Q.  Is Safeco going to wipe Olivo out?

A.  It didn't wipe him out before.  Dave Niehaus and all the other misguided Dan Wilson loyalists did.

We won't revisit this again, but the Olivo lynching was one of the most shameful things I've ever seen in baseball, up to and including Mike Hargrove benching Roberto Petagine for hitting a home run (yes, really).

Olivo isn't a kid anymore.  He's not a young, lost kid caught out after dark, a mile north of his barrio.  Olivo is an Entitled Vet and the psychological end of it won't matter this iteration.

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Q.  He looks strong enough, give you that.  Will he add the much-needed grit that Mikey Jay always wanted?

A.  According to Wikipedia, Olivo played a game last season, passed a kidney stone during a half-inning, and returned to play.

At this point, we'll refer you to a Bing of "kidney stone."  They should make a movie out of that half-inning.  I mean are you KIDDING me!   Anybody who's ever passed one is welcome to post in the comments thread that you'd have been willing to put on catchers' gear after the chips hit the porcelain.

As you probably know, in another 2010 instance Olivo was hit in the head by Albert Pujols' swing, concussed, and stayed in the game.

Concussions are brain damage, by definition.  An oxymoron to talk about catchers and brain damage, I know, but if it's Albert Pujols swinging, I'm giving the guy a weekend off.

All things considered, I'd rather be hit by a guy in the local softball league, than hit by Albert Pujols.

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Olivo isn't exactly a AAA catcher hoping he belongs, no.  The M's catching personality ---- > will be a tad different in 2011.

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Q.  Is Olivo that good, or is SSI just making a case-for, in reaction to the boo'ing?

A.  Sorta, and yes.  In that order.  :- )

Miguel Olivo is (1) a funky-looking but solidly mediocre offensive player, and (2) a real good defensive player, that being (3) in the middle of the diamond and (4) paid at way under market.

SSI thoroughly enjoys watching fans' natural (negative!) reaction to the very template they're supposed to have discovered.

Amusement aside, there is real value to a glove-first player who can hit some.  Especially at a position where you've got a sucking chest wound.

And the guy can show other Mariners how to put the ballclub first.  That's okay with me.

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