Well, What Now?

I have to admit that Tempe Diablo Stadium is a real nice Spring Training location, but the scoreboard looks like it's going to fall over. As I've mentioned I will be included Spring Training pictures in my posts for the next little while.

As for the lack of posting. No excuses. I have been busy with other things, but I've started about five posts in the last week that never got finished, so there you have it.

You Know Your Not Doing Well When...
Kind of an old saying, but when your team is looking to start it's own club, and not a good one, you are not doing well ---holy crap. 5-3 the M's are coming back. Some clutch hitting and luck pulling through---. I hadn't heard of the 100/100 club before, and I wasn't sure of what it would be. Now that I know---5-4, another botched play---I don't really want to keep going. Yes, $100M should buy you more than 60 wins a season. In that respect, $200M should buy you something close to a World Series, and $22M should buy you a top five pick in the June draft. It's starting to look like a backwards year. The Mariners set to compete for the AL West, the Tigers ready to dominate, the Yankees spending a lot of money and still never winning more than the first round of the playoffs, and the Marlins only a couple games out of first place.

Yes, these times aren't very good. I guess we can find a brightspot in, uhhhh, the light above my head. Yeah, that looks pretty bright right now. Not too harp on the Mariners, but when the 2008 Mariners are doing as well as they are, heck, why not trade for Babe Ruth?

Lowe of the Derek Variety
Derek Lowe getting interest from the Mariners? Yes, the link says that scouts watched him, but why would you scout someone if you weren't interested in that player? Maybe he could help the M's out a bit.

There is Always Someone Worse Off
Big Papi won't be so big for the next little while. He'll be out anywhere from three weeks to the end of the season after having surgery on his wrist, more specifically a tendon. Not a pretty thing. Although you can argue that the Red Sox are still in a better position than the M's are, imagine the M's without Ichiro.

Big Unit Passes Big Mouth
Randy Johnson has moved past Roger Clemens for second on the all time strikeout list after whiffing his 4,673rd batter tonight. The future Hall of Famer and former Mariner, still has Nolan Ryan above him, but the Rangers' something-or-other looks a bit out of reach.

Two in a Row

Now that I've finally gotten my Spring Training pictures somewhat up, the Mariners won their second game in a row. For the first time in a long while, it looks like the Mariners finally woke up a bit.

Erik Bedard gave it a solid seven innings. He's starting to find some form. Yuniesky Betancourt hit a homerun, the only run of the game.

Mariners Shopping Batista, Washburn?

Jayson Stark says that the Mariners are expected to be interested in atleast 'window shopping' Miguel Batista and Jarrod Washburn. Both have had not the greatest starts to the season and are under contract untill 2009. But there is no chance that they would trade Erik Bedard. Not unless 'they fire the general manager'.

Scott Hatteberg Getting Interest

It looks like Mr. Hatteberg is starting to pick up some interest around the league. The Mariners appear to be actively pursuing the first basemen. Miguel Cairo has been playing some first base of late. Sexson is starting to ride the pine more and probably should be doing so.

Back to Reality and the Mariners Inability to Win Much

Life and the Mariners not winning have kept me away from this blog for a while now, and after their win last night, I feel inspired! Okay, not really, by the win, but probably more so by Ichiro's Griffey-like catch the other night.

Last night's victory snapped a losing streak of a number not worth thinking about. Jose Lopez has to be the Mariners most underrated player so far this season, although he has struggled at times, in terms of clutch performance. A crucial base hit to end the game ninth and give JJ the win was his accomplishment for last night. Manny Ramirez and his long (can you call it hair?) dreadlocks hit number 499. The M's are up 1-0 on the Red Sox right now, so no number 500 for Manny, yet.

I'm going to wait a little while longer to make a mid season report card for the Mariners, but as of right now, I don't see many getting too many votes for the trip to the Big Apple for the last All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.

In other news, Cha Seung Baek is now out of the Mariners organization after, well, what did he do here again? He was shipped off to San Diego for right hander Jared Wells. Not sure of any relation to David Wells.

Maybe Bavasi's job is still pretty secure. According to president Chuck Armstrong, Bavasi will not be let go of any time soon. It's not like he's done anything to get fired, but how much has he done right?

Money Not an Issue

It looks like Ken Griffey Jr.'s contract won't be an issue for the Mariners.

