Thoughts on disastrous Mariners?

[CabreraMVP]

Re: Thoughts on disastrous Mariners?

Hopefully Casper Wells who they just got from Detroit can turn into a good everyday player for them. He's a great defensive player who can play all 3 positions and has a strong arm. He also has a decent amount of power too.

They also got a pretty good prospect from Detroit, Franciso Martinez. He's in Double A but he has some really good numbers.

[spit_bubble]

Re: Thoughts on disastrous Mariners?

...Jack Z is not a good GM. He can identify young talent but his veteran signings and acquisitions at the Major League level is horrible. Since he's been here, the M's are 104-159 and will have the worst offense in baseball two years in a row. He no longer gets a pass, despite the fact that most M's fans really liked him in the beginning.

Our front office = worst in baseball.

Ah, it sucks to be a M's fan.

I think Z's done a good job considering what he inherited. Their minor league system has gotten significantly better, and while the Figgins deal is looking like a real stinker, they have a lot of money coming off the books after this season.

M's payroll obligations 2011-2016

Notice at the bottom where it says their payroll goes from $94 million all the way down to $59 million this off season. Some of that is going to be eaten up by Smoak, Pineda, Vargas, and League... And I'm pretty sure ownership has said they are going to drop the payroll down under $90 million, but they should be able to add some FA pieces for next year. I see them going after a right handed middle of the order hitter, to play LF or 3B.

Who? I don't know.

Other than that I really like this Ms team. They have some solid players to build with, and they are young guys too. Felix (still just 25, reeediculous), Pineda, and Ackley are all very high caliber. Smoak and Carp have shown some signs, and I think you'll start to see other guys emerge in the next year or so.

They need more time. If in the next few years things don't look like they are progressing, then maybe we can start to question Z, but until that time you got to be patient.

Take a look at their last rise, from Griffey's arrival in '89 to their run in '95, and notice how they grew.

You had Edgar, then Buhner, Randy Johnson, Tino Martinez... They all got better and better from one year to the next. That's pretty much the way it works.

[12]

Re: Thoughts on disastrous Mariners?

Loved your post, spit_bubble.

I started this thread out of anger and frustration. The bad part is, I know better. I really do, because I feel that Jack Z has done a very good job of bolstering our farm system and is probably doing the best he can at the Major League level as well.

No one can really blame him for the Figgins signing. I did think it was a bit troubling to be paying two lead off hitters nearly $28 million per season, which is about one-third of our payroll, but I loved getting him. Most M's fans were drooling over the thought of having Ichiro and Figgins at the top of our order. It has been a disaster with Figgins, but sometimes these signings happen. I do hope they find a way to unload him some how, because while he might still have a bit left in the tank, I think his chances of succeeding and overcoming the fans in Seattle is bordering on the impossible.

We simply might be stuck with him.

Jack Z's deals at the deadline were masterful. Fister was expendable, and we got a good haul in Wells, Furbush and Martinez. I might be wrong but I think the original PTBNL was Ruffin, but I've heard that's not necessarily true and it might be someone else. I really like what I've seen from Wells. He might not be the most talented player around, but he is scrappy, plays hard, and is only 26 - not to mention he has MLB experience. Same goes with Furbush. Martinez immediately becomes our best 3B prospect in the organization, even if Triunfel gets moved over there, too.

Beavan looks good. Like Fister, he doesn't miss many bats, but his command is textbook and he wears teams down. He might even end up being a better version of Fister.

The Bedard trade was beautiful. I have high hopes for Trayvon Robinson - did anyone see that catch and home run he made yesterday? He just looks like a player and bolsters our farm system even more. I am not sure how Chiang will pan out, but he is having a great season in AA.

It's hard not to get excited about the future. Geoff Baker said that if you project Ackley's season out over 162 games, he would be a borderline MVP candidate (185 hits, 85 runs, 70 walks, 42 doubles, 21 triples, 21 home runs, 98 RBI). He is as legit of a hitting prospect as there is and his defense at 2B is decent and will most likely improve.

Smoak's struggles since June have been troubling, to say the least... But I think the kid was hurt (thumb) and didn't tell anyone. He has had a rough year from a personal standpoint as well, losing his dad earlier in the year who he was very close with. I still have high hopes for him.

Felix and Pineda - we've all heard it before. These two have the potential to be an even more dominant 1-2 punch than they already are. That's scary considering their youth.

I love what I'm seeing from Mike Carp. If he keeps it up, he could have a real future with this team.

Lastly, the pitching down on the farm - it's downright scary. Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen (when/if he signs) and James Paxton. Walker and Paxton have been dominant. I think there's a real chance that we see both Hultzen and Paxton in the rotation at some point next year. Walker is a two to three years away, but wow.

How about Vicente "Jose" Campos? 18-years-old and has been clocked at 98 on the radar gun, with secondary pitches that are improving.

We're in good hands... Sometimes it's hard to not let the present state of the MLB club (W/L, struggling offense) wear me down, but at the end of the day, I am pumped about the future.

[spit_bubble]

Re: Thoughts on disastrous Mariners?

I like this kid Trayvon Robinson!

I think he'll probably have the same type of growing pains we've seen from the other young guys this year, but he looks like a ball player.