Prospect Insider - Spring Training Countdown: 12 days

Spring Training Countdown: 12 days

By Jason A. Churchill

By 01-31-2013

There are just 12 days left until pitchers and catchers reports -- and 47 days until Opening Night at defending American League West champ Oakland. are you starting to feel it a little bit? if you aren't go get yourself checked, there may truly be something wrong with you. Now. If you are, read on, please.

The news of the week is the PED garbage in south Florida, but in terms of real baseball news there isn't much to discuss. It's that time of year.

Michael Bourn, Joe Saunders and Kyle Lohse still sit on the free agent market hoping some team will give them what they want. For Saunders it's a three-year contract. For Lohse it's a good chance to win and a three-year deal, or a four-year contract. For Bourn, reportedly, it's still all about a five-year contract.

The Rangers seem to be the best fit, but not at four or five years. Stay tuned on that front, but the Mariners, wisely, do not appear to be part of the market for the 30-year-old centerfielder, despite reports that they are among the favorites.

Peoria bullpens
The Seattle Mariners, tweeted Evan Drellich Wednesday, were among the clubs watching 35-year-old Kip Wells throw a bullpen session. Also throwing were former Mariners Ryan Rowland-Smith and Mark Lowe and 5-7 other clubs and nearly 20 scouts were in attendance to check out the trio.

Wells would simply be a non-roster addition, as would Rowland-Smith, I imagine, though Lowe could get at least some guaranteed money. I'm not sure if the M's have any interest in the latter two.

Top Prospects
MLB.com has released its Top 100 prospects with right-hander Taijuan Walker coming in at No. 5, lefty Danny Hultzen at No. 18 and Mike Zunino at No. 23. Nick Franklin also cracks the top 50 at No. 47 and southpaw James Paxton chimes in at No. 61. So, per MLB.com, the M's Top 5 are, in order, Walker, Hultzen, Zunino, Franklin and Paxton.

You'll see in a few weeks when the Handbook is ready, but I'll tell you right now PI's Top 5 will not look like that. At all.

Keith Law's Top 100, organization rankings and team Top-10s will be released next week -- I've already seen them, and while mine are little different, Law does a tremendous job putting these together and I trust him far more than any of the other publications.

The Lonnie Mathis Question
Our buddy Lonnie Mathis popped in on instant message Tuesday night to ask me what I thought of Nick Franklin's weight-gain and why he went out and purposely put on weight, which has been reported as anywhere from 15 to 35 pounds since the end of the season. I'll believe it's truly 35 when I see him -- I saw him on September 3 and have some video from that day, so I'll have a reference point -- but the idea is about strength and durability.

Franklin, already, surprises scouts with his power. He played most of last season in the 160-170 pound range, but will turn around a pitch like a middle-of-the-order bat. Stronger than he looks yes, strong enough, no.

With more good weight, Franklin's power could grow some and perhaps come a little easier. He may be able to fight off pitches he couldn't before, perhaps pick up a fist-pop single when before he'd simple swing and miss or pop to the second baseman.

The strength should also help him stay healthy and stay strong through the season. Remember, once in the big leagues, the season is stretched by nearly a month, longer if you're lucky and make the postseason.

Kyle Seager didn't add a bunch of weight between the 2011 and 2012 seasons, but he did add some, and was in much better condition in February as a result. There's no question that helped him stave of fatigue in August and September and it probably helped him hit and hit for some more power, though there is no way to quantify it.

Hopefully Dustin Ackley played copy cat, because that's really all he's missing, physically, and a stronger -- and healthier -- Ackley could be the difference between what he posted in 2012 and putting up all-star figures in 2013.

For the record I have heard Justin Smoak has worked to trim down considerably this offseason -- I've heard 15 pounds, i have heard 20. Either way, that's a good sign. If the club has two viable first baseman come April 1 and even throughout the season, it's a good problem to have.

Peoria gathering
For M's fan heading down to Peoria, I'm going to open up the idea of gathering at a local establishment, yours truly included, and talking some baseball and getting some drinks or dinner.

I will be there between March 10 and March 21, so sometime between the 11th and 20th is ideal. If you plan to be there -- or you live down that way now and have interest, reply in the comments section. If there are enough people heading down, I'll put something together.

Quote of the day
One front office executive I talk to regularly was updating me on his team's current goings on and his comment on one of the players that is being brought up for depth purposes was an absolute classic.

"I told them he was a dumber than a bowl of hair."

Not sure that one can be beaten.

spring-training-countdown:-12-days

Comments
The following 6 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: Paul Martin on 01-31-2013 03:02:30
I fly out to Phoenix this morning for work. Will only be in town a couple days. Sure wish they would have sent me in March!

2. By: mwj0589 on 01-31-2013 08:51:59
Hi, I moved to Surprise from Seattle last fall and would be interested in your proposed ST meeting. Reading your site for years and finally signed up.

Mike Johnston

3. By: Lonnie on 01-31-2013 09:41:31
I'm there from the 14th through the 20th, so a meet up is entirely doable. I'll be down there by my ownself, so I'm open for just about anything...

4. By: seafarer on 01-31-2013 09:49:51
I'm going for a week sometime in March...I'll see if I can't make it during that timeframe.

5. By: spignotti on 01-31-2013 16:21:09
There from 20th to 24th with family. May be able to break away if the timing works out.

6. By: iheartfelix on 01-31-2013 22:30:09
I will be down there with two other Mariner faithful from the 13th - 17th. I love the site, and would be excited for a chance to congregate with others that are making the pilgrimage.

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