You Shook Me All Night Long

So, there are comparisons to be made and some things to be discussed with Luke French and Jarrod Washburn but also between Mauricio Robles and the three prospects given up just two days ago.

First off Luke French seems like we didnt get much for Washburn initially until you starting looking at French and then realize holy crap we got a 23 year old, 6 year controlled, (cheap) version of Washburn.

What most people have forgotten was that Washburn isn't a number one or two. He's a 3 or 4, that pitches to contact. He is having a great year, but thats also due to the fact of the outstanding defense behind him. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, we have all heard this argument before. Either your with it or you think the dolphin is magnificant.

But French while they are calling him an extreme fly ball pitcher does worry me a bit with his high LD%, his GB/FB averages through the past two years have been pretty average. He pitches to contact just like Washburn and he depends upon the guys around him. JUST LIKE WASHBURN. However with Adair i think he can be turned into the same type of succesful pitcher Washburn has been this year, and be a solid starter for us.

Robles, has been compared by Jay Yenchic to Mikael Cleto, who we got from the Mets organization with the JJ Putz deal. Lots of strike outs ... um.. but lots of walks. He is still trying to gain his command and needs to work on a third pitch to get him to stay in the starting rotation.

Jay also respond to my question of comparision by saying

"Definitely better than Adcock as it stands, and could be better than the other two as well. He's a higher risk arm than all of the above, but the potential payoff is enormous and he's shown signs of recent development/improvement. Getting French was nice, but Robles could be a real steal."

Also a really good link by "SeaTown81" in the USS Mariner forums...

Stand by ... Shannon Dryer thinks this may not be the last move of the day for the M's ... and im inclined to agree with her.

So Long, Farewell

So, i was wrong and Jarrod Washburn was traded. Me being wrong is nothing but a good thing. I felt if i didnt state it enough between twitter and the blog, that the Mariners needed something... SOMETHING, ANYTHING for Washburn. He was not going to return as a Mariner, and if he did it wasn't going to be on any discount.

The reports from New York were that the Mariners were asking for Phillip Hughes or Joba Chamberlin... people balked at this idea escpecially after the trade for French and Robles. But i think they really tried to see what was the best possible avenue, and i think they got it. Obviously i wanted a future all star, but lets no kid ourselves. While he wasn't horrible his last few years were not great.

So long Mr. Washburn, farewell, auf weidersehen good-bye

Rock - N - Rule

Jack wilson was someone i felt should be a last scenario type option. I felt even at 31 he was too old for what we were doing here. not to mention that he has been injury prone. I thought the point was to get younger and more athletic. But in fairness Jack Wilson has consistantly been solid on defense.

Wilsons UZR for the past three years comes out to -0.1 , 9.7, 12.5 ... much better than yuni's -10.6 , -12.6, and -1.1 ... thats a really big difference! you thought you saw a difference with Ronny Cedeno playing over Yuniesky. Wait til JackW comes to town.(BTW what is the deal with all these guys named "Jack" coming to town.. should i be worried)


Yuni did have a wOBA* of .285, .316, .323 the past three seasons

Jack's looks like this .300, .293, and .335 ... while he is starting to show a bit more with the bat ...

Jack and Yuni share the same lets swing alot at pitches additude 51.4/51.5 (the percentage of pitches the batter swings at) ... league average is currently 45.9

Wilson walks just a bit more than Yuni with a 5.3/3.7 ... while hte league average is still about 4 points higher.

He shows a bit more discipline then Yuni, and may just fit into that two hole that Don Wak wanted for Bentacourt this past spring, but couldn't maintain due to his horrible pitch selection. Maybe Jack can fit that bill?

If so it would push Russ and Gutz down to the 4/5 slots and put griffey or lopez at the 6/3 spots. it really has the potential to help our line up out alot more than most people think.


Just because Jack Wilson isn't Jason Donald, Reid Bragnic, JJ Hardy or Escobar don't give up on him. He will bring some real value to the team. more than you just might think

New Medicines

Okay ... Here is the deal. First off im gonna talk about the trade and then ill talk about the game today.

First and foremost... lets all agree.. with the brewers doing a faceplant (aka pulling a seattle mariner) against the Washington Nationals they are looking to have a worse shot than we do at the post season...

Okay maybe thats a bit drastic but regardless, they won't be making a move for Jarrod Washburn. Period end of story and if you think otherwise ... well.. then we think differently.

I was really feeling just a solid yuck from the trade today, for a number of reasons. I really liked all those prospects that we gave up. Ive mentioned my infatiation with Adcock a few times, and while he had been moved to the bullpen due to his lack of control. He still had alot of potential.

