At this rate, it won’t be long. It won’t be long at all. In two months and change the Seattle Mariners should have canned Mike Hargrove and handed the reigns over to John McLaren.
But it won’t make a difference. McLaren may be a better manager than Hargrove - I guess we’ll find out at some point this summer - but how is a field manager going to win with Jeff Weaver, Julio Mateo and Sean White on the roster?
How is McLaren going to get Jose Lopez to hit for more power? Can Johnny Mac flip a switch and get more than one or two of his hitters to find a groove at the same time?
For as many managerial mistakes as Mike Hargrove makes on a regular basis, this team isn’t very good on paper and without Felix Hernandez healthy for 220 innings, it’s a mediocre roster.
Yeah, I know, it’s not even 15 games into the season and the tone for the year has not been set. But it’s clear the Mariners, on their current track anyways, aren’t worthy of contention in even the wickedly terrible American League West.
The M’s are 5-8 heading into Sunday’s series finale with the LA Angels, and having lost five in a row are in desperate need of a win.
But it’s the perfect time to shake things up, being so early in the year. Moves need to be made, and if Hargrove wants to keep his job through this season, they need to be made sooner, rather than later when it all could be too late.
The Rotation
While Felix is on the shelf (team says 10-20 days, I say 4-5 weeks), Cha Seung Baek or Ryan Feierabend should share some portions of the available starts.
Jeff Weaver should be DFA’d immediately after he pitches another pathetic four or five innings today. He shouldn’t be allowed to take the mound in any role for the Seattle Mariners ever again. It doesn’t matter that he’s making $8.5 million. He sucks. Send him and his stash of hash packing. The Mariners are much better off paying $8.9 million to have Baek or Feierabend making starts than to be shelling out $8.5 for Weaver’s antics.
Miguel Batista and Horacio Ramirez are just going to have to suck it up and work on things. There is room to make a move with Ramirez who is not guaranteed anything beyond 2007, but if Baek and Feierabend are already in the rotation, any pending move would have to wait until Hernandez is back from the disabled list.
Feierabend is ready for some time, and while he’d certainly have his ups and downs and implosions to boot, at least he’s starting his career ascension, instead of finishing out his twilight years in a Mariners uniform.
Once Felix returns, Baek or Feierabend return to Triple-A, or Baek heads to the bullpen to take the spot of…
The Bullpen
Neither Sean White or Julio Mateo are big-league arms, not in this city. At one point, Mateo was a decent pitcher with average or better stuff and solid command. But the past few seasons and into this one, he’s thrown far too many pitches over the middle of the plate and is consistently surrendering runs in critical situations.
The game of baseball has changed. You can’t hide bad pitchers in your bullpen anymore. You have your specialists, your innings eaters, and your elite arms that should be taking on the high-leverage innings as much as possible.
Jon Huber hasn’t thrown the ball well at all this spring, but he’s still a better bet to get outs than Mateo, and while White is an interesting arm, Huber is of more help to the current 25-man. He’s proven he can be effective. Get him up here and stop wasting his prime years in Triple-A.
Justin Lehr, who has been starting in Tacoma, is an upgrade as well.
Once Felix returns, the M’s can either send Feierabend or Baek back to Triple-A or, here’s an idea; keep Feierabend in the rotation, slide Baek to the bullpen and send the lesser effective of Huber or Lehr back to the minors.
The Lineup
The only thing wrong with the lineup is Vidro hitting third. Yeah, he’s hitting a decent .278, but it’s as empty a batting average as can be. Vidro is slugging .389 - the two homers he hit at Safeco versus Texas are his only two extra-base hits of the season in 54 at-bats.
While I’m not huge on lineup changes being a huge difference maker, sliding Vidro down to the 7 spot and everyone else up one spot may give the lineup a more effective sequence. Raul Ibanez third, Richie Sexson fourth, Jose Guillen fifth and Kenji Johjima sixth.
