Comments on: Make the Mariners a Contender http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:32:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: marinerdan http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1736 marinerdan Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:32:16 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1736 What if we could trade for Griffey? Some how coax the reds into trading Griffey for a package of guillen, clement, and an OK SP in the minor leagues. Platoon Vidro and Ibanez and now have a lineup of CF Ichiro LF Adam Jones DH Ibanez RF Griffey 1B Sexon C Johjima 3B Beltre 2B Lopez SS Betancourt Does it make the M's that much greater a team? Probably not a true contender unless weaver pitches with an ERA around 4, with felix regaining his throne and washburn pitching like he was earlier in the season. Most of which is improbable but that offense would be fun to watch eh? We get griffey and adam jone in that lineup. Every one of those players either has, is or will be and allstar. But this is just a pipedream that doesn't improve us enough to make us a contender but it is fun to think about. What if we could trade for Griffey? Some how coax the reds into trading Griffey for a package of guillen, clement, and an OK SP in the minor leagues. Platoon Vidro and Ibanez and now have a lineup of

CF Ichiro
LF Adam Jones
DH Ibanez
RF Griffey
1B Sexon
C Johjima
3B Beltre
2B Lopez
SS Betancourt

Does it make the M’s that much greater a team? Probably not a true contender unless weaver pitches with an ERA around 4, with felix regaining his throne and washburn pitching like he was earlier in the season. Most of which is improbable but that offense would be fun to watch eh? We get griffey and adam jone in that lineup. Every one of those players either has, is or will be and allstar. But this is just a pipedream that doesn’t improve us enough to make us a contender but it is fun to think about.

]]> By: red http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1049 red Sat, 02 Jun 2007 17:45:55 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1049 Why don't we try to bring up justin lehr as a starter. I realize he's pushing 30 and he's never been that great before but that was always as a reliever. He's got a 1.86 era as a starter this year in AAA. Why don’t we try to bring up justin lehr as a starter. I realize he’s pushing 30 and he’s never been that great before but that was always as a reliever. He’s got a 1.86 era as a starter this year in AAA.

]]> By: lailoken http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1048 lailoken Sat, 02 Jun 2007 17:22:08 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1048 This roster is incapable of winning a championship. Can it make the playoffs with some tweaking? Sure. But it would take much more than a little work here or there to create a championship caliber roster out of this morass. We want to get to the high ground. In order to do so requires a level of fiscal responsibilty this regime has failed to achieve on many levels. Fiscal positives: 1) Fontaine has built a fine lower-level farm system with many prospects reaching the upper minors that are of serious note. Adam Jones is ready to be an above average ML player at a minimum salary for many years. Brandon Morrow looks like a top-shelf starter to pair with Felix. With Mickolicko, Lowe, Kahn, ABD, Varvaro, Embry, Uhlmasiek, RRS, Escalona we should be able to fill out the bullpen with cheap arms that will complement the core of Putz, Sherrill, & O'Flaherty. Triunfel is a future star 3B. 2) We have locked up young, inexpensive players to multi-year deals. Felix is obviously the next step but Putz, Lopez, & Betancourt is a good start. 3) May of the bad contracts on the roster are up within three years, & the team has the money to eat some of the salary in trades. Fiscal Negatives: 1) Ichiro is not signed to a multi-year deal. 2) Sexson, Ibanez, Washburn, Vidro, Ramirez, & Batista are grossly overpaid for their performance. 3) As will happen any season, some minor league players have underperformed or become injured when it seemed like they would be a turning a corner, getting ready to help the big club. Organizational Philosophy: Top-end starting pitching, a balanced line-up, fiscal responsibility, & organizational depth wins. Trade: Sexson, Washburn, Batista, & Vidro with money for useful parts. Ibanez to a contender with a lesser prospect or other ML player(s) for a ML-contributor or decent ceiling prospects. Bloomquist with cash & a decent prospect to Arizona for Scott Hairston. DFA: Mateo & Weaver Pending FA: Reitsma can play out his contract & get us a draft pick. Roster: Move Morrow to the rotation. Let us see if Ramirez can right himself so that he has trade value. If not don't extend him arbitration. SP Felix Morrow FA/Trade (Zambrano?) Baek Feireband/Thomas/Other Prospect RP Putz Lowe Sherrill O'Flaherty FA/Trade 2 of Mickolicko, etc. C Johjima/Clement 1b Broussard 2b Lopez 3b Beltre SS Betancourt RF Ichiro CF Jones LF FA/Trade DH Johjima/Clement Bench: Morse, Hairston, & Lefty Mid-infield stick. Move forward with 2009 offseason when money is freed up & prospects are better evaluated. Ichiro is intelligent & will re-sign if all is explained intelligently. Spend internationally! This roster is incapable of winning a championship.