Brett Lorin i reallly loved and while i still have to keep looking up how to spell "Pribanic" i was actually checking up on his starts in the minors .. which i only do with a few people. i thought he had been pitching pretty well this year...

and then ol' Jeff Clement. Im sorry to see him go in the sense i think he has a future has a professional hitter. i think he'll need to get to the AL and quick. The Mariners did allow in any way Clement being traded to come back to haunt them, the only thing is they really hurt his overall chance to land with a team. i honestly dont know the pittsburgh situation in the minor league system. they seem to content to use him as a Catcher. I think thats a huge mistake and they should be trying to quickly acclimate him to first base. I did notice that ESPN had him placed a first basemen.

Ultimately though, i started thinking, Ian Snell is 27. under contract for potentially the next 3 years and resonable priced. I was reviewing the potential off-season starting pitching free agent market. Its not very impressive, and became suddenly aware sometime around 35 minutes in that Jack was going to be making a move either now or in the off season for a starting pitcher.

Im all in favor of the aquisition for Snell, good move. However, i felt we may have over paid. Then i started reading what some of the fans said and i took in to account what Jack Z said and you know. Three SINGLE A prospects. who knows whats going to happen to them. they won't be close to the majors for another 2 years AT LEAST. who knows whats going to happen.

Plus someone who fits the bill now for short stop. Someone who's excited for play for a post season. I think Wilson is a good character guy also for this team who will lose both Sweeny and Griffey next year. I think he should fit in and take to the mold quickly.

This trade is starting to look better to me ...


---------THE GAME TONIGHT-----------


okay, because this post is turning into a monster ill write something up after the game tommorrow night. Regardless just know i tottally approve and the last two nights was what i have been expecting from my Mariners...

p.s. i love Michael Saunders...

Champagne for My Real Friends, Real Pain for My Sham Friends

unlike the random music video's i post like once every two weeks or so .. this is has a story.

Being deployed i dont have very good bandwith ... frankly im lucky to have any!

So to keep up with my Mariners i have to listen to the KIRO streaming radio off MLB.tv (thanks dad) ...

In the back ground of one of KIROs comercials was this song and i spent nearly three days trying to figure out where it was from and where i had heard it because it was a song i was familar with.


Ladies and Gentlemen the song ive had stuck in my head for the past three days...

falloutboy!

Permenant

Pirates Get:

SS Ronny Cedeno
1B/C Jeff Clement
RHSP Nathan
Adcock
RHSP Aaron Pribanic
RHSP Brett Lorin

Mariners Get:

SS Jack Wilson
RHSP Ian Snell

The Mariners gave up three of
their top five or six starting pitching prospects in exchange for a defensive
shortstop and a volatile starter. I’ll need to mull this over. I’m not sure this
is the type of ‘buy’ the Mariners needed right now.

At first glance, the
Pirates got an awesome haul for Wilson and Snell. Snell is going to be the key
for the Mariners. If the team can get him pitching up to his potential at the
big league level then it should be worth it.

I’ll have a more complete
reaction as well as brief scouting reports on those we lost a little later.

From Jon Shields at Proball NW...

Basic summary: I think we overpaid, unless it comes that out the Pirates are
picking up half of Wilson’s 2010 salary or something. I liked Snell as a good
buy-low candidate, but I’m not sure this is buying low. We gave up a lot for two
guys with a lot of question marks.

-Dave Cameron, USS Mariners

these guys both nailed my reaction...

Im so sick

So, with all this busy trade deadline speculation im kind of at my wits end of waiting for the Mariners to do something. i have been waiting in reality for two months. I really thought that they would make a move prior to the deadline... and well that obviously did not happen.

There was all that talk of Jarrod Washburn going to Millwaukee and that obviously did not happen.

Oh but Morrow is going to Cleveland.....

Whatever,

i have a head ache and im just going to roll over and go to bed and get up in the morning when all this is over.

Im glad Christmas only comes once a year and atleast you can circle the date!

Hurt

So, last nights game did more than just put us one more game back in the standing. Unfortunately it also show cased how poor Miguel Batista really is. hopefully that didnt hurt his trade valule too terrible much, but at this point i dont know believe we are going to get anything for him of value.

