Mariners Insider
You will find news, observations, anecdotes, analysis and photographs on this blog. The purpose is to keep readers informed, but also give them a feel for the team and its players, and a place to go to read about baseball.

Contributors:

Ryan Divish has been with Tacoma News Tribune since 2006, covering the Tacoma Rainiers and high school sports. Divish played baseball at Dickinson State University and also earned a journalism degree from the University of Montana.
E-mail Ryan.

Larry LaRue has covered the Seattle Mariners and Major League Baseball for The News Tribune since 1988. E-mail Larry.

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Thursday, July 17th, 2008
Posted by Ryan Divish @ 01:17:33 am

Thanks to a ubiquitous clandestine informant (Yeah, I love the movie "Lean on Me") I have heard that Bryan LaHair is joining the Mariners, most likely today (Thursday).

LaHair, a native Worcester, MA, is hitting .263 with 26 doubles, 12 homers, 53 RBIs with an on-base percentage of .357 and a slugging percentage of .467.

But the real question remains, if LaHair is coming up, then who is leaving?

Has Jose Vidro finally been released? That means no more watching him bat clean-up for the Mariners, which is something that most of you clearly can't stand.

Is there a trade in the works that we haven't heard about, perhaps Raul Ibanez to the Yankees or D-Backs? According to this story, it appears that Hideki Matsui could be having season-ending knee surgery.

Has this team finally started embracing the idea of playing for the future when the present is a complete and total wash? If that's the case can we expect Wlad Balentien to be returning soon?

Who knows? I've come to realize that with this team, the logical decision isn't always the one made. But if I see LaHair today at the work-out at Safeco Field, I'll be happy at least for him. He's put in enough time with enough results to at least get a sniff of the big league life.

Categories: General 14 comments

COMMENTS:

moo @ 03:29 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
See ya later, Jose!
fwconquest @ 08:29 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
Prospect Insider was reporting a few days ago that they heard Jose Vidro was going to be released right after the all star break. That would make sense to go along with your news that LaHair is being called up.
fwconquest @ 08:35 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
LaHair was supposed to be on the U.S. Olympic team starting in August. With him being called up, will he still be on the team?
Squid @ 10:14 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
The only youngser in the M's farm system that I am excited about, that you could actually build a team around, is Adam Jones. Man, that kid is a player and a half...wait, we what??? TRADED him?!?! You have got to be kidding.

Package Jeff Clement, Wlad B, and LaHair and see if the Orioles will give us Jones back.

Ryan Divish @ 10:15 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
LaHair is not on the recently released Olympic team roster...
jerseymike25 @ 11:43 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
In not-so-related news, our favorite 6'9" Windmill looks to have a deal with the Yankees. I hope he gets a start when the Yanks visit later this year.
fwconquest @ 11:54 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
That's too bad about LaHair on the Olympic team.

What time are the workouts today? I'm dying to see if LaHair is in and Vidro is out.
wabubba68 @ 12:08 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
Happy for LaHair, but I don't think he is the answer. That said, he can't be any worse than Vidro/Sexson/Cairo at 1B and DH.

Mike Morse becomes the regular 1B in 2009!
fwconquest @ 12:19 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
Mike Morse, I forgot about him. How about Raul Ibanez to play first base?
orian @ 12:49 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
I like the Morse idea. He's tall and athletic enough to play shortstop so defensively he should have no problems at 1B. He's proven he can hit major league pitching - we just don't know how well if he plays regularly. I'm glad LaHair will get a chance and hope he does well. But, think about Clement absolutely raking AAA pitching and how he is having some trouble issues making the adjustment. LaHair is doing a nice job at AAA but not exactly tearing it up so I'm not going to get too excited about this move. Addition by subtraction is about all it is for the moment.
johnschoppert @ 17:04 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
The whole season changed when Morse went down . . .
docpepsi @ 18:41 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
I almost forgot Mike Morse too! I think he was supposed to play right field when Ichiro was still in center. I could see Morse being the everyday first baseman next season if Johjima doesn't want the job. Or its possible, or even probable that Ibanez will be traded at some point, maybe Morse plays left. Of course theres still that Ballentien dude too who should obviously get another shot later this year. How bout this! Joh at DH, Ballentien in left field, Ichiro in right, Reed and Bloomy in center, and Morse at first base. Of course if Beltre gets traded, which has been rumoured I suppose that would be a spot for Mike Morse, or Bloomquist.
moo @ 21:21 - Thursday, July 17th, 2008 Email
Odd thing is Morse was an ss when the M's got him. SS & catcher are the only positions he hasn't played for the M's.

I agree, I'd like to see Morse have a significant role on the team next year. Ironically he was a throw in on the Garcia trade, & is likely the best player we received.

Though as I've said before, Bavasi's main strength is evaluating minor league talent.
docpepsi @ 11:14 - Saturday, July 19th, 2008 Email
Correction. Shortstop was the first position Morse played with the Mariners the first time he came up. It was later after Bettancourt came up that Morse became a utility guy.

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