Mariner's 2008 Roster

[Edgartohof]

So the Roster is shaping up little bit by little bit.

Off of the Mariner's site, here is the probable starters for the 2008 season. Not much has changed from last year, most notably no Jose Guillen, who is likely to be replaced by Adam Jones, the organizations up and coming star.

CF Ichiro Suzuki - Always happy with him!
DH Jose Vidro - if he can continue to hit .315-.320, I guess he'll do
3B Adrian Beltre - continued GG work at the hot corner and 25+ HR
LF Raul Ibanez - hopefully he will be more consistent this year. looking for him to play like the 2nd half of last season
1B Richie Sexson - I don't know what to do here. Hopefully we can see something better than .205/21/63 from our 1st baseman...
C Kenji Johjima - Still can play everyday and hits decently for a catcher; could work on some power though. Wait and see if he can catch a knuckleball
RF Adam Jones - still has some work to do, but highly touted prospect
SS Yuniesky Betancourt - his defense got better as the season progressed - he just needed to take more time and plant his feet before his throws. Look for him to hit .300
2B Jose Lopez - he says much of his problems were due to his lack of focus. Hopefully the teams success from last season will help to get him back on track
SP Felix Hernandez - it's a waiting game to see when/if he will break out
SP Jarrod Washburn - About as average as average can get I guess
SP Miguel Batista - Just hoping for an ERA under 4.45 from him.
SP Horacio Ramirez - ...
CL Brandon Morrow - hopefully he can develop into something. We'll see what new coach Norm Charlton has to say
CL J.J. Putz - best closer in the game today...hand down (and yes I am saying this with a HUGE bias :) )

[Wade8813]

You only list four starters - nothing about our newest guy (who, IIRC, is the highest paid SP in Mariners history)?

[SABR Matt]

he also put Morrow in the closer's role...which is not where he's going to pitch. He's going to be a set-up man if he's in the pen or - more likely - the 5th starter.

[Edgartohof]

he also put Morrow in the closer's role...which is not where he's going to pitch. He's going to be a set-up man if he's in the pen or - more likely - the 5th starter.

I didn't put him there, that's what I copied from the mariner's team site...

And I was going to get around to finishing it, just didn't have time at the moment.

[SABR Matt]

Weird...the Ms' own PR has been suggesting that Morrow would start in 2008 if he had a good winterball (he has) and a good ST (still to be determined).

Barring trades or unforeseen developments, the Mariners have about 20 of the 25 roster spots locked down.

C (2)
Johjima
Burke

IF (6)
Beltre
Betancourt
Lopez
Sexson
Bloomquist
Vidro

OF (3)
Ibanez
Ichiro
Jones

SP (5)
Hernandez
Washburn
Silva
Batista
Morrow

RP (6)
Putz
Sherrill
Rowland-Smith
O'Flaherty
Green
Lowe

The question marks are for one bullpen slot, Morrow's spot in the rotation, and two bench slots. The fourth outfielder could be Morse, Jeremy Reed or Wlad Balentien, the extra bat could be Jeff Clement, the new Hulett guy or Morse, and the reliever can be chosen from a group that include Kam Mickolio, Jon Huber, Arthur Rhodes, Horacio Ramirez, Sean White, RA Dickey, Cha Seung Baek, Ryan Feierabend etc.

[Edgartohof]

I wouldn't mind having a decent knuckleballer in the rotation, but even in the bullpen would be fine if he can throw it decent enough.

R.A. Dickey - from the Twins farm system - was the Pacific Coast League's Pitcher of the Year, last year. This was after he reinvented himself by mastering the knuckleball.

I guess we will just have to wait and see!

[Rennie Stennett]

LF Raul Ibanez - hopefully he will be more consistent this year. looking for him to play like the 2nd half of last season.

C Kenji Johjima - Still can play everyday and hits decently for a catcher; could work on some power though. Wait and see if he can catch a knuckleball.


Raul was hurt with leg and back injuries in 2007. He stayed in the lineup and battled through it. He was basically not trying to do too much most of the season - just trying to go up the middle and the other way, most of the time.

You know the old saying on how to catch a knuckleball: "Wait for it to stop rolling and pick it up !" :coffee

RA Dickey was 13-6 with a 3.72 ERA @ AAA Nashville in 2007. 10-2 record and 2.52 ERA after June 1. Being a rule 5 draft guy, Dickey has to stay on the ML roster for the whole season (2008).

