| By Chris Crawford |  | By 06-15-2010 |
To listen to Tuesday's Podcast, click here to go to the show page.
podcast-reminder:-2:00-today
Comments
The following 41 comment(s) for this article are shown below:
| 1. By: JD Kickastro on 06-15-2010 17:49:39 I can't find where to listen to the live podcast aka today's.. I think I've been listening to and old soccer podcast for 40 minutes.. |
| 2. By: JD Kickastro on 06-15-2010 17:50:50 just kidding. it's up now. |
| 3. By: Chris Crawford on 06-15-2010 18:16:20 It was a lot of fun. |
| 4. By: littlelinny6 on 06-15-2010 19:23:17 Chris or Jason, I didn't get a chance to ask this cuz I working during the podcast but in your opinion, will Ackley be ready both offensively and defensively start at 2B next spring so the M's can move Figgins back to his natural 3B position? |
| 5. By: Jason A. Churchill on 06-15-2010 19:32:16 I would say probably not, linny. |
| 6. By: baseballman on 06-15-2010 20:05:40 Great job on the podcast JAC and Chris, I really enjoyed it. I do have one question after listening to it. If the Ms do in fact trade Guti (which isnt out of the question) could that effect Ackley? Would the Ms put him at CF, which is his more natural position and would speed up his timeline to get to the bigs? |
| 7. By: Jason A. Churchill on 06-15-2010 20:17:24 baseballman, First of all, before others who have not heard the podcast start freaking out, Gutierrez is not involved in any trade rumors to my knowledge, and nobody is suggesting he will be or should be. But moving forward, he is not untouchable. I think it could, baseballman, but I don't know that it's the first move made. It would depend on the timing of it -- I don't think Seattle would pull Ackley from 2B in the middle of the year, for example -- and his progress and status at the time of such a trade would certainly play a large role, too. Here's the thing about center field for Ackley ... it's not like he has several years experience play there, either. It's certainly safer (injury wise) and easier to learn, and isn't entirely new to him, so I do think it would get him to the big leagues faster, but nothing significant like a full year quicker, IMO. |
| 8. By: baseballman on 06-15-2010 20:21:46 Sorry I should have clarified my question more. Ok, I see, thanks. This next month and a half should be very busy for the Ms. Hopefully we get some good news with the trade deadline and signing our draft picks early. |
| 9. By: bcsimons on 06-15-2010 22:17:16 I heard you mention A 3-way with the cubs/detroit? Other then Ted Lilly what did you hear? Is their any chance this gets past just a casual conversation/groundwork phase and becomes something real? |
| 10. By: Rickv25 on 06-15-2010 22:46:05 Jason, just out of curiousity, if the the M's do aquire a young second baseman of the "future" via a trade this summer, do you think this changes the plan with Ackley at second base? |
| 11. By: safecochatter on 06-15-2010 23:25:28 kansas city royals have stated that their trading shingle is out. and almost everyone is available,including David DeJesus. DeJesus is currently 318/394/479. obviously he would be an impovement in lf. not much power,but a good bat.his contact for 2010 is 4.6 and the final year, 2011 is 6 million. i'm thinking m's should be inquiring,at least... |
| 12. By: Jason A. Churchill on 06-16-2010 00:54:48 I wouldn't touch DeJesus. 1. He blocks Saunders, who has made some nice progress and if he takes the same step forward for 2011 as he did for 2010, he's a regular for 425k. 2. DeJesus isn't that good. He's simply a complimentary player. A nice player, but not one that makes a big enough difference to pay him $8 million for one season. That's basically what would be happening even though his '11 salary is just 6... you'd owe him roughly half of his 4.7 mil number for 2010, which gives the Mariners ZERO in a lost season. 3. The trade cost plus the first two... not a chance. |
| 13. By: Jason A. Churchill on 06-16-2010 00:58:00 Rickv25, Not sure that trade is out there no matter how far you dream. If they seek a second baseman, it means they have already decided Ackley isn't sticking at second. bcsimons, Not at liberty to say, but it wasn't earth-shattering, and no specific names. |
| 14. By: mauricewilliamsiii on 06-16-2010 02:13:59 Very much worth the listen Jason and Chris. Thanks. |
| 15. By: bcsimons on 06-16-2010 08:28:23 The podcast was great. Yo should do it more often if you have the time. And by the way Ted Lilly is a Type A FA at the end of the season right now |
| 16. By: littlelinny6 on 06-16-2010 11:37:12 Assuming Ackley is not ready to start at 2B next spring for the M's, do we keep Lopez or try to get someone else? |
| 17. By: Marco on 06-16-2010 15:14:34 Lopez seems all right http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_heyman/06/16/not.stars/index.html |