That should come with some relief. Maybe it won't take as many prospects to get Jr., because the M's probably won't ask for money in a potential deal. ProspectInsider looks at Adam Moore in this week's Farm Report (in the PI), and how he could become a better player than Jeff Clement.

Back to the Griffey stuff now. He has about $8M left for this season and a $16M option with a $4M buyout. This season's money probably won't matter that much, but it was thought that the option would become an issue. Ken Rosenthal dissmissed that. As of know, we can pretty much only do some educated speculating. Something that I was doing, but without the educated part.

Junior and Seattle

Ken Griffey Jr. has been rumored to be traded for a while now, and the rumors of him returning to Seattle are heating up.

Personally, I've always like Griffey, as a player and as a person. He was a termendous player who would likely be chasing down Barry Bonds right now if it weren't for all of his injuries. Not to say that he was or is injury prone by any means, but when you break your wrist jumping in to a wall to make a catch, that shows who much you're willing to wisk for your team. That's the type of player Griffey was with Seattle and will always be.

Back to the trade rumors. The money could become an issue at one point. Jr. is owed $12.5M for this year, and has a $16.5M option for 2009 with a $4M buyout, which makes his option worth $12.5M (in a theory that I don't feel like explaining right now). The M's are throwing $16-something-M at Richie Sexson this year, I'm sure that they would spend that on one of the franchise's greatest players. Richie Sexson's contract comes off of the books, and Raul Ibanez and Jose Vidro will become free agents, although Vidro has a vesting option, giving the Mariners two places where Griffey could play easily. Or switch Wlad in to left and insert Griffey in to right.

What it's going to take to get Griffey over here is the biggest question. Would the Mariners give up Wladimir Balentien or Jeff Clement? I don't know. The Mariners would probably be hard pressed to part with their top prospects. Other than those two, guys like Phillipe Amount and Carlos Truinfel come to mind. Cha Seung Baek and Jeremy Reed apear to be extra parts, and are still young and have some potential, so maybe Baek, Reed and another high-ish level prospect would get the job done?

Would there be any liklihood of the Mariners sending Richie Sexson or Jose Vidro over to the Reds in a potential deal?

Norton Now a Brave

This one took me a couple minutes or hours to put up, but the Atlanta Braves have acquired Greg Norton from the Mariners for a player to be named or cash considerations. Nortan was DFA'd along with Brad Wilkerson five days(ish) ago.

Unfortunate is a word I want to use but can't - I just did - because Norton didn't really deserve to get dropped, but at the same time he didn't prove that he would be more valuable than Wlad Balentien or Jeff Clemnt. Jason Churchill wants enough money to cover Jose Vidro's contract for 2008 to make this trade worth it. I have to say that I agree with him. Why is Miguel Cairo still here?

Maybe a Roster Shakeup?

Maybe it's time to shake up the lineup a bit. Maybe not in terms of players, but where those players are playing. In wake of Raul Ibanez' heroics in the outfield today, I realized that Ibanez isn't much of an outfielder anymore, and that Lookout Landing has been right when they put LF next to Raul's name in the lineup like this "LF".

WARNING: What I'm about to tell you completely makes sense in my mind, and probably my mind only. What I say may not be possible, but when your losing like this, you'll probably try anything.

Scenario 1
First thing to do is to get Ibanez out of the outfield to either first base, or DH. For this scenario, we'll have him at first. Call up Jeremy Reed and have him and Richie Sexson platoon in left field untill Sexson figures out what is going on and can play full time in the outfield. I thought that I'd heard Mac say something about Sexson playing in the outfield a little while ago.

Scenario 2
Ibanez is at DH, and Sexson is in the outfield doing the same thing mentioned in Scenario 1. Have Kenji Johjima play first a little bit, or Jeff Clement and try to turn one of them in to a Victor Martinez.

Scenario 3
Trade a package of mid-level prospects, not that we have any left, or somebody useful, maybe Baek and Reed to the Reds for Ken Griffey Jr., and have him play in left or right, depending on what you do with Wlad.

What do you think would be most likely to happen? Personally, I see the acquisition of Griffey being the most likely, but would the Mariners have the pieces? I mentioned Reed and Baek being spare parts, but it would likely take a little bit more than that to get Jr. back here. I'd like to see him retire as a Mariners and don an M's cap in to Cooperstown. I probably will look in to the possibility of Jr. coming back in the next couple months.

Hatteberg a Fit?

MLBTR: One first baseman who doesn't hit righties well is Richie Sexson. Hatteberg could be a good fit in Seattle.

