By Brian Ailor
Is it just me or is anyone else scared that the Mariners are one outfield injury away from starting Milton Bradley again? I got my fingers crossed that Michael Saunders will be a great player... but I fear the M's will give up prematurely again like they did with Shin-Soo Choo a few years back. Wish we had that trade back? Speaking of trades... Let's not be so quick to deal Closer David Aardsma. Every year theirs a demand for a quality closer at the trade deadline. Let us wait and see if anyone overspends to get one.
Instead, I think all Mariners fans can agree, we have enough .270 batting average/contact hitters to fill two teams. What we need to do is be more like... The White Sox??? For years now the White Sox, and in particular Seattle J-Walker/White Sox G.M. Kenny Williams, have done an incredible job being in contention in a very strong division, the AL Central. Not by getting lucky with home grown talent or by overspending on the top level free agents, but by doing one simple thing offensively. That is to mix and match contact hitters with power hitters. When your team is too contact hitting friendly you must string together hit after hit. Not a very effective strategy in this era of the match up minded managers. What we must do is acquire more power bats to place behind Ichiro and Figgy! Recently adding Jack Cust to the lineup isn't a bad start, but in a perfect world Cust would be a #5 hitter at best.
The Mariners should be looking to get more power bats. Getting one or two homers a game might just be enough damage to win with the Mariners impeccable defense and spacious Safco Field. Not to mention would be exciting baseball for a change....
As it stands now....
Projected Lineup VS Left Handed Pitching:
1. Ichiro RF
2. Figgens 3B
3. Miguel Olivo C*
4. Justin Smoak 1B
5. Franklin Gutierrez CF
6. Jack Cust DH
7. Jack Wilson SS
8. Milton Bradley LF
9. Brandon Ryan 2B
*Looks funny on paper to have your catcher bat 3rd, but newcomer Miguel Olivo batted just under .300 a year ago against left handed pitching. (Well find out just how much of that was a product of hitters friendly Coors Field.)
Projected Lineup VS Right Handed Pitching:
1. Ichiro
2. Figgens 3B
3. Jack Cust DH*
4. Justin Smoak 1B
5. Miguel Olivo C
6. Franklin Gutierrez CF
7. Jack Wilson SS
8. Michael Saunders LF
9. Brandon Ryan 2B
*VS left handed pitching a year ago Jack Cust batted just .180 with 1 home run, but against righties he batted .290 with 12 home runs.
Not Exactly a murders row on offense right? Another power bat will be much needed to compete for 1st place in the AL West. Vladimir Guerrero comes to mind not only as a productive hitter but as a proven power threat in Safeco. Derreck Lee would be a nice fit as well. He would provide a big bat in the middle of the lineup and help keep the pressure off young Justin Smoak. Jim Thome is another possibility at DH/pinch hitter, whos veteren leadership might just be what the doctor ordered with the loss of Ken Griffey JR and Mike Sweeney. On a side note, I would like to see Justin Ackley play nearly everyday as a utility man either by spelling time at 2nd or shortstop. Well need him game ready anyways for the inevitable day Jack Wilson gets hurt and Milton Bradley pulls another section 8.
Any question/comments or any other Mariners ideas, please feel free to comment below !!
Mariners X-Mas List For Winter Meetings
By Brian Ailor
1st Base/DH: I like Justin Smoak as a prospect but I'd sure like a proven hitter either to spell him at first or to DH and take some of the pressure off him. Why not blow Japanese media heads off and bring in Godzilla for a year? He might play the field and run the bases like I travel up stairs, but if you have Ichiro and Gutierrez roaming the outfield who cares?
2nd Base: Too late for Brett Boone to make yet another Mariners comeback?? Yeah probably so here's a shot in the dark... let's move disgruntled 2nd baseman Chone Figgens back to 3rd where he seemed far more comfortable with back in Anaheim. Then promote blue chipper prospect Justin Ackley to play 2nd base. Trial by fire always works best in my opinion.
SS: Not sure how the rest of you feel but I consider Wilsons to be like QBs in the NFL... If you have two of em, you really don't have one. Usually shortstops are either 1. Largely athletic or 2. Great hitters. Neither of these describe our shortstops. Everytime either Wilson came up to bat all I was hoping for was a hit by pitch. Not necessarily the offensive juggernaughts needed in the middle of the lineup.
3rd Base: I'll be the first to say it... I don't miss Jose Lopez, and that has nothing to do with the fact that he marks the tenth player who's jersey I bought that the very next year either was traded of retired. You 10 know who you are....
Outfield: Please sign Manny Ramirez!!! Just as a personal funny I'd love to see two gold glove winners play keep away from Man Ram in left field... Be like "Bad News Bears" all over again with Guti stealing all pop flies hit that direction. A more logical and economically friendly option would be to play Saunders more. At least when he accidentally hits the ball it travels outta the park. Been far too long since weve had one of those power hitting outfielders...You know the type, the ones that don't cost 4 times too much, or the ones who might as well not even bring a bat to the plate cuz they don't know how to hit anyways...