Can it make the playoffs with some tweaking? Sure. But it would take much more than a little work here or there to create a championship caliber roster out of this morass.

We want to get to the high ground. In order to do so requires a level of fiscal responsibilty this regime has failed to achieve on many levels.

Fiscal positives:

1) Fontaine has built a fine lower-level farm system with many prospects reaching the upper minors that are of serious note. Adam Jones is ready to be an above average ML player at a minimum salary for many years. Brandon Morrow looks like a top-shelf starter to pair with Felix. With Mickolicko, Lowe, Kahn, ABD, Varvaro, Embry, Uhlmasiek, RRS, Escalona we should be able to fill out the bullpen with cheap arms that will complement the core of Putz, Sherrill, & O’Flaherty. Triunfel is a future star 3B.

2) We have locked up young, inexpensive players to multi-year deals. Felix is obviously the next step but Putz, Lopez, & Betancourt is a good start.

3) May of the bad contracts on the roster are up within three years, & the team has the money to eat some of the salary in trades.

Fiscal Negatives:

1) Ichiro is not signed to a multi-year deal.
2) Sexson, Ibanez, Washburn, Vidro, Ramirez, & Batista are grossly overpaid for their performance.
3) As will happen any season, some minor league players have underperformed or become injured when it seemed like they would be a turning a corner, getting ready to help the big club.

Organizational Philosophy: Top-end starting pitching, a balanced line-up, fiscal responsibility, & organizational depth wins.

Trade:

Sexson, Washburn, Batista, & Vidro with money for useful parts.

Ibanez to a contender with a lesser prospect or other ML player(s) for a ML-contributor or decent ceiling prospects.

Bloomquist with cash & a decent prospect to Arizona for Scott Hairston.

DFA: Mateo & Weaver

Pending FA: Reitsma can play out his contract & get us a draft pick.

Roster: Move Morrow to the rotation.

Let us see if Ramirez can right himself so that he has trade value. If not don’t extend him arbitration.

SP

Felix
Morrow
FA/Trade (Zambrano?)
Baek
Feireband/Thomas/Other Prospect

RP

Putz
Lowe
Sherrill
O’Flaherty
FA/Trade
2 of Mickolicko, etc.

C Johjima/Clement
1b Broussard
2b Lopez
3b Beltre
SS Betancourt
RF Ichiro
CF Jones
LF FA/Trade
DH Johjima/Clement

Bench: Morse, Hairston, & Lefty Mid-infield stick.

Move forward with 2009 offseason when money is freed up & prospects are better evaluated. Ichiro is intelligent & will re-sign if all is explained intelligently. Spend internationally!

]]> By: Ozzie http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1041 Ozzie Sat, 02 Jun 2007 07:11:52 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1041 I guess Jones heard my rant about him being overrated. Dudes been on fire ever since. I guess Jones heard my rant about him being overrated. Dudes been on fire ever since.

