What do you think of Willie Bloomquist?

[Mariner Fan]

Willie Bloomquist just signed for two years.
http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060117&content_id=1297126&vkey=news_sea&fext=.jsp&c_id=sea

Blogs hate him. We love Mark McLemore but hate Willie? Every team needs a utility player that can fill in like he does.

[leecemark]

--Willie is an okay utility man. Nothing more.

[Edgartohof]

I like him. He's not the greatest player out there, but he has spent the last 4 years filling up holes for the Mariner's, without complaining (as far as I know). He can play multiple positions, which is very handy, and he is very good on the bases - he's 34/39 over the last 4 years, and went 14/15 last seasons! I'd love to see him get more playing time. I'd like to see him play everyday - maybe get the starting 2B role this season, or at least split it half time with Lopez, which would still allow him to be our utility guy. I'm glad we signed him, and I hope everything works out!

[johnny]

If he can play half the ball McLamore played then I say keep 'em 'til Robert Swift proves he is a legit first round pick and not a 7 ft stiff...but that is another blog!
Willie hopefully understands his role at this point.

[Edgartohof]

'til Robert Swift proves he is a legit first round pick and not a 7 ft stiff...but that is another blog!

Didn't you see him the other night, when he shoved a couple dunks down Shaq's throat? Last year, he looked absolutely lost out there, but this year, he's starting to pick it up. He's still a ways away from starting, but he's picking it up pretty quickly. Anyways, enough of that.

[Zito75]

Love the guy... Then again, we hail from the same home town, so maybe I'm a little bias. He could start stealing some bases, that'd increase his value.

[KillaK]

it's tough to get too excited when he's out there, but he's done a helluva lot better job than alot of the stiffs they've picked up recently (spezieo, cirillo, boonie, olivo, pokey, etc)

[whatlyahave]

He plays hard. As a fan, I really appreciate that. He was having a good season last year before he got hurt, or at least a good stretch. Great guy to have on the bench.

[KillaK]

Question: What does this mean for my main man Mike ("Modest" or "12 Ounce" or "Mighty") Morse? (yeah i know, lame nicknames, I tried) With that kind of contract, the M's seem really committed to keeping Willie as the main utility infielder. Does this mean Morse toils as a backup's backup, or do they move him to OF (Where they already are pretty deep with Ichiro, Reed, Ibanez, Lawton, Snelling and technically Everett, not to mention Shin Soo Chin and Adam Jones waiting in the wings)

[Edgartohof]

Question: What does this mean for my main man Mike ("Modest" or "12 Ounce" or "Mighty") Morse? (yeah i know, lame nicknames, I tried) With that kind of contract, the M's seem really committed to keeping Willie as the main utility infielder. Does this mean Morse toils as a backup's backup, or do they move him to OF (Where they already are pretty deep with Ichiro, Reed, Ibanez, Lawton, Snelling and technically Everett, not to mention Shin Soo Chin and Adam Jones waiting in the wings)

We'll probably see him as a backup backup outfielder last year - and to pinch hit. He couldn't cut it at SS, and with Betancourt there, the only place he can go is to the OF.

Is Snelling still with us? He hasn't done anything, with all of his injuries - I'd say no to him. And we'll see who's better come spring training in the OF - Everett or Morse, but I could see Morse out there ahead of Everett.

[ichiro262]

I like Bloomquist for what he is -- a solid, all-out backup. He's got pretty good defensive skills and he can run a little bit too. Every team needs a guy like him.

[Naliamegod]

A player who's value is sadly so overrated by casual fans that his actual usefulness is easily forgotten.

[Edgartohof]

A player who's value is sadly so overrated by casual fans that his actual usefulness is easily forgotten.

Well do we have anyone better to do his job? Do we have anyone else who can play anywhere in the infield, or outfield on moments notice? Not that I can recall.

No one here is saying that he's an amazing player, but we do say that he has decent skills, and plays with determination. We like that he is willing to go out there day after day, even when he doesn't know where he is going to play, or if he is going to play at all, and do it to the best of his abilities.

[Mariner Fan]

Well said!

[Rennie Stennett]

I love the way Bloomquist plays. He plays hard all the time. He should get plenty of playing time. On the depth chart, the M's have him:

#3 in center behind Reed and Lawton. #2 at third behind Beltre. #3 at short behind Betancourt and Morse. #2 at second hehind Lopez and #2 at first behind Sexton. I hope he continues where he left off last year.

