05 Aug
Vidro out, Wlad up
I can’t help myself: hot-cha-cha-chaaaaaaaaaa
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Virdo?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:48 pmWait a minute. This move makes sense. What’s going on here?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pmSo, they give us Norton, Sexson, and Vidro, spaced out about a month at time. Figure Cairo will go in a couple of weeks… Does any other team in baseball DFA like the M’s?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:50 pmYESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the best day of this season…Morrow to start and Vidro out!
Now if Riggleman can start playing Clement and WLAD everyday that will be the cherry on top!
August 5th, 2008 at 3:50 pmIt’s like “Wierdo”, but has to be pronounced with a Russian accent.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:51 pmHercules! Hercules! Hercules!
There is a God! Hey did you guys ever notice that God spelled backwards is dog?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pmWhat, slowly?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pmwho will be our incompetent DH now?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:54 pmVirdo?
Fixed. Derek might have had Turbo on his mind, although I like the Weirdo explanation.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:57 pmHave I entered BIZARRO Mariners World??? Or have we passed through some tear in the space/time continuum like that Star Trek episode (the really old one) (and Yes, I’m a geek) where the “bad” enterprise crew has the Spok with a goatee?
August 5th, 2008 at 4:06 pmWoot Woot! I’m actually excited to watch the M’s tonight…
August 5th, 2008 at 4:08 pmOther than Felix’s slam, this is the best event of the season. Scary what that says about this team.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:08 pmIn a way that sends their fans into hysterical paroxysms.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:10 pmWhy? By which I really mean, why NOW?
If they wanted to release Vidro because he’s below replacement level, that was clear two months ago or could have at least been done at the all-star break. Of late Vidro has actually been “hot” — 12 for 38, 2 HR. Why pick today and how do you break it to Vidro? Hey Pepe, even though you’ve been hitting cleanup most of the last month, we finally figured out that you aren’t any good; see ya!?!
My guess. Ibanez to DH, Balentin to LF.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:11 pmI hope to look back at this season with three bright spots:
1) Felix’ slam
August 5th, 2008 at 4:13 pm2) Felix’ contract extension
3) Vidro finally cut loose
I swear I can almost hear Doyle’s entrance music in my head right now. He should rappel down from the roof during the middle of the game tonight…
August 5th, 2008 at 4:13 pmFirst, points to Lee P. Good work, my man.
Second, hooray Vidro is GONE.
Third, who will be the new DH? Hopefully Raul but most likely a mix of Clement, Wlad and LaHair.
As for Cairo? I think he stays until the end of the year. One can never get enough veteran grit.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:13 pmKnowing this team, I wouldn’t be surprised if it were Cairo, hitting fouth, with Balentien getting to play about once a week.
Still - Woooooot!!!
August 5th, 2008 at 4:14 pmI’m torn. On the one hand, they’ll win more games. On the other hand, that move won’t help them get Stephen Strasburg.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:14 pmI watched a little bit of last night’s game. I caught the sixth inning. Sims was very excited: “The Mariners have the bases loaded with no outs, and here comes Jose Vidro!”
I am now giving thanks that I never, ever have to hear that again.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:15 pmI believe the team does that to show any player they try to bring here that he had every chance to succeed.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:15 pmI don’t even care about questioning the timing or the specific moves, at this point.
Just so happy that we won’t see another lineup with him listed at DH ever again.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:15 pmIn his blog, Geoff Baker speculates that the move was done now (instead of a few weeks ago) because of Clement’s recent injury.
(Why this wasn’t done months ago remains a total mystery.)
August 5th, 2008 at 4:15 pmSo…
Hardline statistical analysis requested.
Vidro for Snelling/Fruto
Who got the better end of that trade?
Easy answer: No one.
Emotional answer: Nobody puts Doyle in a corner!
Possible answer: A few slap hits versus ???
What say you, sirs?
August 5th, 2008 at 4:17 pmFinally.
Although the team will probably exact vengeance upon us by moving Cairo to DH and having him bat cleanup.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:17 pmI’m just happy there will be no more people asking if its possible his option will vest.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:18 pmWait, two DFAs in one day? It boggles the mind.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:21 pmUh oh, more buffet for Silva is not good.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:24 pmWait, two DFAs in one day? It boggles the mind.
Ok, now I feel stupid. Who was the other DFA?
August 5th, 2008 at 4:27 pmYeah, I’m hoping not to see Cairo @ DH and batting 4th…but either way, this makes my day!!!
As has been mentioned, I think the best case scenario would be Raul to DH and Wlad to LF. I’m guessing Wlad has to be better out there than Raul, but what’s the latest consensus regarding his actual defensive abilities? Would he be a good fit for now in LF?
August 5th, 2008 at 4:27 pmWe’re having a much better day than Yankee fans and Joba.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:32 pmOMG…they can’t do this to us…he was such a convenient punching bag!
Also, there goes that endorsement from Old Country Buff…oh, wait, I forgot — Silva’s still on the roster!
August 5th, 2008 at 4:35 pm31-
Hopefully the day gets better with Joba and Wang out the Yanks get desperate for Wash?
August 5th, 2008 at 4:36 pmWouldn’t that just encourage players who suck to come here? The ones who are actually good know they wouldn’t require many chances to succeed.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:38 pmI could see that happening. Jarrod could very well be claimed on waivers by NY after all if their staff continues to crumble.
