over the first 4-6 weeks in Tacoma, do they call him up? Or would we have to see an injury to put Saunders in the lineup regularly?

]]> By: Jeff Nye http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/comment-page-1/#comment-365699 Jeff Nye Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:40:00 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10361#comment-365699 I suppose just discussing Michael Saunders is probably out the window at this point, huh? I suppose just discussing Michael Saunders is probably out the window at this point, huh?

]]> By: robbbbbb http://www.ussmariner.com/2010/03/18/saunders-sent-down/comment-page-1/#comment-365698 robbbbbb Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:34:24 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/?p=10361#comment-365698 <blockquote>Yeah, if you’ve deluded yourself into thinking that Derek and I are Griffey fanboys, you’re too far gone to talk to rationally.</blockquote> Does this mean the gloves are off? I'd considered snarky and inappropriate comments to that post originally, but then I remembered that this isn't Lookout Landing.

Yeah, if you’ve deluded yourself into thinking that Derek and I are Griffey fanboys, you’re too far gone to talk to rationally.

Does this mean the gloves are off? I’d considered snarky and inappropriate comments to that post originally, but then I remembered that this isn’t Lookout Landing.

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