And Ben Broussard needs to get some more ABs, starting at DH versus righties on a semi-regular basis. He’s got some value at the plate and offers a lot more pop than does Vidro. He’s wasting away on the bench and is making more money than the rest of the reserves combined.
In The End
The M’s need to cut bait before they can think about sending out trade feelers to improve the 2007 club. They need to find out if what they have underneath the dried up old skin is enough to keep them in it. If it is, they can start thinking about making a deal or two.
In case you are wondering why I titled this piece “July 9″…
That’s the official Prospect Insider over-under on Mike Hargrove getting fired. The M’s complete the first half schedule on Sunday July 8 against Oakland. Perfect time to clean house.
Depending on the win-loss record as well as the ineffectiveness of Grover’s moves, we’ll update the over-under weekly.
When Hargrove is canned, I’m throwing a party and all are invited, at a local eatery. Food and drink will be free for everyone that comes. Been waiting a year to have this swaree. Firing Hargrove is the beginning of the franchise getting things back in the right direction. Until it happens, none of us can move forward.
Send Kudos to Prospect Insider for this Report!
Oh yeah! Hargrove firing party!!!!
A few other observations on the M’s:
*It pisses me off that Julio Mateo’s ERA doesn’t show how bad he is. Because everytime he comes in he gives up the 2 runs from the runners the previous pitcher left before giving up some of his own. There should be a reliever ERA which takes into effect the runners that were on when the reliever comes in. Cause that’s their job, to not let those guys score.
*We need to figure out a way to trick the batters into thinking every inning is either the 7th, 8th, or 9th, because that’s the only time the score.
*Bloomquist in the two hole… >:/
Oh and I’m taking the under…I’d say July 2nd.
“trade” him to Washington like they did with Pinella
throw weaver, mateo, and sean white in there too
i read on Yahoo..
Asked how often he pitches with no pain, Seattle Mariners pitcher Jarrod Washburn grinned and said, “I think I remember it once in my rookie year. Yeah, that was a good day.”
what type of pain does he have?
I don’t mind Hargrove. To me the team he has to manage is the bigger problem. No one, no matter how genius they are, can overcome two starting pitchers who can magically create a 4-0 deficit before the game even starts. That’s talent.
I really don’t want to root for someone to lose their job, cause I sure wouldn’t want that if I was in their place. But when it does happen I hope it is a package deal with Bavasi, cause the only good he’s done in his three years has been with contract renewals or extensions.
Amen to the entire article. It’s time to start holding people accountable for this mess of a team.
Dude, Hargrove’s wife told a newspaper last year when asked about the hotseat rumors that he is under the ‘im set financially cause of my contract, so it doesnt matter to me’ attitude.
I wish more people read that…I might of saved it, but doubtful. Prolly on my old computer.
Me and a buddy will be at that party, and boy will we be happy.
USS Mariner had an article sayin he might get an extension…..
hangrove has done nothin to deserve an extension
I’d love for them to push that up 3 days and do it on the 12th, because that would be an awesome birthday present.
Oh and Hargrove firing party? That would be sweet.
Dude you better have some cash because me and my boys will be there pounding that keg into oblivion.There are only 2 problems left then Bavasi and all the bad contracts that someone inherits.I might even bring my dog rufus for a beer that day he is a ugly motha..
July 9th? I hope that’s the date we trade Ichiro.
Wow, people are even planning on bringing their dogs. This has all the makings of a grand affair.
Anyway, doesn’t July 9 seem a little late? The Mariners are already off to their worst start since 2003. It seems to me that as long as Felix is out, Weaver sticks around, and Mateo keeps being used in close situations, the Mariners are going to continue to plummet. And if that’s the case, it’s hard for me to see Hargrove sticking around even past May.
Then again, I could just as easily see him lasting all season.
July 9th? I was hoping he’d be gone before by no later than Memorial Day. Grumble.
