Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

[buggs1a]

Which makes sense since the M's have had a ton of difficulty getting a power lefty and Safeco destroys righties with the cavernous left center field (see Beltre). Figgy's decline is the only one who really surprised me. Who are all these others you talk about?



Cliff Lee wasn't going to resign with the Mariners at the end of the year. Instead you'd rather he left in Free Agency and they get a comp draft pick for him? They did the right thing by trading him. And Smoak isn't a bum. He was fast tracked to the majors and suffered injuries galore last year (and the death of his father). An .830 OPS, when healthy, is pretty damn good for a kid in his first full year.

I can only think of a few off hand. But there's more.

Richie Sexson
Kevin Mitchell
Adrian Beltre
I forget his name. Horrable pitcher, righty that went to the cubs.
Jeff weaver or something. I get these 2 mixed up.
Smoak, stats say it all.
Then the other lefty, I forget. Same year as smoak.
Left fielder black guy couple years ago.
Franklin guiteriez. Spelling sucks sorry.

Anyway.

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[Coug00]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

I can only think of a few off hand. But there's more.

Richie Sexson
Kevin Mitchell
Adrian Beltre
I forget his name. Horrable pitcher, righty that went to the cubs.
Jeff weaver or something. I get these 2 mixed up.
Smoak, stats say it all.
Then the other lefty, I forget. Same year as smoak.
Left fielder black guy couple years ago.
Franklin guiteriez. Spelling sucks sorry.

Anyway.

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That's your list?!?

Do you discount guys like Harold Reynolds, Omar Visquel, John Olerud, Freddy Garcia, Randy Johnson, GRIFFEY, Aaron Sele, Raul Ibanez, Mike Cameron, Chris Bosio, Bret Boone, Franklin Gutierrez (you're so wrong on that one its not even funny. He was sick with an intenstinal problem the entire year and lost 20lbs. Look at Conor Jackson to see what those kinds of problems can do to a career), Jason Vargas, Paul Abbott, Endy Chavez, etc ad nauseum. All of those guys played just as good for Seattle (if not better) after they acquired them (or traded them away). If I actually put more than 1 minute of thought into it, I could name off 50 more.

Jeff Weaver was a joke before the M's picked him up. Again, Sexson and Beltre were horrible signings by an incompetent GM in Bill Bavasi. Sexson had already started his decline when he was signed and Beltre's bat is a horrible match for Safeco's dimensions. I'm laughing at you for already writing off Smoak.

[12]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

Having a young team doesn't mean anything in itself.

I just said that pretty much every player that comes to the m's ends up worse stats and then better stats after he leaves. And I'm thinking of for the last 5 years or slightly longer. Sexson and Beltre prime examples. Chone figgans another. List goes on and on I think. And this sucks. I wish we had more power and avg. I even think if we got Prince fielder and Albert pulhos, don't know spelling, they both would suck for us.

I can think of only 1 recent player that we got who played like they did before us. Cliff Lee. And what did they Do? They got rid of him for nobody. And in his first year here too.

That's all I was getting at. That if seems like everyone we get sucks for us and does better when they leave.

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For nobody? Get out of here with that. Justin Smoak is not a nobody. He is a kid that started red hot last year and then lost his dad. Had some injury issues, but the talent is there. I am so sick of fickle M's fans. Yeah, it's tough being us. We're up against a lot. An owner who has no interest in baseball, a front office that is not LED by "baseball people." It's tough, I get it... But if you're just going to be negative, what's the damn point. I have never been more excited about the M's future as I am now.

Cliff Lee was going to WALK. We had ZERO chance of keeping him. I think Smoak will work out just fine. We have Montero. We lost Pineda, which hurts, but until that kid is keeping his weight down and his velocity is more impressive than 88-91 MPH, I am feeling good about the trade, as well as having a top 10 farm system in all of baseball.

Smoak goes for .275/25/90 this season at a minimum. That's not a "nobody."

[12]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

I can only think of a few off hand. But there's more.

Richie Sexson
Kevin Mitchell
Adrian Beltre
I forget his name. Horrable pitcher, righty that went to the cubs.
Jeff weaver or something. I get these 2 mixed up.
Smoak, stats say it all.
Then the other lefty, I forget. Same year as smoak.
Left fielder black guy couple years ago.
Franklin guiteriez. Spelling sucks sorry.

Anyway.

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You can't even remember players to make your point. Whatever.

[12]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

That's your list?!?