[Wade8813]

Raul: Raul was hurt with leg and back injuries in 2008. I assume you mean 2007? (lol) I didn't know he was playing hurt, and at first thought you were predicting that he was going to be playing hurt this coming year. I was a bit confused...

[Rennie Stennett]

I assume you mean 2007? (lol) I didn't know he was playing hurt, and at first thought you were predicting that he was going to be playing hurt this coming year. I was a bit confused...

Edgartohof was talking of 2007, as indicated in his post. You didn't know of Ibanez's injuries, therefore they didn't happen ? His hammie (tech term) bothered him and also his back. It's a long season. You guys think the players have to continue at a high level throughout the whole season, at all times. Your expectations are too high. It's a long season. Guys play hurt alot, and you don't hear about it. Also, the tense used indicated early not later, which is consistent with what Edgartohof was saying. I corrected it to say 2007 so it is easier to read. If you like taking shots at other peoples grammer, spelling, and sentence structure, you will have plenty of work in my posts. Thanks for caring. :atthepc

[The Prowling Cat]

I must have been watching games on TV that most of you missed. From what I saw they talked every so often about Ibanez playing with back spasms. I know that there were runs mid season where he would DH for a couple games or missed a game here and there, they would comment about him being injured on TV. From seeing other players in the past and my own experiences, back spasms don't go away in a couple days. So doing the math you just had to realize he was playing in major pain. Am I wrong here but when the manager change happened didn't he get more days off to try and heal??

[Wade8813]

Edgartohof was talking of 2007, as indicated in his post. You didn't know of Ibanez's injuries, therefore they didn't happen ? His hammie (tech term) bothered him and also his back. It's a long season. You guys think the players have to continue at a high level throughout the whole season, at all times. Your expectations are too high. It's a long season. Guys play hurt alot, and you don't hear about it. Also, the tense used indicated early not later, which is consistent with what Edgartohof was saying. I corrected it to say 2007 so it is easier to read. If you like taking shots at other peoples grammer, spelling, and sentence structure, you will have plenty of work in my posts. Thanks for caring. I didn't say Ibanez's injuries didn't happen - I'm saying that I got confused by the way your post was worded. And my expectations for players are nothing like what you indicate. They're human, and face the same difficulties everyone else does. I didn't mean to take shots at mistakes in your post - I was honestly confused. If I was going to pick apart posts, I'd start with my friend DisgruntaledMarinerFan... he's far worse about it than you, but as long as I can understand what he's trying to say, I usually let it slide (except sometimes, when it's really funny).

But you're right - I should have realized your post was in the context of Edgartohof's post, and read it as such. I think part of the problem was that I'd already read his post before, and didn't reread it when I read your post, so I wasn't thinking in that context.

[Rennie Stennett]

If the M's don't win this year, you could see moves like in Oakland. Swisher, Haren, and Scutaro gone. Chavez had another surgery. The A's are picking up prospects. Some say, they won't make the bigs. We'll see.

[SABR Matt]

The Mariners won't need to have a firesale to retool if they don't succeed in 2008. The As franchise is totally trashed. Billy Beane is the most overrated GM in the history of baseball...and no I don't think that's hyperbole. They had to have a firesale because Beane can no longer profit from drugged-out mutants and overworked young arms.

[Rennie Stennett]

The 33-year-old Cairo played 82 games for the New York Yankees and St. Louis last season and has been with four other major-league teams, beginning with Toronto in 1996. He batted .253 in 2007 while starting 27 games combined at second base, shortstop, first base, third base and left field.

"Miguel strengthens our bench by giving us another player, along with Willie Bloomquist, who can cover all four infield spots and, in a pinch, the corners of the outfield," Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi said, adding the move makes manager John McLaren's job easier.

"This should allow Mac more flexibility to use Miguel or Willie earlier in a game, if he wants, and still be covered late."

Cairo's signing follows Bavasi's declaration five weeks ago that Lopez must improve in 2008. Lopez struggled with focus last season and was eventually benched after signing a US$6-million deal.

This is the third consecutive spring training that Lopez, 24, will have a veteran pushing him for his job. In 2006, Seattle signed 36-year-old Fernando Vina. Last spring, Rey Ordonez was in camp after years out of baseball. But those signings were both minor league deals with invitations to spring training.