He had done a good job of keeping his nose clean and only allowing onesey and twosey runs to score. which made his ERA 4.13 (which was under 4) look good. however, the deeper stats truely revieleved who he was...

tERA of 5.34 and pRAA of -4.9 he was worse than a league average bull pen reliver and we were looking, praying and yerning to get something anything in return. Now, that thought has perished with the back to back long and i do mean LONG balls.

osta la vesta, baby

Pallbearer

So, like i said on my Twitter account. What would we do without Russell Branyan. Amazing stroke, as one USS Mariner commenter said... that swing is worth more than one win!

Anyways... interesting note on Jason A Churchill's twitter account. A rival scout believes the mariners to make not just one more but two in the next week and change. one surrounding our line up and one with out rotation, with bedard expected to stick around.

One would assume that it would lead to Washburn being traded but im not entirely sold on that idea just yet. i think the clock for Morrow is ticking and while he has shown some ability. He may not be as untouchable as he once was. Espcially with the emergence of Jason Vargas.


Also of course with the Olson melt down and RRS headed to the fourth spot there is discussion about weather Vargas, Morrow or CJ will get the nod for the 5 spot on sunday. My inclination is Jak will get it. Giving Vargas some time to rest his arm until August so that we have him to make the last push of the season.


I really feel that jakubauskas is a solid choice for us. while he isnt going to be any type of genius you will get from him what you expect. and thats a mini of 5 solid innings.


back to the trading deadline ... do you think there is a fourth option for the starting 5? Jack Z like to surprise and while i dont expect to add someone to the starting rotation through a trade. I really wouldnt be surprised as he has a habit for pulling a rabit out of his hat.


Washburn going tommorrow in the rubber match... GO MARINERS GO!

Hey there Delilah

So, what to sya what to say. Oh, i know the mariners dodge a bullett... acutally more like it just missed the heart or an arterie by a matter of inches. its crazy. im so glad to hear gutz is alright. Last night was a real scare of a situation seeing him layouting out like 1995 ken griffey. it was sad and scary all at the same time. But as Larry Stone reports he merely suffered bruising on the ribs and shoulder. Thank goodness...

but as was discussed on Lookout Landing despite the injury and despite the thrashing of the first two innings and us losing ground on our mortal enemeys the Rangers and Angles things could have been alot worse.


Last night felt like in the first couple of innings that i wasnt watching just a game. i was watch the rest of the season. the fact that they battled back and turned last night into a serious game is amazing and it showed what heart they have and the fact that they REALLY do have a shot at this seasons AL West championship. while they may not win it. they are going to keep fighening the rest of the way, and tonight with King Felix on the mound ...i feel more than confident ... almost cocky about the game. Here we go. this season just got awhole lot more ineresting...as if it was dull?

Beat it

So, Its been a few days... really glad to see the M's rip up those Indians after dropping the first game. Felix and Jarrod both looked really solid. However i must say i was pretty ... i guess distraught would be the word over Erik's lack of performance.

There are just a few things that are on my mind about him

A) i don't see how we can keep him.

With his injuries and lack of real consistancy, i just can't see how he helps the mariners in the log run. I would rather have Garrett Olson and Jason Vargas give me 30 good outings than 15 great outtings from Erik Bedard.

B) I dont see us getting much value in return.

Every start that he has i think of Dave Cameron's blog saying that him and washburn could get us JJ Hardy. Now you all know that i'm for JJ Hardy but would perfer someone younger and under team control longer. But heck at this point i'm all for it. I just want to get something for what we gave up.

Kind of just felt like i should leave something here so no one thinks i'm dropping this. Just been really busy with trying to put some stuff up on Bleacher report.

Work has been so laxed that right now it's given me time to do it. Come the switch on sunday to days. it's going to be pure chaos. Don't know how much i'll be writting then.


Still planning on moving the site overall to wordpress but that is going to be some time i think september 1st is a good date to set ... with alot of things to consider.


Still trying to come up with a real MLB Blog sounding name... 'Homi and the Mariners' just dosn't cut it. Any ideas???

This aint a scene its an arm race

King felix has taken his throne, Jarrod Washburn and the improved defense has caused his stock to fly higher than Microsoft, and Erik Bedard, well when he's been healthy this year he's been lights out. Which has given the Seattle Mariners an amazing starting three that is just as good if not better than any other starting three in all of major league baseball.

But as the old addage goes your only as strong as your weakest link. Well, the weakest link has been anything but the starting rotation. The Mariners have a combined pitching WAR of 10.3 which places 10th of all major league baseball and a RAR of 81.3 placing 11th.The Mariners have gotten amazing pitching from Jason Vargas, signs of life from Jakubauskas, Olson and Morrow and since returning from the DL Ryan Rowland-Smith has posted a FIP of 3.61 in AAA. While there are only two more rotation spots avilable this problem is the type that most GM dream of and with the need for starting pitching from top end teams the Mariners have put themselves to be sellers and buyers in this exculusive market.