Would Hatteberg be a fit (1B Scott Hatteberg of the Reds)? Sexson doesn't hit righties terribly well, and Hatteberg has a little bit of pop against them, so of course it's going to seem like a good fit. Any 1B that could hit lefties well would be a good fit. Greg Nortan is a switch hitting 1B who has a .667 AVG against lefties so far this season. Hatteberg is hitting .000 against lefties. He sure is smacking the ball against lefties.

Stats aside, the Mariners are going to have to give up something to get Hatteberg. Greg Nortan is already in the organization. Imeadiate advantage to Nortan. I'm not against Hatteberg, but why give up a mid-prospect for something that you already have?

Around the League: April 9, 2008

I haven't been keeping up with these lately, but I'm back on track. Although posting may become scattered over the next while.

• The Mets are believed to be close to signing free agent pitcher Claudio Vargas to a minor league deal. He would likely make a few starts at AAA before he gets called up.
• The Oakland A's designated Dan Johnson for assignment to make room for pitcher Greg Smith who started the A's game against the Blue Jays today. There's a rumor out there that Johnson is close to being acquired by the San Francisco Giants, where he will get many oppurtunities with all of the Giants holes.
• D'Backs 2B Orlando Hudson wants $15M a season, or Chase Utley money. Will he get it? I doubt it, but he could pickup upwards of $10M in free agency.
• Some scores to pass along. CLE 5 LAA 9; LAD 3 ARI 4; CHC 6 PIT 4; DET 7 BOS 2; OAK 6 TOR 3; FLA 10 WSH 4; PHI 2 NYM 8; BAL @ TEX PPD; CIN 12 MIL 4; STL 6 HOU 4; NYY 4 KC 0; MIN 12 CWS 5; ATL 6 COL 12; SD 0 SF 1.

Around the League: April 3, 2008

Today's MLB goings on.

• Carl Crawford would like to stay in Tamba Bay. Who wouldn't? The team is building up towards an exciting climax with all of the young talent that they have in stock. There haven't been any known talks between the two sides as of now.
• You can add the Mets to the list of teams that like Oakland pitcher Rich Harden to their crosstown rivals the Yankees. With Pedro Martinez out for 4-6 weeks with a hamstring injury, a trade is possible. The Mets are also interested in Claudio Vargas, but would like him to pitch in the minors for a little but first.
• Today's MLB action. CWS 2 CLE 1; ARI 2 CIN 3; KC 4 DET 1; WSH 7 PHI 8; LAA 5 MIN 4; COL 0 STL 3; MIL 3 CHC 6; HOU 2 SD 3; PIT 4 ATL 3; TOR 2 NYY 3; TB @ BAL -PPD.

Around the League: April 2, 2008

Today's daily dose of, whatever you want to call this feature. I know, how about 'Around the League'?

• According to David Murphy Wes Helms has been DFA'd by the Phillies. He is owed $2.9M this year, and some teams may want to wait and try to pick him up as a free agent. The Dodgers may be interested with all of their third and first base issues.
• Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News writes today that the Rockies will be getting Jorge de la Rosa from the Royals. de la Rosa would complete the deal that sent right-handed reliever Ramon Ramirez to the Royals.
• The Blue Jays and Aaron Hill may wait untill after the season to negotiate an extension, because the Jays want to see alittle but more out of Hill offensively first. On that note, there's a rumor that the Jays will announce a new extension for Alex Rios on Friday, their home opener.
• More regular season action from around the Majors. KC 4 DET 0; MIL 8 CHC 2; BOS 5 OAK 0; CWS 2 CLE 7; TB 2 BAL 9; TOR 5 NYY 2; WSH 1 PHI 0; ARI 5 CIN 6; NYM 13 FLA 5; PIT 2 ATL 10; LAA 1 MIN 0; COL 3 STL 8; HOU 9 SD 6; SF 1 LAD 1 (5th-delay).

Around the League: April 1, 2008

I'm going to tell you know, no April Fools jokes here.

• The Rays optioned Carl Crawford's $8.25M option for '09 today. Dan Wheeler signed an extension for three years, replacing his '08 deal, worth $10.5M. The Rays also bought out Rocco Baldeli's contract for '08 for $4M, instead of his $6M option. Sad story Baldelli is.
• The Phillies signed RP Rudy Seanz to a minor league contract.
• More real action: TOR 2 NYY 3; NYM 4 FLA 5; LAA 9 MIN 1; COL 2 STL 1; BOS 2 OAK 1; HOU 1 SD 2; SF 2 LAD 2 (8th).