My dog only drinks sierra nevada so make sure you get some wheat Jason!
You guys rock!
BTW, Cha Seung Baek is going to start tomorrow at Texas.
I hope HardGroper gets fired tomorrow. I just have no faith that the Mariners can win 10 more games by July 9th with the rotation we have, especially with their pen and Felix being out a good chunk of that. I just wish another team would take Jeff Weeper and Julio the Floor Mat Mateo off our hands.
Yes, becuase it would be so much better for the team to have Jose Guillen and Jose Vidro on it than Ichiro.
That cost is the same, or purt darn near close.
Again I ask, which OF/DH situation would you rather have?
Jones/Ichiro/Broussard-Morse with Ibanez at DH
or
Ibanez/Jones/Guillen with Vidro at DH and Morse and Broussard rotting on the bench
That first set-up is excellent for mixing/matching for opposing pitchers as well as getting rest while having two excellent fielders in positions where they prevent the most base hits.
The second is the fantasy of all of the “trade Ichiro” crowd. It involves worse defensive players at two of three OF positions, less L/R balance and wastes funds on non-star players.
Ichiro isn’t “blocking” Jones. When Jones is ready he’ll be up, and hopefully the spot he takes is one of the Joses
July 9? Really? Grover and Bavasi might not even make it to Friday.
If you’re giving me over/under, I’ll take the under on the mortgage on my house, please.
You do have to consider who’s making these decisions, first off.
Secondly, GMs don’t get fired during the season very often and the suits here don’t have the nerve to seek a replacement during the year like the Royals did with Dayton Moore.
Bavasi is going to make it through the season, Grover may not. And because the suits have linked Bavasi and Grover together so dandily, Bavasi isn’t going to be able to can Hargrove whenever he feels like it.
July 9 is a very, very reasonable date to expect something to happen.
It’s too bad when the sh_t hits the fan at safeco howie and chuck just pick it up an and throw it back at the fan.Negativity aside these guys are digging there own sh_t covered graves,and sooner than later we will get the change we deserve.Plus a good core of young talent.
Jason,
If the M’s go on to lose the next four games, completing a winless road trip against division rivals, while building what would be a ten game losing streak, would the M’s axe Grover?
I remember last year the team was in this very same position going into Texas. That was a four game series of which the M’s lost 3, their only win coming in the last game of the series, thus saving Grover’s butt. I remember that game as I was, for one game, the biggest Ranger fan in Seattle!
One writer I read today (can’t remember, Thiel or Geoff Baker) asserted that Hargrove would probably be axed if this current losing streak hits double digits. I’ve got another case of rooting against my team (or, my former team) because of this.
Baker asserted that Bavasi could also be canned during the season, claiming there’s already been a list of ‘interim’ replacements made.
My problem: As much as I believe these things need to happen (and I do), I do not see how this ’saves’ the season. They’ve still wasted Morrow, who could be in the minors pitching without having his major league clock started. They’ve still spent $111 million on a payroll with arguably 2 legitimate starters and a lineup that just can’t get the offense done (though they are, as they are showing, ‘offensive’). The way that they built this team has created so many problems that I think it simply can’t/won’t be fixed this year, despite who walks in to take over either the GM or managerial role. I mean, yeah, you can bring up Jones or a handful of pitchers from AAA to try to regenerate SOME interest, and though they’ll likely do better than the 3-4-5 guys currently IN the Ms rotation, that’s not saying all that much.
It’s a bleak outlook for the rest of this year, and the fact they’re going to have to drop a lot of money they sunk into these guys they signed…I’m not sure makes it a great outlook for next year either.
I dunno if he’s gonna lose his job this quick, only because Lincoln has tied Bavasi to Hargrove very tightly.
I think you do have to give the team a chance to weather the storm, but you also have to make sure the new guy has time to fix things…
I still say July 9 is a good date, but if they aren’t winning consistently by then, there’s no way he stays.