While having five good live arms is great. There are currently only two spots avilable and lets review the current caniadates for the job

Chris Jakubauskas - Chris came out to spring training this year and beat the door down throwing strikes. He impressed management so much that he won a bull pen job, and when RR-S went down was quickly insereted into the starting rotation. While he has been mediocre at best with a FIP of 4.68, and being already 31 the thought that he dosnt have much left for improvement. However, looking back on his minor league stats he has continued to show improvement at each level. At 29 he posted an average looking 3.73 FIP in AA. One year later he was turning heads with a 2.86 in 6 games started, earning a promotion to tacoma. While he didnt do anything impressive he did post a 3.45 FIP. He came out and showed he can compete at a MLB level this year and with a curve that boarder lines above average. Also he posted a 3.2 RAR while starting vs. 1.6 from the pen indicate that he is more comfertable starting.

Garrett Olson - While not doing anything to blow anyone over(with the exception to the three straight outs with the bases loaded coming in from the pen vs. Texas last week.) Olson has been consistant and shown that he is able to be a productive pitcher despite posting a FIP of 5.71. he did post a FIP of 3.47 in AAA and while he has struggled while starting his relieving RAR of 2.1 shows promise. While he has an outrageous 12.5% HR/FB rate (2.5-3% higher than his career avg) it should eventual settle down around 8 percent and that should see his FIP drop and match his sparkling 1.27 WHIP. showing that he pitches to contact and is suseptiable to streaks. I believe Garrett is better suited for the bullpen but has shown hints of promise.


Brandon Morrow - Wow .. i really should do this one last but hey, sometimes you just need to get this one out of the way. Brandon has not looked healthy at all this season and with his bullpen implosion followed by yet another episode in the epic saga of do we or dont we start him. Brandon has the ceiling of a #2 or #3 starter. While some maybe getting tired of the antics and drama that surrounds his situation, not to mention this seasons poor statistical showing. we should flush the first half of this season down the drain and start all over once the AAA season is over and rosters expand. Barely having even 50 IP within the minor leagues we dont have an efficient sample of what he can really do on a pro level. While he's been poor in certain outings he looked brilliant in others. Which leads people to suspect once we gains control of his pitches he will be another feared arm within the seattle arsnel
Jason Vargas - A throw in to many of us during the JJ Putz deal. Jason is showing us how valuable he really is. A former canidate for the rookie of the year in 2006 he lost all of 2008 due to injuries and has comeback in a mighty way in 2009. posting a FIIP of 4.71 and worth a RAR of 4.1 with a whip of 1.35. Vargas is reemerging as the pitcher people thought he could be back as a florida marlins prospect. While he wont be anything better than a #4 pitcher. Vargas has shown to be an excellent addition to this team and at 26 still is hitting his prime years.


Ryan Rowland-Smith - A local farm hand from the land down under. RRS has worked his way into the hearts of many a Seattle fan. Despite the poor outing shown in Oakland Ryan has shown he has the talent and tools to be a starting pitcher for this club. He has regained his velocity(89-92 mph) down at tacoma and since coming back from the DL has posted a 3.61 FIP and a WHIP of 1.32 showing his consistancy to thrown strikes and keep runners off base. Last year in 2008 Rowland-Smith has pitching RAR of 8.4 and while not quiet being worth 1 WAR there is potential for him to succeed within this rotation.


My final sumation is that our rotation should look like this

Felix, Bedard, Washburn, Vargas, and Jakubauskas .. with Rowland-Smith and Olson in the bullpen and Morrow spending time in AAA gaining control of his pitches. Once Morrow completes his assignment and shows his control. i believe he should bump Jakubauskas from the rotation back to the bullpen.


This situation shoud allow the Mariners to make a move this trade dead line and bring in someone now just for now at SS but for the future as well.

Butterfly

So, today Larry Stone wrote this article in the Seattle times and I actually thought it was going to come alittle sooner such as yesterday after the writting appeared on the wall. But, Julio Lugo Boston Red Sox's SS is DFA (desginated for assignment), if it wasn't already it's apparent that they want to drop him like a bad habit. It's been reasonably established that they would even be willing to eat his salary to dump his roster spot. Things would have to happen rather quickly should a deal be made because boston wants to activate Clay Buchholz, Mike Lowell and Jed Lowrie according to MLB Trade Rumors

Now, Larry Stone suggested that this maybe someone that the mariners may want to take a flyer on with limited investment and potential high turnout. Now, I'm not against giving guys a chance. I love the Russell Branyan move, and honestly i wish they would give Chris Shelton more oppertunity. But, and that is one huge Mariah Carey sized BUTTTTTT ... Julio Lugo is at best a very slim barely above league average bat with a below average glove for the past two years.

