One of my favorite Mariners sites is Jon Shields' Bleeding Blue & Teal.
Jon writes in a likeable, easy, fluid manner and puts his own signature on his view of the M's world. He draws from both sabr and visual literacy to go his own way and present a distinctive take on current Blue & Teal events. This article on Orlando Cabrera is a typically fresh read.
Q: Buy or Sell?
A: No Sale.
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Q. Because he's too pricey, or because you just don't want him?
A. Although I like Three True Outcomes players in general, and like lefty bats more than I should, Nick Swisher is simply overrated. Check his RC/27's:
2004 - 5.0 part-time
2005 - 4.9
2006 - 6.4
2007 - 6.2
2008 - 4.5
Career - 5.6
Q. Postscript: did you see that cyber-Seattle wants him?
A. LOL. I hadn't read the 'net before we wrote this, except for a couple of posts where MFan and somebody were arguing about his party personality.
I kid you not, it never. ceases. to. amaze. me. How different guys can look at the same painting and see two completely different things.
Since cyber-Seattle is an open office floor, and the cubicles have 4-foot walls, we'll give a friendly response to a "Griffey Post" aimed at refuting the idea that Jr. would make any sense in Seattle for 1-2 years. For more detailed rationale, see our 5-part series on it.
Ken Griffey Jr. would be best put to use as part of a platoon.
Again, in the spirit of college debate, and since the New Zduriencik/Blengino Era inspires us all to comradely disagreement ... :- )
Thusly:
Ken Griffey Jr.'s 2008 season was destroyed by a knee injury.
Q: Who IS this guy?
A: If you want a frame of reference, think of a right-handed George Sherrill. Am not saying he's a mirror image, but it's a good way to organize your thinking. If GS52 went Shirley McLaine on us and came back as a right-handed bouncing baby from India, he'd move to the US and become Tyler Walker.
Walker is a big guy, like GS52. He short-arms the ball from behind his ear. He pitches with a high front side.
Q. How does Tyler Walker fit into the current bullpen?
A. Personally, I *do* think that this club could use one bona fide Fireman to bind the motley crue together out there. I'd have loved to have seen one real bullpen ace brought in -- an Arthur Rhodes, Paul Shuey type, if not a closer.
Objectively speaking, Walker is a lateral step away from what the M's already have. They had average-solid (not impact) short men; they added an average-solid (not impact) short man.
=== One Tennis Match We Won't Miss, Dept. ===
Lots of pleasant buzz around Capt. Jack's reference to the M's discussions with a free-agent "piece of the puzzle."
Nobody seems to have mentioned that the "puzzle" in question is necessarily the 2009 pennant race. In context, all things considered, the comment has little meaning with respect to a 2011 target. One thing we love about Capt. Jack, is that he's got us all calmed down about whether it's okay to try to win now.
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Lonnie's 10 Questions gig is rockin' the joint at Mariner Central. Now he even gets Baker in there, and Geoffy writes a complete blog entry to each question. :- ) Vot's Next? Dr. Zoinks his ownself?
Dr. D cherry-picks a target-rich environment:
Q1. Which is worse, Carlos Silva for 4 years at $48 mil or Kenji Johjima for 3 years at $24 mil?
A. Without a doubt, it's Kenji Johjima's deal.
Q3. I continuously beat the drum about the need for a real on-field team leader. Who do you think has a chance of assuming this mantle?