Of course, I’d can him today.
I dunno Jason,
This doesn’t seem like a team that can afford to wait until July to drop Hargrove.
I think you are correct in assuming that Lincoln has linked Bavasi and Hargrove, but I feel that’s just more reason for Bill to try and sever any connections with an early purge.
It’s not like he has to hire a replacement, McLaren is waiting in the wings and Bavasi is at least assured of making it through the draft.
Add some marginal improvements under McLaren and Bavasi might even save his reputation and latch on somewhere else.
I think May 9th might be a more accurate expiration date.
Oh, and I’ll be there with bells tied on and a custom “No Hargrove” tee. ^_^
bedir -
Don’t you think most “trade Ichiro” proponents are aware of the fact that the 2007 team will be less talented?
The whole point behind trading Ichiro is that by the time the trade deadline rolls around, the team will be out of contention, the chances of Ichiro re-signing will be miniscule, and there will be just one opportunity to get fair value for him before he hits the FA market.
I, and most others who want to trade Ichiro, are more than willing to take our lumps for the rest of 2007. Given the sorry state of the team now (that’s with Ichiro, mind you), is it really going to make a difference if the team is losing without him?
I know we don’t trust Bavasi to get fair market value, but if we can get a Matt Kemp and James Loney-type package for Ichiro, I’d be ecstatic. And it would dramatically improve the team’s future.
I hate to throw in the towel on 2007, but it is looking more and more likely that this season is a lost cause. Ichiro sees this, and each day he comes closer to a decision to test the FA waters. It makes perfect sense to deal him and get two or three very good players than hope that Ichiro somehow comes back.
BTW, Jason,
I am with you completely with regards to Felix being out longer, rather than shorter. I’ve read a couple of reports that the muscle which supports the UCL is at issue here - if had continued to pitch, the muscle would have been weakened to the point of blowing out the UCL.
If that’s the case, I don’t think two weeks of rehab is going to strengthen that muscle to the point of making it “Tommy John proof”.
He needs a few weeks, not days, of rest and rehab to properly strengthen that muscle.
Heck, If Felix can stay out until “Grover of the 130 pitch count” is gone then that’s fine by me.
I was at the game where he came out and was personally ill when he pointed towards the dugout. Not knowing about what was wrong for another two innings was worse. “There goes the only reason to watch Mariner games this year…”
Thank God it’s not what it looked like.
First of all you arent gonna get Kemp are Loney even by them selves for Itchiro.Everyone is gonna wait and give maybe a 2ndteer prospect because after getting fleesed on everydeal Bavasi has made clubs know that he is easy pickings.My prediction is Hrgrove goes then Bavasi comes out in the paper and says Hargove wasnt his hire! Of course everyone here knows by now that he is a spin doctor and he will not take the blame.As for the GM he will survive until after the season so the upper brass can save face.Myself i would replace him after the draft with a true baseball guy not a numbers guy who can evaluate talent and get the farm system in order and Antonelli is not that.We need a leader with some backbone and a idea about what happens in the dugout and on the field are this thing might not ever come out of this downward spin.
Fortunately for fans, the suits aren’t going to let Bavasi can Hargrove and they aren’t going to let Bavasi have final say on any Ichiro trade scenario.
If one goes, they both go.
Jason,
If the M’s end up tanking and they decided they can’t resign Ichiro, what types of prospect could we get in return for him?
By July 9th the M’s will have had the draft. What positions do you think the M’s will focus on early in the draft (first 5 rounds) and in the first round what will they be looking for? Matt Mangini 3b? or high school? Jason Heyward HS OF? They gotta be looking at mostly bats in the first round unless the best player available is a pitcher who falls? are there any top talents including hitters (Burgess or Vitters?) that could fall?
Re: Trading Ichiro
I disagree with those that don’t believe the M’s can get one premium prospect for Ichiro. It’s Ichiro, he’s a good player, a center fielder and a huge draw at the box office. Several teams would give up at least one big prospect to get him.