Around the League: March 31, 2008

Time for today's Around the League segment.

• According to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves have signed 3B Scott Spezio to a minor league contract. Spiezio who is now 35, hit .269/.354/.386 in 223 AB's for the Cardinals last year.
• The Orioles added some depth in the shortstop hole by signing Alex Cintron to a minor league deal, and assigning him to AAA Norfalk.
• A little bit more on the Alex Rios extension. GM JP Riccardi is optimistic that a deal will get done. The deadline was pushed back a few days. I've heard that the two sides agreedish (poor grammer again) on an extension worth $65M over six years. The holdup is believed to be over the amounts on the option years.
• MLBTradeRumors makes a few predictions on some July trades.
• Some real action. KC 5 DET 4; ARI 4 CIN 2; MIL 4 CHC 3; CWS 8 CLE 10; TB 6 BAL 2; WSH 11 PHI 6; NYM 7 FLA 2; SF 0 LAD 5; LAA 2 MIN 3; PIT 12 ATL 11. Postponed: TOR @ NYY; COL @ STL.

Around the League: March 31, 2008

Time for what's gone on in the MLB today.

• The Jays and Alex Rios are closer today to an agreement on a long-term extension than they were yesterday. The Jays are believed to have a six year offer worth $65M, which would buy out two arbitration years, and four years of free agency. It was also said that Sunday (today) was the Jays deadline for an extension. They'd resume talkes at the end of the season.
• The Orioles released Jay Gibbons today. They swallow the $11.9M in remaining salary. Gibbons is facing a 15 game suspension for steriod related problems, but it's believed that the ban will be lifted. How, I don't know.
• The Daily News LA says that Francisco Rodriduez won't negotiate a contract extension with the Angels during the season. He will be a free agent this coming winter. Not winter right now, but next winter. If Sum-, Spring ever comes.
• A REAL baseball score to pass along. ATL 2 WSH 3.

Around the League: March 19, 2008

Time for probably my last post of the day, and the next little while.

• MLBTradeRumors is reporting that White Sox have waived SS Juan Uribe. MLBTR has another source agreeing, but Uribe and his agent not knowing about this, yet.
• The Red Sox were boycotting because their coachers weren't going to get the $40K that they were promised. Like they need more money.
• The Yankees are believed to be interested in A's pitcher Rich Harden. The A's probably would want the full sticker price for Harden, so Ian Kennedy and another pitcher or two?
• Bonds vowed that he would play again. As I said yesterday, I'm not opening this can of dog crap.
• Today's Spring Training scores. TOR 4 BOS 3; PHI 1 TB 3; STL 12 BAL 3; LAA 6 OAK 1; OAK 5 CHC 2; COL 10 CWS 10; ATL 7 HOU 8; NYY 12 PIT 8; CLE 1 NYM 3; CHC 4 SF 2.
• The Mariners are set to beat the D-Backs 7-4.

Around the League: March 18, 2008

Today's MLB news.

• The Reds are believed to be looking in to acquiring a catcher. Mostly because of David Ross' back acting up. I don't have any names to throw out there for you right now, other than maybe Gerald Laird of the Rangers.
• Ex-Mariner George Sherrill was named the Orioles closer for this season. It's something "that every reliever wants to do". Sherrill even shaved off his beard. It probably wouldn't be their anyway of he was still with the M's because Manager John McLaren wants his boys clean shaven.
• I know some Barry Bonds crap has come up, but I'm going to leave it at that.
• Some scores to pass along on an off-day for the M's. LAD 2 FLA 1; MIN 4 BAL 2; PIT 8 CIN 4; TB 2 PHI 4; WSH 9 DET 1; KC 5 CHC 6; MIL 4 LAA 11; OAK 6 TEX 11; SD 5 CWS 0.

Around the League: March 16, 2008

Today's news, links, crap, whatever you want to call it.

• Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has Jason Varitek's agent Scot Boras saying that the Red Sox would have to come to them about a contract extension.
• MLB Rumors is making a list of their top 100 prospects. Our own Carlos Truinfel falls in at #50. 50. Carlos Triunfel, Mariners- Considered to be the next A-Rod, Triunfel hit .296 at the age of 16 at Single-A. He is the shortstop of the future for the Mariners and will likely see MLB action in 2009.
• Today's Spring Training scores. ATL 2 STL 4; CLE 4 PHI 6; DET 3 CIN 5; FLA 5 MIN 3; HOU 12 LAD 10; NYM 7 WSH 3; TOR 1 PIT 4; BOS 4 NYY 8; CWS 4 MIL 4; KC 2 OAK 6; SD 4 ARI 8; SF 2 COL 4.

