Or we could just DH him and release Turbo.

But I’d like him to play the odd game there so he could conceivably fill in v. lefties if the starter’s hurt. And, of course, there’s the issue of trade value.

I don’t think we really disagree on his skills in CF (maybe a tiny bit, but that’s not important). I just think it’s a decent idea to give him the odd game there – hell, it may even help with his routes/recognition simply because CF gets more chances.

Look, most scouts don’t think Mike Saunders will stay in CF either (and he’s been playing some RF in Tacoma). Should they move him off now, and never let him play there again?

Second, if a player is capable of playing 2 positions,

Do we really think Wlad is capable of playing centerfield?

First, the M’s are a hell of a lot less settled in CF than they were in March (insert standard lament for Adam Jones here). Second, if a player is capable of playing 2 positions, why NOT have him keep practicing the more difficult defensive one? Third, do you have any data to suggest that playing CF at times hurts a player’s ability to transition to LF in the future?

I just don’t get why this is a bad thing. If he stays with the M’s, he’ll have value as a once-in-a-blue-moon CF. If he goes, he’s got more value.

Oh, and Matt – yeah, his FB touched 96 quite a few times in the outings I’ve seen. But he’ll vacillate between a quick, easy inning (like today’s) and just disaster appearances. He’s also never had the Ks to go with his velocity (except in a small AA sample). He’s old, he’s never had success, but he’s not terribly experienced and throws 96. Sort of intriguing, maybe. Just wondered if the M’s had done anything to him, mechanics wise, or if the org sees him as anything more than filler at this point.

Why, oh, why, are they playing Wlad in CF?

Because they have no clue on recognizing player talent and even less of a clue on how to develop it…

They really think the only way to find a spot on the big club for Wlad is to put him in CF…

Dave – any thoughts on Mumba Rivera?

I’m not Dave, obviously, and it’s a while since I saw Rivera properly, but as I recall he’s a fastball slider guy who sits in the mid 90s.

Both pitches are pretty good but he can have trouble locating at times and tends to leave the slider up a bit too much.

His stuff could translate to a useful bullpen piece if he’s managed to improve his command and he can keep the ball in the park.

/wildly out of date info

Talking of rosters and such, anybody read Steve Kelley’s piece on Mariner roster insanity?

I couldn’t find anything to disagree with in that column.