*coughs Milton Bradley*
Pitching: Since I'm sure MLB and Commissioner Bud Selig would frown upon cloning Felix Hernandez 4 times over were going to have to look for help else where... Not to mention, thanks to the movie "Multiplicity" we all know what happens when you accidentally clone a clone! Lets see, thus far we have for starting pitching Felix, Bedard (worst trade ever!), and 3 minor leaguers. Maybe we should bolster this somehow, so let us see whose on the free agent market shall we? How about Kevin Millwood, Brad Penny, Carl Pavano, or Andy Pettite? All of whom are former Aces who can help fill out a rotation.
Catcher: If it's not too much trouble I'd like to send one of our scouts to find Hector, the long lost Molina brother to come play catcher in Seattle. Last Mariners catcher I can remember who was worth a darn was Dan Wilson.. And while I'm on that subject here's a simple reguest for a new coaching staff... Know former Cleveland manager Eric Wedge just got here but we can fire him and just blame it on Lebron right?
Coaching Staff: Since most good managers seem to be former catchers i.e. Scioscia for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim or Yankees skipper Joe Girardi. I'd like to volunteer Dan Wilson as Manager. While were at it, why not Edgar Martinez as hitting coach? Or the ageless wonder that is Jamie Moyer as pitching coach? Jamie could set yet another all time record, along side most homeruns given up by a pithcer, by being the first ever player/pitching coach. After his Tommy John surgery heals he can just run himself out to the mound every 5th game. Be perfect! Heck lets even bring back Ken Griffey JR to be the bullpen coach, that way he can safely nap throught the first 6 innings some more.... Too soon???
Closer: Can we please trade David Aardsma for anything? Perhaps to Japan for more Ichiroles? All I know is I haven't been this nervous watching a D.A. in action since Harvey Dent turned into Two Face in the last Batman Movie...
1st Base/DH: I like Justin Smoak as a prospect but I'd sure like a proven hitter either to spell him at first or to DH and take some of the pressure off him. Why not blow Japanese media heads off and bring in Godzilla for a year? He might play the field and run the bases like I travel up stairs, but if you have Ichiro and Gutierrez roaming the outfield who cares?
2nd Base: Too late for Brett Boone to make yet another Mariners comeback?? Yeah probably so here's a shot in the dark... let's move disgruntled 2nd baseman Chone Figgens back to 3rd where he seemed far more comfortable with back in Anaheim. Then promote blue chipper prospect Justin Ackley to play 2nd base. Trial by fire always works best in my opinion.
SS: Not sure how the rest of you feel but I consider Wilsons to be like QBs in the NFL... If you have two of em, you really don't have one. Usually shortstops are either 1. Largely athletic or 2. Great hitters. Neither of these describe our shortstops. Everytime either Wilson came up to bat all I was hoping for was a hit by pitch. Not necessarily the offensive juggernaughts needed in the middle of the lineup.
3rd Base: I'll be the first to say it... I don't miss Jose Lopez, and that has nothing to do with the fact that he marks the tenth player who's jersey I bought that the very next year either was traded of retired. You 10 know who you are....
Outfield: Please sign Manny Ramirez!!! Just as a personal funny I'd love to see two gold glove winners play keep away from Man Ram in left field... Be like "Bad News Bears" all over again with Guti stealing all pop flies hit that direction. A more logical and economically friendly option would be to play Saunders more. At least when he accidentally hits the ball it travels outta the park. Been far too long since weve had one of those power hitting outfielders...You know the type, the ones that don't cost 4 times too much, or the ones who might as well not even bring a bat to the plate cuz they don't know how to hit anyways...
*coughs Milton Bradley*
Pitching: Since I'm sure MLB and Commissioner Bud Selig would frown upon cloning Felix Hernandez 4 times over were going to have to look for help else where... Not to mention, thanks to the movie "Multiplicity" we all know what happens when you accidentally clone a clone! Lets see, thus far we have for starting pitching Felix, Bedard (worst trade ever!), and 3 minor leaguers. Maybe we should bolster this somehow, so let us see whose on the free agent market shall we? How about Kevin Millwood, Brad Penny, Carl Pavano, or Andy Pettite? All of whom are former Aces who can help fill out a rotation.
Catcher: If it's not too much trouble I'd like to send one of our scouts to find Hector, the long lost Molina brother to come play catcher in Seattle. Last Mariners catcher I can remember who was worth a darn was Dan Wilson.. And while I'm on that subject here's a simple reguest for a new coaching staff... Know former Cleveland manager Eric Wedge just got here but we can fire him and just blame it on Lebron right?