Cairo now has a spot on Seattle's 40-man roster.

"We need improved offence at second base. ... Whether we get someone else or take Jose and make him better, we have to get better there," Bavasi said in late November.

"He's a young kid finding his way still. From my point of view, it is more a focus issue than anything else."

The Canadian Press:

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iXBCVBK7mdORusbjPdrfR-RUUoYA

[SABR Matt]

Miguel Cairo adds NOTHING to our bench. He's just as bad offensively and defensively as Willie Bloomquist, and he takes up a spot that would otherwise be occupied by either Jeff Clement, Wlad Balentien, Jamie Burke (if we make Clement the back-up catcher) or Jeremy Reed, Mike Morse, Charlton Jimerson etc. This deal makes no sense.

[leecemark]

--Two possibilities. One, the Ms think he can challenge Lopez for the secondbase job - which is ridiculous. Cairo is not, never has been and never will be an adequete everyday player. Two, the Mariners plan on using Bloomquist more in the outfield - which is also ridiculous. Willie can maybe be a defensive replacement for Ibanez (although he isn't exactly great defensively himself), but his bat doesn't justify him getting in real playing time in the outfield.
--That said, this signing is no big deal. Its not big enough that they won't be able to cut him loose if he isn't one of their best 25.

[Rennie Stennett]

Chris offered a minor league deal following surgery last summer.

[Rennie Stennett]

M's sign Arthur Rhodes to a minor league deal, with an invite to Spring Training.

The M's sign George Sherrill to a one year deal.

[Rennie Stennett]

RHP Phillippe Aumont
C Jair Fernandez
INF Tug Hulett
OF Bronson Sardinha
LHP Philip Barzilla
C Adam Moore
INF Mark Kiger
RHP Roy Corcoran
C Brant Ust
INF Matt Tuiasosopo
RHP Brodie Downs
RHP Stephen Kahn
RHP Kameron Mickolio
RHP Chris Reitsma
LHP Arthur Rhodes
LHP Robert Rohrbaugh
RHP Chris Tillman
LHP Jake Woods

[leecemark]

--Maybe a reliever or two from this group has a chance to make the Opening Day roster with a good spring. The rest are just there to either get their first "major league" experience or audition for a job at Tacoma.

[Kennedy]

RHP Phillippe Aumont
C Jair Fernandez
INF Tug Hulett
OF Bronson Sardinha
LHP Philip Barzilla
C Adam Moore
INF Mark Kiger
RHP Roy Corcoran
C Brant Ust
INF Matt Tuiasosopo
RHP Brodie Downs
RHP Stephen Kahn
RHP Kameron Mickolio
RHP Chris Reitsma
LHP Arthur Rhodes
LHP Robert Rohrbaugh
RHP Chris Tillman
LHP Jake Woods

I'm really intrigued to see how Phillippe Aumont turns out. 6 foot 7 with a dominating fastball, all the profiles that came out following the draft last year were pretty exciting. If he impresses at Spring Training, should be interesting to see how fast he moves through the minors.

[Rennie Stennett]

I'm really intrigued to see how Phillippe Aumont turns out. 6 foot 7 with a dominating fastball, all the profiles that came out following the draft last year were pretty exciting. If he impresses at Spring Training, should be interesting to see how fast he moves through the minors.

Yea, I can't make Spring Training this year, but hopefully the M's will send Aumont to short A Everett Aquasox. I'd love to see him. He'll probably go right to long A though after being drafted last June.

[SABR Matt]

I know Philip Barzilla's uncle Scott...he's a baseball writer with whom I've worked in the past.

Other than that neat bit of trivia, Arthur Rhodes, Kam Mickolio, and Chris Reitsma have a shot at the back end of the bullpen and Tug Hulett might have a crack at the Ms' bench.

[Rennie Stennett]

I know Philip Barzilla's uncle Scott...he's a baseball writer with whom I've worked in the past.

Hey, when he walks in from the bullpen they can play Blue Oyster Cult's "Godzilla."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVKySmZ-nPk

[SABR Matt]

Add another outfielder...BRAD WILKERSON

Deal official: check the Ms website. :)

[Rennie Stennett]

http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/birk/2008/1/30/Designated_Hitter_Does_Jose_Vidro_fit_the_descript ion

Interesting Article @foxsports.com about Vidro in the DH spot.

