Still More Expectations
January 31st, 2012 by terrybenishOther than looking at the standings how is a baseball fan supposed to gauge how the rebuilding effort is progressing?
Larry Larue in the News Tribune notes some nine players have been invited to the big league camp:
“The Mariners have invited these nine prized rookies to camp among the 25 non-roster invitees this spring: RHP Taijuan Walker, LHP James Paxton, INF Nick Franklin, OF Vinnie Catricala, RHP Erasmo Ramirez, RHP Stephen Pryor, RHP Forrest Snow, C Jesus Sucre and C Ralph Henriquez.”
The last two guys were brought up to catch bullpens and will do so until they are released after six years in the minors, but the other seven represent the second wave of talent to show up, after last summer’s beach-head.
This will continue to occur as long as Zduriencik is here. He is very good at finding and drafting good people and nurturing and getting them to the show. His ability to trade, project and bring to full bloom those players traded for is still at question.
I have not answered the first question though. If the Mariners break camp with Iwakuna, Millwood and Perez as part of the twelve man staff, then for the young pitchers things did not go well and they will go back to the minor league camp. There is a line between nurture and filling the seats at Safeco and not rushing prospects that needs to be walked, without plunging the franchise onto the rocks below. In no way do Iwakuna and Millwood represent any part of the rebuild. That said the younger guys might benefit from more time getting ready. If none of them break camp with the Mariners and none of them are here by the middle of June, things will have gone bad. However, I would not be surprised if Paxton and Hultzen make the team. Further Snow is a possibility too and Walker will blow people’s minds and tempt them to bring him up immediately. It gives you a reason to watch spring training.
There are players, some new wave position guys in Larue’s list above: Nick Franklin and Vinnie Catricala especially. Last year Franklin had a tough summer, was injured early on after being struck in the jaw by a bat while in a batting cage. He did return to finish the summer season and played in the Arizona Fall League and also played in the rising stars game. There does not seem to be any question as to whether he can hit and hit with some power. Some of the internet scouts such as Jim Callis of BaseballAmerica think he is a second baseman versus a shortstop, which would mean he has no future in the organization given Ackley’s presence. On the other hand if he comes to camp and lights it up, watch Brendan Ryan doing his Rodney Dangerfield thing with a tight collar.
Having a shortstop that can actually hit would harken to the Arod/Guillen days and be a surge to the rebuild. He would be moving from AA to the bigs, something that other players have done. I suspect he will be given every chance to fail or succeed as a short stop.
Vinnie Catricalla seems to be a right handed hitting machine. The Mariner player development people, genius like folks that they are, have moved him all over the field, because they are concerned about his fielding at third base. In a stroke of genius they have moved him to left field where there are some fourteen or fifteen players vying for a spot between Tacoma and Seattle.
I know it is unfair to compare the Mariners to St. Louis and how they run things, but when David Frese finally made it up last year to play regularly, they had figured out a way to take advantage of his talents and deal with a perceived fielding issue. AFTER HE WENT 3-4 WITH A DOUBLE, HOME RUN AND THREE RBIS, THEY PUT IN A DEFENSIVE REPLACEMENT. Just saying. Maybe it might work in Seattle? Who knows?
Note to player development people: If a guy shows he can hit, leave him alone and quit messing with his head.
Note to Jack: Who gives a rip about left field? Have you looked at the total lack of production in center field and right field? Hello? Mcfly? Anybody home? There are ten guys in contention for that spot. I would stop trading great pitching for left fielders, any time soon.
I can’t help myself, sorry.
All this without looking to watch Ackley, Seager, Carp, Smoak, Wells, Robinson, Saunders, Peguero, Hsiang, Moore, Wilson, Montero andLiddi.
If the spin is about Figgins, Ichiro and Gutierrez it is not really a good sign, unless it means they can trade them. Gutie might be possible, but only if it is not a first baseman or left fielder.
Jeff Sullivan has a nice piece on expectations, he talks about playing games rather than the lunacy and madness that the off season has become. It is optimistic and lyrical even.
Go down further and look at his piece on General Sherman and “Let’s Not Kid Ourselves”…good stuff.
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