Talking Baseball - Last comments

In response to: Finally! Putz update

what a dead blog for the mariners. Guess I'll read some more hawk action......

In response to: Finally! Putz update

duuuuuuuuuuuuude.

In response to: Finally! Putz update

The coaching staff needs to be replaced NOW. I really don't want yet another summer of Mariner losing. I love the team, but I question the decision made by Howard Lincoln to bring back Bavasi and Hargrove this season.

We need something NEW - like a winning team again!

In response to: Finally! Putz update

Guess What? We have the Seahawks; thank God for that! There is no other sport in this town and I REALLY can't wait for baseball season to be over!

In response to: Unofficially good news on Putz

There's strangely little competition for spots on the roster. The only real jobs open are the last man on the bench and the last (or seventh) man in the bullpen.

Hargrove did say today that Jose Vidro will hit third in the order, but that's not much of a surprise given that Vidro has hit there all spring long.

The bullpen spot shakes down between Jon Huber, Sean White, Sean Green and Eric O'Flaherty as a long, long shot. Brandon Morrow has been a pleasant surprise and has not been ruled out, either, but given his lack of experience, I would be surprised if he gets it.

In response to: Unofficially good news on Putz

Phew! Dodged a bullet.

So how is the roster shaping up?

In response to: Putz to undergo MRI

Toooooooooooooooooooooooommy John's! It would be nice to have Soriano as insurance at the closer position.

In response to: Baseball, like NBA, becomes a tabloid sport

so... whats the good word on spring training?

In response to: Discussing Ichiro's situation

I would not break the bank to keep Ichiro. His effectiveness as a leadoff hitter is compromised by his failure to draw enough walks. Hence, his on base percentage (IMO the key for a leadoff hitter) is not as good as his batting average would seem to imply. His slugging percentage was woeful last year. A player with his speed should hit a lot more than 20 doubles.
Edgar Martinez used to hit over 50 with foot speed that was sub-par to say the least. He scored 110 runs, which was okay, but not great considering the number of at bats he gets. To his credit he is durable, and very good defensively. Moving him to center field will help if Guillen produces. The M's cannot afford to have two light hitting outfielders. Unless you have the luxury of a young Ken Griffey you typically have to get that from your corner outfielders.

In response to: Dan Rohn update

I am extremely glad to hear that Dan has gotten another manager's job. He is so capable and knowledgable about the game that he will no doubt be a welcome addition to the Giants' organization. And unlike Dave Brundage (last year's Rainiers' manager who is now managing in the IL with the Richmond Braves) Rohn will be coming back to Tacoma with his new team.

In response to: Dan Rohn update

IT still pisses me off that the M's let Rohn go. Ridiculous.

In response to: My 'take' on Mariners

What is the Ichiro contract situation? Are they trying to negotiate an extention? Would we trade him at the deadline if there was no progress on a new contract?

In response to: My 'take' on Mariners

MLB.com picked the finish the m's to finish 2nd in the west. I like to rotation when compared to last year. The one thing the rotation will do is eat innings which is huge for the bullpen. The reason, I think, that Mateo's numbers were down last year was he was the only guy in the bullpen that would take the ball everyday, which he did often when Joel or Gil was on the mound. Weaver changed his arm slot when he began working with Duncan in St.L and it takes a while for pitcher to adjust to a change like that, which is why again, I think, he shouldn't have any problems moving forward. The line-up on paper is much better than it was last year, but so were the 'Hawks on paper. I liked the Vidro trade, while his power numbers have dropped and won't go back up playing at Safeco, his ability to move runners and hit behind runners will help a lot scoring runs. There were a lot of times last year we would have a runner on 2nd and the batter would hit the ball to the left side on the infield and not move the runner. If Vidro is one thing he is a professional hitter.

In response to: Notes on a napkin: Edgar's in Mariners Hall of Fame

Ok Darrin,
It looks set going into spring training, what's your prediction, early as it is, about the M's moves and chances. Good, bad, time for a new GM? What's your opinion? Should we come up wih a song from Jazz Alley, say, "Hernandez and Lowe and Pray for Snow (Sorry Angels, But the Roof Got Stuck Last Night)".
The M's seem solid up the middle, so we get a pitcher that's prone to walks. We're a dream away from the playoffs, so we get a pitcher that had a magical October. (maybe no choice in that, what a demented off-season of signings. What ever happened to pay based on performance?)
But what if Beltre comes around, what if Sexton looks less like Dave Kingman and more the Kingman of fable, the swift sure firstbase glove of gold and banging 50 homers off the roof - told you it was a fable. (well, he did hit a few roofs.)
The kid who captivated the crowd can't play till the all star break. Has Bavasi extended Lowe's contract?
Come on Beene, make a blog of this. What's your opinion? Don't just repost the article's I read in the morning. And Reed is going to play where, Milwaukee, Texas? LA? And what are we going to get for him? Does he have the arm for right field? What do you think?
I think the M's slide into 2nd in Sept, because there might be a few breakout seasons, but that rotation is iffy, though the pen is seeemingly solid. A real closer, a few never say die players taking the team by the belt and whippin' em up, and just a few magic moments.
What's your take?

In response to: Vidro trade is official

I loved the way Snelling played, if his stats didn't stand out, at least his passion did. Reminds me of the Podsednik trade which absolutely baffled. Contact hitter in a big park with speed *poof*!

In response to: Mariners sign Burroughs

Here's to another NL infielder, cheers, pore me another barkeep, and keep 'em coming.

In response to: Mariners sign Burroughs

The Mariners have signed Chris Reitsma to a one-year contract with a club option for 2008.

In response to: Mariners sign Burroughs

Four million dollars for Joel Pineiro?!?!?! Am I on crazy pills?! How did he get much more than the minimum, let alone four million guraranteed? Was there a Joel Pineiro-market?

In response to: Vidro trade is official

Yeah, I agree with terrybenish, this is awful no matter how you slice it. Vidro is a declining player moving to a park that is death to right handers and switching to the more difficult American League. Also, he is supposed to be our DH? His former manager says he has the potential to hit 15 HR's next year. Wow, stop the presses, a 15 homer hitting DH? Outstanding! Snelling is a guy who has been injury plagued thus far, but how old is he? 25? Great eye, sees lots of pitches, has the potential to really be a great corner outfielder. I thought Snelling should actually be starting for the M's this year. What's wrong with DHing Ibanez sticking guillen in Left and starting Snelling in Right. Or Vice versa? I just dont get this one bit.

The only thing I can come up with is that once they failed miserably on the big free agents (which I think we attempted rather half-assedly)they panicked and started grabbing decling veterans in a feeble attempt to save their jobs at the expense of the future. I mean can he really look at this team, and all the recent moves and actually think we are better off? Really? H. Ramirez for Soriano? Joke!!

In response to: Vidro trade is official

Hey Darren, its hard to find new words that will improve on the descriptions of how bad this trade is for the Mariners. Everyone from Keith Law on ESPN Insider, Peter Gammons, analysts are shaking their heads about this.

Somebody inside that organization has got to be shaking their heads over what a boob Bavasi has demonstrated that he is.

Are you afraid that you won't get access if you write critical stuff? Are they that vindicative?