| 18. By: Edman on 06-16-2010 15:22:10 linny, and just who's going to be trading thirdbasemen? Who's out there in free agency? Bring Beltre back for another $10 million + a year? I don't see much out there, but I haven't looked. Gordon might be possible, but I doubt that KC is going to let him go too cheaply. They'd probably be more successful to move Figgens back to third and take on a one year rental at second. Lopez, while not great, isn't a huge problem. He's starting to hit and his defense is pretty dazzling, so far this season. Especially considering that he's still learning the position. What Seattle needs is a big bat, and that's more likely to be filled at first, than at second or third. There really isn't an easy answer. |
| 19. By: Blowgun7 on 06-16-2010 15:32:57 Lopez will likely be the 3B next season, to start. When Ackley is ready, hopefully after a couple months, then he can be cut loose. Lopez is not as bad as his numbers indicate. You have to think he can bounce back and return to his career norms. There is no reason he can't be a .750 OPS guy with above average defense at 3B. He's slated to make fair money next year, so I think he's the guy you're looking at to start the season. This team just needs to bite the bullet in 2011 and not do anything stupid like trade legit prospects for a quick answer at 1B, LF, or DH. I know Jack wants to turn this thing around, but he should be looking at 2012, when his system will start to become strong and he'll have roughly 35-40 million dollars to play with. I just dont want to see him mess with the farm. If you look at things, we could definately head into 2012 with a homegrown and relatively cheap starting rotation of Felix-Paxton-Pineda-Fister-Vargas/Robles/Hensley. Not to mention we'll likely land a top level college SP in next yrs draft. Jack just needs to keep his system progressing and get to 2012 when guys like Ackley, Saunders, Moore, Paxton, and Pineda could be solid contributors at their positions, making no money. He'll then have a ton of money available where he can go out and if he wants sign a Fielder or Gonzalez, or swing a trade for a guy who a team can't afford to pay. Just think 2012 and beyond Jack. |
| 20. By: mauricewilliamsiii on 06-16-2010 17:26:59 Blowgun I think you are right on the money. And you never know maybe next year Saunders and possibly Ackley break out and the team is better than expected. I know if the Mariners go into next year without making major moves, many will pick them for last place. Maybe the lack of expectations will allow some of the guys the team is locked into (Bradley, Wilson, Lopez) to perform better. |
| 21. By: Blowgun7 on 06-16-2010 17:50:37 Exactly. No reason why Saunders and Moore shouldn't get a ton of at-bats the rest of this season. They should both start nearly every game going forward. If both of those guys get the rest of this season and 2011 to prove themselves and get experience, then come 2012 you could have two solid ML regulars making peanuts. Same with Dustin Ackley. Let him get used to ML pitching next season, and then in 2012, you potentially have three very cheap options giving you average or above average value at their positions. And you never know, maybe with no expectations on them next year, you'll see Bradley, Figgins, and Lopez return to career norms. Maybe with a half season of full-time at-bats, Saunders or Moore can be 2 win players next year. Maybe Ackley comes up and hits ML pitching from the get-go. Maybe we sign a cheap one year first basemen and a righty platoon bat that can hammer LHP that we can work into a rotation with Saunders and Bradley (at DH/LF). I honestly think they are going to sign Bedard next year again, and maybe 16-18 months removed from surgery, he gives us good value. I'm just not making any moves that start damaging this farm system when it's on the verge of being Top 10. No 2011 rentals that are going to cost a Franklin, Pineda, Triunfel, etc.. Set this thing up so that we have a legit shot to win in 2012 and we never look back after that. |
| 22. By: Jason A. Churchill on 06-16-2010 19:34:58 Lopez is the most likely M's player to be traded before July 31. His option for 2011 is for $4.5 mil and while that is not a ridiculous contract, there are too many better options on the free agent market -- not to mention the trade market -- for 2B or 3B. Figgins can simply play the other spot. Some of those names include: Mark Ellis Brandon Inge Jorge Cantu Jhonny Peralta And the M's could go out and get a shortstop such as JJ Hardy -- FA -- and play either he or Wilson at second base, too. The $4.5 million tag on Lopez is not a good number for a player whose career high in OBP is .322. It's not awful, but there are better values out there for better players. |
| 23. By: mauricewilliamsiii on 06-16-2010 21:43:50 Jason I really hope so about Lopez. I have defended him for years but I know now he will never fulfill his potential in Seattle. |
| 24. By: Jason A. Churchill on 06-16-2010 22:08:43 He's also, simply put, just not Jack's kind of player. |
| 25. By: mauricewilliamsiii on 06-16-2010 22:51:54 Jason I had a question about your podcast that I just remembered. At one point you talked about the money the Mariners would have to spend and the possibility of raising payroll. Were you refering to this offseason or next for the increased payroll? And if you were speaking of the 2012 season do you see another payroll cut as a possibility for the 2011 season? |