]]> By: Adam http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1040 Adam Sat, 02 Jun 2007 06:17:33 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1040 I don't think you can compare AAA numbers to determine whether Dukes is better than Wlad, or Morse, or Jones. Dukes is considered an elite prospect. I'd say the numbers he's putting up his first time in the bigs speak to that. He is head and shoulders above Wlad and Morse, and probably even Jones. Again, this is from what I've read. And I am not advocating a deal to get Dukes. Dude needs to get his ass beaten and left in a ditch somewhere. I don’t think you can compare AAA numbers to determine whether Dukes is better than Wlad, or Morse, or Jones.

Dukes is considered an elite prospect. I’d say the numbers he’s putting up his first time in the bigs speak to that. He is head and shoulders above Wlad and Morse, and probably even Jones.

Again, this is from what I’ve read. And I am not advocating a deal to get Dukes. Dude needs to get his ass beaten and left in a ditch somewhere.

]]> By: Jason A. Churchill http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1035 Jason A. Churchill Sat, 02 Jun 2007 01:46:33 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1035 This statement just isn't true and I demand that you take it back. <i>"I like ABD’s potential, but if he was that good right now they would have him up for either Green or Davis spot right now."</i> If that was the club's philosophy, Felix would have been in the big leagues in June... of 2004. This statement just isn’t true and I demand that you take it back.

“I like ABD’s potential, but if he was that good right now they would have him up for either Green or Davis spot right now.”

If that was the club’s philosophy, Felix would have been in the big leagues in June… of 2004.

]]> By: huhwhat http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1033 huhwhat Sat, 02 Jun 2007 01:33:52 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1033 I'm not saying OPS isn't something to look at, I'm saying it shouldn't be the only basis for concluding a players value, with your argument of Dukes OPS over the others, doesn't that mean Broussard is better than Dukes and the rest since his OPS is higher, actually if your saying that his OPS, which is only over 40 games in the Majors , is justification that he is better than those of less OPS, what your saying is he's better than -Manny Ramirez - OPS .812 -Alfonso Soriano = OPS .799 -Andruw Jones - OPS.777 -Jermaine Dye - OPS .757 -Bill Hall - OPS .736 -Vernon Wells - OPS .735 -Ryan Zimmerman - OPS .735 -Ivan Rodrigues - OPS .712 -Paul Konerko - OPS .709 -Michael Young - OPS .694 Also, yes it's not the NFL, but the players are part of a team, that is what is marketed as a product for consumers i.e. fans who generate the revenue for the team to even exist. So no he won't get reprimanded by Selig, but do you really invest in a player, in terms of giving up talent that may or may not have legal baggage with them, I recall the Starks article also stating that many teams are interested in his talents, if he's cut, but aren't willing to trade away talent for him. The guy has like 5 kids by 4 different women and has had legal issues with more than one of them. Last time I checked if he doesn't pay all that child support he can go to jail, making death threats can land you in jail, I know for a fact (cause my friends serving 3 years in jail currently) that flashing a pistol at someone in a threatening manor can land you a felony assault charge, Now if they trace that picture to Dukes that could possibly be an issue at least that's what my cousing said, but who's just a bum lawyer that works for the state of California. Also, you don't think Baseball may do something, they kicked Hamilton our for awhile for smoking crack, Dukes has threatened the life of his children and his middle school teachers wife with a gun. -Also if your saying many consider Wlad a real non-prospect than that would mean that even if we obtained Dukes that would make no possibility to move Wlad for a Baker type since many consider him a real non-prospect, so why would a team give up a pitching prospect for a real non-prospect and I never said Morse was special, I agree he's a bench bat, just used him as comparable examples to Dukes' offensive performances. Last-Austin (ABD right?) right now could not replace Morrow,I'll agree once he shuts down the single A High Desert opponents down like Morrow is currently doing right now in the Majors, I like ABD's potential, but if he was that good right now they would have him up for either Green or Davis spot right now. As I look again I see no-one in the Minores that we have that could step in right now and be a legit Set-Up man. I’m not saying OPS isn’t something to look at, I’m saying it shouldn’t be the only basis for concluding a players value, with your argument of Dukes OPS over the others, doesn’t that mean Broussard is better than Dukes and the rest since his OPS is higher, actually if your saying that his OPS, which is only over 40 games in the Majors , is justification that he is better than those of less OPS, what your saying is he’s better than

