M’s Add Seven More From Tacoma
The Mariners completed their September call-ups today, adding seven more guys to the roster, including a couple of surprises. There were four that were obvious, as they were all up with the big team for significant stretches earlier in the year: Mike Carp, Casper Wells, Shawn Kelley, and Alex Liddi. Hector Noesi was slightly less obvious, since he wasn’t very good down in Tacoma after they optioned him, but he does give them another arm to serve as a long man in case of a blowout or extra inning game, so even if he doesn’t pitch much, bringing him back makes some sense.
The two surprises are Carlos Triunfel, who had another lousy year and has lost most of his prospect status at this point, and Luis Jimenez, who is 30-years-old and never really had any to begin with.
Triunfel has some natural talent but hasn’t improved one bit in the last five years, leaving him as a guy who gets significantly less from his tools than he should. I guess with Munenori Kawasaki as the only backup SS on the roster, they see Triunfel providing some depth there, and he was already on the 40-man, so might as well call him up, but he shouldn’t play much if it all, and he isn’t really deserving of the call. In fact, I’d expect him to be removed from the 40-man this winter when the organization needs some roster spots for new additions, so this may be his only month in Seattle when all is said and done.
Jimenez is the exact opposite story, as he has all the athletic ability of Bill the Beerman, and approximately the same kind of physique to boot. Jimenez is a well traveled minor league lifer, and while he was decent for the Rainiers, he didn’t exactly destroy the PCL in the way that makes you think that maybe there’s something that scouts have missed. He’s the definition of a AAAA player, and since he wasn’t on the 40 man roster, I’m a bit surprised the team is calling him up.
However, the cost of adding him wasn’t all that significant, as they DFA’d Johermyn Chavez to clear a spot for Jimenez on the roster. Chavez was the other guy in the Brandon Morrow-Brandon League Challenge Trade that was ill-advised at the time and doesn’t look any better now, and he’s not a Major League player that the organization is going to miss, if anyone actually wants to claim him on waivers. In all likelihood, Chavez will clear and the end result will be no different for the team. Jimenez will probably be a fan favorite simply due to his size and the possibility that he could run into a fastball and hit it really far, but he’s not someone you should be penciling into the organization’s future. He’ll almost certainly be removed from the 40 man after the season ends, and this will be his one cup of coffee in the Majors that he’ll tell his grandkids about someday. It’s a good story, and hooray for him getting that chance to live the life of a big leaguer, but in terms of his future with the organization, keep your expectations low.
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Chone Figgins has compromising photos of someone in the front office. It’s the only possibility that makes sense.
I am happy for LAJ – finally getting to the show at the age of 30 and I agree … it sounds like a nice cup of coffee reward for a decent minor league lifer.
I had a hunch that Triunfel was going to get the call after being awarded with his teams Defensive Player of the Year Award. An award that came as a surprise to many … including Triunfel.
“I had a hunch that Triunfel was going to get the call after being awarded with his teams Defensive Player of the Year Award. An award that came as a surprise to many … including Triunfel.”
And likely Catricala was the runner up, isn’t it ?
I want to see Figgy gone too – but the org doesn’t seem to have anyone not already on the 40-man who’s any more talented than he is.
Actually, it’s interesting to me there’s that much cruft on the 40-man roster. Hopefully come next year we’ll have interesting guys filling out all 40 spots.
Having watched Jimenez down in Tacoma all season, I do need to add that he is much more of an athlete than he looks. Legged out a triple the last game I saw him in. He may surprise some folks.
“Cruft” — nice!
Hope they all get a few games to show the fans something. Triunfel can’t be any worse than Kawasaki on Ryan’s off day. And who wouldn’t want to see Jimenez take on a few of Smoak’s ABs at this point?
Today’s lineup posted — Ackley, Guti, Seager, Montero (DH), Smoak, Olivo, Robinson, Wells (RF), Ryan.
Good for Jimenez. Really glad for the guy.
