Roster suggestion
Dave · March 27, 2005 at 3:11 pm · Filed Under Mariners
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Brewers have placed Brooks Kieschnick on waivers. Kieshnick is probably the most successful two way player MLB has seen in decades and is an extremely valuable reserve as a combination outfielder/relief pitcher.
The M’s could definitely use his bat off the bench (in 306 at-bats, he’s a career .248/.315/.444 hitter, which would instantly make him our second best pinch hitter), and having the versatility to have him throw 40-50 useful innings of relief work would allow the team to not need to carry a long man.
There’s no way Kieschnick should make it through waivers. He’d be a very nice addition for the M’s, and I’m rooting for the club to make a move.
Comments
26 Responses to “Roster suggestion”
Speaking of roster developments, the Matt Riley is not going to make the Orioles roster, and is out of options. If he is available, the M’s should grab him for sure.
Perhaps the M’s could even swap a player for him. I have no idea what they would be looking for, but he would be a great pickup.
Aaron Taylor also was waived a couple days ago. If he clears waivers and is released, I’d pick him up.
As for Kieschnick, he would be a PH we really need, and could hopefully keep Hargrove from this 7/8 reliever fetish.
I like Riley’s arm, but the fact that he couldn’t make Baltimore’s rotation, when he was out of options, isn’t good news. And we barely have room for all our own pitchers. So, if we could get him for nothing (Thornton qualifies, in my mind), great, but if not, pass.
How is Kieschnick’s OF defense? I noticed he hasn’t played there since ’03, and I am wondering what the reason is for this. I am aware that he pitches better on days when he has not already hit or played the field at another position.
Question, does the offseason waiver process operate the same way as it does in season? Specifically, do all the National League teams get a shot at him prior to the American League teams?
I believer that rule’s been changed, it’s absolute by record now.
So if he were placed on waivers today, it would be in order of 2004 record or ST record?
Re: (# 5, # 6, and # 7)- # 7 is correct, as I recall it. The thing is, will ARIZONA and KC pass on these guys?
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Two clubs not exactly known for making shrewd waiver claims, AZ and KC are, so I imagine they will. I imagine we will too, although I would like to have Kieschnick, if only for the fun of a 2-way player.
Re: (#5-#8) WAIVERS – From Rob Neyer’s TRANSACTION PRIMER:
“There are other, more esoteric rules involved here. For example, during the first 30 days of the season, the previous season’s final standings are used to determine claim order, rather than the current standings.
[This is old, but I think it still holds–for the off-season too.]
What, we’re not all in love with Doug Glanville?
Re. 9: A man known for talking like Yoda, David J Corcoran is…
As for Kieschnick, surely even a two way player on your 25 man roster ought to justify his place there either as a hitter or as a pitcher. Kieschnick does neither.
That said, as Dave pointed out, he’d be our second best bat off the bench after Spezio. That is more of a statement of the paucity of the M’s pinch-hitting options than an endorsement of the Kieschnick novelty act.
A two way player is a cool idea though. Myself, I’ve always wanted an ambidextrous pitcher that could go 7 innings as a hard tossing righty, then relive himself with two innings of work as a crafty left-hander.
Washington Post says Riley is most likely headed to the Rangers or Twins. Any other starters out there that might be available?
OT: Nooooooo!!!! We just traded Mickey Lopez. This makes me sad. I’m not sure why. I have a strange affection for AAA role players.
#12 – I’d pay good money to see a pitcher relieve himself on the mound… especially in Yankee Stadium.
#14… it’s probably a good thing, because the middle infield was (and still is) pretty crowded down there.
jason
#12… I think that’s a bit harsh on him. Small sample size, sure, but he’s hit .295/.348/.500 against RHP over the past two years, and the M’s are a pretty right-handed hitting team. There will be times when it would be nice to have a potential righty masher on the bench.
jason
RE: #12, I’ve learned how to bowl both right and left handed; does that count?
Interestingly enough, that article from the Milwaukee paper sheds some light on why the Brewers would give up on Kieschnick — apparently they have another pitcher on their club who’s pretty handy with the bat…
“The Brewers, who seem likely to carry 12 pitchers this year, might use right-hander Wes Obermueller in a long relief role and have him bat when necessary. Obermueller, who played shortstop in college, hit .385 last year (15 for 39) with three doubles and five RBI. For his career, he has hit .290 (18 for 62).”
Agree completely on Kieschnick. Any inside scoop on whether he’s being considered?
Oh, but can you imagine the PR backlash if he took a roster spot from, say, Willie Bloomquist?! It would break Jim Street’s soul!
I think that counts as upside.
I won’t speak about Arizona, but Allard Baird is actually a reasonably sharp guy who has dragged in a fair number of spare parts over the past couple seasons that have worked out. The results he has gotten haven’t been great, but he has more in common with the GMs that are considered sabermetrically inclined than most people suppose.
But wouldn’t this also mean Jayson Stark would follow the Mariners around, writing about Kieschnick in every column?
Imagine if the M’s signed both him and Doug Glanville. Stark would rent an apartment in Queen Anne.
I think a 2-way player would be more valuable for an NL team with more pinch-hitting opportunities. And you wouldn’t need to double-switch as often.
I’d love to see Brooksie come here. He’s a great story. He’s effective in both of his roles. The M’s pen stinks; a real slough of despond that’s going to be a drag on the first half of the season in a big way until some new arms are rotated in.
Ditto Aaron Taylor redux. He’s got stuff, and the guys who were ahead of him here have fallen back. If he could be picked up for, essentially, nothing, why not?
Matt Riley: what are the odds of him learning how to pitch yet? I wouldn’t say they’re great. Sure, a good arm is a good thing to have around an organization, but only with a head attached to it. Still, if the price was diddley, which is what Thornton has become, regrettably, or several similar suspects who could be named, nothing for next-to-nothing figures as a net positive, so I’m with Dave on that one.
—But if all _three_ guys arrive, the M’s would be very lucky to net one effective pitcher from the lot.