He knocks Vidro for hitting too many singles. If half of these push Ichiro to third, is there a benefit ? I remember other bums trying to hit 2nd without much sucess. Cirillo comes to mind. he couldn't get Ichiro over. Vidro is not your regular DH. He doesn't pound the ball all over. Most DH's are not asked to hit 2nd behind Ichiro. Most DH's are hitting 3,4,5,6,. I think Vidro is doing what he is asked to do. Sure, when he's behind in the count, with Ichiro on base, he will hit that grounder to second. If he was hitting farther back he could take a rip at it. Maybe pop it up, maybe finding a gap. The only other guy that can hit 2nd is Lopez. Shannon over on komo.com has talked of this. She says Lopez gets his head in the game better when he's hitting two. When he hits farther back he doesn't have a sense of purpose, to paraphrase. If Lopez hits 2nd, then where does Vidro hit ? 6th ? 7th ?

[SABR Matt]

Even when Lopez is hitting second, he's still a TERRIBLE 2-hole hitter. In this case it's more important to get a good 2-hole hitting performance (Vidro) than to stroke Lopez' ego.

Vidro will continue to bat second and move Ichiro to third regularly. Lopez will continue to bat ninth until such time as he stops swinging at nearly 70% of all pitches thrown to him (which is WAAAAAAAYYYYY too much swinging).

[Rennie Stennett]

Even when Lopez is hitting second, he's still a TERRIBLE 2-hole hitter. In this case it's more important to get a good 2-hole hitting performance (Vidro) than to stroke Lopez' ego.

Vidro will continue to bat second and move Ichiro to third regularly. Lopez will continue to bat ninth until such time as he stops swinging at nearly 70% of all pitches thrown to him (which is WAAAAAAAYYYYY too much swinging).

True, Lopez hits better in the two hole but he doesn't do the things you want out of a two hole guy. I don't know if he gets better pitches there, but much of his power came from this spot.

[SABR Matt]

I think that's slightly coincidental (he happened to get off to a fast start in 2006 when he was hitting second), but also because Ichiro was on base for him a lot and with Ichiro on base the next guy gets fastballs to hit. When you swing at everything thrown at you, you do better against fastballs.

[Rennie Stennett]

PEORIA, Ariz. — Mariners manager John McLaren has named Erik Bedard as Seattle's opening day starter.


The veteran left-hander was expected to compete with Felix Hernandez for the top spot in Seattle's rotation, but McLaren said he informed Bedard of his decision on Wednesday.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2004180222_webbedard13.html

[SABR Matt]

yep...this is the right call. Would you rather have your young kid who needs to learn how to be the ace he can be charting Jarrod Washburn's pitches or Erik Bedard's? :)

Bedard is a textbook example of how to pithc "backwards"...set batters up with off-speed pitches, then punch 'em out with the high heat. He throws his fastball in 0-2, 1-2, and 2-2 counts a lot more than he does at other times...in other counts he features mostly the cutter and curveball.

[Rennie Stennett]

The M's signed free agent switch hitter Greg Norton to a minor league deal. He broke in the White Sox and last played for Tampa Bay last year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Norton_(baseball_player)

[Rennie Stennett]

Bedard signs one year 7 million deal.

[Wade8813]

Bedard signs one year 7 million deal.
Wait, I thought Bedard had a couple years left on his contract. Did he just sign another contract for one additional year? That seems kind of weird to me...

Or am I missing something entirely?

[SABR Matt]

Bedard had two years left under club control. They were arbitrartion eligible years though...he didn't have an active contract...he just isn't eligible for free agency yet.

[raiderjohn]

What's the news on Morrow? AAA as a starter or Seattle as a set up guy?

[Rennie Stennett]

What's the news on Morrow? AAA as a starter or Seattle as a set up guy?

He's the set up guy. He missed some action with a sore arm. He tossed an inning the other day without pain. Morrow was wild outside the strike zone.:eek: He needs some work but the pain free thing is good.

[Rennie Stennett]

Arthur Rhodes and Chris Reitsma sent to AAA to continue on their throwing program. Arthur said okay to it and Reitsma went home to think about it. Neither has a free agent claus if they don't make the big club.

If you remember, Lowe tossed some innings in Everett and Tacoma late last year in his comeback from surgery. He is ahead of both Reitsma and Rhodes in rehab. No word on Lowe but I think he makes the club.