Around the League: March 15, 2008

Today's MLB whatever,

• Ken Rosenthal revisits at the end of his most recent post, 2001, when the Mariners started off 20-4, and had the division locked up before May. Rosenthal talks about how the Angels may want to add another starter to fill a 14-16 start void that will be left by John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar's injuries. The Angels could go in to the scrap heap of free agents left; Horocio Ramirez, David Wells, and Jeff Weaver is all that is left. The Angels have a surplus of outfielder, so they could make a trade. The Brewers Dave Bush and Chris Capuono could get some interest. Or the Angels could jump in to the Joe Blanton sweepstakes. The Angels may decide to go with in house options such as Ercin Santana, Nick Adenhart, and Joe Saunders.
• The Pirates have signed Ian Snell to a three year extension worth $8M with a $600K signing bonus. There are two option years on the deal, totalling around $16M. This looks like a good deal for the Pirates, because the arbitration rate for young pitchers these days are crazy.
• The Marlins are going to sign Jeff Conine to a one day contract so he can retire as a Marlin. Conine, also known as "Mr. Marlin" holds many club records, and was vital in the clubs 1997 and 2003 World Series titles.
• Spring Training action from today. SD 6 LAD 3; ATL 3 STL 2; BOS 3 PIT 6; DET 2 TB 7; FLA 7 LAD 6; NYM 4 HOU 6; PHI 6 CIN 2; TOR 8 MIN 3; WSH 3 BAL 11; DET 4 NYM 7; CLE 6 NYY 7; LAA 1 CHC 4; CWS 5 ARI 4; SD-COL Cancelled; SF 3 KC 13; TEX 7 OAK 9.

Around the League: March 15, 2008

Time for what's gone on today in the MLB.

• The Mariners recently updated their pictures for each biography on their site. I was going to turn the pictures in to a post, but I figured it would be better just to have them shown along the way, or have you check them out yourselves if you're that interested.
• Tony Massarotti says that Manny Ramirez is planning on being a Red Sock for atleast the next four years. Ramirez has two options years for '09 and '10 worth $20M each. I guess that he is expecting a two year extension on top of that.
• Susan Slussar of the San Francisco Chronicle, says that the A's and Red Sox are talking about Coco Crisp. Crisp has $11M garunteed on his contract for the next two seasons, and if his option is bought out. So price isn't an issue, and the A's could use some outfield help. The Red Sox may target Chris Denorfia as a return for Crisp.
• Some scores to pass on from today. LAD 3 SD 3; ATL 6 HOU 15; BAL 6 FLA 7; CIN 6 BOS 14; LAD 6 WSH 1; MIN 11 PHI 2; NYY 11 DET 7; PIT 1 TOR 4; TB 11 ATL 10; STL 10 NYM 3; TB 7 NYY 2; ARI 4 LAA 5; CHC 3 CWS 5; COL 5 TEX 10; KC 3 MIL 8; OAK 9 SD 3; SF 2 OAK 10.

7 Teams Interested in HoRam?

From Ken Rosenthal's most recent column:

Oh, to be 28 years old and left-handed: Seven teams expressed immediate interest in left-hander Horacio Ramirez after he was released by the Mariners, according to the pitcher's agent, Steve Canter. Ramirez can begin negotiating with teams after he clears waivers at 1 p.m. ET on Friday. "I think he's going to have a pretty good opportunity to win a job somewhere," Canter says.

Well, the opening statement would lead me to believe that there would be interest in HoRam, but he's been terrible. But, given the state of the league today, teams are always willing to overpay for crappy pitchers. HoRam is no different. Some teams that may be interested would be the Blue Jays, Orioles, Twins, Nationals, Astros, Giants, and maybe the Rockies. Who knows, maybe this guy can turn a decent career in the NL. Hey, he could even go back to the Braves.

A quote from Bill Bavasi when the Mariners acquired Ramirez: "A left-hander in our park is a good fit." What would he be saying now?

A sidenote: when doing a Google search of 'Horocio Ramirez' my post of the Mariners Cutting Ramirez comes up first. We're going places in this blog world.