-Manny Ramirez - OPS .812
-Alfonso Soriano = OPS .799
-Andruw Jones - OPS.777
-Jermaine Dye - OPS .757
-Bill Hall - OPS .736
-Vernon Wells - OPS .735
-Ryan Zimmerman - OPS .735
-Ivan Rodrigues - OPS .712
-Paul Konerko - OPS .709
-Michael Young - OPS .694

Also, yes it’s not the NFL, but the players are part of a team, that is what is marketed as a product for consumers i.e. fans who generate the revenue for the team to even exist. So no he won’t get reprimanded by Selig, but do you really invest in a player, in terms of giving up talent that may or may not have legal baggage with them, I recall the Starks article also stating that many teams are interested in his talents, if he’s cut, but aren’t willing to trade away talent for him. The guy has like 5 kids by 4 different women and has had legal issues with more than one of them. Last time I checked if he doesn’t pay all that child support he can go to jail, making death threats can land you in jail, I know for a fact (cause my friends serving 3 years in jail currently) that flashing a pistol at someone in a threatening manor can land you a felony assault charge, Now if they trace that picture to Dukes that could possibly be an issue at least that’s what my cousing said, but who’s just a bum lawyer that works for the state of California. Also, you don’t think Baseball may do something, they kicked Hamilton our for awhile for smoking crack, Dukes has threatened the life of his children and his middle school teachers wife with a gun.

-Also if your saying many consider Wlad a real non-prospect than that would mean that even if we obtained Dukes that would make no possibility to move Wlad for a Baker type since many consider him a real non-prospect, so why would a team give up a pitching prospect for a real non-prospect and I never said Morse was special, I agree he’s a bench bat, just used him as comparable examples to Dukes’ offensive performances.

Last-Austin (ABD right?) right now could not replace Morrow,I’ll agree once he shuts down the single A High Desert opponents down like Morrow is currently doing right now in the Majors, I like ABD’s potential, but if he was that good right now they would have him up for either Green or Davis spot right now. As I look again I see no-one in the Minores that we have that could step in right now and be a legit Set-Up man.

]]> By: bigz51 http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1025 bigz51 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 21:31:23 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1025 Correct me if im wrong, but OPS correlates best to Runs scored. Things like RBI's/Runs scored are many times outside of the batters control (i.e. runner being on base, or being knocked in). OPS shows the batters skill. I doubt many would consider Wlad or Morse (a real non prospect, a bench bat) a better prospect than Dukes. Oh and Austin could replace Morrow. By all accounts, he has been a model citzen in the clubhouse. Remember this isn't the NFL. He wont get kicked out or anything. Correct me if im wrong, but OPS correlates best to Runs scored. Things like RBI’s/Runs scored are many times outside of the batters control (i.e. runner being on base, or being knocked in). OPS shows the batters skill. I doubt many would consider Wlad or Morse (a real non prospect, a bench bat) a better prospect than Dukes. Oh and Austin could replace Morrow. By all accounts, he has been a model citzen in the clubhouse. Remember this isn’t the NFL. He wont get kicked out or anything.