Do you discount guys like Harold Reynolds, Omar Visquel, John Olerud, Freddy Garcia, Randy Johnson, GRIFFEY, Aaron Sele, Raul Ibanez, Mike Cameron, Chris Bosio, Bret Boone, Franklin Gutierrez (you're so wrong on that one its not even funny. He was sick with an intenstinal problem the entire year and lost 20lbs. Look at Conor Jackson to see what those kinds of problems can do to a career), Jason Vargas, Paul Abbott, Endy Chavez, etc ad nauseum. All of those guys played just as good for Seattle (if not better) after they acquired them (or traded them away). If I actually put more than 1 minute of thought into it, I could name off 50 more.

Jeff Weaver was a joke before the M's picked him up. Again, Sexson and Beltre were horrible signings by an incompetent GM in Bill Bavasi. Sexson had already started his decline when he was signed and Beltre's bat is a horrible match for Safeco's dimensions. I'm laughing at you for already writing off Smoak.

I'm guessing he's about 13 or 14, and I don't mean that as a slam, but this guy (kid?) can't be serious with this stuff.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

What's the outlook on Trayvon Robinson? I know he struggled in the majors last year, but I'm being offered him as part of a trade. His huge drop in steals concerns me, as does his strikeout percentage.

[Coug00]

What's the outlook on Trayvon Robinson? I know he struggled in the majors last year, but I'm being offered him as part of a trade. His huge drop in steals concerns me, as does his strikeout percentage.

The speed is still there, the strikeouts are the key. Until he improves his pitch and strike zone recognition, he'll never be very successful. He still has a ton of physical potential, its just a matter of realizing it.

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[MarinersVsDodgers]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

Our farm sucks? Someone really doesn't follow the M's then..

[Coug00]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

What a first start by Paxton. 5.2, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 bb's, 10 k's.

Hultzen goes on Sunday. Walker on Monday.

[12]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

What a first start by Paxton. 5.2, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 bb's, 10 k's.

Hultzen goes on Sunday. Walker on Monday.

Dominant. The team down in Jackson is going to be exciting to follow this year. It's so nice to actually have a system in which I am actually interested in checking out our affiliate's box scores on a daily basis! That's been the magic of Jack Z and I love it.

Our young pitchers in Jackson fanned the Barons 17 times tonight... Capps' line looked pretty damn solid, too.

Hopefully their offense picks it up a bit...

Great day for M's fans... The big club swung the bats well against the A's, too. Tomorrow, we get Felix!

[12]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

I am so excited for M's baseball this season... My wife is getting tired of me talking about it, but slowly she is coming around. There is reason for so much optimism. I don't have any delusions of grandeur with this team as far as this season and wins and losses, but the feel to this team is exciting; the future is bright.

Felix, Ackley, Montero, Smoak, Seager... That's a good young core right there and I expect Saunders and Carp to contribute this year as well. Figgins will have to do A LOT to avoid a DFA roster move later on, but I'm pulling for the guy. He's been a huge disappointment, but if he can come around, then that makes our offense that much better.

If Paxton continues to impress and Hultzen starts the season strong, that will make Vargas expendable if the right deal is offered before the deadline. I like Vargas, but maybe an NL team will come calling and offer us an impact bat. I don't think he would fetch much, but if he can pitch well, he might be able to be flipped for a decent to good offensive prospect. All in all, I think our rotation will be fine, but outside of Felix, it won't be much better than average at best and maybe that is even expecting a bit too much.

Speaking of Paxton and Hultzen, Jackson is absolutely LOADED. Keeping tabs on them all season long will be interesting. So much young talent on that team.

I love the direction we're going. For the first time in a long time, I feel that being patient is acceptable considering what GM Jack Z has done with our farm system, and more help is on the way in the June Amateur Draft (#3 overall pick). Exciting stuff.

On a sadder note, I loved watching the M's game last night but it reminded me of how much I miss Dave Nieheus' voice. It was golden, and it was M's baseball. I feel like a part of me as a baseball fan is missing when I turn on a game or tune in on the radio and his voice is missing. You don't realize how much an announcer means to you until the voice is no longer. His voice is a reminder of my childhood, of all the games I heard him call, of my dad impersonating his home run calls when a Mariner would belt one out of the park. For my money, he's the greatest play-by-play man ever and he can't be replaced.

Go M's.

[Coug00]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

On a sadder note, I loved watching the M's game last night but it reminded me of how much I miss Dave Nieheus' voice. It was golden, and it was M's baseball. I feel like a part of me as a baseball fan is missing when I turn on a game or tune in on the radio and his voice is missing. You don't realize how much an announcer means to you until the voice is no longer. His voice is a reminder of my childhood, of all the games I heard him call, of my dad impersonating his home run calls when a Mariner would belt one out of the park. For my money, he's the greatest play-by-play man ever and he can't be replaced.

For sure. He's irreplaceable.