Sure, I don’t think the Yankees would trade Philip Hughes to get him, but they might serve up Jose Tabata in a package deal.
The Dodgers would probably give up either Kemp OR Loney - not both - and the Red Sox, though Jacoby Ellsbury is a nice prospect, he’s not untouchable by any stretch…
Ichiro’s value will have a lot to do with how likely it is he would be to re-up with the team he’s going to, and it’s probable that teams talking to the M’s - if it gets that far - would ask permission to speak with Ichiro’s reps to get a sense of how likely that would be before giving up a loaded talent to get him.
re: Draft
The Mariners, like most teams, will draft the best player available, and even though you can certainly argue that Clement was not the BPA two years and that Morrow was last year, there are other things to consider, and who can blame them.
But their problem isn’t who they are drafting, it’s who they are passing up. I like Morrow, quite a bit actually… but there were two better talents there at No. 5 (Miller, Timmy)…
The Mariners best bet is to stay away from any prep arms with the 11th pick, but other than that, there are impact talents that will be there when they pick.
Prep star Josh Vitters is the best bat in the draft by far but is likely to go in the top 5 almost no matter what his money demands may end up being.
Names that I have heard include OK STATE’s Matt Mangini, 3B, Beau Mills a 1B from Lewis & Clark State, and prep star Matt Dominguez, a slick-fielding third baseman with legit corner offensive potential…
The guy I’ve been asking about the past 4 days is Florida 1B Matt LaPorta who struggled last year but is having an unbelievable year this year.
The great thing about LaPorta is that he has no leverage — he was drafted last year, didn’t sign and his agent (this is the bad part) Scott Boras has given him some pretty good advice so far.
One scout that saw LaPorta in early April said he’s “seeing everything really well… hitting everything really well.”
He’s right, and LaPorta’s numbers back that up.
At last check he was hitting in the .420s with 30+ walks and just 11 Ks.
Adam, my point is that the 2008 team will be worse, not just the second half 2007.
Unless you see someone they acquire getting played ahead of two 8M$ players.
ya i am hoping that the mariners draft Jason Heyword, Michael Burgess, or Mike Mouskakas in the 1st round and LaPorta as their sandwich pick if avaliable
is it true Mike Mouskakas was born in 1985? for high school, thats very old
Is it just me or is Putz hardly throwing his splitter this year. I see him throw one every ten or so pitches. He’s facing young right now and all 10 pitches have been fastballs. Jason, anyone?
Nope, yer dead on hawk. He’s thrown ONE that i remember all year and he threw NONe tonight.
I think he’s trying to save that elbow.
BTW, all, I have already secured a spot for the Grover-B-Gone Party…
Haven’t set any dates or anything, of course, but it’s on like… you fill in the blanks.
lol i wanna go but i live in california…
can we get ya on a train, Greg?
Wow a party, am i invited?
LaPorta is having a huge year as of now, .426, 16hrs, 34BBs, and only 13k’s in 141 ABs. He has also been HBP 17 times. It looks like he has great on base skills something we lack.
Grabbing him in the sandwich round would be nice but even going into last year he was a 1st rounder so I would not mind seeing us pick him with the 11th pick if that is where his value is at.
lol all the way to washington?
i dont think i’ll be allowed lol
i’ll throw my own…but i dont know any other Mariners fans in california
I like Mills or LaPorta best for the draft. With Sexson seemingly on the decline,either one of them could probably come up through the system fairly quickly and provide some power. As a LHP, Ross Detwiler looks good although I don’t know what the odds are on that one.
Still, whats wrong with the prep arms? If Rick Porcello or Matt Harvey fell to the M’s, I think it would be worth considering. I like the best player approach best but I hope the M’s get a good arm or two.
Beau Mills lefty hitter fits well. He is also tearing it up so far through April 22nd.
