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Good News From T-Town
Brandon Morrow in Portland last night - 4 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 10 K, 72 pitches, 52 strikes.
In his last couple of starts, Morrow has begun to mix in his breaking ball and not just depend on the fastball, and well, the results are obvious. He faced 18 batters yesterday, punching out 56% of them. Almost three quarters of his pitches were strikes. He was dominating.
The M’s will probably give him one more start in Tacoma, getting him up to 85-90 pitches before bringing him back to Seattle when rosters expand. With Rowland-Smith succeeding last night and Morrow flashing his potential, there is some hope for this rotation yet.
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Excellent. I don’t except a Cy Young winner immediately, but it is nice to have some good news, no matter how small.
I’ve been thinking that the rotation in the near future would be dominating. You never know about injuries, development, trades, etc., but even with Tillman gone we have a lot of good arms in the lower levels. 2010 could be a good year. I just pray that Aumont is the real deal.
So our rotation in September could be
Felix
RRS
Washout
Dickey
Morrow
But that leaves out Silva…
I’m sure if they want Silva or Bedard to come off the DL, which they shouldn’t, Dickey will be bullpen with Feierbend.
Which gives me some hope for the future. The M’s have a shot at Strasburg next summer. It sounds like Aumont is developing nicely. There’s talent in that there farm system.
Good deal.
I’ve been meaning to ask, Dave: What’s the falloff from Strasburg to the #2 or #3 talent in next year’s draft? Is it steep? Is Strasburg that good? Or would the M’s be as well off with pick #2 or #3?
Well, sadly Silva has probably been “better” than Dickey. Not better value, for sure, but a slightly better pitcher.
Is it bad that I great the recent losing streak with happiness? I want a rotation of Felix, Stasburg, Morrow, Aumont and Bedard (if resigning him makes sense) pretty bad. That’s my light at the end of the tunnel as a fan right now.
The ball-to-strike ratio is really nice to see. Granted, it’s AAA, but even guys in AAA can mash a meatball so obviously he’s finding the zone without just grooving it. If he keeps this up and Bedard comes back healthy, the 09 M’s could have a very nice top of the rotation. If they can just find some guys who can hit and field in the offseason, we might be in business.
Is this ahead of schedule for Morrow? I kinda expected him to struggle more. Whatever, good news is good news in a season mostly devoid of it.
In thinking about the rotation, Bedard’s situation is one that is really starting to bother me. Most anyone who could read knew, before the trade, the guy had durability issues and was no innings-eater but he’s on target to get only 81 innings this year and the rehab program doesn’t seem to be making much, if any, progress. It’s one thing to make a bad trade but if you get zeroed out in a swap like that…well, that really stings. I wonder if the complete lack of any real information from the team about his condition is due to the fact they really don’t have a clue as to what’s wrong or they’re just not saying.
#5 - I’d say it’s likely the Nats end up with #1 and the M’s with #2…and if you’re Strasburg and Boras, and you just watched the Nats not sign their #1 pick in 08 and refuse to pay their rent and be slow paying player’s expenses and generally just continue to be the Expos, you probably make it well known that he’s not coming to DC, period. The Nats also may not even look at him if his contractual demands are sky-high, so even at #2 the M’s may have the inside track.
As for Morrow, very heartening to see him have a game like that. Not sure where Portland ranks as a hitting team, but still impressive to fan 10 of 14 outs.
Good for Brandon! It’s awesome to see him finally uncork a good night where he mixed/located his pitches well and dominated hitters as a result.
Most have said there is a major drop from Strasburg and the next picks. So hopefully we get the #1 pick or whoever does won’t take him because he will demand too much coin…
With Strasburg and the kids in low ball (Aumont, Paredes, Ramirez, and Thomas), we could really have one of the best rotations in baseball…if there are no complications…
Felix
Morrow
Strasburg
Aumont
Paredes/Ramirez/RRS
Wow.
Add Michael Pineda to that list…. 2010-2011 looks good!
As someone who was at the game last night, I have to say that the Portland batters looked silly…
…until the lights went out in the 7th. Then, I couldn’t see how they looked.
It’s also important to note how the 2 runs scored against Morrow in the 3rd — they could be considered unearned, since he essentially should have had 4 outs before the runs scored, if you include the dropped third strike and the hit back to him that he stumbled fielding:
* JD Closser flies out to left fielder Jon Nelson.
* Matt Antonelli strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Brandon Morrow. Matt Antonelli to 1st.
* Shawn Wooten strikes out swinging. Matt Antonelli steals (6) 2nd base.
* Brett Dowdy walks.
* Will Venable singles on a ground ball to pitcher Brandon Morrow. Matt Antonelli to 3rd. Brett Dowdy to 2nd.
* Paul McAnulty doubles (12) on a line drive to right fielder Shawn Garrett. Matt Antonelli scores. Brett Dowdy scores. Will Venable to 3rd.
* Chip Ambres called out on strikes.
Really, people are still doing that? They didn’t learn from Anderson/Heaverlo/Meche/Pineiro/Nageotte?