I am so excited for M's baseball this season... My wife is getting tired of me talking about it, but slowly she is coming around. There is reason for so much optimism. I don't have any delusions of grandeur with this team as far as this season and wins and losses, but the feel to this team is exciting; the future is bright.

Felix, Ackley, Montero, Smoak, Seager... That's a good young core right there and I expect Saunders and Carp to contribute this year as well. Figgins will have to do A LOT to avoid a DFA roster move later on, but I'm pulling for the guy. He's been a huge disappointment, but if he can come around, then that makes our offense that much better.

If Paxton continues to impress and Hultzen starts the season strong, that will make Vargas expendable if the right deal is offered before the deadline. I like Vargas, but maybe an NL team will come calling and offer us an impact bat. I don't think he would fetch much, but if he can pitch well, he might be able to be flipped for a decent to good offensive prospect. All in all, I think our rotation will be fine, but outside of Felix, it won't be much better than average at best and maybe that is even expecting a bit too much.

Speaking of Paxton and Hultzen, Jackson is absolutely LOADED. Keeping tabs on them all season long will be interesting. So much young talent on that team.

I love the direction we're going. For the first time in a long time, I feel that being patient is acceptable considering what GM Jack Z has done with our farm system, and more help is on the way in the June Amateur Draft (#3 overall pick). Exciting stuff.

Catricala is right up there with the prospects I'm excited about.

And how about the big club last night? That's what they envisioned when they brought in Figgins and promoted Saunders, Seager, Ackley, etc. That was a ton of pressure they put on the A's pitching staff all night long. That was fun. Its going to be interesting to see what happens with Seager and Catricala. Seager isn't really a 3B, he could be a starting 2B for about half the teams in the league. I think one of them moves to LF.

[MachoMyers]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

Seager looked great, in fact the whole lineup looked really good. Oh yeah, welcome back Chone. Where you been dude?

[12]

Re: Seattle Mariners 2012 team thread

For sure. He's irreplaceable.



Catricala is right up there with the prospects I'm excited about.

And how about the big club last night? That's what they envisioned when they brought in Figgins and promoted Saunders, Seager, Ackley, etc. That was a ton of pressure they put on the A's pitching staff all night long. That was fun. Its going to be interesting to see what happens with Seager and Catricala. Seager isn't really a 3B, he could be a starting 2B for about half the teams in the league. I think one of them moves to LF.

Yeah, Cat the Bat is an exciting young prospect, too. It will be interesting to see who ends up at 3B between him and Seager... I agree that Seager is not a 3B and Cat's defense improved over the spring. What do you think about moving Ackley to CF and Seager to 2B when Catricala is ready? I don't know about that; the club seems committed to keeping Ackley at 2B and I don't know if it's viable at all to think he could play in the OF. Maybe the better option is putting Catricala in LF and leaving Seager and Ackley where they're at. But it seems the organization is wanting to keep Catricala at 3B but that could change very quickly.

A guy worth mentioning as well is Francisco Martinez... He's repeating AA but is only 21. This will be a big year for him.

C - Montero
1B - Smoak
2B - Seager (if Ackley were to ever move to OF)
SS - Franklin
3B - Catricala
LF - Carp/Saunders/Wells/Robinson
CF - Ackley (doubt it happens, not even sure if it should)
RF - Ichiro/replacement

SP - Felix
SP - Hultzen
SP - Walker
SP - Paxton
SP - Noesi/Ramirez

Closer - Pryor/Capps

That's a legitimate squad for 2013... So much young talent. Montero may never be a regular catcher and I doubt Walker is up in 2013, and I also doubt Ackley ever moves off of 2B, but that's an exciting young core right there... I hope the organization finds a way to keep Seager, but eventually something will have to give because there's a bit of a log jam in the making at the 3B and LF spots...

Love how the team swung the bat last night. If Figgins and Ichiro show a semblance of their former selves throughout the season, this team could really surprise some people. If Smoak rebounds and becomes the hitter that he should be and Montero continues his development... Ackley, IMO, is on the surface of being an all-star right now and might already be there. Felix is Felix, Vargas should be solid, but the rest of the current rotation worries me a bit but help is on the way with our big three. Lot of "if's" in there but Jack Z has done an incredible job. I haven't agreed with every move he's made, but that's not to say that he hasn't done a phenomenal job in bolstering our farm system. I just hope it translates to success, which I think it will.

I realize a lot of this post might be a bit unrealistic as far as position switches go, but I just hope we can find a way to keep most of our good offensive prospects like Seager, Catricala and Francisco Martinez.

[Coug00]

Seager looked great, in fact the whole lineup looked really good. Oh yeah, welcome back Chone. Where you been dude?

Two nights in a row! Figgy is on pace for 162 rbi's. I'm going to be disappointed if he finishes with anything less. :wink:

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