Going into the offseason it was clear that one glaring need for the Mariners was a right-handed bat, preferably a MOTO bat, who could play right field. The signing of Corey Hart quieted that concern, but now that spring training is entering it's final days and Hart seems far from being any sort of solution to this problem, it is clear that the RH RF MOTO deficiency is still very much a glaring need. Doesn't need to be a MOTO monster, just a proven hitter. We saw this need, and in the end Jack, as has been his habit, and despite his effort to address it, has not addressed it satisfactorily. Just how good (or not) this season is could turn on this problem. To a lesser degree center field remains a question mark because Almonte hasn't (yet) seized his opportunity and Saunders, now in his FIFTH year, has a career slash line of .224 / .295 / .374 and merely acceptable defense in center.
Aside from any pitching questions, this team will rise or fall on the defense and offensive production of it's outfield.
How much was Jack's big accomplishment this offseason due to his GM savvy and skill and how much was due to Howard Lincoln's $240 million determination to make a big PR splash in order to keep the wolves at bay? Give $240 million to any GM and he can sign a top 5 player. I suppose I'm a curmudgeon when it comes to Zduriencik. To me he hasn't at all justified the notion that he is some kind of wizard or genius at his job. Quite the opposite.
Yet the Mariners may be poised to finally realize SOME of the promise from all those prime draft picks accumulated from years of bottom feeding and the prize trade chips of Cliff Lee, Doug Fister, and Michael Pineda. It's a doggone good thing that Ackley finally appears ready to shoulder some offensive load, 'cause if he isn't our OF becomes a total mess.
After the "News Alert!" on Scott Baker, some more roster-update checkpoints were needed, and requested by Tacoma Rain, so here goes:
All at MarinerBrainstorm.com
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Rock on bro' .. the clarity of your charts (and of your thinking) continues to humble all of the rest of us neo-rhapsodic web-loggers...
See? Just proved the point again, in one sentence...
......
If you, Gentle Reader, are an SSI denizen who does not click thru to Spec's site ... you'd be glad you did. Spec's analysis of the 25-man roster had half a dozen points that Dr. D had not considered, and he got it all in, inside a very concise post.
Thath high-quality H20 :- )