Dave With Brock And Salk
Dave · July 30, 2009 at 10:28 am · Filed Under Mariners
I’ll be on the air with Brock and Salk on 710 ESPN at 2:00, talking about yesterday’s trade and why I’m apparently the only guy on earth who isn’t a big fan.
Speaking of cheap platoon DH bats…
Has anyone else noticed what Bryan LaHair is OPSing against right-handed pitching this year?
I’ll give you a hint: you need four digits to express it.
I know, I know, it’s Bryan LaHair. Small sample size, not a prospect, etc. Just stirring the pot a little bit.
The more I think about this trade the more I like it. It’s not about buying or selling its about making the team better. I think Jack has a master plan and we don’t have the luxury to see it all at once. He is the artist we are looking at the paiting in process, the master piece will be done in time. Be patience people.
You guys preach all the time about pitching and defense. You guys preach all the time about buying guys low (Snell). He has the upside to be a #2 where else were we going to find that? Nothing in our farm system. Were else were we going to find a Gold Glove SS? Not in our farm system. Follow the bouncing ball people.
Jack has said it before we can play exciting baseball and make our team better at the sametime. Its not an either or. Who wants to wait two or three more years before we can watch good baseball? Not me. Why can’t we play good ball now and get better at the same time? We are not Oakland we are not The Royals or The Pirates. We have the money to spend and watch good baseball every year. We also now have someone with the smarts to use all the resources to make it happen EVERY YEAR not just every four or five years.
GO JACK! I SEE YOUR PLAN.
And not only that, but as a major leaguer last year, Bryan OPSed .720 against right handers in 114 ABs. Not bad, for a rookie disappointment.
He’s Ben Broussard II, just waiting for another chance.
“Rebuilding Ms” wouldn’t really be that far ahead with Hardy instead of Wilson either then….
I’m amazed how some get disappointed about the “fantasy” rumors and bloggerbation ideas, that most likely never had much breath of life to them.
I’m sick of reading Bragnic’s name, like was somehow lost out on him. Because someone said, “Hey, let’s go get……”, doesn’t give it any teeth.
And I agree with terry. The idea that Hardy is a bigger piece to a rebuilding club, than Wilson, doesn’t carry much weight. He’s got more power. But that doesn’t make the M’s better in a big way.
Brignac, sorry, I went dexlisic.
Considerably more offense for about the same price, though. And perfectly good target to resign.
I have thought something similar. I think the big brass is loathe to have a rebuilding type of year, but saw that Bavasi’s high stakes gambles were decimating the farm system and draining the payroll budget. JZ is doing quite well.
The Pittsburgh trade is looking to the future, but not too far – mostly to 2010.
First of all, as a Red Sox fan, I agree with Dave about Wilson being a great fit in Boston. When I learned of the Pirates/Mariners deal I was disappointed. I wondered whether the Mariners would be interested in Jed Lowrie.
Jack Wilson is on the wrong side of 30, can’t hit well, and has a pretty high salary (with a high option year for 2010). On the other hand, he is a special defensive player, truly elite. My thinking on the trade, though, is what did the Mariners really give up? If Dave is underwhelmed by the return, I think he also overrates Seattle prospects a bit (hometown bias?).
The new ownership has been great, but the one thing they really screwed up was Jeff Clement. They had to sell low on him. He’s 25, has no position, hasn’t hit at the ML level, hasn’t fielded well at the ML level, and has health issues. As a Boston fan, I can tell you I would have given blue chips for him last winter, when we were seeking a Varitek replacement as he was widely regarded as a formidable offensive talent at a premium position (sticking at C). His value tanked and, at 25 and no clear path to playing time, his value surely could have gone even lower. What is he, a DH? Lots of teams have lefty DH types on the wrong side of 25 who project to be an .800 OPS hitter sitting at AAA. If he can’t play C or 1B, the Red Sox have Chris Carter. Every team has that guy. I know it is hard to admit since he was so hyped, was a first-round guy, etc, but he is what he is.
Is anyone really crying over losing Cedeno. And the 3 pitchers are low level lottery tickets. Just the kind of chips that you trade for players who can help you now. M’s fans should be thrilled. The message that Zduriencik is sending is that the Mariners are not “rebuilding.” You guys aren’t the Nationals.
Snell and Wilson retool the team to contend in 2010 and beyond – and even finish strong in 2009. You’re now as solid as a rock at SS for the next year and 2 months. Zduriencik can focus on other areas of need as you contend almost immediately. It will be fascinating to see what he does next.
He’d also be a perfectly good target to sign as a free agent.
The “rebuilding Ms” don’t need to spend big for a one year “rental” either. Is Hardy better than Wilson? Ya. Is he worth the likely price for the Ms when considering the magnitude of difference between he and Wilson? No.