| 26. By: Jason A. Churchill on 06-17-2010 00:40:50 I was talking about how they could make a "keep Cliff Lee plus add bats in order to win" scenario work with payroll for 2011. I don't see any more payroll cuts, no. |
| 27. By: mauricewilliamsiii on 06-17-2010 07:16:45 Was looking at West Tenn. stats and noticed Triunfel's June right before I saw your twitter. What he is doing is pretty impressive, especially the 2 strikeouts. I'm a big believer in letting guys get full seasons at different levels in the minors. Particularly once they start reaching A+, AA and AAA. Unless of course they completly dominate by hitting .400 or slugging .800 or something. Having said that, do you think the Mariners are going to promote any of the top prospects at the halfway mark? And if so which ones? |
| 28. By: mauricewilliamsiii on 06-17-2010 09:07:20 One more question Jason or Chris. Does either of you know what happened to Donnie Hume? I can't find any information anywhere. |
| 29. By: John_S on 06-17-2010 12:40:26 Jason, Can this team realistically do anything to become a contender until the farm system is completely developed? Free Agency and trades are only a component in becoming a contender, but the farm system is going to be what sets this team on a run as a division contender. I think it took the Braves 4-5 years between developing the kids in the minors and having the kids get accustomed the the Majors before they were a contending team. How far do you think the farm system is before we can say definitively that we are going to see some fruits from the farm system? How many more drafts will it take? I know that Saunders is up and hopefully he can get consistent playing time. It boggles me that Langerhaans could possibly take away AB's from Saunders. Looking at the system I don't see any real superstar players. Ackley is a great prospect and to me offensively he screams Ichiro with more doubles which to me is not superstar status. Raben is intriguing so is Triunfel. Franklin is having a great first year, but who knows it's too early. Poythress is putting up good numbers, but i'm suprised with the park he plays in that he doesn't have a great amount of xtra base hits. I can't wait for Pineda. I see a bunch of solid players but none that really have superstar potential. |
| 30. By: Edman on 06-17-2010 13:40:49 I found something interesting when I was looking at the minor league boxscores. Seattle signed Eddy Martinez-Esteve as a free agent, I assume (since I don't think they traded for him). What makes this interesting is that Seattle drafted him in the third round of the 2002 draft. He chose to go to college, and was later drafted and signed by the Giants in 2004. He's not a prospect, but it is interesting. His bat was suppose to play in the bigs, but never did. |
| 31. By: Jason A. Churchill on 06-17-2010 15:03:04 Hume was placed on the DL April 8. |
| 32. By: littlelinny6 on 06-17-2010 17:59:05 Jason, I know everyone talks about the need for more upside pitching, particularly a #2/#3 starter and while I don't completely disagree, tRA+ this year tells a different story. The M's have Lee (159), Hernandez (114), Fister (121), and Vargas (108). Four starters well above average. While I know Lee will be gone Felix has definitely underperformed this year as much as probably Vargas/Fister have outperformed expectations. Does everyone just think Vargas/Fister are just fringe ML starters? The reason I ask this is they are usually labeled as 4/5 starters, which would make them basically bad starters or about 10-20% below league average, a level of performance they are standards of deviation above this year. Obviously this is just one pitching metric and we are looking at a small sample size, but it seems to me we have 3 above-average pitchers and that is valuable. Not that the M's don't need more upside pitching (they do) but I got to believe the M's have to focus on upside bats first and foremost (especially given the importance of hitting over pitching). |
| 33. By: Jason A. Churchill on 06-17-2010 18:14:42 Vargas and Fister lack track records of being anything but back-end guys. 40% of one season, and less for Fister, aren't going to erase that. Good teams will treat them as 4-5 starters and go from there. |
| 34. By: safecochatter on 06-18-2010 00:59:26 Welcome back Nate Tenbrink. Almost 3 weeks to the day after being beaned at West Tennesse. Nate has played 3 games in the last 2 days going 3 for 10 officially,including a two run triple. |
| 35. By: Lailoken on 06-18-2010 03:37:15 Some of the DFA's from the past few days could be decent pieces. Iwamura has the best BB/K ratio of his career & his ISO isn't so off, what's mainly driven his down season is a ridiculously low BABIP. His fielding numbers this year aren't great either but he has had hamstring issues. He's a lefty stick who can take a walk, steal a base, hit enough, & field enough. If healthy he's better than Lopez. Jake Fox is another lefty bat & one who can catch which is handy. Hasn't done great this season in irregular playing time but hit 11 homers for the Cubs last year in 216 at bats. Given a choice between Alfonzo, Bard, & Fox I'd pick Fox. Renyel Pinto may walk people too often but he misses bats. This team could sure use a lefty reliever. Olson & Hyphen in the pen now works better than the no lefties plan that was in place earlier this season. Can't say I'd take Pinto over those guys (wow, I wanna see what Olson has after his AAA numbers from the pen) but he is at least worth a minor-league flier. |