Beau Mills, 3B, Lewis-Clark State: .478 BA, 23 HR, 80 RBI, 69 Runs. 21 BB/13 K in 161 AB’s.
Mangini is hitting pretty well too and is a lefty.
Matt Mangini, 3B, Oklahoma State: .358 BA, 9 HR, 44 RBI, 46 Runs. 27 BB/34 K in 162 AB’s
bedir,
I don’t agree that the 2008 team will be worse w/o Ichiro. If they get a ML-ready player for him, make a couple of SMART FA moves, have a healthy Felix and Morrow is ready to start, I think that team will be better than the 2007 version.
Well, it looks like they are starting to stretch Morrow’s innings to be a starter in a few rotation spots. I’m leaning toward this being a good thing. If he is a starter, and say, Weaver is gone, it gives Morrow some certainty in having that ball every 5th day and working on his pitches in the off days. Chavez might actually develop his pitches as opposed to stagnating this kid in the bullpen.
None of those numbers trump LaPorta’s.
I agree they get a prospect but i dont think a premium one though.Elssberry is not premium but Kemp and Looney are.
I think if it’s straight up or close to it, they can get a premium one… not any one, but one.
Hughes and Bailey? No.
Who are the type of right handed bats that would have some success in safeco currently in the majors? is LaPorta the type of player who could succeed at the safe?
He is looking a lot like the player he would have been last year without the injuries.
GOOD right-handed bats.
Not mediocre ones, free swingers or punch and judy hitters.
Notice how AROD and Edgar didnt have issues hitting at Safeco? Sure, they were better on the road, afterall, the Safe is a pitcher’s park. But they still hit big time.
Sounds like LaPorta could fit the profile of not being a free swinger and definitely does not seem like a punch a judy hitter. He has demonstrated some solid on base skills from his numbers. If he has plate discipline, I would definitely be happy if the M’s picked him up. I’ll be on the lookout for any Florida games on tv.
You are right on about Arod and Edgar. Its tough to find that type of hitter.
I want somebody who can taking a freaking walk.
Take, not taking.
The first step should be too dump Sexson anywhere
we can.I can’t stand another 150+ strikeouts this year,were better off putting Brousard at first for now and resigning Ichiro.Even tho it will be a lot of $$$$$ at least we know what were getting.I like Richie but Brousard can give us more quality at bats for less money.
I think the Sexson issue has been expressed ad nauseum.
We all know there’s no reason for the M’s to be paying a 6-hole hitter fourteen big ones to drive in just enough baserunners for the M’s to lose by only three or four runs. I guess he also provides a service by circulating potentially stale infield air with his prodigious whiffs.
It’s obvious that the money COULD be better spent elsewhere; Whether or not the M”s would spend that money better elsewhere is very debatable.
After all, this is a team that went with Vidro/Weaver/HoRam over Schmidt/Snelling/Soriano.
I don’t think Broussard entirely replaces Sexson’s production, but if the Mariners had a clue about roster construction and management then he wouldn’t have to.
As for Ichiro, there’s no reason the M’s couldn’t get a great prospect for him. As Jason has said, we’re not going to get another teams Felix (ie. Homer Bailey, Phillip Hughes, etc.), but some contending team will give up something very shiney for a player of Ichiro’s quality, especially if you get that East coast rivalry involved.
Add to the potential return, Adam Jones consistant performance in Tacoma (to date), and you have little incentive for the M’s to try and hold onto a player who has seemed only marginally interested in returning to this Northwest suckfest of a team.
I agree they should get a frontline prospect for Ichiro but just remember who is doing the dealing for the mariners…Bavasi??? When he gets let go he might write a book on how to get hoodwinked in everydeal you make!
