The Question
With an off day to think about what’s happened during the first month of the season, the Mariners front office has one question that looms above everything else they do.
How long do we give _________ until we decide that we should get someone else?
It’s unavoidable. The question is everywhere.
The team isn’t getting anything from the right field position. How long do they give Brad Wilkerson until they decide they should get someone else?
The team isn’t getting anything out of the designated hitter position. How long do they give Jose Vidro until they decide they should get someone else.
The team isn’t getting anything out of the first base position. How long do they give Richie Sexson until they decide they should get someone else?
Through the first 26 games, the Mariners are getting a .198/.315/.407 mark from their 1Bs, a .200/.326/.263 mark from their RFs, and a .227/.276/.340 mark from their DHs. Those are three of the easiest positions in baseball to find guys who can hit, and they’re getting absolutely nothing.
No, you don’t want to make rash decisions on the basis of one month’s worth of baseball, but there were legitimate concerns about all three of those positions heading into the season. While the degree may be, these players’ struggles aren’t unexpected. Going in another direction isn’t justifiable just based on April, but when you factor in what we already knew about these guys going into the season, it’s simply correcting the mistakes of the past and recognizing what the organization should have figured out over the winter.
The team has options. The Reds and Cubs both have too many outfielders, so call about Corey Patterson, Ryan Freel, and Matt Murton. See what the Nationals want for Nick Johnson. Call up Jeff Clement. If you get two or three of those five guys, you can revitalize the entire offense. It won’t take an arm and a leg to pick up some useful role players and make some upgrades. With three trades and a callup, you could have the following line-ups:
Vs RHP:
1. Ichiro – CF
2. Johnson – 1B
3. Beltre – 3B
4. Ibanez – RF
5. Patterson – LF
6. Lopez – 2B
7. Clement – DH
8. Johjima – C
9. Betancout – SS
Vs LHP:
1. Ichiro – CF
2. Lopez – 2B
3. Johnson – 1B
4. Beltre – 3B
5. Sexson – DH
6. Murton – LF
7. Ibanez – RF (really, I’d prefer this to be Patterson, but I know they won’t platoon Raul…)
8. Johjima – C
9. Betancourt – SS
Seriously, you’re not going to have to mortgage the future to get Corey Patterson, Matt Murton, or Nick Johnson. Yes, you’ll have to give up some talent, but you’ve already decided to go for broke this year when you made the ridiculous Bedard deal, so no point in just going half way. If you’re going to try to win in 2008, try to win in 2008.
The offense needs help. The defense needs help. The team needs help.
How long the team is willing to give players who shouldn’t have had jobs to begin with will determine whether this team has a chance or not. As constructed, this isn’t a playoff team. It’s just not. Admit your mistakes, show some humility, and make the team better.
The White Sox got Carlos Quentin for one prospect (albeit a good one) and Nick Swisher for three. Either one of those guys would have been tremendously helpful to the Ms. As far as GMs who mistakenly think their teams are going to contend this year, Ken Williams really put Bavasi to shame during the off-season.
What teams does Bavasi have working contacts with? It always seem the Mariners are out on an island nobody wants to deal with Bavasi., not to mention players don’t always want to come to Seattle.
Diamondbacks were loaded with young talent and traded Carlos Quentin to the Sox. I just don’t see anybody wanting anything we have expect what we want to keep.
Mariners are in a tight spot if the current gang can’t start smacking the ball…..
On the plus side, Matt Morris is available!
Corey Patterson isn’t going to revitalize anything offensively. He might be able to catch enough to justify his putrid wood in center but the Ms already have that covered.
Corey Patterson in left with Ibanez at DH or Corey Patterson in right is a bit better than any of the in-house options.
#203: Heck yes, Matt Morris!!! Franchise savior, baby!
198: Although that Tino trade might still have been a little easier to swallow had we gotten a real third-base prospect as opposed to Davis.
From the looks of it, I think Jack Morris may be able to throw with more velocity than Matt these days — and he’s twenty years older and been retired since 1994!
In other words, it’s pretty bad when even the Buccos give up on ya.
Eduardo Perez was a better option than Carl Everett too…just not really enough to make a difference and certainly not worth what the Ms gave up….
Hey, everyone head over to fangraphs.com. Dave has a great article on Nick Johnson and PrOPS. There’s also an awesome stat they put up that tracks how often players swing and make contact in AND outside the strikezone. Very rad.
Would Shapiro listen if Bavasi called?
“Travis is looking a little peaked. He turns 30 this year!”
“So?”, says Shapiro.
“How about Sexson + Putz + $$ for Hafner?”
____________________, replies Shapiro.
Bread,
Part of the reason Vizquel was dealt was his anemic hitting. In hindsight, the M’s should have retained Omar, and moved him to second base. You have to hand it to Cleveland, however, where Omar became a fixture in the number 2 slot behind Roberto Alomar, not to mention becoming half of one of the best middle infields of all time.