He’s got the physique of a pure slugger, but that’s not really his game. It’s one of the reasons he’s never really gotten a chance – he doesn’t have the kind of power that you’d like to have from a DH. He doesn’t whiff like Peguero, but he can’t hit a ball as far. That’s probably a trade M’s fans can live with, but it’s tough to be a gap hitter who seriously cannot run.
Marc, aren’t you describing Montero?
Yeah, like that Edgar Martinez guy. Never hit a double in his life.
I would much rather see Jaso and Liddi than Smoak and Olivo. Also, won’t Triunfel provide at least as much ‘value’ as Mune or Figlet?
I just want to see Jimenez wear the jersey, and then put it on Mune. If he does that, the year will be a success.
Meh. Nothing to get upset about and I’m all about seeing some of the young guys get a couple AB’s even if they don’t really fit into the future.
I sort of figured shutting Noesi down and trying again next year was a good idea, but as long as he only pitches in mop up duty I’m good.
I was hoping to see Carp or Liddi at first, or anyone who isn’t Smoak. Oh well, it’s just one game.
My thoughts exactly, Norah. I guess they’re giving him enough rope to hang himself with. His road numbers are not an entire embarassment. I think we should maybe market him as a “Safeco killed his power” guy and trade him.
Yeah, but Safeco shouldn’t kill doubles so much, and he basically doesn’t have any.
I’m thinking Smoak is going to get a lot of time in Tacoma to try to figure out how to hit, because the potential is still clearly there, but he still isn’t getting it.
Plus, you’ve got a lot of potential candidates to play 1B, and a lot of free agent money to spend. He isn’t going to get anything in a trade, and he isn’t taking time away from anyone valuable in the organization yet.
Triunfel hit .295 in the second half and has been pretty consistent the last couple of weeks. If he can bring that bat to the bigs this month, he is definitely a better option than Mune at SS & 2B.
That would be true if he wasn’t such a bad infielder that he seemingly punches himself in the face every time a ball comes near him.
Congrats guys!
A quick public servie announcement: Please be advised that if you go to a Mariners game in the next few weeks and plan to sit anywhere from behind home plate to shallow right you will want to bring some sturdy protection for your cranium in case Triunfel airmails a throw to first.
Watching Triunfel play short is akin to watching Olivo try to catch RA Dickey or Tim Wakefield.
It was funny in a sad way when they announced his award as defensive player of the year at the final Rainiers homestand. At first there was dead silence and then a slow clap started, not out of mean intention, but because everyone was holding off clapping in case it was a joke. Carlos sort of sheepishly walked out took the award and then ran back to the dugout before they could take it back from him. The people in my section clapped for him, then listened to the star spangled banner, and afterwards quietly put on the kevlar batting helmets you have to wear to avoid a Guti style beaning if your season tickets are on the first base line and Carlos is playing shortstop.
Montero can run circles around him and like Dave said he has no chance to stick but huge thumbs up to the Mariners for giving Jimenez a call up. Don’t ask him to bunt and keep him away from a glove but hey, at least he’s better than Peguero!
Yep, that ^ sounds bad.
I know he has a real strong arm, but other than a play or two in spring training (on TV), I have never seen him. Sounds like I have missed nothing.
If his arm is that innaccurate for a shortstop, I wonder why he would not have been moved to another position somewhere along the way (2B or CF). His bat would appear to profile best at those positions.
Thanks for the heads-up, though.
On the plus side, Triunfel on the 25-man could make for an interesting promotion.
“Remember fans, next Tuesday is Carlos Triunfel Helmet Day! The first 10,000 fans to the gate get a genuine hard plastic protective helmet. Helmets are available in Mariner Teal or White – both sport the official Mariners Logo.
“Don’t put yourself or your loved ones at risk! Gates open early – be there or be scared!”
Or Carlos Peguero “Fan Night”
Or Miguel Olivo “Get cracked in the nuts Night”
Or Brendan Ryan “Hit with a blindfold Night”
Or Jesus Montero “Run with shinguards on Night”
Or Justin Smoak ………… never mind, there is nothing funny about Justin Smoak
I like those ideas for promotions. In Griffey’s last year I thought the M’s annual train give away could be a Griffey sleeper car.