Dark Before the Dawn

=== Mecha-Pineda ===

Zduriencik recently hinted that Pineda is going to be a Mariner shortly.

Mega Pineda -- hey, when the other team goes with that, how can we not -- is at 111 innings on the year, and you'd have to assume that the taxi meter is down to about 40-50 more innings this season. So, if he's going to get the same kind of taste that Doug Fister did in 2009, prior to a next-season splash, Pineda will have to be up approximately next start or the one after.

:shrug: There isn't the slightest point in delaying Pineda another couple of starts. What's supposed to happen during those two PCL starts? More nine-K runs?

=== Matt Mangini ===

Not quite ready judging by his EYE, but we've seen him a coupla times and this dude looks solid.

Sort of reminds of Tino Martinez: the swing looks kind of static, not a lot of centrifugality ... moves the arms up and down to match the level of the pitch like Tino and like Don Mattingly did.

But man, can he get on top of a fastball. And when he times it, WOW does he cover it squarely. Have seen 96 mph at the shoulders and he'll just rocket it up the middle or even to left field. Very rare that way.

More time wouldn't hurt, but on the other hand, if Wok found takers for Figgins and Lopez both, I wouldn't feel bad about letting him play out the year in the bigs. Hey, you still get six years after this one, and it's not like he's going to be Super Two at this point.

=== Dustin Ackley ===

Is hitting better than league average in the PCL. Has a .286/.333/.457 slash line, with 4 XBH in two weeks as compared to only 4 strikeouts. So he's settling in and learning his craft.

The reason for not calling him up would be, pretty much, that you want to wait until May 15 of 2011, to get six years after 2011. But on the other hand, his ability to star for you in the American League would be moved up by, more or less, a year.

So that's the dilemma. Do you want to slide his impact later by one year? I don't. You want it to be 2013 before he's hitting third? I'd rather it be 2012. But it's reasonable to go for more overall club value from the player.

Just be aware that you'll have more draft picks during his six years, and it's 150-to-make-25. It's not just about maximizing the total $/WAR of any one ballplayer.

Cheers,

Dr D

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Pineda

Radio folks were pointing out last night that Z missed the fireworks because he was in Tacoma watching Pineda. I asid it a week ago, and was wrong. I'll jump in again. If they can manipulate the rotation a bit, Pideda throws in RRS's spot next time up.

As to Ackley, I suppose getting the 6th year in MIGHT mean a delay until late May next year...however, I'm betting the M's won't do that. I think he's up soon. Trade occurs. He comes up.

Anybody wondering if Saunders and Aardsma are part of a trade package, too?

moe

I can't imagine Branyan being

I can't imagine Branyan being anything more than a three way trade package at this point. Unless the M's are tossing money and players like random acts of kindness.

I wouldn't call up either

I wouldn't call up either Ackley or Pineda at this point. Theres only one month left 'till September and at this point losing that extra year hurts..

Pineda in particular.. you wan't those club-controlled years for the fragile pitchers since long-term deals are a big risk. Hes MLB-ready without a question, but it would be a waste to lose a year with September only an arms length away.

Baby Pineda big-time over the next month, and call him up in September. Ackley too.

Agreed here.

There's no call for calling up Pineda. This team is completely lifeless anyway. Pineda should make about three starts this month and get called up in September to be used out of the bullpen.

Ackley isn't MLB ready yet anyway, so there's no reaso to call him up.

Ackley is putting up the

Ackley is putting up the following line in AAA: .289/.341/.447. Why is there such a rush to promote him? He's clearly not done learning in AAA.

I would personally like to see him destroying AAA pitching before getting the call up. What benefit is there to having him in the bigs putting up 2010 Figgins type of numbers?

No, there's no rush at all

The big question here is, are you free to deal both Figgins and Lopez this week, if you get the chance.

not on-topic,, but as to trades:

Where is Branyan?

Can we ditch the all-world defense mantra now?

Figgins is a luxury item that someone like the Yankees bring in, not a foundation piece.

How much rope does our GM get when he won't provide a competent offense?

Does anyone like losing 3-1 every night?

Are we so in love with 'run-prevention' that we can't observe that a minimum level of offense is REQUIRED, regardless of lf, or 1b defense?

Everyone hitting at their lifetime averages puts what 5 more wins on the board?

Does everyone meet or exceed their lifetime averages on the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Cardinals?

Just a few questions. I'm pretty frustrated with the supposedly 'forward outlook' and analysis. Still have to score some runs.

Branyan is injured again.

As always...Branyan's back exploded the instant the AS break arrived.

Why promote ackley?

How about, instead of promoting Ackley, they promote the Raineers who ARE destroying AAA pitching. These are: Mike Wilson, David Winfree, Greg Halman and Matt Mangini. Mike Wilson has an OPS of .947. Greg Halman has 22 home runs.

Surely there is a place to put these guys.

Mr. Saunders has made a bit of a splash lately, and maybe its time to bring in his posse. Why not trade Franklin Gutierrez for a good relief pitcher, put Ichiro in center field, and put the better of Halman and Wilson in right field? Or, perhaps one of these cats can play third or second base?

There is no excuse for the Tacoma Raineers to have a better middle of the order than the Seattle Mariners.