[Rennie Stennett]

Willie Bloomquist, who started in Centerfield this afternoon, went 2-5, with a RBI, a run scored and a SB in the Mariner's Win. Jeremy Reed could be done, if he doesn't start hitting. It looks much like last year in which Reed struggled. Platooning this year in Center, although Hargrove says it's not really platooning. The minor leagues are full of no hit guys who can play center.

[papa~smurf]

I think Reed is a better hitter then Bloomquist.

I don't really see Bloomquist as much more then a night off for the players once in a while. I like him, respect him, but he isn't anything special.

[Rennie Stennett]

I think Reed is a better hitter then Bloomquist.

I don't really see Bloomquist as much more then a night off for the players once in a while. I like him, respect him, but he isn't anything special.

Reed is better, but he has not shown it the past year. His first time through the A.L. he hit pretty good, but now the league has figured how to get him out.

Sure, Bloomquist, is the ideal utility and pinch run guy, and he has that contagious energy that the team picks up on. Every team needs one. He has the ability to steal big bases, when the team needs one.

I'm sure there is someone down on the farm that can hit (.250) and cover center; someone who should get a shot. Perhaps Reed needs to go to Tacoma and work out his swing problems, if this is an option. He had a ten game hit streak, but he didn't have any multi hit games and didnt' really have any where he really smoked the ball, in my memory.

Lawton started tonight @ MINN and had a big game.

[Seattle1]

From what I've seen Bloomquist is good on the basepaths.

[M'sfan4ever]

When Willie first showed up in Seattle my feelings were mixed at best. He was a speed demon, with little power. Now I absolutely love the guy. I just wish they would/could find a way to get him in the everyday line-up, instead of just using him as a pinch runner late in games. I'm really not sold on Reed at CF, but I'm not sure Willie is an everyday CF'er, in fact I'm sure he's not. Plus they have Ibanez and Ichiro in the field, so unless they platoon him there, I'm pretty sure he ain't gonna play in the field. So that leaves the infield, and they look pretty set there. It just drives me nuts that he can't crack the everyday lineup, because every time he plays he does something good. Plus his enthusiasm and love of the game have to be infectious.

[Rennie Stennett]

Willie is a great ballplayer, like Craig Counsel. Craig is playing Shortstop right now. A kind of guy every team needs. One that can play every position, who a tough and hard nosed ballplayer. We have young guys in the infield, so there is no need for days off all the time. Luis Sojo, when with the Yanks played every day down the stretch one year, giving the veterans at 3rd, short, 2nd and 1st days off. Willie could do this. A two year contract for a utility guy is big. As good as he is at stealing bases when you need them, you would like to see him play more. He's a steady .267 lifetime hitter.

I used to hate to see Cameron strike out all the time, but I sure took his defense for granted. Ken Griffey Jr. also. I knocked Griffey a few months ago, saying he never hit any big home runs. Well, I eat crow again. I went back and looked at the box scores of his first three years with the Mariners and he hit many, many, meaningful homers. Chomp, Chomp, Chomp !

[Stumanji]

From what I've seen Bloomquist is good on the basepaths.

Good? I'd say "vastly under appreciated." Consider this:

M's Career Stolen Base Success Rate (minimum 50 attempts):

J. Perconte - 88.2%
W. Bloomquist - 84.3%
H. Cotto - 84.3%
J. Cruz - 83.1%
M. Cameron - 79.7%
Ichiro - 79.4%
A. Rodriguez - 78.7%
A. Beltre - 76.5%
R. Amaral - 75.8%
R. Winn - 75.7%
K. Griffey Jr. - 73.6%
M. McClemore - 71.9%
H. Reynolds - 65.5%


Not too shabby.

[SABR Matt]

Willie is a great ballplayer, like Craig Counsel. Craig is playing Shortstop right now. A kind of guy every team needs. One that can play every position, who a tough and hard nosed ballplayer. We have young guys in the infield, so there is no need for days off all the time. Luis Sojo, when with the Yanks played every day down the stretch one year, giving the veterans at 3rd, short, 2nd and 1st days off. Willie could do this. A two year contract for a utility guy is big. As good as he is at stealing bases when you need them, you would like to see him play more. He's a steady .267 lifetime hitter.

I used to hate to see Cameron strike out all the time, but I sure took his defense for granted. Ken Griffey Jr. also. I knocked Griffey a few months ago, saying he never hit any big home runs. Well, I eat crow again. I went back and looked at the box scores of his first three years with the Mariners and he hit many, many, meaningful homers. Chomp, Chomp, Chomp !