Attrition rate of pitching prospects is very, very high. Of all the pitchers in the minors that are getting any kind of fanfare, the M’s will do well to turn one of them into a major league starter.
As for the drop off after Strasburg, it’s a bit overblown. Yes, Strasburg is very good, and clearly the #1 prospect in the draft, but the guys behind him don’t suck. Dustin Ackley can really hit, Alex White has a great arm, and Donovan Tate’s upside is going to get a lot of scouts excited.
Yes, you want Strasburg, but if you have to settle for picking 2nd or 3rd, it’s not a big deal.
Paredes?
Thomas?
Yikes.
Let’s not forget that Aumont has made only 8 minor league starts and has thrown only 11.1 innings since he was injured.
I want a rotation of Felix, Bedard, Aumont, 2R-S, and another pitcher from Canada/Australia/NZ/S. Africa. We could then call the rotation “The King and the Commonwealth.”
“Add Michael Pineda to that list…. 2010-2011 looks good!”
Don’t forget Brett Lorin!
What? Too early?
I’m pleasantly suprised and quite happy with Brandon’s progress. Yay!
Strasburg may be a great prospect, but I strongly agree with Dave on the problem with the attrition rate of pitchers — I’d prefer we draft a serious hitter with a good glove at a key position. I actually hope Strasburg doesn’t fall into our laps.
I was just going to say that.
If Bedard commands too much cash down the line, I don’t see us resigning him. But if we can for a decent salary, Felix/Bedard/Morrow isn’t a bad foundation to build on.
Wait, when did Morrow jump from “possible starter conversion” to “possible #2-3 starter”?
I’d be elated with #5.
“Wait, when did Morrow jump from “possible starter conversion” to “possible #2-3 starter”?”
Maybe when we drafted him #5 overall?
There’s a lot of competition for #5…by that, I mean a battle to see just who the worst starter is.
Dave: Thanks for the heads-up. I keep wondering how much I should be rooting for Mariner losses. That helps.
So: Loss? Yay! One loss closer to a high draft pick! (And maybe Strasburg!)
Win? Yay! Fun to watch!
It’s all about managing expectations.
Just 4 2/3 IP though… with the hits and walk, that’s what, 17 batters? That’s less than twice through the lineup. Granted, we don’t expect CGs out of pitchers anymore, especially young guys still learning the starting role at this level, but isn’t there still a concern that as batters get more looks at him they’ll start to exploit flaws and he won’t look this good?
(One thing I was relieved to see is that Morrow’s total IP is still well below last year. I somehow forgot how much use he saw in ‘07 and was worried that the added IP from the conversion to starter would take him into the danger zone. It’s still a concern for him next year, though, as a full-time starter)
Does anyone here want to see Bedard in the rotation beyond the trade deadline in 2009 ?
The Beavs are a shade below average hitting club so those numbers are nothing to sneeze at. It’s not like he was pitching against the Mariners or anything (zing!).
I feel like a damned fool for missing it (I live in PDX) as Morrow has become a favorite of mine ever since those glorious Manny/Lowell strikeouts. Serves me right for not paying attention I guess. It was even Thirsty Thursday. Christ I’m an idiot…
Hopefully the addition of RRS and Morrow to the rotation will help prevent this list from getting any longer…
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=baker/080822
We could then call the rotation “The King and the Commonwealth.”
Guinness commercial-guy voice: “Brilliant!”
And then the M’s, who have always toed the line on slot, will pass on him too and he’ll fall to, I don’t know, the Giants (who, along with Lincecum, will be assembling the “couldabenM’s rotation that wins them a WS in 2012).
I don’t know if you guys have seen the Nationals’ schedule for the remainder of the season, but kiss it off. Cubs, Phillies, Mets, Braves, Marlins…Seattle won’t be the team with the worst record at the end of the season. We’ve lost seven in a row, and the Nats are still worse. They’ll be number one.
I am a huge Mariner fan, but I know this season is lost. I hope the Mariners lose every game from here on out though. (Except Felix’s starts)
The Nationals are tough competition, but I think we can pull it off. Strasburg would be huge for us.
The Nationals are tough competition, but I think we can pull it off. Strasburg would be huge for us.
And if his arm blows up?
I think focussing on one particular draft pick as The Savior Of The Franchise™ come 2011 is the wrong way to look at this. 10 out of 10 scouts would have taken Andrew Miller over Tim Lincecum or Brandon Morrow in 2006, right? It’s 2 years later (about as long as 2011 is from the 2009 draft ), and which one is producing the best results at the MLB level?
You can’t predict that kind of crap, so you have to go with the best at the time of the draft, which right now is Strasburg.
So are you saying that the M’s should pass on Strasburg if they get #1 pick because he COULD end up not as good as some others in the draft? Your logic makes no sense.
Joser - I believe Morrow is still on a proscribed pitch count limit as he “stretches out”. I wouldn’t read too much into “only” 4 2/3 IP.
Yup. That was 72 pitches. More than OK at this level.
Yuppers. This isn’t basketball, or even football, where a single drafted player can turn around a team’s fortune immediately. At best, he’ll contribute 2-3 years down the line.