]]> By: huhwhat http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1013 huhwhat Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:25:22 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1013 Wlad - .327/.390/.564 ops-.954 Jones - .296/.379/.523 ops-.902 Morse - .313/.383/.485 ops-.867 Now I know it's AAA but they are obviously comparable in terms of prospects to Dukes, cause at this point he's also a prospect in terms of future success cause his track record of performance isn't even at 1/2 a year but you can compare those 3 to the last 2 years of Dukes in the Minors and what you see is just in terms lines similar prospects. 2005 AA- .287/.355/.478 ops-.833 2006 AAA(only 80 games)-.293/.401/.488 ops-.889 -would have played more games but couldn't stay out of trouble in 2006, even though he vowed that he would change in 2005 the same way he vowed he would change in 2004, also the same way he vowed he would change this year. I'm all about giving people second chances, but thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths and sevenths chances are stretching it a little expecially if the incidents are happening on the field with team coaches and teammates, and umps, off the field with just about everyone. I mean are you saying that his recent issue with his wife, who's been supporting the guy throughout his troubles is not a concern at all, I mean the guy even said he would take out his and her own kids. Here's a link if you care or not http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/23/Tampabay/Ballplayer_s_wife__He.shtml Wlad - .327/.390/.564 ops-.954
Jones - .296/.379/.523 ops-.902
Morse - .313/.383/.485 ops-.867

Now I know it’s AAA but they are obviously comparable in terms of prospects to Dukes, cause at this point he’s also a prospect in terms of future success cause his track record of performance isn’t even at 1/2 a year but you can compare those 3 to the last 2 years of Dukes in the Minors and what you see is just in terms lines similar prospects.

2005 AA- .287/.355/.478 ops-.833
2006 AAA(only 80 games)-.293/.401/.488 ops-.889
-would have played more games but couldn’t stay out of trouble in 2006, even though he vowed that he would change in 2005 the same way he vowed he would change in 2004, also the same way he vowed he would change this year. I’m all about giving people second chances, but thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths and sevenths chances are stretching it a little expecially if the incidents are happening on the field with team coaches and teammates, and umps, off the field with just about everyone. I mean are you saying that his recent issue with his wife, who’s been supporting the guy throughout his troubles is not a concern at all, I mean the guy even said he would take out his and her own kids.

Here’s a link if you care or not

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/23/Tampabay/Ballplayer_s_wife__He.shtml

]]> By: huhwhat http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1010 huhwhat Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:56:54 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1010 I'm sorry I thought I clarified when I meant to say overall offensive production in terms of Runs scored + RBI't not his avg/obp/slg & ops, I was just always under the impression that those were more important in the end. If you put it that way, Dukes doesn't out perform Ben Broussard and Broussard is also a LH bat so that once again means there really is no need to make a move for Dukes cause Broussard's lines are .302/.333/.509 for an OPS of .842 that's better than Ichiro and Dukes and Broussard is in that same role as what Dukes would be in. Wait I still don't see those shutdown arms that we have that could replace Morrow as the setup man. Huber - Nothing special Green - Nothing special O-Flaherty - Okay Sherrill - LH specialist Reitsma - Has Elbow promblems with his already reconstructed elbow, may or may not be always healthy. White - Nothing Special Davis - Bum in every fashion Lowe - Isn't even close to being back 100% Mateo - Goner and nothing special Rhodes - Thommy John Woods - Sucks RRS - Unproven and from what I've seen okay at best -Out of all the AAA pitchers, I see zero setup men, and if we had good bullpen arms down on the farm we wouldn't be throwing Davis, Green, White, and Mateo in the pen. -I guess I over value Morrow's and the Setup Man's significance to the team and the pen, cause by your standard his arm could easily be replaced, I wonder why then it's so hard for teams to find legitimate Set-up and Closer arms in the league. I’m sorry I thought I clarified when I meant to say overall offensive production in terms of Runs scored + RBI’t not his avg/obp/slg & ops, I was just always under the impression that those were more important in the end. If you put it that way, Dukes doesn’t out perform Ben Broussard and Broussard is also a LH bat so that once again means there really is no need to make a move for Dukes cause Broussard’s lines are .302/.333/.509 for an OPS of .842 that’s better than Ichiro and Dukes and Broussard is in that same role as what Dukes would be in.