Fan graphs did a great analysis on him here , pretty much summing up what i said. But also worth a look.


I would much rather drop Bedard and Washburn for either JJ Hardy, Reid Brignac or as Larry has suggested prior Jason Donald... this solves not just an immedate hole but a future one as well. With the immpeding loss of Erik Bedard we need to get back some type of compensation and a B level draft pick just isn't going to cut it after giving up Adam Jones and Chris Tilman.

Sure you may say that Jose Lugo is hitting better than JJ Hardy, and you would be correct. Jose Lugo IS infact out hitting JJ Hardy

wOBA hWAR bRAA
JJ Hardy .307 0.2 -6.6

Julio Lugo .332 0.2 -1.8


But with that considered Julio Lugo's defense has been TERRIBLE... with a UZR of -8.2 in a small sample size of this year... and has always been an average to below average short stop.

JJ Hardy meanwhile has averaged a UZR of 9.2 for his past five seasons and currently has a UZR of 8.0 ...


JJ Hardy is also 27 vs. Lugo who is 33 ... JJ hardy has is probley currently hitting his prime ... vs. Lugo who is not going to help you defensively (and thats with a pitch to contact pitching staff that we have) and he's going to only get worse.



But just so you dont think i'm all about only going after JJ Hardy ... i've got my own opnion about who we should aquire....



Jason Donald .... there was a rumor that there may have been a deal for the Red Soxs to aquire him for Brad Penny. I'm sorry Jarrod Washburn is a MUCH better pitcher and fit for the phillies team and defense. Is he not worth the same amount ... maybe not? Send Greg Halmaan their way or a pitching prospect of sometype ... either way we get back something we need now. Not just a stop gap. I thought the idea was not just selling but also trying to buy...



Just some thoughts on this quiet friday night/afternoon pending on where you are

Crazy Train

So--- I've been preaching it for approximately four months now and the philledalephia phillies are finally going to do the enevidable and sign Pedro Martinez. Honestly this is two months(at a minimum) over due. I dont think its too late i think honestly if anything he's going to be nice and rested and that he's going to be giving them that top end rotation assitants. Is he still a #1 starter? No, I dont think he is.. but is he better than who they have. MOST CERTAINLY...lets take a look shall we?


Since they've kind of been doing the round robin thing for their 5th starter since Chan Ho Park was a found to be a complete waste and gave up his spot.


WHIP FIP tRA pRAA
Cole Hamals 1.38 3.90 4.10 6.8

Jamie Moyer 1.49 5.84 5.87 -12.4

Joe Blanton 1.37 4.74 4.82 -1.3

J A Happ 1.17 4.51 4.60 0.8

Brett Myers 1.35 6.22 6.25 -10.6



All these pitchers have been is average... and really jamie moyer and brett myers have been below average. While not being Carlos Silva bad, they havn't been burning it up either. So now they have a 5th starter who will perform in my opnion atleast league average, maybe even better.

I bring this all up because, I like this signing but if they think this is going to get them into the promised land they are sorely mistaken. While i think that Erik Bedard would be a terrible fit personality wise, i think he would completely give the phillies a finale lift they need to be legit world series contenders. They have the bats, even with Jimmy Rollins MIA. But, JA Happ is already pitching and getting very lucky. While his ERA is just below 3 this FIP as shown above is nearly a run and a half over that, his LOB% is 8 points higher than normal and he is going to regress it's only a matter of time, and to expect Jamie Moyer to be go much further would be just down right crazy. They need someone and while i don't think they want to mortage the farm for Roy Halladay i think that Erik Bedard would be a must better fit for their team not to mention cheaper.

Question the Answers

I'm considering moving the site to Wordpress...


There maybe a misconception that i was thinking of going pro blogging or something to that affect. Fear not i am far from taking that route however it dosn't mean that i dont want my site to have a professional feel.

I really like the avilable themes and alot of the capabilities Wordpress seems to offer. Alittle more far reaching than that of Blogspot.

Futures - All/Star Break Thoughts

So, as the season is at its half way point and they start looking forward. I also am looking to the future, the future of this blog. I really want to take it abit more seriously on the baseball side. I dont mind having a blog for occasional blah blah use. You know?

