Now that trade rumors and reports are coming in, our su####ions are coming to fruition - Seattle is the truest definition of "seller" at the July 31, 2008 MLB trading deadline.
With that in mind, I have decided that it's time we take a look at the future of this club; those players with the best chance of earning a spot on the roster and making a positive difference for the franchise. I have compiled lists of players who will either have a slot on the roster locked up going into 2009 or will be competing for one.
This is all predicated upon the following: Raul Ibanez sticks around for 2009, Adrian Beltre isn't traded away, and neither is Kenji Johjima.
STARTING PITCHERS: Locks - Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard, Carlos Silva; On The Bubble - Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ryan Feierabend, R.A. Dickey; Wildcards: Brandon Morrow, Chris Jakubauskas, Sean White, Robert Rohrabugh, Rich Dorman
BULLPEN: Locks - J.J. Putz, Brandon Morrow, Roy Corcoran, Mark Lowe, Sean Green; On The Bubble: Cesar Jimenez, Jorge Sosa, R.A. Dickey, Eric O'Flaherty, Randy Messenger, Andrew Baldwin, Sean White, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ryan Feierabend, Chris Jakubauskas, Robert Rohrbaugh, Rich Dorman, Phillippe Aumont
INFIELD: Locks - Kenji Johjima, Jeff Clement, Jose Lopez, Yuniesky Betancourt, Adrian Beltre; On The Bubble: Jamie Burke, Miguel Cairo, Mike Morse, Bryan LaHair; Wild Cards: Rob Johnson, Tug Hulett, Craig Wilson, Yung Chi Chen, Carlos Truinfel, Oswaldo Navarro
OUTFIELD: Locks - Ichiro Suzuki, Jeremy Reed, Raul Ibanez; On The Bubble: Wlademir Balentien, Victor Diaz, Willie Bloomquist, Charlton Jimerson; Wildcards: Prentice Redman, Shawn Garrett
What players would YOU like to see with the M's in 2009? What free agents might Seattle have a shot at locking up? Who will be the Manager? The GM?
I'm starting to think the Yanks will make a play for Joh and Wash, if they're truly concerned about winning this season.
I think Morrow and RRS are locks for next season's rotation. It'd be nice to see Jimenez make the cut as the left-handed setup man.
Ooh, I forgot about Triunfel. He's going to be a special player. I'm surprised the M's aren't considering dealing Raul, as much as hate to say it, he could probably bring the best prospects in return.
I'm really excited to see what Truinfel and Aumont can do in the coming years.
Ibanez going hurts my feelings. He's such a good guy, he usually performs up to or above expectations, and he's the last link to some of the M's most exciting seasons, IMO. But, he could garner the M's quite a lot in return via trade.
As for Johjima... I wouldn't mind seeing him go, either, considering his offensive woes in 2008, but I'd like to think of this season as an aberration in that regard. Also, Clement's defense behind the plate leaves quite a bit to be desired - he might be better suited for 1B/DH duties instead of catching, and K-Joh is a very good defensive catcher having a poor offensive season. In short, I'm not willing to give up on him just yet, and I also don't think he would net the M's much in a trade.
Either way, 2009 and 2010 look to be exciting seasons, with lots of young players getting a shot to show their skills.
Hey bud, there is a kid (a friend of mine) who is in your minor league system whom you should keep an eye out for. His name is Philip Roy, look up his stats he's with Pulaski right now. He's tall and lanky and has some nasty stuff. He's going to be writing on my site www.sportsreviewmagazine.com we're gonna do a "Minor League Diary Blog" and every time he pitches he's gonna hop on and post a recap and thoughts, keep an eye out for it! The idea is to follow his climb to the Majors (and believe me he'll be there soon)
johjimah sucks. all he can do is hit doubles down the line every 20 times hes up, the starting rotation should be felix, washburn, morrow, bedard, and silva,
K-Joh is having a horrid season, no question. But, he entered 2008 with a 2-year career BA of .289 and 32 HR/137 RBI in 991 career at-bats. Not poor marks at all, especially considering how bad some of the M's catchers have been in the past (need I remind anyone of Dave Valle?).
I see next year's rotation as Hernandez, Bedard, Rowland-Smith, Silva and one of the following: Morrow, Feierabend, Dickey, White, Jakubauskas, Rohrbaugh or Dorman.
Right now, with as well as he has pitched his all season long and as poorly as J.J. Putz has been in 2008, I really feel that Morrow is best-suited for closing duties. However, since the team is likely a few years away from contending for a playoff berth, Morrow might be more valuable right now AND in the long-term as a starter.
As things have gone in 2008, Silva MUST improve in 2009. He has been just as bad as anyone else in the rotation. I think he needs to shed some weight and get into better shape.
Okay, will someone please tell me why Betancourt is a "lock." This kid needs to spend more time in the minors. He is inconsistant and won't take direction. The third base coach says stay at second he goes to third and doesn't make it. The third base coach says stay at third, he tries for home. The manager says bunt, he can't. His performance could use improvement. It always has. Lopez is little better. He has made some improvements but his defense is horrid and he just tosses it off when he screws up. We seem to be wedded to both of them.
Beltre seems to have finally figured out the American league game, sort of. Though over his career his batting averages has only been above .300 on one occasion.
We need some players that can hit (can you say Ken Griffey Jr) and to give time to the players who raise their averages with game time and can take direction (can you say Willie Bloomquist).
I love Yuni. He hustles, hits very well for a # 9 hitter, and plays great defense. I think I might be the one guy that doesn't want Junior back with the M's. He's clearly past his prime, and I don't see him contributing unless he's the DH. I would be a PR move and feel good story, but if we are truly rebuilding, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to sign him.
I think Lopez focuses too much on his hitting, and sometimes becomes a space cadet in the field. I've seen his errors blow leads and games for the Mariners. That being said, the M's should hang on to both of these guys. They may still move these guys in favor of Chen and Triunfel, when they're ready.
In my opinion, next year's rotation will be: Felix, Silva, RRS, Morrow, and someone else, maybe Dickey, Feierabend or hopefully Aumont. I think they'll do whatever it takes to move Bedard and Washburn this offseason. Unfortunately, Silva will be untradable because of the ridiculous contract that Bavasi gave him and Batista will be the long reliever.
I hope the team doesn't blow up the entire roster. Guys like Beltre and Ichiro are my favorite Mariners. They just need to be surrounded by more consistent RBI threats. At least LaHair has been impressive lately.
i guess i was being a little harsh on jon jima, im not the greatest at looking at the big picture. BUT we could have gotten griffey for him, and hes probly the greatest seattle hitter of all time. for morrow i think he deserves to be a starter, i say convert him to a starter in the offseason and if it doesnt work out then put him at closer and get prospects for JJ
I'm just your average sports nut, I suppose. Of course I'm a bit of a homer - the Mariners, Seahawks, and Huskies are my teams - but I stick with my boys down the stretch, through thick and thin.
What can the Mariners do to rebound from their worst season in twent years? Will Erik Bedard recover in time for the 2009 season? Ryan Rowland-Smith and Brandon Morrow look to make the transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation, so can they combine with Felix to create a young and effective 1-2-3 tandem? How will the M's new front office guru fare - will Chuckie and Howie be able to stay "hands off" long enough for the new VP/GM to accomplish anything positive? Can the Seahawks recover from their early-season woes and rebound for a fifth straight NFC West title? How will the team handle the transition from Mike Holmgren's regime to the ways of Jim Mora Jr? Can the Hawks' defense stop anyone? Can the offense put up more than 200 yards?
Any of you folks out there interested in healthy and creative debate about anything, feel free to speak up!