Wait I still don’t see those shutdown arms that we have that could replace Morrow as the setup man.
Huber - Nothing special
Green - Nothing special
O-Flaherty - Okay
Sherrill - LH specialist
Reitsma - Has Elbow promblems with his already reconstructed elbow, may or may not be always healthy.
White - Nothing Special
Davis - Bum in every fashion
Lowe - Isn’t even close to being back 100%
Mateo - Goner and nothing special
Rhodes - Thommy John
Woods - Sucks
RRS - Unproven and from what I’ve seen okay at best
-Out of all the AAA pitchers, I see zero setup men, and if we had good bullpen arms down on the farm we wouldn’t be throwing Davis, Green, White, and Mateo in the pen.

-I guess I over value Morrow’s and the Setup Man’s significance to the team and the pen, cause by your standard his arm could easily be replaced, I wonder why then it’s so hard for teams to find legitimate Set-up and Closer arms in the league.

]]> By: bigz51 http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1008 bigz51 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:00:17 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1008 Dukes line is .223/.347/.473 giving him an OPS of .820. Ibanez's line is .282/.333/.388 giving him an OPS of .721. Jose's line .260/.325/.422 thats an OPS of .747. Ichiro's line is .336/.389/.445 giving him an OPS of .834. Therefore Dukes is outperforming Ibanez by leaps and bounds, outperfroming Guillen, and Ichiro barely outperforms him. So yes, I would take AB's away from Ibanez/Guillen/Ichiro for this kid. Oh, and we have other bullpen arms. If it wasn't for dumb HoRam we would have an abudance. Dukes line is .223/.347/.473 giving him an OPS of .820. Ibanez’s line is .282/.333/.388 giving him an OPS of .721. Jose’s line .260/.325/.422 thats an OPS of .747. Ichiro’s line is .336/.389/.445 giving him an OPS of .834. Therefore Dukes is outperforming Ibanez by leaps and bounds, outperfroming Guillen, and Ichiro barely outperforms him. So yes, I would take AB’s away from Ibanez/Guillen/Ichiro for this kid. Oh, and we have other bullpen arms. If it wasn’t for dumb HoRam we would have an abudance.

]]> By: huhwhat http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-1001 huhwhat Fri, 01 Jun 2007 06:07:50 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-1001 Just to clarify, the reason Ellison being replaced by Dukes doesn't work is because Ellison does nothing for the M's now anyway and even though Dukes has got Talent, would you really take time from Ichiro, Ibanez, or Guillen for someone who has produced less overall offensive production (meaning Runs+RBI's) than all 3 of them and is hitting like .220 with only 8 hits in his last 10 games and even worse if you stretch that even further. Even Ichiro has produced more offense then Dukes and he's not even a power guy. Is Dukes going to provide more offense than Guillen and Ibanez (who, by the way is our only LH semi-power bat in the lineup), especially considering Safeco isn't that great for RH power guys to begin with. Just to clarify, the reason Ellison being replaced by Dukes doesn’t work is because Ellison does nothing for the M’s now anyway and even though Dukes has got Talent, would you really take time from Ichiro, Ibanez, or Guillen for someone who has produced less overall offensive production (meaning Runs+RBI’s) than all 3 of them and is hitting like .220 with only 8 hits in his last 10 games and even worse if you stretch that even further. Even Ichiro has produced more offense then Dukes and he’s not even a power guy. Is Dukes going to provide more offense than Guillen and Ibanez (who, by the way is our only LH semi-power bat in the lineup), especially considering Safeco isn’t that great for RH power guys to begin with.

