| By Jason A. Churchill |  | By 07-14-2010 |
First reported by Brock and Salk via Facebook, the Seattle Mariners have used the all-star break to promote 2B Dustin Ackley, RHP Anthony Varvaro and LHP Edward Paredes to Triple-A Tacoma.
We told you last month Ackley's time was coming, and he'll make his debut for the Rainiers Thursday in Reno and will make his Cheney Stadium debut next Friday versus Sacramento.
The question I have already received several of is whether this is good for Ackley.
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The answer is yes. If it were almost any other player in his situation I would say probably not, since he was still challenged by Double-A pitching and is still learning second base.
The reason Ackley is different is because he's so smart with such great makeup and work ethic and as a mature 22-year-old can handle failure. Some cannot.
He could go to Tacoma and hit .210 with no power and three times as many whiffs as walks and it wouldn't deter him from the process of his development.
The environment in Tacoma will be a good one for Prospect Insider, too. Ackley isn't much of a talker, but he'll be readily available to the media and you can bet I'll be at the game on the 23rd to sit down with him.
As for Varvaro and Paredes, they aren't anything more than relievers, but for many of the arms in the Double-A -- not Mauricio Robles just yet, but a healthy Josh Fields and right-hander Steve Hensley are included -- they need to be challenged and the club needs to find what they might bring to the 25-man roster next year and if they are worth protecting this winter.
Paredes has a shot as a situational left-hander and Varvaro's pitch arsenal suggests he could start if his command was even average.
All three may struggle in Tacoma, but this is a good sign, so be happy about it. They won't ruin Ackley -- this isn't a rush job -- and it gives the M's a better chance to figure out what they have in the two pitchers.
I expect others to get the nod in the coming week, but not a lot of them from West Tennessee, since they do need to field a legitimate team for the next seven weeks.
m\'s-promote-ackley,-two-others
Comments
The following 35 comment(s) for this article are shown below:
| 1. By: Adam T on 07-14-2010 12:50:19 So, from a development standpoint, is this just a chance to get Ackley more exposure to better off-speed pitches and pitchers with greater control? In other words, is this a chance to see if that incredible pitch recognition sticks against pitchers who are around the plate with more than just a fastball? |
| 2. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-14-2010 13:01:17 It's a challenge for Ackley and a way the M's can see how far along he is. Better breaking balls, and more experienced arms. The difference between AA arms and, say college arms or arms in High-A (though I know Ackley did not face A+ pitchers) is miniscule compared to the difference between the average pitcher in AA versus the same in AAA. Many AAA arms have big league experience or are future major leaguers -- not the case in Double-A. His development plan is on track with where we thought it'd be. |
| 3. By: jkcmason on 07-14-2010 13:16:35 Do you think that with his current progression he will be ready to play next year full time, or will it take longer for him to develop? Would it be way to much to ask of him to fill in at the ML level if Lopez were dealt? |
| 4. By: Hawksman81 on 07-14-2010 13:20:58 Wow great news! I'm glad to see the Rainers finally getting some talent and prospects worth seeing instead of them all being in AA. |
| 5. By: JonathanAicardi on 07-14-2010 13:22:27 How is Varvaro's slider looking these days? My brother faced him at St. John's during preseason workouts and was apparently pretty nasty with his fastball/slider combo. But this was before his surgery I think. At fringe average command, do you think he at least contributes out of the pen? |
| 6. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-14-2010 13:27:24 JKC, I think it will happen some time next year, but I don't believe for one second he'll be "ready" to play second base full time in the big leagues. But since the team is not winning right now, he'll probably get some time this year, too. Aicardi, Varvaro's breaking ball is slurvy... he came out of school with a 4FB, 2FB, SL, CB, SPL and CCH... the M's made him shelve a few of them, so the slider has turned into a combination of the two breaking balls. It's an OK pitch, he just isn't consistent with it. The pen is where he's going to have to make his mark unless the switch is flipped and he figures out how to avoid the middle of the plate and keep his 89-92 mph fastball down in the zone. |