Coaching Staff: Since most good managers seem to be former catchers i.e. Scioscia for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim or Yankees skipper Joe Girardi. I'd like to volunteer Dan Wilson as Manager. While were at it, why not Edgar Martinez as hitting coach? Or the ageless wonder that is Jamie Moyer as pitching coach? Jamie could set yet another all time record, along side most homeruns given up by a pithcer, by being the first ever player/pitching coach. After his Tommy John surgery heals he can just run himself out to the mound every 5th game. Be perfect! Heck lets even bring back Ken Griffey JR to be the bullpen coach, that way he can safely nap throught the first 6 innings some more.... Too soon???
Closer: Can we please trade David Aardsma for anything? Perhaps to Japan for more Ichiroles? All I know is I haven't been this nervous watching a D.A. in action since Harvey Dent turned into Two Face in the last Batman Movie...
Mariners Trade Rumors
Last year the biggest Mariner Rumor ever Cliff Lee happened, we can't expect something like that but what is out there?
One Mariners rumor has them interested in the Orioles lefty bullpen arm Koji Uehara. Uehara is from Japan so that always makes a little sense for the Mariners plus he has nice stuff when he isn't injured. If the price is right we are in for buying. The Mariners are going up against the Brewers, Orioles, Red Sox and Twins for his services.
We know the Mariners rumors that they are interested in Zach Greinke, of course who isn't as so are the Twins,Rangers,Braves,Reds,Brewers... Our take is that the Royals want him out of the division and our thought is likely out of the American League so we don't see this one coming true. To us Grienke is a mystery anyways do we really want this guy at what it is going to take.
The big negative Mariners rumor is by Steve Henson over at Yahoo who says we are going to have trouble getting any free agents because the stench of loosing is becoming a lot like the Orioles. We don't think so, Seattle is a great place to live and the Mariners do have a better history, a respected up and coming GM and are committed. Bite us Henson.
Not a Mariners rumor but we should touch on the trade with the Rockies with us getting Chaz Roe for Jose Lopez. Nice move by the Mariners as we weren't keeping Lopez and Roe was a former first round pick with a decent arm. It is hard to believe the Rockies gave up on him as he is a sinker ball pitcher but 5.98 ERA last year in his first round of AAA likely did the trick. If the Rockies didn't feel he could play in their park we doubt he can play in the AL but little risk here.
With regards to Mariners rumors for pitchers the talk is we are likely after value free agents with past arm troubles such as Jeff Francis. That is great, we are all for value plays but you need to mix it in with the more sure things as well when you are in the Mariners position.
The Mariners are rumored to be after Jesse Crain of the Twins but he is a Type B free agent and we would have to give up a pick so with Z man at the draft helm we don't see that happening. It was fun to be included in the list though with the Rays, Dodgers, Rockies, Dbacks, Cubs, Orioles, Nationals and Jays.
If you have any comments on these Mariners Trade Rumors / Mariners rumors leave them below.
One Mariners rumor has them interested in the Orioles lefty bullpen arm Koji Uehara. Uehara is from Japan so that always makes a little sense for the Mariners plus he has nice stuff when he isn't injured. If the price is right we are in for buying. The Mariners are going up against the Brewers, Orioles, Red Sox and Twins for his services.
We know the Mariners rumors that they are interested in Zach Greinke, of course who isn't as so are the Twins,Rangers,Braves,Reds,Brewers... Our take is that the Royals want him out of the division and our thought is likely out of the American League so we don't see this one coming true. To us Grienke is a mystery anyways do we really want this guy at what it is going to take.
The big negative Mariners rumor is by Steve Henson over at Yahoo who says we are going to have trouble getting any free agents because the stench of loosing is becoming a lot like the Orioles. We don't think so, Seattle is a great place to live and the Mariners do have a better history, a respected up and coming GM and are committed. Bite us Henson.
Not a Mariners rumor but we should touch on the trade with the Rockies with us getting Chaz Roe for Jose Lopez. Nice move by the Mariners as we weren't keeping Lopez and Roe was a former first round pick with a decent arm. It is hard to believe the Rockies gave up on him as he is a sinker ball pitcher but 5.98 ERA last year in his first round of AAA likely did the trick. If the Rockies didn't feel he could play in their park we doubt he can play in the AL but little risk here.
With regards to Mariners rumors for pitchers the talk is we are likely after value free agents with past arm troubles such as Jeff Francis. That is great, we are all for value plays but you need to mix it in with the more sure things as well when you are in the Mariners position.
The Mariners are rumored to be after Jesse Crain of the Twins but he is a Type B free agent and we would have to give up a pick so with Z man at the draft helm we don't see that happening. It was fun to be included in the list though with the Rays, Dodgers, Rockies, Dbacks, Cubs, Orioles, Nationals and Jays.
If you have any comments on these Mariners Trade Rumors / Mariners rumors leave them below.
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