]]> By: huhwhat http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-999 huhwhat Fri, 01 Jun 2007 05:54:58 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-999 126 - Wouldn't moving Sherrill or Morrow deplete or Bullpen even further than what it is, cause the way I see it we have only 3 solid for sure arms in the Pen, Sherrill, Morrow, and Putz. Reitsma having elbow issues again may or may stay healthy the whole year, Mark Lowe's not going to be back at best for a couple of months, I just don't see how depleting the already thin pen for a 4th young law-troubled RH outfielder who's not really producing more than any of our current outfielders, helps this club win unless he's playing everyday. Also, in all honesty I would rather stick with Jones and Balentein over Dukes, just because they both don't have pending legal issues and a past history of troubles and are performing exceptionally well right now. Just to let you know also, even though it doesn't really mean anything if you compare Dukes' AAA numbers to Wlad's, Wlad's numbers are pretty comparable to Dukes' numbers with only have played 52 games so far versus Dukes' 80 games AAA numbers. Don't get me wrong, I like Dukes' is talent, but see no reason as how it makes the M's win now or in the future by depleting the already thin Bullpen. 126 - Wouldn’t moving Sherrill or Morrow deplete or Bullpen even further than what it is, cause the way I see it we have only 3 solid for sure arms in the Pen, Sherrill, Morrow, and Putz. Reitsma having elbow issues again may or may stay healthy the whole year, Mark Lowe’s not going to be back at best for a couple of months, I just don’t see how depleting the already thin pen for a 4th young law-troubled RH outfielder who’s not really producing more than any of our current outfielders, helps this club win unless he’s playing everyday. Also, in all honesty I would rather stick with Jones and Balentein over Dukes, just because they both don’t have pending legal issues and a past history of troubles and are performing exceptionally well right now. Just to let you know also, even though it doesn’t really mean anything if you compare Dukes’ AAA numbers to Wlad’s, Wlad’s numbers are pretty comparable to Dukes’ numbers with only have played 52 games so far versus Dukes’ 80 games AAA numbers. Don’t get me wrong, I like Dukes’ is talent, but see no reason as how it makes the M’s win now or in the future by depleting the already thin Bullpen.

]]> By: bigz51 http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-991 bigz51 Thu, 31 May 2007 19:54:49 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-991 Starks claims Elijah Dukes could be had for a set up man. I would send Morrow if the M's have no intentions of making him a starter. If not, would Sherrill make them bite? I know Dukes would present problems since we already don't have enough spots in the OF and he is right handed. But could you pass up this kind of talent for that little? At the very least, this kid would allow you to deal Jones. However, I would let the big club win with what it has and add depth without giving up major players. Dukes could replace Ellison and add depth to the Mariners youngster. I guess a second move could be to deal Wlad since he would move to the third best OF prospect. Therefore, trade Wlad for a Baker type and replace Ellison with Dukes, thereby improving this team and the organization's future. Starks claims Elijah Dukes could be had for a set up man. I would send Morrow if the M’s have no intentions of making him a starter. If not, would Sherrill make them bite? I know Dukes would present problems since we already don’t have enough spots in the OF and he is right handed. But could you pass up this kind of talent for that little? At the very least, this kid would allow you to deal Jones. However, I would let the big club win with what it has and add depth without giving up major players. Dukes could replace Ellison and add depth to the Mariners youngster. I guess a second move could be to deal Wlad since he would move to the third best OF prospect. Therefore, trade Wlad for a Baker type and replace Ellison with Dukes, thereby improving this team and the organization’s future.

]]> By: Edgar for Pres http://prospectinsider.com/2007/05/27/make-the-mariners-a-contender/#comment-978 Edgar for Pres Wed, 30 May 2007 22:25:27 +0000 http://prospectinsider.com/?p=38#comment-978 Maybe Jeremy Reed for Ryan Klesko. Brings a decent lefty bat in. Could get some ABs in 1B/LF/DH. Actually can walk and is performing in a pitchers' park right now (although in the NL). Maybe Jeremy Reed for Ryan Klesko. Brings a decent lefty bat in. Could get some ABs in 1B/LF/DH. Actually can walk and is performing in a pitchers’ park right now (although in the NL).

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