From my perspective, there is something like a 90% chance that one of those guys is a decent CF. You will remember that when he was first acquired many of us thought Wells HAD to be a CF to be a starter.
The chance that one is a bonking COF is somewhat less.
And less again when setting the line at whether BOTH are MLB starters.
I'll let one of you guys set the line on the latter two options.
In a worst case scenario one of them cuts the mustard in CF and Carp plays left and you can look for a DH. The other dude becomes a 4th OF.
Of course, Halman and Peguerro (rookies, both) still exist and may yet meet whatever promise they have. I have the feeling that Peguerro gets another 2 or 3 chances.
We have at least 2/3 of a future nice OF. Just exactly who makes up that 2/3 still has some shaking out to do.
But it isn't a bad place to start from.
.............
We are firing rookies at the league like --- > Mariners of the Caribbean firing sackfuls of forks, spoons and knives out of the starboard cannons.
Bound to catch somebody in the eye with a fork sometime. Big fun!
Like we sez, if this wuz a ballclub fulla Jose Vidros and Miguel Batistas, you'd hear nothing but doom, despair, and agony on me. It ain't. It's a ballclub full of exciting, dynamic talent and it's on its way up. Don't forget to enjoy.
.
=== Casper Wells ===
Avast, ye lubber. Walked the plank on Monday, falling into shark-infested waters for an 0-for-3 with three strikeouts.
The ballplayers call that a "hat trick." Being as there were no 4th or 5th AB's, he missed his chances for the "Golden Sombrero" and the "(Sam) Horn of Plenty."
He's slugging about .400 since joining the M's .... but his dinghy is taking on water with 1 BB and 9 strikeouts (count 'em) in his last 18 at-bats.
Coming into the year, Ron Shandler was bullish on Casper: consistent, solid power/speed skills, mashing RHP's = a good sign. [Everything depends on whether there is] further EYE erosion. UP: 20 HR, 20 SB's
That'll do for us too.
The key SSI marker for Wells: whether he can keep that EYE close to 0.40. We'll see. Maybe he can't. But if he can, he's likely a 120ish OPS+ left fielder with wheels.
Watch that BB/K ratio.
.
=== Mike Carp ===
Riding with one boot up on the bow. Has a, what, nine? game hitting streak. For a cleanup hitter who has a complete lack of interest in walks, hitting streaks are a neat visual. Like watching Ichiro on a home run tear, or something.
Since re-joining, he's .360/.380/.580. Slap me silly! And there are 15 ribbies in 18 games. I think Jose Lopez had 15 ribbies in his last four years.
***
His EYE is 0.20 since his callup and his BABIP a 'lucky' .425 or so. Does that matter? In this case, not very much. His EYE has been good, even in the majors. If it had always been 0.20, that would be one thing. But what do you call it, when your EYE was always 0.60, and now it's 0.20 as you murder every BIP most foully?
You call it a wacky-and-wonderful transition stage.
Carp is looking like 2012's cleanup hitter. We'll see, there, too.
.
=== Dustin Ackley ===
Two days of quiet waters observed from the crow's next ... during which, of course, he still looked like .350 standing still.
I saw some MVP debate somewhere, with the ivory tower crowd narrowing things down to (1) Jose Bautista at 7 WAR, (2) Dustin Pedroia at 5 WAR, or (3) Curtis Granderson at 5 WAR.
Dustin Ackley has 1.9 WAR, in exactly 1/4 of the season. If he'd played precisely like this, since Opening Day, he'd be one of about five legit AL MVP candidates.
Just thought you'd enjoy the thought. As y'know, we live to serve.
.
=== Tray-vonn ===
Fighting a rearguard action with his cutlass. Two hitless games and suddenly 2-for-6 is 2-for-12. Coupla line drive outs, though.
I just had a cup of Spumoni ice cream. Sometimes you find three flava's coming at you that make no sense whatsoever, which is why it maintains your interest.
As an info-tainment whorl of sweetness, Trayvon Robinson swings evoke three things to my eye:
- Confusion (pistachio)
- Aggressiveness (chocolate)
- Refinement, swinging within himself (cherry)
He's not seeing the pitches well, but he's brightly optimistic, and staying within reason. Mmmmmmmmm, spumoni.
***
Franklin Gutierrez is statically on his front leg even before the pitcher releases the ball. It's not possible for him to drive the ball with that swing.
It's not about health. It's about loading up on the ball.
If Tray-vonn is the 2012 center fielder, then he only needs to keep his K's to about 199 or below. You think he could?
I think he could. That's how I'm leanin'. Put him in CF and let him strike out 185 times next year. I think he'd have it down to 165 real quick, like 2015.
.
Comments
Jack has decided he can't afford to miss any more.
Corner OF - 2 of Wells, Halman, Peguero, Carp, Robinson, with Chiang and Catricala to follow, only need one a year for the next two years as Ichiro is still here in 2012
CF - Guti, Robinson, Wells, with Halman and Saunders licking their wounds
3B - Seager, Figgins and Kennedy for now, Liddi and Martinez in the upper minors, new draftee Proscia and possibly Brad Miller in waiting
SS - Ryan now, Franklin and Miller (assuming he signs) to wrestle for the understudy position
2B - Ackley forever, Seager if he takes cleats in the shins and can't go for a game
1B - Smoak, Carp backing him up if he somehow continues to fall apart (not likely IMO)
C- Olivo now, Marder and Hicks both drafted this year, maybe Choi if his fractured back situation gets fixed.
We still look a little bit weak at shortstop and catcher. Franklin rebounding once he's in good health and Miller signing next week makes the position much stronger, but until then it's Ryan, Franklin, and air.
Catcher is also weak, with nobody in the high minors who has a prayer of taking over for Olivo, and the catchers we do have are not luminous prospect lights, or had SIGNIFICANT injuries (sorry Choi).
With Franklin being a top blue-chip prospect and first round pick, and Miller a 2nd rounder, I don't expect us to go get any more prospects at that position.
I do expect us to land a catcher this offseason.
But considering that 2009 looked like a wasteland, it's nice to see some flowers starting to bloom.
~G
Was the thought here... if Wells ain't a quality 550-AB outfielder, then the Doug Fister trade was a blunder IMO...
Yer main point Moe is as solid as a rock ... between Wells, Robinson, and Chiang, you've got to love their chances to come up with a Gutierrez and/or a Choo somewhere :- )
...they moved home plate out 6-8 feet, but ... :- )
I take it that you like the M's chances to work something out with Ackley? And you're thinking that Yamauchi-san will call it a day after 2012?