The 2008 season is fast approaching, with battles for the M’s precious few bench roles heading down to the wire. Much of the spring’s opening roster has been pared away while skipper John McLaren prepares to divvy up the playing time to those who’ll need it the most.
In the meantime, Seattle’s minor league affiliates have been juggling spring cleaning with spring planning.
Several minor league players were given their outright release in the last few days, including RHPs Chad Fillinger, Jose De La Cruz and Will Brown, LHP Paul Fagan, Infielder Reed Eastley, and C Juan Beltran, among others … Eastley requested his walking papers and the club obliged.
While the big-league club figures out their roster, High Desert appears to be wrapped up with 2008 supplemental first rounder Matt Mangini at 3B, top prospect Carlos Triunfel at SS, Chris Minaker at 2B, Johan Limonta at 1B, and Travis Scott catching. The OF will most likely consist of super athelete Greg Halman, Carlos Peguero and speedy Kuo Hui-Lo.
What does that mean for 3B Alex Liddi? The M’s are still very high on him and he’s likely to begin 2008 with the Mavs as well, switching between 3B and DH with Mangini. Whether or not he remains there is a story yet to be told, however, as the parent organization is considering a position move, possibly to left field.
RHPs Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Kyle Parker, Anthony Varvaro, Joseph Kantakevich and Ricky Orta are primed to form the core of High Desert’s pitching staff.
Triunfel, Mangini, Scott, Bibens-Dirkx, and Limonta are all 2007 Maverick returnees, while Halman is jumping a level after ending the year in Everett .
His 2007 season already a disaster thanks to a torn left knee ligament, RHP Stephen Kahn is now likely to miss the entire 2008 season as well, due to a tear in his right ACL. Once considered among the higher-ceiling relief prospects in Seattle’s ranks, Kahn now faces the commitment of another year recovering from knee surgery… 2007 11th round pick Jeff Dunbar, drafted as a catcher out of UC Riverside, has now converted to the mound this spring and has been topping the low-90’s so far. Not a bad start.
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Jason, two questions.
How was Liddi rated defensively at 3rd? I was under the impression that we had the tools to be solid there and it was Mangini who may move to 1st.
And where can I expect to see some of the outfielders who were drafted last year start. I thought Dunigan and McOwen might start in HD
KAAAAAAAHHHHNNN! Terrible.
Whooo boy, I bet Austin’s going to LOVE being in HD again. Looks like I better kick the “Free Austin!” campaign into a higher gear…
Liddi has a long way to go at third..
Dunigan and McOwen are first full-year pros that are likely to start in Wisconsin.
Is Nolan Gallagher injured? I asked around at Peoria and nobody knew where he was.
Also, has any of your contacts said anything to you about Travis Scott? He must have been a Redwood tree in his former life.
Scott can hit. Catching is another story.
He’s going to be HD’s starting catcher, though.
Scott is the lefty bat pictured above, courtesy of Mike Andruski.
I believe Gallagher is hurt right now, ek.
I should have taken a picture of him when I was there. At least I think it was him, because he was hitting left handed, and I know it was not Clement. But talk about tree trunk torso and legs.
What was Triunfel’s injury? He looked fluid and pain free.
I’m really surprised about de la Cruz. I thought he was coming on as another guy who could help in the setup role, possibly even this year if there was a need. Certainly Tacomabound. Threw hard and had a good 2007.
What happened with him that he couldn’t even make it out of ST? Sounds strange that all of a sudden he just gets released.
Is Amazon really selling the Griffey book for 29 cents like the ad says? That sounds peculiar.
DLC had off field issues.
It was probably him, ek. Scott is a big dude.
Triunfel’s injury was a thumb thing, but he’s been over that for months.
He also reported to camp in much better shape, too.
Lance,
That is correct, 29 cents.
My only regret was not being able to see AB-D and tell him to stop walking batters. My timing was off I guess.
Jason, are you buying the hype on Washburn’s new change up? I was watching his bullpen session on Friday, and he was really working on something - BTW he was cool to use the mound next to the spectator area because being left handed he basically was face to face with the fans.
Also, if anyone is concerned about Felix ever having an ego problem, he was the one shagging balls during fielding drills - while Green, O’Flaherty, Dickey and others did not. All the while he was playful, joking around, and looked like he was having a great time.
Not really, ek, it’s Spring. If he starts baffling hitters with it starting next week, then sure.
Felix is a good dude, too. Still needs to mature in ways, but he’s not an egotistical jackass and probably never will be.
You can tell he truly loves to play baseball.
The way he is with the media is a telltale sign. He’s been that way since day one, too. He always treated me well in Tacoma even though I kept calling him “Little Daddy Yankee.”
Btw, for those wondering, the Mariners are NOT going to choose RA Dickey over Cha Seung Baek if that decision comes to the forefront, which seems very likely.
So much for that experiment.
Does Baek really bring more to the table than Dickey? Especially once Dickey perfects his knuckleball?
You can say that in either direction. Does Dickey bring more to the table than Baek?
And the chances that Dickey “perfects” the knuckleball are very slim.
No offense Jason, but didnt u just say, a couple days ago, that Rhodes and Reitsma were gonna break camp with the team? That Rhodes was a lock?
Is this the same source telling u that Baek will make it over Dickey?
No.
I said Rhodes was going to make the team, and I think he’s going to, just in a round-a-bout sorta way.
I think he gets DL’d and they keep him around somehow.
I made that assessment, not a source.
As for the Dickey thing, i got some information and took from that info that they absolutely would rather risk losing Dickey than doing the same with Baek.
How many years does Dickey need to perfect the knucler? The better question is how much time does Bumblin Bill have before Howard wakes up and sees the damge and money he has wasted for the mariners?
is it realistic to even think someone can perfect that pitch?
Good point!
Any idea where they plan on sending Nick Hill?
Haven’t decided yet on Hill I don’t think. Could be High Desert, but it’s not out of the question he goes to Wisconsin.
I think I read somewhere that Hill was going to get a shot to be a starter. Is that true, and why?
If all those guys start out in High Desert, West Tennessee is going to be a pretty boring club to watch in the opening months. Moore and Saunders are about the only interesting guys, and Saunders could possibly start out in Tacoma, right?
I like that Triunfel is going to spend some more time in High Desert. Its probably a good chance for him to develop some power without having to work on adjusting to a new level of pitching at the same time.
West Tennessee should be more fun after mid-season promotions. It was pretty boring last year as well.
Well, Hill was a starter at Army and a very good one. I watched him play a few games and came away impressed. Most important, of course, was his undefeated record against Navy.
I think being a starter would be better for Hill’s development. He’s one to keep an eye on.
Anyway, I have a couple of questions.
First, does Phillipe Aumont start at Wisconsin or does he stay in extended spring training?
Second, how in the world did Stephen Kahn tear his RIGHT ACL? Talk about tough luck!
Even of Hill’s future is in relief, starting allows for more work. That’s never a bad thing.
Aumont will be in Wisconsin.
Saunders in West Tenn, definitely not Tacoma to start the year.
If Halman plays like he did today he might not be in HD for long. wow. 3-4 with a 2B and the game tying HR in the 9th. Wow if the skills/production match the tools he could destroy the Cal league
He’s a great athlete isn’t he, Vanilla?
Contact rates are his red flag.