But, i really want to set up a blog/site that is A, more geared towards gaining readers and B, producing better content. I'm not sure how to do this currently but i really think that this is something i want to pursue.

I see how much energy Dave Cameron and Derek over at USSM, Jason Churchill with Prospect Insider, Jay Y. and the Mariners Minors and then also Matt and Jeff over at Lookout Landing they all use. Im not looking to try and compete but rather start to give back to the community in more professional manner. I don't mind that i write in this blog and its for my friends. But i want to do more than just reach out to my friends i want to reach out to people like me that have a similar goal of disecting and analyzing of baseball.


Thoughts ...

Buddy Holley ...

Sweet Emotion

Okay, I realize being a Mariner fan that this could come off as biast and "homer" type behavior. But, I really didnt start thinking about this until Hayden mentioned something the other day. He said, "Boy, Branyan totally got screwed out of the home run durby like Ian Kinsler for an All-Star spot" my intial reaction was "Well, whatever, you know" I thought "He should be taking time off during this three day period and get pumped up for the second half. But seriously ... this guy has hit some massive bombs! Most recently off the facade of the "Hit-it-here Cafe". The guy is the equivilent to Barney off of "How i met your mother" He comes up with the most ridiculous shots. You think oh this is the time he is going to strike out and he hits yet another bomb.

Currently Russell the muscle is ranked at #4 in the American League for most "No Doubt" home runs. How exactly no doubt home runs are calculated, I don't know. I just know that he hits them a freakin long way. With an avg length of 416 feet. Thats freakin long and freakin 19 feet further than the avg major leaguer home run...

How could you want someone like Joe Mauer over a pure unadultrated slugger like Russell Branyan. Thats like saying ... im going to go ahead and choose Peter Peterilli to run hiliary clintons campain over Nathan. Like Seriously?? Your going to choose the guy who has every power except for having a steady personality over the guy that rules at politics?? Okay for those that arn't "Heroes" fans .. thats like choosing the best avilable stock brocker to sell reality. Its just dumb...





But dont just take my word for it here is Mauers home run stats.

Mauer averages home runs of just 390 in length. Now im not here to criticize the guys homers. Heck hes a great hitter. I think the best catcher in baseball right now. But, look in a HOME RUN competition dont you want a HOME RUN HITTER?

Bud Selig again you fail.

Paperthing Hymm

Well ... another day another move by the Seattle Mariners. Giving up a mid level prospect for a solid defensive third basemen. Here is what is being said about it....



- USS Mariner

- Lookout Landing

- NWProball

- Shannon Drayer

- Seattle Times

- Tacoma News Tribune



.... got to love these moves ... he's a solid upgrade over Woodward ... it also in my mind rules out the possibility of a play for Garrett Atkins ... Jon Shields over at NW Proball wrote about why we shouldnt be aquiring atkins i whole heartly agree, and i think now with the left handed Hannahan that its mote point at the moment...





In other news Brandon Morrow is sent down to AAA ... alot of all though of it between Jason Vargas and Garrett Olson with Olson shifting the bull pen and vargas going down but i guess that Vargas has shown alot of redemable qualities and the defense has sure made him look like the Vargas of when he was a prospect with the Marlins. Dont let him or me fool you. He's only a back end starter. but for what he's being asked to do he's doing a great job...






But back to Morrow ...hopefully and let me reitereate my as i type this ... HOPEFULLY ... this will signal the end of the back and forth ...will he or wont he Brandon Morrow saga .. Dont get me wrong i love sagas... LOVE THEM... Star Wars.. the best all time .. Indiana Jones ... well is that really a saga ... anyways ... the point being is this has been continued to be mis handled and i love how its been pointed out that Brandon's curve is not big league ready and its not a good pitch.

Believe

While i was going to write on another topic ive had something thats just been bugging the crap out of me of late.


I recently went out to Seattle Times - Seattle Mariners forums and looking and reading through some of the fan posts i found some or a few of the fans just didnt really care for Don Wakamatsu... which really has bothered me. Mainly because i feel he has done an amazing job with this crew so this season. He has gotten great play and even in some cases over achiving from certain ball players. He has the team playing above .500 for the season .... a season following in which they just lost over 100 games... What is the fans beef with ol' Wak?

A few of the comments where that he has costed the Mariners games in the late innings due to mis managing games...


