=== Rotation / Closer ===

Morrow and Clement are (most likely) the guys who will have to do a Jim Rice and Fred Lynn, so to speak, if the 2009 M's are to surprise.  Now that Putz is gone for a #4 outfielder and change, how about Brandon Morrow disappears into the maw of the hole that we left?

If all else fails, there's always Brandon Morrow. I get the feeling that, with this team unlikely to contend, the M's are willing to give Morrow a look as a starter. But if he doesn't show some quick progress and the bullpen starts blowing late leads, I could envision him winding back up in the bullpen. ... Zduriencik didn't draft him ahead of Tim Lincecum.

A rare instance in which the Times projected its own ideas onto Zduriencik?

Morrow was a guy that the Lincoln-Armstrong committee loved from five years ago, so that's kind of a moot point.  But Bavasi, Fontaine, et al seemed much more flexible as to Morrow's role than Zduriencik and Wakamatsu have been. 

Personally, I think that the "Closer" is a horrific waste of resources, a necessary evil, a bow to perception.  I hate the idea of Brandon Morrow, or Felix Hernandez, or Sandy Koufax, or Nolan Ryan, or Roger Clemens "closing."   But that aside, it sounds to me like Zduriencik and Wakamatsu simply walked into town, pointed at Morrow and Clement, and said, "Those guys are starting at their correct positions now."

I don't think it's a tough call that Morrow starts and Clement catches.  I personally think that it's prejudices (present company excepted) that ever led to any other idea.   Catchers have to look pretty; starting pitchers need time in the minors; yada yada yada.  :- )  Take away the cliches and you have two sterling young talents here who should just go out and play in 2009.

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=== ROTATION ===

The bakery's still open:

As I said, Miguel Batista looks to have zero chance of making this club as a starter, despite his $9 million salary.

Which is a weird-feeling situation from field level.  It must be awkward to walk past the guy.

And then, there's Ryan Rowland-Smith, possibly the best pitching story to come out of 2008 for the Mariners. As things currently stand, he won't make a rotation that already encompasses lefties Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn.

Again, the RRS who came up in 2007 was a 15-game winner.  We'll see if his arm bounces back.  If it does, there's no way you keep him out of the rotation.

Homer City here:  Felix, and Bedard, and Morrow? and then if Ryan Rowland-Smith comes in throwing 93, that's the kind of 4-man rotation that can take over a division.  Every year, there is some surprise team that shocks people with its rotation.

Washburn and Bedard will be free agents at season's end. The team will also very likely try to trade one or both before the season is over. That means, several pitchers in camp will be vying for starting rotation jobs -- just not for Opening Day. Perhaps, it will be for a job that only begins on Aug. 1. Lots of drama to see here.

Good pernt:  even after the starting 5 jell, it will be a lot of fun to see who slides in at #6 and who at #7. 

You go Geoff,

Dr D