I remember the biggest HR in Mariner history to that point (there were bigger ones that follow later in '95 but...) On August 11th, 1995, with Seattle 13.5 games out in the AL West, the Mariners faced the Twins and fell behind 7-5. It was looking bleak for the Ms to come back into the west race even though Jr. Griffey had finally recovered from "Wristbreaker" (as the catch was named) and was in the line-up for a few games now (ahead of schedule I might add). He stepped up against Rick Aguilera in the bottom of the 9th at the Kingdome with two on and planted one into the right field seats to ignite one of the greatest comebacks in pennant chase history.

he personally won two other games during the amazing month of September and of course he and Edgar Martinez (with side contributions from Jay Buhner and Tino Martinez) hit countless HUGE home runs that changed that Yankee series time after time after time from certain defeat to eventual victory in yet another comeback.

[Rennie Stennett]

I remember the biggest HR in Mariner history to that point (there were bigger ones that follow later in '95 but...) On August 11th, 1995, with Seattle 13.5 games out in the AL West, the Mariners faced the Twins and fell behind 7-5. It was looking bleak for the Ms to come back into the west race even though Jr. Griffey had finally recovered from "Wristbreaker" (as the catch was named) and was in the line-up for a few games now (ahead of schedule I might add). He stepped up against Rick Aguilera in the bottom of the 9th at the Kingdome with two on and planted one into the right field seats to ignite one of the greatest comebacks in pennant chase history.

he personally won two other games during the amazing month of September and of course he and Edgar Martinez (with side contributions from Jay Buhner and Tino Martinez) hit countless HUGE home runs that changed that Yankee series time after time after time from certain defeat to eventual victory in yet another comeback.

Didn't he have a big one against the Yanks that year during the stretch drive ? A late inning come from behind GWHR ? When Jr. Grifster hit those eight HR's in eight days that had to be one of the most exciting things in baseball I ever witnessed.

[Rennie Stennett]

Jr. always said that he would rather make a big catch in the field then hit a home run. He made so many tough plays look routine. He and the Reds are in a fight for the wild card. I'm pulling for the Reds.

[whatlyahave]

Blogs hate him. We love Mark McLemore but hate Willie? Every team needs a utility player that can fill in like he does.


Comparing him to Mark MacLemore its a no brainer! MacLemore got many clutch hits for us. It wasn't an offensive drop-off when he subbed for Bell or Guillien or Al Martin. A better comparison to Bloomquist would be Charles Gipson.

I cringe whenever Willie is up in a run scoring situation (which could be said for many of the players on this team!). Sure he plays well at all the positions in the field and he can steal bases, all things a good team could use, but Willie is just like having a pitcher hitting when he is at the plate.

If we had our big guns consitently firing he could be a good piece of the puzzle (as was Gipson). All Willie is good for now is giving a teammate an occaisional breather, pinch running or ninth inning defensive replacement.

[ill pill]

He definately suffers with the bat but I like it when he comes in to pinch-run. He knows what he's doing out there and makes the game exciting with his aggressive nature.

[leecemark]

--He is a good baserunner and a versitile, if not exceptional, defensive player. Nice to have him on the bench, but he should only start in the event of injury. He just can't hit. Zero power and little paitence is a bad combo.

[MikeCameronFAN]

Bloomquist blows. There's no way around it, and comparing him to McLemore is a stretch. During Mac's time in Seattle, he hit .259/.360/.357 - not great, but at least he got on base a little. In 2001, he hit .286/.384/.406 and in 2002, he hit .270/.380/.395. Great OBP for a utility player. Bloomquist is hitting .259/.311/.329 for his career and his defense isn't great. The fact that he's starting as much as he is is disgusting. He wouldn't win a bench job for many teams. McLemore hit 17 HRs during his time as a Mariner, something Bloomquist won't do for his entire career (which can't end soon enough, if you ask me)!

[SABR Matt]

The real problem is...everyone thinks Bloomquist can field, but no objective analysis confirms this. Bloomquist is at best an average second baseman and a poor center fielder.

[leecemark]

The real problem is...everyone thinks Bloomquist can field, but no objective analysis confirms this. Bloomquist is at best an average second baseman and a poor center fielder.

--Everyone doesn't think he can field. He is adequete at 2B/3B and marginal everywhere else. That canbe a reasonable usefull guy to have on your bench. If you have an idiot manager who only keeps 4 bench players on the roster then having one who can play wherever without completely embarassing himself can come in handy. Of course, if we have a manager who has a clue about managing a roster next year then Willie will have even less value.