Is there a current way to measure the ability of a manager statistically... it makes me wonder ...how this would be done ... maybe its something i should pursue ...

hit the road jac...yuni

What else can i say ... the mariners make a trade .... really THE trade... Jack Zduriencik really has a knack for getting the greatest value. As some reports in the past year the Royals had been offering as much as billy butler ... and as suspected Yuni's stock has fallen quiet significantly, HOWEVER, we get the Royals TOP,best, pitching prospect in their system. We also got a nice little left handed flame thrower from the bull pen. If only one of them, make AAA this trade was worth everything that we gave up.

The real story i think is that even though we are eating a chunk of salary it does in turn, free up some space on our end. you know ... the same of about 5 million dollars...which is funny because that is alittle more than what jack wilson or freddy sanchez will cost for the rest of the year.... while everyone seems to be on the sanchez train i have to think there is more than just jack wilson or freddy sanchez. Dont get me wrong ... they are great players ... but something just dosnt click with me. I really think we should be going after a short stop. Sanchez is great but he wont be playing short for any amount of time and Cedeno (or as lookout landing often referes to him as Ronny :(edeno lol...)

Both Ryan Divish and Geoff Baker eluded to there possibly being a third team and im still riding the rockies-pirates-mariners train but there is a few more times that are interested in freddy sanchez. Hes a great player but unless we are completely done with beltre or lopez he ultimately dosnt fit in to the seattle scheme beyond 8 weeks...



Okay .... more on the trade.

Here is what ive got ...


Some various links regarding this story ... a good read if you have the time

USS Mariner

Lookout Landing

Tacoma News Tribune

Seattle Times

Shannon Drayer - the offical beat writter for the seattle mariners


A humerous article written by the Royals version of Lookout Landing called Royals Review

A great little blog by the royals version of me ... called Royals on Radio



All-in-All ... today has already been a good day...

Now, lets go kick Texas Rangers butt

What have we become...

Well, if i continue on this sparatic tale of only updating once a week ill hardly be keeping you all throughly and gainfully entertained.... not that my audience includes anyone outside my family and friends on facebook....


So .. this is just a general update ...


and with Geoff Baker from the seattle times reporting that there was a supposed pirates scout in the audience tonight one has to wonder who was he there to see..

i must admit i am alittle curious to know and our trade talks seems to swirl around the phillies, rockies, and pirates and i would not count out a three way trade/deal of some kind ... and to be honest with the several reports that the pirates are interested in some of the rockies prospects one has to wonder if a trade between the Mariners, Rockies and Pirates isnt brewing ... lets just think about this what do we have to offer the pirates ...

yuniesky benacourt ... sure we a hate/hate relationship with this young man, he still has alot of ability and talent ... hey, they are willing to take a chance lasting millage .. why not yuni... not to mention we also have migual batista, jeff clement, wlad balentine and one or two more non perment arms from the pen that could go at any moment.

at this point in time i dont see jarrod or erik going to either one of these teams ... also im starting to wonder if a deal is really out there waiting for either of them. with all this talk of roy halladay being avilable .. it has alot of teams out in flury... and makes me wonder how it makes them feel going from 'Doc' Halladay to Jarrod Washburn.. yeah just saying that in one sentance makes me want to order anti-depressents ..


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Here is another interesting link to the new odds of season standing and playoffs and what everyone is on pace to achive .. interesting if you really want to know where the mariners stand

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/ps_oddspec.php


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i think thats pretty much it ... i am going to go dig through some possible prospect hits with the pirates and rockies that we may get ... its really not Jacks MO to trade for someone like Jack Wilson ... he just .. dosnt fit in my mind ... while yes he has the defense and offensively he may be an upgrade to the current situation but he leave something to be desired ... i cant believe that this would be the seattle end game ... jack wilson... Jackie Z is too big for this and somethings going on .... outside of the ink thats on the paper ...

New York, New York

Well, we made it out of new york with a win. Which lets face it much better than being swept. We atleast needed one and i think that if we come away with just one win from Boston 4 wins out of 9 games is going to be very acceptable being they are 9 straight games against the best teams in the league. some really tought competion but im glad to see gutz hit another one and ive been WAITING for branyan to crank one out of new Yankee stadium all week. so sad that he only got to take adavantage of one.



But going back to Gutz.. he's now on pass to hit about 16 home runs and i think he may even push for about 20 this season. Ive very happy to see him mature as a hitter as the season goes on.





Here is alitte graph of his home runs i wouldnt be surprised to see him develop into a 25 homer 25 steals type of guy. his power is there and if you dont believe me here is a graph of his other 7 home runs. they arnt JUST barely getting out they are all well hit balls. take a look






Here is the link if you want to go in and take a closer look at things. But i just see nothing but good things continueing for him and the seattle mariners right now. We may not end up winning the division but this is the start of a new dynasty within seattle.