The fact that Morrow made it through 18 batters and throwing 10 Ks is extremely promising to me. 4 2/3 innings don’t scare me… he is pitching under a pitch count. He’ll be ok.
When you strike out 10 guys you probably won’t be going deep into a game especially when you’re on a short leash in terms of pitch count.
Uh, WTH happened to the Triunfel promotion? He’s back at High A after a mysterious 5-day span of not playing…
Huh?
Triunfel was hurt, they thought about promoting him, then thought better about it.
All this per Churchill.
Yeah, well when you’re striking out 10 guys, you’re missing bats. (No doubt about it).
Very encouraging, even if he can’t do it every time out.
Of all the pitchers in the minors that are getting any kind of fanfare, the M’s will do well to turn one of them into a major league starter.
Yeah . . . unfortunately, it will turn out that he’s in Baltimore.
I’ve been trying to root against the Mariners, but I just can’t. My impulse reaction when the other team does something good is “oh no!”
And just a note on Strasburg - I haven’t seen one scouting report that says he’s on par w/David Price.
I think he’s a bit overhyped…
Great Gonzalez-
It’s easy. Just remind yourself that every time they lose, there is a better chance that the FO get cleaned out and that the M’s will move up in the draft next year.
Back on topic -
So the Rainiers’ last game is September 1st. Morrow could make a start on 8/26 or 8/27 at home versus Sacramento and then again on 8/31 or 9/1 at home versus Portland. I would prefer to give him two more chances in AAA to work on his change and other pitches before moving him back up with the M’s to finish the season. This is especially true given that the other choice would be to pitch at Cleveland on 8/31 or at Texas on 9/1 through 9/3. I think I would prefer he not get shelled at the Bandbox in Arlington for his MLB debut as a starter.
Dave - any thoughts as to what the M’s will do for a rotation down the stretch? They are playing every day from September 9th to the 28th (the only off days between now and the end of the season are 8/28, 9/4, and 9/8). Does it make sense to go with a larger than 5 man rotation once rosters expand to give everyone a shot at starting some games? I’d prefer the M’s have a 6 or 7 man “rotation” to finish the season so that Dickey, RRS, and Feierabend all have enough starts for the team to have a chance at evaluate as thoroughly as possible. Something along the lines of:
Felix
The Bus
Dickey
RRS
Feierabend
Morrow
With Silva or Bedard starting if they are healthy and Batista working as a reliever/closer if the team wants to try to market him for a winter trade.
And in other Strasburg news - the Nationals beat the Cubs today.
Can the Mariners’ and Nationals’ chase for 1st pick in the draft replace the excitement of Willie’s amazing - but ultimately failed - run towards the history books this year?
We should sit Washburn just to annoy him.
Hey, that’s right along the fallacious “Anderson/Heaverlo/Meche/Pineiro/Nageotte” line of thinking. Tillman’s progressed to AA nicely in the O’s org, but we still don’t know what will become of him at the MLB level. His chances are better than most, but let’s not pencil in his success just yet.
(And yes, that trade was still bad. I have no disagreement there.)
Let’s be realistic here…
The Mariners starting rotation will probably look something like this:
The King
Bedard
Washedburn
Tub Of Goo
RRS/Morrow
The again if no one is scoring any runs does it really matter anyways?
And bad news from Tacoma.
Meh. Sosa looks like organizational filler to me…doesn’t strike me as anything to be concerned with.
I want to be optimistic about our future pitching staff but I’m afraid it has to be cautious optimism. The memory of the “good, young arms” from 2002-2003 that were going to come along and speed the franchise’s rebuilding (since pitching is your most expensive acquisition) is still too fresh. I really really hope this time is different.
Stockpile the arms Stockpile the position players. Hope for the best….Don’t be tempted by trying to short cut the process by pouncing on veteran free agents; the system is set up so that players hit free agency after they hit their peak (and the Ms were foolish to think otherwise the past few years).
He might gnaw the bench.
streak! streak! streak! streak! streak!
54. Sosa was picked up just to fill in space in the bullpen anyway. For all we know, they may have known the clock was ticking on him before he got caught. Don’t quote me on that, but either way, Sosa’s not a huge loss.
So are you saying that the M’s should pass on Strasburg if they get #1 pick because he COULD end up not as good as some others in the draft? Your logic makes no sense.
No, I’m saying it’s ridiculous to go into ZOMGORGASM!!11!1!!!! over ONE arm and start projecting people years down the pike when they aren’t even under contract with the Seattle Mariners yet, or still in A ball, or whatever.
Everyone thought Ryan Anderson was going to be throwing shutouts for the Mariners- now he’s in cooking school.
For a minute when they picked him up (a little before the trade deadline) I was thinking Sosa might be their way of insuring for an emergency, in case they traded Washburn and didn’t have anyone else ready to fill his spot in the rotation right away. But that’s passed, and I agree that he shouldn’t be a significant part of anybody’s plans or hopes.
Re: # 52 -
i>that trade was still bad.
The JONES trade ?