| 7. By: d2ret on 07-14-2010 15:00:11 Will Ichiro ever see the writing on the wall? We begin to get good in 2012, but just begin. This would seem a very timely place in the trajectory of the M's plans to move him for major league ready talent, and it would also seem a good time for him to go be a part of a contender as well... Will Ichiro EVER not be untradable? Good God.. I've never seen a more untradable player in Seattle or in an M's uniform. I understand the whole marketing aspect, but God that is frustrating.. We wont even look at potential deals? Make an Ichiro deal, clear a lot of that payroll, get very nice players in return, and come 2012 you might have one of the brightest futures of any MLB org, with a ton of room to spend wisely |
| 8. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-14-2010 15:02:57 It's not even worth talking about, d2ret. |
| 9. By: jv075 on 07-14-2010 15:03:32 Obviously Ackley isn't in Seattle yet but as he's getting closer to the big leagues, where do you envision his place in the line-up long-term? With Figgins and Ackley both having the ability to work the count and get walks, wouldn't moving Ichiro 3rd in the lineup be a great way to generate offense and take pressure of Gutz and Smoak. |
| 10. By: d2ret on 07-14-2010 15:11:21 Not to mention Pujols... |
| 11. By: d2ret on 07-14-2010 15:14:20 But you're right though Jason. Exciting to hear about Ackley though. |
| 12. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-14-2010 15:21:05 Long term, jv075, he's a leadoff type bat. He could hit second or 6th in a good lineup, too. |
| 13. By: marinerforever on 07-14-2010 15:38:41 is ackley the staring 2nd base start next year with figgind at third or does someone like jo wilson start at second till ackley is a little more seasoned |
| 14. By: Lailoken on 07-14-2010 15:49:40 marinerforever, I would hope we get a better stopgap 2B than Josh Wilson. |
| 15. By: Lailoken on 07-14-2010 15:51:05 Jason, who's heading to AA to replace the three of them? Beavan, Lawson, & Fields coming off the DL? |
| 16. By: marinerforever on 07-14-2010 16:17:25 why spend any kind of money on someone that may only need to hold the postion down for half a year or less and what is wrong with jo wilson all he did when he played was hit 270 |
| 17. By: randallball on 07-14-2010 17:09:12 I would love to see the Mariners' breakdown chart of the minor leaguers' "QPA" that Pedro Grifol talked about on Brock & Salk today. |
| 18. By: Adam P. Boyd on 07-14-2010 17:22:37 Beavan, Lawson, and Lueke |
| 19. By: tylers1216 on 07-14-2010 17:27:54 marinerforever, you'd have to think someone else starts at 2B next year due to curbing ackley's service time. Correct me if I'm wrong but won't the M's do the same as texas did with Smoak this year? I'd bet on a may or june call up with either figgy starting at 2B and a temporary 3B or a stop gap 2B until dustin is ready. Jason, have you heard about any physical development holding ackley back? is the strength coming along as planned? I guess you could answer that when you see him in person but the org. might have mentioned something to you. |
| 20. By: xarmyguy78 on 07-14-2010 18:47:09 Jason or Chris Any chance we see Adam Moore in Seattle any time in the near future, and if so does Rob johnson go away or do they dump Bard? |
| 21. By: Adam T on 07-14-2010 19:21:30 Rob Johnson isn't going anywhere... |
| 22. By: Chris Crawford on 07-14-2010 19:26:02 RE: Ackley This is great news -- but seeing him at 2B at the major-league level....I don't see it, not yet anyway. Not sure what the plan is, but unless he's improved drastically since the last time I saw him play the position, I think it's a mistake, we'll see what happens. RE: Moore, I wish he was up now playing every day in Seattle now -- but if he's not going to play everyday, leave him in Tacoma. He needs the at-bats. |
| 23. By: Adam T on 07-14-2010 20:18:59 So what is the backup plan for Ackley if he can't cut it at 2B? CF? LF? |
| 24. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-14-2010 20:42:18 LF, then CF (unless Gutierrez was hurt or traded), then 1B, but with the Smoak Monster in town... yeah. Re: Johnson/Moore Johnson is going to lose his job next spring barring injuries giving it to him. End of story. |
| 25. By: Blowgun7 on 07-14-2010 20:57:31 Jason, if we decided to stick Ackley in LF, does a package of like Saunders, Triunfel, and Moore hold any value on the trade market? Could those guys bring back some impactful for next season and beyond? How bad is Ackley's defense right now? How long until he could be a league average defender or is he just lost there? I would think the plan should be for 2012. Give him two more offseasons and another complete season to make that adjustment. We have plenty of outfielder options going forward, but are pretty scare on the infield. I would do w/e I could to make this a successful transition, even if it means he's not going to see Seattle in 2011. |