Low Rider

While we all sit and dwell on the on going will we or won't we .. are we buyer or sellers konundrum, i decided its just as important to understand where the rest of the our rivals sit at with aquistions to make themselves better.


They actually seem to both be in the running for starting pitching although i have yet to see their team names attached to same player.

The Angles are looking for simply another bat to put into their line up along with an elite starting pitcher. Speaking in the Roy Halladay/ Jake Peavy range. I have to say atleast their going for it.

Wereas Texas can't really decide if their going for a starting pitcher to add to their rotation which in my opnion they really need or some solid relief pitching which i dont think could hurt. They are currently still wondering if El Duque has anything in the tank and if he is enough of a signing to put them over the top. im here to say no... thanks for playing

Ironicly thats all the Mariners have and they really need an additional left handed infielder with a stick. So, it makes you wonder what would have should these teams not be competing against eachother.


Players on the Angles watch list...

Jake Peavy has been rumored to be someone that the front office is listening to see if they can put together the "right deal" ... what this means is they don't really want to give up the asking price of prospects because they are getting .... well old. bottomline they need to get younger and trading away their tommorrow for one last shot seems foolish and they realize it. The only question they have to ask them selves... have we put together a team that can win a championship... i don't think so.

Along the same lines of Peavy they also seem to be interested in Dan Haren, and yet again why not. he's a great pitcher or record only reflects the lack of run support he is getting. i dont think they will give up the asking price yet again. which means they will keep searching or settle on the team they have

Matt Holiday has been rumored to be an interest either prior to the trade deadline or even afterwards in the off season. I LOVE THIS MOVE... you may ask why? BECAUSE, he is no where near his past potential in colorado. Holiday while being an above average player is NOT vald guerrero the second. he isn't and as soon as the rest of MLB catches up he'll be way over paid and won't be any help to a ball club. PLEASE MAKE THIS DEAL

Cinncinati Reds - there has been talk about them switching strengths for weaknesses ... gary matthews jr. for a bullpen arm.

Players not on the Angles watch list...

Pedro Marintez - why oh why would you not be interested ... he is a free agent that showed his competative edge back in march. WHY?


Player on the Rangers watch list...

Ben Sheets - this guy will be ready September, he a free-agent .. why not?

Pedro Martinez - they wont pay more than mini for him... probley wont happen but i like the effort...



Players not on the Rangers watch list...

NOBODY THEY NEED PITCHING HELP!





clearly they arnt both huge buyers ... i suspect that there maybe more people they are interested this is just who i found in about an hour and a half of research. I would think that there maybe alot of action that goes on right arounde july 29-31

I know i know, they said it on the site but Fangraphs released it's "first half" UZR stats and i was actually really shocked... to read the article click here

Okay ... i knew the Rangers had a good team and they've had a good year and all but wow....i expected us to be ahead of everyone in the west... Just blew me away and thought i'd share

If you don't, don't

As promised here is the pitching locations on morrow. I was under the impression he attacked more the outside of the plate. While he had a couple of good pitches in that location, i was completely wrong in that assesment.

I didnt put it up, however Alex Rodriguez home run was right down the middle of the plate. I know, you know and brandon should know not to throw that pitch. hopefully he learned his lesson.

Below i included some statistics concerning Morrows pitches. Good info if you really want to see how he was pitching overall

Aboard the Lepor Colony

You know as hard as it was to see melky cabera's double in the 8th .. the mariners hung with one of the best teams in the league last night... and i must say i was proud of the way that Brandon Morrow approached last nights game. he obviously had a game plan, unfortunately like the past few weeks his control hindered him from being really effective.


So uh... how about Chris Woodward ..yeah .. i feel bad for him and that single handedly showed how much we are going to miss Beltre for the next few months defensively.


Im waiting for Russell Branyan to just absloutely destroy a pitch over right field wall ...


Ken Griffey Jr in left field was a bad idea and that double highlighted it .. why wasnt balentine in at that point? i mean dont get me wrong he's not by any one standards a "good defensive outfielder" however it would have been better than someone who is having his knee drained nightly.

Yuni to second -- Jose to third -- Cedeno will stay at short .... interesting take by USSM and reported by Larry Larue

Nice to see Kenji Johjima have a good hit but that double play he hit into in the like 2nd was completely predictable and again highlights our lack of effeciency with runners in scoring position.

So i guess that whenever my PITCHf/x tracker loads ill review brandon morrows locations. i will most likely post it up here whenever im done.

chaio