M’s Make Bad Decision, Keep Figgins
The title says it all. Faced with the logical choice of dumping Figgins or the less logical choice of sending Casper Wells to Tacoma, the Mariners went with door #2. So, now, Alex Liddi is your right-handed hitting reserve outfielder. Here’s to hoping that Jason Vargas doesn’t end up pitching against too many other left-handers, or this could get ugly.
In the grand scheme of things, this isn’t that big of a deal – Wells isn’t a great player and the difference in performance between him and Figgins in a reserve role won’t add up to a big difference. But, really, there’s nothing Chone Figgins can offer the Mariners that Casper Wells can’t offer in a better package. There’s no reason that a Major League team should choose Chone Figgins over Casper Wells. It’s just not a good decision. It’s a bad decision that won’t end up having disastrous consequences or anything, but it’s still a bad decision.
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Do NOT get it!
Obviously they’re giving Figgins one last shot vs. the Angels. Then, for the next road trip starting Monday, they’ll DFA Figgins and call up Peguero.
Here’s to hoping they DFA Figgins when Gutierrez gets back!
Honestly at this point I’d rather they keep Figgins and DFA Olivo.
Figgins on the bench didn’t directly hurt us nearly as badly as having Olivo in the lineup and behind the plate almost every day.
Hopefully Wells will tear the cover off the ball in Tacoma and force them to have another go at him soon. This move really makes no sense, but maybe Figgins is providing the bench-grit, that only a veteran has? (kidding)
Only thing I can figure (that makes any sense) is – maybe Jack has a deal in the works for Figgins.
Honestly, not that concerned either way… It’s not like either has much of a role on the team, currently. And, that being the case, I can see an argument for Wells getting the opportunity to play on a daily basis in Tacoma, as a starter, rather than sitting on the bench in Seattle, not playing much.
(MORE importantly– tell me Olivo isn’t starting at catcher tonight!!!?)
I can’t imagine a trade being made for Figgins, unless it’s a bad-contract swap. Assuming he isn’t dealt, does he finally go away when Guti returns? Does Olivo get dealt before then? Something has to give, soon.
Lineup has been posted. And guess who is catching…ugh
The ONLY logic I can think of behind this is that Figgins can…pinch run! He is still one of the fastest on the team, and that is about his only good quality, so run away, Figgy, run!
And guess who is in left field – behind a flyball pitcher?
Has LL started putting together the montage of fielding GIFs yet?
Olivo starting tonight doesn’t surprise me. If he can string together a handful of games and not look half-bad, maybe he gets dealt? Trying to think positive anyway!
Just more of the same nonsensical decisions that have plagued the M’s for many years.
By itself it may not seem like a big deal, and by itself it isn’t, but it is just another in a large and growing group of many recent bad decisions.
People who are hoping Olivo and/or Figgins hitting well will actually help when it comes to trading them reminded me of a joke I heard on the old 70’s sitcom, Welcome Back Kotter.
Kotter says a friend was trying to sell a used pickup. He told him to go to his uncle for advice who sells vehicles. The uncle taught the friend how to change the odometer from 120,000 miles down to just 20,000. So a week later Kotter asks the friend “Did you finally sell that thing?” The friend responds “Sell it? Why would I do that? It only has 20,000 miles on it!!”
That’s why I don’t believe Figgins or especially Olivo hitting well changes anything. The M’s front office & Wedge would likely stay delusional and think “Dang these guys are pretty good, why get rid of them?”
I guess despite John Jaso playing well thus far that he is going to be the odd man out once again. With the exception of his weekly appearance at DH. The worst thing that could happen is Olivo starts tearing the cover off the ball for a week or 2, which would be enough to buy him an extra 2-3 months. Or could expedite the trade process, which would make it a good thing.
I loved it so much more when Montero and Jaso were shearing the catching duties, without having to deal with the buzzkill that is Miguel Olivo.
Maybe Freddy “Boom Boom” Washington is next in line to become GM.
Olivo – maybe tearing the cover off the ball?
Against Haren tonight??
3 K’s. I would have said 4, but he might only get 3 AB’s
Jaso can’t be allowed to catch too often since, after all, they don’t through shutouts EVERY time he’s behind the plate (eyes rolling at Wedge).
Fwiw, Olivo and Jaso each have 12 plate appearances vs Haren. Jaso’s OPS is .833 (w/ one HR) and Olivo’s is .000 (w/ lots of veteran grit I’m sure)
So, if it’s a bad decision, why did they do it? Is it just because they are embarrassed Figgy didn’t work out so they’re praying that he’ll somehow start hitting again so they can trade him for something?
Your analysis makes too much sense Dave, and I just don’t understand what they see differently? It’s frustrating. I feel like they’ve made bad decisions like this a lot.
What happens with the money when he gets DFA’d. Is it paid out over the extent of the contract – or is there a possibility of a lump sum payment? What’s the process?
Let’s face it. We all knew in our heart of hearts that Olivo had to return to HIS role as the guy who, by the way, was just starting to hit when injured. There’s accountability and then there’s the other kind of accountability.
Wells may not be a rock star…yet…but we already know what we have in Figgins. Let the kids play!!! Figgins is dead weight and has been for a long time. Either way we are paying him. Cut him loose.
I agree the M’s made a bad decision in not releasing Figgins.
However, Casper Wells is more valuable as a reserve than Figgins. Wells is a superior defender, with a great arm. Casper is only 27…Figgins is 34.
I know it’s paranoid but how many times has it seemed like the reasonable, intelligent decision was advocated here by Dave or others and they just went the opposite direction? They could not frustrate us more if they were trying to do it.
This doesn’t seem all that bad until you consider that the late inning defensive replacement in left field is going to be Figgins now. If they had to hold onto Figgins because there might be some hope of trading him later, I’d prefer they had sent Liddi down to work on his outfield defense.
What good is Figgins really going to do on this team? Its time to admit the mistake and give up on the bad contract.
Good thing you posted the second paragraph, because this really is not that big of a deal. Kicking the can down the road…
GMZ speaks about not releasing Chone:
https://twitter.com/JasonPuckettKJR/status/205824529199673344
All decisions are not rational decisions. Jack’s worse nightmare is paying Figgins 9 million per year to play for the Angels
I figure Wells was going down and Figgins is on his way out with Olivo and Guti back. This just gets Wells down there quicker so he can get some playing time.
Maybe they sent Wells down to stretch him out to be an everyday player again? He’s basically been a loogy this year, after all.
Since when would we NOT want Figgy to play for a team we want to lose? I don’t get it…..is it a bad thing for him to play for a division rival. I can’t think of another player I’d love to see out there w/ his empty .189 average playing against us.
I was going to do the tie-in with BillyJive’s “let the kids play” with “new boss same as the old boss.”
However, while succumbing to that obvious cliche, the thought crossed my mind that the new boss might actually be the old boss.
Can anyone reassure me that Lincoln/Armstrong are not involved in some of these non-transactions? Olivo and Figgins certainly fall within the Link-Arms traditional paradigm:
bad player + big contract = keep