Re: 56
I know that Bavasi hasn’t made the best of roster moves since he’s been here, but I think we all can agree that when he has sold players during the season, he has done a pretty darn good job. Monday morning quarterback/backseat driver/etc. aside, the Freddy Garcia deal was a good one at the time. The Ron Villone deal was a good one. Sure, neither worked out for various reasons (suckitude or moronic trading) but they looked good on paper at the time.
That said, I’ve been a proponent for trading Ichiro since the start of this past offseason. The writing has been on the wall for a while and his value could’ve been huge. I still think the M’s could get a solid package for him in June or July, but I seriously doubt the suits will allow a lame duck GM to trade their once most marketable player (let’s face it, Seattle is now Felix’s town and he’s just sharing it with us) without their input. I think that Lincoln and Armstrong are going to have as much say as anyone when it come to the potential return on such a trade, if a trade even occurs.
Does Sexson have much trade value?
I think Ichiro has plenty.
At this point, clearing Sexson’s salary and giving Broussard regular Ab’s would probably be worth giving someone else a prospect.
But no, I don’t think Sexson has much value at all.
The trades looked good on paper???Paper is either read are throwin away are used to whipe with i would think these deals are the latter.If he is such a lame duck why would they allow him to spend all this money year after year and suck year after year.Yes im not a fan of bumbling bills but i do agree the people above need to hit the bricks also before this nightmare train comes to a hault.His trades have sucked his free agents have sucked and his drafts have been good so fire him and keep Fontaine.Know that sounds good!
Sexson won’t bring much, but if he can start hitting a bit more and start being more selective at the plate, he’ll have value. A year-and-a-half of Sexson’s contract is much easier for teams to digest than some of the bloated contracts on the market.
I wonder if Baltimore might kick Sexson’s tires a bit, if they are in the race come July. They need corner IF production in a bad way.
After 8 years in the majors Big Sexy aint gonna get more selective at the plate.Someone may take a shot at him but i dont think anyone will be fooled about what they are getting all you have to do with this guy is look at the stats he has been pretty consistant like it are not thats what the guy is.His contract is pretty heavy for a year and a half but i think every team out there can read stats except maybe one ahhhhh i wont go there.The real question will they have a fire sale here and if they do who will run the thing so they dont get fleeced like usual?
re: Draft
I’m hoping Jason Heyward slides to the #11 pick, impressive looking kid that can start out in the OF and possibly move to First Base down the road.
Also was impressed by RHP Andrew Brackman, a more consistent delivery than I expected from a guy that size.
As long as the M’s down reach with their first selections to meet needs at the ML level I’m okay with it…Best Player on the board.
re: Draft
I’m hoping Jason Heyward slides to the #11 pick, impressive looking kid that can start out in the OF and possibly move to First Base down the road.
Also was impressed by RHP Andrew Brackman, a more consistent delivery than I expected from a guy that size.
As long as the M’s don’t reach with their first selections to meet needs at the ML level I’m okay with it…Best Player on the board.
I just saw Tabata play in Tampa. The guy is a stud with some serious juice in his bat. He’s in long A ball now and would be most likely a couple of years out. He needs to add a bit of muscle - but has the frame for it.
I got the chance to see a couple of other Yank prospects. Joshua Schmidt was absolutely filthy with a side arm fastball in the low 90’s and a wicked slider from that arm angle that should be illegal.
Ian Kennedy was impressive in relief as well. He looks like he could move quickly - scrappy and throws a selection of pitches that would make Ryan Franklin proud (except Kennedy has talent)
They have a Cuban 1B who is looks like he has some pop as well in Juan Miranda.
I think Hughes would be off the table as he just got the call up - the Yanks rotation is in shambles.
Jason touched on it but it should be repeated: GMs are practically NEVER fired during a season, and really, there is no reason that we should let him go during the season. Bavasi has not had much success in his trades and signings, but the same can be said for the majority of GMs out there. Let the season play out, and then hopefully a young up-and-comer type will have an interest in Seattle.