The Indians would have done it to us again with Carlos Guillen, but for Omar failing the physical.
I should have said behind Lofton and Alomar.
Wouldn’t it just be better to promote from within? If we made a trade for any of those guys, Bavasi would probably give up way too much. Also, some of our options from within are just as good if not better. Why not bring up Reed and Balentien to play RF and LF, move Ibanez to DH, and bring up Clement to play 1B? While I know Mariners management wouldn’t ever want to do that with Sexson’s contract and the fear of moving Ibanez, the team’s offense and defense would improve dramatically without trading for anyone.
Also, even though this is a little off the subject, didn’t Safeco Corp. get sold recently. Wouldn’t that mean that Safeco Field would have to be renamed for next year?
Sorry if I don’t know all the details, but I live in Upstate New York, not in Seattle, and it is a little harder to get information about the Mariners here.
Vizquel’s offense had nothing to do with the trade. It was all a money issue.
Carlos Guillen had nothing to do with the attempted signing of Vizquel in 2005. Guillen was traded in 2004.
I think what they’re saying is that the stadium name MAY change, but the merger only happened about a week ago. It’s too early to tell.
I would be surprised if the stadium name changes, honestly; Safeco has a long history in the area.
We probably won’t have a solid answer until the offseason about the naming issue.
Jack,
The Mariners and Indians agreed to trade Guillen for Vizquel straightup in December, 2003. Omar failed the physical, which negated the trade. Guillen was then given away to Detroit for Ramon Santiago and Juan Gonzalez.
from ESPN, December 17, 2003: “Cleveland Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel failed a physical in Seattle on Tuesday, putting in jeopardy a trade that would have sent him to the Mariners for Carlos Guillen. The teams had agreed on a deal to swap the shortstops contingent on Vizquel passing medical tests.”
and Jan. 9, 2004: “The Seattle Mariners replaced shortstop Carlos Guillen with Rich Aurilia on Thursday. The Mariners confirmed signing Aurilia to a one-year, free-agent contract reportedly worth $3.5 million US, well below the $6.25 million US he pocketed in 2003. Upon securing Aurilia’s service, the Mariners traded Guillen to the Detroit Tigers for, ironically, two more shortstops: Ramon Santiago and Juan Gonzalez.”
Larry Stone on the subject.
currcoug – I stand corrected on that. That occurred just before the signed Spiezio. Not a good month for Bavasi.
211: Oh boy! I love Mad Libs!
Dec 15, 2003: Tejada accepts O’s deal, M’s re-sign Guillen.
Dec 16-17, attempt to trade for Vizquel, he fails physical, Indians make pissy remarks about keeping him. They are pleasantly surprised when his knee is ok, and he plays
well. They still dump him at end of year. Sign Spiezio at winter meetings; unfortunately he passes his physical.
Jan 9, 2004 sign Aurillia to a one-year deal, trade Guillen to Detroit (who’d tried to get Aurillia, but he wouldn’t talk to them, just like Tejada)
…Mariners subsequently release Santiago and Gonzalez. Santiago returns to Tigers as a bench player.
…And the moral of the Carlos Guillen saga is: Never pop a DUI when going thru Medina on 520 at 2 AM (especially if you’re on a work visa)!
However, if you’re down in Clark County, that apparently doesn’t get you traded.
Botts designated…he’d be an upgrade at DH…
especially if it isn’t a DUI.
Guillen was stopped for driving at excessive speed across 520, blew over the limit when stopped, and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service, speaking requirements, fines and fees amounting to about $1,000. Sexson, after accelerating through an intersection in Vancouver was charged with negligent driving & fined after the officer involved consulted the Washington State Toxicology Lab about alcohol burn-off rates & determined he likely wasn’t over the limit when stopped.
Guillen did not plead guilty to DUI.
The most obvious solution was removed from the table by our esteemed Corporate Lawyer Chairman……. ’cause he wants to win!
Acquiring a certain not to be named free agent is free except for the $$$. Trading for any of the far lesser hitters mentioned will necessarily cost us prospects they aren’t really worth. Varitek and Lowe for Slocumb anyone? If that is really are only choice, we might as well start calling up the young ones and play for next year.
Guys like Corey Patterson, Ryan Freel, and Matt Murton may be an ‘upgrade’ but they aren’t impact bats. They aren’t enough to change the feeble nature of this offense. We need an impact.
Our pitching staff (when healthy) is too good to not support with at least an adequate big league offense.
225/26: Msb & Currcoug: Sorry for the brainfart and thanks for the clary. I guess what I was really getting at with that rant was: (1) if that run-in that CG had with the cops on 520 was a “determining factor” as to whether or not he figured into the club’s plans going forward, I’ve seen guys be forgiven in the past by different clubs for things which were far more aggregious; & (2) even if that were Carlos’ proverbial “last straw” with the club, it does seem like Bavasi, at the very least, could’ve at least gotten something of value in exchange for driving him to the airport.