=== Doug Fister, Fizzler ===

First, the excuse:  with men on 1B and 2B first inning, Fister induced a DP grounder to Jose Lopez at 3B, who whipped it over to Dustin Ackley ... who dropped the ball.   Two guys on the infield you're experimenting with -- you don't have your battle-hardened troops behind him -- and the pitcher you're experimenting with, also.

Wakamatsu complained that Fister looked "nervous" during the game.  Fister is known for poise -- remember his debut? -- but if you're a pitcher, an infield botching the key DP ball is going to rattle you.  Tell me that the 3rd-year Felix wouldn't have rattled?

..............

Anyway, Fister (like, say, Brad Radke and Mark Buehrle and Jamie Moyer) needs to be razor-sharp, to compete with his minus fastball. Obviously he hasn't been.  A Jamie Moyer has the luxury of working out the kinks, but Fister isn't at that point in his career.  He knows this.

The second game of the year, they're starting to look at results, and the third game, they definitely will be.

He had 5K's in 2 innings his first outing, which was fine, but yesterday put a lot of pressure on Fister early.  He needs a shutdown performance or two very shortly, or they're going to look elsewhere.

Tough when you're trying to break in, ain't it?

...............

Word is that the long man role is "NOT a consolation prize."  The 6-7 starters will be in Tacoma.  Which also reminds,that  if French or Vargas or Fister fail to win the #5 right here and now, they'll get other chances.  They're not pitching to avoid a French guillotine in town square.

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=== Matt Tuiasosopo, Sizzler ===

Bob Condotta with some reports that Tui looked good at SS, even showing range up the middle.

Ty Van Burkleo isn't going to say much that isn't on the same sheet of music with Wakamatsu's.  He spoke in terms of finding a way to get Tui onto the 25-man, and implied that Tui's early hitting rampage matters.

Yeah, we know, we know, it's a "small sample size" (sic!).  But have you ever been on the field in tryouts when one guy is crushing everything thrown to him?

.................

If Matt Tuiasosopo were an incompetent ML infielder, that would be one thing.  But if he is a below-average infielder, or SS, that's just a question of plusses-vs-minuses. 

Jack Wilson is your shortstop - at least in the M's minds.  For Tui to be out there a game a week, against a LH-hitting lineup, isn't out of the question.  Obviously the M's don't think so.

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=== Josh Wilson, Fizzler ===

Josh Wilson's established level of performance has been 2.7 runs per 27 outs, which is -20 runs below a replacement Tacoma Rainiers shortstop.

And if you had trouble hitting ML pitching at 27-28, at age 33 you are in biiiiiiig trouble.   Mediocre ML hitters -- of which Wilson has not been one -- are liabilities in their early 30's.

It's fine to want a backup SS that you trust to bang a groundball back over to 1B.  But where's the limit?   We're talking about a .260 OBP here, and a SLG not much above that.

................

Which is why it would be cool if Matt Tuiasosopo were to play SS well enough to raise their comfort level.  When Wilson hits the 15-day, then you bring up a starting SS from Tacoma anyway.

Yeah, I know, whodat.  :- )

.................

Prediction here is that IFF Tui rips up the Cactus League and looks mobile at SS, then they'll find a way to use 11 pitchers, keeping both Hannahan and Tuiasosopo.

Cheers,

Dr D