As for Hargrove–the sooner the better. I could live with July 9th, but I would really like May 9th a lot more. I think the club needs someone with a little more fire. Bobby Valentine’s name gets thrown around all the time, and maybe with our Japanese connection we could entice him to come back stateside (though I’m not sure that I want HIM necessarily, just someone like him).
Regarding the lineup, I agree that Vidro hitting 3rd is rediculous…so is Lopez in the 9 hole. He has shown pop in the past and I think he still has more pop than Betancourt. Betancourt should never, ever, ever hit 7th like he did yesterday. I don’t care who the other 8 guys are in the lineup–Yuni can hit 8th or 9th unless he magically discovers plate discipline.
As for the draft, it is such a crapshoot in baseball….just get someone who can contribute.
My long-winded repsonse to everything thus far.
(Oh, and I love the new site…nice work!)
Heh — Church, you need to get that new banner up soon, before Wlad keeps hitting like he does and gets called up to Seattle…
Re:64,
I don’t know if I’m a big Andrew Brackman fan simply based on the fact that he hasn’t pitched all that much comparatively. I’m afraid that could lead to injury. I am all for the best player on the board and if it’s him, I would be okay with it on those grounds. I’m hoping it’s a power hitter.
It’s going to be interesting to see who the M’s will get. I like the fact that they have a compensation pick. I hope they use it well.
i think a Lastings Milledge and Henry Owen for Ichiro deal would be alright with me
Draft-
i’m hoping that they M’s draft either laporta, heyward, or burgess
and victor sanchez in like 3rd or 4th round???
hes got some pop
kentral davis would be nice for their sandwich pick
LaPorta makes too much sense, even with Boras as his agent, so they probably won’t go that route. Joking.
It’s very possible that LaPorta isn’t even there at 11. He’s VERY signable and though the draft is pretty deep, and going to get deeper once Scherzer is officially in it again, getting experienced bats is a top priority in the draft for a lot of teams.
I might take LaPorta before Heyward or any hitter in the draft but Vitters.
Who is Kentral Davis? I’ve heard the name but I don’t know his position or his capabilities.
Laporta or Mills are number one for me. Mangini wouldn’t be bad either but I want POWER baby! OH YEAH!
So how about that Wlad Baletien? .380/.430/.648 with 5 homers and 6 walks.
71-
Kentral Davis is a great player. heres what MiLB says…
Hitting Ability: Davis has a line-drive swing, with a level stroke through the zone and flat finish.
Power: While he’s more of a line-drive hitter now, there is no question that Davis has serious power potential.
Running Speed: Davis runs very well, especially underway.
Arm Strength: Davis has a strong throwing arm from the outfield.
Fielding: Davis is a little crude defensively, but uses his speed well in the outfield.
Range: Davis has the ability to cover a lot of ground.
Baseball Instinct: Davis is a little raw as a baseball player, relying more on athleticism than baseball know-how at this point.
Physical Description: Short and stocky, Davis has a running back-type body and has drawn some comparisons to Kirby Puckett.
Medical Update: A car accident led to whiplash and a minor back injury that forced him to miss the first month of the season. He is now healthy.
Strengths: Five-tool package with power potential, above-average speed, arm strength and hitting ability.
Weaknesses: Davis is still raw as a baseball player and will have to show he’s more than just an ahtlete at the next level.
Summary: A perfect example of the high risk/high reward toolsy athlete, Davis does have all five tools, even if they are raw. In some ways, he showed better over the summer at showcases with wood bats than he has during this season. Whether that hurts or helps him remains to be seen
Wlad has done this before, and I keep telling people that. It doesn’t mean it’s not exciting to see it, and it doesnt mean he’s not turning a corner but… let’s wait.
Hey Jason-
When’s your next PI in the P-I article coming out?
This coming Thursday.
This is off topic but I’ve noticed that Justin Thomas hasn’t pitched more than one game so far while the other starters in the AA rotation have around four starts. Is Thomas hurt right now?
He is.