| 36. By: mauricewilliamsiii on 06-18-2010 04:00:51 Thanks for the news on Hume, Jason. Another DFA the Mariners should at least take a look at is Jayson Nix. He is at minimum a much better version of Tui for now. |
| 37. By: Jason A. Churchill on 06-18-2010 04:34:29 From the scouting side... Iwamura's bat is much slower and his knees and hammy are preventing him from covering the plate. Maybe next year, but right now he is awful. Fox is terrible and can't catch, either. So you'd take the guy who can't catch making him Casey Kotchman without the glove? Why do the Mariners need a lefty reliever in 2010? They aren't going anywhere, and they dont get beat up by lefties. Nearly identical OPS #s for both splits. Plus, Pinto was let go because he can't get out lefties. He's always been better versus RHB and hasn't been particularly good versus LHB since 2007. Jayson Nix? He's "at minimum a much better version of Tui?" 2010 Tui: 167/211/241 playing roughly half his games at Safeco. Nix: 163/268/245 playing roughly half his games at the bandbox in Chi. Career Tui: 175/225/275 Nix: 200/291/347 Age Tui: 24 last month Nix: 28 in Aug. Not only is Nix NOT "at minimum a much better version of Tui" he isn't even a better version of Tui and his development is done. At least we can still dream a bit with Tui's bat at age 24. Not that I want to chastise anyone for paying this close attention to what's going on in MLB and who is available, but maybe you haven't been watching the Mariners this year. They need impact players before complimentary players are even relevant in the least. And unless the spare part is a multi-year spare part that doesn't cost anything going forward (Pinto is arby eligible at the end of 2010 for the second time) -- what is the point? |
| 38. By: Missthosepilots on 06-18-2010 10:04:29 Good points on Nix. I watched him come through the Minors here in Colorado. He was DFA'd. Even Barmes, etc stood in his way here which isn't saying much. Just wanted to say thanks for the podcast! |
| 39. By: mauricewilliamsiii on 06-18-2010 11:18:36 As a utility player there is no doubt who is better suited to sit on the bench and play multiple positions, Nix of course. As a starting player and skillset as a whole I would take Tui every time. I'm not complaining about Tui the player I'm saying it is a waste for him to be a little used utility guy on the major league club when he could be making starts at all the infield and outfield positions and recieving regular at bats in Tacoma. And there is three open spots on the 40 man so its not like the Mariners would lose anyone. I would also be fine with one of Woodward, Vasquez or Hanahan replacing Tui at any time as well. |
| 40. By: Lailoken on 06-18-2010 12:48:47 "Not that I want to chastise anyone for paying this close attention to what's going on in MLB and who is available, but maybe you haven't been watching the Mariners this year. They need impact players before complimentary players are even relevant in the least." I've been watching. We suck. I want less suckiness or attempts to be better. This season is over, a little experimentation is welcome. Fox as a catcher is a work-in-progress to be sure as the A's put him back there after the Cubs moved him away for a couple years. Fox isn't an impact player but he's better than Bard or Alfonzo & could be had w/o a 40-man roster spot. I could deal with Iwamura being at 2B/3B if & when Lopez is traded. Pinto had trouble against lefties in 16.2 innings this year (.364 BAA) but overall in his MLB career he has a .253 BAA vs left-handed hitters. Olson actually intrigues me now when last year he was AWFUL. RRS is getting even more roughed up than Pinto. One can hope Aardsma & Cordero (if he shows enough in a month-and-a-half) get traded soon. Sure, League & Kelley are okay but since Texeira was sent packing they're the only righty relievers who can get left-handed hitters out around besides guys who should get traded. Pinto could stand to lose some weight though, work ethic is probably an issue with a pitcher who has hit 280 pounds. Easy to wonder what his velocity would be at 220, might help him with motion-consistency too. Far from being the core these are guys who could be cheap options moving forward & re-sign for cheap. We'll need inexpensive players on the roster as a lot of money is bound up in Ichiro, Bradley, Felix, Figgins, DTFT, Wilson, & League next year. Want the impact players but having complimentary pieces already in place when they arrive is handy. |
| 41. By: Edman on 06-18-2010 16:52:12 Good news. Taijuan Walker has signed. I assume he'll probably start in one of the rookie leagues, probably Peoria. |
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