Is Lee P. some kind of mastermind and we don’t even know it?
August 5th, 2008 at 4:40 pmI don’t know how to handle all of this good news at once. Really? Did this really just happen? Vidro cut, Morrow to become starter? What’s next cut WFB? Trade Washburn and Silva? The excitement is killing me.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:42 pmI don’t know exactly where Dan Haren is in terms of service time - he’s pitched in six seasons, but the first two were partials. Anyway, when I think of the value for starting pitchers, Haren right between Washburn and Silva seems to fit, right?
Arizona’s Haren gets 4-year, $44.75 million deal
Also, “yay” to the various events of the day!
August 5th, 2008 at 4:44 pmWell, like the Terran Empire of the parallel universe, this one currently led by Lee P. is also ultimately doomed to collapse unless drastic changes take place.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:49 pmThere’s a simple explanation for Morrow and Vidro, really. The front office finished interviewing a bunch of GM candidates, who all said the same things: DH Ibanez, make Morrow a starter, waive Viddro. The front office went, hey, we’re going to hire one of these guys, might as well make the moves right now. Done.
August 5th, 2008 at 4:59 pmDid we go out and hire a GM today without announcing it?
August 5th, 2008 at 5:00 pmskyjes 19 My feelings exactly.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:21 pmThis isn’t the answer to all my dreams, but it’s a pretty good starts. I feel so lucky I’m gonna go buy a lotto ticket, and to celebrate drink a Long Island!
There isn’t much that could be better than hearing these 2 things!
(signing Felix to a long term extension or something.)
August 5th, 2008 at 5:22 pmFor those of you who want to remain euphoric, I recommend against reading Baker’s most recent blog summarizing his conversations with Riggleman about the rationales behind the recent moves.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:26 pmDFA Riggleman.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:37 pmDammit! Vidro was the old country buffet meal ticket to Strasburg. We are now doomed to finish second to last. The M’s can’t even win at being the worst. Gosh! Where is Argyros or Smulyan when you need em!
August 5th, 2008 at 5:38 pmJoe C 15, agreed……..Felix needs an extension ASAP. I understand they tried during the offseason and he didn’t wanna talk, but thats when Bavasi was GM. He is gone and we seem to be going towards the future. And it’s easy to say Felix is a HUGE part of the future. We need him to know that. It must happen by next year spring training if not sooner.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:50 pmWow. This is great.
It’s also kind of sad that we’re doing backflips over our front office making an obvious move.
That’s your 2008 Seattle Mariners
August 5th, 2008 at 5:58 pmNot to be a party pooper, but why in the world would a lineup consisting of Wlad, Ichiro, Reed/Bloomquist, and Raul all playing and one of them DHing, not mean Raul is DHing. Oh well, baby steps is right. WHOO FREAKING HOOO NO MORE TURBO!!
August 5th, 2008 at 6:02 pmWe never have to watch Vidro ground into a double play with no outs and the bases loaded again!
August 5th, 2008 at 6:03 pmI don’t mean to be a downer, but we haven’t DFA’ed Pepé Vidro yet…
August 5th, 2008 at 6:07 pmWait a minute! Vidro is going to help us win the pennant! He can hit the baseball! Veteran goodness!
Oh fuck. They should have done this a year ago, kept Adam, blah blah blah. But nooooooooooo……..
August 5th, 2008 at 6:10 pm50-I thought that Pepe and Jose went wherever the other one went because of a contract clause.
Could someone fill me in?
August 5th, 2008 at 6:10 pmWith the corny avuncularity that this management often seems to do things, I almost wonder if they DFAed him now because he has a better shot at getting picked up by somebody. I can respect waiting to ax Bavasi when he lost his dad, but keeping da Virdo around this long just feels weird.
Like, I dunno. They finally found the negatives and destroyed them, or something. Who knows?
August 5th, 2008 at 6:44 pmThe Turbo era finally comes to an end. We’ll miss those slow chugs toward first base on the soft grounders.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:47 pmRaul looking for a 4 year contract re: Shannon interview
August 5th, 2008 at 6:53 pmI love Rotoworld’s analysis: Vidro ranks among former GM Bill Bavasi’s poorest moves. The Mariners traded two prospects and paid $12 million (plus a $500,000 buyout) for what became the worst designated hitter in baseball. And that’s putting it kindly. Only 10 players — of any position — have a lower OPS than Vidro’s .718 since 2007 and only LA’s Juan Pierre has fewer XBH than Vidro’s 50 in that time (min. 950 PA). Why the Mariners kept him around so long, let alone batted him fourth so often, is a mystery. After slugging a DH-low .394 last season, Vidro slugged .338 this season.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:08 pmLet me bask in the sweet, savory juices for a little while cause this is wonderful.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:46 pmyou know if you bask as such you are at risk of Carlos’ maw…beware, that is all…
August 5th, 2008 at 8:32 pmI’m going to miss Vidro’s interviews, anyhow. His accent is awesome.
August 5th, 2008 at 9:22 pmI feel kinda sad that we won’t have Turbo to kick around anymore. Oh well, there’s always Silva to kick around.
Who wants to go Silva-tipping tonight?
August 5th, 2008 at 11:08 pmNo more Turbo… I can sleep a bit more soundly.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:28 pm