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Q.  Sorry, still don't buy it.  Sliders to get the off-platoon out?  Consistently?  Whatever the numbers say, I just can't see it.

A.  OK, then visualize Randy Johnson's slider against RH's. 

Or Erik Bedard's hook against RH's.  Or Cliff Lee's.  Picture's worth 1,000 words.

How did the Big Unit strike out 2,000 right handers with his slider?  It just moved too much.

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Q.  OK, you got me there.  Should Lueke throw his change?

A.  SSI does not recommend that a pitcher with two "70" pitches start dinking around with a third one, even in the rotation.   Would the 1990s Randy Johnson have been better, throwing a stupid little change 10% of the time?

And in the bullpen, "purists" also like two pitches, not three.

The changeup, from both SSI's and the purists' standpoints, will be a luxury.

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Q.  Could Lueke start?

A.  I'd like to hear the answer to that - the specific reasons why a big 6'5", 225-lb. righthander who throws 97 mph doesn't have enough arm to bring those 12 strikeouts to the rotation.

For SSI, a talent of that magnitude should pitch 180 innings, not 70, until you can prove that he cannot.

But assuming that Lueke is going to stay in the pen, well.... having a Daniel Bard colossus in your bullpen in a supplementary role, that's the stuff of championships.  What a beautiful sight, bringing in a 7th-inning guy who's better than anybody else's closer.

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Q.  Easy save time?

A.  Lueke's line so far at West Tenn:

• G1:  1.1 innings, 3 strikeouts (one hit)
• G2:  2.0 innings, 3 strikeouts (one hit)
• G3:  1 perfect inning, 1 strikeout
• G4:  1 inning, 3 strikeouts (one hit)
• G5:  1 perfect inning, 2 strikeouts

Total:  five games, 12 strikeouts, 0 walks, 3 hits.   When the odds are 4:1 that you'll fan, against getting on base, you're Joes against Pros.

I hope that Chuck signs off on a player that the Mariners can win their next pennant with.  But if he doesn't, Josh Lueke will quickly build huge value, from where he was at the time of the Ranger trade, by detonating AAA baseball.  

And Zduriencik will cash him in on the trade market.  Maybe in a package for another Ackley or Smoak.

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

SSI's 1-800-HOTLINE advised yer to bet the over on the Cliff Lee return.  But was this package crazy or what?!

Zduriencik earned ten times his 2010 salary, and more, with the Cliff Lee trade alone.  No jive.

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Part 3