Shannon's Blog:

http://www.komoradio.com/marinersradio/shannon/17035076.html

[raiderjohn]

He's the set up guy. He missed some action with a sore arm. He tossed an inning the other day without pain. Morrow was wild outside the strike zone.:eek: He needs some work but the pain free thing is good.

Thanks!!

Heard that Rhodes and Reitsma were sent down because they couldn't pitch back to back days.

[Rennie Stennett]

Pitchers


Starters

(1) 45 Erik Bedard L
(2) 34 Felix Hernandez R
(3) 52 Carlos Silva R
(4) 56 Jarrod Washburn L
(5) 43 Miguel Batista R

Long

58 Cha Seung Baek R

Righties

54 Sean Green R
57 Mark Lowe R

Lefties

59 Eric O'Flaherty L
18 Ryan Rowland-Smith L

Closer

20 J.J. Putz R

Catchers

15 Jamie Burke R/R
2 Kenji Johjima R/R

Infielders

3B 29 Adrian Beltre R/R
SS 5 Yuniesky Betancourt R/R
2B 4 Jose Lopez R/R
1B 44 Richie Sexson R/R

13 Miguel Cairo R/R
12 Mike Morse R/R
16 Willie Bloomquist

Outfielders

28 Raul Ibanez L/R
51 Ichiro Suzuki L/R
6 Brad Wilkerson L/L

16 Willie Bloomquist R/R
25 Charlton Jimerson R/R

DH

3 Jose Vidro

I was wondering how things would shake out. I am impressed with Bavasi and Johnny Mac on how they put it all together and made it work. They had some challenges in that they had guys out of options and a rule 5 guy and everyone was playing good baseball. With the exception of Reitsma who is is reportedly driving all the way to Canada upon hearing the news that they wanted him to go down and get stronger, everything is great. They worked it out with the Twinkies in that the M's offered back RA Dickey and the Twins refused it and the M's sent them a player, and Dickey is at AAA Tacoma, I believe. Baek, who is out of options, is the long man. Aurther Rhodes, who is back from surgery and 38 years old, accepted to go down and work.

On the offensive side, (and I'm not talking about my writing) , Greg Norton, pinch hitting stud, accepted to go down as well.

Having Rhodes down there getting stronger is hugh. We may need him down the road. If he can come in and get some lefties out, I"m happy. I'm pulling for him.

Johnny Mac went with speed and versatility. Cairo can handle the bat and can play everywhere and so can Bloomquist and Morse. Jimerson has some speed.

Some of the guys were upset for getting sent down and understandably so. They worked their tail off and they deserve a shot but there is too much talent and not enough spots. Their ability to take it and go down for the better of the team is hugh. It means that they want to play here, which equates that they feel the M's have a special thing here. I'm big on chemistry and the good vibes and guys getting along. The M's had it last year and they will have it this year. There are no guys sniveling about playing time or they want to go to another organization and play or whatever. The only cry baby is Reitsma. All he's gone through in his career, the injuries and the battling back and now is going to play drama queen. I was pulling for him all the way but now he's going to toss it in at age thirty ? The Mariners have a big thing going and who knows they might need a right hander, knock on wood. Anyway, I give Mac and company an A+ for their efforts and I look forward to baseball !

[Wade8813]

I was a little surprised Dickey got sent down, since it seemed like everyone was saying that he was supposed to be a long reliever for us. But hanging on to people who are out of options can be useful *shrug*.

[Rennie Stennett]

I was a little surprised Dickey got sent down, since it seemed like everyone was saying that he was supposed to be a long reliever for us. But hanging on to people who are out of options can be useful *shrug*.

I read Shannon's Blog and she says Mac would like to see Dickey's floater in the cooler, moister air up in the NW. I"m not an expert on the knuckler, but they say RA throws a hard knuckler, as opposed to Wake's soft floater. Whatever he's doing is working. He was lights out last year at triple A, and steady down the stretch in the bigs. Do you know what difference this would make on his ball fight, that is cooler, moister vs dry warm air ?

[Wade8813]

R.A. explains it a bit in the link you posted about that guy trying to catch Dickey's knuckler.

[raiderjohn]

So looks like RA will be called up when there's a need, Morrow, sent to Double A as an extended ST in the warmer climate.