I/O Jose Lopez:  The Mariners like Lopez' work at third base this spring.  They want to see him take a couple of particular angles, show he can make this or that particular play, and then they'll probably finalize his move to 3B.

They could wait until Albuquerque without problems, says Zduriencik on Rockies TV the other day.  But they'll probably finalize Lopez at 3B shortly, barring somethin' ugly...

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CRUNCH:  One thing we tend to forget:  basically any 2B could play 3B, if he had the arm.   I mean, there is work to do, but we have wayyyyyy over-emphasized it.

Think about all of the Nick Puntos and Willie Bloomquists and utility infielders around baseball.  Do any of them play 2B but not play 3B?

Shouldn't surprise that Lopez, a 2B with a particularly strong arm, is a feasible 3B.  That's the norm.

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Two plusses.  One:  You have your two good infielders in the middle of the diamond.  2B gets almost twice as much action as 3B.

I predict that once you amigos actually watch Figgins and Wilson motoring around the middle 70% of the field, you gone' enjoy it thorowly.

Two:  the day Lopez is traded, you have Tui in there every day and each IF at his natural position...

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I/O Washburn:  Baker has been credited with saying that the M's are moving on Washburn.  Nada.  What happened was, he was asked "Has the Washburn ship sailed?" to which he kinda jumped out of his chair and went, "Has the Washburn ship sailed!  It BETTER NOT have sailed, I'll tell you that!"

Implying, the long way around the barn, that the option is open.

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CRUNCH:  from various and sundry, we gather that the M's have been holding Washburn under an outstretched arm, like Jevon Kearse holding a tackle while peering over his head into the backfield, while the Mariners weigh trade options.

It's so easy to forget that Zduriencik's magic trade staff can strike at a moment's notice.  The 6d12 fireball can blossom into a trade inferno with very little casting time...

Quite possible that the M's have wanted to (1) decipher their in-house options and (2) work the phones during spring training, only using (3) Washburn as a fallback position.

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I/O Michael Saunders:  G-Money will love this one.  Baker Live reports that Dr. Elliot analyzed Saunders swing and found that, although he generates plenty of vertical force with his swing, he generates very little horizontal force.

The vertical force is due to the big, strong upper body; the lack of horizontal force is due to the lack of lower body in the swing.

So, he's back down to AAA to re-tool.

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CRUNCH:  Baker interprets this back-to-the-drawing board as a confirmation of his own read of the Cliff Lee trade:  that the Mariners are done with Saunders and have been trying to push him off on people.

I read this more along the lines of, there's a pretty special talent there in Saunders.  If the M's are investing this type of time and effort in him, apparently they do as well...

BABVA

Dr D