| 26. By: Lamda on 07-14-2010 21:46:11 I'll believe Johnson is gone when I see it, lol. Wak just loves the guy too much, I think he's trying to see too much of himself in Johnson. Tough kid, nobody would doubt it but he's just awful. Z will have to trade him or dump him to force Wak not to play him every other day because that's what he'll do. |
| 27. By: Juan Valdez on 07-14-2010 22:46:22 Back when he was a mere minor leaguer, wasn't Rob Johnson actually thought to be pretty good defensively, or is that just something I remember from a dream? |
| 28. By: dawgncarolina on 07-15-2010 00:24:20 Jason, what's the scouting report on 17 year old Dylan Unsworth from South Africa? Looks like he has control beyond his years, does he have any stuff to go with it? Projectability? |
| 29. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-15-2010 01:01:37 Blow, Yes, but not a ton, depending on what you're looking for and who is out there. Matching up with a club is just as tough as finding enough talent to land the player you want. Ackley's defense is poor, but it's not like he's booting half the balls hit to him or can't throw the ball to first base. It's just still very new to him and that shows sometimes. Valdez, He had the tools to be good defensively, still does. dawg, Unsworth has fringy stuff at best right now. But he's young enough to think his solid arm speed can add velo and improve his chances at the big leagues, even though he's not a prototypical pitcher physically. |
| 30. By: greymstreet on 07-15-2010 01:03:07 Wait, why does Fields need to be protected this winter? |
| 31. By: maqman on 07-15-2010 13:02:14 Jason: Any news on international prospect signings? I haven't seen any and thought the Ms were in on a couple. |
| 32. By: rocketdawg31 on 07-15-2010 14:14:51 They were and are, maqman. It's just that all these current age/drug controversies with Latin American prospects is making it so most of the interested parties stateside can't really get any word on how negotiations are doing. Right now, nobody's really in the know on who's tested positive for what, and once they do, there'll doubtless be a rearranging of signing prices for players. To a degree that I can't even speculate on. It's a bit of a fustercluck this year, from what I hear. I know Jason/Chris have their ears to the ground on it, though. They've said so, so I'm comfortable speaking for 'em on that one. As soon as they know something definitive, we all will. |
| 33. By: southpaw360 on 07-15-2010 15:08:18 MLB trade rumors (Ben Badler from Baseball America is the source) is reporting the M's have signed 3 international free agents. OF Phillips Castillo, RHP Jose Torres and 3B Yordyn Calderon. Castillo will get a $2.2MM bonus, Colombian right-hander Jose Torres gets an $851K bonus and Venezuelan third baseman Yordyn Calderon gets a $477K bonus. Badler describes Castillo as “one of the elite hitters” on the international market. The 16-year-old stands 6’2” and can hit for power. Torres is considered the top Colombian pitching prospect of the year and Calderon is “a good athlete who can hit for power.” Overall, the Mariners committed just over $3.5MM to the three prospects. This is good news to me. Can't hurt having some more young potentially good players in the system. |
| 34. By: Jason A. Churchill on 07-15-2010 15:16:59 And again, until there is news that they signed or are not going to sign, THERE IS NO NEWS. There is no such thing as "almost signed." We aren't going to learn that a player is just about done signing his name on the dotted line. Doesn't work that way. And while I understand the question and why it's asked, we'd report something if we knew something had gone down and nobody else had reported it yet. So asking isn't going to bop me in the head so I'll go "oh, yeah, Castillo signed," or "Thanks for asking, the M's are about to trade Jose Lopez." That is all stuff we post as soon as we can after learning the info. greymstreet, Protected as in not traded away, released, etc. Not necessarily because they'd need to be added to the 40-man reserve roster for Rule 5 purposes. |
| 35. By: dawgncarolina on 07-15-2010 23:52:54 Looks like Ackley went yard in his Triple A debut, though the game's at Reno - anyone know if it's a thin air homer friendly park (I'm guessing it is)? |
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