Milwaukee

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Come Up to the Lab, Let's See What's On the Slab

Ron Shandler offers his own CAT scan on this pitcher, courtesy the 2012 Forecaster, back when Wolf was healthy:*

• Consistently has better actual ERA's than component stats (meaning, he's saavy but un-talented - jeff)
• Low DIS (disaster) rates (meaning, his main skill is "damage control" - jeff)
• Is an "innings eater" in "above-average SP clothing" 
• Avoid.  Crash coming (this occurred - jeff)

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The Arsenal

Wolf was always a rare bird.  He's an 89-MPH lefty who throws everything including the kitchen sink, even making stuff up on the mound.  Check out this hilarious 49-MPH pitch he threw to Brandon Phillips.

He legitimately throws 4 pitches without prejudice, very unusual in a left hand pitcher.  You get your Shawn Marcums doing it from the right side.

He does NOT throw 4 pitches because he's got 4 good ones.  All four pitches are pretty lousy - but he does, in fact, use them with a lot of intelligence.  Check this video for confirmation.

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Q.  Does SSI agree that Corey Hart, Michael Morse, Nelson Cruz are very similar players?

A.  SSI does agree with that, yes.  Along with Jayson Werth, Josh Willingham, and the like.  Defining characteristics:

• Right handed
• Huge bodies
• Aggressive on the first pitch (Richie Sexson, Jay Buhner, Cecil Fielder don't qualify)
• .275/.325/.500 type profiles
• 0.40 type eye ratios
• Good plate coverage, professional approach (they ain't Steve Balboni; they can drive a pitch to right-center)
• Not supremely talented (Albert Belle, Danny Tartabull, Jose Bautista don't qualify) ...
• ... But these guys can RAKE

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Q.  Are they of comparable value to Kendrys Morales?

A.  Very comparable value, but "right-shifted" down the EMP spectrum to what the Mariners need.  These players don't manage the plate as well, but they hit LHP's, and they have MUCH more power than Kendrys -- typically a 150+ Power Index (PX) vs. Kendrys' 120.

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Once again:  we'll all believe it when we see it.  :- )

Twice again:  it's Hot Stove League.  What did you want to talk about, the Seahawks?  ::pfft::

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An interesting issue comes up:  would you ever see a high-profile Team LeBron scenario sign with the Mariners, even if the Mariners were the only team offering a trophy contract?  Or would the endorsement situation -- not the winning situation, but the endorsement situation -- preclude that?

I don't know the answer.  Here are a few thoughts that come to mind.  Hopefully you've got better than this :- )

My own instincts run to two basic ideas:  (1) there is no city in the world like New York.  (2) You can definitely do business in Seattle, my friend.

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Ken Griffey Jr.

Junior, playing in Seattle and Cincinnati, had deals with

• Nike
• NINTENDO (ahem)
• Wheaties
• Pizza Hut
• Pepsi 
• Dick's Sporting Goods
• Upper Deck
• a bunch of others

Griffey is Griffey, but ... I wouldn't mind being on the cover of a major video game.  The Nike and Nintendo deals come with TV commercials, and you can launch from there.

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"I had a dream last night.  Jim was in a hotel I co-own with Satan.  Check-in time immediate.  Checkout time NEVER." - Dwight Schrute

"So in your own FANTASY.  You don't own the hotel?" - Jim Halpert

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Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors was pretty impressive on Tuesday.  Seems that he has systematically memorized the needs of all 30 teams, as well as the situations of the top 50-100 free agents.  Guy must do it for a living.

This snippet was interesting:

Locally, we're used to hearing something more along the lines "Taijuan, KPax, Zunino, Miller and Iwakuma might open discussions," so Adams obviously has paid some attention to actual market prices paid over the past ten years.

I also like his feel for the fact that a proven MLB youngster, say Kyle Seager, is worth far more than a hyped top-100 prospect.  (On the interwebs, an unbeaten-untied-and-unscored-on Wil Myers is worth several Kyle Seagers.)